® LuxEstoFALL 2015 THE MAGAZINETHE KALAMAZOO OF COLLEGE Worthy Questions The Legacy of President Eileen B. Wilson-Oyelaran Among the first words of this, my penultimate letter to you—dear friends, colleagues, LuxEsto is based on Features the College’s official motto, and fellow liberal arts learners—will be, simply, these two: THANK YOU! Lux esto, “be light.” Dear Alumni, It has been an honor to serve as president of Kalamazoo College this past decade. It Leaving Comfort Behind More 6 Winter 2015 Content yet? When that happens, junior Allia Howard knows it’s has been hard work. And it has been fun. And the only thing that allows hard work and Volume 77, No. 1 Families of time to do something new, demanding, and somewhat scary (at least fun to thrive simultaneously and seamlessly is collaboration with outstanding people: EDITOR temporarily). Now that’s a K spirit! Jim VanSweden ’73 students, faculty, staff, friends of the College, donors, alumni, parents of students and in Students, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lisa Darling parents of alumni. Thank you, all. 24 A Generation of Difference Four. And thank you in particular for your role in closing the most successful fundraising In the realm of Jewish student life, current junior Emily Levy’s SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR and Friends Kalamazoo College is a very different place than the campus her Steve Wideen campaign in the institution’s history. Completed last June, The Campaign for Kalamazoo father, Paul Levy ’80, experienced. WRITERS College raised more than $129 million for student scholarships, faculty support and Kaye Bennett of Kalamazoo David Hammond ’73 More capital improvements. These funds are already having an impact on the Kalamazoo Ed Mamou ’00 26 K’s Journey to Jewish Studies Jeff Marinucci ’00 College: College liberal arts education. The Jewish Studies program at Kalamazoo College has grown Randall Schau significantly in its first decade. Director Jeff Haus foresees an even Hillary Teague For example, the $19.5 million you gave for scholarships will help keep the College brighter future. PHOTOGRAPHY in accessible to highly talented students, regardless of their economic backgrounds. Susan Andress Anthony Dugal a Because of you, seven faculty chairs are newly endowed (freeing significant funds to David Hammond ’73 Engagement Life Lifetime 30 Keith Mumma (including front cover) support operations and program expenses and improve faculty and staff compensation), The liberal arts career of Kate Hartley ’74—social worker, MLive Media Group/Kalamazoo Gazette museum administrator, park ranger—has a common thread: Sara (Whalen) Petit ’10 and more than $7.5 million is available for faculty development. Randall Schau engaging with others. Hillary Teague Your generosity provides $32 million toward experiential opportunities and DESIGN leadership development and $27 million toward the completion of the Hicks Center, the most successful fundraising Terry Watson, Watson DeZin Plus … The completion of athletic fields complex, the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership building as well as campaign in the College’s history; evidence of mound builders a . PRINTER ® mere mile from K’s campus (there’s lots to explore in Kalamazoo!); Holland Litho renovations of the Fitness and Wellness Center and the natatorium. _______________________ Professor of Anthropology Kiran Cunningham ’83, winner of the Because of you, the College has 35 new endowed scholarships and 27 new funds to 2015 Florence J. Lucasse Fellowship for Excellence in Scholarship; DIRECT CORRESPONDENCE TO: The Editor support Senior Individualized Project research and experiential learning. [See page 4 for K families at Commencement 2015; a decades-long connection LuxEsto between math professor (and foreign student advisor) George Nielsen Kalamazoo College a snapshot of the impact of this campaign]. and Satoshi Takata; some letters from readers; lots of class notes, 1200 Academy Street Kalamazoo, MI 49006 The K-Plan is not just alive and well, it is stronger than ever, reinvigorated, and and more. 269.337.7291 [email protected] with each of its components more closely integrated, allowing for a powerful, more Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily self-reflective learning experience. And with more than $57 million raised for the A little more than a represent the views of Kalamazoo College or the editors. LuxEsto is published in the spring and endowment, K will benefit from your generosity for many years to come. decade ago Eileen B. fall by Kalamazoo College, 1200 Academy Street, Arguably, the most important element of the campaign is symbolic. Its success affirms Kalamazoo, MI 49006 USA. Wilson-Oyelaran became the value alumni and donors place on the liberal arts and the kind of education we offer the 17th president of WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS? at K. Your participation is the stand that YOU made FOR the liberal arts. As I near my Planning a visit to Kalamazoo College? Check the Kalamazoo College. Kalamazoo College news website for the latest retirement this coming June I’m often asked about the future of the liberal arts. I think information about campus events. Calendar listings The achievements of are regularly updated at kzoo.edu/news/calendar-of- that future is bright. No other approach to learning so ably develops the ability to think events. her presidency are critically and to innovate, to foresee and shape questions—and then find answers— © Winter 2015 extraordinary, and germane to matters that have yet to confront humankind. because of them K stands The work (and delight) of finding ideas from one area and connecting them to ready to thrive in the 21st another is a key outcome of a liberal arts education. Rob Dunn ’97 [see story page 10] century. See “Worthy articulates this when he describes an “ethos” at K wherein true learning and authentic Questions” on page 16. Continued on page 2 LuxEstoFall 2015 Table of Contents LuxEsto SPRING 2014 I 1 Presiden’t Letter — continued from inside cover DEAR EDITOR: DEAR EDITOR: DEAR EDITOR: I read the news about K’s test It was a shock to learn of Dr. Stavig’s passing (see obituary Mark Twain wrote to the London correspondent understanding come from the application of an idea to as many fields as possible. optional admission with great on page 44), coincidentally on the day after my own 76th of the New York Journal after he had announced Unfortunately we live at a time in which the liberal arts must be defended. We excitement. I teach in the birthday. I was part of that first group of pioneer Light that Twain was deceased, “The report of my death must show with our own stories the efficacy of the liberal arts not only in support of International Baccalaureate Scholars escorted to Europe by the young, untenured assistant was an exaggeration.” In this case however I meaningful work but also in support of exploration for the sake of exploration. Both (IB), a program whose rigorous professor who had been my freshman-year English teacher. I understand that an alumna of Kalamazoo College, journeys can manifest in occasional changes-of-course in one’s life. The story about Kate curriculum is taught through didn’t travel on the Arosa Star. Because of a lack of space on Judy Brenneman ’63, had indeed died. I offer my Hartley ’74 is an example (see page 30). Her liberal arts education provided the depth authentic assessment, experiential that ship I was one of a small delegation sent about a week condolences to her family. In error some thought it and resources to support her service to humankind in three distinct ways—as a social learning, global-mindedness and earlier on the newly refurbished (and much larger!) Greek was my death because of the name similarity. worker, a museum travel program manager and a national park ranger. And the seeds Letters critical thinking. While these bright Line ship Arkadia, which also departed from Montreal. Some may remember me as the spouse of of a lifelong international education were planted in her at Kalamazoo College. Her young people consistently do well Along with [Professor of Chemistry] Kurt Kaufman, Dick David W. Breneman, the president of Kalamazoo undergraduate work in Germany and England proved a wellspring for later travel and on standardized tests, I am often Stavig remained throughout my life one of my most favorite College from 1983 to 1989. I was also director of study in Italy, China and the Caribbean. frustrated by the lack of alignment mentors at Kalamazoo College. Professors Kaufman and the College Singers and director of the Kalamazoo As a result of the campaign our very campus is more in tune with the liberal arts for between such tests (so critical for Stavig were the two strongest influences on my own 35- Bach Festival. Dr. Breneman and I were divorced which we stand. There is greater breadth in terms of who is here, of the work that we do admission) and the breadth and year teaching career at (the very similar) Juniata College. I in 1992, and I returned to live in Washington, here and what we study here. This issue’s stories about Jewish Studies and Paul ’80 and depth of that which these students sincerely hope some fitting, enduring tribute to him will be D.C., serving as director of music and organist at Emily ’17 Levy [pages 24 and 26, respectively] celebrate the campus’s evolution into a authentically know. It makes me established at K, even though he would surely have objected. St. Columba’s Episcopal Church. I also returned microcosm of the ethnic and cultural diversity of the world. Of course, like the world it proud that K is one of the first to Four years later, by the way, in 1961–62, I was privileged to my maiden name, Judith D.