Volume 22, Issue 3 Annapolis, Maryland • Santa Fe, New Mexico Summer 1996

ST JOHN'S COLLEGE LIBRARY

~ 11I Ill Ill II Ill IWll~fml\l\f11\(~[ll ~I II Ill II II II II 31696 01138 2189 St. John's College ANNAPOLIS EDITION

SPECIAL SECTION CAMPAIGN SUCCESS The Campaign for Our Fourth Century concludes, providing a 300th birthday present for the college ...... 12

Campaign conclusion keynote address: St. John's at 300 by Eva T. H. Brann ...... 13 THE GREENFIELD LIBRARY Annapolis dedicates a new library ...... 11

Architecture as dialogue: The building's symbols ...... 14 COMMENCEMENT '96 In Santa Fe, Philip Lader stresses responsibility ...... 9

In Annapolis, William F. Buckley recognizes the power of the classics ...... 8 DEPARTMENTS

From the Bell Towers: 300th events in Santa Fe, observing the final frontier, new vice president Harvey Morse, lacrosse makes a comeback ...... 2

Scholarship: James Carey is appointed dean in Santa Fe .. 7

Alumni Association: The new register, alumni book reviews .. 15

Alumni Profiles: Two young alumni in the performing arts, down John Lynch and actress/ playwright Leah Ankeny ...... 17, 19

Campus Life: Job fair in Santa Fe, croquet highlights in Annapolis, the St. John's postal card ...... 22

The Arts: Regional works in Santa Fe, classic photos in Annapolis ...... 24

Stewart Greenfield, A53, accompanied by one of the ubiquitous newspaper reporters, leads the parade of book movers. Most of the library's collection of 90,000 volumes was hand-carried across campus from Woodward Hall to the new library. See story on page 2. Photo by John Bi/doh/. From the Bell Towers

EXEUNT LIBRI

A n old borrower's card became a the original books in the King when he was a student. He .i-lbadge of honor. Worn on a William's School library, which were remembered carrying can­ string about the neck, it symbolized donated to the colony of Maryland vas bags," he says. While participation in the great book move. by the Rev. Thomas Bray in 1697. Woodward Hall was being A humble can"."as bag emblazoned They formed the first free public renovated, books were with a "St. John's at 300" logo library in North America.) stored in Mellon. In 1968 became the low-tech means to an T devision crews and newspaper they were moved back end - 1000 of the bags, carried by reporters mingled with the lines of home. Assistant librarian about 400 members of the SJ C com­ people waiting to load books into Vicki Cone, who also par­ munity during the course of some bags in Woodward Hall. Bob Marley ticipated in that move, 4000 trips, brought more than tunes wafted through the King remembered tape on the 80,000 of the college's 90,000 books William Room. Everyone was in a bags. From canvas bags from Woodward Hall to their new good mood, and the typical Johnnie and pieces of tape sprang home in the Greenfield Library on inventiveness showed itself: Chris an elaborate plan. The day In Woodward Hall, library student aides May 6. It was a moment in history. Simpson, a junior, loaded eight bags of the move, library aides load books into bags. And it was really fun. onto a pole to carry fore and aft; assis­ loaded books into canvas "The most surprising thing was tant dean Abe Schoener (A82) bags in the old library. how many people participated," says whizzed by on his mountain bike Each section of shelving was marked areas, so that we would be able to librarian Kitty Kinzer. "We didn't with a bunch of bags hanging from with a number. That number was put leave room where we projected really know how long it would take, the handlebars; Gjergji Bojaxhi, a on a piece of tape on the bag. In the growth would occur," says Plourde. but based on the numbers from the junior, used a wheelbarrow from his new library, the shelves had been (It's no surprise, but the philosophy last book move in 1968 when they and literature sections add books the moved 42,000 books in two days fastest.) The computer spit out a plan with fewer people and over a longer showing how much space the books, distance, we thought it might take plus projected growth, would take up about that long." Instead, the job was in the new library. That's how Plourde done in about eight hours. Dean Eva decided where to put each section. "It Brann had plans for bringing out the was almost like a freshman math prob­ troops. She cancelled classes and lem - very straightforward," he says. made sure that tutors stressed the The Greenfield Library appeared importance of participating in the far from complete on the day of the book move. She offered prizes for the move. Book carriers stepped over most books carried and the most trips buckets of spackling and the main made. There was lots of lemonade stairway was impassible with pieces of and free lunch and dinner for those steel railing. But the shelves were fill­ wearing the status-y borrower's-card­ ing rapidly. Kitty Kinzer was actually on-a-string. smiling by afternoon. By day's end, Stewart Greenfield, class of 1953, tired bookmovers bore witness to the and his wife Constance led the parade truth of a quip from Miss Brann: of book movers. The new building "We make pretty worn out adults out bears the name "Greenfield Library" of lusry- youths by means of books in honor of their support for the and a bag." B library construction project. Toting - by Barbara Goyette the canvas bags filled with volumes from the Thomas Bray collection, Hundreds of students, facully, and friends moved the books Mr. Greenfield strode across campus, - great and small - across campus to the new library. at the front of a seemingly endless line of students, faculty, alumni, and community members. "We love St. student aide gardening job. (Senior numbered with a corre..,. John's and we love books and there's Mark Whipple won for most bags sponding system, so that no place I'd rather have my name," carried - more than 126 - and in whatever order the Mr. Greenfield told the Baltimore junior Becky Lange won for most bags arrived, they could Sun. (The Bray collection contains trips - she made 35, sprinting back be placed near the and forth across cam­ shelves where they pus in blue running belonged. tights and a tee-shirt.) "We mapped what we There were at least had in the old library by four semi-nervous inches," explains people overseeing the Plourde. Then he and event: the library staff library assistant Brian of Kitty Kinzer, Vicki Graney wrote a "primi­ Cone (A68), Wally tive application" in Plourde (A89), and Paradox that compared Brian Graney (SF93). the map of the old They had been work­ library shelves with that ing on the logistics of of the new library. "I the move for months. took into account how Mastermind for the much space each call organization was number classification Wally Plourde. "It all should have. I looked started with Chris back over the past ten Nelson remembering years and compared Keeper of the collection, librarian Kitty Kinzer. Senior Peter Rispin takes a breather. the last library move, growth in the various Photos by John Bi/doh/. 2 SANTA FE TO CELEBRATE 300 WITH A WEEKEND OF EVENTS by John Schroeder

anta Fe will celebrate the 300th sheet music and special collections. invited are Eliseo and Paula the books to be covered are Melville's Sanniversary of St. John's with a Prices range from 25 cents for sheet Rodriguez, Felix Lopez, Ramon Jose Billy Budd, Sailor, Plato's Phaedrus, gala weekend on September 27, 28, music to $2 for hardcover books, and Lopez, T omasita Gonzales, Charles Rousseau's Discourse on the Sciences and 29. The weekend will open with a all proceeds from the sale will benefit Carrillo, and Monica Halford. These and Arts, Nietzsche's Twilight ofthe concert by Yehuda Hanani on cello the library. artists are considered to be among Idols and selections from and tutor and musician-in-residence In conjunction with the book sale, today's finest working in the Spanish Dostoevsky's Notes from the Peter Pesic on piano. The two will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Meem colonial arts. Several have exhibited Underground In addition, tutor playing pieces by Bach, who was 11 Courtyard, the Fine Arts Guild will or have permanent pieces in the Samuel Johnson will be conducting a years old when St. John's was founded. be featuring the second annual Smithsonian Institution in seminar in sign language for the deaf Saturday will begin with the annu­ Spanish Colonial Arts Exhibit and Washington, D.C., and several have members of the local community al library book sale from 10 a.m. to 5 Market. Coming off of the success of won the Governor's Award, and the who would like to participate and for p.m. in Meem Library. Special refer­ last year's show, this year promises to Grand Prize and First Prize award at teachers from the New Mexico ence, out-of-print, and art books will be even better. the Traditional Spanish Market held School for the Deaf. be available, as well as music scores, Among the artists who have been every year on the Plaza in Santa Fe. The seminars will be followed at 4 Following June and July's show of p.m. with a cookout and reception on ancient santos in the gallery, this will the upper and lower placitas for be an excellent opportunity to see everyone in the community. There and purchase the finest representa­ will be a jazz band playing to provide tions of Spanish art currently being entertainment and enough room on produced in New Mexico. In addi­ the placitas for the St. John's students tion, a silent auction will be held with to remind the residents of Santa Fe proceeds benefiting the art gallery how to swing dance. The evening will and the library. And, as an added fea­ conclude with the singing of "Happy ture, a mariachi band will be enter­ Birthday" and the cutting of a 300th taining those who attend the market anniversary cake. and book sale in the morning. Sunday will end the celebratory Also featured will be a display by weekend with a continuation of the the St. John's College Search and booksale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Rescue Team, which is celebrating its the library, as well as the art gallery 25th anniversary. There will be tours exhibit. Other events also are being of campus, information booths on planned for Sunday, including special Santa Fe celebrates the 300th with Bach, books, the Bard, and a barbecue. different aspects of the St. John's pro­ activities in the newly refurbished gram, and an exhibit in the art gallery coffee shop. by the Robert Ewing and John Sloan Admission is free to all of the Drawing Group, which includes events throughout the weekend. For OBSERVING THE FINAL FRONTIER some of Santa Fe's best known artists. more information on any of the Shakespeare in Santa Fe also will 300th anniversary weekend events or Studying Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Kepler used to mean be performing a short piece by the any other events that are taking place understanding lines on the blackboard, but now students can Bard, as well as entertaining the for the 300th anniversary, please con­ see the phenomena. crowd with magicians, jugglers, and tact the Public Relations Office at minstrels. Other events in the plan­ 505-984-6104 .• ittle known St. John's fact: There is a door at the top of the stairs by the pen­ ning stages are a poetry reading, a L dulum pit in Mellon Hall that says "Observatory." The sign has been on the book signing, and demonstrations by door since 1959 when the building opened, but it wasn't until this spring that several different student activities, there actually was an observatory inside. Thanks to the efforts of faculty member including fencing and karate. Jim Beall, and a $20,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, the obser­ At 2 p.m., local residents and vatory equipped with two state-of-the-art telescopes opened just in time for the others will have the opportunity to

appearance of comet Hyakutake in March. participate in one of 20 different l.696 l.996 The telescopes are a 16-inch reflector and a 12-inch computer-operated seminars that will be offered. Among Schmidt-Cassegrain. Mounted on concrete columns, they can be raised up through special sliding doors in the roof. The reflector telescope is operated man­ ually, but the smaller telescope has 65,000 astronomical points programmed into its memory. Punch in a number and the scope will pivot and focus on, say, the fun is to look at double stars. These show us that there are things orbiting around Great Nebula in Andromeda, 1.5 million light years away. There's also a comput­ other things - confirmation of the idea that the earth is not at the center of the er program that shows a map of the heavens on the screen. Point to a spot and universe,'' he suggests. dick and the telescope will go to it. Mr. Beall, along with Jonathan Badger, a new tutor in '95-'96, has given new "Actually observing phenomena in life to the Astronomy Club. In addition to the planetarium, which has been The Reporter (USPS 0 l 8-750) is published in the observatory complements many operating for several years, the observatory will enable students interested in January and July by the Public Relations Office, St. John's College, Annapolis, MD, and in parts of the program," says Jim Beall. astronomy to further explore the field. Mr. Beall hopes that the student observato­ April and October by the Public Relations "The calculations and ideas dealt with ry archons will carry their enthusiasm and experience back to the classrooms. An Office, St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM. in math tutorial are no longer an Internet connection to the Known office of publication: Public Relations Office, St. John's College, Box 2800, abstract exercise." For example, he cites observatory should be com­ Annapolis, MD 21404-2800. Newton's notion that the moons of pleted this summer. "There's Annapolis: Barbara Goyette, editor; Sus3an Jupiter and Saturn can be seen as lots of astronomical info on Borden, writer; Betsy Blume, Eva Brann, John Christensen, Pamela Kraus, Benjamin Milner, miniature solar systems. "Using equip­ the Net. For example, the tra­ Brother Robert Smith, advisory board; Adrienne ment in the observatory, we can con­ jectory of the next comet, Rogers, design. firm Kepler's laws of planetary motion which will be coming next Santa Fe: Elizabeth Skewes, editor; John Schroeder, assistant. using Jupiter's moons,'' he says. A year,'' says Mr. Beall. Second class postage paid at Annapolis, MD, CCD camera attached to one of the Stargazing is scheduled for and at additional mailing offices. telescopes can take a picture of Jupiter's many Monday and Thursday POSTMASTER: Send address changes to moons in different locations and print nights after seminar.• Reporter, St. John's College, Box 2800, Tutor Jim Beall with the 12-inch Annapolis, MD 21404-2800 it out. "Another thing we can do just for - by Barbara Goyette Schmidt-Cassegrain. 3 From the Bell Towers

SPEAKING VOLUMES Book and Author series revived in Santa Fe Travel Program Heads for Italy by Elizabeth A. Skewes "Learning is the enterprise of a life­ nights in Florence, and visits to the harlotte's Web author E.B. White was just seven years old when he first time," said Woodrow Wilson. St. hills ofUmbria, Siena, and Venice. Clooked at a blank sheet of paper and thrilled at the idea of filling it with John's alumni and friends who find St. John's tutor Geoffrey Comber words and stories. And Truman Capote, who won acclaim for In Cold Blood, that travel makes one of life's better will accompany the group and will once said that he knew he was destined to be a writer because he could toss learning experiences will want to lead seminars on Italian and Latin words into the air and know they would come down right. know about the latest Travel classics such as Virgil's Aeneid, Harriet Doerr, author of Stones for Ibarra and The Tiger in the Grass, told these Program destination: Italy. This Dante's Divine Comedy, and stories as a contrast to her own writing career, which didn't really begin until she trip to discover the Italian country­ Machiavelli's The Prince. Six educa­ was 65. Since then, however, Doerr's career has blossomed. Stones for Ibarra, her side and to learn about Italy's histo­ tional sessions with the University first novel, was published when she was 73 and it won an American Book ry, art, and culture will run from of Rome will explore the rise and Award. Now at 86, she is the author of three books and has a full schedule of November 14 to 24 (note that this fall of the Roman empire, the appearances throughout the country. And to hear her tell her story, perhaps no one is a change from the previously Renaissance, and modern Italy. is more surprised by her success than Doerr herself published dates). The itinerary for For more information, contact "It never really occurred to me that I could write," she told a group of nearly this learning-cum-sightseeing trip Pamela McKee in the St. Johns 250 people who came to listen to her in Santa Fe on May 8. Doerr's lecture, which includes five nights in Rome, four Advancement Office, 4101626-2506. was followed by a book signing, inaugurated the revival of the college's book and author series, now called "Speaking Volumes." Doerr, who has volumes of stories to tell, opened the series by telling the audi­ ence that it's never too late to pursue a dream. When her husband died in 1972, after 42 years of marriage, Doerr needed some new challenges, so she returned to school in 1975 - first to Scripps College and later to Stanford University where she finally finished her history degree. While in school she began taking creative writing classes and several professors spotted her talent. With the support of a Wallace Stegner Fellowship, she entered the graduate writing program at Stanford. "You're there with your peers and they're all interested in what you're interest­ ed in," she said. Through writing workshops and critiques from her classmates and professors, Doerr honed her stories, finely polishing each word, until they came together into Stones for Ibarra. The program also brought her into contact with writers such as Eudora Welty, John Irving, Robert Stone, and E.L. Doctorow. She told about _one student who asked Doctorow how he wrote. Doctorow said that he would put his typewriter up against a blank wall and would sit there to write so that he could avoid other distractions. One day, however, despite the lack of distractions, the words wouldn't come. He sat there for 45 minutes staring at the empty sheet of paper. Then, staring straight ahead at the empty wall, he typed "wall." He started by John Schroeder associating that with other words and wrote "room" and "house." "Then he remembered when the house was built, which was 1906," Doerr said, "and then ~o St. John's juniors are among the 264 students nationwide to receive he wrote Ragtime." l Goldwater Foundation scholarships this year. Taffeta Elliott and Patrick Nash She said that was an important lesson for'her as a fledgling writer. "You have have been awarded scholarships that will cover up to $7,000 in expenses for tuition, to let things flow, one after another after another. And you have to love words. books, and room and board. You have to love the words that you write and let them rattle around loose in Elliott and Nash were among the 1,200 students nominated for the scholarships your brain. You have to speak them out loud and love the way that you hear by faculties at universities and colleges throughout the United States. The awards, them and the way that they look on a printed page." which support students planning to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the In fact, Doerr said, her love for words is so strong that as a writer she places natural sciences, and engineering, are given based upon academic merit. them above the plot of a novel. Elliott, a Minnesota native who transferred to St. John's from has She said a writer also needs to be open to the ideas that are around them. "You worked as an intern at the HN Database at Los Alamos National Lab, which is have to eavesdrop and you have to spy. You have to listen to people on elevators. under the direction of Gerald the husband of Santa Fe tutor Linda And then you add the rest. But the ideas are coming at you." Her experiences at the HN Database resulted in her scholarship essay, entitled Many of Doerr' s ideas have come from her years spent in small mining towns "Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency in Mexico, where she raised a family while her husband worked the mines. Virus (HIV)." Those locations became the setting for both of her novels - Stones for Ibarra After graduating from St. John's next spring, Elliott to take a year off to do and Consider This, Senora - and they also show up in many of the stories in her an internship either in journalism or with a science museum. She plans to pursue a new collection of essays and short stories, The Tiger in the Grass. career in science in the future; biology and virology have the strongest for her Doerr' s lecture was sponsored right now, but she also is considering a career in science journalism. by the committee of the This fall, Elliott will be the head senior lab assistant on campus. She also has college's Library and Fine Arts been editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, and a member of the St. John's Guild, which was looking for a College Search and Rescue T earn, the flute ensemble, and the chorus. special project to work on in con­ Patrick Nash, from West Newfield, Maine, has been a teaching assistant with junction with the 300th anniver­ Bowdoin College's Upward Bound Program, and was a Community Service sary celebration. Reviving the Seminar leader for St. John's, through which he led classes at several area schools. book and author series, which was After graduation he plans to do research in and teach theoretical mathematics at the a strong program in the 1970s, college level, where he can follow the two pursuits that he considers very important seemed like a natural, said Peggy - "the acquisition of knowledge and its communication to others." Nash's Jones, who spearheaded the pro­ scholarship essay was entitled "The Present Significance of Past Theoretical ject. "We envision this as some­ Developments." At St. John's, he is a member of the Search and Rescue Team Harriet Doerr talks with one of her fans at a thing that will start during the and the soccer club. book signing that followed her 300th year, which is a nice time to The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency that was established in lecture in Santa Fe. launch it, but it will continue 1986. The scholarship program, honoring former Senator Barry Goldwater (R­ beyond that," Jones said. "We Ariz.), is the premier undergraduate award of its type for students entering careers in want to bring in not only authors of literature, but perhaps authors of books on the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. To date the foun­ art that tie in with the gallery." a dation has awarded 1,809 scholarships totaling approximately $19 million. a 4 RUN SWIFTLY AND CARRY A HARVEY MORSE BECOMES SANTA BIG STICK FE'S NEWVICE PRESIDENT Lacrosse Returns to St. John's College A fter a long and extensive national "\VJhen Barr and Buchanan started the New Program at St. John's, they .I"\.'.search, Harvey David Morse has W abolished intercollegiate sports at a time when the college was a national been appointed as the new vice president lacrosse power. This spring, thanks to a generous donation and a liberal reading for advancement in Santa Fe. Morse, of the sport's rulebook, Athletic Director Leo Pickens (A78) and Graduate who officially starts in his new position Institute student Michael Barth have brought lacrosse back to the campus. on June l, replaces Jeff Morgan, who left Although Pickens had been toying with the idea of lacrosse at St. John's since St. John's last October. last summer, two obstacles kept it off his roster. "We needed the basic equip­ "St. John's is a vital community of ment to play the game," Pickens says, "and we had to find a non-contact brand scholars that exists in the real world," of the game, both to suit our style of play and to avoid the expense of additional Morse said. "I am tremendously happy equipment such as helmets and pads." to be joining the staff of such a wonder­ By July, Pickens had solved the equipment problem: William Brill, former ful and historic institution, and I wel­ head of the Friends of St. John's, made a donation that enabled Pickens to buy come the opportunity to help promote 20 sticks and several dozen balls for the college. And in August, the search for a its growth." St. John's style oflacrosse came to a fortunate end. Morse comes to St. John's from the "AB luck would have it," Pickens says, "the Graduate Institute' s Michael Barth, Tilton School in New Hampshire, where an Academic All-American lacrosse player in his undergraduate life, heard of my he was the executive director of develop­ Harvey Morse - new vice president for Santa Fe. interest in starting up lacrosse." Barth, a lifetime fan of lacrosse and connoisseur ment and parent and alumni affairs. Prior of its lore, had long known of a school called St. John's College that held almost to that, he held a number of administra- a legendary place in the world of lacrosse. "No team in the history of college tive positions at Choate Rosemary Hall, an independent school in Wallingford, lacrosse has ever had such an impact on the sport as St. John's,'' Barth says. "The Conn. game is played as it is today because of how St. John's played it in the '30s - While at Choate, Morse was a regional director in the school's successful they set the standard. They had a ten-year period of dominating the national $27.5 million "Endowment Plus" campaign. He also served for seven years as lacrosse scene. During that time they placed 12 players in the Lacrosse Hall of the school's director of development, managing a staff of 20 and raising more Fame; no school has done so before or after." than $60 million during his tenure. He also was responsible for the creation of a However, even after enrolling in the Graduate Institute, Barth had no idea planned giving program that brought in $17.5 million in commitments between that the St. John's oflacrosse fame was the great books school where he was now 1986 and 1993. In his final year at Choate, he served as director of capital studying. One day, as he sat in the Little Campus, his eyes rested on an All programs and helped raise more than $45 million for a $100 million capital American Lacrosse Plaque. "After years of thinking of the St. John's oflacrosse campaign. fame as a semi-mythical place, it dawned on me that I was at that place," he says. Before becoming an educational administrator, Morse taught history and Shortly after this moment of revelation, Barth spoke to Pickens about playing interdisciplinary courses in American studies. lacrosse at St. John's. Pickens explained the gentler kind oflacrosse the college President John Agresto said that Morse "brings great skills and a real devotion needed. Barth said, "No contact? No problem. We'll play Indian lacrosse." to education. We conducted an extensive national search and are very pleased to "Barth's vision has given us a classic version of the game as was first practiced welcome a person with Harvey's experience to our campus." by the North American Indians," says Pickens. Morse has a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in urban sec­ In his version there are no boundaries on the 250-yard field and no limit on ondary education from the University of Pennsylvania. He is married and has the number of players. The game is played in two hour-long halves. There is no three children. m stick checking except below knee level. Instead of shooting on goal, players score by running through a gate. At game's end, a final alteration of the rules custom-fits the sport to St. John's needs. "In the classic version of the game," Pickens explains, "something would happen to the losing team captain; for example his head would be cut off, or Founder's Day in Santa Fe he'd be beaten to death. In the interest of upholding tradition, we take the losing team captain and hurl him into College Creek. So far we've hurled freshmen Nearly 100 people gathered in Meem Library on Friday, March 29, to hear about Josh Emmons and Ethan Press." the state of religion in America and to honor those who helped found the Santa Fe Press reports that College Creek was cold, green, and left him feeling slimy. campus of St. John's College. Would he advise other athletes to become team captains? "Only if they know In addition to cocktails and dinner, guests were treated to an insightful speech by they can win," he says. Hugh Hewitt, host of this summer's PBS series "Searching for God in America" Pickens feels that the resumption of lacrosse on the campus has a historic jus­ and the author of a book by the same name. The eight-part series includes inter­ tice to it. "This connects us to our athletic glory of the early '30s when we were views that Hewitt conducted with key religious leaders of our time, including the the national champions. Even though our brand of lacrosse is nowhere dose to Dalai Lama, Charles Colson, the official intercollegiate sport," he admits, "it just feels right to be playing on Harold Kushner, and Seyyed these fields again." Hossein Nasr. "And,'' he point out, "it's great preparation for Spartan Madball." m In addition to his work on the - by Sus3an Borden PBS special, Hewitt is the co­ host of "Life and Times," a news and public affairs program on KCET-TV in Los Angeles, and he hosts a weekly radio program. He is a partner in the Irvine, Calif., law firm of Hewitt & McGuire and is a Visiting Distinguished Professor of Law at Chapman University Law School. Guests at the dinner included some of the college's founders, members of the Board of Visitors and Governors, friends and Hugh Hewitt, host of this summer's PBS series donors living in the Santa Fe "Searching for God in America", speaks to a St. John's was national lacrosse champ from 1930 to 1934. area, and state and local political crowd of nearly l 00 at the Founder's Day College archives photo. figures. m dinner on March 29 in Santa Fe. 5 From ·the Bell Towers

GOING ... GOING .. ~ GONE Auction Weekend in Annapolis Raises Funds.for Mitchell Art Gallery

There is something else that I avoid and that, ifyou are only a moderately rich mil­ lionaire, you should avoid, too: the chic auction . .. Ifyou should decide, out of curiosity, to be a spectator at one ofthese million-dollar orgies, the golden rule is to sit on your hands. One absentminded scratch ofyour ear might catch the auctioneer's eye and you could find yourself with a twelfth-century bleeding cup and a bill the size of a mortgage. Peter Mayle, Acquired Tastes

he Annapolis campus found capacity crowd of 150 included many T itself transformed into a minia­ local friends of the college and art ture Sotheby' s on the weekend of aficionados interested in supporting April 26, when it hosted two auctions the gallery. to benefit the Elizabeth Myers After Mayle' s reading, attendees Mitchell Art Gallery. Friends of the gave auction catalogs one last look, college rounded up over a hundred spouses consulted on prized items, donated items, most of which were and cellular phones popped up link­ auctioned on Saturday, April 27, at ing absentee bidders to the auction. an event called "An Auction of the George Young ofYoung Fine Arts Finer Things." A dozen of the more Gallery in Portsmouth, New Chris Nelson with wife Joyce Olin (left) and Maryanne Spencer, auction chair, being charmed by Peter Mayle. lavish items were offered on Friday Hampshire stepped up to the podium night at "An Auction of the Finest and the auction began. Among the Things." items under the gavel were a week­ a Taos condo, and a gala 4th ofJuly worked for over a year to coordinate The Finest Things auction was part long biking or walking trip in weekend in New York. Though the the auctions. Maryanne Spencer, a of a gala evening with the theme "An Provence with Butterfield & Saturday auction lacked the high friend of the college and president of Evening in Provence," featuring a Robinson, a portrait sketch by artist stakes drama of Friday night, there the Caritas Society, chaired the events; black-tie dinner in Randall Hall with and alumna Anastasia Egeli (A92), a was plenty of entertainment. Early in Judi Kardash was chair for the a Provence-inspired menu, planned handcrafted rowing wherry designed the event the auctioneer caught col­ Saturday auction. The auctions raised by friends of the college Chip and by master boatbuilder Clark Poston, lege president Chris Nelson trying to $80,000, which will serve as an endow­ Barbara Bohl. Peter Mayle, author of and a mixed case of the legendary up his own bid. "This is Saturday, ment for the Mitchell Gallery. B A Year in Provence, was the guest 1982 Bordeaux. Drawing top dollar sir," he said. "We don't let you bid - by Sus3an Borden speaker and, over coffee and dessert, were a weeklong luxury barge cruise against yourself on read from his soon-to-be-published of the waterways of France's Saturday." Later, the book, Anything Considered. The Burgundy region, and a small non- bid-frenzied Nelson speaking role in St. locked horns with col­ John's graduate (A64) lege Vice President Jeff Jeremy Leven' s new Bishop in an effort to movie The Double, be the winning bidder being filmed in Paris on a dozen rose bush­ this summer and star­ es. Whether he pulled ring John T ravolta. rank or offered to split The Saturday the booty with Bishop morning "finer things" is unknown, but auction featured box Nels on was successful seats to an Orioles-Red in his bid. Sox game, sailing A special Mitchell Jackie Camm (A98), ace book handler, with lessons, a week's stay in Gallery Committee Peter Mayle. Photos by Keith Harvey.

Capt. and Mrs. Harold Nutt, Melvin Bender, As the wise old millionaire once said.· ifyou have to ask the price, you can't afford it." and Judi Kardash. Peter Mayle, Acquired Tastes

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Scholarship

ACADEMIC ALUMNI JAMES CAREY BEGINS SECOND TERMAS DEAN IN SANTA FE ROBERT HAZO: RAISING THE LEVEL by Elizabeth A. Skewes OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE oving into the dean's office inJulywill be a M kind of homecoming for Santa Fe tutor Dobert G. Hazo, class of 1953, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, is James Carey, who first served as the college's dean !\.happy he was able to find an educational nook where he can be "helpful to a from 1986 to 1991. Now, the dean's first floor university and advance St. John's ideas at the same time." He is founder and office in Weigle Hall will be Carey's once again as director of the Office of Special Seminars in the University Honors College, the he begins a second five-year term as the college's main activity of which is the American Experience Program. Since the series academic leader. began 25 years ago, in 1971, Hazo has brought area administrators and execu­ But Carey said this term will be quieter than his tives together to discuss issues in public affairs and to listen to lectures by politi­ previous one. After a first term that saw the addi­ cians, pundits, editors, media figures, economists, and military leaders. This tion of an art sequence to the senior year and the year's lecturers are Republican strategist William Kristol and economist John creation of the Eastern classics program, Carey said Kenneth Galbraith. he's not planning any "radical changes" in the "My model was St. John's," says Hazo. "I told participants that it would not Santa Fe dean term that will take him through 2001. be a historical seminar. Even though we were reading 'old' books, we would be James Carey "I think the programs that we have in place are discussing recurring ideas. I used the texts as springboards for discussing current good ones, and I think they've developed nicely," political issues." Over the years, readings have included some of the staples of the he said. "During my tenure, I will continue to look for new ways to introduce St. John's program: de Tocqueville, the Federalist Papers, the Constitution and the newer tutors to the college's traditions. Also, much of my attention is going the Declaration oflndependence. Hazo has also used speeches by leaders such as to be occupied with the financial aid situation, which has become a huge finan­ Churchill, and other classic political texts like Thoreau's "On Civil cial burden to the college. I'll be working with the financial aid director and oth­ Disobedience." "I would always try to raise the discussion to a higher level. For ers to figure out how to address that." example, an opening question might be: 'Where should the line be drawn Carey said he'll also be working closely with President John Agresto on the between the public and private sectors?'" says Hazo. He found that once partici­ financial aid and budget issues. He said that he's looking forward to working pants in the discussions learned to not to talk to him as the teacher but to each with President Agresto again and that he enjoyed the good working relationship other, they could carry on a St. John's-style seminar very successfully. Since they had during Carey's first term as dean. 1992, the series has focused on the lecturers and the question and answer period Carey, a tutor at the college since 1979, attended St. John's in Annapolis for following each talk, where Hazo' s aim again is to raise the level of political two years from 1963 to 1965. He has a bachelor's degree in music from the discourse. University of North Carolina and a master's in philosophy from the New School Hazo grew up in Pittsburgh, came to St. John's in 1949 ("because I was con­ for Social Research in New York. He came to St. John's from East Carolina vinced it was the place for me - even University, where he taught philosophy, and has worked at both the Annapolis though I had a scholarship to and Santa Fe campuses. He arrived in Santa Fe in 1984 and became dean two Georgetown"), graduated in 1953, and won years later. He said that his previous experience as dean is what drew him to the fellowships to study at Princeton and the position again. "I thought that my experience of having done the job before Sorbonne. He was senior editor for political, might be useful to the college, especially in tight financial times. I expect quite a legal, social, and economic articles at the conservative deanship, though," he added. "I don't anticipate any big changes." Encyclopedia Britannica before joining the In fact, because of the emphasis on the college's budget and the growing needs faculty at the University of Pittsburgh. The for student financial aid, Carey said the job of the dean for the next several years author of numerous journal articles in will be largely managerial. "The main academic goal over the next five years will Commentary, The New Republic, The Nation, be to do the program as well as we can," he said. and the New York Times Book Review, he is Carey also said that he will continue the push for tutor exchanges and other currently working on a book about the activities that will help preserve the unity of the college. "The more contact we Arab-Israeli struggle.• have between the campuses and between the faculty in particular, the better. The Robert Hazo, A5 3 - by Barbara Goyette kind of unity that has to be preserved is in the program and policies of the col­ lege. Unity, however, is sometimes better served by allowing differences between campuses." B

THE BOOK ON THE MAN Scott Buchanan, one of the founders of the New Program, is subject of new volume. cott Buchanan: A Centennial Appreciation ofHis Life and Work has been pub­ Slished by the St. John's College Press. The more than 20 recollections and essays in this volume were selected by Charles A. Nelson, A47. Contributors include Stringfellow Barr, Mortimer Adler, Mark Van Doren, Richard McKeon, Clifton Fadiman, Jacques Barzun, Jacob Klein, Harris Wofford, William Goldsmith, John Van Doren, Clarence Kramer, John Dewey, Curtis Wilson, Mary Bittner Goldstein, and more. Two essays by Buchanan, an introduction to Poetry and Mathematics and a talk delivered in 1958, frame the recollections and essays about this founder of the New Program. There is also an extensive bibliography and a series of photographs of Buchanan throughout his career. The book is available for $14.95 plus ship­ ping from the St. John's College Bookstore. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Scott Buchanan Memorial Scholarship Fund. Call 410/626-2540 to order. Ill 7 Commencement

IN ANNAPOLIS, WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY AND RADOSLAV DATCHEV SPEAK ON THE POWER OF EDUCATION by Barbara Goyette

to the Liberty Tree as a symbol of the an inattention, you remind me that, seminar composed of the graduating nation's devotion to freedom, he after all, even Homer nodded?" he class and posing an opening question: called commencement a "new begin­ continued. Why is it important to "If your commencement is indeed ning" that gives St. John's students a remember this formulation - that your commencement, what is it the sense of power and possibility." Homer once slipped up when he commencement of?" Someone would For only the third time since the described a ship's rudder on the probably answer valiantly, he said, by New Program began in 1937, the col­ boat's bow end? Because, said Mr. saying that it is the commencement lege conferred the title of "Honorary Buckley, "by documenting an imper­ of real life. "But don't you have to Fellow." Stephen Feinberg, chairman fection in the excellent Homer, we know what real life is? I would be of the Board of Visitors and are reminded of the comparative happy someone had stepped into the Governors, was honored in Santa Fe, magnitude of our own errancy. A trap," he continued, referring to the while Ray Cave, chairman of The knowledge of individual fallibility trap that every good question creates Campaign for Our Fourth Century, nudges us on to accept the probabili­ - that it inevitably leads to another was honored in Annapolis. Mr. Cave, ty of collective fallibility, and... our question. who graduated from St. John's in mind then turns to such safeguards as Students at St. John's are ever­ 1948, is a journalist who served as government by laws, not men; to the hopeful that their tutors will one day editor of Sports Illustrated and editori­ concept of checks and balances; to say what they really think, give some al director of Time-Life, Inc. As human rights. And one is prompted kind of answer - but this Mr. William F. Buckley: Datchev declined to do, saying, "You In praise of etenal verities. chairman of the capital campaign, he to reflect that the knowledge of oversaw the tremendous effort that human fallibility may orient us to have learned to dismiss easy answers raised $34 million as well as $50 mil­ hunger after infallibility, which surely out of hand.. .I do not know what onservative television com­ lion more in deferred gifts. gives rise to the religious instinct. And life is, but I think I know what it is mentator and columnist "I was given a degree which in all William F. Buckley, Jr., left candor I received out of the generosi­ politics aside as he addressed th~ 94 ty of the faculty," said Mr. Cave, seniors and 51 master's degree candi­ referring to his own graduation. He dates in Annapolis on May 19. said he was touched by the college's Instead, Mr. Buckley praised the St. award. "You think you're leaving St. John's curriculum, which he charac­ John's," he told the graduates, "but terized as offering "root knowledge." St. John's never leaves you." Under a sweltering sky (temperature topped 90 degrees), parents, friends, asuc:k:IE!Y on ed1uc:cat101n St. John's students, and graduates "From quite early on, beginning gathered under the Liberty Tree for when I was 12 or 13, I heard my the Annapolis campus' 204th com­ father say that he hoped his sons, of mencement. Tutor Radoslav Datchev whom I was the third, would, when was the students' choice to deliver the reaching college age, attend the excit­ faculty address. ing St. John's," said Mr. Buckley. President Christopher Nelson "This did not happen ... but my began the ceremony by calling to father's reverence for the idea that has mind the long history of the college. animated St. John's lingers in the He said that the 300th anniversary of memory." Quoting from family the college could be seen as an oppor­ friend Albert Nock, Mr. Buckley tunity to "remember who we are, and said, "Every subject that challenges what we were meant to be." Alluding the human curiosity and intimates Tutor David Townsend assists Ray Cave with his Honorary Fellow garb. Photos by Keith Harvey. the resources of the human mind is sitting there in the copious inventory left by ancient Greece and Rome. To this instinct acknowledges what some not." He compared planning a din­ ignore them as most curricula now of us insist on calling eternal verities." ner, which involves deciding on a do, is to ignore the primary deposits Mr. Buckley concluded his remarks menu, buying groceries, and using of western intellectual experience." by reassuring the graduating seniors pots and pans, with the human reac­ Next, Mr. Buckley considered the that they should not be overawed by tion to the universe, which is to proliferation of knowledge - the what they do not know. "Everything "question it, think about it." He undeniable "knowledge explosion" over there, in the high galaxies of asked, "Is your life more like dinner wherein "twice as much 'knowledge' experimental science and indeed or the universe? ...A life treated like is charted with the passage of every social surmise, is deracinated, except the universe is a mystery whose solu­ decade." In contrast to the finite as it is rooted in what you have stud­ tion humanity is trying to extract quality of what was thought and done ied, and what you do know ...You from itself and its surroundings ... between the time of Homer and have every reason to be proud of Anyone who tells you that you Marcus Aurelius, today we recognize what you have learned ...You will should make certain choices is treat­ that "raw knowledge has to increase." not be easily surprised, standing on ing your life like your dinner." But in the face of this ever-increasing the shoulders of the giants ..." Finally, Mr. Datchev offered burden to know, Mr. Buckley posited advice. "Do a lot," he told the that there must be some things that Radoslav Datchev poses an graduates. "Whenever you have a "we are expected to keep on know­ opening question choice between easy and hard, take ing," a common cultural vocabulary. Radoslav Datchev, a tutor since 1992 hard... You have read the books "If we mean to continue to talk to when this graduating class matriculat­ because they are hard... You have Lydia Rolita and a friend sport shades one another, don't I have to under­ ed, taught many of its members. He been discovering new worlds for for dealing with the sun. stand what you' re saying if, to excuse began his address by imagining a years, don't stop now."• 8 IN SANTA FE, GRADUATES EXHORTED TO ACCEPT NEW RESPONSIBILITIES by Elizabeth A. Skewes

man who simply did his job day in and day out. He didn't forego achievement by putting responsibility first. What made him a hero was how he's lived out his responsibility each and every day, better than any other baseball player," Lader said. That lesson is one that all Americans need to take to heart, he said, especially in a world where most people think that society is dominat­ ed by a "winner-take-all" philosophy. He said that St. John's alumni need to "take the intellectual discipline and the sense of wonder learned at this college and dedicate them to new responsibilities for ourselves, our Stephen Feinberg wears the medallion community and our country." he received as Honorary Fellow. Lader said that the liberal educa­ tion offered to students at St. John's was made possible only through the oday's heroes are those who actions of those from earlier genera­ take responsibility for them­ tions who acted responsibly for their T selves and those around children and their children's children. them, and those who are privileged "President John Adams once wrote, enough to have an education like the 'I must study politics and war so that one offered at St. John's have a spe­ my sons may study mathematics and cial duty to accept that responsibility. science and my sons should study That was the message that com­ mathematics and science so that their mencement speaker Philip Lader, a sons may study painting,"' Lader Elsie Mata Abeyta and Francisco Abeyta are congratulated by their tutors. member of the Clinton cabinet and said. The question he asked the grad­ director of the U.S. Small Business uates to consider is what they would some around us are consumed by this college's Board of Visitors and Administration, brought to the 71 do with the privilege of the St. John's 'winner-take-all' philosophy? It is Governors, who was named an hon­ seniors and 37 Graduate Institute education they received. your charge to seek responsibility orary fellow of the college during the students who graduated from Santa "Perhaps we can best survive and wherever you find yourself and when­ ceremony. Feinberg was given the Fe on May 19. prevail in this world by ordering our ever it's presented and to live out award for his work on the college's Lader reminded students of the day lives to what our families, community your learning at this place. That's Cal highly successful $30 million fund­ last summer when Baltimore Orioles and country demand," he said. "Will Ripken's message. That's the heritage raising campaign, The Campaign for shortstop Cal Ripken broke the we take responsibility to play every of St. John's." Our Fourth Century, and for his long record held by Lou Gehrig for the day, no matter how we feel? Will we Lader' s words to the 108 graduates service to the college as a member of most consecutive games played. take responsibility to make the little were echoed by the actions of the board. "The nation went wild for this differences that we can make when Stephen Feinberg, chairman of the Feinberg and Ray Cave, who chaired The Campaign for Our Fourth Century and who received a similar honor at commencement in Annapolis, join Paul Mellon as the college's only honorary fellows. Both Feinberg and Cave were presented with medallions and college hoods during the ceremonies. "I am made lighter, not heavier, by this splendid gold medal," Feinberg said in a brief speech. "ff I may humbly say so, you ennoble me with this honor. would like to tell you how grateful I am that you have seen fit to make me, on this a part of St.

are prepared to understand and uphold the values ofWestern civiliza­ tion in today's world. In addition to the honor for Feinberg, nearly 40 awards were given to individual students for vari­ ous academic and athletic achieve­ Mortarboards go flying as the final degree is awarded. ments and for community service. • 9 THE REPORTER

Commencement

111 To the senior man and woman who have contributed most to the college's Awards and Prizes -Annapolis athletic program. Offered by the Alumni Association: Matthew Carter, Dara Trought. • To the members of the senior class who have written the best senior essays. Offered in memory of Simon Kaplan: Peter Rubinstein. Offered in memory of • To a senior who has contributed outstanding service to the Greater Annapolis Susan Irene Roberts (1966): Soniah Naheed Kamal, Mikel-Meredith Community. Offered by the Caritas Society: Bryce Ferrie, Adrien Gehring. Weidman. Honorable Mentions: Matthew Caswell, Jean Carla. Echevarria. • To the senior who has demonstrated the greatest care for and service to youth • To a senior, for excellence in speaking, the Millard E. Tydings award: residing in Annapolis. Offered by the friends and family of Marvin B. Cooper Jeremiah James. (1969): Orla.ndo Snead. • To the junior who has written the best annual essay. Offered by Mrs. Leslie 111 To the senior who submits the best work of visual art to the Community Art Clark Stevens in memory of her daughter-in-law, Kathryn Mylorie Stevens: Exhibition, the Charles Vernon Moran Prize: Sharon Soper. Matthew Braithwaite. Honorable Mentions: Judith Neely, Richard Schmechel • To the senior who has demonstrated excellence in the arts, literature, or • To the sophomore who has written the best annual essay. Offered in honor of sciences, the Walter S. Baird Prize: Aaron Silverman. Judge Walter I. Dawkins (1880): Jan Robertson. Honorable Mention: Dawn Shuman. Awards and Prizes - Santa Fe • To the freshman who has written the best annual essay. Offered in memory ofJacob Klein and his wife Else: George Phelps. Honorable Mention: • Medal for academic excellence. Offered by the Board of Visitors and Maureen Gallagher. Governors: Angela. Cole, Amy Huberman, Kirsten Jacobson, Katherine Mulder. Ill To the Graduate Institute student who has written a distinguished preceptorial essay. Offered by the Alumni Association: Eric Brown. Honorable Mention: • To the senior who has written the best senior essay, the Richard D. Weigle John-David Hardt. Prize: Geoffrey Maturen. Honorable Mentions: Amy Maturen, George Senicz. • To the student who submits the best English version of a Greek text, offered in memory of John S. Kieffer: Hannah Gillelan. Honorable Mention: • To members of the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes in recognition of Larissa Parson. academic acheivement and service to the college community: Mary Dietsch, Joshua Goldberg, Michael DiMezza. 111 For the best English version of a French poem. Offered by the Board of Visitors and Governors: Honorable Mention: Luke Trares. Ill To a member of the senior class, for excellence in public speaking, the Sen. Millard E. Tydings Memorial Prize: Angela. Cole. • For the best original musical composition. Offered in memory of Mary Joy Belnap: Janice Cater. Honorable Mention: Weldon Goree. • The Throne Endowment Scholarship for summer study in preparation for medicine: Vida Day, William George, Mathew Strickland, Tallie Taylor. Ill For the most elegant solution of a geometrical problem. Offered by the class of 1986 in honor of Bryce Jacobson: Luke Trares. • To the seniors who have demonstrated achievements in the arts, literature, or science, the Walter S. Baird Prize: Amy Huberman, Andrew Van Luchene. • For the most elegant solution of a problem in analytical mathematics. Offered in memory of James R. McClintock (1965): Derek Alexander. • To a Graduate Institute student for an essay on texts in the literature or mathematics and natural science segments, the Graduate Council Essay Prize: • To the student who carries out the best laboratory project: Jennifer Borrell Jeffrey Inman. and Heather Miller, Luke Trares. Acknowledgements of Excellence • For his junior essay: Christopher Allison. • For his sophomore essay: Evan Skladany. • For his winning entry in the mathematics competition: Adam Weisberg. Honorable Mention: John Carone, Robert Howell • For his winning entry in the Greek translation competition: Peter Zachariadis. • For his first semester freshman essay: Anthony Fields. • For his mathematics paper: Robert Howell • For his poems, the Henry M. Austin Poetry Prize: Jacob McPherson.

11111 For outstanding performance in athletics: Sam Lueck, Heather Pool, David Stanton, Anant Vas hi. • For outstanding community service: Robert Howell, Amy Stanton.

HOMECOMING IN ANNAPOLIS: SPECIAL 300TH EDITION

J\ s befitting the special tercente­ sule - so that any anthropologists in Saturday evening, the .r-1.nary year, Homecoming in the ranks of future Johnnies can fig­ Homecoming Banquet will include Annapolis will feature events that ure out what this unusual college was Alumni Association awards. Jeff highlight the college's long history. all about during the 1990s. Bishop, vice president of the Dates for Homecoming are Saturday is reunion time for the Annapolis campus, and Anna September 27-29. Alumni from all classes of'41, '46, '51, '56, '61, '66, Greenberg, tireless advocate for St. At Homecoming, alumni can pick eras can meet again their fellow '71, '76, '81, and '86. Special semi­ John's and member of the Board of their level of socialization, from classmates at seminars, luncheons, nars and luncheons will be held for Visitors and Governors, will be made seminars to lunches to rock parties. dinners, parties, picnics, and informal reunion classes. Honorary Members of the Alumni Photo by Keith Harvey. gatherings on the quad. It's a chance Groundbreaking for the Barr­ Association. Alumni Association to re-connect with the college and Buchanan Centerf named in honor of Awards of Merit will be presented to fame - will be on display at the with friends. New Program founders Scott Jonathan Zavin (A68), Harvey Mitchell Gallery during Homecoming. The weekend begins on Friday Buchanan and Stringfellow Barr, will Goldstein (1959), and Peter Weiss And a book with many photographs with the annual Homecoming also be held on Saturday. Still in the (1946). and a comprehensive history of the col­ Lecture, delivered this year by planning stages, this ceremony will The weekend's two final events are lege, Three Hundred Years ofLiberal Christopher Nelson (SF70), president mark the beginning of a new life for always among the most fun - the Education in Annapolis, compiled by of the Annapolis campus. Several par­ Woodward Hall, the former college rock party after the banquet on Emily Murphy (A95), will be available. ties are scheduled following the ques­ library. The building will be renovated Saturday night and the brunch at the Look for full details of tion period. to contain offices, classrooms, and a President's house on Sunday. Homecoming Weekend in the On Saturday morning, the annual student center for the Graduate A special exhibit of St. John's pho­ brochure being mailed this summer, meeting of the Alumni Association Institute as well as a computer center tographs - including many by or call the Alumni Office in will feature the burial of a time cap- and offices for undergraduate activities. Alfred Eisenstaedt of Life magazine Annapolis at 410/626-2531. • 10 GREENFIELD LIBRARY DEDICATION The great books find a great new home as the Annapolis campus celebrates 300 years. by Barbara Goyette

D ecalling the primary focus of the a simple principle that determines 1'..college as reading and studying what should be in the college's collec­ and discussing the books, remember­ tion today: the best books on the ing its long history, and joyously cele­ most important subjects. brating the opening of the new Speaking on behalf of the Friends Greenfield Library, speakers at the of St. John's College, Dr. Robert June 1 dedication brought together Biern, president of the group, said, all that is meaningful about St. John's "Annapolis would be a poorer place for a crowd of 300 alumni, students, without St. John's." Under the direc­ faculty and staff, parents, Board tion of college vice president Jeff members, and local friends. Bishop, the Friends set a goal to raise Annapolis President Chris Nelson $1 million to renovate the large, ele­ introduced Stewart Greenfield, alum­ gant reading room in the new nus of the class of 1953, after whom library. They raised nearly double the library is named. Mr. Greenfield that amount. The room will be called read a letter from fellow board mem­ the Friends' Reading Room in honor ber Stewart Washburn that he said of those in Annapolis who con­ summed up the reaction to the tributed to the project. Greenfield gift: 'Tm pleased you Annapolis Mayor Al Hopkins con­ could do it. I'm pleased you did do tinued the accolades for the college it." Mr. Greenfield thanked the col­ and its place in the community. Mr. lege community for providing him Hopkins remembered his youth with so much pleasure in the activi­ growing up in town, where there ties surrounding the new library. "My were no playgrounds or ballfields for family and I have a passionate interest local children. "But St. John's always in old books and a passionate interest made us welcome, and for that I have in St. John's. The new library is a a place in my heart for the college," wonderful opportunity to merge said Mr. Hopkins. those interests." In a dedicatory toast that moved Librarian Kitty Kinzer spoke about alumni and students to laughter and the "fresh new building and an old, engendered fond memories, tutor old collection." Books from the emeritus Elliott Zuckerman wove a Thomas Bray collection, the first free speech around the notion of what it public library in the North American would mean if the Admissions Office Elliott Zuckerman toasted the Greenfield Library (top). Tom Wilson, AGl90, with colonies, are still housed in the St. claim that "the following teachers Vicki Cone, A68, assistant librarian (left). Jeff Bishop, Annapolis vice president, and Chris Denny, A92, in a celebratory mood (right). [the great books authors] will be John's library, as they have been since Photos by Keith Harvey. 1697. Mrs. Kinzer noted that there is returning to St. John's" were true.

He said: "Think of having a teacher about the practical advantages of as amusing as Chaucer or as articulate such a scheme. "They do not have to as Jane Austen or as dear and com­ be fed, and the only new clothing plete as Saint Thomas. Think of required is an occasional rebinding," being able to report to your friends he said. "Only when they get very what Montaigne had to say this old or very decrepit or very precious morning in tutorial. Think of trust­ do we have to place them in the glass ing the lab experiments to Faraday cases of a retirement home. himself, with or without a lab assis­ Otherwise, no salaries, no health tant. Imagine a paper conference with insurance, no social security. They the author of Middlemarch. Picture do, however, need a place to stay" being badgered to perplexity not by - in the new library, of course. some neophyte imitating the Socratic After praising the amenities and method, but by the Silenus himself. comforts of the old familiar "On the other hand, what if Woodward Hall library, Mr. Immanuel Kant himself were the only Zuckerman said, "I do not know the source of enlightenment about the new building yet, but it seems to be Transcendental Unity of happily provided with surprising vis­ Apperception? What would it be like tas and interesting alcoves. There to find oneself in a seminar whose will be places to work and places to leaders were Nietzsche and Wagner? study and places to read. What is What if Baudelaire were to take an most important will not change. interest in what goes on in the dormi­ We'll still be learning from the tories? And would anyone ever be books and the characters ... " able to recover from a don-rag com­ He concluded: "Now at last you mittee that included, say, Calvin and can raise your imaginary glasses. The Sigmund Freud?" tutors and their colleagues toast the Expanding the image further to teachers and their entourage, at the include a second admissions claim Green Fields of their new Place of that "the great books are the teach­ Meeting." B ers," Mr. Zuckerman hypothesized 1 1 CAMPAIGN SUCCESS The Campaign for Our Fourth Century tops $30 million goal

present for its 300th birth­ Sharon Bishop said that she spoke St. John's College received "on behalf of all alumni past, present the assurance that it will in all proba­ and future, old and new program, bility have many more birthdays. graduate and undergraduate, Securing the future of the college is Annapolis and Santa Fe, who have what The Campaign for Our Fourth demonstrated our love by donations Century was all about. At the dosing and pledges of almost $20 million." celebration for the campaign on The increase in alumni giving was June 1 in Annapolis, chairman Ray one of the more encouraging phe­ Cave announced that yes, the ambi­ nomena of the campaign. At the tious goal of $30 million set in 1991 start, St. John's ranked last among a had been met - had, in fact, been group of small liberal arts colleges in exceeded. the percent of alumni (24%) who The dosing celebration featured a supported the college. By the end of number of speakers who addressed the campaign, participation rose to the 300 alumni, parents, friends, more than 50 percent, among the Board members, and faculty. A com­ highest of similar schools. Annapolis President Christopher Nelson celebrates the big total - $34,573,000. mon theme was the unifying strength Santa Fe President John Agresto of the campaign inspired by the spoke about the kind of education power of what St. John's stands for. that St. John's represents. "Most edu­ Board of Visitors and Governors, in a out several groups for their special Annapolis President Christopher cation cuts us off from the past and "tricentennial moment," recalled efforts: The Annapolis Friends, who Nelson called the college "a strange ties students to the present. We stand Aristotle's idea that liberality consists pledged almost $2 million toward the looking beast, with one body and for the expansion of human knowl­ in the use that is made of property. new library; the alumni and their two heads" - referring to the two edge. What you love and support is When Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, team of 200 volunteers led by Warren campuses. He acknowledged the not a museum but a mission" to Francis Scott Key, and others Winiarski (A52); the faculty, whose leadership of former president expand knowledge in new places and gave to the college, they began a long initial pledge of $1. 7 million now Richard Weigle, who served for 30 for increasing numbers of students. tradition of liberality. He also con­ exceeds $2 million; and the Board, years. Mr. Weigle' s wife Mary and Representing the state of Maryland nected the success of the campaign whose support totals $13.5 million. daughters Constance and Marta were was Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, back to Thomas Bray, who donated He also thanked Annapolis Vice in attendance. Lieutenant Governor, (and wife of books which formed the basis of the President Jeff Bishop, who, he said, Alumni Association president tutor David Townsend). Chris St. John's library in 1697. "politely told me what I should do." Nelson cited the state's commitment Chairman of the campaign Ray The finale of the evening came to education as important in the Cave, alumnus of the class of 1948, when banners were unfurled from the decision to grant the college $2.9 was a neophyte at fundraising five running track above diners in Iglehart million in matching funds for the years ago, he said. "It was a sense of Hall. The first had this number: renovation of the Hall of Records. unity and commitment that enabled $34,573,000 - the total of donations Mrs. Townsend praised the St. us to carry on this campaign," he and pledges that the college can rea­ John's program. "Some would say St. noted. "The college has been pledged sonably expect to receive during the John's is an anachronism ... But the 12 boats, six houses, and one farm. campaign period, which ends in 2001. great books are more than relevant, We have received numerous rare The second banner had this number: they are indispensable," she said. books, and some pretty rare stocks. $56,695,000 -the total of gifts the Annapolis Dean Eva Brann deliv­ Any day now I expect a partridge in a college can expect to receive after 2001 ered the keynote address, which rec­ pear tree. We are immensely grateful (deferred gifts of property or estates). ognized connections in the 300 year for the millions of dollars they are The third banner had this number Campaign chairman Ray Cave and Board history of the college (see page 13). worth," he said, referring to the for a total: $91,268,000."This cam­ chair Stephen Feinberg. Stephen Feinberg, Chairman of the deferred gifts whose value the college paign is a beginning, not an end. It will realize in the years ahead. enables us to hope for a future of Mr. Cave recognized Presidents financial stability," said Mr. Cave. Agresto and Nelson for their "dedica­ "The future will be assured, not tion and ability." "The campaign's because of this campaign, but because success is a testimony to their energy of what this college is and what it and efforts," he said. He then singled stands for in American education."•

Santa Fe President John Agresto, Maria Coughlin !A73), and Ron Fielding !A70). 12 Photos by Keith Harvey. ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE AND THE BEGINNING OF THE THREE~HUNDREDTH YEAR Keynote address at the Campaign Conclusion Celebration, delivered by Eva T. H Brann - Dean, Annapolis Campus

t is hard to express the honor and, name of the Visitors to return you try where distinction is to be gained I yes, the elation I feel at being asked thanks for what you have done and through difference, so we are not the to talk to you at this triple celebra­ intend to do for the Advancement of losers by taking definite positions tion. This is the year we, St. John's the School, to which I have for my both on policy and on philosophy College in Annapolis and Santa Fe, part engaged to contribute ten pounds (though, I should hope, never on pol­ will be three hundred years old, and a year ... " It is the sort ofletter than itics). Let me give you just one such the day of the dedication of our new might have come from Jeff Bishop's position, which I have never heard Greenfield Library, and the time of Advancement Office; one might imag­ out of any other secular college, but culmination of our capital campaign. ine it signed by one of our two newly which informs all our learning and There had been six attempts during made Fellows and long-devoted makes our classes absolutely distinc­ the eighteenth century to turn the friends, Ray Cave and Steve Feinberg. tive: We no more know the answers Dean Eva Brann: The preparation King William School into a college. Believe me, such thanks have been, to the great questions than anyone for life is itself a life. This college, given the name of St. over the centuries, not mere dutiful else, but unlike the rest of the world John's, was finally chartered in the formalities but the expression of we do not make the illogical inference cies of conversational friendship, the year the Revolutionary War ended, in heartfelt appreciation from the whole that there are no answers or even that guilty joys of goofing off, and the 1784, but the college did not become college community for the financial there are no fundamental human delights of well-used leisure. You will a living corporation until 1788 when transfusions that keep us alive and questions. Instead we infer that we find few college officials these days it merged with the School by an Act going. I except our students who and our students must, come what saying such uneconomic, uncompeti­ of Consolidation. This act conveyed have the blessed right of the young to may, search for truth, and we expect tive things, but I think it's their to the new college the funds, the fur­ be perfectly ignorant of the generosi­ that many of us will sometimes find a "learning outcomes," and "delivery niture, the Board of Visitors, and pre­ ty that keeps them here. They have little piece. Nothing we do is ever systems,'' and "productivity enhance­ sumably the professors of the King no idea that this college is, as are all strictly academic. ment" that will come to grief and William school. So it is by rights that colleges, a charitable institution in As our relations to the surrounding leave students isolated, depressed, and the majestic and haughty visage of two senses: We dispense charity, world are so often contrary in respect without a model in their hearts and King William looks down on all since no student pays the whole cost to theory, so they are almost always minds of the way things ought to be. seniors undergoing their public essay of this education, and we are objects cooperative in respect to practice. Our plan will work better, for just as examination in the King William of charity- yours in fact. You must This college engages in numerous a secure childhood makes for confi­ Room of the Barr-Buchanan Center forgive my tutor-like compulsion to outreach and volunteer activities, and dent adults, so a tight-knit, absorbing and that we celebrate 1996 as our enter at least one ancient etymology we feel an especially strong obligation community of learning engenders in year of birth and first founding. into every public pronouncement, to the city in whose very center we students courage for life - as our old Our second celebration moves the but "charity" is a word too good to live, and whose existence as the capi­ college seal of 1793 says: "No way is focus across the campus to the new miss. For its original Latin meaning is tal of Maryland is only two years impassable to courage." library. At our college especially, the "love,'' "affection,'' "holding some­ older than ours. And our Siamese Now what do we actually teach library is a kind of book-dorm, where thing dear" - in sum, caring for it. twin in Santa Fe feels the same these courageous practitioners of hap­ the most brilliant and well-conducted Why should you have made us the . toward their beautiful old city. piness, these students of ours? Well, participants in the St. John's program object of your charity and care? That These are the external relations that as you know - and this may be yet are housed and have their physical was actually the question I was make this college worthy of your another reason you found to show us being, and where we all come to hold assigned for tonight: "Why St. affectionate interest, but my heart, affectionate benevolence -we don't quiet and concentrated converse with John's?" Why were you right, in this and probably yours, is really with the pretend to be able to impart outright them, our books. It is lovely to see world so full of great needs, to give to life that goes on within. the knowledge that matters. Stated them so handsomely relocated under this little college, this fly on the ele­ Let me tell you the plain truth very minimally, here is what we do: the names of our alumnus, Stewart phant of American education? about that life, a truth which is an We give students means and occa­ Greenfield, Annapolis class of '53, Well, first of all because this fly is open secret, but is veiled for most col­ sions for learning how to learn. The and of his wife Connie. Stewart him­ not just any old fly but a gadfly. leges by all the prevalent talk of career means are displayed on the new col­ self carried the first book bag in our "Gadfly" is what our patron saint, goals and productivity which is so lege seal that was adopted when the all-college marathon move from the Socrates, called himself - an irritat­ hopelessly wrongheaded because it is present program was instituted in old to the new library, a bag filled ing buzzing little thing in the hide of so impractical a notion in the life of 1937: seven books and a balance, sur­ with our oldest books that have been the big creature called Athens, goad­ learning: The first purpose of this col­ rounded by the claim that "we make with us in Annapolis since 1696. ing it to self-awareness. We have lege is to provide its students with free human beings out of children by The third celebration marks the found more modest and more colle­ four years of strenuous happiness. We means of books and balance." The successful end of our capital cam­ gial ways than Socrates used, because operate under the prudent assump­ seven books stand for the arts, skills paign, which will provide the founda­ we're neither quite so inspired as he tion that the preparation for life is and techniques of learning: speaking tion of our survival for the next hun­ was nor quite so willing to be done to itself a life, and that the best prepara­ and also writing correctly and persua­ dred years. Giving to this college is an death, but we do keep civilly articu­ tion for a happy life is to know where sively, reasoning well, thinking about old tradition, as is shown in a letter lating our dissent from most current to find it and how to pursue it. figures in space, numbers in time and written by the royal governor in 1763 educational trends. And we are heard Consequently we believe that the objects in motion, be they the strings to a benefactor who had participated - way out of proportion to our size. college should be a place for the of a musical instrument or the stars in in the effort to turn the school into a I could make a three-page catalogue roller-coaster exhilaration of learning, their courses. The balance stands for college. Governor Sharpe says: on matters on which we beg, politely, the difficult and recalcitrant company "Nothing remains for me but in the to differ. Happily this is still a coun- of great books, the disturbing intima- continued on page 21

At the closing celebration from left: Orlie Reed with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and David Townsend; alumni Allan Hoffman (A49) and Capt. Robert Cozzolino (A63); Alumni Association president Sharon Bishop. 13 ARCHITECTURE AS DIALOGUE Travis Price, architect of the Greenfield Library; and his symbol-driven vision. by Barbara Goyette

''"\VJhen a student comes into the building, looks around, and says, 'This is Architecturally, the Hall of Records W so cool' - that's what it's all about form-=," says Travis Price, archi­ illustrated some original concepts. The tect of the new Greenfield Library. A collision of classic Greek Revival themes archives were stored in a central core, with ultra-modern shapes and materials, the library makes an architectural state­ made up of seven stories of metal ment about time: "This building should speak to the past but also challenge it,'' shelves set on concrete floors. The says Price. A Johnnie who spent time on each campus in the early 1970's, Price perimeter rooms around the core were came to the library project with an idea of what he wanted to accomplish but designed as vignettes in Maryland his­ without a due about how to do it. His vision developed as symbol-driven. "I tory, with replicas of various architec­ worked it out by drawing lots of pictures on napkins,'' he says, "but all along I tural features from throughout the was listening to what the people here on campus were saying about what they state. Most spectacular was the Queen Travis Price and Doris Sung helped needed the library to be." Anne Room, on the west side of the with the great book move. From the outside, the $6.8 million makeover of the former Maryland Hall of building. Rising a full two stories, Records looks to have made minimal impact. Still sitting squarely on the corner embellished with round windows and intricate moldings, and painted a quiet of College Avenue and St. John's Street, the 1934 Georgian Revival building yellow, the room was where patrons to the archives did their research. Archives seems spiffed up but essentially unchanged except for a low stone wall and a new librarians would descend into the stacks to find the materials requested, then terrace built on its western side. bring the records out to the patrons, who waited in the Queen Anne Room. But the appearance of little change is deceiving, for once inside the building, The state eventually outgrew the Hall of Records and built a new archives no one would mistake what has been done over the past 16 months for a mere building on Rowe Boulevard in 1986. St. John's was able to purchase the build­ rehab project. The formerly dark and narrow entranceway now leads to a light­ ing back at a cost of $700,000 in 1993. Then began the hard work of devising flooded, three-story atrium. A sweeping plans that would meet both the college's need for more library space and the his­ spiral staircase highlighted by steel rail­ toric preservation goals of the boards and commissions overseeing the Historic ings and cherry veneer handrails links District. the levels. There are curves everywhere: Since the steel stacks had been designed to hold archives - and to be inacces­ the polished granite-topped counters in sible to users - Price knew that they would not work for the library's collection. the lobby, the round "porthole" win­ He decided to gut the central core and re-connect the floors of the building. An dows on a huge three-story wall adja­ addition of some kind would also be necessary. The perimeter rooms, considered cent to the stairway, the balconies of historically important, were to be restored but not altered. the defining levels, and - most spec­ tacularly - the enormous skylight How Concepts Became Reality above. Price traces the origin of the Travis Price has been a maverick for years - he began his architectural career curves to a symbolic source: the orbits designing passive solar housing projects in Harlem, transformed the commercial of the planets as described by Ptolemy, district of his hometown, Takoma Park, Maryland, with innovative yet ultimate­ Copernicus, and Kepler. "The classical ly practical rehabs and new construction, designed a slew of contemporary pri­ Curving walls of stacked stone define interiors preserve the known rational the terrace. vate residences (with designs that draw heavily on Zen and other Eastern geometry of the past and are intention­ themes), and completed a provocative synagogue in Laurel. According to the ally contrasted with the expansive paths above. The curvilinear shapes are a Washington Post, he's "one of a handful of architects pushing avant-garde reminder of the unknown, the irrational,'' says Price about the dominant themes design in button-down Washington." Hallmarks of his work include a decon­ of the building. structionist style, the fresh use of materials, and an awareness of energy conserva­ "Anything that was new, I wanted to be really new," Price explains about the tion - with healthy doses of whimsy and symbolism. addition built onto the Humphreys/Paca-Carroll side of the building. Although it In the St. John's library project, it is the symbolism that he emphasizes. Price is below grade on three sides, the space does not feel like it's underground - a points out that the skylight illuminating the atrium corresponds to the light of huge wall of glass looks out on a terraced garden. Most of the collection (literature, day in the cave analogy of Plato's "Republic." The three levels he links to science, math, art, and music) is in fact housed in the addition's stacks and there Dante's three levels of inferno, purgatory, and paradise. And the curves that pre­ are comfortable chairs and sofas, plus study carrels along the sides of the room. dominate the design he attributes to the paths of the planets as described by The Greenfield Library doesn't have any obvious main reading areas like Ptolemy, Kepler, and Copernicus. Woodward Hall did, where the reading room contained the periodicals and ref­ For Price the curves have a greater meaning as well: "they give you a sense that erence books and the King William Room had the Greek and Latin books. there's always more,'' he says. "The curves are incomplete, they lead you Instead, there are a number of smaller, more intimate spaces, some in each sec­ onward." The "something tion of the building. On the first floor, the Friends' Reading Room will contain more" also applies to the reference material, but it has elegant working tables and no lounging spots. The building's historic place. "guaranteed one copy of each Program book" feature ofWoodward's reading "The Hall of Records had room is here transferred to the room just behind the Friends' room. The Stephen an inner stillness, like a L. Feinberg Periodical Room on the second level is adjacent to the Stephen and temple. Its imagery was Julia Ford Periodical Reading Room, which has comfy chairs for perusing the multi-faceted, I would Times and current mags. This second floor is home to the philosophy, history, even say eclectic. We are political science, and some of the religion books. The Joy and Bennett Shaver enriching its past by com­ Reading Room provides couches and chairs, and there are carrels along every menting on it with the wall. (Each carrel in the Greenfield Library has electric and phone outlets for new elements." plugging in a laptop.) The final step in the transformation of the The Hall of Records: News 60 Years Ago Hall of Records to the The Maryland Hall of Records was an innovative building when it was con­ library was renovating the structed in 1934. Designed by Baltimore architect Laurence Hall Fowler, it is in perimeter rooms. classic Georgian Revival style. The college had deeded the land to the state in Moldings have been 1934 for $10. Celebrating the 300th anniversary of the founding of Maryland, "The curves of the building lead you onward." restored; paint colors o.f the Hall of Records was the first building in the country designed as a repository Construction photos by John Bi/doh/. apricot, yellow, sage for state archives. Novelist John Barth did research there for his book The Sot Weed Factor and Alex Haley used Maryland archival records to trace his ancestry continued on page 20 and develop the story behind Roots. 14 THE REPORTER

SUMMER 1996 ALUM N St. John's College Association News

Mark Middlebrook, A83, editor• Thomas Geyer, A68, communications committee chair

The Alumni Association Newsletter is published in each issue of the Reporter. We welcome letters, capsule book reviews, and article ideas from alumni. Send submissions and suggestions to Mark Middlebrook at 73030. l [email protected] (e-mail) or call 510/547-0602.

Lost and Found: Keeping Track of 15,000 Alumni A New Alumni Register in the Works

ne of life's recurrent pleasures is cracking open the new Alumni Corrections and additions from the Alumni Register questionnaire, ORegister every four years and perusing the newly minted record of which you received in the mail recently, will improve the accuracy and classmates' whereabouts and trades. The Alumni Association and the usefulness of alumni data even further. College jointly fund and publish the Register, a new 1996 300th Among the interesting facts about the alumni database are these: anniversary edition of which will be mailed to all alumni this year. • The database contains the names of about 15,000 alumni. It might seem like a small task to keep track of all the alumni from a • Approximately 3,500 of these alumni are deceased. tiny college that graduates well under 200 students per year, but noth­ • Roughly two-thirds of the 15,000 alumni graduated from ing could be further from the truth. The College's Alumni Offices on both Annapolis and one third from Santa Fe. campuses, with the help of the Alumni Association, recently completed a major reconciliation of the alumni databases. These databases are • About half of the alumni are from graduating classes after 1980. used not only for the Alumni Register, but also for many mailings each • The Alumni Offices process 300 to 600 changes of address year, including chapter newsletters, homecoming brochures, the every month. Association's dues mailer, The Reporter, The St. John's Review, and • Most of these changes come in the form of mailings returned by College fundraising communications. In addition, the databases help the post office. the Placement Offices locate alumni who can help students (and other • The 1996 Alumni Register will include e-mail addresses for the alumni} with advice on graduate school, jobs, and living in specific geo­ first time. Add yours to the Alumni Register questionnaire if you graphical areas. want it listed. In the past, each campus maintained a separate database of its The most efficient way to ensure that information about you in the forth­ alumni, and there were many discrepancies and duplications. coming Alumni Register is current is to fill out the Register questionnaire. Correcting and reconciling the databases was an enormous job. Some If any of that information changes in the future, you can submit the alumni were listed under multiple names due to name changes or mis­ changes to either Alumni Office by e-mail, U.S. mail, phone, or fax. spellings. There was no uniform method of listing class year (matricula­ tion year? graduation year, if any? preferred class year?}. The data for ANNAPOLIS: some alumni were obsolete. And of course the target continued to move Betsy Blume, Alumni Director, St. John's College, P.O. Box 2800, throughout the reconciliation work period, as alumni continued to move Annapolis, MD 21404, phone: 410-626-2531, fax: 410-263-4929, e­ and more address changes poured in. mail: 7 [email protected] The Alumni Directors, data processing staff, and student aides on SANTA FE: both campuses, with funding from the College and the Alumni Elizabeth Skewes, Alumni Director, St. John's College, 1160 Camino de Association, have completed the database reconciliation just in time for la Cruz Blanca, Santa Fe, NM 87501, phone: 505-984-6103, fax: the forthcoming Alumni Register. Equally important, there is now a 505-984-6003, e-mail: [email protected] mechanism in place for ensuring consistent data on both campuses.

15 Election of Alumni Representatives to the John's College Board of Visitors and Governors In accordance with Article VIII, Section II of the By-laws of the Alumni Association, notice is hereby given that the following alumni have been nominated by the Alumni Association Board of Directors for election to the St. John's College Board of Visitors and Governors. For his second three-year term: S. David Krimins, M.D. (A63). For her second term: Glenda Holladay Eoyang (S76). For her first three-year term: Paula G. Maynes (A77). Notice is also given that nominations may be made by petition. 1. Petitions must be signed by at least 50 members of the Alumni Association in good standing. 2. Nominations must be accompanied by a biographical sketch of the nominee. 3. The consent of all persons nominated must be obtained. 4. The petition must reach the Directors of Alumni Activities NO LATER THAN DECEMBER l, 1996; c/o St. John's College. P.O. Box 2800, Annapolis, MD 21404. If nominations by petition are received, there will be an election conducted by mail ballot. If there are no such nominations, the nominees listed above will be considered elected. The term will begin immediately upon the conclusion of the election process.

Letters

More Women on the Program works which portray the expressions A final observation concerns the station 30 years ago, and heard Ford Mary Helen McMurran, SF87, of women and record their thoughts law of averages. Nobody, least of all tell the story. argues for adding 15 books by will allow for a real dialogue on gen­ feminist scholars, disputes that until - Steven Shore, SF6B women to the St. John's curriculum der to take place in the classroom, as the beginning of this century, women (An open letter to the St. Johns it did in the Liberal tradition." were decidedly at a disadvantage in Hats Off to Gl's Alumni, Reporter, Fall 1995). Indeed, the Program encompasses terms of contributing to the Western At the graduation ceremonies in I will go out on a limb and postu­ many discussions of women and fem­ canon. Is it even a little bit surprising Santa Fe this spring, they ran out of late that adding books to the ininity. "The Bacchae," "Antigone," that at a place like St. John's, where hoods to present with eight of the Program will lead to subtracting and The Odyssey come to mind, to we try to absorb the best that every Graduate Institute students still others - dropping acknowledged pick just three freshman readings. age has to offer, our curriculum pre­ remaining. In response, several gradu­ classics to make room for, say, The unstated implication, however, is dominates with books by men? ating GI's removed their hoods to "Letters from a Peruvian Woman." that since men have written about -James F.X O'Gara, ABB honor those of us who did not receive Ms. McMurran skirts this issue. So women, we ought to have The Real ours. I would like to express my grati­ let's get right down to it: What senior Thing - women writing about Vigilant Alumnus tude to those GI' s who did remove seminar reading should be discarded women. Two minor corrections for the last their hoods. It was a very meaningful so that Johnnies can read a speech on That's odd. I thought the St. issue of the Reporter: gesture and was greatly appreciated. feminism by Elizabeth Cady Stanton? John's curriculum was based on the 1. The Black Plague, mentioned in - John Schroeder, SGI96 One of those boring Hegel readings, proposition that one can valuably "The Seventh Seal," hit Sweden in perhaps? War and Peace? Simone de study the writings of people separated the 14th century, not the 13th. CORRECTION Beauvoir is a respected writer, but do from us in space, time, and culture. 2. The cabinet position that Ford The number for the St. johns College we really want to drop, say, Beyond Space, time, and culture ... but not Brown claimed to hold was Secretary Bookstore in Santa Fe was incorrectly Good and Evil so that seniors can sex? Ms. McMurran might presume of State, not Defense. While the late listed in the spring issue of The engage abook so recent and potential­ that books on the Program are funda­ President Weigle' s book contains the Reporter. The correct number is ly ephemeral as The Second Sex? mentally inadequate because of the same mistake, I was at the Lamy train 5051984-6056. Ms. McMurran's letter to the sex of the author, but her argument alumni also anticipates the criticism lacks an explanation of why this that additions to the Program should should be so. Alas, this is too impor- not be made on the basis of sex - tant for me to assume it as that "they are not pro­ on that basis." Ms, McMurran' s proposal continues The text of the proposal that St. should concern itself ",....,,,...,,.,,...,...,,,"argues that "the St. with books that experi- should consider a broader ences" and "record ... thoughts." That's range of great works women." quite a low standard for greatness, it Why? to get the answer to that seems to me. Besides, since when has it question you have to decipher the been the purpose of the St. John's following sentence: seminar to expose students to read­ "Since many works written by men ings from every conceivable view­ included on the program engage in a point? Again, what about greatness? discussion of women and femininity, Why elevate a tangent to primacy? 16 ~ W \H 1 r ~ m 11 m ~ o 11 r m 11

Alumni Notes & Profiles

GRADUATE RUNS AWAY TO JOIN CIRCUS by Sus3an Borden

t. John's grad John Lynch {A94) feet. They look for good people who Shas run away to the circus. seriously want to be clowns," he says. Granted, he didn't leave a note "It's more than just liking to make "I did learn to throw pies," Lynch says. behind proclaiming "no one under­ people laugh. That's a part of it but stands me." He didn't hop a boxcar. they' re also looking for people who "It's a very misunderstood art." And he didn't sign on as an appren­ are willing to show themselves. tice to the lion tamer. There's a debate in clowning that's Running away to join the circus in expressed in terms of makeup: do you this day and age turns out to be a hide the self, or do you enhance production numbers, and has his somewhat less spontaneous act, what's already there?" moment in the spotlight at the begin­ involving a detailed application, an ning of the second act. audition, and a two-month stint at And You Thought Junior Year ''I'm in the fire gag," he says. "I Was Hard Clown College. play an old woman whose cat is stuck Clown College, though it sounds like in a tree. The firemen come out and I In Search of Healing it should be a lighthearted locus of grab the microphone from the ring­ laughter gaiety and mirth, turned out to be master and yell 'My kittykat's stuck For Lynch, the journey that ended at surprisingly stressful. For two in the tree!' AB you can imagine, pan­ the circus began during his junior months, clowns-in-training spend 14 demonium breaks out, and it's not year at St. John's when he signed up hours a day, six days a week at the long before the firemen spray me to work as a children's party enter­ Circus World arena in Baraboo, with water from a fire hydrant. tainer. From the start, Lynch enjoyed Wisconsin, learning the skills and Eventually, they rescue my kittykat, the contact with children and the practices of clowning. Daytime class­ but the joke's on them, because it's a chance to clown around, but a turn­ es focus on skills such as spitting tiger." ing point came when he worked at a water, falling down, putting on party for children with cerebral palsy. makeup, unicycling and stiltwalking, There he found that the pursuit of gag writing, physical comedy, acro­ Although Lynch enjoys his time in fun and laughter worked magic on batics, dancing, and mime. Evening the limelight, he seems most at home everyone in the room, including activities include lessons about circus on the periphery of performing. himself. history. Every Saturday for four The hour before each show finds "It's not like I walked away think­ weeks, the new clowns perform for him on the circus floor joking ing 'I've been able to brighten up the public, trying out gags they've with children, shaking their their poor lives.' Instead, I felt that written and their newly acquired hands, and posing with them everyone's life was brighter, including skills. for pictures. At intermission he is my own. My troubles and worries "I did learn to throw pies," Lynch often surrounded by youngsters had also disappeared for that hour says. "It's a very misunderstood art. tugging at his costume. By the end and I thought this was significant and You don't want to hurt the person, so of the show, there's a line of children worthwhile, something I wanted to you always let them know by a 'hup.' asking for his autograph. pursue," Lynch says. That's a clown word that means, vari­ He continues his banter as he Lynch had already discovered an ously, 'get ready for a pie,' or 'I'm signs: 'Tm not just going to give you interest in the helping professions, going to punch you,' or something my autograph, I'm going to give you but now he was struck with the feel­ like that. At any rate, you say 'hup' so the secret of life," he says as he writes ing that his path in life would include hopefully they'll close their eyes." on a program. "Number 1. Laugh. a combination of helping and humor. On the last Sunday, Ringling Number 2. Floss. Number 3. When "I realized that I wanted to spend my owner Kenneth Feld watches the in doubt, see number I." 1111 life pointing to moments of genuine group's final show, then meets with laughter and constructive play and Clown College directors to decide saying that there's something going who gets the circus equivalent of on there that's worth watching, that's honors on his oral-a contract with worth attention," he says. Ringling Brothers. This year, Lynch After graduating, Lynch looked for was among the 11 in his class who an academic program that would made the cut. address his interest in humor and healing, but came up empty-handed. He resolved to meet his interest Lynch joined Ringling on November directly, by becoming a clown. 1 in Chicago and since then his life Lynch called Ringling Brothers and has been exotic, adventurous, and received a lengthy application. often surreal. "The first time I per­ Questions included "Why do you formed with the circus it was over­ want to be a down,"' "When was the whelming. There are three hundred last time you cried and why?" "Name people working with you, not to your five favorite books and movies," mention the tigers and the elephants. "What do you think about people The first night they put us in the from foreign countries," and "What finale. We were out there just waving, do you think about small spaces?" basically, but it was quite a feeling." In addition to the application, Since then, Lynch has joined the John lynch can be reached at: Lynch traveled to Cincinnati for a Ringling clowns in a performance Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus - Red Unit group audition. "There were about schedule that averages 11 shows a John lynch- Clown Alley 15 of us. They wanted to see how we week. He takes the floor with the 8607 Westward Center Drive moved and how we thought on our entire circus during the show's large Vienna, VA 22182 17 ~ A i "' 0 Y 1i ill Yfy"' l t "' K "' & l ii 0 1Ji Bx « 'W l1bj$F-~W;(bl1jf%11J l0Zltl~.~~~ 0 r , m • 11 • r o 11 r m 11 , I ~,,!

Alumni Notes & Profiles

1939 1962 how they relate to the messages, while Joey Coxwell (SGI) left his teach­ E. Leslie Medford, Jr., who is Dean John F. Miller writes: "In March of the final part discusses diverse aspects ing position at Eutaw High School in Emeritus at the University of the 1995 I became president of Edsel and of masculinity. Harris had taught a Alabama to teach at the University of Pacific in Stockton, California, repre­ Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe course on male identity at UWM for West Alabama. He also is doing pre­ sented St. John's at the inauguration Shores, Michigan, after 15 years at 15 years. He has written numerous liminary coursework on a doctoral of Dr. Donald V. DeRosa as the 23rd Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in articles for academic and popular degree. His wife, Patti Coxwell president of the University of the Akron, Ohio. I am also serving on journals. Messages Men Hear: (SGI), continues to teach elementary Pacific. the board of the Library of American Constructing Masculinities is pub­ music and band to 870 children in Landscape History." lished by Taylor & Francis and is Sumter County, Ala. She also is tak­ part of the Gender, Change & ing courses in computer applications 1957 Society Series. for the classroom and says she would Mary Sullivan Blomberg reports that 1966 James Mensch writes that two new love to have a few more e-mail she is now chairperson of the Two members of the Annapolis class books of his will appear this fall: addresses for St. John's alumni. The Department of Classical Archaeology of '66 have written books recently. Knowing and Being: A Post-Modern Coxwells are living in Livingston, and Ancient History at Uppsala Both are academics, and their sub­ Reversal, published by Penn State Ala., and can be reached, via e-mail, University in Stockholm. "An jects illustrate the wide range of inter­ University Press, and After at: [email protected] for astronomer colleague and I are con­ ests Johnnies find in the real world: Modernity: Husserlian Reflections on a Joey or [email protected] ducting archaeoastronomical studies Ian M. Harris, a professor of educa­ Philosophical Tradition, published by for Patti. of the Minoan peak sanctuaries," she tional policy and community studies State University of New York Press. says. "Our hypothesis is that part of at the University ofWisconsin­ He is also the author of The the roots of Greek astronomy lie in Milwaukee, studied how men form Beginning ofthe Gospel ofSt. John: 1988 the Aegean Bronze Age." their gender identities and how those Philosophical Perspectives, Peter Lang Cat Mantione-Holmes (A) and Mike identities affect their behavior in his Publishers (1992); Intersubjectivity had a baby boy Orion Kessler in May book Messages Men Hear: Constructing and Transcendental Idealism, State 1994, who is "almost Irish twins" 1960 Masculinities. The basis for the book University of New York Press (1988); with sister Cloe, born in June 1993. A new edition of Mary Campbell is Harris' s study of 24 male messages The Question ofBeing in Husserl's Mike's band Five-Eight just finished Gallagher's book Scoring High on such as "adventurer," "be like your Logical Investigations, Martinus recording a new album which should Bar Exam Essays, originally published father," "money," "superman," Nijhoff Press (1981). Mensch, a full be out later this year on Walter by Arco in 1991, has just been "scholar," "bosses," and "nurturer." professor, was recently recognized by Yetnikoffs new label. Cat is writing brought out by Sulzburger & He asked 560 respondents how Maclean' s Guide to Universities for freelance, reading Dostoevski, and Graham. Mary is making a set of important each message was to them his teaching at Saint Francis Xavier changing lots of diapers. companion audiotapes, which will at age 18 and how that influence University in Canada. In the last few be distributed by National jurist mag­ changed over time. years, he has been an invited lecturer azine. The books' first chapters describe at the New School for Social 1989 how men learn these messages, how Research (the Hannah Arendt Joseph Miller (A) reports that his individual men respond to them, and Memorial lectures), the University of judicial clerkship winds to a dose in 1961 how their influence changes over the Tokyo, and the University of mid-August. He will move back to Nicolas H. Ekstrom was married to course of a man's life. The second Utrecht. His oldest daughter, Chicago straightaway, where he will Anne Cornell Lounsbury on February part of the book contains interviews Jennifer, is at Memphis State practice intellectual property and 24, 1996, in New York, N.Y. with specific men that help explain University doing graduate work in antitrust law at the firm of Sidley & philosophy. Austin. He will miss Washington's beautiful monuments, but not its gaping potholes. He requests that 1978 friends send him good Karma waves Lawrence Osronovsky (A) reports for the Illinois bar exam in late July. that he is an assistant attorney general Linda Hamm (A89, originally in the oil and gas section of the A86) is working as a paralegal in Alaska Department of Law. "I would Seattle. She and Aldon Schwimmer be very happy to hear from anyone (SF79) share their home in a semi­ up this way," he says. "My address is rural area near Redmond with pets 1200 West 6th #B, Anchorage, AK Kody and Chama. They met at a 99501." musical evening at the home of Terry Teachout' s (A) most recent Daniel Gorham (St. John's Search & byline is as music critic at Commentary Rescue Team member) and continue magazine. His work has also been to play bluegrass music together. published frequently in the New York Both would love to hear from class­ Times Book Review. mates and friends. Will Clurman (A) is working on his MBA at MIT Sloan School 1979 of Business Management. Edward J. Burgess (A) and Angelina A captain in the Marine Corps, C. Kline Burgess (A83) would like to Jeffrey S. Kojac (A) has been pub­ announce the birth of Cynthia Marie lished in the Marine Corps Gazette, Burgess on August 14, 1995. She the Naval Institute Proceedings, and joins siblings Louis Burgess (seven will be published soon in Naval years) and Genevieve Burgess (nine History. years). Joshua Kevievsky (SF) is an inde­ pendent computer consultant and freelance writer, specializing in JAVA 1987 and other web applications. John M. Wack (AGI) sends a four- 1 word summary of news: "Still unable to golf." continued on page 20 18 METHOD TO HER MADNESS Leah Ankeny found St. John's a great training ground for her acting career. by Elizabeth A. Skewes

Like I tells my cousins, you never know make it easier to deny the problems," when your crisis is going to come. It may Ankeny says. not be with the rock, it may not be with "Coming to St. John's changed who Money and education also give the heroin. You may hit the bottle or you someone the power of choice, she says, might get offinto one ofthose relation­ I I a there which people who are caught up in ships where it's brutal It comes, you just II drug dealing or other criminal activity have to be aware ofit and deal with it. I I don't have. For the women she inter­ believe that this crisis is mandatory in our viewed, the concept of choice simply life. I done did my part and now I'm didn't exist "because choice is a luxury ready to live. that happens when you can stop focusing on surviving from day to day." "It seems like a real contradiction that I would come out of this 'white bread' he words belong to Mary, one of seven characters in Leah Ankeny' s one­ environment at St. John's and go back to Detroit and talk to these women, but Twoman show, "From Inside: Voices oflnstitutionalized Women," which the program gave me a lot of tools and helped me find my voice - and my Ankeny, SF92, also wrote. Mary is a homeless woman, but the show's characters voice has a lot to say about these kinds of issues." come from a spectrum of experiences, including drug dealing, prostitution, and Ankeny has always had strong opinions and a strong sense of what she wants domestic violence. And each character is based on some of the 20 women Ankeny from her own life. She knew early on that she wanted to be an actor and started interviewed as part of her master's thesis project in theater at the University of her college career in the drama department at New York University. "I was Detroit-Mercy. learning a whole lot about acting, but I wasn't getting the sense that I was going Ankeny, 26, says she's "been interested for ¥ears inwhatliappens to the people to learn a lot about philosophy or language or anything else that was even more who fall through the cracks - the mentally ill, the homeless, those who are going far afield," she says, "and I was incredibly jealous that my sister was graduating through drug detoxification. That led me to look at women specifically, because from St. John's that year." there are some very extreme examples among women." While Ankeny's script It was her sister, Rachel Ankeny Majeske, SF88, who pointed out that St. isn't taken word-for-word from her interviews, much of the dialogue is written as John's was a possibility- even for someone who wanted an acting career. For it was spoken to her. Ankeny, though, it still was a tough choice. But after a year at NYU, she decided Some of the women Ankeny interviewed were people she had met previously, that she wanted a St. John's education. "I started the following fall and never but many of them were complete strangers until she sat down with them. To fi!J-d questioned my choice. I really saw a connection with theater in the subjects I her interview subjects, she put up notices in jails, social services agencies, and was studying. And I was doing math and science, which I had discarded when I shelters and asked the people who worked there for names. Interestingly, she says, was 14." the women who responded most often were those who didn't have a lot of money More importantly, she says, she was learning a lot more about the world or education. around her than she would have in any of her acting classes at NYU. Coming to "The women who were more affluent or more educated wouldn't be inter­ St. John's, she says, "changed who I was. All of a sudden there were a lot more viewed. I think it's because many of them are in denial. We' re all very, very dose possibilities. How was I going to play someone with a scientific mind ifI had potentially to being in the same situations, but money, education, and status this very myopic view of the world? They taught method acting at NYU, but most of us didn't have a lot of experiences to draw from." Since graduating, however, Ankeny has been collecting a vast array of experi­ ences - and not only through her interviews with the women portrayed in her one-woman show. Her show has taken her to a number of cities, including Santa Fe, where she performed the play for a group of St. John's students and alumni in April. And she's taken some time to work on other projects, including a peer mediation project for young children. But the interest others have in her one-woman show always brings her back to it, and each time she comes back she finds something new in the tapes of her interviews to add to the show. She also learns a little more about herself. "The perspective is sometimes better from strangers than from those who are dose to you. They challenge you to really look at what's going on. Maybe the bag lady who doesn't have a house and a car and clothes and taxes to hide behind is better able to handle things than I am," she says. After a short break from the show so that she can move to Seattle, Ankeny will be back on stage with From Inside in late July and early June at the Northwest Actors Studio. She also plans to start work on a new project about a young social worker who was killed while working with women - much like those in From Inside- who are in the middle of a number of different crises.

Your tape stopped.. .I guess that's it... is that what you wanted? I mean I didn't know what to say ... So what's this for, anyway, like a movie? (In reponse} A play... So I'm gonna be in a play? Cool.

~ .... ,,,'°' ..''' is relocating, can reached at [email protected], or at her permanent address: Appoline, Dearborn,

Leah Ankeny, a 1992 Santa Fe graduate, has made social issues the focus of her work in the theater. She is the author of "From Inside: Voices of Institutionalized Women 11 and plans to begin work on a new project about a young social worker. 19 Alumni Notes & Profiles

Expression. He writes, "NCFE is the addition to the business of the auc­ 1990 nation's only advocacy group for free tion house. Courtney Oakes (A) is in her second expression in the arts and for securing Michael Stevens (AGI) is writing year as a veterinary medicine student at the enforcement of the First his dissertation for the University of Washington State University. Her hus­ Amendment to the U.S.Constitution. Dallas on T.S. Eliot's social criticism. band Bob (USNA 89) is a second year I will be working with the attorneys He and his wife, Linda, now work at law student at the University ofldaho. involved in the lawsuit against the Grove City College in western Dimitri Kevievsky (SF) is a pro­ federal government for passing the Pennsylvania. As a distraction from grammer/analyst for a large New Telecommunications Decency Act, academic labors, Michael also works York retailer. which attempts to criminalize 'inde­ as a DJ at a classical radio station. Sundance Metelsky (AGI) and cent' postings on the Internet, as well Tom Oehser announce the birth of as sundry abuses of the First their son. Beta Wolfgang Zoltan Amendment throughout the coun­ 1993 Seadon Williams Metelsky Oehser try." Lake can be reached at: National "After a terrible position working in a was born at home on November 19, Campaign for Freedom of design firm in Soho, I'm working in a 1995. The event made Johnny Expression, 1402 3rd Ave. #421, small bookstore in the West Village. Metelsky (A94) an uncle. Seattle, WA 98101. His e-mail Anyone interested in coming to New Good news from academe: Kevin address is: [email protected]. York, feel free to contact me,'' Graham (A) reports that he has writes Gwen Pogrowski (A). successfully defended his PhD disser­ Laura Harris (SF) is a law student at tation, "Philosophical Theories of 1992 the University of Houston Law Center Justice and Agency," in an oral exam­ A postcard from Elyette Block (SF) and expects to graduate in May 1998. ination at the University of Toronto. says, "Peace Corps pulled out of "My dissertation explores the Nigeria completely, and since then, Platonic idea that any conception of I've moved on .. .I will work for a 1994 justice presupposes a conception of business communications company Henry Povovny (A) is currently human nature in the context of con­ in Seoul for the next year. Anybody enrolled at the University of Toledo temporary political philosophy. coming through Korea should give as a graduate student in the physics I have recently presented portions of me a call." Her address is K/H department. my dissertation research to the Business Communications, 12th FL Ghina Siddiqui (AGI) and Marty American Philosophical Association, Korea Herald Bldg. 1-12, Hoehyon­ Noss announce the birth of their son the Canadian Philosophical dong 100-771, Seoul, S. Korea. Shafiuddin Jilan Noss. "He was 9 lbs, Association, and the Twelfth Kate (Griffis) Sullivan (A) and 11 oz and the entire family is doing International Social Philosophy John Sullivan (SF92) and Madeleine well,'' reports Ghina. Conference. I will receive the PhD in (born 9/93) announce the birth of Philosophy from the University of Jack Sullivan (formally John Jr.) on Toronto in June," he says. He has December 26, 1995. John teaches 1995 received a tenure-track appointment senior math and science at Brewster Charles Weber (A) has moved to Israel as assistant professor of philosophy at Academy, a small boarding school on and taken dual citizenship. He lives Creighton University, the Jesuit Lake Winnipisaukee in Wolfeboro, and works on a kibbutz. He hopes to University of Omaha. He will be New Hampshire. John is a dorm par­ begin graduate school in philosophy teaching the theory of knowledge, ent for 18 senior boys. He also head and Judaic studies next October. moral and political philosophy, femi­ coaches varsity wrestling and JV base­ nist philosophy, and a variety of intro­ ball. Brewster is on the cutting edge ductory philosophy courses. Graham of new teaching techniques and adds that his wife, Deirdre Routt(A9 l) technology in the classroom - all received a Master of Library Science students have laptops and use them degree from the University of Toronto in class. This has been exciting for last year, and is about to complete a John because he has been able to use one-year appointment as a library cata­ his computer expertise in formulating loguer at the Ontario Library Services policy and tools on the Technology Centre in Waterloo, Ontario. She Team at Brewster. He also enjoys plans to continue her career as a librari­ playing bass guitar at church and fly an in Omaha. fishing on the many lakes in the M. Grey Valenti (A) has complet­ Wolfeboro area. Kate stays at home Architect, from page 14 ed her MS in ocean physics and has with the kids and teaches piano to started working at NASA/Goddard. Brewster students and a ballet class green, and soft grey have been chosen. The two-story Queen Anne Room has She hopes to relocate all her buddies for preschoolers. Prior to the birth of been renamed the Friends' Reading Room, in honor of the group called the in the DC metro area. Jack, Kate entered several art shows Friends of St. John's College, who raised $2 million toward the construction cost. and won first and third place at the Several other rooms in the new library bear the names of generous supporters: Mr. March of Dimes Arts & Crafts show William Brock, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Ford, Mrs. Lillian Vanous Nutt, Joy and in Dover, Mass. The Sullivans would Bennett Shaver, Dr. and Mrs. George R. Schroedinger, Ray Cave (A48), Stephen Ann Grabhorn Hunt (A) graduated love to hear from any Johnnies pass­ Feinberg. Outside, a stone plaque remembers Richard Weigle, who served as presi- from Sotheby' s American Arts Course ing through or nearby. Their address dent of St. John's for 30 years. , in May. The course, a post-baccalau­ is Brewster Academy, W olfboro, NH The Greenfield Library, at 29,000 square feet, can hold twice as many reate certificate program, simultane­ 03894 or though e-mail atJohn-M.­ books as Woodward Hall. Compact shelving in the addition carries the class ously examines American fine and Sullivan @BrewsterNet.Com or Kate­ copies and college archives, with room to spare. The library staff has plenty of decorative arts, in addition to the Sullivan@BrewsterN et. Com. work space, the card catalogue has been replaced with a computerized listing, business of the auction house. Anna-Barbara Heiniger (SGI) there's lots more study space for students, the windows provide fresh views of Lake Perriguey (SF) has been graduated from Sotheby' s American campus and Annapolis, the collection has room to grow - all practical advan­ awarded a Public Interest Law Project Arts Course in May. The course, a tages that a new library would have needed to meet. That this particular new stipend by the Northwestern School post-baccalaureate certificate pro­ library, the Greenfield Library, reflects a vision as well as fulfills practical needs of Law to work for the National gram, simultaneously examines will give generations of St. John's students something cool to think about as they Campaign for Freedom of American fine and decorative arts, in look up from their reading. • 20 l Pl E R E P 0 R l E R

Obituaries & Memoria

LAWRENCE CAVE, TUTOR had received the U.S. Army and scholarly articles and reviews. AIDS, at 2720 17th St., San Lawrence Cave, 36, a tutor at St. Meritorious Civilian Service Award. He is survived by his wife, the for­ Francisco, CA 94114. John's College in Santa Fe since Mr. Gross is survived by his wife, mer Maxine Wenzler, and by three 1987, died from complications due Helen Shortall Gross, and by four sons and two daughters. REMEMBERING SAM BROWN to AIDS on April 12 at his home in sons, two daughters, 13 grandchil­ Former tutor Sam Brown passed Oberlin, Ohio. dren, and four greatgrandchildren. LEWIS EDGAR ARCHIBALD III away earlier this winter. His last years Mr. Cave, who also was a com­ CLASS OF 1965 were not happy; he had been moved poser and a choral director and lec­ WILLIAM T. HART Lewis Archibald, a freelance writer to Nashville to be near his daughter turer for the Santa Fe Opera, earned CLASS OF 1943 and film reviewer, died in October Rebecca (A78) and her children fol­ his undergraduate degree in composi­ tion from Oberlin College in 1981. William T. Hart, M.D., died in 1995 from complications deriving lowing his stroke. Dorothy, who had In 1986, he received both a master's October 1995 in Rochester, N.Y., of from AIDS. A resident of San moved to the area following the death and doctoral degree in composition leukemia. He is survived by his wife, Francisco for the past two years, he of her mother Adelaide Breeskin, was from Harvard University. Cynthia Allen Hart, and by two had formerly lived on the Upper a frequent and faithful visitor. His final choral work, Goblin daughters, and a son. West Side of New York City for the Tragically, and not without a bit of Market, was premiered by the Santa previous 26 years. His writing had irony, Sam's major affiiction was the Fe Women's Ensemble on April 26. JAMES ASHLEY HOUCK appeared in New York magazine, loss of his skills of communication. Several additional compositions by CLASS OF 1964 New Times, Film Clips, and the Those of you who remember the Mr. Cave were performed at a memo­ James Ashley Houck, a professor Christian Science Monitor. He also witty conversationalist of your college rial service for him held on the Santa emeritus at Youngstown State worked as a film publicist. For some years would have been saddened to Fe campus on May 8. University, died in December 1995 time, he served as film editor for a see him struggle for words that his Mr. Cave is survived by his part­ of lung cancer. He was 54. Born in publication of Arts Weekly, Inc., var­ brain could form but his mout ner of eight years, Ted Stark, who was with him when he died. He also is Indianapolis, he graduated from St. iously known as the Aquarian, East couldn't say. He died basically alone, survived by his parents, Lawrence H. John's in 1964 and received a doc­ Coast Rocker, and Downtown. Since feeling very isolated from the St. and Edna B. Cave Jr.; and two sisters, torate from Duquesne University, moving to California, he devoted his John's community. To those of you Catherine Cave Mobley and Elizabeth Pittsburgh, in 1969. time to writing his first novel, Still who kept in touch, thank you. In Cave Williams. Mr. Houck was a leader in library Standing, which he completed short­ accordance with is wishes, his ashes programs and development. The ly before he died. were scattered at the Santa Fe cam­ SARAH K. OTTO, SGI70 recipient ofYSU's Distinguished Mr. Archibald grew up in pus, where he had perhaps his happi­ Sarah K. Otto, SGI70, died February Professor Award (once for scholarship Pittsburgh and graduated from the est memories. 7 in Santa Fe. A memorial service will and teaching and once for community Brooks School in North Andover, To those of you who feel touched be held in her honor at 3 p.m. on service), he was chairman of the uni­ Mass. He received his BA from St. by the life of this man I offer a simple August 24 on the Santa Fe campus. versity library committee and was John's in 1965 and an MA in library and effective method to convey a trib­ instrumental in its founding. He was science from Columbia University in ute. It is a shameful state of affairs that

WILLIAM ALBERT 'UA'-'-JLHH also a trustee of the public library of 1967. the Santa Fe Student Activities Center CLASS OF 1 Youngstown and Mahoning County Pursuing a lifelong devotion to film remains so long unbuilt. Open your William Albert Gross, Jr., who gradu­ and had been active as the treasurer, and the theater, he amassed a personal checkbook, write a check for $100 to ated from St. John's in 1929 with a chairman of the expansion and reno­ library of many hundreds of volumes. the St. John's College Santa Fe bachelor of science degree, died in vation programs, and founder and first He also had a sizable video collection. Student Activities Center Fund, and Aberdeen, Maryland, on April 18. He president of the Council of Presidents His theater books were donated to the in the lower left corner write "In was 87. Mr. Gross had been an engi­ of the Friends of the Public Library. drama department of Solano County memory of Sam Brown." Perhaps neer and chief of the automotive divi­ He was also a secretary of the board of Community College in Fairfield, someday when it is complete there will sion at the U.S. Army facility at the Ohio Library Trustees Association California, where they will be pre­ be enough money to fund a couple of Aberdeen Proving Ground. He was and was named its citizen of the year served in a special collection. comfy chairs in some sunlit window retired with 42 years of service. in 1982. Mr. Archibald is survived by two with his name on them just to remind Born in Jarrettsville, Mr. Gross Mr. Houck was an authority on brothers and an aunt. The family us that conversation itself is a gift, and graduated from J arrettsville High William Hazlett, a 19th centmy suggests that donati.ons in his memo­ that the opportunity for great conver­ School. He was a member of the British essayist, and was a board mem­ ry be made to Project Open Hand, a sation (and terrible puns) is the major Aberdeen Lions Club, and of the ber of the American Byron Society. food bank providing hot meals and reason we care about St. John's. of Automotive Engineers. He He published several poems, a book, groceries to home-bound sufferers of - Charles R. Brown Jr. (SF 75)

13 the fact that not all learning takes place from books, but some happen at the To my probably not entirely unbiased mind, there's plenty to love in this pro­ bench of the laboratory. These are all activities not amenable to passive infusion. gram and this college. I can't resist adding two more points that never cease to What we provide are the occasions for self-learning: orderly sequences of study move me. One is a kind of miracle: how this organism of a college that gets by the and classes that require participation. decade more tradition-laden, more rule-ridden, more policy-jigged, in short more No more than we impart knowledge do we teach our students to think. We organizationally intricate, yet grows ever more intellectually deep, daring and free. can't teach anyone to think anymore than mother birds can teach their fledglings The other point is a kind of blessing: how in the face of ever growing demands on to fly. But we can nudge them into the element of mental flight. Our helpers its energies, the faculty's ardent loyalty to the program has never flagged either in are the great books in their inexhaustible originality. It is an unpopular thing to Annapolis or in Santa Fe, and how the faculty too, in spite of straightened circum­ say these days - and perhaps you care for us because we do say it insistently - stances, became a major donor in this campaign whose success we are celebrating. but some books are recognizably great, and we take responsibility for choosing But here I am, preaching to the choir. You have already shown by your generosi­ them, and, moreover, we claim confidently that great books of long standing are ty that you understood what we try to do in this school. I own a book called The better instruments of learning than small ones of current interest. For by means Gift (by Lewis Hyde) that inquires earnestly into the nature of giving. After three of these books our students learn at least three things at once: how to come rev­ hundred pages the candid author comes to the conclusion that a gift is a mystery, erently and critically to grips with intellects superior to their own, how to listen not to be explained, but just, it seems, to be received with gratitude. I think he's expectantly and responsively to their peers, and how to speak out and tell each got it about right, and so, in behalf of those of us whose daily lives are tied to this other their own thought, tentatively yet clearly. And perhaps there is a fourth incomparable college, a college with one soul in two cities, I say: Thank you for thing: how to be free of the bonds of time and space and how to be at home making us the object of your affectionate care and for launching St. John's into its with every sort of excellence. fourth century.• 21 A 0 i M 1'. 0( ~ f'"i c I c fi? ~ ~ ~ c ~

Campus Life

HOLLYWOOD WALTZ PARTIES: ALIVE AND WELL ON THE SEVERN eonard Pinth-Garnell, the con­ Lnoisseur of "the bad cinema," Waltz," and the waltz from would have loved it. He's probably Tschaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty." the only one. The movie "Boys" Popular swing tunes include "Sing, unutterably bad in terms of plot, Sing, Sing," "The Coffee Song," "Bei characterization, acting, and just Mir Bist Du Schon," and the peren­ plain common sense - does have nial St. John's favorite, "Rum and great scenery. McDowell Hall, a Coca-Cola." Mellon classroom, the criss-cross "Basically, we play a lot of Sinatra, paths in front of Humphreys, and, Glen Miller, Andrew Sisters, and Ella most spectacular of all, the coffee Fitzgerald," Lutz says. "Our CD col­ shop. The movie was filmed at St. lection is not as good as we'd like it John's and in Baltimore in the fall of to be." "We are accepting donations," 1994. During the filming, students Gillen is quick to add. grumbled about the disruptions, but Despite the state of the CD collec­ enjoyed meeting the stars and watch­ tion and the threat of swing ing the production process. Money Students dance the night away to the strains of Strauss and Sinatra. encroaching on sacred waltz territory, from the shoot was used for a new Photo by Mary Lynch. waltz-loving alumni can rest assured sound system for FSK auditorium that the waltz party tradition is alive and for dorm repairs. and healthy. Thirteen waltz parties Starring Winona Ryder (the actress A ny waltz-loving graduate who more swing heavy. This year, for the were held in Annapolis this year for who played Jo in "Little Women") ..l\.read the Gadfly (the Annapolis first time, we found a resurgence of enthusiastic crowds . and Lukas Haas (the boy in campus' student paper) this past win­ waltz demands from a small group, "At midnight during the spring "Witness"), and directed by Stacy ter would have been alarmed at an which tells us that the swing satura­ cotillion we served 100 pounds of Cochran ("My First Gun"), the ongoing series of letters ostensibly tion point has finally been reached." strawberries and whipped six quarts movie played to mainly empty the­ addressing a problem of semantics. And where, exactly, is the swing of cream," says Lutz. It's an insane aters in late May and early June. Its The question the letters posed: saturation point at St. John's? amount of strawberries but you route to video will undoubtedly be When the music at a waltz party is "Right now we' re down to between wouldn't believe how fast they went. quick While we wouldn't recom­ more swing than waltz, should the four and five waltzes for most parties, Lutz explains the enduring popu­ mend paying money to sit through it term "waltz party" still be applied to except the major ones," says Gillen. larity of the parites: "It's another one in the theater, renting the video the event? The graduate, having the "The spring cotillion, alumni waltz, of our Johnnie quirks, like croquet. would make a fun evening. That way crictical thinking skills and general croquet ball, and commencement It's the kind of fun people don't have you could fast forward through the perspicacity that are the byproducts waltz are still waltz-heavy, which at other schools. There's something sections about the sensitive young of a St. John's education, would means partygoers will hear between really classy about standing on the man (Haas) who attends the exclu­ immediately see through the seman­ ten and twelve waltzes a night." balcony watching people dance. And sive Sherwood School (SJC campus) tic question to more important "The problem is that a lot of peo­ the Great Hall is beautiful -it's and who desperately wants to break issues: What is the state of waltzing at ple aren't learning to waltz," says made for dances. away from the life his parents have St. John's? Are waltz parties in danger Lutz. "They find swing more excit­ "People come from as far away as set up for him - running the family of extinction? ing. They don't get the thrill of spin­ Villanova and V.M.I. to attend our fast-food businesses. Waltz archon Cindy Lutz and ning around the room, which is the waltz parties. I've had people call to Weird juxtapositions occur: after a waltz committee member Chris fun of waltzing." ask me for an entire year's schedule so classroom scene in Mellon, students Gillen (A90) report that all is well Gillen offers a likely explanation they can plan their social life around exit the dining hall door in Randall. with waltz parties. Held every three for today's diminishing interest in it. Although there's been a ballroom A Spanish class takes place in the weeks and attracting crowds of 150- waltzing: "When you' re coming out dance resurgence at other colleges, it's Private Dining Room - the scene 200, waltz parties at St. John's are of high school in the late 70's, there's been for competition. We dance for was filmed at night, but it looks like thriving. Although swing is more a lot of slow dancing. Waltzes are as fun here. That's why people come to bright sunlight pouring in the win­ popular than waltz these days, it is fast or faster than music you' re used St. John's to dance." dows in the screen version. After all, the eidos of the waltz party - the to. But these days, with kids coming "So many things change over the the film might be a lesson in the heightened formality, the occasion out of rave dub culture, waltzes are years," Gillen says, "but this remains tricks reality and illusion play with for fancy dress, and the elegance of deathly slow. Even swings can seem the same. We've altered the ratio of each other.• the Great Hall - that brings the slow - we always get requests for the waltz to swing, but we haven't - by Barbara Goyette community together. faster swings." changed the format. If you walk in "There has been a change in waltz Other oft-requested music includes during a waltz, you won't know what parties since 1990," Gillen says. all-time waltz favorites such as "The decade you' re in." • "Each year it's gotten noticeably Blue Danube," "The Emperor - by Sus3an Borden

Job Fair Brings Opportunities to Santa Fe Campus

D ecruiters from 64 federal, state and local organizations came to Santa Fe's Peterson Center 1'.on March 28 for an innovative job fair that drew 289 people. Students from St. John's and several other area colleges were able to talk to recruiters and, in some cases, submit resumes and schedule job interviews during the fair. Companies or organizations represented at the job fair included the Albuquerque Police Department, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Citicorp Credit Services, the Federal Highway Administration, Girl Scouts of America, the Peace Corps, the Santa Fe Opera, Sprint Cellular, and the U.S. Marshal's Service. The job fair was sponsored by St. John's, the College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico community colleges, and the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce. The college's placement office already is working with the three other local colleges to plan a similar event for Students talk with a recruiter from the New Mexico State Department of Labor at a job fair held in Santo Fe on next year. Ill 22 March 28. VICTORY ON THE GRASS Croquet Team Breezes Past Navy on the Way to the National Championships by Sus3an Borden

n Saturday, April 27, before a this cleady detrimental factor, Penn O crowd of hundreds, the St. (which St. John's beat by 13 wickets) John's Croquet Team won the won by 8 wickets over Georgetown Annapolis Cup for the 11th time by (which St. John's had lost to by 1 beating Navy four games to one in a wicket) leaving St. John's the win­ best of five match. ners of the tournament. Senior Matt Caswell and At the championship at Smith, Sophomore Hardison Wood claimed they were not so fortunate. Betrayed the first victory, barely an hour into by an unlucky ball roll, they lost in the match. Seniors John Sifton and the finals to Georgetown, again by a James Knerr (this year's Imperial single wicket. Wicket) won the second game. These "At the trophy awards ceremony victories focused the crowd's atten­ everyone was congratulatory of the tion on the court where Seniors Dara St. John's program. The Georgetown Trought and Jon Spooner (the team's players said they were surprised they Minister of Information) were finish­ won," Spooner says. "Still, it was a ing off the match-winning game. somber drive home." As friends and fans gathered at the Back in Annapolis, Minster of court, they found Trought and Victory within her reach, a focused Dara Trought lines up her shot. Information Spooner' s spirits Spooner poised to win. Anticipating revived enough for him to update victory, they brought the still-com­ the Croquet Team's web page to peting players a round of celebratory ting the stake," Spooner says. "But added when the noise died down. read:We Won!!!!! St. John's College drinks. Before they knew what hit then people started bringing us The team climbed into the polity crushed Navy; 4 games to 1 * them, the pair found their skills fal­ drinks. It was almost our downfall." van and drove to the National (*c'mon we want them to return tering and their lead diminishing. Almost, but not quite - Spooner Championship Tournament at Smith next year - we can't embarrass "We were way out ahead, on the and Trought pulled themselves College. "We told every toll collector them that badly). Iii last wicket when they were just hit- together and won the game. on the way that we were off to win Witnessing this year's victory the National Championship in alongside the usual crush of garden­ Croquet, " Spooner says. party attired spectators swirling Though any freshman who's read champagne and nibbling on brie was his Sophocles would tremble before a crew from CNN. A report on the this display of hubris, the team had match, featuring an interview with reason to believe they would win the Imperial Wicket Knerr, aired the fol­ nationals. Two weeks earlier, in the lowing Saturday on CNN's sports qualifying tournament (held at the program. Merion Cricket Club in suburban Following an afternoon of celebra­ Philadelphia), they had beat Navy by tion and a brief nap, the team col­ 18 wickets, Penn by 13, and Yale by lected in the Great Hall at 11 :30, in 15, losing only to Georgetown by one the midst of the Croquet Ball. Knerr wicket. And that loss had mitigating made a well received, if brief, speech. circumstances. "Well, we happened to win this "We drove up to the qualifying trophy today," was all he could get match early and tumbled out of our Imperial wicket James Knerr out before the crowd erupted into car at 8:00 a.m.," Spooner explains. (left) and teammate John Sifton cheers and applause. "And now we' re "As everyone knows, this is not a (right) in action. Any excuse for a swing dance ... off to win the national title," he good Johnny time." In addition to Photos by Keith HoNey.

Beautiful, Wish You Were Here! St. John's has its own postage stamp. Well, sort of. It actually has a postal card with a color picture of McDowell serving as the stamp. The postal card, which costs 20 cents, can be bought at any post office and mailed - and you don't need to buy any extra postage. Kind of a combo deal. Unveiled at the June 1 library dedication, the St. John's postal card commemorates the college's 300th anniversary. The postal service doesn't issue stamps or cards in honor of colleges, but they will feature buildings. McDowell Hall, the college's most historic building, is on the St. John's card. The postal card measures 3 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches, leaving a small enough space for writing on the back that you won't have to worry about saying anything too profound. On the other hand, alumni whose concise penmanship skills have been honed by cramming comments onto the margins of Loeb editions have enough space on the postal card to expound freely. The Arts

REGIONAL ART ON DISPLAY IN SANTA FE by John Schroeder

nder the 300th anniversary theme of tradition and progress, an exhibit of the Larry U Frank santos collection, considered the best privately held collection, will be on dis­ play at the Santa Fe gallery from June 14 through July 21. Created by Spanish artists, san­ tos are carved or painted images of saints or other religious figures. There are two different · types: Retablos are figures painted on flat boards, and bultos are three-dimensional carved figures. This showing is a rare opportunity to view both bultos and retablos dating from 1780 to 1907. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Frank attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he received degrees in English and philosophy. Following his graduation, Frank lived in Europe for several years - mainly in Paris - studying _medieval architecture and art, particularly the sculptures, paintings, and frescoe" in medieval churches. After his return to the United States, he enrolled in UCLA's cinema school. Following his graduation he directed films for the school, eventually leaving to become an indepen­ dent director and producer. Frank always had an interest in the medieval characteristics of santos and, after return­ ing from Europe, he began visiting E. Boyd, the pioneer scholar of Spanish colonial cul­ ture, who was curating and restoring the Museum of New Mexico's collection of santos. Frank soon began his own collection. In a recent interview with Fine Arts Guild member Don Toomey, Frank said, "The pieces that remain in my collec­ tion are what I personally consider to be the finest aesthetic representation of the santero' s art .... The quality of the pieces is very high and the diversity is outstanding.... So if one observes the collection they will be able to identify the real flowering of the santero period at its finest." There are representative pieces from each of the significant santeros, including Pedro Antonio Frequis and Antonio Molleno. Seeing what he thought was a gap in the way that people viewed santos and santeros, Frank decided to use his collection as a reference and several years ago he published New Kingdom ofthe Saints. In discussing this book, Frank told Toomey that he views the santero movement as "a distinctive art tradition," and that we should be dealing with santeros as "unique artistic individuals as you would with, say, Rembrandt or Titian, who were as different as anyone could be. They are individual artists, they are great artists in their own right, but our New Mexico santeros also Shakespeare in Santa Fe produced great art, notable art, and they deserve to be recognized as great artists." August will feature the work of sculptor Betty Martin and painter Dennis Culver. This exhibit will open with a hakespeare in Santa Fe, in associ­ reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, August 2, in the Fireside Lounge, and will continue through August 25.- aiton with St. John's College, will S 0ther exhibits planned by the Guild include the Robert Ewing and John Sloan Drawing Group, which will present present William Shakespeare's comi­ life drawings of "The Magnificent Subject HI." In addition, for Santa Fe's 300th anniversary celebration in cal farce "Much Ado About September, the gallery will present the Second Annual Spanish Colonial Arts Exhibit and Market (see story on page 3). Nothing," a captivating comedy of romantic conquests, verbal jousts, For more information on any of the exhibits, or on upcoming Library and Fine Arts Guild events, contact Ginger and scornful betrayal, in Santa Fe Roherty at 505-984-6099. • this summer. The play is being per­ formed every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night from July 5 through PORTRAIT OF A COLLEGE: August 18. General admission is free, and reserved seating is available for Photographs by Warren & Eisenstaedt donations of $15 and $25. The opening of Shakespeare's he February 5, 1940 issue eighth season begins with a gala event of Life magazine is famous in the college's dining hall on July 5. T at St. John's - because that's The evening includes a cocktail the issue that made St. John's reception with strolling musicians serenading the crowd, followed by famous. Playing more than an dinner and the debut performance of equal role with the brief prose "Much Ado About Nothing." The description of the "Great Books" evening concludes with a champagne college - where "students now toast with the members of the cast. grapple at first hand with the As a preview, Shakespeare in Santa great thinkers of intellectual his­ Fe and St. John's presented an after­ tory" - are the photographs. noon of tea and Shakespeare on Shot by master documentary Sunday, June 23. Special guest was photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt Mark Cuddy, director of "Much Ado with a large format camera, they About Nothing" and artistic director capture the fragile essence of dis­ of the GeVa Theatre in New York. Marion Warren's striking use of covery during those first golden Held in the new St. John's coffee light and shadow is illustrated in years of the New Program. shop, the event included tea and talk this portrait of tutor Winfree Smith. about the Bard - his wit and wis­ Students scattered on the snow­ dom, his poetry, his truth, and his coverd lawn taking diopter mea­ photography collection, and along continued relevance in our lives surements. A pyramid of young with selected images by Marion today. Organizers hope this event men peering over one another at Warren, an Annapolis documentary will become a regular feature of the one of their fellows dissecting an photographer who recorded images Shakespeare in Santa Fe program. ox heart. Row upon row of suit­ of college life during the 1950s and Shakespeare in Santa Fe's summer clad students listening to a lec­ 1960s, they will be on display at a intern program for high school stu­ ture in the Great Hall (with one special 300th anniversary exhibit at dents has a special event planned for in plaid flannel and suspenders). the Mitchell Gallery. Dates for later in the summer. At 6 p.m. on The classics arranged in their ele­ "Portrait of a College: Photographs August 7 and 14, the group will pre­ by Warren & Eisenstaedt" are August sent a "Children's Fairy Tale Hour." gant bindings, library shelves For more information on any of filled with Aristotle, Dante, 28 through November 3. The exhibit the Shakespeare events or to reserve Newton, and Freud. is being organized by co-curators and seating, call Shakespeare in Santa Fe The Eisenstaedt photographs St. John's students Alexander Bowles at 505-982-2910. • are part of the St. John's archival and Sloane McFarland. •