FIN D US o ne:
nli
o b o s i n c r ur Editors-in-Chief
Writers
Catharine Pierce ‘20 Phil Marks ‘21
Amalia Tobias ‘21 Catharine Pierce ‘20 Catherine Li ‘21 Daniel Harwood ‘21 Elizabeth Siminitus ‘23 Elle McCusker ‘21 Enogie Omoregbee ‘21 Emma Liles ‘21 Erin Bryant ‘21 Juliet Davidson ‘23 Kate Burnham ‘23 Kelly Collins ‘21 Laura Korkeakivi ‘20 Lizzie Ely ‘21 Madeline Howe ‘22 Maggie Dunne ‘23 Morgan Perry ‘21 Sammy Smock ‘23
Creative Directors Claire Goldstein ‘22 Sam Guindon ‘21
Section Editors Catherine Li ‘22 - Features Carlie Abraham - ‘21- Travel Erin Bryant ‘21 - Opinion Juliet Davidson ‘23 - On The Hill Sammy Smock - ‘23 - Lifestyle
Director of Photography Alex Chalk ‘20
Layout Designers Claire Goldstein ‘22 (CD) Sam Guindon ‘21 (CD) Catharine Pierce ‘20
s
roducing a magazine is hard: there are people to coordinate, writers to herd, and technical difficulties to combat. This was a lesson we learned the hard way when producing this issue. We suppose every new editor-in-chief feels this way, but we’ve been presented with some unique challenges along the way that have made this a stressful, but exciting process. Experience isperhaps the most important requirement for producing a successful magazine. Catharine—who joined The Continental sophomore year, and went abroad last spring—and Phil, who was just entering his junior year, maybe lacked the same experience as some of our predecessors who had worked on The Continental for three full years. Additionally, this is the biggest turnover The Continental e-board has faced in our time here, after graduating all but one of our section editors and both of our creative directors. However, we are so proud of all the new faces we’ve brought in and how they have come together so quickly to produce a magazine worthy of The Continental’s name. We feel as though we’ve touched on every aspect of Hamilton life in this issue. Serious articles, such as an Opinion piece on the Impeachment proceedings, are offset by lighthearted Lifestyle pieces on the mentality of a streaker. Our travel section highlights students who went as far as Chile and Tunisia, while also offering some of the best brunch spots around Utica. We followed the sustainability movement on campus, as well as the inglorious fall of Rogers Estate in the On the Hill section. Finally, our Features section touches on some of the under-represented student groups on campus, including international students and transfer students. We hope that through this issue you may gain a more holistic view of Hamilton College. Each time we’ve been a part of a Continental issue we find ourselves learning something new and engaging about our school; it’s what keeps us coming back every year. We want to thank everyone who helped make this issue possible: editors, writers, layout designers, and photographers. The Continental is nothing without you all. And to our audience—we hope you enjoy the Fall 2019 issue of our beloved magazine!
Catharine & Phil
Con t LIFESTYLE
TRAVEL
ON THE HILL
GET IN THE MIND OF A STREAKER | 9
UNIQUE ABROAD DESTINATIONS: CHILE & TUNISIA | 15
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH SUSTAINABILITY ON CAMPUS? | 24
WHERE SHOULD YOU GO ABROAD? | 18
RIP ROGERS | 26
DARK SIDE VS. LIGHT SIDE: a FRESHMaN PERSPECTIVE | 10 WHAT CAMPUS DRINK ARE YOU? | 12
GOT BRUNCH? | 20 EXPLORING CLINTON & UTICA | 22
THE PARKING CONUNDRUM | 28
entS FEATURES
OPINION
SPEAKING WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: UNRAVELING A NEW CULTURAL PACKAGE | 30
IMPEACH | 36
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A TRANSFER STUDENT? | 34
CARING about YOUR MENTAL HEALTH: WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS? | 38 MAKING YOUR VOTE MATTER | 40
8
8 | LIFESTYLE
Get in the mind of a With our clothing stuffed into our backpacks and our
masks covering just some of our identifiable features, we tear down the steps in a pack, heart pounding at the start of every new run, each time feeling like the first. We pass the first group of students, all laughing and pointing at our naked bodies, everything hanging out. We will be all over Snapchat and Instagram later, that’s for sure. I can feel each person staring through every inch of my naked body, only my feet, face and back protected from the laser beams coming at me from all sides. ‘They totally know who I am’ I think, ‘They must.’
Down
another flight of steps, past more laser beam eyes and accidental-flash videos. We rush into the cold of the wintry outdoors, the chilled air of a fall night teasing my unusually exposed skin. We run and laugh together, all similarly vulnerable, yet all feeling a sense of freedom born through anonymity. In a weird way, our runs are a time of reflection. ‘What the hell am I doing? Who have I become? What is this strange, yet oddly comforting tradition?’
We pass by Commons, and I want pizza. I mean, hey, this is my workout for the day after all. We run by the girl from my Geology class—a few minutes later the guy from my Gov class. I can recognize them… can they recognize me? God, I hope not.
We cross College Hill Road, strolling up past Mar-
tin’s Way, the wafting smell of fries and chicken tenders from Diner calling me, my naked body keeping me moving as fast as possible to safety. Cover. Secrecy. That’s all I can think about.
In the KJ atrium, blinding lights shine on our bodies once more, already too adjusted to the darkness of the night. The photos start again, the whispers, giggling, and fingers pointing.
We make it out alive, and a few minutes later the run comes to an end. I quickly cover up my exposed body, chilled with goosebumps and pride, return my mask to my backpack, and carry on with my night. I’m slowly reminded why I put myself through this. That was awesome.
LIFESTYLE | 9
dark side v.s. light side a 10
10 | LIFESTYLE
freshman perspective
The Dark side
the light side
by Elizabeth Siminitus
by Kate Burnham
I didn’t choose the Dark Side, the Dark Side chose me. Actually, someone in admissions thought it would fit, and you know what? They were right. While there may be a few drawbacks, for the most part I absolutely love living on the Dark Side of campus. I wake up to a lovely view of the Kirkland Glen through my enormous windows, while the often criticized waffle ceiling greets me with fun quotes from the room’s previous inhabitants. The Glen is amazing—I love running through it. Sometimes I enjoy the woods simply as an escape from the rest of campus. I always see dogs in there which never fails to make my day. I admit that I would enjoy being closer to the library and the science center for studying purposes, but KJ is also great. All things considered, the walk across campus really is pretty short. My only real complaint is that McEwen closes over the weekend, since, in my opinion, it is the superior dining option on campus. I even feel like I fit the stereotype of a Darksider fairly well and I have readily embraced that role. My purchase of Kirkland merch probably sealed the deal. All in all, I’m a fan of Dark Side living. At the end of a long, stressful day, I know I can retreat to my Dark Side refuge where I can relax to the soothing sounds of the glen.
Less than two weeks prior to my arrival at Hamilton this fall, I attended the “Hamilton in Chicago” event. It included attendees who were alums, current students, and incoming freshmen. Multiple people asked where I would be living when I got to campus. When I answered “Dunham,” the responses were almost identical: A groaning chuckle and then something along the lines of “it’s a classic college experience, but you’ll have fun.” On move-in day, I was expecting nothing more than a dimly-lit carpeted hallway saturated with three day old beer spills, leading to a cold linoleum room with unidentifiable stains in every corner. Fortunately, my fears were only partially confirmed. Yes, the carpet probably harbors every bacteria that’s ever been identified by the CDC. Meanwhile, the linoleum is, in fact, freezing, and the perfect surface for accumulating dirt. Still, it’s nowhere near as bad as I expected. As for the location, that’s easily the best part. Dunham isn’t really far from anything, unless you count somewhere like Bundy or Wertimer, but who’s really going there voluntarily? I’m still new here, and so have yet to solidly identify as a “Darksider” or “Lightsider.” Personally, I think being on the Light Side or the Dark Side is pretty irrelevant. I spend about an equal amount of time on both parts of campus. Dunham has so far provided an interesting location from which I’ve been able to oscillate between the two sides of campus.
LIFESTYLE | 11
WHAT CAMPUS DRINK ARE YOU? EVER WONDERED WHICH OF THE BEST CAMPUS DRINKS YOU ARE? READ TO FIND OUT WHICH FITS YOUR PERSONALITY!
ge r
12
12 | LIFESTYLE
-Apple y r r be
Gin
Straw
M OC HA
OPUS
MCEWEN
- The quiet, shy kid in the corner of the room - The youngest person in their friend group - Likes to wear oversized clothes - Has a beanbag chair in their room - Their favorite colors are yellow and green
- Really likes the dark side - Has an edgy and artistic Instagram with lots of followers - Takes pictures of plants they pass on the way to class - Loves cats, but doesn’t really mind dogs - Texts back a week later
c
di
st
Euphoria
co o h
opus
- Loves to volunteer - Always has a positive attitude - Has been trying to eat healthier for the past three years - Goes home almost every other weekend - Kind of wants to dye their hair or get a nose
late mi l k
chai la y t r
tte
ist
rry t e b w w ra
commons
-Doesn’t really like to drink coffee, but like, needs the caffeine -Constantly craves attention and validation (especially from their parents) -Keeps their circle of friends tight and close - They think they’re kind of quirky and cool
-Their
grandma’s favorite grandchild - Always reading a book - Has an extensive scarf collection, but only wears one - Practically lives in the library and has a favorite desk to study at - Stepped on a worm once in high school
Euphoria
Mcewen
- A mess, but is trying really hard - Really good at math, but doesn’t show their work - Does most of the work in group projects - Spends a lot of time in the shower - Has never sent an email to a professor
- Skateboards to class - Can’t imagine a day when they don’t go to the gym - They’re loud in the library - Sleeps for two hours every night - Always hanging out with their roommates
- Vegan, but only just started (and partially because they’re lactose intolerant) - Low-key wants to be an artist - Still wears their orientation trip bracelet - Mom friend and old soul - Knows how to stay calm in a crisis
r ad
Fo
commons
e
Berr
en juice e r g
ion
Berry Fus r u
last Powe B y
LIFESTYLE | 13
14
14 | TRAVEL
UNIQUE ABROAD DESTINATIONS:
CHILE & Tunisia
Everyone loves studying Abroad in London, Madrid, Paris, and Amsterdam, and they forget the sheer number of options when choosing an abroad destination. We spoke with Laura Korkeakivi ‘20 and Morgan Perry ‘21 abou their ebroad experiences in Chile and Tunisia, and what made them unique.
TRAVEL | 15
F
“N
rom the first night of my trip—when I was woken up by an earthquake and evacuated from the hotel due to a tsunami warning—I knew that every single day would be a new experience, and I was very right. Thanks to its rather remote location, not only did I not spot a single tourist during my stay in Arica, but I met nearly no English speakers. I was given no choice but to improve my spanish speaking skills at an expedited pace. Since Chilean Spanish is essentially a dialect of its own, my first few weeks in Chile were tough. I also found that Chilean culture could not be further from my own experiences.
16 | TRAVEL
I QUICKLY FELL FOR THE CHARM OF THE DUSTY AND QUAINT TOWN OF ARICA
“
D
esperate to escape the cold Hamilton winters, I spent the spring of my Junior year in the city of eternal spring, Arica, Chile. Arica is Chile’s northmost city; located on the oceanfront, yet surrounded by mountains. It is a desert town, which meant that I did not see a drop of rain during my four months there. Thanks to the constant sunny weather, abundant surfing opportunities, and tight-knit community feel, I quickly fell for the charm of the dusty and quaint town of Arica.
onetheless, by the end of my stay, I had managed to form incredibly strong relationships with both my host family and local Chilean students that I still maintain and cherish today.
T
he study abroad program itself was an SIT program that focused on public health, traditional medicine, and community empowerment. I had the opportunity to travel to many different indigenous communities to investigate health and culture through a new lens. I traveled around the country and saw some of the most incredible sights I have seen, ranging from the highest lake in the world, to the driest desert in the world and the peak of an active volcano. I was blown away by the country’s unbridled beauty and vast diversity and am eagerly awaiting the day I get to return.
H
oping to learn a North African dialect, I found my study abroad program in Tunisia with Johanna Bowen, ’21, after four semesters of Arabic at Hamilton. The program is focused on politics and migration in the Meditteranean. We spend 80% of our time in Tunis, Tunisia and the remaining 20% in Palermo, Italy, studying democracy, civil society, borders, and assimilation. We petitioned Hamilton to apply and arrived in August for the semester.
T
unisia is one of the most special places in the world to study politics (and Arabic!) — it is MENA’s only democracy and the archetypal Arab Spring success story, and our semester coincided with a monumental presidential election that we studied in real time. It has the highest rate of civil society invo-
“
“
TUNISIANS ARE WORLDLY, PASSIONATE, AND HOSPITABLE
lvement in the world; I’ve yet to meet one Tunisian not deeply involved with the work of a non-governmental organization (most have founded one or even several of their own!). Tunisians are worldly, passionate, and hospitable. Our school is located in Sidi Bou Said, a blue and white city with art galleries, lablabi and makloubs, and a Meditteranean seaside. Most people I’ve told about my travels to Tunisia are unable to name the continent it is on, but I for one am extremely grateful to have found this program and been able to study in such a remarkable intersection of Meditterenean, Arab, and African spheres.
~
TRAVEL | 17
even Do you o go want t ? abroad
NO
IDK!
Do you want to hit all of the class European instagrammed spots?
NO
Path less traveled?
Rural or Metropolis?
south africa
Cape Town’s diversity, unique culture, and mix of cuisines will give you an experience you’ve never dreamed of.
NO e Do you lik sushi?
japan
NO
Are y ou foodi a e?
Russia
United Kingdom
Do you like the cold?
NO
Enjoy some pub food, beers, high tea, and accents! Maybe you’ll even catch a glimpse of Kate Middleton...
Scandinavia
Bring your winter coat and expect some ice...but the kanelbullar, sleek design, and beautiful people are worth it. Promise.
18 18 | TRAVEL
NO
Prepare for some culture shock. The cold weather, foreign alphabet and kvas will hook you in.
Cherry blossoms, green tea, sushi, and overwhelming kindness. Japan’s efficiency is sure to impress you.
NO
Do you speak a Romance language? Do you wear a lot of black?
NO
SWITZERLAND Skiing, fondue, chocolate, and the Alps. Enough said.
Cheap beer?
NO
Maybe if you stayed in the US?
NO
Clinton
Fair! Clinton is home. Look at some of our recommendations for brunches and places to explore!
NYC or D.c.
Do you like to hike?
Get in some good internship experience, and enjoy exploring some amazing restaurants!
NO
australia
new zealand
They have it all: nstagram worthy brunches, beautiful weather and beaches, endearing accents, and Tim Tams!
Extreme sports galore! Go camping, hiking, bungee jumping and soak in the natural beauty of the volcanic islands.
Prague
The old city is lively both day and night, crawling with night clubs and bars. The view from the Charles Bridge is a plus!
Pastries or Pasta?
PARIS Welcome to the city of love! Amazing food, cute boutiques, and boulangeries everywhere you look.
ITALY
Pizza, pasta, art museums, Roman architecture, amazing shopping, the Lizzie McGuire movie...Italy has everything you could dream of.
19
TRAVEL | 19
got brunch? Love a good, classic, and divey diner only a short drive from campus? Then, Charlie’s Place is the place for you! Pancakes, waffles, French toast, omelettes, GOOD home fries, and much more, attract quite a big Hamilton crowd, especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings. But make sure you arrive before 1 PM so that you can get served before they close at 2 PM! If you’re feeling adventurous, get their breakfast quesadilla or their complete breakfast which includes a mix of all your breakfast favorites. If you end up waiting a while before you are seated, don’t fret, and consider enjoying the outdoor seating during the warmer months. While the wait for a table might be long, it is worth it due to the friendly atmosphere and amazing service at this quaint brunch spot. Charlie’s beats commons anyday!
20| TRAVEL
Nail Creek Pub and Brewery in Utica “does a really good Sunday brunch” and has delicious drinks. Its rustic vibe and quaint, wooden interior complement their friendly staff. Nail Creek has unique options for breakfast, and if you’re going for lunch, the burgers are also amazing! Some of the featured items on the Sunday brunch menu include chocolate chip pumpkin bread french toast and a Latke potato pancake in waffle form, topped with poached egg, scallions and a cilantro sour cream. And, of course, they offer a wide range of breakfast classics.
Charlie’s P lace
Are you in the mood for a healthy (but absolutely delicious) Saturday brunch spot near campus? If so, Peter’s Cornucopia is the place for you. From custom omelettes and breakfast sandwiches to smoothies and the BEST acai bowl in CNY, Peter’s has a wide variety of options that should satisfy your sweet or savory cravings, while simultaneously being health-conscious. Located in New Hartford and only about 10 minutes from campus, Peter’s is in a prime location for students. The restaurant is also attached to a local grocery store with delicious fruits, homemade peanut butter, and other organic goodies hard to find in Hannafords or Price Chopper. Try their delicious oat milk lattes or kombucha on tap to maximize your experience. Before you leave, the acai bowl is a must! Homemade blueberry granola, acai, banana, blueberries, and honey: what else could you ask for in a perfect brunch dish?
TRAVEL | 21
Clinton & Utica
22
22 | TRAVEL
Salvation Army Family Anonymous Store
A
bout a 25 minute drive from campus, the Salvation Army Family Store has a huge selection of second-hand clothing, shoes, and even some furniture! Besides being environmentally-friendly and cheap, thrifting is a thrilling adventure. This store is bigger than most thrift stores and definitely has a wide-range of things to choose from. If you are looking for some fun or eccentric pieces, but you aren’t willing to spend a lot of money, this is a great place to explore. Most items usually cost around $5. They have a lot of funky sweaters and jackets, which are great investments if you are new to Upstate New York winters. Selection can really vary, but there is definitely something for everyone. If you get lucky, you can find some real gems (I once found Nike Air Force Ones in the kids section!). It’s a fun place to go with friends, especially if you have a themed party that you want to get a cheap outfit for. They even take credit cards! Enjoy!
Brimfield Winery
T
Emma Liles
he Brimfield Farm Winery is a seasonal outdoor winery that is outstanding for tasting and relaxing with friends. On Saturdays and Sundays they have live music, which complements the scene nicely. They have a large selection of NY wines, wine slushies and wine ice cream! It is a family business: they renovated the old dairy farm into a winery and sell the cheese they make. The bartenders are all very pleasant and accommodating. While there, we heard about the history of the farm and the importance of this land to the family owners, making the experience extra special. There is a deck and a nice balcony where you can sit and overlook a beautiful field and valley. Overall, we give this place a 10/10 for unwinding with live music and a delicious glass of wine in your hand.
Café Domenico
T
Emma Liles
his local gem has incredible coffee, calming music, and cozy atmosphere. Located in the outskirts of Utica on Genesee St, this is a great
place to go and work on the weekends without having to worry about seeing anyone unwanted, and the cof fee is even better than Opus (no shade). They usually have a few baked goods and a nice loft area if you want to sit and work quietly. It’s rarely loud or crowded, and they offer local art. This cafe is a favorite of many local members of the community. There is free wifi available and tables if you need a workspace. It has a very homey, warm, lived-in feel and is the best place to go if you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the Hamilton campus or you are traumatized from your last all-nighter in KJ.
Clinton Pottery
L
Lizzie Ely
et’s talk Pot. No no, not that pot– you corrupted soul. I’m talking Pottery!!! It’s nothing new, but that cute little white barn you drive by on your way to campus is one of the sweetest local artisanal joints (*wink wink*) in Central NY. This is the well-established Clinton Pottery, located at 66 Utica Street. Starting as early as 1808, Clinton Pottery was founded as the first pottery shop west of the Hudson River Valley. Since then, Clinton Pottery has continued this tradition by “providing sturdy, high quality pottery to the village and beyond.”
O
n the outside, it is a quaint storefront with a lot of charm– a classic rustic feel; however, once you head inside you’ll find a vast open space with a workshop and pottery-for-sale galore! The smell and impression is refreshing and earthy, which just screams “cozy autumn aesthetic.” The Clinton Pottery mugs you see around Café Opus are certainly a huge part of on-campus culture, but this shop has so many types of stoneware and more to offer. Fairly priced, locally sourced, and artisan made, Clinton Pottery products are conveniently sturdy, colorful, and elegant. By hopping on this bandwagon, you’re using fewer single-use cups, contributing to the local economy, and spreading the joy of pottery handcrafted with care– plus, it feels pretty cool walking up to Opus and slapping your cute, mint-green mini mug on the counter.
23
TRAVEL | 23
A
s evidenced by the hefty turnout at the Climate Strike in September, the meetings with Trustees about divestment in October, and the impassioned Town Hall in November, sustainability is a hot topic at Hamilton College. It is also one to which students have a deep personal and poltical connection. Environmentalism has been a growing concern of our community for years and it seems to have finally manifested through this recent activism. Sustainability is especially topical here because as concern has grown, so has the scale and vastness of the problem. “Saving the planet” isn’t simply an issue of recycling more on campus or using fewer plastic straws. It’s an issue of energy, resources, and education; saving the planet has become a mass movement, which calls on its supporters to think deeply and constructively. The multifaceted nature of the problem encourages different solutions from different groups, an idea that is being supported by the college.
24| ON THE HILL
I
nstitutionally, Hamilton has made significant changes to address environmentalism in recent years. One of these changes includes the Rogers Glen clean-up, a $300,000 project to cleanse the glen from its 150 year history as a solid waste dump. This project may not have been a glamorous plight, but it is one that has opened up many opportunities for the college. The clean-up allowed for reforestation, a new, minimally invasive recreational space, and even a spot for students to do environmental research. Environmental research itself has grown on campus with the establishment of the Environmental Studies department. This new area of study supplements sustainability efforts, allowing students to connect to sustainability on an academic level as well.
S
tudent groups have also played a major role in the push for more sustainable practices. There are a plethora of organizations on campus now committed to sustainability. Some of these organizations, like the Hamilton Sustainability Coordinators, implement projects for our commmunity on the hill, while others like the Sunrise Movement work in solidarity with chapters across the nation to facilitate
conversation and drive action for international climate crisis. Student Assembly has even gotten in on the action and established a Sustainability Liaison, as well as a Sustainability Committee to streamline clubs’ initiatives and coalesce these groups under a unified force. The committee offers open hours through which students can submit inquiries on environmental awareness on campus. They also produce a monthly newsletter, which details their current progress and future intiatives.
A
new group sponsoring student representation (though is not student-run) is the Sustainability Working Group (SWG). When I met with Brian Hansen, Director of Environmental Protection, Safety and Sustainability, he said it’s apparent that sustainability efforts have to stem from more than his office alone. So, this year, the SWG was founded to combat issues of climate and sustainability through a multifaceted approach. The group is comprised of students, faculty, and staff, and is divided intro various sub-committees that work to address areas where the college might be able to decrease their environmental impact. Brian Hansen is ecstatic about this group, as are all the other members because it is also tasked with developing a combative, specific proposal to amend our current Climate Action Plan.
STUDENT GROUPS HAVE ALSO PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE PUSH FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
C
reating a more environmentally conscious campus is a high priority within the Hamilton community, which has been invigorated by the prospect of making Hamilton a hallmark institution for sustainability. While there is constant improvement being made and new programs rolled out monthly, there is still dissatisfaction among students with the rate at which these changes are being made. The call for divestment is one that hits deep for much of the student body, and recent declarations that the Board of Trustees has decided not to divest from Fossil Fuel companies have definitely heightened this dissatisfaction. However, although the college doesn’t see value in divestment, they do see value in sustainability as a whole. Campus groups will continue to work tirelessly to decrease our environmental impact, change our campus behavior, and create a progressive outlook in order to bring Hamilton closer to an optimal level of sustainability.
ON THE HILL| 25
Rogers Estate has an enigmatic charm most find alluring. Many find a serenity in its remoteness and beauty in its storied halls. However, this appreciation is often tossed out the window since this former housing option is accompanied by a treacherous commute and the usual idiosyncrasies of an old house, not limited to depressive isolation and the heebie-jeebies. Rogers was ousted as a housing option in January 2019, abruptly evicting its sixteen residents mid-way through the academic year. It is, however, still listed on Hamilton’s website as a housing option. It is described as “a large, two-story building with a sprawlisng field as a front yard and abundant trees and greenery as a view,” in the manner you would expect from a done-up realtor on HGTV (with excessive enthusiastic gesticulations, of course). I sat down with former resident Robbie Lane ‘20 to chat about his time living in Rogers. We dove into the perks, the drawbacks, and even the haunted happenings.
26| ON THE HILL
Juliet Davidson:Was Rogers a top choice of yours as a residence hall? Robbie Lane: We had a god awful– god awful– number in the housing lottery. We’d been
sort of intrigued by Rogers after taking a walk down there; it has a magic about it. We were a little bit captivated by it. We ended up meeting with Ashley Place, and she basically told us “Don’t go to Rogers,” which sort of doomed Rogers a little bit. The Housing Office had kind of given up on it, even then. They were sort of pushing us in another direction, even though we came to her office and said we wanted to live there.
JD: What’s the appeal of Rogers? RL: I love the sort of haunting road that leads down to it, with the lamps lighting it up, and the
fact that there’s just absolutely nobody else around there; that it’s silent and you can just totally chill out. There’s a beautiful house down there; it’s gorgeous. Something I remember really fondly is on weekend mornings we would go out and eat cereal in the Adirondack chairs and look at the sunrise. It was this way of experiencing the beauty of central New York in a way that was a little more immersive than the upper campus, which can feel a little bit more like a city sometimes.
JD: Was there anything spooky or haunting about Rogers? RL: There are all these great rooms, like the library and kitchen and this grand living room that
reminds me of the board game Clue. So it was spooky in that way, being this old Victorian mansion. There was also an attic you couldn’t get into, but there was a glass door, so you could see through. And there was an old Halloween decoration of a life-size skeleton hanging inside; so it was just a darkened attic with a plastic full-size skeleton hanging up—that was creepy. The only other thing I can think of is if you’ve ever seen the first season of Stranger Things, you know when the thing comes out of the wall? There were these giant things that look like a monster that tried to crawl out of the wall; I don’t know if it was water damage or something.
JD: What were some of the drawbacks of living there? RL: The big thing’s the walk. Yea, it was a little bit awful. It was also kind of punishment housing
for some people because if they had a lot of points and got their lottery number dinged, they often ended up there because there was nothing else. So it was often this weird mix of nerds that wanted peace and quiet and then kids that had just been living it up way too much their freshman year. I was one of very, very few who liked it.
JD: Would you like Rogers to make a comeback as a housing option? RL: I would like to see it make a comeback, but they’d have to do some things very differently. I
thought every Rogers resident should get assigned parking in the student lot so that if you had a car you could drive yourself up in the morning and get a spot. That was the alternative that we thought would work really well instead of a Jitney: making Rogers housing for upperclassmen with cars and then assigning them spots. It’s a max of sixteen kids; I think they can spare sixteen spots. Whether it was the on-campus commute or the ladybug infestation or the fifty-plus books in the library about Hitler, Rogers became a particular locale of residency for the student body. Perhaps Rogers will be reminisced for its famed reputation or forgotten, as its reputation is one that would scare a freshman back to high school.
ON THE HILL| 27
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C by e
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Pie
28 28| ON THE HILL
THE PARKING CONUNDRUM Do you dread the walk to Carn back from the North lot at 9 pm on a cold Thursday after your dinner out? Have you experienced the pure bliss of finding a spot in Ferg or Mac lot? Or, most devious of all, have you (I’m looking at you Babbitt residents) ever decided to just wing it and keep your car parked in KTSA lot on a Saturday night? The struggle is real. Convenient student parking spots are limited on campus: faculty lots are too small, and parking tickets run rampant. Unfortunately, towed cars left in faculty lots on Monday mornings is not infrequent, and it’s not difficult to find someone with at least 4 tickets built up over the first half of the Fall semester. How many more tickets until we are towed? The ambiguity is haunting. Students receive parking tickets for everything you can imagine. $75 for parking in a fire lane overnight? Probably fair. $50 for parking in a faculty lot for three hours that one Tuesday afternoon? Okay, acceptable. $25 for creating your own parking spot on the grass in Sken lot? It’s a stretch, but hey: rules are rules. While campus safety is inevitably doing their job, it doesn’t feel fair to receive a parking ticket in a student parking lot in the first few weeks of classes before Campus Safety was able to get your parking pass ready for you. Students are being charged left and right on top of the egregious tuition expenses, and with limited parking options, it’s time for a change. The doomed parking situation is not limited to students; many faculty members feel as though they must wake up at 6:00 AM to be on campus at 7:00 and cinch the parking spot most convenient for their office. With many faculty lots shared by both Commons employees and professors, it is nearly impossible for everyone to get their desired spot. But what about the older professors who simply can’t afford to walk across campus in the snow to get to their classes? One professor, who would like to remain anonymous, claims that her stress (surrounding getting to campus on time to find a spot close to her office) impedes her ability to teach. She worried constantly about limiting her walk across campus for her bad knees until it became the primary focus of her morning…every morning. When students do decide to leave campus, they end up needing to park far away from their dorms, complaining about the walk in the rain or the cold. And, well, as most of us are able-bodied, we can suck it up. That being said, the rules should be made clear to us. One senior reports: “We are not properly informed of rule changes, and the college continues to suck money from our pockets to benefit them.” Another reports, “I parked in a faculty lot until Monday morning and when I went to get my car that afternoon, it had been towed and the college had not informed me.” While this student recognizes that they did not abide by the rules, they point out that the college has a responsibility to inform students when they have been towed, and when they have moved their property. With limited space on a small liberal arts campus, there are bound to be parking difficulties. But, with students and faculty struggling alike, it is the responsibility of the school to ease pressures to promote a stress-free, healthy environment where teachers can teach and students can learn, and $50 parking tickets are not a daily occurrence. Well, okay, maybe students can prevent that one.
ON THE HILL| 29
WHO: Christopher Akuleme ‘23 Q: Could you please briefly introduce who you are and where you are from?
A: I am Christopher Akuleme, a first year international student from Ghana.
Q: How did you learn about Hamilton from your home country? Why did you choose Hamilton?
A: Initially, it was my mentor from high school, an
alumnus of Hamilton, who introduced the college to me. From his description, I realized that there are many great opportunities on this campus, particularly its academic freedom. The amount of freedom Hamilton offers was eye-opening and exciting, so I decided to apply.
Q: Is this your first time studying abroad? What are some differences between studying in the states and in your home country?
A: Studying at Hamilton is actually my second time
studying abroad—I spent some of my high school years in South Africa. Studying abroad has opened me up to different experiences I was previously
30| FEATURES
unaware of while studying in my home country, Ghana. For instance, from my study abroad experiences in South Africa to my time now in the United States, I was exposed to cultural differences ranging from food and languages to something as simple as the weather. Every day of the abroad journey is like unravelling a new cultural package—whether it is discovering a new food or learning about new piece of slang. Nevertheless, the challenges of learning a new culture pop up frequently: it can be a time when a restaurant server doesn’t understand your accent when ordering food or even scrolling through Amazon and not knowing what type of clothes to buy for winter. In general, my life as an international student is like a blank canvas: on some, or rather, most days it is about figuring out new things; however, on other days the pressure of encountering the unknown or even an awkward situation can be overwhelming.
Q:
What are some cultural differences between the two countries?
Q: Why did you choose Hamilton?
A: The most profound difference has been the food.
and the POSSE scholarship.
The American fast food culture is very different from food culture in Ghana, where most people prefer carefully prepared, well-spiced, home-cooked meals. So whenever I grab a meal at Diner, although enjoy that I can eat quickly and leave, I am also reminded of this difference. Aside from this, the other major difference is the weather and the clothing. Due to the hot and humid temperatures back home, I am accustomed to wearing short sleeves and light clothing all year round, though I am learning to change. The cold winters here, which is a first for me, so far has me dressed in layers of hoodies. Things like the language, slang culture, and music are also very different.
“ EVERY DAY OF THE
ABROAD JOURNEY IS LIKE UNRAVELING A NEW CULTURAL PACKAGE
A: I chose Hamilton because of its open curriculum Q:
What are some cultural differences between
Hamilton and Miami?
A:
There are major cultural differences between Hamilton and Miami. These two places are nothing alike. In Miami, the Cuban and Hispanic culture is extremely prevalent. Every sign is in Spanish and if you speak to someone, you would first speak to them in Spanish, not English. Almost every Hispanic nationality can be found in Miami and most likely there is a diverse community surrounding them. These communities can be found in specific cultural restaurants or bakeries. Additionally, people from the same nationality tend to live in the same area. For example, there is Little Havana, which is known as a Cuban community, and the Doral area, which has a significant Venezulan presence.
“
WHO: JESSICA SANCHEZ ‘23 Q: Can you please briefly introduce yourself? What are some of your international experiences?
A: Hello, I am Jessica Sanchez. I am from Miami,
Florida, but both of my parents immigrated from Cuba. Therefore, my international culture is Cuban. Cuban culture has and will continue to play a big role in my life. It has taught me to embrace who I am.
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cultural and lifestyle differences between the US and Cuba based on your discovery?
A: I have visited Cuba twice. The first time was when
I was only a couple months old, while the second time came was when I was fifteen. Honestly, ever since that second trip I have learned to appreciate my culture more and more. In Cuba, the Cuban culture and lifestyle are completely different from its manifestation in the USA. In Cuba, you could barely find meat and water in stores, and if you do, you would see how the prices are significantly inflated; for example, a US dollar is equivalent to 25 Cuban pesos. In my pueblo, there is only one main road and every other path is just dirt. There is no up-to-date indoor plumbing or air conditioning. If the water is not working, you will need to grab a bucket from the outdoor water supply. You inevitably find at least one ant in your food and if you want WiFi, you will need to buy a 20 minute card and go to the WiFi hotspot. That said, everyone you will meet will welcome you with open arms.
“ Cuban culture has
and will continue to play a big role in my life. it has taught me to embrace who i am.
“
Q: Have you ever traveled to Cuba? What are some
If you want to feel welcomed in Hamilton as a POC, you will need to join a cultural club to find those with similar cultures as you. Currently, I am in BLSU and La Vanguardia, which has helped me find other POCs and hispanics like me.
questions for christopher & Jessica: Q: How do you feel about the cultural variation on
campus? Are you involved in any clubs or associations that you would like to share?
C:
I see the cultural variation on campus as an opportunity to explore and learn more about other cultures—not necessarily just the American culture, but also cultures across the globe that are represented on campus. I am currently involved in The Brothers, The Emerson Literary Society (ELS) and the Black and Lantinx Student Association (BLSU).
J: Based on my experiences, I think that Hamiton is
still lacking a variety of cultures. Although there are many international students and many people of color are recruited for opportunity programs, this is still not enough.
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Q: What’s the festival and food from
your home that you miss the most on campus? Can you please briefly describe what that festival is and how would you celebrate it at home? How do you celebrate it on campus?
C: It is pretty hard to pinpoint an exact food but I do miss Ghana’s jollof rice (not Nigerian or Senegalese). In terms of festivals, family meals during Christian festivities are the moments that I have missed the most on campus. Additionally, as an art lover, a festival that I can not wait to attend is the annual Chale Wote Street Arts festival that happens in Accra, usually in August. The festival was recently established as an annual two-week display of distinctively rich Ghanian street art accompanied by a highly festive mood of singing and dancing and, of course, food. The festival started just a few years ago and it is now on my bucket list to attend.
J: One of the main things I miss about Miami and
the Cuban culture is the food. Here at Hamilton, the food does not compare to the food in Miami, but I have found some ways to get a little taste of Hispanic food. Many times, I’ve had my mom send some Cuban snacks up to me and I have gone out with some friends to find Dominican food.
Q: Any advice for the international student integration at Hamilton?
C: Most people would say that we should approach
cultural integration with an open mind, which often comes with assumptions that every encounter will be a good experience—that is a lie. Instead, the truth is that there are times that people will face difficulties when learning about cultural or language differences, but we are the people who determine how we can experience, learn, and grow even from these encounters which may not seem positive at first. So when you step out everyday, remember that it is your own choice to determine how to unravel a new cultural package.
J: Join a cultural club! It will help you meet those
with similar cultures to you. In addition, make sure to eat some of the foods from your culture to ease your homesickness!
Q: Anything else to share? C: Dear readers, please take some time and listen to at least one Afrobeat songs! You will love it.
A word with the author My name is Catherine Li. I am a second year transfer student originally from Beijing, China. My study abroad journey started when I was 14. I spent all four-years of high school in Santa Rosa, California (about two hours from the San Francisco Bay area). I then attended the University of California San Diego for a year after graduating from high school.
When I was in high school, I was initially known as the only homesick girl, since I wasn’t like the other international students who enjoyed the freedom of being away from home. After four years of studying abroad, I found myself transformed into a much more independent multicultural person than when I started. Meanwhile, I realized how important it is to preserve my Chinese culture and cherish my backgrounds, as they are significant parts of my roots that define who I am and where I come from. Living in the US is a culturally, linguistically, educationally, and environmentally different experience from my life in China. In terms of education, public schools in China dominate mainstream Chinese education, as the government believes this is a way to balance educational differences across a country of roughly 1.4 billion people. Therefore, my education in China was test-based and my daily life as a middle school student was spent studying, reviewing, and testing. There are pros and cons to the Chinese education system. The positive aspect is that primary education lays out a solid foundation for Chinese students with tons of practice and memorization, which shapes the stereotype that Chinese people are good at math. The negative aspect of such a rigorous and even robotic primary education is that it sometimes does not foster creativity in its students. I lived in a relatively homogeneous environment for 14 years; the other students in the Chinese public schools were mostly Chinese, so studying abroad was eye-opening for me. I had a chance to meet people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, make friends with people who look different from me, and get involved in classes that are discussion-based. We are a cozy family here at Hamilton, which provides us with a great opportunity to step out of our bubbles and meet people who aren’t like us. I would suggest all of you take some time and listen patiently to people who are not native speakers. Their foriegn experiences may one day apply to you, and you will undoubtedly find more similarities as the world becomes more and more globalized.
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Our Features Editor, Catherine Li, met with Miryam Gilfix, a sophomore transfer student coming from SUNY Binghamton.
34 | features
CL: Where did you transfer from? MG:
I transferred from Binghamton University, a New York State University, only an hour from here. It’s a state school, so it was a really different from Hamilton College’s elite liberal arts environment.
CL: Why did you choose to transfer? MG:
I transferred because I wanted the small school environment: the small classes and the close teacher-student interactions in classes that are more discussion-based. I also loved the idea of an open curriculum. I visited Hamilton and I felt comfortable here. I like the extracurriculars that Hamilton offers. So it was everything together, but I’d say the biggest draws are the small liberal arts college and the open curriculum.
CL: How do you like it here so far? MG: I like it a lot overall. I think aca-
demically it’s great. It’s a lot of work, but I’m learning a lot. My classes are definitely more interactive; I’m getting to know my professors and they’re getting to know me. I would say socially it’s been challenging, but I think that’s kind of universal when you transfer, since you’re coming in and you kind of don’t know exactly where your place is. You’re new, but you’re not a new college student. Because Hamilton is a small school, groups form a little more easily than they would in a bigger school, and that makes it a little harder to break into the social scene. I think that it will be a process trying to figure out how to balance my academics and extracurriculars, while still doing well in both.
CL:
How do you feel about the transfer integration on campus here at Hamilton? Any advice for Hamilton to improve their transfer students’ well being on campus?
MG:
I think that there are a lot of resources for new students. Most of them are targeted toward freshmen, but there are not a lot of activities or resources that are primarily for transfer students. It’s a position in which you don’t really know where you’re from, so developing guidance through that process would be extremely helpful for transfers.
CL: Can you offer a couple of examples? MG:
During orientation, there should be at least one, preferably multiple, activities for transfer students, such as transfer student mixers. I think something similar was possibly organized by the administration, but no one from the faculty showed up. They rescheduled the mixer a week or two later, but I think by that point it had kind of lost its purpose because the best time to get to know people is during orientation. I think first and foremost it’s helpful to get to know other transfer students because that allows you to connect with other people who are in the same position as you. It would also be helpful to have some faculty members there during the new student orientation to show transfer students specifically that there are resources in place to help them through these new experiences and challenges.
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opinion by Madeline Howe and Daniel Harwood
36 | Opinion
D
A
S
S
uring this time of heightened political tensions, you would be hard-pressed to find an issue causing a greater political divide than the current impeachment proceedings. Many supporters of the Impeachment of President Trump are convinced that this is an appropriate and just reaction to President Trump’s actions following the “whistle-blower memo.” The memo, which claims that Trump directly requested the Ukranian president to investigate Democratic candidate Joe Biden and his son, has been credited in multiple ways. Not only was the memo deemed “credible and urgent” (CNN, 2019) by the Inspector General of the intelligence community and the White House, but President Trump himself has admitted to discussing the Bidens during the phone call. While Trump maintains that this discussion was “a very friendly and totally appropriate call,” (Twitter) the fact remains that soliciting “things of value,” such as information about political opponents, from foreign nationals in support of a campaign is illegal. Foreign involvement in elections is not something to be taken lightly—concern about this issue goes back to the founding of our country and the notion that the United States should be a representative democracy. Our leaders are elected by our country’s citizens. Foreign interference jeopardizes that ideal and weakens the public’s faith in our political system. upporters of the Impeachment of President Trump also believe that the impeachment process may give Democrats an advantage during the upcoming 2020 Presidential Election. Politically, the impeachment inquiry should be a win-win for democrats. Polls have shown that over 90% of Democrats who oppose impeachment would still vote for a candidate that voted in favor of it (Crooked Media, 2019). Additionally, placing President Trump’s shortcomings in the public eye will be advantageous for Democrats in the 2020 election. It will be harder for President Trump to shift the political discussion to something that helps him politically, such as immigration like he did during the 2018 elections.
lthough the “whistle-blower memo” has elicited passionate calls for impeachment, there are many Americans who believe that America’s best course of action would be to not follow through with the impeachment proceedings. Many Trump supporters are cynical of the importance and legitimacy of the findings of the transcript documenting President Trump’s conversation with the Ukranian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. This cynicism is related to the dramatic controversy leading up to the Mueller Report and the report’s conclusions. During the Mueller investigation, House Democrats were extremely concerned with how the results implicated the President. However, the investigation did not expose Trump of any criminal wrongdoing. Cynics believe that the movement to impeach Trump is just another example of unnecessary targeting that will not result in significant political consequences (Schuman 2019). In their eyes, the Impeachment proceedings simply add to the propaganda purported by anti-Trump media and politicians solely for the sake of attacking the legitimacy of the President (Schuman 2019). ome argue that the Impeachment process would never pass ⅔ of the Senate under a Republican Majority; therefore, the arduous impeachment process is unnecessary and a waste of time, since it would not end with successfully removing President Trump from office. It may be a better use of time to work on legislation important to American citizens and just wait for the next election with hopes of voting President Trump out of office (Barabak 2019). The election is only a year away, and many voters wish for politicians to focus on issues that directly impact the lives of the American people, instead of the slim possibility of a President Trump impeachment. Still, impeachment proceedings are moving forward and the
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ww
A
ccording to the American Psychological Association, one-third of all first-year college students report having a mental health disorder. As stigmatization decreases, utilization rates of resources increases, and seventy percent of college counseling center directors believe that the number of students with severe psychological problems has increased in the past year, creating a supply and demand problem that leaves many students feeling lost.
W
hile most students exclusively think of therapy when they think of the counseling center, Hamilton’s counseling center offers a wide range of services
38 | Opinion
range of services, including individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric and dietary services, acupuncture, biofeedback, massage, and sound healing. Regardless of the array of options, individual therapy, and psychiatric care remain the most sought after and unattainable services, with average wait times of 2-3 weeks that can often stretch longer due to student availability and preference. Currently, there are 5 staff psychologists, 1 part-time psychologist, and 2 psychiatrists. Furthermore, the psychiatrists are not available throughout the week, contributing to an indefinite wait period until next semester.
G
iven the inaccessibility of these forms of treatment, many students wonder what other options are available to fill in the gaps. As previously mentioned, the counseling center also offers acupuncture, biofeedback, massage, and sound healing. Biofeedback is a program that assists people in learning to improve their physical and mental health by changing their physiological responses, including breathing, heart rate, and muscle tension. Sound healing uses sound to integrate the body and mind, allowing for deep relaxation and healing from within.
I
f students are merely looking for someone to talk to, the peer counselors are available from 6-9pm Monday-Thursday and 3-6pm Sundays. Additionally, there is a number that students can call 24/7, but the operators are not staff counselors and they are instructed to treat the situation as a crisis (though the service can be utilized regardless of a crisis situation). The center may also refer online and off-campus counseling. For off-campus counseling, if transportation is an issue, the health center can arrange for a ride service. The accessibility of off-campus and online counseling depends greatly on individual finances and insurance.
T
hough it may not seem like it, student frustrations are being heard. Clubs, including Minds for Change and Mental Wellness Collective, serve as platforms for students to voice their concerns and, hopefully, institutional changes will follow.
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Making your vote matter 40
40 | Opinion
By Enogie Omoregbee
I didn’t grow up in the same reality as many students here. On election day, as I watch people rush to the polls and hear stories of people taken with the idea of carrying on a tradition, I am made acutely aware of this fact. I didn’t grow up hearing stories of my grandparents voting, or traveling to the polls and sitting on my father’s shoulders waiting in line. I don’t have the same memories as others, memories that instilled in them the idea that their vote matters, that they are an important cog in the democratic system of their country. And when I think of my family and my people’s history I’ve never questioned why.
My parent’s lives in America didn’t convince me that my vote would matter (as black immigrants it actually did the exact opposite), and trying to convince me otherwise would have been impossible for them. So now, as I navigate the world of a voting adult, I have had to create my own realities of why my vote matters. It has not been easy and it has not come without compromise. Although I’ve only been voting for two years, there have been many choices along the way, the most significant being how to make sure my vote matters. As a legal resident of South Carolina and a student at Hamilton College, my hardest choice came during the 2018 midterm election. On one hand, I could have chosen to file my absentee ballot for a “red” district, where my vote would have been swallowed by the overwhelming votes for the incumbent, or I could vote in this district and possibly play a very important role in the future of the district I live in.
“ AS I NAVIGATE THE WORLD OF A VOTING
ADULT, I HAVE HAD TO CREATE MY OWN REALITIES OF WHY MY VOTE MATTERS
“
Although this decision was not easy, when it came down to it, I realized that voting in our swing district and being able to see the effects of my vote was more important to me than sending my vote back to a place where I don’t live and know I cannot change. I chose to have my vote matter. It’s hard to form your own identity as a young voter, especially when many of us are faced with a choice similar to mine. It is up to us, as the new electorate, to ensure our voices are heard and to make sure our votes matter. Changing my vote was my first step, but it will not be my last.
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Opinion| 41