Macalester College DigitalCommons@Macalester College Macalester Today Communications and Public Relations 4-1-2006 Macalester Today Spring 2006 Macalester College Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/macalestertoday Recommended Citation Macalester College, "Macalester Today Spring 2006" (2006). Macalester Today. Paper 78. http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/macalestertoday/78 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Communications and Public Relations at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in Macalester Today by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MacalesterTbday Spring 2006 cJ *r * 4^m < We looked around the other day and found 12 alumni— gi an even dozen, representing every decade^f¥orn;tWe^l960s to the 2000s—working on Macalester's Advancement staff. They got together in Weyerhaeuser Hall for this collective Class Note. "f, :% "Clockwise from back left: Adrienne Dorn '03 and Holly Muiioz '02, both Annual Fund associate directors; Jan Shaw-Flamm'76, College Relations r-editor; Jitla Arner-Meyerhoff '05, PCI data entry clerk; Danielle Nelson '05, Alumni Relations Scots Pride coordinator; Kristin Midelfort '74, associate director of major gifts; Janice Dickinson '64, Alumni Relations sistant; Emily Koller '03 (seated), major gifts assistant; Gabrielle Lawrence '73, Alumni Relations director; Kathryn Lowery '73, Annual Fund director; and Anne Bushnell '82, director of prospect research. Inset: Dameun Strange '95, Alumni Relations associate director. Features Departments 20 How Here Looks from There 2 Letters The 2005 World Press Institute Fellows 4 Around Old Main offer their views or America and Americans WVICN Radio goes global; Professor Sarah West '91 reflects on the economics 22 Paving the Rhodes to Oxford of cleaning up pollution; student athletes The Rhodes committee says enjoy a Career Night with returning 'Hello1 to Keon West '06 alumni; and other campus news. 16 Sports 18 Alumni & Faculty Books 28 Picture This: The Newest Minnesotans 30 Household Words Alison Ziegler '98 tells the stories of President Rosenberg reflects on the immigrants with her camera value and challenge of study away 31 Class Notes page 16 47 In Memoriam 49 Giving Back \ / ,"' Cover story: page 24 Past Masters In future history books about Macalester, Professors Norm and Emily Rosenberg will have a prominent place. Peter Bartz-Gallagher '05 photographed the two inspiring teachers and pioneering scholars in Old Main, the home of the History Department during most of their 31 years at Macalester. SPRING 2006 LETTERS Mahnaz Kousha Letters policy MacalesterToday GREAT STORY on Professor Mahnaz Kousha WE INVITE LETTERS of 300 words or fewer. Spring 2006 ["Women in Iran: Behind the Veil," Winter Letters may be edited for clarity, style issue]. Professor Kousha was one of the stars and space and will be published based Director of College Relations of the Sociology Department. I enjoyed on their relevance to issues discussed Doug Stone her classes. in Macalester Today. You can send letters Executive Editor Darius Collins '96 by e-mail to: [email protected]. Minneapolis Nancy A. Peterson Or: Letters to the Editor, Macalester Today, College Relations, Macalester College, Managing Editor Remember the champions 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul, MN Jon Halvorsen GOOD TO READ your Fall sports review of the 55105-1899. Art Director women's soccer team and its coach, John Elizabeth Edwards Leaney [Winter issue]. It's always great to hear how well the women's soccer team con- Class Notes Editor tinues to do year after year under Leaneys Remembering Russ Wigfield '47 Robert Kerr'92 outstanding coaching. SO MANY FOLKS were touched by the com- Contributing Writers But it was surprising to see in the box passion of [the late Chaplain] Russ Wigfield Jan Shaw-Flamm '76 focused on John Leaneys highly successful [In Memoriam and Letters, Winter issue]. Heather Stahl '08 career that there was no mention his 1998 Here is my story. team won the NCAA Division III National I was the organist for the chapel from Macalester College Championship. It was the first (and I think 1978 to 1984. After Russ became the chap- only) national championship in Macalester's lain in 1979, one of our first services Chair, Board of Trustees sports history. It deserves to be highlighted. together was a wedding. Russ and I went Mark A. Vander Ploeg '74 Jane Hirschmann, over the service many times and I practiced for hours. The wedding went beautifully. President mother of Nell Hirschmann-Levy '02 After the service, I waited, seated at the Brian Rosenberg New York organ, to be paid my $25. After the photos Vice President for College Advancement Good point. Our February 1999 cover story were finished, I approached an older man in Thomas P. Bonner highlighted Coach Leaney and those amazing the wedding party about payment. He brusquely told me to speak to another per- Alumni Director women soccer players, but their accomplish- ments always bear repeating. Although son, who did the same thing. A third person Gabrielle Lawrence '73 theirs was the first and so far only NCAA said it was "not his problem." I was in tears. Associate Alumni Directors national championship for Macalester, the I had played my best, I had invested hours Carol Polk and Dameun Strange '95 Mac men's swimming team won the NAIA in practicing, I really needed the money. (National Association of Intercollegiate Russ was locking up the chapel when he Macalester Today (Volume 94, Number 2) Athletics) national championship three found me in the pews. When he heard what is published by Macalester College. times, in 1964, '65 and 66. had happened, he immediately went down- It is mailed free of charge to alumni and — the Editors stairs and returned with $50. (I never friends of the college four times a year. knew if he talked to the wedding folks Circulation is 25,000. or if the cash was his.) He made a point after that of telling every wedding party For change of address, please write: that the organist was to be paid before Alumni Office, Macalester College, the service started. 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul, MN Russ was an excellent storyteller 55105-1899. Or call (651) 696-6295. (I earn my living as one now: Toll-free: 1-888-242-9351. luannadamsstoryteller.com), and I really E-mail: [email protected] looked forward to Sunday mornings To submit comments or ideas, write: because every homily he shared was filled Macalester Today, College Relations, with stories of people and their choices. at the above address. Phone: He cold about people from all walks of life (651) 696-6452. Fax: (651) 696-6192. and wove wisdom, humanity, frailty and E-mail: [email protected] humor into his messages of hope, for all of Web: www.macalester.edu/alumni us struggling with our own choices and identity. Other students have shared how MACALESTER TO DAY he listened tor hours co them in his office, human rights. I often wonder given as his staff a self-described agnostic With his gentle, non-judgmental encourage- Much ot the dis- how many adult Mac who did not type very well. I think Russ saw ment, Russ was the lantern in a dark place, cussion has alumni are here me, like so many others who came into his giving us "light" and "possibility." He had focused on the today, leading sphere, especially students, as a work in fait}) in us. years that Russ productive and progress both spiritually and individually. I believe wherever he is now, he is com- was Macalester's meaningful lives, He was a most gentle, helpful and important forting and listening to troubled souls, and chaplain from because Russ made guide. It was Russ who taught me that you ottering them the amazing balm ot his grace 1979 to 1986. himself available did not have to be a Christian to be able to and compassion. However, tor to us in times have a meaningful spiritual life. LuAnn Adams '82 those of us who of crisis and need. I also learned how important he was to New York are older, Russ the mental health of students. Students with was a gitt co us during his years as Mac's spiritual confusion, profound depression, AS WAS NOTED at his memorial service, Russ assistant chaplain from 1956 to 1964. and even thoughts and attempted acts of was one of those extraordinary individuals My appreciation ot the special person that suicide found their way to his office and who in a profound fashion touched people Russ was began when I was assigned to be received the gift of his kind and nurturing who were lucky enough to know, to work his student clerk in I960. Russ never seemed nature. I often wonder how many adult Mac with or to struggle with him for the cause of to be fazed by the fact that he had been alumni are here today, leading productive and meaningful lives, because Russ made himself available to us in times of crisis and need. Also, I hope that somewhere in its archives Mac has preserved a record of the roles that Russ played in Mac's fledgling civil rights movement (Student Action for Human Rights); the formation and operation of non-traditional spiritual organi- zations such as Student Religious Liberals; the free speech ''fight'1 that actually allowed a Communist to speak on the campus; and publication ot what I believe was the col- lege's first underground newspaper. In the early '60s, there was a torum at Mac that delved into whether it was possible to have saints if there was no God. Although I still wonder about the existence and nature of divinity (something I was taught to do at Mac), I do know that there are saints, in all the best senses of that word, in this world.