The Continental Spring 2023 Issue

the continental

spring 2023

The Case for Randomized Roomates

Three Meals at the Library

Hamilton Hockey’s Historic Season

Editors-in-Chief

Nicolette van Kesteren ‘23

Stella Essenmacher ‘25

Creative Director

Sarah Ferland ‘23

Photography Director

Kaitlyn Bieber ‘23

Social Media Director

Zoe Neely ‘25

Editors-at-Large

Ashley Kolpan ‘24

Will Kretz ‘26

On the Hill Editor

Camille Martin ‘24

Travel Editor

Morgan Hodorowski ‘26

Features Editor

Zoe Neely ‘25

Lifestyle Editor

Sammy Smock ‘23

Photographers

Kaitlyn Bieber ‘23

Kathleen Deedy ‘24

Hannah Osinoff ‘23

Oliver Zhao ‘23

Writers

Caroline Rhodes ‘24

Vivian Miller ‘26

Zoe Regner ‘26

Emma DiGiacomo ‘25

Jeffrey Cheng ‘25

Abigail Moone ‘23

FROM THE EDITORS:

Dear Readers,

We are beyond proud and excited to present the third and final issue of the 2022-2023 school year to the Hamilton community. This has been made possible through the hard work of our wonderful team of photographers, writers, social media coordinators, editors, and artists. For this issue, we were able to explore more of the student life on campus, as well as celebrate the accomplishments of the student body and look towards more experiences in the future. To conclude the school year, we wanted to highlight some memorable campus moments, including the women’s hockey team’s record-breaking season, the revival of the Green Apple publication, and the new edition of the library vending machines.

Over the past several years, we have seen many Hamilton alumni graduate and the new community of Hamilton students arrive on campus. Through this constant transition, we have worked to include the timeless essence of the Hamilton community while highlighting the new voices who have come to Hamilton and are making their mark on this place.

Next semester we are excited to welcome back our editors who have been abroad, including the wonderful Julia Radomisli, who will return as Editor in Chief. For some of us, such as Nicolette van Kesteren, Kaitlyn Bieber, and Sarah Ferland, it is difficult to say goodbye to Hamilton College, and the Continental Magazine, which has been a formative part of our experience these last four years. However, we are excited to see the next generation of Hamiton students continue to create, collaborate, and connect the community together with this incredible magazine. While the end of this semester has been stressful and difficult for most students on campus, we hope that our spring edition will bring some joy, laughter, and at times profound nostalgia. Thank you all for your continued dedication and interest in the Continental Magazine.

Nicolette & Stella

Three Meals at the Library, 28

In the Studio with Eva the Diva, 30

Let’s Get Physical: Gym Culture at Hamilton, 32

opinion travel on features

Which Academic Building are You?, 48

Balming Clinton: Activities for a Warm Upstate New York Day, 50

Resident’s Guide to Glenview, 52

The Case for Randomized Roomates, 12

Senior Reflection, 14

Editor’s Bucket List, 16

How to Escape from Clinton, NY, 20

Rowing, Racing, and Relaxing: A Hamilton Rower’s Spring Break, 22

Italy Study Abroad, 24

Hamilton Hockey’s Historic Season, 36

HEAT: Hamilton’s Hip Hop Team, 40

The Revival of Green Apple, Hamilton’s Feminist Creative Collective, 42

on the hill lifestyle

opinion

THE CASE FOR RANDOMIZED ROOMATES

By Stella Essenmacher ‘25

In my two years at Hamilton, I’ve gone through four housing selections, three of which were out of my control. Plenty of people have attained great success through the housing lottery and have really enjoyed getting to room with their close friends. But tons of other people enter the selection process each year with no clue who to room with. Their friends might have hit it off with their former roommates, want a single, or just have different living styles. Ultimately, the fact that your good friend wakes up at 6 am every morning might not affect you because you talk to them in the afternoon once you are both up, but it might start getting on your nerves if you sleep from 1am -10am. That’s someone banging around the room for a half an hour in the middle of the night every single night.

At the end of my first year, I was talking to several people about possibly rooming with them, but they were also talking with several people. Multiple people flaked on me at the last minute because I didn’t communicate my interest well enough, and that led to a panic. My friend set me up on a blind date at Fojo with her friend who I had never met to discuss the potential of rooming together. I honestly cannot really remember why we did not room together, but we remain friends to this day and it was a fun way to meet someone. With my third roommate, I was living by myself in a double at the time, so I was assigned a new roommate. The two of us met upstairs in Commons and I laid out everything that irritates me in a roommate and my personal quirks. With this information, she could make a decision about whether living with me seemed like a good fit, and it

graphic by Sarah Ferland.

also set the foundation for a communicative relationship.

Living with friends brings a layer of challenges to an already complex relationship. For those of us who are introverted, college forces us to interact with people all day long, making our room one of the only sources of solitude available to us. When one’s room becomes a source of stress, it can affect one’s sleep and mental health. Furthermore, there is a great benefit of having someone completely detached from your life to be able to discuss personal issues with. It is incredibly helpful to vent about someone to an outside party who won’t go sharing my life with other people or to cry in my room about someone who I know won’t walk in any moment. I have both provided and been provided that resource and it has greatly

aided in dealing with the constant challenges of being a college student.

While my path through college roommates has not been as linear as I thought it would be, it has allowed me to meet people who run in different circles than I do, improve my communication and confrontation skills, and provided me with trustworthy confidants. Rather than it being a last-resort choice that those with no friends make, I encourage people to see going random as a means of creating an ideal living environment. At the end of the day, someone who you love to death might simply not be a good roommate for you, and it is a real risk that rooming together might do more harm than good. Of course, every relationship is different, and for many it works, but for those who worry about taking that risk, going random is a great option.

The Continental staff can attest to the fact that I have been severely procrastinating writing my final article for the Continental Magazine. I am still reeling from the shock that my college experience, defined mostly by COVID and a little by the rapidly changing dining hall menus, will be over in a mere couple of weeks. Being tasked with writing a senior reflection to sum up the entirety of my tumultuous four years at Hamilton College is incredibly daunting and possibly impossible. In short, my college experience was completely unexpected.

Being a Jan, a label that still haunts me on this campus even as I am graduating, meant that my freshman year on Hamilton’s campus lasted about eight weeks. The coldest eight weeks of winter, I might add. London had been an incredible experience of traveling, sightseeing, and partying with no regard for the physical toll it took on my health (I was constantly sick), but I couldn’t wait to arrive on campus and have the experience of college in the way that I had been told by my parents, older sister, and the media. No one could’ve predicted how different our college experience would be from the generations prior.

When I think about Sophomore year, I am immediately reminded of the blue Adirondack chairs scattered about campus: in front of the library, in front of the Science Center, in front of Dunham, and even in Commons. Some other defining moments of that year include the Skunk Instagram account, the marriage pact, weekends spent at Bab Pav, the ever present fear of being locked away in Bristol, and the constant scroll through everyone’s intrusive thoughts posted on Yodel. We learned to adapt. We learned to make friends in times of extreme distress and discomfort. We learned to enjoy the simple moments. We learned how to go absolutely feral in the woods on the weekends, since there really was nothing else to do. Sophomore year definitely felt the longest.

Junior year had promised the full return of Hamilton’s campus, but didn’t quite deliver. Although we saw the revival of in-person classes and concerts, masks and testing remained as did Glenview. Yet, we persisted in both our academic pursuits and our determination to make the most of our time at Hamilton. Junior year was a time to watch sports games, share in the mixed feelings surrounding Fojo’s opening, risk going on an abroad program, eat an overpriced grilled cheese at the Compound, and reluctantly end the night at the Rok (which unfortunately could never really replace the Village Tavern).

For seniors, nostalgia has had an omnipresence on campus this year. The pressure to experience everything, particularly everything we missed in our two and a half years of restrictions, has made it at times difficult to just enjoy the simple moments with your friends and to officially let go of college life. We still feel that we didn’t get to experience college to its fullest, and so we are trying desperately to make up for it. I am struggling myself to think of the moments that have defined our senior year, and I think that’s because this year is where most people have not shared in a collective experience. And although we spend most Thursday nights in the pub singing Karaoke and playing pool, for most seniors, our paths have diverged without the need to find each other and create alternative fun.

I guess the theme of this senior reflection is adaptability and determination. No matter what changed on campus, we were determined to have the Hamilton experience we had been promised. We allowed ourselves to change our expectations, which resulted in not only an incredible college experience but one that was unique to the class of 2023. This tumultuous experience has bonded us, and I can’t wait to begin the next phase of my life with the friendships I have made here. Goodbye, Hamilton.

SENIOR REFLECTION

By Nicolette van Kesteren ‘23

WE ASKED ALL THE EDITORS OF THE CONTINENTAL...

WHAT IS THE TOP ITEM ON YOUR BUCKET LIST BEFORE GRADUATING HAMILTON COLLEGE?

HERE ARE THE RESPONSES!

SLEEP

CLOSE DOWN DINERSTAY UNTIL

4AM!

GO ABROAD! SET

FOOT IN

EVERY BUILDING ON CAMPUS

GOING TO A REAL, IN-PERSON C+C DAY CONCERT!

ON MINOR FIELD!

WIN/FINISH A GAME OF POOL AT PUB

STAR GAZING ALL

NIGHT!

IN THE KJ WATER FEATURE

SWIM

HOW TO ESCAPE CLINTON, NEW YORK (PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY)

198CollegeHillRd Clinton,NY

Picture this. You’ve finished your last exams and submitted your final papers before embarking on a much-needed and well-deserved break. Whether it be fall, Thanksgiving, winter, or spring break, every single one of us knows the grind of the last few days all too well. It’s the only thing standing between you hitting the road to your childhood bedroom, white sand beaches, and everything in between is the travel between Hamilton and wherever your final destination may be. Travel is often more stressful than it should be: the journey spent thinking about traffic, assignments you might’ve forgotten about, grades you’re waiting on, etc. However, if you’re physically leaving the hustle and bustle of college, you should be able to mentally escape as well. Travel is what you make of it, so no matter whether you are traveling by bus, train, plane, or car to home or your break destination, there are always ways to make it enjoyable, relaxing, and fun!

Make a playlist! If you’re driving alone, carpooling, or on a plane or train, make a playlist. Depending on how you are traveling,

Camille Martin ‘24

graphics by Sarah Ferland.

you may not be able to belt out your favorite Taylor Swift song, but making and listening to a collection of your favorite songs is a sure way to keep your spirits high during what could be a long journey. And if you’re alone in your car or with a friend or two, have a karaoke session!

Sleep! This one is pretty self-explanatory. As long as you’re not the one driving the car or bus or flying the plane, sleeping and slipping into dreamland is a foolproof way to pass time.

Play road games. Try to find license plates from as many states as you can! If you’re driving through multiple states, the chances of finding at least a few unique plates is pretty high. You could also try naming as many things in a certain topic as you can.

Try to list all of the fifty states, every sports team in a certain league, or someone you know whose name starts with every letter of the alphabet. The possibilities are endless!

Draw or color. I know drawing in a coloring book may sound childish, but research has shown that coloring can help relieve stress, decrease heart rate, ease anxiety, and help

with relaxation overall. Also, it’s fun! Read. If you’re lucky enough to avoid car sickness at the hands of reading, crack open a book and fall into a new world. Not only is this a perfect way to pass time during a long travel day, but also a great way to escape any stress that may be leftover from the final academic days before break, allowing you to explore stories and settings beyond your own.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of ways to pass time on a long travel day, as you probably figured out on your own. However, it’s important to find ways to occupy your time. Staring straight ahead and growing bored is a very good way to get in your own head and induce stress and anxiety that you certainly do not need heading into a week intended for a mental rest. Take care of yourself and try to find ways to pass the time and mentally escape the academic and social stresses that reside in Clinton, New York.

Rowing, Racing, and Relaxing: A Hamilton Rower’s Spring Break

By Zoe Neely ‘25

While many people spent this spring break relaxing at home or traveling to tropical places, I had a very different experience. Each year (with exceptions for COVID), the Hamilton College Men’s and Women’s Rowing teams travel down to Clemson, South Carolina for two weeks of spring training camp. Having never picked up an oar in my life until walking on the team this fall, Clemson intimidated me at first. On paper, two weeks with two rows a day sounds very physically intense, and while the work was hard, the training trip was about so much more than just rowing.

Afternoons between rows were spent lounging by the pool much to the amusement of the hotel staff; fifty degrees is warm when you’re coming from Clinton in February. In between shopping for Clemson merch or making Starbucks and boba runs, teammates made friendship bracelets and got glitter tattoos. Our meals were at the Clemson dining hall with other rowing teams, except for the few days we could cook for ourselves in our hotel rooms.

Rowing is not the only sport to have a training trip at Hamilton, but each team has their own unique focus. For us, Clemson was a great opportunity to transition from being on land to getting back on the water and in the boats. In terms of the actual training, our coaches, Jim Lister and Meg Conan, emphasized consistency both at every practice and across the season as a whole. It’s not just about having one fast boat; it’s about making the fastest possible team across the board.

We were also lucky to be joined by two temporary coaches from the Saratoga Springs Rowing Association, Karina and Veronica. Having them on the trip meant we could have more boats on the water and receive more feedback. They brought great energy to the trip, lots of constructive criticism, and a fresh perspective on all things rowing both off and on the water. Additionally, Clemson provided lots of opportunities to practice racing. Unlike basketball or lacrosse, rowing isn’t a game style sport. Our focus is endurance, and our goal is to be faster than all the other boats, so naturally, we have to practice that. We had two races against other teams, the first against Rochester Institute of Technology and the second against Dartmouth (only the women’s team). Both races were successful

and provided an opportunity to prepare for the series of regattas our team will attend throughout the rest of the spring season. At the end of the trip, the team went to The Smokin’ Pig barbeque for a family style meal complete with all the trappings of southern food and games of cornhole, bocce, and mini-golf for entertainment. (We’re a multisport team!) While my body was tired at the end of each day, being on the water is the best part of the sport, and it’s great to see such a steep learning curve take place over the two weeks. Outside of the physical aspects, the camp also brought a chance to bond with new teammates and strengthen existing friendships. Personally, Clemson was one of the most unique spring breaks I’ve ever had and will continue to be a valuable part of Hamilton’s rowing program.

photos sourced by Zoe Neely. picturing the crew team together on their spring training trip

STUDY ABROAD IN ITALY

By Caroline Rhodes ‘24

Over the last four months, I have been living in Italy, in case you haven’t seen me around campus and were wondering where I’ve been. I’ve been skipping around Europe and having so much fun. Although it has been quite the change of scenery from Hamilton, there are some things I miss about being in CNY. Here is my list of things from Hamilton that would make Italy EVEN better

Milbank. A lot of people rave about the architecture in Italy and the churches and everything. It’s so old and beautiful and historic and super amazing. But Milbank has an old charm that even the Sistine Chapel can’t beat. Side by side they are practically indistinguishable, but Michelangelo could have never imagined such vast and innovative windows.

My CRV. This isn’t necessarily a uniquely Hamilton thing but it spends most of the year in the Minor Parking lot (or outside Milbank adorned in parking tickets.) I have not driven

in almost four months and I miss the drive from dark side to New Hartford. It is my well trodden path, and I miss it. Bonomos. There is lots of gelato in Italy, but none of it is Bonomos.

On the other side of this coin are things from Italy that I think could be seamlessly integrated into life at Hamilton.

Homeless people selling selfie sticks on the street. There have been countless times that I’ve been walking around campus with my friends and wanted to capture the moment. There is really no greater convenience than a selfie stick street salesman. I think that they would be embraced by the Hamilton community, as they fill an obvious void. Limoncello after every dinner. I’m a firm believer that this could be easily implemented into our dining halls. I would even volunteer as the McEwen limoncello waitress to get this off the ground.

photos sourced by Caroline Rhodes. picturing scenes of her time in Italy

on the

the hill

THREE MEALS AT THE LIBRARY

By Will Kretz ‘26

photos by Hannah Osinoff. picting the library vending options.

The library’s new vending machines are the latest additions to Hamilton College dining. To explore this new culinary frontier, I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hottest restaurant in town: the 24-hour reading room. I avoided the options you can get anywhere, like Mountain Dew Voltage or Jimmy Dean Simple Scrambles. I was more interested in the vending machines’ truly unique items.

On a side note, I’m not a vegetarian, but I couldn’t help but be surprised by the low number of vegetarian options in the vending machines. This got me thinking though: do vegetarians, people who care deeply about what they eat, even bother with the library’s food? I doubt they would. That’s why I was here, because I cared so little about what I put into my body.

BREAKFAST

I started my journey with a $5 bacon egg and cheese croissant sandwich that was fast approaching its best-by date. There were no cooking instructions on the sandwich’s plastic bag so I walked past the microwave and back to my seat, where I ate the sandwich cold. I couldn’t taste the bacon, the egg, or the cheese. Upon closer inspection of the sandwich, I found copious amounts of pepper on the egg, and even with this visual encouragement, my taste buds could not find anything. At the end of the day, the sandwich was a largely textural experience: dry and cold. The bacon egg and cheese had the advantage of being my first meal of the day, and yet it still disappointed.

LUNCH

I wouldn’t let my previous sandwich experience deter me. For another $5 I bought the bacon pub cheeseburger. My journalistic commitment to truth that kept me from microwaving my breakfast was overpowered by

my deep desire to not eat another cold sandwich. In other words, they probably expect us to microwave this, right? After thirty seconds in the microwave, the bacon pub cheeseburger was, expectedly, a little bit warmer. Topped with bacon, cheese, and two packets of ketchup (my own touch), I was as optimistic as one can be before eating a microwave cheeseburger. Surprise! It did not taste good. Similar to my breakfast, this sandwich was quiet in terms of taste but had quite a bit to say with texture. Really a mouthful. What hurts me most is this item’s name and the illusion of quality that the words “bacon pub cheeseburger” provide.

DINNER

For dinner, I had the chicken cordon bleu sandwich. The sandwich consisted of one breaded chicken patty, ham, and Swiss cheese. I microwaved this sandwich for thirty seconds and I was pleasantly surprised. It could’ve used more time in the microwave, but with no instructions on the package, it was always going to be a shot in the dark. The simplicity of the sandwich (despite its fancy name) is what really let it shine. I’m tempted to think I enjoyed this meal the most because I supplemented it with junk food. A bottle of Coca-Cola (full sugar) and cracked pepper and sea salt potato chips made the chicken cordon bleu sandwich really feel like a meal. At the same time though, I bought a bag of pizza pretzel Combos with my lunch and that did very little to improve my thoughts on the burger.

The food from the library’s vending machines is not cheap. It doesn’t taste very good either. The packaging is vague, so you’ll never know whether your meal should be microwaved, and if so, how long. It’s also embarrassing to be seen buying meals there. I think it’s something with all of those windows. My suggestion? Stick to the snacks.

IN THE STUDIO WITH EVA THE DIVA

By Vivian Miller ‘26

Eva Millay Evans is a Hamilton College campus enigma. If you’re lucky enough to know Eva, you know that she’s a terrifically talented and warm presence in every room she walks into. I first found out about Eva’s campus micro-celebrity status after she performed one of her own songs at a Soul Foods dinner. Her voice has a clear, swirling quality that mesmerizes her listeners and transports them to lazy afternoons. But how did “The Diva” get her radio start? Eva told me, “I applied to be a DJ because I felt like I had really come into my own as a songwriter and I wanted a way to make friends and meet other musicians on campus.” She met with Jonathan Meade to ask if it was possible for her to play her music live on the radio. Eva decided to be the change she wanted to see and pursued her dream of having her own music broadcast.

The Continental: What inspired you to start writing songs in the first place?

Eva: When I was really young I wanted to be a singer. My mom ran a singing group so I grew up surrounded by music. Around fourth grade, I started writing stories about fairies.

The bottom line is that Eva loved telling, reading, and dreaming up stories. When she realized that she could combine her love of writing with her love of music, all the pieces began to fall into place. Drawing inspiration from the people she loves, literature, and folk/country music, Eva began to grow into the maestro we know today. She also uses music as a way to connect to her father.

The Continental: Where do you draw inspiration from?

Eva: I drew a lot of inspiration from my dad. I lost him when I was ten to leukemia. I really want to live in the moment and soak up joy all the time. He loved music and lived music.

“Eva the Diva” was actually a childhood nickname that she uses as an affectionately referential moniker. Eva’s ability to wear her heart on her sleeve clearly contributes to her abilities as a songwriter. She told me she’s influenced by the lyricism of Sondheim, Taylor Swift, Joni Mitchell, and more. She loves country and folk music as genres because

they’re built to tell stories.

The Continental: What is it like being a musician at Hamilton and being perceived as a songwriter?

Eva: It’s honestly so fun and funny. [Laughs] At my old school I felt kind of afraid to be THE songwriter but Hamilton has given me a sense of freedom to do what I love. I kind of by accident became a campus entity. Some of my favorite moments are when someone I don’t know on campus goes, “Oh, I saw you perform!”

Eva wrapped up our discussion by emphasizing how inspiring it is as a musician to work with other musicians. Her innovative spirit is a beautiful reflection of Hamilton’s ability to cultivate talents and promote young artists.

If you haven’t yet listened to Eva’s music, check out Rain, out now on all streaming platforms!

[said very stone-faced before giggling]

photos by Kathleen Deedy. picturing Eva at her radio show.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL: GYM CULTURE AT HAMILTON

By Emma DiGiacomo ‘25

Hamilton boasts a strong fitness culture, with over one-third of students participating in collegiate athletics. Even beyond these sports teams, there is a culture of staying active on campus. Specifically, in the Blood Fitness Center, lifting and exercise classes have come to define many students’

daily lives. However, from the perspective of female newcomers, Hamilton’s gym culture often feels male-dominated. Fitness clubs such as Pretty Tough and the Lifting Club are working to change that narrative. Take Paige O’Hara for example. As a sophomore starting her fitness journey a

year ago, Paige immediately noticed a lack of women in the weight room, describing the gym as dominated by male athletes. She noted how this environment was intimidating as a newcomer but eventually banded together with fellow lifting “regulars,” creating her own fitness community. This support system served as inspiration for the Lifting Club, which Paige is now the president of. The Lifting Club is open to all students regardless of experience or gender, with a specific focus on beginner workouts and

nutrition basics. Learning the difference between powerlifting, bikini bodybuilding, and more are all informational sessions the club teaches.

Finding a lifting routine was something Paige initially struggled with, so guiding members to create their own personalized workouts is an essential part of the club. Paige hopes that the Lifting Club creates an encouraging environment for women in the gym which continually motivates her as she works towards her own personal goals. Similarly, the Pretty Tough Club strives to host fun and inclusive fitness activities. While the club is specifically geared towards female-identifying and non-binary individuals, all Hamilton students are welcome to join. All skill levels are welcome, as the club hosts a wide variety of events such as yoga, Zumba, and personalized workouts for each student.

Natalie Peng, an E-Board member and Hamilton swimmer, initially joined Pretty Tough to find a fitness community out of season. Natalie describes the low-pressure, “move at your own pace” environment as her favorite aspect of the club. Additionally, collaborations between other Hamilton organizations merge fitness interests with different social scenes. For example, Pretty Tough recently hosted a glow-in-the-dark skating event with CAB, as well as a Just Dance with the Student Dance Alliance.

Even without regard to gender, the Lifting Club, Pretty Tough, and a variety of other fitness clubs create a welcoming gym environment, separate from college athletics. Daily exercise classes are held in the Blood Fitness Center ranging from HIIT workouts, to jump rope courses, and so much more. The rock climbing wall is also a huge part of on-campus fitness, with an entire subculture emerging from those who regularly climb. Beyond gym facilities, countless seasonal club sports participate in intercollegiate competitions as well. From hockey, soccer, water polo, and more, there are many ways for Hamilton students to achieve their fitness goals in a healthy, inclusive environment.

photos by Kathleen Deedy. picturing the rock climbing wall, and other gym classes.

HAMILTON HOCKEY’S HISTORIC SEASON

By Morgan Hodorowski ‘26

This season, Hamilton College’s Women’s Hockey team did something extraordinary; for the first time in school history, the Continentals reached the NCAA Tournament. After winning their first two games against Nazareth College and Adrian College, they lost to Amherst College in the Frozen Four. However, despite not making the championship, women’s hockey’s amazing run will definitely remain a highlight of Hamilton athletics.

The Continental: What’s your favorite memory from this season?

Abby Kuhns (Senior, Defense): My favorite memory from this season was our first-round NCAA game against Nazareth. The environment in the locker room before the game was confident and excited, the atmosphere in the rink was truly unforgettable, and the satisfaction of winning our last ever home game as a team (and a senior class) in front of a sold-out rink was a feeling we will never forget. It was everything you dream of as a kid when you imagine what your best hockey memory would one day look like.

Nancy Loh (Senior, Forward/Wing): My favorite memory from this season was our game versus Nazareth in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The rink was packed and the fans were awesome, and everyone

on our team was so engaged and just enjoyed another opportunity to play hockey. Especially as a senior, this was an amazing last game in Sage Rink, and I will cherish that night forever.

The Continental: How do you feel about making Hamilton College history and appearing in the first NCAA tournament for Women’s Hockey?

Abby Smith (Junior, Forward/Wing): A huge goal of mine since entering college has been to make it to the NCAA tournament so I was excited to finally accomplish that. I am looking forward to spending time with my team

and seeing how we can improve our team culture and game even more!

Kuhns: When you’re in the moment, an NCAA game feels like just another game in the season where you’re just trying to find a way to win, and every single person on our team brought this same mentality. Although many of us are disappointed that we did not win it all, looking back, it is clear that we had the experience of a lifetime. For the program, I am hopeful and excited to see what building the team’s reputation this past season will lead to in the next few years. It is a group and a coaching staff that has tremendous potential, and hopefully the team

photos by Mckee Photo. picturing women hockey’s match against Williams

will only continue to make history and accomplish things the hockey program has never seen before.

Loh: While we were hoping to go all the way, it was an honor to represent Hamilton College in the NCAA tournament. The women’s hockey program has always been a very successful team at Hamilton, and our history-making season is a culmination of many years of hard work from the coaches, past players, and all of our supporters.

The Continental: How do you prepare for games? What is the team’s mentality?

Smith: I prepare for games by juggling with Claire ‘24 and listening to hype music. Our team’s mentality is to outwork our opponent and play fast.

The Continental: How do you feel the team

photos by Mckee Photo. picturing women hockey’s match against Williams

grew as a community and family this season? How do you guys bond?

Smith: Our team was close since the beginning of the year, but got even closer over winter break when we had nothing to do but hang out and practice. We went out to eat together, watched movies, and played lots of games.

Loh: We did a couple team bonding exercises throughout our season, but a lot of the bonding on our team happens very naturally, such as spending time in the locker room before practice or sharing meals together in the dining hall. As much as our successes and winning brought us together and made us excited to keep playing together, I think the setbacks we experienced throughout the season are what really made us closer and stronger. We always found a way to come together and move forward in a positive

direction either by having a team meeting or leaning on each other individually.

Kuhns: Something that is unique to hockey and winter sports is that we spend Thanksgiving, a majority of winter break, and even a week of spring break on campus, giving us a lot of time to spend with just our team. Our team jumped at most opportunities to spend time together and always found a way to make the most of long bus rides, weekend trips, and even some of our hardest practices—there was always someone there to lean on and pick you back up.

The Continental: Describe your experience this season in one word:

Smith: Electric.

Loh and Kuhns: Unforgettable.

Hamilton’s HEAT has evolved to be one of the more serious dance groups on campus. The group has 19 dancers ranging in dance backgrounds. Not too long ago, they were known as the “booty call group” given their main performance venue was parties in the Annex. In 2019, HEAT captains wanted to establish HEAT as a serious dance group. The captains actively reached out to coaches and faculty to perform at athletic events, which led to their first invitation to Class and Charter (C&C) Day.

The group’s style mainly involves hip-hop dances, but they also draw upon members’ cultures and experiences to choreograph their performances. Taylor Scatliffe ‘25 joined HEAT her first year after watching online videos. She has enjoyed her experience working with people on the team. “Not a lot of people specifically concentrated on hip-hop, so it’s fun for everyone to learn,” said Scatliffe. Makenna Thomas (Co-Chair/ Captain) ’25 shared that sentiment stating, “People who are classically trained can learn from people who aren’t.” Scatliffe and Thomas have backgrounds in dance and have been competitive dancers since early on, but they both feel there is something to learn for everyone.

As a member, Scatliffe claims that her commitment to HEAT involves 4-5 hours of weekly practices and additional practices outside of the group to rehearse the performances. Captains have an additional threehour “Captain’s Practice” where they choreograph numbers. “For those with leadership positions, [the commitment] goes up a lot… I usually come an hour before practice to answer any questions… including paperwork, I usually spend upwards of 10 hours a week on HEAT,” said senior Reagan Flores ‘23. She is also the vice president of the Student Dance Alliance (SDA), which brings resources and opportunities to other dance groups on campus.

Since Flores is a senior, she has seen dance culture evolve over the years, especially

HEAT: HAMILTON’S HIP HOP TEAM

By Jeffrey Cheng ‘25

coming out of the pandemic. “The SDA performance was a 25 minute performance and now we are projecting it to be about an hour and a half. The teams are able to do more choreography, more people want to be involved in the dance community,” said Flores. Every group is getting more involved. Given the commitment to dance practices, scheduling a time in the single dance studio on campus can be challenging. “Between faculty dance rehearsals, other dance groups, and dance classes, there is very limited access to a safe dance space. The multipurpose room is there, but it’s not great,” said Thomas, who would like to see Hamilton invest in another dance space. The multipurpose room does not have a safe dance surface since it is concrete. Flores also believes Hamilton needs to invest more in dance spaces. She has seen Hamilton accept more students interested in dance, so it is on the college to manage these demands.

In spite of the unfortunate dance practice times, often at night around 9-11pm, the team is constantly working to perform for the school. In the fall semester, HEAT’s first

big event is the football halftime at parent’s weekend, and they continue these performances at football games throughout the semester. This year, the group also hosted their own HEAT Hive Event as a tribute to Beyonce and an opportunity to have a fun event for themselves. The spring semester’s focus is on the C&C day performance.

For C&C day, they have a roughly 12 minute lineup that they are expected to perform. The amount of time and energy it has taken to choreograph a 12 minute piece has proven to be challenging, which is why members are all the more excited to perform. “It’s gonna be an even longer mix than last year… I think there will be some fun references,” said Flores, who was not trying to spoil the performance. Scatliffe is also looking forward to performing and she says, “when everyone is screaming or they hear a song they like, it makes the performance more exciting… the audience can hype [us] up but we can also hype [the audience] up.” The team has worked hard to prepare an exciting performance, so be sure to watch their performance on C&C day May 5!

photos by Oliver Zhao. picturing HEAT’s family weekend performance

THE REVIVAL OF GREEN APPLE, HAMILTON’S FEMINIST CREATIVE COLLECTIVE

By Abigail Moone ‘23

At 7:30 pm on a Thursday night, fifteen students crowded into List 227—a classroom most often used for poetry readings and writing workshops. It felt perfectly fitting to host the first workshop of Green Apple, the campus’s feminist creative collective, in a space submerged in creativity daily. My co-editor KT and I filled a table with oil pastels, watercolors, scissors, glue, construction paper, and pencils. We began with a short conversation where we shared our

names, our projects, and began our creative work for the semester. The meeting was a wholesome success; people crocheted, made paper sculptures and collaborative collages, and wrote short stories while simultaneously building a creative community. Our goals for the workshop were more than fulfilled. I joined Green Apple my freshman fall, and spent every Sunday evening workshopping poems in this small feminist publication. It was a formative part of my first year, but

the group disappeared during the pandemic. Our head-editor graduated, and due to a variety of reasons, the incoming editor was never able to get the publication off the ground again.

During my time at Hamilton, I have participated in a variety of literary and creative communities. As much as I love them, none served the same purpose as Green Apple. So, in the spring of my junior year, I emailed the head of the Media Board and asked how to bring the publication back to life. Determined to experience the Green Apple community again before graduating, I spent three months going through the process of reviving it, both bureaucratically and socially. My best-friend and roommate, KT Jenkinson, joined me as co-editor-in-chief at the beginning of this last semester. Green Apple

has existed since 2008 with a short hiatus between 2020 and 2022. It began as a print publication, tried blogging for a brief period in 2012, and has since returned to print. We host workshops two to four times a month, emphasizing collaboration and creative expression. All of the work produced in these workshops is compiled and published anonymously in a zine format once each semester.

Green Apple is an explicitly feminist publication, intended to uphold the legacy of Kirkland College. This commitment is in the Green Apple statement and constitution, a unique document not present in any other publication. Unfortunately, being identified as a feminist community means there will be students who do not contribute or engage in the publication, but that there will also be others who join explicitly for that reason.

photos by Kaitlyn Bieber. picturing Green Apple’s outdoor art party

Feminism and feminist spaces do not exclude any gender, identity, ect. I add this because I have received questions of whether or not men can contribute or be members, and the answer is unequivocally yes. In truth, we need more cis-men supporting and identifying with feminism and feminist spaces. While this is a feminist space, that does not mean the work produced here is necessarily about feminism or overtly political. The foundation of feminist theory is that the personal is political, so all art, action, and relationships that subvert or respond to oppressive systems can be feminist, regardless of topic or medium. If we are practicing critical care, creativity, and joy, we can build a feminist space to support and sustain our community’s artistic endeavors. We can all be feminist, and we can all make art.

While this distinction is important, the generative community component of Green Apple is another driving force in our mission. As opposed to a publishing body, looking for refined, polished, ready-to-publish work, we create that work together, regardless of experience level. Submission based publi-

cations at Hamilton do not host spaces to create, workshop, or develop publishable content. Sharing creative space with a body of poets was foundational to my college transition, and I was disappointed and frustrated that the organization was not revived earlier. I restarted Green Apple because I feel connected to Kirkland College’s critical legacy and wanted an arts publication that was not structured as submission-rejection-acceptance, but rather a holistic and generative environment where exploration and experimentation are encouraged and nurtured. This approach is deeply informed by my work as a Women’s and Gender Studies major, and I have been learning how to balance facilitating a community I love deeply and am ideologically invested in with the logistical upkeep and bureaucracy. It is hard to remember to update the Presence roster when what I really want is to listen to luminous, imaginative students share their work. And yet, I continue because I love the people and the work, and I hope that others love it enough to continue nurturing Green Apple after KT and I graduate.

WHAT ACADEMIC BUILDING ARE YOU?

By Sammy Smock ‘23

Have you ever wanted to know which academic building has the same personality and lifestyle as you do? Now is your chance to find out! (And if none of these quite fit, maybe you’ll be remodeled Root!)

Benedict loves to read fantasy and science fiction falls asleep on the couch every night never wears socks

Burke Library

can only study well when with a group of friends carries around a gallon-sized water bottle has a twelve-step shower routine

CJ

still uses the overhead lighting in dorm rooms skateboards around campus writes in cursive

Couper is quiet and shy believes in ghosts has never been on a plane

KJ

loves being the center of attention has a pet fish good at telling stories

KTSA wears glasses loves the veggie trays parents used to bring to pool parties windowsill is full of succulents

List favorite colors are yellow and orange eats pizza with a fork and knife owns at least three pairs of corduroy pants

Molly Root

loves to take baths or have spa days favorite color is purple drives a Prius

Philosophy House favorite drink is sprite never wears shorts exclusively listen to audio books instead of reading physical copies

Science Center favorite food is sandwiches wears Crocs with socks in the snow got an A in high school PE wishes they could have a pet lizard

photos by Hannah Osinoff. picturing different buildings across campus.

Watering hole

Tubing, towels, tanning, oh my! Enjoy this summer spot with friends on a nice warm day. Get your toes wet in the refreshing water or just enjoy lying down in the sun without being away from campus. Enjoy the wildlife and refreshing air, maybe bring a picnic to enjoy as well!

Green lake

A little bit of a trip but it’s so worth it, where else can you see water the same color as the Caribbean in upstate New York? There’s a nice flat walking trail if you’re looking for a beautiful walk, and also a beach area perfect for a dip or to play spike ball with friends. Biology goes crazy here if you’re into that, the lake is studied by a few Hamilton College professors, but that’s not what summer is for and can certainly be forgotten about with the incredible views. Another huge pro of the location is, while you have driven all the way up to Syracuse, you’re now only eight minutes away from Trader Joe’s and can pick up some of the best snacks this world has to offer.

Bonomos

Right down the hill and a few turns away, a golden treasure of the community awaits. The best ice cream place in town! Be sure to follow their social media to find out which soft serve flavor they’ll be serving that day.

They have the best soft serve ever! Enjoy the weather sitting at their outdoor tables to relish your cold, refreshing, and delicious treat.

7 Hamlets

This is a great spot to spend a warm spring or summer afternoon! Outdoor seating with an indoor barn that serves beer and cider to those 21+. Sometimes they have fun live music and delicious food trucks to enjoy. You can also see some of the cutest dogs the area has to offer. Also, it is right next to mini golf, feel free to get a quick 18 holes in while you are in the area!

Farmers market: June 1- October 5

This one is for those staying on campus over the summer, but if it doesn’t apply to you, make sure to check it out next fall! Meet and support some of the members of the Clinton community and score some great finds and treats along the way. Most of the booths in the past have been cash only so make sure to bring some if you’re interested!

Glen walk

This is pretty basic but one of Hamilton’s great and most beautiful features, especially this time of year. Go with your friends and maybe bring a picnic or take a solitary trip and clear your mind/connect with nature! You really never know what you are going to find in those trails.

BALMY CLINTON: ACTIVITIES FOR A WARM UPSTATE NEW YORK DAY!

By Ashley Kolpan ‘24

photos by Kaitlyn Bieber. picturing Bonomos, Green lakes and the Root glen.

When former and current Glenview residents responded to the phrase “Only in Glenview…,” students offered images of horror movie settings, Mariah Carey music, 6:30 AM fire alarms, and rampaging rats and deer. Although a mixture of truth and fiction, these statements overlap with Glenview’s campus reputation as an insane—and often unideal—location to live. In addition to referencing Glenview’s distance from the rest of campus and the lack of ping pong or pool tables in the common room, students compared the small box-shaped building to a trailer and its stretching corridor with bright lights to a hospital or psychiatric ward.

In terms of living conditions, current resident Pete Dillman ’26 noted the dorm is overall clean, but he noticed a mushroom growing in the men’s shower. Former resident Keshav Dinkar ’24 recalled a period of daily fire alarms, motion sensor lights waking up students during the night, and a one-time flooding leading to the dorm’s GroupMe updating to “Bristol Pool 2.0.”

“With the dorm flooding, with the alarms going off ten times a day, I feel like if there were rats running around in the toilets I would say ‘Only in Glenview,’” Keshav said. “Or if a deer started eating my Chinese food. That would also make me say ‘Only in Glenview.’”

Keshav acknowledged that faculty and staff fixed these problems after the first several weeks, and he also said the negatives of Glenview are “overblown.” After all, for former resident Connor Whynott ’25, he remembered Glenview not for its location, appearance, or maintenance issues but for its “tight community.”

“Everyone’s in one hallway, so you get to see people all the time,” Connor said. “And there’s only one common room with one kitchen, so you run into people a lot.”

Students recalled making friends from Glenview movie nights, meeting up in the common room and having instant mac & cheese,

THE RESIDENTS’ GUIDE TO GLENVIEW

By Zoe Regner ‘26

and actively reaching out to neighbors at the beginning of the school year. Pete elaborated on Glenview’s predominantly healthy floor culture: “I got cookies from some people down the hall; on Halloween, my next door neighbors had a bowl of candy out. I think the floor culture’s pretty solid.”

Glenview’s benefit of community compounds with free laundry and free AC, close proximity to the Root Glen, and the quieter nature of a one-floored dorm. Furthermore, as the

dorm is a timed walk of two and a half minutes from Major, Glenview’s reputation as far from campus is distorted.

For future residents of the dorm, Keshav recommends his approach for making the most of this housing: “The mentality: take advantage. Single toilets—take advantage. Take advantage of the AC,” Keshav said. “Take advantage of those things because they don’t exist everywhere on campus. Live life to the fullest in Glenview.”

photos by Kaitlyn Bieber. picturing Glenview Residence Hall.