Meet the Hass Family

Y V. N. An All-American The Sou’wester R C College Newspaper O , Meet the Hass Family B R K ’ consin and is a renowned sleight-of- ter, Jessica, is 23 and lives in Memphis Hass has begun to get involved with STAFF WRITER hand magician. His magic career start- working as a volunteer at the refugee local synagogues and with the Jewish ed around the same time President center. e Hass’s dog, Biscuit, is an federations here in Memphis. She plans Since settling into our institution, Hass decided to pursue college admin- adorable female Shih Poo (a Poodle to be an advocate for Jewish activity on President Marjorie Hass and her hus- istration. crossbred with a Shih Tzu). campus. She also strongly supports in- band Dr. Lawrence Hass have been the When asked about the roots of his Having moved around a lot, their terfaith dialogue both on-campus and talk of the town. interest, he said, “I became interested perspective on Memphis life is unique. in the world. e opportunity for peo- President Hass grew up in Chicago in magic primarily as a philosopher. ey have moved from a big university ple of diff erent faiths to sit down and and attended the University of Illinois I wrote my doctoral dissertation on setting in Urbana-Champaign to the discuss what their traditions mean to at Urbana-Champaign were she met her perception and the philosophy of art. medium-sized city of Philadelphia to a them is what she hopes to enrich during husband during her graduate program. Once I started my position in Penn- small town in Texas. her offi ce. Both Lawrence and Marjorie achieved sylvania, I had an encounter one night President Hass believes the qualities of When asked what their favorite pizza PhDs in philosophy at Urbana-Cham- with a magician on television [it was a Memphis as both a city and a commu- was they immediately responded Chi- paign and began their twenty-year aca- 1994 special starring David Copper- nity make it a very rich environment. cago Deep Dish from Lou Malnati’s. demic careers at Muhlenberg College in fi eld, whom he later met in person]. She said, “[It is] both so historic and ey even said they have have had it Pennsylvania as philosophy professors. It woke me up [to the fact] that magic impactful, but also lively. is is very fl own to them for delivery! With regard Dr. Hass’s interest in college adminis- performance was a form of art that had new for us…. We’re just so excited to to hobbies, the couple does not watch tration began at Muhlenburg, and it led been completely undertheorized. No immerse ourselves.” much TV, however, they enjoy reading. the couple to North Texas as Dr. Hass one had talked about it… It was often President Hass and her husband are President Hass loves yoga and medita- accepted a presidency at Austin college. shunted to the side… I had found an already members of museums around tion. Dr. Hass and his son, Cameron, e couple spent the next eight years in area ripe to explore and so I did that.” Memphis such as the art museum and love to play Magic the Gathering and Austin until Dr. Hass transitioned her For the past 25 years, Dr. Hass has the Civil Rights Museum. ey even at- he is also a hardcore Green Bay Packers leadership to Memphis. When asked been consistently performing magic. tend plays at local theatres. fan. He had even bought a share of the why she chose Rhodes as her next en- In 2010, he had so much business that President Hass noted how “… Rhodes team! He can also sing, play the guitar deavor, she said, “[Dr. Hass and I] fell he retired as a college professor to be a is so beloved in Memphis that people and the piano in love with the college for the same full-time magician. He loved teaching, have just reached out to us. As soon as It is great to know the face behind the reason that students do. We wanted but he was enthralled by the additional we say ‘Oh, we’re with Rhodes College,’ school as more than just a face. If one to be at a place that really values lib- level of learning within magic. He now people want to embrace us and want to ever has an opportunity to talk with the eral arts and values relationship-driven performs and teaches magic. He is even welcome us into the community and Hass family it will become clear how teaching… We were excited about the a part of a magic school in Las Vegas. make us feel at home.” well they fi t into the Rhodes commu- idea of being at a liberal arts college e couple’s son, Cameron, is 28. He She mentioned how welcomed the nity. that’s in a city.” lives in Philadelphia and works in re- two felt by “…a signifi cant and en- Dr. Lawrence Hass grew up in Wis- search in Princeton, NJ. eir daugh- gaged Jewish community.” President Page 2 The Sou’wester October 20, 2017 News, CoNt’d Rhodes Urban Forestry Fellowship By India Nikotich ’19 “I like my job because half the time entire forest – what would prevent the fifteen parents come to walk with us STAFF WRITER is spent outside,” Hope said. “I think it Old Forest from being developed if it around campus. The updated brochure is so important to research spaces like weren’t a state natural area?” is available in Burrow so that anyone Economics and Environmental Stud- this. Overton Park especially is one of This semester, Hope and her partner can do the tour on their own.” ies major Helen Hope ’18 has spent the only and largest concentrated urban Maddie Smith ’18 are leading an an- Hope plans to channel her experienc- many days in the Old Forest of Over- forest in a large metropolitan city which thropological survey about the com- es into a career in environmental law. ton Park with a GPS and clipboard in I don’t think a lot of people know.” munity’s perception of the forest while “This fellowship has given me a lot of hand. Since the summer of 2016, Hope Many of the issues the Park faces di- hosting programs for students to edu- insight into issues like land usage and has worked in the park’s conservatory as rectly impact the community just be- cate themselves on the ecological diver- the conservation of green spaces,” Hope part of the Rhodes Urban Forestry Fel- yond the gates of Rhodes. sity on campus. said. “After a whole summer spent iden- lowship. Alongside the Farmers Market “I got to work for the Conservancy “The other half of our job is being tifying trees on campus, now I can spit Fellows, Hope has spent many hours during the Greensward controversy,” in charge of the Rhodes arboretum and out fun facts about them to my friends. each week conducting studies and sur- Hope said, referring to the Memphis making sure it is ready for recertifica- It’s a fun party trick.” veys on the plot of land across North Zoo’s damaging usage of parts of Over- tion this fall,” Hope said. “We celebrate Parkway under the direction of Profes- ton Park as overflow car parking. “The it with Arbor Day events and doing tree sor Kimberly Kasper. Greensward issue can be applied to the tours. Over Parents’ Weekend, we had V-Day Hosts Feminist Mixer By Grace Lemons ’20 the spring, “The Vagina Monologues.” with strips of paper with questions pro- tions with other students they may have STAFF WRITER The Feminist Mixer was a way for stu- voking intelligent conversation about never met before. Another station held dents who identify as feminists to dis- current social and political issues relat- coloring books with pictures of famous Rhodes College’s V-Day organization cover themselves on campus and enjoy ing to women and feminist concerns. and important women in history, pro- hosted a Feminist Mixer on October a range of snacks including pizza rolls The activity included questions such as moting creativity and easy discussion 5th in the East Village Lodge. The or- and a cheese platter. “How do you smash the patriarchy?” with fellow feminists. Some students ganization is “a movement focused on The event included stations with and “What is one critique you have of chose to simply wander around the raising awareness and funds to help different activities designed to inspire modern feminism?” There were also room, acquiring different perspectives stop violence against women and girls.” feminist discussion, analysis of current questions like “What is your favorite and learning from their fellow students’ It puts on various events throughout issues and conversation between new smell and what memory does it remind experiences. the year, including its main program in acquaintances. One station held a cup you of?” to ease students into conversa- Lock Your Cars, Lock Your Dorms By Will Melton ’21 A few weeks ago, Mitchell Smith’s lock. As Koonce called Campus Safe- Campus Safety advised students to STAFF WRITER ’19 car was stolen from campus. Ac- ty, the culprit disappeared from sight. make sure their possessions are as safe cording to Director of Campus Safety There have been a number of similar as possible. The security cameras caught While Rhodes is a gated community Ike Sloas’ report, the suspect jumped small thefts around campus from cars one of the thieves walking around the that has taken pride in its safety stan- the fence near East Village in order to and dorm rooms.

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