Fall 2013 Burn Brightly IN SEARCH OF THOSE WHO CARRY THE TORCH AND THOSE WHO SHINE BRIGHTEST, WE UNCOVER CAMPUS GEMS THAT COMPRISE A SPARKLING SELECTION OF LSA BRILLIANCE. This rare papercut from China’s Cultural Revolution was almost lost forever, but now is available as part of a stunning collection for researchers worldwide. Turn to p. 16 for more. UPDATE Lighting the Way IT TAKES A LOT OF ENERGY to make something burn brightly. The same is true of an idea or a person. It’s easier to go along as one of crowd. The status quo is comfortable. It takes curiosity, stamina, and that all-important spark to kindle greatness, and it takes a Michigan Victor to keep the spark burning as a flame. Leaders and Vic- tors shine brighter than their counterparts because they have figured out how to burn — even amid shadows. But how do they ignite and feed their individual sparks? The Victors in this issue all exemplify one consistent theme: Their brilliance defies logical, run-of-the-mill thinking. Just as the massive secrets of the universe can be un- locked by the tiniest particles, Victors are brave enough to embrace the contradictory. Victors who help others get ahead. Those who serve others become leaders. Victors who give get the most back. Those who strive for deeper understanding throw out much of what they think they know. Leaders who have found a way to unleash their light didn’t just pull it out from under the bushel. They used the bushel itself to light a thousand other fires. Five Things True of the Victors in This Issue: n They look at things differently than everyone else. Victors will tilt the lens and get curious about the details that others overlook. n They stick with things. Their passion drives them for not just weeks or months, but years. They carry projects big and small through to completion. n They make mistakes. Everyone does, after all, but instead of being beaten down by not succeeding the first time, Victors often embrace failure in order learn from it. n They recognize and seize opportunities. Risk-taking is a part of this skill set, and Victors move outside of their comfort zones. n They work for the greater good. It’s not all about self-interest, but serving a larger purpose. ILLUSTRATION (front cover) MLibrary Digital Collections, Chinese Papercuts FALL 2013 table ofcontents 10 26 16 FEATURES 10 16 26 Species Victorius Burn Brightly Toilets, Ladies, A new breed of professionals is LSA is chock full of great and Exercise working its way up the success minds, great ideas, and great The first Dean of Women, ladder. Alumnus Adam Grant treasures. Take our tour of Eliza Mosher, thundered onto gives us a birds-eye view of unexpected stories, a-ha campus in 1897 denouncing how to take flight in business moments, artifacts, collections, corsets, teaching hygiene, and and beyond. and famous alumni. forever altering Michigan. by Mary Jean Babic by Evan Hansen by Fritz Swanson FALL 2013 / LSA Magazine 1 FALL 2013 table ofcontents DEPARTMENTS DIALOGUE 3 Inside LSA 4 Entry Points 5 Your Words 6 In Short 7 42.22° N, 83.75° W THE MICHIGAN DIFFERENCE 46 35 The “Odd Quad” Goes Mod 41 Impact! Renovating the weird, A cosmic explosion and slightly scuzzy East Quad the mystery of the moon 37 In the Kitchen with 45 Battling Juvenile Arthritis Chef Buzz Studying an inflammatory “Where does this come from?” feedback loop 38 Another Kind of Leader 46 Bluegrass Inspiration Unlearning what we think Coming alive thanks to about strong leaders the power of music 40 The World Needs Victors 48 Jeremy’s Elusive Cure Putting a face on millions of patients 51 Worldly Determination Grace Sims’ unanticipated 41 37 culture shock 52 Global Downsizing Kishan Shah and his world- wide weight-loss plan 54 Far-Flung Fieldwork A research station amid the rubble of Occupied Japan 57 The Wedding Beat Walking down an aisle of giant lollipops 54 SPIN THE CUBE 59 Between the Lines “I will draw it for you!” 61 Fresh-Food Guru It’s not simply about food jus- tice, it’s a human rights issue 62 Hopwood Heavyweights THE LAST WORD 64 After the Bombs “Who would stop and recount for me, a stranger, the horror they just saw?” 35 2 LSA Magazine / FALL 2013 Our information meets your input. We invite you dialogue to join the LSA conversation. Fostering Excellence WHEN I MOVED TO ANN ARBOR as an assistant profes- they want and need, as well as access to exciting and sor, I could hardly believe my good fortune. I had valuable opportunities outside the classroom — in- arrived at a campus that was rich with history, burst- cluding research, internships, and international ex- ing with intellectual excitement, and filled with tal- periences. I will work to support faculty and student ented students and world-class leaders — in my field research and innovation in all the divisions of the and many others. College. I will ensure that the College maintains its I was proud to join this great strong commitment to diversity. The College will move forward, even as it transitions. University and, many years later, A significant focus of this academic year is the I am both humbled and honored next fundraising campaign, which is launching in to serve as Interim Dean of the November. The College’s goal for the campaign is ambitious — necessarily so, because State support College of Literature, Science, for higher education has been greatly eroded in and the Arts. years past: a decline of 32 percent since 2008. As such, private funding is now absolutely critical to LSA is the largest and most varied of the Univer- ensure that educational access remains open to a sity’s 19 schools and colleges, serving nearly 20,000 variety of students. One key element to this suc- INSIDE LSA students. More than 40 of our academic programs cess is student scholarship support. It is my goal are ranked among the top 10 in the nation, and five that LSA will lead the University in raising support of our programs are the best in their fields. Our stu- to enhance the student experience, generate new dents exhibit impressive talents and initiative, and and innovative programs that meet students’ ever- care deeply about the world beyond the classroom. changing needs, and reward the research and teach- Our faculty have been recognized with a wealth of ing of exceptional faculty. prestigious awards. Our facilities are world-class. It’s The campaign will also help us garner support in corny but true: I am truly inspired by leading this our work to preserve the liberal arts and sciences. In spectacular College. a challenging economy, many question the value of As the College continues its search for a perma- studying fields that do not provide technical or job nent Dean, my first goal is to maintain and nurture training. A liberal arts education allows students to excellence. This involves continuous, ongoing at- adapt to rapid changes, new fields, new technolo- tention to every aspect of LSA, from architectural gies, and new challenges. In an increasingly complex blueprints and budgets to student credit hours. I will world, liberal arts graduates continue to contribute appoint outstanding faculty to academic leadership in an astonishing variety of ways. That’s what an in departments and units. I will work closely with LSA education is all about. units to ensure that our students have the courses LSA has been my academic home for 30 years, and it is my pleasure and honor to “give back” this year, with my administrative service. I welcome your thoughts and comments, and invite you to email me at [email protected]. Susan A. Gelman Heinz Werner Distinguished University Professor Professor of Psychology Interim Dean PHOTO Scott Soderberg/Michigan Photography FALL 2013 / LSA Magazine 3 dialogue entrypoints MORE CONTENT ONLINE. Visit LSA Today for weekly web exclusives plus in-depth magazine-related content. LSA MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED twice eacH YEAR BY THE UNIVERSITY OF www.lsa.umich.edu MICHIGAN College OF Literature, SCIENCE, AND THE Arts Susan A. Gelman Wherever this Heinz Werner Distinguished symbol appears University Professor, Professor of Psychology, and Interim Dean in the magazine, you can find Peggy Burns expanded content Assistant Dean for LSA on the LSA Today Advancement website. Lara Zielin Editorial Director Susan Hutton, Brian Short, Elizabeth Wason Editorial Staff Patricia Claydon POrtrait OF the Artist Creative Director Meet artist and alumnus Jason Polan, who is endeavoring Carly Parker, Erin Nelson to draw every person in New York City (p. 59), and see more Designers of his work capturing the essence of everyday moments in our online slideshow. Copyright © 2013 Regents of the University of Michigan Articles MAY BE REPRINTED BY OBtaiNING permissioN FROM: Editor, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Suite 5000, 500 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382 734.615.6333 [email protected] Regents of the University of Michigan Mark J. Bernstein, Ann Arbor Julia Donovan Darlow, Ann Arbor Laurence B. Deitch, Bloomfield Hills THE CAPITAL STEPS SOMETHING FISHY TEACH FOR Shauna Ryder Diggs, Grosse Pointe Denise Ilitch, Bingham Farms LSA’s Michigan in Washing- John Kuwada’s team stud- THE STARS Andrea Fischer Newman, Ann Arbor ton (MIW) Program helps ied zebrafish to find a link A U-M astronomy class at Andrew C. Richner, Grosse Pointe Park Kitt Peak National Observa- Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor students intern at places like between a gene mutation Mary Sue Coleman, ex officio the French Embassy and the and a devastating muscular tory is the first of its kind in The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/ U.S.