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Associate Professor of Sociology Mitchell Stevens was interviewed in July for a segment about homeschooling that will air on Channel One News this fall. Channel One News is a daily televised 12-minute newscast that is beamed via satellite to 12,000 U.S. middle schools and high schools. Stevens spoke on camera with news anchor Errol Barnet. Stevens is the author of a book about homeschooling, Kingdom of Children: Culture and Controversy in the Homeschooling Movement (Princeton University Press, 2001).

The Molecular Education and Research Consortium in Undergraduate Conceptual Chemistry, or MERCURY, program is hosting a conference July 21-23 at Hamilton College. The event features talks by eight national speakers. MERCURY was recently created by seven undergraduate institutions, including Hamilton College, with additional funding from the National Science Foundation to run simulations in quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics on a supercomputer located on campus.

William Monopoli, a 1971 graduate of Hamilton College, has been named publisher of The Times, a daily newspaper in Munster, Indiana. Monopoli has worked in newspapers from for more than two decades, most recently as president and publisher of the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.

A group of Hamilton College students under the direction of Professor of Chemistry George Shields and Dreyfus Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in Chemistry Steve Feldgus are doing basic cancer research at Hamilton this summer. The students are: Amber Gillis '06, Megan Dunn (St. Lawrence), Becky Shepherd '06, Christy House '06, Dave Kelland '05, Chantelle Rein '03, Sarah Taylor '03 and Junchan Hong '05.

Six ambitious and gifted Native American teenagers took part in the Oneida Nation/Hamilton College Summer Science Program July 8 - 19. Over the two-week period these students conducted research in psychology, microbiology and chemistry. The students were nominated for the program by teachers or guidance counselors, and submitted an application and letters of recommendation for this selective program. On July 30 the six students presented scientific posters to the tribes councilmen and clan mothers.

Hamilton College was the host of a “Bob Guy Girls Basketball Super Camp,” July 14-18. More than 130 girls, ages 10-16, from across the region participated in the camp. The camp is in its fourth year at Hamilton and thirteenth overall. The participants worked on fundamentals in the morning sessions and played games in the afternoon and evening. For more information on Bob Guy Super Camps and Super Clinics contact assistant director Mike Skasadek at (315)797-4565.

Professor of Government Cheng Li attended a conference held by top Communist party officials at the People’s University in Beijing. The seminar, “Political Science and China in Transition,” represents a new awareness of political science and a way to strengthen party rule while modernizing it. Cheng Li was surprised by the openness of the conference.

Professor of Government and China expert Cheng Li was quoted in an article about the anticipated change in Chinese leadership. Li says “the scenario that still makes the most sense in terms of maintaining stability and Party prestige is Jiang [Zemin] and others of his generation retire from the powerful Politburo Standing Committee as planned and without incident.” Many have speculated that Jiang will keep his military job, or the Party post or both positions, when the elders in China’s political party retire in September or October.

Government Professor Cheng Li comments on rumors that Jiang Zemin wants to stay on as the Communist party chief. The rumors are based on the state media campaign commending his plan to modernize the party as well as reports of private letters and circulars sent to Central Committee members commending his leadership. Li says, “many Central Committee members are not from Jiang’s support base of Shanghai and are unlikely to vote for him at the Congress.” He adds, “Jiang does not have the power to do what he wants. There are limits on his power. I think most people want him to go.” China’s leaders have an unwritten rule that they will not seek office after 70. Jiang is 75.

Hamilton alumnus, Binghamton native and board of trustee member Dick Couper '44 was the subject of an editorial in the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin (July 14, 2002). The editorial, "Couper deserves honor," cited Couper's recent recognition by the Oneida County Historical Society as a "Living Legend." The editorial notes, "This isn't just a case of local boy makes good. It's local boy makes good over and over and over."