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Hamilton College’s Winslow Professor of Chemistry George Shields has been awarded a Cottrell College Science Award for his research project, "Quantum Chemical Investigation of the Mechanism of Action of the Enediyne Natural Products." The goal of Shields' research, as outlined in his own proposal to the CCSA, is to "use advanced computational methods to gain a thorough understanding of the mechanism of DNA cleavage by the enediyne family of natural products." According to the website, the Cottrell College Science Awards at the Research Corporation supports research in astronomy, chemistry and physics "that contributes to the advancement of science and to the professional and scholarly development of faculty at undergraduate institutions along with their students."

The popular Emerson Gallery exhibit "1968: You Say You Want a Revolution" has inspired many of its visitors to take a step back in time and remember what THEY were doing in 1968. Around the Hill asked some Hamilton employees to share their memories of the year marked by the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy, riots in urban ghettoes and the massacre at My Lai.

It's that time of year again. After dozens and dozens of college fairs, campus tours and student interviews, Hamilton's admission officers have begun poring over the anticipated 4,400 applications from students considering joining the Class of 2008. Although many factors go into the college selection process, cost is certainly at the top of most everyone's list. Each year, Hamilton devotes 17 percent of its overall budget to financial aid and provides financial assistance to more than half of all students. Other families are offered payment plans and loan options to help spread costs over more than four years. Working behind the scenes to coordinate all of this and help families understand the financial aspects of a Hamilton education is the College's financial aid staff. In this month's "All Systems Go" column, ATH brings you a snapshot of that department and the five members who keep it running smoothly.

Hamilton student Lela Gascoigne '06, who works part-time for Vector Marketing Corp., donated an incentive prize of $1000 to the College's Theatre department.  She was one of the top 10 sales representatives for the Midwest region for Vector's summer 2003 campaign. Each of the top 10 receive $1000 to donate to their college. Gascoigne chose the Theatre department because she has taken three classes which she says she really enjoyed. Theatre department chair Craig Latrell said the funds will be used for student prizes and scholarships.

Lisa Trivedi, assistant professor of history, was awarded a senior research fellowship from the American Institute of Indian Studies. The award will allow her to travel to Bombay, India during the 2004-2005 academic year to complete her project, "Bound By Cloth:  Women Textile Workers in the Bombay Presidency and Lancashire, c.1880-1930."  While in Bombay, she plans to conduct archival research. 

Club Water Rock, a gospel nightclub to include worship, praise, dance, poetry, and other creative spiritual outpourings will debut on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. in the Fillius Events Barn. It will include an appearance by Christian Rock Band, the Full Armor Band, and the debut of the Hamilton College Gospel Choir. Free and open to the public.  

When the chemistry department moves into the new science center summer 2004, it won’t be taking its 13-year-old NMR along. A nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (NMR) is a versatile, yet fundamental piece of equipment for chemists.  Hamilton College, under the leadership of Robin Kinnel, the Silas D. Childs Professor of Chemistry, has been awarded a $238,356 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program to support the purchase of a new 500 Mhz NMR.

I find that New York in winter is more attractive from my window than from the street.  The subways, the dirty streets, everyone bundled up and rushing to get inside - this doesn't offer a new resident the finer glimpses of Manhattan.  From my window when I was sick, all I saw was the view – the glittering lights, the Statue of Liberty, everything from a distance.  Up close, however, some of that shine wears off. 

Last night, the Yield Management group at Chase Manhattan Bank had its holiday dinner at a Brazilian restaurant in Midtown. ... waiters offered us 17 different kinds of meat, including lamb chops, prime rib, pork sausage, chicken sausage, steak, prime rib wrapped in bacon, salmon, ribs and chicken hearts. My co-workers at Chase really make me feel at home.  It was one night that I will not forget.

For some reason, people always ask me for directions, a big mistake. As soon as I stepped on to the ACE platform, I noticed him out of the corner of my eye, a kid with way too many bags to be carrying all by himself. ... He (asked) if I knew how he could get to 42nd Street so I pulled out my map and helped him devise a plan. I wished him a good journey and a nice life.