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Amanda Bennett ’06 (Enfield, Conn.) believes her Emerson scholarship will allow her to acquire interdisciplinary research skills. She has spent the last two summers conducting research for Hamilton’s Chemistry Department. However, this summer her research will go in an entirely different direction.

Kamila Shamsie '94, an author and visiting assistant professor of English, was featured in an article in The Hindu Business Line (7/02/04). The article discussed her success as a writer. Shamsie has written three books: In The City by The Sea, Salt and Saffron and Kartography. Last year, In The City by The Sea was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Kartography is an exploration of Pakistani cultural life in the 1970s. Set in Karachi, Shamsie's birthplace, the book revolves around the lives of Raheen and Karim, whose parents are not only best friends but actually swapped fiancés in the 1970s.

During commencement exercises last spring, Tom Vilsack ’72 and Christie Bell Vilsack K’72 watched their son, Jess, walk across the stage to receive his Hamilton diploma. Anyone who didn’t know them would never suspect that the tall, quietly confident "dad" is the governor of Iowa and "mom" the driving force behind the governor’s political career, as well as a pioneer in reshaping the role of the first lady of Iowa. The occasion brought back memories.

Iowa Governor and Hamilton alumnus Tom Vilsack's name is on the short list of potential running mates for John Kerry. Hamilton College political scientist Philip Klinkner said, "In addition to helping him in the heartland, selecting Tom Vilsack would signal that John Kerry wants a running mate with whom he is personally comfortable." On the campaign trail Klinkner said one of Vilsack's assets will be his wife, Christie, Kirkland '72. Klinkner said, "She is an experienced and popular campaigner. Her endorsement of Kerry before the Iowa Caucuses helped turn his campaign around."

James Schoolcraft Sherman, native and life-long Utican and graduate of Hamilton College class of 1878, ably served the nation. Working closely with his friend, President William Howard Taft, Sherman served as the vice president of the United States from March 4, 1909, until his death in Utica on Oct.30, 1912. Sherman was Utica’s foremost nationally elected public official. Sadly, he was only 57 when he died in office. His uniquely positive accomplishments remain a needed example for local inspiration, especially in today’s challenging times.

While a student at Hamilton College in the '70s,  Tom Vilsack lost his bid for Hamilton College class president. He reportedly decided then that he would never run for any office again. Now as a two-term governor of Iowa, Vilsack is on the short list of possible running mates for John Kerry. 

A study conducted by James S. Sherman Associate Professor of Government Philip Klinkner was featured in an opinion piece written for Yahoo! News. Klinkner's study, "Red and Blue Scare: The Continuing Diversity of the American Electoral Landscape," challenges the popular belief that Americans are segregated along political lines. According to the article, "Professor Klinkner suggests that commentators aren't attentive to the nuances of political choices in various parts of the country."

James S. Sherman Associate Professor of Government Philip Klinkner participated in the "New Democracy Forum: How Can the Democrats Win?" in the Boston Review. In the forum, 12 academics responded to an article written by Rick Perlstein in which he outlined a strategy he thinks the Democrats could use to win in 2004. Klinkner responded that elections are hard to influence because they "tend to turn on such unpredictable and uncontrollable events as wars, recessions and scandals." He added that party identification is even harder to influence because it is "a stable and long-lasting aspect of social identity."

Professor of Economics Derek Jones participated in the Annual Conference on Transition Economies in Hanoi, Vietnam. Jones discussed two papers, "Local Protectionism and Regional Specialization: Evidence from China 's Industries" by Chong-En Bai et al and "Revenue Sharing and Control Rights in Team Production: Theories and Evidence from Joint Ventures" by Zhigang Tao et al. The conference was sponsored by the William Davidson Institute, Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) and the Ford Foundation.

Cheng Li, the William R. Kenan Professor of Government, was interviewed by the BBC World Service regarding the Chinese Communist Party's effort to use the Internet for propaganda. Li was also a commentator on the relationship between Jiang Zemin and military leaders in a BBC Chinese language feature program on June 25.