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The Hamilton community gathered en masse in Wellin Hall on Sept. 24 for the Hamilton College Bicentennial Assembly. The Assembly featured speakers representing members of all parts of the College community. Speakers addressed Hamilton’s distinguished past, bright future and the elements that make the College a truly unique institution. The event served as a keynote feature of the weekend that kicked off the yearlong celebration of Hamilton’s first 200 years.

The dedication of the Edward and Virginia Taylor Science Center was a joyful celebration of the Taylors’ generosity coupled with recognition of Hamilton’s commitment to science education and liberal arts values. The naming ceremony, a highlight of the college’s bicentennial kickoff weekend, was held in the center’s atrium on Friday, Sept. 23.

Bicentennial Colleges and tours continued on Saturday of Kickoff Weekend. Faculty authors read from their works; Professors Douglas Ambrose and Robert Martin discussed the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton; and Professor Rick Werner talked ab out the idea of happiness as put forth in the Declaration of Independence.

Assistant Professor of History John Eldevik published a review of Mary Fischer’s The Chronicle of Prussia by Nicolaus von Jeroschin: A History of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia 1190-1331 in the September issue of The Medieval Review.

On September 21, students in Hamilton's New York City program visited the Barclays Capital building for a discussion hosted by Hamilton alumni George Mack ’93 and Alexandra Leighton ’09. Barclays Capital, located on 49th Street and 7th Avenue, is one of the world’s premier investment banks.

Valerie Bunce, the Aaron Binenkorb Professor of International Studies and Professor of Government at Cornell University, will present a lecture titled “When U.S. Democracy Assistance Works” on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m., in the Fillius Events Barn. The lecture, which is part of the Levitt Public Affairs Center’s fall series on security, is free and open to the public.

“Glorious.” “What an unforgettable weekend.” “An incredible gathering.” In this gallery, photos from the Bicentennial Kickoff Weekend attempt to convey all that words can’t.

Among the Bicentennial Kickoff celebration weekend activities were more than 30 Bicentennial colleges and tours. Besides several dedicated to the life and times of Alexander Hamilton, these lectures and historical tours covered topics ranging from the Archaeology of Hamilton College to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.  Student writers attended the Colleges throughout the weekend to provide a glimpse of the range of topics covered.  Following are synopses of a few that took place on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 22 and 23.

WAMC/Northeast Public Radio in Albany featured a reading by Barbara Gold, the Edward North Professor of Classics, on Monday, Sept. 26, as part of the public radio station’s Academic Minute. Gold examined how Christians of the late Roman Empire created the modern concept of what it means to be a martyr. Academic Minute can also be heard on many other public radio stations across the nation and is featured daily on InsideHigherEd. The program airs each weekday at 7:37 a.m. and 3:56 p.m. on 90.3 FM in the Clinton area.

When it comes to hydraulic fracturing, or “hydrofracking,” New York State has taken a “think first, drill later” approach. To engage the Hamilton community in the thinking and learning phase of this process, two panelists explained the basics of hydrofracking in New York at a discussion sponsored by the Levitt Public Affairs Center on Sept. 23.