Drew M. Hoidal ’29

Arts & Entertainment Editor

On Thursday Oct. 1, the Live DJ series held its first event in Underground Coffeehouse (UG), with an open tab and a set by DJ Marcus McGregor ’30, a freshman student at Trinity and a member of Trinity’s Temple of Hip Hop. UG, located under Mather Hall, was full of energy as students enjoyed music, conversation and complimentary drinks. The event brought a new sense of enthusiasm to Underground, where students could order a free drink of choice, dance and mumble song lyrics while connecting with fellow attendees. They experienced how different music can transform a familiar place into an environment where people can connect beyond their typical social circles. 

Orchestrated through the Trinity Temple of Hip Hop, the Live DJ series, a series of events designed to bring students together through live DJ sets, in efforts to connect and celebrate art and culture. 

Temple of Hip Hop is a student run organization that offers many opportunities for Trinity students to explore Hip Hop culture and express their creativity, giving students the chance to share their music in an uplifting positive environment. Trinity’s Temple of Hip Hop, is one of Temple of Hip Hop’s many national chapters, which receives funding and support to help its mission of preserving and documenting hip hop history. Through the academic school year, Temple of Hip Hop offers a variety of events for students to learn about the history of Hip Hop, connect with other vibrant minds and elevate Hip Hop music as a way for people to become inspired.

The International Hip Hop festival is one of the many activities Trinity’s Temple of Hip Hop organizes. The event allows students to collaborate and share their artistic talents while getting the opportunity to learn about Hip Hop artists from around the world. Individuals can come together through listening to the variety of diverse forms of expression at the International Hip Hop festival. 

When Temple of Hip Hop began, its meetings took place in the UG on the Trinity Campus, where club events became a party hub for students. Since then, the chapter has expanded its energy beyond UG creating more opportunities for students to collaborate and share their work. 

Andreia Soares ’27, co-president of The Temple of Hip Hop, has been involved with Temple since her junior year. She was first introduced to the Temple of Hip Hop through her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sister who had served as the president of Temple. Soares was given a position on the e-board her junior spring and has made many efforts to help expand Temple’s reach as well as increase student involvement. Since her beginning of the position, she’s been enthusiastic about the club, promoting the organization to the Trinity community. Last spring, Soares recalls her time at the International Hip Hop festival as one of her most memorable experiences with the club, an event that brought community members together to listen to different artists and experience Hip Hop’s influence across cultures. Soares recalled a moment that occurred after the festival: there was an after party, where Temple of Hip Hop members got to come together to celebrate the unifying power of music, recognizing the thoughtful planning behind the event and the club’s outstanding promotion.

The Temple of Hip Hop does not just introduce students to Hip Hop culture, it builds a space where individuals can build relationships, feel a part of a creative community and discover new perspectives. For Soares, her admiration for the club is to welcome new members that come from different backgrounds and experiences. She emphasized that the club is about “finding taste and style” through the different people you meet and the variety of music tastes and perspectives the club challenges its members to engage with. In an interview with the Tripod, Soares was asked why the club serves as a crucial part of our Trinity community, in response, she stated, “In this digital age where everything is on your phone, messages, social media, music and art, the club creates an outlet for individuals to engage with art in a physical way. DJ’s will mix tapes on vinyls, so seeing this form of creation takes you off your phone and immerses you.” 

DJ McGregor also shared a similar perspective on the value of experiencing music in person. McGregor has explored his passion for DJ-ing since his early years of High School when he was introduced to the music style by a few of his friends at The Hotchkiss School. McGregor claims since his introduction to DJ-ing he’s used it as a platform to share his musical tastes and bring individuals together through his love of music. McGregor mixes house music, rap, R&B and country, blending different genres to create an inclusive atmosphere for listeners to discover new sounds. Through his spectrum of music genres that he uses, he aims to create an atmosphere that makes students and all listeners more open minded. When asked about promoting the club, McGregor stated that he’s been able to promote the club through flyers, word of mouth and sharing with his friends the impact that this club has. Students could feel the energy of DJ McGregor’s music. Through events such as the DJ series McGregor aims to create an atmosphere where the impact of music encourages people to spread out and reaches all sides of campus. McGregor aims to create a space where people can congregate in a setting that cultivates a sense of community, welcoming artists and open minded individuals looking to expand their music palette. 

The club will hold the DJ series through the course of the next few months where different types of people come, listen and bond over music and culture. The event will take place on select Tuesdays and Thursdays. For the full schedule of upcoming DJ series events, follow Temple of Hip Hop on Instagram at @trinityhiphop.

Carlos Fonseca ’30

Staff Writer

From studying bees on an island in Panama to painting landscapes and leading Trinity’s Caribbean Students Association (CSA), Yasmin Barnes ’27 has spent her college years pursuing interests that often take her beyond the classroom. A biology major with a passion for ecology and art, Barnes has embraced opportunities that have shaped both her academic interests and personal life. I had the pleasure of speaking with her about her research, experiences abroad, involvement at Trinity and her advice for younger students.

Barnes’ fascination with nature began during her childhood in Texas, where she often found herself observing insects and other wildlife. Her family’s Panamanian roots also exposed her to environments that encouraged her curiosity about the natural world. “I would watch [the insects] and then I would think to myself, what’s going on in their worlds?” she recalled. “I think I never lost that.”

At Trinity, Barnes has pursued this curiosity through research with Professor Benjamin Toscano, whom she began working with during her freshman year. Her research examines how predators influence aquatic ecosystems, particularly how predatory stoneflies affect smaller insects and algae growth. Barnes explained that her work involved constructing experimental equipment, placing it in streams and observing how organisms responded to the presence of predators. Her team’s findings suggested that the presence of predators could affect the behavior of smaller organisms and the growth of algae, with these effects persisting over time.

Her interest in ecology also took her to Panama, where she conducted research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute under Dr. William Wcislo. Working on an island in the Panama Canal, Barnes studied bee metabolism and how social interactions might affect energy expenditure. Using specialized equipment, she measured the bees’ oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production to better understand their behavior. The opportunity came after Barnes reached out directly to a researcher, something she encourages other students interested in research to try.

But Barnes’ curiosity isn’t limited to scientific research. During her junior year study abroad programs in Cambodia and Panama, she became increasingly interested in the relationship between people and their environments. These experiences also strengthened her appreciation for art, which she sees as another way to connect with the natural world. Barnes enjoys painting landscapes, particularly those that remind her of places she has visited. She also practices insect photography. Recently, she created a photography display featuring insects and plants from the native garden outside Trinity’s Life Sciences Center, hoping to encourage students to appreciate the wildlife around them. “I think art is a language to reach people beyond words,” she explained. When she isn’t painting or photographing nature, Barnes also enjoys psychological horror films, particularly “Hereditary.”

Another important part of Barnes’ Trinity experience has been her involvement in CSA, where she currently serves as president. She first joined the organization during her freshman year after a teaching assistant encouraged her to attend. As a student with Panamanian roots, she quickly found a sense of belonging within the group. “I really just fell in love with the group because it felt like home away from home,” she recalled. Barnes described CSA as an important part of her college experience, highlighting the friendships and leadership skills she has developed through the organization. As president, she hopes to maintain that welcoming environment for other students while celebrating Caribbean culture and strengthening the organization’s connection to the broader Hartford community.

Looking ahead, Barnes hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology, focusing on native pollinators and sustainable food systems. She is also applying for international fellowships that would allow her to work with nongovernmental organizations before graduate school. Her experiences abroad have encouraged her to consider how scientific research can address environmental challenges while benefiting the communities affected by them. “I want to really make a systemic change and help people as much as I can,” she explained.

Reflecting on her time at Trinity, Barnes emphasized that some of her most meaningful experiences have come from unexpected friendships and opportunities. She recalled forming close relationships with students from countries such as Pakistan and Mongolia, people she might never have met otherwise. These connections, alongside her research and involvement on campus, have helped her find a sense of belonging at Trinity.

For underclassmen, Barnes encourages students to reach out to professors and take advantage of opportunities outside their comfort zones. She believes some of the most meaningful college experiences come from trying something new: “Do the random things, because those are the things you remember.”

Sajja Ranjit ‘29

Executive Features Editor

In an increasingly polarized political climate, with the Trump administration continuing to reshape higher education through federal funding cuts and efforts to influence campus policies, questions surrounding the independence of academic institutions have taken on renewed urgency.

Against this backdrop, Professor of Political Science Isaac A. Kamola’s work examining the relationships between political power, economic interests and higher education has taken on renewed significance. “Political forces and economic forces are deeply intertwined with each other,” Kamola told the Tripod. This connection, which first drew him to the topic of political economy as an undergraduate student at Whitman College, continues to shape his scholarship and work at Trinity.

Kamola first encountered political economy in a course that examined the work of Adam Smith and Karl Marx. Studying the two thinkers side by side gave him a framework for understanding the political and economic debates beyond the classroom into everyday life. “That class more than just about any other really helped me explain the world,” Kamola said. “I could read the newspaper. I could see the political debates that were taking place and understand the different kinds of arguments that were being made.”  The experience continues to shape his approach to teaching political economy, a subject he plans to teach again in the spring. 

Political economy, as Kamola describes it, challenges the idea that markets and politics operate independently of one another. Instead, it emphasizes that the two are closely connected: political institutions create the rules and conditions that shape how markets operate, while economic relationships influence how political institutions distribute resources and exercise power. “There is nothing like a kind of a naturally existing market that free floats kind of out there in the world,” Kamola said. Instead, he argues, markets are shaped by political decisions and institutions, just political systems are influenced by economic relationships. 

This understanding also intersects with Kamola’s research into higher education, particularly how academic institutions and the knowledge they produce are shaped by broader political and economic forces. That interest extends to his role as director of the American Association of University Professors’ Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom where he works to defend the principle that teaching and research should be guided by scholarly inquiry rather than political pressure.

“Academic freedom is not the claim that professors can say whatever they want without consequences,” Kamola said. Instead, he explained that academic freedom depends on the ability of faculty members to make decisions about research, curriculum and hiring processes according to scholarly expertise and professional standards rather than outside political or economic interests. “Academic freedom comes from the premise that teaching and research can’t serve the common good if it’s not directed by the facility themselves.” Kamola said. “For example, if I am a climate scientist and British Petroleum is paying for my research and is telling me what I can and can’t say, then I’m no longer serving the interest of knowledge, of my discipline, of my field, my students. I’m instead serving British Petroleum.”

Kamola expressed concern that these principles are increasingly threatened by political efforts to influence higher education. He pointed to actions by the Trump administration and state governments, particularly in Florida and Texas, as examples of growing political pressure on academic institutions. Through the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom, Kamola works to address these challenges by raising public awareness, developing resources for faculty, conducting research and building partnerships with organizations committed to protecting academic independence. The center is currently working with its second cohort of 12 fellows from institutions across the country. Its initiatives also include webinars, public presentations and a podcast aimed at broadening conversations about academic freedom.  

For Kamola, these concerns extend beyond faculty members to the student whose educational experiences depend on the ability to engage freely with challenging ideas. He described conversations with peers in states such as Florida and Texas who have begun censoring their own teaching out of fear of political retaliation. “The ability to have academic freedom, and to express ideas really in the classroom without fear of retaliation, is essential for the learning conditions of students,” Kamola said. 

He also emphasized the importance of student activism, pointing to Trinity’s history of organizing around issues from the apartheid in the 1980s to racial justice and more recent demonstrations concerning the genocide in Gaza. For Kamola, college campuses provide students with opportunities not only to engage in academic inquiry, but also to develop the necessary skills to participate in life and advocate for change. “The students already know what needs to be done, and I would just say keep doing it.” Kamola said. 

This emphasis on student engagement also informs his efforts to expand opportunities for studying political economy at Trinity. Through a developing political economy research lab, Kamola hopes to bring together students and faculty from different academic disciplines to examine the relationships between political institutions and economic systems. “Political economy is a very interdisciplinary field,” Kamola explained, noting that scholars in economics, American studies and political science approach similar questions from different perspectives. 

Rather than confining the study of political economy to individual departments, the lab aims to have collaboration among students and faculty across different academic backgrounds. “The idea is to bring together scholars and faculty and students from lots of different majors and disciplines to ask these questions,” Kamola said. 

Still in its first year, the lab remains in the early stages of development, with Kamola emphasizing the importance of incorporating student and faculty input in shaping its direction. The subjects he is open to exploring are between Trinity and the surrounding Hartford community, particularly how regional economic dynamics influence local institutions. 

Ultimately, Kamola hopes his work will encourage students to recognize that political and economic structures are shaped by decisions that can be challenged and changed. “The existence of billionaires, for example, is a policy choice,” Kamola said. “If those policies were to change, then the economic structure would also change.” By understanding the relationships between political and economic power, he hopes students will develop not only the tools to critically examine the world around them, but also the ability to identify where they can make the greatest impact.

Carlos Fonseca ’30

Staff Writer

Maya Kajikawa ‘27 is a neuroscience major and Japanese minor whose research examines HIV’s effects on brain health. Through her research, she developed a passion for combining laboratory work with a career in medicine. I had the pleasure of speaking with her about her research, how it has shaped her plans and her advice for students interested in scientific research.

Kajikawa’s introduction to research came through Trinity’s Interdisciplinary Science Program, which allowed her to begin working in a biology laboratory during the spring of her first year. Her current research focuses on HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, known as HAND. Kajikawa explained that although HIV is commonly associated with its effects on the immune system, her research examines how it affects the brain and cognitive function. She emphasized that neurological health remains an important concern for people living with HIV, including those receiving treatment for the virus.

Her research experiences have also expanded her career interests. Kajikawa plans to pursue medical school and is considering an MD–PhD program, which would allow her to combine patient care with research.

Kajikawa had not initially planned to study HIV specifically. Instead, her interests in aging and neurological disorders drew her toward research involving the brain. She was particularly interested in preclinical work, which uses models such as cells and animals to investigate biological processes before potential approaches are studied in people.

Beyond her work on HIV, Kajikawa explained that one of the most surprising aspects of research has been its collaborative nature. Throughout her research experiences, she found professors, students and other researchers willing to answer questions and offer guidance. “I’ve been mentored by everyone in my lab,” she said.

For students who feel intimidated by STEM, Kajikawa emphasized the support that is present within a laboratory. She explained that finding a lab where she felt comfortable with the people around her made a demanding workload a positive experience. “The work is difficult, and sometimes very tiring, but I also was excited to go,” she said.

Kajikawa also explained that experiments often do not work or produce results that differ from what a researcher expected. However, those challenges make successful moments especially fulfilling. “When something goes right, it’s the most rewarding thing ever,” she said. 

Although structured summer research programs offer valuable opportunities, Kajikawa explained that their competitive application processes are not the only way to get involved. For underclassmen interested in research, Kajikawa encourages reaching out directly to professors and laboratories. She suggested looking for opportunities near where students plan to spend the summer, even if they do not already have a connection to the institution.

Contacting professors directly can also lead to mentorship and experience. “Email them, email them, email them,” Kajikawa emphasized. “More professors respond than you expect.” 

After speaking with Kajikawa, what stood out most to me was how research had broadened her plans for the future. An opportunity she pursued during her freshman year has helped shape her career goals beyond Trinity; for underclassmen on a similar path, her advice offers a good place to start: find a professor whose work interests you and reach out. As Kajikawa’s experience shows, you do not need to know exactly where an opportunity will take you before pursuing it.

Sophia Luneva ’30

Contributing Writer

Dashiell Sigmond ’30

Contributing Writer

Fall is officially here with the return of the Pratt Street Autumn Festival in the historic district of downtown Hartford. Pratt Street is a pedestrian-only street filled with restaurants, retail stores and bars, making it the perfect place for a community gathering. The festival ran from Oct. 3 to Oct. 4, featuring live music, local vendor stands and free face painting for community members.

Hartford’s local vendors lined the streets throughout the weekend, selling handmade jewelry, candles and fall-inspired ceramics. The street was full of the Hartford community enjoying a lovely fall day while walking in and out of the open shops on the street. Hartford Prints, Gentle Bull Shop and Bloom Bake Shop were among the most popular stores for people to visit. The Gentle Bull Shop had an amazing five dollar bin among other incredible vintage finds, handmade jewelry and intricate ceramics; Hartford Prints was full of autumn-inspired candles, stationery and tote bags. The Bloom Bake Shop had a line spanning the entire block waiting for their artisanal pastries and coffee. 

East Hartford’s School of Rock band performed during the festival. The band covered classic fall songs, such as a cover of “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, along with some original songs crafted by the students, both in and out of school. The afternoon continued with other artists taking the stage, including Elena Foster, who is a local Connecticut-based folk singer and songwriter.

Overall, the festival was a huge success, drawing out several families and locals to Pratt Street, embracing the changing season and taking part in community activities.  

Cam Guendner ’30

Staff Writer

On Wednesday night, one of Trinity’s most notable alumni told a packed Washington Room that getting waitlisted, rejected and bombing the LSAT is what propelled him to success later on.

On Oct. 14, students, faculty and members of the community filed into Mather Hall’s Washington Room for the inaugural TrinTalks event featuring Trinity alumnus Danny Meyer ’80. Meyer is best known for co-founding the modern burger chain, Shake Shack, and his New York Times best-selling book, “Setting the Table.” He is the founder and the executive chairman of Union Square Hospitality group. Meyer found his way “back home” to Trinity while in the midst of a lengthy promotional tour for his new book, “What Could Possibly Go Right?” Meyer, the restaurateur and entrepreneur, sat down with President Daniel Lugo for a conversational interview that shed light on his professional experiences during and after his time at Trinity as well as the writing process behind his new book. 

President Lugo began the interview by asking Meyer about his early days at Trinity, to which Meyer quickly replied that he is forever grateful for the admissions officer that got him off Trinity’s waitlist. To the audience’s surprise, Meyer’s college acceptances did not reflect the career that he would later go on to create. Meyer emphasized that being waitlisted by Trinity and rejected by two other schools only spurred him to further take advantage of the opportunities presented to him while in college. “That Danny Meyer was a spring that was completely compressed and didn’t even know it,” Meyer said when asked about his freshman self. “And it was when I got to Trinity that I was finally ready to let go of it.”

When President Lugo posed the question as to how he made the jump from a bachelor’s degree in political science to a career as a restaurateur, Meyer revealed that contrary to popular belief, his first loves were writing and politics, and that he initially was deciding between law and journalism school for post-grad. Yet, he later told the crowd that his dreams of law school were cut short due to his poor LSAT score. Although his college journey began with some setbacks, Meyer looks back on these failures with admiration, “It didn’t seem like anything was going right when I got rejected from two colleges and waitlisted here, and yet nothing could have been more right then how it all turned out.” 

Throughout the course of the interview, Meyer recounted the extensive number of jobs he worked before finding success in the restaurant business: a tour guide in Rome for his father’s travel business, a top salesman at a company selling electronic shoplifting prevention tags and, right out of college, field director for John B. Anderson’s 1980 presidential campaign in Cook County, Chicago. Meyer described these early experiences as not a waste of time, but rather opportunities to learn more about people and how to make them feel seen. 

He stressed how important it was that things didn’t go his way, as he would have never found his passion in the restaurant industry. Despite early setbacks, Meyer described his mid-20’s as a time for development, and attributed these years to his later success in the field of hospitality. Connecting his time managing political campaigns with his early years in the restaurant business Meyer said, “The only way I could motivate people who were volunteers was via the common purpose we were all working towards, which was to get this guy elected…so from the get-go I treated all of our employees at Union Square like volunteers.” This valuable lesson he said he took from being the boss of twenty volunteers right after graduating from Trinity.

Without spoiling the premise of his newly released book, Meyer delved deep into his business philosophy. He recounted his early adaptations of typical hospitality practices and the eventual creation of his model, “Enlightened Hospitality”. The key topic that he focuses on in his 2006 book, “Setting the Table,” “Enlightened Hospitality” is what Meyer said he attributes to all of his restaurants’ success. Meyer stated that this logic is anchored on the idea that, “Our first customer is my employees because our paying customers are not going to have a better experience eating here than these people are having working here.” After Meyer gave the crowd a sneak peak into what they may encounter within “What Could Possibly Go Right” and answered a few questions from the crowd, Meyer finished the talk by answering one last question from President Lugo: “If you could give your college senior self a piece of advice, what would it be?” Meyer answered simply, “Try to make wise choices, because every time you make a wise choice you open windows of opportunity.”

Alex Gervais ’28

Exec. Organ Concertgoer

As Halloween approaches on campus, so does Trinity’s annual Midnight Organ concert. Each year, the Chapel fills with the spooky sounds of organ at midnight on Halloween with Bantams watching on from the pews in varied states of drunken stupor. This year, the organ program has decided to take a unique approach, partnering with the biology department for what they’re calling “Midnight Organ²,”  a blend of science and the arts. Students will have the opportunity to dissect lab rats as they listen to the music (a double organ experience, if you will). 

Flyers advertising the event have begun popping up around campus, calling it a “unique liberal arts experience.” The flyers also contain a disclaimer warning potential attendees that supplies of rats to be dissected will go fast, and Bantams will only be eligible to dissect if they checked the organ donor box when they ordered their fake IDs. Students are also warned not to consume any part of the rat during the dissection because any student who returns a fully dissected and uneaten lab rat will receive a $5 Bantam Bites gift card. 

The Tripod spoke to a few interested students to understand their perspectives on the event:

“As a biology major, I’m excited to expand my work beyond the classroom. As someone who has never gone to Midnight Organ not crossfaded, I’m worried about my ability to distinguish between a rat heart and liver while under the influence,” said Acka Demic-Wheapon ’27. “I’m really hoping there won’t be a quiz element.”

“I mean I understand the pun, like yeah, good one,” said Buhz Keel ’29. “What I don’t get is what is added from making students dissect in a dark chapel without any real reason. It kind of feels like this whole thing was just done to appease someone’s super juvenile sense of humor.” 

“I’m worried this campus is spending too much time on puns and not enough on being spooky,” said Laim Oh ’30. “I mean, only fourth in the new spookiness ratings? I never thought I’d attend a Trinity where we put such a high value on wordplay and so little on being the spookiest we can be; it’s Halloween for Christ’s sake! No wonder Tucker is so disappointed with us.” 

“Why can’t we eat the rats?” Phrie Thinkheir ’28 asked the Tripod. “Studies show that formaldehyde ‘poisoning’ is no more dangerous than consuming an undercooked Bistro hamburger, and I do that almost daily. Rats are also a great source of micronutrients, according to Secretary Kennedy. That’s the issue with the liberal arts these days…too much Big Brother trying to tell you what can and can’t do. I thought we were committed to open inquiry at Trinity.” 

Christopher Houlihan ’09, Trinity College’s John Rose Distinguished College Organist, Director of Chapel Music and Artist-in-Residence declined to comment on this article, instead hoping to save the suspense for Midnight Organ².

Alex Gervais ’28

Purveyor of Spookiness

On Oct. 19, US News and World Report released their annual list of the spookiest colleges and universities in the nation, with Trinity coming in at a commanding number four. This is an improvement for the College, which came in at number 19 the year prior and number 17 in 2024.

The publication, often heralded for their college ranking lists, uses a methodology balancing campus architecture, history of the college and “that eerie feeling in the pit of your stomach” to create their rankings. The ranking noted Trinity’s gothic architecture and the “lifeless stares of economics majors” as the prime reasons for the high placement in its report. The school’s food was also a primary driver of spookiness, the ranking noting that Trinity students seemed “in a constant state of terror” when within a 200 foot radius of Mather pork loin. 

Some other colleges finishing high in the rankings were Liberty University at number seven, heralded for their “seemingly endless” string of graduates with uncanny valley facial features, and Salem St. University at number three, noted for being in Salem, MA, thus they must be spooky. Taking home the number one spot was American University, the ranking noting that at 2 a.m. each night the student body arises, haunted by the ghost of Paul Ryan’s political career, and collectively presses send on a congressional internship application in unison. 

Across the NESCAC, Wesleyan ranked at number 29, with the ranking calling their student body “downright terrifying to spend time with,” and Hamilton came in a strong 15th, most of their points coming from “nobody really knowing what in the world is going on up there.” 

“We’re happy to report the campus is spookier than ever,” said George M. Terrifying ’85, Trinity’s newest VP of Student Camaraderie and Advanced Returning Excellence (SCARE). “When I was here as a student, the campus was borderline ghoulish, but now we’ve created a really special experience for our Halloween inclined student body… As VP of [SCARE] I’m proud to announce we’ll be rolling out programming in cooperation with the Ghost of Trinity’s Night Life and the English Department; they always like to talk about how their building is haunted.” Terrifying made no indication of programming specifics, although he warns the Tripod’s readers to be on the look out for “those really loose Peter B’s lids” to be making a comeback. “I really see my job as making the student experience at Trinity as grotesquely terrifying as possible.”

Julianna Williams ’30

Staff Writer

From Oct. 15 to 16, campus became the gathering place for senators, psychologists, state representatives, students, philosophers, lawyers and educators from a coalition of Connecticut schools as the College hosted the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights Community Action Summit.

The conference opened Thursday morning in the Reese Room of the Smith house with breakfast and a welcome delivered by Professor Benjamin Carbonetti, Director of Trinity’s Human Rights program; and Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, Quinnipiac Legal Studies Professor and Connecticut state senator.

The first presentation covered the Hartford Voter Captains Project by Trinity Assistant Professor of Political Science Dang Do and research assistants Chloe Libby ’27 and Malika Rice ’27, followed by a panel of Connecticut Legislatures discussing Criminal Justice practices and reform. Dr Beth Monchun, Executive Assistant to the President at CT State Community College, Naugatuck Valley, reflected on the state of Connecticut partnering with Norway to model some aspects of their criminal justice system, sharing that the panel prompted her to think of ways that Connecticut educational institutions could get involved. “My job is obviously not in the correctional system for the state of Connecticut, but the Community College, along with Trinity, Wesleyan, UCONN, I think even Quinnipiac, they all have programs where faculty from their campuses go into Connecticut facilities and teach. It’s just fascinating to me. I’m thinking about ways to maybe promote us being able to expand that.”

The presentation also resonated with Professor Benjamin Carbonetti, Trinity’s Director of Human Rights Studies. He told the Tripod, “The panel on criminal justice reform really made me think a lot about how we generate the political will to make this change sustainable. And I have a lot of students who ask me that all the time. How do we actually make this change?”

Shared meals, close conversations and the “Fireside Chat” style of many panels provided an intimate crowd setting, making the questions and perspectives of Human Rights students openly welcomed by panelists and participants. Financial Manager and Program Director for the Oxford Consortium, Jessie DePonte reflected, “We got to hear from students directly, which I think is always my favorite part.”

Carbonetti added, “I always tell students that I learned just as much from them as they do from me. The primary thing that often comes up is people asking me really difficult questions and me having to respond to those and being really provoked into thinking through different ways of being.”

Throughout the summit, emphasis was placed on locally relevant topics. As Dr Michael Rooke, President of three Connecticut State Community College campuses put it, “There’s a lot of human rights issues here in Connecticut.”

A panel led by State Senator Bob Duff (D-25) and State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox (D-22), CT Senate Majority and Deputy majority leaders respectively, on affordable housing led to discussion of Connecticut’s position as one of most racially and economically segregated states in the country. Duff emphasized that “we shouldn’t see Connecticut as absent of problems; there are always ways to improve.”

DePonte reflected on discussion of a recent housing bill requiring Connecticut towns to create and submit their own plans for tackling the housing crisis through increased construction of homes and regulation of affordability. “Talking about affordable housing in Connecticut, I think we were able to not only hear about that, but actually provide insight to the legislators that I hope they take back to the Capitol.” She continued, “I’d love to start thinking about those spaces in my own community. And, you know, Oxford does a lot of great work on thinking about those concepts when we are together in these conferences.”

A panel led by Beth Hamilton, Executive Director of Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, and Krystal Rich, Executive Director of Connecticut Children’s Alliance, focused on the work of the Connecticut Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Council and described the demand for an intersection in legislation and systems for both domestic abuse and trafficking cases. 

Hamilton emphasized the TIP Council’s work in prioritizing the needs of victims with trauma-informed questioning/reporting procedures and pointed out the need to step away from purely reactionary investigations and processes, towards more proactive mental health, sexual violence and domestic abuse services that would prevent instances of trafficking from occurring in the first place.

A presentation by Deborah Goffe, Executive Director of the Austin Arts Center, and Rebecca Pappas, Associate Professor of Theater and Dance at Trinity brought the focus to human rights issues occurring right in our backyard. 

They discussed the stereotypes that Trinity students and administration perpetrate through harmful assumption-based views of our surrounding community with rhetoric about Hartford being a “place of lack.” They explained that the campus community’s narrative of the neighborhood being associated with crime and danger fails to acknowledge nuances like how much of the crime reported on and around campus is committed by students. Goffe suggested a perspective flip, where we dissolve ideas of an “internal” and “external” community and strive for vibrant, creative interactions between Hartford and Trinity. Pappas and Goffe pioneered these interactions through initiatives like Performing Hartford, which supports/amplifies the voices of Black, female and LGBTQ+ artists in Hartford and by establishing the Austin Arts Center as the multi-year residency of the social justice-focused theater company; the Heartbeat Ensemble.

Throughout the summit, an emphasis was placed on the truly interdisciplinary nature of the human rights field. This was put into practice as the conference concluded with a performance of Athol Fugard’s “A Lesson from Aloes,” an introspective play about politics and interpersonal relationships in apartheid South Africa, performed by the Heartbeat Ensemble in Trinity’s Goodwin Theater. As Carbonetti put it in his introduction to the arts discussion, “Storytelling and human rights are intrinsically linked.”

Deponte added that “human rights belong in every field. I think a lot of times we think about human rights as this exclusive humanities field, but it belongs in spaces like STEM and the arts and all of these other spaces because there is always a human element to everything we do.” She opined about the future of human rights practices: “As AI grows and changes, I actually think the human element is going to be more essential than ever.”

Carbonetti shared a similar viewpoint on the evolution of human rights within modern paradigm transformations. “Social media, new technology, cultural practices among young people, even just vernaculars among young people change the things that resonate with them. This is always evolving. There’s not one way to talk about this. And the way that we talk about it right now is going to be different in a year or two.” He also underscored the characteristics that will remain consistent. “A human rights approach to any issue is recognizing the multidimensional aspects of that issue, how many things can affect human dignity and how many different practices are required to raise awareness and generate political will to make change. Ultimately, that’s what the human race is really about.”

Cate Griffin ‘27

Resident Astrologist

Aries (March 21 – April 19): Be patient this week and avoid rushing into decisions, especially in love and finances. Whatever your plans may be this weekend, let this serve as a warning..

Taurus (April 20 – May 20): Focus on stability, comfort, and strengthening your relationships by communicating your needs. Making time for yourself can help you feel more grounded.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20): New conversations and connections could bring exciting opportunities in love or work. Stay focused on your priorities and give yourself time to clear your mind.

Cancer  (June 21 – July 22): Pay attention to your emotions without letting assumptions guide your relationships. Setting healthy boundaries and thinking carefully about decisions will help you protect your peace.

Leo (July 23 – August 22): Your confidence and leadership skills may help you stand out at work or in your social life. However, I would still recommend avoiding social events involving karaoke. 

Virgo (August 23 – September 22): This is a good week to get organized, handle unfinished tasks, and take control of your finances. In relationships, try not to overthink every interaction. (I’m a Virgo too, I know that’s easier said than done…) 

Libra  (September 23 – October 22): Honest conversations can help bring balance to your relationships, especially if you’ve been putting others first. Even though everyone in your group project is totally useless, don’t put all the responsibility onto yourself! 

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): You may feel ready to let go of old habits and build deeper, more trusting connections. Focus on long-term goals and allow personal changes to happen without forcing everything into place.

Sagittarius  (November 22 – December 21): New experiences, spontaneous plans, or fresh ideas could bring excitement to your week. Stay open to opportunities while making sure your decisions align with your long-term goals. AKA: stay away from jello shots. 

Capricorn  (December 22 – January 19): Consistent effort and thoughtful planning can help you make progress toward your career and financial goals. Make room for relaxation and appreciating how far you’ve already come.

Aquarius  (January 20 – February 18): Your creativity and unconventional ideas could lead to promising opportunities this week. Be honest about your needs in relationships while staying open to perspectives that challenge your own.

Pisces  (February 19 – March 20): Trust your intuition in love and creative pursuits, but make sure important decisions are grounded in reality. Your dreams are not always prophetic symbols telling you to double-text your situationship.