Andrew Sullivan, Blogger
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Endangered Species • Comics Czar • Metabolic Scientists may-june 2011 • $4.95 The New Media Andrew Sullivan, Blogger Seeking 29 great leaders... motivated to tackle big challenges facing communities around the world with a successful track record of 20-25 years of accomplishments in their primary career recognizing the value of re-engaging with Harvard to prepare for their next phase of life’s work The Advanced Leadership Fellowship is a flexible year of education, transition, and student mentoring...for great leaders from any profession who are ready to shift focus from their main income-earning years to their next years of service...guided by a unique collaboration of award-winning Harvard faculty from across professional schools. Inquire now for January 2012. Visit us online to be inspired by the possibilities: www.advancedleadership.harvard.edu Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative Email our Relationship Director: [email protected] . MAY-JUNE 2011 VOLUME 113, NUMBER 5 FEATURES 27 Fathoming Metabolism INCOLN A new way of studying humanity’s inner chemistry promises deep insights into L OSE health and disease R page 45 by Jonathan Shaw 32 Vita: Leverett Gleason DEPARTMENTS Brief life of a comics impresario: 1898-1971 4 Cambridge 02138 by Brett Dakin Communications from our readers 9 Right Now 34 World’s Best Blogger? Safe crossings for four-footed Andrew Sullivan, fiscal conservative friends, the power of proximity, NSTITUTION and social liberal, navigates I modern malaise IC K APH A the changing media landscape 8A Commencement and NOGR A STERN by Jesse Kornbluth A CE P O A Reunion Guide “The best day of the year,” the essence of the occasion in images, Why Whales? OODS HOLE 40 W a graduate’s commitments, lots of COURTESY OF ANN OF COURTESY A surprising discovery about whales’ role in the luncheon choices, events of page 18 ocean ecosystem complements a scientist’s the week, and more WINN/ JEREMY reexamination of the Endangered Species Act page 40 15 Montage by Joe Roman Harvard’s Indian College in fiction, honeybees on the move, street-level ballet, Gandhi’s unresolved struggles—and John Harvard’s Journal India’s, poetry to the people, a paean to 45 cities, and more ROTC formally recognized again, bioengineering blossoms, Harvard Yard’s caretakers, the University prepares to celebrate being 375 years young, reenact- 60 The Alumni ing early action—and admissions A writer’s resonant Central Valley roots, comings and goings, rethinking classes and and tuition data, thoughts on reunions, choristers reconvened, and teaching, public perspectives on Overseer and director candidates social-science priorities, polic- 64 The College Pump ing a prohibited plant, building Presidents Everett, Lincoln, and Washing- community for graduate students, ton, and William James’s salary woes remembering the Reverend Peter 72 Treasure J. Gomes, the Undergraduate and An exotic coconut the meaning of life, a lefty pitcher 65 Crimson Classifieds and his grips, and a basketball RED FIELD On the cover: Photograph by Jim Harrison F breakthrough page 27 www.harvardmagazine.com LETTERS Editor: John S. Rosenberg Senior Editor: Jean Martin Managing Editor: Jonathan S. Shaw Cambridge Deputy Editor: Craig Lambert Associate Editor: Elizabeth Gudrais Quotable Harvard, Vietnam, polygyny Production and New Media Manager: Mark Felton Assistant Editor: Nell Porter Brown Art Director: Jennifer Carling PArtISAN PERSPECTIVES college students by Matthew Woessner, Berta Greenwald LedecKy Observing that 90 percent or more of April Kelly-Woessner, and my late col- Undergraduate Fellows Harvard graduates in Congress are Demo- league at Smith College, Stanley Rothman. Madeleine Schwartz, Sarah Zhang crats, Peter McKinney ’56 concludes that Among their findings: seniors leave college Editorial Intern: “the development of independent and with virtually the same political affiliation Maya E. Shwayder critical thinking…is not happening at Har- that they had when they were freshmen vard College” (Letters, March-April, page (31 percent and 32 percent Democrats, re- Contributing Editors 7). But according to polls, vast numbers spectively). The authors deem the belief John T. Bethell, John de Cuevas, Adam of the party McKinney favors believe that that college professors turn their students Goodheart, Jim Harrison, Courtney global warming is a hoax, that evolution into liberals “a popular misconception.” Humphries, Christopher S. Johnson, is a fraud, that Barack Obama is a Muslim Richard Olivo, Ph.D. ’69 Adam Kirsch, Colleen Lannon, born in Indonesia, and that the moral high Boston Christopher Reed, Stu Rosner, ground belongs to serial adulterers. One Deborah Smullyan, Mark Steele wonders who really missed out on a Har- Peter McKinney’s comment rests on Editorial and Business Office two false assumptions. vard education. 7 Ware Street, Charles M. Epstein ’69, M.D. ’73 The first and less egregious fallacy is Cambridge, Mass. 02138-4037 Atlanta that Harvard students are susceptible to Tel. 617-495-5746; fax: 617-495-0324 faculty indoctrination. I recall most of my Website: www.harvardmagazine.com Peter McKinney might be interested in college classmates as being politically so- Reader services: a recent national survey of thousands of phisticated and established in their views 617-495-5746 or 800-648-4499 Harvard Magazine Inc. Harvard at 375: Your Experiences and Expectations President: Henry Rosovsky, JF ’57, Harvard’s 375th anniversary is fast approaching; see page 48 for a report on the Ph.D. ’59, LL.D. ’98. Directors: official festivities planned for this fall and beyond. As Harvard Magazine prepares its Suzanne Blier, Robert Giles, NF ’66, coverage of the University’s recent past (focusing on the past quarter-century, from Leslie E. Greis ’80, Alex S. Jones, NF ’82, before you used the Internet or recognized China and India as rising economic pow- Thomas F. Kelly, Ph.D. ’73, ers), and its prospects (up to the fourth-century mark), we invite you to reflect on: Randolph C. Lindel ’66, Tamara Elliott Rogers ’74, A. Clayton Spencer, A.M. ’82 • how your experiences and education in the College or the graduate and profes- Harvard Magazine (ISSN 0095-2427) is published bimonthly sional schools shaped your life, work, and perspectives; by Harvard Magazine Inc., a nonprofit corporation, 7 Ware • how those experiences and your Harvard edu- Street, Cambridge, Mass. 02138-4037, phone 617-495-5746; fax 617-495-0324. The magazine is supported by reader contribu- cation could have been more effective; and tions and subscriptions, advertising revenue, and a subven- • how you would improve Harvard for the tion from Harvard University. Its editorial content is the re- sponsibility of the editors. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, future, if you were returning to the University Mass., and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send ad- dress changes to Circulation Department, Harvard Magazine, today to prepare for the rest of your life, or ad- 7 Ware Street, Cambridge, Mass. 02138-4037. Subscription rate vising a young person—your child, a relative, a $30 a year in U.S. and possessions, $55 Canada and Mexico, $75 other foreign. (Allow up to 10 weeks for first delivery.) Sub- friend—embarking on that stage of growth and scription orders and custoMer service inquiries should be sent to the Circulation Department, Harvard Magazine, 7 Ware learning. Street, Cambridge, Mass. 02138-4037, or call 617-495-5746 or Please share your thoughts, and comment on 800-648-4499, or e-mail [email protected]. Single copies $4.95, plus $2.50 for postage and handling. Manuscript those of your fellow correspondents, at www. subMissions are welcome, but we cannot assume responsibil- ity for safekeeping. Include stamped, self-addressed envelope harvardmag.com/375th. We look forward to for manuscript return. Persons wishing to reprint any por- incorporating some of the most vivid accounts tion of Harvard Magazine’s contents are required to write in advance for permission. Address inquiries to and ideas into future issues. ~The Editors Irina Kuksin, publisher, at the address given above. Copyright © 2011 Harvard Magazine Inc. 2 May - June 2011 Illustration by Mark Steele HMS ALUMNI BULLETIN HARVARD HARVARD MAGAZINE HARVARD HARVARD MAGAZINE HMS ALUMNI BULLETIN HMS ALUMNI BULLETIN HMS ALUMNI BULLETIN HARVARD MAGAZINE HARVARD MAGAZINE GREATER IMPACT. 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Photo: Stuart Darsch HARVARD HARVARD MAGAZINE MAGAZINE HMS ALUMNI BULLETIN HMS ALUMNI BULLETIN HMS.indd 1 3/18/11 1:26 PM 57151-11_5615_HMS_GreaterGood02_composite.indd 1 3/12/11 8:25 AM HARVARD HARVARD HARVARD HARVARD MAGAZINE MAGAZINE HMS ALUMNI BULLETIN HMS ALUMNI BULLETIN BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN 57151-11_5615_HMS_GreaterGood02_composite_1-1.pgs 03.12.2011 08:17 letters when they arrived, and far more likely to planations. In my grandfather’s GOP, a modify or adapt those views because of in- degree from an “elite” university was an teractions with their fellows than because asset: it was evidence that a politician was of what they heard in the lecture hall. This smart, or hard working, or, sadly, that he was even truer of my law school class- was at least from the right sort of family.