The rippling effects of Hampshire’s founding mission of “inspiring students to create positive change in the world” can be felt throughout our campus. Our network of dedicated student activists and motivated group leaders inspires me and keeps me working as a leader on campus. I think it is one of the best aspects of our school.
On a recent Monday night, I sat with a group of fellow Hampshire College students in the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton. The five of us who attended are members of a Hampshire stand-up group, and we had come to see Eugene Mirman—a comedian who graduated from Hampshire in 1996. He is now well known for his stand-up as well as his roles on “Flight of the Conchords” and “Bob’s Burgers.”
As Hampshire students, we’re never alone in our endeavors throughout our years on campus. With more than 40 different offices to aid us in our interests, passions, problems, and questions, it’s easy to feel comforted by the level of support all around us.
As a student intern for Hampshire College’s Admissions office, a big question I often get is: Why Hampshire? Why choose to attend a small, experimental liberal arts school in Western Massachusetts? Why, if you are so interested in complex political sciences and larger social change, choose to go to this rural, apparently isolated college?
Will Meyer 10F's Division III, titled "Corporations Writing the News: How Journalism is Morphing into Storytelling," takes a look at some age-old advertising practices that are given a modern twist.
As my peer Brigid wrote in a previous post, our school received the 2015 Community Engaged Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This selective classification is awarded to colleges and universities that instill the importance of working and engaging with local communities through various curricula, programs, and pedagogical philosophies.
Neurobiology and sculpture, labor justice organizing and poetry, computer animation and ancient literature… sometimes I smile at the academic interests of those around me at Hampshire, and how incredibly lucky we are to have such freedom in our studies.
