Hamilton staff, administrators and M&O employees packed the Events Barn on March 9 to hear President Joan Stewart report on the state of the college. Stewart began by quoting a letter from an alumnus who offered a humorous commentary from former Haverford College president Felix Morley about the struggle college presidents face in trying to please everyone.
Stewart told the audience that she is even more impressed with Hamilton than she was last May when she was introduced to the campus community. She said she has spent the first semester listening to various constituencies, both off campus and around the country.
Stewart discussed the College's ambitious strategic plan and noted that many parts of it are already being acted on; she said she was awed by the action verbs that express its operational plan summary: "renovate, acquire, appoint, fund," to name a few. She explained, though, that such terms require substantial sums of money, and remind us that "we need to make choices."
Stewart noted that Hamilton seeks to attract the brightest, most diverse and engaged students, which requires financial aid, first-rate facilities and programs and, in turn, the financial support of alumni and friends. She said the upcoming campaign forces the College to think of funding priorities, and explained that she hopes to focus on facilities renewal more than Hamilton has done in the past – academic facilities, residence halls, students activities spaces and athletics facilities.
Stewart said she would like to make some specific improvements – in campus life, where students need to take responsibility and ownership for the places they live, and in the area of alcohol abuse and vandalism. She said she reconstituted the Campus Coalition on Alcohol and Other Drugs and noted the formation of the grass roots student group O.U.R. -- Our United Responsibility -- which hopes to change Hamilton's alcohol culture.
Stewart discussed the 2004-05 budget and noted that everyone will have to make adjustments in light of the financial pressures caused by a weakened economy. She said that people are what make Hamilton great, and investing in them is the College's top priority.
Stewart concluded that she is determined to emphasize the distinctions of a Hamilton education in every available public forum, and thanked employees for their support and commitment to Hamilton.
