The Continental Fall 2022

Contributers, 6

Letter from the Editors, 7

travel

Brimfield Winery: A Hidden Clinton Gem, 18

Hamilton Students Take on the 90-miler, 20

The Queen’s Passing: A Continental’s London Experience, 22

opinion

To Do or Not to Do: Hamilton Students Excel at Procrastination, 10

A Call for What Once Was: The Late Night Jitney, 12

A Ranking of Hamilton’s Fall Drinks, 14

Community in the Cold: Hamilton’s Winter Traditions, 34

Back in the Saddle, 36

Campus Dad: Frank Coots, Director of Campus Safety, 38

on the hill

24 Hours in a Study Room, 26

Clinton Date Night? We Got You, 28

The Shadows of Hamilton’s Light Side: Traditions through Time, 30

features lifestyle

The Best Running, Walking, and Biking Trail Recommendations, 44

Bring it Back Hamilton!, 46

Editors-in-Chief

Nicolette Van Kesteren ‘23 Julia Radomisli ‘24 Creative Directors

Sarah Ferland ‘23 Stella Essenmacher ‘25 Photography Director Kaitlyn Bieber ‘23 Social Media Director

Zoe Neely ‘25

r letter from the editors

ibutors

Editors-at-Large

Ashley Kolpan ‘24 Will Kretz ‘26 On the Hill Editor Lucy Elliot ‘23 Travel Editor Morgan Hodorowski ‘26 Features Editor Stella Essenmacher ‘25 Opinion Editor Deniz Tek ‘24 Lifestyle Editor Sammy Smock ‘24

Photographers

Meave Browne ‘25 Lily Watts ‘26

Writers

Camille Martin ‘24 Vivian Miller ‘26 Emma DiGiacomo ‘25 Isabella DePirro ‘24 Caroline Rhodes ‘24

Dear Readers,

Settling into the first semester in two years at Hamilton where masks and testing are no longer a requirement threw us for a loop and thus, we went into the position as new Editors in Chief overwhelmed and relatively confused. We pride ourselves on being an incredibly integral part of the Hamilton experience, so having to shoulder the burden of that task added to the stress of fully in person classes, tests, parties, etc. However, when we regained our footing and settled into the positions, we managed to compile an outstanding issue by showcasing the talents of our new writers and staff. Once we got over the initial shock of having the reins of Media board meetings, club leadership training, and managing a team handed over to us, we were incredibly excited and honored to be in charge of a publication we both love. Given all the restrictions from previous years being lifted, we were able to explore not only Hamilton’s campus with fuller detail but also the greater Clinton area. Although we deeply apologize for the delay in our publication, we are honored to present to you the fall 2023 edition of the Continental.

From this fall edition, we’ve learned so much about campus culture, life, and continued support from the faculty, staff, and other members of our close knit community. We sent our writers out to try new and sometimes taxing experiences, such as spending extended time in a study room without leaving or sampling every fall drink at Utica Coffee. We bring a little nostalgia with our articles on campus history, traditions, and the lost pillars that should come back. We provide recommendations of where to hike, date, procrastinate, or drink, and showcase experiences of students abroad in London and at sea in the Adirondack lakes. We also reported on timely campus happenings such as continued comments on campus safety with a case for the return of the Late Night Jitney and an interview with Frank Coots.

We want to thank our incredible team, especially some last-minute writers who stepped in and provided amazing work. We could not have done any of this without our fantastic Creative Directors, Stella Essenmacher and Sarah Ferland. Our e-board always provided great ideas, important edits, and many laughs. Lastly, we want to thank the Media Board for its unwavering support.

In this issue we aim to show you new aspects of student life or remind you of old ones, a time capsule of both present and past experiences of this College. We hope you enjoy!

Nicolette & Julia

opin ion

To Do or Not to Do: Hamilton Students Excel at Procrastination

Vivian Miller

In high school, I felt like the world’s best procrastinator. While my classmates were doing hours of homework a night, I was finding creative solutions to not do much at all. While avoiding my studies I wrote a full-length novel, directed a play, watched every TV show on Netflix, and slept a full eight hours a night. Although I’m sure I must have completed my assignments, I virtually have no memory of doing so during this time. I’d like to think I’ve gotten better at Hamilton, but it’s no secret that Hamilton students work hard and play hard. I’ve begun to think that what separates Hamiltonian procrastination from the procrastination of the masses is just how creative we are in our methods.

I’m sitting in the Science Center as I turn to the girl on my left. I ask her what she’s doing right now since her textbook and laptop are closed. She was in fact, with great concentration, making a meme of a squirrel. This is precisely the energy I aspire to have on a sleepy

Wednesday morning. Around me, about thirty other students were staring dead-eyed at their laptops or pretending not to scroll through their phones. You know the move, laptop open but darkened, phone hidden behind it. Some are waiting in line at Fojo— a truly creative solution as it makes the people around you think that you have the intention to sit down with your coffee and study soon. I bet others think I’m doing work right now. I am not. Instead of my Literature class reading, I’m writing this article. I often think that people overestimate me. The other day a classmate said, “If Vivian Miller hasn’t done the reading then I’m fine.” I find this hysterical: I am merely a formerly gifted kid with good instincts, not good study habits. I still do not correct her.

I went around asking people what they did instead of studying when they were supposed to be. While most students admitted to a scary amount of screentime on TikTok, there were some golden highlights

that are worth noting. One freshman told me that she procrastinates work by doing other work that’s due two weeks out. We really must give her points for creativity. Another student told me she procrastinates by stressing herself out checking flight prices, which is escapism if I’ve ever heard it. Another said he goes to Wikipedia and hits the random article button. This method is particularly entertaining: I just learned there’s a street named Skeldergate in York, England! I once even knew a guy who would procrastinate his actual homework by reading scholarly articles about engineering. I respect his audacity.

I think we can agree that Hamilton students are overachievers even when we’re underachieving. If we must procrastinate, we sure do it with pizzazz. But I for one think we should be a little kinder to ourselves and put all that creativity to good use. After all, why make a rushed squirrel meme when you can create a bonafide masterpiece?

Bring Back the Late Night Jitney

A Call for What Once Was: The Late Night Jitney

As a freshman on campus before covid, I was always comfortable going down the hill at night because I knew I would be able to safely return. In the parking lot next to the Rok, the Jitney ran through the night, taking Hamilton students safely up the hill for no additional charge. All you needed was a Hillcard. The maximum amount of time spent outside waiting for the Jitney was usually 10 minutes. The freezing temperatures at midnight are no joke, but we always knew that the Jitney would arrive.

Now, as a senior, I am not always confident that I will be able to

Lucy Elliott

safely get home. An uber costs about $10 to get from the Rok to Sadove. With tip, this quick trip ends up being worth an hour of work at a Hamilton campus job. Students are huddled outside in freezing temperatures for up to 30 minutes without guarantee that a car is even coming, as cars can be canceled at the last minute. I’ve seen students walk up the hill without jackets and pile 8 people into the back of a car. The unfortunate reality is that some of these students will drink and drive.

Without a Jitney, this will continue to happen at the risk of others. All of these options put students in immediate danger. The unreliabil-

ity of transportation will not stop students from going down the hill at night, it will only increase the amount of dangerous situations that students might put themselves in coming back up.

According to Jack Jee ‘24: “the excuse that the late-night jitney promotes underage drinking is nothing short of ignorant…This is a college campus and students are going to drink regardless.” The question that Hamilton’s administration needs to ask themselves is whether they truly value the safety of their students, or if they are content to close their eyes and pretend the problem doesn’t exist.

Taking away the late-night Jitney as a means of preventing underage drinking is a poorly veiled effort by the college to avoid spending money that they certainly have in excess, but don’t want to spend on students.

A safe, reliable way back up campus is a small ask for the administration. The college’s willingness to turn a blind eye to student’s requests speaks volumes to their real values. Winters here are harsh, but do not deter students from going down the hill, and we are asking for a consistent way to return back to campus.

A Ranking of Utica Coffee’s Fall Drinks

Deniz Tek

Most Hamilton students fondly know of the corner coffee shop in Clinton, Utica Coffee. Students will descend from the hill to get their daily dose of caffeine, eat a breakfast sandwich, or, in my case, try every single one of this year’s fall seasonal drinks. That’s right, I went in and ordered six drinks to rank each one from worst to best (all based on my own personal preference, of course). I may not have credentials, but I do have a caffeine addiction and love a drink from Utica Coffee, so I decided to embark on this task!

This fall there were a total of

six seasonal drinks supposed to be the encapsulation of fall in a cup. The drinks are: The Pumpkin Spice Latte, Autumn Au Lait, Apple of my Chai, Caramel Apple Lotus, Pumpkin Pie Cold Brew (on tap), and the Cranberry Fig Spirulina Tea (on tap). I ordered all of these drinks iced and with oat milk except for the ones that did not require milk or were made to be drunk hot.

Now the Pumpkin Spice Latte needs no introductions, often called the pinnacle of fall flavored drinks and iconic to a fault (by someone I’m sure).

On my first taste, I was surprised by the bitterness of the

latte rather than what the sign described as “sweet pumpkin.” There was a greater emphasis on the coffee and spice aspect of the drink, forgoing more of the pumpkin flavors. The spices did make up for the lack of pumpkin with a very festive fall feeling. In my own words it was “pretty good.”

The second drink, the Autumn Au Lait, was the only hot drink of the group. This drink is a “Hot coffee topped with steamed milk & white chocolate spiced with warming brown sugar and cinnamon,” according to the sign. When I hear the words white chocolate and cinnamon I get excited, and in this case,

rightfully so. The first taste was soft and rich with a perfect balance of white chocolate, cinnamon, and coffee. It reminded me of a hot apple cider or hot chocolate with its sweet warmth. I immediately thought: “this is good!”

“The first taste was soft and rich with a perfect balance of white chocolate, cinnamon, and coffee.”

The next drink was the Apple of my Chai which is another cold drink, but unlike the others it was based on a chai latte rather than coffee. As the name suggests, if you like apple cider, this is the drink for you. With a taste that I could only describe as apple cider, chai, and caramel, I was a big fan. It is strong, yet not overpowering and still tasted great!

The next drink was the Caramel Apple Lotus drink, a cold tea drink. My first reaction was “that is so sweet, it’s almost like a jolly rancher.” This is not to say it was bad, but it definitely did not capture the fall feeling I was looking for.

The next drink was the Pumpkin Pie Cold Brew with a pumpkin flavored cream topping it. This was by far the most bitter drink of the day. It was the most coffee-tasting out of all the drinks. It was not bad, but definitely not for everyone.

The last drink was the Cranberry Fig Spirulina Tea which surprised me by how light and calming it was. Almost similar to ginger tea, it felt like it cleared my throat even without the kick of caffeine in it. Although it was a tea in a similar sense to the Lotus drink,

it still felt more on par with the fall feeling of relaxing in a pile of leaves.

The final ranking that I came up with the help of three of my friends is this: in last place was the Caramel Apple Lotus due to its lack of fall feeling, in fifth place was the Pumpkin Pie Cold Brew due to how bitter it was (might have been different if it had maple cream), in fourth place was the Classic Pumpkin Spice Latte (might have been better if hot), in third place was the Cranberry Fig Spirulina Tea due to its relaxing fall feeling, in second place was the Autumn Au Lait, and in first place was with, an unanimous vote from my friends, the Apple of my Chai. Despite not having coffee in it, we ranked it number one as the perfect fall drink offered at Utica Coffee with its amazing caramel and apple cider feel.

The Brimfield Winery: A Hidden Clinton Gem

Nicolette Van Kesteren

Nestled in a big red barn off the side of the road and across from a beautiful field of blooming sunflowers is one of Clinton’s hidden gems: The Brimfield Winery. They have a lovely outdoor patio where you can sit and watch the sunset, and a picturesque barn where you can relax and enjoy a wine tasting or peruse their large selection of wines. Their property also includes a driving range for those eager to hit a few balls before partaking in the winery’s offerings.

This venue is highly recommended to students of 21+ to check out when they reopen in the spring or next fall. No reservation is needed for parties over seven people, however; during parents weekend and graduation week expect large crowds of students enjoying wine and warm weather with their families. Sadly, the hours of the winery do tend to conflict with the hours of a typical college student, so plan accordingly before you go. Their hours are strictly from 127pm, and they tend to close up at exactly 7pm on the dot. My suggestion would be to head there after classes on a Thursday or Friday afternoon to catch the spectacular sunset views before closing time. The couple that owns the winery

are incredibly kind and welcoming. The property has been in their family for generations and was originally a dairy farm before recently becoming the winery. They have a wide selection of wines, and offer a five wine tasting for only $6 or $8 if you want to keep the wine glass, which I highly recommend! They also sell wine by the glass and by the bottle, and offer a huge hunk of cheese and crackers to munch on while conversing and casually sipping on delicious wine

Isabella Roselli ‘23 loves the wine slushy. “They twist it with various wines but always cider as well so it’s sweeter and has a great apple taste. It’s a fun slushy!” Personally, my favorite is the Hananiah. Very similar to prosecco in taste and texture, the Hananiah is the carbonated version of their Riesling. It is a sweeter white wine; however, not as sweet as their wine slushy or Catawba. It is fruity, light, and bubbly, and a great summer drink. I would definitely recommend trying District 10 or the Chardonnay for someone who prefers a dryer white wine or the Pinot Noir or School House Red for someone who prefers a dryer red wine.

Hamilton Students Take on the 90-Miler

Morgan Hodorowski

In the weeks leading up to the race, Hamilton rowers trained daily in early morning practices at Delta Lake. Junior Sophie Crehan especially looked forward to these practices: “We would leave the glen house at 5:45 a.m. every day, and it was really difficult for everyone’s sleep schedule. It was hard, but every morning I got to start the day with a paddle and the sunrise, and that was lovely.” Crehan, whose C-4 canoe placed ninth out of fourteenth in the co-ed C-4 Open-Racing category, enjoyed competing with fellow Hamilton boats and is “excited to race again next year.”

door Leadership, to the team. When asked about her favorite memory from the race, Morrison supplied an extensive list: “getting ready each morning, taping our snacks into the boat, getting excited and nervous, goofing around, talking with all of the other racers, and, of course, getting on the water.”

orate get-ups and personalized canoes, sparking friendly competition with each other.

Paddles slicing water, the crisp Upstate New York air, aching muscles and sweaty brows, and with unparalleled determination and enthusiasm, Hamilton College students once again tackled the Adirondack Canoe Classic. Spanning the first ninety miles of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail—and aptly monikered the “90-Miler”—this Adirondack tradition brings together rowing veterans and novices in a demanding three-day race. Starting from Old Forge on Friday, September 9th and finishing at Saranac Lake on Sunday, September 11th, rowers canoeed for miles non-stop, set up and slept at campsites each night, and portaged their canoes between lakes. Physically-demanding and mentally-challenging, the 90-Miler pushed Hamilton rowers to their limits, who persevered through exhaustion and doubt.

Junior Fiona Morrison and senior Lillian Norton-Brainerd were co-captains of the Hamilton College Marathon Canoe Racing Team and were integral to the team’s success. As co-captain, Morrison’s responsibilities included arranging rowers into boats (three C-4’s and one eight-person war canoe), gathering and distributing gear, scheduling practices, and communicating information from Andrew Jillings, Director of Out-

The pit-crew also served an important role in motivating and supporting the Hamilton rowers. Pit-crew members refilled water bottles, provided snacks during the race, transported gear and camping equipment to the different campsites, helped cook dinner, and were an all-around energizing presence.

The Adirondack Canoe Classic is particularly memorable for its welcoming, tight-knit community. 90-Miler participants are mostly middle-aged, local rowers who share a profound age-old love of canoe-racing and also dominate the winners’ podium. In the Adirondacks, the race is a time for contest, community, and celebration; local veteran rowers arrive with elab-

This rowing community is one of many things that drew senior Maddie Schink to the 90-Miler. Having participated for the firsttime last year, she returned this past September to improve and compete. Schink loved working with her team, being in nature, and challenging herself; and, she’ll always remember the absolute triumph of completing the race: “Crossing the finish line, every time, there’s crazy adrenaline and it’s so fun.”

Hamilton students of any skill and experience are welcome and highly encouraged to participate in the Adirondack Canoe Classic. Schink’s advice for curious students is this: “You should definitely do it. It’s really, really hard, but it’s so rewarding—a really similar feeling to hiking a really long distance or running a marathon or putting your body through something challenging. You’re really competing with yourself. Just try it.”

The Queen’s Passing: A Continental’s London Experience

Camille Martin

On September 8, 2022, as the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing broke in the media, I was attempting not to bust open the zipper on my suitcase while packing for my semester abroad in London. I knew very little about the Royal Family apart from what I learned from the Meghan and Harry Oprah interview, yet, in a few days’ time, I would find myself in the center of one of Britain’s most significant events, learning firsthand.

It is said that British people love to queue, and the days leading

up to the funeral provided the greatest evidence for this stereotype. Three days before the funeral, I was walking with a few friends when we encountered the famous 24-hour-long queue to see the Queen’s casket lying in state in Westminster Hall. We asked a woman in line how long she had been waiting, to which she replied “six hours, and still miles from Westminster Abbey.” People of all ages and origins were lined up: elderly men and women, college students, celebrities such as David Beckham, and young children taken on momentous, but slightly cruel, school trips. They were nowhere near the Queen’s resting place but didn’t plan on bowing out anytime soon.

Prior to arriving in the UK, this kind of display of affection for a political leader was some-

thing that I never could have fathomed. The entirety of the park adjacent to Buckingham Palace was flooded with bouquets of flowers, stuffed animals, and handwritten letters to the Queen, arranged around trees and in paths for visitors to walk through. Union Jack flags printed with the words “In Loving Memory of Queen Elizabeth II” along with a photo of her face were being sold on every corner, and nearly every business had some kind of tribute in their window. It was and still is, impossible to turn anywhere in the city without a mention of the late Queen.

The day of the Queen’s funeral was unlike anything I have ever experienced. The streets were unusually quiet, and the sound of cars was replaced by helicopters hovering above the city. I put Hyde Park into my phone maps but quickly realized there was no need for directions; masses of people had gathered in the streets

and all heading in the same direction. Police officers were ushering people away from overcrowded viewing spots, but had clearly given up on regulating crowds closest to Hyde Park. People, including myself, began hopping the stone wall outside the park to reach the giant screens projecting the funeral ceremony and the street where the procession would be passing.

Upwards of one million people came from near and far to view the funeral procession. In my section alone, there was an elderly couple, two men who traveled from Turkey, and a father keeping a close eye on his young daughter in the front row with her friends. During a nearly citywide rendition of “God Save the Queen”, a little girl to my left hopped onto her mother’s shoulders and held up a neon yellow sign reading “ILYSM Queen Lizzie <3.” Clearly, the Queen was a woman beloved by all generations, from those who had seen her reign from

start to finish to those growing up speaking in strictly text lingo.

To these people, catching a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession, even if for only a matter of seconds, was worth walking for miles and standing for hours. This level of devotion may be hard to comprehend from an outsider’s perspective, but it is important to note that Britain will not see another female monarch in the foreseeable future, certainly not in my lifetime. It is quite possible that they may never again see such a long-reigning monarch at all.

It was truly moving to be in London to experience the nation’s deep sorrow of losing their Queen of seventy years but to also take part in the celebration of her life. It is something that will be forever ingrained in my memory: a piece of history that I will share with my future children and grandchildren—and even gift to them the British flag I bought for a pound along the way.

on the hill

24 Hours in a Study Room

Will Kretz

Student Study 3103 in the Taylor Science Center has, on many occasions, been my personal corner office. While inside, Clinton’s deflated landscape becomes the Financial District, my mother on the phone becomes my hot shot attorney, and my essays become the Tokyo deal (if I can pull it off, it’ll be the biggest achievement of my career). You can imagine, then, my dismay when I’d find people in my office. People had the nerve to take not just 3103, but every other study room in the Science Center. Half of the time there’s no one there; people just leave their stuff to taunt me. So, I decided to do what any rational person would, stake claim to what is truly mine by staying in room 3103 for 24 hours.

At 7:29 on Saturday, October 8th, I walked across a cold, still campus to the Science Center. I took the elevator to the third floor, the hallways quieter than ever, and I entered my home for the day. The sun shone directly into 3103, beautiful at first, until the brightness started to wear on me. I was exhausted from the walk over and decided to sleep. I woke up 2 hours later, just in time to watch the girl’s soccer game on Goodfriend Field. I thought 3103’s location

would be perfect to see the best D3 had to offer, but I quickly lost interest in the game. For those concerned about my health (how kind!), I was allowed to go to the bathroom, and Eliana Mannes ‘26 was generous enough to bring me meals.

Nine hours into my stay, I started feeling a little unhappy with myself. 24 hours was turning out to be quite a while. In normal circumstances, I would’ve just left; I’ve never pretended to be strongwilled. However, in the weeks preceding my stay, I told dozens of people about my plans. And when I said it, I said it loudly. I can break a promise to myself, but not to the legions of fans waiting for this article. I stayed brave for them.

I brought a bottle of NyQuil Severe that became more and more tempting as the hours slipped by. Part of me wanted to indulge in bad journalism: self-medicate, bliss out, and ride the over-thecounter high for all 24 hours. And soon enough, I broke. As night fell, the constant comfort of 3103’s natural light faded, and I treated myself to 15 milliliters of NyQuil Severe. I felt like Hunter S. Thompson, but instead of doing amyl nitrates and riding motorcycles,

I was taking cold medicine and feeling lonely.

By 3 AM, I put a blanket over myself and tried to sleep. I don’t remember dreaming, only waking at 6 AM to the sound of an opening door. “No way there’s anyone in here,” a voice said. These folks were in for a lovely surprise. I greeted the two figures in the doorway, trying to shrug the blanket off of me. They were apologetic. I said “no worries” for the first time in my life. They left. I turned and faced the window, a beautiful sun was casting reds and yellows over Clinton. I can only assume these people wanted to watch the sunrise from 3103, but that morning I was too tired to watch anything. I slept until my time was up and walked home in the cold. It’s an interesting kind of shame—and a new kind of shame for me—to be caught sleeping in a study room for something as silly as an article. I couldn’t help but feel I was robbing those people of a beautiful sunrise, a cherished memory maybe.

For everyone wondering, I haven’t been in 3103 since; there’s always someone there.

Clinton Date Night? We

Got You.

Emma DiGiacomo

Let’s be real. It can be tough to think of date ideas on the Hamilton campus. Maybe you want something a little classier than a Commons dinner or Diner date. Maybe the classic FoJo coffee and Glen Woods walk combination is getting a bit old. Maybe you just want to branch outside the campus bubble and explore the outside world. Clinton or – dare I even suggest – New Hartford and Utica are surprisingly full of date opportunities. Even with the bountiful options off-campus, there can definitely be some hit-ormisses. My ex suggested Panera as our anniversary spot, that should say enough. So, to help out my fellow struggling romantics, here is a comprehensive list of proven to be successful off-campus date spots. The potential to be cheesy is always there, but these just encapsulate that oh-so-special Hamilton magic.

A Booklover’s Dream Date

Now, as a resident Literature major, I may be a little partial, but I can never resist a Barnes and Nobles trip. Located in New Hartford, our local B&N is the perfect spot for a study date. Grab a table at the in-store Starbucks and chat over homework and coffee. When in need of a break, browse the aisles and bond over your favorite books, records, and all the other items Barnes & Noble has to offer. Who knows, if all goes well, maybe your date will even splurge on a bookish gift for you.

Looking to Let Loose?

If you and your date are looking for a way to let out some pent-up stress (we’ve all been there), let me suggest Rockin’ Jump. Release that inner child and bounce your heart out at this indoor trampoline park in New Hartford.

Explore Downtown Clinton

Call me basic, but I can never get old of a stop at Utica Coffee. Grab some holiday-themed drinks and take a stroll into some of Clinton’s shops, made even more special with their seasonal Christmas decorations. Rainbow Cupboard, Thriftish, and Almost Local remain my favorites, but all of the shops are always a joy to poke around in, even without intending to make purchases. To add some ambiance, downtown is now beautifully decorated with lights and wreaths for the holiday season, the perfect setting for a lovely walk with your date.

A Swim at the Watering Hole

Now, it may be a little late in the season for a swim, but the watering hole remains at the very least a scenic spot. If you’re looking for a quick trip, the watering hole is just a five-minute drive from campus and gives you and your date the perfect backdrop for a chat. Who knows, if you’re feeling risky enough, maybe you’ll even take a polar plunge!

Sushi and a Movie

A popular favorite of Hamiltonians, Mitsuba is the place to go for quality sushi while sticking to a budget. No matter the occasion, Mitsuba delivers. I’ve eaten there for everything from a post-breakup dinner to a birthday celebration and I’ve never left disappointed. And if dinner went well, the Marquee Cinema movie theater is right next door. What a perfect way to end your date night, with popcorn and a movie! Dinner went unbearably awkward? Hey, at least you don’t have to make uncomfortable small talk and can just sit back and relax at the theater.

A Classy Dinner

Looking to splurge a little? Then visit the Ocean Blue Oyster Bar in Utica for a more upscale dinner date. While definitely on the pricier end, Ocean Blue is a delicious change of pace from the usual New Hartford food stops. While seafood is not usually what first comes to mind when thinking of Upstate NY, I choose to flirt with danger and not question how they came about the oysters.

The Shadows of Hamilton’s Light Side: Traditions through Time

In Hamilton’s early days, the college was much smaller, cars were not common so students rarely left campus, and, as Professor Isserman describes, “although any given student was only here for four years, families tended to have long-standing connections.” Traditions have come and gone throughout the College’s 200+ years. Particularly significant was the introduction of the more liberal and diverse Kirkland College women in 1968, which heavily influenced both academics and social life. This article is a glimpse into some of Hamilton’s more outlandish traditions from the past.

Stella Essenmacher

Freshman Hazing

Imagine this: you are a freshman walking home from the library late at night and all of the sudden you are kidnapped, dragged to the gym, forcefully undressed, and pulled across the floor. If that is not bad enough, the floor has been coated with cornmeal sludge. This tradition, the Gym Show, only ended when the unlucky freshman began to bleed. Not surprisingly, Hamilton’s hazing reputation discouraged many people from attending the College. However, there were still many alumni and upperclassmen who argued that sophomore year was very enjoyable as a result. Some faculty even celebrated that hazing meant that only strong-willed individuals chose to attend the College.

well-liked among his peers. As a result, in 1818, some classmates rolled a cannon from the nearby village up to the fourth floor of Hamilton Hall, lit the fuse, and ejected the cannonball into Kirkland’s room. Fortunately for Kirkland, the cannon sailed over his sleeping body. The classmates were expelled, but the next year, other students commemorated the event’s anniversary by vandalizing the campus with graffiti and property damage.

Sledding Highs and Lows

prayer. Billings was expelled and spikes (hence the name fork) were installed on the outside of the building so that no future students could copy him.

Shoot-Me-Down House Party Letter Contest

Special thanks to Professor Maurice Isserman of the History Department for his contribution to documenting Hamilton’s history in his book "On the Hill".

From grade-wide fights to forcing freshmen to wear toilet seats around their necks, Hamilton’s freshman hazing practices were exceptionally notorious. Once a year, the sophomores would physically block the freshman class from following them into the Chapel for daily prayer. This started an altercation between the two classes in a tradition named Chapel Row.

Another fight, Cane Row, involved four or five of the strongest freshmen walking around campus with a cane they had stolen from a sophomore. Per campus tradition, students could carry canes only when they had completed freshman year, so the sophomore class had to mark their territory by reclaiming the cane.

Most hazing rituals disappeared over time, but into the 1950s, Hell Week was still occurring (despite being officially outlawed in 1937). Here, freshmen were kidnapped in the dead of Winter, dropped off campus, and forced to make their way back. With the discontinuation of Hell Week came Ringing the Frosh, which punished freshmen who walked across a lawn or wore a hat by forcing them to wear a toilet seat around their neck for a week.

A Murder Attempt on William Kirkland

Kirkland is one of those names around campus that seems to be everywhere, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the College’s founder Samuel Kirkland’s many descendants attended Hamilton. William Kirkland was not

In the 19th century, most students lived in the village, so they traveled down the hill daily. During the winter, people sledded down and forced the freshmen to pull the sleds up the hill. Some particularly skillful sledders rode down at speeds greater than 50 miles per hour (to the Oriskany Creek bridge in less than a minute)! The famous President Stryker (who chose Hamilton’s colors, mascot, and school song) had to be pulled out of a snowbank by passing faculty after his attempt at a sled ride came to an unfortunate demise. Although President Stryker was not seriously injured, three fatalities from sledding did tragically occur on the hill.

The Josh Billings Fork

In 1835, a student with the pseudonym Josh Billings climbed to the top of the Hamilton Chapel from the outside and removed the clapper of the bell, preventing it from waking students up the next morning for mandatory

House parties were popular events among students before the introduction of women students on campus. An elaborate week of dances took place each semester along with a Winter Carnival complete with ice sculpture contests and a version of a Homecoming Court. Students asked women from other colleges to the parties. Afterwards, the men gathered in the Chapel and read their rejection letters to a booing crowd. The winning letter was published in The Spectator Newspaper.

Community in the Cold: Hamilton’s Winter Traditions

Caroline Rhodes

Some view winter as something to dread at Hamilton. Six long, grueling, dark and cold months characterized by blizzards, black ice, and runny noses. Despite these challenges, there are many winter traditions to be celebrated here on the hill to defrost your toes and fill your heart with warmth.

The first fall of snow is always an exciting time here at Hamilton. As the snowflakes glitter through the air, herds of students are often seen outside enjoying the spectacle by making snow angels, snowballs, or even snowmen. Watching the whole campus come together can be a beautiful sight to passersby and members of the Hamily alike. Irene Keh ‘24 reminisces about her first snowfall freshman year here at Hamilton: “Me and all of my friends from my floor ran outside the second we saw it was snowing. We jumped at the opportunity to jump around in the snow and start a snowball fight! Afterwards, we all went to Commons together and warmed up with a hot cup of cocoa.”

Another magical winter tradition is the Lighting of the Village. This event occurs in the very beginning of winer, and is a community-wide celebration of the commencement of the holiday season. Residents of Clinton and Hamilton students alike marvel in the beauty of the Village Green adorned in Christmas lights, and landmarks such as the gazebo illuminated during this

marvelous winter night. Samantha Karlson ‘23 is a frequent attendant of this event ever since she arrived on the hill. She says, “There’s something so special about the community here in Clinton, and it’s so evident during this event. Nothing fills me with holiday cheer quite like the lighting of the village.”

My personal favorite way to ring in the winter season is by supporting our amazing winter sports teams. This year, October 22nd, 2022 was a holiday here at Hamilton ringing in the winter sports season. As the hockey teams hit the ice and the swimming team hits the Utica University pool, competition is about to be in full swing for the fighting Continentals. I encourage everyone to warm up inside by going to support our teams!

Even though the harsh temperatures keep us inside more than we may like, this presents us with a unique opportunity to slow down and reflect by practicing gratitude and mindfulness. The holiday season in particular is a great time to relax and remind ourselves of everything that we are grateful for as members of the Hamilton community.

While the winter may seem infinite during the long months of January and February, there are a wide variety of ways to make your winter at Hamilton enjoyable.

in the

JULIA RADOMISLI

SADDLE

After a few years of being unable to compete, Hamilton’s equestrian team has returned. The team has a new barn, Northern Sky Farm in Marcy, NY, a 25 minute drive from campus. Shaun Sellers, the new head trainer, hosts groups of two throughout the week for lessons. Riders can schedule these sessions based on their class schedule, training with the horses Shaun provides. The team has dues that cover these lessons as well as show fees.

It is the team’s first time competing as an intramural team in four years. They are still finalizing their schedule, but depending on the season, will have shows every week to every couple of weeks, competing against schools like Skidmore, Colgate, Hartwick, and various SUNY schools.

There are around 15-20 members of the team, 10 of which compete. In the shows, they are separated into different divisions based on previous experience from what they’ve done outside of college competitions. They compete for placements 1 through 6, earning a certain number of points based on their performance. Individuals and teams can score points to go to regionals and nationals, and the latter can earn the High Point Team Award.

At shows, riders don’t ride the horses they practice on; instead, they are given a randomly drawn horse from the hosting school and given nothing more than a list of horse names and attributes. This way, they must prove what they know, and apply it on a different horse.

The team is new to competing after its brief hiatus, but has

seen much support from the broader Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) community. Sophomore Anna Richardson said, “When we went to the show it was really nice because it was our first show back in four years…it’s all new to us since we aren’t the same people on the team as the last time, and all the girls on the other teams were really nice to us and helped us get used to it and showed us the ropes.”

This is Anna’s first year riding with Hamilton after riding for fourteen years. She competes in the Open Division, the highest level of competition. She told me about how the equestrian team has created a great community at Hamilton and other schools. She said, “I think it’s really good that we’re back competing in such a long time.

I know the team used to be really active, especially from 2012

to 2018, so I’m super excited to get it up and running again. I think we have a really strong core group of girls and we’re really investing a lot of time and energy into building the team back up and allowing it to reach its full potential. When you look at schools like Skidmore, where the equestrian program is a core program of the school, you can see how horses can create a strong community. I’ve already gotten to know many of the girls from competing and it’s nice to get to know a group of people that I don’t necessarily have classes with but I’m able to connect with over the common passion for horseback riding.”

She shared the anecdote of the horse Ernie, who the team usually does jumping lessons with. Shaun had competed with him in some local barrel racing competitions over the past year, consisting of the horse running through a set of three barrels for maximum speed. The team is looking forward to being able to participate in some barrel racing lessons and exploring a new discipline within their sport. Hamtilton equestrian allows for students to pursue their passion in a new way and with others who share their love of the sport. Anna said, “I think the team is a really great opportunity for people who might not have had the opportunity to compete in the past to be able to compete with Hamilton. Equestrian is really an individual sport so I’ve only been able to do it on my own before coming to [Hamilton], and it’s a really fun experience to have the team element added to it.”

Campus Dad: Frank Coots, Director of Campus Safety

to be more of the think tank. My last rank was a troop commander in central New York, so it was a seven-county area, in which I was responsible for all the state police investigations and personnel and assignments and everything that they did here in this area.

ID: What was your favorite part of working in that industry?

Coots: . . .Working with the public, working with individuals, and not to sound too corny, but making a difference in at least a few peoples’ lives.

ID: Do you have a favorite memory from working in that industry?

Coots: So favorite probably wouldn’t be the way to put it. Impactful? Yes. You know, over the course of my 34 year career, you certainly see a lot of trage dies, but you see a lot of posi tive things and when you see

someone later on and they’re doing well, you know, because I’m not saying that all of my encounters with the public are bad or adversarial. I’m just saying that, unfortunately. . .generally speaking, they’re in probably one of the worst times of their lives. They somehow need assistance, and they don’t know who to turn to. So it is nice to go from something that’s somewhat negative, and then you see them years later. . .and their life is very positive. And that’s probably the most important thing that you can see.

ID: Do you have any examples of anyone you recall specifically?

Coots: I do actually. I was a brand new trooper, and she was hav-

ing a lot of psychological issues. She had to be taken into custody because she was a harm to herself. And several years later, I was sitting at a local diner. . . and this young woman walks up to me, she says, “Are you Frank Coots?” And I said, “yes, yes I am,” and she says “You probably don’t remember me, but I’m [redacted]. I just wanna let you know, I’m doing much better.”

ID: What led you to transition into a position in campus safety?

Coots: So you know, my predecessor, he was leaving. Coincidentally, at this exact same time in my life, I was going to be transferred to our headquarters in Albany, and I live in Syracuse, and that’s a two-hour commute one way every day. And then

Isabella Di Pirro: Can you tell me a bit about yourself?

Frank Coots: So I’m 61 years old, I have four children, and [I’ve been] retired from law enforcement for about 34 years. I’ve been at Hamilton for five and a half. My prior employment is what brought me here. I was friends, or, I am friends with my predecessor here in Hamilton. When [he] was getting ready to retire, he said, “Hey, maybe you want to think about this.” And it’s been a great transition away from law enforcement to the private sector. And as I said, my children are about college age -

twins that are both sophomores - . . . I think that’s probably why I like being here. . . I associate myself with all of you [as] having a parental responsibility.

ID: That’s really nice! What school did you go to?

Coots: The college that I have my bachelor’s from is Elmira College, which is a very small private school down in southern New York State, [and] I majored in Criminal Justice.

ID: Are you from that area?

Coots: No, I’m from outside of Boston, Mass.

ID: Can you tell me a little bit more about your career with the New York State Police?

Coots: So I rose to the ranks, I was a trooper for about eight years. I was a noncommissioned officer, or Sergeant, for about seven years. I was a commissioned officer, Lieutenant, Captain and a Major for roughly 17 years. The difference between being a noncommissioned officer and commissioned officer is that you’re more apt to be a first-line supervisor and as a division officer or sergeant, second-line supervisor, you tend

Isabella Di Pirro

“We’re there to assist, we’re there to serve, and [there] to make you feel safe.”

Students also recognize that as long as I treat them with respect, I think they walk out of the room here and they say, “That was a positive experience. I may not like the outcome because I might get disciplined, or I might get held accountable for some of my actions,” but I always think that it’s always a learning experience. Doesn’t matter what you’ve done, it’s all a good learning experience. If you can convey that to the students, and you can have a positive direction like this and that they feel comfortable to ask questions, and then they can learn from them, I think that’s a positive thing. And that’s what I tried to strive for. And I think by and large, I think the student body respects me, even if they don’t know me, or if we had something adversarial, They may say, “I don’t agree with him”, or, ”what happened between him and me was adversarial, but he still treated me with respect.”

ID: What does your normal day to day look like here?

Coots: Very administrative. When you get into a position of responsibility, when you’re a leader, sometimes you’re going to find that most of your time is dealing with personnel. It’s just

a fact of life, as much as you’re gonna say, you know, “I’m going to change the world in so many different ways,” but when you have people working for you, they have their needs. And it’s just a fact. And so a lot of your time is dealing with personnel. But my main concern is, “How do I make students feel safe on campus?” That’s my biggest chore. It’s one that’s never ending, it’s one that’s always changing.

ID: How do you think your role is different at Hamilton - a small college - than it would be at a larger university?

Coots: So we have no law enforcement powers. We investigate everything on campus, even things that are not policy-oriented, for example, medical causes, so we assist HCEMS, we transport HCEMS, we retain their equipment in our patrol vehicles so they can get to it safely and efficiently. When students get locked out of their residence halls, we take care of that. When you are parked in North Lot because you can’t find a parking spot on the South side, and you need an escort to your residence hall, we’re here for that. We’re there to assist, we’re there to

serve, and there [to] make you feel safe. I think that in a large institution. . .they generally have a police department. And a police department is generally investigating violations of law, and not that we don’t do that, but we don’t have arrest powers. As a matter of fact, we don’t even patrol residence halls as a course of action. We don’t take any type of proactive enforcement when it comes to patrolling our residence halls, because it’s your home, that’s where you should feel a sense of privacy, a sense of being able to unwind without an administrator at this institution going saying, “What are you doing?” It’s still a simplification, because of course, it’s secure. And we want you to report when something isn’t right.

ID: What was the most difficult issue that you and the Campus Safety Office had to work through since the pandemic began?

Coots: We became the COVID police. I didn’t want to do that. But when we were the only office on campus here, 24 hours a day campus safety was there. And when you saw something that was a violation of either the COVID policy or something that

was unsafe, who are you going to call? You’re certainly not calling the Dean of Students at nine o’clock in the evening. So we became the COVID police. I didn’t like it, but if not us then who? Another big thing that we encountered was the societal demand for justice, especially after George Floyd was murdered. We’re not campus police, however, I think a number of people think that we have some type of police authority on this campus. So I think that that’s something that we had to encounter. And a couple of things came out of it. You know, it really was a student led organization. They wanted to have all of our policies printed and published on the Internet, which we did. We got away from the typical police looking uniform, it’s much more casual, you know, so in an emergency, you can still find campus safety because they’ll be wearing something a little bit different. But it’s not a law enforcement type of uniform.

ID: How do you think those officers adapted to those changes?

Coots: When the students returned in the fall 2020 semes-

ter, it was a different world. Everyone was wearing masks and everyone had to social distance, you couldn’t have parties, you couldn’t go downtown, and there were just so many different things. And I think that the office has adapted to that fairly well. The biggest problem was when something was happening at Babbit Pavillion and we would get contacted by the students, we would get there and everyone would scatter. It was unsafe, because I don’t want to keep going into the woods… So it was that: I wanted you to be safe, I wanted you to socialize, still go to make friends and things like that. But of course, then we had our policy with our social distancing, asking everything of that nature. So I encouraged my officers to encourage the students to do all of those things without saying, “Okay, you have to go see conduct or you have to go see community standards.” I don’t want everything to be adversarial. On the other side of things, the social justice side of things, we had to remember that our constituents, students.

. . we had to conform to what they want, as long as it wasn’t

violating policy. We worked for the college, we worked for the students. And if this is what the majority wanted, we could create policy. I think that it was a positive relationship that went on between campus safety and the student body, when it came to social justice. I can’t say [it] was positive when it came to COVID, but I think we all kind of learn to coexist.

ID: What was your favorite part of working at Hamilton in the past 5 years?

Coots: I think the thing that gives me the most joy is graduation day, when the students walk across the stage, and I get to be at the stage because of my role to ensure this remains safe. But when a student comes up and shakes my hand, or gives me a hug and says thank you, because we’ve developed the relationship throughout the course of the years, that’s the most rewarding thing that I can have.

The Best Running, Walking, and Biking Trail Recommendations

Sammy Smock

Off-campus Near Campus On-campus

Looking for somewhere to go for a walk, jog, or ride your bike nearby? Here are some of the Hamilton community’s recommendations for their favorite routes. They’re separated by proximity to campus, so if you don’t want to go too far away, or do, there are plenty of options. Of course, everyone has their own opinions and preferences, so don’t be too upset if your first choice isn’t featured!

Philip A. Rayhill Memorial Recreational Trail

While a little bit of a drive about 10-15 minutes northeast, this trail does have its own parking lot and is definitely well worth the effort! It’s a paved path around four miles long that boasts pretty fall leaf colors and a duck pond – what else could you want from a workout spot?

Griffin Road Loop

You can’t go wrong with this popular go-to route. At just over four miles, this loop can be repeated to create longer distances. It cuts through campus in several directions, so you can comfortably start your workout from practically anywhere.

College Hill Road

Moving east or west on College Hill Road provides various out and back options. Going up to Skyline Road allows you to access the forest surrounding the reservoir, while going down towards Clinton brings you into quieter neighborhood streets or cute stores if you go far enough. Of course, both ways will require you to go up the hill in one direction…

Kirkland Glen

While there are several trails that traverse the Kirkland Glen, a favorite is the red trail, just over one mile. It can be accessed directly from the Minor and Root parking lots, very convenient for anyone who lives on the Dark Side. It is fairly flat and provides beautiful forest views. In the winter months, people still use it for skiing, snowshoeing, or even walking once the snow has been packed down.

Rogers Glen

For more of a hilly workout than the Kirkland Glen, Rogers is a great on-campus option. There are several entrances near Rogers Residence Hall, the Ferguson parking lot, and North Lot. The picturesque scenery, including a stream, make up for the pain of working out along the steep hills.

B R I N G IT BAC K

H A M I LTO N !

Diner Sushi: Eating on the hill can be difficult. We all have been there, taking a lap around Commons, not super impressed with any of the options.

Students have been unhappily surprised with the lack of dinner sushi! This was a fast and nutritious option for lunch and dinner. It was also a good option for students with dietary restrictions such as food allergies or not eating meat. Noelle Yoo ‘24 stated: “Sometimes I just want something light to eat that I can pick up very easily, my schedule also doesn't always work for Commons’ hours and to sit and eat a full meal.”

Ashley Kolpan

L eaves have changed and fallen, freshmen have become familiar with the campus, and another school year is well underway at Hamilton College. It is nice to have things back to normal (mostly) after two years of COVID-Hamilton, but there are still a few things the student body has agreed could be improved. These are some suggestions from the Hamilton Students to help bring her back to her glory days.

Another popular another popularly longed for campus food option was the power bowls! Hidden away in Field House during 2020-21, the glorified salad bar is widely missed. Maybe some aspects can be incorporated into what we have now in the dining halls, such as better dressing and protein options for salads in Commons and McEwen.

Late Night Jitney: Something yet to return in a post covid era of Hamilton College is the jitney back up the hill to campus. It is getting much too cold to walk up from wherever the night might have led you in heels and a dress. Ethan del Rosario ‘24 states, ”With winter approaching it’s important to insure Hamilton students have a reliable, safe way to get up the jill on the weekends.” This could not only save students a huge hassle but also better ensure students’ safety as the temperature begins to drop. The jitney would also prevent drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel, which should never happen.

More Parking: Anyone with a car on campus has most likely dealt with the parking problems. Students are forced to weigh the consequences of parking in North lot and making the walk of shame to the other end of campus, or parking in facility lots and risking the 50 dollar ticket for the closer spot. The growing student population demands additional parking. Campus is home to students and 100% of the student body is required to live on campus, so they must have more convenient parking options. An additional parking lot for students or changing facility/faculty spots to student spots would make a huge difference. Also, parking could be added down the hill, maybe by expanding the Bundy Cafe parking lot and letting some students leave cars there!

Bundy Cafe Hours: There should be more accessible food down the hill. At one point, I’m told more was served down there. A lot of people live downhill and have to walk all the way up to get a snack. The cafe is super peaceful; just throw in some extra hours and fully stocked breakfast and it’s on its way! It’s also a nice place for students to work or relax, with really nice seating and windows. It should definitely be open more often. Also, there are plenty of students who are looking for employment and the extended hours could create more jobs! It’s a hidden gem down the hill and should be treated as such.