The Spectator - Opinion - Hamilton College

Orientation Review: senior vs. first-year

September 3, 2015

Caroline Harrington '16 Two weeks ago, a new crop of first-years showed up on the Hill to crowds of cheering AA, OA and XA leaders. The enthusiastic leaders, dressed in Salvation Army’s finest mix of colorful ’80s paraphernalia and ugly hats, welcomed Hamilton’s newest students with their classic signs promising “ice cream for breakfast” and “no bedtimes.” ... Sophia Wang ’19 Is huddling inside a cold sleeping bag, listening to the scratching sound of roaring wind enjoyable? Probably not. ... More ...

The Donald and the rise of American Populism

September 3, 2015

Those who follow the trials and tribulations of European politics are likely aware of burgeoning political movements which are not necessarily defined by ideology or a strict policy outlook. Instead, they rely on charismatic rhetoric that demonizes the established political class, business elites and international interests that either meddle in the country’s affairs, or send their problems to them via immigrants. Almost every country in Europe has an example of such a party or political movement, and the time has come for the American political mainstream to welcome this populist revolution into its midst. More ...

Better ways to talk about ‘privilege’

May 7, 2015

In my life, the word privilege comes up when I am discussing almost every liberally-minded topic. Unless someone has been exposed to these conversations, there is a good chance they have never heard it before in this context. The term ‘white privilege’ had not been used until 1965, when Theodore W. Allen began studying it with his pamphlet “White Blindspot.” The term began to be publicized in newspapers, but even now the concept of privilege is new to many Americans, even threatening to some. From first-hand experience, I can say that introducing the term ‘privilege’ can easily lead to defensiveness and outright hostility from either side. More ...

We must stop glorifying domestic abuse

May 7, 2015

Domestic violence, a pattern of behavior used to establish power or control over others through fear or intimidation, continues to plague American society. Many women and men constantly live in fear of their loved ones throughout their lives. Households, work environments and college campuses become uncomfortable and daunting environments. Currently, one-in-four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and men are the victims of nearly three million physical assaults in the U.S. However, despite this prevalent issue, we live in a culture that glorifies abusive behaviors and violence toward loved ones. The Hamilton community should raise awareness when cultural depictions normalize domestic violence. More ...

THE SOAPBOX: More diversity needed in TV’s LGBTQ characters

May 7, 2015

Television and films feature a large push for greater representation in media. Often viewers will turn on the TV and see groups of young, white people living some upbeat city life and dealing with arbitrary issues of dating and employment. People want to be able to look at popular media and see accurate representations of themselves, rather than just stories of someone with whom they do not identify. One of the reasons Glee was so popular when it began its run on television was that people wanted to see characters that were LGBTQ, disabled or belonged in some minority group as the main stars of the show. Viewers want diversity and representation, but networks are not doling it out in the quantities that are needed. More ...

Feeling safe to speak: gossip’s destructive power

May 1, 2015

I just finished a two-week run of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” in which, at one point, my character turns to the audience and says, “In our town, we like to know the facts about everybody.” At Hamilton College, this is especially true. More ...

Immigration is a justifiable pursuit for opportunities

May 1, 2015

Recent events like the Baltimore riots and the Nepal earthquake have devastated people across the globe. Yet, despite the tragic nature of these events, some here at Hamilton would likely ask, “how is an event happening hundreds or thousands of miles away any of my concern?” However, as more people start to migrate from these devastated areas, many across the world are beginning to understand their responsibilities in helping the global community. More ...

Being grateful to Hamilton is not too much to ask

May 1, 2015

I am writing this article not as editor-in-chief of The Spectator, not as a senior gift committee member, but rather as a member of the class of 2015. I was not asked to write this by anyone on the senior gift committee or elsewhere in the administration. In fact, I am not the biggest fan of my class’s senior gift. I do not particularly understand why we need to have an outdoor classroom in the middle of the snowiest area in the country. However, I happily contributed to the senior gift because of what it symbolizes. Giving back to the place that has given me more than I could possibly imagine. More ...

Student Assembly lacks student input

April 24, 2015

Last semester, I helped the Hamilton College Student Assembly to host a student government conference for student leaders from other NESCAC colleges. It was exciting and interesting to hear the perspectives of other colleges’ students about topical issues like drinking, facilities and student government transparency. Most interesting to me, however, was the variety of conversations I had with other student leaders about student government’s role as a bridge between the students and the administration. According to its constitution, one of Hamilton’s Student Assembly’s primary purposes is “to provide the governing bodies of the College with the best possible understanding of the sentiment and opinions of the student body, and to foster the serious consideration of these opinions.” Some delegations which attended the conference had great relationships with their respective administrations, and others had great relationships with their student bodies; it was wonderful to learn about how these relationships function. It made me want the same for us. More ...

Hamilton must be better prepared for emergencies

April 24, 2015

The campus culture towards emergencies needs to change. The Hamilton Emergency Response Team (HERT), Campus Safety, students and faculty all reacted poorly to the bomb and shooter threats on Monday. More ...