While we at The Spectator and our readers are always interested in learning about current events, we find it valuable to take a look back in Hamilton history to learn about the events and issues our campus found important.
In The Spectator’s reporting on affirmative action at Hamilton 33 years ago, “both student and administrative leaders generally say affirmative action-style policies at Hamilton are important—and here to stay.”
On the front page of the issue, members of the Hamilton community are seen holding a vigil after the 1992 Los Angeles and Atlanta riots over the acquittal of four police officers who used excessive force on Rodney King. Recent political events underscore the discussions focusing on race-conscious admissions.
At the time, The Spectator interviewed two scholars on the “political right” and two on the left. History professor Maurice Isserman was one of the interviewees in favor of affirmative action policies. The conversations mimic those recently held on campus, with those against affirmative action arguing for using socioeconomic status instead of race.
Students were also interviewed as part of the discussion of “multiculturalism” on campus. The president of the Black and Latinx Student Union at the time referenced that students were required to take a course in the “knowledge of others” category, perhaps similar to the current SSIH requirement. However, the student noted that “knowledge must ‘come from both inside and outside of the classroom, in both informal and formal settings.’”
Diverse representation among faculty was important for students and the administration as well. There were 15 full-time faculty members who were “considered minorities,” and many students expressed a desire for this number to increase. Karen Green, Director of Multicultural Affairs at the time, stated that because of student and staff support for diversity initiatives, “We are laying the groundwork for a Hamilton in the 21st century.”
For those interested in reading the rest of the article, old issues can be found on the Hamilton College Library’s archive website.
