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Throughout the fall semester, Hamilton played host to a broad range of approximately 70 speakers, from a pair of political consultants representing both major parties to a Himalayan mountaineer, on a wide variety of topics, from the history of U.S.-Cuban diplomacy to genetic coding. A review of a list of some of these visitors highlights the diversity of disciplines, views and interests represented on campus as well as the opportunities afforded our students and our community.

Hamilton College is mourning the death of former president Harry C. Payne, who died unexpectedly on Monday in Atlanta. In announcing the death to the campus community, President Joan Hinde Stewart said, "On behalf of Hamilton, I extend our deepest sympathy to Hank's wife Deborah and the Payne family."

Sgt. John B. Gates, a horticultural grounds worker at Hamilton, and his platoon were the recipients of care packages collected and sent by students at Hamilton. A new student organization, Hamilton College Supports the Troops (HCSTT), was formed in November to gather care packages to American troops serving abroad.  Gates sent a thank you note and photo of his platoon to Tamar Nobel '08, one of the organizers of the collection drive. Nobel hopes to organize another collection drive during the spring semester.

Three exhibits opening on Monday, Jan. 14, at Hamilton's Emerson Gallery explore key moments in African-American history through photography and political satire. Two photography exhibits are comprised of images of Underground Railroad sites and Civil War venues at which black soldiers fought. The third exhibit explores the reality of life for many African-Americans in post-Civil War America as seen through images of political cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902).

Thanks to the generous support of its young alumni, Hamilton College is pleased to name Akilah Bond '09, of Amherst, Mass., as its sixth GOLD Scholar. The moment Akilah arrived for her tour and interview at the Admission office, however, she immediately saw herself as part of the campus.  Her tour, lead by Ben Critton '06, reinforced those initial feelings, as she felt natural and at home with the current and potential students.  And a stop through Commons for ice-cream bars and a breather nearly sealed the deal right on the spot.  Add to that an open curriculum, a devoted track coach and limitless options after graduation and she was sold.  Akilah applied EDI and was accepted in December.

Assistant Professor of Anthropology Haeng-ja Chung presented a paper, "Deconstructing the Notions of 'Korean' 'Nightclub' 'Hostesses' in Japan and Proposing 'Labor Participant Observation'" at the Contemporary Anthropology Workshop at the University of Tokyo in November. She highlighted diversity within Koreans in Japan and discussed the notions of "nightclub" "hostess" based upon her research.

Associate Professor of English and Assistant Dean of Faculty for Diversity Initiatives Steven Yao has co-edited a volume of essays titled Sinographies: Writing China, published by the University of Minnesota Press. The volume includes an essay by Yao titled "Transplantation and Modernity: The Chinese/American Poems of Angel Island." It discusses the poetry inscribed upon the walls of the Angel Island Immigration Station Detention building in San Francisco Bay, the site of entry for the vast majority of the 175,000 Chinese immigrants to the U.S. between 1910 and 1940.

The Utica Observer-Dispatch published Professor of French John C. O'Neal's essay "A revolutionary idea: the French as our friends" in its viewpoints section (Dec. 23). In this piece, O'Neal summarizes the recent speech of French President Nicolas Sarkozy before the joint sessions of Congress and sees "a veritable sea change in French-U.S. relations."

Assistant Professor of Japanese Kyoko Omori was one of six invited presenters for the Modern Japan History Workshop at Dartmouth College on Dec. 15. The workshop focused on the idea of Japan's middle class, examined from the perspectives of historical, anthropological and literary studies. 

Marianne Janack, the Sidney Wertimer Associate Professor of Philosophy, presented a paper titled "The Evidence of Experience and the Problem of Subjectivity" in a special session on Feminist Political Philosophy during the annual meetings of the Eastern Division of the American Philosophical Association in Baltimore in December.