A Hamilton College Student Publication, Clinton, NY May 8, 2009 Volume XLIX Number 25 THE SPECTATOR Coalition Considers Crackdown on Hard Alcohol by Thomas Yarnell ’10 further explore a proposal for NEWS EDITOR this new judicial structure. In their report from March 2004, Hamilton College could the Coalition recommended to soon be cracking down on the the president that the College consumption of hard alcohol implement a point system. on campus. The Alcohol Co- The suggestion for a point alition, a group composed of system was, for the most part, a faculty, administrators and stu- response to student feedback on dents, is currently debating the alcohol-related issues. At the idea of recommending a ban on time, many students expressed hard alcohol to the administra- frustration over the seemingly tion. Though the Coalition has arbitrary nature of the judicial not yet reached a consensus on process for violations of Col- the issue, if it ends up advocat- lege policy, and the point sys- ing a ban and the administration tem was intended to clear up institutes such a rule, the Col- any confusion. lege may forbid hard alcohol The Coalition has since as early as next semester. been wrestling with the idea The Alcohol Coalition was of a ban on hard alcohol for appointed by President Joan all students, including those Hinde Stewart in the fall of over 2 years old, due in part 2003 and charged with finding to evidence that suggests that PHOTO BY KATE tummarello ’11 ways to reduce the negative students inflict more self-harm The College could potentially ban all hard alcohol from campus, effective next school year. effects of alcohol on the Ham- with this type of substance than alcohol is by no means the ilton community. The group any other. According to Dean of only option that the Coalition serves only to advise and does Students and Alcohol Coalition is considering. College Responds not make or enact any policy, member Nancy Thompson, of “Students tend not to like but there is precedent for it those students transported to changes that restrict their playing a significant role in the hospital for alcohol-related options. I understand that,” to Swine Flu Scare policy changes. reasons, the overwhelming ma- Thompson said. “But at the In the spring of 2004, the jority has reported using hard same time, if there are dan- by Rebecca Mintzer ’09 have been sent out encouraging idea for a point system was alcohol during at least part of gerous things happening, we SENIOR EDITOR awareness of the flu and good raised at the Adler Conference their binge drinking incident. have to try to figure out a way sanitary practices that could help (a forum held annually to dis- Thompson emphasized that to limit that.” Al Ham is not the only pig prevent sickness. cuss issues important to the any policy change advised by Many students are con- striking fear into the hearts of the “Common sense hygiene can Hamilton community) and the the Alcohol Coalition is whol- vinced that, a ban on hard al NESCAC anymore. Recently, go a long way in mitigating the Alcohol Coalition subsequent- ly in the interest of students’ the Swine Flu, also known as flu spread of the virus, which is why ly formed a subcommittee to safety, and that a ban on hard see Alcohol Coalition, page 3 HN, has spread from Mexico we have been emphasizing hand to the United States and Canada, washing and cough etiquette in our infecting hundreds. Though as of communications with the Hamil- Community Forum Fosters yet the virus appears to be no more ton community,” said Bonham. severe than a normal flu, health of- In the event that a Hamilton ficials all over the country, as well student displays symptoms of Discussion on Understanding as concerned college administra- Swine Flu, Hamilton has already tors, are monitoring the situation created a plan to isolate that stu- by Russ Doubleday ’11 closely in an effort to help prevent dent and monitor their contact with NEWS EDITOR and treat outbreaks. others to prevent the disease from At this time, no incidents of spreading. If a Hamilton employee Approximately 00 Hamilton swine flu have been reported at shows signs of having Swine Flu, students and faculty attended the Hamilton, but there have been they will be told to stay home and Community Building Meeting to 90 cases reported in New York not come to work. discuss ways to build a more in- State, and two at fellow NES- Bon Appétit has also been do- clusive and welcoming College CAC school, Amherst. A number ing its part to lessen the chances community on Saturday, May 2. of groups on campus have been of a flu outbreak at Hamilton. Ac- Mediators from Interfaith Works collaborating to prevent any pos- cording to Patrick Raynard, gen- of Central New York led the pro- sible outbreaks of HN here on eral manager of the Bon Appétit gram entitled “Building a Beloved campus, including the administra- Managing Company, the campus Community.” tion, Bon Appétit, the Health Cen- food provider is adding more hand Acting President Joseph Urgo ter, and the Hamilton Emergency sanitizing units to their kitchens, opened the meeting with some Response Team (HERT). and emphasizing more frequent thoughts concerning Hamilton. Ev- “The good news is that the ery year, he explained, Admissions HN virus does not seem to be see Swine Flu, page 3 hand picks the incoming first year PHOTO BY KATE tummarello ’11 spreading as rapidly nor is it as class with the intention of bringing Notes from the meeting are posted in the KJ Commons. severe as health officials initially in students with a wide range of that all the community members at job of the mediators was to create thought,” said Meredith Harper perspectives from all over the coun- Hamilton share the same goals, and relationships and understanding Bonham, executive assistant to try and the world. Together, these that every one of us wants a more amongst people. He envisioned the president and chair of HERT. students must learn how to make a inclusive college community. Hamilton developing what he “And fortunately for Hamilton, community together, and more im- Jim Wiggins, the leader of the called a “beloved community,” even the situation provided us with an portantly, how to be a community. Interfaith Works team, spoke about though the majority of participants opportunity to test and refine our Urgo concluded by saying the purpose of the meeting. The in the meeting substituted the term response efforts, making us even better prepared for the future.” OPINION: Allinger’s Last Thumbs Up/Down 5 “beloved” for “ideal” to eliminate the religious overtones. Director of Health Services FEATURES: I’m On the Summer Wait List 7 Following these remarks, Christine Merritt has been keep- people were split up into several ing in touch with county and state A&E: Starving Artists: Senior Theatre 11 authorities to monitor the situation, see Community Meeting, page 2 and several all-campus e-mails INSIDESPORTS: WLax Wins Liberty League 20 PHOTO BY KATE tummarello ’11 May 8, 2009 Page NEWS THE SPECTATOR Seniors Enter “Real World” During Economic Recession by Alicia Wright ’10 Seniors need to adjust their expec- plying to medical school. While he NEWS WRITER tations and realize that this year wishes that he had applied earlier may not be the year they start a to medical school programs and With the stock market and career with a six-figure income. internships in hospitals, he noted economy down, the stress level of What seniors need to do is focus on that even if he continued into gradu- seniors is rising more than ever. surviving the free-falling economy ate school right after graduation, Now finishing a thesis is just an- and work on climbing back up the it would still cost a lot of money WWW.INTERFAITHWORKSCNY.ORG/ other bullet point on the list of cliff to success in the next year to during a hard economic time. Mao The group Interfaith works mediated the campus forum. things to worry about as a graduat- 8 months. does have some stress as to his life ing senior. Add searching for a job This is where the experience after Hamilton, because ideally he to the top of the list. comes. Gaining career-related ex- would be actively working on his However, according to Direc- perience in any way related to a career rather than waiting for op- Community Meeting tor of the Career Center Kino Ruth, career field of interest will help portunities. However, he recog- seniors are not in the sort of dire seniors steadily rise in their chosen nizes that many of his classmates trouble with the job market that field. Associate Director of the Ca- are in the same boat and that for Promotes Inclusion many might anticipate. While the reer Center Leslie Bell noted that now he might have to concentrate job search has definitely changed seniors are feeling that they can’t on other things, such as his hobby, from Community Forum, page 1 “The committee will continue to this year, companies are still hiring. be too picky with their job choices, writing. meet next fall and any recommen- Students just have to work harder and many students are accepting of- Both Ruth and Bell said discussion groups to come up with dations or changes will hopefully to find them, and, as Ruth empha- fers that may not be exactly what many Hamilton students gradu- ideas for building a new commu- be implemented by the conclusion sized, adjust their expectations.