All News

The Hamilton College Democrats sponsored a speech by David Corn, former editor of The Nation magazine and new bureau chief of Mother Jones, on Oct. 22. Corn discussed the prospects of Democratic and Republican candidates in the 2008 presidential election, and suggested that a Democratic win was possible but still uncertain.

In August, 2007, chef Stephen Durfee '85 was awarded the title Certified Executive Pastry Chef by the American Culinary Federation and is currently a pastry chef instructor at The Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, Calif. On Oct. 27, Chef Durfee will lead the Northern California Alumni Association in a chocolate and candy making demonstration at the Greystone School. Nearly 30 guests will join Chef Durfee in the Culinary Institute's kitchen for this special opportunity.  

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's nomination of Carl T. Hayden '63 to the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees was confirmed by the New York State Senate on Oct. 23. Spitzer also designated Hayden chairman of the SUNY Board.

Author Glendyne Wergland, whose most recent book, Visiting the Shakers: 1778-1849, was recently published by Hamilton's Couper Press, presented the Couper Phi Beta Kappa Library Lecture on Oct. 23. The Couper lecture was established in 2005 to honor Hamilton alumnus Richard "Dick" Couper '44. Couper died in January 2006. This annual lecture recognizes Couper's commitment and contributions to the college and the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Each fall a distinguished speaker is invited to present topics related to the college's special library collections or to present an issue related to libraries in general.

Professor of Comparative Literature Peter J. Rabinowitz gave a plenary talk at the First International Narratological Conference, sponsored by the Jiangxi Academy of Social Sciences, and held in Nanchang in October. Rabinowitz, one of only six foreign scholars invited to the conference, delivered a paper titled "Understanding Rhetorical Nuance: Western Music and Narrative Theory."

Frank Anechiarico, Maynard Knox Professor of Government and Law, delivered a keynote address titled "Building Public Sector Effectiveness and Integrity – Together" at the first Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption (APSAC) Conference on Wednesday, October 24. Held in Sydney, Australia, from Oct. 23 – 26, the conference was a joint initiative of Australia's leading anti-corruption bodies comprising the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission. Participants were drawn from Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas and included representatives from law enforcement, higher education, the public sector and local government.

The X-Viper Hour Audio Theater Group brought professors, administrators and students together for a special Faculty Stars Showcase on WHCL 88.7fm on Oct. 21. Professors Richard Bedient, Gregory Pierce, Alfred Kelly, Katheryn Doran and Nat Strout, along with Dean of Faculty Joseph Urgo and students Mark Fitzsimmons '09, Katie Myers '08, Jennifer Mitchell '09 and Richard Sonne '08 recreated "The Tom Keeler Murder Case."

Associate Professor of History Shoshana Keller participated in a roundtable discussion on "Teaching in and about Eurasia: Methods and Resources for a New Generation of Teachers," at the Central Eurasian Studies Society conference in Seattle on Oct. 19. The roundtable was sponsored by the Social Science Research Council, and concerned a seminar Keller taught in Kyrgyzstan and a new, internet-based teaching resource tool she is developing with SSRC.

Mike Barlow '75 is the author of Partnering With the CIO: The Future of IT Sales Seen Through the Eyes of Key Decision Makers (John Wiley & Sons, 2007). His co-author is Michael Minelli. According to a review CIOs (Chief Investment Officers – the executives who make and influence major IT processing decisions) spend more than $1.2 trillion on software and hardware each year. Partnering with the CIO looks at the InfoTech sales process from the CIO's perspective. Barlow '75  is an award-winning journalist, seasoned media professional and management consultant. He graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in English Literature. 

Brian Chiappinelli '92 gave a talk titled "The Great Divide: Understanding the 'Buy Side' and the 'Sell Side'" on October 21. The event was part of the new alumni-led Hamilton Investment & Finance Series which aims to prepare students for interviews, internships and careers in financial fields. The talk provided an extensive introduction to the variety of careers available on the buy side and the sell side, and emphasized the importance of Hamilton's liberal arts education to the students' success in finance, regardless of their majors.