Laser Focused Vadim Backman Explores the Color Spectrum’S Outer Edges to Uncover Hidden Signs of Cancer
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The Power of Slow Thinking p. 15 … Wildcats Around the World p. 17 … “Hope is subversive right now. Sound Advice from Music Producer Thom Russo p. 30 … Northwestern’s Go spread it anyway. People will follow Oak Roots p. 36 … Five Questions with Tony Winner Katrina Lenk p. 50 you. People will join you.” p. 14 FALL 2018 Laser Focused Vadim Backman explores the color spectrum’s outer edges to uncover hidden signs of cancer. p. 38 MOMENT Last April the School of Communication assembled a star- studded cast for A Starry Night. The evening performance brought together some of Northwestern’s most famous entertainment alumni, including Ana Gasteyer ’89, Heather Headley ’97, Brian d’Arcy James ’90, Richard Kind ’78, Harry Lennix ’86, Tony Roberts ’61 and, of course, Stephen Colbert ’86, ’11 H, who hosted the night of merriment. The show was part of CommFest, a weekend of reunions, master classes, workshops, exhibits and demonstrations. The festival weekend helped support new graduate programs, including a master of fine arts program in acting, and a downtown Chicago performing and media arts center. Relive the experience at commfest .northwestern.edu. PHOTO: JIM PRISCHING FALL 2018 NORTHWESTERN MOMENT Students, from left, Michael Smith ’70, ’72 MA, Steve Colson ’71, Dan Davis ’69, ’78 MA/MS and William Eric Perkins ’70 appear onscreen during the premiere of the Northwestern University Black Alumni Association– commissioned documentary The Takeover: The Revolution of the Black Experience at Northwestern University. The film, which was screened at the NUBAA Summit and Salute to Excellence Gala in May at Chicago’s Swissôtel, examined the May 1968 Bursar’s Office takeover by more than 100 African American students protesting inequitable campus policies and attempting to improve awareness of African American students’ experiences. Northwestern honored the 50th anniversary of that protest with a week of commemorative events and an exhibition at Deering Library. PHOTO OF STUDENTS IN VIDEO: COURTESY OF STEVE COLSON; PHOTO: JIM PRISCHING FALL 2018 NORTHWESTERN 4 5 FALL 2018 Contents Volume 21 Issue 1 FRONT 1 Moment 18 6 President’s Letter Season of Success 9 Talk Back The softball team posted its best win total since 2008. The team’s run to the NCAA VOICES regional championship round 11 Tim Franklin Threats against a free press highlighted an outstanding harm us all spring for Northwestern’s 13 Antonia Cereijido men’s and women’s sports. Medill professor Cecilia Vaisman 36 was my guiding light Roots: Northwestern’s Oaks NEWS It was the majestic oak 19 Student Life Purple trees near the shore of Lake Pantry fights food Michigan that caught the insecurity eye of Orrington Lunt, one 20 Discovery Warmer of the University’s founders, temps push bees to on his first visit to the land their limits that today is Northwestern’s 25 Innovation Cariset’s high-fashion, high- Evanston campus. Many function backpack stately bur and swamp white oaks, some well over “WE WILL” UPDATE 200 years old, still stand in splendor on the campus. 29 Founders’ Pledge A new opportunity By Stephanie Russell for alumni entrepreneurs The 38Far Side of Violet Vadim Backman has FEATURES developed an innovative strategy 30 Sound Advice for detecting cancer. Grammy-winning music producer and songwriter Thom Russo 36 Roots Northwestern’s oak savanna is “the , 2016. , 2016. eyebrow of beauty” 44 Alumni Trailblazers 15 The Northwestern Alumni Medal winners ← “Programs that are LUMEN SHRUMEN ALUMNI 50 Creation Catching based on cognitive up with Tony winner Katrina Lenk behavioral therapy 54 Class Notes 51 74 In Memoriam help people recognize ’Shroom Art The San Francisco–based situations when it’s useful BACK STORY art collective FoldHaus 80 Mark Vadik From to stop and think before enlisted tech help from entertainment law to then-undergrad Bomani moviemaking they act.” McClendon ’17 when it was —Jonathan Guryan, professor of human development and building Shrumen Lumen Website: magazine social policy, on the Becoming a Man program BECOMING LYNN; SOFTBALL: TOM AITCH; ILLUSTRATION: OAK FOLDHAUS, EXHIBIT: WONG; A MAN: NICOLE KYLE MONK BACKMAN: VADIM BLUNT; RON BY PHOTO for Burning Man 2016. .northwestern.edu NORTHWESTERN FALL 2018 On the Cover: Vadim Backman. Photo: Kyle Monk. FALL 2018 NORTHWESTERN 6 FROM THE PRESIDENT FROM THE PRESIDENT 7 most pressing problems. We’ve risen any financial background to attend terms of the economic diversity of its new academic leaders, including Northwestern dramatically in research productivity Northwestern by increasing our undergraduate students. We’ve also Kimberly Yuracko, the new dean of compared with our peers in recent financial aid and by eliminating loans made strides in expanding support for the Northwestern Pritzker School Pushes Toward New years, and we now receive more than for undergraduate students. Here’s our graduate students and in increasing of Law, and Annelise Riles, executive $700 million in research funding another milestone: This fall, 20 percent financial aid for law, business and director of the Buffett Institute Frontiers annually, placing us among the of the entering class is eligible for medical school students, in order to for Global Studies. They bring top 25 universities nationally. Thanks Pell Grants, which help lower-income reduce their loan burdens and give outstanding academic credentials to the addition of the Simpson Querrey students to attend college. This means them stronger starts in their careers. and deep experience to their posts. building and renovations to key science that Northwestern is now near the top I’m pleased to report the Working with Provost Jonathan and engineering buildings on the of all private research universities in appointment of some talented Holloway, who’s moving into his Evanston campus, Northwestern can second year at Northwestern, they attract even more of the best scientific will provide strong leadership to researchers. these key academic areas. We also Of course, student life is the beating have begun the search for a new dean love fall at Northwestern. A new currently underway is the cutting-edge heart of the Northwestern experience, for the Medill School of Journalism, academic year kicks off, and it’s Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research and that heart is beating ever stronger. Media, Integrated Marketing about a lot more than parking Center, which will open in early The class of 2022 that just recently Communications. lots getting more crowded or 2019 on our Chicago campus. It will participated in March Through the Arch If you haven’t been to our Evanston the lines getting longer at our house more than 800 Northwestern is a remarkable group chosen from campus lately, there’s so much new campus eateries: It’s about that researchers, along with an additional more than 40,000 applicants, of whom to see. The heightened energy at renewed burst of energy that 640 researchers from Lurie Children’s only 8 percent were accepted. The ACT Northwestern that I mentioned the whole Northwestern community Hospital. Together they will investigate middle-range score for the class is at the beginning is magnified by the Igets, from Evanston to Chicago to Doha, the causes — and, we hope, develop 32–35 on a 36-point scale. The students world-class expansion of facilities Qatar. It’s also about recognizing how the cures — for diseases such as come from 49 states — I’m determined that our alumni and friends have that energy is driving a great university Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s, cancer and that we’ll get a great one from North made possible. Walk through the forward in an incredibly wide-ranging others that affect so many people Dakota next year! — and 54 different astonishing Ryan Fieldhouse and mission — to build up some of the and their families. countries. They’re incomparably bright, Walter Athletic Center, the Ryan world’s most promising young talent, The Simpson Querrey building and they bring an especially broad Center for the Musical Arts, Kresge to push forward frontiers in every symbolizes our distinct identity at range of interests and skills. Hall, the Kellogg Global Hub and academic field and to provide the best Northwestern. One of the things that We’ve been building even greater the newly renovated Welsh-Ryan health care, culture and community sets Northwestern apart is that it diversity and quality into the Arena, and you’ll get the sense that service to the larger world. And, of isn’t just a premier university — it’s Northwestern student body: For the something historic is happening. Your course, it’s also time for another season a premier research university, proud past several years, we’ve enabled generosity makes dreams come true. of Northwestern athletics and that give- of its ability to solve the world’s more high-achieving students from And so allow me to cordially it-your-all Wildcat spirit. invite you to return to Northwestern That same spirit, in our alumni and this year — for Homecoming, class the broader University community, has reunions and other events on our helped support initiatives to expand campuses. If you can’t be here, Mimi opportunities for our students, build on and I hope to see you at one of the our areas of excellence and transform many alumni events that we’ll host our campuses. As you’ll see inside this around the globe this academic year. issue of the beautifully redesigned “ We’ve been building even greater We’ll be there to say thank you — and Northwestern Magazine, we have to talk about what comes next for our surpassed our original, joint goals for We diversity and quality into the Northwestern family. Will. The Campaign for Northwestern of Northwestern student body: For the past raising $3.75 billion from 141,000 Best wishes, individual donors.