Common Reading should guide students in the next chapter of life

This week, the First-Year Experience Committee invited members of the campus community to discuss the problems first-years face in acclimating to college life. Simultaneously, the Common Reading Committee continues to discuss how to make the common reading a year-long, integrative experience that can work to bring the campus together. These two committees, however, are not effectively working in concert, and in failing to do so, the administration is missing a unique opportunity to both enhance the common reading experience and help students adjust at the same time.

Fixing first-year foibles

The Committee on the First-Year Experience is slated to talk with members of the community next Monday about the challenges students face when they arrive at Hamilton. The discussion could not come at a more opportune time; the campus, amidst concerns surrounding destructive drinking behavior, could benefit from a second look at how one of the most critical aspects of the first-year experience—orientation—sets the stage for the rest of a student’s college career. One major revision to the way orientation is run has already occurred: Residential Life now leads orientation, starting with last month’s program for Jan-admits and transfers.

Hammering out the consequences of excess drinking

Cultural mindset runs deeper than alcohol abuse

Dean Nancy Thompson recently sent out an email detailing several frightening incidents that occurred this past weekend, all of which likely arose as a result of irresponsible alcohol consumption. Such incidents highlight the alcohol-related problems facing Hamilton’s community that will be discussed in the town hall meeting this Saturday. Although alcohol
consumption will probably be the major topic of discussion in the meeting, we would like to stress that these incidents are ultimately reflective not only of careless partying, but of deeper issues underlying the campus culture.

TipNow’s anonymity may threaten accountability

The recent implementation of the TipNow program at Hamilton is an important step toward empowering the student body to take control of the safety and community environment on campus. We hope the student body will see the value of such a program and use it responsibly. While we commend and appreciate Campus Safety’s approach, we are concerned about many of the logistical issues this tipline raises.

To each his own: Opinion section welcomes all

Showing our true colors: “Out and Ally” list is about individuality and acceptance

This year’s “Out & Ally” List, published on National Coming Out Day and printed on page 4 of this week’s issue of The Spectator, is an important step toward creating a safe and open environment for LGBT students.
We applaud Amit Taneja, director of the Days-Massolo Cultural Education Center (CEC), for implementing Hamilton’s first “Out & Ally” List this year as part of the celebration of LGBT history month. The list provides support for LGBT students and faculty at Hamilton and asserts the student body’s capacity to unify in support of a cause important to fellow students. The list is a subtle yet powerful way to make the campus more aware of our LGBT peers and remind us of the issues that they face on an everyday basis. 

Bringing the Amethyst Initiative back into the limelight

A common lesson of growing up is that if you make a promise, you should keep it.  But over the past two years, a 199-year-old — Hamilton College — has forgotten a major promise it made to both the campus community and the public: signing the Amethyst Initiative.  Instead of the constructive dialogue on drinking that we were promised, substantial crackdowns on the consumption of alcohol have occurred without an ongoing evaluation of effective policy.