Dear Hamilton College community,
In May, The Spectator published an unsigned letter by three Hamilton students recounting an exchange they had with David Solomon '84, Chairman of Hamilton College’s Board of Trustees and CEO of Goldman Sachs. The exchange was focused on climate change in the context both of the Hamilton College endowment’s investment policies and more broadly as a global challenge. Excerpts from the letter were quoted in an August 11 New York magazine profile of Solomon, and soon after the letter was referenced by Bloomberg and other national outlets.
None of us took part in the exchange. But we are concerned that this anonymous letter hinges on motives imputed to Mr. Solomon that are not supported by the evidence provided. For example, the authors assert that “we believe [Mr. Solomon] never would have assumed we were all on financial aid if we were the group of white male students in suits talking to him twenty minutes prior,” even though by their own account, Mr. Solomon asserted that 80 percent of the Hamilton student body receives financial aid (New York, 8/14/23). They similarly accuse Mr. Solomon of exhibiting “extremely racist and sexist undertones” without providing clear evidence to support this claim.
This style of reasoning falls short of the standards for rigorous debate and clear communication to which all members of the Hamilton community should aspire.
We applaud students for discussing important matters of public policy with college leaders—be they faculty, administrators, or trustees. But it is crucial that such discussions be grounded in fact, reason, and, above all else, good faith on all sides. The authors argue that “Solomon’s opinions are not just words—his sentiments hold real weight and power” (New York, 8/14/23). We agree completely. We wish that the authors had taken this seriously and engaged with his claims solely on the merits, rather than muddling their argument with subjective interpretations of Mr. Solomon’s thoughts and motives.
All too often, contemporary society rewards political actors who impute imagined motives—whether racist, sexist, or otherwise ugly—onto other people, as well as actors who seek to invalidate others’ viewpoints based on their personal histories. We fear that Hamilton College’s curricula and classroom environment—as well as those of many other similar institutions—often contribute to, rather than mitigate against, these disturbing trends.
The Alexander Hamilton Institute, a non-profit founded by current and former Hamilton College professors, and on whose Board of Directors we all serve, was founded on the simple notion that our community can do better. We are devoted to fostering good-faith dialogue about serious topics. Our mission is rooted in the belief that intellectual diversity and the free exchange of ideas are essential for a thriving academic community. We aim to offer a forum where all voices can be heard, where debates are conducted with respect and rigor, and where integrity is of the utmost importance.
We invite all members of the Hamilton College community to join us in this endeavor. Our community has the opportunity, and indeed the responsibility, to set an example for robust intellectual engagement. This means not shying away from controversial discussions, which can be a catalyst for growth and progress. It means communicating one’s thoughts clearly and forthrightly. Perhaps most essentially, it means listening, deeply and earnestly, to others, even when you disagree—indeed, especially when you disagree.
These principles are not simply in the air. Our society arrived at them, imperfectly and unevenly, through centuries of struggle. They have undergirded our collective pursuit of knowledge and understanding since the Enlightenment, but they vanish if we do not uphold them. It takes sustained effort on all our parts to keep them alive. We will do our small part. We hope that you will join us.
