Spring 2008 Volume 109, Number 1 WISCONSIN Reluctant Star 18 The UW scientist who first brought stem cells into the scientific spotlight — a discovery that sparked a volatile debate of political and medical ethics — doesn’t seek fame for himself. So when you are the go-to guy for everybody who wants access to James Thomson, a man who’d much rather be in the lab than in the media’s glare, you learn to say no more often than you’d like. By Terry Devitt ’78, MA’85 Seriously Funny 22 Some thought that Ben Karlin ’93 was walking away from success when he left his job as executive producer for TV’s The Daily 18 Show and The Colbert Report. But, as he explains in this conversation with On Wisconsin, he was simply charting a comedic path that includes a new book and his own production company. By Jenny Price ’96 Can of Worms 28 Graduate students have more to worry about than grades — there’s also research, funding, and, as the students working in one lab discovered, their mentor’s ethics. While PhD candidate Amy Hubert x’08 aims to overcome scandal and put the finishing touches on her degree, the UW struggles to protect the students who will create the future of science. 22 By John Allen INSIDE Campus on $5 a Day LETTERS 4 34 If a bill featuring Abe’s face is burning a hole in your pocket, SIFTING & WINNOWING 9 you’d be amazed to learn what it can buy on campus. Don some comfort- DISPATCHES 10 able shoes and discover what you can eat, see, and do at bargain prices. CLASSROOM 16 By Gwen Evans ’79 SCENE 44 SPORTS 46 WAA NEWS 48 On Her Own Terms 34 UPFRONT 50 40 She’s been compared to Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, and Maria ALUMNI NEWS 51 Muldaur. She founded a band called Mother Earth. She dated Steve PHILANTHROPY 58 Miller x’67. So why haven’t you ever heard of Tracy Nelson x’67? MAIN EVENTS 64 FLASHBACK 66 By David McKay Wilson Cover: James Thomson, the UW-Madison professor of anatomy who first coaxed stem cells from human embryos in 1998, is shown here with UW molecular biologist Junying Yu. A study led by Yu in Thomson’s lab, announced in November 2007, achieved genetic reprogramming of human skin cells to create cells indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells. “It’s going to completely change the field,” Thomson predicted of the latest finding. Photo by Bryce Richter FLASHBACK COURTESY OF UW-MADISON ARCHIVES The Devil and Dean Middleton Ben Karlin ’93 may be the latest Badger to make it big in comedy (see story on page 22), but he certainly wasn’t the first to engage in funny business. As this picture proves, even the UW’s doctors-in-training spent time operat- ing on the funny bone, perhaps investigating whether laughter is, indeed, the best medicine. The natty looking fellow in the straw boater is William Middleton, who was on the faculty of the UW medical school from 1912 to 1955 and was its dean for the last twenty of those years, making him perhaps the most influential doctor in university history. His “fellow tormentors,” according to the caption that ran along- side the photo in the 1952 Badger yearbook, are med students Eugene Sullivan ’50, MD’53 (as St. Peter), Harry Watson Jr. ’50, MD’53 (as the devil), and James Fitzsimmons MD’53 (whose smock, for some reason, reads “Palmer School of Chiropractic, 1903”). It isn’t clear exactly what’s going on here, but it seems to conflict with the reputation Middleton left behind of a top-notch clinician with an imposing personality and strict attention to propriety — he’d been known to bawl out student nurses if their caps were on crooked or their stocking seams weren’t straight. Middleton was the medical school’s second dean, following founder Charles Bardeen, who served from 1907 to 1935. The school has had ten deans in the five decades since Middleton’s retirement. Now known as the School of Medicine and Public Health, the institution began celebrating its hundredth anniversary last fall. To find out more about the school’s centennial, visit 100years.med.wisc.edu. — John Allen 66 ON WISCONSIN MAIN EVENTS Undergraduate performance of Tennessee Wil- workshop will give you the the picturesque Björklunden 16 Symposium — This liams’s Pulitzer Prize-winning skills and confidence you need Center in Baileys Harbor, annual, free event highlights play. Enjoy a pre-performance for successful cross-cultural Wisconsin, plus meals, recep- the achievements of UW- talk by director and associ- interactions. You’ll learn tions, and area tours. Call (608) Madison undergraduates in ate professor of theatre and about Italian culture and basic 890-1191 for reservations or research, service learning, and drama Norma Saldivar. See phrases with Janet Wood, an more details. the arts. Visit www.learning. uwalumni.com/learning. experienced instructor of Ital- wisc.edu/ugsymposium for ian for adults, who has lived, details. studied, and traveled through- july may out Italy. Visit uwalumni.com/ UW Varsity learning for details. 17–19 Band also July 21–22 Concerts — Join music lovers UW Art Faculty Studio 17–18 and July 24–25 at the Kohl Center for a live 3 Tour — Visit the personal june Grandparents University® performance by the Badger studios of Tom Loeser, Nancy Come to campus this summer band. This three-night extrava- Mladenoff, and other UW art for the eighth annual Grand- ganza, complete with profes- faculty as you view their collec- Alumni College: parents University. This award- sional staging, lighting, sound, tions and learn about each 6–8 The Unique His- winning program brings and pyrotechnics, annually artist’s unique vision. This tory and Landscapes of grandparents and grandchil- draws more than twenty-five event includes bus transporta- Door County — Learn about dren together for two days of thousand Badger fans. Call tion and lunch in the company this area’s natural and cul- hands-on activities and talks (608) 265-4120 for tickets. of fellow art-loving Badgers. tural landscapes with Profes- by top UW faculty in a major See uwalumni.com/learning sor Emeritus Wiliam Tishler, of your choosing, as well as a All-Campus for details. author of Door County’s chance to stay in a residence 19–27 Party 2008 Emerald Treasure: A History hall. Call (608) 890-1191 for Students will celebrate the Commence- of Peninsula State Park. The details or visit uwalumni.com/ onset of spring and the ending 16–18 ment — A weekend includes lodging at grandparents. of a school year with a week new class of UW alumni will of free, alcohol-alternative walk across the stage at the events sponsored by WAA and Kohl Center and celebrate the Wisconsin Alumni Student the start of their careers. Go ALUMNI WEEKEND May 8–11, 2008 Board. Visit allcampusparty. to www.secfac.wisc.edu/com- com for details. mence for the spring com- mencement schedule. The Wisconsin Alumni Association invites all grads back A Streetcar Named 25 Desire — University and 22 — Passport to campus for a memorable weekend among friends. Theatre’s season comes to a 20 Series: Italian Hear from UW faculty, celebrate with classmates, meet climactic end with a special Language — This two-part distinguished alumni, and learn what’s new at your alma mater on exclusive campus tours. For more infor- mation, visit uwalumni.com/alumniweekend or contact WAA’s Rebecca Fichtner toll free at (888) 947-2586. Alumni across the country will hear from top UW faculty, catch CLASS OF 1958 REUNION up with fellow Badgers, and raise money for scholarships at these events celebrating the founding of the university. Visit The Class of 1958 will celebrate its fiftieth reunion with several uwalumni.com/foundersday for more information. special events. On Friday, classmates will enjoy a dessert recep- tion and program at the Madison Museum of Contemporary APRIL 23 Chippewa Valley, Art. The Half Century Club luncheon will take place on Satur- 1 Antigo Wisconsin day at the Memorial Union, and the reunion wraps up with a 1 Sauk/Columbia Counties, 23 Southwest Wisconsin Wisconsin 24 Connecticut class dinner. 1 Wisconsin Dells 28 Fox Valley, Wisconsin 3 Los Angeles 28 Manitowoc, Wisconsin DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS CEREMONY 3 Washington, D.C. 30 Northwoods, Wisconsin (Thursday, May 8) 4 Atlanta, Georgia 30 River Falls, Wisconsin 5 Orange County, California 30 Triangle Area, North Help honor this year’s award winners at the Distinguished Alumni 8 Sacramento, California Carolina Awards ceremony in the Wisconsin Union Theater. Honorees 13 Nashville, Tennessee 30 Washington County, include Joanne Disch ’68, Truman Lowe MFA’73, Sheldon ’51 and Wisconsin 14 Denver, Colorado Marianne Lubar, and Linnea Smith ’81, MD’84. The Distinguished MAY 15 East Central Illinois Young Alumni Award recipients are Shihoko Fujiwara ’03 and 1 Chicago 16 La Crosse, Wisconsin Steven Turner ’91. The evening will continue with a reception 16 Southwest Wisconsin 1 Wausau, Wisconsin and gala dinner at the Memorial Union’s Great Hall. 17 Portland, Oregon 2 Kansas City, Missouri 17 Waukesha, Wisconsin 3 Twin Cities, Minnesota 19 Kokomo, Indiana 8 Door County, Wisconsin DAY ON CAMPUS (Friday, May 9 ) 21 Marshfield, Wisconsin 8 Rochester, Minnesota Share your love of learning and the UW with alumni and friends 10 Louisville, Kentucky 22 Sheboygan, Wisconsin of all ages at Day on Campus. The afternoon features lectures by 21 Hawaii top faculty on a variety of topics. SPRING 2008 65 MAIN EVENTS Campus BRYCE RICHTER Resources Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) (608) 262-2551 Fax (608) 262-3332 Toll-free (888) 947-2586 (888-WIS-ALUM) [email protected] uwalumni.com Alumni Address Changes (608) 262-2551 or Toll-free (888) 947-2586 www.uwalumni.com/directory [email protected] Alumni Death Notices (608) 262-2551 or Toll-free (888) 947-2586 [email protected] Visitor and Information Programs (608) 263-2400 [email protected] www.visit.wisc.edu UW Foundation Spring may be on the way, but winter provided the student thrills this year.