Dear Hamilton Community,

The Alexander Hamilton Institute is a national organization founded by three professors and is located down the Hill in Clinton. The Enquiry is a periodical that promotes free thought and open discourse amongst students and faculty alike at Hamilton College. Established in 2013 by Paul Carrier and Joe Simonson, the publication is sponsored by The Alexander Hamilton Institute (AHI) Undergraduate Fellows, a student led organization on campus.

I really appreciated the conversation between Tom Vilsack and G.T. Thompson at the Common Ground event. The “Peanut Butter Jelly” story, told by Vilsack, about Thompson and President Joe Biden, was not only humorous but a gesture from which we can all learn. In an age of social media and algorithms, it is very easy to get trapped in echo chambers which affirm existing political beliefs. The goal of the Enquiry, much like the Common Ground program, is for students to accept disagreements between each other to promote intellectual diversity. In such a polarizing political environment, making personal connections (like the peanut butter jelly story) with one another is the first step to finding true common ground.

At its heart, the Enquiry publishes to tell a story. We print opinionated articles covering just about anything, including art, politics, economics and issues relevant to life on the Hill. We ask that submissions are well written and sincere. The publication strives to encourage intellectual diversity and opposes narrow-mindedness. The articles do not need to align with the beliefs of myself, other members nor the three founders but should promote diverse discussion amongst the student body here on the Hill. If you see me around campus, I am eager and open to discussing this organization’s past, as well as its current and continuing evolution. Our goal for this publication is to push for a future where every voice is welcome in open dialogue.

The Enquiry accepts articles of 500 to 800 words at [email protected]. Please be aware that we do not accept anonymous submissions.

Sincerely,

Jack Jee ’24

President, Alexander Hamilton Institute (AHI) Undergraduate Fellows