Hamilton in the News

Zhiqun Zhu, visiting assistant professor of government, was interviewed by Cybercast News Service for an article about Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the U.S.  Zhu, a former U.S. diplomatic official in Shanghai, said, "If Wen does not return home with  U.S. promise to rein in the Taiwanese independence movement," Beijing will consider his visit a failure.

Cheng Li, the William R. Kenan Professor of Government, comments on Premier Wen Jiabao's U.S. visit live on BBC Radio World Service. (Between 3:30 and 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8 on the BBC World Service. Click on "Audio: Newshour" to listen with Real Player.) Wen is on a four-day visit to the U.S. that will include a meeting with President George Bush at the White House on Tuesday.  Topics to be discussed include Taiwan, North Korea and trade issues.

Frank Sciacca, associate professor of Russian and professor for the sophomore seminar on 1968, along with Matt Stewart '06, appeared on WCNY TV's "HOUR CNY," with George Kilpatrick on Dec. 9. The sophomore seminar class organized the "1968:So You Want a Revolution" exhibition at Emerson Gallery. Sciacca and Stewart brought Life magazines, posters and political buttons to illustrate on air some of the items in the show. The point of the exhibition is to demonstrate how the political and social forces of the era contributed to the cultural evolution that culminated in 1968.

Zhiqun Zhu, visiting assistant professor of government, was interviewed on BBC "The World Today" on Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's current visit to the U.S. and U.S.-China relations. Zhu said Taiwan and trade will be two distinct issues on the Prime Minister's agenda. Zhu expected Wen to ask President Bush to issue a clear-cut statement opposing Taiwanese independence. Failing that, Wen would press the American government to curb Taiwan's movement toward formal independence from China. On the trade issue, he said, "Prime Minister Wen is expected to explain China's positions. Wen may argue that trade is global and trade imbalance between China and the U.S. is structural."

Zhiqun Zhu, visiting assistant professor of government, was interviewed on BBC "The World Today" about Taiwanese president Chen Shuibian's decision to hold a referendum on China's missiles in March 2004.  Zhu pointed out that though this particular topic may not evoke an immediate military response from Chinese mainland, it is unnecessarily provocative.  He said it opens the door for future, more dangerous referendums and suggested that the Chinese mainland may simply ask, what can you offer in return if we withdraw the missiles?  "The United States will probably not oppose this specific Taiwanese referendum since at various times, the U.S. has also asked the PRC to reduce tensions across the Taiwan Strait by reducing the number of Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan, said Zhu.  "But the dilemma is, pro-independence politicians in Taiwan will interpret U.S. inaction to rein in further provocations as America's tacit support for their dangerous policy," he explained.

An interview with Associate Professor of English Catherine Gunther Kodat will air on WIBX 950AM on Thursday and Friday, December 4 and 5. Kodat was interviewed about The Nutcracker ballet, which will be performed locally on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, at the Stanley Theatre in Utica. Kodat's interview is scheduled to air on Thursday, Dec. 4 during the 5 p.m. news hour, and again on Friday, Dec. 5, during the morning news. Kodat, a former dance critic for The Baltimore Sun and Dance Magazine, has conducted research on 20th-century American ballet and modern dance.

Tom Meehan, a 1951 graduate of Hamilton, was featured in the December 1 issue of Time Magazine in a story about his career writing Broadway plays. Meehan is known for writing the Broadway hits "Annie," "The Producers" and "Hairspray." The article notes: "At Hamilton College in upstate New York, he earned the senior writing prize of $350 before graduating and moving to New York City."

Richard Skinner '92, visiting instructor of government, was interviewed by Cox News Service for a story about how GOP leaders are protecting their legislative priorities by adopting unprecedented tactics in the conference committees, including barring the door to Democrats.  Skinner said, "The Senate is already on the verge of breaking down completely."  He continued, "The House is looking like a European parliament, where the prime minister runs everything and all the opposition party can do is talk and watch."  The article appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Austin American-Statesman among others.

Professor of Geology Eugene Domack and Professors of Biology Ernest Williams amd William Pfitsch were quoted in a November 10 <i>Syracuse Post-Standard</i> article on the unique geology and ecosystem of the Rome Sand Plains. Domack spoke on the development of the Sand Plains at the end of the last ice age some 12,000 years ago. Williams and Pfitsch are involved in an effort, along with Morrisville State College scientists, to preserve the habitat of the Sand Plains, which could provide a restoration site for the wild blue lupine plant and the endangered Karner blue butterfly.

Tracy Sharpley-Whiting, professor of French and chair of Africana Studies, was interviewed for an on-line article that denounces hip hop music for glorifying pimping for Women's ENews. Hip hop, popular urban rap music, was the second most-popular music genre in 2002, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Hip hop lyrics often contain references to pimping and prostitution, which sends a bad message to teenage girls, says Sharpley-Whiting.