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Visiting Assistant Professor of Government Nicholas Tampio published an article on “Rawls and the Kantian Ethos” in the January issue of Polity. The article shows how Rawls transforms Kant’s philosophy in order to revitalize the Enlightenment. The article is part of his book manuscript on Kant’s legacy in contemporary political theory.

Associate Professor of Theatre Craig Latrell will present "Headhunter in Spandex: Cultural Performance in East Malaysia" on Friday, Jan. 26 at 4:10 p.m. in the Red Pit, K-J, to launch the spring semester’s Faculty Lecture Series.

Dr. David Suzuki, scientist and broadcaster gave the James S. Plant Distinguished Scientist Lecture at Hamilton College on Monday, Jan. 22. His lecture was titled “The Challenge of the 21st Century: Setting the Real Bottom Line.” Suzuki is well known as the host of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's popular science television series, "The Nature of Things." Suzuki’s eight part series, A Planet for the Taking won an award from the United Nations. An internationally respected geneticist, he also heads the David Suzuki Foundation, which, since 1990 has worked to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world.

Stephen Goldberg conducted a day-long workshop for K-12 teachers titled “Incorporating Asian Art into the Public School Classroom.” The workshop was hosted by Belmont University in Nashville in conjunction with the 2007 annual meeting of the Southeast Conference of the Association of Asian Studies on January 13.

Associate Professor of Africana Studies Tiffany Ruby Patterson has published an article titled "Diaspora and Beyond: The Promise and Limitations of Black Transnational Studies in the United States" in Les diasporas dans le monde contemporain. Un etat des lieux, edited by W. Berthomiere and C. Chivallon (Paris, Pessac, Editions Karthala and Maison des Sciences de l'Homme d'Aquitaine, 2006) pp. 125-133. The essay was originally presented at a conference on comparative diasporas in Bordeaux, France in 2004. It continues a discussion on the definition of the African Diasporas in the Americas that she began in article co-authored with Robin D.G. Kelley in 2000 which was published in the African Studies Review in April of that year.

Assistant Professor of Japanese Kyoko Omori is a visiting research fellow at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (also known as Nichibunken in Japanese) in Kyoto, Japan, from December through March. The primary purpose of her stay is her book project: Detecting Modanizumu: New Youth Magazine, Tantei Shôsetsu, and The Culture of Japanese Vernacular Modernism, 1920-1950. She is also part of a seminar led by Professor Sadami Suzuki at the Center, titled Key Concepts and Methods of Cultural Studies. It is a comparative investigation of the fundamental concepts in cultural studies on nature, religion, art, nation, tradition, sexuality in English, French, German, Japanese, Chinese and other languages.

  Each year, three candidates are nominated by the Alumni Council for four-year terms as Alumni Trustees. In addition, alumni may become petition candidates by obtaining signatures from approximately 0.1% or 25 of our more than 18,000 alumni. If no nominations by petition are received, a mail ballot election is not required. This year, there are five candidates for three Alumni Trustee terms beginning on July 1 – three candidates nominated by the Alumni Council and two candidates nominated by petition.   Nominated by the Alumni Council: George D. Baker, Jr. ‘74 Nancy Roob ‘87 Torrence D. Moore ‘92   Nominated by Petition: Peter D. Brown ‘73 Ben S. Wu ‘73   Ballots will be mailed in February to Kirkland alumnae and Hamilton alumni. The mailing will include biographical information and personal statements from each candidate. The three candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected to fill the three vacancies for Alumni Trustee.     Candidates may use the HOLAC message board to discuss their candidacies. Election procedures developed by the Executive Committee of the Alumni Council may be found at the link at the end of this article.   The Alumni Association sincerely thanks the three alumni trustees who will retire on June 30. They are Stuart J. Hamilton ’73, Mathew M. McKenna ’72, and Julie A. North ’84. Their four years of volunteer service will be recognized by the Association at the Annual Meeting held on Saturday, June 2 at Reunions ’07.   I urge you to participate in the election. Please cast your ballot when the time comes.   Sincerely, Jon Hysell ‘72 Secretary to the Alumni Association Director of Alumni Relations      

Alexander Hamilton, according to many scholars, would have turned 250 years old on Thursday, January 11, 2007.  The academic debate over Hamilton’s actual birth year did not deter the more than 1,000 alumni, parents and friends of Hamilton College from celebrating his bi-sesquicentennial anniversary at regional alumni association events around the world. Beginning on Saturday, January 6 in Richmond, VA and continuing through Sunday, January 14, in Westchester County, NY, 27 parties were held.  Many of these featured birthday cakes, some with elaborate reproductions of Hamilton’s likeness.  Contests were held to determine who knew the most about the life and work of our College’s namesake and all the Hamilton family universally enjoyed honoring the memory of a great statesman, philosopher, economist, military leader and trustee of our most extraordinary College. 

Nine Hamilton students and one Hamilton alumnus spent three-and-a-half weeks of Christmas break in Eastern Guatemala for an independent study service-learning experience with the Guatemalan Project (G.P), a community development organization in the poor rural community of El Triunfo. The trip was spearheaded by Meghan Stringer '07 who learned about the service opportunity through her brother and Hamilton alumnus Matt Stringer '03.

Professor of Religious Studies Heidi Ravven gave an invited paper, "How Jewish Philosophy Could Help Standard Philosophical Ethics Out of its Dead End," at the American Philosophical Association in late December in Washington, D.C. Ravven's paper was part of a panel on Ethics and Jewish Philosophy, organized by the Academy for Jewish Philosophy.