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Cheng Li, the William R. Kenan Professor of Government, was interviewed by Agence France Presse for the article "Chinese mining disaster is bad luck for rising political star." According to the article, "Li (Keqiang), 49, had only just taken over the most important position in northeastern Liaoning province, that of Communist Party boss, when a gas explosion ripped through the Sunjiawan coal mine last week, killing more than 200 workers." Cheng Li said, "Li Keqiang is a very capable leader, he's published a book, he's got a doctorate in economics, he's still relatively young."  The idea that Li is a top candidate for national leadership a decade from now, when Hu Jintao's generation is expected to retire, rests on the assumption that China will fundamentally still be the same kind of society. "My sense is in 10 years' time, China will need a more articulate, down-to-earth leader with broad experience in economic and social policy making, " Cheng Li said.

Nancy Thompson, who has been serving as acting dean of students at Hamilton  since July 2004, has been appointed to the permanent position of dean of students, effective immediately.

Nancy Sorkin Rabinowitz, the Margaret Bundy Scott Professor of Comparative Literature, presented a paper, "Gendered Viewing in Classical Greece," at the Archaeology Center at Stanford University on Feb. 5. The paper, co-authored with Sue Blundell, argues that contrary to received opinion, women are often depicted as subjects of the gaze in ancient Greek tragedy and vase painting; nonetheless, that gaze does not guarantee anything more than a very limited form of agency.

A New York City event originally scheduled to focus on the Excelsior Capital Campaign was recast to address alumni and parent questions surrounding the Kirkland Project's speaking invitation extended to University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill.  Approximately 150 alumni and parents gathered at the University Club Thursday evening (Feb. 17) to hear President Joan Hinde Stewart speak.

Mark Cryer, assistant professor of theater, will perform "99 Questions You've Always Wanted to Ask an African-American" at Hamilton on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. in Wellin Hall. The performance, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Dean of Students Office and the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs.

Hamilton College senior Gemma Kirkwood received an Outstanding Student Paper Award for her presentation, "Solar vs. Tidal Forcing of Centennial to Decadal Scale Variability in Marine Sedimentary Records from the Western Antarctic Peninsula," at the 2004 fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union. She was in competition with Ph.D. candidates as well as undergraduate students for this honor. The Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology Focus Group selected only two out of 169 student papers.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Karen Brewer has been awarded a $36,500 grant from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences. The grant is for her proposal "Materials Chemistry Project Laboratories for Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry." The Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences funds "projects that propose to advance the science of chemistry in innovative ways" and is "intended to seed the initial phases of a project."

Hamilton students Erin Smith '05 and Jonathan Rick ’05 attended the 47th Annual Academy Assembly at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. in February. The annual conference focuses on issues of national political importance and attracts students and speakers from around the world. This year’s conference opened with a keynote address by noted Hoover Institution scholar Dr. Larry Diamond and closed with a talk by former Daily Show correspondent Mo Rocca. Speakers were drawn from military, academic and foreign service experts.  

John Abbott '81 returned to Hamilton on February 15  to present a lecture on his work as a jazz photographer. Although Abbott primarily does freelance photography work for major corporations and magazines, he has achieved great success while combining two of his true passions, jazz and photography. He has taken pictures of famous jazz musicians for magazines and CD releases, calling this his “jazz photography.” Some of Abbott’s work is currently featured as part of the Emerson jazz photography exhibit titled “The Music Stand: Jazz as a Unifying Social Force.” The exhibit will run through April 10 in the Emerson Gallery.

Cheng Li, the William R. Kenan Professor of Government, was interviewed by VOA radio on the assessment of Hu Jintao, his initiatives on economic, political and social development in China.