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Think Tank

Think Tanks are weekly discussions organized by two students each year, and sponsored by the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center. The topics range widely, but often include an informal discussion led by a Hamilton College faculty member.

Erica Hassink and Karima Shah are organizers of the Think Tank, a weekly discussion series held on Fridays at noon, sponsored by the Levitt Center.

Last week's topic was Quantitative Literacy. Leading the discussion were Academic Support Coordinator Mary O'Neill, Q-Lit Tutor Bea Dias '04, and members of the Q-Lit Committee, Professor of Mathematics Tim Kelly and Professor of Economics Jeff Pilskin. The panel lead a discussion on the following points:

1. What is Quantitative Literacy, and why is it important?
2. What is Hamilton's Quantitative Literacy Requirement?
3. What is the QLit. Center's role in supporting Quantitative Literacy?
4. Who are the tutors, and what do they do?


Director of Institutional Research Gordon Hewitt led a Friday discussion on "The Academic Labor Movement and What It Tells Us About Higher Education." His graduate research was on collective bargaining in higher education, particularly by graduate students and adjunct professors.


In early April, Professor of Anthropology Douglas Raybeck (pictured above with Shauna Sweet '03) led a Think Tank discussion entitled: "The Paedomorph and the Priestess: Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart as Cultural Icons." Prof. Raybeck described his topic in the following way:  "The United States media has recently expended considerable time, money and coverage on two of its most prominent public figures --Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart. Each stands at opposites ends of our concepts of cultural acceptability. Jackson violates our sense of order and the neatness of our categories, while Stewart has created an empire founded on order and the maintenance of categories. Whereas Jackson seems to be purposefully 'out of place,' Stewart seems to be just as purposefully defining the nature of 'in place'. Jackson's persona as 'paedomorph' contrasts strongly with Stewart's presentation as 'priestess'. Both involve elements of magic and religion ranging from changelings to vestal virgins."


Professor of Sociology Daniel Chambliss lead a discussion titled "George W. Bush: Not At ALL A Conservative" as part of the Think Tank Brown Bag lunch series on Feb. 27. Chambliss outlined the ways in which President Bush and his administration have strayed from the traditional conservative ideology of preserving the status quo, conserving resources, and restricting the power and reach of the federal government.More



The last in the fall Think Tank series featured Hamilton Chaplain Jeff McArn (shown above). Using various visual images, he discussed the figure of Jesus, focusing on the popularization of the Jesus figure (in such films as Godspell and Jesus Christ, Superstar) and the Jesus movements of the late 1960s/ early 1970s. Discussion revolved around Jesus as a Christian figure, American figure and pop culture figure, and the perception of Jesus in today's culture.

Other Think Tank featured speakers included:

Visiting Assistant Professor of History Aram Goudsouzian who discussed the popularity of Sidney Poitier. Discussion focused on Poitier's most popular film, 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,' in an effort to understand how racial politics shaped both his popularity and his downfall.

Associate Professor of Philosophy Katheryn Doran, led a discussion on The Supreme Court decision on Sodomy, Privacy, and Equal Protection: Lawrence v. Texas, June 26, 2003.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Government Carlos Yordan discussed the origins of the U.S. postwar strategy for Iraq.

Classics Professor Carl Rubino spoke about Alexander Hamilton's birth and upbringing on the island of Nevis and how they affected his subsequent opinions and career. He will also talk about some ways of establishing and maintaining a strong connection between the island and the college.

Monk Rowe, the Joe Williams Director of the Hamilton College Jazz Archive shared selected clips from the more than 250 videotaped interviews with jazz artists that are available in the archives.

2002-2003 Think Tank