The Continental Magazine Fall 2020

the continental

FALL 2020

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instagram | @contmag email | contmag@hamilton.edu facebook | the continental

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Table of Clinton Bars v.

FEATURES COVID-19 Interview with hamilton denounced

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Coaches Amid COVID-19

on the hill can we measure racial profiling on campus?

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An open letter from the first student to test positive

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Glenview AIRBnb review Sustainability &and covid 19

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lifestyle

The shift to life outdoors

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Contents 26 28 29 30 32 34 36 Hamilton’’’ s covid-19 dictionary

travel

How the pandemic disrupted my life

How my friends and i took advantage of the time off this summer

=Spending our summer in Alaska The beirut explosion: tragedy and apathy

Getting invOLVED in the election

my freshman year under a pandemic

opinion

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Letter from the editors The fall of 2020 will assuredly go down as one of the most unique and challenging semesters in the history of Hamilton College. With the campus, country, and world stricken with the coronavirus, Hamilton’s notoriously isolated bubble has served as fortification, allowing us to remain on campus unlike nearly every other college in the nation. However, in many ways, even as we walk familiar paths and enter familiar buildings, Hamilton does not feel like the same school we left in the spring. Whether it’s the masks, the distancing, the online classes, the inability to successfully socialize, or the many students who chose not to return to campus, Hamilton is beginning to feel less and less like college and more like an exercise in mental fitness.

More than just COVID-19 has contributed to this strained environment as, over the summer, many stories of racism and sexual assault on campus came to light.

In this issue, we discuss racial profiling on campus and speak with a founder of Hamilton Denounced, an Instagram account which has given survivors of sexual assault on campus a platform to tell their stories. Conversations such as these are necessary for our community to improve and move forward, and for us at The Continental as we look to deliver on our promise to represent all voices, perspectives, and challenges at Hamilton.

Beyond these sensitive topics, we also discuss sports, Clinton Wine & Spirits, the election, and sustainability on campus. While navigating this new normal, brand new experiences are commonplace. We hear from a first-year, the new residents at Glenview, and directly from the first COVID positive student at Hamilton. When we set out to create this issue, we hoped to capture the unique environment that is the fall of 2020. Through humor and sincerity, opinion and truth, we believe we have achieved that mission. We hope you find something you connect with and something that surprises you in this issue, as well as something that might make you stop and consider campus in a new light.

To all our editors, writers, layout designers, and photographers: thank you! Without you, this would not be possible.

Phil & Erin

CON TRIBUTORS

Editors-in-Chief Philip Marks ‘21 Erin Bryant ‘21

Creative Directors Claire Goldstein ‘22 Jane Taylor ‘22

Section Editors Gabriela de Mendonca Gomes ‘24 - Opinion Carlie Abraham ‘21 - Travel Jack Sullivan ‘22 - Features Juliet Davidson ‘23 - On The Hill Sammy Smock ‘23 - Lifestyle

Editor-at-large Elise Wilson ‘22

Director of Photography Sam Besca ‘22

Photographers Kate Bacigalupo ‘24 Kaitlyn Bieber ‘23 Sophie Christensen ‘23

Layout Editors

Staff Writers

Camille Sirianni ‘22 Emily Mcgovern ‘24 Andrea Hayman ‘23 Chad Varney ‘22 Austin Ping ‘24

Nicolette van Kesteren ‘23 Cole Kuczek ‘23 Abigail Moone ‘23 Emily Mcgovern ‘24 Matthew Collins ‘24

Contributors Neha Jain ‘21 Joel Harper ‘21 Andrew Charman ‘21 Max Scheidl ‘21 Soha Kawtharani ‘22 Brooke Kessler ‘22

Clinton Bars v.

COVID-19 By: Erin Bryant

8 | FEATURES

Last year, a short Jitney ride down

the hill on a Friday night would bring you to a booming bar scene between Don’s Rok, the Village Tavern, and Breakaway Lounge. Unfortunately, much has changed over the course of 2020, and some of our old favorites are in trouble.

The Village Tavern is temporarily closed. According to The Legal Herald, over the summer police responded to a call about a stabbing. At the scene, they found a man stabbed in the face and another man stabbed in the stomach. The suspect was found and arrested, but the establishment has remained closed as of early October.

While the Village Tavern is closed, both Don’s Rok and Breakaway are open and weathering the storm. Employees at both businesses shared that business has been slow as locals have remained cautious. However, things are starting to pick up. Despite some rumors, neither has any plans to permanently close their doors.

Though many of Clinton’s classics have been struggling as a result of COVID-19, one business has been flourishing: Clinton Wine & Spirits. An employee has stated that business “has never been better” and the demand for alcohol has only increased in these trying times.

On Thursday, October 1st, Dean Martinez shared with the campus that there would be a loosening of restrictions, and students would be allowed to access shops and services (excluding bars) in Clinton, which gave students a glimmer of hope that some normalcy might return. However, a positive case was reported on October 3rd, prompting the previous restrictions to be put back in place. Still, students dream of a day when they can re-enter the village and visit local gems like Utica Coffee and Tom’s Natural Foods.

Regardless of their access to alcohol, students should maintain proper mask-wearing and social distancing rules. As a community, everyone must do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep our peers safe.

FEATURES 9| 9

1010 | FEATURES

Assault on Campus: An Interview with Hamilton Denounced

How can we create a campus culture in which sexual assault is not only a punishable offense, but a crime that never occurs?

In every single bathroom and stall on campus, a blue and white flyer entitled “Sexual Assault: Help and Support at Hamilton College� exists. Underneath the bolded heading lies detailed steps and contact information for those who have been assaulted.

On August 13, 2020, Hamilton College released a statement via email addressing the revision to the Sexual Assault Policy. As important as these measures for support and justice are for the survivors of sexual assault cases on campus, finding ways to prevent these cases from happening in the first place remains the first priority. How can we create a campus culture in which sexual assault is not only a punishable offense, but a crime that never occurs?

The Instagram account Hamilton Denounced was created in June of 2020 as a platform for sharing stories of sexaual assault cases on campus. While these stories are painful and jarring, the fact that these survivors had enough courage to post such brutal and graphic stories was empowering, which led us to reach out to Hamilton Denounced to acquire a greater understanding as to what their goals were in creating this platform.

FEATURES11| 11

Interview with Hamilton Denounced The Continental: Why did you decide to

start this account? Why did you choose Instagram as the platform?

Hamilton Denounced: Hamilton De-

nounced is part of a wider coalition of student-founded Instagram platforms. The movement was even featured on CBS news this past month. Hundreds of accounts have surfaced this year, and although not all are formatted in the same manner, they all share the common objective of giving an anonymous voice to survivors and victims of sexual assault. We were inspired by an article about the University of Denver, a pioneer in creating this type of Instagram account.

“Hamilton Denounced is here to give those who wish to, the opportunity to put their stories out there.�

I (one of the founders of Hamilton Denounced) was assaulted on campus my freshman year. My assailant is someone I originally considered a good friend. Both of us were part of the same group of friends made up mostly of BIPOC. I forced myself to believe that what happened to me wasn’t assault, in order to not have to deal with the potential victim blaming, shaming and disbelief. I was not ready to lose my entire friend group, and was scared of feeling even more estranged on a campus in which I already felt small.

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Hamilton is small, and the community of students of color is even smaller. I saw all these accounts being created and I remembered how alienating it felt to not be able to tell my friends, who were also friends with my assailant, about my assault at the time.

There is power in writing and storytelling, for those of us who are ready to tell our stories and will not be retraumatized by it. Hamilton Denounced is here to give those who wish to, the opportunity to put their stories out there. Giving a voice to survivors is what we are most passionate about. The existence of a page with so many different sexual assault stories is a reminder that, as survivors, we are not alone, and that this is a rape culture problem that we must continue to fight against across all college campuses and the world.

The Continental: Do you think the ac-

count has been effective? What do you hope to see from the administration in the future?

Hamilton Denounced: When we created

this account, we hoped that it would encourage an open dialogue about sexual violence on campus amongst friend groups, in classrooms, with mentors, family members etc.

Due to our anonymous identities and the fact that we are students like everybody else, we have been able to witness the impact of our account on our own friend groups and social circles. It is always exciting to hear people talk about Hamilton Denounced and mention feeling empowered by the account. We also pay attention to what people share in person and on social media about us in order to always evolve and do better as a platform.

We think it is crucial that we state the importance of not letting constant exposure to these stories normalize sexual assault on campus, nor to let one become desensitized to the issue.

Sexual violence is common on this campus, but never will this violation of a person’s humanity be “normal.” To those who read the stories on our page: remember that these aren’t just numbers, that anonymity is crucial to protect survivors, but that at the end of the day these are real people working on healing their trauma and coming to terms with their experiences. Hamilton Denounced is not something to gossip about, it is not a trend, and it isn’t an initiative to “hype” up and then forget.

A member of the administration acknowledged our account in an email, but we have not been formally contacted by anybody in particular.

Hamilton College already has student leaders and organizations pushing for radical change on campus. Hamilton Denounced is not here to divide existing movements or divert attention from other initiatives. We are here to supplement, and show support for, the work of organizations like SMART. To those inspired

by Hamilton Denounced to become more active on campus in the fight against sexual

“It is important that all students be involved in this fight, to some degree.”

“Sexual violence is common on this campus, but never will this violation of a person’s humanity be ‘normal.’” violence, rape culture and toxic masculinity, we encourage you to join organizations that already exist on campus, which could always use extra support. We have a small number of students, who are often survivors themselves, carrying the heavy weight of this entire institution’s relationship with and approach to rape culture. It is important that all students be involved in this fight, to some degree. This can be possible by attending meetings, joining groups, or by simply starting informal but productive conversations with friends.

Finally, we urge Greek organizations and sports teams on campus, as well as resident advisors and counseling center peer mentors, to publicly acknowledge the reality that members of their groups and societies have been referenced numerous times on Hamilton Denounced. In the case of Greek society members and student athletes, one person’s attitudes and actions do not always reflect those of the rest, but they often shed light on a collective mindset that excuses and even encourages predatory behavior. Not being an assailant is not enough, it is important that members of these groups and communities have the natural reflex to occupy the position of active bystanders at all times at Hamilton.

FEATURES | 13

Coaches Amid COVID-19 How Hamilton’’s Sports Teams Are Adapting to 2020’’s Climate By: Jack Sullivan

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Coronavirus has left no aspect of our lives untouched, athletics being no exception. As spring turned to summer and summer to fall, the prospect of sports on the Hill looked bleak, if not logistically impossible. Abiding by gathering-size regulations, not to mention mask-wearing and social distancing rules, seemed like potentially impassible hurdles. Where many larger Division I programs haven’t missed a step in the continuation of practices and competition (decisions that, it should be noted, have garnered much scrutiny), a variety of NESCAC schools have cancelled sports altogether, citing a high-risk, low-reward scenario.

Yet despite these difficulties, Hamilton sports have found various ways to safely move forward with their seasons. Masks, varied practice times, and plenty of Zoom meetings have proven crucial to their success. Athletes and coaches have had to work together more so than ever before. Different teams, of course, face different challenges: contact sports like football have had to get creative in the era of distancing, whereas pre-season swimmers are staying in shape confined to their own lanes in staggered, scheduled time slots.

Matt Brisotti, the Head Coach of Men & Women’s Tennis, has had to adapt greatly to the novelty of 2020. “The guidelines for all sports have made coaches, and myself, rethink the ways we can practice,” said Brisotti. “Tennis is a more naturally socially-distant sport, so we have been able to have practices in a similar fashion as typical during our year. It takes accountability on the coaches and student-athletes to make sure we are following guidelines, to ensure a safe environment for everyone.”

The preservation of athletics has unquestionably been a two way street: students too hope to keep their seasons alive, and thus have been diligent in their maintenance of Hamilton’s COVID policies. Brisotti cites this collaborative effort from the student’s side as a major cause of Hamilton’s success thus far: “Student-Athletes on the tennis team have been very engaged with the program and practices. The student-athletes have had a great sense of purpose, which shows how passionate they are about tennis,” added Brisotti. “Having the shortened season in 2020, nobody is taking any opportunity to be out on the court for granted.”

A central duty on the coaches end, it seems, has been keeping their athletes engaged and motivated, what with this year’s lack of competition and general absurdity. “To be honest, I had my doubts coming in,” said Jared Schwartz, a junior on Varsity Football.

“Our coaches, however, have constantly been reminding us how lucky we are to be on the field, and that we should make the most of the chance we’ve been given. We realize most NESCACs aren’t on the field, so we make sure to give it our all at every practice. If nothing else, we just feel really lucky, and hope everyone continues to practice safely.”

Football, like tennis, looks far different this fall than in past years - still, athletes and coaches alike are making the best of what Hamilton’s allowed for them. For now, Hamilton sports are alive and kicking; distanced and with masks, of course.

FEATURES15 | 15

CAN WE MEASURE

RACIAL PROFILING ON CAMPUS?

BY ELISE WILSON 162| ON THE HILL

In early September, the Utica Police Department suspended officer Matthew Felitto for use of excessive, “unauthorized physical force.”

Felitto reportedly kicked a woman’s head after being called to the scene to investigate a domestic abuse incident. Occurrences like these reflect a greater national trend of police officers using excessive force. This trend is certainly not new but has come to a heighted prominence this past summer following the death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, along with a number of other unarmed Black civilians. These deaths are undoubtedly connected to racial profiling.

“...WE MIGHT ASK OURSELVES IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WHITE STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT STUDENTS OF COLOR TO CAMPUS SECURITY FOR ALLEGED MISCONDUCT?”

The American Civil Liberties Union defines racial profiling as “the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion or national origin.” Racial profiling is not limited to police officers and can be perpetrated by our friends, classmates, neighbors, and strangers.

Life on The Hill in Clinton, NY can certainly feel removed from the rest of the country. However, we’d be remiss not to consider Hamilton College in the context of the country’s racial profiling epidemic. Notably, The College does not appear to have a mechanism in place to measure racial profiling on campus. In accordance with the Federal Clery, the Office of Campus Safety releases a report every year entitled the Annual Safety, Security, and Fire Safety Report.

The Clery Act “requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to disseminate a public annual security report (ASR) to employees and students every October 1st. This ASR must include statistics of campus crime for the preceding three calendar years, plus details about efforts taken to improve campus safety.” Campus Security’s ASR does not include any information about the race of those accused of committing crime on campus. When asked about the reason for why this is, Director of Campus Safety, Francis Coots, states:“Race is recorded for all parties that are involved in a conduct investigation. This data remains private as it may prove to be an identifiable indicator in cases where federal law mandates privacy.” Without a report including race, we do not know if BIPOC community members are accused of crimes more often by fellow students or staff, are stopped more often by campus police, or are convicted at higher rates.

Several students of color that I spoke to noted that they felt unsafe and uncomfortable specifically in the campus nightlife scene. One student added that parties are often incredibly white-dominated spaces. With observations such as these, we might ask ourselves is it possible that white students are more likely to report students of color to campus security for alleged misconduct?

Another student expressed their belief that Black males are stopped by campus police more often than white students. Without a mechanism for measuring the potential interplay of race relations during crime reporting on campus, the Hamilton community does not have a clear way of quantifying this issue and taking the necessary steps to rectify its practices.

At Hamilton, like at many college campuses, racism in crime reporting is hidden because of confidentiality laws. Reports of racial profiling are confined to wordof-mouth among students, whose experiences are institutionally discredited without adequate, transparent reporting of demographic data.

ON THE HILL3| 17

An Open Letter from the first student to test positive for covid-19 Dear Hamilton Community,

Hi, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m the first positive case on campus. There has been much speculation about who I am, where I’ve been, and so many more questions. I’d like to address some of them in this letter.

First, let me explain how my Saturday morning started. As most college students would be, I was fast asleep until I was awoken by my phone ringing at 5 am. I went to pick it up and it was from a number listed as No Caller ID, so as most groggy students would, I didn’t pick it up. I then checked my phone to realize that this No Caller ID number had been calling me since 4:23 am and had left several voice messages saying they were from the Hamilton College Health Center. The next time they called, I picked up and found out I had tested positive.

I was scared and confused, and I didn’t know what to think. I gave the contacts of the people I thought might be at risk and was given about half an hour to pack. I packed as much as I could and was moved to Bristol. I texted my friends and family about what happened and tried to go back to sleep since, at this point, it was 6 am on a Saturday. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fall back asleep because I was trying to rack my brain as to how this was possible and how this could have happened.

Then, the phone calls from my family started rolling in. They were terrified as my family has recently gone through a traumatic medical experience with a loved one, so anyone getting sick or possibly being sick is triggering. I spent much of my morning reassuring them that I felt perfectly fine and that they had nothing to worry about.

I was also getting calls from the school and county to do more contact tracing after I had more time to process the events. Later that day the email from the school saying I and an employee tested positive was sent out, and panic ensued on campus. Although I was not there to see it, I probably would’ve panicked as well since we do go to a small school where even one case could easily spread the virus.

Now to address some questions. How did I get the virus? Honestly, your guess is as good as mine with this one.

I always wore my mask outside my room unless I was eating. I did not go to parties or mass gatherings. I guess I’ll pose the question in a different way: how did this happen? I’m not sure. I was responsible and followed the rules, but the virus does not discriminate and it is really easy to get, so unfortunately no matter how responsible and safe we think we are there is still a chance of getting it.

Could it have been a false positive? In all honesty, yes, statistically speaking that’s probably what happened. Given that no one else on this campus tested positive and the false positive rate for most tests is 5% or lower, my case testing positive at Hamilton makes the positive rate for students 0.004% (as of Wednesday), meaning it’s likely a false positive especially since I feel fine (asymptomatic).

However, we may never know. I have been told it’s

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not recommended by the guidelines to have me retested because even if I do test negative the next time, I won’t be considered a false positive.

Whether I did catch COVID-19 or not, the response from the community was disappointing. Through Jodel and conservations with friends on campus, I witnessed the panic over the weekend. I was informed that people were trying to figure out who my friends and I were by walking through where we lived and looking through our windows to see if there were any lights on. I felt like I was being hunted.

Being in quarantine, with no control over this situation, and hearing that people were invading our personal space was very scary. My close contacts and I spent that night freaking out about the social repercussions of this situation, as people were actively trying to expose our suite and personal information on an anonymous platform despite our right to privacy.

Additionally, there were many hurtful comments and assumptions being shared on and offline about the type of person I am. A lot of people assumed I went to parties, didn’t wear a mask, and wasn’t being responsible. This is not true, but was nonetheless hard to hear.

However, I found it weirdly amusing that people were judging me on the number of my friends that were quarantined. Yes, it was only seven. How was it only seven? Well, as many of you have been experiencing academically, there has been a lot of work and it’s been very stressful, so I was mostly holed up in my room studying that week. Luckily, I was following the guidelines so the five other people in my suite needed to be quarantined in addition to two of my other friends I had spent time with outside my suite. I personally enjoy having a small, close group of friends and was surprised that this was a point of judgment. Another disheartening part of this whole experience was the spread of misinformation on Jodel. Many people pretended to be me or one of my close contacts.

In one particular post, someone had said, “Hi I’m the person that tested positive ask me anything.” In the thread, this person said that the reason they got COVID was because they had sex with someone on Tinder, which I can assure you was not my case. Two of my other favorites were, “I know who got COVID and I sucked their dick last night,” and, “I know who got COVID but y’all gotta Venmo me 20 bucks to find out.” It was weird having people pretend to be me and my close friends. It was also messed up that people wanted to spread misinformation at a time when people were already panicking.

Not all of the posts were bad, some people asked for others to be compassionate and try to put themselves in my shoes, which I thoroughly appreciated.

I also realize that the lack of information was frustrating on your end, which is why people swarmed to an anonymous app, but if you were in contact with me, you were informed. I was thorough with the contact tracers about the people I talked to and the places I thought should be cleaned. I do not want to be the reason the school shuts down.

The lack of information to me and my close contacts has also not been ideal, but I do believe that the school is doing its best and that this is a novel situation with a learning curve.

However, being the first positive case has been frustrating and stressful. Quarantine itself is not great for anyone's mental health, but seeing people make assumptions and talk poorly about you without knowing you makes this experience a lot harder. I am writing this letter to help people better understand what this experience has been like. I hope we have no more positive cases on campus, but if we do I hope we as a community can be kinder and more compassionate to them.

Sincerely,

Patient Zero

ON THE HILL3| 19

Airbnb posting: Glenview Residence Hall .

Posted by Anonymous

Clinton, New York, United States

SHOW ALL PHOTOS

Price: $70,000 per person for ~9 months* Location: Buttfuck nowhere Description: 18 bed 4 bath mansion. Sleeps 35-70. Bedrooms have twin beds - feel free to push them together and get comfortable?

Situated directly on the outskirts of the Root Glen, Glenview has miles upon miles of trails, waterfalls, swimming holes, and romantic clearings in your backyard (literally)! And although the nearest restaurant is roughly 25 minutes away, the fully stocked kitchen allows you to indulge in an exquisite dining experience night after night. Welcome home.

Included Amenities: Faulty and hypersensitive fire alarms, guaranteed parking (parking spaces not guaranteed), water (cold, sometimes white, definitely possibly potable), AC is included*

3.00 (8 reviews) I love the aura of this place, I love going for walks late at night, and everyone here is just, like, so chill. Like I smoke marijuana in my bedroom every night, and no one has commented on the smell. One time a police officer and four paramedics came into my room, and they all blazed with me. I showed them my record collection and my new tapestry.

The paramedics were especially into it.

204| ON THE HILL

I will not stand for this. I visited my girlfriend at her Airbnb in Syracuse. On my return all my belongings were fully packed in bags and were thrown outside. The owner of the property even had the audacity to make me sign a contract before I arrived. DO NOT COME HERE!!!! SCAMMERS!!!!

First things first, I want to clarify that I am not the owner of this property. I am someone who had the privilege of staying at Glenview over the summer. And let me just say, to be honest, irl: I had the TIME OF MY LIFE!!!!!! I reiterate: I am not the owner. I just loved staying here so much that I had to leave a review. The aroma of this place is like no other: cannabis and fresh air and things that smell good!!!! I have never stayed at a place as clean, perfect, amazing, quaint, or perfect as Glenview. I leave you with the critical point that I am not the owner of this place. Stay at Glenview!!

I want to clarify that Glenview isn’t horrible; it’s worse than horrible. Upon arrival I was absolutely floored by the egregious lack of space in these rooms. The owner of this property personally told me that the rooms were really spacious, that the air-conditioning was excellent, and that the Glenview doubles were better than the Bundy apartment. Not only are the rooms small, but the desks are sized for an underdeveloped tween. To say the drive there was a fucking trek would be an understatement; shit was an odyssey. It was so inconveniently located that the GPS literally pointed and laughed at me.

After my trek (again, an understatement) I was parched, so I went to the sink for a drink of water. However, much to my chagrin, water it was not. It looked like milk– not the pure agua I was promised. I was further chagrined when I tried taking a shower. I turned the shower on hot and waited for the water to warm up, but it never did. So I prepared myself for shrinkage and took the cold shower. I moved on. Until the first rain of the year. Calling it a rain is generous; shit produced a veritable flood. In the middle of my Zoom call I felt my socks becoming wet. I turned around and there was no less than 9 inches of water covering my floor. Water was rushing from my AC unit like a jet engine. I quickly became overwhelmed and had to leave the room and see all of my possessions be covered in the now 4-foot flood in my 6x9 foot prison cell of a room. I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!!

I have no complaints other than the excessive build-up of semen in the toilets in the All-Gender bathrooms. Frankly, it’s unacceptable.

One morning I woke up and was stunned to see that I no longer had a door. Three men took it at sunrise. Apparently, I don’t have that privilege anymore. Cool.

Deadass woke up this morning with two doors. Let’s go, babyyy!! I need that privacy yktv!!!

Let’s just get this out of the way… this place sucks. However, Glenview Fight Club ™ has restored my faith in this deadbeat dad of an establishment. I pulled up to the Glenview basement one night ready for anything, but I was pleasantly surprised to find hella shirtless dudes fighting in a boxing ring. First thing they told me was we don’t talk about Glenview Fight Club (obviously). Then they threw me in the ring and I actually fucked up some guy so bad. I’m now on their E-Board. Our weekly meeting starts with me just absolutely ruining some kid and then ends with us ripping darts in the glen. Shit is fucking tight, dude.

ON THE HILL5| 21

How sustainability went out the window with Covid-19 by cole kuczek The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown colleges across the globe for a loop in terms of sustainability. At Hamilton, the college and students have struggled in finding a balance between safety and sustainability. Students and faculty across campus are investigating ways to limit our waste pollution.

The majority of this waste comes from the dining halls. Hamilton includes three different types of bins outside of the tents to separate waste. Students are handed their meals wrapped in plastic, compostable

226| LIFESTYLE

containers, or pizza boxes, and are expected to throw their waste out in the according bins.

Yet, the problem of waste accumulation has been causing many to worry about our sustainability needs since students have returned to campus.

Admittedly, this is a tough situation. Bon Appetit and the dining halls cannot allow us to safely reuse dishes and utensils during the pandemic. This is going to cause waste, as many, if not all students, will dispose of these containers directly after they finish their food,

three times a day. It’s a very difficult situation to solve.

The accumulation of waste in the bins and outside the bins is astronomical, especially after a feeding frenzy like late night commons.

However, even with the bins in place, and the signs on the bins (thanks to HSC), we need to do better at sorting waste. Almost all of the garbage from the last collection went to the landfill, because of improper disposal and contamination. This accumulates three to four tons of waste at the landfill, which could be going instead to food for energy or recycling.

This struggle is echoed by many of our peer institutions, including Middlebury College. After a recent collection, the college had to stop re-sorting waste be-

cause of safety. Peer institutions have also been hit hard in their sustainability efforts from the pandemic.

Luckily, we have organizations and administrators on campus pushing for change. Hamilton Sustainability Coordinators, Sunrise, and other sustainability committees are hard at work to improve sustainability on campus. Specifically, HSC has been working to clearly define where waste goes so that it can be directed to the landfill, food to energy, or recycling without having to be re-sorted. HSC has also ordered reusable utensils and encourages students to use their own instead of the plastic ones provided by Bon Appetit. They are also working at implementing composting bins in the suites (with already 13 signed up!) which should go into place

“Luckily, we have organizations and administrators on campus pushing for change. Hamilton Sustainability Coordinators, Sunrise, and other sustainability committees are hard at work to improve sustainability on campus.” in the near future.

Although all this will help and HSC has done an amazing job, these are not magical solutions to the problem. The tents are going down soon and the bins will move inside. We have compostable containers for a reason. The green “food to energy bins,” are meant for these containers, as this waste is later used by an anaerobic digester, which breaks down the food to use as bioenergy. We have these bins for a reason and they will be effective if used properly.

The unfortunate reality is this is tough. Safety and sustainability is hard to balance during a pandemic.

All of us at Hamilton need to do our part to limit our waste pollution. Pay attention to the labels on the bins.

Ask where things go if you do not know. Opt in for the composting system if you live in a suite. Use reusable utensils. Encourage others to do the same.

This problem is not going to solve itself out of nowhere. But if we all chip in, do our part, and pay attention, a difference will undoubtedly be made.

LIFESTYLE | 723

by abigail moone 24 8| LIFESTYLE

After receiving the email this summer outlining the new guidelines and protocols Hamilton would have in place this semester, I almost didn’t come back. I spent serious hours looking at what other options I had— everything from catching fish on a boat somewhere to living in a commune in California. I was convinced that a semester with such rigid restrictions would be miserable, and I was sure I would be more likely to have a fulfilling experience elsewhere. I imagined a semester locked up alone in my room, sullenly staring at the snow on the ground as I sat through yet another Zoom class. However, a month and a half in, not only am I incredibly grateful I returned to this beautiful, squirrel-filled campus, but life under the COVID-19 umbrella is actually much more ‘normal’ than I anticipated.

Though of course some aspects of life on the hill have fundamentally changed, it mostly feels like everything has simply shifted outdoors. Meals that used to be seven people crowded around a four-person table in Commons are now spread out on the lawn outside. There are wonderful Adirondack chairs scattered across campus, occupied during the day by the studious and at night by the hungry. Library tables are mostly empty, but the quads and sports fields are always boasting some group or another. Classes that could be conducted over Zoom are instead taught outside under the new canopies. Many people have even chosen to invest in those little folding chairs normally meant for the beach, while I am apt to carry around my lovely green-checkered picnic blanket.

Clubs and organizations on campus have been quick to adapt their programming to accommodate smaller groups, masks, and social distancing. The Hamilton Outing Club, for example, now has robust biking opportunities, including a bike repair Co-Op, HOC officer-led rides, and easy rental sign ups. Hamilton Sustainability, in efforts to bet-

ter control the waste that all of the pre-packaged food has created, set up clearly marked compost, recycling, and landfill bins. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Untitled at Large running rehearsals in Minor Field, while Signature Style is still hosting shoots while social distancing. There has also been a massive uptick in the number of wheels on campus, with countless new skateboards, scooters, bicycles, and rollerblades zipping around.

Many students have reported that spending so much time outside has had a positive impact on their mental health, and the number of people exploring the glens has increased exponentially. When it is illegal to go sit in a friend’s dorm on a warm Saturday afternoon, taking a hike seems like a wonderful alternative. Distancing outside also offers the opportunity to talk without masks, and being able to see someone’s entire face when they smile is something I think most of us didn’t realize we’d miss.

There are of course some downsides, such as the obscene number of bugs that seem inescapable, and our new friend the skunk that hangs out behind Commons. It’s difficult to guess how well your outfit will hold up in the constantly changing Clinton weather, and there just are not enough outlets outside to really be able to work for long. Speaking from personal experience, there is a garbage truck route that lines up exactly with my outdoor class, and once that’s finished, the construction noises recommence.

However, despite these distractions and obstacles to overcome, this new, rugged outdoors college lifestyle has its perks. As Creative Writing Professor Tina Hall put it, “I kind of feel like I’m a new teacher again, which is a daunting and exciting experience.” This semester has encouraged an entirely new approach to engaging with campus life, both physically and socially. The dichotomy between simultaneously being so much closer yet so much farther from Hamilton is bittersweet, but I continue to be very glad that I returned.

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Hamilton’s COVID-19 Dictionary

By Sammy Smock In the age of coronavirus, many changes have occurred in the Hamilton student experience. Are you confused by the differences between family unit and extended family unit? Do you often forget how far away you have to be in order to social distance properly? Are you still not sure who’s in your cohort? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the guide for you!

Family Unit You, your roommate, and that pile of dirty socks in your closet.

This is where you are allowed the intimacy of seeing each other’s noses and you are even allowed to hold hands! If you live in a single, the price you pay for privacy is that your family unit is just you and your stuffed animal collection.

Social Distancing

While a distance of six feet is generally recommended, this distance is typically shortened in the Commons salad line and on the Sadove terrace for unknown reasons. In classes, this distance means that partner discussions are now just you shouting into the void at someone you’ve never seen before and will likely never see again. If you are having trouble visualizing six feet, imagine one (1) Nicolas Cage (he is allegedly 6’0”) laying on the ground between you.

Cohort

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Loosely defined by the people whose private lives and daily activities you can hear through the thin walls from your own room. You know WAY too much about what they did last night, but probably couldn’t recognize them outside the building if you tried. You can visit them, but you must stay strapped (with a mask) at all times.

Extended Family Unit Get this—two whole cohorts! The same rights and responsibilities as a cohort, but this time with the feeling of a little more incestuous scandal thrown in. You may never see these people this semester, but just know they are there and they are making popcorn in the microwave at 10:30am on a Tuesday.

Maskhole We’ve all seen them—people that seemingly cannot wear their mask properly even when it would save their life. Whether they have their nose suspiciously dangling over the top of their mask or the mask itself just hanging around their chin, they want you to know that they don’t care about your health and definitely wouldn’t consider following the rules.

Dingle When your roommate eventually succumbs to the stress and takes a leave of absence or goes remote just three weeks after moving in, you may find yourself with a dingle. All that extra wall space, and you can decorate it however you want! The test you just got back, a microwave recipe for a cake, a black and white picture of your parents’ dog that you printed out on the KJ printer… The possibilities are endless!

Anti-Masker Someone who refuses to wear a mask even when it would save their life (like during a global pandemic). A good example is your Aunt Karen (who you only know from her Facebook group chat messages with you and your mom).

Maybe she’s diagnosed herself with a respiratory illness or maybe she believes that the government is putting viruses inside the masks on purpose—either way, you are one minion meme from blocking her.

LIFESTYLE11 | 27

How the Pandemic Disrupted My Summer and My Life

By Neha Jain When COVID-19 began to spread in the U.S. early this year, I did not anticipate that it would disrupt people’s lives as much as it did. I found myself stranded in the U.S. for nearly three months.

Last spring when Hamilton announced that we were taking a few weeks off of school, I was nearly certain that we would be back for Clinton’s warm weather in early April.

Being an international student from India, but currently residing in Singapore, the long journey back home seemed ridiculous to make prematurely. I decided to stay in the U.S. and “wait it out.”

By the time Hamilton decided to move classes complete-

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ly online, later than most schools did, Singapore and India made the decision to close their borders for all international travel. While everyone else found comfort in home-cooked meals and “excessive” family bonding time during this pandemic, I found myself fearing the uncertainty of it without the support of my family.

I was lucky to stay with a friend and her family in Colorado for over two months. It was a great time, but I often found myself anxiously awaiting approval from Singapore’s government to travel back home. I thankfully made it back to Singapore in early July and am now back on campus, but my journey homeward was definitely an unpredictable one!

How my friends and i took advantage of the time off this summer

BY JOEL HARPER

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced us out of our respective study abroad programs, we sat at our parents’ houses doing Zoom classes for the rest of the spring semester. The newfound restlessness highlighted the need to fill the upcoming summer months in some creative way. We knew that we wanted a change of pace and that we wanted to spend the summer together, but we were not exactly sure how to make that happen with the uncertainty of mass shutdown and the public health risks of travel.

After many discussions, we decided that we wanted to form a quarantine bubble out West and started brainstorming locations. After a few weeks of searching, we stumbled upon a beautiful house in Heber City, Utah (about 20 minutes from Park City and 45 minutes from Salt Lake City). We were sold on the house after learning that it was quite affordable and located in the Wasatch backcountry, close to some of the nation’s best hiking, fly-fishing, mountain biking, skiing, and general outdoor recreation.

Some members of the group drove across the country from the east coast, while others flew into Salt

Lake City’s airport. By mid-June, everyone had arrived at the house, and we became a colony of Hamiltonians transplanted in Utah. Every day, after we finished the work for our remote internships or research projects, we would explore the local area: running the trails behind our house, driving to bouldering sites at American Fork, or tubing down the town’s canal flowing with the spring’s snowmelt. On weekends, we took longer trips, visiting some of Utah’s many National Parks (like Zion and Capitol Reef) and frequenting the Uinta National Forest (a massive protected forest only an hour’s drive away). Utah is incredibly biodiverse and wild: one weekend we could camp at 12,000 feet by mountain lakes full of salamanders, the next we could drive across salt flats or hike through slot canyons in the middle of the desert.

Living as a large group proved to be a continuous social experiment, but given that we kept the house from burning down and only managed to break a dozen or so drinking glasses, we’ll call it an overall success. We were super fortunate to have this opportunity to spend a summer together out West—an opportunity that would have been impossible without a global pandemic. I mean, what else clears everyone’s summer calendar like that?

SPENDING OUR SUMMER IN ALASKA

By Andrew Charman

From

June 15th to August 1st, Max and I were completely off the grid. We worked on a beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska at a salmon processing plant where the only way in or out were the small planes that landed on the beach during low tide. Max worked as a grader, standing in one spot sorting fish based on weight (2-4, 4-5, and 5+ lbs), species (reds, chums, or silvers), and meat quality (from 1 (best) to 3 (worst)). To keep pace with the conveyor belt, he had a mere one second to examine and pass each fish. Over and over again. For 16 hours at a time. While Max pondered

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how to most efficiently pass fish from one hand to another, I was 5 miles down the beach in a small shack with a guy named Andy. Families of fishermen brought their fresh caught salmon to us, then we weighed it, iced it, and wrote them a ticket for the fish.

Because

we were so far away, Andy and I often slept in a retrofitted shipping container, as we didn’t have much time between our 18-20 hour shifts. Showers, naps, and meals were in short supply; they brought us takeout boxes with food that had ample time to cool

before it got to us, and we only showered on the days we came back to camp.

I spent hours sitting in a plastic lawn chair thinking, writing, and waiting for the fish. I was often in a state of content, excited delirium, ready to run out into the day, night, sun, rain, or fog to buy fish. I learned to drive a forklift and an excavator, though I will admit I did get the forklift stuck in the sand trying to pull somebody out.

Andy wasn’t happy about that. I made friends with a mangy fox that lived nearby, and I got to see a fisherman chase a 1200 pound bear down the beach. The only

thing I didn’t learn how to do was drive the 2-ton flatbed truck that didn’t have working brakes, but that just means I have something to look forward to this summer.

“

I was often in a state of content, excited delirium, ready to run out into the day, night, sun, rain, or fog to buy fish.

”

By Max Scheidl

Despite

being on my feet for 16 hours every day, living in a shelter made of plywood and two-by-fours, and ceaselessly being bombarded with the smell of fish, I have never in my life looked back on an experience as fondly as I do on my time spent in Bristol Bay, Alaska. What started out as a spontaneous endeavor has shaped me in indescribable ways. Andrew and I had no idea what to expect, so we proposed two simple goals prior to our departure to live by in Alaska: (1) work as hard as you can, (2) never complain.

When grading fish, I didn’t

have even a second to take a break, mentally or physically. Near the beginning, there were times when I wanted to just walk away from the line; however, making it through a 16 hour shift knowing I just graded 27,000 fish gave me a strong sense of purpose and pride. Simply put, I learned how good it

feels to be downright gritty.

Sure, there was a lot I could have complained about, but toughing it out against the odds and being a part of the solution ultimately made me stronger and more resilient. After one week of 16 hour shifts, despite the line moving quicker than before, grading fish started to come easy to me. My brain had adapted, and sorting the fish was second nature.

I would often find myself in a flow state— as if I were one with the machinery, from 6:30am until 10:30am every day. Interestingly, when void of common comforts and pleasures, I found a new appreciation in nearly everything. Food tasted better, music sounded better, and you can’t even imagine what a hot shower felt like. Learning to embrace discomfort was more valuable than any lesson I have learned to this point in my life. I don’t want to go back. I need to go back.

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The Beirut Explosion: A Case Study in Tragedy and Apathy

BY Soha Kawtharani

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As

many already know, my hometown, Beirut, recently witnessed the third largest chemical explosion in history.

At 6:08 PM on Tuesday, August 4, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in the port of Beirut since 2013 caught on fire, resulting in a detonation that injured 7,000 people, killed 220, left 300,000 homeless and 52 missing for weeks.

Damages totaled an estimated $15 billion.

Regrettably, this disaster occured while the country was amidst its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1999 civil war, the political upheaval of the 2019 October 17 Revolution, and, of course, the global pandemic.

The

well-known resilience of the Lebanese people was demonstrated within hours of the explosion, when thousands went into the affected regions looking for missing persons, tending to medical needs, and cleaning up debris. Within a day, numerous initiatives and organizations were created for relief work. By contrast, not only had the government stood by idly for seven years as an inevitable tragedy brewed in Beirut’s port, but now it obstructed volunteer

Be it months ago, today, or years from now, my sincerest wish for the Hamilton community is that one day its members can be for each other what Lebanese people were in the midst of our toughest moments ... relief work, rejected some international aid, and delayed rescue missions.

Months ago, I walked

into victims’ houses to help put them back together after my family and I put ours back together. I was greeted with the elderly’s smiles, and we took turns: as I took inventory of medication they needed, they asked me about New York and my studies.

I got lost in conversations about the future with fellow volunteers as we swept shattered glass off of floors. We debated about current events as we carried broken dressers down the stairs from the fifth floor of one of Beirut’s old buildings – the architecture too true to Beirut’s older

years for elevators – and as we hung nylon over naked windows.

Contrary to how the West overwhelmingly portrays us, we weren’t quick to rebuild because we’re used to tragedies of this magnitude; no one is. It was because we were eager to return to life. It was because once you live among the people of Lebanon, try our food, and listen to our music, you wouldn’t settle for anything less either.

Months

ago, it was easier to grieve, because when I cried, I was in the homes of the victims and friends whose stories broke me just as they broke them and knew the pain of leaving those you love. I was

in the arms of family who had felt my same fear of having lost them as they had of losing me.

Months

ago, I had forgotten about my failed attempts to make Hamilton home.

I forgot about my white peers’ remarks about me bombing them that they passed off as jokes, what I felt was their way of welcoming me to campus after they found out I’m Muslim. I forgot about the apathy among our student body, which, when I tried to address the administration, I was told that they can’t force students to learn about things unless the students choose to. I hadn’t yet experienced some staff and faculty members’

equating my loss of my city and my city’s loss of its people to the difficulties of my wealthy, white counterparts in college life, that it’s been tough for everyone.

Months ago, I might

have still been willing to take it upon myself to speak about apathy, racism, elitism, among other things, on campus for my sake and that of my friends similarly struggling. But I’ve spoken so much about these issues with so few listening that I’ve realized, despite the infinite kindness of some of this community’s members, it will never be one that I can call my own. Not because I want it to be my Lebanese community – I left Lebanon knowing that I will never find anywhere like it – but because this one struggles to see me altogether.

Be

it months ago, today, or years from now, my sincerest wish for the Hamilton community is that one day its members can be for each other what Lebanese people were in the midst of our toughest moments, when half our city went up in flames, the other half fell to the ground, and we turned to each other.

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How are you getting involved in the election?

Brooke Kessler President of the Hamilton Democrats

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The 2020 elections are a critical event in our lifetimes. Our future as a country and as individuals are literally on the ballot. Whether or not Joe Biden defeats Donald Trump is not a matter of determining what the best approach is to tackle the climate crisis, the gun violence epidemic, police and criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, and so many other issues we care about; it is a matter of whether those issues get discussed at all. The stakes could not be higher. As a result, Hamilton Democrats have been working hard this semester to ensure that as many students as possible are registered to vote and are engaged with political campaigns.

Hamilton College resides in NY-22, home to one of the top 5 most competitive House races in the entire country. In 2018, Congressman Anthony Brindisi won by just over 1% of the vote, beating former Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. The 2020 race will be a rematch between them, and the results are expected to be even closer.

Hamilton students were a large part of Brindisi’s victory in 2018 and we’ve recaptured that spirit again this year. Dozens of Hamilton students are interning for the Brindisi campaign and organizing on campus. Every week we host voter registration drives, and every weekend we hold phone banks to make calls to voters in NY-22. Hamilton students are meeting the urgency of this moment and are showing up for candidates that show up for them.

Donald Trump is a uniquely dangerous, undemocratic figure in our politics, aided by Congressional Republicans like Tenney who, when she was in office, remained a rubber stamp for his agenda. While the current administration’s unscrupulous conduct can be overwhelmingly frustrating, we cannot allow it to distance us from politics. Elections have consequences. Apathy has no place when things as important as human rights and democracy are on the line.

We want Hamilton students to wake up on November 4th knowing they did everything they could to get Trump out of office, re-elect Congressman Brindisi, and help elect other representatives who actually have their best interests at heart. 2020 is an all-hands-on-deck kind of year. Hamilton Democrats are here to get students off the sidelines and into the playing field, and, most importantly, to the polls.

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Expectations vs Reality: My Freshman Year Under a Pandemic By: Emily McGovern

36 |20 OPINION

Sprinting out the door and across campus to get to class is something that every college student has done. But this year, in addition to remembering where and when classes are, we are juggling daily temperature checks and remembering to grab a mask on our way out. These things have become our new normal, and they represent some differences between what we expected college to be like and what it is during a pandemic.

Stepping onto campus for the first time in August felt like a reward that could be snatched away at a moment’s notice. The anticipation during the week leading up to move-in day and the anxiety about what would happen if my test came back positive made that day feel all the more precious. Yet the underlying fear about what could happen if coronavirus spreads on our campus, as it already has on so many others, lingers in the back of my mind.

Despite not being able to go on the famed orientation trips, spending the first week with members of my floor exploring campus was a great way to grow closer with the people I live with. Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions have not made making friends easy. The 6-foot distance maintained by groups during orientation in the already limited events for meeting new people and the inability to go into other dorms have made it hard to reach out to and connect with other students. Upperclassmen and professors have claimed that every new student struggles to find their place, but in this time of social distancing, these feelings seem amplified.

Classes are another aspect of college life that have been turned upside down. Although I found myself meeting new people every day, only going to three in-person classes a week in which classmates’ faces are obscured by masks is far from what I expected. It is hard to reach out to people when you interact exclusively from behind a computer screen, and learning to manage a rotating schedule of Zoom links has become a test of organizational skills. Because of these things, difficult college classes seem even more intimidating.

But there have been plenty of moments on campus that certainly lived up to my expectations for a first semester. There have been lots of good memories, from getting locked out of my dorm and calling campus security on my second day to getting late-night nachos for the first time. Likewise, the firework show during orientation, camping with my cohort, and movie nights, things that would not have otherwise happened, have made this college experience one of a kind, in a good way. Although many things have turned out differently than I had anticipated, there are so many exciting things beyond coronavirus that proved to me it is only once you get on campus that you can experience Hamilton for what it truly is: completely unique.

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