Around the Hill asked random members of the Hamilton community if they could ask President Stewart one question upon her arrival, what it would be. Here are some of the questions and her answers:
Are you going to walk up the Hill to work or drive?
Health and fitness gurus tell us that we should take 10,000 steps a day. I enjoy walking, but I haven't decided if I want to start my days with a trek uphill. (I'm already in awe of Sarah Steele, who I'm told makes the trip every day and then runs at lunch.)
What book did you read most recently for fun or leisure?
During my brief visit to France in July, several French friends mentioned Philip Roth's The Human Stain. Clearly, it strongly influenced their image of America and of American college culture. I am reading it now and finding it quite powerful.
Who is your favorite author?
Among my favorite authors are Balzac and Dickens. I like complicated plots where everything fits together at the end like the pieces of a vast puzzle – Balzac's Le Père Goriot, for example, which I never tire of re-reading. While driving or exercising, I often listen to books on tape, including, most recently, Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, which I particularly enjoyed after having seen the show on Broadway.
Are you a PC or MAC user?
PC, but some of my best friends use Macs.
What kind of food do you like? French, Italian, Chinese?
Alas, I like all of the above, and Indian, Japanese, Lebanese, Persian and Mexican too! Also traditional American.
Who was most influential in your academic research and career choice?
My dissertation director, Georges May, a great and influential scholar of enormous wit and human warmth. His death earlier this year saddened me immensely.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Yes, the Hamilton viewbook.
Do you have any pets?
We have just lost our cat of 18 years, Tigron. I have often cared for my daughter's dog, a wonderful border collie mix named Rain (my daughter acquired her as a puppy at a Grateful Dead concert and named her for one of their songs, "Box of Rain").
Do you have a favorite baseball team?
The Brooklyn Dodgers, the team in which I invested the enthusiasm of my childhood -- even though they no longer exist.
Do you play golf? Interested in starting (Hamilton has a great summer golf league!)
I took one credit in golf when I was in college. I did not do well.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Walking (although not necessarily uphill).
Will you have open hours when we can drop by to see you?
I plan to continue President Tobin's tradition of Monday afternoon open hours, and I hope that many members of the Hamilton community will stop by.
Do you suggest a note, a phone call, an in-person meeting or e-mail as the best way to contact you?
E-mail is an efficient way to communicate, but I particularly welcome old-fashioned communication by letter or note.
What do you think about the new curriculum and sophomore seminar program?
The new curriculum is evidence of the Hamilton faculty's creativity and initiative and will challenge our students in exciting new ways. I am delighted at the prospect of working with it.
