THE
CONTINENTAL FALL 2018
dig in!
Why I Worked on the Brindisi Campaign - 10 Late Night Commons: Convenience or Controversy? - 20 Study Abroad Travel Guide - 28
THE CONTINENTAL @contmag Contmag@hamilton.edu The Continental issuu.com/hamiltoncontinental
FEATURES
ON THE HILL
TRAVEL
Where we’re at | 7
it’s for the birds | 14
why i worked on the anthony brindisi campaign | 10
cabinets of curiosities | 17
archeology research In transylvania romania | 22
alumnus biography: Ezra Pound, Celebrated fascist |12
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Late night commons: convenience or controversy? | 20
strength after devastation |26 study abroad travel guide | 28
LIFESTYLE where are the tents? and should we find them? | 37
ENTERTAINMENT familial horror and its roots | 45
growing a home away from home |40
chris victor '21: hamilton's bruno mars | 48
utica's hidden cuisines |44
the dark side of human nature |44
OPINION expanding the "posse": hamilton adopts questbridge scholar program| 52 what happened to the menstrual hygeine initiative |54
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from the editors Do any of us remember the first place we ever wanted to go? As in, when we were young, we had the hope of going somewhere new all the time, of escaping to some faraway world. When we get older, that faraway place turns into the beautiful beaches, cities, and mountains that we’ve seen on TV and read about in books. At some point, we decide that we’ll visit these places in time, but we turn our attention to the little, everyday places we want to go. Going to a party, to a concert, or to the right school. This was all we wanted – to go somewhere that we think of as better than where we are right now. But until we see these it for ourselves, we only ever experience that place through the eyes of another. Through the books written, films produced, brochures concocted, and art made by past travelers. And so these places we dream about are, in a sense, secondhand. It’s only natural, then, that once we get there, we’re disappointed. For some reason, where we are and how we are has not lined up the way we always hoped they might. But it is in this difficult struggle to reckon our expectations with our true experiences that the joys of exploration lie. Sure, we might not experience a new place as someone else has, but we may find something different and perhaps a bit grounding there. For this edition of The Continental, we want to begin looking at where we are not through the high-hopes and anticipations that usually frame our semesters, but rather we wanted to present a celebration of the stories that are often overlooked at Hamilton. Unlike other publications, we only publish three editions a year, giving us the time and resources to produce an interesting and diverse array of articles. This edition has a spread of larger scale articles focusing on changes we’ve experienced this semester, as well as smaller-scale stories from students, faculty, and other members of our community. We hope you find our stories thought-provoking and inspiring, and we hope you can let your mind wander in this issue.
MAURA COLLEY & MEREDITH LABELLE
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EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Maura Colley ‘19 Meredith Labelle ‘19
CREATIVE DIRECTORS Anika Huq ‘19 Julia Gorlovetskaya ‘19
SECTION EDITORS Catharine Pierce ‘20 | On the Hill Erin Bryant ‘21 | Opinion Anne Homans ‘19 | Features Charlotte Zonis ‘19 | Travel Philip Marks ‘20 | Lifestyle Grant Hamilton '19 | Entertainment
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Chalk ‘20
EDITORS AT LARGE Kaitlyn Thayer ‘19 Celia Reistrom ‘22
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER julia gorlovetskaya '19
LAYOUT DESIGNERS Anika Huq ‘19 (CD) Julia Gorlovetskaya ‘19 (CD) Alex Medina '22 Claire Goldstein '22 Ian Bernstein '22 Jianyi Yang ‘21 Levana Lyu ‘21 Catherine Pierce ‘20 Jacob Hane '22
PHOTOGRAPHERS yannis markidis '22 sarah ferdinand '22 levana lyu '21
WRITERS Katie Weinzierl '21 Bianca MacDonald ‘21 Joyce zhang '20
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8 features
WHERE WE’RE AT Meredith LaBelle Maura Colley
Change can be elusive. Sometimes it happens right before your eyes, an obvious shift that’s impossible not to notice, think about, and discuss. Other times it’s a slower process that gradually guides us to see things in different ways. Change can also be hard to quantify; you merely think you see it, and you can’t quite describe it, but it’s a real feeling. Besides, who knows if the external change you believe is happening isn’t just you changing internally? These questions are important to ponder; they bring about a knowledge of both the self and the world around us.
as a reminder that these changes do, in fact, deeply affect our lives here. In other words, we invite you to pause and consider why these changes occur. Is it in reaction to a trend or event? Is it a preventive or proactive measure? Our answer to each of these questions is, probably a bit of both. Either way, we think it’s worth asking.
One of the most-discussed changes in the last year has been the future of housing at Hamilton. Over 56 students were placed on the housing waitlist last spring. Hamilton addressed this issue by offering new apartment-style housing for seniors We could fill pages with changes that have ocat 95 College Hill Road and 4002 Campus Road. curred over the last four years on These are temporary solutions, and this campus. Instead, it feels more in the next few years we can expect productive to evaluate the ways in One of the most-dis- major changes to housing here at which change happens here. What Hamilton. Furthermore, there are cussed changes in issues with the types of housing necessitates these changes? Who is raising their voice in concern or in the last year has available to students. The campus support, and who is taking action? offers few housing styles where stubeen the future of dents can enjoy a sense of personHow do we address how fast action is taken? housing at Hamilton. al, private space while maintaining a convenient proximity to campus. Perhaps the most interesting way to More housing like The Farmhouse, see change is to examine whether it which provides an apartment-style is proactive or reactive. As students, we can probspace that feels private without being isolated or ably agree that most change on this campus feels substance-free, would be a welcome addition to acutely reactive. But, admittedly, it’s difficult to our housing options. Change in our housing up notice proactive change, which often occurs beto this point has undoubtedly been reactive, but fore we recognize a shift and without any major a proactive move regarding the kinds of housing event or complaint to cause it. Because of this, we Hamilton provides in the future would be welbelieve it’s a good idea to briefly take stock of a come, and will only come from the administrafew major shifts Hamilton has experienced, tion listening to, and valuing, student voices.
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As we’ve said, change is hard to understand. Why it happens, to whom, and in what manner, may be a result of particular circumstance, or it may be because there is a better way of doing things
We can also examine proactive and reactive changes in terms of our mental health services at Hamilton. While our counseling services and programming are inherently proactive – providing individual therapy, group therapy, and peer counselling – Hamilton’s acknowledgement of mental wellbeing on campus is also inherently reactive. The channels of communication between students and administration are tangled, but we’ve observed that the college is putting in work where it needs to be done. The school has signed with BetterMynds, a service to connect students through their phones with a network of licensed counselors, in hopes this will make support even more accessible for students. And with the opening of our new health center soon, it will be interesting to see how many more students begin to use these services.
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To us, the proactive versus reactive nature of change seems to come down to communication between students and administration. At best, this communication occurs occasionally at student meetings or through emails. But our interactions with the administration are not always as direct. When new construction projects are finished, that tells us something. When food options are improved, that tells us something.When new academic and extracurricular opportunities are offered, that tells us something. When support is given only to student activities which bolster the college’s image, that tells us something too.
As we’ve said, change is hard to understand. Why it happens, to whom, and in what manner, may be a result of particular circumstance, or it may be because there is a better way of doing things. We’re all different, and we all don’t have to feel the same way about these changes. But the shifts in student life at Hamilton are affecting those around you, whether you realize it or not. And that demands a little attention.
Maura Colley is studying Anthropology and Math, graduating in Spring 2019. Meredith LaBelle is studying Geoscience and graduating Spring 2019
Features 11
by ben rhind
W
hen friends and family ask why I chose to volunteer for the Brindisi campaign, I think back to November 9th, 2016. The day after the election felt like a gut punch, as reality sunk in that Donald Trump would be President and that the Republican Party would hold both chambers of Congress. “How did we let this happen” is a question with a complicated answer, one not worth repeating here, but one thing that became clear to me as I reflected on the election results is that I had failed to recognize the impact I could have on my community.
ble-digit margin, but it’s also a district that has a history of electing moderates to Congress. Before Claudia Tenney, the district was represented by Richard Hanna, a moderate Republican who was the first Republican Congressman to endorse Hillary Clinton in 2016. Before him, a moderate Democrat, Michael Arcuri, held the congressional seat, and before Arcuri the area was represented by moderate Republican Sherry Boehlert. Mitt Romney won this district by less than one point. In brief, 2016’s results were a dramatic shift from the recent history of the district.
I dutifully voted on election day and proudly displayed my “I Voted!” sticker, but did little else beyond that. Hamilton students, myself included, tend to retreat to our comfortable bubble on the hill, and 2016 showed us the cost of that isolation. Maybe we couldn’t have done much to affect the Presidential results from the safe blue state of NY, but we allowed our Congressional district to be handed to a radical conservative who represents the worst of what’s currently going on in Washington.
Why did a historically moderate district suddenly vote for radical conservatives to Congress and the White House? A major factor in that shift is that voters here are tired of being forgotten by their elected representatives. It’s no secret that Utica has struggled for decades, and despite a recent resurgence, many voters have felt that they were left behind by our economy, by their Representatives, and by Governor Cuomo. Donald Trump came in as an outsider vowing to fight for them, and for many voters that was enough. Even though she seriously underperformed Trump, Claudia Tenney rode those coattails, and has continued throughout her time in Congress to do everything in her power to tie herself to Trump.
Hamilton students often think of the surrounding area as unapproachable Trump-country, full of hardline conservatives. It’s true that the district voted for Trump by a dou-
12 features
Elected to represent a district forgotten by Washington, Tenney wasted no time forgetting her constituents to cozy up with corporate donors. She enthusiastically voted to take healthcare away from millions of Americans and tens of thousands of people in the district, and then voted to give her corporate donors billions in tax cuts while working class families saw little to no benefits. When asked about Ben Carson’s purchase of a $31,000 dining table, she blamed the “deep state” rather than calling out corruption. In the wake of the national tragedy of the Parkland shooting, she lied and said most mass shooters “end up being Democrats,” and when asked about this comment by reporters, she called them “fake news.” Watching all of this play out during the first year of the Trump presidency, I realized I could no longer sit back and be a bystander in the community I live in. This summer, I began working for the campaign of Anthony Brindisi, the Democrat running in the 22nd district and Utica’s Assemblyman. Instead of mirroring the divisiveness of Rep. Tenney, Brindisi has put his focus on results rather than party. While Tenney funds her campaign through corporate PACs and dark money, Brindisi isn’t taking a cent of corporate PAC money, and his campaign is in the top 20 in fundraising from small dollar donors. Interning on one of the closest races in the country gives each day a sense of excitement and purpose, and the work is made so much more rewarding because it supports a candidate truly committed to representing the interests of the 22nd district, including Hamilton students. In a district with
30,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats, Brindisi is still running a competitive campaign because so many voters recognize the authenticity of his approach. I can’t count how many Republicans I’ve spoken to that are voting for Anthony because they’re tired of Tenney’s extremism and have seen how much Anthony has done for the Utica area in the Assembly. Perhaps the most exciting part of this campaign has been seeing how many students have gotten involved. For all the ways the Hamilton community fell short in their activism in 2016, it’s been inspiring to see how many students have gotten involved in the race this cycle. In 2016, the Hamilton Democrats registered a few dozen students to vote, at most. This time around, we registered over 250 students to vote here in NY-22, with hundreds more registering to vote through non-partisan organizations like HamVotes. The Brindisi campaign has over 30 students interning on the campaign, and more student volunteers come to canvass each weekend. The first two years of the Trump presidency have been terrifying and often disheartening. Through all of that, this campaign has given me plenty of reason to be optimistic about our politics. Seeing how close this race is has shown me that Democrats with an authentic message can compete anywhere in the country. This campaign has shown me that we really do have a chance to hold our elected officials accountable, and that change is possible through hard work. Nothing would make me prouder than to see that spirit of activism carry on in Hamilton students long after I graduate, and the efforts this fall have made me optimistic about that prospect.
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Celebrated Fascist
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by Anne homans
Ezra Pound
Alumnus biography
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1905 graduate of Hamilton College, Ezra Pound is widely considered the figure most responsible for the twentieth century modernist revolution in poetry. Forefather of the avant-garde Imagist movement and mentor to an entire literary generation, he provided inspiration, guidance, and social sponsorship for such renowned figures as James Joyce, Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway, and T.S. Eliot. Hamilton frequently boasts Pound for his immense literary significance and celebrity-intellectual status; what the college often forgets to mention is that Pound was also a vehement fascist and anti-Semitic. Pound’s broadcasts from Mussolini’s Italy during World War II even led him to be indicted for treason in 1945. After graduating Hamilton College with a BPhil in 1905, Pound received a master’s degree in Romance languages at the University of Pennsylvania and taught briefly at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, a conservative town he considered “the sixth circle of hell.” In 1908, Pound set off for Europe, where he would meet his future wife, Dorothy Shakespear, in London and establish himself as a prominent poet and literary critic. Here, and later in Paris, Pound developed and promoted “Imagism,” a movement of his invention that derives its technique from classical Chinese and Japanese poetry, operating under the credo “Make It New.” Pound was one of the many prominent intellectuals whose politics shifted after World War I from anarchist tendencies toward a longing for order. In 1924, the young poet moved from Paris to the Italian town of Rapallo, attracted in part by Mussolini’s vision of a transformed nation. His own political and economic idealism corresponded with Mussolini’s promises to construct a revolutionized society, free from the class antagonisms that plagued both communism and capitalism. Beginning January 23, 1941, Pound broadcast through a Fascist propaganda radio program called “The American Hour,” in which he condemned the Roosevelt administration and the United States’ involvement in World War II. These broadcasts occurred every three days, and were transmitted to England, parts of central Europe, and the United States. Pound’s anti-Semitism, which had increased with time and cultural exile, also appeared frequently in his radio broadcast. With the incensed vulgarity that many listeners came to expect, Pound declared that Jewish people controlled the press, the “Jewspapers,” and used this power to engineer wars which they deceived ignorant civilians into fighting. Pound did not return to the United States until 1945, when he was arrested on charges of treason for broadcasting Fascist propaganda to United States citizens. In fact, it was while confined in an American prison camp in Italy that Pound completed his famous epic poem, The Cantos, an encyclopedic declaration of his aesthetic, social, and cultural values. The poet was ultimately acquitted in 1946 but declared mentally ill and committed to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC. Continuous appeals from his literary contemporaries won his release in 1958; afterwards, Pound returned to Italy and settled in Venice, where he died a semi-recluse on November 1, 1972.
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It’s For the Birds by Celia Reistrom
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ven after years of attending Hamilton, many students don’t know about the house situated behind the Science Center where a mother raises her children. This house is more formally known as Hamilton’s Aviary, and the mother is Andrea Townsend, an Assistant Professor of Biology at Hamilton. Recently, the Aviary welcomed a new type of bird: the crow. Crows are known for their intelligence, creating several research opportunities. This is exactly what the Aviary does. It serves as both a teaching and research tool. Students learn how to record an-
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imal behavior as part of their labs and classes, and can use this resource as a focus for their senior theses. Through a series of cognitive tests, Townsend and several students research crows, exploring their behavior and learning abilities. A particular area of interest for Townsend is researching how their ecology affects their ability to learn: “the crows can solve problems at the same ability as five year old children,” said Townsend. Originally, The Aviary only housed European Starlings, an invasive species that Townsend rescued. Although the European Starlings are familiarized
with a barn setting, the birds aren’t all that smart. The addition of crows has provided Hamilton more opportunities for research, both during the year and over the summer. Previous projects have focused on how inbreeding affects the cognition of wild caught birds and the evolution of play in crows.
“‘I’m mom,’ Townsend jokes”
“I’m mom,” Townsend jokes. This is because Townsend, along with the help of students, hand-raised the crows. She recalls how difficult this was, as the crows had to be fed every twenty minutes from dawn to dusk. The students and Townsend became the crows’ family. It was natural for the birds to watch students leave the Aviary and come back, mimicking typical crow behavior out in nature. Hand-raising the crows allows them to be comfortable with working with students, facilitating research procedures. Townsend has been working with crows since 2005. Though she previously worked with crows at Cornell University and at UC Davis, Hamilton is the first place where with an aviary for her to work with. Although she’s worked with other types of birds,
Townsend said she became fascinated by the crows because of the way they live in social family group settings. Working with such smart and entertaining crows is “like a soap opera,” Townsend jokes. In the future, she plans to bring in wild caught birds to see if they will learn from her hand-raised birds. Hamilton recently expanded the aviary in order to accommodate the new birds, including a new area that will eventually be divided up into smaller rooms for the wild caught birds. As of now, there is no formal access to the Aviary for the public. Although Townsend has a goal for the crows to become outreach animals and teaching tools for the local community, this isn’t yet possible. The
birds become too nervous around new people with whom they have not yet acquainted themselves. This is especially true for males, and Townsend explains that this is because only females hand-raised them. However, she has male volunteers who go in and sit with the crows to get the crows more used to them. Want to spend some time with the crow family? Interested students can contact Townsend to volunteer. They can conduct research or simply spend some time sitting with the crows and do homework. Hamilton College is fortunate to have this aviary as an asset for extending students’ learning, and students should take advantage of the unusual resource.
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CABINETS OF CURIOSITIES By Rachel Lee
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e can all agree that the European Renaissance (14th - 17th century A.D.) was an intriguing time in human history, an era characterized by its fascination with the idea of ‘man as the measure of all things.’ Perhaps it is apt, then, that it was from this era that the idea of wunderkammern — literally, wonder-cabinets — sprung. Regarded as a sort of microcosm of the world, these ‘wonder-cabinets’ were a way of systematically organizing and displaying knowledge, symbolic of their patrons’ control over the miniature world. These displays, which were often not just literal cabinets, but could take up entire rooms or libraries, were the predecessors of many modern-day museums. Despite having been established well after the Renaissance had ended, Hamilton College was also home to a number of wunderkammern. Known as the Cabinets of Curiosity, they were owned by student-run college literary societies, more or less the 19th-century equivalent of fraternities, and an important part of campus social life. These societies built up their own collections of paraphernalia, which were stored in glass cabinets or libraries acquired by the societies, and ostensibly used to stimulate intellectual conversation. With items ranging from Native American, Chinese and Japanese artifacts, to geological and mineralogical specimens, to taxidermied animals and botanical specimens preserved in formaldehyde, these collections were often eccentric — but very valuablem, nonetheless. Not much is known about the items’ origins, but according to Ms. Katherine Alcauskas, Collections Curator & Exhibition Manager at the Wellin, it’s likely that school alumni who left upstate New York for seminaries around the country (Hamilton was a highly religious institution at the time) would send these ‘exotic’ objects back as mementos from their travels, providing students at the College with a plethora of educational material.
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As the collections grew, so did the College’s interest in them. In 1830, the third floor of the Chapel was opened as a space for collections to be housed. By 1844, an exclusive “Libraries and Cabinets” section in the annual Catalogue was dedicated to emphasizing the importance of the Cabinets. In 1850, the school began purchasing these items from the literary societies as contributions to a school-wide Wunderkammer to be housed in a school building. This building, formerly a dining hall, was designed not just to hold the collections, but also to make them available for instructional purposes. It was named the Knox Hall of Natural History in 1883, and was home to the Wunderkammer until the Hall was repurposed as administration offices in 1925. Thereafter, the miscellaneous objects went into storage (where they were promptly forgotten), or were dispersed to various departments in and out of the college. The anthropology department took in historical and cultural items, a large geological collection donated by Professor Oren Root was lent to the New York State Museum in Albany, and a small collection was installed in the lobby of the Root Hall of Science. From 1927 to 1958, the College did not have a formal exhibition space on campus.
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However, not all the treasures of the Wunderkammer remain buried. Upon its opening in 1982, the campus’ Emerson Gallery inherited over a hundred Native American artifacts from the Anthropology department that had previously been displayed in Knox Hall, and featured glass cases inspired by the Cabinets of Curiosity, along with plenty of other artworks. These remain in the much newer Wellin Museum, opened in 2012. Though it has proven difficult to identify specific objects that were previously held in the Cabinet of Curiosity, the school is still littered with reminders of the Wunderkammer, evidence of the College’s emphasis on the value of art and cultural artifacts, and Hamiltonians’ constant quest for knowledge.
“However, not all the treasures of the Wunderkammer remain buried.” on the hill 21
LATE NIGHT COMMONS:
CONVENIENCE OR CONTROVERSY? By Catharine Pierce
With new changes in Hamilton’s dining services come new controversies, among both the students and the employees of Bon Appetit. While many students are extremely appreciative of the later hours at Commons now extended to midnight (who doesn’t love cereal at eleven at night, or even just access to an apple?), many students also recognize that there are downsides to the new and improved food service. It seems that the dining hall hours went from one extreme to another. While keeping Commons open later is extremely helpful for busy students, it may be more beneficial and economical to end the night at 10, or 10:30, rather than 12. Some of the only food that people hope to get at these wee hours include cereal, ice cream, and fruit – and the first two present a frustrating mess, according to a Commons worker who requested anonymity. Bon Appetit staff are constantly sweeping up stray apple jacks and closing the ice cream cooler doors for students. The problem quickly became too inconvenient and unreasonable for workers to manage, so both the cereal and the fruit are now put away at 9:30 pm. This begs the question: why has the school decided to so drastically extend hours at Commons? Why not instead put money towards opening McEwen for a few more hours – even just a brunch-style meal, during the weekend? This sentiment, and many similar, is commonly heard around campus.
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In speaking with three Commons workers, all of whom requested to remain anonymous, the new hours of this dining institution appear to be universally inconvenient at best, inconsiderate at worst. Staff schedules are lopsided in shift times, with the same few workers closing four nights in a row. When an employee comes in to start the work day at three in the afternoon, he or she is there until one in the morning, cleaning up and shutting down the food lines, and preparing the space for a pristine open in the morning. Those who open the dining hall in the mornings claim to have an easier job: although they have to be at work early in the morning, they only have to set up food and then leave quite early in the afternoon, rather than cleaning up late into the night after a full day’s worth of busy college students parade through. This
imbalance is exhausting, and promotes a toxic work environment in which new hires sometimes last no more than days before quitting. While there are the steady, constant friendly faces which the students know and love, Bon Appetit has recently struggled to hire, and hold on to, new employees. Food service will continue to work with its staff and the students at Hamilton to find a happy medium – everyone agrees that students require access to healthy and satisfying food as consistently as possible. Bon Appetit and Hamilton hope to work with staff and students to create seamless, accessible food services that are fair and accessible to all.
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ARCHAEOLOGY RESEARCH by jada langston
preserving transylvania's treasures
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Going to Romania, I had no idea what to expect. I had never left North America, so I had no experience traveling across the ocean, going to a country that spoke another language, and adjusting to a seven hour time difference. Professor Colin Quinn invited me and two fellow students, Lana Dorr ‘21, Sophia Coren ‘ 21, to participate in a systematic investigation designed to demonstrate one of the ways public archaeology can be utilized to raise awareness about social and environmental issues within Romania. This Levitt Summer Research Group Project, also supported with funds from the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, was a continuation of the public archaeology project Forging Identities: Past and Present, that began in 2012. Their mission is to raise awareness about the culture of the mining communities in Bucium and Roșia Montană. For the past decade, a mining company, The Roșia Montană Gold Corporation (a subsidiary of Gabriel Resources), has been trying to buy the land for mountaintop removal mining, which will destroy countless archaeological sites, remove mining communities that date back to Roman times, and make a significant environmental impact on the region through the disposal of cyanide used to process ore. Public archaeology can help Transylvanian mining communities advocate for their cultural heritage and identity, which is under threat from environmentally destructive modern mining projects.
T
hroughout June and July, we stayed in Alba Iulia, Romania, a beautiful and historically significant town nestled in the valleys of mountains. During our time in Alba Iulia, we visited the Muzeul Naţional al Unirii din Alba Iulia, which had artifacts that date back thousands of years in Romania’s history. The city was also having its annual festival called Alba Fest. The event featured performances by Romanian artists such a Smiley, Inna, and B.U.G Mafia and food stands offering a variety of mici (a grilled ground pork sausage), chicken kebabs with fried potatoes, fried sardines, and ham steaks the size of your head. Later in June, we attended a festival in Cetatea De Balta where people celebrated the history of the region by reenacting the wars between the Roman Empire and the Dacian Empire in the 1st and 2nd Century AD. On the weekends, we hiked mountains and hills to archaeological sites and abandoned Roman or Bronze Age mines that stood for centuries within the region. We also took a trip to one the world’s most visited salt mines, Salina Turda Salt Mine, which was formed over 13.6-13.4 million years ago and was mined during the Roman occupation on Dacia until 1932 when the mine officially closed.
For the past decade, a
mining company, The Roșia Montană Gold Corporation, has been trying to buy the land for mountaintop removal mining, which will destroy countless archaeological sites, some dating back to Roman times, and make a significantly negative environmental impact on the region.
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In July, we began to plan for our public out-
reach event in Bucium in the Southern Apuseni Mountains in Transylvania, Romania, called Archaeology as Advocacy: Celebrating Cultural Heritage in Transylvania Mining Communities.
F
or research, Colin Quinn of the Hamilton College Archaeology department and his co-directors Jess Beck of Cambridge University and Horia Ciugudean from Muzeul Naţional al Unirii din Alba Iulia conducted research on a burial mound in Southern Transylvania. We travelled to Râmeț-Gugului, which was a human burial site in the Early Bronze Age (2700-2000 BC). Burial mounds are found throughout Transylvania and can be seen on many hilltops throughout the area. The mound that we chose to work with was one of the larger size mounds in the area, making it impossible for us to excavate it in one month. We opened nine 2x2 meter units and three 1x2 meter units from along the surrounding area and extended the units up onto a small portion of the mound. These excavation units gave us more context of what was happening around the burial site to get a complete picture of the site at the time it was built.
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n July, we began to plan for our public outreach event in Bucium in the Southern Apuseni Mountains in Transylvania, Romania, called Archaeology as Advocacy: Celebrating Cultural Heritage in Transylvania Mining Communities. Collaborating with Muzeul Național al Unirii din Alba Iulia and Asociaţia Culturală Ovidiu Bârlea, we chose to celebrate the tradition of using medicinal plants that are native and grow wild within Romania. In the public outreach event, we displayed multiple posters that discussed the palaeobotany of the area, the traditional mining communities, and the research that the MARBAL (Mortuary Archaeology of the Ramet Bronze Age Landscape) and the public archaeology project did for the summer. Being in Romania was beautiful and a once in a lifetime experience. I saw incredible geologic formations of limestone, tectonic activity, and archaeological sites, while experiencing Romania’s amazing culture and foods. The research that we did this summer is only in the beginning stages of development and will be explored more over time. Incorporating multiple excavations, different data analysis and more public archaeology could help to illustrate the complex cultural heritage of the mining communities and advocate for more preservation of Transylvania’s archaeological and environmental treasures.
Burial mounds are found throughout
Transylvania and can be seen on many hilltops throughout the area.
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Strength After Devastation Bearing witness to the story of the people of Puerto Rico BY Shelby Castillo Puerto Rico is known for its beautiful beaches, tropical rainforest, and the bioluminescent bays that light up at night. Perhaps you didn’t know it experienced a major hurricane, Maria, last year on September 20th. Maybe now that is the only thing you know about the tiny island in the Caribbean still bound to the United States politically and socially.
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traveled to Puerto Rico this past summer to research the effects of natural disaster on migration, culture, and politics through Hamilton’s Summer Internship Funding (SIF) program. SIF gave me the funding to conduct my research under Professor Reynaldo Ortiz who works in the Puerto Rican and Latino Studies department at Brooklyn College. During the three hour long plane ride to the Caribbean, I could not have fathomed the devastation, love, heartbreak and genuine beauty I would encounter my five weeks there. My abuelita, whom I did not know well, picked me up from the airport immediately speaking in Spanish—a language that was unfortunately foreign to me. I do not know how I ventured to this familiar land, not knowing the language, expecting to interact with individuals without a translator, but I did. I set foot in Puerto Rico—a Puerto Rican but a foreigner nonetheless.
I began my research close to home, speaking to my abuelita’s neighbors and friends and getting a sense of San Isidro, Canovanas where she and my abuelo live. The east side of the island was where Maria made landfall first and it was still badly damaged even after almost a year. Roofs were covered by FEMA’s signature blue tarp, doors were ripped off their hinges, and windows were nonexistent in some areas. Through interviews with locals, political figures, family friends, and revolutionaries, I compiled a story that is left largely untold by popular media: the story of the people. They told me about the hurricane, the lack of resources, and their resentment and dependence on the United States government. I learned so much about their resilience, community, and culture. It was not uncommon to hear that people shook when it rained over the past year because of their post-traumatic stress after the hurricane. It was not uncommon
to listen to people tell me that they went without lights or electricity for months after Maria passed. Nor was it uncommon to listen to how the people in each community banded together to help one another. In left Puerto Rico with a new sense of purpose, more passionate than when I had arrived. My relationship with my abuelita had upgraded to close friends and my relationship with my familial homeland was strengthened too. I was welcomed although I didn’t speak the language. These are all privileges that I am thankful for having received. I plan—and am in the process of—using those very privileges to create a website where I will share the stories I gathered this past summer in Puerto Rico with the world. Everyone should hear what I heard—everyone should bear witness to the brilliance, generosity, resilience, and love Puerto Rico has to give even in the worst of times.
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Study abroad travel guide P
lanning on studying abroad? Don’t know where to go? Need ideas on where to travel on the weekends? We’ve got you covered! Current seniors who traveled from everywhere from Europe to New Zealand to South America to Asia reminisce on their favorite places to eat, hang out and explore during their time abroad.
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Paris, France Anne Homans
Eats and Drinks: Le Comptoir Général Gorgeous, shabby-chic bar/lounge located in an old 600 square-meter barn hidden behind a block of houses on the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin. Features African-inspired cocktails/small dishes and four enormous, shadowy lounge areas that include a tropical greenhouse and a velvet-walled smoking room. You’ll find a pretty eclectic mix of hipsters, young professionals, and affluent “Bobo” types from the local area congregating here at all hours; a diverse but very Parisian crowd. A line typically begins to build outside after 8pm Thurs-Sat.
Bistrot Victoires One of the city’s few affordable yet authentic bistros, the Bistrot Victoires is located around the corner from the historic Place des Victoires, only a stone’s throw away from the Louvre. The service here is quick, friendly, and English-speaking, a trifecta that is, also, very hard to find in Paris. I recommend the soupe à l’oignon (French onion soup), the entrecôte au thyme brûlé (ribeye with burnt thyme), and particularly the duck confit, which is some of the best I’ve ever had. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, wine is 3€ by the glass.
shop like you know the place: Marché aux Puces (Flea Markets) de Saint-Ouen A sprawling network of covered flea markets at the Northern edge of the city, the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen is the largest antique/second hand market in the world, hosting approx. 1,700 merchants. You can easily spend a whole weekend here, exploring alley upon alley of antique furniture, local art, vintage clothing, brica-brac, and international curiosities. Avoid the long alley selling used phones and (fake) designer bags, as there are pickpockets roaming around this area.
things to do: Le Salon de Thé (Tea Room) at the Grande Mosquée
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Located within the gorgeous Hispano-Moresque mosque in the city’s Latin Quarter, the Tea Room at the Grande Mosquée features intimate, ornately decorated spaces and delicious Moroccan refreshments. Includes a front patio section complete with olive trees, mosaic-tiled tables, and high white arches; a spacious back terrace; and a grand indoor area with tall stained-glass windows and bronze chandeliers. Expect an array of sweet North African pastries and endless hot peppermint tea poured in gilded tea cups. Afterwards, you can cross the street to the Jardin des Plantes, the city’s 69-acre botanical garden, for a post-tea stroll.
Madrid, Spain charlotte zonis
Eats and Drinks:
things to do:
Restaurante Ójala
Retiro Park
Located in Malasaña, which is a fun, younger area of Madrid close to Sol (the Madrid equivalent of Times Square). It doubles as a delicious restaurant with brunch, lunch and dinner, and a bar at night. If you get there early enough, you can enjoy a drink “on the beach” (yes, there is sand) downstairs! Also in Malasaña is Café Federal, which is another brunch favorite, and Vacaciones, a tropical-themed bar with fun drink options. Also, make sure to check out the two popular food markets: San Miguel and San Antón. San Miguel is a fun market, but definitely more touristy, while San Antón is quieter, but the food is just as good and has a great rooftop terrace.
Retiro Park is probably one of the most famous parts of Madrid. The park is beautiful and perfect for a walk, run or rollerskate. Also, make sure to go row-boating with a friend (or significant other - very romantic!) in the pond. The Rosaleda (especially in the spring) and the Crystal Palace are other beautiful aspects of the park. Another great tourist attraction is the Temple of Debod, which is an ancient Egyptian temple that dates back to 2nd century BC. It has an especially beautiful view of the sunrise and sunset. If you go to Madrid, you must go to at least one of the three main museums: the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia. The Prado is the biggest and probably the most famous of the three museums and is one of the best in Europe. The Thyssen has a lot of beautiful art from around Europe, and the Reina Sofia is smaller, but it houses Picasso’s “Guernica” which is a must-see.
shop like you know the place: You can’t go to Madrid without doing a little bit of shopping! Madrid has everything from popular chain stores located in Sol, such as H&M, Zara and Mango, to the very up-scale shopping seen on Velázquez and Serrano streets located in Retiro, and great boutiques unique to Spain, such as Renatta & Go and Doble Agente, scattered around neighborhoods such as Malasaña and Retiro.
Stockholm, sweden
caitlin yu
things to do:
Eats and Drinks:
Gamla Stan
Bakfickan
Visit Gamla Stan, the old town, which has lots of shops and cafes, walk around Djurgården, an island with amusements parks, museums and nature trails, visit the Vasa Museum, home to a massive 17th century ship that has been extensively restored, and find something to eat at Hötorgshallen, a food hall that offers lots of traditional Swedish food
Serves traditional Swedish food such as Swedish meatballs and Kaisas Fisk where you have to try the traditional Swedish fish soup. Check out Bakery and Spice for delicious bread and pastries such as toscamazarin, and go to Fabrique, where you must try the kanelbulle (cinnamon buns) and kardemummabulle (cardamom buns).
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asia things to do: Yuan Dadu Park 元大都城垣遗址公园
Eats and Drinks:
If you want to take a quick break from the city, but not go too far Yuan Dadu Park is a great place to go for a run or enjoy nature in the city. It’s one of the longest linear parks which follows a canal. There are underpasses where roads intersect with the park allowing for an almost continuous 18 kilometer loop. Throughout the loop there are sculptures and plants to enjoy. The park can be easily reached by taking Line 10 of the subway.
Beijijng, China anika huq Caochangdi 草场地 For those interested in the local art scene, Caochangdi is an amazing district to walk around and explore gallery exhibitions, public art installations, live events, workshops and seminars. Besides 798, the more renowned art district, Caochangdi is home to artists like Ai Weiwei and rose as a thriving arts scene in the 2000s when artist began moving into the area. It’s better to get there by taxi or uber, but it is close to the intersection between the Airport expressway and the 5th ring road.
Wudaoying 五道营胡同 Near the Yong He Gong Lama Temple train station stop on Line 5, there’s a lesser known Hutong (lanes or alleyways with hidden gems and spots to eat and drink) called Wudaoying. Unlike the major touristy hutongs like Nanluoguxiang, it’s filled with unique bars, cat cafes, coffee nooks, tea houses and vintage boutiques. This is the perfect alley to stroll around on a sunny sunday afternoon for some window shopping and a coffee. It’s also a 5 minute walk from Yonghegong, a peaceful temple and monastery which combines Han Chinese and Tibetan style art and architecture.
Kathmandu, Nepal Eats and Drinks: If you’re spending time in Kathmandu, make sure to go to any Newari restaurant in Patan. Momo Magic has the BEST momos, and street vendors sell incredibly cheap fruits - especially pomegranates - which are infinitely more delicious than in the United States (but don’t wash any fruits with water - it’s not safe to drink). Himalayan Java is the Starbucks of Kathmandu and there are so many local cafes you should go to instead, such as Karma Cafe and Cafe Soma. Jazz Upstairs is a really laid back bar that serves delicious Nepali food and Sherpa beer, and it plays live jazz twice a week. Dhokaima Cafe is a very quiet, beautiful cafe on the more expensive side. The architecture more closely resembles an Italian villa than Kathmandu for its open space and plethora of green.
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julia gorlovetskaya
things to do: Swayambhunath (aka Monkey Temple) is a must go, but it’s often an overcrowded tourist attraction. Pashupatinath temple also has a lot of resident monkeys, and is a bit less touristy. However, it's a holy Hindu place built around a river, on the banks of which funeral ceremonies are held and it's not the most joyous of places.
shop like you know the place: Thamel
Thamel is a commercial quarter saturated with so many different stores and assertively aggressive vendors, which can be incredibly stressful if you’re hoping to leisurely shop. But if you come in with a clear shopping list, you're bound to feel grateful that everything you need to buy is concentrated in this one neighborhood.
africa
Durban, S. Africa sarah Stinebaugh
things to do: You can spend a day exploring Durban’s South Beach. Nicknamed, the “Golden Mile,” the Durban coastline is perfect for surfing and swimming in waters that remain warm year-round. The beaches provide an ideal location to take a sunset jog or spend a day relaxing with family and friends. To escape the city for a day, the breathtaking views of the Drakensburg mountains are only a five-hour drive away from Durban’s beachfront. The Drakensburg mountain range is the highest in South Africa and offers incredible natural beauty as well as recreational activities. This site is excellent for activities including day-hiking or camping. If your stay in Durban allows for it, the Drakensburg mountains are a highlight of the KwaZulu-Natal region. If you’re in the mood to see a soccer or rugby game, head to Moses Mabhida Stadium. The stadium also offers weekly activities such as markets, shopping festivals, stadium tours, and the Big Rush Big Swing. Local artisans and vendors can be found at the I Heart Market on the first Saturday of every month. Those wanting to experience an adrenaline rush can go on the Big Rush Big Swing located at the top of the stadium. Voted the world’s tallest swing by the Guinness Book of World Records, Big Rush is an exhilarating experience that should not be missed.
Eats and Drinks: On Durban’s South Beach, a variety of boardwalk restaurants and bars are available when an escape from the sun is needed. Popular spots include Circus Circus, a restaurant that is known for their boozy weekend brunches, and Ushaka Moyo, a pier-bar that offers both local cocktails and a 360-degree view of the Indian Ocean. For creative, freshly made gelato, Momenti is a vendor that can be found at the Moses Mobhida Stadium’s I Heart Market regularly. Momenti is constantly inventing new gelato flavors, ranging from honey black sesame to turmeric.
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s. America
Chile claudia morse
where to go & what the heck to do there: In the North
In the Center
San Pedro de Atacama: The driest desert on earth, which is also very high-altitude. It has geysers, lakes, rock formations, and some cool wildlife. And also lots and lots of sand. Activities include driving tours of the desert, biking to and swimming in salt lakes, hiking through indigenous ruins, and AWESOME star gazing if you don’t go during the full moon. It’s also an important note to bring LOTS of cash, because literally nowhere takes card.
La Serena/Valle del Elqui: A very cute small city about an hour outside of a valley full of pisquerías (where they make pisco – the most popular hard alcohol in South America) and vineyards. The main attraction is a bike trip that anyone can do through the valley, and stop at the vineyards etc along the way.
Valparaíso
PATAGONIA (duh): There are many ways to do a Patagonia trip depending on one’s affinity for the outdoors, as well as the season. The W backpacking trail was absolutely breathtaking and not insanely difficult (though definitely challenging at times). I would recommend making reservations to camp instead of staying at the refugios (lovely mountain huts) in order to save money. While the W takes about 4-5 days, the O takes 8-10, and is a longer backpacking trip through the Torres del Paine park. This trail is not open for the winter, and it is definitely a good idea to make trip reservations well ahead of time. I flew into Punta Arenas, took a bus to Puerto Natales, and another bus into the park. One should allow at least a full day for traveling between the park and the airport in Punta Arenas.
The second-biggest city in Chile, which is full of art, music and culture (more so than Santiago). It also is home to many universities, so there are students everywhere. It is right on the coast, with steep hills rising out of the water. Cerro Alegre is the most popular tourist destination in the city, which is a neighborhood full of cute and artsy shops and cafes. Tourists also often visit Viña del Mar, which is a connected city to Valpo, but much more “Americanized.” If you’re choosing between Santiago and Valparaíso as a place to live while abroad, I would 100% recommend Valpo (it’s super easy to get to Santiago for any reason anyway, just not as great of a place to live).
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In the South:
new zealand
Dunedin maura colley
Eats and Drinks: Head to George Street for all the best food, and hit the Octagon (at the end of George St) for the best ring of bars/clubs you’ve ever seen. I won’t tell you which it is, but make sure to find the one with the underground cave and firepit (plus drinks? Absolutely safe). And it should be a rule that you have go to BYOs with friends in Dunedin. Cheap Indian/Turkish restaurants with even cheaper wine and awesome people were about a once-aweek occasions for us and it was my favorite part of every week. God save the queen. Which BYO, you ask? Best Turkish food is at Sila, best Indian food is either Indian Spice or at India Garden off of George Street. Outside of Dunedin, you’ve got to try Fergburger in Queenstown. It’s touristy, but it’s famous for a reason. If you have the chance to go to the Marlborough Sound (on the north end of the South Island), rent a bike and helmet for $20 and do a wine tasting tour through the WORLD RENOWNED vineyards. It’s free and you get to bike through maybe the most beautiful part of world. Plus wine.
things to do: Outside of Dunedin: Well, as fun as Dunedin is, when you decide to venture out into the incredible places beyond Dunners, there’s definitely some top trips you have to do. I won’t lie, these are mostly hikes and outdoorsy things – but you don’t have to be the crunchiest granola person out there to do any of this. Just grab your amigos and head out there. Start with Mount Cook. This should be #1 on your list, seriously, it should be a wonder of the world and I can’t say enough how important it is to go. The most AMAZING view from the top (little people, big world, ¡wow!). Definitely stay in the hut at the top overnight if you can for sunrise and sunset experience but if you can’t, still go and do it as a day hike because it’s worth all the stairs. In the Queenstown and Wanaka area, definitely try to fit in the Routeburn and/or Kepler tracks. Also hit Ben Lomond in Queenstown – it’s perfect for a weekend when you wanna be a little crunchy but also go out, ya feel? Just hike up, it’s not worth taking the gondola. Go all the way to the top! Most unbeatable views of the mountains around Queenstown.
In Dunedin: You will never (ever) run out of things to do in and around Dunedin (ever). For the views, go to Signal Hill and Mt. Cargill, the best places for watching sunset over Dunners. There’s also incredible beaches all within 10-20 minutes from campus. Tunnel Beach is most people’s favorite. It’s a cliff-side beach, only a 15 minutes away and the waves are unreal. Low tide you can go down to the actual tunnel, high tide the waves are huge will shake the cliff you’re standing on. Best beach to go to and clear your head. Aramoana beach is the best for surfing and for sunrises. Gogogogogogogo. Also has the coolest shells. Of course, there are also incredible hikes around Dunedin when you can’t make it out of the city. The Pineapple track is just a cool hike in the hills above Dunedin, only takes 45 minutes, definitely worth doing if there’s a nice afternoon and you have nothing better to do.Then there’s the Silverpeaks Track/Jubilee Hut track. This was my favorite hike around Dunedin!!!!! Seriously underrated, you get to the top of the hills above Dunedin and can see everything out to the coast by the Moeraki boulders. About an hour away, you can do this as a day hike but I would go on like a Wednesday or Thursday and stay in the Jubilee Hut overnight with friends if you can. Another awesome hike about an hour away from Dunedin is Big Hut – totally doable during the week. Such beautiful sunrise/sunset views. There’s also a casual wonder of the world in New Zealand: the Milford Sound in the Fiordlands. If you do a hike here (which you should, since it’s the most beautiful part of NZ hands down), do Gertrude’s Saddle. Huge alpine lakes at the top and you can see glaciers closer up that anywhere else! You can also do Marion Lake – it’s where all those pictures are of the mirror-looking lake with the huge fiords in the background. Also cool but not hard. While you’re at either Gertrude’s or Marion Lake, definitely go to the actual Milford Sound and go a boat or kayak tour. We saw seals lounging and dolphins jumping and 4 rainbows hanging out while in the sound, it was wild. A little further up from there, along the West Coast/Glacier area the Copland hike has some wild swing bridges and natural hot pools at the end! There’s no better place to stargaze than at these hot pools at night.
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where are the tents? and should we find them?
L
ast April, the housing lottery stopped for sophomores at 185. There are about 1850 students at Hamilton College, so mathematically there should be about 460 sophomores, give or take some variation between class years. Given that the lottery stopped at 185, that left 277 students with a number and no available housing. Of course, many of those 277 were pulled by friends with better numbers than themselves. Still, that high number meant that a large number of sophomores who were not pulled would be left without housing. The eventual number of students without housing was confirmed tobe 56 by Travis Hill, Assistant Dean of Students.
BY PHILIP MARKS ‘21
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T
hat number spoke to a growing frustration at Hamilton regarding housing where students of all class years expounded over their lack of options. Those 56 sophomores who did not receive housing were told they would be put on the summer waitlist, something not unusual in and of itself. However, as Travis Hill put it in an all-campus email, “It is not uncommon to have a wait list, but the number is a little higher than usual. Nevertheless, each of the students on the waitlist will receive a room assignment…” To clear up any confusion, the summer waitlist is not a lottery. Students receive housing options based on their original lottery number, from the lowest number without a room to the highest. Extra rooms open up every year, whether it is from students choosing to go abroad, changing their living situation, or deciding not to come back to Hamilton at all. Initially, this news caused an uproar in the sophomore class. Protest ideas were thrown around, with the most memorable being camping out in tents on the Dunham Green. Peter Case ’21, who suggested the idea, was only joking when he offered the idea, yet it still gained serious traction on the Class of 2021 Facebook page. Nothing came of the protest ideas, however, and those 56 students went into summer in the same position. So, what came of their predicament? Every student on the waitlist received an email with instructions from the Director of Residential Life, Ashley Place, on June 26. That email said that starting the next week she would contact 3-4 people each day with the list of available spaces. Once a student got that the email they would have 24 hours to respond with their top three choices. Following that model, students were sent the list of available rooms over the course of the next month, until each student found a room.
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A
fter all the commotion about the lottery last April things have been remarkably quiet since students returned to campus. The consensus in the spring was largely negative toward the housing lottery, especially in regard to those who were left unassigned. I reached out to some of those students who were put on the summer waitlist to see where they ended up and how they feel about the process now.
Sajan Palanki ’21 says that “things turned out quite well for me,” as he and his roommate ended up in Saunders, normally a space filled by upperclassmen. His number was quite low at 324, but his roommate had 214, putting them high up on the waitlist. A student’s waitlist number did not determine their outcome, however, as Luke Bernard ’21 was near the bottom of the waitlist and ended up in a Ferguson double. From all accounts, the waitlist was a rolling one, so as a room opened up it would be offered to the next students whose names were taken off the waitlist. Things did not turn out well for everyone, though, as Amr Abdelhady ’21 was left to take a single in Dunham. He says, “You can argue it’s nice, but I didn’t want to be forced to live in a first-year building,” which is perfectly understandable. Some sophomores also took rooms in Dunham near the end of the lottery, fearing a worse situation if they resorted to the waitlist. Case echoed the thoughts of many of the waitlisted students when he said “The housing crisis, while a pain for those of us who ended up in the summer housing lottery, was blown out of proportion. Everyone was housed, the only inconvenience being having to wait until mid-July to know where.” Fortunately or unfortunately, we will not be seeing any tents on the Dunham green anytime soon, at least until the Class of 2022 enters the lottery next spring.
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Growing A Home
away from home Plant Advice to help grow your dorm aesthetic
By Alex Medina
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C
oming to Hamilton, students are offered a variety of different living experiences with 25 unique residence halls to choose from. One way to make your room truly stand out is to help it come alive with a plant. Growing a plant will not only help spruce up your room, but tending for it is also a good way to ease the stress of college life.
Though there are limitations that restrict the type of plant you can grow in a dorm, there’s still a variety of different dorm-friendly plants from which you can choose to add some life to your room. One of the best plants for the job is a low-maintenance succulent. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, so there’s always something to match your style. You can grow them in most pots or cups and you can easily personalize them. To keep them healthy, they should stay by your window so they receive a good amount of sunlight. You should only water them once or twice a month during the winter and once a week during the spring, summer, and fall. Another great option is a lucky bamboo plant. This versatile plant grows in low to medium light, so make sure to keep it out of direct sunlight. Make sure to water the plant every few days as they like to be moist. Ferns also look great in a college dorm. A natural humidifier, they do well in indoor spaces. Ferns love humid spaces, so it’s important to regularly water them so the soil never gets too dry. You should keep them in a medium-bright spot, making sure they have plenty of shade. Of course, there are many other great plants that you can get for your dorm. Something to keep in mind is that any plant you purchase should fit well in your dorm, smaller plants tend to work better as they don’t require too much direct sunlight and are relatively low-maintenance when it comes to watering and trimming. You should also make sure the pot and soil you choose work well with the plant you decide on getting. Now that you have a few options to choose from, where can you find these plants? Walmart, a convenient stop on the Jitney route, carries a lot of plants you can get for your dorm. George’s Farm Products Inc., a garden center about 3 miles from Hamilton, also has a variety of beautiful plants for sale. You can also order a planting kit with seeds, potting soil, and a pot off Amazon if you want to try your hand from scratch. Whatever plant you choose, wherever you may choose get it, it’s sure to make a great addition to your home away from home!
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Utica’s Hidden Cuisines
W
hile there are many restaurants in the Clinton and New Hartford area that students know and love, Utica offers many hidden jewels—particularly family-owned restaurants boasting international cuisine, unique vibes, and a host of authentic dishes. I spent some time interviewing the immigrant owners of these restaurants, getting the backstories of how they ended up in Utica and what drove them to enter the restaurant industry. These three restaurants stood out to me and are not to be missed.
hummus & tabbouleh T
his delicious Middle Eastern Restaurant is owned by an Iraqi man and his wife. A US army veteran, he left his beloved restaurant back home in Iraq and decided to start up the business he knew and loved after serving his country. He joined the copious force of war veterans in Utica and started up Hummus and Tabbouleh, a restaurant that, in my humble opinion, rivals the best falafel I have ever eaten. Its dishes were vibrant, fresh, and beautifully served, the pita soft and steaming as it was brought to our table. Though the exterior is unassuming and the interior design is nothing remarkable, the funky music and generous owners provide depth beyond the great food. If you are a big fan of hummus, stuffed grape leaves, baklava, or the classic gyro, Hummus and Tabbouleh is a must!
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sunny restaurant
T
ucked away on a residential backstreet in Utica, Sunny is a charming “pan-asian� restaurant, owned by a Cambodian couple hoping to enrich the upstate New York food scene. Its unassuming exterior opens up to a surprising, moderately-sized seating area. The wait staff is extremely friendly and the menu extensive, with dishes ranging from classic Vietnamese Pho, to Thai Iced Tea and Cambodian Coffee. This family-run joint began out of a desire for authentic Asian food, something that Utica lacked despite its impressively high eastasian immigrant population. Sunny quickly rectified this situation, providing delicious meals made with care, and a delightful, humble space to dine.
herrera sabor latinos T
his restaurant is filled with Puerto Rican character and flavor. Its owners, a couple who moved to Utica, double as chefs. They decided to open a restaurant and they take so much pride in the food and service they provide to their customers, checking in multiple times about the quality of the meal to ensure satisfaction. Although the exterior of the building is modest and the eatery is not well advertised, the interior is homey and comfortable, with an attentive waitstaff. Their servings are heaped with sides of rice and red beans; it is impossible to leave this restaurant hungry. The diverse and intriguing menu offers foods ranging from Chicharron de Cerdo (fried pork skin) to Chivo Guisado (goat meat stew). They offer delicious Mexican classics as well, for the less adventurous eater. This place is not to be missed!
Catharine is a junior studying Psycholinguistics and Classical Languages from Newton, Massachusetts
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Familial Horror and Its Roots By Grant Hamilton ’19
What would you do if a god demanded you sacrifice your child?
S
ince “The Conjuring” (2013), many remarkable horror films ask this question, using the same basic structure. Each finds its setting in a household engulfed by an atmosphere of anxiety due to a hardship, such as the loss of a loved one or financial burdens. During a lecture, Ed Warren of “The Conjuring” describes this structure in three phases: infestation, oppression, and possession. First the supernatural force introduces itself along with self-doubt. Second, the supernatural force breaks down the most vulnerable individual. Finally, this individual is possessed and attempts to kill a family member (usually their child). Traditional horror featured a monster invading the nuclear family, but Familial Horror takes it a step further,
by making family members into monsters. As this archetypal story depicts the corruption of a family, Familial Horror seems a fitting label. Familial Horror on screen traces back to two monumental films: “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968) and “The Exorcist” (1973). Both films are defined by their lack of any traditional antagonist. They redefined what horror was capable of, making children subjects of Satan or the anti-Christ himself. Roman Polanski’s entire Apartment Trilogy, consisting of “Repulsion” (1965), “Rosemary’s Baby”, and “The Tenant” (1976), depicts individuals doubting their sanity while at home to the point of being a danger to themselves and others. “The Omen” (1976), “Children
of the Corn” (1984), and “Pet Cemetery” (1989) helped popularize homicidal toddlers. The novels of Ira Levin too contributed to Familial Horror, as Rosemary’s Baby (1967), The Stepford Wives (1972), and The Boys from Brazil (1976) depict monsters living disguised as family members. “The Conjuring”, a massive commercial and critical success, (relative to horror films), ignited our present obsession with Familial Horror. However, director James Wan’s impact on film is far larger than this trend alone: his work defines millennial and Gen Z audiences’ horror experience.
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Still, we must look a couple thousand years further back to find the origin of Familial Horror. The title of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” (2017) and an introductory note in its script give credit to Euripides’ tragedy “Iphigenia in Aulis”. This film and “Hereditary” (2018) also explicitly reference Iphigenia’s myth during scenes in schools. “Iphigenia in Aulis” is a tragedy written by the Greek playwright Euripides around 406 BC. As the Greek forces eagerly await to sail on Troy, the goddess Artemis refuses to let them leave until Agamemnon, their leader, sacrifices his daughter, Iphigenia. Eventually Agamemnon and Iphigenia both accept their fates and attempt the sacrifice. At the last minute, Iphigenia disappears from the altar, a freshly slaughtered deer taking her place. Iphigenia is now “one with the immortal spirits,” and the Greek army receives the wind they need to reach Troy. Iphigenia’s myth varies depending on the source: some claim Agamemnon’s killing of one of Artemis’ deer prompts her demand, making him responsible for the tragedy. Some of these accounts also depict him carrying out the sacrifice, but none of the
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films discussed feature any deus ex machina (that is, something which would resemble Iphigenia’s contrived rescue). Their filmmakers understand the limits of audiences’ suspension of disbelief. Besides, God is dead, The Conjuring, The Babadook (2014), It Follows (2014), Goodnight Mommy (2014), The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014), The Witch (2015), The Killing of a Sacred Deer”, and “Hereditary,” all fit the profile for Familial Horror. The included chart closer examines their similarities. “Coherence (2013), The Visit (2015), “Lights Out” (2016), “Get Out” (2017), and “It Comes at Night” (2017) share some elements of Familial Horror as well, but stray from the previously described formula. Familial Horror of the 60s and 70s came after a 1966 Time magazine cover story asked, “Is God Dead?”, during a time of increasing American nontheism. Did these films grow from an America that felt faith was obsolete? Today’s current obsession with films about family members murdering each other seems fitting for a deeply polarized America. Audiences have seen enough masked men and monsters. Being murdered is scary, but murdering your child is scarier. We are the monster in today’s horror: parents and children replaced Michael Myers and Dracula. At the end of the day, these stories are nothing more than metaphors for grief and responsibility. The only real monsters are our thoughts and actions.
primarily illness, finances too primarily loss, insufficient harvest too
the taking of deborah logan 2014
the witch 2015
Hereditary 2018
losses
illnesses
Loss
goodnight mommy 2014
the killing of a sacred deer 2017
boogeyman (babadook)
primarily loss, parenting too
the babadook 2014
occultists
curse
occultist
occultist
imagination
occultist
finances
the conjuring 2013
mother
father
parents and children
mother
mother and child
primarily mother
mother
supernatural violent force individual
cause of stress
film
primarily children
primarily child
parents and children
child
mother and child
primarily child
child
victim
recent familial horror films
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Chris Victor ’21:
Hamilton’s By Erin Bryant
If you ever find yourself at an a cappella con-
cert, you may have the pleasure of listening to one of the best voices at Hamilton College. Chris Victor is a sophomore from the small town of Oradell, New Jersey. When he is not performing, he is diligently studying chemistry, his prospective major, or working at one of his jobs in the library. This summer, he was on campus working for the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). Moreover, Victor is a vocalist in the jazz ensemble and a member of The Buffers, who opened for The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall last year. While he did not plan on auditioning for an a cappella group, he decided to after his roommate encouraged him. “I chose the Buffers because of how much of a family we are. People have many preconceived notions about us, but no one has
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a clue what happens when the audience isn’t there. They are a beautiful group of people,” Victor says. His love of music developed at an early age. He sang professionally as a child but stopped because it was time-consuming and, as he discovered, a racist industry. Despite this, he continued developing his talent with musical theater throughout middle school and high school. However, he credits his skill to a chance encounter. “I didn’t know I could really sing until I decided to sneak out of my father’s house to perform at an open mic night in a bar
in New York City. A man approached me and asked me to sing a few songs, which thankfully I knew, and he actually gave me a job as a lounge singer. Singing a few times a week for a few hours might sound like nothing, but it was tough.” This experience helped him learn how to keep up with everything and everyone. Nevertheless, to this day, Victor’s parents do not know about his job in New York City. His talent has led to amazing opportunities, but he is now chasing bigger dreams of medical school.
Bruno Mars “I chose the Buffers because of how much of a family we are. People have many preconceived notions about us, but no one has a clue what happens when the audience isn’t there,” Victor says. “They are a beautiful group of people.”
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The Dark Side of Human Nature By Katie Weinzierl
Open up Netflix, and you will find
any number of shows, documentaries, docuseries, etc., about true crime. Turn on a TV, and the possibilities within this genre become endless. Recent titles in the true crime genre include “The Assassination of Gianni Versace”, “The Unabomber”, “Evil Genius”, “Mindhunter”, “The Jinx”, “I Am a Killer”, “The Investigator: A British Crime Story”, “El Chapo”, “Narcos”, “The Staircase”, “The Keepers”, “Inside the Criminal Mind”, and so many more. “Making a Murderer”, one of the most popular true crime docu-series on Netflix, explores the story of Steven Avery, who served 18 years in prison for the wrongful conviction of sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen, before being fully exonerated in 2003 by DNA evidence. In 2005, though, Avery was arrested on charges of murdering Teresa Halbach and was convicted in 2007. The series also covers the arrest, prosecution, and
conviction of Avery’s nephew, Brendan sonally very safe.” According to MerDassey, who was also charged in the edith Fuller, the psychologist intermurder. viewed for the article, “When you’re watching true crime it gives you an But why is America so obsessed with opportunity to look at the other side not only these crimes, but also the grim of life, the dark side, but you’re safe and true stories behind them, and the in your living room. We can explore shows dedicated to them? I spoke to other parts of our personality that we several Hamilton students, trying to might not openly embrace but can gain insight into their obsession with acknowledge are there.” She goes on true crime TV. Most students described to say, “we all like to explore multidithese true crime series as “different”, mensional parts of our personality in a “interesting”, “attention-grabbing”, and safe and detached sort of way. Where “puzzling”. But no one seemed to offer it gets tricky, is when you become too me an answer as to why they enjoy the attached or involved,” which can skew genre. our moral sense. After doing some research online, I stumbled upon an article by Cassandra Green titled, “Why you’re obsessed with true crime, according to a psychologist”. The article states that watching true crime TV gives the watcher “precarious pleasure out of something you know can explore because it’s per-
But, honestly, even if you do think you are going over the top with true crime TV, you are probably not going to stop the Netflix autoplay on “Making a Murderer” anytime soon. Just to keep it balanced, make sure to break things up with a “Friends” episode here and there.
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opinion Expanding the "posse": hamilton adopts questbridge Scholar ProgrAm Bianca Macdonald
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ast year, Hamilton Admissions launched their initiative of the Questbridge Scholars Program, a national scholarship designed to give students of low-income families the opportunity to attend distinguished colleges at an affordable rate of tuition. Eligible applicants have a maximum household income of $65,000, and submit their application to Questbridge by late September of their senior year. Questbridge then reviews the thousands of extensive, essay-heavy applications, and selects about 35% to become finalists. These students are camong the brightest, most driven, and most well-rounded high school seniors in the country; in 2017, 88% of the 5,759 finalists were within the top 10% of their class, with an average GPA of 3.89.
that of the Common App. Finalists’ application process, however, adds an extra twist. Once they are accepted, they apply to ‘match’ with different schools by choosing from the forty college partners associated with Questbridge, and ranking their top twelve choices. Similarly, the Admissions Offices at each of these forty college partners will compile their top choices of students from the National College Match. Match decisions, and their corresponding full four-year scholarships, are released in early December. Any student that matches is then committed to attending that college, or, in the case of matching to multiple schools, will be committed to the matched college ranked highest on their list. It’s often the case that finalists don’t match with a college from their list, but they are able to then submit their application again through regular admissions Applicants who do not make the finalist round are rounds, and are usually offered considerable scholable to instead submit their application to college arships, as each of the Questbridge college partners partners of Questbridge through the early or regular meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. decision rounds in place of the standard Common Application, as the information provided by the Questbridge Application goes above and beyond
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K
ayley Boddy, one of Hamilton’s Questbridge Scholars, is a prime example of how much these students have already brought to our community. A freshman from Knoxville, Tennessee, Kayley is the President of Poetry Slam, a leader for the Outing Club, an editor for both The Spectator and Red Weather, a member of Hogwarts at Hamilton, and the Events Coordinator for Questbridge, to name just a few of her extracurriculars. When beginning the Questbridge process and learning about Hamilton, Kayley was constantly reading and hearing about the amazing sense of community, which, since getting here, said has stood true. “Questbridge brings in a more diverse community that allows low income kids from all over the U.S. to come to Hamilton,� she says; it expands on programs like Posse to include incredible students from areas that may not have their own Posse chapter, rather than limiting itself to a few individual clusters, like Boston or New York City. There are hundreds of high schools across the country that fly under the radar of colleges, and because of Questbridge, their students are now able to learn about, and take advantage of, the opportunities that Hamilton and other partner colleges have to offer.
Bianca Macdonald is a sophomore studying Economics and Creative writing from Wilmington, MA.
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Have you heard about the menstrual hygiene initiative? No. 56 opinion
Joyce Zhang
L
ast year, Hamilton instituted a “Menstrual Hygiene Initiative” to provide greater access to menstrual products in the select bathrooms around campus. The Initiative was a huge step forward in recognizing the supply gap and accessibility issues with menstrual hygiene products on campus.
W
hile I applaud Student Assembly for the adoption of the Initiative, the subsequent implementation of the policy felt uncoordinated and lacking. These products were not discount generic brands of menstrual products, but high-quality Tampax Pearl tampons and Always branded products, which demonstrates that Hamilton does care about value, even if it meant a higher price tag.
I
n the few weeks after adopting the Initiative, the bathrooms would rare-
ly have tampons or pads. Though this may speak to the high demand for such products on campus, it also shows that implementation of the Initiative was not a priority. For a about a month, the bathrooms would be replenished once every week with a scant collection of pads and tampons. For the rest of the semester, there was just an empty basket with nothing inside.
T
here is nothing more annoying than seeing those empty baskets all semester with no menstrual hygiene products inside and a flashy sign above it saying, “Menstrual Hygiene Initiative”. Especially, when you need a tampon. The whole situation just leaves me wondering: what happened?
W
hile the initiative
Hamilton has now installed machines that distribute menstrual products in certain bathrooms around campus. Which bathrooms? I don’t recall. Maybe the all gender bathroom in KJ? Have I ever used these machines? No. Has anyone ever talked to me about using them? No. The whole menstrual product dispensing machine has been a great mystery to me, but I hope some people out there have found use of it. The goal should be to provide easier access to menstrual hygiene products. So, if I-or any other person-can’t find or don’t know anything about these machines, then it should be time to rethink advertising, implementation, and accessibility of such products.
previous failed,
opinion 57
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