The Spectator - Opinion archive

Opinion

Hamilton deserves distinction as changemaker campus

October 31, 2014

Ashoka U recently recognized Hamilton as one of 29 changemaker campuses. For students’ work in Utica and the surrounding area, Hamilton joined colleges such as Duke, Cornell and Brown as leaders in social innovation. Similar to the economic diversity ranking I wrote about earlier this year, this ranking allows us to ask a few questions about Hamilton’s social innovation: What is it? and Does Hamilton have social innovation? More ...

Fall break leaves students inactive and bored

October 24, 2014

Every year, most students leave campus for fall break, with only a smattering of students remaining – principally West Coasters and international students. This year, because Fallcoming and Family Weekend happened both on the same weekend and right before fall break, a fair number of students who would usually go home remained. This highlights a perennial problem for those who stay on-campus: an almost complete lack of things to do. More ...

Plush Pink Pig Thing vs. Alex

October 24, 2014

Let’s talk about whimsy. Dictionary definition: playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor. (Examples: Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, Monty Python’s Dead Parrot sketch, the Coen Brothers’ The Big Lebowski, Diane Keaton’s fashion statement in Annie Hall, half the tracks on Sgt. Pepper or The White Album) I realize I’ve dated myself with that list, but you get the point. More ...

Letter to the Editor: Vance Joy Concert Cancellation

October 24, 2014

Less than one week ago, CAB and I were informed by Vance Joy’s management that due to personal issues, Vance Joy would be unable to perform at Hamilton on Oct. 24. Why did this happen? Cancellations and postponing concerts can happen for a number of reasons, but in this particular instance a personal issue impeded Vance’s ability to perform on campus. Out of respect for his privacy, we have not pressed the issue, and as a board we have decided to move forward with postponing the show and focus our energy on creating even better programs in the future. More ...

Study abroad raises students’ global and personal awareness

October 9, 2014

Less than two months ago, I was living and studying in Beijing. It was only for less than two months, but now, the distance between Hamilton and Beijing seems like the distance between the moon and Mars, and two months might as well have been two years. More ...

Does Hamilton have economic diversity?

October 9, 2014

Is Hamilton more diverse than the Ivies? The New York Times College Access Index recently ranked Hamilton 27th in economic diversity, above such colleges as Yale, Princeton and Cornell. While this index has its shortcomings, Hamilton’s ranking is certainly a worthy topic of discussion. It raises many questions: what is economic diversity? Does Hamilton have it? Is it as important as other forms of diversity on a college campus? More ...

Title IX changes will improve bias, rape culture

October 3, 2014

The patriarchy and rape culture are not the imaginings of feminist man-haters who work hard everyday to recreate their victimized status. They perpetuate violence upon countless people on this campus, in this country and abroad. More ...

Should Hamilton change its Greek life?

October 3, 2014

Sexual assault on college campuses has been a matter of great concern and debate for many years. Recently, however, reports of on-campus sexual assault have increased nationwide, and many survivors and supporters are searching for the cause. More ...

Letter to the Editor: Professor Philip Klinkner

October 3, 2014

In response to various controversies about the campus climate, President Stewart has appointed a working group to address issues of diversity and inclusion. While it remains to be seen what recommendations this group will produce, the usual pattern for such bodies is to produce some well-intentioned but ultimately ineffective proposals. This ineffectiveness results from a mistaken belief that the problems we face are largely remedied by education and etiquette. Education and etiquette both have their place, but they ignore the broader context that drives issues of inequality and privilege. More ...

Signing the Out and Ally list will increase LGBTQ awareness

September 26, 2014

Everyone should sign the Out and Ally List. Before I start explaining why, I will allow one exception. If you are in a situation in which signing either list would cause a substantial problem in your life, then please do not feel obligated by what I’m about to say. I was privileged enough to grow up in a household, community and even attend a religious school which supported the LGBTQ community. But not everyone did, and I can recognize that people in those situations have very valid reasons why they cannot sign. As for the rest of you, listen up. More ...