Spring/Summer 2005
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Spring/Summer 2005 Muses On the cover: John deMartelly Editor c o n t e n t s (1903–1979), The Pleiades Kristan Tetens (1949, oil on canvas, 840 x 930, currently on display in the main Contributing Writers lounge of the MSU Union Build- Joshua Feinberg Welcome In the Classroom ing.) This painting is one Kathleen V. McKevitt of the 903 artworks created by 347 Holly Newland 2 From the Dean 45 Teaching Research artists that are accessible online Kristan Tetens 46 Sparking Curiosity through the university’s Public Art Celebrating the 48 story to come on Campus website, Art Director and Sesquicentennial Learning Ojibwe www.publicart.msu.edu. Graphic Designer Cindy Lounsbery 4 Eight by 10: Eight Arts & Letters Students On this page: DMA candidate Alumni Share Their Memories of 49 Students Explore Life, Career Options Igor Kalnin began study of the Contributing Photographers MSU Through the Decades violin at the age of three in a local Dianne Carroll in A&L Course music school in Nizhny Novgorod, Eric Johnson College Survival in the Great Depression: 50 Student News Russia. He later continued his Kurt Stepnitz The 1930s studies at Balakirev Musical Col- Greg Kohuth English Major Betty Price 52 Student Voice lege with Professor Felix Forshtok Brian McNea 53 Commencement and Awards From College to War: The 1940s and with Professor Galy Afanasiev Kathryn Sauber Convocation – Spring 2005 Music Major Eldon Rosegart at the Glinka State Conservatory, Thomas B. Shea where he was concertmaster of the Brooks Walker Beatnik Generation: The 1950s Alumni and Friends symphony orchestra. Follow- Art Major John Neering ing graduation, he played in the Production Coordinator A Decade of Social Upheaval: The 1960s 57 Alumni News Chamber Orchestra Kremlin in Kristen Flory Justin Morrill/French Major Moscow. At MSU he studies with 60 Homecoming 2004 Carl Koivuniemi Walter Verdehr and is co-concert- 61 Celebrating the Sesquicentennial: master of the MSU Symphony Second-Wave Baby Boomers: The 1970s 1855–2005 Orchestra. In March he was one Humanities Major Bill Nielsen 63 Simon Gifts Benefit School of Music of four winners of the School of “Totally Awesome”: The 1980s Music’s Honors Concert 64 Plans for Campus Arts District Philosophy Major Tina Nommay Competition, the highest perfor- Move Forward mance achievement for School of University Globalization: The 1990s 66 Verdehr Gift to Support Student Music students. English Major Simon Caines Musicians, New Music Building Opportunity Generation: 67 Giving Opportunities: The New Century The Importance of Endowments English/Journalism Major Anne Edison-Swift 68 Leslies Endow New Faculty Chair In Literary Studies Arts & Humanities Briefing 69 Serlings Endow Chair In Israel Studies 20 News about the Arts and Humanities at MSU 70 Kresge Art Museum Twilight in the Garden and the MSU Museum Faculty Chocolate Party 24 A Conversation with 71 Honor Roll of Donors Stephen Esquith 26 Profile: Daina Ramey Berry 28 What Makes It Great? 33 Program in Global Literary and Cultural Studies Takes Shape 34 Faculty Publishing 40 Faculty News 2 Spring/Summer 2005 Spring/Summer 2005 welcome from the dean celebrating the sesquicentennial This issue of Muses is dedicated to first century land-grant institution, the arts MSU’s sesquicentennial and, appropri- and humanities are asserting themselves ately, combines reflections from arts and through a thorough reassessment of their humanities alumni with articles on current roles and impacts. The CEC and the PHC initiatives and activities that reflect our are two examples of how our faculty are The Arts and Humanities vision of the future direction of the college. actively engaged in that mission. As with most milestone birthdays— Finally, a brief update on the structural at Michigan State University several of which I have already celebrated reorganization discussion in which we have in my own life—the sesquicentennial of been engaged the last two years. In the MSU’s origins as the premier land-grant assessment of how a modern university can institution has prompted reflection on be optimally organized to provide students our successes from the past, including the with the best education, faculty with the n 1850, when he was seeking taxpayer support to establish bold steps taken in the post-World War II best teaching and research opportunities, I period in general education and first-year and the broader society with the best and an agricultural college in Michigan, Detroit farmer Bela Hubbard writing that made us a model for Ameri- most responsive institution, MSU decided 1855 stressed the need for courses in literature and the fine arts, which he can higher education and the advances in that a visible and separate identity for a research and growth in programs during college of arts and humanities remained an believed would “polish the mind and manners, refine the taste, and the Hannah years of the 50s and 60s that important feature of the university’s profile. add greater luster and dignity to life.” Five years later, when the prompted the Association of American The exercise resulted in far more than a Universities to invite us to join that elite return to the status quo. Indeed, many college that would become Michigan State University was founded, group of world-class institutions. new programs have emerged that provide such courses were an integral part of the curriculum. For the twenty-first century, however, students and faculty with new opportuni- great institutions of higher education ties for study and research. These include Today, the arts and humanities are central to MSU’s mission as a will be defined by their ability to advance a cross-college design initiative that will land-grant, research-intensive university. Faculty and students in the knowledge, enhance the academic and per- provide students with better foundational sonal growth of their students, and actively skills and greater flexibility in career choices, College of Arts & Letters enjoy vastly expanded opportunities in a and directly engage the broader public. opportunities for literature and culture wide variety of subjects, including the creative and performing arts, To this end, two new informal groups students to explore phenomena within a of faculty and administrators have been global context in the Global Literary and languages and literature, linguistics, art history, philosophy, and formed this year: the Cultural Engagement Cultural Studies research cluster, an ethics religious studies, as well as many interdisciplinary fields. Courses Council (CEC) and the Public Humanities and development graduate specialization, Collaborative (PHC). The first of these a collaborative graduate degree in Second offered by the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and includes representatives from the Depart- Language Studies, and new majors and Humanities reach every undergraduate student, enhancing emotional ment of Theatre, the Department of Art graduate degrees in digital and professional and Art History, the School of Music, writing. We are also anticipating the launch and intellectual growth by fostering critical thinking, creativity, and Kresge Art Museum, the MSU Museum, of a new residential program in the arts and communication skills. An understanding of the arts and humanities WKAR television and radio, the Wharton humanities with an international focus that Center for Performing Arts, University will have much in common with MSU’s forms the basis of intellectually engaged activity, enriches and sustains Relations, and Student Affairs. It serves successful programs in James Madison lifelong learning, and cultivates the capacity for empathetic and as a clearinghouse of information on the College and Lyman Briggs School. university’s public arts programming and As always, we encourage you to send us relational thinking. also coordinates annual programming your comments about arts and humanities This issue of Muses celebrates MSU’s sesquicentennial by featuring related to specific themes, such as Africa. activities at MSU and suggestions for how Faculty involved with the Public Humani- you might be able to assist us in our edu- the substantial accomplishments of MSU faculty, students, and alumni ties Collaborative are exploring how our cational mission, especially with student who are linked by a common passion: the exploration of human students and scholars can have more imme- support through internships, career advice, diate interaction with the broader public and recruitment. And, in this sesquicenten- expression, experience, and values. through service learning and issue-oriented nial year, we hope to greet you at one or programming. The PHC is also studying more of the many festive events that are local public venues where public discourse planned; for a list of these, please visit can lead to effective problem solving rather www.s150.msu.edu. than the polarizing grandstanding that one sees so often on personality-driven television talk shows and Internet blogs. As Patrick M. McConeghy MSU assumes the role of a leading twenty- Acting Dean 2005 Spring/Summer 2005 Spring/Summer 2005 5 celebrating the sesquicentennial Eight by 10 s Eight Arts & Letters Alumni Share Their Memories of MSU Through the Decades By Kathleen V. McKevitt 30 A long-time supporter of the arts and seven men to every woman put the odds in College Survival humanities, Price gives a portion of her Price’s favor. She loved attending twice- proceeds to MSU’s Wharton Center and weekly afternoon tea dances at the Union. in the Great Kresge Art Museum. “The Whartons were Her future spouse, Don (Class of ’31), was customers of Liebermann’s,” she points a blind date for the military ball. Price’s Depression: out. “I told them once that no one at college memories include a performance The 1930s MSU had ever asked us for money. Things of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture that used changed after that.” howitzers stationed on either side of the English Major Price, who grew up in Saginaw dur- Red Cedar and the bells of the very new ing the Depression, had her heart set on Beaumont Tower for its rousing finale.