Fall 2003 Vol

The HARVARD FOUNDATION Newsletter FALL 2003 VOL. XXIII, NO. 1 Gov. Calderón of Puerto Rico Honored at Harvard

Harvard Foundation Director Dr. S. Allen Counter presents Governor Sila M. Calderón with the Harvard Foundation Award.

Sila M. Calderón, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (center) and Antonio García-Padilla, President of the University of Puerto Rico (far left) are welcomed by Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers (right), and students, Barbara Sabot ‘07, Adiari Vazquez ‘05, Leyla Bravo ‘05, and Stephanie Paiz ‘05 (left to right). Distinguished WWII Veteran

Airmen Honored at Harvard WWII Airmen John Leahr (left) and Herbert H. Heilbrun (right) honored at Winthrop House.

Honorees John Leahr and Herbert H. Heilbrun welcomed by FAS Dean William C. The South Asian Association’s Kalpanam Dancers Kirby (center) and students Ellen Yiadom ‘06 (left), and Dina Maxwell ‘06 (right). performed at Lowell Hall. 2 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

3 | COVER STORY Sila M. Calderón, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is Honored with the Harvard Foundation Award

COVER STORY | 6 Childhood Classmates John Leahr and Herbert H. Heilbrun, Once Pilots in Segregated U.S. Air Corps, Honored Together

10 | Annual Freshman Orientation Cultural Diversity Brunch Kuumba Singers | 12 Celebrate 33rd Annual Christmas Concert

13 | Raza’s Dia de los Muertos Celebration The First Annual | 14 Complexities of Color Writers Conference

16 | Harvard Black Alumni Weekend Draws 600 Students & Alums Martin Luther King Jr.’s | 18 Life Celebrated at Memorial Church

19 | In Memoriam: Former Harvard Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III In Memoriam: | 20 Harvard Biology Professor Lawrence Bogorad

21 | Grant Summaries: The Harvard Foundation Sponsors Over 160 Student Events & Projects this Fall

“Voices of Minority Conservatives” Panel | 22

The Harvard Foundation publishes this biannual newsletter as part of its efforts to keep the Harvard Community abreast of both the Foundation's events, conferences, and gatherings, as well as issues pertaining to Intercultural and Race Relations at Harvard University and throughout the world at large. HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 3

Sila M. Calderón, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is Honored with the Harvard Foundation Award

The first female governor of Puerto Rico described her efforts to overcome many years of corrupt leadership and re- turn clean government to the commonwealth in a speech at Harvard on Friday, October 17, 2003. Sila M. Calderón explained her reasons for seeking greater autonomy from the United States—a major contrast to former governor Pedro Rossello, who lobbied to make Puerto Rico the 51st state during his time in office. “The people cherish their U.S. Governor Sila M. Calderón is welcomed to University Hall by Dr. Benedict H. citizenship, and the benefits of Gross, Dean of Harvard College and George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Mathematics. a relationship with the U.S. speak for themselves,” Calderón also noted that the She noted that corrupt lead- Calderón told an audience at commonwealth status of ership over the past 50 years led the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Puerto Rico allowed for a dis- to a large loss of the Puerto “But fiscal autonomy and self- tinct cultural background and Rican government’s founding government allow for an exten- language, while still incorpo- principles of “honesty, compas- sion of our industrial develop- rating citizenship and shared sion, responsibility and re- ment.” common values. spect.” But the corrupted class of former leaders have been exposed, tried and jailed, she said. This corruption and dishon- esty among leaders disheart- ened the public, according to Calderón. “I fear that the children of Puerto Rico were becoming burdened with a jaded but jus- tified contempt for public service,” she said. As a result, Calderón said she set out to rescue the core values lost by the government, implementing audits of all public agencies and standing ready to take immediate action over Governor Calderón meets with Havard undergraduate students in the University the slightest hint of misuse of Hall faculty room. public funds. 4 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Student Leaders Present Tributes to Governor Calderón

Krystal Law ‘04 Leyla Bravo ‘05 Olamipe Okunseinde ‘04 Chair of the Harvard Foundation President of Fuerza Latina President of the Black Students’ Student Advisory Committee (SAC) Association (BSA)

“I was determined to give Answering questions from people the clean government the audience after her speech, they wanted and deserved,” Calderón acknowledged her she said. And now, she added, decision not to run for re-elec- teachers are being trained in tion, saying she never saw her- ethical education and are re- self as a politician. But she quired to incorporate ethics added that she hoped to con- into daily lessons. tinue public service in new “Ethical seeds will grow into Dr. Robert Woollacott, Professor of ways. lasting values,” Calderón said Organismic and Evolutionary Biol- Before Calderón’s speech, Dr. with a smile. ogy and Member of the Harvard S. Allen Counter, Director of the In November 2000, when Foundation Faculty Advisory Com- Harvard Foundation, pre- Calderón was elected, health mittee, welcomes Governor Calderón sented her with The Harvard care costs were spiraling up and to Harvard. Foundation Award honoring economic development had her humanitarian achieve- been sitting on the back burner “It’s been a long and ments and constant quest to with over 30,000 jobs lost in pre- difficult journey but help those in need. vious years. I’m proud to say we’ve Calderón has a well-estab- The new governor came to lished political history in power and brought with her a been bringing compas- Puerto Rico. She was the first twelve-point economic devel- sion and values back to female chief of staff for the gov- opment plan, which reduced the government.” ernor and was appointed sec- health care costs and created retary of state two years after over 80,000 new jobs. that. In keeping with her cam- In 1995, Calderón was elected paign platform and slogan of mayor of San Juan, Puerto “We want change,” Calderón Rico’s largest city, and her name said that she allocated over $1 has been prominent in the U.S. billion to improve living condi- due to her strong efforts to stop tions for residents. the Navy’s bombing of Though she said great strides Vieques, a Puerto Rican Island. have been made over the last Calderón’s visit to Harvard three years, Calderón stressed was highlighted by a luncheon that it has not been easy and Governor Calderón with Harvard in her honor in the Leverett that there was still much to do. President Lawrence H. Summers. House dining hall, which fea- HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 5

Mariachi Veritas de Harvard Performs for Calderón’s Visit

Claudia García ‘05.

Mariachi Veritas de Harvard serenades the governor and attendees at the honorary Jaime Guzman (Harvard Graduate luncheon hosted at Leverett House by Co-masters Prof. Howard and Mrs. Ann Georgi. School of Education).

Governor Calderón with community HMS Prof. Walter Frontera and Gov- Governor Calderón and Ramón leader José Massó. ernor Calderón with her husband Cantero Frau are greeted by Dean Ramón Cantero Frau (left to right). Georgene Herschbach. tured a musical performance by student group Mariachi Veritas de Harvard. Also present at Calderón’s lecture at the Kennedy School of Government Forum were several Puerto Rican officials and friends who supported the governor throughout her elec- tion, including Antonio García- Padilla, president of the Uni- versity of Puerto Rico.

“A brilliant visionary with a strong belief in compassionate governance, she has set Sarah J. Murphy ‘06 a remarkable example for all of us. We are proud to welcome her to Harvard as our Courtesy of the Harvard Crimson. honorary guest...” Dr. S. Allen Counter introduces Governor Calderón to Harvard Reprinted from October 20, 2003. students and politicians at the John F. Kennedy School of Government Forum. 6 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Childhood Classmates John Leahr and Herbert H. Heilbrun, Once Pilots in Segregated U.S. Air Corps, Honored Together

Fifty years after fighting in segregated U.S. Army air units in World War II, John Leahr (left) and Herbert H. John Leahr (left) and Herbert H. Heilbrun (right) discovered that they were both Heilbrun (right) with John Harvard from Cinncinatti, Ohio, and that they had even posed next to each other for a in front of University Hall. third grade class picture. Harvard honored WWII veterans Herbert M. Heilbrun and John H. Leahr on Thursday, October 16, 2003 for their service to their nation and contributions to intercultural and race relations. Airman Herbert M. Heilbrun of Cincinnati, Ohio flew numerous missions over Nazi Germany during WWII on bombing raids. Other American bomber groups incurred many losses, but Heilbrun’s group was one of few that survived the ravages of the air war without heavy losses. It was not until 50 years later that Heilbrun learned that Airman John Leahr flew missions in Airman Herbert H. Heilbrun flew his bomber squadron had been Europe as a member of the all-Black numerous missions over Nazi escorted by the all-Black Tuskeegee Airmen of the 332nd Germany and Italy during WWII on Tuskeegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Squadron during WWII. bombing raids. Fighter Squadron pilots. In an effort to express his gratitude to the men who pro- HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 7

behalf of the President and Deans of Harvard University at an honorary luncheon in Winthrop House attended by students and faculty members, as well as the family and friends of the venerable pilots. Professor Stephen Rosen, Mas- ter of Winthrop House, and Dr. John E. Dowling, Maria Moors Cabot Professor of Natural Sciences and member of the Faculty Advisory Committee, welcomed the honorees. Saritha Komatireddy ’05, co- Chair of Harvard Foundation Student Advisory Committee, Dr. S. Allen Counter, Director of the Harvard Foundation, presents the Harvard Ellen Yiadom ’06, a Harvard Foundation Award to WWII Airmen John Leahr (left) and Herbert H. Heilbrun Foundation Intern, and (right) in recognition of their distinguished service to America and contributions Brandon Terry ’05, President of to intercultural and race relations. the Black Men’s Forum, also “The Tuskeegee airmen spoke in tribute to the airmen. tected his squadron, Heilbrun Both Mr. Heilbrun and Mr. never lost a bomber Leahr spoke of their searched for the surviving they escorted,” members of the all-Black 332nd experiences upon receiving Squadron. At an annual gath- Heilbrun told the their awards, moving the ering of the Tuskeegee Airmen, crowd, “There’s a good attendees with the power of Heilbrun and Leahr met for the their story. They were cheered chance I wouldn’t be by students and faculty as they first time. To their surprise, sitting here today if it they learned that they were not both thanked Harvard for their only from the same hometown wasn’t for them.” awards of recognition. but had gone to the same school, and had stood shoulder to shoulder in a third grade class photograph. Realizing that it was racial segregation that kept them separated, they vowed to share their story with the American people in order to improve interracial understanding. The two men have traveled around the country for the past five years, speaking at schools and corporations about their WWII experiences, their friendship and their hopes for future generations of Ameri- cans. The Foundation awarded the Mr. Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun meet with Harvard students Jia Han ‘05, Ellen brave veterans with plaques on Yiadom ‘06, Eraklis Stamelos ‘04, Dina Maxwell ‘06, Jeremy Chang ‘04. 8 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

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5 6 1. Prof. Stephen Rosen, Master of Winthrop House, wel- “John and I have a lot of fun together. comes WWII Airmen John Leahr and Herbert H. But there is one thing we don’t laugh Heilbrun to a luncheon hosted in their honor at the Winthrop House dining hall. about: the true meaning of two ugly 2. Members of the Black Men’s Forum of Harvard College words—segregation and racism.” with Mr. Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun. Heilbrun said. 3. Mr. Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun welcomed by Dr. Brendan Mahr (center), Sociology Professor and WWII Navy veteran. “We went through hell just to be able 4. Mr. Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun are greeted by the Harvard to fight for our country. We were get- Foundation Faculty Advisor Professor Göran Ekström and Ms. Meredith Nettles. ting a lot less than what we deserved,” 5. Cambridge Mayor Michael Sullivan (center) welcomes Leahr said. “The guys taken said that Mr. Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun to Cambridge. the only time that they were ever 6. Mr. Herbert H. Heilbrun’s wife, sons, daughter, and treated as American officers was when friends join him at the honorary luncheon. they were taken [prisoner by Germans].” HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 9

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11 12 Leahr concluded his luncheon 7. Mr. Leahr meets Reverend Dr. Claudia Highbaugh, Chap- remarks by stating that race relations lain at the Harvard Divinity School, whose father was also a Tuskeegee Airman. still need to be improved in the 8. Mr. Heilbrun and Mr. Leahr are greeted by Harvard/ United States. “We’re going MIT Air Force ROTC representatives Major Gerard P. backwards on this problem. The Sobnosky (left) and Captain Andrew Gillman (right). 9. Mr. Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun meet Mr. Enoch Woodhouse, biggest thing that the greatest father of freshman student Enoch Woodhouse III. generation didn’t accomplish was 10. Mr. Heilbrun with Dr. John E. Dowling, Maria Moors making all citizens citizens. Cabot Professor of Natural Sciences and former Master of Leverett House (right). Harvard is making that change 11. Harvard College Dean Benedict Gross (center) with Mr. but we need to do that all over the Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun at John Harvard’s statue in nation,” Leahr said. Harvard Yard. 12. Mr. Heilbrun and Mr. Leahr are welcomed to Winthrop House by Emilie Feldman ‘04 and Peter Giordano ‘04, Quotations excerpted from the Harvard Crimson. co-presidents of the Winthrop House Committee. 10 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

The Harvard Foundation’s Annual Freshman Orientation Cultural Diversity Brunch

As the newly arrived Freshmen class of 2007 began their ven- ture into the Harvard College experience, with countless op- tions for various academic and extracurricular activities at their disposal, about three hundred students along with one hundred family members chose to attend The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations’ Annual Freshman Orientation Cultural Diversity Brunch on Sunday, September 7th, 2003 in Lehman Hall. Harvard Foundation Interns Hundreds of freshmen from the entering class of 2007 were treated to the annual welcomed students and their Cultural Diversity Brunch at Lehman Hall during Freshmen Orientation week. families at the door, telling them briefly about the first year students were de- Foundation’s various activities lighted to hear about the kinds and encouraging them to look of speakers, panels, film festi- through older Foundation vals, conferences, and celebra- Newsletters for other examples tions that the Foundation fre- of cultural programs the Foun- quently sponsors to promote dation has sponsored over its intercultural understanding on twenty three-year history. The campus. Students seemed most impressed when told about the Foundation’s annual Cultural Rhythms Festival, not only because of the prominent special guests honored at the show over the years, such as Denzel Washington, Jackie Chan, Matt Damon, and most recently Queen Latifah, but also because they were de- lighted with the idea of so many diverse cultural performance groups coming together for such a celebration of diversity at Harvard. Once inside the main dining room of Lehman Hall, the students and their families enjoyed meeting other guests HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 11

College Dean Gross and Upperclassmen Address Freshmen

Harvard College Dean Benedict Gross (above) welcomes the entering class and upperclassmen (clockwise) encourage them to make the most of their Harvard experience: Jia Han ‘05, Brian Clair ‘05, Fred Smith ‘04, and Saritha Komatireddy ‘05.

from various cultural and seeing the Lehman Dining Hall experience. He also informed ethnic backgrounds over filled to capacity with such a the first year students and their delicious Indian and Thai food diverse gathering. He ac- families that the Foundation before hearing welcoming knowledged the presence of was here as a service to them— words from the Director of the Foundation staff members that they should not hesitate to Foundation, Dr. S. Allen present and then spoke of the ask questions, voice their Counter and student leaders history and mission of the concerns, or even participate in from various Harvard College Harvard Foundation, stressing the Foundation’s activities. organizations. Dr. Counter the importance of intercultural Then, with the same welcoming expressed his satisfaction at relations to the college and encouraging tone, student leaders Jia Han ‘05, Brian Clair ‘05, Fred Smith ‘04, and Saritha Komatireddy ‘05 all spoke for a few minutes about how they have personally benefited from being involved with the Foundation’s activities in addition to their respective organizations and advised the new students to do the same. They remarked that not only have they learned much about Harvard’s many ethnic cultures and issues previously un- familiar to them, but they have also come to appreciate their own culture in new ways. They Enoch Woodhouse (far left), father of freshman namesake, and former Ambassador assured the guests that to Nigeria Walter C. Carrington with his wife Dr. Arese Carrington and their freshman daughter Temisan Oyowe ‘07 (right) enjoy the Freshmen Brunch. (continued on next page.) 12 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Kuumba Singers Celebrate 33rd Annual Christmas Concert

On Friday and Saturday, December 5th and 6th, 2003, the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College celebrated their 33rd Annual Christmas Concert with the theme “Unspeakable Joy.” Founded in 1970 as a source of cultural tradtion unity and strength for black students, Kuumba is currently Harvard’s largest multicultural organization. The Swahili word “kuumba,” loosely translated as “creativity,” embodies the choir’s mission: to celebrate the creativity and spirituality of Counter, Director of the Came,” written by former black culture through song. Harvard Foundation, for his Kuumbabe Teddy Maynard. The Kuumba Singers explore continuous support of Kuumba Accompanying the choir was and share this rich tradition both in its early years and the Harvard University through African folk songs, today. Kuumba and in its second ap- spirituals, gospel, and For its traditional off-campus pearance, the newly formed contemporary music. At the concert, Kuumba performed at Kuumba Orchestra. Guest per- concert, it was announced that Union United Methodist former and alumna Genithia henceforth, all Kuumba Church in Boston. A snow- Lilia Hogges ‘99 sang two Christmas Concerts would be storm did not prevent hun- songs during the concert, and named after Dr. S. Allen dreds from coming to the con- Brothers and Sisters, the a cert Saturday night at Memo- cappella subsets of the rial Church. Kuumba opened Kuumba Singers, also per- with a traditional gospel song, formed. To end the concert, the “Come in the Room,” to which choir and alumni gathered they marched to the stage. The around the audience and choir sang two Kuumba origi- closed with the traditional nals, a Christmas medley ar- benediction, “The Lord Bless ranged by Sheldon K.X. Reid You and Keep You.” Adeline Boatin ‘04, President of ’96, Director of the Kuumba Kuumba, leads the choir.Singers, and “Because He Mariam Fayez Eskander ‘05

(Freshman Orientation Cultural Diversity Brunch, continued from page 11.) participating in Foundation mingling and enjoying the activities through the Founda- activities would provide the delicious food. The event tion and its affiliated organiza- kind of positive and enriching lasted more than two hours tions. The Harvard Foundation ambiance essential to a well- and proved to be a huge looks forward to being in- rounded college experience. success. Over two hundred volved with these new stu- After the speakers finished, freshmen left Lehman Hall that dents in the near future. all the guests were invited to day motivated to pursue stay around and continue cultural and intercultural Claudia García ‘05 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 13

Raza’s Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration

A colorful display of candles, sugar skulls, food, beverages, figurines, and other Mexican artifacts set up as an alter in the Adams Gold Room welcomed members of the Harvard community as they joined Harvard College Raza, the Mexican-American student group, in celebrating Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). On Saturday evening November 1, 2003, about eighty people gathered in the Lower Common Room in Adams House to celebrate what at first sight may seem like a bizarre between the Spanish, how it is celebrated today. holiday, the celebration of Indigenous and African Some reflections were offered death. The Day of the Dead is peoples that were in this by Jeannette Soriano (Harvard a festival that recognizes the contact zone emerged hybrid Kennedy School) and Vasco importance of those who have notions of religion and Bilbao ‘06 who read some Az- departed into the realms of spirituality. El Dia de los tec Poetry, and by Zuriel eternity but whose souls pay us Muertos highlights this Chavez ‘06 who read a biblical a visit on this memorable day synthesis in that we see the passage. The event ended with to partake in the pleasures of Catholic elements in the the performance of Mariachi life with the living. The altars prayers and commemoration Veritas and later Ozomatli mu- are constructed with these for the dead. On the other sic, specifically “Cumbia de los loved ones in mind and the hand, there is a sense of muertos.” People enjoyed re- items that are displayed are ancestral worship that was freshments such as the tradi- usually those that the person prevalent in the Aztec culture. tional pan de muerto, chocolate who is being honored enjoyed Martha Casillas ‘05, SAC caliente, pan dulce and flan as in his or her lifetime. These Representative, said, “A lot of they learned a little bit about celebrations tend to have the people from the community Mexican culture. Raza Finance effect of bringing communities came out and enjoyed the fes- manager Joseph Florez ‘06 said together, and this proved to be tivities. Our goal was not only “I felt that the community ac- true in our very own Harvard to enjoy the event itself but to tually felt a part of our celebra- community. educate and promote under- tion and I was surprised at how Nominally, All Souls Day is a standing of our culture,” The many people were moved by Christian feast, but it is event started with a short the event.” Raza members ex- celebrated in Mexico as speech focusing on the indig- pressed an interest in making nowhere else in the Catholic enous and Spanish imagina- this event an annual one in an World. This is because Mexico tions that constitute the cel- effort to educate the commu- or MesoAmerica is very ebration of Dia de los Muertos nity by sharing with them this distinct in its culture and given by Martha Casillas. An- heartfelt celebration. composition as a country; it is drea Flores ‘05 also spoke about a land of indigenous peoples her personal perspective of conquered by the Spanish what the Day of the Dead Rolando Flores ‘07 Empire. From the interactions means in Latin America and Rocio Garza ‘05 14 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

The First Annual Complexities of Color Writers Conference

Workshops and Panel

Eager students shuffled into Sever Hall on Saturday, Decem- ber 13 for the Harvard Foundation’s first annual Writ- ers Conference. The conference entitled Complexities of Color provided a unique opportunity for professional writers to dialogue with students on the issue of writing and portraying race in literature. After a general welcome from the Harvard Foundation Interns, students broke off into workshop groups in which the participating professors were able to in- timately discuss their projects Professors Sharmila Sen, Werner Sollors (moderator), John Stone, and Glenda within the area of race and lit- Carpio (left to right) field questions from the student audience during the panel erature. The esteemed panel of discussion in Sever Hall following the individual workshops. participating professors included: Sharmila Sen, Assistant English and American Litera- University; Glenda Carpio, As- Professor in the department of ture and Language at Harvard sistant Professor in the African and African-American Studies Department at Harvard Uni- versity; John Stone, Professor and Chairman of the Depart- ment of Sociology at Boston University; and Nazli Kibria, Associate Professor of Sociol- ogy at Boston University. The professors covered topics ranging from “Humor and Race in Literature and Painting” to “What ‘Asian American’ means to Asian Americans.” Workshops not only covered the many issues of writing about race, but also led to more personal conversations about students’ interest in the portrayal of ethnicity. There was also discussion of the influence “When you go native, where does the native go?” was the title of the workshop of mainstream literature on conducted by Professor Sharmila Sen of Harvard’s English and American conversations about students’ Literature and Language Department. interest in the portrayal of HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 15 ethnicity and how the main- Complexities of Color Evening Reading stream literature affects this portrayal. In a workshop entitled, “Fact and Fiction in Writ- The Thompson Room in the professors to comment on their ing About Race,” students dis- Barker Center has held numer- personal work, the evening cussed with Prof. Stone and ous scholarly lectures. On the reading created a positive en- Prof. Kibria their concern about evening of the Writer’s Confer- vironment to display the work perpetuating negative stereo- ence it hosted the voices of of students. Student’s pieces types through literature with- Harvard undergraduates. A varied in styles from lyrical out losing the validity of the crowd of over a hundred stu- flows to short stories delivering real ethnic experience. The dents sat on the multi-colored unique messages and cultural conference ended with a panel couches to listen to the their perspectives. The topics of discussion and a question-and- fellow classmates talking about work ranged from Quang Tran, answer session in which stu- their experiences with race. president of the Harvard Viet- dents could dialogue on Sponsored by the Harvard namese Association, reading a broader topics and explore at Foundation and the Harvard piece on the Vietnamese immi- length the complexities of writ- Spoken Word Society, the event grant experience to Nassira ing about color. was held in collaboration with Nicola, a member of the Soci- the college’s major ethnic orga- ety of Arab students, perform- nizations. While the afternoon ing a piece describing the Arab work-shops and panel allowed experience in America after

“When you go native, where does the Ranim Elborai ‘06 (left) and Angela Students fill the Barker Center’s native go?” workshop conducted by Makabali ‘06 (right) attend the “Fact Thompson Room to capicity for the Harvard literature Professor Sharmila and Fiction in Writing About Race” Evening Reading sponsored and led Sen. workshop led by Professors John Stone by the Harvard Spoken Word Society. and Nazli Kibria.

Leyla Bravo ‘05, President of Fuerza Hakeem Rahim ‘04 and Helen Ogbara Rocio Garza ‘05 and Niles Xi’an Latina, and Elijah Hutchinson ‘06. ‘05, President of the Association of Lichtenstein ‘05, President of the Leyla read her piece “American Black Harvard Women, read her piece Harvard Spoken Word Society, whose Born.” “To Fall Asleep.” piece was titled, “2nd Generation.” 16 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Harvard Black Alumni Weekend Draws 600 Students & Alums

In what was the largest ever gathering of its kind, 600 black students and alums met in Cambridge on the first weekend of October to celebrate, remember and bond around the experience of being black at Harvard. Alums ranging from the class Harvard College Black Students Rev. Prof. Peter J. Gomes, Minister in Association (BSA) board members. Memorial Church, addresses the audience. of 1947 to the class of 2003 attended panels, networked at career seminars and met with administrators at the third ever Harvard Black Alumni Weekend. A similar weekend was last organized in 1986. “Let me pledge that when you come to the next one, you won’t need a briefing page to CEO of CNBC and novelist Pamela Harvard President Lawrence H. Sum- remember the last one.” A. Thomas-Graham ‘85 delivered the mers and philanthropist Alphonse University President Lawrence kenote address. “Buddy” Fletcher ‘87. H. Summers told the crowd at a Saturday morning welcome Pamela A. Thomas-Graham the audience that blacks could speech. ’85. Thomas-Graham, who is improve society by attaining The weekend culminated also a graduate of both powerful positions in the Saturday evening at a black tie Harvard Business School and business world. dinner at the Cambridge Harvard Law School, called “Right now we have four Marriott featuring the business “the next front in the black CEO’s of Fortune 500 president and CEO of CNBC, civil rights movement,” telling companies, collectively

(Complexities of Color Writers Conference, continued from page 15.)

9/11, entitled, “Although You ries of reality that we will learn works performed will be pre- Mean Well.” Other readers in- about one another creating served at the Harvard Founda- cluded the President of Black points to which we can con- tion. Men’s Forum, Brandon Terry verge, and points to which we ‘05; President of Fuerza Latina, can claim uniqueness. But Leyla Bravo ‘05; Martha whatever point is made there Casillas ‘05 and more than is a realization that in this com- twenty others. Spoken Word munity, through venues like Society President Niles this, we know we are going Lichtenstein ‘05 opened the through our lives together.” Complexities of Color Evening The reading brought together Reading by saying, “It is such an array of ideas and sto- through these uncensored stories that an anthology of the HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 17

The Black Alumni paid special tribute to Mr. David L. Evans (right), Senior Harvard Admissions Officer, and Harvard Foundation Director, Dr. S. Allen Counter (left) for their achievements and commitment to diversity in education.

Raymond J. McGuire '79 (left), Managing Director of Morgan Stanley's Mergers and Acquisitions Group, served as the master of ceremonies for the event. John P. Reardon Jr. ‘60 (right), Executive Director of the Harvard Alumni Association.

employing hundreds of and an economy still reeling In addition to Thomas- thousands of individuals from the September 11 terrorist Graham, S. Allen Counter, the worldwide,” she said. attacks. “I arrived at CNBC just Director of the Harvard “Imagine the possibilities of in time for the perfect storm, Foundation for Intercultural transforming societies that just but that challenge gave me the and Race Relations, and David these four men have.” Men opportunity to create a culture L. Evans, senior admissions and women who played active where the best idea wins,” she officer of Harvard College, roles in the civil rights said. were the night’s official movement either as lawyers or Thomas-Graham, who was honorees. activists are now “sitting in introduced by another “I think it’s very important corner offices” as business corporate leader, Morgan for African-Americans to share executives, she said. She Stanley Managing Director their experiences with each encouraged undergraduates to Raymond J. McGuire ’79, also other.” Thomas-Graham said. seek careers in business. “I read to the audience from “I was happy to participate.” know that there are a number novels she had written. During Black student leaders—who of you who are undergraduates her free early mornings and had been planning the event who are thinking about how to weekends, Thomas-Graham for eighteen months—said they make a contribution,” she said. completed a 3-book mini-series were pleased with the turnout. “I’d offer the opinion that if you of Ivy League mysteries. She “My main hope—and I’m sure want to make a difference in just finished the final book I share this with the rest of the your career, business can be a Orange Crushed, set at Princeton committee—is that in the very powerful way to do that.” and due for release in June coming years we will be able to Later in her speech, Thomas- 2004. In her first novel, A ride the wave of enthusiasm Graham told current under- Darker Shade of Crimson, the toward student-alum and graduates that to succeed it was protagonist gives the reader alum-alum relations to provide important to take risks, advice for surviving at warm and intellectual embrace impossible dreams Harvard, including, “laugh at resources to one another.” said and understand power. She their jokes, shout when Jennifer N. Wynn ’06, the Black recounted the experience of her necessary, dress impeccably, Student Association’s Alumni appointment as CEO of CNBC have a best friend, and be very, Representative. two years ago in the midst of a very good”—a passage that weak economy and advertising drew chuckles from the Monica M. Clark ‘06 market, corporate scandals, audience. Courtesy of the Harvard Crimson. Reprinted from October 20, 2003. 18 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life Celebrated at Memorial Church

Jennifer Hawkins ‘04 energizes the assembled crowd with her stirring reading of Professor Gary Orfield, Co-Director King’s “I Have a Dream” in Memorial Hall on January 19 during the celebration of the Civil Rights Project at Harvard, of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. delivers the keynote address.

A celebration of the life and The Kuumba Singers of and the Civil Rights Project at mission of the Rev. Martin Harvard College performed Harvard University co- Luther King Jr. was held during the service. A ninety- sponsored the annual service. Monday, January 19 at 5 p.m. member choir founded in 1970 A reception with cultural in the Memorial Church. Gary as a source of strength and cuisine, sponsored by the Orfield, professor of education unity for black students, the Harvard Foundation was held and social policy at the Kuumba Singers share and immediately following the Graduate School of Education, explore the rich musical service in Lehman Hall delivered the keynote address: tradition of black culture (Dudley House) in Harvard “Don’t Just Activate – through African folk songs, Yard. Harvard Hillel provided Celebrate!” Negro spirituals, traditional a “Kosher Corner” with Honoring the enduring and contemporary gospel, additional refreshments. challenge of King’s “I Have a master choral works, and Dream” speech, the congrega- original composition. tion was invited to fill out cards Harvard’s United Ministry, a with their own “Personal group of thirty-eight chaplains Pledge to Act”– a personal vow representing different faiths, to uphold justice and human whose primary mission is to dignity at home, in the work with and provide services workplace, neighborhood, or for undergraduates and school. Cards were collected graduate students, sponsored and some were read aloud by the annual service. The Undergraduate students enjoy the students during the service. Memorial Church, the Harvard reception sponsored by the Harvard Jennifer Hawkins ‘04 delivered Foundation for Intercultural Foundation and Harvard Hillel in a stirring rendition of King’s “I and Race Relations, Harvard’s Lehman Hall following the Martin Have a Dream” speech. Black Students Association, Luther King Jr. service. HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 19

In Memoriam: Former Dean of Students at Harvard College Archie C. Epps III (May 19, 1937 - Aug. 21, 2003)

Family, friends, and colleagues of the late Archie C. Epps III, former dean of students at Harvard College, crowded the Memorial Church on September 4, 2003 for a funeral service that commemorated Epps’ life in song, prayer, and words spoken from the pulpit by his close friend, the Rev. Professor Peter J. Gomes. Epps died August 21, 2003 of complications from surgery. He was 66. “Archie’s life is an illustration of the good life lived as, from the beginning, God had meant it to be lived,” said Gomes, who At the 1998 football contest between Harvard and Yale, Archie C. Epps III is the Plummer Professor of conducted the Harvard University Band during halftime. Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial “Archie Epps was a quintessential dean of students. He Church. “He shared that good guided the College with a steadying hand through turbulent life lavishly with us all.” seas and calm waters, he nudged the administration with Epps was unique and wisdom and vast experience, and he elicited true affection and avoided labels, said Gomes. respect from them both.” “So many of us have struggled to do for Archie in death what –Professor Jeremy R. Knowles, Former Dean of the Faculty it was impossible to do for him of Arts and Sciences at Harvard in life: that is to place him in a convenient category,” he said. A consummate College ad- fired you.” Assisting Gomes with the ministrator whose unfailingly As much as anything, Gomes service were the Rev. Mark dapper dress and love of mu- said, Epps was passionate D.W. Edington, who is the Epps sic led some to call him an aes- about the ideal of Harvard as a Fellow, Chaplain to Harvard thete, Epps was also a scholar “city on a hill.” College, and assistant minister of Islam and Malcolm X, a “Du “More than anyone I have in the Memorial Church; and Boisian race man,” wise coun- known... Archie actually the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Tobin, sel to at least three Harvard believed every word of ‘Fair rector at Christ Church, presidents, and an advocate for Harvard,’” said Gomes, Cambridge, where Epps was a student life, Gomes detailed. referring to the Harvard hymn. longtime member. As a disciplinarian, he added, “In him, all of us here find Epps “could give tough love in something of the best in our the softest of voices. One would college’s aspirations.” Epps’ Beth Potier, Harvard News Office have to read what he had said sons, Josiah ‘98 and Caleb ‘03, Courtesey of the Harvard Gazette to appreciate that he had just read lessons from the Bible. September 18, 2003 20 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

In Memoriam: Leading Plant Researcher and Harvard Biology Professor Lawrence Bogorad (Aug. 29, 1921 - Dec. 28, 2003)

Richard T. Sayre, former student of Bogorad’s and now Chair of the Ohio State University Department of Plant Biology was impressed by Bogorad's “ability to con- stantly reinvent his science.” He said that the 15 postdocs and five grad students in his lab at that time “all had different projects, yet he was able to manage all of us in a very enthusiastic and supportive way… Everyone loved him tremendously.”

overcome the racial barriers of tion and sequencing of chloro- a segregated Army by getting plast genes has been recog- to know and befriending mi- nized by his colleagues as one nority families. Both Laurie of his most notable contribu- and Rosalyn were the kind of tions. He trained a number of The students and faculty of the people who always tried to doctoral students who received Harvard Foundation mourn make a positive difference in doctorates through his labora- the passing of our dear friend, the lives of other people and tory and have gone on to dis- Lawrence Bogorad, Professor bring American communities tinguish themselves in plant bi- of Molecular and Cellular Biol- together. ology. He remained active in ogy Emeritus. Dr. Bogorad After his military service, he research as professor Emeritus came to the U.S. from his na- returned to the University of after his retirement, serving as tive Uzbekistan in 1922. He Chicago for doctoral studies advisor to students and young spent his formative years in and received his Ph.D. in plant faculty. Chicago and later attended the biology in 1949. He came to He was a sociable and cheer- University of Chicago, where Harvard in 1967 and quickly ful person, who cultivated an he studied the biological sci- established himself as an excel- inviting and collegial atmo- ences. Following graduation, lent teacher and a distin- sphere in Harvard’s Biology he joined the U.S. Army where guished scientist. At Harvard Department. Students and he served for three years. Dur- Laurie came to know many other members of the Harvard ing part of his service, he and undergraduate students community should know that his lovely wife Rosalyn were through years of teaching intro- Professor Lawrence Bogorad stationed in the Southern ductory biology courses, as was a brilliant scholar, an out- United States. There, they en- well as the more advanced standing teacher, and a caring countered the overt and covert plant biology courses. He mentor to undergraduate and racial segregation and discrimi- made numerous contributions graduate students. Most of all, nation patterns of the South. to the advancement of plant Laurie was a wonderful per- On a number of occasions, both biology, particularly in plant son, a cherished colleague, and Laurie (as he was affectionately genetics and the molecular bi- a privilege to know as a friend. called) and Rosalyn recounted ology of photosynthesis. His how they had endeavored to seminal work on the identifica- Dr. S. Allen Counter HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 21

Grant Summaries: The Harvard Foundation Sponsors Over 160 Student Events & Projects this Fall

In addition to the above Harvard College student organizations that received funding from the Harvard Foundation and subsequently submitted grant summary reports, the following student groups also received financial support from the Harvard Foundation:

Association of Black Harvard Women Ballet Folklórico de Aztlán BlackCAST Bulgarian Club Dramatic Club Expressions Dance Company Friends of Turkey Hellenic Society Mariachi Veritas de Harvard Philippine Forum Cheerful Harvard Foundation interns, Niles Xi’an Harvard RAZA Lichtenstein ‘05, Rocio Garza ‘05, and Kathleen McKee ‘06 (left to right), promote the “Complexities of Color” Harvard Korean Association Writers Conference. 22 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

“Voices of Minority Conservatives” Panel

The Harvard Foundation and Foundation Faculty Advisory Prior to the event, each of the the Harvard Republican Club Board member, David L. Evans. speakers enjoyed individual hosted a speaker panel “There is an assumption that if dinners coordinated by various featuring three prominent you are a member of color, you student groups on campus, in- minority politicians from are of a particular party,” said cluding the Harvard-Radcliffe Washington D.C. on Thursday, Mr. Evans. “The Democrats Asian American Association, December 11. Abel Guerra, and the Republicans are more Fuerza Latina, Harvard Viet- Associate Director of the White diverse than the McCarthy clan namese Association and Raza. House Office of Public Liaison, of the Midwest.” Following the panel, students Mina T. Nguyen, Regional The panelists discussed and and speakers were able to chat Coalition Director of the Bush- debated with students their and interact informally over a Cheney Campaign, and Robert personal experiences as dessert reception. Traynham, Deputy Staff minorities in the Republican The event provided a valu- Director of the Senate Party, the role of race in politics, able forum to raise awareness Republican Conference, spoke and the widespread association of an often overlooked and to Harvard College students on of people of color with liberal underrepresented perspective a variey of subjects in the views. They also detailed on minority politics, highlight- Phillips Brooks House Parlor various initiatives of the ing for all who attended the Room. Eager students current Bush Administration growing diversity of the engaged in an intimate, and President George W. American political landscape. insightful and open discussion Bush’s record of appointing with the panel. The discussion minorities in positions of Candice Chiu ‘04 was moderated by Harvard power.

The Harvard African recent past, as well as opinion Harvard African Students pieces on other recent political Association (HASA) The Harvard African is an and economic developments in undergraduate magazine Africa. The magazine also Inter-Boston African Students’ published and distributed once features fiction, memoirs, Potluck Christmas Dinner a semester. The mission of the photography and art inspired magazine is to act as a by Africa, all submitted by The HASA Potluck Dinner was comprehensive, insightful, and diverse members of the held on Saturday, December entertaining source of Harvard Community. As the 13th in Ticknor Lounge, information on Africa, African Harvard African is the first and Boylston Hall. HASA members issues, and perspectives. This only magazine on campus prepared food for a potluck semester the Harvard African which focuses entirely on dinner which was supple- was able to prepare and Africa and African culture and mented by food catered by a publish its third issue, which issues, we believe we have a local African restaurant. Al- will be out in mid-February. It crucial role to play towards the though the event was widely features articles on the search enhancement of intercultural attended by the Harvard com- for justice and reconciliation in and interracial understanding munity, including those outside Rwanda and Sierra Leone, as and empathy here at Harvard. the HASA membership, the their people struggle to potluck dinner also attracted overcome the violence of the Simi Dosekun ‘05 students from MIT, Wellsley, HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 23 and Boston College, despite the tion, which was held during the to further understanding and fact that these schools were first week of December. appreciation of Japanese having final exams at the time. culture by showing the two After sitting down for a nice HASA and Caribbean Club animated movies of the Lupin meal and playing several Game Night III series ––“Lupin III: Castle of games to encourage mingling, Cagliostro,” and”“Lupin III: the music started and the danc- The Harvard African Students Dragon of Doom” in original ing began. African students Association and Caribbean Japanese dialogue with English from all over Boston were able Club Game Night was held on subtitles. The event occurred to discuss the activities occur- Saturday, October 27th in the on Thursday, September 11th, ring at their respective schools Quincy House Junior Common 2003 in Science Center Hall B, and those who were not Afri- Room. Approximately thirty- and was free and open to the can were exposed to food and five members of both the public. Attendance numbered music from Africa. About fifty Harvard African Students As- around fifty people. While the people attended the event and sociation and the Caribbean animation of the films was the potluck dinner was enjoyed Club attended the gathering. stunning, much of the audience by all. Traditional snack foods were found the representation of served and prepared by the re- Japanese people and of the Gumboots African Dance spective groups. The Game world through the eyes of the Troupe Night began with a special ver- Japanese media of anime to be sion of Jeopardy for which the a new and interesting themes were Caribbean and experience. African culture and history. Fol- lowing Jeopardy, the two stu- Patricia Frisoli ‘05 dent groups faced off in more competitions such as Domi- noes, which is a classic Jamai- Harvard-Radcliffe Asian can pastime, Mancala, which is American Association Gumboots continues to pass on an African game, as well as (AAA) South African tradition through other games such as Scrabble. their singing and dancing. Despite the victory of the Car- Asian American Studies Gumboots African Dance ibbean Club over HASA, the Seminar Series Troupe has performed at nu- event was successful as both merous venues this fall semes- groups learned more about the This semester, the Asian ter, and is preparing for their other’s culture and each other. Amercan Association began the big showcase at Cultural Asian American studies Rhythms in February. Earlier Seminar Series. The kickoff this year, Gumboots performed Anime Society seminar featured Prof. Eileen at an African Night at the Chow, from the East Asian Harvard Law School, an event Anime, or Japanese Animation, Studies department. With that was attended by African is a major cultural product of about thirty students in students from MIT and Japan, and is increasingly attendance, the seminar Harvard College as well as becoming its ambassador to the provided a brief history of Harvard Law, Business and world. It is impossible for Asian American Studies both Medical Schools. Approxi- anyone to grasp the true spirit nationally, and at Harvard. mately seventy people at- of Japanese culture without Students engaged in dialogue tended this event. Gumboots experiencing one of its most with Prof. Chow about why also performed as part of the popular art forms and cultural they were interested in Asian AIDS Week demonstration put products - that of anime. The American Studies, what they on by the Harvard AIDS Coali- Harvard Anime Society wished would like to see come out of 24 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 the Seminar Series, and what workforce development issues and wake the conference-goers they could do in the meantime and for the planning and during the early Saturday to further engage themselves in development of long-range morning hour. The closing academic topics concerning strategy for achieving keynote was Roger Fan, star of Asian Americans. As part of Secretarial priorities. the first Asian American film the series, a Student-Faculty Better Luck Tomorrow. Roger, a reception took place, allowing Michael Chang ‘05 graduate of Brown, spoke of his students to connect with journey from college into the faculty from Harvard and from film industry. He spoke of the greater Boston area, who Asian American moving from the typical after- teach or are interested in Asian Brotherhood: Boston Asian college job, consulting, to really American Studies. The Student Intercollegiate following his dream of acting student-initiated Seminar Conference on the big screen. As the day Series hopes to encourage drew to a close, conference- interest and awareness of the The first-ever Boston Asian goers made their way back to Asian American story at Student Intercollegiate their respective Boston-wide Harvard. Conference was held at the colleges, refreshed with new Gutman Center of Harvard knowledge and further Angela Makabali ‘06 University on September 20th, strengthen by the new bonds of 2003. This one-day conference friendship created during the Dinner Dialogue with Mina T. was also the first Boston- day. Nguyen centered pan-Asian American conference. With over 30 Benjamin Cheng ‘05 On December 11, 2003, Mina T. schools in attendance, drawing Nguyen, who served as the over 450 college students, the Director of Public Liaison Center was filled with Asian-American Christian under Secretary of Labor Elaine discussion not just limited to Fellowship (AACF) L. Chao, met with twenty East Asian topics, but also to students over dinner and South Asian and Southeast The various “New Student talked about her experience as Asian topics. Panel discussions Outreach” projects organized a minority in politics. As one of included topics such as by the Asian-American the youngest appointees to the Boston’s Chinatown, Asian Christian Fellowship (AACF) President’s Senior Executive Americans in film, domestic and Harvard-Radcliffe Service, Ms. Nguyen was able violence in Asian American Christian Fellowship (HRCF) to converse with students from communities, and Christianity at the beginning of the school the perspective of a relatively in Asian America. Workshops year turned out well. The year recent college graduate in ranged from how to dance began with a three-day retreat, politics. Prior to being named Bhangra to the marginalization where the planning for the rest Director of Public Liaison, Ms. of Southeast Asians. The of freshman week occurred. Nguyen was appointed to keynote speakers came from The biggest production of serve as the Special Assistant to very different backgrounds. Freshmen Week was the Secretary of Labor. In this The morning keynote, Vijay “Coffeehouse,” which occurred role, Ms. Nguyen worked on Prashad, author of the Karma of in Ticknor Lounge, Boylston the Department’s key initiative Brown Folk and Everybody Was Hall on the Wednesday of that by addressing the changing Kung Fu Fighting, spoke very week. This event, the result of needs of the 21st Century passionately about 9-11 three days of virtually non-stop Workforce. Additionally, Ms. policies, college life, and the cooking, featured approxi- Nguyen provided advice and Asian communities. His speech mately 80 home-baked desserts counsel to the Secretary of right after the opening — American and Chinese, Labor on the vast array of ceremonies helped energize Japanese and Korean — free of HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 25

AADT was able to afford costumes handmade after the traditional Taiwanese aboriginal style. The performance was a great success and the event a memorable group experience for AADT members, offering as it did both the opportunity of celebrating a shared culture and of interacting with new people who share their own unique perspectives on Taiwanese and Asian- American cultural and artistic issues.

Jiajia Liu ‘05 The Asian American Dance Troupe (AADT) represents Harvard at the Boston Inter-Collegiate Taiwanese Students’ Association Banquet at Tufts University. Bahá’í Association Events charge. About 200 people, The Asian American Dance mostly freshmen, attended this Troupe (AADT) Performs at “The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh” event for a chance to eat, meet the Boston Inter-Collegiate Celebration people, ask questions, and Taiwanese Students’ learn more about AACF and Association Banquet On November 14, 2003, the HRCF. In addition, HRCF and Harvard Bahá’í Association AACF tabled at the Freshmen On November 15, 2003, AADT commemorated the birth of and Upperclass activities fairs, joined performers from various Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the where approximately 280 colleges in Boston to perform Bahá’í Faith, with an artistic people expressed interest in at the BITSA (Boston Inter- celebration in the Sackler one or both groups. During the Collegiate Taiwanese Students’ Museum. Featuring audio- week after Freshmen Week, Association) banquet held at visual, musical, and spoken AACF began its freshmen and Tufts University. AADT word performances from upperclass small groups with performed a traditional students and guests, the Asian Creations, a night where Taiwanese aboriginal dance Celebration sought to express the leaders of the various small and a modern piece fusing the potential for spiritual groups described what could elements of hip-hop, jazz and renewal Bahá’u’lláh has be expected during the year. wushu (Chinese martial arts). proclaimed for this age. The various New Student We hoped that the varied Through displays, perfor- Outreach activities allowed program would allow us both mances, and a special AACF and HRCF to describe to pay homage to Taiwan’s rich exhibition, over one hundred what they do; additionally, dance tradition and showcase guests experienced the they provided several the new avenues that students intertwining of artistic opportunities to explain the of Asian dance are exploring as inspirations rooted in both the existence of a separate, ethnic- we bring our cultural heritage East and the West. The unifying specific fellowship. to a global community filled thread running throughout the with cultural exchange. With evening’s event was the story the help of a generous grant of Mishkín Qalam, one of the from the Harvard Foundation, most well-known calligraphers 26 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

of 19th century Iran. Mishkín presented a historical under- in neighboring colleges and Qalam, whose name means standing of the Baha’i Faith, in high schools in the Boston “Musk-Scented Pen,” was a the context of other religious community. Performers are favored artist in the court of the prophecy. The Baha’i asked to put together a short Shah, but left behind those Association plans to continue piece, be it dance, music or luxuries to submit to perse- this series with three more spoken word and share this cution and imprisonment speaker events in the second with the greater Harvard when he became a believer in semester. community in a collaborative the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. show that combines everything For Mishkín Qalam, Catie Honeyman ‘04 from ballroom dancing to Bahá’u’lláh’s revelation - stand-up comedy. The event is proclaiming a new era in the meant to encourage members unfolding progress of the Black Men’s Forum: of the community to broadcast human race - was the central Emcee/Spoken Word their talents and, in many source of inspiration for his Compettition ways, celebrate their culture in artistic masterpieces. Presented a relatively informal setting. as an illustration of spiritual The Emcee/Spoken Word This year’s “Apollo Night,” renewal expressed through the Competition/ (“Hip-Hop held on October 24, 2003, was arts, the evening’s celebration Loker Night”) was held in a success, with outstanding culminated with a special Loker Commons on December performances from both viewing of an original work 11th. In line with hip-hop’s student groups and indivi- owned by the Sackler Museum ability to transcend racial and duals. The event involved - Mishkín Qalam’s calligraphic cultural lines through music, approximately 90 student representation of a golden this showcase drew a diverse performers in 21 acts and a cockerel hailing a new dawn. crowd of approximately fifty production staff of approxi- students. The Harvard mately 20 students, who “Faith and the Academic community, to some degree, oversaw everything from World” has been somewhat skeptical of lighting to sound to directing. the appeal of hip-hop, and has Tickets sold out two days The Harvard Baha’i Associa- been less than supportive of before the show to an audience tion has initiated a monthly this artform. Therefore, the of 400 people who were series of talks featuring Black Mens’ Forum planned primarily Harvard students of students at all levels of their this event to foster a greater all backgrounds, but also studies, with the purpose of understanding of the hip-hop freshmen parents, and some investigating how these culture on the Harvard students from off-campus. The students have connected faith campus. show lasted approximately two and scholarship within their hours and fifteen minutes, and own studies. Our opening talk, André Kydd ‘06 was held in the Lowell Lecture in October 2003, featured a Hall. There was a $200 prize for Ph.D. candidate in Biophysics, the winner of the event, which speaking about how her Faith Black Students’ Association was also a talent show influenced her choice of (BSA) Performs Annual competition, and all proceeds vocation, and, in turn, how her “Apollo Night” benefited WISH House, a studies in physics and the Boston-area organization that sciences have helped her gain “Apollo Night” is an annual provides housing and support greater understanding into the event held by the Black services to women and their connection between physical Students’ Association to children living with HIV/ and spiritual laws. In promote artistic creativity and AIDS. November, a freshman hoping multicultural expression in the Sheila Adams ‘05 to concentrate in History Harvard community as well as HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 27

Cuban American Harvard. There was also organization and of the Undergraduate Student discussion about several school Harvard community about Association (CAUSA) activities and how our groups Caribbean and African history Activities could come together to im- and culture in a fun way. The prove them. main game was jeopardy in “Dinner with Dominguez” which players were given took place on October 20, 2003 Odeviz Soto ‘07 categories such as “Famous in Dunster JCR. In this meeting Presidents in Africa” or we discussed past and “Reggae Artists in the contemporary Cuba-U.S. The Harvard Caribbean Caribbean.” Caribbean and relations and how it affects the Club (HCC) African food and beverages U.S.’s relationships with other were provided. countries. We also had Island Treats Study Break traditional Cuban food and with Fuerza Latina Fall Expressions Dance Show desserts to share with our Featuring the Caribbean Club guests interested in learning On September 28th, the Dance Troupe not only about politics, but also Harvard Caribbean Club and about our culinary delicacies. It Fuerza Latina did a joint study Founded in 1997 by Janelle was a total success as break called Island Treats in James and other members of individuals who have studied which dishes from the the Caribbean Club, CCDT is abroad at Havana, natives of Caribbean and Latin America the performance troupe of the the island, and others were prepared for about 50 Harvard Caribbean Club and is connected in the friendly, guests. The purpose of the dedicated to celebrating the humorous atmo-sphere. cooking session was to teach music of the Caribbean The tailgate with HOLA, and expose members of both through dance. Known for Fuerza, Raza, and Latinas organizations and of the their appreciation of musical Unidas for the Yale game at Harvard community to just stylings from across the African Yale took place on November another cultural aspect of the Diaspora, CCDT also incorpor- 22. This event gathered various Caribbean and Latin America– ates modern, jazz, and urban Hispanic organizations to offer food! Our menu included dance styles for a truly great food (roasted pig) to our curried chicken and roti, guava synergistic experience. In the Harvard peers. It was a perfect and cheese empanadas, beef fall, the troupe performed four opportunity for all the groups empanadas, rice and beans, pieces for the Expressions to get to know each other more plantains, and more. In dance show. and it provided great fun! addition to food, we provided “Getting to know you” with beverages such as sorrel, Caribbean Club Holiday Fuerza took place on December coconut soda, and passion fruit Dinner 3rd in the Winthrop JCR. It was punch. a reception where we held food On November 16, the Harvard and music from several Latin- Game Night with the Caribbean Club held a Holiday American countries. Here, Harvard African Students Dinner for its members and the members of Fuerza and Association (HASA) Harvard community. The CAUSA came together to meet purpose of the dinner was not each other and brainstorm for On October 25, the Harvard only to eat but also to learn projects which can better bring Caribbean Club and the about different countries the Latin-American spirit to the Harvard African Students within the Caribbean. Each Harvard community. We also Association held a cross- board member of HCC did encouraged students to bring cultural game night. The presentations featuring facts their roommates to have a little purpose of this study break about the history and culture of taste of Latin America here at was to teach members of each two countries. 28 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Chinese Students Concilio’s 8th Annual Association (CSA) Latino and Latin American Welcome Day Cross Cultural Influences in Music Between China and the Earlier this year, Concilio U.S. Latino hosted its 8th Annual Latino and Latin American The Nanjing Orchestra was Welcome Day. Nearly 150 scheduled to perform at MIT students of the Harvard the night of October 5th, so the has had a very exciting first community gathered together CSA decided to welcome them year. Premiering on the main in Lowell Dining Hall in order at Harvard that morning and stage of Cultural Rhythms to celebrate the Latino and afternoon to introduce them to 2003, the company performed Latin American cultures. Cambridge and conduct a a Fei-tian ribbon dance in the Latino and Latin American panel on cross-cultural spirit of the fairies of Dwung Welcome Day is held every influences in music between Huang cavern. Legend has it, year in order to provide a place China and the US. We greeted the paintings of fairies on the where Latinos, Latin them and took them into cavern walls would come to life Americans, and all students of Ticknor Lounge in Boylston and enchant the travelers along the Harvard community can Hall where the board the Silk Road during the Tang come together to meet each introduced themselves in Dynasty. We were able to other. This year students were Chinese and got to know the 25 perform at several occasions able to enjoy Latin American or so member orchestra during ranging from the annual CSA food, while speaking to a brief mingling session before Chinese New Year’s Banquet, representatives from different the panel. During the panel, we TCS Winterfest, and AAA Latino and Latin American discussed differences between Cultural Extravaganza to groups on campus in order to Chinese and American school community fundraisers and find out more information on lives, and our various activities Arts First. how they can become an on the Harvard and Nanjing The company is now integral part of one of these campuses. Especially, the focusing on the Peacock Dance groups. Performances from musical members of the board of the Dai Zhu, a minority Ballet Folklorico de Aztlan, shared their passion for music culture of Southwest China. Danza Azteca, Mariachi Veritas and inquired about the The natives are well known for and Fuerza’s ¡Candela! traditional instruments played their remarkable impressions provided just a few examples by the Nanjing orchestra. After of animals in their dances. To of the types of things the Latino discussing the differences in the Dais, the peacock is a and Latin American classical European style music symbol of good fortune, community has to offer. and Chinese traditional music, happiness, honesty, and beauty. Concilio Latino has a never- we shared a lunch of American With nimble hand, feet, and ending goal to promote Latino pizza. That night, some of the body gestures, we hope to and Latin American culture in board attended the orchestra’s capture the liveliness and grace order to foster a sense of concert at MIT, which was of the peacock. The company community among all of its extremely impressive. looks forward to presenting the members. It also extends its dance at this year’s Cultural arms to members of all ethnic Traditional Chinese Dance Rhythms show! and cultural groups at Company Harvard. Krystal Law ‘04 The Traditional Chinese Dance Ed Rocha ‘06 Company, sponsored by the Chinese Student Association, HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 29

Dharma Events was held on the evening of Junior Common Room. Many Saturday, October 18th in people shared their experiences Morning Meditation Lowell House Dining Hall. about growing up with a set of Several hundred students from dietary rules and examining To mark the start of the fall Harvard and other schools what it meant to them. semester, Dharma held a attended. Traditional garba, Informational material for both morning meditation in Strauss raas, and bhangra styles of sides of the discussion was Common Room for students on dance were performed and provided as a handout the morning of September 15th. taught. Music was provided by containing material compiled It was led by Swami DJ Kumar of New York, and by various members of Tyagananda, Hindu chaplain refreshments of traditional Dharma Board. Twenty people for the Harvard University Indian appetizers were served. attended, and virtually Ministries. Attended by fifty everyone had their opportunity students, the meditation Diwali Pooja to have their opinions heard featured guided calming and ask questions of others’ exercises, silent meditation, The Diwali Pooja was held in beliefs on the issue. readings from the Hindu Eliot Junior Common Room on scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita, the evening of Sunday, October Reading Period Meditation and an altar-like display replete 26th. The event centered with flowers, incense, tea around a traditional Hindu We were able to have Swami lights, and a large OM symbol. prayer ceremony to celebrate Tyagananda as our leader for the festival of lights that the meditation held in the Eliot Introductory Meeting included Bhajans, traditional JCR. Over forty students melodic prayer songs and a turned up for the event on Dharma’s introductory meet- special devotional musical January 12, using it as an ing was held on September 21st performance done by Vasanthi opportunity to catch up with in Lamont Forum Room and Sridhar ‘07, Vivek Rudrapatna friends and de-stress before was well-attended by approxi- ‘06, and Amit Patel ‘07 exams. Swami Tyagananda mately forty students. Om Lala featuring Indian vocal, violin, offered suggestions for ‘06 and Lakshmi Sridharan ‘06, and percussion music, maximizing our performance this year’s co-presidents respectively. Over sixty by eliminating stresses and introduced them-selves and students attended, including fears. It capped off a semester outlined their vision for the many non-Hindu students full of successful events for year, talking about making who wanted to learn about Dharma and left our members Dharma a greater presence on what Hindu prayer rituals are eagerly looking forward to next campus. Following the like. Following the prayer term! introduction of all the board offerings, traditional Indian members, we showed refreshments prepared by Vinod Nambudiri ‘05 “American Chai,” a movie Saritha Komatireddy ‘05 and dealing with going to college in Deepa Dhume ‘05 were served America as an Indian- to all participants. Diversity & Distinction American and the unique Magazine challenges that such students Forum Discussion face. Diversity & Distinction released A forum to discuss the issue of its Fall 2003 issue, “The Next Garba applying Hinduism to our Generation,” on December daily lives, specifically the role 10th. The issue was distributed Co-sponsored by both the of vegetarianism versus non- to all freshman and upperclass Harvard South Asian Associa- vegetarianism, was held on dorms as well as to over 100 tion and Dharma, the Garba December 14, 2003 in Eliot faculty and subscribers. “The 30 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Next Generation” featured La Vida at Harvard: The Harvard Islamic Society hosted articles on third generation Latino Guide a movie night in the Quincy Asian Americans, multiracial Junior Common Room identity, war and the media, We have had a busy semester showing “Children of and Harvard’s Native preparing the Latino Guide for Heaven,” an Iranian film American powwow. It also publication in April 2004. Our portraying the plight of a showcased a photo essay on the goals have been to recruit a young brother and sister who streets of Centro Habana, large staff and involve the only had one pair of shoes to Cuba, and profiled Phillips Harvard community in the wear between them. Wasim Brooks House student group production of the Guide, create Rahman, one of the graduate Refugee Youth Term a professional website to make advisors of the Harvard Islamic Enrichment (RYTE). our progress accessible to the Society spoke about the community, purchase the adherence of the film to Shari’a supplies necessary for the (Islamic Law), and the main Fuerza Latina Events production of the Guide, raise spiritual messages of patience, the $10,000 it will cost to print generosity, sacrifice, and the Guide, and write most of the maintenance of strong familial Bring Your Roommate to 300 pages of text that will be ties that the film portrays. After Fuerza included. We have the screening, some of the accomplished much of the subtle symbolism and imagery Bring Your Roommate To above. Our staff grew from 5 related to Iranian culture was Fuerza was a held on October students to 30 students. We explored. It was a great 8 in the Adams Small Dining widely advertised that we were opportunity for both Muslims Hall and featured food from El accepting submissions, and we and non-Muslims alike to learn Oriental de Cuba. The focus of received several. We have also about Persian culture and the this event was to give the organized an essay contest that more spiritual aspects of faith Harvard community the will be taking place in February that transcend our daily lives, opportunity to learn about the (there will be an award of $100) affecting not only ourselves, Latino community. Through as well as a community but our families and this event we share some of our dialogue that will get students communities as well. culture through food, music, interested in the essay contest and community. About sixty before the deadline. We have Pre-Ramadan Dinner students attended the event. almost finished creating our website (it will be fully On Friday, October 24th, 2003, Rep Your Country Night accessible by the end of the Harvard Islamic Society February, but please check out hosted its Pre-Ramadan Dinner Fuerza Latina’s first “Rep Your www.lavidaharvard.org). We at the Eliot House Dining Hall. Country Night” took place hope you enjoy the results of The Harvard Islamic Society Monday, November 17, 2003 in our work in April when the seeks not only to foster a di- Adams Small Dining Hall. Guide is published. verse, socially-active environ- About fifty students socialized, ment, but also an environment ate and listened to music from Iliana Montauk ‘06 where one can learn about the different countries. We had a lot outlooks of others. The main of non-members and friends of speaker of the night, Fuerza members attending. Harvard Islamic Society Muhammad Erakat, of Harvard’s Dental School, Felipe Alberto Tewes ‘06 “Children of Heaven” Movie voiced his belief in the impor- Night tance of morals guiding individuals, and emphasized that On September 19, 2003, the during Ramadan it is especially HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 31 important to develop one’s 2003, Harvard’s Islamic Society Samia Farooqi ‘07 morals and’“guidance sys- hosted its annual Inter-Faith May Habib ‘07 tem.” The audience was then Ifthar at Ticknor Lounge. One Farhana Sharmeen ‘07 treated to poetry written by of the main goals of the Urdu poet, Iqbal, entitled “La Interfaith Ifthar was to Illaha,” recited by Masroor establish a connection amongst Italian Cultural Society Malik of Harvard Extension other faiths and Islam by School. To conclude the exposing other religiously- The Italian Cultural Table met evening, a group of spirited minded community members weekly over the Fall semester Harvard students, namely to the Islamic practice of fasting in Lowell Dining Hall. More Owais Siddiqui, Omar Khan, during the month of Ramadan. than thirty people have come Rameez Qudsi, Waseem Upon congregational prayer, throughout the semester to talk Rahman, and Martin Nguyen, Amer Rehman of Harvard about Italian culture, their put together a light, but still Business School spoke about passion for Italy, and to enlightening skit emphasizing the various forms of fasting exchange practical information the importance of the Arabic observed by individuals as well on how to travel and live in alphabet in Islam. The Harvard as religious groups throughout Italy. Depending on the degree Islamic Society hosted a group history and reflected on the role of Italian language proficiency of about 200 students, faculty, of self-restraint in a Muslim’s of the people attending, the and guests of various faiths everyday life. discussion has been either in from all over the community On Friday, November 21th, English or in Italian often who retired after a night of de- 2003, the Harvard Islamic offering the opportunity to lectable ethnic dishes with a Society hosted its Faculty Ifthar practice the language to people full stomach and a better un- in Ticknor Lounge. The event that were taking introductory derstanding of the month of gave professors, proctors, courses in Italian. Ramadan and its place in the advisors, teaching fellows and Islamic faith. other community members a Edoardo Gallo ‘04 chance to learn firsthand about Ifthar Ramadan and its significance to Muslims. After the Harvard-Radcliffe Japan The holy month of Ramadan completion of the sunset Society’s Sushi Night provides an excellent prayer, Yassine Daoud, of opportunity for the Harvard Harvard Medical School, The Sushi Night workshop was Islamic Society to open our offered his thoughts on held on Sunday December 14th doors to the Harvard morality, spirituality and our 2003 at the Adams Lower community to share in our day to day lives. He also Common Room. As we are a breaking of the fast at sunset, focused on the Islamic belief in small group, most of our called ifthar in Arabic. On the forgiving nature of the advertising campaign was November 7, 2003, a general Creator, emphasizing that this targeted towards posting on open ifthar was held at Ticknor forgiveness is meant for all various house and Lounge, Boylston Hall where people, including those who do organization open lists. We had all members of the Harvard not always follow their 44 people pre-registered to community were invited to conscience. Lasting about two attend the event. Japan Society share dates, water, and milk. hours, the Harvard Islamic members taught the After the evening congre- Society Faculty Ifthar educated participants how to make gational prayer, a small talk, or and entertained a group of California rolls and eel rolls. nasiha, was given by Shehzad about 120 college and graduate a fellow at Harvard Law students and thirty faculty Yui Hirohashi ‘06 School. members, including Dean On Thursday November 13, Gross. 32 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Latinas Unidas (LU) & Race, Culture, and Native Americans at Radcliffe Union of Diversity (RCD) Initiative Harvard College (NAHC) Students (RUS) Roundtable Discussion “Amistad to Boston: Science Center Poster Series Discussion and Historical LU and RUS cosponsored a Outing” Six posters on display at the roundtable discussion Science Center November 21- Thursday, November 20th at The Multicultural Issues 24 covering contemporary and 6pm in Adams small dinning Forum, RCD Initiative, historical Native issues in the hall. The main topics were Association of Black Harvard United States and Canada. The introduced by Martha Casillas, Women (ABHW), the Baha’i posters covered an alternative LU president, and Ilana Sichel, Association, Harvard African story about the origin of the RUS co-president. Our Students Association (HASA), first Thanksgiving, Natives at discussion concentrated on and the Black Men’s Forum Harvard, Health Issues, Tribal how feminism relates with (BMF) co-hosted two events in Sovereignty, Indian Gaming ethnic identity. Members talked conjunction with the arrival of and Casinos. Several Native about the different definitions a replica of the Amistad slave Americans at Harvard that each of their ethnic ship in Boston Harbor. The first compiled the decorative cultures have when asked event, held on October 16th in posters and the topics were “What is a feminist?” Rocio the Lowell House Senior chosen because they are of Garza, a LU member, said “the Common Room, was a forum greatest interest for the Native Latin-American culture has a for discussing portrayals of community. The posters helped bad connotation of feminism” race in the media, led by to make others in the Harvard because people see feminist Derrick Ashong, a Harvard community aware of Native women as men-haters. graduate student and one of issues. It is very important that “Chicana feminists” deviate the actors in the Amistad film, the Natives on campus feel like from using the term feminist and Salamisha Tillet, who they have a voice because when describing their ideology. taught in the African and Natives at Harvard have been Toward the end of our African American Studies highly underrepresented. discussion, it was said the department. This dinner forum unifying concern of all feminist was attended by about forty Harvard College Intertribal movements should be to “resist people. The second portion of Indian Dance Troupe (HIIDT) sexism.” LU and RUS the event, two days later, was concluded that one of their an organized outing to Boston HIIDT in its premier year has most important goals will be to Harbor accompanied by a tour already performed at three work on cooperation between of the Amistad ship. The outing occasions and is scheduled to ethnicity and feminism. This was attended by 10 people. perform in Cultural Rhythms event was held thanks to the Both of these events were open 2004. Our first presentation funding provided to us by the to the entire Harvard was on October 1, 2003, at the Harvard Foundation and the community and were intended Cambridge Multi-Cultural Arts Ann Radcliffe Trust. to contribute to a Boston-wide initiative to re-invigorate discussions on the implications of race in the Boston community. This project was funded through grants from the Harvard Foundation and the Undergraduate Council.

Tazneen R. Shahabuddin ‘06 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 33

events, the week was marked by SAS’s sponsorship of talks by both Howard Zinn and Noam Chomksy who called for social justice regarding the present situation of Iraq.

Ranim Elborai ‘06

Middle Eastern Party

Held in Eliot dining hall, the SAS party was the perfect final event of Arab Awareness Week. About forty-five people, Arabs and non-Arabs alike, came to enjoy a wonderful night of dance, food and Arab culture. “Zaitoon” dance troupe (from MIT) performed a number of Dabke dances (folk dance from Syria, Jordan and Lebanon). Afterwards, they taught the attendees some of the simpler steps and after practicing for a Center. HIIDT performed Week was simultaneously while, everyone joined in for a several dances and was devoted to portraying the art, fun dance to a traditional received very well by the music, dance and culture of the Lebanese song. On display audience that was primarily Arab world and the political were traditional clothes from Hispanic. The second realities of the present Iraqi different Arab countries, performance on December 4, occupation, highlighting the pictures of cities and 2003 was for the Harvard true complexity and landscapes from the region, University Native American multidimensional character of some folkloric crafts, and Program Native Issues the region. The week included informative posters. Everyone Research Symposium. The an Arab festival which, in seemed to thoroughly enjoy latest performance was on addition to an art and culture this escape from the cold and December 12, 2003 at the display and Arabic cuisine, total immersion into warm Peabody Museum for Family hosted a Professional Dabke Arab culture. Day. dance troupe which not only performed for the audience but Noor Al-Dabbagh ‘06 Elijah Hutchinson ‘06 also gave dance lessons as well. During this week, Professor William Granara gave a lecture Harvard Society of Black Society of Arab Students which examined the Scientists and Engineers Events significance of Arab Studies in a Post-Orientalist environment, Black Alumni Weekend: Arab Awareness Week highlighting the importance of HSBSE Poster Display knowledge and understanding This year’s Society of Arab about the Arab world in In conjunction with the Students’ Arab Awareness today’s world. Among other Harvard Black Alumni 34 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Weekend, Oct. 3-5th, HSBSE South Asian Association created a poster display (SAA) Events & Projects describing the organization and its work on campus. Annual Fall Dinner However, the use of this poster extends far beyond this single On October 24, 2003, the South event, and thus represents an Asian Association held its investment towards HSBSE’s annual Fall Dinner in Leverett mission to educate the Harvard Dining Hall. Nearly one campus about the presence and hundred SAA members and contributions of black students alumni, along with roommates, in the sciences. This represents friends, and visiting family a long-term goal of HSBSE as members, came to Leverett to Blacks are systematically dine on a variety of South Asian underrepresented in health, foods, catered by Café of India medical, and technology fields. in Harvard Square. The menu Dr. Kenneth Bridges, Associate included fried pakoras as Professional Mentorship Professor of Medicine at Harvard appetizers, followed by a Medical School; Founder, Joint Center Luncheon variety of entrees: chicken tikka for Sickle Cell and Thalassemic Disorders, Brigham and Women’s masala, aloo gobi (a potato and On November 16th, 2003, and Massachusetts General cauliflower dish), saag paneer HSBSE held its fourth Annual Hospitals, delivers the keynote (spinach and fresh cheese), and Professional Mentorship address at HSBSE’s “Professional daal makhni, all topped off with Luncheon. This enlightening Mentorship Luncheon.” a creamy milk dessert ras malai. event was held in Ticknor With music from past Lounge, with food catered productions of SAA’s cultural from “Bob the Chef,” and drew show Ghungroo streaming in several dozen students. HSBSE the background, the attendees was fortunate to welcome the Valerie Ward, M.D., Pediat- enjoyed good company and following mentors from the ric Radiologist, Children’s Hos- conversation. SAA co-president Boston area: pital; Instructor in Radiology, Saritha Komatireddy ‘05 Cardinal Warde, Ph.D., Pro- Harvard Medical School remarked, “SAA is about fessor of Electrical Engineer- Adiaha I. A. Spinks, M.D., community, building relations, ing/ Electrical Engineering and Fellow, Developmental and and bringing people together. Computer Science, Massachu- Behavioral Pediatrics, Our annual fall dinner has setts Institute of Technology Children’s Hospital /Harvard always helped us towards this Carl E. Reid, Ph.D., Scientist, University goal.” Discovery Biology group, Keith D. Crawford, M.D., Biogen, Inc. PhD, HIV/AIDS Research, Deipanjan Nandi ‘04 Johnye I. Ballenger, M.D., Center for Blood Research, Assistant in Medicine, General Harvard Medical School Pediatrics Children’s Hospital The luncheon’s keynote Boston; Instructor in Pediatrics, address was given by Dr. Harvard Medical School Kenneth Bridges (photo above). Lauren Smith, M.D., M.P.H., He described the challenges he Medical Director, Pediatric In- overcame along his career path, patient Unit, Boston Medical and stressed the importance of Center; Assistant Professor of mentorship. Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine. SAA Executive Board ready to serve André Kydd ‘06 Annual Fall Dinner. HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 35

“Kalpanam” Dance Performance

Kalpanam, Sanskrit for “imagination,” leant the inspiration and title for the South Asian Association’s classical dance show, held at Lowell Lecture Hall on Friday, October 17. The show featured eleven dances in an array of Indian classical styles, including bharatnatyam, kathak, kuchipudi, and odissi. Attended by close to 125 people from the Harvard and Boston communities, the program was the first South Asian classical dance show to be held at Harvard in the past three years. SAA co-presidents Saritha Komatireddy ‘05 and Vinod Nambudiri ‘05 produced the show, directed by Malini Sur ‘04 and Bianca Mahmood ‘06; Deipanjan Nandi ‘04 served as technical director. The evening began with a Kalpanam Dancers (left to right) Suratha Elango ’06, Jessica Marglin ’06, Saritha traditional invocation perform- Komatireddy ’05, Anar Shah ’06, Anindita Deb’’06, Mridula Raman ’06, and ed by SAA members, which Manisha Munshi ’06. was followed with an innovative fusion with Western South Asian Journal Men’s Collective, which have dance. “Lahiri,” performed by recently been engaged in Saritha Komatireddy and Anar The South Asian Journal began informal debate on the Shah, drew on the cultural distribution in January of the continued role of patriarchy in distinctness yet stylistic second issue of the newly South Asian-American society. similarities shared by ballet revived Journal. The uniquely With 1,000 copies printed, we and kuchipudi, while “Rase,” vibrant full-color 40-page hope to distribute widely performed by Jessica Marglin, Journal includes literary through the Houses and library was set to the words of the Gita submissions, pop culture systems. Serving as a showcase Govinda, a 12th century spreads, and interviews with for original literature, political Sanskrit love poem. The three students, Professor Sugata expression, commentary on cornerstones of classical dance, Bose, and the renowned South current events, and forum for raga, tala, and bhava (“melody, Asian comedian, Aladdin. The the exchange of thought, the beat, and sentiment”), could be SAJ staff is also incredibly South Asian Journal is poised to seen in the intricate rhythms of happy to note that the Journal become a forceful and leading the music, the graceful has also served as a forum for voice on campus thought in footwork of the choreography, the exchange of ideas between issues relating to the South and the enthusiasm and the South Asian Women’s Asian and South Asian- dedication of the performers. Collective and South Asian American community. 36 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003

Harvard Spoken Word was no charge for admission organize our Cultural Rhythms Society and both food and music were performance. In addition, we provided. The DJ accented each are renting the use of his Lion Every Monday the Harvard performance adding a flow and Dance drum for the Cultural Spoken Word Society provides rhythm to the performance Rhythms . a positive and open environ- which lasted almost two and a In the fall semester we also ment for undergraduates to half hours. Besides creating a applied for a grant to help pay workshop their writing, ex- positive space to share under- for the expenses for a special pand their literary skills and graduate work it also func- event we have planned for the take a break from the grind of tioned as a book drive to gather 2003-2004 academic year, a Harvard. The workshops this books for a new Boston school Wooden Swordmaking Work- year were held in the Quincy Orchard Gardens. shop, to be held at the Adams House Cage. Occasionally House woodworking shop. The workshop instructors came in Niles Lichtenstein ‘05 event is meant to be a precur- to work with students on every- sor and a test for a future event: thing from writing dialogue a large, ceremonial sword-mak- and voice to oral presentation. ing shop for which we invite a Snacks were also provided to master of the art. We intend to facilitate a relaxed environ- hold such an event in 2005 or ment. Workshops began with 2006. sharing of meaningful quotes, passages, music and/or pic- Lester Leung ‘06 tures. Then the floor was open to share works in progress. Af- ter that writing prompts devel- Taiwanese Cultural oped by the Youth Speaks Or- Society (TCS) Events ganization were used to initiate writing sessions. All members Dumpling and Potsticker thoroughly enjoyed the work- Workshop shops as for some they became a necessary routine of their day. The smell of fried dumplings A tradition started last year, and potstickers could be the Speaking Life reading was smelled for miles outside held the first weekend before Mower kitchen as the Taiwan- finals to give undergrads a The Harvard Tai Chi Tiger ese Cultural Society’s Dump- ling and Potsticker Workshop place to voice their frustrations, Crane Club ideas and feelings outside the welcomed the parents of ‘06 to academic context. Harvard. Twenty people, rang- In the fall semester we applied Held in Kirkland JCR, this ing from hardened veterans of for a grant to partially compen- performance featured over 25 TCS cooking events to curious sate for the salary for our senior undergraduates who either had parents of freshmen, hovered instructor, Master Yon Lee, for developed their oral poetry and around the stove as Master his instruction of kung fu for short stories in workshop or Chef Joy Lin fried and deftly the Harvard Kung Fu Club, a were a part of the open mic. The served fried dumplings and division of our umbrella orga- performance not only played potstickers to the hungry nization, the Harvard Tai Chi out to a sold out crowd but al- masses. This event was not a Tiger Crane Club. Master Yon lowed students to take a break one-woman show as over Lee also teaches tai chi and chi from the grind of Harvard at a eighty people, from dumpling kung (similar to yoga) and he place promoting expression, novices to Taiwanese mothers, is helping us choreograph and community and culture. There participated in the making of HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 37

brought together those who are Our speakers included Dr. seeking to change the music Anne Matlow a microbiologist industry with those who have from Toronto, Ms. Lesley Stone, studied its effects. Focusing on J.D., the fellow for Law and the dynamic relationship be- Public Health at Georgetown tween Asian Americans and University Law Center and the African Americans, this panel Center for Law and the Public’s scrutinized the unsteady zone Health, and also Dr. Tun-Hou where money, music, and mo- Lee, professor of Virology at the the dumplings and potstickers, nopoly converged. Harvard School of Public which they would later vora- Health. Dr. Matlow gave a good ciously consume. Everyone at Muaji and Tea Workshop overview of the SARS situation the event was able to talk and in Toronto, while Ms. Stone mingle while making the The workshop on January 8th talked about the WHO itself dumplings - it was truly an in- in Loker Coffeehouse provided with an aside about quarantine terethnic social and cultural all the ingredients needed to laws. Dr. Lee gave a thorough event. make delicious muaji, a sweet virology report on the study of glutinous rice treat. TCS invited the SARS coronavirus itself. “You Say You Want a Hawaii Club to co-sponsor this The panel was a great success, Revolution: Hiphop & Asian event because we decided to as we had an excellent turnout Americans in the Music adopt the Hawaiian method of of approximately fifty students Industry” making this dessert. The tea in the Quincy JCR. portion of the workshop of- Jennifer Pan‘06 On Friday, September 19, the fered three different kinds of Harvard Taiwanese Cultural teas, jasmine, oolong, and green Society welcomed Ted Chung, tea, brewed in traditional tea Vice President of Marketing for pots. Thai Society Events Doggy Style Records, Carl Heidi Hsieh ‘06 Choi, CEO of Climax Entertain- Pad Thai Cooking Workshop ment, DJ Neil Armstrong of the “A Panel on SARS Around the 5th Platoon, and Derrick Pad Thai cooking workshop by World with the Harvard Pre- Ashong of ASAFO Productions the Thai Society was held on Medical Society” to engage in a conversation November 21 at Mather JCR. about the future of Asian The workshop was led by five On Monday, January 12, 2004, Americans in the Music Indus- Thai students, and the twenty the Harvard-Radcliffe Taiwan- try. Professor Marcyliena Mor- five attendants took turns mak- ese Cultural Society co-spon- gan, Director of The Hiphop ing several batches of Pad Thai. sored “A Panel on SARS Archive at Harvard, moderated Overall, it was an interactive Around the World” with the the panel. More than 125 people and inventive event where ev- Harvard Pre-Medical Society. were in attendance. Following eryone got to try and comment The purpose of our panel was the Q&A session with the pan- on his or her own batch and to inform the Harvard commu- elists, a majority of the audience other people’s. It was also nity about the frightening real- members lingered afterward to amusing when some Thai stu- ity that was the SARS epidemic talk to the panelists and the dents admitted that they pre- by covering not only the medi- conversations were so interest- ferred the batches made by the cal aspects of the disease itself, ing that they spilled into din- attendants than their own. but also the epidemiology ner afterwards. along with health policy in “You Say You Want a Revo- “Who Defines Bangkok” terms of what the World Health lution: Hiphop & Asian Ameri- Organization did in response. cans in the Music Industry” The “Who Defines Bangkok” 38 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 lecture was held on December Vietnamese Association nar on Dong Ho Folk Art. Mr. 2 at Ticknor Lounge, Boylston Khoi was a graduate on Saigon Hall. Dr. Marc Askew, Dong Ho Folk Art Exhibition Fine Arts School in 1973 and author”Bangkok: Place, Practice currently resides in Boston. The and Representations, shared with The Dong Ho Folk Art Exhibi- event was attended by Harvard the audience the development tion was held on Saturday, Oc- students as well as some mem- of Bangkok from its early days tober 25 in the Fong Audito- bers of the Boston-area Viet- as the seat of the Thai monar- rium of Boylston Hall. Dong Ho namese community. chy to its current position as the folk painting can be traced back most infamous contemporary to the early 16th century in metropolis in Southeast Asia. Dong Ho Village outside Women IN Color (WINC) Dr. Askew had provoked many Hanoi. This folk art used tradi- Coffeehouse & HAUTE interesting questions during his tional wood blocks as part of Fashion Event talk, and the audience had the the printmaking process and opportunity to ask him ques- offered a simple and novel way Held October 17, 2003, the Cof- tions at the end. to create records of everyday feehouse was designed as a col- life and to celebrate nature’s dy- lection of musicians (bands: namic cycle. Therefore, both its Shadowbox and Forced HRTV’s “The Face of content and form suit the Premise; songerwriters: Liz Harvard Project” scenes of the Tet celebration Carlisle and Juliet Girard) and and reflect people’s aspiration spoken word artists (Angela To date, one installation of “The for a life of happiness and pros- Makabali, Alison Cohen, Rabia Face of Harvard Project” has perity. For several past centu- Mir) to perform original works been completed. A segment on ries, Dong Ho folk painting on subjects of gender, race, class the Black Student Association’s continued to celebrate life’s and ethnicity (within the theme Apollo Night aired on Sunday, simple pleasures. But only re- of WINC’s mission). Our audi- November 9th, 2003 at 9pm on cently has the art begun to re- ence included more than 100 Cambridge cable 10 as part of gain the widespread popularity people, mostly undergradu- the season debut of “Crimson it enjoyed in the past. After the ates. Edition.” The segment featured exhibition, the artist Nguyen The HAUTE Fashion Event clips of performances from the Trong Khoi conducted a semi- took place on the afternoon of show, as well as audience and Saturday November 15, 2003. parent reactions after the show This WINC fashion event was was over. In addition, the spe- twofold: a career panel/recep- cific segment was circulated tion and a fashion show/ex- online and will be streaming on hibit. The first event brought the Web beginning this semes- together a small group of about ter. By doing stories on cultural 20-30 Harvard students who events at Harvard – stories that were seriously interested in the include comments from orga- fashion industry in any capac- nizers on their vision for the ity (design, modeling, photog- event–– we hope to highlight raphy, publicity, buying, jour- the student-led efforts to raise nalism, marketing), to hear awareness and foster under- from professionals, meet them standing between ethnic and and network for the future. The racial groups in our commu- guests were: a designer from nity. Coach, the New England edi- Onyechi Ezekwueche ’04 and Ayo tor of Women’s Wear Daily, an Debra Mao ‘05 Adigun ‘05 walk the runway at entrepreneur in luxury clothing WINC’s HAUTE Fashion Event. and products, a freelance inti- HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 39 mate attire designer, a mer- Tiffany Chantra ‘04 rica. In general, Yisei is a forum chandiser from Kenneth Cole Jasmine Mahmoud ‘04 to express the tensions of immi- and a publicist from Neiman grant and minority Koreans in Marcus. This event was held in the US, through various media: the Portico Rooms of the The Wushu Club art, photography, poetry, and Graduate School of Design. prose. In this sense, Yisei seeks Photographs on paper of the Wushu, or contemporary Chi- to speak for more than Koreans, panel are available upon re- nese martial arts, is a perfor- to voice the concerns of quest. mance-oriented sport aimed at multiculturalism, dual identi- The second event was of an displaying athletic ability in a ties, and political inequities that exhibition of Harvard fashion, visually appealing manner. can resonate with all showcasing the diversity of Adapted from traditional Chi- marginalized or minority styles on campus. Students nese martial arts (commonly groups. modeled outfits from their own known as kung fu), the move- closets to display the range of ments in wushu still have prac- Christine Jung ‘05 styles seen on campus in differ- tical applications even though ent venues, as well as per- there is no sparring. Sifu Wong, formed in acts that sample vari- a gold medalist at both national Zalacain ous arts at Harvard. This event and international competitions, had an audience of about 250 has taught students two sepa- The fall semester of this school students and some parents, and rate northern-style (known as year was used by Zalacain to took place in the Piper Audito- “Longfist”) forms as well as a publicize our upcoming edition rium in the Graduate School of two-person mock-fighting set. and to request submissions Design. In the spring, students will be- from undergraduate students The proceeds of HAUTE go gin learning weapons, such as that are related to the Ibero- to the Marian Hersi Smith staff, broadsword, straight- American region. These pieces Travel Fund. Established in sword, and spear. Since last could be articles, essays, poetry memory of Marian Hersi Smith year, the Wushu Club has and could have been composed ‘04, in the Spring of 2003, this grown from ten members to for classes or for our magazine. fund is a grant for undergradu- approximately thirty through The Magazine will be pub- ate student travel for research the efforts of Jeremy Chang ‘06 lished in the 2004 spring semes- at Harvard. Initiated by and Eraklis Stamelos ‘04. ter. We are currently editing the Marian’s friends and the An- articles for size and content and thropology department, the Jeremy Chang ‘06 searching for advertising to grant aims to help those with cover the remaining costs of the Marian’s same interests in magazine. This year the maga- travel and anthropological re- Yisei Magazine zine will again be published search. During her time at with a color cover and include Harvard, Marian participated This Fall’s issue of Yisei Maga- articles on women’s status in in various fashion events and zine celebrates the centennial of Latin American societies, poli- shows. She had a passion for Korean immigration to the tics in Latin America, the visit the fashion industry and an in- United States and the increas- of the Puerto Rican governor to nate and admirable sense of ing prominence of Koreans on Harvard and several other top- style. We hope that the pro- the international stage. Articles ics. ceeds from HAUTE help culti- examined prominent Korean vate the remembrance of figures such as cellist Hanna Gustavo A. Cardenas ‘06 Marian Smith and help others Chang, the experience of the pursue dreams, as she always World Cup, and the Korean inspired others to do. diaspora – not only as immi- grants in the US but also in Af- HARVARD FOUNDATION

Harvard Foundation Staff

Stacey E. Dell Orto, Staff Assistant Tae Yang Kwak, Student Activities Coordinator

Student Interns Jonathan Ardrey ‘05 Martha Casillas ‘05 Brian Clair ‘05

Ranim Elborai ‘06 Rocio Garza ‘05 Claudia García ‘05 Jia Han ‘05 Elijah Hutchinson ‘06

Saritha Komatireddy ‘05 (SAC Co-Chair) Niles Xi’an Lichtenstein ‘05 Dina Maxwell ‘06 Kathleen McKee ‘06 Stephanie Paiz ‘05

Xi Wang ‘06 Ellen Yiadom ‘06

Student Advisory Committee (SAC) Jeremy Chang ‘06 (SAC Secretary) Krystal Law ‘04 (SAC Co-Chair)

Faculty Advisory Committee Members

Dr. Gary Alpert, Environmental Biologist Ms. Robin Gottlieb, Senior Preceptor in Dr. Robert Lue, Director of Undergraduate Dr. Ali Asani, Professor of the Practice of Mathematics Studies in Biological Sciences Indo-Muslim Languages and Cultures Dr. Benedict H. Gross, Dean of Harvard Dr. Sandra Naddaff, Director of Dr. John E. Dowling, Maria Moors Cabot College and Leverett Professor of Undergraduate Studies and Master of Professor of Natural Sciences Mathematics Mather House Dr. Göran Ekström, Professor of Geology Dr. David Haig, Associate Professor of Dr. Donald H. Pfister, Asa Gray Professor of Mr. David L. Evans, Senior Harvard Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Systematic Botany Admissions Officer Dr. J. Woodland Hastings, Paul C. Mr. Daniel Sanks, Administrator, Memorial Dr. William Gelbart, Professor of Molecular Mangelsdorf Professor of Natural Church and Cellular Biology Sciences Dr. Michael Shinagel, Dean for Continuing Reverend Peter J. Gomes, Plummer Mr. Marvin Hightower, Senior Writer and Education and University Extension Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Archivist, Harvard News Office Dr. Robert Woollacott, Professor of Biology Minister in Memorial Church

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