A Hamilton College Student Publication, Clinton, NY October 22, 2009 Volume L Number 7 THE SPECTATOR Mountaineer to Tell Story of Love, Loss by Katrina Rabeler ’12 ternate between writing about their FEATURES WRITER own adventures on Adirondack Adventure, trips we take in the fall “You can either live your life in to the Adirondacks and the adven- fear or you can live your life.” These tures of others,” Isserman explained. were Jennifer Lowe-Anker’s words Isserman recalled that two years of advice to those trying to under- ago, when Conrad Anker came to stand how she kept her passion for speak about Alex Lowe, the Kirn- life and adventure alive when her er-Johnson auditorium was over- husband, Alex Lowe, was killed in flowing. This year, the class read PHOTO BY CHRIS EATON ’11 a mountaineering accident ten years Lowe-Anker’s book, and is looking Hamilton College Democrats and Republicans hold a debate on political is- ago. forward to her talk on campus. On Oct. 29 at 7 p.m., Jennifer “As the memoir of a climbing sues in the Red Pit of the Kirner-Johnson Building on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Lowe-Anker will be speaking in the widow, her book brings a different Kennedy Auditorium in the Science perspective to mountaineering lit- Center about her marriage to Alex erature, with an emphasis on rela- College Democrats, Republicans Lowe, one of the most well-known tionships, risk and loss, something American mountaineers. Lowe’s that you don’t often find in a run- career was filled with groundbreak- of-the-mill account of a triumphant Debate Health Care, Economy ing successes until his untimely expedition to this or that peak, and by Adam Fix ’13 ’12 downplayed the immediate ef- care of the United Kingdom as an death on Shishapangma in Tibet. I thought [it] would be interesting Lowe-Anker will also discuss for my students to read and discuss,” NEWS WRITER fects of the stimulus bill and instead example. asked how much of that stimulus Democrat Henry Anreder ’12 her life following the tragedy, in- Isserman said. While the politicians of today contributed to long-term economic began the foreign policy debate by cluding her marriage to her current Lowe-Anker’s story has it all: debate in the nation’s capital, the growth. The republicans argued for discussing President Obama’s dip- husband, Conrad Anker, who was mountains, love, tragedy, family politicians of tomorrow met in the the reduction of all corporate taxes lomatic efforts in the Middle East. Alex Lowe’s best friend. Jennifer and adventure. Her memoir recalls decidedly less glamorous Red Pit to five percent, claiming that such The democrats argued in favor Lowe-Anker is herself an accom- detail from her and her husbands’ of the Kirner-Johnson building for measures will create more jobs. In of Obama’s more diplomatic ap- plished mountain climber, and her lives. The title of her first and only two hours on Wednesday night for closing, Cheeseman claimed that proach in Iran while continuing to recent memoir, Forget Me Not, won book so far, Forget Me Not, comes the Hamilton College Democrats “we need to address long-term draw down military forces in Iraq. the 2008 National Outdoor Book from her and Alex Lowe’s favorite and Republicans debate. Moder- economic growth as opposed to They also praised Obama’s strong Award for literature. flower. In one of his letters to her, ated by Professor of Government short term amelioration of current support of the Israel-Palestine two- Lowe-Anker is coming to Alex once begged Jennifer, who Sharon Rivera, the debate focused problems.” state solution. The republicans saw campus on the invitation of James received her bachelor’s degree in on the key issues affecting America On the issue of health care their party’s foreign policy in a L. Ferguson Professor of History art, to paint the flower for him. today. reform, democrat Will Leubsdorf state of transition, claiming that Maurice Isserman. Each year, Pro- “My book is a memoir about Opening the economic de- ’10 said that health care takes up 9/11 prompted President Bush fessor Isserman brings an author of my life,” explained Lowe-Anker, “I bate, the democrats began by dis- 18 percent of the GDP, and 62 into the aggressive, intervention- adventure literature to campus for lived [with him] for 18 years before cussing the budget surplus and percent of personal bankruptcies ist strategy. They argued for the his Adventure Writing 111 class. economic growth of the Clinton are health care related. Leubsdorf importance of an active yet less “The students in the class al- see Lowe-Anker, page 7 administration, claiming that stressed the importance of a pub- visible American presence, specifi- policies such as the Bush tax cuts lic insurance option as well as an cally the use of the military to col- and Iraq War reversed that over- emphasis on preventive care to lect information and plan strategy all trend. According to the demo- curb the “skyrocketing” costs of rather than keep peace. crats, at current rates, the national health care. In response, repub- The final topic of debate dealt debt will reach 300 percent of the lican Brandon Moore ’12 quoted with the limits of federal authority gross domestic product (GDP) by Congressman Barney Frank (D): with democrats claiming that re- the year 2050. They asserted that “It is impossible for public and cent years produced an explosion the economic stimulus bill passed private options to coexist.” Moore of governmental power that can- under the Obama administration argued that private insurers could not be truly undone. Republicans is starting to reverse what they never compete with a public health focused on preserving power of described as a “very unstable bud- option, and socialized medicine the states rather than the federal get situation.” Representing the would inevitably lower the quality government, with the ultimate goal republicans, Thomas Cheeseman of care, using the universal health- of “optimizing human happiness.” HamPoll: First-Years’ College Expectations, Experience Differ by Kye Lippold ’10 diverse than their communities play a major role in campus social and Bret Turner ’13 at home. life, 64 percent thought it played HAMPOLL MEMBERS The survey received 126 re- a major role after they arrived at sponses, which equates to a 26 Hamilton. Similarly, 36 percent WWW.BANFFCENTRE.CA A survey of first-year stu- percent response rate. The survey of students expected fraternities Mountaineer and writer Jennifer Lowe-Anker will speak dents conducted last month by sample was self-selected, so re- and sororities to play a moderate in the Science Center Aud. on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. HamPoll observed that first-years sults may differ from the overall or major role on campus before generally found the transition to first-year population. arrival, and, after living on cam- OPINION: Faculty Faceoff: Ambrose vs. Rabinowitz 4 college life easy. However, al- First-years indicated that pus, 66 percent concluded they cohol and Greek life occupied a alcohol and Greek organizations played a moderate or major role. FEATURES: Campus focus on bike accommodations 6 much greater role in the campus dominated the social scene more Marijuana, other illegal drugs A&E: A mindbending campus experience 8 social scene than incoming first- than they expected before they and casual sex were all about 10 SPORTS: Water Polo treds water in inaugural season 15 years expected, and they gener- arrived. While 37 percent of first- INSIDE ally found Hamilton to be more years initially expected alcohol to see Survey, page 2 October 22, 2009 Page 1 NEWS THE SPECTATOR NESCAC NEWS (And Colgate, too) by Amanda Jordan ’10 NEWS WRITER Colgate University Military veterans can now attend Colgate University without paying any tuition fees. Housing, books and supplies will also be provided free of charge. Veterans need to have served for at least three years of active duty since Sept. 10, 2001, or for at least thirty days before discharge for service-related injuries to qualify. As part of the “Yellow Ribbon” program, a component of the GI Bill, Colgate has made an agreement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Under the cur- rent program, the government will pay for the most expensive GRAPHIC BY KYE LIPPOLD ’10 tuition at a state public school. However, this is not enough money to cover tuition at many private schools. The college has agreed to contribute half of the difference between the Survey Shows First-Years See state school tuition and theirs, with the Department of Veter- ans Affairs matching the same amount. Hamilton as “More Diverse” Connecticut College from HamPoll, page 1 reporting difficulty. Students liv- This distinction also applied ing in different dorms on campus to respondents’ views of their The Department of Justice gave $643,000 in grants to Con- necticut College and Yale University on Oct. 16 to address dents expected (see the full chart reported generally the same level groups of friends. Students of domestic violence issues and help protect women on campus. above). of ease in making friends relative color and varsity athletes were The money was deemed necessary after the death of Yale stu- When asked about their ex- to their expectations. more likely to view their friends dent Annie Le last month. The Office on Violence Against perience adjusting to college life Respondents from the first- at Hamilton as less diverse than Women and the National Institute of Justice, two divisions of overall, 82 percent of first-year year class reported strong study their groups of friends at home the Department of Justice, awarded the federal funds.