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Assistant Professor of English Dana Luciano presented a paper as a panel member of "Close Your Eyes and Think of England: Allegories of Britain in Queer American Narrative" at the Queer Matters conference at King's College London on May 30. Luciano presented the same paper, "Crushed Velvet: Todd Haynes and the Temporal Texture of Queer Adolescence," at the Lesbian/Gay Film panel of the Society for the Study of Narrative Literature conference in Burlington, Vt., on April 24. 

William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Government Cheng Li was quoted in a recent Los Angeles Times article about divisions of power in China. The article notes it is unclear who, between the current president, premier and former president, is "in charge" of China. Many question the sustainability of the current system, but, according to Li, the current president and premier have begun to make gains on the former president.

Professor Emeritus of Biology Eugene Putala and the College's Root Glen are featured in a Syracuse Post-Standard article (5/28/04) for the newspaper's Garden Travelogue section. The article recounts the history of the 7 1/2-acre Root Glen and the famed Saunders peonies, as described by Putala during a recent tour. It also includes photos of a massive Tulip Tree, Grant Garden and the Primrose Basin.

The Daniel Burke Library is pleased to announce the availability of its digital resources website. The resources currently available are Civil War materials, largely related to the 117th N.Y.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiment, one of four from Oneida County.

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Steve Humphries-Brooks was interviewed for a Newport News (Va.) Daily Press article about the merchandising of Jesus. The article notes: The huge success of Mel Gibson's superhero Jesus in The Passion of the Christ, "are all signs of the lingering appeal of a distinctly American Jesus." Humphries-Brooks, who teaches "The Celluloid Savior," about depictions of Jesus in films, was quoted as saying: "Jesus as an icon is part of America...He's not simply part of the church."

Roger W. Straus, who attended Hamilton before graduating from the University of Missouri in 1939, and co-founded one of the great publishing houses of the 20th century, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, died on May 25. According to an article in Newsday, Straus was known for emphasizing literary quality over commercial success. During Straus’ lifetime, Straus, Farrar & Giroux published many nobel laureates, including T.S. Eliot and Nadine Gordimer. He was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree from Hamilton in 2003. Straus died of pneumonia Tuesday, May 25, at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan.

Haley Reimbold, of Roosevelt, N.J., a rising junior at Hamilton, was honored with the "Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference" in New Jersey on May 27. According to the Bergen Record, Reimbold received the top award of $50,000 "for combining academic achievement with volunteering in countless events for the homeless and needy families as well as the Special Olympics, blood drives, and meals at shelters and soup kitchens." At Hamilton, Reimbold is director of HAVOC (Hamilton Action Volunteer Outreach Coalition).

Assistant Professor of Physics Gordon Jones is featured on the Physics Central Web site in an article about the physics of the yo-yo, which is 75 years old in 2004. While the yo-yo is thought of primarily as a toy, "To a physicist, a yo-yo is a remarkably fun example of a flywheel," Jones said.

Walter Beinecke, a trustee on College Hill since 1960, died Sunday, May 23, on Nantucket. In 1962 he became chair of the Hamilton Trustee Committee on Planning that was instrumental in the creation of Kirkland College.

Alan Cafruny, Henry Platt Bristol Professor of International Affairs, was interviewed recently by David Lightman of the Hartford Courant for an article on Bush's Iraq policy. According to the article, Bush has begun to seek "crucial international and domestic support for his Iraq rebuilding effort." "The hard bargaining will be over things like oil and Iraqi debt," said Cafruny.