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4 •HEM
A Macalester Family: Seven Cervantes Sifilings LETTERS
ACALESTER TODAY welcomes letters from alumni, M the primary audience of this magazine, as well as other members of the Macalester community. Exceptions are letters that personally malign an individual or are not related to issues at Macalester or contents of the magazine. Please send letters intended for publica- tion to Letters to the Editor, Macalester Today, College Relations, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Are., St. Paul, MN 55105-IS99. You can also send your letter by fax: (651J 696-6192. Or by e-mail: [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit letters for conciseness and clarity.
Two losses IT WAS SAD to read about the deaths Correction of two people who had special meaning for STORY on the World Press Institute in May's Mac Today included a photo of the me during my years at Macalester. A. 1962-63 class of WPI Fellows with the U.N. flag. The caption erroneously identified Beverly Werbes White '41 was my yoga them as "the first class" of WPI. In fact, that group was the second class. This photo, which instructor at Macalester as well as the wife appeared in the 1962 Mac yearbook, shows the first class, which arrived at Macalester in of my favorite professor, David White. She 1961. Front row (from left): Hennecke Graf von Bassewitz, Germany; Niklaas Heizenberg, was always a warm and friendly presence. The Netherlands; Ignatio Puche, Spain; and Samar Kumar Pal, India. Middle row: Mustafa The world is less without her. Danbatta, Nigeria; Giorgio Gabbi, Italy; Reimei Okamura, Japan; and J. Edilberto Coutinho, I didn't know Bernice Flemming very Brazil. Back: Antonio Rodriguez-Villar, Argentina; Hernando Orozco, Colombia; Anthony Paul, Australia; WPI founder Harry Morgan and his wife, Catharine; and Nicolas Ulloa, well, but she used to greet me every time I Ecuador. Both Morgan, who is now teaching journalism in Romania, and Heizenberg, who would go over to the president's house to lives in Amsterdam, wrote to correct the error. • play a game of pool with her husband, Arthur. At the time, I was living next door in a house that is now torn down. outreach program will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, less complacent and getting involved in Although I was one of the long-haired Sept. 19, at Dharma Field Zen Center in the political process and voting. hippies of that time, neither she nor her Minneapolis. In addition, a collection of I sincerely hope this is the future and husband ever judged me badly for my Mrs. White's writings is being compiled and not a fluke. appearance. She always welcomed me into will be made available to participants in the Thomas S. Robertson '63 her home, even though I would almost outreach program. For more information, Eden Prairie, Minn. always come around at 9 or 10 at night call Cal Appleby, a friend of Mrs. White unannounced. What a wonderful woman. who co-taught her Macalester yoga class, I miss her and her husband. They were at (612) 929-0901. good people. German program John Kremer '71 I TRULY enjoyed your May Macalester Fairfax, Iowa Today cover article on Macalester's Ger- Jesse Ventura man Study Abroad Program. I was a Editors' note: The Beverly White Commu- PETER FENN'S article in May's Mac member of the group that went in nity Outreach Program is being organized toToday ["The Ventura victory: Fluke or 1974-1975 to Arolsen, Germany, for the share meditation with people new to medita- future?"] seemed to me a ''politics as usual" summer, then Vienna for the fall and tion in varying community settings. The response from the political establishment. Interim semesters. It truly was one of the outreach program will be sponsored by the I hope the election of Mr. Ventura was most broadening experiences of my life. Buddhist Peace Fellowship and will meet more than the stars beinq in alignment. As Linda Schulte-Sasse describes, I did quarterly at different Buddhist centers in the Like a Japanese general's comments about not understand how American I was until Twin Cities area. The next meeting of the awakening a sleeping giant after the I was immersed in another culture. bombing of Pearl Harbor, maybe the elec- Thanks also for the updates on Dan torate is being nudged awake by two Soneson '75 and Peggy Russell Skopec '73. political parties which continue to pursue I was there to watch Dan Soneson fall in failed policies and cannot see reality. love with the German language. I remem- To some of us, Mr. Ventura represents a ber a class towards the end of our time in breath of fresh air and proof that we the continued on page 49 people can effect our future by becoming MACALESTER TODAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE
2 At Macalester Macalester Today A $2 5 million gift; retiring faculty; spring sports review; and other campus news. Director of College Relations. Doug Stone Executive Editor 10 Alumni News Nancy A. Peterson CALENDAR of alumni events Managing Editor Jon Halvorsen Art Director Elizabeth Edwards 11 The Road from Hell Class Notes Editor A NEW play by Professor Sears Eldredge dramatizes the Robert Kerr '92 reconciliation between two World War II enemies.
Macalester College
Chair, Board of Trustees 13 Alumni Awards 1999 Timothy A. Hultquist 72 President Michael S. McPherson 16 Reunion & Commencement 1999 Vice President for College Advancement MAJOR photo op Richard Allen Ammons Alumni Director Elizabeth Rammer Alumni Director Emeritus 21 The 'Minority' View A. Phillips Beedon '28 U.S. alumni of color reflect on how Macalester shaped their lives.
Macalester Today (Volume 87, Number 4) is published by Macalester College. It is mailed free of charge to alumni and 31 Gone Dutch friends of the college four times a year. Circulation is 25,000. LYNN Buller '72 uses a team approach to build a thriving bookstore in Amsterdam. For change of address, please write: Alumni Office, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105-1899. Or call (651) 696-6295. Toll-free: 1-888-242-9351. 32 Grand Design page 31 To submit comments or ideas, write: DESIGNER David Heide'83 Macalester Today, College Relations, does all he can to preserve at the above address. Phone: historic St. Paul. (651) 696-6452. Fax: (651) 696-6192. E-mail: [email protected]
34 Class Notes On the cover Steve Woit photo- graphed the Cervantes siblings—all Macalester page 32 graduates—at their 48 Macrocosm mother's residence in St. Paul. Clockwise from FOR Cathy Lindsey Brown and Marc Brown, both Class of '64, front center, they are it was clearly time to downsize. Raquel '74, Ramona '76, Juan '84, Ricardo '81, Manuel '74, Guadalupe '78 and Jose'84. See the family photo on page 25.
AUGUST 1999 I AT MACALESTER
about $1 million per year to the college's dents who have been helped. It makes $25 million income, which corresponds to about 2 per- you feel so good. Macalester is a great col- cent of the college's annual budget o( lege. I think it does an excellent job. It The late John Holl, former trustee, $50 million (net of financial aid)," gives people a good general education, and makes one of the largest gifts McPherson said. "In terms of our budget- an opportunity to go almost any place in Macalester^ history ing and financial planning processes, this [after graduation]. And students seem to ACALESTER has received a flow of income will allow us to recover like it." $25 million gift from the estate oi some of the ground Holl was the former president of Seeger M the late John S. Holl, a longtime that was lost Co., which was founded by his grandfather supporter of rhe college and former presi- through cutbacks and which made iceboxes and later elec- dent of Seeger Refrigerator Co. and in the Readers tric refrigerators. He helped negotiate the Whirlpool Corp. executive. Digest dividend merger of Seeger into Whirlpool in 1955 The gift will be managed separately as and stock price. and he remained at Whirlpool as an officer part of a special trust fund and the college Thus, rather than until he retired in 1961. He served as a will receive the annual income from the releasing funds for director until 1970. trust. new spending, we Holl was president of the St. Paul Holl, who died April 26 at the age oi 93 expect that this School Board, a contributor to and direc- in Arden Hills, Minn., was a member of funding will assist tor of the St. Paul United Way for more the Macalester Board of Trustees from us in our return to than 40 years, president and trustee of 1949 to 1975. He was named an honorary long-run financial St. Paul Children's Hospital, and a trustee trustee in 1975. John S. Holl equilibrium. of the House of Hope Presbyterian u "We are honored that a man of John This is an extraordinary gift, a great Church. He was also president and a direc- Holl's standing had the faith and confi- encouragement to all of us on campus, tor of the St. Paul Athletic Club, a dence in Macalester to bestow such a and an inspiration to all those who love director of First National Bank of St. Paul, wonderful gift—a gift that will serve many Macalester. We will work hard to generations to come," said President make sure that everyone under- McPherson. "He was a great friend of the stands that the college will Touch the Future, college and a distinctly generous man continue to need the financial sup- The Campaign for Macalester College who, like Macalester, believed strongly in port of alumni, faculty, staff and public service. He led by friends. The Goal: $50 million example. He gave his Touch the Allocation: energy, his heart and his 'Rather than releasing funds Future cam- • $24 million to endow faculty and academic treasure to Macalester paign remains and many other for new spending, programs and student financial aid and student active, and we programs organizations." we expect that this funding will continue to Holl's gift is among • $16 million toward capital projects, including new [about $1 million per year seek support for Campus Center that will become focal point of the largest the college the needs we community activities has ever received. (A in income from John Holl's gift] have identified: 1981 gift of privately • $10 million for current giving, including the will assist us in our the Annual Annual Fund held Reader's Digest Fund, endowed Association stock from return to long-run scholarships, Raised so far: more than $45.2 million as of June 3Q, the late DeWitt and Lila of which about $14 million has been raised since the financial equilibrium.' endowed fac- Wallace was valued at ulty support campaign's public kickoff last October $10 million at the time. — President McPherson and construc- Campaign ends: May 31, 2000 When the stock later tion oi the new went public in 1990, it _ .___ Campus Cen- Campaign co-chair Mardene Asbury Eichhorn '53: was worth more than $200 million.) 1 "What is exciting about the progress so tar is that we are ter,' the president said. meeting both goals we wanted to achieve. The gift to Macalester was one of three Although he was not an alum- $25 million gifts Holl made. The St. Paul nus oi the college, Holl was a "First, we've done very well towards the financial goal. Foundation and the Presbyterian Homes longtime supporter and the largest And we've done equally well in bringing to the ck Services each received $25 million. He contributor to the Macalester forefront of our alumni the needs of die college and was a trustee at the foundation and lived Annual Fund. In addition to his the importance of being part of the college. We set out his final years at the Presbyterian Homes. to change the culture of giving here and the campaign Annual Fund gifts, he supported is achieving that. We've had great participation and The trust established by Holl's gift "has the construction of the DeWitt excitement at die campaign kickoff and at the restrictions on how much income we will Wallace Library and endowed regional kickofts. receive each year and how it will be used," scholarships that have benefited President McPherson said in a letter to scores of students. "Dick [Eichhorn '51, campaign co-chair] and I are members of the Macalester community in In an interview in 1993 in confident we will meet and exceed our $50 million June. goal as we continue the campaign with regional events Macalester Today, Holl explained this fall. We still have needs to meet and we have to "We anticipate that, when all arrange- his motivation for giving. "I'm remain focused to meet our goals the rest of the year. ments are in place, this gift will contribute always glad to help young people But because of the enthusiasm we've seen, we know we get along," he said. "I get letters of will meet these goals and that volunteers and staff will appreciation from some of the stu- work diligently towards that end." • MACALESTER TODAY AT MACALESTER
"We at Macalester extend our deepest sympathies to her family," Provost Dan Hornbach wrote in a letter to the Macal- ester community in June. "When Macalester students return to campus this fall, the college will seek ways in which the campus community can come together to express its grief for the death of Sarah Wallbank and its support for the Beloit and Macalester students who were with her." Appreciation Praising his 'outstanding performance, trustees support President hAcPherson with reappointment to five-year term MIKE MCPHERSON, who became Macal- ester's 15th president in 1996 and just completed his third year at the college, has been reappointed to a five-year term by the Board of Trustees. "We are extremely pleased with the outstanding job Mike has done these It takes a village, and village elders past three years and we wanted to Mahmoud El-Kati, a lecturer in Macatester's History Department for nearly express our appreciation and show him 30 years, is revered by generations of African Americans and other students of our complete support," Timothy A. color as a mentor, community activist and role model. Hundreds of people Hultquist '72, chair of the board, said gathered this past spring for several community celebrations in his honor, ? in May. "Mike's contributions to the including this one at the Penumbra Theater in St. Paul, where El-Kati s family college have been enormous. He's a members were among the well-wishers. "[His] dedication to black culture and wonderful leader, emissary of the col- community has earned him the respect of people across the country," the lege and scholar. One of his best Minneapolis Star Tribune said. An authority on race, culture and ethnicity, El-Kati is well known as a fighter for civil rights and social justice. See Quotable Quotes on page 8. qualities is his ability to engage and to listen to the members of the community, including students, faculty, staff and Dayton Rogers Manufacturing Co. and the Wallbank tell while working on a alumni." St. PaulYMCA. mountain-mapping project north of Pine- Janet Rajala Nelson '72, vice chair of the "St. Paul was his home and he was very dale, Wyo. board, said McPherson had helped generate proud of this city," said Gaylord Glarner, a No one else was injured in the accident. a "tremendous amount of excitement and friend and adviser to Holl since 1954 and However, Macalester student Josh Miller enthusiasm" at Macalester and that in now a trustee of his estate. "He was a '00, who was her climbing partner when extending his contract by fiveyears , the wonderful person to he around. He was Ms. Wallbank tell, was hospitalized briefly board was showing its commitment to his very generous with his time and talents, for shock. leadership. and very unassuming. He did not look for The other Macalester students are Bryan In his first three years, Nelson said, credit for his charitable endeavors. It's Kennedy V0, who was the teaching assis- McPherson has helped lead a $50 million exciting to think about what he has done tant for the course, Avery Cook '00, Emily capital fund-raising campaign, provided for the organizations that he has con- Harris '00, Lauren Hesse '01, Gabrielle strong academic leadership and addressed a tributed to." Kurth '99, Nick Miller '00, Colin Robins number of key issues on campus, including '01 and Travis Sandland '01. multiculturalism and long-term planning. The Beloit course has been offered each "This is a wonderful liberal arts college Tragic accident summer for more than 20 years, and begins and community," McPherson said. "My wife Beloit College student dies with several weeks of preliminary studies Marge and I are very happy here, and there during rock-climbing expedition and safety training on the Beloit campus. is no place we'd rather be." A BELOIT College student died June 16 Vis. Wallbank's family went to Wyoming McPherson is a nationally known econo- in a fall during a rock-climbing expedition to be with the Beloit and Macalester stu- mist, writer and authority on the financing in Wyoming with other students from dents. The students attended a memorial of higher education. Fie is the co-author of Beloit and Macalester. service for her in Michigan in late June. seven books, most recently The Student Aid Sarah Wallbank of Howell, Mich., was Macalester is also preparing an appropri- Game: Meeting Need and Rewarding Talent in one of 15 students—six from Beloit and ate tribute to Ms. Wallbank, who had American Higher Education (1998). nine from Macalester—who were partici- completed her firstyea r of study at Beloit. The trustees also praised Mrs. McPherson pating in a geology field methods course An active and popular student, she was a for her grace, charm, sense of humor and sponsored by Beloit College. The course member of the Beloit orchestra, partici- hard work. A "consummate volunteer," she was led by Macalester geology Professor pated in sottball and soccer, and assisted as Karl Wirth, a Beloit graduate. Ms. a trainer in the athletic department. AUGUST 1999 AT MACALESTER
is "an enthusiastic supporter of all things have made a major contribution to the award citation said. "Your intermediate Macalester. She represents all the best for Modern school of Abstract Expressionism." micro course challenges students with which Macalester stands." The trustees seemingly enigmatic puzzles such as why expressed their "heartfelt thanks and recog- grocery carts are the size they are, but it is nition to Marge McPherson for the JanSerie through such exercises that students generous gift of her wisdom, her time, Minnesota Academy of Science develop a rigorous understanding of funda- her warmth and herself." salutes biology professor BIOLOGY Professor ] an Serie was named the 1999 College Science Jerry Rudquist Teacher of the Year by the Minne- 'One who knows without question sota Academy of Science. She shared why he was placed on this earth' the award with Duane Sea, a recently JERRY RUDQUIST'S paintings and com- retired science professor from missions hang in the Walker Art Center in Bemidji State University. Minneapolis and grace the walls of major The award honors an outstanding corporations across America. His works professor for excellence in teaching, have been exhibited in museums and gal- scholarship and service. leries from Nigeria to New Guinea, from Serie is an immunologist with Canada to Ceylon, from Munich to expertise in physiology, cell biology Madrid, and from Tokyo to San Francisco, and neuroscience. She is currently Vasant Sukhatme Portland and Pomona. researching the immune system's reaction mental economic principles. A recent Over the years, 12 major colleges and to viral infections, focusing on interactions student wrote that she had prized the universities, as well as more than 20 between the nervous, endocrine and course for its sheer 'intellectual elegance.1 galleries, have sponsored exhibitions oi immune systems. She is internationally You, in turn, watch for a glimmer of com- his prints, paintings, drawings and recognized for her transplantation prehension and appreciation on the faces photographs. research. She is the program of your students and prize those students The Macalester art professor director for the Howard Hughes who exhibit not only a mastery of the won this year's Thomas Medical Institute at Macalester, course material but also an intuitive gift Jefferson Award. Rudquist's which includes a summer session for economics. Your goal, quite simply, is "lite has been marked by inde- for first-year students of color to teach your students 'to think like fatigable energies and interested in the sciences. economists.' " enormous productivity, by the In addition, Serie has received With Sukhatme's guidance, many stu- dedication of a true teacher- local and national awards for dents have gone on to graduate work in scholar, and by that rare teaching and curricular innova- economics at some of the nation's top serenity and centeredness of tions, including the development graduate programs. One student wrote not one who knows without ques- of a research-based approach to long ago, "Professor Sukhatme's influence tion why he was placed on this introductory biology which has on my life is probably second only to that earth,11 the citation said. been a model for science depart- oi my parents." Rudquist joined the Art Jerr* Rudquist ments around the country. Many economics majors are inter- Department faculty in 1958. His students national students who, like Sukhatme, cite "your positive encouragement, con- come from developing countries. They stant challenge, and gentle criticism, the Vasant Sukhatme take his "signature1' course, International time and attention you give to each indi- 'You challenge, engage, inspire Economic Development. One student vidual, and the enormous respect you hold and in the end nurture students' said, "Til never forget the last day of class. 1 for the artistic bent of each student — AN ADMIRING group of students once Its easy to get depressed about the 'plight traits which embody professionalism most presented economics Professor Vasant of developing countries, but Vasant was deserving of the Macalester Excellence in Sukhatme with a T-shirt featuring a series very hopeful. He talked about the effect Teaching Award,11 which he received of favorite quotes from his lectures, a people can have on outcomes. It was very in 1991. larger-than-life photo and the simple inspiring!" As a painter, Rudquist is known for his legend: "I survived Sukhatme!" legendary attention to detail. He has made Sukhatme, who joined the faculty in numerous trips for first-hand observation, 1978, won the 1999 Macalester College Outstanding "whether to country landscapes or Cape Excellence in Teaching Award. 'An inspiring person and dedicated Canaveral, to European war memorials and Born and raised in Jamshedpur, in the to the spirit of Macalester,' battle sites, or to confer with a colleague in Indian province of Bihar, Sukhatme Jayne Niemi 'yg wins staff award biology for an exhaustive afternoon of comes from a distinguished family of aca- ASSOCIATE Registrar Jayne Niemi '79, a questions about stems and flower petals," demics. He earned a Ph.D. in economics at tireless advocate and supporter of the col- the citation said. "Such diligence produced the University of Chicago and then sought lege, won this year's Outstanding Staff impeccable drawings which rivaled the old an opportunity to teach at a liberal arts Award. masters in accuracy and complexity, as well college. Niemi's "marvelous sense of humor and as abstract paintings and landscapes which "You challenge, engage, inspire and in infectious zest for life make it a pleasure the end nurture students to think clearly, crisply and critically about economics," the MACALESTER TODAY AT MACALESTER for all of us to work with her," said the time and energy. Staff and faculty mem- years as a financial analyst at Morgan citation for the award, which was bers who nominated her for the award Stanley. She earned an M.R.A. from Har- announced at the faculty-staff dinner described Niemi as "a person of tremen- vard Business School in 1997. Originally April 24. dous courage and great character—a from Istanbul, she is fluent in Turkish, has Seriously injured in an auto accident in perfect example of what we would like our intermediate knowledge of German and a 1995, Niemi was barely home from the graduates to become," and "an inspiring basic understanding of French. hospital when she began making plans to person and dedicated to the spirit of • Susan M. Haigh '73 of St. Paul, who get connected to the college via a modem Macalester." has twice been elected to the Ramsey and telephone line. "Her long-distance County Board of Commissioners. She is participation in the Registrar's Office dur- New trustees very active in the community, serving on ing her recuperation provided everyone the boards of with a benchmark tor measuring a person's THREE ALUMNI were elected to Macal- 11 Regions Hospital, institutional loyalty, the citation said. ester's Board of Trustees in May. They are: the St. Paul River- "The quality of the service provided by the • Allen Parchem '67, president and front Corporation office during this long period is testimony CEO of RHR International Co., a pio- and the St. Paul/ to Jayne's organizational and planning neering firm in the field of corporate Ramsey County skills and to her ability to psychology, headquartered in Children's Initiative. hire and nurture a skilled Wood Dale, 111. He has a Ph.D. in She has a law degree staff. The steady stream of psychology from the University of from William faculty and staff who came to Vermont. He is a member of the Mitchell. She her home during this period American Psychological Associa- received a Distin- with nourishment tor the soul tion, a director of the Society of guished Citizen (and sometimes nourishment Psychologists in Management, a Citation from for the body) is proof of the member of the Chicago Council Macalester in 1998. Susan Haigh'73 special regard that many have on Foreign Relations and has for her." served on Macalester's Alumni Nierni's presence has been Board. World Press Institute felt at alumni phonathons, • Gulum Ozustun Williams '92, Nine international journalists on the Staff Advisory chosen for iggg fellowships A||en a consultant in the New York Council, in professional orga- Parchem ' office of the Boston Consulting JOURNALISTS from Nigeria, Russia, Italy nizations, and numerous other occasions Group, a management consulting firm. and Venezuela are among the nine inter- where staff are asked to contribute their Her prior work experience includes three national reporters and editors chosen to be 1999 Fellows of the World Press Insti- suntry SB t could do for yo-Jj c tute at Macalester. The WPI Fellowship - offers experienced journalists from ^_ _ j 11 1 around the world a chance to explore 1 • 1 i•f ; the United States in depth. yjfl " " '{'•'• ' a ": David Mazzarella, editor of USA i . : Today and former president of Gannett 1 . L International, is among the four jour- : nalism professionals and educators recently elected to WPI's Board of i Directors. The others are Ronald Clark, KM, editorial page editor of the St. Paul \f 1—:—i • ( Pioneer Press; Kathleen Hansen, director f / of the Minnesota Journalism Center at • i¥ mm •K k ft- the University of Minnesota, and Terry .. mm I; Hynes, dean of the College of Journal- V i I ism and Communications at the Ji Ik 1 University of Florida in Gainesville. •• L The WPI Fellows will spend three months traversing the U.S. on a rigor- ous schedule of meetings and interviews ___ with people in all walks of life. The J fellowship, which began in late June J with one month of backgrounding ses- Happy anniversary I sions at Macalester with members of the Harris Wofford, who helped launch the Peace Corps in 1961 and is now CEO of the Corporation for college faculty, includes several home National Service, spoke to Twin Cities college students about higher education and community stays in different regions of the country. service during a special lunch May 11 at Macalester. The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania also helped celebrate the 10th anniversary of Macalester's Community Service Office, which is WPI was founded at Macalester in directed by Karin Trail-Johnson, left. Kate Stebbins '00 (North Bend, Ore.), center, is the office's 1961. Since then it has offered nearly 450 tutoring coordinator. During the 1997-98 academic year, 46 percent of Macalester students volunteered at Twin Cities agencies, schools and other organizations. AUGUST 1999 AT MACALESTER
These members of the Class of '99 were honored April 30 at a dinner at Mike and Marge McPherson's home. From left: Fernando Oliveira, Kiki Papageorgiou, Sherman Wu, Katie Murphy, President McPherson, Christian Campbell, Anthony Agadzi, Marie Zemler and Katie Carothers. Not pictured is Richard Cawood (who was featured in February's Mac Today article on the International Roundtable).
journalists from 92 countries unparalleled news department of Radio Russia in • Christian Campbell (Nassau, opportunities to gain first-hand knowledge St. Petersburg. Bahamas) served as captain of the swim- of the U.S. • Tanzania. Japhet Sanga, chief ming and diving team, was a member of WPI's 1999 Fellows are: reporter, Daily News/Sunday News, Dar es the Voices of Tamani gospel group, officer • India. Radhika Dhawan, special cor- Salaam, covers major news and serves as in BLAC, founding member of the respondent, Business Today, Mumbai, deputy news editor. Caribbean Student Association, Mac covers telecommunications and pharma- • Venezuela. Carlos Camacho, reporter, Weekly columnist, Poetry Slam winner and ceuticals and does investigative reporting. Bloomberg News, Caracas, was the first writer/performer for the Black Theater Group. He majored in English and com- • Israel. Dov Gil-Har, morning news Venezuelan reporter hired by the inter- national business-oriented news agency. munication studies. He will begin a Ph.D. anchor, Channel 2 Television, Jerusalem, program at Duke this fall. produces documentaries in addition to WPI is a nonprofit, educational organi- anchoring a morning news program. zation supported by foundations, • Katie Carothers (Oklahoma City, Okla.) was an Orientation coordinator, • Italy. Roberto Baldini, deputy bureau corporations, individuals and Macalester. member of Judicial Forum, chair of Hall chief, La Nazione, Florence, manages the Council, member of WHAM, student Florence edition of one of Italy's leading government officer, College Events Com- daily newspapers. Nine from '99 Presidential Leadership Award mittee student member and leader on the • Nigeria. Cordelia Onu, assistant news recognizes contributions Senior Week Committee. Her volunteer editor, Daily Champion, Lagos, is the first by nine graduating seniors experiences include tutoring, serving as a woman among a total of 11 Nigerian jour- Ramsey County Court-appointed nalists to be named WPI Fellows. NINE GRADUATING seniors received guardian, Maction co-coordinator, Blood • Philippines. Susan A. de Guzman, the Presidential Leadership Award. It was Drive coordinator and animal shelter vol- reporter, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Makati initiated four years ago to recognize seniors unteer. She majored in communication City, focuses on arts and culture as a for their outstanding contributions to the studies and urban studies. lifestyle reporter. Macalester community throughout their college careers. • Richard Cawood (Tarkastad, South • Romania. Mircea Opris, staff pho- Africa), an economics and international tographer and reporter, hAonitOTul The nine, all of whom excelled in the classroom, are: studies major, was the co-recipient of the de Timisoara, Timisoara, is a founding Macalester Internationalism Award. He member and the first elected president oi • Anthony Agadzi (Accra, Ghana), a served as the International Speakers Pro- the Romanian Association of Press Pho- biology major, was an International Cen- gram coordinator with the Community tographers. ter student mentor, officer with the Service Office, Kidsfest volunteer, presi- • Russia. Elena Maizel, editor-in-chief, Macalester International Organization, dent of the Macalester International Radio Russia, St. Petersburg, produces and active in AFRIKA!, chair of the Organization, and student speaker at the hosts public affairs programs and runs the HIV/AIDS Action Awareness Coalition Hunger and Homelessness program. and tutor at the Learning Center. He plans ro enter medical school.
MACALESTER TODAY AT MACALESTER
• Katie Murphy (Caledonia, Minn.) Week Planning Committee. Her commu- fessor Harley Henry. Greenberg plans to majored in history and urban studies. She nity service involvement included Kids on move to Idaho, where his wife has taken a served as editor in chief, managing editor, the Block Puppeteering, volunteering at job in the M.F.A. program in creative writ- associate editor and sports editor of the Chrysalis, co-organizing the Monte Carlo ing at Boise State University and where Mac Weekly during her tour years. She was Night Benefit for Catholic Charities and he'll continue, as always, to write. a volunteer admissions tour guide and the House of Hope tutoring program. • Harley Henry, English. He joined host, and preceptor in the Geography After a year of work, she plans to study law the faculty in 1966. "I've been privileged Department. She also served as a co-editor at New York University. to have Macalester colleagues who were of the book Pride of Place, a result of the great teachers and generous in their learn- Action Research work of the Urban Geog- ing," he said. He was one of the founders raphy Field Seminar class. Farewell of The Generation Gap, the faculty and • Fernando Oliveira (Rio de Janeiro, Nine faculty members staff jazz band with whom he plays clari- Brazil) majored in economics and inter- enter retirement program net, and is a longtime member of the national studies. He was chair of the NINE faculty members are entering Macalester Symphonic Band. "Harley Student Government Financial Advisory Macalester's phased retirement program Henry is in the very best sense a faculty Commission, a member of Omicron Delta this year, exercising their option to begin a member with a college-wide view," said Epsilon Economics Honor Society, co- period of reduced sen-ice to the college. Wayne Roberts, former provost. "He has editor of the Journal oj Economics, student They are: team-taught with colleagues across the representative on the Travel/Program college, he has served the college in • Donald Betts, Music Department. He numerous administrative positions, he has Fund Committee and also served on the came to Mac in 1959. A composer and search committee for a new assistant dean been active in committee work and in fac- pianist, he has headed the piano program ulty meetings, and everyone will or students. He is beginning his profession at Macalester. He is a in banking this summer. miss his presence in The Generation founding member of the Gap. He has been a real citizen of • Kyriaki "Kiki" Papageorgiou (Larnaca, Macalester Trio, whose the college." Henry plans to con- Cyprus) majored in anthropology and noted recording, Chamber tinue his research, mainly in his international studies. She was an Orienta- Works of Women Com- hometown of Atlantic Beach, Fla., tion coordinator, a Leader in Service posers, was recently but is planning frequent returns to program coordinator, mentor to inter- reissued on compact disc. Minnesota to study at Macalester. national students, Campus Programs His own compositions have programmer, community assistant in Resi- been performed interna- • Eddie Hill, Biology. He came to dential Life and was the co-recipient of tionally at colleges and Mac in 1964- "We have the best job the Macalester Internationalism Award. universities. A compact ever perceived by the human mind; She will begin graduate studies in disc of his selected works don't botch it." This, Hill said, is his anthropology at the University of was released in 1997 on the philosophy, and it is one that he California-Irvine this fall. Centaur label. Eddie Hill tells his colleagues. Long considered a leader in the Biology Department, he • Sherman Wu (Saskatoon, • Giles Gamble, English. He came to was named the O.T. Walter Professor of Saskatchewan) majored in international Mac in 1967. A medieval scholar, he Biology in 1985, holding an endowed pro- studies and economics. He was a Leader in teaches Chaucer, Old and Middle English fessorship established to recognize Service program coordinator for a local literature, and Shakespeare, as well as con- professors who have a fundamental belief tutoring program, volunteer for the Blood temporary fiction. He has a special interest in biology as an integral part of a liberal Drive, Cultural House manager and mem- in the folk music and folklore of the arts education. Although Hill has been a ber of the Asian Student Association, and American South. regular at Macalester s gym for years, his served as student speaker for • Alvin Greenberg, English. talents rest not only on his racquetball and the college's Touch the Future He came to Mac in 1966. He handball techniques but also on his ability fund-raising campaign. He will has written in a wide variety of to work one-on-one with students. "Eddie participate in a two-year genres: poetry, novels, short sto- has assisted countless students with their leadership development pro- ries, creative nonhction, and independent biology projects and from gram with General Electric. opera librettos, as well as reviews that has launched them into careers in • Marie Zemler (Sank and literary essays. His work has research," said Professor Mark Davis. Hill's Centre, Minn.) majored in psy- appeared twice in the well- plans include working on a research pro- chology and communication known annual collection Best ject involving events (molecular/physical) studies. She served as a student American Short Stories and in that trigger the germination of heat- representative on the Alumni numerous national journals. He activated ascospores of Neurospora. Board, student speaker for the has received the Pablo Neruda Touch the Future fund-raising Prize in Poetry, the Chelsea • Jerry Rudquist, Art. He was honored i . Alvin Greenberg Poetry Award and the Loft- this spring with the Thomas Jefferson campaign, participated in McKnight Award of Distinction in Poetry. Award—see page 4. mock trial at the national Level, precepted "Alvin has worked hard as a devoted and • John Schue '53, Mathematics and a Research Methods course, was an officer gifted teacher of creative writing and from Computer Science. He came to Mac as a of Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society and it has made a program that enjoys consid- played a leadership role with the Senior erable prestige. He really will leave Macalester with a lasting legacy," said Pro-
AUGUST 1999 AT MACALESTER student 50 years ago, and since then has him as someone who gives well- Christian '88, moved to spent only nine years away from campus, organized and clear presentations China and asked Miller to taking time off for graduate school, his hrst about complex ideas and as some- visit. He did just that in teaching job and a sabbatical leave. He one who cares deeply about 1995, traveling on buses cherishes the friendshipstha t have grown scientific psychology. In addition, and trains until he reached out of the contacts with colleagues, stu- Chuck has brought important inter a small town on the border dents and statt. Also, "I have enjoyed disciplinary perspectives to the of Tibet and China to stay immensely the countless hours of sitting at department through courses in cog- with Christian and his wile. my desk just thinking about mathematics. nitive science, evolutionary "Being at Macalester has Teaching gave me the chance to expose psychology and ecological psychol- really broadened and liber- others to it and to ogy. His presence as a full-time alized my education- give them a chance colleague will be missed in many students, faculty and staff at the same ways, hut I am delighted that he alike," said Miller. His plans M excitement and sat- will continue to be around the Chuck Torrey include doing deferred isfaction it has department as an MSFEO [Macalester maintenance on his cabin and traveling to t •-" given me." In 1989, Senior Faculty Employment Option] par- Europe and Belize in the next couple Schue received ticipant." Torrey's plans include reading, of years. the Thomas travel and theater, where he has distin- • Nancy Jones, administrative assis- Jefferson Award guished himself as an actor in recent years tant, Economics Department. She came to for outstanding in several Twin Cities productions. Mac in 1991. "She is without any question DM contributions to the most organized, effective, best person I undergraduate Also retiring are two staff members: I've worked with," said retiring depart- V education. The • Tom Miller, custodial supervisor in ment Chair Jim Simler, "and I've worked Jim Simler recognition came the Physical Plant. He came to Mac in with a lot of people over the last 50 years." at a particularly significant time, since the 1978. Many employees that he oversaw Her plans include extensive travel and award was given tin his hrst day back from were students. One student worker, Cain more visits with her 2-year-old grandson. cancer surgery. His plans include more research on Lie algebras, some travel with his wife, Barbara, to continue as the family cook and to enjoy his eight grandchildren. He will also continue his daily run. Quotable Quotes • Jim Simler, Economics. Fie came to HERE ARE SOME oj the noteworthy comments niade recently on and around the campus: Mac in 1991 to serve as chair of the Eco- nomics Department after holding the same "HE INTRODUCED ME to the African American experience in 1968. I came from position at the University of Minnesota a rich black family with a strong tradition, but what he did is he made me see the link for many years. He came into the depart- between my family and the rest of Afro-America, the rest of black folks. He also introduced ment during a time of flux. "Under his me to the idea of community service." leadership," said former Provost Wayne Seitu Jones, Twin Cities artist, speaking about the course he took from Mahmoud El-Kan Roberts, "the department has made some in 1968 at the then-Twin Cities Institute for Talented Youth at Macalester. ]ones was quoted wonderful hires and has stabilized in a way in the April 30 Star Tribune. See photo of El-Kati on page 3. that has enabled it to again take its place as one of the strong departments in the "I AM CERTAINLY NOT against patriotism. We should love our country at least as college. We are greatly in his debt." Simler much as we love our family, our village or town, our profession, as well as the planet on plans to read all sorts of books that have which we are destined to live and on which we have, among other things, the country that nothing to do with economics, take up is our home. I am only against nationalism—a blind elevation of national affiliation above tennis again and continue to enjoy the everything else. Nor am I against any religion, any culture or any specific tradition of the things he's always liked to do in the Twin human civilization. I am only against all kinds of fanaticisim or fundamentalism which, Cities: see good theater, eat in fine restau- again, blindly elevates one level of human identity above all its other levels." rants, and listen to great music like Vaclav Havel, president oj the Czech Republic, speaking April 26 at Macalester. traditional jazz and chamber music. His lecture inaugurated the Vaclav Havel Civil Society Symposium, .sponsored as a cooperative • Chuck Torrey, Psychology. He came venture by Macalester, the University of St. Thomas and House of Hope Presbyterian Church. to Mac in 1966. Throughout the years, See back cover. The full text is on the Web: ivwiv.macalester.edu/-colrellhavellindex.html Torrey has served the college in a variety of ways, including as the presiding officer "IF SALES TRENDS continue, sport utility vehicles are expected to account of the Macalester faculty, chair of the tor more than half of the United States' global warming gases by the year Psychology Department and participant 2010. Ironically, the vehicles are usually advertised as wandering through on many committees. "Chuck has been a beautiful wilderness landscapes. But literally, they are adding to the key member of the Psychology Depart- destruction of those natural landscapes." ment," said Jack Rossmann, current Clay Steinman, professor oj communication studies at Macalester, quoted in chair of the department. "Students see the April 7 Highland Villager. He is the co-author of a new book, Consuming Environments: Television and Commercial Culture, which argues that TV has fostered overconsumption and the accelerated destruction oj the natural environment. • MACALESTER TODAY AT MACALESTER
row after hitting .350 and leading the team ships, while Yarrow Moench VO (Belling' Spring sports review in nearly every offensive category. Catcher ham, Wash.) and Holly Harris VO Macalester's spring sports season saw Cristin Beach '02 (Redondo Beach, Calif.) ran at the NCAA the Scots gain their best conference fin- (Colton, Calif.) hit .336 championships at the end of May. Moench ishes in two decades in baseball, men's and was one of the top made All-America for the second year in track ek held, and men's tennis. newcomers in the a row after taking eighth in the 1500 meters As a result, Macalester's MIAC all- league. Jaimi Stejskal '99 at the national championships. At the con- sports point total continues to climb to (Spring Valley, Minn.) its highest level in years. Two tracksters hit .306 and joined were All-Americans, two tennis players Beach as honorable reached the conference finals in singles mention All-MIAC play and two baseball players were picks. Carson Hildreth named to the All-Region team. '99 (Fairfax, Calif.) and Jackie Chavez '01 (Santa Baseball Fe, N.M.) did a depend- The Scots lost some key players to Kat Miles '00, able job anchoring Mac's All-Conference infielder graduation the year before, but sur- pitching staff. prised the MIAC by moving up from ninth to third in the conference standings and Women's tennis Yarrow Moench '00 (M on jersey), Ail-American finishing with a 22-17 record after winning Macalester finished with a 13-6 record for second year eight oi their final 11 games. Only national during the spring season and took sixth at ference meet, the Scots were led by Harris, runner-up St. Thomas and St. Olaf finished the season-ending MIAC tournament. who took second in the 400-meter dash, above Macalester in Once again, the Scots were led at the top and Liz Connors '00 (Albany, Ore.), who the league. Macal- oi the singles lineup by Academic All- was second in the 3000-meter run. Moench ester's pitching staff District Five standout Betsy Colby '00 was third in the conference in the 1500 improved tremen- meters, while fifth-place MIAC finishers dously as Christian include Liz Hajek '02 (Stillwater, Minn.) Blanck '00 (Min- Scots on the 'Net in the 100-meter hurdles and Joelle neapolis) and Tom Farrell '01 (Boardman, Ohio) in the Gillespte '00 (Lake You can follow Mac sports, and get complete high jump. Park, Iowa) team schedules and other athletic news, on enjoyed big sea- the Internet: www.macalester.edu/~athletic Men's track & field sons. Blanck went Everything came together for the 8-3 while Gillespie (Roseville, Minn.). Colby went 13-8 at first Scots at the MIAC championships as posted a 4-08 singles and boosted her career record to Macalester jumped five spots up to fourth R.T. Luczak '99, earned run average 38-18. Colby and Karen Martin '00 (West- place. Kajerero Ssebbaale '02 (Tutume, All-Conference outfielder as he finished sec- ford, Mass.) formed one of the conference's Botswana) won the ond in the MIAC in strikeouts. Outfielder best doubles teams, while Leela Lavasani conference triple R.T. Luczak '99 (Greenfield, Wis.) and '99 (Minnetonka, Minn.) was steady at jump crown and shortstop Keenan Sue '01 (Honolulu) were No. 2 singles. added another All- named to the All-Conference and All- America certificate Region teams. Luczak, Mac's all-time RBI Men's tennis with an eighth-place leader, hit .398 with a school-record 48 Tats Kanenari '99 (Tokyo, Japan) and national finish. RBI, and Sue hit .434- Mads Sorensen '00 (Lyngby, Denmark) EricKlinker'Ol made it to the finals at first and second (Estelline, S.D.) and Softball singles, respectively, at the conference Brandon Guthrie Macalester made tournament to lead the Scots to a third- '00 (Salem, Ore.) some strides under new place MIAC finish — their best since also enjoyed out- Coach Tina Johnson, the 70s. The Scots went 13-7 overall standing seasons. finishing 18-25-1 overall and 6-3 in the MIAC under new Coach Klinker took second Kajerero Ssebbaale '02, and 7-15 in the MIAC. Eric Eberhardt. Kanenari coasted to the in the conference in t"P'e-Jump champion The team played well conference finals at No. 1 singles before both the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles, over the final couple losing a close match in the finals and while Guthrie took second in the steeple- weeks of the season, finished his outstanding career with a chase. Both came up just short in qualifying defeating a very good 48-19 record at Macalester. Sorensen, for nationals. Fourth-place MIAC finishers St. Benedict team and who will take over at No. 1 next year, were John Shepard '00 (Absarokee, Mont.) nearly knocking off pow- reached the conference finals at No. 2 in the high jump, Bengo Mrema "00 (Gar- erhouse St. Mary's. Tats Kanenari '99, singles before bowing out. bonne, Botswana) in the triple jump and Infielder Kat Miles W standout at first singles Denis Foo Kune '99 (Union-Vale, Mauri- (Surrey, British Columbia) picked up All- Women's track & field tius) in the 100-meter dash. Conference honors for the second year in a Macalester earned 10 top-six finishes —Andy Johnson, sports information director from individuals and relay teams to close out the season at the MIAC champion- AUGUST 1999 ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni of Color Reunion, Oct. 15-17 AC ALESTER's tirst Alumni of Color Reunion will feature a con- M cert by the Sounds of Blackness, a celebration of the historic Expanded Edu- cational Opportunities program, alumni panel discussions on 'The Myth of Race" and "The Role ot Affirmative Action," a family-style barbecue and much more. A group or alumni have been planning the event, with two goals in mind: to reconnect with classmates and to help shape Macalester s multicultural mission. The reunion co-chairs are Kathy Angelos Good day out Pmkett 75 and Melvin Collins 75, both Alumni from the San Francisco Bay area came together for a service project May 22 at Slide Ranch, of St. Paul. a Park Partner of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. A nonprofit teaching farm, Slide Ranch The weekend begins with a welcome provides environmental programs through hands-on experiences. Volunteers for a day were (from left) Jonah Levy, Helga Ying '87, Megan Lehrkamp '97, Emiiy Stone '98, Wesley Knitter '76, Michelle reception at Alumni House on Thursday Smith '95 and Tim Lohnes '95. "The beautiful setting and friendly staff provided us with a wonderful evening, Oct. 14- The opening celebration opportunity to make our alumni connections stronger while also providing a valuable service," wrote will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15, in Emily, the event coordinator. the Gymnasium. Activities continue Friday and all day Saturday, Oct. 16, Sciences, Washington, D.C. Reception at Boston Happy Hours: Contact: Mary through Sunday morning. 6 p.m., program at 7. Hosted by Wendy Kate Little '97 and Lauren Paulson '97, For a brochure about the weekend or White 75 and Dusty Cowan Kreisberg '51. (617)713-2971 more information, call the Alumni Office, Call Dusty for more information: (202) New York Happy Hours: Contact: (651) 696-6295 or toll-free: 1-888* 966-0165. NoraKoplos'93, (212) 222-4102 (h) or 242-9351. Or check the Website: Sept. 10: 7 p.m., opening reception for [email protected] www.macalester.edu/~alumni "American Alphabeticians," joint exhibit Washington, D.C, Happy Hours: by artists Chank (Charles Anderson '91) Contact: Paul Batcheller '95, (202) and Spunk, Macalester Galleries. Exhibit 224-7306 or [email protected]; and Calendar of alumni events runs Sept. 1-Oct. 1. (651) 696-6416. Chuck Szymanski '91, (202) 473-5733 or OR MORE INFORMATION on any Sept. 17: St. Louis alumni event, [email protected] O F of the following, call the Alumni Cardinals baseball game Office, (651) 696-6295, except where and tailgate. Contact: noted. Toll-free: 1-888-242-9351. Roger Scherck '86 at Alumni Association Margaret J. Westin '74 Or see the alumni Web page: (314)862-4612 Board of Directors Louisa E. Chapman '75 www.macalester.edu/~alumni/calendar. Sept. 18-19: Officers: Kathleen Angelos Pinkett 75 For campus events, see the on-line Alumni Board of Direc- Molly McGinnis Stine '87, Juan A. Figueroa '77 campus events calendar: tors meet on campus Kenneth F. Schwartz 'SO president www.macalester.edu/whatshap.html. Oct. 1-3: Family Carla A. Morris '85 David C. Hodge '70, vice Or call the campus events line: Weekend Paul E. Smyke '85 president (651)696-6900. Oct. 7-9: Macalester Kimberly Gehrman-White '86 International Round- Grant Killoran '86, Thomas A. Moberg '86 Aug. 22: welcome tor new students and table, "Contending president-elect Helga L. Ying '87 parents, 3-5 p.m., home of Helga Ying '87 Gods: Faith and Reli- Edward Swanson '64, secretary- Jennifer P. Lundblad '88 in Piedmont, Calif, near San Francisco; gion in the Age of treasurer Nancy Schatz Alton '92 call (510) 601-6102; e-mail: Globalization" (651- Members: Michael A. Hecht '93 [email protected] 696-6332) Phyllis BamJbusch Jones '44 Carrie L. Norbin '94 Aug. 31: Macalester Book Club, Oct. 15-17: Alumni John W. Ring '51 Per von Zelowitz '94 7-9 p.m., location TBD; (651) 696-6295 of Color Reunion Robert C. Ringold '52 MinhTa'97 or e-mail: [email protected]; or Bay Area Happy Virginia McElftsh Dambcrg '53 Student members: www.macalester.edu/~alumni/bookclub Hours: Contact: Emily Dale W. Turnham '58 Chad Jones W } Aug. 31: Meet 1999 World Press Insti- Stone'98, (510) Kathleen Osborne Vellenga '59 Karan Singh 00 tute Fellows, National Academy of 420-6958 or Harriet M. Lansing '67 Diya Malarkar '01 [email protected] Georga Larsen Parchem '67 Harmony O'Rourke '01 Linda Karrer Trout '69 Christine Swanson '01 Caryn Davis Hanson '71
I O MACALESTER TODAY A new play by Professor Sears Eldredge dramatizes the unlikely reconciliation between two WWII enemies: a British POW and the translator for his Japanese torturers by Carolyn Griffith Japan qualified him to serve as an interpreter with the Japanese IME PAST and time future meet army's Secret Police, was used by in time present." —T.S. Eliot Allied forces to help locate the T graves of those who died building Time past: In 1943, two men meet as mortal the railway. Confronted by this enemies, as victim and tormentor, in horrific cir- evidence of the extent of Japanese cumstances that will forever change them both. brutality, and haunted by his role Haifa century later, they meet again, and the story in Lomax's torment, Nagase wrote of the healing between them moves a drama profes- his own memoir, Crosses and Tigers. sor to write, at the age of 62, his first play. He twice attempted suicide, has Time present: On April 30, 1999, Return to revisited Thailand 100 times to Kanburi by Sears A. Eldredge, chair of Macalester's atone for his and his nation's Dramatic Arts & Dance Department, premieres at Macalester. In the audience, weeping silently, is 'What Eric Lomax Takashi Nagase, the Japanese Secret Police inter- preter whose voice was the only one that British came to realize is that POW Eric Lomax remembers during his interroga- to kill and seek tion and torture. vengeance on others "I can only understand the arcs of these men's lives as some sort of spiritual journey on both their means you re also killing parts," Eldredge muses. yourself. Lomax lived Eldredge s own journey on the road to Kanburi began in 1995, when a New York Times review with this hatred, but sparked his interest in Lomax's award-winning also discovered it was memoir, The Railway Man. Lomax's hook describes the brutal treatment, during World War II, of destroying him.' British, Australian, American and Dutch POWs who were forced by their Japanese captors to build actions, built a Buddhist temple the Burma-Siam Railway, intended to support the and financed a mobile health Japanese conquest of India. Housed in leaky bamboo clinic there, and brought dozens huts whose dirt floors turned to mud during the rainy of former POWs and captors season, fed meager amounts of poor-quality rice, together with the help of more than $800,000 Professor Sears Eldredge and forced to dig out rocks, cut down trees and con- donated by remorseful Japanese to his River Kwai and Takashi Nagase, who struct the railway using only the most basic hand came from Japan for the Peace Foundation. premiere of Eldredge's play, tools, the prisoners died by the thousands—"one for Eldredge read both memoirs. "What struck me Return to Kanburi. every sleeper," or railroad tie. was, here was this person in Japan who had associ- While imprisoned at Kanchanaburi (known ated with this terrible torture, and he can't forget familiarly as Kanburi), Thailand, Lomax was tortured Eric Lomax. And on the other side of the world, for helping to hide a secret radio and making a map there's Lomax, fixated on this same event, who can't of the railway, with Nagase translating the interroga- forget Nagase. I think Mr. Nagase would say that tor's questions and Lomax's replies. For many years their meeting again was all guided by mysterious Lomax was obsessed with the desire for revenge forces that we're not aware of.'1 against the man whose voice was the only one he Those same mysterious forces, it might be said, remembered hearing during his ordeal. Instead, the drew the theater professor into the psychological two re-established contact, and met again at Kanburi orbit of the events at Kanburi. While Eldredge first in 1993, beginning the healing process. heard of the two men's shared story in 1995, the After Japan surrendered, Nagase, whose education influences that would eventually make him the per- in English literature at an American university in son to write this play arise from the same history that brought Lomax and Nagase together. Eldredge s
Carolyn Griffith is a St. Paul free-lance writer.
AUGUST 1999 II much-older stepbrother came home from WWII "thus saith the Lord." Appropriate lines from T. S. service in the Pacific with a trunk full of Japanese Eliot's The Four Quartets—including "Time past and silk, lacquer plates, a child's kimono and other trea- time future meet in time present" — came to Eldredge sures that fascinated the not-yet- 10-year-old Sears. as he was writing, but it wasn't until later that he dis- "I still remember these things vividly, and I've had covered the poems were written during World War II, a love affair with Japanese art and culture ever about an old mans coming to terms with his past. An since." It wasn't until years later he learned that his Interlude, "Kanburi Kapers," between the two parts stepbrother had piloted one of the first planes into recreates songs and comedy skits actually performed, japan after the war to briny out Allied POWs who in British variety show-style, in theaters built by the had been taken there. POWs in some of their railway concentration camps. While the hleiv York Times reviewer likened In the judgment of Eldredge's Japanese guests, his The Railway Man to Euripidean tragedy, Eldredge experiment succeeded. "This drama, for me, is so saw the story in terms of a traditional Japanese the- realistic," Takashi Nagase said. "I could see my ater form: Nob. "I immediately associated it with a behavior in the past, and understand it better, as an 15th century Noh play, Atsumon, in which a warrior- observer." In the first act, in particular, he was sur- DAVID SCHEELE turned-priest prised at the force of Eric Lomax's anger, which his confronts the meetings and correspondence with the Englishman ghost of a man had not revealed. His wife, Fujiwara Yoshiko, has he killed to seek long been interested in Nob, and was impressed forgiveness," he with the way Eldredge used its traditions. notes. "Mr. Nagase told me 1 really captured his soul, Eldredge took and that he now understands better why Eric Lomax a year's sabbati- focused on him," says Eldredge, who notes that Jacques Roy '01 (Hersey, Mich.), left, portrayed Takashi Nagase and Stephen Soldan '02 (Pelkie, Mich.), right, played Eric Lomax. Julia Stemper '01 (Carbondale, III.), left, played Nagase's wife, and Emily Arsenault '00 (St. Peter, Minn.) played Lomax's wife. cal to research Nagase offered some important suggestions to the and write Return actor portraying his character, while his wife cor- to Kanburi, trav- rected the hand positions of the actress who played eling to Japan her. "It was difficult, conveying the importance oi and to the site minute movements and correct postures to the cast," of the railroad the professor notes ruefully. "They really had to learn in Thailand, and to move in very particular ways." studying exten- Nagase brought with him a Japanese videography sively at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center in team to film the production; a behavioral science Minneapolis to further his understanding of the professor from Okayama University, with a special Buddhist philosophy embodied in the two men's interest in British POWs from WWII; and the staff reconciliation. "What Eric Lomax came to realize is announcer from the local NHK (National Broadcast- that to kill and seek vengeance on others means ing Company) station. Eldredge, Nagase, and Lomax you're also killing yourself. It's a Buddhist concept. are also exploring the possibility of staging the play in Lomax lived with this hatred, but also discovered it London. It is easy to envision the widening impact of was destroying him. Most people can't get there," this long-ago story, now a play, in Time Future. Eldredge says. Many members of the Macalester community The play, which Eldredge describes as an experi- helped Eldredge realize Return to Kanburi, including ment in intercultural theater and a dialogue colleagues from the French, Music, Japanese, and between Christian and Buddhist values, unfolds in Dramatic Arts & Dance departments, as well as for- two parts depicting the two meetings, 50 years apart. mer students from his Asian Theaters classes. People These segments combine elements from highly from the Center for Victims of Torture in Min- stylized Noh theater with Western theater conven- neapolis and the Veterans Medical Center "were tions. Noh, for example, typically incorporates instrumental in helping all of us understand the psy- quotations from poems, songs, Buddhist stura and chological context of the story," Eldredge says. other sources to create a widening resonance in the Now, having seen the work staged, he is reworking minds of those familiar with those sources and their the ending to heighten the sense of risk the two men meanings. In Part II, "The Bridge," the character take in reaching out to each other, and convey the representing Eric Lomax screams "vengeance is spiritual achievement of their reconciliation. mine" at his enemy—and thus evokes, on the part "How these two former enemies found a way to of anyone with even rudimentary knowledge of become friends seems terribly important tor us to Judeo-Christian tradition, the recognition that he is know about in our world. These men had both been gravely mistaken: the completion of the quote is through hell. Then how could forgiveness and recon- ciliation happen between them? That's what my play tries to explore," Eldredge says. O
I 2 MACALESTER TODAY had enormous encouragement and mentorship," says Phillips, "so I've seen the value of investing in 1999 people strategically, having high expectations of them and giving them tangible information about YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD how to move forward on their visions." The purpose of the Young Alumni Award, which is being given this year for. the first time, is to recognize alumni who have graduated in the past 10 years. This award pays tribute to those who are making an effective contribution to the community in which they live, or moving forward rapidly in their career, and DISTINGUISHED living the kind of unselfish, caring life for which their CITIZENS Macalester education prepared them. The Distinguished Citizen Citation recognizes alumni who Juwe exercised leadership in civic, social, Alicia R. Phillips '92 religious and professional activities. It is given because N 1996, when City Business included Alicia the Alumni Association, the Board of Trustees and the Phillips in its "40 under 40" list of young, influ- faculty of Macalester hold that a college education I ential leaders, she was only 27. "While at should be the training and inspiration for unselfish and Macalester, Alicia developed the idea of Next effective service to the community, the nation and the Innovations and raised start-up funds from a tew world. Recipients demonstrate a practical acceptance faculty, trustees, alumni and friends," wrote Richard of these obligations in their lives and work. E. Eichhom '51. "Next Innovations has become a highly visible and viable young adult leadership program." Next Innovations teaches leadership and alliance building skills to young non-profit profes- DWIN STUART completed high school sionals in the Twin Cities. Each Next participant during the Great Depression. He later spends 130 hours over nine months learning these E married his hometown sweetheart, skills. With the May 1999 class, graduates now Margaret Johnson, and served nearly four years total 153 — 80 percent of whom still work in non- in the military before the G.I. Bill enabled him profits, says Phillips, now to graduate from Macalester with a history major. executive director. Alumni are invited He subsequently completed two advanced "I believe that if you can to make nominations counseling degrees at the University of Minne- tap into, direct and lever- for next year's sota while working as a secondary school teacher, age the idealism of people Distinguished Citizen counselor and special education administrator in in their 20s, we can make Citations and Young North St. Paul, Roseville and Stillwater, Minn. the Twin Cities the way Alumni Award — While serving as Roseville's special education see postage-free we want them to be," she administrator in 1964, when no such services reply card in this issue. says. She should know. By were yet mandated, he implemented the Lake the time Phillips gradu- Owasso School for children with moderate to ated with majors in political science and history, severe mental impairments. He has been a leader she had gained experience from internships with in a variety of professional organizations, serving the Minnesota as a founder and/or president of the St. Paul Department of Labor Suburban Counselors Association, the Minne- ; and Industry; Policy sota Counselors Association and the Minnesota i Research and Action Personnel Guidance Association. Since his » Group and Manage- retirement 19 years ago, Stuart has been a Edwin Stuart '49 • ment Cornerstones prodigious volunteer. Active in the Retired Educators ) in Chicago; Legal Association, he served as local chapter president and Aid Society of Min- as president and 11-year board member of the neapolis; and with Minnesota REA. He has worked as a tax aide to Massachusetts Rep. seniors for 12 years, and served his church both Kevin Fitzgerald and locally and nationally. In 1984 Washington County St. Paul City Coun- named him Outstanding Senior Citizen. Currently cil member Bob co-chairing his 50-Year Reunion Committee, Stuart Long '81. She even sees nothing exceptional in crowning a distinguished taught a Macalester professional career with nearly two decades of volun- course, "Nonprofit teer work. "Why not?" he says. "When you retire Leadership and from certain occupations, and counseling is one, you Management." "I've feel lost if you're not working with people."
Alicia Phillips '92
AUGUST 1999 13 John A. Williamson '54 Washington University Medical Center in g OHN WILLIAMSON, professor of applied mathe- Washington, D.C., and 5 matics ar the University ot Colorado, Boulder, maintained a private J majored in mathematics and psychology at clinic in Annapolis, Md., Macalester, and was active in SPAN, the Student specializing in urological Project for Amity among Nations, sen-ing as student oncology and reconstruc- president of the Iviinnesota SPAN Association. He tive surgery. He has taught high school mathematics in Lamberton, co-authored a number of Minn., and, as a Fulbright teacher, in Lusaka, Zam- scientific papers as well as bia. Deteriorating vision led him to earn his M.A. the landmark text Critical and Ph.D. at the University ot Minnesota, allowing Operative Maneuvers in him to concentrate on the challenge ot mathemati- Urologic Surgery, which cal theory. After a stint at Cornell University, in incorporates innovative 1967 Williamson joined the faculty at the Univer- three-dimensional digi- sity of Colorado, where he teaches new generations tized surgery illustrations. of mathematicians, and has conducted research sup- He and his partner hold ported by NASA, N1H, NSF, Italy's National three patents on surgical Research Council and Colorado's Institute of instrumentations. Yu is a Behavioral Genetics. "His career truly epito- regular consultant in medical technology, which mizes much of what Macalester strives for. In frequently takes him to the Far East. His latest addition to his distinguished research career, research commitments include oxalobacter form in- he is valued by his university as a superb genes (the missing bacteria leading to kidney teacher," says Macalester Professor Stan stones), selenium relationship to prostate cancer, Wagon. In the early 1990s, Williamson new instrumentation for perineal prostatectomy for moved from pure to applied mathematics, prostate cancer, and collaboration with Macalester specifically to statistical linkage analysis used Professor Wayne Wolsey on kidney stone inhibi- in locating genes — for example, suscep- tors. In his spare time, he tibility genes for hereditary cancers. A surrounds himself with paper he co-authored was judged the best the beauty of nature at paper published in 1995 by the Inter- his home in Jackson national Genetic Epidemiology Society. Hole, Wyo. His international interests and his scholarship have dovetailed nicely in several sabbatical sojourns in Europe, LaVon M. Lee '77 this year taking him to Britain for the MEMBER of the fall and Italy for the spring. Pine Ridge reser- A'vation in South k/tprfj-v 1AI Dakota, LaVon Lee 77 Yu '69 grew up convinced that ORN IN SHANGHAI in 1947, education was vital to the George Yu lived in Southeast Asia, survival ot American Europe and South America before Indian people and know- John Williamson '54 settling in New York. While attending ing she would use her Northfield Mt. Hermon School, he met DeWitt education in her com- Wallace and was influenced to come to Macal- munity. Recruited to ester, from which he graduated in biological Macalester from Rapid chemistry. After attending Tufts University City, Lee majored in soci- School of Medicine, he did a medical mission- ology, later earning her ary tour in Cameroon, before continuing his master's in educational general surgery residency at Peter Bent administration from Penn Brigham-Harvarcl Medical School. In 1976, he State. She returned to did a second medical missionary tour in Malawi, LaVon Lee '77 Macalester as adviser, and then was sent as a reciprocal doctor under Har- later director, of the American Indian students' pro- vard surgical services to the People's Republic ot gram, then becoming minority program coordinator, China. From 1977 to 1981, he finished his sub- providing academic counseling and culturally rele- specialty training in urology at the Johns Hopkins vant support to students. In 1991 she became Hospital and Medical Center. Since that time, he consultant to the Saint Paul Foundations program has been professor of urology at the George "Supporting Diversity in Schools.'1 Currently execu- tive director of the American Indian Family Center, part of St. Paul/Ramsey County Children's Initia- tive, Lee collaborates with 16 agencies providing
MACALESTER TODAY support in areas of child health and development, Education Partnership, whose mission is "to school readiness and family functioning. "We build increase the success of Minnesota students of color on the strengths families already possess, supporting in Minnesota schools, colleges and universities." families in nurturing and educating their children Mariani urges commitment to educational opportu- to reach their full potential within traditional cul- nities for low-income students, particularly those of tural values," she says. Kathleen Vellenga '59 calls color, saying, "I clearly attribute where I am now in the center "a trusting, welcoming place" and credits large part to Macalester reaching out and making Lee: "She is not only bright and highly educated, that opportunity available." she exudes a common, warm friendshipt o all." Lee serves on the American Indian Magnet School Site Council, and the boards of Ain Dah Yung Center, a shelter tor American Indian youth, and St. Paul ALUMNI SERVICE Area Council of Churches. In 1996 she was named a Minnesota TRIO Achiever tor realizing the AWARD 1999 promise of educational opportunity and excellence, The Alumni Service Award is presented to and successfully working in her community. Lee an alumnus or alumna of Macalester whose herselt considers her most important work to he significant service and consistent loyalty to u being a mom" to her son, John. the college has set an outstanding example of volunteerism. Carlos Mariani '79 HE SON OF IMMIGRANTS from Puerto Rico, Minnesota State Rep. Carlos Mariani STHER TORII SUZUKI is a much- T became an organizer at an early age, provid- admired friend to many members of ing activities tor West Side Chicago youth. E the Macalester community. Alumni Recruited to Macalester from his low-income of every generation cherish her warmth, her neighborhood, Mariani was a committed student wonderful sense of humor, her energy and activist, graduating with a major in history. After her profound commitment to Macalester. working as a paralegal at the Neighborhood Justice Although she retired in 1991 from her Center, he became a community organizer with 24-year career in social work with Ramsey Ramsey Action Programs. In 1986 he joined the County, she has hardly slowed down. Minnesota Council of Churches as director of His- Macalester has been one of the greatest panic Ministry, working statewide on such issues as beneficiaries of her wise counsel and strong AIDS awareness and prevention, rural economic involvement. She has been a class agent, crisis and racism. First elected in 1990, Mariani is a Phonathon volunteer, an organizer of her now serving his fifth term representing a blue-collar class reunions and a faithful supporter of area of St. Paul. He the Annual Fund. The Alumni Association calls it "a great district, Board of Directors drew upon her talents during her six years as a board member, and a very diverse district, Esther Suzuki '46 tolerant and accept- she has been active on the steering commit- ing." Focused on tee of the Great Scots, a group which plans housing and education programs of special interest to alumni 55 and older. but well known for his For Esther, Macalester is a family affair. Her hus- work on numerous band, George, is in the Class of'47, and their committees, Mariani daughter, Nami Suzuki Vizanko, is in the Class of was named Legislator '71. They also have a son, John. For more than a of the Year by the Min- decade, Esther has enjoyed a second "career" in nesota Alliance for keeping with Macalester's emphasis on multicultur- Progressive Action in alism. She has recounted her own experiences and 1993. He has also borne witness to the trials and triumphs of Japanese served on the boards of Americans. She has contributed a chapter to the National Confer- Reflections: Memoirs of Japanese American Women in ence of Hispanic State Minnesota and to the Journal of the Asian American Legislators, West Side Reriaissance. Last year saw the premiere of a play, Neighborhood Services Internment Voices, which connects the worlds of and West Side Health two generations of Japanese Americans. It is based Center. He is a past upon the life stories of both Esther and author board chair and current David Mura. executive director of Minnesota Minority
AUGUST 1999 15 GREG HELGESON Left: 1989 classmates (from left) Cindy MacCharles (San Antonio, Texas), Julie Lindholm (St. Paul), Adlyn Carreras Bayon (St. Paul) and Vera Eccarius-Kelly (Sartell, Minn.)-
Right: Minnesota Supreme m Court Justice Alan Page received an honorary degree. The other honorary degree recipients were Anita Pampusch, president of the Bush Foundation, and Gerald Vizenor, author and professor 1 P of Native American studies in at Berkeley. REUNION Continuing a Mac tradition, alumni joined graduating seniors, parents and friends for a celebratory weekend May 21-23. Memories, and photographs, are made of this.
Bob Rose '48 (Minneapolis), left, talks with Bob Duffus '49 and Janet McCutchan Duffus '49 (Sioux Falls, S.D.).
16 MACALESTER TODAY \ The Class of '49, in cap-and- gown regalia, led the Class of '99 to Commencement exercises. Pictured from left are Dave Forsberg (Sun City, Ariz.), Maurice Hugtll (Minneapolis), Norman Pippin (White Bear Lake, Minn.) and Yvonne Fahlgren Dierenfield (Eagan, Minn.).
COMMENCEMENT
Left: Skye Richendrfer '80 (Mount Vernon, Wash.) was one of the pipers who took part in the 50th anniversary reunion of Macalester's beloved Pipe Band. Above: Carolyn Pope Deane '74 (Edina, Minn.), left, and Tania Srebrianski Radziewicz T74 {Melrose, Mass.) at their 25th reunion gathering Friday evening.
AU GUST 1999 17 GREG HELGESON PHOTOS
EUNION ^COMMENCEMENT J J J
The Class of'74 met at the home of Hugh Huelster '74, adjacent to the Mac campus. Pictured from left are Bob Matters '74 (Sturgeon Lake, Minn.), Joel Monteith and, in back, Barbara Mustoe- Monteith '74 (Bethel, Ohio), Loretta Frederick '74 (Winona, Minn.), Jane Lin Falle'74 (Velden, Austria), Doug Strandness '74 (St. Paul) and Doug's wife, Lynette.
Above: Participants in Reunion and Commencement pose in front of Macalester's colors and the flags of the 41 countries represented in the Class of '99. In all, 392 Macalester seniors graduated. Right: Three graduates enjoy a lighter-than-air moment. They are (from left) Elysia Aufmuth (Woodbury, Minn. Kristjan Selvig (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Emily Foss (Lincroft, N.J.)
I 8 MACALESTER TODAY Top left: A lawn dance for all classes concluded the Saturday night activities. The music was provided by The Motion Poets, an acclaimed band featuring alumni Doug Little '91 and Nate Shaw '92. Above: Marge McPherson, left, wife of President Mike McPherson, talks with Marcia Lembcke '59 (Grants Pass, Ore.) and Helen Tews Johnson '59 (St. Paul). Left: John Gallos '49 (Minneapolis) is welcomed into the Golden Scots Society, honoring all alumni who have achieved the 50-year status, by Alumni Association President Molly McGinnis Stine '87 (Chicago).
Below: These four friends are regulars at the Mac Hac golf tournaments that kick off Reunion Weekend. Pictured at Keller Golf course are (from left) Otto Korth '56 (Minnetonka, Minn.), Dick Sexe '52 (Sun City West, Ariz.), Earl Miller '53 (Grand Rapids, Minn.) and Earl Bowman '50 (Minneapolis).
GUST 1999 19 EUNION •^COMMENCEMENT
GREG HELGESON Above: Members of the Class of '94 crack up at a joke by Professor Jan Serie (not pictured), their faculty guest, at their Saturday evening dinner in Alumni House.
Left: New graduate Timothy Mak '99 (Toronto, Ontario) is accompanied by his parents and younger brother, Geoffrey Mak '01, at Commencement. Below: John Chamberlain '69 and Katha Ukena Chamberlain '69 (Le Sueur, Minn.), right, greet a friend just before their class dinner.
Below left: A Frisbee player goes high for a catch on Shaw Field.
2 o MACALESTER TODAY "O USE YOUR BEING SO SMUG, when you realize how few white, Republican Presbyterians there are m the world/' N That was the oft-quoted remark of the legendary Professor Mary Gwen Owen, who taught at Macalester from 1928 — five years after she graduated from Mac — to 1972. Herself the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, Mary Gwen Owen recognized the imperative of embracing the wider world and all its cultures. Near the end of her career, the EEO program began the continuing transformation of a campus that, up until 1969, had been almost exclusively white. The college will hold its first Alumni of Color Reunion Oct. 15—17 (see page 10). This seemed like a particularly appropriate time to ask some U.S. alumni of color—from several generations — to look back. What were their expectations of Macalester? What were their experiences at Mac? Most importantly, how did Macalester affect their lives? This is the first in a series.
The
VIEW U.S. alumni of color reflect on how Macalester shaped their lives
AUGUST 1999 21 Earl Bowman '50: paths of most Mac students. An aspiring history teacher, Bowman was discouraged by a professor 'The exposure I got to the rest who taught two required courses. "He told me he of the world was tremendous/ just didn't believe I would make a good teacher, and so there was no way that I could pass any by Jan Shaw-Flamm '76 course he taught, and he taught the two most TALENTED ATHLETE and recent important courses So I could not get a teaching graduate of Minneapolis Central High certificate in the state of Minnesota. That's the way School, Earl Bowman '50 was intro- it was." duced to Macalester by Athletic The Director D.C. Primrose, who invited himA to visit the college. Minding his dad's advice, Earl Bowman '50 "Don't sign anything that's going to cost me money," Came to Mac from: South Bowman spent the day touring the campus. Within Minneapolis 24 hours, he'd played in a Macalester-Gustavus Adolphus basketball game, talked things over with Major: history; minors in his parents and enrolled. education and physical education It was such a key event in his life that more than 1915: Catharine Lealtad 50 years later, Bowman remembers that day with Mac mentors: Coach (below right) becomes perfect clarity. Dwight Stuessy, "a very, very Macalester's first African As a Macalester student and later administrator, good coach who had the American graduate, then Bowman has been involved in the experience of ability to work with people Earl Bowman circa 1970 attends medical school. students of color through several decades. He from one end of the spectrum to the other." By the time she dies arrived as a freshman in President Arthur Flemming: "He taught me, 'Learn at age 93, she has January 1945 and to listen, you don't have to act instantaneously. practiced in Harlem, returned as assistant to Time will make some of your best decisions.' " China, Puerto Rico the president in 1969, Current homes: Minneapolis and Scottsdale, Ariz. and Mexico. serving in various capaci- ties through the Career summary: semi-pro basketball and football 1942: Esther Torii tumultuous '70s when player; recreational therapist at Anoka State arrives as a 16-year- the college made bold Hospital; boys work director at Phyllis Wheatley old freshman. A U.S. moves to include Settlement House; teacher, coach and principal tor citizen born in more students of color. Minneapolis Public Schools; assistant to the Portland, Ore., she As a freshman, president, director of development, dean of students and her Japanese Bowman's expectations and vice president of student affairs at Macalester; American family were were clear—"an opportu- president of Minneapolis Community College. forced from their homes nity to go to school and to play ball. I wanted Macalester distinctions: 1968 Distinguished Citizen, after Pearl Harbor. Esther is both—I wanted to continue to play and I also charter member of Athletic Hall of Fame in 19S0, released to attend wanted to get a college education." Doctor of Humane Letters in 1990. Active in fund- Macalester; her sister, But the war was affecting everyone's life, and in raising for Green/Bowman Scholarship Fund, o Eunice, joins her in 1944, January 1946 Bowman joined the Army. Honorably but the rest of the family discharged after his 18-month stint, Bowman was remains in an Idaho able to return to Macalester by living at home and Lacking the necessary certificate to be hired by detention camp (see photo, using the G.I. Bill. At the time there were few the public schools, Bowman found other ways to 30, and page 15). African American students on campus; Bowman teach and coach, working at Anoka State Hospital recalls no more than five at a time. He majored in and the Phyllis Wheatley Settlement House. 1943: Professor Mary Gwen history and minored in education and physical edu- By 1954 there had been changes and Professor Owen '23 writes: "We, most cation while playing football and running track, Richard Dierenrield made arrangements for of us, have not shared the serving as football co-captain and track team cap- Bowman to take the missing courses. The next year, hurts to the prides of Jews tain in his senior year. Bowman got a contract teaching in the Minneapo- or Negroes in America. How "The exposure I got to the rest ot the world while lis Public Schools. Despite his successes as a teacher then, from here, from this I was at Mac was tremendous. I knew a lot of peo- and a coach, he was never offered the position of small college at Grand and ple in St. Paul, particularly in the black community, head coach. "They just weren't ready for a black Snelling avenues, can we but then it widened with the contacts with the head coach," he says. share the experiences of wider community, like the ripple effect." The social revolution of the late '60s brought which brotherhood is With the perspective of years, Bowman is philo- greater opportunities, and Bowman was named fraught?" sophical about the times in which he grew up, and principal of tempest-tossed Lincoln Junior High in reluctant to label anyone as a racist, yet there's no north Minneapolis, where his assignment was "to doubt he encountered barriers not placed in the get Lincoln Junior High School out of the news- papers and create a learning environment." Earning his master's degree in educational administration
2 2 MACALESTER TODAY from Macalester in 1970, Bowman wrote about his The EEO plan was "good on paper," says Lincoln experience in his thesis, "Crisis in the Bowman, "but a lot had to be done on site when Ghetto School." the students got there. When people on campus After nearly 15 years in the public schools, saw this sudden increase in students of color and of Bowman returned to Macalester as assistant to the different economic backgrounds, it caused some, president, Arthur Flemming. Later director of shall we say, 'wavy situations,' but we worked development, dean of students, and vice president through it. The greatest feature was the opportuni- of student affairs, Bowman worked with the ties it provided, and a number of people capitalized whole campus during the years of the Expanded on those opportunities." Educational Opportunities program, which he By 197S Bowman was ready for a new challenge. He characterizes as an expensive but well thought joined the Minneapolis Community College as vice out initiative. president and dean of external programs. Bowman
1944: The college makes a commitment to enroll 12 Japanese American students in the fall.
1947: Scots win MIAC football championship, led by star halfback Earl Bowman '50, who is African American, and six other All-State players.
1949: Mac Weekly runs editorial, "College Students Guilty of Racial Prejudice." With no apparent irony, a minstrel show, "Hear Them Darkies Singing," is presented two months later.
1950: Sociology Professor Paul Berry sends his race relations class out to do practical investigation of race relations in the Twin Cities.
1950: History Professor Yahya Armajani, a native of Iran, writes an article entitled "Racism Spells Inevitable Disaster."
1961: Sixty-five Mac students demonstrate at downtown St. Paul theaters, protesting the parent theater company's segregation policy in the South.
1961: Yolanda Ridley '63, who is African American, is elected Homecoming Queen of Scots.
GUST 1999 23 then served as president from 1980 until his retire- del Carmen, back to ment 10 years later. the U.S. When the Now he divides his time between Scottsdale, family moved to Ariz., and Minneapolis. Last November, Bowman St. Paul in the early lost his wife, Jacqueline, with whom he raised their 1950s, Elidio contin- sons, Scott and Wayne '75 (now married to Diane ued to work in the Granger '76), and three foster children, including fields outside the city. their niece, Theresa Ray, Kimber Livingston and He was more than 70 Emeal Jackson. Bowman now enjoys the time to when Manuel was play golf, to write about minority athletes in Min- born. Elidio Cervantes The nesota prior to 1970 and to be involved in Tanner died nine years later, Chapel AME Church in Arizona. leaving behind his Looking back on his career, Bowman says, "1 second wife and seven enjoyed it, and I feel I worked with intent and the children from that right objective—to help as many people as possible marriage, ranging in be successful in doing whatever they wanted to do age from 9 to 1. while avoiding some Manuel's first of the lumps and memory of his father bumps I had to influenced the young encounter." • boy's future. He remembers picking at his father's calluses and saying in Spanish, The seven Cervantes "Daddy, what are siblings, all Mac grads, in these? I want some." 1984, when the last two graduated. Back (from His father told him to left): Juan '84, Jose'84, use his head and get Max von Rabenau, the an education instead. college's Mexican- Manuel took his American coordinator, advice and, with his Manuel '74 and Ricardo mother's encourage- '81. Front (from left): ment, aimed higher. Ramona '76, Guadalupe The Cervantes fam- '78 and Raquel '74. ily moved from the Mississippi River flats 1961: History Professor Manuel Cervantes '74: to the East Side in Earl Spangler publishes the early 1960s when The Negro In Minnesota, 'No one in our family had ever "urban renewal" razed a history of African graduated from high school, their home and Americans in the state. destroyed the mixed much less attended college' neighborhood. They 1962: Due to overcrowding received Social Secu- of residence halls, the by Rebecca Gonzalez-Campoy '83 rity benefits. "My college places some ANUEL CERVANTES '74 has mother did not work students in neighborhood never strayed far from the banks outside the home homes. Of 10 newly of the Mississippi. His office in until we were all registering homes offering the Ramsey County Government grown," Manuel housing, all say they Center in downtown St. Paul, recalls. "She did take "would not house Mwhere he now serves as a District Court referee, in other people's laun- Negroes." looks out across the river to the West Side, where dry and she made tortillas for sale. As a young girl, The Cervantes family today. Back (from left): Juan '84, Guadalupe '78, Ricardo '81, Ramona '76 and Jose '84. Front (from left): the first-generation Mexican American grew up. my mother had learned to crochet and cross-stitch Raquel '74, their mother Maria del Carmen and Manuel '74. The seven siblings were honored this summer with the national TRIO Achievers award, given to outstanding former participants in federally funded programs that promote equal educational opportunity. Manuel was the first of seven children in the So, up until recently, she had an ongoing cottage industry to help make ends meet." family—four boys and three girls—to graduate Juan Cervantes '84 Ricardo Cervantes '81 Jose Cervantes '84 from Macalester. All seven have gone on to highly The children also worked to contribute to the current home: Woodbury, Minn, successful careers. current home: Oakdale, Minn, current home: St. Paul family. Manuel recalls earning $3 for picking occupation: sales manager, occupation: assistant supervisor, occupation: director, Municipal Building Their father, Elidio Roberto Cervantes, left radishes and onions for an entire day when he Multicultural Business Group, Department of Inspections, City of Commission, Minneapolis Mexico at the turn of century to avoid his country's was 7. He had his own paper route in downtown St. Paul Fire & Marine insurance Co. Minneapolis civil war and became a migrant worker in the St. Paul when he was 10. Ramona Cervantes Garcia '76 United States. After his first wife died, leaving him Manuel and his siblings went to St. Paul's Guadalupe D. Raquel Cervantes-Bethke '74 current home: Edinburg, Texas with seven adult children, he returned to Mexico Harding High School. His sister, Raquel, was Cervantes-Ortega '78 current home: St. Paul occupation: elementary schoolteacher, to marry again and brought his new wife, Maria involved with Upward Bound, a program held at current home: St. Paul occupation: social worker, St. Paul Edinburg School District Macalester that helped prepare minority students occupation: kindergarten teacher, Public Schools St. Paul Public Schools
24 MACALESTER TODAY AUGUST 1999 25 for college. Manuel attended ac Raquel's urging. EEO, which included supportive services and "She knew where she was going. I went first training. because I was the oldest," he recalls. Older students also served as mentors. And then The new Expanded Educational Opportunities there was his roommate, Jerry Corea, and a floor- program helped Cervantes and many other students mate in Turck Hall, Ray Runyan, who got him of color attend Macalester. "My goal in life was to graduate from college. I did OK in high school— 1 had a B average. 1 knew I'd really Manuel Cervantes '74 have to work." Came to Mac from: St. Paul Going to college with some oi the The top students from across the country Majors: sociology and Spanish was challenging. "I made what could Mac mentors: Doris Wilkinson, Max von have been an alienating experience Rabenau, Donald Fabian, Charlie Norman into a healthy one," he says. "Prior to our arrival, Macalester had very little Current home: St. Paul ethnic diversity. Except tor a tew for- Career summary: currently District Court eign students, the school was made up referee; volunteer work includes Ordway ot white, Anglo-Saxon Protestants. Music Theater Circle of Stars Board, 1966: The college That, coupled with the fact that Macal Minnesota Supreme Court Diversity in the requires householders ester recruited students of National Courts Task Force Implementation renting to students to sign Merit quality, was quite a challenging Committee, National Hispanic Bar a statement of non- environment. Remember, no one in our family had Association, Westside of St. Paul Youth Boxing discrimination. ever graduated from high school, much less club, youth sports coach • attended college. I wasn't sure this experience or 1967-68: BLAC, Black school was for me." Liberation Affairs Student counselor Max von Rabenau was one of interested in playing soccer. "I met a great bunch of Committee, is founded on those who helped Cervantes, urging him to take guys and played soccer all four years. Those guys campus. pride in himself. "As a person of color, you grow up demystified the academic experience and gave me wanting to be like the blue-eyed blondes that sur- the confidence to succeed academically as well as 1969: The new Expanded round you—whether you know it or not. It is on the soccer field." 1 Educational Opportunities natural to want to imitate what you see,' Cervantes He graduated early, in December 1973, having program brings 75 says. "So when you see the so-called beautiful peo- achieved his primary goal. He had no definite plans freshmen students of ple on TV and in magazine advertisements, one for the future. A counselor in the EEO's Latino sup- color to an almost wishes to emulate that. The other notion is that as port program encouraged him to become a VISTA exclusively white a child, you want to fit in. You don't want to be dif- volunteer. His work with the Neighborhood Justice Macalester. ferent. One would rather have a name like Johnny Center on the West Side motivated him to go to instead of Manuel, especially in a school where you law school and become a community attorney who 1969: The first Indian are the only person of color." could help low-income people. He graduated from Week is celebrated with a Cervantes says the Macalester experience taught the University of Minnesota Law School in 1980 powwow, bilingual chapel him to take pride in himself and in the rich Mexi- and passed the state bar later that year. service, speakers on can culture in which he was rooted. Having a After working as a housing specialist for the U.S. Indian education teacher of color also helped. Profes- Department of Housing and Urban Development, and welfare, and sor Doris Wilkinson, who was he served as a labor-management attorney for the culminating in a African American, taught sociology. American Federation of Government Employees in Buffy Sainte- "She was a great professor, a bright Minneapolis. He was then an assistant city attorney Marie concert. person. She was one of the few per- of St. Paul before Gov. Rudy Perpich appointed (Right: a 1989 sons of color on the faculty at the him to the Minnesota Workers' Compensation powwow at time. She served as a role model for Court of Appeals in 1986. Since 1992, he has been Macalester) me. Although I was not interested in a District Court referee, acting as a judge in cases teaching at the time, 1 felt that I that come to family court, juvenile court, traffic could go into teaching having seen court, and the civil and criminal housing court. someone as successful as Doris." Manuel Cervantes is not the only "success story" Cervantes majored in sociology in his family. All six of his siblings — Raquel, and Spanish. Professor Donald Fabian helped him Ramona, Guadalupe, Jose, Juan and Ricardo—also clean up his Spanish; he arrived speaking a mixture graduated from Macalester and are now profession- of Spanish and English. Professor Charlie Norman als in other fields. Five of the seven hold advanced helped him brush up his English writing skills. And academic degrees. the college had started a Latino program as part of Graduating from Macalester "was the turning point in my life," Manuel says. "This experience had a profound effect on me, and on my brothers' and sisters' lives. Mac was the foundation that allowed us to continue." •
26 MACALESTER TODAY LaVon Lee '77: stereotypes that people had about Indians, that we were lazy, that we were alcoholics, that we weren't 'I knew who I was and who smart," she says. "All through high school when my I wanted to he, but Macalester gave friends would be having fun, I would be studying." When Lee arrived at Macalester, "My one expec- me the academic tools I needed' tation was that 1 wanted to do all that I could to 1969: Macalester College graduate— I didn't have any idea what college was Black Choir formed. The group by Jan Shaw-Flamm '76 all about. I had no idea what a person did at changes its name in 1971 RACIOUS, INTELLIGENT and well- college." to the Sounds of Blackness educated, LaVon Lee 77 could slip Married, with a 1-year-old son, Lee was very and goes on to win a seamlessly into the world of politics, much a non-traditional Macalester student. She Grammy Award. acadernia or the well-heeled brought with her a firm grounding in the heritage corporation. of her Oglala Lakota mother and her Mexican 1971: Mexican American, GBut she's also unpretentious, compassionate and American-Ute father. However, like many students Native American and Puerto deeply rooted in the values of the American Indian of color on campuses in the '70s, Lee saw few stu- Rican students occupy Old tradition. It is there, in her community, where she dents or faculty members who shared her heritage, Main to demand that federal chooses to use both what Macalester gave her and and little in the curriculum that reflected the history grant money for minority the knowledge and skills she always had to make a and culture of which she was proud. programs be more equally difference in the lives ot families. Even for a strong student, the adjustment was distributed among A member of the Pine Ridge reservation, Lee stressful. The difficulties she experienced had to do minority groups. moved with her family to Rapid City, S.D., in her with misconceptions she early elementary school years. A dedicated student, feels were held about stu- she became the first in her family to graduate from dents of color. "We were LaVon Lee '77 high school. It.was her high school counselor who labeled 'disadvantaged' or Came to Mac from: Rapid City, S.D. urged Lee to attend the Macalester recruiter's meet- 'students at risk.1 Well, I ing, and later, in her college recommendation, may have been poor, but Major: sociology described Lee as an overachiever. Lee agreed. "I I don't think I was disad- Mac mentors: Professors Judy Erickson and William always felt that it was my responsibility to dispel vantaged—I come from a Swain, who "challenged students of color in a way that was supportive"; Minority Program staff: 'S "I'm so thankful that the person in the Minority Program convinced me to finish out the [first] year."
Current home: West St. Paul
Career summary: Minority Program staff at Macalester, consultant to the St. Paul Foundation, executive director of American Indian Family Center, member of the American Indian Magnet School Site Council and the boards oi Ain Dah Yung Center, a shelter for American Indian youth, \ CENTER and St. Paul Area Council of Churches. Received 1996 TRIO award to outstanding former EEO participants and named 1999 Macalester Distinguished Citizen (see page 14). •
GUST 1999 27 1972: Co-presidents Madeline Franklin '74, who is African American, and Maureen Sheehan '73, who is white, become the first women to lead student government.
1972: Author Alex Haley (below) brings his story to campus for the sixth time, prior to publishing his __„„„ landmark book Roofs in 1976. i* M He began working on Roots in 1969 while z i staying in d an apart- ment at very rich culture. 1 didn't see myself as a 'student at possible in cultural activities sponsored by the EEO. 1 1 - ^1Macalester's risk. 1 may have heen poor, but I had potential.' "One week I'd be making fry bread for Indian Week 1 •\ 1 International Nevertheless, Lee decided to return to South Dakota and the next week tortillas for Hispanic Week. ' I Center. at the end of her first semester. Her Minority Pro- A sociology major, Lee fondly recalls Professors gram adviser convinced her to give Macalester a year. Judy Erickson and William Swain, both of whom 1974: For 11 days The Minority Program staff helped students of "challenged students of color in a way that was sup- students take over the color adjust to campus life, providing academic portive, made themselves available, and believed in 1 building at 77 Macalester advice, organizing cultural events, and helping the students and their potential to succeed.' Street, which houses the students to build necessary skills and connect with And succeed she did, graduating from Macalester, college's business office, the communities of their ancestry across the going on to earn a masters in educational admini- to protest budget cuts in Twin Cities. stration at Penn State, and returning to Mac as programs for students "What was most helpful to me was having the student adviser, then director of the American of color. Minority Program... .There were staff there that Indian Program. With the restructuring of programs, understood me, understood where I came from and Lee became the coordinator of the Minority Pro- understood that my issues might be different than gram, working with all students of color. the typical Macalester student. So, I really give a lot In 1991, Lee left Macalester to serve as consultant of credit to the Minority Program. Without it, I to the St. Paul Foundations program "Supporting probably would not have stayed I knew that I Diversity in Schools through Family and Community could go to that particular office and find the sup- Involvement." This program worked with six schools port and encouragement that I needed.11 and their constituent families to make room for and As a student in the Expanded Educational bring parents of color to the table as equals in the Opportunities program, Lee participated whenever decision-making process at their children's elemen- tary schools.
MACALESTER TODAY Thien-bao Thuc Phi '97: 'I want to create a good place in the Asian American community'
ubyy Julijunet Hogan "s THE PEN mightier than the sword?" Thien-bao Thuc Phi '97 considers that ques- tion for a moment and says, "They always kill the poets first." He smiles slightly and then laughs because since about age 10 he has beeIn a poet. His trek across the blank page turned vocal when 1977: Sociology Professor at 15 he saw a performance by poet Quincy Troupe, Doris Wilkinson, an African American, is selected as an outstanding teacher by the Thien-bao Thuc Phi '97 academic journal Change. Came to Mac from: Phillips neighborhood in Minneapolis 1984: When Juan and Jose receive their diplomas, they Major: English (creative writing emphasis) join the five other Cervantes Mac mentors: Professor Diane Glancy brothers and sisters as graduates of Macalester Current home: Phillips neighborhood in Manuel led the way, coming Minneapolis to Mac in 1969 during the Career summary: performance poet; teaches at first year of EEO. alternative high school for students of color • 1990-91: English Department introduces a professor at the University of California-San revised curriculum. It seeks Diego. Now, Phi regularly punctuates his poetry to to "mainstream women and live audiences in the Twin Cities, which has led to a minorities in our courses, following that he never expected. "At first," says as we have always done, Phi, "I was just performing two to three times every but do more of it," couple of months. Now, I have engagements two to Professor Alvin Greenberg three times a week and have to say no to places." explains. Professor Diane Bars and university halls around Minneapolis and Glancy, a Native American St. Paul fill up on nights of poetry slams—the cur- writer hired in 1988, is In July 1997, Lee returned to the heart of her com- rent term for poetry contests in which performers the department's first munity as executive director of the American Indian deliver three-minute poems to a panel of judges. permanent minority member. Family Center, one of nine centers associated with Explaining the popularity of these events, Phi says: the St. Paul/Ramsey County Children's Initiative. "These slams are no tea-and-crumpet affair. The 1991: Macalester launches There, 16 agencies collaborate to support families in audiences are encouraged to laugh or snore or Maccess, a summer areas of child development and health, school readi- shout—they're told to be alive." program to help promising ness and family functioning. "I was always connected No one snores or shouts when Phi performs. He high school students with the Indian community," says Lee, "but what's has won the Grand Slam Minnesota Competition of color think about and different about this job is that I'm right in the middle two years in a row and last year he took first place at prepare for college. of it. I love working with parents, I love working a slam in New York's hothouse of performance It continues each summer. with children. poetry, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Watching him on "I believe that I came to Macalester with some stage, it's easy to see the attraction. During a slam at pretty good values. I knew who I was and who I the University of Minnesota, Phi's performance is as wanted to be, but Macalester gave me the academic well crafted as his words. He begins a love poem in a tools I needed to function in a non-Indian world. I hushed voice. Words slowly cascade down into the can use those tools in my community to make it a silent audience as his hands move like a bird to their better place, but I can also use those tools in the cadence. He picks up the beat and moves his body larger system where academic credentials validate in time with closed eyes as he hurriedly does the who you are. Macalester gave me, I think, the aca- next stanza. When he slows down again, he looks demic tools I need to walk in two worlds. directly at the audience and says, "You're that type "My heritage gave me the pride, the dignity and the confidence to succeed. Macalester gave me the opportunity." •
AUGUST 1999 29 of tree chat makes wind turn." It is an explosive led group and helped orchestrate many events, poem and earns him generous applause as well as including the Asian American in the ARTS Con- another slam win. ference and Asianization, an outreach program to What has informed his poetry has been both his local Asian and Asian American communities. race and class identity. As a first-generation Ameri These efforts led to his Presidential Student can, Phi is trying to find his place in the world. His parents tied Saigon with Phi The and his five sib- lings when he was a tew months old and settled in the multicultural, working-class Phillips neigh- 1992: Thad Wilderson, borhood in mentor and friend to Minneapolis. countless Macalester Because money students of color since was extremely 1970, launches Alumni of tight, Phi's father Color Lecture Series to encouraged him bring distinguished alumni to seek out the back to Mac to meet with local library in students. The series lieu of toys. continues today. Despite what he says was 1997: Gary Hines '74, encouragement founder of Sounds of from his parents to pretend "that Professor Diane Glancy, left, "was the one who really encouraged me to write," says Phi. Blackness, receives Like Phi, his friend Esther Torii Suzuki '46, center, was a first-generation Asian American when honorary degree. I wasn't Viet- she came to Macalester (see page 15). namese," he sought out the history and traditions of that country. 1998: Gretchen Rohr '98, Leadership Award in 1997, which is given to only a an African American and "It's who I am," Phi says of his deep connection few Macalester seniors each year. former student govern- to his native culture. "I don't want to leave it His work in ASA led to strong community- ment president, becomes behind. I want to create a good place in the Asian building ties for Phi that made learning and living Macalester's ninth American community." He cites many reasons why in a white culture, he says, more bearable. What Rhodes Scholar. he doesn't believe Asian Americans have reached a also helped was the support and guidance of English comfortable place in the U.S. One indicator of that, Professor and writer Diane Glancy, whose heritage 9: First Alumni of Color he says, is the popularity of the musical Miss Saigon. is Cherokee, German and English. "She was the Reunion planned at "Miss Saigon really shows how little people under- one who really encouraged me to write. She was Macalester, Oct. 15-17; stand Asian culture. I hope that one day we'll be not as familiar with the type of work I do, my see page 10. ashamed of it—just like Birth of a Nation—but poetry, but she didn't discount it based on its vocal right now we're not there." character. She really encouraged my talent." Coming to Macalester, Phi thought he would Phi hastens to add that he isn't solely about per- find that comfortable place. He had been encour- formance poetry: he is a writer and teacher first and aged by a friend to attend Mac because it was a foremost. He recently wrote a one-act play for sound academic college that offered a good financial Theater Mu, a local Asian American theater, about aid package. He knew that she was active and vocal the legend ot Starfruit — a Vietnamese folktale — on Asian American issues and believed that was and is teaching poetry at Work Opportunity Cen- due to Macalester. "1 thought there'd be people [at ter, an alternative high school tor students of color. Macalester] who were really well educated on Asian He also wrote a spoof about Miss Saigon called American culture," Phi says. Instead, he found that Missed Sigh Gone that was performed this past June many Asian American students on campus were not at Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis. During all this, interested in exploring their heritage. In joining the he holds down a day job at a local restaurant. Asian Student Alliance, Phi says he found a group Of his writing, Phi doesn't get lyrical or philo- of students who shared the same cultural interests. sophical. On stage and on paper is where he tells He eventually became the co-chair of the student- the story ot his frustrations and political bent about being Asian in America. In person, he simply says of his art: "It's just a need." •
MACALESTER TODAY grassroots organizer. Her father, a Mennonite paci- fist by heritage, had been a conscientious objector and done alternative service during World War II. GON Buller worked with a group trying to influence shareholders of Honeywell, a major weapons manu- facturer, and was a charter member of the National Organization for Women. "In my senior year, I saw UTCn j H a TV show [about Vietnam] Lynn buller j2 uses a team approach called'Hearts and Minds,"1 she recalls. "Somehow it to build a thriving bookstore in Amsterdam really got into me that this war was happening in my by Jon Halvorsen name. 1 couldn't go about daily business anymore. Also, I was scared to death about what I was going AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS — to do after graduation. I decided to bail out." Lynn Buller came here to see the tulip After doing community organizing with the / % helds. She stayed — it's been 27 years Council for Cor- "^k now and counting — tor the books. porate Review .JL. JL Buller is the director and co-owner oi for an intensive the American Book Center, the largest source of year, Buller and English-language books in Europe. ABC has a staff a boyfriend of 55, a sister store in The Hague and an unusual went to Europe, approach to business: Everybody who works there bought a VW bus is involved in daily decision-making. In principle, in Germany and every staff member who is involved in selling is decided to make also a buyer tor one or more sections. a side trip to Hoi- "The 55 people who work here, you can't bridle Lynn Kaplanian- them," Buller, the non-boss, said in an interview in Buller '72 in her her fifth-floor office overlooking the Kalverstraat, a American Book major shopping street in the heart of this beautiful, Center in Amster- book-loving city. "A tremendous number of them dam. Visiting are writers, artists, actors or academics. They come Amsterdam 27 years from 13 countries. So it's quite a mix. The challenge ago, "I thought I has been maintaining, as we grow, a sturdy, continu- would find a job ous organizational structure which gives everybody in a bookstore for a freedom. At the same time, it has to be like a molec- while and I'd be able ular structure, so that we all work together and have to read cheap." some kind of shared vision and shared osmosis." Lynn Buller concedes she had no vision when land's tulip fields. she made her fateful trip to Europe in 1972. In fact, In Amsterdam, she had dropped out of Macalester in her senior year, "everybody else or as she explains it: "I kind of choked up on the was stoned all the future." The nonconformist daughter of a music time; I was just teacher and an English teacher, she grew up in bored," she Worthington, Minn. Worthington boasted an excel- recalls. 'Td just lent newspaper and more cultural amenities than read-—I'd read most places its size, and attracted visitors from around everything. I the world who were eager to see a model farming thought I would community. "We were a small town but with preten- find a job in a sions," Buller says. She continued to make her own bookstore for a choices by majoring in economics at Mac, a rare while and I'd be major for women at the time. She found her music able to read background helped: "Economics and music are both cheap." mathematically based, and yet there's lots of room for At the age of interpretation, for freedom and different textures." 21, the self- At Macalester, Buller plunged into the anti-war described movement and the entire counter-culture as a "snot-nosed kid" from the Minne- sota prairie talked her way into a job running the Jon Halvorsen, managing editor of Macalester Today, cash register on weekends at a fledgling bookstore enjoyed getting lost last spring in Amsterdam's web in Amsterdam, started by two other Americans, of canals while looking for bookstores.
AUGUST IQ99 31 by Molly McBeath 91
Y STORY-AND-A-HALF bungalow has one thing in common with the Minnesota governor's residence. Both had their upstairs redesigned by David MHeide '83, a resident and devotee of St. Paul. RAl ID The constraints were a little different for the Summit Avenue mansion. Originally designed as a single-family home, it now doubles as a state cere- monial building. "It's all public on the first floor and DESIGN you can't go from your bedroom to the bathroom without being seen. How do you make that house Designer David Heide '83 does all he can function for somebody that's trying to live there pri- vately in a very public space?" he asks. to preserve historic St. Paul Heide relishes challenges like that. As a child, he made his parents buy him architectural magazines. "I was the only fifth-grader that had a house plan," he says with a laugh. "And the only toys that I would play with were Lego blocks." F 1 JP^ 1 In 1997, after graduate school and 10 years with an architectural 1 preservation firm, he formed his own company, David Heide Design. Designing and restoring buildings is work that appeals to Heide's soul as well as his intellect. "My own philos- ophy is that it's pretty easy to design a really big house because there's no economy of space. It doesn't force you to be thoughtful. To do a good design of a small, tight house or IJ '/ 'I was the only fifth-grader that had a house plan. And the only toys that I would T E MW '<*• K 1 play with were Lego blocks/ • ' SMI J ^ d1 ^m*r*' I restoration is a lot more work because it needs to be knitted together so closely." Doing work that he loves means there's little distinction between job • - and hobby for the designer. He has already remodeled his last two homes and is currently renovating another house for himself and his partner, Michael Crull. And when he's not at work or at home, he's volunteering. He is chair of both the Grand Avenue Design Guidelines task force and the St. Paul Heritage Preserva- I!.'-'";• •'•//• '' '( tion Commission (HPC). Established David Heide in the historic St. Clement's Episcopal Church in St. Paul, built iwn 1897 by the famed architect Cass Gilbert, who designed Minnesota's state Capitol. Heide's firm has done consulting work on restoration of parts of the church, where he is a member. Moll)1 McBeath '91 is a free-lance writer who enjoys living in her 1920s bungalow, a few blocks from Macalester.
MACALE STER TODAY in the 1970s, the HPC seeks to safeguard structures bors began informal discussions about how best to that are architecturally or historically significant. maintain Grand's identity as both a residential street Although he speaks passionately about all of his and a commercial destination. Ultimately, their various projects, Heide reserves a special enthusiasm attention focused on the exposed corner at Victoria tor the difference he tries to make for St. Paul created by one of the avenue's tew large parking lots. through his volunteer work. "By regulating the kind The shelter and plaza combine several commu- of modifications that can he done to buildings and nity goals: alleviating parking headaches for both by insisting that there be a standard, we can pro- shoppers and residents by promoting public trans- mote economic development and the revitalization portation; protecting the privacy of residents of an area. And we can make an area somewhere through structure and landscaping; and providing a people want to live, somewhere in which they can meeting and resting spot for pedestrians. "I wanted take pride." it to be a place, rather than just a corner," says One of Heide's volunteer projects has been a new Heide, who not only volunteered the shelter's bus shelter and plaza at Grand and Victoria. design, but also has shepherded the $54,000 project Although Grand is now cited as "one of America's through to completion. last unspoiled shopping districts" by the Washington "There are people who do a tremendous amount Post, the avenue has had its ups and downs. A few more [for St. Paul] than 1 do," Heide says. "But my years ago, concerned about the growing number of little part feels good for me and it feels that its franchises, Heide and other Grand Avenue neigh- better here because I'm plugging away at stuff." ©
B U L L E R continued from page 31 recently opened down the street from ABC. "It that sold only publishers' overstocks and erotic keeps you awake and makes you think again about magazines from the U.S. The two owners bad little what you're here for," Buller says. "They're English expertise in books or bookselling. "I realized then," l and very neat. We've always been very fuzzy and Buller recalls, "that God had smiled and said, OK, eclectic, mostly because whatever customers ask for here's a perfectly blank sheet of paper and a new country. You think you can tell Honeywell what to 'I realized then that God had smiled and said, "OK, do? Step up to the plate, girlie. Lets see what you've got.1 " here s a perfectly blank sheet of paper and a new country. 1 As the American Book Center grew, Buller Step up to the plate, girlie. Lets see what you've got/ became the director in 1977 and owner in 1983. She also became Lynn Kaplanian-Buller, having gets turned into stock orders by the cashiers. This married Avo Kaplanian, also an immigrant to The process builds fierce customer loyalty, and they tell Netherlands, who owns the business with her. She their friends." She's also proud that ABC has been and her colleagues learned the book business by selling books on the Internet since 1994, predating doing. Whoever enjoyed cookbooks ordered and Amazon.Com. sold those; philosophy devotees took over that sec- ABC lives up to the "American" in its title by tion; and so on. occasionally emphasizing "some of the best yet But Buller brought the most organizing experi- locally little-known aspects of North America," she ence and theory. On ABC's Website (http:// says, such as celebrating Thanksgiving and Native www.abc.nl), she describes herself as a "lateral American writers and culture. But ultimately the thinker incapable of vertical filing. My job is to American Book Center is as American as, well, keep the place spinning, the bookstores glowing Amsterdam. Buller's marriage and business partner and to walk around asking, 'What if we ?' " She is of Palestinian and Armenian heritage; their chil- was guided partly by the sociologist Fred Herzberg's dren, Nadine (22) and Paul (18), have both U.S. ideas about the meaning of work to life. "More than and Dutch passports. And then there are those getting one more step up the corporate ladder," she friends and colleagues at ABC, who collectively says, "people want to feel like their work makes a speak 19 languages from their 13 countries. difference. I really remembered that [from "I would never describe myself as an expat," Herzberg's books]. It seemed to me that was going Buller says, "and I always saw myself as a patriot to be a prime motivating factor—certainly for me [during the Vietnam War protests]. I love my coun- but also for other people.... We've been what peo- try, 1 really do. I carry a Dutch passport as well and ple now call an 'empowered team' right from the I love this place, too My husband and I are from beginning—empowered and effective teams. We two different places and living in a third. He hasn't all started at the same level. There was a lot of really another home either. I go back to the States room for innovation; everyone just did what they to visit. I suppose I could live in the States if I were good at." wanted to, but I love living in Amsterdam. This As in the U.S., independent bookstores like is home." • ABC are facing tierce competition from chains; a Waterstone's store, part of the huge British chain,
AUGUST 1999 33 MACROCOSM
SO we wrote an offer, even though it seemed As he walked us around the house to impetuous. We were surprised and disap- view the yard and gardens, Senor moved Mi casa pointed when our offer—$7,000 over the slowly and carefully, his balance challenged asking price—came in second of six. We by Parkinson's disease, but he declined help. es tu casa were also immensely relieved. We began to His quick mind and lively humor are intact. sense that our plan to simplify might, itself, His former students will not he surprised to Buying a little piece of be complicated. know he's still fun to he around. The follow- The search resumed, our weekends con- ing week, sorting through old Mac Weekly Grover's Corners renews sumed traipsing through other people's issues, Senor found a photo of us taken fond ties with a Mac professor houses, weeknights driving through neigh- before the 1962 Mexican Caravan trip and borhoods scanning the streets for new signs. called to offer it to me. Our tartan connec- by Cathy Brown '64 Nothing. Finally, three months after our ill- tion seemed strong—forever plaid, you fated, inflated bid, a woman from my might say. NTIL two months ago, Marc and I exercise class at Lynnhurst Park walked me Our second visit to the house, an official lived in a house we bought in 1970. out the door and pointed down the street, one, was arranged by the real estate agent. U It was small to begin with, and we saying she heard the people in the little The Dassetts drove off tor dinner while we added to the original structure after our two white house on the hill would be listing sized up the house for possible purchase: children were horn. When they lett for col- their house in the coming months. Voila. It small but generous rooms, white clapboard lege their rooms sat empty was the house of Bob siding, beautiful setting, brick patio, small until it dawned on us to put Dassett—Serior to me— yard, white picket fence, old burr oaks, and them to more practical use. Professor Dassett's and his wife, Betty. I occa- heliotrope in the garden. You could almost But a tunny thing happened sionally bumped into Senor hear George Gibbs calling to Emily Webb atter the rooms became a former students will not in the years we lived a mile across the yard in Grover's Corners. It guest room and a sewing be surprised to know he's apart in South Minnea- seemed to me then that "location, location, room. They seemed unneces- polis. He had been my location," the three most important things sary; the house was suddenly still fun to be around. Spanish professor at in real estate, are not the exclusive domain too large. Our adult children Our tartan connection Macalester. of a physical reality but rather a connection preferred to visit us at "the Hoping it would not with some theoretical ideal which already seemed strong—forever lake," a cabin near the Cana- seem predatory, 1 sent a exists in the mind and heart of the buyer. dian border. Clearly, it was plaid, you might say. note to Senor asking about Standing in the back yard, Marc and I time to downsize. the rumored move. He agreed it felt like home. When we began to search called to say they had We made an offer; the Dassetts accepted. for a smaller house, we found ourselves decided to stay one more year before mov- This June, Marc and I moved into the house slow-moving vehicles in the fast lane. The ing into an apartment for seniors in Bob and Betty had downsized into 30 years real estate market in Minneapolis, particu- Minneapolis, but he asked how that might before. Senor made a list of the garden larly in the category of smaller houses, was work with our schedule, keeping the door plants, including their common names, the lively. A sign would go up one day; the open to possible negotiation. names most familiar to us. A master gar- "sold" sign would appear the next. One A week after our phone conversation, dener, Bob Dassett knows the plants by evening on my way to a rehearsal of the Marc and I sat down their botanical Latin names. He Festival Chorale at Macalester, I drove past with Bob and Betty will have an opportunity to teach an adorable little house on East Minne- on their porch, sip- me yet another language. haha Parkway. In the twilight a man was ping iced tea and At the closing, I told him I installing a real estate sign. Providential, I reminiscing about expected him to say, "Mi casa es thought, to drive by this house at this Macalester days. su casa," but, always the teacher, moment. I mentioned the house to Marc at They spoke of Profes- he corrected me, saying, "Mi casa rehearsal break and we stopped to look at it sors Walt Mink and es tu casa"—the familiar. In the on our way home, peering into windows and Ray Johnson climb- Old Main classroom where Span- sizing up the garage. Double. Perfect. ing the steps to their ish I and II convened, Senor The following morning I phoned our real porch over the years. Dassett used to express satisfaction estate agent, who checked the computerized A psych major, I had with student performance by say- MLS listings. "Its not there yet," she said, known them both. I ing, "jAh, que bueno!" It comes "hut as soon as it is, I'll call you." Two days confessed to Senor close to capturing the way Marc later she phoned to say an offer was being my sadly meager and I feel about our move. O made on the house the same day. Marc and retention of Spanish I quickly rendezvoused with our agent. while acknowledging Three other potential buyers came to see the debt I owed him Cathy Lindsey Brown and Marc the house while we were there. It was for turning my ear Brown, both Class of '64, live in peachy and everyone who saw it thought so. toward classical music. He and I each Minneapolis and Ely, Minn. Cathy is a free- Marc and I had already looked at six or owned a different volume of "Duets with lance writer and volunteer in Minneapolis seven other houses. This was the first and, the Spanish Guitar," so we swapped. He schoids and Marc manages a small timber- we feared, the only house that might suit us, played mine on an old KLH stereo, a dead framing business. They have been married for ringer for the one I had bought in Cali- 30 years and have two children. fornia 30 years before. 48 MACALESTER TODAY LETTERS
LETTERS continued from inside front cover 1 am planning a trip to Germany this beloved president, Charles Turck, the sub- Vienna where the professor asked each of summer for the first time in 25 years. I will ject of another cartoon [below]. its why we had gone on the study abroad be taking my husband and two children to The story and cartoon about your new program. 1 replied that it was a chance to see Arolsen, where I studied so long ago at governor prompted this response to your go abroad and that I did not see myself the Goethe Institute. Thank you for giv- good magazine. doing much with the German language in ing me a head start with jogging my Ronald Gustafson '51 the future. I remember the look of com- memories about my first trip to Europe as a LaCrosse, Wis. plete and utter disbeliet on Dan's Macalester student. I know that my expressive face. His mouth actually fell family and 1 are going to have a open. He simply could not understand wonderful time. how anyone could come on this wonderful Ruth Beard Johnson '76 program and not be completely enthralled Fridley, Minn. with everything German. The study abroad program was truly a life-changing experience tor him. 1 had completely lost touch with what happened to Dan after 'Oh, yes, for Macalester' 1975. I found your update about how Dan U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan '61 went on to become a German professor addressed several hundred members of the absolutely delightful. United Nations Association of the United I remember Peggy Skopec as a young States of America last March in New newlywed in 1974. She was only a couple York. 1 was a member of the Minnesota delegation. 1 had to act fast to get a picture. As he was leaving the podium, I went up to him and said, AND TUITION RATES ARE n "Pel like to get a picture EXTREMELY LOW, DEAR FRIENDS/ for the Macalester Charles J. Turck, Macalester's international- alumni magazine." minded president from 1939 to 1958, is The secretary-general depicted in this 1951 cartoon by Bob broke into a warm smile, McClelland '52. McClelland, who went on to saying, "Oh, yes, for a 40-year career as a Presbyterian minister Macalester,1' and this pic- and college professor, now lives in St. Louis, ture was taken. Mo., and has a "new career" as a professional watercolorist. C. Edward Johnson Woodbury, Minn* 1942 graduate of Gustavus Exciting things OVER the years I have had relationships Kofi Annan '61 and C. Edward Johnson, Gustavus Adolphus '42, Memories with several small, private liberal arts in New York last March schools (my employment at two, two of 1950-51 children who attended different small pri- of years older than us, so it was easy to vates— including a Mac '01 daughter— identify with her. She told us stories of her THE MAY issue of Macalester Today my graduation from one, a father who experiences as a new American wife trying brought back some memories from the worked at one for over 30 years, etc.). to set up housekeeping in Vienna. I was year 1950-51. Each of three articles was a To this day I receive alumni magazines impressed with how intelligent, sophisti- reminder of life on campus then that from all of them, and never have I gotten cated and beautiful she was. Peggy truly was ably illustrated by cartoonist Bob as excited at getting an alumni magazine rose to the occasion when she and McClelland '52 in a book he and I as I do when Macalester Today comes. Manfred suddenly found themselves in published called Campus Keyhole. Inter- You do worthwhile, exciting things at charge of the program in 1974- The hus- estingly enough, we both ended up being your school, and President McPherson's band of our on-site director had a stroke Presbyterian ministers. "Mike Today" column and the contents of that fall, and they returned immediately to The two pictures of "The Last Dance in the magazine consistently articulate them the United States. This left Peggy with far Cochran Lounge" reminded me of two car- beautifully. more responsibility for us Macalester stu- toons before the union was built. Judy O'Connor dents than she had ever envisioned having In the obituary of Beverly Werbes Yellow Springs, Ohio to take on. 1 really appreciated the job she White '41,1 had forgotten that she was a did to help keep the program from falter- housemother at Kirk Hall until I saw ing. What an asset she and Manfred are to another cartoon. Macalester, and 1 am delighted to see that The international flavor of Macalester they are still part of the program. carried through on the WPI and German Study Abroad Program stories. Inter- nationalism had its beginnings with our AUGUST 1999 49 Of presidents and playwrights MACALESTER PRESIDENT Mike McPherson adjusts Vaclav Havel's gown after the president of the Czech Republic received an honorary degree from Macalester and the University of St. Thomas. Havel, the celebrated playwright and dissident who spent nearly five years in jail because of his opposition to the Communist regime, came to Macalester and St. Thomas April 26 to help inaugurate the Vaclav Havel Civil Society Symposium. See page 8.
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