All News

Two events featuring activists Joy James and Susan Rosenberg will be held in the Kirkland Project at Hamilton College series "Technology, Science, and Democracy:  What’s at Stake?," on Thursday, Feb. 19. Through the Wire (1990), a documentary on the United States penal system's alleged mistreatment of prisoners will be screened at 4:15 p.m. in the Kirner-Johnson auditorium (room 144).  James and Rosenberg will lead a panel discussion titled "Democracy and Captivity:  Human Rights, Technology and the 'Science of Incarceration,'" at 7:30 p.m. in the Fillius Events Barn, Beinecke Student Activities Village.

I attended services at Trinity Church today. It was founded in the 17th century and had a hand in establishing the first colleges in New York City, including Columbia University. If you've been to churches in Western Europe, the interior and exterior architecture will seem very familiar. You'll notice the same intricate details, soaring ceilings and stained-glass windows.

One of my favorite parts of the day at my internship is riding the elevator up to the 14th (really the 13th) floor of my building.  Thanks to technology, the elevator transports me, and usually around six other people, each to a different story holding a new company/law firm/business.  Each stop reveals a different world.

Linda Retallack '00, assistant curator for interpretation at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home presented "Framing the West at Monticello: Thomas Jefferson and Lewis and Clark" on Feb. 4 in the Burke Library browsing room. Retallack spoke about the theme of last year's exhibit at Monticello, celebrating the 200 year anniversary of Lewis and Clark's famous journey. Her presentation was in conjunction with Sophomore Seminar 295: "On the Trail of Lewis and Clark," and the Burke Library's exhibit of Lewis and Clark related books and maps from Hamilton's rare book collection, on display in the browsing room.

Philip Klinkner, the James S. Sherman Associate Professor of Government, was quoted in The Buffalo News article titled "Bush is Off to 'Meet the Press' To Discuss Iraq War, Economy." Klinkner discussed President Bush's Feb. 8 appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," saying that granting the interview is "a high-risk strategy" for Bush that "may be an indicator of mounting concern" at the White House. Klinkner also pointed out the risks for "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert to interview the president, saying that "It can backfire on an interviewer. You have to be careful with a sitting president... As a broadcaster, you want to continue to have access to top people and keep your ratings."

Hamilton College students and community members gathered to listen to Natalie Babbitt, renowned author and illustrator, on Thursday, February 5. The former Clinton resident and wife of former Kirkland College president Sam Babbitt was eager to return to the Hill. Babbitt is the author and/or illustrator of more than a dozen well-loved books for children, including the contemporary classic Tuck Everlasting.

I'm starting to fall into a groove of sort with my internship... I had the benefit of a "dark week" (a week in which there are no live shows) at U-Pick Live to gather my bearings and sharpen my responsibilities as an intern. During the downtime, the producers let me write some segments (look for my yodeling challenge on this Friday's show) and some goofy questions to ask upcoming celebrity guests. If you ever wanted to know whether the stars of Catch that Kid prefer the term "funky monkey" or "chunky monkey," be sure to tune in next week.

The Hamilton College Choir will present the musical Bye Bye Birdie on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and 7 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. in Wellin Hall, Schambach Center for Music and the Performing Arts.  The plot revolves around rock and roll superstar Conrad Birdie and the complications that arise when his agent stages a publicity stunt on The Ed Sullivan Show in which he will kiss one lucky girl from Sweet Apple, Ohio, before he is drafted into the army.

Assistant Professor of Government Robert Martin is the author of an op-ed published in the Rochester, N.Y., Democrat and Chronicle (2/5/04) responding to an earlier editorial about the Patriot Act. Martin writes, “The editorial raises appropriate red flags about the Patriot Act, but wrongly looks to the courts for relief,” and points out historical examples of the judicial system’s failure to protect our freedoms. “The Patriot Act gives lots of new powers, labels some political radicals ‘domestic terrorists’ and repeatedly undermines judicial oversight,” he writes. “The Supreme Court may step in to question the act’s constitutionality, but, given our history, we should not rely on it; the American people must pressure the Bush administration to reconsider the most invasive features of the act.”

A campus Blood Drive will take place on Thursday, Feb. 5, in the Annex from 12 to 5 p.m. Sign up sheets will be posted, starting today, in Beinecke. You can also e-mail Marian Lyman (mlyman) with your name, extension, and the time that you would like to participate.