All News

Both Mt. Holyoke and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs hosted presentations by Cheng Li, William R. Kenan Professor of Government and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, during the week of March 3. "The Emerging Leadership in China: Policy Priorities" was Li's topic at the March 6 presentation in Chicago at which he discussed the 11th National People's Congress and subsequent senior leadership changes. Li shared his thoughts on the policy priorities of the China's new leadership and how the country's economic policy might unfold as well as possible eventual successors of President Hu Jintao.

A CBSNews.com article, "Primary Collars Updated," examined examples of presidential candidates successfully using attack ads against opponents that incorporated barbs originally launched during primary races. Several of these were from a blog written by Philip Klinkner, James S. Sherman Associate Professor of Government and Associate Dean of Students. 

Jason Kaczor '96 is competing this week on the TV game show "Jeopardy!" On the March 11 broadcast he won $7,999 and the next night he won $28,401. The show is broadcast locally on CBS affiliate WTVH-5 from Syracuse, N.Y. The March 13 edition of the Post-Standard noted, "After losing money early in the game on an incorrect response, Kaczor knew things were looking up when the former Russian major at Hamilton College hit a Russian category in Double Jeopardy. He finished that round with a narrow lead, then answered the Final Jeopardy question correctly for the victory."

Eighty-one Hamilton students and staff members participated in the 34th annual America's Greatest Heart Run and Walk on Saturday, March 8, at Utica College in less than ideal weather conditions. These volunteers joined 7,600 others in walking and running between three and five miles, and raising an estimated $1.2 million. The annual event raises money and awareness for the American Heart Association and its fight against heart disease and stroke. Team Hamilton raised approximately $4,852. 

Charter trustee Jack Withiam '71 posed his Leap Year Challenge with every confidence that Hamilton's 29 youngest classes would rise to the occasion -- and did you ever! Together you surpassed our ambitious goal of 841 commitments over 29 days, finishing at the end of the day on February 29 with an astounding 1,066 gifts and pledges. Your remarkable, collective accomplishment demonstrates the power Hamilton alumni have when they work toward a common goal. It's who we are!

A composition by Professor of Music Michael "Doc" Woods will be performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony on April 5 at the Allen Theater in Cleveland. Woods provided the score for his piece titled Ghetto Savant. The performance will be part of the Cleveland Music School Settlement annual benefit and the only piece featuring the Chamber Symphony alone.

Associate Professor of Economics Ann Owen commented on the most recent Federal Reserve decision in an interview titled "New plan could risk confidence in Fed" on American Public Radio's Marketplace. The broadcast  addressed the Fed's plan to fix the credit crunch. Owen observed that if the Fed's plan fails, there is a risk that the public will lose confidence in the Fed precipitating serious long-term consequences.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Government Shelley McConnell was interviewed by the Associated Press and quoted in a March 10 article titled "Venezuela reopens embassy in Colombia as war talk gives way to pragmatism." McConnell, who was a senior associate director of the Carter Center Americas Program before coming to Hamilton, commented on the crisis precipitated by the incursion of Columbian troops into Ecuador in pursuit of a FARC leader.

Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Monica Inzer discussed the current pressures experienced by college applicants and how changing national demographics might lessen applicant anxiety in the future with both The New York Times and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Inzer was quoted in a Times article, titled "College expect to see drop in applicants; Demographic change alters the landscape," that appeared on the front page on Sunday, March 9.

The Hamilton College Debate Society recently participated in Boston University's debate competition. There were 66 teams and 63 novices. Mallory Joel '11, Phil Fraccola '08, Rouvan Mahmud '11 and Andrew Harris '11 represented Hamilton. Mahmud and Harris won second place novice team after facing Mount Holyoke, Yale, Brandeis, Northeastern, Amherst and Smith. Harris also won 5th place novice speaker.