The Continental Magazine Winter 2020

will you be my sugar daddy?

LIfE ABROAD IN DC & NYC

seasonal depression: how to not

STUDENT INFLUENCERS

the continental WINTER 2020

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

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the continental CONTRIBUTORS Editor-in-chief Catharine Pierce ‘20

Creative Director Claire Goldstein ‘22

Section Editors Juliet Davidson ‘23 - On The Hill Gabriela de Mendonca Gomes ‘23 - Features CARLIE ABRAHAM ‘21 & Molly Tracey ‘20- Travel Sammy Smock - ‘23 - Lifestyle ERIN BRYANT ‘21- Opinion

Director of Photography Alex Chalk ‘20

Photographers Huzair Latif ‘23 Penelope Hoopes ‘20

Layout Designers Claire Goldstein ‘22 (CD) Camille Sirianni ‘22 Catharine Pierce ‘20 (EIC) Emely Chacon ‘22

Writers Abby Rosovsky ‘20 • Catharine Pierce ‘20 Estella Brenneman ‘20 • Foley Simons ‘18 • Graham Paull ‘20 Juliet Davidson ‘23 • Mike O’Hare ‘21 • RJ Steele ‘23 Ruthie Schmidt ‘20 • Sam Gause ‘21

letter editor from the

...And then there was one. Phil and I learned a lot last semester about the production of a magazine (proofread, proofread, proofread!), and I’m thankful that I was able to work through the first issue as Editor with an intelligent and driven partner. Unfortunately, he shipped off to the land of churros and Flamenco dancing: Madrid. So, here I am, holding down the fort. With two other e-board members also overseas, I was once again tasked to rebuild a portion of the editorial staff. Thanks to this amazing and talented, albeit small, group of editors, we have pulled it off once again. I am proud to work with these students to produce a magazine that showcases our hard work, and I owe a lot to them for keeping me sane and picking up extra work when I needed them. With lots of new freshmen on board, we have a diverse group of individuals with a range of vantage points.

Our Winter issue represents a harmonious compilation of silly perspectives, topical issues, and impressive feats from our student body. The Opinion section takes on the current question: Are Greek societies considered to be student organizations on campus? If so, why aren’t they treated the same way? The On The Hill section discusses the origins of the Sunrise Movement, the college’s newest Climate Change group, and checks in with students eating at Diner B. Our Features section spotlights two prominent seniors on campus, both following their interests and staying true to themselves: Ruthie Schmidt and Abby Rosovsky. In Travel, you can find some unique experiences abroad, from completing a pilgrimage in Spain, to attending graduate school in China, and, a little closer to home, the NYC and DC programs for a semester. Finally, our Lifestyle section delves into the defeat of Seasonal Affective Disorder during upstate New York winters, and mourns the loss of the dining hall sandwich bars.

Every issue presents its own challenges, but I firmly believe that we have produced an issue that provides a fresh and holistic representation of the talent and opportunities on our campus. The Continental continues to challenge me and teach me more about our community. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make the winter issue possible: to Phil for providing verbal support from Spain, my friends for helping me take a step back and a few deep breaths, and, of course, to the lovely editorial board, all of our volunteer writers, layout designers, and photographers. The Continental is only possible when we all come together. And, of course, to our readership, thank you for your continued positive feedback. We all at The Continental hope you enjoy the Winter 2020 issue - each page is a product of blood, sweat, and tears (well, not literally). 2 issues down, 1 more to go!

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Catharine

on the hill the most important on-campus jobs | 9 Divestment & Liberal arts | 10 Diner B Etiquette | 13

CON TEN TS

features influencers are JUST LIKE US | 17 COOP COORDINATOR |20 Timberlands | 21

travel

camino de SANTIAGO| 25 “Abroad”: DC & NYC |29 Living abroad post-grad |31

lifestyle

elegy for the deli bar|35 Seasonal depression: HOW TO NOT |37

opinion will you be my sugar daddy? | 41 THE GREEK LIFE DILEMMA |43

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e h l ih l

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Whether you are a fresh-faced Jan unprepared for the horrors that lie in wait, or a haggard Junior thousand-yard staring through your commons breakfast, there is one thing that unites us all as Hamilton Students. Having no money ever. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of just a few of the most essential on-campus jobs.

JITNEY DRIVER They say hell is other people, so if the idea of hearing how every single one of Hamilton’s absolute dullest students spent their weekend while sitting in the most gorgeous parking lots that New Hartford has to offer doesn’t make you want to walk directly into a lake, then a position as a Jitney driver could be perfect for you. Note: Driver’s face a fine for every time they drive the van directly into a wall in an effort to put an end to the void that has become their work-life.

OPUS BARISTA

Do you miss the days of dealing Adderall to the students of your high school now that everybody just gets it from that guy behind the CVS? Well, worry no longer and simply become the next best thing; an Opus Barista. As you administer the caffeine that your peers need to simply get through the day, your benefits will include discounted products and an unparalleled sway on your classmates’ selfworth and success.

TOUR GUIDE

Want all the fun of spewing propaganda through gritted teeth, but the Russian Department of Tourism still hasn’t replied to your application for a summer internship? Well now you can enjoy the harrowing risk of recruiting for the pyramid scheme of undergraduate education (with none of the financial benefit) and become one of Admissions’ tour guides. If you can look a terrified high schooler in the eyes and tell them that you have never been happier and that they too can one day experience this same freedom for the low cost of decades of debt, all without bursting into tears, then this job is a perfect match!

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he annual Harvard-Yale football game, which is typically acclaimed by its ivy-league prestige and rowdy, up-the-rah students, was disrupted by a sea of protestors calling on their respective universities to divest their endowments from fossil fuel industries. One Harvard student, Christopher Colby, angered that these protestors interrupted The Big Game said, “These protesters decided that their version of empty activism for this weekend was going to go sit in the middle of

By Juliet Davidson the field, during the game, right in the middle of it, wasting everybody’s time.” He was then retorted by his newly-former girlfriend, Allison Chang, who tweeted “I broke up w this guy a week ago and honestly am feeling so vindicated rn...he doesn’t eat out but you already knew that.” So whether you’re sexually active, an athletics aficionado, or a climate activist, divestment is a pressing issue that affects you, a student at a college that has yet to divest from fossil fuels.

ON THE HILL|10

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ivestment isn’t a new issue, though it has gained momentum this year.

Prior to the Town Hall in November 2019, President David Wippman spoke on divestment in 2014, citing that divestment wasn’t a priority of the college at the time.

However, as Melanie Synder ‘20 addresses in her response to identical comments from President Wippman after the Town Hall, “Also in [2014] Hamilton students were participating in environmental advocacy and demonstrating awareness for the climate crisis, just as we are today. In fact, based on some of the responses given at Monday’s Town Hall meeting, you might have thought members of the administration were addressing a group of students from 2014.” Snyder hits at the heart of the argument for divestment: despite the ever-increasing urgency and threat climate change posits, Hamilton College’s stance has not changed.

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heir unevolved defense is a manifestation of The Board’s archaic lack of interest in issues that represent a change to the fiscal norm and power structure this college was established on. Hamilton was also established on traditionally indigenous land that belongs to the Oneida Nation, but neither “We refuse to divest” nor “We refuse to publicly and emphatically acknowledge our horrific beginnings” fit nicely on a Because Hamilton poster.

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issatisfaction with continued investment in fossil fuels is an issue on campuses across the country, including liberal arts colleges similar to Hamilton. One Vassar student and Sunrise Movement coordinator Mellissa Hoffman expresses a sentiment felt by many on her campus: “My current take is that the refusal of our colleges to divest is part of the larger system of the neoliberal and corporate business model frameworks that have penetrated and dominated our colleges’ administration and sense of direction. All arguments are unjustifiable, immoral and contradict our institutional mission. Part of my goal with our divestment movement going forward is dismantling the power our board of trustees have over decisions that could be collective if we did not exist under late-

stage capitalism.”

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hile campuses with politically-minded students like Hamilton pose divestment as a hot topic for discussion, there are plenty of students who don’t see the value in divestment or really why it’s the college’s responsibility to do so. Many argue that the Board should not be concerned with divestment because how the endowment is invested has no direct correlation to the educational quality of the college. Others have said that divesting

existence yet. Romanticizing a liberal arts education is not only a simple task but one the college encourages. Come to Clinton, come experience the wondrous natural setting with the most dynamic thinkers and pervasive professors you could dream of. We’re not like other girls; we’re so much better. So long as Hamilton is invested in fossil fuels that destroy any chance of the Utopian, bi-partisan, well-developed society Hamilton dreams of, Hamilton will be just like the others.

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iberal arts colleges boast their ability to produce critical thinkers and well-rounded members of a society that hasn’t been dreamt into

the ever-increasing urgency and “ Despite threat climate change posits, Hamilton College’s stance has not changed.

~~~

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from fossil fuel industries could be interpreted as a political statement, and as a body that strives to make objective decisions to finance and sustain Hamilton, making a fiscal decision that could be interpreted as a stand would call into question whether the board has a bias in its decision-making processes. However, others also argue that the fact that many board members have personal investments in fossil fuel industries reveals an intrinsic bias in itself.

ON THE HILL|12

The Howard Diner is truly a remarkable institution. It’s the hallmark of Hamilton dining, a landmark on Martin’s Way, and, lest we forget, the best diner in a 25-mile radius. Pretty much anyone with a soul and the dietary preference of a six-yearold (which appears to be most college students) can get behind eating at diner for at least five meals a week. That’s not to say that people who don’t like Diner are soulless or don’t enjoy other foods that hangry six-year-olds do; I’m sure they do. What I do mean to say is that diner has a universal appeal. It’s a place for studying; it’s a place for debauchery. It’s a place for a quick breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and at 4:00 a.m. The options are endless.

13|ON THE HILL 2

However, The Howard Diner would be nothing without its staff, who go wildly under-appreciated. Diner aficionados have a responsibility to be attentive and grateful consumers, even at their most inebriated and exhausted states. Being drunk is not an excuse for being obnoxious to the Diner B workers, no matter how funny you think you’re being (which is probably not that funny). I sat down with several students who work in the service industry to discuss customer etiquette in a setting like Diner, whether it’s filled with raucous youths or newly-minted Jans.

Here’s what they had to say:

“Anyone who’s impatient is incredibly annoying.

Sometimes things are out of your control. From my experience as a hostess especially, you’re not even the one making the food, and if people are impatient about their food and it’s not even your fault it’s frustrating. Like shut up, Karen.”

“I hate when customers have complicated orders. Oh my god. I get it if you have an intolerance or something, but don’t make people’s lives more complicated for no reason. And then if you get mad if they mess up your complicated order, it’s your fault because you don’t like food.”

“The worst people are those who send their food back and think they run the world, but in reality they’re the biggest betas that roam the earth.”

“People who leave their table a mess suck. You know someone’s going to have to clean up after you. Why did you rip up your napkin and put it all over the table?”

“I hate people who are on their phones or who don’t pay attention when they’re ordering.”

“When people aren’t around when their food is ready, it’s like, why?”

“‘People not knowing what they’re ordering.’ ‘Man,’ replied another interviewee, ‘that’s the worst.’”

MORAL OF THE STORY: DO BETTER. And there you have it. If any of these sound like you, rethink your Diner strategies. The Diner staff will thank you later.

ON THE HILL|13 4

T A E F 415

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Influencers are just like us

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I’ve always joked that Instagram is my outlet for creative expression. As someone who likes to think they have a creative eye, but has little tangible artistic talent, the purpose and layout style of Instagram has always appealed to me. I decided to create Mugsnshrugs about a year ago when I realized that I wanted to interact with the larger Instagram community, but didn’t want to sacrifice the privacy of my personal account. And so, my “just for fun” public page was born. Despite this article’s title, I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself an influencer, though brands lump me in the category of “micro-influencer.” My goal in creating this account was never necessarily to turn instagramming into a career, or to use it as a primary source of income. It really started as a centralized location where I could keep all of my pictures, formulate an aesthetic, and technologically shout my daily thoughts into the void!

With Instagram’s obvious social nature, and the help of hashtags, I eventually accumulated some followers who would answer those shouts, and seemed to like my content enough to tag along, which was exciting validation.

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t its core, my Instagram page has always been about sharing cozy snippets from my life. I don’t think that has necessarily changed, but brands, branding, and paid partnerships have thrown a welcome, but at times challenging, curveball into the mix. Social media marketing, and particularly “influencer marketing” which is now its own legitimate thing, believe it or not, has exploded in the last two to three years. Although I didn’t seek out brands initially with my page, their addition into my feed has been a welcome one. I will say that one roadblock I faced, and one that a reader may likely expect in an article about social media, is the roadblock of judgment. When I first started working with brands, some friends would jokingly call me a sell-out. I personally don’t believe this to be the case, as long as I’m working with brands that I’ve tested, can be honest about, and are true to my own personal “brand” or “aesthetic.” After all, you can always turn down a brand offer you’re not interested in. I’ve actually found brands a blast to work with, especially when it’s a brand I know and love like L.L.Bean, or a brand that’s new to me, but offers a product I’m really interested in, like Mejuri or SEEN haircare. Learning how to work with brands, weed out the scams, and produce content that is both relevant to the product and my personal aesthetic has been an interesting, though at times challenging road, and I think I’m still learning and will continue to! In fact, though working with brands is still a relatively new part of my Instagram experience, one of my favorite parts about having a public account with a bit of a following is having the opportunity to represent these brands, and to be able to share useful, genuine products with anyone that wants to listen as a result.

As I think about the future of Mugsnshrugs, I’m eager.

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reating content, both written and visual, has always been fun for me, and something that doesn’t particularly feel like work. Though I don’t necessarily have a plan, I intend to continue blogging on the side after graduation and at least for the next few years. As someone who wants to go into fields related to marketing and advertising, being able to work with brands as a micro-influencer, in my own capacity, has provided me with some useful insights and experience in that way. My goal is that Mugsnshrugs will continue to grow, and that I can connect with more interesting people by way of creating content, but if it doesn’t…that’s okay too, I’ll just keep having fun with it!

419|features

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Abby Rosovsky

COOP Coordinator

Hamilton’s Community Outreach and Opportunity Project, or more commonly known as The COOP, offers community service opportunities for students and employees in the Oneida County area by connecting them with local non-profit organizations. The COOP is such an important part of campus because it allows us to make a positive change in our community while serving as an educational experience for us as students. Through direct service, internships, fundraising, and awareness initiatives, The COOP strives to empower students to create meaningful and significant relationships within the off-campus community.

Moreover, these interactions can enhance a student’s personal and educational development by exposing them to new experiences outside of Hamilton’s traditional learning environment. I got involved in the COOP through my orientation trip. It was an Outreach Adventure (OA) trip where we engaged in a hodgepodge of service activities in the city of Utica, including volunteering at soup kitchens, women’s shelters, and after-school programs.

When I returned to campus I continued to get involved with different COOP programs including Hamilton Reads, HAVOC, and Alternative Break Service Trips. I became an OA leader and returned to the Utica area on two trips that primarily involved tutoring refugees in English. These experiences continued to re-spark my interest in education. The summer before senior year, Amy James, the Director of the COOP, offered me one of the COOP Senior Fellows positions, specifically as the Education Fellow. My role includes overseeing and organizing any educational program the COOP offers, including Hamilton Reads, Middle School Mentors, Study Buddies, Hangin’ with Hamilton, and Let’s Get Ready SAT Prep. I recruit volunteers/tutors, coordinate transportation, and serve as a liaison with our community partners. Although this is the most administrative role I’ve taken on in the COOP, I’ve loved seeing the student body’s interest and dedication to volunteering.

My experiences in The COOP have definitely influenced my career path post-Hamilton. I’ve been able to intern at various NGOs relating to education, women’s rights, and international aid. After graduation, I intend to pursue a career that allows me to continue to work with different issues of social justice. The COOP has been such an integral part of my experience at Hamilton and has allowed me to explore our local area in such meaningful ways.

The people I’ve met through volunteering have taught me about leadership, problem-solving, and communication.

To any student who is unfamiliar with The COOP, I recommend checking it out; there are so many opportunities, no matter your interest, that allow you to connect with incredible people and foster a community beyond the Hill.

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If you’ve ever walked down Martin’s Way or stepped foot just about anywhere on campus, you’ve definitely seen a pair of the unmistakable, six inch, leather-laden shoes: the Timberlands. Introduced in 1973 as a work boot for the hard-working New Englander, these shoes have since been worn by hip-hop artists, city slickers, and, of course, the hard-working New Englander (in Clinton, NY). These boots are not only revered for their impeccable craftsmanship and upstanding quality, but also for their unique and seemingly timeless look. Though perhaps generalized as a boot for a particular group on Hamilton’s campus, namely the Athletic Department, these shoes don’t belong to a single demographic or persona. They are universally appreciated, styled, and adored.

However, trends, especially those in the footwear department, typically don’t last. Think of the FILA Disruptors, which were once deemed cool (most likely by a teenager in suburban America who shopped at Urban Outfitters), but are now deemed “Dinostompers” and generally a ridiculous excuse for a shoe. Seeing as Timberlands have had a long, fulfilling life of mass popularity and appeal, it begs the question: when will the love die out? Is this love a permanent one, or merely a seasonal affair? In other words, are these shoes the college sweetheart that’ll hold you well beyond your years on The Hill or the VT fling that was fun that one time but will remain a fond memory of your collegiate past?

One Timberland-wearing first-year has a particular sentimentality in regards to his footwear, asserting that this truly is a love that will never die. Caden Lemov, Class of 2023, and his Timbs sat down with me this Winter, and we discussed the ever-iconic shoe.

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One Timberland-wearing first-year has a particular sentimentality in regards to his footwear, asserting that this truly is a love that will never die. Caden Lemov, class of 2023, and his Timbs sat down with me this Winter, and we discussed the ever-iconic shoe.

JD: What do your Timbs mean to you?

CL: I mean, for me, Timbs give me a sense of connection

with nature, connection with the inner me that I find here at Hamilton College. Personally, I’ve always wanted to work construction, so repping my Timberland Pros (waterproof) allows me to live out my fantasy of hitting the nail on the head.

JD: Will you still love them when they’re old and smelly?

CL: I think I’ll love them more when they’re old and smelly. It’s not like you’d walk around New

York City with clean Timberlands because for me a Timberland is only a Timberland when it has a layer of grime over-top. That’s how you know you’ve been wearing them for the right reasons.

JD: How are Timbs different from other boots? What makes Timbs so special?

CL: The first thing that comes to mind is one word, and it’s superiority. You can wear your Timbs anywhere. Can you wear your Bean Boots anywhere? No. L.L. Bean is a great company; I’ll admit it. They probably have a better warranty, but I can’t wear my Bean Boots on the job. I can’t rep the Beaners when I’m hacking through a tree in lumberjack country. That, for me, is superiority.

JD: When you come back for your Hamilton reunion, will you be sporting a pair of Timbs?

CL: It’s likely. I’ve definitely become more of a loafers guy for formal events over time. There’s

definitely a time and place for Timberlands. You wouldn’t wear Timberlands to your grandparent’s funeral, but you might wear them to your uncle’s wedding because you know your uncle would be sporting them at your wedding too. So that’s really my mentality when choosing to wear my Timberlands: would my uncle wear them here?

There you have it folks, an important benchmark to help you decide whether or not Timbs are the right shoe for the occasion, and probably the thought process of every male on this campus: WWYUW? (What would your uncle wear?)

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TRA 823

VEL 249

CAM I NO DE SANTIAGO

BY ESTELLA BRENNEMAN “You plant yourself in the middle of the country, alone and with no contacts, and you leave with people who know you in ways no one else ever has.”

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t 6:30 in the morning, every morning, the alarm on my phone alerted me that it was time to leave my albergue (hostel) so that the beds could be cleaned for the next group of pilgrims that would arrive later that afternoon. Somehow I was always the last person to leave the bunks each morning, but I was also always in time to catch my friends lingering over their cafe con leches, chocolate croissants, and cigarettes before our day long walk towards Santiago.

rom sunrise until sunset every day of the year, people carry backpacks and hiking poles across mountains and plains for hundreds of kilometers to reach the sacred city of Santiago, located in the northwest of Spain. While this may sound difficult, tiring, and even dangerous for some, the Camino is a healing, dreamlike pilgrimage that people have walked from the time of the supposed discovery of St. James’s remains in 812 AD to contemporary times. In 2018, over 300,000 pilgrims of 153 different nationalities participated in the journey, including me.

ot even a year before my journey, I was sitting in my first Religious Studies course, wondering who today’s pilgrims were, what motivated them to take such spiritual journeys, what they found on the road, and how this was a departure from normal life. My questions landed me with a Levitt grant to walk the Camino, to my honest surprise, and suddenly, I was alone with this project in my hands. I had not imagined what this part would look like or how I would begin. And this is the dumbfounding part for most. You plant yourself in the middle of the country, alone and with no contacts, and you leave with people who know you in ways no one else ever has. It sounded so simple, and in the end, it was. You just have to start walking.

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SPAIN

FRANCE

TRAVEL |2 6

Estella walked over 700km to complete her pilgramage.

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met two pilgrims, which led to five more, and by the end of my first night in Spain, I knew approximately twenty pilgrims who joined me the next morning for my first day on the road. My friends ranged from a 16 year old French girl who was walking the Camino per her parents’ idea of punishment, to a 60 year old Texan who has walked the Camino every year since his wife died of cancer. Each person I met arrived on the road for many different reasons, but uniting everyone was a need to escape their lives. We arrived with our past on our backs, and an open road before us. In each new day of walking towards Santiago, I was in forward movement with a constantly changing landscape and sea of pilgrims. While I wasn’t initially looking for it, my life became entangled in all of the fearless, soul-baring conversations I jumped into.

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espite my fears, the trick of the Camino is that you are never alone. I made a lot of decisions on the way, to leave people behind for something I knew I was missing, or to walk ten extra miles at sunset in hopes of finding a bed somewhere else. When I was making these big choices, I was choosing to listen to what my heart wanted, and no matter how scary the decision seemed at the time, there were always new people on the other side of it. I never had anything more than the things I carried, friends to keep me company, and the road ahead. In the end, it never mattered whether I had a bed. I would have figured it out. I learned to trust that on the way.

TRAVEL |2 8

: ” d a o “Abr mike o’hare ‘211

The fall cohort of the 2019 New York City Program spent the entire semester in the city and it flew by like the snap of a finger. I lived with one of my best friends, Sam Foley ‘21, and we were fortunate enough to reside only a quick five to ten-minute walk from friends of ours who graduated from Hamilton last spring.

With the proximity to our friends and the fantastic experiences planned by Professor Jones, it is safe to say we did New York City well. We watched Monday Night Football on Stone Street with friends, witnessed an IPO at the New York Stock Exchange, and experienced an amateur night at the Apollo -- just to name a few. All of these festivities, coupled with our own curiosity for exploring the city, allowed us to create a diverse experience. I even had the chance to travel on the weekends to visit friends at other schools like Boston College, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and, of course, Hamilton. With regards to my class schedule, between Tuesday night presentations and Wednesday morning lectures, I felt that my educational experiences were second to none.

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Students rarely have the opportunity to learn applicable lessons, such as topics in labor relations, while experiencing them in the working world. We lived what we were learning by getting up every day, taking the 4/5 train to Midtown, getting out at Grand Central and heading into the office for the day. I worked at Cypress Associates, a boutique investment bank, and learned during my time there that this career path is the right choice for me. I had the pleasure to both work in an investment bank and prepare for my interviews that helped me receive an internship offer with a different bank. To anyone questioning whether or not to apply to the NYC Program, take it from me, it was a semester I will never forget.

Sam Gause ‘21 One highlight of D.C. was definitely the unlimited number of events held on a day to day basis. One day last semester, while working in Congressman Seth Moulton’s office, my roommate sent me a text stating he had wandered into the wrong event, but that he was now about to meet Greta Van Susteren and that I needed to get over there as soon as possible. Right after work I headed over, and in the span of 10 minutes, I rode up an elevator with the House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, met Federal Communications Commission Chairman Aijit Pai, and watched my roommate get his picture taken with Greta Van Susteren. D.C. is the seat of power in more than one sense, and being in the city is an incredible opportunity for any college student -not just a government major.

During the course of my semester, I conducted an independent study on Hong Kong, researched the effects of safe injection sites abroad (research which appeared in an op-ed written by the Congressman), and proposed he co-sponsor a bill sanctioning China for their island building in the East and South China Seas. In class with Professor Klinkner, we ran through current events (notably the impeachment trials), took a course focusing on how to get elected, and heard from exceptional Hamilton alumni who were excited to talk to current students. I found class time valuable because interns working on the Hill could hear about experiences off the Hill, and vice versa. Beyond this, D.C. presents an opportunity to test-run life out of college: working practically a full time job, cooking for yourself, and living with roommates. I value both the experiences I had and connections I made, and would recommend the program to any student.

TRAVEL |30

FOLEY SIMONS ‘18

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or the past year and a half since graduating from Hamilton, I have been living in China and pursuing a master’s degree in international relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Nanjing Campus, commonly referred to as the Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC). A co-run program with Nanjing University, the HNC offers both a one-year certificate program and a two-year master’s program, where both international students and Chinese students take classes on a variety of subjects in their target language, either in English or Chinese. Over the course of the two years, the master’s students write and finally defend a thesis written in their target language, which for me means a master’s thesis completely in Chinese; needless to say, this is a bit of a daunting task.

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assume that many seniors at Hamilton are in a similar position as I am now, stuck in the whirlwind of theses, job hunting, living arrangements, and so on. And I was in the same place at Hamilton only a couple of years ago, making the decision to not follow friends to various cities across the U.S., but instead looking to the further destination of China. As a Chinese major at Hamilton, I was quite confident that following graduation I wanted to do something related to China, whether that be a job or continuing my studies. I realized that having just graduated was the time to go out into the world and spend a few years living in the country whose language I had spent so much of my life studying. I had already lived for four months in Beijing during my junior year, so living in China this time around was not as intimidating as the first. And unlike before, instead of a short stint before returning back to friends and family, I took the decision to commit almost three years of my life to living halfway across the world.

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ike anything, living in China has had its ups and downs, some of which I will list out here in the hopes it will help someone along in their path of their post-Hamilton life. First of all, as those who went abroad know, living in any foreign country for extended periods of time can be tough. This past summer I decided to intern in Shanghai for a risk analysis firm, which meant that from the beginning of July to mid-January I did not come back to the US. This was the longest I had ever been away from home. I have also missed the past two Christmases and Thanksgivings due to different school scheduling in China. And while I got through it, there were points where I felt extremely homesick due to the distance. Living in China also brings a host of issues, most conspicuous of which are the restrictions on the internet. Try going without Google, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Wikipedia, YouTube and Netflix for a while (luckily, there are ways around these blocks). But like any tough situation, you learn to adapt and overcome the issues in front of you. You get used to the differences and eventually don’t even notice what you felt when you first arrived. And for me, these downsides are minimized by the sheer pleasure I have had living in China and attending this program. Taking classes in Chinese, writing papers in Chinese, and speaking with Chinese classmates have given my language ability a boost that would be nearly impossible to achieve in the United States. And through these discussions with friends, classmates, and professors, I have gained new insights into a different society. While topics can be lighthearted, such as which American fast food do Chinese people think is the best (McDonalds or KFC), they can approach more serious topics, such as the Xinjiang Uighur re-education centers, the Hong Kong protests, the trade war, and so on. While my views may differ from my Chinese counterparts on certain topics, I have come to learn why they have those views, which is what is most important for understanding the heart of an issue.

“Try going without google, facebook, snapchat, instagram, wikipedia, youtube, and netflix for a while”

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o, to sum up, what’s my advice? Do what you want to do. You may see your friends going off in different directions, but that doesn’t matter. They’re still going to be around once you get back. We’re young; now is the time to go out into the world and experience something you never have before.

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2 35|LIFESTY LE

It’s

six o’ clock on a Thursday evening and you’re hungry as all get out. You pop into McEwen dining hall, known colloquially as the Green Cafe, for a bite to eat.

You peep the global line. Ah, it is a seitan dish, and you, the savvy diner, knows that Bon Appetit still hasn’t quite figured out how to prepare it yet. You look to the hot food line, but the heavy cream of the alfredo penne does not bode well for your sensitive tummy. You think to yourself that the perfect solution is a grilled cheese and salad. The salad is light and brings you back to a springtime memory. The grilled cheese is bland enough, yet provides the sustenance a young body on the go needs.

This reality no longer exists. Gone are the days when you could bury your troubles in a pile of gouda. Gone are the days you could bond with a new friend over your love for havarti. The deli sections at both McEwen and Commons have been stripped, rendered unrecognizable from their former glory. I miss them every day.

I should put in a disclaimer that I’m a vegetarian, so can’t even comprehend the absence of the cold cuts. I imagine the pain of the fellas, fresh off the field from a long hard practice where the coach is really riding them, when they discover they can’t make themselves a ham sandwich. Nobody disliked the deli bar, but it died for our sins.

I am sure that they took it away for a good reason. Leaving meat and cheeses out all day is probably a health risk. I’m sure it is good for the environment that I am no longer eating four slices of cheese per meal. I still miss it. I sometimes try to remember life when we had it. Was it actually any better? It had to be. Maybe I’ll get back there in my dreams.

LIFESTYLE |36

seasonal depression: how to not

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by Catharine Pierce

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h, yes. Seasonal Depression, meet Hamilton College. Hamilton College, meet seasonal depression. Come the end of Fall semester, and the first few months of Spring semester, we will be close acquaintances. Friends? Perhaps not, but we will certainly know each other well. The dark days seem to drone on forever, the sun rarely poking through, and the classes and workload endlessly piling up. It is hard to motivate to be outside, let alone to eat well and exercise. Sickness lingers. Fatigue plagues. Winter seems never-ending, and, well, in Clinton, New York it is.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is very real, and is triggered by changes in season, shorter days, and a lack of natural light.

Seasonal Depression intrusively disrupts one’s circadian rhythm, and robs us from the natural ebb and flow of feeling alert during the day and drowsy at night. It limits functionality, happiness, and sociability.

So, how can we resist? Some people swear by their “sun lamps,” light therapy boxes that mimic natural sunlight. These can help your body suppress its overproduction of melatonin, and resync your circadian rhythms. Others stand by Vitamin D pills or aromatherapies and candles, and others like to journal and talk about the negative feelings that arise when feeling the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

All of these strategies are useful, and everyone handles stress and sadness differently. Though I have not kicked seasonal depression in the butt, I’ve learned to keep it at bay and remain proactive in the darker months at Hamilton. Here are my words of wisdom: self-care stops for nothing. Not cold, not stress, not darkness, not tiredness. The times when it feels the absolute hardest to exercise and move your body are the times when it is the most important. Go to the gym. The times when you feel tired and sluggish and like you don’t want to get out of bed are the times you need to push yourself to be stronger. Get up, take a shower, chug some water, and eat an apple. When your head is telling you that all you want is a plate of French fries for dinner, your body is probably actually craving protein and vegetables. Get your fries on the side. When you want to roll out of bed in the morning and rush to class 5 minutes late in a sweatshirt, wake up a few minutes earlier instead, put on that nice outfit, and make your bed. You’ll thank yourself later.

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o… this past year I took a leap of faith. I had been feeling bored, it was summer and I was living in a new city without many friends.

I was scrolling through Tinder, and came across a new message in my inbox from “Dave, 48.”

My desired age range was not set, as, well, I’m just trying to meet new people. He was certainly not particularly attractive, but his message intrigued me: “Hello, beautiful. I’ve been looking through your pictures and you are quite beautiful. I see that you live around here, and I come up frequently for business trips. I’d like to strike up a deal. I’m single, I have a well-paying job, and I just want someone to talk to, and maybe go to dinner with twice a month. I don’t expect anything, and, in return, I will pay you a weekly allowance. Perhaps, I will even buy you some gifts, if you’re lucky.”

My heart was pounding… what was I supposed to do with this information? It seemed like a request too good to pass up. Some texting, some dinner, some gifts, all on someone else’s dime? It was sketchy, for sure, but I had been feeling a little lonely, and, well, it felt like it was worth a shot.

I respond.

“Hm…okay. What’s the first step? How am I supposed to trust this?”

Well, here is my number: [redacted]. Why don’t we text a little bit, and get to know each other. If you are interested, then we can FaceTime and talk about our little arrangement. How does $400 a week sound?”

How does $400 a week sound? HOW DOES $400 A WEEK SOUND?! It sounded great. It sounded amazing, really.

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eedless to say, I agreed, and we texted for a little while, and then we facetimed. We planned our first dinner to be two weeks from that Friday, at which point he brought with him a check for $800, as well as a Chanel purse. I was floored. Not only did I actually enjoy talking to him without any expectation of physicality, but I loved the money, and certainly didn’t mind the gifts. We had a nice dinner, and then we parted ways (only after he paid for my Uber, of course). He returned home to his residence in Miami, Florida, but would fly up to see me every two or so weeks and take me out to a meal. Each time we met up, he would

arrive with my check, and some other form of gift: one time it was a pair of beautiful gold earrings, the next a fancy leather jacket. He was spoiling me, and I loved it.

I

started to fall for the rhythm, the level of emotional detachment that I could maintain, and the feeling that someone loved talking to me. I loved feeling important. I had a sugar daddy. I was that girl. Well, only in my head. I kept it hidden from my friends, and honestly didn’t tell anybody at all. I made up excuses for where I was going and who I was seeing.

And, so, eventually I decided I needed to call it off. I needed more independence, and I needed to stop relying on a middle-aged man who was lonely and looking to indulge someone. But, do I regret doing it? Absolutely not. I took a chance, and it was fun and exhilarating. Everyone should find themselves a sugar daddy.

OPINION |4 2

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ndeniably, Hamilton’s campus has seen a lot of change in regards to its social scene over the past four years that the seniors have been on campus. Farmhouse was removed, and, after a long and grueling process, replaced by some grass and the Health Center. The Co-op parties are not what they once were, Bundy Dining Hall turned CafÊ is now just a relic of weird nights past, and the all-campus parties are far and few between, rather than the bimonthly occurrence they once were. And, come on, who didn’t look forward to the all-campus parties in the Hub, in Bundy Dining Hall, or in the Annex freshman year?

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amilton has been working to incentivize a less exclusive, safer drinking and party culture, and I commend them for that. Everyone deserves the opportunity to partake in on-campus events if they so choose. So, then, why are there so few of them? Why is the administration implementing more strict rules in an effort to promote a more welcoming culture?

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his past fall, the administration created a new requirement that all Greek fraternities and sororities, which they referred to as “private societies,” must pay for third-party insurance if they wanted to host an on-campus event that served alcohol. This demographic represents a sizable portion of the organizations that used to throw on-campus parties. Due to the liability it imposed on the school, they no longer allowed these private societies to throw parties without paying for it. Here’s the catch: all other organizations on campus are covered by the college’s insurance if choosing to host events on campus. Though Greek organizations are seen as “exclusive,” the chance to open up a party to the public is now not feasible, since it would cost the organization an extra $150 per event. The financial burden falls on the shoulders of the students, and thus events are frequently cancelled and relocated to off-campus locations.

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reek life is a far larger portion of the Hamilton community than the administration wishes to admit, yet these societies are not represented as organizations, while there are other groups on campus that are exclusive and pay dues just the same. With the presidents of fraternities and sororities on the “orgleaders” listserv, they are required to go through the same club leader trainings, the same Title IX trainings, and they are expected to follow the same rules of the other clubs – even those that are recognized by the school as an organization of students.

If Greek organizations are held to the same standards as other student organizations, but are not covered by the college’s other policies, then where do they stand? When will the ambiguity and confusing language surrounding “private societies’” role on campus be debunked? If Greek societies aren’t student organizations, then what are they? Let’s demystify the language surrounding organization requirements, and let’s bring back the on-campus life that seniors loved and relied on during their transition to Hamilton College. Let’s strive to make Hamilton fun again.

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