The 30 Year Survey
In the fall of 1987, the Hartwick Anthropology program became an independent department. Fall 2017 marked the 30 year anniversary of Hartwick Anthropology. The 2017-2018 academic year was also the first retirement from Hartwick Anthropology. Professor David Anthony, acclaimed author of The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World retired after three decades of teaching anthropology.
Given these overlapping anniversaries and transitions, we thought it would be a good time to launch a survey of Hartwick Anthropology. The survey was aimed primarily for Hartwick alumni who were anthropology majors. However, it was open to anyone who had taken a course in anthropology at Hartwick College.
Hartwick Anthropology & the Liberal Arts
The Hartwick Anthro department is a rather unique place. It is one of a small number of independent anthropology departments at a small liberal arts college. We have professors trained in three of the four fields of American Anthropology: Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, and Cultural Anthropology. We also attempt to offer coursework in language and Linguistic Anthropology.
For me, teaching Introduction to Anthropology at Hartwick College has been a huge motivation for writing the posts on this blog. I have also used this experience to reflect on the Anthropology Major. Since 2012, we are living through a time in which anthropological studies have been devalued. Part of this devaluation comes from the idea that anthropology is not useful for a career. Another part of this devaluation is politics, with anthropology said to be too political. And as of 2016, we have the challenge of dealing with a US president who opposes anthropological findings.
We maintain that the best way forward is to do rigorous and empirical work. But we also maintain that it is important to be aware of the political context of anthropological statements. As we say on our website: “Anthropology studies the richness and variability of humankind. Hartwick Anthropology is looking for students who want to make a difference in the world. We’ll give you the tools to make an impact.”
Hartwick Anthro Grads in the News
- 19 June 2017: Lauren O’Connor ’09 got a plug in the Anthro-in-the-News column: “Take that anthro degree and work as a health educator. Lauren O’Connor is a health educator for pregnant and postpartum women at March of Dimes in White Plains, New York. O’Connor has a B.A. in anthropology from Hartwick College in New York State and an M.P.H. with a concentration in maternal and child health from Boston University.” (And congrats on the engagement.)