1994-95

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.

September
Sept 28


 * Tom Levitan becomes the new Dean of Students. He was previously the Dean of Students at New College in Florida. [The Phoenix: September 28, 1994]

Sept 29


 * Groundbreaking for the Yurt project takes place in the woods between the Arts Village and FPH. The community project is budgeted at $12,000, of which $8,000 came from off campus sources. [The Phoenix: September 28 and October 5, 1994]

October
Oct 5

The Hampshire College Journal of Philosophy, started by Matthew Kisener, Kira Brunner and Jessica Zorn, is the only undergraduate philosophy journal in the country. The journal will be a venue for student work and hopefully expand a critical dialogue between students of philosophy and other disciplines. [The Phoenix: October 5, 1994]

Oct 12


 * The Omen changes hands, editor Stephanie Cole who started the publication in 1993 needs more time for her academic work and is turning the publication over to Jonathan Land, who has been writing for The Omen since 1993. [The Phoenix: October 12, 1994]

Oct 19


 * A rash of car burglary hits Hampshire, Derrick Elmes, Director of Public Safety warns students to lock their cars. One student who’s car was broken into is critical of Public Safety’s patrolling of campus. [The Phoenix: October 19, 1994]

Oct 23


 * Prescott mod 93 is put on House probation after throwing a party without a party permit. The residents of mod 93 were all prospective Div III students with outstanding Div I’s. After finding out they all meet the Div III deadline they decided to throw a party, but could not receive a permit through official channels because they did not seek the permit the required 24 hours in advance. Prescott residents put up signs around Prescott the next day protesting the probation 93 received. A wooden spool, six feet in diameter, appeared in the Prescott quad before the party. Residents of mod 93 claim they do not know where the spool came from have dubbed it the “democracy wheel.” Mod 93 want party permit laws to be reviewed and claim they will bring the matter to Community Council. [The Phoenix: November 9, 1994]

Oct 26


 * A small number of candidates and low turn-out at Community Council elections is attributed to student apathy, and lack of information about Community Council’s role. Concerns are expressed about the main-streaming of the school and the role this plays in students’ attitude toward Community Council. [The Phoenix: October 26, 1994]

Oct 28


 * The first annual Marijuana Smoke-in is held, sponsored by the Hampshire Marijuana Project, (HeMP). Between 200 and 300 people attend the event held to support the legalization of marijuana. There were speeches and information about the agricultural, industrial, and medicinal benefits of the drug. The event is reported to have “suffered an invasion” from the Hampshire College Floss-in supporting dental floss, the Floss-in was sponsored by KAGFLORT (the Kakistocratic - Aquatic Group Flippantly Lathering Overly Rubicund Throngs), and was meant to be funny. [The Phoenix: November 9, 1994]

November
Nov 16


 * About 80 people hold a candle light vigil outside FPH to protest the presence of Filmmaker and Photographer Daniel Lyon. Lyon published a photograph of a woman who was allegedly being raped by a motorcycle gang. Students asked him about the photo during his presentation and Lyon claims that he is a journalist and is not responsible for that which he photographs, he is not sorry for taking the picture, only for publishing it. Lyon claims that the publication of the photo is an issue of free speech. Protesters claim that he is just as responsible for the rape as the men that participated. Lyon claims that the woman never screamed out for help and only after he took the picture did things get ugly. He only printed one copy of the photo. [The Phoenix: November 16, 1994]


 * Robin MacEwan publishes a letter in the Phoenix addressing recent poster put up around campus questioning if “the Yurt is a waste of student money for personal academic projects.” Robin claims that the project is for the community and has involved many community members, some of which are using it for personal academic work. Of the total estimated cost of $12,000, $7,664 has be raised from sources outside of Hampshire so far. [The Phoenix: November 16, 1994]


 * The first of three public meetings is held to discuss proposed changes to Division I and the first year experience. Students express concerns about the mainstreaming of the college and the loss of Hampshire’s unique education. Administrators tell students that the changes to policy will not make Hampshire less unique but will continue Hampshire’s innovative style. [The Phoenix: November 30, 1994]

February
Feb 24


 * Comments on the controversy surrounding Hampshire's decision to hire an outside contractor to design the new college logo. [The Omen: Feb 24, 1995]

March
Mar 1


 * Concerned film students petition the administration to hire Sarah Hart, visiting assistant professor of photography and digital imaging for a full-time position. Students feel there is a need for more film and photo professors, and cite Hart as a dedicated professor. [The Phoenix: March 1, 1995]

Mar 8


 * President Greg Prince speaks at a meeting of faculty and staff about the new logo, made up of four rectangles. Many community member have concerns about the new logo and many are opposed to its use. Prince says it is part of a new marketing approach and is already being used. Hampshire paid $9,500 for the copyright to the logo and printing costs of letter head will increase slightly, but Prince believes that the increase in applications expected from the new marketing approach will cover those costs. [The Phoenix: March 8, 1995]

Mar 15


 * First Year Student, Mia Felix, writes a letter to The Phoenix complaining about her disappointment in the quality of the professors she has taken classes from. She encourages students to get involved in faculty reappointments to make sure that Hampshire has quality professors. [The Phoenix: March 15, 1995]


 * Administration response to student petition regarding Sarah Hart is that they are concerned with being fair to all disciplines, and realize student concerns, but have made no definite plans for new film and photo positions. [The Phoenix: March 15, 1995]


 * Three Hampshire students are hoping to start a Student Action Office and Committee to facilitate political activism among Hampshire students. The office would work to aid all students and groups involved in any kind of political action. Both the administration and Community Council have responded positively to the proposal and see it as something that is needed and students will really benefit from. [The Phoenix: March 15, 1995]

April
Apr 4


 * An All Community Meeting is held to discuss a variety of issues including the new college logo, Division I changes, graffiti on campus, Physical Plant unionization, and Sarah Hart’s position in film and photo. The meeting began with an interruption by fourth year student Khiran Raj, warning that the meeting was an exercise in futility because the students' problems would never be fixed as long as Greg Prince is president. Students of color express concerns that their problems were not addressed at the meeting. [The Phoenix: April 12, 1995]

Apr 5


 * Geeky and Dorky, a semi-regular social critic column in The Phoenix that rates social events on campus, writes about, among other things, the appearance of Wavy Gravy, social activist and humanitarian Hugh Romney. Geeky and Dorky, pen names used by two Hampshire Students, give their critical opinion of the talk and the audience, referring to them as “patchouli-purchased-at-Crabtree-and-Evelyn-stinkin’ pseudo hippies.” They also admit to stealing 2 and a half gallons of Ben and Jerry’s Wavy Gravy ice cream from the event. The event is given 1/32 star out of 5. [The Phoenix: April 5, 1995]

Apr 13


 * Pete Rosa, a second year student, and organizer of the men of color special interest housing group, disrupts the mod lottery in the airport lounge by taking the forms necessary for the lottery to take place. In the weeks leading up to the lottery Rosa compiled a list of eleven men interested in living in the mod and filed the paperwork on time, the only special interest housing group to do so. The students requested mod 52 in Enfield an 8 person mod, but instead were assigned to Greenwich mod 35 in donut 5, a six person mod, and mod 52 was placed in the lottery. Rosa believes the living conditions in Donut 5 are unacceptable, there is water damage, mold, mice, and exposed pipes. Rosa does not want to see anyone living in those conditions and was unable to negotiate other spaces for the men of color mod before the mod lottery. [The Phoenix: April 19, 1995]


 * A number of Hampshire Students write letters to The Phoenix complaining about the Geeky and Dorky article from April 5. Students are offended by the judgments they made about the “hippies” at the event and others were offended that they would steal the ice cream meant for the event. Students see their writing as a cheep shot at other students. [The Phoenix: April 19, 1995]

Apr 19


 * Students of color are concerned with the administration's compliance with the May 1992 Cole Science Center Agreement. Students are not receiving the correct information they request on the matter from the administration and are concerned about the administrations intentions. [The Phoenix: April 19, 1995]

Apr 21


 * Students of Color meet with administrators to discuss affirmative action and hiring of more faculty of color, admissions' treatment of prospective students of color, and the Cultural Center’s physical condition among other things. The meeting was considered long overdue, but was very constructive, and follow up meetings were planned.

Apr 23


 * The Women’s Art Collective sponsors a mock wedding and reception party to promote women artists. The event included singers, actors, dancers, designers, and writers. The event is not limited to women, and many other groups joined in including AIDS Action Coalition, the Queer Community Alliance, CARE, Our Lady of Leisure, and the Tea Edification Action Structure. [The Phoenix: April 19 and 27, 1995]

Apr 27


 * A group of women, as part of a Five College coalition, chalked messages about sexual assault and violence around campus. The students are concerned with school policies on sexual assault because they provide the victim/survivor with very few options. [The Phoenix: April 27, 1995]

May
May 5


 * Hampshire College graduate Benjamin Goldman wins the top award in the New England Film and Video festival for his work "730 Grove Street" featuring large puppets. [The Omen: May 5, 1995]