1989-90

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

September
Sep. 1


 * Five new students are housed in the newly renovated Weneczek House due to overcrowded housing for the first two weeks of the semester; dozens more will live in lounge doubles for the rest of the semester. [The Permanent Press: September 15, 1989

Sep. 9


 * People for a Socially Responsible University hold a two-day conference with over 30 students representing national colleges, planning for direct, anti-militarism action at their respective schools; students Randy Viscio and Joanna Settle are organizers. [The Permanent Press: September 15, 19891

Sep. 11


 * New college president Greg Prince holds the first of his 7.30 a.m. Monday morning breakfasts with students (Breakfast with the President, stating, "I want to help Hampshire become more like itself." [The Permanent Press: September 15,1989]

Sep. 29


 * Young HOPE (Healers of Our Planet Earth), organized by student Ben Zeman in spring, 1988, have moved into their office in FPH. [The Permanent Press: September 29, 1989]

October
Oct. 1


 * Students are abashed when the October issue of "Sassy" magazine lists Hampshire as one of the ten "sassiest" colleges in America; thereafter, rumours circulate that the applicant pool has increased due to the article. [The Permanent Press: October 27, 1989]

Oct. 3


 * Up to 80 students gather for a vigil in memory of Rosie Jimenez, the first known woman to die of an illegal abortion after the Hyde Amendment stopped medical funding for abortions in 1977. [The Permanent Press: October 13, 1989]

Oct. 6


 * A chemical fire extinguisher is set off in the basement of Dakin L filling the halls with noxious smoke and causing a panic which leads to an evacuation of the building; suspicions arise when both on-call Dakin student interns fail to respond. [The Permanent Press: October 27,1989]

Oct. 11


 * Two members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual community are charged $75 for the cost of removing chalk graffiti from buildings on campus; some students voice offense at drawings depicting sexual acts and profane language used in the messages. [The Permanent Press: November 10, 1989]

Oct. 13


 * After renovating the dining commons over the summer, Saga manager Larry Archey is requiring student groups who use the space to have adult supervision at events, resulting in a delay for scheduled dances. [The Permanent Press: October 13, 1989]

Oct. 26


 * The Lebron-Wiggins-Pran Cultural Center opens in its current location in the Prescott Masters House, giving SOURCe a space for events and providing an office for their director and the Dean of Multicultural Affairs. [The Permanent Press: October 27, 1989]

Oct. 28


 * Hampshire's Riding Team finishes its first season at the UMass Intercollegiate Horse Show; student members Paula Lillard, Robin Wecksier, Wen LaBarre, Monique Silverman, Debbie Boyer, and Holly Bayendor finish sixth out of thirteen colleges. [The Permanent Press: November 10, 1989]

November
Nov. 4


 * A drove of sheep grazing in the apple orchard alongside Bay Road launch the first of two consecutive midnight breakouts, wandering across the south side of campus; students noticing the sheep heading for Northampton report the incidents. [The Permanent Press: December 1, 1989]

Nov. 10


 * College Treasurer Allen Torrey has announced his resignation, to be effective as of June 30, 1990. [The Permanent Press: November 10, 1989]


 * A referendum to approve the actions of People for a Socially Responsible University has passed by an overwhelming 769 to 43 margin. [The Permanent Press: November 10, 1989]

Nov. 11


 * Gregory Smith Prince is inaugurated as Hampshire's fourth president during a weekend colloquy entitled "Educating for Social Justice". [The Permanent Press: December 1, 1989]

Nov. 28


 * The College Senate passes a motion barring students in poor academic standing from holding governance positions; the motion had already been passed in the Community Council, where it was originally sponsored by Dean of Students Trey Williams. [The Permanent Press: December 1, 1989]

January
Jan 9


 * Greenwich donut 1 is evacuated and searched when a bomb threat claims that the mods are targeted; no bomb is found. [The Permanent Press: February 9, 1990]

Jan 15


 * While residential staff respond to a suicidal student in Merrill, first-year student Jill Ramsey dies after jumping from the roof of Dakin; a community meeting is held the next day, and a memorial service is held in February. [The Permanent Press: February 9, 1990]


 * About 80 students gather for a candlelight vigil to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.[The Permanent Press: February 9, 1990]

February
Feb 2


 * The most controversial faculty reappointment process in years engages students, faculty, and administrators in a dispute over fairness and academic freedom; denied contracts are Norm Holland, Jeff Wallen, Kay Henderson, Greg Jones, and Catheryn Sophian.[The Permanent Press: February 9, 1990]

Feb 8


 * The Admissions Office comes under fire when interim director Carmen Fortin decides to halt student members of the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual groups on campus from participating in a presentation to high school guidance counselors. [The Permanent Press: February 16, 1990]

Feb 12


 * In the continuing reappointment controversy, over 35 students show up at Monday breakfast to confront Greg Prince on his decision to uphold the denials of reappointment to five of six professors whose contracts CCFRAP recommended be terminated.[The Permanent Press: February 16, 1990]

Feb 26


 * Students distributing a flyer on campus describing the events surrounding the enforced medical leave of a first-year student raise serious questions about the ethics of administrative withdraw.[The Permanent Press: March 2, 1990]

Feb 27


 * Four members of People for a Socially Responsible University, including student Randy Viscio, are acquitted on charges filed against them in connection with the April 24, 1989 occupation of Memorial Hall at UMass, by a Northampton District Court Jury[The Permanent Press: March 2, 1990]

March
Mar 2


 * A memo from Greg Prince encouraging students to cooperate with a plan to convert mod double rooms in Greenwich and Enfield from single to double occupancy begins a tense conflict among students, house staff, and administrators. [The Permanent Press: March 2, 1990]

Mar 6


 * Community Council approves a motion by member Tim Shary to halt the proposed plan for redoubling rooms in Greenwich and Enfield; an alternative proposal is requested from the interim housing committee established by Greg Prince the month before. [The Permanent Press: March 16, 1990]

Mar 13


 * The College Senate approves guidelines for graduation in four years and moves to change the advising system along those guidelines. [The Permanent Press: March 2, 1990]

Mar 30


 * 111 of the newly re-upholstered Main Lecture Hall seats are slashed by an unknown vandal, the first in a series of disturbing vandalism and discriminatory graffiti incidents that will plague the campus for the rest of the semester. [The Permanent Press: April 13, 1990]

April
Apr 8


 * Becky, a horse at the Farm Center, is reported missing; she is later found to have been borrowed by Greg Prince's wife Toni as per a previous agreement, raising suspicions about the dismantling of the horse program, which was decided in March. [The Permanent Press: April 13, 1990]

Apr 10


 * Community Council approves a proposal from the interim housing committee that will gradually but ultimately lead to the reconversion of Greenwich and Enfield doubles.[The Permanent Press: April 13, 1990]

Apr 13


 * People for a Socially Responsible University deliver a report to the administration, revealing that $269,450 in college funds are invested in companies conducting weapons research or doing business in South Africa. [The Permanent Press: April 13, 1990]

Apr 15


 * The men's ultimate frisbee team makes it to the semifinals in the Northeast Regional Championships at SUNY Purchase, losing to the home team after five consecutive wins in two days.[The Permanent Press: April 27, 1990]

Apr 17


 * Despite continuing administrative reluctance to create a new staff position, Community Council approves $4,000 to pay for half the salary of an LGBA coordinator to start work in the fall semester; the administration is expected to match the amount.[The Permanent Press: April 27, 1990]

June
June 10


 * The Sunday New York Times Magazine publishes "What's New At Frisbee U.?", a provocative and detailed article reflecting on Hampshire's past twenty years; the author is F71 alum Chip Brown.[Community Council Misc.: 90S-Z87]

July
July 23


 * After the administration drops funding for the annual Frog Book, Community Council Chairperson Tim Shary sponsors a motion to members through the mail to fund the project with Council funds; the proposal passes under questionable quorum. [Community Council Misc.: 90S-Z141]