The Spectator - Opinion - Hamilton College

Opinion

Past, present and future of Africana Studies

April 7, 2016

When I first arrived at Hamilton College, I was so sure that I wanted to be a World Politics major, as I believed that I wanted to start traveling the world, changing governments and being the change that I wanted to see in the world. While I still hold a healthy level of respect for World Politics, it was not for me. The moment that I sat in an Africana Studies course, I knew what I wanted to major in. After I took courses such as the “Black Self” with the Sidney Wertimer Professor of Philosophy, Professor Todd Franklin, “Queers of Color Critique” with Visiting Professor of Africana Studies, Yumi Pak ,and “Blackness and American Pop Culture” with Visiting Professor of Africana Studies, Courtney Thompson, I was sold on the Africana Studies department. More ...

Why spring break Instagrams are the worst

March 31, 2016

Instagram ruined my spring break. Everyone has probably heard from rowers about how awful rowing can be, but it was not the workouts, early mornings or the torn-up hands that got to me; my happiness and athletic drive was sapped by sunset shots over Punta Cana. My ability to shoulder the workload that rowing demands has always come from a sense of solidarity with my teammates as all of us share the same burden. Within the team bubble, I have found motivation to embrace two weeks of two-a-days. Instagram, as is its insidious design, dragged my focus away from the team and onto the enviable, heavily edited spring breaks of my friends. More ...

Spring breaking point: learning to fight back against my depression

March 31, 2016

Spring break: the time for visits with friends, expensive trips to tropical places and countless Instagram pictures of smiling people having fun. While a boozy beach was not my intended vacation destination—I was looking forward to spending two weeks training with the rowing team in scenic Tennessee—I certainly did not anticipate where I actually ended up. More ...

Commercialism vs. the “Noise” I listen to

March 31, 2016

“That’s just awful!” “How can you listen to that garbage all the time?” “I can’t believe you actually like this.” No, I’m not a Ted Cruz supporter, but I am a big fan of heavy metal. If you do not already know who I am, I’m that dude that plays metal for an hour on the radio station, usually at inconvenient times such as at 9 in the morning (sorry!) or midnight on Thirsty Thursdays as people are stumbling across Martin’s Way. While I definitely got more reactions of surprise throughout high school from my friend group, I still run into some people who criticize me for liking metal and for having “horrible taste” in music. I find the latter to be a particularly interesting claim. What exactly constitutes having a “good” taste in music? More ...

Talks of social change unfitting for Oscars

March 10, 2016

It has become an iconic pop culture moment when, at the 1973 Oscars, Marlon Brando refused to accept his award for his role in The Godfather as a stance against Hollywood’s treatment of the Native American community, sending a Native American actress in traditional garb—and a full face of Hollywood makeup—to the stage in his stead to deliver this social message to the Oscar crowd. Reactions to this gesture were mixed; some admired the courage and honor in taking social responsibility as a public figure, some were insulted by Brando’s pointed condemnation of their industry. Nonetheless, it has since become standard for the Oscars to incorporate some kind of muted social message as a meek acknowledgement of the overwhelming privilege of everyone in the room and behind the scenes, during which most audience members at home take a bathroom break. More ...

Meet President Donald Trump

March 10, 2016

To begin, I would like to include some disclaimers. As a founder and co-president of Hamilton for Bernie Sanders, I do not want Donald Trump to be president, nor do I agree with him on any subject save the corrupting influence of campaign contributions. His candidacy is a farce, his success a disgrace and his election would be an unmitigated disaster. However, given the primary results so far, the nature of this race as a whole and the likelihood of a Hillary Clinton nomination, Donald Trump just might be our next president. More ...

P.E. classes unnecessary for varsity athletes

March 10, 2016

I am all for physical education. As a member of the varsity women’s soccer team and the varsity women’s rowing team, I wholeheartedly believe that excersise and sports teach important values and skills that can be carried throughout a person’s life. Physical education has the ability to improve the quality of living by educating people about the importance of nutrition and regular exercise. Students at Hamilton College are required to complete a total of three physical education classes before graduation. There are a wide variety of classes offered, from swimming to racquetball to yoga, and many more. More ...

Angela Davis inspires Hamilton campus

March 3, 2016

Last Friday, Feb. 26, the Hamilton community had the distinct honor of receiving the legendary Dr. Angela Davis set to lecture in the chapel. Renowned political activist and author, Davis played an integral role in the Civil Rights Movement as an unapologetic critic of social situations. More ...

What NEDAW means to me, a survivor

March 3, 2016

On Sunday, Feb. 21, my phone was flooded with messages from a group text that is seldom used these days. Most of the messages from each member were identical, but profoundly impactful nonetheless: “Happy National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, ladies.” While I hardly talk to these girls anymore, I can say with full confidence that they are some of the most important friends I have ever made and will ever have. These are the girls I met during my year off from Hamilton, who helped me feel like I was not alone in my struggles. These are the girls who helped save my life. More ...

February results: 5% Black, 0% History

March 3, 2016

Let me begin with a few facts. First, black history does not begin on February 1st, nor does it end on February 28th. Second, despite the dominant narrative taught in schools, black history does not begin after colonialism and is not centered on the legacy of slavery. Finally, black history is to be celebrated and acknowledged, not disregarded as institutions choose to do. More ...