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A longstanding annual tradition returned when members of the Class of 2025 visited the historic Kirkland Cottage on Aug. 24 and 25 to sign the College Register. The matriculation event, established in 1975, celebrates the beginning of students’ Hamilton careers and their membership in the College community.

Rain— and plenty of it — greeted new students and families, but that did not deter Hamilton’s orientation leaders from providing a raucous and warm welcome to members of the Class of 2025 and transfer students when they arrived on the Hill on Aug. 17 for move-in and new student orientation. Orientation continues through Aug. 25, then classes for all students begin on Aug. 26.

In further (happy) evidence that life has returned to normal on College Hill, the first influx of accepted members of the Class of 2025 has arrived. The 42 students, who are part of the College’s Opportunity Programs, are spending five jam-packed weeks getting introduced to Hamilton’s academic rigor and, with support, building a personalized foundation for success.

COVID-19 put a pause on Hamilton College athletics for almost 13 months, but when the NESCAC decided sports could begin again with competition in early April, the Continentals responded with some outstanding individual performances.

Colorful artwork, fresh food, and a lively conversation with a renowned champion for same-sex marriage were among the highlights of Hamilton’s first Pride Month celebration sponsored by the Days-Massolo Center (DMC).

The Days-Massolo Center (DMC) will celebrate its history and 10-year anniversary throughout the 2021-22 academic year. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni will collaborate on a celebration that will pay tribute to DMC’s founders while examining the progress and future for the Center. The DMC began as a student-led Social Justice Initiative and has evolved into a cultural and equity center with a new student-generated mission, vision, and future intentional work.

After a comprehensive search process, FoJo Beans, a coffee roaster from Hamilton, N.Y., has been selected as the successor to Café Opus and will open two locations on campus. Work on the new cafés is underway, and an opening date for FoJo South (McEwen Dining Hall) and FoJo North (Taylor Science Center) will be announced closer to the start of the academic year.

Zach Weller ’23, a digital communications intern and student writer for the Communications Office, and Asa Szegvari ’23 embarked on a five-week, 80-mile-per day, bike trip across the Continental Divide in June. As Zach reports here, the trip came to unfortunate early end.

An article about the sound design workflow for the Spring Theatre production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, was the cover story for the May issue of Live Sound International.

Co-managers Larry Bender and Sarah Goldstein remember traveling into town for ice every morning and keeping extra supplies in their car during the first days of Café Opus. Some 26 years later, the much beloved coffeehouse has grown — its original location below McEwen Dining Hall expanded and Opus 2 snug within the Taylor Science Center atrium since 2005 — and the café has developed a cult following among students, alumni, faculty, and staff alike.