1992-93

This Timeline is based on a portion of Sarah Finger's A History of Student Activities and Achievements at Hampshire College. Anything not otherwise cited comes from this source.

1992
Sept 18

President Greg Prince writes a memo to the community which is published in the Hampshire College Community News stating that it is important for the community to continue the work and discussion about multiculturalism. A number of committees have been created to ensure that multiculturalism is addressed in terms of academic life and student affairs. [HC Community News: September 18, 1992]

Sept 25

A public forum is held to discuss “the aftermath of the student takeover of Cole Science Center.” [HC Community News: September 30, 1992]

Sept 30

The Counselor Advocates, who have been without a coordinator for several semesters, have decided to terminate all positions except educational services. Administrators plan to hire a new Counselor Advocate coordinator by November 1. [HC Community News: September 30, 1992

SeXpressions, a student group that deals with issues of sexual identity and people as sexual beings, plans to bring X-Plicit Players to perform at Hampshire on October 26. X-Plicit is a group of performance artists and activists from Berkeley, CA. They plan to perform an audience participation piece, in which performers and audience members engage in non-sexual touching, clothed and unclothed. [HC Community News: September 30, 1992]

Oct 15

The administration wants to postpone the performance of X-Plicit Players, they feel they need more time to discuss and prepare for the performance. The administration is concerned with the emotional well being of participants as well as sexually transmitted diseases. SeXpressions sees this as an act of censorship. SeXpressions book the group for a workshop that would take place the day before so that participants could understand and talk about the performance before deciding to participate. They also said they are willing to take precautions such as using condoms to meet the concerns of the administration. [The Hampshire Examiner: October 15, 1992]

Oct 18

Several students provide an information sessions about the Clinton/Gore campaign. They show a video and answer questions in the dinning commons and airport lounge. The information sessions are planned to take place the day before a national Presidential debate. [The Hampshire Examiner: October 15, 1992]

Oct 29

A Campus Work Plan, that would require every student to work on campus, is put to referendum and passes with a 58% majority. Tom Scully who co-drafted the plan says that work study students spend on average 10 hours less a week studying. The proposal will now go to the trustees. Some students complain that the proposal while good in spirit is not well thought out in details. [The Hampshire Examiner: October 29, 1992]

1993
Jan 23

The first issue of The Omen is released. Editor, Stephanie Cole, calls it a “newsmagazine” that will come out regularly and frequently to get the news out “to be acted upon and reacted about.” The Omen is open to all submissions from the community. [The Omen: January 23, 1993]

Feb 2

Community Council unanimously votes to make The Hampshire Community Newspaper a subcommittee of Council in attempt to create continuity in the school newspaper. The chair of the subcommittee will be responsible for convening a Newspaper Advisory Board of students, staff and faculty to evaluate and suggest changes to the paper. [The Omen: February 14, 1993]

Omen staff member, Cathu Davis, interviews Graffiti Artist “Bask” Gretchen Grothwohl. Bask was caught writing graffiti on windows and mirrors around the school. The administration considers her writing an act of vandalism and she has been assigned to scrub walls for Physical Plant. Bask claims her writing is political and now puts up flyers around campus. [The Omen: February 4, 1993]

Feb 9

White Students Against Racism plan a forum to discuss white privilege at Hampshire, as well as an anti-racism workshop. The group formed last year in response to the Cole Science Center student takeover. The group recently put up controversial posters around campus attempting to raise awareness about white privilege. [The Hampshire Examiner: February 9, 1993]

The Hampshire Examiner editor writes about changes that will take place in the paper to make it a more diverse voice of the community. The Examiner will now publish more stories and letters from the community which will be organized in a way so that readers will understand they are not typical “factual” reporting. The paper is looking for non-white members to write for the paper so that a variety of voices will be included. [The Hampshire Examiner: February 9, 1993]

Bernice Gero, hired in November as the new Counselor Advocate coordinator, wants to reach out to both men and women and increase awareness about the program. [The Hampshire Examiner: February 9, 1993]

Community Council votes to table the Spring 1993 budget until the next meeting, due to concerns with bookkeeping procedures and unfair procedures. Student groups are asked to submit written notice if they feel their semester’s allocation is unfair. [The Omen: February 14, 1993]

Feb 19

Community Council tables the Spring budget for the second straight meeting despite FiCom member objections. Council will review bookkeeping procedures and budget allocations before voting on the budget. Student groups will continue to receive funding even though no budget has been passed. [The Omen: February 19, 1993]

The third Natural Science teach-in on racism is held. The focus of the teach -in is the Cole Science Center take-over. A panel discussion is held with President Greg Prince and students involved in the take-over. Teach-ins are now to be held every year as laid out in the Cole Science Center agreement. [The Hampshire Examiner: March 3, 1993]

Feb 22

The Community Work Program proposal, which passed in community referendum last year, was brought to the Campus Life Committee of the Board of Trustees. Students urged the board to put it on the agenda for the next meeting. Penina Glazer, Dean of Faculty, said the administration needs to come up with a clear response to the plan. [The Omen: March 3, 1993]

Trey Williams, Dean of Students, reports to the Campus Life Committee about “exit interviews” of graduating students. Williams says a significant number of students expresses that they were uncomfortable with nudity in the sauna. Students at the meeting are puzzled by the findings. [The Omen: March 3, 1993]

Feb 23

After almost a month of deliberating Community Council approves the Spring budget. There are still discrepancies in the bookkeeping and the budget was passed including estimates of some expenses. [The Omen: March 12, 1993]

Chris Keroack sends a letter to The Examiner and The Omen claiming The Examiner is out of date by the time it goes to press, gives incorrect information, and has poor reporting. Keroack says that the proposed changes to The Examiner is just an attempt to make it more like The Omen. [The Hampshire Examiner: March 3, 1993]

Mar 3

The Men’s Resource Center, located in the basement of Dakin H, is being recreated under new director, Joe Minton, a Hampshire alumn. The Men’s Resource Center holds regular meetings, provides resources, referrals, and limited counseling. The Center is working to bring an end to sexual harassment and rape on campus. [The Omen: March 3, 1993]

Mar 12

A new draft of the Hampshire College Constitution will go to the Senate and Community Council for approval. The new version reduces the size of Community Council and defines the powers of Community Council. [The Omen: March 12, 1993]

Mar 26

A proposal that would give Community Council the ability to allocate part of its budget to the Student Endowment Fund is being considered by Council. Money is currently added to the fund by donations. President Greg Price and College Treasurer, Jack Fortier, both support the proposal. [The Omen: March 26, 1993]

Apr 16

Trey Williams discusses with Community Council the upcoming verdict in the Rodney King police brutality case. Williams wants to have a discussion with interested members of the community about the implications of the verdict. An All Community meeting is suggested to take place the day of the verdict. [The Omen: April 16, 1993]