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Smarter than your SEPTOCT 2011, V OLUME 104, NUMB ER 1 average necktie. Through academic rigor and open inquiry, the University of Chicago teaches students to ask pertinent and penetrating questions, such as: “How might I dress up this oxford shirt?” BU TTE RFLY G EN ET “Where will I I CS find a scarf that … L complements OVE my classics degree?” IN WAR T “In what will IM E I tote this … WIN handsome volume of E Kierkegaard?” … A RU SS “Why can’t IAN my clothes STO be stylish and challenge my RY … HAML assumptions?” ET AND THE LAW When metaphysical questions become material, find enlightenment in the uncommon collection, a new line of special-edition UChicago gear featuring the University of Chicago tartan, available for a limited time. MAYJUN E 2013 uncommoncollection.uchicago.edu MAYJUNE 2013, V OLUME 105, NUMB ER 5 alumniweekend Features June –, 32 ALL AFLUTTER Marcus Kronforst finds clues to evolutionary adaptation in butterfly wings. By Jason Kelly 40 CROSSING THE BORDERS OF TIME Researching her mother’s story of wartime flight and lost love, a journalist finds the truth richer and stranger than any fiction. By Leslie Maitland, AB’71 MAYJUNE 2013 Plus: “Internal Investigation.” By Laura Demanski, AM’94 VOLUME 105, NU MBER 5 52 GLIMPSES Wine writer and restaurant critic Bill St. John, AM’77, AM’80, PhD’83, talks fear of wine and the scourge of ratings. By Carrie Golus, AB’91, AM’93 Plus: “An Embarrassment of Riches.” 56 REVERSAL OF FORTUNE William Browder, AB’85, was once the biggest capitalist in Russia. After his lawyer was tortured and died in jail, he became one of the Kremlin’s fiercest enemies. By Lydialyle Gibson Departments 3 EDITOR’S NOTES Children’s stories: The tales we tell about our parents, and they about us. 4 LETTERS Readers comment on the ethics and technics of astronomical skyscapes, how we die, religion and the law, the history of student life at Ida Noyes, and more. 11 ON THE AGENDA Kenneth S. Polonsky, executive vice president for medical affairs, defines the pillars that support the mission of the new Center for Care and Discovery. CELEBRATE 13 UCHICAGO JOURNAL How Proof found a home in Hyde Park; questions about concussions; a College student’s visionary leadership; an online platform streamlines academic publishing; “aha” moments in the struggle for gay rights; toward better YOUR UCHICAGO treatment and prevention of drug addiction; the Dear Abby of diminishing marginal utility; the unsettling power of racial slurs; Republicans address the elephant in the room; and an architect discusses the adaptive reuse of an iconic campus building. 28 MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS Register today for Alumni Weekend 2013. Shakespeare’s laws: A justice, a judge, a philosopher, and an English professor. • until your feet hurt at the UChicaGO Party. DANCE One of the subjects of 65 PEER REVIEW • FEAST on your favorite summer treats at the Alumni and Friends Barbeque. evolutionary biologist Wayne Sco, AB’86, AM’89, knows from painful experience that an A is Marcus Kronforst’s not a scarlet letter around here—an F is; and Greg Bellow, AB’66, AM’68, • TOAST to relationships rekindled in the Alumni Beer Garden. research alights on reclaims his acclaimed father, novelist Saul Bellow, X’39, from those who • SHOP the revitalized 53rd Street. neing in a greenhouse would adopt him as their own. Plus: Alumni News, Deaths, and Classifieds. atop the Biological • and revel with friends and classmates. REMINISCE Sciences Learning 96 LITE OF THE MIND Center. See “All Afluer,” Game on: Test your knowledge of Scav Hunt—and the UChicago state page 32. Photography by of mind that defines the items—with our true or farce quiz. Visit alumniweekend.uchicago.edu to reserve your spot at the celebration of UChicago. Drew Reynolds. uestions? Call 800.955.0065, e-mail [email protected], See the full print issue of the University of Chicago Magazine, web-exclusive content, and links to our Facebook, Twier, Flickr, or visit alumniweekend.uchicago.edu. SFI-01042 and Tumblr accounts at mag.uchicago.edu. the university of chicago magazine | may–june 2013 1 Alumni Weekend May-June_final.indd 1 4/24/13 3:49 PM Features 32 ALL AFLUTTER Marcus Kronforst finds clues to evolutionary adaptation in butterfly wings. By Jason Kelly 40 CROSSING THE BORDERS OF TIME Researching her mother’s story of wartime flight and lost love, a journalist finds the truth richer and stranger than any fiction. By Leslie Maitland, AB’71 MAYJUNE 2013 Plus: “Internal Investigation.” By Laura Demanski, AM’94 VOLUME 105, NU MBER 5 52 GLIMPSES Wine writer and restaurant critic Bill St. John, AM’77, AM’80, PhD’83, talks fear of wine and the scourge of ratings. By Carrie Golus, AB’91, AM’93 Plus: “An Embarrassment of Riches.” 56 REVERSAL OF FORTUNE William Browder, AB’85, was once the biggest capitalist in Russia. After his lawyer was tortured and died in jail, he became one of the Kremlin’s fiercest enemies. By Lydialyle Gibson Departments 3 EDITOR’S NOTES Children’s stories: The tales we tell about our parents, and they about us. 4 LETTERS Readers comment on the ethics and technics of astronomical skyscapes, how we die, religion and the law, the history of student life at Ida Noyes, and more. 11 ON THE AGENDA Kenneth S. Polonsky, executive vice president for medical affairs, defines the pillars that support the mission of the new Center for Care and Discovery. 13 UCHICAGO JOURNAL How Proof found a home in Hyde Park; questions about concussions; a College student’s visionary leadership; an online platform streamlines academic publishing; “aha” moments in the struggle for gay rights; toward better treatment and prevention of drug addiction; the Dear Abby of diminishing marginal utility; the unsettling power of racial slurs; Republicans address the elephant in the room; and an architect discusses the adaptive reuse of an iconic campus building. 28 MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS Shakespeare’s laws: A justice, a judge, a philosopher, and an English professor. One of the subjects of 65 PEER REVIEW evolutionary biologist Wayne Sco, AB’86, AM’89, knows from painful experience that an A is Marcus Kronforst’s not a scarlet letter around here—an F is; and Greg Bellow, AB’66, AM’68, research alights on reclaims his acclaimed father, novelist Saul Bellow, X’39, from those who neing in a greenhouse would adopt him as their own. Plus: Alumni News, Deaths, and Classifieds. atop the Biological Sciences Learning 96 LITE OF THE MIND Center. See “All Afluer,” Game on: Test your knowledge of Scav Hunt—and the UChicago state page 32. Photography by of mind that defines the items—with our true or farce quiz. Drew Reynolds. See the full print issue of the University of Chicago Magazine, web-exclusive content, and links to our Facebook, Twier, Flickr, SFI-01042 and Tumblr accounts at mag.uchicago.edu. the university of chicago magazine | may–june 2013 1 Inside 5757 South University Avenue, former site of the Chicago Theological Seminary and future home of the economics department and Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics, the second-floor Graham Taylor Chapel will serve as flexible academic and meeting space. See “Economic Model,” page 27. Photography by Robert Kozloff. Inside 5757 South University Avenue, former site of the Chicago EDITORˆS NOTES Theological Seminary and future home of the economics department and Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics, the second-floor Graham Taylor Chapel will serve as flexible academic and Volume 105, Number 5, May–June 2013 meeting space. See “Economic Children’s stories Model,” page 27. Photography by executive editor Mary Ruth Yoe BY LAURA DEMANSKI, AM’94 Robert Kozlo. editor Laura Demanski, AM’94 associate editors Lydialyle Gibson, Jason Kelly art director Guido Mendez y parents have a sto- est it will be neither short nor simple. alumni news editor Katherine ry they like to em- I’m not thinking of your Mommie Muhlenkamp proofreader Rhonda L. Smith barrass me with, Dearests, but books like Mary Karr’s student interns Colin Bradley, ’14; even some 40 years The Liars’ Club and Ruth Reichl’s Not Emily Wang, ’14 later. It happened Becoming My Mother (renamed For graphic designers Nicole Jo Melton, the first time I You, Mom. Finally. when it was re - Aaron Opie lite of the mind & interactive shared responsibil- leased in paperback). content editor Joy Olivia Miller ity with my mother Open somebody’s first book and, web developer Chris Wilczak for selecting a Fa- many times, you’ll find it dedicated to contributing editors John Easton, ther’s Day gift. one or both of the writer’s parents: a AM’77; Carrie Golus, AB’91, AM’93; Brooke E. O’Neill, AM’04; Amy Braverman Crucially, this in- personally momentous act of creation Puma; Elizabeth Station volved being entrusted with sensitive offered to those who created the per- staff bios mag.uchicago.edu/masthead Minformation and keeping it to myself. son. Two alumni who contributed For a good week, the information to this issue, Leslie Maitland, AB’71, Editorial Oce The University of Chicago Magazine, 401 North Michigan Avenue, stayed classified, the secret shroud- and Greg Bellow, AB’66, AM’68, fol- Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60611. telephone ed. We hid the shopping bag under lowed that dedicatory path, but went 773.702.2163; fax 773.702.8836; my bed and later wrapped the box. much further, writing their first books e-mail [email protected]. The Magazine is sent to all University of As the great day approached, my an- about a beloved mother and father, re- Chicago alumni.