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BOWDOIN MAGAZINE VOL. 82 NO. 2 SUMMER 2011 BV O L . 8 2 N Oow . 2 S UMMER 2 0 1 1 doin STANDP U WITH ASOCIAL FOR THECLASSOF1961, BOWDOINISFOREVER CONSCIENCE JILLSHAWRUDDOCK’77 HARI KONDABOLU ’04 SLICINGTHEPIEFOR THE POWER OF COMEDY AS AN STUDENTACTIVITIES INSTRUMENT FOR CHANGE SUMMER 2011 CONTENTS BowdoinMAGAZINE 24 AGreatSecondHalf PHOTOGRAPHS BY FELICE BOUCHER In an interview that coincided with the opening of an exhibition of the Victoria and Albert’s English alabaster reliefs at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art last semester, Jill Shaw Ruddock ’77 talks about the goal of her new book, The Second Half of Your Life—to make the second half the best half. 30 FortheClassof1961,BowdoinisForever BY LISA WESEL • PHOTOGRAHS BY BOB HANDELMAN AND BRIAN WEDGE ’97 After 50 years as Bowdoin alumni, the Class of 1961 is a particularly close-knit group. Lisa Wesel spent time with a group of them talking about friendship, formative experi- ences, and the privilege of traveling a long road together. 36 StandUpWithaSocialConscience BY EDGAR ALLEN BEEM • PHOTOGRAPHS BY KARSTEN MORAN ’05 The Seattle Times has called Hari Kondabolu ’04 “a young man reaching for the hand-scalding torch of confrontational comics like Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor.” Ed Beem talks to Hari about his journey from Queens to Brunswick and the power of comedy as an instrument of social change. 44 SlicingthePie BY EDGAR ALLEN BEEM • PHOTOGRAPHS BY DEAN ABRAMSON The Student Activity Fund Committee distributes funding of nearly $700,000 a year in support of clubs, entertainment, and community service. With the ability to approve or deny funding, the committee wields considerable power. But the real value, say the students who serve, is the learning experience it provides. DEPARTMENTS Mailbox 2 Class News 51 Bookshelf 5 Weddings 80 Bowdoinsider 8 Obituaries 91 Alumnotes 50 | l e t t e r | Bowdoin FROMTHEEDITOR MAGAZINE Volume 82, Number 2 Solace From the Past Summer 2011 MAGAZINE STAFF his fall will mark 40 years since the first women matriculated at Bowdoin Editor Tas members of the entering class. We’ve written about that group before, at Alison M. Bennie earlier milestone moments, and they were indeed an interesting, even courageous, AssociateEditor group of women. In the months ahead, we will not only think of that first class, Matthew J. O’Donnell we will celebrate the full four decades of women’s history here – the accomplish- Design ments of our alumnae and the richness that coeducation brought to Bowdoin. Charles Pollock Jim Lucas What has been remarkable to me, as I think about those 40 years, is how it is Pennisi & Lamare Portland, Maine simultaneously a long time and the blink of an eye. Life is like that, of course— members of the Class of 1961 no doubt felt that way at their reunion in June, ObituaryEditor John R. Cross ’76 when they could both practically see themselves on the quad at 20 but couldn’t figure out which building was called “Studzinski.” Indeed, even the youngest Contributors Douglas Boxer-Cook alums back for the weekend probably had a sense of that duality. James Caton John R. Cross ’76 Travis Dagenais ’08 But there is something particular about change, I think, and how it alters Susan Danforth the perception of time. I didn’t attend Bowdoin, but the college I attended Selby Frame had become coeducational in the same era. I enrolled in the fall of 1980, and Cecelia Greenleaf Scott W. Hood women had only become officially and fully a part of the men’s college three Chelée Ross ’12 years earlier. And yet it was a subject that never seemed to come up. There Alix Roy ’07 Melissa Wiley ’13 were impassioned, impromptu debates in dorm rooms about wage equality for women, about abortion rights, even about the political and social statements Photographs by Dean Abramson, Brian made by make-up and hairstyles. So there was no shortage of gender-related Beard, Dennis Griggs, James Marshall, discussion. But no one ever talked about whether women should be students Karsten Moran ’05, Michele Stapleton, Brian Wedge ’97, and Bowdoin College there. It had quickly become a given that they were. Archives. I’m sure there were many, as at Bowdoin, who thought the old way was the BOWDOIN (ISSN, 0895-2604) is published three times a year by better way; certainly coeducation was not universally beloved anywhere. But Bowdoin College, 4104 College Station, change, especially for the young, very quickly stops being change, and just starts Brunswick, Maine 04011. Printed by J.S. McCarthy, Augusta, Maine. Third-class being what is. postage paid at Augusta, Maine. Sent free of charge to all Bowdoin alumni/ae, parents of current and recent under- And that is the beauty of it. I have thought of that often in this summer of graduates, faculty and staff, seniors, and discontent in politics and finance, amid riots and acts of violence and just general selected members of the Association of upheaval. It feels so hard when change is being born. It is a true labor—and so Bowdoin Friends. often thankless—for those bringing it about, and it is too easy for many to hold Opinions expressed in this magazine are on to the old. But I feel optimistic, and change feels possible, when I look back those of the authors. on days like those that brought about an entering class of women at Bowdoin Send class news to classnews@bow- in the fall of 1971, when I think of those who made great and not always easy doin.edu or mail to the address above. Advertising inquiries? Please e-mail decisions. New worlds can be made and, when change is right, it will feel that it [email protected] or fax 207- was always thus. 725-3003. Please send address changes to the mailing address above. Send ideas or letters to the editor to that AMB address or by e-mail to bowdoinedi- [email protected]. [email protected] 1 mailboxBOWDOIN Concerned about Coverage as the only African American student heartening and encouraging. Bowdoin then enrolled at Bowdoin College.” in my era—the late 1970s—was a Dear Editor, In September 1951, two (not one) place brimming with progressive ideas First, I want to congratulate you on Negro students began their freshman and actions. I was among those who the overall quality of the Winter issue studies at Bowdoin. James Milo presented “The Case for Women’s of the Bowdoin magazine. It is very, Murray from Gary, Indiana, and I Studies” at a campus town meeting my very good. However, I must say that were roommates. We joined two freshman year, and later I belonged to your coverage of the fall sports made other Negro students on campus, a dynamic campus organization called me angry. To be specific, pages 4 and 5 Roderick Simpson from Maine and Struggle and Change. But at Bowdoin depict the success of the men’s soccer Theophilus McKinney from North in those days, the field of black studies team. Following this coverage, and in Carolina, who had been admitted in was just beginning, and coming out second place, is page 6, one page given 1949 and 1950. in public was for the very few. Thank to the women’s field hockey team’s During the 1954-1955 academic you, Bowdoin College, for changing, third national championship. To add year, I was the only Black student on and thank you, Bowdoin magazine, for to this initial coverage, you gave equal campus because due to illness, Jim a wonderful Winter 2011 issue. coverage to both teams’ achievements was not able to return for his senior [last] fall on pages 38, 39 (men) and Martha Hodes ’80 year. He was able to return the next pages 40, 41(women). So, in the first year and graduated with the Class instance, you gave less coverage to Corrections of 1956. To my knowledge, three the field hockey team’s achievement, Negro students were admitted and Dear Editor, and in the second instance, you gave matriculated in the fall of 1955. Every now and then I see reference the men’s success equal treatment to the (U.S.) Air Force during the Theodore H. Howe ’55 to the women’s. This simply isn’t Second World War. There was right. Any young or old woman no such organization then. It was Ed.: Thank you also to Pete Forman ’55 should be outraged at this treatment. I the U.S. Army Air Corps, just as for his letter, which addressed the same error. shudder to think of the coverage if the the Army had Signal Corps. The any men’s sport team wins a national U.S. Dept. of the Air Force began Recording Seeger championship—just one. operations September 18, 1947. Sincerely, Dear Editor, Now see the Winter 2011 issue, Robert N. Morrison ’52 In the sidebar to “On the Air” page 89, Robert Donovan ’46. There (Bowdoin, Fall 2009) the tape recorder were several “Air Forces” within the Ed.: Our “Moments in the Game” piece is described as Ampex. It was actually Army Air Corps in WWII just as the was not intended to suggest that the success Presto 800. I was running the amplifier Navy had “task forces.” of the men’s soccer team was equivalent to in Pickard Theatre at Seeger’s feet On page 94, I suggest that Harry the three national championships of the field during this performance, while the Waning ’49 was stationed on the hockey team (we did a cover story on the recordings were made in the studio.