HAMILTON, NY—In a display of widespread peaceful demonstration, over 300 students organized a multi-day Hacky-Sack-in on the Field of Dreams this week to protest the construction of a new residential hall. The building, which would be named the Jonathan and Michelle Jug Residential Complex, was met with initial support from some community members, who said that they were glad to see the end of forced triples and the hellhole that is Gate House. However, a coalition of students calling themselves the Students Together Opposing New Expanded Residential Spaces have become engaged in efforts to prevent construction of the building due to concerns over preserving the land for cultural, historical, and environmental reasons.
The S.T.O.N.E.R.S. protesters contend that the construction of the building would disturb sites that are culturally sacred and historically significant for the Colgate community. Julia Reefer ’17 told a Rag reporter, “Our people have called this place the Field of Dreams and have held rituals here for many generations. Res Life is causing the deliberate destruction of our sacred spaces and disrespect of our ancestors for their own self-interests.”
Other activists expressed environmental concerns. A leader of the protesters, Michael Toker ’18, describes how he first became invested in the preservation of the Field of Dreams, saying, “I woke up from a nap, like a couple weeks ago, and I went up to the Field of Dreams for a . . . walk, yeah, a nature walk. And I saw all these trucks and stuff digging in the field, and I was like, ‘No way, this is a habitat for, you know, like, birds!'” Junior Mary Jane Wallace echoed these sentiments, adding, “One time I was sitting up here and a whole herd of deer came out of the woods, and I locked eyes with one of the does, and it was like, whoa, heavy shit, man.”
The protesters have been joined by celebrity environmental activists who have flown in to support their cause. High-profile supporters, such as Seth Rogen, Snoop Dogg, and that one professor who talks a little too freely about smoking pot to his students, have made the trek to Hamilton because they feel that the construction of the dorm violates of civil rights. Rogen said to a reporter, “The Colgate administration is trying to prevent these students from exercising their fundamental rights to get outdoors and have a place to chill in nature. It should be LEGAL for them to ROLL around in the GRASS up on the field . . . Huhuhuh, get it?” Students later expressed that they did not know why Rogen showed up or who had invited him.
When notified of the student protests by Campus Safety, President Brian Casey and members of the Colgate administration arrived promptly at the construction site and spoke with student leaders, discussing their demands that the construction be halted and the location of the residence complex be changed completely. Casey stated that he is prepared to “let it play out for a few more weeks,” but the protesters have pledged to stay until the planned residence halls are relocated, or at least until their Doritos run out.
The Monthly Rag 
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