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Hamilton students organized a campus rally to show support for President Eugene Tobin. Tobin issued his resignation at a faculty meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Student leaders and several faculty members addressed the community gathering.

Associate Professor of Music Lydia Hamessley presented a paper at the Fourth Annual Conference "Women in Appalachia: Their Heritage and Accomplishments" held at Ohio University, Zanesville. The talk, "The Coon Creek Girls and the Construction of an Appalachian Image," examined this first all-girl string band, led by Lily May Ledford of Pinchem Tight Holler, Ky. Their story is illustrative of the way that music producers created an Appalachian identity for their acts through decisions about music, instrument choice, dress, demeanor, and the group's name. These representations of the "hillbilly gal," with its humorous intent, were popular with audiences, but quite problematic for the band members.

Professor of Government and Woodrow Wilson Fellow Cheng Li was invited to lecture at Princeton University and at the Heritage Foundation. At Princeton, Li addressed China's political succession as part of Princeton's China Seminar Series which provides a forum for debating major issues relating to China and its transformation from a totalitarian state to a liberalizing one. At the Heritage Foundation, Li and other China experts discussed the Bush-Jiang Summit in Crawford, TX., and the future of Chinese political developments.

Associate Professor of History Shoshana Keller participated in a national "Teach-in on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict," sponsored by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, at Temple Emanu -El, Utica, NY, Sept. 30.

Professor of Biology Ernest Williams published an article titled "Harris' Checkerspot: A Very Particular Butterfly" in the summer 2002 issue of the magazine American Butterflies. Also, through The Nature Conservancy, he received a grant to study the Frosted Elfin butterfly in the Rome, N.Y. sand plains. Three students assisted in the field work last May and June, with one student being supported by the grant.

A Hartford Courant article cites a study by Peter Hinks, assistant professor of history. Hinks studied 13 sites believed to be part of the Underground Railroad in Connecticut. In his study, Hinks called into question the validity of the some of the sites. He found that the Bloomfield home once owned by abolitionist Francis Gillette and the East Haddam home of abolitionist Gideon Higgins played a role, however, two stations in Manchester are questionable. Other historians are reconsidering the validity of some Underground Railroad sites in Connecticut and finding new sites.

Associate Professor of Physical Education Sue Viscomi received a $5,000 NCAA Division III Initiative Grant (the maximum award) in the category of student-athlete welfare. Her proposal was titled "The Nutrition and Performance Connection." Viscomi is the senior woman administrator for Hamilton College's athletics department.

Professor of Biology Sue Ann Miller served as Chair of the Audit Review Committee for the Board of Directors of Sigma Xi, the scientific research society.

Professor of Government and China expert Cheng Li commented in The Christian Science Monitor about Jiang Zemin. He said, “Jiang must decide whether to become the Leonid Brezhnev of China or its George Washington.” Brezhnev held on to power for 17 years in the Soviet Union as the country declined. Li and other China experts agree that Jiang will step down from his posts like George Washington.

Professor of Government Cheng Li spoke at a day-long session organized by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the National Committee of U.S.-China Relations and by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Li participated in a session on "Challenges to Legitimacy: The Party in Transition," chaired by former U.S. Ambassador to China James Sasser.