The 2012 Senior Gift Alex Paganelli Memorial Class of 2012 Research Endowment
An endowment from which a grant will be awarded annually to a student conducting field research or holding an internship. Preference given (though not limited) to those with a focus in the natural sciences.
The Photo Issue
COOPed Up In The CoOp
Alex Paganelli was an incredible student and athlete in the Hamilton College community. He was a prominent member of the Men’s Lacrosse Team and a chemistry major intending to attend medical school. In the fall of 2010, Alex studied abroad in Turks and Caicos, conducting field research on marine life. He was an important member of the 2012 class as a teammate, friend, and student. His absence will always leave a noticeable hole, especially for our seniors. The senior gift, a research endowment, is a way for Alex to continue to live in our hearts and minds on the Hill. With this endowment, Alex will continue to spread the warmth and wealth as he did while here at Hamilton, helping students of similar interests achieve parallel success and recognition. In order to remember Alex and to promote continuing success among Hamilton’s current and future students, the Senior Gift Committee is hoping to make the following participation goals in order to establish this commemorating endowment. November 5, 2011 25%
December 10, 2011 50%
March 11, 2012 75%
May 6, 2012 90%
Remember that no amount is too small! As Alex’s classmates, we owe it to him to do our very best to reach over 98% participation! Reaching 98%, ideally 100%, would put us ahead of the class of 2011 who only reached only 93%, as well as the Hamilton record of 97.6%, set by the class of 2007. Help show your support to Hamilton as well as to our unforgettable classmate, Alex Paganelli!
the continental a student-run magazine based at hamilton college
“Taylor, Stratton, and Forrest ’13 in front of South, Apr ’13”
on the cover
from the hamilton college archives the student body of 1931 in front of south dorm. We also uncovered a photo album that belonged to Harold H. Smith, class of 1913. Clockwise from above: “Before the bookshop on paint night in Fall 1911.” The comencement Parade of 1912. “Feed of freshmen delegation of ELS held in 18 South during winter of 1909-10.” “Feed given by 1916--Library of Emerson Hall.” Above: “Smith desk in 16 South” Below: “Fulton ’16 at his desk in 21 South”
REBECCA POMERANTZ editor in chief SOPHIE HAYS creative director director of photography SAM TOOLE news editor CHRISTIE CRAWFORD entertainment editor DANIELLE BURBY features editor CHARLOTTE HOUGH style editor SARAH SHAUGHNESSY society editor SCOTT BLOSSER travel editor HANNAH GRACE O’CONNELL layout MATT LANGAN, VIRGINIA WALSH, KAYE KAGOAN, HANNAH GRACE O’CONNELL, CHRIS LABORA web advisor CHRIS MADDOX advertising director JACKIE WALD account managers BECCA MACK, JOSIE JONES editors at large HEATHER KRieGER, ANNE LOizeaux writers KNUTE GAILOR, SCOTT BLOSSER, STEVEN SAURBIER, ANNA PAIKERT, PEARL SHIN,
SARA SHAUGHNESSY, JULIA JARROLD, SADE OYALOWO, HANNAH KLOECKNER, KATE BENNERT, ABBY GOOGLE, BLAIR CASEY, MEG PENGUE, SOPHIE HAYS, MADISON FORSANDER, CHRISTIE CRAWFORD, ARMAL ASGHAR, GRACE O’CONNELL, RACHEL BOYLAN, ANDREW MENGES, KATIE HUTCHINS, TREVOR HOWE, EMILY DRINKWATER photographers KRISTY BENDETTI, TALIA BLOOM, EUNICE CHOI,SARA MEISSNER, KARA SHANNON, SAM TOOLE founder KATIE CHILDS founding editor kate stinchfield
letters to the editor E-mail contmag@hamilton.edu advertisers E-mail contmag@hamilton.edu
sponsors Please e-mail contmag@hamilton.edu to find out how you can support this student publication a product of the Hamilton College Media Board
from the editors This issue has taught us more than we ever imagined about our school, its past, its people, and its future. After many trips to the College archives for article ideas, photos and fact checking, research has never felt so exhilarating, so personal. In the month following the Bicentennial Kick-Off Weekend, the spirit of Hamilton history was most inspiring to our writers. This issue is a compilation of stories from past and current students, as well as a look at what the bicentennial means for us.
table of contents
While much is new on campus, like the Days-Massolo Center and full participation in the NESCAC, we’ve come to realize that things aren’t that different today on the Hill as they were long ago. The fall still means toss-up football games, a new freshman class, runs to the Cider Mill, and of course, declining temperatures. But so far this fall, we managed to escape the dreary weather and capture Hamilton’s finest fashions. We travelled outside of our campus bubble to discover new bars and even roller derby in Utica. But we were also aware of the happenings on our own campus: new styles, new facts, and a new restaurant.
On the Cover
Interview with Professor Isserman 18 Beyond the VT 41 What You Didn’t Know About Hamilton 13 Middle Eastern Travels 46 Bicentennial History Highlights Our autumn editorial staff!
Believe us, a trip to the College Archives and a chat with our archivist Katherine Collett (who we owe many thanks to for this issue) will allow you a moment to remember why we can’t seem to tear ourselves away from the Hill. The following pages are our own contributions to the Hamilton bicentennial and archives. Enjoy!
Blair Casey’s 7 Wonders of the Hamilton Campus. She reels in her favorites from the dark side, light side, and even an offcampus surprise. page 24
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Style
Hamilton Transitions to NESCAC 8 Operation Smile 10 Women’s Cancer Awareness Week 11 Days-Massolo Initiatives 12 Bicentennial Weekend Highlights 14
Spotted 30 Bicentennial Fashion 32 Hamilton Style Blogger 36 Alums in Fashion 38
Talk of the Town
in this issue
scope out
On the Hill
Kabobviously Review 20 What Grinds My Gears 21 Legends of the Hill 21
play
by the new rules: four of Hamilton’s prized teams move up to the NESCAC. Christie Crawford gives the inside scoop. page 8
Society Letter to the Editor 7 Roller Derby 39 Mixed Gender Housing: A History 42
Features
Travel
The 7 Wonders of Hamilton 24 Time Capsules 26 Hops History 28
A Factory-Made Summer 43 Sabbatcal Travels 44 Post-Hamilton: Living Abroad 48
style
after Pearl Shin’s take on bicentennial fashion. Students Dyllon Young, Sarah Song, Trevor Howe, and Julia Jarrold show off timeless pieces. page 34 the continental | autumn 2011
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society
Letter to the Editor See the Science Center? How about K.J.? Yeah, our D*ck is Bigger. (Are we building to make Middlebury feel bad about itself?) By Knute Gailor ’13 Building projects have transformed Hamilton’s campus in the last ten years. The recently named Edward and Virginia Taylor Science Center is state of the art, K.J. is a marvel of engineering (even though I still don’t quite know what a water feature is…), and Sadove, for all it lacks in functionality, is spectacular. But while we are undoubtedly lucky to have such incredible campus facilities, how have our buildings been paid for? Are we building just to keep up with other schools? Is it sensible for us to be developing our campus at the same time our tuition bills are consistently rising? Hoping to learn more about how Hamilton goes about improving and maintaining its facilities, I asked Karen Leach, the College’s Vice President for Administration and Finance, to answer these questions. Her responses surprised me, impressed me, and gave me confidence that Hamilton is mindful of its spending and committed to building sensibly. According to Ms. Leach, Hamilton views campus building projects in the context of the College’s larger strategic initiatives. Academic buildings like K.J. and the Taylor Science Center were improved to support high quality academic programs; residence halls have been updated to meet code requirements that ensure students’ safety; and energy saving improvements are being made all over campus to reduce the College’s carbon footprint. In its bicentennial year, Hamilton is mindful that its facilities need to be around for the next two hundred years: updating aging buildings is a priority and most of the projects Steve Bellona’s emails kept us up to date on over the summer were preventative maintenance. (As a note, the Summer Construction Updates were the one reason I checked my email over the summer.) When I moved on to questions of money, I learned from Ms. Leach that Hamilton funds each building project differently. While gifts from alumni and friends of the College paid for the Sadove Student Center in its entirety, K.J. was funded by a combination of gifts and money raised from the sale of taxexempt bonds. The Bristol Center has a unique endowment to pay for its upkeep, and the Wellin Art Museum’s construction was also paid for by gifts. I was surprised to learn that building maintenance costs contribute minimally to tuition increases. More than half of Hamilton’s budget goes to supporting more than six hundred full-time employees, and tuition increases reflect the rising costs of maintaining the campus in general – as Ms. Leach pointed out, even buying paper for the College is expensive. (Who knew Paper-Cut could help keep our tuition down…should have known Dave Smallen knows what he is talking about.) So, as I see it, Hamilton is improving the campus sensibly. Our buildings all serve great purposes and reflect our campus’ priorities. Committees made up of students, faculty, and administrators play a part in every major building project, and the buildings most in need of updating have been improved first. Projects like the Days-Massolo Center show how the right facilities can contribute to improving the campus climate. Steve Bellona and Bill Huggins even gave drinking helmets, I mean, hard hats, to those of us living in the kennel that is Saunders this year. While there is still work to be done (the library’s carpet comes readily to mind, although I’m convinced it’s still around to punish all those who try to study there hung-over on Sunday morning), Hamilton has ensured that we have tremendous learning facilities. The generosity of Hamilton alumni is incredible, and we are improving and expanding our facilities when many other colleges are putting off muchneeded repairs and cutting faculty positions to get by. What’s more, the College admitted the class of 2015 without considering an applicant’s ability to pay. In short, we haven’t been building to keep up with other schools – other schools have been building to keep up with us. So yeah. Our d*ck is bigger. the continental | autumn 2011
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on the hill
on the hill
Hamilton Finalizes its Transition into the NESCAC: Four Hamilton Teams Debut in the ‘CAC By Christie Crawford ’13
Rumor on the Hill is that an old basketball coach from the seventies switched Hamilton teams from the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) into the Liberty League because he wanted his team to win a championship. As juicy as it sounds, it’s about as true as the last rumor you heard. The field hockey and the men’s and women’s soccer teams made their debuts in the NESCAC this fall, but what were they doing in the Liberty League in the first place? Athletic Director, Jon Hind, and Fitness Center Director, David Thompson, shed some light on the true history of Hamilton’s unique position in the NESCAC. Hamilton has been a charter member of the NESCAC since its founding in 1971; however, according to Coach Thompson, today’s NESCAC is different than the NESCAC that Hamilton helped found. Originally, the NESCAC allowed its members to move around, playing both NESCAC and other teams in the New York area, such as Union and Saint Lawrence. Coach Thompson explained that the NESCAC wasn’t so much a league as it was a loose association of teams like Hamilton, Middlebury, and Williams who agreed to uphold high academic standards, but were given more freedom in regards to who they played in athletics. The NCAA changed its ways in 1999, and forced leagues to solidify member teams. According to Coach Hind, small NCAA conferences used to pick and choose what teams received bids to the NCAA tournament. As more college teams joined the association, the NCAA realized that they needed a set standard to judge teams, which they dubbed the “Automatic Qualifier” or “AQ.” The AQ required
Hamilton Players Set on
leagues to set their team memberships in stone, because for every league of at least seven teams, the first place team would automatically qualify for a bid to the NCAA championship tournament. For several years, Hamilton enjoyed the freedom of playing both NESCAC and Liberty League teams, but when the NESCAC was forced to solidify itself, Hamilton had to pick a side. Hamilton was at a crossroads of two very different paths, and they chose…both. Coach Thompson claims that the decision was easy for hockey and football to join NESCAC because they were already playing almost exclusively NESCAC teams. However, the soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and basketball teams played a few ‘CAC teams, but ultimately had tighter ties with New York teams in the Liberty League. Coach Thompson described it as a “collective decision of convenience, honoring traditions that already existed.” So why move these seven teams back to the NESCAC now? Coach Hind first explains that the Hamilton teams in the Liberty League had to follow NESCAC rules, which put Hamilton at a “competitive disadvantage.” For instance, preseason for basketball teams in the Liberty League starts on October 15th, but even when they played in the Liberty League, Hamilton basketball could not start until the NESCAC started on November 1st. In addition, the Liberty League is quite competitive with a respected reputation, but ultimately, the NESCAC is an all around stronger league, both academically and athletically. Coach Hind is excited about the teams’ transfer to the NESCAC because Hamilton students are “high achievers, hard workers, and goal setters” who deserve to play with the best of the best. Hamilton has been associated with the NESCAC since its founding, but this fall, as the final Hamilton teams transition into the league, Hamilton will show the NESCAC that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Making Waves in the ‘CAC
Field Hockey – Erin McNally #15 – Midfielder
photos courtesey of Jim Taylor
Basketball - Pat Sullivan #33 - Guard Senior
2009 All-American Third Team 2010, 2009 NFHCA All Region, First Team 2009 & 2010 Liberty League All League, First Team
2010 NABC All-Region, First Team 2009 Liberty League All-League, 1st team 2008 Liberty League, Rookie of the Year
In 2010, McNally ’12 played a crucial role in leading the Conts to finish 2nd in the Liberty League Championship. In 2009, Hamilton field hockey took the Liberty League by storm when they earned their way to the first round of the NCAA Championship. It was the first time in Hamilton field hockey history. Even though they were the new kids on the block this fall, Hamilton field hockey was determined to carry their recent successes into the NESCAC.
Last season, Sullivan ’12 led the Conts to the Liberty League championship game. Sullivan led the league by scoring an average of 17.4 points per game. The Continentals went 16-10 last season, and look forward to bringing the heat into the ‘CAC this winter.
Women’s Soccer - Sarah Boak #24 – Defender 2010 NSCAA All Region, Third Team 2010 Liberty League All League, Honorable Mention Defensive Performer of the Week
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In 2010, Sarah Boak ’12 led the women’s soccer team to their 3rd performance in the NCAA tournament. Hamilton defense proved to be unstoppable when they shut out Virginia Wesleyan 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Championship. Hamilton finished 10-4-3. Boak and Hamilton’s powerful defensive line had NESCAC offenders shaking in their boots this fall.
Men’s Soccer – Frank Campagnano #15 - Midfielder 2010 NSCAA All Region, First Team 2010 Liberty League All League, First Team Offensive Performer of the Week In 2010, Campagnano ’12 set the pace for a successful season for men’s soccer. Campagnano set up the men’s offense to reach a winning record of 9-3-3. The Continentals made it to the semifinals of the Liberty League Championship, and looked to shake things up in their debut in the NESCAC this fall.
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on the hill
on the hill
It’s Personal: Women’s Cancer Awareness Week
A Smile-Worthy Cause
By Madison Forsander ’14
By Olusade Oyalowo ’14
Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft — often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile (operationsmile. org). Starting this fall, students on the Hill will have the opportunity to help heal children’s smiles through a nonprofit organization called Operation Smile. Hamilton College’s chapter of Operation Smile, started by Leah Krause ’14 and Kara Shannon ’14, will help to provide free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for children around the globe. In these 45-minute surgeries, children will be given a lifetime of smiles. Co-founder and President of Fundraising, Shannon, expressed her enthusiasm for the beginnings of this new club: “The campus, students and administrators, were very receptive to our proposal for an Op Smile club. We are excited to have so many people, right off the bat, on our team.” The idea of creating a chapter at Hamilton started when Krause, co-founder and President of Awareness, attended Operation Smile’s International Student Cultural Exchange Conference with a friend in Beijing this August. She said, “When I left Beijing I really felt like I had no other choice but to start an Op Smile club at Hamilton. I guess doing nothing was no longer an option.” Krause explained how much she learned from this conference: “It isn’t just about Americans going overseas, providing the surgeries, and leaving. They really do a great job at training doctors in the country, involving local students, and energizing entire communities to help with the cause.” Shannon was also inspired over the summer when she conducted research on ways to become more involved with this effort. Luckily for Krause and Shannon, starting Operation Smile at Hamilton has been a smooth process. Krause said, “Starting a club on campus has actually been pretty simple. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from our adviser, Associate Dean of Students for Off-Campus Study Carol Drogus, the Student Activities office, and basically everyone else we’ve talked to. I think that the excitement that Kara and I have for starting this club is really evident, and that’s certainly made it much easier.” Krause and Shannon have big plans for Hamilton’s Operation Smile this year. According to Krause, “If all goes well, we will hopefully have an awesome benefit concert, a Late Nite activity second semester, screenings of movies from some of Op Smile’s medical missions, a few bake sales, toothbrush drives, etc.” Shannon adds, “[We] hope that students will become involved in Operation Smile, and remain involved after time at Hamilton.” Krause said, “To me, Operation Smile is about recognizing the dignity and value in the face of every child, and that’s truly profound! They are hidden and isolated because of their condition, but here we are on the other side of the world saying, ‘I see your potential, and I want to help you smile.’” 10
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Leah at the conference in China.
The week of September 26th – October 1st marked cancer, and vulvar cancer, which generally receive less Hamilton’s first ever Women’s Cancer Awareness recognition than breast cancer. The Foundation for Week. The campus buzzed with activity as students Women’s Cancer estimates that this year, over 78,000 participated in events designed to raise awareness women in the United States will be diagnosed, and for gynecologic cancers. Members of the Hamilton over 28,000 will die from gynecologic cancer. There are community attended a joint lecture by Professor only about 1,000 gynecologic oncologists in the United of Women’s Studies Michele Paludi and Professor States, so not all women who have been diagnosed of Biology Jinnie Garrett, which explored both the with gynecologic cancer will have access to the best science behind various gynecologic cancers, and the treatments. social issues surrounding them. During the week, students had the opportunity to sign ribbons that were Fortunately, Sarah’s mother has made a full recovery compiled into one giant ribbon that was donated to and was present at Women’s Cancer Awareness Week a local hospital. WHCL, the campus radio, released to support her daughter and promote her cause. But several public service announcements about women’s for many more women, the ending of their story may cancers. To wrap up the week, The Little Pub hosted a not be so optimistic. Ladies’ Night on Friday serving customized and virgin drinks. A portion of the proceeds was donated to the Sarah stressed the importance of being proactive, cause. not simply reactive, when it comes to battling Sarah Perdomo cancer: “We have to ’12, organizer and fight misconceptions. intiator of the week, Cancer can strike young, is a native of Ft. it isn’t just limited to Lauderdale, Florida. older women.” Since Her major is an gynecologic cancers occur interdisciplinary for a variety of reasons, focus in art, including health, family comparative history, sexual activity, and literature, and environmental factors, they religious studies. She can affect women of all and a few friends ages. were inspired by their personal experiences Women can personally to raise awareness at reduce their risk of Hamilton of various contracting certain cancers gynecologic cancers. through healthy lifestyle After a meeting with choices, scheduling regular Lisa Magnarelli ’96, medical exams, and taking Associate Dean of birth control to encourage Students for Student regular shedding of the Engagement and uterine lining, where Leadership, the first (from L to R) The leading ladies behind Hamilton’s 1st annual cancerous cells may Women’s Cancer develop. Women’s Cancer Week, Jennifer Hightower, Tracey Ogagba, Awareness Week at Sarah Perdomo, and Alison Ritacco at ladies’ awareness night at Hamilton was born. the Pub. There are also ways to become involved in the Sarah’s motivations for organizing Women’s Cancer fight against gynecological cancer on a larger scale. Awareness Week are deeply personal. Her mother was The Foundation for Women’s Cancer is organizing diagnosed with endometrial cancer in March of 2011 the second National Race to End Women’s Cancer and underwent a hysterectomy, but over the summer, on November 6th in Washington, D.C. Hamilton is doctors discovered that what they thought was organizing a team for the race, and interested runners endometrial was actually ovarian cancer. Following this (and walkers) of all skill levels are encouraged to join. news, Sarah’s mother underwent chemotherapy. Sarah It is important to remember that while events like cites this experience as her impetus to raise awareness Women’s Cancer Awareness Week are fun, their true of the unfortunate commonality of women’s cancers. purpose is to get people excited about the causes and make a difference. As Sarah summed up, “As a Women’s Cancer Awareness Week focused primarily community, Hamilton has a much wider reach than on gynecologic cancers, such as cervical cancer, ovarian The Foundation for Women’s Cancers, and we have cancer, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, vaginal the ability to start a dialogue and take action to fight the continental | autumn 2011
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An Open Door: The Days-Massolo Center Provides a Platform for Student Discussion
By Amal Asghar’15
Although Hamilton often feels like it may be frozen in time, the College has recently made several changes including the opening of the DaysMassolo Center located on College Hill Road. For several years, the campus has been in need of a common location for students, faculty, and staff to engage in open discussion. The new Center will be dedicated to multicultural awareness and education on campus, and will serve as a resource for all Hamilton students. The Center was dedicated to Hamilton trustees Drew S. Days III and Arthur J. Massolo last April, and Amit Taneja was appointed the director of Days-Massolo this past summer.
space located on the first floor of the Center. Some of these groups include the Asian Cultural Society (ACS), Muslim Students’ Association (MSA), and South Asian Students’ Association (SASA). Taneja wants students to find their voices not only in asking tough questions, but in answering them as well. He elaborated, “We’re encouraged in main society to not look at our differences … but the Center is a safe space where dialogue can happen freely across differences in race, gender, and sexuality. We talk about how our identities shape our experience, our thoughts, and our feelings.” The Center is not just for multicultural students to visit, but it is a place for all Hamilton students to come and have open conversations about questions or issues. Taneja said, “This is a place where how we talk to one another is equally important as what we talk about. Honest dialogue amongst students is essential for their understanding.”
Taneja, a native of India, has a strong, personal connection to his job. During his undergraduate days at the University of British Columbia, he felt overwhelmed by personal and family conflicts. During this rough time he gave up on higher education Not only does Taneja until a few mentors saw have faith in the Center his potential. For this as a tool for the entire reason, Taneja truly community, but he also believes in the benefit of has taken a liking to the having a support system campus dynamic as a safe, and wants the Center intellectual environment. to become a “homeTaneja said, “I have been away-from-home” for all really impressed by the students. ways in which faculty, staff, photo courtesy of the Days-Massolo Center The Center has several administrators interact facilities open for student use. There is a living with students like they’re human beings. You are room equipped with a television and Wii console, a student who has a name, has interests, and has a kitchen, a study location, and a computer lab. history. You are not just your student number.” The building also houses the Womyn’s Center and Rainbow Alliance. Taneja’s goal is for the Center to become an integral part of the campus and for every student to Many multicultural clubs and organizations take part in discussions and events. have started moving their meetings to the gathering
Coming to the Days-Massolo Center on November 10th: Professor Paula Moya on “Doing Race: Eight Conversations About Race” 12
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What You Didn’t Know about Hamilton
features
Hamilton may not have hidden chambers to find or invisible cloaks to hide in like at Hogwarts, but it does have quite a few secrets. Hamilton’s bicentennial is a good time to reveal the littleknown facts that lie behind Hamilton’s 200-year-old walls.
By Abby Googel ’12 Time for church!
Hamilton’s religious standings were quite different back in the day. Students were required to go to chapel services twice a day and once on Sundays. Surprisingly, chapel service often became a time for class rivalry. The students were made to enter the chapel by class year, starting with the seniors, and when it came time for the freshmen to enter, the sophomores would frequently close the doors on them. This was simply one example of how the freshmen were often hazed. Photos from early years have been found of full-out brawls, encircled by onlookers. Both compulsory chapel and these class rivalries eventually dwindled. Compulsory chapel was abolished in 1964, when students refused to go inside the chapel and sat out on the steps instead. Starting at this time, students were only required to attend chapel once per week. However, it wasn’t the end of frequent chapel services that put an end to class rivalry, but the popularity of fraternities that relocated this contention to the Greek life scene.
Buff and…pink?
It’s hard to imagine what Hamilton must have been like before indoor plumbing, but it is even harder to imagine that the school’s color used to be pink. Thanks to the College’s president in 1892, who decided that a college of our stature should have more manly colors, the school colors were changed to the “buff and blue” that we know today. You can imagine that this must have been a welcomed change by the all-male student body.
Haunted Hamilton
The Emerson Literary Society building was professedly haunted back in the 1900s and the ghosts may still remain today! According to a 1990 Spectator article, there were two ghosts who took residence in ELS. Old Edward Fitch, class of 1896, was a professor of Greek until 1934. After his death in 1946 he was buried in Hamilton’s cemetery and began haunting ELS. Often a knock was heard on the side door, and once during a heated “political debate among house members, the sunroom doors flew open,” according to the article. There had been no breeze, so this was taken as a sign of Fitch’s disapproval of the tension in the house. The story of “The Woman in White” is quite a bit creepier. During the 1940s, a woman visited Hamilton to see her boyfriend who lived in ELS. When she got here he was nowhere to be found and she discovered that he had gone to visit a girlfriend at Smith College. She was overwhelmed with grief and hung herself in his room that night. It is reported that some nights if you stand in front of the mirror in the room where she died you can see her ghost. Students living in the room in both 1988 and 1991 were tormented by the ghost and one even moved out to escape her eerie presence.
A strong and changing political climate
Students were limited in political activism until 1971, when the voting age was lowered from twenty-one to eighteen. As most students were too young to vote in presidential elections, The Spectator would hold a straw poll instead. Up until 1960, when Nixon was favored by 54% of students, the student body had always voted extremely Republican. In the next election, Lyndon B. Johnson was favored by 72% and the Republican candidate never polled a majority again on campus.
Bringing the family to school
Remarkably, many of the students who attended Hamilton in the years just after World War II were studying under the GI bill. According to Publius Virgilius Rogers Professor of American History Maurice Isserman, “in 1947, 102 out of the 108 students in the graduating class had served in World War II.” Many of the veterans were married during their time here at Hamilton and brought their wives and children along. During this time, Carnegie was remodeled to have kitchenettes. Additionally, seven barrack-like structures were built along Campus Road for GI families to live in, called “North Village.” The last one standing was demolished in 1962.
Doing your “business” outdoors
The Hamilton campus is wildly different than it was back in 1812. Although some of the old buildings remain today, others have been removed. According to Hamilton College archivist Kathy Collett, “in some early engravings of the College there are small unidentified wooden buildings” interspersed between the main buildings. It is speculated that these buildings all over campus could have served as woodsheds for heating or stabling for horses. Collett added, “they may have even been used as outhouses since Hamilton didn’t have indoor plumbing until 1890!”
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200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years
1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012
on the hill
Major Bicentennial Events Major Bicentennial Events
Text by Christie Crawford ’13 14
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Hamilton College kicked off this year with its Bicentennial Celebration on September 15th-18th. The campus buzzed with activities for over 3,500 Hamilton alumni, families, friends, and students. The cloudy skies and stormy weather did not hold any alumni back from returning to their old stomping grounds for Hamilton’s 200th birthday. Then again, they did go here at some point, which means they know not to be surprised by Hamilton’s flighty fall weather. The celebration started with the opening of the time capsule from the Class of 1871. The Emerson Gallery also featured an exhibit called “Time Capsules and Cornerstones: 200 Years of Collective Memory at Hamilton,” in which scrapbooks and other school artifacts were put on display to show how Hamilton has both changed and remained the same for the last 200 years. The Art Department sponsored a print exhibit displaying various prints made by Hamilton and Kirkland students since 1974. Even though today’s students live in a world of BlackBerries and fancy technology that the class of ’74 could never even imagine, the fact that students are still making prints like they did over 80 years ago shows Hamilton and Kirkland alums had the opportunity to relive the glory days and sit in on various classes. History students led tours of campus that focused on Bicentennial bits of Hamilton history. Bon Appétit put together a delicious campus wide picnic on Saturday on the Dunham quad, bringing together families, friends, and alumni, both young and old. The Bicentennial Assembly featured speeches from President Joan Hinde Stewart, Student Assembly President Daniel Knute Gailor, Professor Simon, and other Hamilton representatives. They spoke about Hamilton’s rich past, promising future, and unique legacy. Students and alumni enjoyed engaging lectures by other professors throughout the weekend. Professor Isserman spoke about the Bicentennial History of the College, and the changes that both the students and the institution have gone through since Hamilton’s founding in 1812.
1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years
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200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years
1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 on the hill
Major Bicentennial Events Major Bicentennial Events
Photos Courtesy of Nancy Ford, Laura Laurey, and the Hamilton College Archives
Various events on campus also inspired opportunities for students and alumni to interact and network. At the Careers in Entrepreneurship panel, successful alumni such as the CEO of LinkedIn.com, Dan Nye ’88, and the CEO of Netflix, Marc Randolph ’81, discussed breaking into the “real world” after college and exploring the world of entrepreneurship. Interactions with successful alumni inspire current students to stay focused and positive about life after Hamilton. Bicentennial Weekend was also a success for Hamilton’s fall sports teams. Football, field hockey, and men’s and women’s soccer all had games over the weekend. Football dominated and won their opening game against Tufts for the first time since 1992. Women’s soccer faced a tough loss against Amherst on Saturday, but came back fighting the next day and beat Wesleyan 3-1. Women’s Field Hockey lost on Sunday, but beat out Amherst, who is ranked 12th in the country. All in all, despite a few missing bicentennial banners and several displaced golf carts, the weekend couldn’t have been any more of a success. People came from all over to celebrate Hamilton’s 200th birthday, and that says something about the strength of the relationships that are fostered on the Hill. Hamilton has had a great ride for the last 200 years, and if the next 200 years go anyway like the last, Hamilton has nothing but a bright future ahead.
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1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years 1812-2012 200 Years
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talk of the town
talk of the town
A History of Hamilton: An Interview with Professor Maurice Isserman
Professor Maurice Isserman, a Former Fulbright grant-winner and James L. Ferguson Professor of History, recently published his latest book, On the Hill: A Bicentennial History of Hamilton College. Isserman has also written prize-winning books such The Other American: The Life of Michael Harrington, and his co-authored book Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes. He has also contributed editorials and book reviews to The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Newsday, The Los Angeles Times, The Nation, and The American Alpine Review. Anyone who has experienced the unique culture of Hamilton will find its history fascinating, and Professor Isserman has a wealth of knowledge on the subject.
Oulsade Oyalowo: Which Side Were You On? was your first book to be published. What inspired you to begin writing histories?
by Oulsade Oyalowo’14
Professor Isserman: My first book, Which Side Were You On? was published in 1982, and was based on the dissertation I wrote in graduate school to earn my Ph.D. It was a history of the American Communist Party during the Second World War. Over the next two decades, as I began my career as an academic historian, I wrote a number of other political histories, focusing on the history of American radical movements in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. In recent years I’ve shifted the focus of my research to the history of mountaineering and exploration, including my 2008 book, co-authored with Stewart Weaver, Fallen Giants. I am currently at work on a history of American mountaineering, from the 17th century down to the present, which will be my fifteenth book when published.
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OO: How do you think the college has changed since the 1995 removal of Greek houses? Have you seen any major changes at Hamilton in terms of social structures since then? PI: One result of the Residential Life Decision of 1995 was that the college, which had a difficult time attracting women students in the 1980s, tipped to a majority female student body at the end of the 1990s. However, although Residential Life was an important change in itself, it needs to be seen as one of a multitude of decisions in recent decades that have moved the College into the front rank of liberal arts institutions in the United States. Hamilton was a first rate regional college for most of its existence; now it’s a first rate national college. I think a lot of credit for that change has to go to Admissions, which recognized some years back that it had to recruit aggressively on a national and international level. In the 20odd years I’ve been at Hamilton, the student body has grown notably more diverse, more interesting, and more committed to their studies.
OO: What was the most interesting thing you learned during the process of writing On The Hill? PI: Hamilton is a college slow to change, but when change comes it does so in a hurry. That can be disconcerting to people who knew and loved the College as it used to be. The lesson of the book, if it has one, is that the history of Hamilton is characterized by both continuity and change, and both are necessary to sustain a vibrant learning community. On the Hill is dedicated to Dick Couper, Class of 1944, a sixth generation Hamiltonian, a former provost, acting president and trustee of the College, who unfortunately passed away before the Bicentennial. In a Class & Charter Day address he delivered in 2004, he jokingly suggested that the College set up a “standing committee on traditions,” which would recommend new traditions, “to be sure we had the right ones.” Like Dick, I think we should be prepared to welcome change on the Hill even as we honor our past, and recognize “tradition” as something warm, alive, and growing – not cold, dead, and immutable.
“...Hamilton is characterized by both continuity and change, and both are necessary to sustain a vibrant learning community.”
OO: How long did it take you to write On The Hill? PI: I began writing the book in the summer of 2008, and submitted the manuscript in January 2010. It then took 18 months to design and produce the book, a process that involved many people from the College staff, as well as our professional designers.
If you are interested in learning more about Hamilton’s history, you can purchase On the Hill today at the College bookstore or on the store’s website. The book can also be reserved at the Burke Library at http://www. hamilton.edu/200/bicentennial-history-book.
OO: What was the research process like and what people did you contact while you were writing?
OO: Based on the title, it’s pretty obvious what On the Hill is about, but could you share a little of the book’s content? PI: On the Hill is the official bicentennial history of Hamilton College. It tells the story of Samuel Kirkland’s career as a missionary to the Oneidas, his decision to form the Hamilton-Oneida Academy, the foundation of Hamilton College in 1812, and the history of the College from 1812 down to the present. It also places the history of
the College in a larger context – regional and national – discussing, for example, the role of Hamilton alumni and students during the Civil War.
Photos Courtesy of Nancy Ford and Laura Laurey
PI: On the Hill is not only a book about Hamilton; it’s also, to a significant degree, a book by the Hamilton community. That is to say, I could not have written it without the cooperation of the dozens of Hamilton faculty, staff, and alumni who are listed in the acknowledgments. To give just two examples, I could not have written the geological history of the Oriskany Valley which appears in chapter one without the help of Emeritus Professor of Geology Don Potter; nor could I have written the section on the painful experience of gay men at Hamilton in the 1960s without the memories shared by a member of the Class of 1964. the continental | autumn 2011
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talk of the town
what grinds my gears A Review by Hannah Kloeckner ’14
The Hamilton community initially waved goodbye to Lil’ Tex Mex with frustration. No more late night cravings would be satisfied with burritos and nachos. Let’s admit it, there is nothing better than ending (or in some cases, starting) your night digging into a steaming plate of cheese fries. However, Tex Mex moving its finger-licking fast food elsewhere has opened the back of the Village Tavern to a new kind of restaurant: Kabobviously! Located in arguably the classiest and most sought after locale in downtown Clinton, Kabobviously has become the new gutbuster inside the VT. Founder, Kurt Krumme, started Kabobviously in 2008, originally selling his namesake kabobs at the Clinton Farmers’ Market. A traditionally Middle Eastern food, the word kabob generally refers to freshly grilled meat on a skewer. As the business grew it became clear that a permanent establishment was necessary, so when Lil’ Tex Mex moved out, Krumme seized the opportunity and moved in. Kabobviously offers a wide variety of food such as kabobs with a side of pita pieces, pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. Though the name suggests that the kabob is the specialty, Hamilton students mostly rave about the sweet potato fries and cheeseburgers. While the burger is not cooked-to-order, it arrives sandwiched between a soft ciabatta roll and accompanied with a steaming plate of thickly cut fries. The traditional kabob is equally hearty and delicious. It is freshly grilled in house-made rosemary and garlic marinade. Complementary pita and homemade 20
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hummus replace the standard breadbasket, and authentic tzatziki sauce adds a welcome freshness to the otherwise savory meal. Commons’ new hummus bar has some clear competition. According to the staff, one of the best sellers is the Kabob Quesadilla, which has been described as “out of this world.” For drinks, the old-fashioned Boylan Sodas add an old-school twist and the Sweet Leaf Organic Iced Tea offers an alternative to the generic Pepsi or pitcher of beer. The food is made fresh daily and all the ingredients are local. Kabobviously is both environmentally and vegetarian friendly. Kabobs are made-toorder with your choice of veggies and tofu, and customers are encouraged to recycle their cans, bottles, and plastic trays. While the setting is not exactly for the parents, with rickety plastic tables and a lack of napkins and silverware, the laid back, informal atmosphere attracts locals and Hamiltonians alike. In terms of price, there is not much to complain about. Meals average $7, which is bearable coming from a student’s near-empty wallet. While some students have expressed anger and disappointment at the replacement of Tex Mex, the truth is that Kabobviously offers many of the same delicious foods comfortably shared in the back of a bar. From fries and mozzarella sticks to chicken wings, Kabobviously will be sure to satisfy late night cravings as well as offer a diverse, new eat in, take out, or delivery option for Hamilton students. Kabobviously 14 College Street Clinton, NY; 315-853-5353; Open daily 10:30am-12:30am
As you may have noticed on alumni/parents/Bicentennial/what-werethey thinking weekend, older alums love to tell you tidbits about Hamilton that you were probably already aware of with precisely enough vocal inflection to make you believe that you are indeed learning new information. What’s funny is that you can often derive a bit of subtext from these encounters. For instance: “You know when I was here, we were still allowed to live with our fraternity brothers” actually means: “This is exactly the excuse I was looking for not to donate money anymore!” Another common example: “Look at all these fancy buildings here now!” in turn means: “They didn’t spend any money on us when I was here. You guys are spoiled and quite bratty.” By extension this also seems to mean: “This is exactly the excuse I was looking for not to donate money anymore.” But despite my keen awareness for this particular alumni propensity, I am often out-bizzared (which is not common) by some of the things they come up with. A few weekends ago, I happened to be at a canoe race in the Adirondacks with an abnormally high number of alums and Hamilton parents. I was wearing my Hamilton College Marathon Canoe Racing t-shirt, which naturally doubles as an invitation for anyone to come talk to me about Hamilton College. One of the said alums approached me and said exactly this: “Hamilton College! I went there a couple (he was class of ’82) years ago! Then I sent my son back there two years ago to find a nice girl to marry.” And he winked at me. Visibly taken aback, I was also shocked and horrified by his presumptuousness. He continued: “You know that Hamilton has one of the highest rates of student-student marriages in this country,” with the same careful inflection and creepy eyebrow raising.
talk of the features town
By Kate Bennert ’12
I told him that I had, in fact, heard that before and then kindly excused myself, suddenly very thirsty, ignoring the little voice in the back of my head that was telling me to misquote Amy Poehler in Baby Mama and say something like “Bitch, you don’t know my life!” There may be many things in this world that leave me feeling annoyed or slightly disillusioned, but this random alum happened to hone in on the two that really make my blood boil. One is the assumption that I would in any way be interested in dating your son/daughter/ nephew/niece/granddaughter/grandson, and the second is that parents are still ruthlessly involved in our dating lives. I mean, this guy wasn’t even my own parent. How are we still expected to uphold a committed, monogamous relationship when some of us can’t even hold our alcohol? You know, that wouldn’t even work if you think about it. I’m supposed to find a career path and be in a marriage-track relationship? No thank you. I’m all about limiting the complications. Maybe I’m just jaded because I’ve ended every relationship I’ve ever been in because at some point it got too confusing. Or maybe my roommate’s right and I’m completely soul-less. But you don’t need to know that, Hamilton Community, because I don’t really want to hear about your awesome relationships either. I’m just saying, I trust that I came to Hamilton for one reason: to end up with a job that I can brag about to “funemployed” people during the recession. I didn’t come here to marry anyone’s son or daughter. But I am now quite positive that I have prevented exactly that from happening by virtue of this rant. And frankly, if you find self-depreciating realism attractive, by all means call me…after graduation. the continental | autumn 2011
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talk of the town
Legends of the Hill
Two hundred years is a long time for a school’s traditions to shift, for life to move forward, and for the very subjects we learn to evolve. The Continental asked several Hamilton alumni for a snapshot of what life was like for them back when they were on the Hill. Their stories may be set at a different Hamilton, but still may inspire students today.
One of the things I loved most about Kirkland was that the College allowed us to “pull” non-human roommates. Mine was a sweet, beautiful, black lab mix named Tasha. I would leave my dorm room in the morning with Tasha by my side; in the afternoon when I returned, she would be happily snoring on my bed. Our “kids” had the freedom to run wherever they wanted. They had their friends and we had ours. Olive, a scruffy campus dog, would often hitchhike into town and back. I once got a ride with her and her human. In fact, hitchhiking was pretty commonplace for those of us who lived off campus. We rented houses in town and on College Hill Road and enjoyed communal living. Wherever we lived, the smell of apples and apple cider filled our rooms. It was fabulous. - Jennifer Rich ’75 I would not recommend this, but sometimes an allnighter can pay off. A lucky few of us had the great Austin Briggs for Modern British Literature, and at the beginning of the semester he told us we should be reading Yeats on a regular basis in preparation for a paper toward the end of the semester. Naturally, I put off reading Yeats until two days before the paper was due. I camped out in a comfy chair on the second floor of the Bristol Campus Center and propped my feet up on a window seat, looking south, and began reading poem after poem. After poem. Not fast, mind you—I would not do that to Yeats. After poem. As night turned into day, I noticed that my reflection in the window was turning into the scenery along College Hill Road. And so it dawned on me, quite literally, that some of Yeats’ poems were night-time reflections, and some were day-time views of the outside world. (Some were even about sitting in a chair all night long.) With that imagery in mind, I wrote my essay. One of the reasons I remember that paper is that I got an A, and I didn’t get many of those. - Steve Wulf ’72
My best memories revolve around all of the “work hard-play hard” aspect of Hamilton! While that phrase is a little hackneyed, it is still relevant in today’s world and it is a lifestyle we Hamiltonians lived on the Hill! - Alexandra Kirtley ’93
The moment I recognized that Hamilton was more than a place to study and hang out with friends was in an American literature class. Fred Wagner was the professor. He conducted class around a single large table and delighted in our discovery and appreciation of works he loved. When one of us made a worthy comment he lit up. He had a wonderful laugh and it was clear he loved to teach. I looked forward to going to his class and read his assignments carefully in hopes of making valuable contributions to the discussion. On a dreary day during that semester when I was in my first course with “Daddy Wags” as he was called, I stopped at the coffee shop near McEwen. There sat my (somewhat intimidating) professor having coffee and a sweet. I joined him for a mere 15 minutes. We didn’t talk about literature or even school. I barely remember what we discussed, but somehow by the end of our time I realized what a wonderful community I had fallen into. To this day I marvel at my good fortune to have spent four years in bitter cold icy weather, toiling away as professors picked apart my work, at significant monetary expense. At the time and all these years later, l feel privileged to have been on campus and to be a part of the Hamilton family - a family of which I have been an active member for all these years. - Linda Johnson ’80
Compiled by Danielle Burby 22
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talk of the town When I started at Hamilton in 1967, the core requirements were expected to mandate a complete “Hamilton man.” The overriding force during the late sixties and early seventies was political. The first person I met at Hamilton was the captain of the soccer team, a vibrant, athletic, bright senior. By the same time the next year he had been killed in Viet Nam. I have never gotten over that. Viet Nam was constantly in every student’s thoughts. We had friends over there. We were destined to be drafted after our student deferments expired and be sent there. Unlike many colleges in New York, no buildings on campus were taken over by protesters, but anti-war protests were regular events. Megaphone-packing students drew groups throughout the campus. A liberal faculty was supportive of protesters (some even gave A’s to students who missed the exam due to protest activities). Major rallies were held on campus and in the Village park in downtown Clinton. Students who never stood out became leaders and spokesmen in the anti-war movement. Army fatigues were de rigeur, the peace sign was ubiquitous, and anti-war folk singers were blaring all around campus. The escape for many was drugs. Timothy Leary, the guru of LSD, came and spoke on campus, advocating “tuning out by turning on.” He found a receptive audience among many. Recruiters came to campus and protesting students blanketed the floors by lying down around the recruiters trying to limit access. They were trampled by other students who felt they were making a different statement. No one was apolitical. No one was uninformed. It was a time to think of things bigger than ourselves. In the midst of this came “The Sterile Cuckoo.” The occupation of the campus by a film crew and Liza Minnelli seemed anachronistic in light of the times, but we were all captivated by the concept. Students were paid to be extras in the party scenes, and one or two actually had speaking parts, becoming instant celebrities. Free time was spent standing around hoping to see the “stars”, and “Come Saturday Morning” briefly replaced the folk singers. The filming ended, the war did not, and the priority again was the War. Looking back forty years later, I am still not clear if there was a right or wrong in the way we at Hamilton dealt with Viet Nam. I do know it made us all less self-centered and more aware of life. I guess that is always a goal of higher education. Hamilton succeeded! - Robert Wiggins ’71 the continental | autumn 2011
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features
The 7 Wonders of Hamilton college
by Blair Casey ’13
Mango Brie Panini Few events on campus are as highly anticipated or as well attended as the scramble to Café Opus for mango Brie panini day. Brie, the most fattening and delicious of all French cheeses, comes together in a glorious union with juicy, tangy mango twice a month to create the most satisfying lunch of all time. The line at Opus on mango Brie panini day speaks for itself. Although Opus employees remain mum on why such a famed moneymaker is not offered more frequently, it is hard to feel anything but grateful for the days that they are served. No list of Hamilton’s wonders would be complete with out homage to the praise-worthy and often life-saving mango Brie panini.
McEwen Rock Swing The unusual-looking hanging mechanism that spans both floors of McEwen Dining Hall is such a regular fixture of everyday life on the Hill that people often forget that it functions as a swing. The rock swing was designed and created in the seventies by a Kirkland Art major and Hamilton Physics major as a joint senior thesis. Four people standing equidistant around the circle of the base twisting the swing in unison can eventually be elevated to the second floor. Today, the swing represents the most prominent example of the unique relationship between Hamilton, Kirkland, and their students.
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Clinton Pottery Keep your eyes open for small, white, unmarked boxes sprinkled around campus…you might just discover a small ceramic piece from Clinton Pottery, one of Hamilton’s best kept secrets. Clinton Pottery has been a fixture in the Village since 1831, and is the official maker of the popular “Hamilton” mug. The store is located downtown on Utica Street, but owner and lifelong potter Jonathan Woodward brings Clinton Pottery to the Hill by periodically hiding free pottery around campus. Woodward hopes to bring in new customers (and their parents) by including the name and address of the store in the same box as the beautiful hidden pieces. Be on high alert for these boxes if you want to snag a piece of handmade local art. No luck finding them? The store is open Monday through Saturday and is well worth the hike. the continental | autumn 2011
Chapel Easily the most iconic building on Hamilton’s campus, the chapel contains even more College history than most people realize. Completed in 1827, the chapel’s design was the combined effort of prominent architect Philip Hooker and College trustee John Lothrop. In Hamilton’s early days, the chapel was the center of student life on the Hill as prayer was a required activity and the building housed Greek and Physics classes. A perennial Hamilton prank, students used to sneak barnyard animals into the chapel, such as the Class of 1842, which herded 120 sheep and 15 mules into the chapel one night.
features
Cannons Have you ever been curious about the two cannons on the quad in front of admissions? The cannons were donated by Elihu Root, class of 1864, who served as the United States Secretary of War under William McKinley. U.S. forces captured these Spanish cannons during the Spanish-American War; take a closer look at either of them and you’ll notice the inscription of their Spanish names. Although the cannons are now mounted and permanently face Colgate, they used to have wheels underneath them that were removed after mischievous students repeatedly moved them.
1812 Garden Beyond the co-op and surrounded by a split-rail fence, the 1812 Garden cultivates a living history of life at the time of Hamilton’s inception. This “founding” garden is the full reconstruction of an early 19th century kitchen garden, and serves as the “laboratory” project of the Food For Thought class. Planted in 2008 by the seminar sections of Professor David Gapp and Professor Franklin Sciacca, the garden continues to be a profound teacher of sustainability. The students that work the garden learn the harvesting techniques and preservation methods of Hamilton’s forefathers while gaining the ability to cook and live in 1812, two hundred years later.
1768 Marker As you may recall from your high school history class, the British declared that all land west of the line drawn by their Proclamation of 1763 was to forever be Indian territory. You may also recall that it didn’t exactly work out that way. In 1768, the Treaty of Fort Stanwix adjusted the Proclamation Line to accommodate white settlement, and the revised line ran straight across College Hill Road. The stone marker located towards the bottom of the hill was intended to be an absolute boundary for white settlement, but instead provides a reminder of the land Hamilton sits upon, and the natives who once occupied it. the continental | autumn 2011
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features features
features
Buried in Time
By Meg Pengue ’12
A Hamilton Literary Monthly, course catalogues, and a printing block. These are among the artifacts resurrected from the Hamilton College Class of 1871 time capsule. September 15, 2011 marked the first time in 140 years that the memories most prized by the Class of 1871 were unveiled for eyes to see.
boys of 1871 saw the founding of Theta Delta Chi, although no fraternity houses dotted the landscape until the early 1980s. Boys handled a rigid course load including Greek, Latin, and mathematics. By their senior year, they had the exciting options of metaphysics, Commentaries on English Law, and Moral Philosophy.
We must take a step back to June of 1871 to imagine the day this group of men buried their memories of college life in a time capsule beneath the sapling of an elm tree. The Class of 1871 consisted of approximately fifty seniors who weathered four years of education and impressionable youth during what are now referred to as “The Doldrums” – when Hamilton’s budget ran at a deficit for over twenty years. President Brown (1866-81) governed a student body that returned to the Hill fresh off the heels of the Civil War and the recent assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Following in the footsteps of the graduates before them, the men celebrated their ensuing commencement with Tree Day, a tradition now foreign to the campus. Tree Day, a custom that dated back to 1856, offered each senior class an opportunity to leave to their alma mater mementos from their four years on campus.
Despite the national unrest, college life on the Hill continued with the routine grind of recitation and chapel meetings. On campus, the
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Each June, it was customary for the senior class to gather outside on the same afternoon the Clark Prize was awarded for public speaking. The whole school would attend to watch a tree planted and marked with a boulder bearing the class motto – always in Greek – and graduation year. In time, copper or lead boxes containing class and college records were buried beneath the stones. Each member of the class would take
Findings from the most recent time capsule opening.
turns picking up the shovel and pouring the earth over their college remains. Fifty years later, whoever remained of the class would reunite on the Hill to resurrect their time capsule and reminisce.
mysteries and secrets hidden within.
Today, as we walk the very same paths as the 200 classes before us, we continue to bear witness to this lost Hamilton tradition. Stone monuments still scatter our campus and preserve the
Time capsules from various class years and their contents can be found in the “Time Capsules and Cornerstones” exhibition in Emerson Gallery through December 16, 2011.
What was the intent of these memorials left behind? The tradition gave the men the opportunity to draw to a close one chapter of their lives and prepare for the opening of a new world. The tradition remained in place through the late 19th century until the Hamilton quad began The school’s bicentennial has provided an to resemble a graveyard littered with stones of opportunity to reflect on our rich history. varying shapes and sizes. In 1925, Elihu Root However, much of our great institution’s past organized the removal of most of the trees and relocation of the class stones. It was not until 1978 is still unclear. Time capsules serve as sacred that Leigh Keno’79 discovered most of the stones reminders of a forgotten age. While we have discarded in the field behind the cemetery. Keno recovered many, there are potentially dozens of arranged for the stones to be relocated to the these time capsules still hidden below the ground space next to Minor Theater and Bristol Center we walk across every day. where they remain today.
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features
I Heard They Recently Decided to Add More Hops To It!
The Revival of Hops Farms in the Greater Clinton Area By Sophie Hays ’13
The campus pub, once located underneath Commons, circa mid-1970s.
What if I told you that beer was up for sale in Commons? Or once was at least—in an underground haunt that was known as the “Buttery,” tucked in a basement room in the Hall of Commons, now Commons Dining Hall. It was in this retreat that students could purchase items such as raisins, nuts, apples, cheese, stationary, cigars, and even beer and hard cider after their evening meal. Founding president Azel Backus, who was taught how to steal hops poles while growing up on a farm, fully supported the Buttery. The treasure was short-lived, and despite being the only profitable operation on campus at the time, the Buttery was shut down in 1818 by the nefarious President Davis. But New York State and its students would continue to love their beer, returning all the way back to its humble hop beginnings. The first commercial hop farm recorded in history was in nearby Madison, NY. By the beginning of the 19th century, hops were one of the most ubiquitous crops in the state, and by the 1850s, New York was growing 90 percent of the nation’s supply. Much of that production came from central New York. Today around seventy different brews hail from New York State. Our neighbors at Utica Club still boast about being the first beer served after prohibition.
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features
After the detrimental disease hit hop farms across New York State, many hops were then imported to uphold the state’s beer industry. And so followed the decline of hop farms in the state. However, today a few noteworthy farmers in the greater Clinton area are pursuing the perennial crop that once played such a large role during the initial Hamilton years. Jim Wrobel is the owner and operator of Wrobel Farms in Bridgewater, NY. He has not only pursued a revival of the hop crop on his land, but also grows the same heirloom varieties that were once planted on his farm 100 years ago. And in Munnsville, NY, Larry Fisher, also the current president of the Northeastern Hops Alliance, owns the only hop farm in Madison County, Foothill Farms. He provides organic Cascade hops to Empire Brewing Company Bar and Restaurant in Syracuse for a production of their own beer—Empire Hop Harvest (Pale Ale). Two of those hop farmers today are Hamilton’s own. Seniors Mike Manwaring and Will ThoresonGreen have begun a brewing adventure of their own. For Professor Sciacca’s Food For Thought Seminar, these two students will be brewing a beer from the hops that are currently growing in the 1812 garden. Manwaring and Thoreson-Green have always wanted to craft their own brew, and opportunity hit them one day in the garden when learning about the 1812 beer. “This is our first time brewing, and unfortunately we won’t be able to produce too much of it,” said Manwaring, “But we are excited to learn about the brewing process as we go along, through research and discussions with other biology professors with brewing experience.” More importantly, who will get to taste this winning science experiment? “We’ll definitely have to organize a tasting session for the people who are involved in the bicentennial celebrations and will appreciate the beer,” they said. Between the founding students of 1812 and Hamilton students of today, not too much seems to have changed in our tastes. The spirit of the man who once encouraged stealing hops poles and selling beer in Commons is sorely missed. Yet something about the hops-filled, Keystone-scented air around Clinton just feels right this year, coinciding with Hamilton’s bicentennial celebrations. Maybe we’re living in a hoppier time after all. Special thanks to David Gapp and Sharon Williams for assisting with research for this article.
One of several hops barns located on Dugway Road, this hops barn formerly stood on the property of Onno Oerlemans and Sally Cockburn. Hop barns were used to store and dry hops until they were ready to ferment. Even Kirkland Cottage was once used to store and dry hops.
Hops, a crucial ingredient in beer-making, help to flavor and balance the bitterness of a beer, distinguishing and specializing home-brews. the continental | autumn 2011
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style
Kate Harloe, ’12 / Canton, NY
How would you define your sense of style? Probably oblivious. I appreciate fashion as art, but I think the amount of time and money we spend on the pieces of cloth we throw over ourselves from day to day is pretty hilarious. I don’t take myself or my wardrobe very seriously...which I recommend because you’ll end up feelin’ good in whatever you wear, you’ll have the money to buy a concert ticket instead of a bikini top, and you’ll continually have the pleasure of confusing the typical Martin’s Way passersby.
Spotted: Kate Harloe & Sean Smith
Where do you draw your inspiration? Friends and travels. I’m not much into television or entertainment media, so I’m usually behind when it comes to trendiness. But my travels last year brought me from India to Paris to San Francisco and I picked up a lot of different clothing items/approaches to style along the way. My collection of friends is about as eclectic as my wardrobe, too, so I constantly get fun or interesting or weird ideas from them. Oh, and my grandma was pretty fly, I always like to sport her rings, bracelets, and scarves.
Sean Smith, ’15 / Miami, FL
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How would you define your sense of style? To define my sense of style is to limit my sense of style. It’s a chilly fall morning, and a humid July night in Miami. It’s Mr. Rogers in SoHo. An American in Paris. Your favorite English professor. It’s rustic, it’s sophisticated, it’s fun. It’s every rule of male fashion properly executed, and then completely ignored. Where do you draw your inspiration? Paint swatches, TV shows, movies, and Ivy League fashion have definitely impacted me an awful lot. You’d never think Home Depot would be such a fashionable place, huh? Those paint swatches have helped me to blend and accent colors, mixing neutrals and colors that pop, while maintaining a theme. Take Ivy has become my second Bible, and I often watch and rewatch The Darjeeling Limited, Bored to Death, Purple Noon, Mad Men, The Graduate, and Alfie for ideas. And I can’t forget Tumblr.com, home of the menswear community. Favorite piece from your wardrobe? One is a wooden bead bracelet that my mom and I both have. I feel bare without it. The second is my navy Ludlow J. Crew blazer, due to its timelessness and versatility. You can wear it a million and one ways right through the year, dressed up or dressed down.
Favorite piece from your wardrobe? Cowboy boots. I bought them in Ottawa and they have seen me through nearly every element and all kinds of ridiculous situations. Also, I never take off any of my rings. Each of them has a very different back-story.
Where do the majority of your clothes come from? Well, I worked at J. Crew for nearly a year, so I do have quite a bit from there, but I pride myself in owning things from all over. I mix ideas from several brands, and add influences of my own. I’ve thrifted a lot of my collection as well; some are even hand-me-downs that I’ve had tailored.
Where do the majority of your clothes come from? Thrift stores, which I seek out wherever I am. I try not to give too much of my small budget to sweat shops and the like. Plus I hate malls. But in the same way that Hamilton students (myself included) “hate texting,” yet spend a sad amount of hours staring at that tiny portable screen, Urban Outfitters and Cotton On are always a challenge to resist.
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On Sean: Blazer and belt: H&M; Shirt: Banana Republic; Tie: Vintage; Pants: Dockers; Shoes: Sebago; Feather and knit flower: handmade. On Kate: Shirt: Forever 21; Skirt: Cotton On; Converse: Thrift Store.
On Kate: Dress: Cotton On; shirt: thrift store in Paris; necklace: thrift store; belt: Pac Sun; boots: Value Village in Ottowa. On Sean: Blazer: Zara; Belt: Vintage; the continental | autumn 2011 Shirt: Saint 31 James; Pants: J.Crew; Sneakers: SeaVees.
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Bicentennial Fashion styled by Pearl Shin photos by Kristy Bendetti The old becomes new again this bicentennial year. Hamilton students today show off their updated looks from the past using long skirts and dresses for girls and arrow shirts for boys. These four Hamilton students create looks that seamlessly merge past and present fashions while blending in a mix of their own unique tastes and styles. They prove that fashion is in fact moving forward. We tend to think of long skirts as an outdated look, but today this trend has made its way back to the Hill. Combine the maxi skirt with a bold colored tank, casual blazer, and plain flats for a minimal effort and maximum effect look. Another perfect transition for the fall includes a simple mustard yellow and gray striped vintage dress, a casual yet chic look. Add a pair of bright red strappy flats to give this classic look a more modern twist. Today’s biggest trend is fun and adorable polka dots. The look has made it everywhere from red carpets, fall 2011 runways, and everyday casual wear. These dots act as a chameleon for any style, including long, vintage skirts and short polka-dotted skirts. It may not be winter quite yet, but accessorizing these looks with a scarf as a headband or hanging loosely from the neck adds some flair. Dyllon Young’15 and Trevor Howe’14 harken back to the days of an all-male Hamilton in stripes inspired by “arrow shirts,” button-downs with detachable collars. A striped button down shirt tucked into a pair of khakis is the easiest way to make a clean and sleek look. There are various ways to create a more modern look for the “arrow shirt,” whether it’s an untucked plaid shirt or a colored button down and bowtie over dark jeans. Plaid is often a go-to shirt, and wearing it over unrolled khakis creates a casual collegiate look. And, of course, bright colors can always help you stand out from the crowd.
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On Dyllon: Shirt: Ralph Lauren; Pants: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Sperry’s. On Sarah: Skirt: Salvation Army in Utica; Silk tank: mother’s vintage; Scarf: borrowed; Sunglasses: street vendor in Seoul, South Korea.
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On Sarah: Dress: Japanese vintage from Soeul, South Korea; Flats: Salvation Army in Utica. On Trevor: Polo: Lacoste; Pants: Brooks Brothers; Shoes: Cole Haan.
On Dyllon: Shirt: Vineyard Vines; Khakis: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Sperry’s. On Julia: Blazer: Aqua; Tank: Eloise; Skirt: Madewell; Flats: Steve Madden; Aviators: Ray Ban.
On Trevor: Shirt and tie: Brooks Brothers; Pants: Seven Jeans; Belt: Tucker Blair; Shoes: Cole Haan; Glasses: Ray Ban. On Julia: Scarf: Carlisle; Top: Yaya Non de Plume; Skirt: Anthropologie; Flats: Steve Madden.
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An Eye on Hamilton Fashion: Julia Jarrold ’13 Takes It All In Just as we’re beginning to wrap our heads around the Spring/Summer 2011 designs and trends, here comes Fashion Week with the 2012 collections. We’ve finally found ways to embrace pleats, bellbottoms, tapered hems, crochet, tassels and so much more, but now we’re expected to continue reshaping, refitting, and coloring over the shades in which we’ve finally become accustomed? No, thank you! Fashion just expects so much from us; but we are curious…. so, what’s to come for the next course of fashion? The new fall lines, of course! Rest easy folks and don’t toss your maxis! (They’re still good here, as far as I’m concerned.) These fall designers have finally decided to make runway looks that can be more easily comprehended and adapted by your average Joe and Joanne; and, frankly Joe and Joanne are looking pretty darn good. So far, this entrée of spring/summer 2012 is settling with me. Fashion is beginning to seem much more accessible. My proof? Hamilton’s student body. Hamilton’s campus has never been known as the fashion hub of the universe; however, since the beginning of the semester our fellow peers have been knocking the fashion-ball out of the park. Both the men and women on the Hill are embracing the colors, silhouettes, patterns, and textures of the trends that are at the core of this Fashion week’s runway collections.
MENSWEAR. Boys, gentlemen, men, chaps, and hombres. Hooray! You’ve got it! Your tapered and tailored jeans, your use of plaid, your choice to insert bright colored pieces into your wardrobe, and how you’ve got the look of the horizontal stripe down—Bellissimo! Yes, Patagonia fleeces, pinnies, baseball caps, and athletic shorts will forever be a part of this campus’ fashion, but after all, we’re still just students. I mean, what can you expect? A guy needs to wear those white tube socks to work out, right? Nevertheless, you guys have got it. Americana trends are swarming the runways and at the root of this look, are people like you. Tops. The men of Hamilton’s campus are embracing all different styles and fits of shirt. From the tank top, worn in t-shirt, casual v-neck, and button-up, the male students are rocking it. They’re embracing plaid, horizontal stripes, and a mix of all different sorts of color. Pants. You boys are starting to move beyond the classic looking khaki, and I like it. Not only have you branched out and started to wear corduroys, twill pants, and even jeans, but you’ve also started to embrace different cuts. I can guarantee that every female on this campus is enjoying those tighter and more fitted bottoms. The cuffs at the bottom of your pants are honestly, the cherry on the sundae. Shoes. Who knew male shoes could be so darn exciting. Between the Jordans and thoseVans Classics, I can not take my eyes off of your feet. So, thank you and don’t be modest. I know you know you look good. To capture these looks in your everyday apparel—start slowly. There’s no need to jump into the deep end of fashion, just start out with a few upgraded pieces and work them into your wardrobe. Try mixing in slimmer pants or splurge on a new pair of Vans. I promise, in no time you’ll be fly.
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Illustration by Susannah Wales ’13
WOMENSWEAR. Oh, ladies! You girls have really got it going on. I know the maxis, pleats, high-waisted pants, harem pants, and crochet pieces have all apparently “gone out,” but props to you for keeping them “in” and wearing them well. However, just because you all seem to be fond of last season’s trends does not mean you are stuck in the past. There are some pretty current pieces and ideas among us. So, ladies, if you’re doing it right you can now feel free to pat yourself on the back, but if you need a little guidance—perk up and listen closely! Hair. Braids. Boy, are these puppies “in.” Both Mara Hoffman’s show and United Bamboo took the idea of plaits to an entirely different level. From french braids to fishtails—they’re not hard to learn and can take your look from an eight to a ten. However, please don’t forget about my beloved topknot. They’re easy and adorable, and I mean real easy. I think every girl on this campus has rocked at least one, and if you haven’t, come join the club. For yo’ face—brightly colored lips are definitely still a favorite, as are a colored smoky eye with a neutral lip. However, be careful because when either of these looks go wrong, they can go very wrong. Taking risks at school with makeup is tricky, but I say the riskier the better. Are you getting your nails did? I know you are, I mean I certainly am. I think it’s also important to note how the women of Hamilton are no longer just styling their hair, makeup, and outfits. We’ve boldly moved onto nails. Nail color this season is huge—the main word being COLOR. The runways are showing models with designs on their nails and all sorts of colors including plum, forest green, and a soft pearl. You’ll see ladies on this campus wearing soft purples, bright blues, tomato reds, and anything else they can get their hands on because it’s
just so easy to do and can add so much to any outfit. The neck, Dracula’s favorite part of the body. Peter pan collars are very popular, but what’s cooler than a top with a peter pan collar? A free-standing necklace bib. I have yet to see a Hamilton student rock this, but when it happens (and it will) it’s going to be B-A-N-A-N-A-S. The body. It’s true, us girls sort of know what we’re doing. The chicas at Hamilton have always loved a great nautical striped shirt, chambray button down, utility jacket, and menswear inspired blazer; however, new trends are starting to become infectious. We’ve seen everything from colored jeans to silky sheer blouses to mixing of patterns—and I love them all. Bravo ladies, these items are all pretty brave. You want to jazz up your digs? Try embracing different cuts of pants and shirts—they’re not as hard to pull off as you think, and you’ll never know until you try. In addition, fun colored jeans can be found for super cheap at places like H&M and Zara’s. So why not invest in a pair to spice things up? Finally, shoes! There are so many to choose from, I mean really. Aside from Miu Miu’s new pump being featured in um, about every magazine you could ever think of, I think trends for us gals at Hamilton are pretty reasonable. Desert boots and all other forms of ankle boots are popular in addition to solid platforms, funky patterned flats, and flat-like-loafers. All in all, Hamilton girls are making the fashion world go ‘round. Not to toot my own horn or anything. In conclusion, either fashion is coming back down to earth or Hamilton students are rising to the occasion—because no matter how you look at it the two are definitely meeting somewhere in the middle, and it is glorious.
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Trending the Roller Derby
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By Steven Saurbier ‘12
From College Hill Road to Fashion Avenue: Two Hamilton students graduate with style
Consider the unique features which define America’s identity: football, gun rights, the lack of roundabouts, and, perhaps most important of all, Roller Derby. The origins of Roller Derby hearken back to endurance races which were popular from the late 19th century through the 1930s. Events would often simulate cross-country races where skaters raced for up to 12 hours a day for weeks at a time, and it was not unusual for skaters to pass out from exhaustion, unable to finish. At this point, the sport was essentially speed skating on dry land. The critical moment in the evolution of Roller Derby came in 1939, when a series of substantial collisions occurred, much to the crowd’s delight. Competitive athletes were quick to realize that although they might not be able to skate better, they could at least fight better. Employing traditional American resourcefulness, skaters began to trip, elbow or otherwise strike opponents attempting to lap them. Roller Derby as we know it was thus born. Alas, the sport faced a steady decline in popularity throughout the 70s and 80s. Roller Derby lost its legitimacy as bouts became increasingly theatrical--more similar to professional wrestling than competitive sport. Simultaneously, oil crises struck both the fanbase and the athletes; teams could not afford to travel across the country to compete, and fans of the already marginalized sport could not afford to keep leagues afloat financially.
By Sara Shaughnessy ’14 Behind the scenes at RueLaLa Photo courtesy of thatssorue.tumblr.com For Kristine Cupertino ’07, the first day of second grade meant finally picking out her own outfits, strutting her style down the hallways, and impressing many fashion-challenged classmates. Her unique interest in fashion at a young age combined with an exquisite eye for detail led Cupertino to quickly recognize her talent as a “self-proclaimed fashionista.” Fast forward a few years and she has unleashed her passion for fashion and discovered her dream job working for Ralph Lauren. Cupertino has undoubtedly combined the best of both worlds by utilizing her economics major and sense of style to handle all dot com forecasting globally across over 20 brands. While she spends a lot of time working with spreadsheets, she explains “I am also the connoisseur of all things RL.” She works with the digital operations team who produce all of the e-commerce photo shoots, so she gets the chance to see all of the samples before they are mass-produced. Cupertino even shares her opinions and provides the designers with her expertise on fashion, proclaiming, “Hey, it’s good for the brand, right?” According to Cupertino, Hamilton students pursuing a career in fashion should keep the term “networking” in their minds at all times and should constantly think about potential connections. She notes, “I am where I am today because I talk to everyone, do it with a smile, and am never afraid to reach out to people.”
In the early 90’s, kinder fortunes befell Roller Derby enthusiasts. At the nexus of a burgeoning DIY ethic and a burgeoning punk aesthetic, the sport was suddenly in a prime position for resurgence. Social developments created a perfect storm, popularizing amateur sports with an anti-consumerist ethic. Player and Hamilton College graduate Emily Gerston ’11 describes the sporting culture saying, “it’s about more than just being on a track and hitting people… it’s one of the only sports I can think of that’s women run and women-played.” In fact, the WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) regulations state that all teams must be at least 51% owned by women. The principles of the sport have become a significant portion of its appeal. Leagues began to form in earnest during the new millennium, with 50 in existence by 2005 and 135 by 2007. In 2007, Utica organized its own teams in the Central New York Roller Derby League, featuring the Utica Clubbers, the Blue Collar Betties, and the Rome Wreckers. Traditionally, clever team names were encouraged but not required. Ms. Gerston jumped right into the action one day her junior year. “I was really bored one night, and I thought we should find out if there’s some roller derby around here.” She went to watch a bout, found some information on a training camp, and the rest is history. These “newbie camps” are open to anyone regardless of skill level, lasting 12-16 weeks and covering proper skating form, hitting and strategy. As Americans, we must not forget the noble sport of Roller Derby. From the American Revolution to the untamed Wild West, Roller Derby carries on the American traditions of fierce competition and fierce desire for victory in a competitive environment. It is a sport that requires both striking wit and striking opponents, the necessity of brains and brawn makes Roller Derby a fundamental sport in the American psyche.
Katie Stinchfield ’07, co-founder of The Continental, discovered her undying interest in fashion while at Hamilton, which is precisely why the style section of this magazine exists today. She began her professional career in magazines by interning for Time and This Old House. She then worked at Health, despite her lack of interest in sciences as she “only set foot in the science building at Hamilton to get coffee at Opus.” But these first jobs allowed her to gain experience and set her on a promising path to achieve a current job working for Rue La La, a website dedicated to rewarding members with daily fashion boutiques. If you have shopped on Rue La La, you know the design team does an excellent job of keeping their members pleased. Even if an item is completely sold out, members have the opportunity to click the “Still Want It?” button, a feature that Stinchfield herself helped to create. She also works closely with the marketing team to produce content for the Rue La La Facebook and Twitter pages. Working for such a fast-paced, innovative company has allowed Stinchfield to thrive, and she encourages Hamilton students to follow their passion and showcase their sincere interest in a company when pursuing an internship or job as she did. “When I’ve interviewed candidates, I’m instantly drawn to people who are excited about my company,” she stated. She agrees with Cupertino in that the power of networking is priceless and helps to initially “get your foot in the door.” Finding the ideal job can prove challenging, so she advised, “Don’t beat yourself up…The right one will come along, even if it doesn’t feel that way at the time.”
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Photos courtesy of CNY Roller Derby Myspace thecontinental continental | autumn 2011 2011 the | autumn
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Beyond the “VT”: The Nail Creek Pub
By Scott Blosser ’12
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It is easy to spend your entire Hamilton experience without ever exploring the unappreciated treasures of Utica. The convenience of having our own on-campus pub, along with a jitney to shuttle students ‘downtown’ to the VT or the Rok, provides few incentives for venturing too far from the Hill. This tired routine is both easy and comforting, but those willing to drive a little further down the road can find not only a superior bar experience, but a connection to the greater community outside of our cozy Hamilton bubble. I set out to write an article about “better bars” in the area for students seeking more of a choice than just the VT or the Rok, but I found that one bar stood above the rest for its old fashioned pub feel and its commitment to serving great beer. The Nail Creek Pub & Brewery, named for the wandering creek that now flows beneath the Matt Brewery, stands alone as a place where owners and patrons take pride in the beer they drink and the sense of community that binds them all together. Owners Chris and Tracey opened the Nail Creek Pub in 2008 and have sought to be a positive and revitalizing influence on the surrounding area ever since. The pub occupies a now charming space on Varick Street that was formerly a dilapidated apartment building. After five years of renovations and numerous construction headaches, the bar finally opened and served its first beer, fittingly, a Utica Club. The aged brick and carefully sculpted wood interior lend a timeless feel to the bar, and the spacious front porch is perfect for lounging with a drink on a cool fall night. The most distinguishing features of the Nail Creek Pub are the commitment to serving the best-tasting beer and the down-to-earth atmosphere that welcomes all visitors. The bar advertises that it has the “largest selection of beer between Syracuse and Albany,” and one look at the beer menu confirms it. After sampling a Sixpoint Righteous Ale--a copper colored beer with a hoppy, rye taste--and a local Saranac Wet Hop IPA, I knew my search for a better bar was over. The impeccable service only enhanced the experience, and the affable bartenders at the Nail Creek Pub are quick to help recommend a beer to less discerning drinkers. Their passion for beer is evident, and they talk about beer with the sort of reverent admiration usually reserved for wine snobs, but without the pretentiousness or self-serving attitude. Indeed the Nail Creek Pub is about as laid back as they come. It’s the kind of place where everyone takes care of each other and where friends gather to relax and enjoy their favorite libations while some forgotten classic rock song rolls along in the background. One patron described Chris and Tracey as “real people, just like the people who come to the bar.” They are extremely receptive to clientele and host regular events that include Traditional Irish Sessions on the first Tuesday of the month and $12 gourmet dinners every Wednesday night. Above all is an emphasis on community, and Chris and Tracey are set to open a new restaurant in Utica that will feature a seasonal menu of locally grown produce. On a lucky night at the Nail Creek Pub you may run into Peanut, a neighbor of the bar who helped do the interior woodwork, swapping stories and sipping on either Utica Club or his second favorite beer, Utica Club Light. Other nights you might excitedly chat with Dave and Beth about the newest local initiatives in Utica while Dave pursues his quest to drink at least 100 Guinnesses and have his name engraved in the bar. Regardless of who you find at the Nail Creek Pub, you are bound to make some new friends while enjoying your favorite beer. Sure the VT and the Rok may be the easy options, but what was ever worth having that didn’t require a little bit of effort? Our time at Hamilton is fleeting, so change things up on your next night out Hamilton junior James Lovejoy sips a and try something different, because a community of Dogfish Head Namaste great people and great service is waiting just down the road. the continental | autumn 2011
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Spotlight: Gender Neutral Housing By Anna Paikert ’13
Hamilton’s gender-neutral housing option has been in the forefront of many students’ minds as of late. The option intertwines the institution’s desire to protect tradition with its enthusiasm for progress. Gender-neutral housing first began before Hamilton became coed— students returning from the military during the Second World War lived in Carnegie and later North Village with their wives and children. Although North Village was abandoned in 1952, genderneutral housing once again became an option for students at the beginning of last year. As soon as married GIs returned to Hamilton to complete their college education, they had the option to move into ‘Married Student Housing.’ This meant that they could enjoy the luxury of both academic and family life. Initially, these students lived in apartment-style housing in Carnegie with their families. By 1946, Carnegie grew too crowded, and Hamilton began building individual houses for married students. These houses occupied North Village, coined “GI Village,” located near Minor Theater. Students’ wives played an active role in Hamilton life. Although they could not officially enroll in the College, they were allowed to sit in on classes. A letter written in June of 1947 from Susan Richardson, the wife of John Richardson ’45, explains: “The lectures and the showing of old classic movies are well attended by the wives who do not need to worry about studying for a quiz the next day.” Additionally, these wives held on-campus jobs at the college store, library, and switchboard. They also regularly attended athletic games and fraternity parties and often threw their own dinner parties. Mrs. Richardson used these parties to “testify to the fact that [the married couples] took to heart the word from the college that they wanted to make Carnegie [and North Village] as much like a home as possible for the young couples.” Although the last house in North Village was torn down in 1957, Hamilton has kept its promise to ensure that on-campus housing becomes home for all students—including those who now wish to share a room with students of the opposite biological sex. Beginning in the fall of 2010, Residential Life established campuswide gender-neutral housing. Although Residential Life considered gender-neutral housing long before 2010, they officially approved the policy to accommodate pressing student needs. One of the first pairs of students to live in a gender-neutral double, Alexander De Moulin ’12 and Alexandra Nasto ’13, chose to do so because they were close friends. Note that they were not a couple, as Residential Life urges couples not to live together, though 42
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it is not prohibited. Alexandra explains that she loved this living situation. In an effort to remove herself from an emotionally damaging housing situation, she moved into Alexander’s Millbank double in September of 2010. She explained that they established a smooth dynamic, perhaps smoother than one she may have had with a female roommate, and chose to live next to each other in a suite this year. Other students opt for gender-neutral housing because they identify as transgender or genderqueer. A transgender student, who wishes to remain anonymous, explains that he can be more open about his identity through gender-neutral housing. Although he explains that this policy is a great first step towards a gender-neutral campus, he argues that certain policies inhibit this goal. One of which includes specifying one’s biological sex during the housing lottery. Still, he looks forward to future progress and is excited that this option attracts transgender or genderqueer high school students to Hamilton. Travis Hill echoes this sentiment, explaining that he is “hopeful that prospective students of any gender identity will consider Hamilton an opportunity to express themselves.” Although Hill urges students to think very carefully about this option, he has received very positive feedback about the policy. Gender-neutral housing certainly helps support and increase Hamilton’s uniquely diverse community, while harkening back to its older traditions.
Mrs. John Gallagher, wife of John F. Gallagher, class of 1948 with their daughter in Carnegie, August, 1946.
A Factory-Made Summer: A talk with Tom Youngblood ’13 By Trevor Howe’14 “So what did you do this summer?” Honestly, this question is a seasonal form of “How are you?” We care occasionally, but for the most part a sentence, or two, response will suffice. In some situations, though, you hear of a summer so epic, with absolutely no references to lifeguarding or working at a camp. This is exactly what happened when Tom Youngblood ’13 made mention of his globe trotting summer of marketing, business administration, and general excellence. Youngblood was admitted as a January-Admit in 2009 and spent his first semester of freshman year in London along with around thirty other incoming first-years. On campus, Youngblood is on the swim team, a captain of the water polo team, the media relations photographer, and a self-proclaimed “prolific library vending machine user.” Tom is a History major but is also interested in photography and film production. When I first asked him about his summer I think the response I got was about a minute long and just mentioned that he had an internship that allowed him to work in both Germany and China. Later that night I realized that I still had no idea what it was that he actually did. Youngblood later told me that after deciding that he didn’t want to spend another semester away from our lovely home atop the Hill, Youngblood began looking for professional international summer internships in lieu of a semester abroad. Having taken Chinese all throughout high school and for a year at Hamilton, Youngblood knew that China would be the target location for his internship. Youngblood stumbled upon a family connection to a global solutions firm, Freudenberg, based out of Weinheim, Germany. His cousin was heading the ‘non-woven interlinings’ business at Freudenberg, which also has operations in China, and as fate would have it Youngblood made a great family contact. In the textile-producing world, non-woven interlinings are an extremely important part of creating all types of clothes from shirts to shoes and are used in their seams; they basically give form to clothes. Within 24 hours of his first email, Youngblood got the job. He relocated to Weinheim, “a tiny, tiny town,” as he describes it, where he would walk 15 minutes through the town to work, and then another 15 minutes through the Freudenberg Complex. Although Freudenberg has a few different internship options, Youngblood held a unique position by doing a bit of marketing, taking pictures of the textiles, and editing many of the presentations. From Weinheim, which he describes as the “corporate” part of the internship,
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Youngblood moved to the “regional” part of the internship in Hong Kong. He spent a week here where he did more business administration. And finally he moved one final time to Suzhou, China. One stark difference from the common notion of a factory that Youngblood noticed was that the workers truly wanted to work, mentioning “they all tried to get in their overtime as often as they could.” Youngblood added how “cool” it was to be like a cog in the huge machine that is China’s booming textile industry. Of course, one cannot have only work and no play. Being that Weinheim was so small, Youngblood told me that he basically just became friendly with the chef of the Bed and Breakfast that he was staying at. While in Germany, Youngblood spent a weekend in Heidelberg, the nearest city, where he met some more locals and even had an encounter with a D-list celebrity. After this fairly quiet experience in Germany, he spent time mingling with other “ex-pats” (his words), getting free bottles of champagne for being Western, and just generally soaking up a unique combination of partying and culture while in China. Finally, once I felt certain that my summer was rendered completely pointless and I’d given him enough time to squeeze in as many German impersonations as he could, I asked him if he had any plans for next summer. Youngblood mentioned his hopes to go out to LA and get involved in film production. Or in his words: “I’m not saying that global interlining solutions, non-wovens, and highly elastic woven and weft materials are my true calling, but I will say that it was definitely an amazing, worldwide experience. For a 20 year old guy who’s just halfway through a college education, I’d say that it was pretty awesome.”
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On Sabbatical By Emily Drinkwater ’14
Though nearly 50 percent of Hamilton’s juniors study abroad each year, they aren’t the only members of the community leaving the Hill for a semester. Many professors take their own “semester abroad,” for travel or research, also known as a sabbatical. Last year, 35 Hamilton professors left the classroom to pursue their interests elsewhere, be it in Clinton, leading the New York or DC programs, or studying internationally. Professors’ options for sabbatical are limitless, especially considering, unlike the juniors, they don’t have the added stress about credits transferring! Professors Vasantkumar, Rivera, and McEnroe all went on sabbatical last year recounted some of their anecdotes about their travels abroad.
John McEnroe Professor of Art History, John McEnroe, spent his spring semester and summer pursuing research in archaeology. To begin his semester, he spent time in Athens, where he resides as a senior member of the American School of Classical Studies. Athens, he described, is where the brainpower is in classical archaeology. There he had the opportunity to conduct some final research before departing for Gournia in Crete. With his colleague, Vance Watrous, and a team of 50 students including Caroline Morgan ’13, Professor McEnroe conducted groundbreaking work at one of the oldest archaeological sites in Crete. Throughout the summer, Professor McEnroe’s principle objective was to date each structure using electronic distance-measuring survey equipment so that he could accurately and completely map out the layout of the town. As part of the second group of people to conduct research at this site in the past 100 years, McEnroe is at present the excavation architect for the site and will continue his work in Gournia until the project is completed.
Sharon Rivera Christopher Vasantkumar For the fall of 2010, Professor Vasantkumar, a Professor of Asian Studies and Anthropology, chose to spend his sabbatical in Maynooth, Ireland; Lisbon, Portugal; New Orleans, Lousiana; and, lastly, Clinton, New York. While in retrospect, he wishes that he could have taken the whole year off to do research, it is obvious, based on his accomplishments, that he packed a lot into four months. While in Ireland, he presented papers on the experience of dislocation of Tibetan migrants on both sides of the Himalayas. In Lisbon he showed his work comparing the history of tourism of the American Southwest with recent trends in Chinese domestic travel to Tibetan areas of the PRC. His favorite thing in Lisbon, he explained, was eating grilled squid and fried potatoes with a cold beer in the Alfama. During the domestic leg of his journey, he presented more papers on a new interpretation of Georg Simmel’s The Philosophy of Money and, lastly, in Clinton, Professor Vasantkumar had ample time for catching up on reading. “Catching up on recent developments in the field really helped me to rethink several articles I’d been working on for a while” he explained. Prior to setting off to Europe, Professor Vasantkumar expressed that he hoped to teach himself the literature on STS (science, technology, and society) studies, a field of work that have been very significant in anthropology in the past ten years. In doing so, he actually designed the syllabus for a class on STS (anthropology 319, “The Anthropology of the Incredible”), a class he taught last spring. His most significant achievement, though, along with much progress in completing literary works in his field, was getting a paper accepted in The Journal of Asian Studies, the top Asian Studies journal in the country.
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Professor Rivera spent the majority of her sabbatical in the United States, splitting her time between Clinton, New York and Utah. Her goal was to complete two databases that together are the foundation of her current research projects – a very labor-intensive process. One of the databases is comprised of demographic information on more than 2,500 people who, in the past two decades, have been dominant in either the political, cultural, or economic life in the Russian Federation. She also completed another original database that contains information on economic, political, and social indicators from the past ten years on each of the twenty-eight formerly communist countries in Europe and Eurasia. She described, “I can do this kind of work better when I have long stretches of uninterrupted time… I figured that it would be a good use of my sabbatical to get this work done, so that I could focus on writing and other things when I returned to teaching.” Along with this, she worked on a project with Cristina Garagola ’11, called “When States Crack Down on Dissent: The Logic of Persecution in Authoritarian Regimes,” which received a Levitt award for Student-Faculty Collaborative Research. Professor Rivera also ventured to Stockholm, Sweden to present her personal research at the VII World Congress of the International Council for Central and East European Studies. She described that while most of the panels drew around ten to thirty attendees, hers attracted 200 people! She says she was “very gratified to see the interest that our research was generating, but I was also a little nervous as people continued to pour into the room.” Though this sounds like an incredible achievement, she said that, as a person scared of heights, her most gratifying accomplishment was hiking up Utah’s Mount Timpanagos to explore a cave. While much of her sabbatical was very research orientated, she explained that she and her family utilized the free time she had to explore many of the stunning national parks in Utah.
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travel
Pushing the Boundaries Andrew Menges ’12, Rachel Boylan ’12, and Katie Hutchins ’12 reccount their experiences abroad in Lebannon and adventures outside the country at a critical time in Middle Eastern history.
Last spring semester, the three of us studied at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. For most Americans, Beirut is not the place that first comes to mind when one thinks of the Middle East or study abroad. The city is far more developed and liberal than we had imagined. After 15 years of destructive civil war, ending in 1990, Beirut is experiencing a renaissance. The city is trying to reclaim its reputation as the Paris of the Middle East. While we by no means expected Beirut to be as conservative as other Middle Eastern cities, we were still surprised by how cosmopolitan Beirut actually is. The Lebanese take nightlife very seriously, men wear shorts, and the three of us saw less than ten women wearing burkas the entire semester. However, while not noticeably touched by the Arab Spring, Lebanon is not without political tension. Two weeks prior to our arrival, the Lebanese government collapsed due to the majority of the cabinet members’ resignations. Needless to say, our plans to travel to Lebanon were put into question. Each of us received emails from friends and family warning us about the dangers of traveling to the Middle East. However, Lebanon’s history implies that moderate amounts of political instability do not impact daily life; and thus we began our journey. We were greeted by a country that seemingly did not notice its lack of government. The pace of life was laid back and friendly and the neighborhood in which we lived provided us with a safe and inviting home. 46
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The city of Beirut is not the extent of what Lebanon has to offer. Due to the tumultuous Arab Spring, the majority of our travels were contained within Lebanon. Unbeknownst to us, Lebanon is home to phenomenally well-preserved Roman ruins at Baalbek, breath-taking caves at Jeita Grotto, world-class skiing at Faraya and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, Byblos (Jbeil). Additionally, Lebanon has a diversity of climates, very little of which include desert. In fact, the majority of the sand in the country can be found on its beautiful Mediterranean beaches. In an effort to see all of the country, we signed up for a trip to southern Lebanon, run by the Cultural Club of the South whose allegiance is primarily with the political party Hizb’allah. In 2006, southern Lebanon was ravished by a war with Israel and one-fifth of the Lebanese population was displaced. Today, the countryside has regained its idyllic reputation, but there are hints of the past, particularly near the Israeli border where the land is covered with land mines. Overall, our experience in Beirut and Lebanon was fantastic. We were met with warm hospitality, great food and a lot of sunny weather. Amid a tense political situation, the Lebanese carried on with their lives normally and were able to show us the best of what Lebanon has to offer. After Lebanon, Andrew and Rachel traveled to Palestine, while Katie returned home.
Our experiences in Palestine were radically different from those in Lebanon, even though we had only traveled 150 miles. The culture in Palestine is more conservative: Muslim women almost unanimously wear head scarves, whereas in Lebanon wearing a head scarf was not as culturally imposed. Male-female relations were much more stigmatized and as Americans we were constantly aware of how the Palestinian community perceived our actions. The conservative culture was especially apparent through our homestays with Palestinian families in Bethlehem. This was particularly illuminated when we returned home later than 9 pm and were subjected to questioning by our families. However, the homestays were the best part of the program. We experienced unrivaled hospitality, exquisite cuisine and unlimited practical Arabic interaction. Another component of our program was volunteering at local Bethlehem organizations. This increased our interaction with the local Palestinian population. The homestays and volunteer placements dispelled the stereotypes and myths of the Palestinians. Unlike their portrayal in Western media, Palestinians desire peace as much as their neighbors in Israel. This was more than apparent through our daily conversations with Palestinians, whether it was our host family, shopkeepers or refugees. Our stay in Palestine was not just about
homestays, volunteer placements and Arabic lessons. A crucial component of the program involved travel around the West Bank and Israel. We visited contested sites such as Jerusalem, Hebron, and the Dead Sea, as well as the Palestinian cities of Ramallah, Nablus, and Jericho. The effects of the Israeli occupation could be felt at every turn. Throughout the West Bank, settlements occupy hillsides, extending for miles into the heart of the future Palestinian state. These settlements are only accessible by roads that are specifically for Israelis and crisscross the West Bank. The separation wall confiscates land, suffocates villages and is an eyesore in the biblical town of Bethlehem. In addition to the wall there were the ubiquitous checkpoints. As Westerners, we received a certain amount of privilege at these checkpoints, but this is not the case for Palestinians, who are stopped daily and humiliated on their way to work and prayer. The situation in Palestine and Israel is untenable and it is in the interest of both people to achieve a peaceful solution. Our travels in Palestine were filled with frustrating moments, but overall, the experience was full of hope and inspiration. We think it is important for people to travel to Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel to see the situations for themselves and draw their own conclusions on the region. the continental | autumn 2011
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travel
travel
Finding Solace Abroad:
Alumni leave the Hill for new opportunities Compiled by Hannah Grace O’ Connell ‘14 Whether it was a positive experience while abroad junior year or a desire to escape the confines of the United States, a small number of Hamilton alums chose to continue their journey post-college by traveling or working outside of the United States. Here are some of their stories, their reasons for leaving the country, and what they have learned abroad. I’m writing, editing, on a short break from teaching, about to head for Beijing for several weeks. I’ve lived in the Netherlands for over 30 years. While the USA always feels like “home-home;” Colombia (which I visited while a student at Kirkland College) offered a new idea of home when I was least expecting it. I set up shop in a few other places in-between: Paris, where I found a temporary job by accident; Hong Kong, a planned 1-year teaching gig; and Sri Lanka, where I was welcomed by the family of a High School pen pal. A few years after that, Amsterdam became (another) home. I raised my daughter and went to PTA meetings here; travel was frequent for my job as a producer for Dutch international radio. A lot happened in the New York suburbs where I grew up, but I always knew I wanted to get a different perspective. My Canadian mother always made it clear that there was more than just ‘the American Way.’ Several high school French and Spanish teachers opened more windows with great literature. Going to Kirkland meant I was able to continue in this direction. Another corner of the foundation had been laid long before: Cuban musicians had caught my eye and ear. I had been to Puerto Rico before and as a Kirkland freshman, I felt I now had to get to South America as quickly as possible. A ‘study abroad’ program with Antioch College accepted all class years, so, as a sophomore, off I went to Bogotá, Colombia. Has anything learned in college proved useful? You bet, thanks to the teachers who managed to get past my awkwardness and belligerence in my rush to get out in the world. I eventually found a job that continually required adjustment to a new perspective. I still haven’t really left Colombia: if my laptop fits, I think I’ll start using my colorful new bag - just received as a present from my hermanita in Bogotá – as carry-on luggage. - Martha Hawley, Kirkland ’73 One of the choices I had to make while at Hamilton was whether to enroll in the junior year abroad in France program, or stay on College Hill and pursue my work as an editor of The Spectator. I chose the latter course and became editor-in-chief, which helped launch my interesting, although short-lived, career in journalism. Still, I always wanted to have an experience living abroad, and it’s fair to say that I’ve more than made up for that year I missed. Of the 35 years that have elapsed since I graduated, I’ve spent about half of them living in or near Paris, first for a brief stint as a journalist and then as a lawyer. There was no grand plan. In fact, my first adventure living in Europe (one year in Brussels and one year in Paris) was an improvised “Plan B” after I quit my job on a Dow Jones wire service, sent in law school applications, and went backpacking in Europe, planning to start law school upon my return. One little problem arose: I was rejected by all the schools to which I applied. I went back to journalism, and the first job I landed happened to be as a freelance correspondent for McGraw-Hill World News in Brussels. All of this travel and journalism experience abroad from 1980-82, and the fact that I met my wife in Brussels, set the stage for a lot of transatlantic career moves. Every expatriate has in his or her head an unwritten book on life abroad - all those stories about the foreign bureaucracy, the eccentric and frustrating locals, the misunderstandings and the unexpected. As I tried to distill expatriate life down to its essence, there are two words that come to mind: perspective and openness. First, life outside one’s own country provides the luxury (and sometimes the burden) of perspective that only distance can provide: we expatriates are physically distant from our homeland and many of our loved ones, and psychologically and culturally detached from our host country. Separateness from the host country can shrink over time, but never quite disappears. C’est la vie, as we say here. But the perspective is always interesting and intellectually stimulating. Second, life abroad requires openness – to new ideas, different ways of doing things and a constant willingness to avoid drawing the wrong conclusion. The skills I had to bring to my first job in Europe as a journalist – observation and analysis – have served me well ever since. Perspective and openness to new ideas were dished out in generous portions while I was a student at Hamilton, and I’m sure the feast continues unabated.
Snapshots from Martha Hawley K ’73’s travels
- Douglas S. Glucroft ’76 Check out our winter issue for the second installment of this series! 48
the continental | autumn 2011
the continental | autumn 2011
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West Park Row Salon an AVEDA concept salon 4 West Park Row Clinton, NY 13323 315.381.3040
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the continental | spring 2011
the continental | spring 2011
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CLINTON WINE & SPIRITS Great Wine at a Great Price!
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Walk to shops and restaurants when you stay at one of our luxurious suites with king beds, sitting areas and kitchenettes. #8 and #12 Williams Street, Clinton, NY 13323
Enjoy outstanding Bed & Breakfast accommodations in a quiet country setting one turn off the Hamilton College campus. 3919 Griffin Road Clinton, NY 13323
For Town or Country Reservations call 315.859.1790 or 888.424.3074 www.arborinnatgriffinhouse.com
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the continental | spring 2011
the continental | spring 2011
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Parting Note
An inside look at the Hamilton literary world of 1925 The Royal Gaboon, Hamilton’s humor magazine since 1921, takes us back to the days of lady-less Hamilton. Filled with satirical dialogues and risque cartoons, it ultimately became The Continental in 1941. The Continental was re-established as a publication by Kate Childs ’08 in 2006. First issues were distributed at halftime at the Fallcoming football game in 2006.
The Royal Gaboon, “Spring Party Number,” 1925
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the continental | autumn 2011