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Two book reviews written by Hamilton College Professor of History Maurice Isserman were featured in The Chicago Tribune (Aug. 29, 2004). Isserman reviewed Mona Z. Smith’s Becoming Something: The Story of Canada Lee (Faber and Faber) and Nadine Cohadas' Queen: The Life and Music of Dinah Washington (Pantheon) for the daily newspaper. Both Canada Lee and Dinah Washington were African-American pioneers in the world of entertainment, helping to achieve equal rights for African-Americans in both movies and music in the 1940s.

Hamilton College Professors Cheng Li, Ann Frechette, Thomas Wilson and Kyoko Omori have been awarded research grants from the Freeman Foundation for their proposals for Asian studies research projects. The grant program funds both long-term and short-term projects. Projects that receive funding from the Freeman Foundation are focused on professional development of the Hamilton Asian studies faculty.

Incoming first-year Hamilton students are participating in Adirondack Adventure, an outdoor orientation program for new students. More than 200 students arrived a week before regular orientation for eight days of games, hiking, canoeing and service projects. Coordinated by Andrew Jillings, director of adventure program, Adirondack Adventure (AA) offers 25 different outdoor expeditions. Trips range from standard Adirondack explorations -- hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and rock climbing -- to more unusual trips, such as a service trip, and a geological exploration.

Michael Gruen ‘06 (Englewood, NJ) has always been an avid gamer. So when given the opportunity to combine his love for computer technology with his academic studies, Gruen took full advantage. 

For an archaeology major, classroom study is important but visiting an excavation site is key to understanding an area. Wendy Garratt-Reed, ’05 (Reading, Mass.) was recently awarded an Emerson Scholarship from Hamilton College that will enable her to conduct an archaeological study of an early 19th century homestead in St. George, Maine. Working with Hamilton Professor Tom Jones, Garratt-Reed plans to spend six weeks this summer in St. George, doing archaeological excavations. After the excavations, Garrat-Reed will spend four weeks conducting research, pursuing any lingering questions regarding the history of the homestead site.

Andrew Lyons '06 (New Haven, Conn.) is hoping to uncover a little bit of history, and end debates surrounding the death of an innocent slave in Charleston, S.C., in 1822. He will do this with the help of Hamilton College History Professor Robert Paquette and funding from an Emerson grant.

As the editor-in-chief of Hamilton College’s student newspaper, The Spectator, a staff writer for The Poughkeepsie Journal, and a guest columnist for the local Utica Observer-Dispatch, Kat McGrory ’05 (Poughkeepsie, NY) has a deep interest in journalism and print media. Despite all her experience working in newsrooms, McGrory still had lingering questions about the history of journalism and how modern technology has been affecting journalists’ ability to remain objective. As an Emerson scholar, McGrory hopes to explore this topic, examining objectivity in newsrooms and the role digital technology plays in reporting.

“Stop Hamilton’s Million Dollar Energy Bill!” Members of the Hamilton community have undoubtedly seen the signs around campus and in dorms. However, other than turning off the lights, how can Hamilton College be more environmentally-friendly?  Dave Gordon (New York, NY), Zachary Hesse (Jenkintown, Pa.) and Matt Himmel (Lexington, Ma.) are trying to find a different, more efficient way to produce energy right on campus; the three were recently awarded a collaborative Emerson Scholarship from Hamilton College to finance their endeavor.

As a chemistry major at Hamilton, Christy House ’06 (West Winfield, NY) has had little time to pursue one of her other true passions: art. As a recipient of a summer research grant, House will put down the test tube and pick up some clay to create her Emerson-funded art project.

Amanda Bennett ’06 (Enfield, Conn.) believes her Emerson scholarship will allow her to acquire interdisciplinary research skills. She has spent the last two summers conducting research for Hamilton’s Chemistry Department. However, this summer her research will go in an entirely different direction.