The Continental Magazine Spring 2018

THE

CONTINENTAL SPRING 2018

THE CONTINENTAL @contmag Contmag@hamilton.edu The Continental issuu.com/hamiltoncontinental

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OPINION

ON THE HILL

FEATURES

#ENOUGH:

Club Spotlight: Strong Girls, Minds for Change... | 14

The Oneida Community | 22

Student Response to Gun Violence | 6 Getting to Know The Physical Plant | 10 The Continental Answers Life’s Toughest Questions | 11 2

The Sketchiest Rooms on Campus | 17 Hamilton College Bucket List | 20

ISC Day of Service | 26

TRAVEL

LIFESTYLE

ENTERTAINMENT

My Himalayan Classroom | 28

RA Stories | 34

Strong Island: A Poignant Film by Hamilton Alumni Yance Ford | 38

Turning Stone: Resort and Casino | 31 Piggy Pats Review | 33

Senior’s Defining Experiences | 36

Queer Eye: A Reboot for the Ages | 42 Summer Film Festival Preview | 44

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FROM THE EDITORS The end of another school year is fast approaching, and as our time on the Hill comes to an end, we’ve found ourselves looking back on our work with The Continental and what we’ve accomplished as Editors-in-Chief (beyond simply keeping the magazine up and running for another year!) We’ve featured some exciting articles this year, such as our interview with some of the people behind the popular Hamilton College Memes Facebook page, our portfolio of Jaleel Davis and his artwork, and our insight into how Hamilton’s governance actually works. This issue is no different -- some highlights are a profile of the so-called ‘Oneida Cult,’ a look at a recent spring break class trip to Nepal, and funny/slightly disturbing stories from some of our RAs. We think of the Continental as a way to provide the campus community with compelling articles that are in some way related to Hamilton. Whether the article is about student research projects, an off-campus study experience, or a spotlight on an environmental issue on campus, we strive to shed light on what we think deserves more attention on campus.

None of the work we have done would have been at all possible without all the hard work of our incredible staff of section editors, editors-at-large, photographers, writers, and layout editors. We want to give a special shout-out to Anika Huq, our Creative Director, who has been the real MVP of The Continental this year, and has ensured that the magazine looks as good as it does.

The experiences that we’ve had thanks to The Continental have been some of our favorites of all our time here on the Hill, and we’re proud to have been able to serve in the Editor-in-Chief positions. Lastly, we’re thrilled that Maura Colley and Meredith LaBelle will be taking over as Co-Editors next year. As section editors, they have both done great work for The Continental in the past, so we’re confident that we’re leaving the magazine in good hands.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading!

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EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Olivia Paradice ‘18 Alex Scheuer ‘18

SECTION EDITORS

Catharine Pierce ‘20 | On the Hill Caroline Langan ‘18 | Opinion Thomas Duda ‘18 | Features Charlotte Zonis ‘19 | Travel Grant Hamilton ‘18 | Lifestyle Julie Katter ‘18 | Entertainment

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Anika Huq ‘19

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Chalk ‘20

EDITORS AT LARGE Philip Marks ‘21 Krissi Kim ‘21

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Erin Bryant ‘21

LAYOUT DESIGNERS

Anika Huq ‘19 Chenchen Zhao ‘19 Jianyi Yang ‘21 Levana Lyu ‘21 Dan Tu ‘20 Urbana Anam ‘21 Catherine Pierce ‘20

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Penelope Hoopes ‘20 Lily Yangchen ‘20 Stephana Lim ‘21 Levana Lyu ‘21

WRITERS

Genevieve Shuster ‘19 Katie Weinzierl '21 Bianca MacDonald ‘21 Marisa Cooke ‘20

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OPINIO p ea c e

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ERIN BRYANT ‘21 On February 14th, 2018, shots rang throughout the halls of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and seventeen students lost their lives and their futures. To avenge their fallen friends, the survivors rose up and sparked a national outcry for gun control reforms.

Unfortunately, school shootings are not a rarity in the United States.

Since 2013, there have been more than three hundred, averaging about one per week. Since the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, more than two hundred people have died this way.

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espite these startling numbers, political gridlock stifles any action towards gun control in the United States. The National Rifle Association (NRA), with roughly five million members across the country, carries weight in its pockets and uses this weight to promote its agenda in Congress.

For example, John McCain, alone, has received over $7,000,000 in funding from the NRA. Due to the influence of the organization, political figures deflect the blame from guns, instead choosing to articulate the importance of mental health, proper surveillance and intelligence, and the unsubstantiated, negative effects of violent video games and movies.

However, students have called their bluff, reminding the politicians of their future voting power

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in upcoming elections. On February 20th, Stoneman Douglas survivors traveled to Tallahassee to meet with Florida lawmakers and urge them to take legislative action.

Despite their pleas, the statesmen rejected a motion to take up a bill that would have banned assault rifles (but passed a bill that would allow teachers to carry guns (Reuters, 2018). The next day, the students met with President Trump, who expressed an interest in arming teachers, banning “bump stocks,” which make semi-automatic weapons functionally automatic, and improving background checks. Individual students, such as David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez, have appeared on numerous media programs, sharing their experiences and messages with hopes for change. Everywhere, students of all ages have risen up

and embraced, with open arms and hearts, the Parkland survivors and their advocacy for gun control.

At Hamilton, on February 18th, one email shook the school. Black and Latinx Student Union (BLSU) sent an email proposing a protest and calling for all students to wear black the next day, February 19th. This idea was echoed back by virtually every organization on campus, resulting in hundreds of identical emails as a display of solidarity. Savannah Kelly, a firstyear student from Miami, Florida, drafted the original email. “I realized that it was an opportunity to mourn those victims and protest while simultaneously engaging the student body on campus. I was honestly shocked after I saw the first few emails organizations sent out,” stated Kelly ‘21.

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hat Friday, BLSU held a rally with an open-mic where all members of our small community had the opportunity to speak their minds.

Attendees were prompted to wear orange or black and share their voices. “Kids should not be going to school with the fear that they might get killed. They should get the education they deserve,” said Katherine Rijo ‘21. Antton De Arbeloa ’21, a Broward County resident, echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s time to go out and make a change. Be vocal.” Additionally, Student Assembly sponsored an event for writing letters to representatives. Letter-writing campaigns are one of the most ef-

fective ways to communicate with our elected officials. A month after the shooting, high school students from Alaska to Wyoming walked out of their classes as a demonstration. Despite push-back from school administrators, who threatened punishments, including suspension, Monica Inzer, Hamilton’s vice president for enrollment management, shared that Hamilton’s admission team would not penalize applicants for participating in these peaceful protests.

Additionally, on March 24, 1.2 million people participated in more than five hundred marches across the country. While these marches took place virtually everywhere—universities, small

cities, and large cities—the most notable was in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital. Many Hamilton students attended this historical march. “The whole experience was surreal. There was a point where Emma [survivor] was silent for six minutes, and you could just feel the intensity. I am very glad I was part of this moment,” said Jonny Gerstein ‘21.

Undoubtedly, there is much work to be done to prevent tragedies like the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School from happening again. Everyone, especially Hamilton students, has the power to push for meaningful change.

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Are there any special environmental projects that Hamilton students should be aware of?

How does the Physical Plant team prepare campus for winter?

Preparing for winter usually starts in the spring and summer with fixing potholes and manholes that have shifted over the winter. We also lock in our orders for road salt to make sure we get the best pricing and will have enough for a long winter. We start installing markers on sidewalks and signs to allow us to find things under the snow.

Getting to Know The Physical Plant

First, let me take the opportunity to plug, recycle, recycle, recycle. We still see a lot of recycling going in the trash and trash going into the recycling.

PLEASE do not throw liquids or food into the recycling cans.

When this happens, the whole container is disposed of as trash.

The HSC [Hamilton’s Sustainability Coordinators] have also been working on programs such as the addition of pollinator and wildflower gardens in some areas on campus and reducing mowing areas. HSC is also preparing a reforestation project for some of the old golf course area that is no longer in use.

Krissi Kim ‘21 The Physical Plant staff is an integral part of our campus community. They work day and night, year-round to take care of Hamilton’s 1,350-acre, beautiful campus. We interviewed Timothy Gadziala of the Physical Plant office to learn more about the department and its work.

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How can students help to keep the campus beautiful?

The biggest help is truly having everyone pickup after themselves and placing items in the correct trash/recycling containers. We have almost 2 million square feet of buildings and 300 acres of land that we are actively maintaining every day.

We want students to use and enjoy all the spaces on campus, but to keep our folks on schedule and to help keep areas looking good when we aren’t there, we need your help.

If you see trash (even if it is not yours), please pickit up and dispose of it.

When is the most rewarding moment of your work?

When I get out on campus and get to see how people enjoy this place—from the visiting high school students on an admissions tour who find Hamilton more impressive than they expected, to incoming freshman with their nervous excitement on move-in day, to the great sense of achievement and emotional goodbyes at graduation, and, finally, to the joy expressed by alumni who return for reunions. You can see the bonds that people develop with Hamilton. It is great to be part of “setting the stage” for such meaningful and lifelong relationships.

What do you think is the hardest part about keeping the roads and paths on the hill “snow free”?

The toughest part is trying to cover such a large area with a limited number of people and limited equipment. Sometimes the snow comes down much faster than we can complete a whole route around campus.

How late do you work?

We have 2 grounds workers assigned to the overnight shift. They work all night long keeping the fire lanes clear and clearing the faculty/staff lots so they can be used as people to arrive in the morning. The rest of the grounds team and custodians arrive at 6:00am to begin snow removal from walks and entrances.

Lastly, do you have anything to say to the students?

All of us at Physical Plant strive to provide the best possible service and the highest quality facilities for everyone to live, learn and grow in. We care about you. We wish you all great success in the classroom, on the court, or where ever life takes you after Hamilton. We hope you find your time here as rewarding for you as it is for us.

THE CONTINENTAL ANSWERS

LIFE’S

TOUGHEST QUESTIONS

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CAROLINE LANGAN ‘18

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People have long debated questions like “is water wet?” and “is a hot dog a sandwich?” To help provide a bit more clarity on some of life’s toughest questions, The Continental E-board has compiled a collection of responses, even drawing on the dictionary at times. The debate of these questions will go on until the end of time. You can decide whose side of The Continental E-board you side with.

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IS WATER WET?

AS: Water is definitely wet ok?

EB: If water isn’t wet, then Hamilton College is not on a deathtrap of a hill.

JK: duh.

CL: No, wetness is our description of coming into contact with water GH: Wetness describes the effect that a liquid has on something else. Can you make water wet?

KK: I’ve thought of “wet” as describing something that could be dried. If water is supposedly wet, can water be dried? Because if it’s dried, wouldn’t it not be water anymore?

OP: Depends on if you’re using ‘wet’ as an adjective or a noun.

Water is a wet (in that it is a substance that can make things damp), but it is not in and of itself, wet.

PM: I thought about this for way too long.

IS A HOTDOG A SANDWITCH?

CZ: I want to say yes because it’s a piece of meat between bread, but I also want to say no because it’s a bun, not two pieces of bread.

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PM: No, a hot dog is always placed under the burger section on the menu.

AS: If hot dogs were sandwiches, they would be located near the sandwich materials in the College dining halls.

JK: No, because the roll on a hotdog is usually connected, so the meat is not technically in between the pieces of bread, rather, the bread is cradling the meat.

CP: Definitely. Meat between two pieces of bread with condiments. A burger is definitely a sandwich, too.

CL: Yes, a sandwich is “two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between” according to Merriam-Webster OP: I don’t see why not—it’s bread with a filling, so I suppose it’s just an unusually shaped sandwich.

GH: A split roll with fillings is technically a sandwich.

EB: Hotdogs are, in my opinion, a less evolved form of a sandwich. The connection on the bun, though it cradles the dog, is a vestigial trait other sandwiches have moved past successfully.

HOW MANY HOLES DOES A STRAW HAVE? CP: One. A donut only has one hole… think of a straw as an extended donut. Easy.

GH: If you made a 3 foot long donut, it would still have one hole.

OP: I think I hurt my brain thinking about this. However, you could theoretically cover up one end of the straw and the other end would still have a hole, so I’m going with two.

AS: My mind tells me one, but my heart says two…so two.

EB: It is important to make a distinction between an opening and a hole. While there are two openings, I believe there is only one hole. Think outside the cylinder.

JK: Think of it like a tunnel. How many holes does a tunnel have? One. Is a straw just a tiny tunnel?

WHO WOULD WIN IN A FIGHT, A TRILLION LIONS OR THE SUN? PM: You do understand how many lions a trillion is, right? We’re talking about 1,000,000,000,000 apex predators here. No contest.

CZ: I’m confused how this could not be the sun OP: Wouldn’t the sun just incinerate them??

Am I missing something?

GH: Do the lions collide into it or are they teleported inside of the sun? Lions could stand a fighting if they just teleported inside of the sun.

AS: The lions would win, assuming they’re being propelled at a high rate. Sun stands no chance.

EB: The sun is obviously going to win, but I want to instead imagine a sun-lion duo tagteam situation. It would be unstoppable, glorious, and inspire fear in the hearts of all.

JK: If the lions had heat-repellent booties they could stand on the sun and occupy it for a while but then the sun would win.

WHAT COLOR IS A MIRROR?

PM & JK: Silver CP: ~every color~ GH: You can make a mirror with materials of various colors.

CL & CZ: A mirror appears silver, but it’s actually whatever color it reflects OP: I heard somewhere that they’re actually green, but my eyes tell me otherwise.

EB: Scientifically, mirrors themselves have a slight blue/green tint, but obviously they can reflect any color.

AS: This question is too hard

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FROSTING AND ICING? PM: You can frost a cake, but you can’t ice a cake.

OP: Easy. Icing is more of a sugary glaze, whereas frosting is thicker and fluffier.

GH: These words are identical in meaning when referring to coating on baked goods.

EB: Both taste good, so why worry about semantics? Just eat.

ARE EYEBROWS FACIAL HAIR?

PM: Yes, eyebrows are hair on your face. I don’t see what the issue is here.

EB: Eyebrows are facial hair, and everyone should take care of their eyebrows. Seriously. Do yourself the favor.

OP: Technically, I suppose it is, in that it is hair that is on a person’s face. But I don’t like it.

CZ: You can’t shave your eyebrows and I think of facial hair as something removable. Well, you can shave your eyebrows, but that would be extremely creepy CL: No…are eyelashes considered facial hair?

GH: Facial hair only includes certain areas of your face, not your brow.

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KATIE WEINZIERL ‘21

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Strong Girls Strong Girls is an organization on campus that empowers young girls through athletics at local schools. Every week, members of Strong Girls from Hamilton College go to elementary schools in the area to teach young girls different sports. The program is made to excite and inspire girls to be proud of their strength, and emphasizes a supportive and fun environment for girls to learn new skills and build confidence. Multiple programs are run every semester, and as the first round for this semester slows, the members are working on running more programs at various other schools following spring break.

Minds for Change Minds for Change was created to destigmatize mental health on Hamilton’s campus.The club hosts weekly open conversations regarding mental health, acting as a resource and outlet for students. More recently, Minds for Change has held meetings to discuss the improvement of counseling facilities at Hamilton. According to Co-President Alex Stetter, they are currently working on coordinating actions with the Mental Health Task force, and are advocating for broader resources in the counseling center. They hope to open up more general dialogue with the campus this semester through events such as a Mental Health Awareness day in May, and more collaboration with members of the community through Student Assembly.

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ShenandoahKirkland Initiative

People Who Like To Do Fun Things (PWLTDFT)

The Shenandoah Kirkland Initiative (SKI) focuses on informing the community of the history of Hamilton’s affiliation to the Oneida nation and Chief Shenandoah, as well as rebuilding the important relationship with the Oneida nation. Lilly Pieper described that SKI works with the Oneida and other Haudenosaunee nations to bring speakers and events to campus, and takes trips to the reservations, engaging in activities there. SKI just had a social dance on campus, and, later this semester, they plan to have a movie screening where they will show an American Indian movie that will be followed by a discussion. Members of SKI want to travel to the Oneida Cultural Center and the Cultural Heritage site, and they hope to run a fundraising event for all American Indian environmental activist groups.

People Who Like To Do Fun Things (PWLTDFT), as stated in the name, is a club for people who, well, like to do fun things. Jacqueline Schimmel explains that this club aims to promote fun and community for every member of Hamilton’s campus. In addition to organizing campus-wide events and holding weekly meetings, the club provides an outlet for people with fun ideas to express them and, hopefully, see them come to fruition. People Who Like To Do Fun Things is currently running a game on campus called Spoon Assassins, in which everyone is assigned a target to tag with their spoon and tries to get the most points. On a weekly basis, they play games including Capture the Flag and Dodgeball -- this club is made for those who want to have a good time.

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The Sketchiest Rooms on Campus

I thought it fitting that I sit down to write this article—”The Sketchiest Rooms on Campus”—in the place that comes to mind for every Hamilton student when they hear “sketchy”: KJ 005. 005 is notorious for being the most unexplainable classroom on campus. Reasons to venture into the KJ basement remain unknown. It is nearly impossible to find someone who took a class in the room -- it slopes downward, making it seem like you’re peering into an abyss from the doorway. The blood-red seats inspire fear, a stark contrast to the warm presence of the Red Pit. The uniform seats promise discipline and subordination.

Pictured: List Basement 17

Pictured: KJ Basement

Moving on, we come to the anomaly of Bundy West. Isolated in a small hallway, behind door 270, you can find a bathroom that’s too big to be individual, but too small to be a typical bathroom. In fact, everything about this bathroom is odd—from the empty, decrepit wardrobe by the sink, to the tub behind the curtain. Yes, you read that right, a bathtub exists in Bundy. It’s not particularly dirty or memorable, just out of place. The area behind the curtain clearly has enough room for the standard two showers. Why do we refer to the night as “after dark,” when it’s really “after light?” Why is there a tub in Bundy West? I guess some questions just aren’t meant to be answered.

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Okay, so this next one isn’t actually a room, but it’s definitely sketchy, while also very useful. Any freshman, or former Dunham connoisseur will understand how difficult it is to learn to navigate Dunham. The partial stairways don’t ascend to every floor, and getting from one side of the dorm to the other is a massive maze and waste of time. However, a lesser known route exists deep underground with those souls unfortunate enough to reside in the depths of Dunham basement. An unmarked door on either side of the basement opens into a dimly lit, disturbingly straight hallway. Walking through it the first time, you’re certain someone will jump out and scream, “You’re not supposed to be here!” Yet, they never do, and the hallway remains

Finally, you can’t have a “sketchy places at Hamilton” conversation without mentioning List. Literally anywhere in the abandoned arts center could apply here. While generally wandering the building, I passed: broken tables, discarded metal, a small stage, graffiti, an emergency shower, a door to the roof, and numerous leaks in the ceiling. By daylight, the empty classrooms feel like a somber tribute to the old arts program. A nighttime adventure, however, provides as much of a thrill as you are likely to find at Hamilton. Barring renovation, List will remain the sketchy icon of Hamilton’s campus for years to come.

Pictured: Dunham Basement Hallway 19

HAMILTON COLLEGE BUCKET LIST

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BY CATHARINE PIERCE ‘20

SKINNY DIPPING IN KTSA POND You know the pond in front of the Arts Center? The one that never gets any recognition? It’s probably thawed about three of the months of Hamilton’s academic year, and it’s high time to take advantage of those thawed months. Before leaving the hill, students should strive to take a swim in this water, or, better yet, skinny dip (depending on the time of day). Beware of campus safety – this activity is sure to bring trouble.

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STEAL A FULL BUCKET OF ICE CREAM FROM A DINING HALL

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Commons and McEwen have six massive tubs of ice cream that just sit in coolers. When the dining halls are deserted, I dare someone to walk in there, grab an entire tub of ice cream, and book it out. Who doesn’t need a full tub of Adirondack Black Bear to share with some friends? Plus, bragging rights, for sure.

STREAK

This iconic team chooses the best (or worst) times to venture across Hamilton’s campus, including Prospective Student Days, finals week, and during large campus tours. They sport nothing but masks and backpacks.

Though gutsy, taking part in a streak is a rite of passage on campus, and an opportunity a student should not pass up before outgrowing the hill.

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BIRDWATCHING AT 8AM WITH ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

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This devoted club wakes up at ungodly hours of the morning once a week (no matter the weather!) to calmly watch and identify birds. They compose hilarious, pun-ridden emails to recount their findings for the full Hamilton listserv. Contact Birdwoman ~birds@hamilton.edu~ if you have any interest.

SWING ON THE ROCK SWING BELOW McEWEN This is easier said than done. The swing is stabilized constantly, but cutting it loose is not impossible, and may be a necessary activity before graduation. In less strict days of the college, people could swing on it as they pleased. Let’s bring the lax days back, one swing at a time.

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KAYAK IN THE KJ WATER FEATURE That calming trickle, known as the “water feature,” that serves as white noise for a relaxing, productive afternoon working in KJ needs to get some use. Hop in there and, better yet, bring a kayak with you.

How far can you make it? This task has been done, so no excuses.

HIDEOUT IN THE LIBRARY WORKING ALL NIGHT

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The main part of the library closes at 2 AM on most nights, but that doesn’t have to stop you. Try hiding out and pulling an all-nighter in the library on the third floor. 24-hour room is for the weak.

CLIMB THE STATUE OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON

While most of us probably did this in our first month on the hill, it’s still a necessity. Did you even attend Hamilton College if you didn’t take a picture on top of the Al Ham statue? That’s what I thought.

SLED DOWN COLLEGE HILL ROAD

We get so much snow up here in Clinton. Why not take advantage of the fluffy stuff, and the different climate up on our steep hill? Grab a saucer, or a tray if you’re feeling crafty, and maybe a helmet, too. Godspeed.

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WIN 0 TRIVIA NIGHT We all get constant Trivia Night emails, and some of us are regulars at the Pub on Tuesdays. The trivia questions are tough, but I challenge you to win the whole thing – do it for the Tex Mex gift card. The smaller the team, the more queso. Think of all the queso.

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THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY IAN HOHM ‘20

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Ask any Hamilton student about the era when the idea of free love and open discourse reigned over Central New York. They’ll probably be confused initially, but ultimately, they’ll probably ay the 1970s, the decade of vegetarian hippies and active youth criticism. In reality, they’d be about a century off.

In 1848, John Humphrey Noyes founded the Oneida Community, based on the idea that second coming of Jesus already happened in the year AD 70, and so a life without sin, a perfect life, would be possible on Earth. This idea is known as Perfectionism. The Community embraced many ideologies that were controversial and illegal at the time, and some that are controversial and illegal today. For example, they believed in a system of “Complex Marriage,” in which all men in the Community were married to all women, and all members of the community were encouraged to engage intimately with multiple partners. Older members of the community were also expected to function as sexual and religious mentors to younger members of the opposite sex.

The Community was housed in the Oneida Community Mansion House, built in phases over the operational duration of the Community just 12 miles away from Hamilton College.

All members of the community, all the way to its peak size of 306 members in 1878, lived under the same roof, eating the same predominantly vegetarian dinners.. Noyes believed strongly in the power of community, and so everything was shared among the whole organization; wealth, work, and even childbearing responsibilities. The Community also encouraged active criticism from all members towards all other members. Noyes himself was criticized in an open forum several times. Yet principle remains separate from practice, and eventually new ideas from younger members (ironically, such as monogamy) became too disparate from Noyes’ original ideology, one of the factors in the Community’s downfall.

Due to internal fracturing and external pressure, the Oneida community disbanded in 1881. In the process of making ends meet, however, the Community learned to manufacture and sell silverware. And so, out of the ashes of the Oneida Community came Oneida Limited, an international supplier of cutlery and the largest supplier of dinnerware to the foodservice industry in North America. For a century, Oneida Limited operated no more than a few miles from the home of the original group, until its purchase by Monomoy Capital in 2011. Now the Oneida Group, the organization is mostly based out of Ohio.

The Oneida Community tried and failed to sustain a free love commune just a dozen miles from here. Their old home, the Oneida Community Mansion House, stands as an artifact from a time when progressive ideals were held by men with backwards and unsustainable ideologies. Its nostalgic beauty is only made more mystifying the impossibility of its dream.

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LARGE

ISC SCALE

PHILANTHROPY

BY CAROLINE LANGAN ‘18

DAY OF SERVICE

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ach academic year, the Inter-Society Council (ISC), which serves as a unifying platform for Greek societies on campus and as a liaison to the administration, sponsors one large-scale philanthropy event in which all Greek societies participate.

Last year, the ISC Philanthropy Initiative, “Charity FUN(d) Fest,” consisted of a series of competitions to raise money for Planned Parenthood, Be The Match, No One Left Behind, and the Midtown Utica Community Center and for guest speakers from each charity. The event was very successful—more than 200 students participated and $5,314 was raised.

Philanthropy is one of the key values of Greek life. All societies engage in individual philanthropic efforts, such as hosting food and clothing drives and participating in the AIDS Walk, and the Heart Walk. In order to build on these efforts and promote community involvement by everyone involved in Greek life, ISC, in partnership with the COOP, is planning a service day on April 21st during which members of Greek societies will volunteer at multiple organizations in Clinton, New Hartford, Rome, and Utica. The event will run from 10am to 2pm. After a short opening ceremony, members will divide into groups for their assigned volunteer activities, which will range from spending time with the elderly, to reading with children, to helping feed the hungry. Thanks to the COOP, students have a number of choices and can select to volunteer at organizations that align with their in-

terests. The ISC hopes to foster bonds between Hamilton and the nearby communities with this event. “Service is core to what Greek life is at Hamilton. We believe that directing philanthropic efforts locally will encourage organizations to get involved after the day of service,” said Matt Lebowitz ’18, who is an ISC co-chair with Caroline Langan ’18. The day of service will demonstrate a sense of communal responsibility. The service effort also promotes unity among Greek members by providing an opportunity for students from different societies to meet and work together. Julia Booth ’19, the chair of the Philanthropy Initiative Committee, explained, “The ISC believes that the philanthropy effort is a great way to unite all of Greek life and to give back to our local community. The day of service, even more than fundraising, has the ability to build relationships between the members participating within the Greek community, as well as in the larger community.”

In addition to the philanthropy initiative, ISC has worked on several other initiatives this year. A major initiative ISC worked on last semester was putting together working groups to gather data for “Greek Life Best Practices.” These working groups evaluated Greek life at Hamilton in comparison to similar schools, with the goal of improving the current practices. The areas of focus included rush and pledging, alumni relations, philanthropy, leadership and standards, and social life and social spaces.

The ISC finalized these reports for submission to Dean Martinez in February.

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MY HIMALAYAN CLASSROOM Matt Lebowitz ‘18

Ah, spring break. The classic time for climbing glaciers, crossing swaying suspension bridges over deep ravines, making friends with yaks – you know, all the usual spring break activities. While many of our peers opted for sunny beaches and lazy days of video games during this year’s spring break, a small group of endeavoring souls thirsted for a different experience. Nine Hamilton students, led by Outdoor Leadership Center Director Andrew Jillings, traveled to Nepal in the hopes of reaching the Mt. Everest base camp at 17,700ft.

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e arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, on March 11th, and early the next morning we flew in a rickety little plane to greet the mountains. Despite our nervousness on the flight, our first glimpses of the Himalaya made the bumpy ride worth it. Even from a distance, the enormous faces of the highest mountains in the world took up massive swaths of sky as their icy fangs rose to nearly the cruising altitude of a commercial passenger jet. "Awe" was too small a word. Finally we drew within sight of our destination, Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary Airport, considered the most dangerous runway in the world. The minuscule strip slopes uphill from a sheer drop and ends abruptly against a cliff. Yikes!

Upon landing, we immediately hit the trail. Most trekkers take fourteen days to reach base camp from Lukla, using a few of those days to rest and acclimatize. Due to travel time, we cut out rest and acclimatization and attempted to make it to base camp and back in ten days. Over the next six days we hiked more than 36 miles up the Khumbu Valley, gaining over 7,000 feet in elevation along the way. Then, at over 16,000ft, our lack of rest and acclimatization caught up to us. The night before our base camp hike, several of us came down with altitude sickness: nausea intensified, headaches sharpened, and coughs worsened. We descended the next day, tired and sore but proud of our journey. We felt stronger with each step downwards, and three days later we strode confidently into Lukla for our flight back to Kathmandu.

One of the primary functions of the trip was to combine firsthand cultural education with a true wilderness adventure. Almost as remarkable as our days spent on the trail was our (limited) time spent touring the country, where we observed cultural differences that catalyzed deep reflection. For instance, at a site along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu,

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we witnessed several public cremations. According to their Hindu tradition, on the day of death, a body is ceremonially bathed with the holy waters of the river before being burned upon a decorated pyre. The ashes are then cast into the Bagmati, which flows south into the Ganges. Many in our group felt uneasy watching the rituals, as if we were intruding on something very private. Yet, as evidenced by the crowds of locals, the cremations very clearly represent a normal part of life in this part of Kathmandu. The nature of these ceremonies represents a dramatic departure from most American funeral traditions, and experiences like this one stuck with us just as much as the sweeping mountain vistas.

Although open to all students, the trip was heavily linked to Professor Maurice Isserman’s History of Himalayan Mountaineering course. While six of the nine students were enrolled in the class, our group’s members ranged from seasoned hikers to complete amateurs. For instance, Mari Hiller ‘18 had only been hiking once before. “Little did I know what I was getting myself into,” she wrote. “When I saw ‘6-7 hrs of trekking,’ I thought I’d just be casually strolling all day. I glanced over the fact that I’d be trekking for 10 days straight.

And I definitely did not make the conversion from meters to feet when I saw the elevation. Regardless, I signed up and just ran with it. The trip ended up being amazing and I earned the title ‘tough princess.’”

Despite having different levels of experience, each student returned with a broadened perspective, according to Jillings.

“Everyone on the trip gained some insights into life in one of the poorest countries in the world, as well as their own interactions with altitude and high-mileage days,” he wrote.

“People were glad we were there and willing to share their country, their stories, and their black tea.”

MARISA COOKE ‘20

RESORT AND CASINO I know what you’re thinking: what college student has enough disposable income to go hang out at a casino? How am I supposed to gamble when I can barely afford to do my laundry? Well, for those of you interested in getting off campus and exploring central New York without emptying your wallets, the Turning Stone Resort and Casino is worth checking out. Turning Stone is far more than its name suggests. Although the casino is obviously a large draw, the resort presents a variety of other activities for those of us with a little less money to burn (i.e., college kids). Located a mere twenty minutes away in Verona, Turning Stone is less of a gambler’s den and more like a hidden oasis in upstate New York.

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ONEIDA INDIAN NATION 32

Turning Stone is owned and operated by the Oneida Indian Nation, a federally recognized member of the Iroquois Six Nations. The Nation is also the largest employer in the region. In 2016, they announced a $20 million investment in the casino, with the upgrades to the casino floor and Food Hall debuting later that year. Now, Turning Stone is a fully-fledged resort complete with plush amenities you might expect to see in a fourstar hotel.

Despite this luxury, Turning Stone still provides ample opportunities for the frugally minded college student to explore. Besides its casino, Turning Stone is well-known for its cosmetic services. Turning Stone’s full-size spa, Skana, provides massages, body scrubs and wraps, and facials, while the Ahsi Day Spa and Salon offers peels, LED light therapy, haircuts, nails, professional makeup application, and waxes.

For those hoping to try something more athletic, Turning Stone also boasts a wealth of options. The resort has three stunning golf courses, as well as recreational courses and lessons, two racquetball courts and five tennis courts, a hunting preserve and private fishing lodge (if that’s what floats your boat). Turning Stone has even hosted numerous boxing and MMA events.

Turning Stone’s nightlife is one of its most impressive attributes. Besides its variety of dance, rock, and country-western clubs and bars, the resort is home to a diverse array of restaurants. Among its many culinary delights are the TS Steakhouse, a penthouse restaurant and cigar parlor, Pino Bianco, an Italian restaurant and wine bar, and the Chinese-Thai fusion restaurant Peach Blossom, the 2017 winner of an OpenTable Diner’s Choice award.

The resort also often plays host to a variety of musicians and entertainers. Coming up soon, comedian Dane Cook on April 14th, 1970s prog rock band Kansas on April 29th, English psychedelic group The Yardbirds on May 4th, and The Rocket Man Show, a tribute to Sir Elton John, on May 12th.

If you’re looking to get off the Hill, pamper yourself, or support native-owned businesses, definitely check out Turning Stone!

Find Turning Stone online at: www.turningstone.com

Q B B s ’ t a P y Pigg EVIEW

ANT R RESTAUR

. ur readers nce with o cated in e ri e p x e hare their es. It is lo que sauc Q - and s e B B rb a s - including b t’ a d P n t options eats a Piggy a m e t ir s m e f e o n th fi f re, Piggy rd’s thora lity o rs out the ew Hartfo n the qua ffers a ple te o o N a f lf u e o e n t s e e a it n e m s o ner, and de n-m on heir nt that pri or the no day for din entral artford. T F ra ri ed to take H . u F id w m ta c d e o s e n fr N d a re f y e ff o s Our sta thentic C , Thursda thern BBQ ay outside ty of sides to choo for the au o good, it’d s is a sou ednesday n the highw W ts h le ff n p o ig o t n h n h it y e g a w p ri Piggy Pat’ o rd ls Qs Y, n Mills, N d full mea Piggy Pat’s BBQ is ic Friday and Satu nt with BB ra u ta s re s .

Washingto wings, burgers, an mu ers ern BBQ have live ggie burg es, or not... true south sandwich “a ds and ve d dinner, and they la is a s s ff agrees t’ s ta a e s P r rv y u n e g o s a r ig o h e c P Pat’s als ee wheth website, ay for lun !” Let’s s 9 and Sund According to their th y u a o rd m tu r a u S ZONIS ‘1 E f of yo T ence. o ri T e ro O p e x L e th R A rk in CH New Yo ck a hole r tongue li u o y e k a m

The pulled pork was pretty good, and so was the cornbread. The staff was nice and the atmosphere is a little more quiet than what I would imagine when I think of a late evening BBQ house. There were a lot of plastic models of pig parts everywhere.

Krissi Kim ‘21, Editor-at-Large Piggy Pat's is a great place to go with lots of friends! The food is decent and the walls are covered in entertaining pig themed pictures, posters and plaques -and a huge TV to boot. Everyone working there is friendly and over all it makes for a great dining experience! 10/10 would recommend for group outings.

Alex Chalk ‘20, Director of Photography "I was a vegetarian before Piggy Pat's and a voracious carnivore after Piggy Pat's. If you are going to give up on your morals and principles for a night, I highly recommend getting a burger from this place."

Erin Bryant ‘21, Social Media Director

I got the pulled pork, collard greens, mac n cheese, and a side of cornbread. The pulled pork was great moist, plentiful and flavorful. The mac n cheese - to die for. The cornbread - flavorless :( also, the reuben balls were crazy good (a mix of well cooked meat and crunchy outside). Overall: 3.8/5 stars Julie Katter ‘18, Entertainment Section Editor

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of macaroni and cheese, and was pretty happy with it. The sandwich bun was very cold which made me sad, but everything else was top notch. The macaroni was creamy, hot, and tasted great with the variety of barbecue sauces provided by the restaurant. The ambiance at Piggy Pat’s makes you forget that you’re in Utica. There are old-timey signs, posters, and pictures on the walls. I also heard that they deliver if it’s a big order. I will definitely go back!

Alex Scheuer ‘18, Co-Editor in Chief While Upstate New York certainly isn’t anyone’s initial thought when they think of where to find good barbecue, Piggy Pat’s was a pleasant surprise.

Restaurants in Texas and North Carolina would have it beat, but on the whole, the appetizers were unusual but tasty (“Reuben Balls,” anyone?), and the food, service, and atmosphere were all great. My only real complaint is the fact that the giant flatscreen across from me showed the same makeup infomercial for a good 90% of the dinner, which wasn’t the most intriguing thing to be watching for an hour and a half.

Olivia Paradice ‘18, Co-Editor in Chief

I went safe with the pulled pork and baked beans. Both solid choices. Pro tip: Bigger is better at Piggy Pat’s as the Texas sauce trounces Carolina’s.

Philip Marks ‘21, Editor-at-Large

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RA STORIES Anna McCloskey ‘18

As a Resident Advisor, you tend to hear a lot of wild lore about what others have seen on the job. When I first started, a veteran RA told me some stories that I truly could not believe. From naked people asleep on Bundy washing machines to finding people asleep in the shower, RA lore is wrought with nudity and intrigue. I am here to tell you three completely true, first-hand accounts of what happens at Hamilton when no one else is looking.

The first tale is my own, a relic from our rounds through Eells one night, when my on-call partner and I happened across six guys playing beer pong in the middle of the hallway. Given the narrowness of Eells hallways, no one could get past these guys, and a small pile-up of people had formed. My partner and I asked the guys if they could move out of the hallway, and after looking quizzically at us and each other, one asked aloud, “What’s the biggest room on the floor?” One of his friends responded that the bathroom was biggest. Then, in perfect unison, the six guys all shouted, “To the bathroom!” like a sort of battle cry as they picked up their table and walked down the hallway.

RA ONE To find some more first-hand stories, I turned to a veteran Dark Side RA who has definitely seen some crazy stuff. RA One, as I will call them, worked in the Suites one year and lived on the first floor. One day, RA One was sitting in their bed when a knock came on the window. RA One opened the window to find a guy standing there, holding a joint and preparing to smoke it. “Suddenly it seemed like my window had turned into a drive-thru. Not very pleasant,” RA One said.

RA One asked the guy what he was doing, to which the guy responded that he was, of course, looking to light up a joint and wondering if it would be alright for him to smoke it there, in front of the window. RA One responded, “Hell no,” after which the guy became angry and said, “You know what, man, this is why I think RAs are shitty sometimes.”

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But this is not RA One’s craziest story by a long shot. One night on their rounds through the Suites, RA One walked into a Milbank common room to find five completely naked girls in a sort of grind-line, tied together by a rope, dancing and repeatedly smacking each other. Yes, it’s as weird as it sounds.

“Sometimes as an RA, the best thing to do is just make sure everyone is acting weird safely! It was pretty uncomfortable though,” RA One said.

What is perhaps crazier is that I have heard another story of this nature. When I was a first year, my RA told me a story about walking into a suite the year before to find several guys standing naked in the same grind-line formation, tied together by a sheet, singing and dancing to Katy Perry songs. Like RA One, my former RA asked if every person was there of their own consent, and after receiving bewildered nods from each person, proceeded on his way.

Encounters of this nature do not happen often, but they are certainly unforgettable.

LIFE STYLE

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Seniors’ Defining Senior spring at Hamilton is as stressful as it is wonderful.

While seniors hustle to finish majors and secure post-grad plans, they too revel in the last few weeks, reflecting on their best Hamilton memories.

Caitlin McQuade, Fiona (Ona) Griffin, Timothy (Tim) Hartel

from the class of 2018 told me what defined their Hamilton experiences and made their time here special.

Caitlin’s defining campus experience was performing, both as a

theater major and in her a cappella group, Duelly Noted. In addition to her participation in Main Stage Productions, she co-directed and acted in two student-run Shakespeare plays in the Amphitheater outside KTSA. Interestingly, one of Caitlin’s defining performances at Hamilton was part of a class final for a cross-listed Women and Gender Studies and Theater course, Performing Women with Professor Jeanne Willcoxon. “For the final, each student prepared a ten-minute solo piece exploring the idea of what it means to perform ‘woman’. At the final I got to see my classmates perform very personal and diverse pieces that used humor, tragedy, dance, and other mediums to explore a variety of issues including sexism, racism, homophobia, sexual assault and body image.”

After joining Duelly Noted during the second semester of her freshman year, it became integral to Caitlin’s social life. “It’s a good thing I did [join], because so many of my close friends and best stories have come from being a part of the group.” Some of her favorite memories with her friends in Duelly Noted happened during the group’s winter performances tour. “Each winter break for a little less than a week, we all pile into a Jitney and travel around the Northeast…

Whether it is getting to see a gym full of excited elementary school students singing along to your senior solo or you and another member of the group taking an embarrassingly long time to figure out where to pump gas into the Jitney, (pro-tip: it is closer to the driver’s door than you would think), tour is always an adventure.”

(Continued)

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Experiences Genevieve Shuster ‘20

Like Caitlin, Ona’s experience was defined by participation in extracurricular activities. Ona worked with HAAND through all four years and is now the Student Director for Hamilton Reads. “Hamilton Reads got me to consider a future in education, as I really enjoyed sharing my love of reading with the students I worked with. Participating in HAAND, particularly the Kelberman Clubhouse program, helped me focus my educational goals, eventually deciding on working towards a future in special education. Having these opportunities available, along with Education classes that helped me form my perspectives on education, made my Hamilton experience special.”

Ona’s involvement with these on-campus organizations led her to pursue an internship with the New England Center for Children, which became critical to her future pursuits. “This experience solidified my career goals and allowed me to experience teaching first-hand.

Hamilton’s community and service opportunities allowed me to supplement my formal education with formative teaching experiences that have changed my goals in life for the better.”

Tim’s experience as a choir member made his Hamilton experience special. “It [choir] has remained such a central part of my life at Hamilton all four years and the place where I’ve made so many of my close friendships.

I love choir, and in a lot of ways it’s been the defining experience of my whole college career.” When Tim joined, Dr. G. Roberts Kolb was director, and it was his direction that sold Tim on choir as well as Hamilton itself. “They sounded wonderful, honestly better than the other NESCAC groups I had listened to online. I knew I had to go here.”

Tim continues to enjoy choir under the direction of Dr. Jace Saplan. Tim’s favorite part of choir is the yearly tour, specifically, last year’s tour of Italy.

“On the first day there we were singing in the Vatican… I think perhaps the most glorious moment came when we were at the Duomo…. Rob came up in front of us and whispered that we should sing something in the space.

A kind of guerrilla one song concert happened. And standing there, underneath that gorgeous painted dome with the last rays of sunlight streaming through the windows in the front, I felt so connected to everyone there. It was one of the most pure, connective, music making experiences with all of these people who I had grown to love and care for. That sort of connective feeling of an ensemble, of living in this small school environment, felt like it filled the air as we sang in this gorgeous space. The connection of Hamilton felt visceral; I felt so blessed to go to this school.”

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Strong

Island

A Poig nant F Hamilt ilm by on Alu mni Ya nce Fo rd

Julie Katter ‘18 If you haven’t seen Strong Island, what are you waiting for? The critically acclaimed documentary, directed by Hamilton Alumnus Yance Ford ‘94, is poignant, complex, beautiful and intense. I had the pleasure of attending his screening and talk-back when he visited campus lasXXt fall and was moved by his purposeful and meditative storytelling techniques. As time passed, Strong Island garnered an immense amount of critical acclaim including the Best Documentary at the Gotham Film Awards, Black Film Critics Circle Awards, and at the Sundance Film Festival, to name a few.

Notably, Yance is the first transgender director to ever be nominated for an Oscar.

The film, which is available on Netflix, tells the story of the death of Yance’s brother William who was killed while Yance was a junior here at Hamilton in 1992. William was shot during an altercation at a car repair shop in Islip, Long Island. The film dives into the injustices that Yance’s family were served following the family’s tragic loss. The film covers a lot - racial segregation, family aspirations of a comfortable middle- class life, institutional injustice, and a gender transition.

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DO YOU KNOW MY BROTHER?

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R

ecently, Yance was interviewed by Scott Macdonald, a film professor here at Hamilton. During their interview, Yance had many insightful comments regarding his creative techniques and cathartic journey of making the film. Strong Island opens with a close-up of Yance’s face as he says the following lines:

“I’m not angry. I’m also not willing to accept that someone else gets to say who William was, and if you’re uncomfortable with me asking these questions, you should probably get up and go.”

When MacDonald asked why Yance chose to narrate much of the story in this in-your-face style, Yance had the following to say: “Actually, the close-up is about a lot of things. It’s about having a conversation with the audience, about a lifetime of having my face misinterpreted, about the lifetime of stoicism that I inherited from my father. I meant that close-up as a confrontation, a provocation, but also as an invitation, because some people are going to see my face who have never seen a black face that close—maybe it’s something they’ve wanted to see.”

This quote captures so much of what the film is about: the willingness to confront, question, and revisit old hauntings. The unique close-up also unabashedly reveals to the viewer Yance’s identity as well as the injustices of American institutions. The extreme close-ups of Yance’s face throughout the film may be uncomfortable for viewers, but Yance notes that “discomfort is part of the fabric of the film. The experience of Strong Island is meant to be one of disruption and instability. We shot five interviews over three and a half years; they averaged five to six hours.

During the interviews, I was combative, I was sarcastic, I was annoyed.”

Strong Island leaves questions about Williams death unanswered yeturges the viewer to question the very society in which they live. The film has many layers, including Yance’s transition while at Hamilton.

In a recent New York Times interview, Yance commented on how much less burdened he feels after the movie’s release this past September.

He notes, “Strong Island” has been doing more and more of the work. I think that’s the shift you hear in my voice. That I haven’t been the one to have to carry it all. It’s out in the world and can speak for itself. It does take the pressure off me in a way. I definitely feel like I’m more present than the 1992 Yance or the 2012 Yance, when I walked away from a very stable job into what felt like a great unknown. Being out as a trans man isn’t new in my personal life, but it’s new in the public sphere. I started part of my transition before the film was complete, and now I’m further along in my transition. I’m also more comfortable in my skin. The past 10 years has been about the movie, the, movie, the movie. And then I get to be in the world as my authentic self. I think that’s the lightness that you hear.”

I urge you to see this incredible film because of its ability to weave in complex themes and thought-provoking elements fluidly and beautifully.

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QUEER EYE:

A REBOOT FOR THE AGES

LILY CAPSTICK ‘18

Moments before writing this article, I rewatched a clip from the first episode of Queer Eye. It was the moment when Tom, a once lonely truck driver turned confident gentleman, begins to cry. I did not anticipate that I would start crying again after rewatching the clip, but alas, as I write these words I have some tears in my eyes. Although, there are less tears than the first time, which I would describe as more of an “emotional breakdown” or “violent sobbing.” It’s that good, people.

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T

he American reality show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy first debuted in 2003 on Bravo and ran for three seasons. On the show, the “Fab 5”, a group of gay “life experts”, help transform the lives of lost, helpless, and generally heterosexual, men. With their expertise, they alter the straight man’s life for the better. In 2017, Queer Eye has made a comeback on Netflix with a new young “Fab 5” crew featuring Atoni, Tan, Karamo, Bobby, and Jonathan, the food and wine, fashion, culture, design, and grooming experts, respectively. Although the new show runs on the same premise, it goes an extra mile.

While the original series aimed to fight for gay tolerance, this year’s reboot on Netflix strives for acceptance. For example, Tan, the style expert assures the men they help that caring about their wardrobe “does not make you a wuss.” This new and updated version of Queer Eye not only entertains, it also moves its viewers by directly aiming to challenge harmful divides among Americans due to political and ideological differences.

As Atoni, the food and wine expert said, “my goal is to find out how we are similar as opposed to how different we are.”

A I

re Hamilton students watching Queer Eye? Absofreakinlutely.

As Emma Karsten ‘18 said, “it’s the most heartwarming show in the world. It’s not about changing these men, it’s about helping them realize themselves and become confident with themselves, like they never do too much or are too out there.” Mackenzie Bettmann ‘18 agrees that, “it’s all based on what they already like, just giving it a little bit more so they feel more confident and happy.” f you’re not convinced to watch the show yet, do it for the hilarity and coolness of the Fab 5. Take it from Julia Dailey ‘18; “I just love watching them and they just look so good and they know how to do life so well and they’re also so funny and I feel like I’m hanging out with them.” And don’t we all love a TV show that makes us feel like we are hanging out with real friends? Yes, we do! So, next time you wonder what to watch next on Netflix, give Queer Eye a try. Warning: you may end up shedding heart-wrenching tears on a couch with your mom.

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ach summer, festivals across the country bring a selection of small independent films to a variety of unique locations. These summer film festivals provide an opportunity for filmmakers to present their films to a wider audience. The festivals vary, some bringing mostly feature films, others focus on documentaries, and others showing a mixture of the two. There are short festivals, religious festivals, international festivals and festivals that spotlight local filmmakers. Film topics range from social to political, and the genres include dramas, tragedies and comedies. Summer film festivals offer cinephiles the unique opportunity to enjoy small, award-winning independent films in a centralized location, often over the span of a few days.

The Sundance Film Festival, located in Park City, Utah, sets the tone for film festivals that occur later in the spring and summer. Sundance is the largest independent film festival in the United States, and it brings documentaries, dramas, shorts, foreign films, and premieres to Utah for the week-and-a-half long festival. Sundance introduces the film world to emerging filmmakers, and each film entered is eligible for some of the most prestigious independent cinematic awards. The films then continue to get exposure and publicity from smaller, more specific film festivals that occur later on in the season. Over spring break, I got the opportunity to see a selection of films shown at Sundance, including some of the award winners. The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival hosts a spring festival over a weekend in March, as well as a summer series that lasts from late June through September. Their March series provides a sample of the award-winning films from Sundance and a preview of some of the films that will make the rounds over the summer.

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T

he films sampled at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival this spring included political topics, stories of survival, environmental documentaries, strong female figures, comedy shorts, a cartoonist, art, science and scandal. Some of the award-winning films featured included Crime + Punishment, a film about a group of whistleblowing officers who risked their lives to expose racial discrimination within the NYPD, which won a Special Jury Award for Social Impact at Sundance, and Three Identical Strangers, which documents the story of triplets separated at birth and adopted by three different families and won a Special Jury Award for Storytelling at Sundance. Two films that won awards for filmmaking and editing at Sundance respectively were Minding the Gap, which follows skateboarders in the post-industrial city of Rockford, Illinois, and Our New President, a jaw-dropping exposé on Russia’s involvement in the 2016 Presidential Election. Some other notable films included RBG, a moving documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Unveiled, a film about a Pakistani girl that pretends to be a boy for 16 years of her life in order to play squash, as well as Science Fair, which follows students participating in a highly competitive international science fair, Dark Money, a film about untraceable corporate money in politics, Patti Cakes, a comedy portraying an aspiring rapper working dead-end jobs in a dilapidated New Jersey suburb, and The Devil We Know, a film on an environmental scandal involving a West Virginia corporation dumping C8 into the water supply, just to name a few.

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here are hundreds of small film festivals that pop up around the country during the summer months, and many of the films mentioned, as well as others from Sundance and some from local, aspiring filmmakers, are able to get exposure without making it to theaters. These festivals also give movie-goers the opportunity to see smaller, independent, oftentimes award-winning feature films and documentaries that grapple with political, social, environmental and other incredibly relevant issues. There are summer festivals in cities such as Los Angeles and New York, as well as Seattle and Ann Arbor, and small vacation towns such as Woods Hole, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Summer festivals will begin announcing their schedules in April and May, so research ones in your town or city and make sure to mix in some small indie films with big blockbusters this summer.

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THE CONTINENTAL @contmag Contmag@hamilton.edu The Continental issuu.com/hamiltoncontinental