BOWDOINWinter 2005 Volume 76, Number 2 The Mind of a Goalie winter2005 contents The View From the Crease 18 By Mel Allen Photographs by Bob Handelman Sports fans agree — there’s something different about goalies, some way of looking at the game, or even the world, that only they have. Mel Allen takes an in-depth look at how men’s ice hockey goalie George Papachristopolous ’06 handles the pressure, and we talk to other Bowdoin goalies about their rituals, pre-game routines, and other tricks of the goalie trade. Joining in the Dance 28 By Selby Frame Photographs by James Marshall In the years since she arrived on campus to help Bowdoin begin a dance program in the early days of co-education, Professor of Dance June Vail has built one of the most inclusive, welcoming, and vibrant dance programs around. Climate Change in the Arctic: Is Bowdoin’s Mascot Headed for a Meltdown? 32 By Douglas McInnis Illustrations by John Bowdren The polar bear population in the Arctic has changed little in the nearly 87 years since Donald MacMillan sent Bowdoin the bear that stands guard in Morrell Gym, but some say the polar bear could actually become extinct in this century, a victim of global warming. Departments Mailbox 2 Bookshelf 4 College & Maine 6 Weddings 38 Class News 44 Obituaries 79 BOWDOINeditor’s note staff It’s winter in Maine, and January simply will not end. Money is short, patience is Volume 76, Number 2 thin, and the line at the coffeeshop is always long. Looking beyond Brunswick, Winter, 2005 one’s mood might plummet further – those who have friends and loved ones in MAGAZINE STAFF Iraq must know little but worry, and the figures of death and destruction from December’s tsunami loom as large as the wave itself. And, not to put too self- Editor involved a spin on it, I have had a very bad week. Alison M. Bennie Associate Editor But then I read the Class News, because it is time to do that. And three words pop Matthew J. O’Donnell up again and again in the notes from alumni: Life is good. So I think about that. Because it isn’t only good for the twenty-somethings, blithely going about career Design Pennisi & Lamare advancement, family-building, and social swirling. And it isn’t only good for those Falmouth, Maine who are slightly older, at the peaks of their career games, with children successful- ly grown, tuitions paid for, and still plenty of spring in their step. Not just for the Obituary Editor newly-retired either, with grandchildren to dote on, spots on the globe to visit, and John R. Cross ’76 golf games to perfect. The words come up in notes from classmates all the way Contributors from the 1940s to the 2000s, whether the writer is struggling with hospital visits Pavlina Borisova ’07 related to old age or the trials and tribulations of medical school. James Caton Susan Danforth Selby Frame Life is good, apparently, throughout its many and varied decades. It occurs to me Scott W. Hood that not everyone realizes this. Alexander Reed ’07 Alix Roy ’07 The only people, I would guess, who read the class notes from beginning to end are Matt O’Donnell, the associate editor, and me. It takes a long time to do, as that Photographs by Brian Beard, Dennis section runs anywhere from 20-30,000 words (this is one of the shorter ones, at Griggs, Bob Handelman, James Marshall, 20,912), and we are not only reading when we read, but trying to catch misspelled and Bowdoin College Archives. names, misplaced commas, and other errors. But the content sinks in nevertheless, BOWDOIN (ISSN, 0895-2604) is pub- and it is clear that Bowdoin graduates lead full and happy lives from start to finish, lished four times a year by Bowdoin that they know how to roll with the punches, and that they, for the most part, College, 4104 College Station, manage to find themselves on the sunny side of the street. And I think there may Brunswick, Maine 04011. Printed by be a lesson there somewhere. Dartmouth Printing, Hanover, New Hampshire. Third-class postage paid at Hanover, New Hampshire. Sent free of I don’t pretend to be a social scientist or demographer, but it seems to me possible charge to all Bowdoin alumni/ae, par- that those who were confident enough to choose to come to a place like Bowdoin ents of current and recent undergradu- — maybe a little wintry in the winter, maybe a little less anonymous than is com- ates, faculty and staff, seniors, and selected members of the Association of fortable for some — are the people who are adaptive, who are optimists even more Bowdoin Friends. than survivors, and who believe that college and life will always and only be what they make it. If the story of the Class News is a record, what they make of it is Opinions expressed in this magazine good. are those of the authors. Send class news to classnews@bow- If you have a doctor’s appointment coming up, or a train ride, or some other doin.edu or mail to the address above. lengthy period of time that you expect to sit at rest, I urge you to take a copy of Advertising inquiries? Please e-mail Bowdoin magazine with you – any issue. Read the Class News in its entirety, old to [email protected] or fax 207- 725-3003. Please send address changes young as we do, and you will finish with a sense of life in lovely rewind, I promise. to the mailing address above. Send ideas or letters to the editor to that AMB address or by e-mail to bowdoinedi- [email protected]. Cover: George Papachristopolous ’06, late on a November evening after prac- tice. Photograph by Bob Handelman. BOWDOIN WINTER 2005 1 mailbox Honoring Paul Nyhus Dear Editor: Professor Paul Nyhus retired last fall perspectives and sense of humor bringing students with different academic, social [2003] after 37 years of remarkable life to Reformation-era Europe. and economic backgrounds could succeed service to the College as Frank Andrew At a recent dinner honoring Professor at the College. His former students will Munsey Professor of History, and former Nyhus, I had the opportunity to listen to always be grateful for his deep interest and Dean of Students and Dean of the College. the stories of some of the many students commitment to our success at Bowdoin Professor Nyhus came to Bowdoin in whose lives he has profoundly and and in our lives. 1967 after completing his Ph.D. at positively impacted over nearly four Stephen Kusmierczak ’89 Harvard and studying at Heidelberg decades. In their stories, former students Universitaet as a Fulbright Scholar. As an recalled how Professor Nyhus earned their educator and administrator, his efforts respect through his attention, empathy and Forging Helpful were inspired by a genuine concern for fair-mindedness. As Dean of the College Relationships students and how Bowdoin could help during the tumultuous Vietnam War Dear Bowdoin: them develop as scholars, artists, athletes period, he opened his doors to student The editor’s children are quite right and citizens. leaders, and helped keep the protests on about learning to do “things.” But there campus peaceful while protecting are certain things you cannot do for the right to voice dissent. Similarly, yourself. It doesn’t always involve he helped guide the College’s learning a specific skill. successful transition to a co- While a Bowdoin freshman, I had educational institution when a check forged against my account. Bowdoin welcomed its first women Self-reliant as I was, I collected the in 1971. Throughout his career as a student whose endorsement was forged history scholar and teacher, and went down to the bank. After a few Professor Nyhus has introduced weeks, no action. Using my draft board Bowdoin students to Rome, Greece, correspondence experience, I sent the Medieval Spain and bank a certified letter. Still no results. I’m Reformation and sure they thought it was my own fraud. Renaissance Europe. Finally, I did what I should have In an age of increasing done the very first day, and went to see Originally from rural specialization and the Dean of Students. The very next northern Wisconsin, inability to provide day, Lieutenant Joy called me from the Professor Nyhus took a historical context, Brunswick Police Department, and I special interest in Professor Nyhus is a soon had my money returned. students of modest generalist in the finest Now, if only we can arrange for means, whether from sense, who has taught CEOs to reinvent a separate Chairman Aroostook County or well and been of the Board to help them with Midwestern industrial published extensively complicated problems... towns. Having grown in North America up in the latter, I came and Europe. Timothy H. Buchman ’72 to Bowdoin as an The personal earnest student, but recollections of his Love, Love, Love… with little preparation students reveal the Dear Editor: to critically read and great commitment Perusing the section on weddings is understand history. of a scholar, always such a delight! As I looked at the Through several classes in European history administrator and mentor who wore photographs of happy couples in your and an honors thesis, Professor Nyhus many hats at the College. Informed by his last edition, I was so heartened to see the helped develop in me a real love of history own experience, Professor Nyhus is a joining of a same-sex couple amidst the and more importantly, the ability to listen genuine humanist who knows the announcements.