Public Statements

To the returning members of our community, welcome back. To our new students, faculty, and staff, welcome to Hamilton! You have joined a warm and engaged learning community that values your perspectives, experiences, and talents. We look forward to the contributions you will make. I look forward to meeting each of you.

I write for the third time since October to ask that you join me in denouncing religious violence and bigotry, this time in Sri Lanka against Christians on Easter Sunday. The coordinated attacks against three Catholic churches and several hotels and other gathering places killed almost 300 people and injured hundreds more on a day that Christians gathered worldwide to renew their faith in a celebration of peace, joy, and salvation.

While I hoped simply to wish everyone a well-deserved spring break, I feel compelled instead to ask that you join me in expressing solidarity and support for the family members of those killed in the tragic mass shooting in New Zealand, for the Muslim community, and for all who are affected by this latest terrible manifestation of Islamophobia.

The following letter was sent to the Secretary of Education.

On November 16, the Department of Education issued proposed regulations that, if implemented as currently drafted, would force significant changes in the way most colleges and universities respond to complaints of sexual misconduct under Title IX. The Department of Education will soon begin a 60-day notice-and-comment period as a prelude to the issuance of final, binding regulations. Until final regulations are promulgated, existing federal and state law governing sexual misconduct, and the College's own current sexual misconduct policy, will continue in effect.

I had intended to write today to express my appreciation to all involved in this year's wonderful Fallcoming and Family Weekend, but I will leave that for another time.

Following the Board of Trustees' review of the College's Strategic Plan in the spring, the senior staff began working on its implementation. We will provide periodic updates on our progress.

Now that the semester has ended, I thought I would review with you a few of the Hamilton highlights of the past year and discuss how we are responding to some difficult challenges.

The norovirus, coming so close to the end of the semester, has added a substantial new burden on students preparing for papers, exams, and presentations. As a result, some students have urged that Hamilton cancel classes. We have given that option serious thought, but after consulting with experts and considering best practices have decided to continue normal operations.

Many in our community were present last Monday evening or read the minutes from the Student Assembly meeting when Dean of Students Terry Martinez reiterated the College’s commitment to increase student wellness and provide specific support for students experiencing anxiety and depression. Dean Martinez also outlined some of the ways we continue to improve upon those services and programs as new ideas and practices become available.