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VANDERBILT MAGAZINE Vsummer 2005 A Taste of World Peace Katrina Markoff ’s truffles offer more than beautifully prepared chocolate. They reveal a philosophy of life.

also: Greetings from Vanderbilt Elvis Biographer Peter Guralnick The Future of Libraries VMagSmr05_C2 8/1/05 12:15 PM Page 1

“The puzzling or curious situations I develop appear much like a movie still with an implied story, but few clues are given about the final outcome,” says Professor of Art Marilyn Murphy of her work. “The viewer must determine what has happened to bring the characters or elements to this point and how the situation will resolve itself, often implying the work of an unseen hand just outside the frame.” Shown here: “The Lifesaver,” oils on canvas, 40” X 30”. VMagSmr05_pg1.final 7/25/05 4:07 PM Page 1

one Big Vanderbilt Weekend Celebration Reunion class parties for the undergraduate classes of 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000.

Homecoming events for ALL alumni, students, family and friends, including “Classes Without Quizzes” educational events, cocktails and conversation with the chancellor, Homecoming Tailgate, Commodore football against Georgia, the Commodore ReVUe Parade, Dynamite Blast and more. This is the place to see all your friends! Homecoming and Reunion October 14–15, 2005

Last year more than 5,000 alumni and friends returned to campus to reconnect and reminisce. This year will be even bigger.

Come be part of the excitement.

To find out more and register online, visit www.vanderbilt.edu/alumni Join the Crowd! VMagSmr05_pg4-7.final 7/25/05 4:13 PM Page 5 DoreWays From the Editor From the Reader Blessed by Elvis Tunneling I enjoyed reading the tunnel article in the recent Vanderbilt Magazine [Spring 2005 f you liked music, Memphis could be a heady place to live in the issue,“What Lies Beneath?” p. 32]. However, late ’60s. Blues legends like Muddy Waters played regularly in the parks and I would offer one additional step in the build- small bars. Stax recording artists were changing music and the Memphis music

A forum for exchanging ideasA forum for exchanging ing process. Before the tunnel is built, it is scene. And, of course, there was Elvis. Whether you felt his genius died with his important to select a contractor who is expe- induction into the army, or that his work had simply evolved a little out of sync rienced in driving tunnels, understands the with mainstream rock, Memphis was his home. He was our boy. geology of this part of Nashville, and has the That’s why I was excited to read this issue’s brief interview with biographer Peter appropriate equipment to build the project. IGuralnick. I wanted to know why he wrote a book about Elvis. Turns out it wasn’t the In addition, there are a couple of tech- over-the-top fame, or even the fact that Elvis had defined rock music. It was an image nical matters I would like to correct. The Guralnick had of a young, pimply faced Memphis boy sitting at the soda counter drum- “drilling equipment” you spoke of is known ming his fingers, waiting for his cousin, waiting for his life to unfold. That made the in the industry as a “tunnel boring machine,” story worth telling. and the head on this machine is 8.5 feet in Many of us who came of age in Memphis had diameter, instead of 8.5 inches. The article our Elvis stories, and I was no exception. I grew was fun to read. up within sight of Graceland, and have memories George David Waller III, BE’62 of standing in the front yard with visiting relatives Nashville as my mom and dad pointed out Elvis’ barn to our delighted guests. Later, when I picked up a guitar and Clear Channel dreamed of music fame myself, I joined a band with Look, I understand your article [Spring one of Elvis’ stepbrothers. We practiced in a shed that 2005 issue,“Signal Strength,”p. 38] focused bordered Graceland’s stone wall, and joked about rehears- on the accomplishments of [Mark] Mays, ing in the shadow of one of rock’s major figures. Then but the whitewash of the controversies of one afternoon, as the final chord to one rock standard Clear Channel’s influence peddling, screw- or another echoed away, a voice spoke: “You boys are ing artists who don’t toe the line, etc., was pretty good.” disappointing—not a single interview or It was Elvis. comment from any of their adversaries. Mak- He stood in the doorway for a few seconds, then was gone. Of course, we weren’t ing Clear Channel look like a white knight “pretty good.”We weren’t even average. We were 17 years old and uninspired musi- is truly disgusting. What’s next? Let the the- cians. But from that day, we had something few, if any, musicians (and I might add ologians write about “Intelligent Design” here, editors) could claim. We were blessed by Elvis. without any comments from the scientists? I was “pretty good”; the King had spoken. I’m thinking that an Elvis pronounce- Jim Hayes ment isn’t time-limited, so I’m hoping some of what Elvis saw in me has rubbed off Via e-mail on Vanderbilt Magazine. Pull a chair into the shade, and spend some time with this issue. Take a look at “Greetings from Vanderbilt”; you might want to use it to plan that I read with interest your article titled next vacation. Dip into “One Chocolate at a Time,”and contemplate the meaning of “Signal Strength” about Mark Mays and Clear your life without Katrina’s truffles. Channel Communications in the March issue Go ahead. It’s summer. The dog days. The season when Elvis left us, and a time when of Vanderbilt Magazine. I thought you would we all deserve to be blessed. be interested to learn that there are two other Ken Schexnayder Vanderbilt connections with Clear Chan- nel—myself (Law ’74) and Chris Robbins (Law ’97). I have served as FCC regulatory counsel to the company since 1990. Robbins

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assisted on the account for the last six or seven your magazine, which reflects the goals and What I loved about Vanderbilt was its years, devoting most of his time to obtaining objectives of Vanderbilt University. It is time rich traditions. To change the name of Con- FCC approval for the radio acquisitions for you, Mr. Editor, to speak up and tell us federate Hall is political correctness gone described in your article. He is now a mem- alumni what your intentions are for this mag- awry and a slap in the face of those who con- ber of the legal staff of the FCC’s Audio Ser- azine. Is it to keep presenting the far-left polit- tributed to Vanderbilt. vices Division, which oversees the radio ical bias, as Mr. Feehan calls for, or are you Erica Dorwart, BA’90, MEd’92 industry. So all bases are covered! going to try to be “fair and balanced”? Tulsa, Okla. Richard J. Bodorff, JD’74 Carl W. Conner, BE’62, MS’64 Washington, D.C. Rockville, Md. I was gratified to see that you featured the letter by Jack Walker as to polling the Fair and Balanced Confederate Hall alumni for the disposition of renaming Con- In our previous letters to you, several I am indebted to Mr. Jack D. Walker, federate Hall. You published my letter in oppo- of us noted that your magazine presents a A’49, for suggesting a poll of Vandy alumni sition to its “renaming” a year or so ago. politically left bias in its articles and we urged on the subject of [renaming] Confederate I hope the poll will reveal that graduates you to present a more “fair and balanced” Memorial Hall on the campus of Peabody of Vanderbilt will rise above the political cor- view. Now Mr. [Patrick] Feehan has urged [Spring 2005 issue,“From the Reader,”p. 6]. rectness mentality that seems to pervade our you to stay where you are, citing a “freedom I am very happy to express my opinion. society so much and recognize that history is of speech” argument [Spring 2005 issue,“From I have sharply differed with the vice chan- just that and is not the relabeling target of the Reader,”p. 5]. Sure, you are free to pres- cellor for public affairs in years past about those wanting to “feel good”! ent any view that you like, just as we alum- attempting to rewrite history because some Paul E. Tanksley, BE’54 ni are free to support any university that we overly sensitive students were offended. Dallas, Ore. like. It is not a matter of “freedom of speech”; Every dog has his day, and I am having my it is a matter of the goals and objectives of day now. I have just received word that the I am writing in respect to your fea- steely-eyed Tennessee Court of Appeals has tured letter in the Spring 2005 magazine just handed the Vanderbilt lawyers and the regarding Confederate Hall. I believe that Gee team a lesson in contract law. I now hope building was donated in good faith by the that this insane work to destroy the embed- Daughters of the Confederacy with the under- ded Southern Heritage at Old Vandy will cease standing it would be named “Confederate and the administration will get on with the Hall” in remembrance of fathers, husbands, work of making the University an even bet- uncles, etc., who died during the Civil War. ter place of higher learning. I believe the University should honor their I further recommend that if this attempt past commitment unless they are willing to suit the liberal mind-set continues, that to pay the Daughters of the Confederacy the those responsible hit the bricks on West End original cost of the building plus compound Avenue and turn Northeast. Write when you interest. find work. I wish we could stop revisiting this era Robert B. Wynne Jr., BE’51 and accept it as an irreversible fact in our Dallas continued on page 84

6 Summer 2005 VMagSmr05_pg4-7.final 8/1/05 3:18 PM Page 7 VJournal

Laughter in Pain life on campus Perspectives

Is the price of a Ph.D. necessarily the suspension of joy? By VANESSA K. VALDÉS

few years ago I wrote carefree attitude that conveyed nothing of in my journal a list of things the ambivalence about which we had spoken. I wanted to accomplish by For some reason my women friends could the time I graduated with my not wear the mask as easily. As I enjoyed doctorate. I wanted to con- the benefits of free therapy at the Psycho- tinue to enjoy my teaching logical and Counseling Center, I wondered (check), present a paper at a professional con- about those people who continue to believe Aference (check), submit an article for publi- that seeking treatment means an admission cation in a refereed journal (not yet), and start of craziness. Where did they go? some type of organization for women gradu- I was determined to end the bouts of cry- ate students on campus (check). That last one ing, the naps that went on for too long, and may seem odd, given that it ostensibly has the incompletes that accrued as I stared at my NATALIE COX MEAD nothing to do with my professional develop- books not knowing where to begin a paper of our own departments. Unless we are part ment, as the others do. However, in my per- (but knowing it had to be perfect). Certain- of an interdisciplinary program, many of us sonal relationships and as a representative and ly, a lot of these symptoms stemmed from have little interaction with people of other alter vice president of the Graduate Student events in my family life, but grad school did disciplines. We’re too busy writing papers, Council, I met and talked to graduate students not help. One administrator told me I should teaching, taking classes and studying, all in from nearly all departments on this campus. forget everything happening in my realm at the pursuit of a tenure-track job at a Research- The one thing that stayed with me was that home and just focus on my work. Another One University. Anything less is failure. Never whenever I spoke with women, I sensed a dis- told me it was foolish to look for happiness mind the failed relationships, the lack of sleep, contentedness that seemed consistent, regard- in grad school. I wasn’t aware that I had con- the anxiety attacks. Forget the mounting debt less of race, sexual orientation, marital status, sented to a life without joy when I decided to from student loans that assist in your pur- or number of years at Vanderbilt. pursue a Ph.D. A fellow student told me I suit to live as your friends with “real” jobs do. At first I found validation in knowing I would be shocked to know how many women This will all be worth it … right? wasn’t the only one who felt unsettled and sought help at the Counseling Center but Last summer I wrote to an acquaintance lost. Later, the certainty that others also had never discussed it for fear of recrimination. who worked in the Center for Teaching at been blindsided by the unexpectedly emo- My desire to create a space in which women Vanderbilt about the idea of establishing tional journey that is graduate school no could talk honestly about their feelings stemmed something that addressed the experiences of longer comforted me. from these experiences and more. A dear women in graduate school. She suggested I I began to ask why this was considered the friend of mind pointed out to me that she contact the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s status quo—why we, the graduate students, had never thought about herself as much as Center, and from that moment it was a go. were discussing our quality of life in whis- when she was in grad school—which even- With the full support of Linda Manning, pers, oftentimes with people outside our tually caused her to leave her program. Many director of the Women’s Center, and Alison departments. While some of the men in my times this process is designed to be isolating. Pingree, director of the Center for Teaching, life confessed to feelings of professional inad- Each of us does her own original research, or and working closely with Jennifer Hackett, equacy in private conversation, I noted that helps a professor with his or hers. Often Women’s Center associate director, and Lisa in class, they did a fine job of projecting a our lives are focused only on the happenings continued on page 86

Vanderbilt Magazine 7 1,000Words1,000Wo r d s One image frozen in time

Hot Licks Hula dancers, steel drums, and a fire-eating performance by Sideshow Benny were part of the festivities last fall at the grand opening of RoTiki, an island-themed restaurant inin BranscombBranscomb Quadrangle.Quadrangle. Photo by Peyton Hoge.

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TheCampus“ The Commons will go a long way in establishing Sfrien

affairs.“We believe house approximately 400 stu- the active engage- dents representing a cross-sec- ment with peers, tion from each of Vanderbilt’s early informal four undergraduate schools— interactions with Blair School of Music, College faculty, partner- of Arts and Science, School of ships with student Engineering, and Peabody Col- life professionals, lege of Education and Human and social and aca- Development. demic programs “Our students need and offered at The expect regular interaction with Construction Begins on College Halls Commons will go faculty and each other in order The undergraduate expe- will bring together all first-year a long way in establishing to build the community, charac- rience at Vanderbilt will students in a community of 10 friendships and a foundation ter and leadership that we foster undergo its most significant residence halls to be known as for learning that will last during here at Vanderbilt,”says Nicholas transformation in a generation “houses” located on the their time here at Vanderbilt S. Zeppos, provost and vice as construction begins on Col- Peabody College campus. Five and throughout their lives.” chancellor for academic affairs. lege Halls, a residential college existing residence halls will be Once The Commons is Or, as one student observed system with the ambitious goal converted to houses, and five complete, University officials in a Vanderbilt Hustler piece of creating the most vibrant new houses will be built. A will develop plans to build up about The Commons: “If it living and learning environ- tenured faculty member will to seven college halls for upper- worked for Hogwarts, it can ment in higher education. serve as dean of The Commons, classmen. Each college hall will work for us.” College Halls will bring and each house will be managed together students, faculty and by a faculty member or student

staff in smaller community set- life professional in residence.

tings within the larger Univer- Construction of The Com- I don’t need to be sity. Select faculty will live in mons began this spring. Reno- ashamed that apartments located in the col- vations to the existing buildings I’m a survivor. “ “Men need to be lege halls where students will are scheduled to be finished by live in a more intimate residen- fall 2007. The Commons is ashamed if they’re tial setting than the traditional expected to be complete by perpetrators. college dormitory. Each college fall 2008 and represents a hall will feature student-driven $150 million investment by programming designed to pro- the University. mote intellectual exchange and Currently, Vanderbilt’s first- leadership development. Areas year students live in three areas for dining, study and informal across campus. “First-year stu- gathering will enhance the liv- dents are trying to figure out —Filmmaker Aishah Shahidah ing-learning atmosphere. where they fit in a university Simmons during a screening of The first phase of College community,”says David “NO!,” a documentary about rape in the African-American community Halls at Vanderbilt, which will Williams, vice chancellor for NEIL BRAKE be known as The Commons, student life and university

10 Summer 2005

VMagSum05_pg10-17.final 7/25/05 4:37 PM Page 11 “ shingSummer2005 friendships and a foundation for learning. —VICE CHANCELLOR DAVID WILLIAMS

Pioneering Peer Buddy Program Goes National A program students have participated in for special- the program. education stu- “We worked with the dents started [Nashville] school board, the 10 years ago principals and the administra- by the Vander- tion to establish Peer Buddies as bilt Kennedy a for-credit class,”Hughes says. Center for Research on Human “That way, the students could Development and the Metropol- devote at least one class period itan Nashville Public Schools per day to interacting with stu- system has gone nationwide dents from the special-education through the publication of a classes.”In addition to spending book, Success for All Students: time in their buddies’ classes, the Promoting Inclusion in Sec- pairs also eat together in the ondary Schools Through Peer lunchroom and participate in Buddy Programs. activities outside school together. Carolyn Hughes, Kennedy General-education students Center investigator and profes- say they benefit from the pro- sor of special education and gram as much as the special- human and organizational education students.“It really development at Peabody Col- touches your heart because of lege, and her former graduate the things the general-education student, Erik Carter, MEd’98, students say,”Hughes observes. PhD’04, developed the Peer “They say,‘We are really the Buddy program with colleagues same; we have the same fears, from Vanderbilt and Metro the same dreams.’” Schools. Hughes and Carter The program expanded this were spurred to write the book year to include Vanderbilt by the hundreds of e-mails they undergraduates, who are serving received asking for more infor- as mentors to general-education NEIL BRAKE mation about the program. high school students in high- In the Peer Buddy program, poverty schools as part of a serv- {Details} general-education high school ice learning class. Cat’s Eye View students support, mentor and The new book contains “Black Cat,” a mosaic by Lynn Driver, basks in the sunlight befriend special-education stu- detailed instructions, checklists of the Sculpture Garden adjacent to the terrace of Peabody dents, who often are not inte- and worksheets that individual Library. The garden was donated by Bernice Weingart grated into the social, academic teachers and schools can use to Gordon, BS’56, and Joel C. Gordon. or athletic life of schools. More kick off the Peer Buddies pro- than 1,000 special-education gram at their own schools. >>

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Ooh! My Soul Commencement festivities kicked off May 11 with a spirited performance by Little Richard.The wild man of rock ’n’ roll headlined “The Party,”an annual event for members of the Vanderbilt community, held on the Peabody campus. DANIEL DUBOIS VMagSum05_pg10-17.final 7/25/05 4:38 PM Page 13

You Say “Vanderbilt,” I Say “Virtuous Palace of Fan” What’s in a name? Until that’s a phonetic match, has a recently, it depended on whom positive meaning, and isn’t you asked if you were talking already in use in the language about Vanderbilt University in to represent something else can a Chinese-speaking country. be quite a challenge. There is The University discovered there no “v” sound in Mandarin Chi- were at least a dozen variants of nese, so Harvard uses two char- “Vanderbilt” in use across acters, Ha-fo, which translates First-year nursing students mainland China, Hong Kong, to “laughing Buddha.” Lora Davis, left, and Erica Singapore and Taiwan, so it set “Fandebao” translates to Taylor check out the new out to standardize its name. “the virtuous palace of Fan,” interactive “BodyQuest” exhibit at Nashville’s The process of settling on a “the academic center of virtue,” Adventure Science Center. single name was ini- or “place of academ- KATS BARRY tiated by Shih-Ping ic excellence.”Strict- (Nancy) Wang, a ly speaking, “Fan” is Really Gross kids how food travels through second-year student a common surname Anatomy the body and beyond. Some of at the Owen Gradu- like Van;“de” is Vanderbilt University the students said they call it ate School of Man- virtue, excellence or School of Nursing students from “really gross anatomy.” agement. The native quality; and “bao” a community health class have The exhibit also includes a of Taiwan alerted means castle, fort or used their knowledge to help locker room with tips on stay- University adminis- bastion. shape a new “BodyQuest” exhib- ing safe, a giant brain in which trators to the many The University it at the Adventure Science Cen- kids can explore and learn versions of the Van- actively recruits stu- ter in Nashville. About 20 about how the different parts of derbilt name in dents from China, students wrote scripts for a pro- the brain control different body Mandarin Chinese. Hong Kong, Singa- gram to guide visitors in each functions, and even an ambu- “When I applied to pore and Taiwan section of a new attraction that lance for kids to crawl inside. Vanderbilt Univer- and has about 265 takes visitors on a journey VUSN student Mary San- sity, I could not find students currently through the human body and its ford Hay said working on the a Chinese name for enrolled from those functions. The exhibit displays project wasn’t as easy as it the school to tell areas. “We are very six body systems in an interac- sounds. “The hardest part was friends where I’d be interested in tive learning environment. The making the information under- studying,”Wang improving Vander- nursing students researched and standable to children.” explains. “After arriving in bilt’s scholarly visibility in East wrote presentations to explain Kelly Alsup, an educator at Nashville, I noticed Vanderbilt’s Asia, particularly in China,” each system, including the the Adventure Science Center, Chinese-speaking faculty and explains Joel Harrington, immune, digestive, respiratory, says the VUSN students “bring students use more than a dozen assistant provost for interna- circulatory, musculo-skeletal a different viewpoint. We also translations for ‘Vanderbilt tional affairs. “That means and nervous systems. wanted to inspire kids to go University.’” building on numerous indi- Children can check on “Pat,” into a medical career, and our To help end this confusion, vidual faculty collaborations the patient in the exhibit, learn hands-on mini Medical Center Wang spearheaded the effort to with Chinese colleagues, how to take his blood pressure, will hopefully inspire them.” standardize the name, present- expanding our study-abroad give an injection and read his ing all the versions and their opportunities for undergradu- temperature while wearing a Making the World meanings to a group of Univer- ates, profiting from our strong real hospital mask and shoe Cybersafe sity administrators, faculty and alumni base there—particu- covers. The lifelike, oversized It’s the kind of scenario students. “Fandebao” prevailed. larly in Hong Kong, and lever- beating heart experiences a that keeps cybersecurity experts Mandarin is spoken by a bil- aging it for the recruitment of heart attack every hour, the awake at night: A concerted lion people worldwide and is top Chinese students and floors of the exhibit light up attack by terrorists on the the main language of govern- scholars, and forming strong with neon nerve pathways con- nation’s computer infrastructure ment, media and education in institutional partnerships with necting each body system, and could wreak havoc nationwide. China. Finding a translation a few select universities.” the digestive system even shows Vanderbilt researchers >>

DANIEL DUBOIS Vanderbilt Magazine 13 VMagSum05_pg10-17.final 8/1/05 2:36 PM Page 14

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are helping develop new University. The program also {To p Picks} technologies to protect the brings together industrial part- country’s critical infrastructure ners, including BellSouth, Cisco Spitz Receives Investment Award from attack. The Vanderbilt Systems, ESCHER (Boeing, William T. Spitz, vice chancellor for Institute for Software Integrated General Motors, Raytheon), investments and treasurer, has been Systems (ISIS) is one of eight Hewlett Packard, IBM, Intel, presented the 2005 Award for Investment Leadership by the invest- university collaborators on a Microsoft, Qualcom, Sun and ment firm Hirtle, Callaghan & Co. National Science Foundation Symantec. The award recognizes investment Team for Research and Ubiqui- practitioners for investment-man- tous Secure Technology Living Wage Issue agement performance and profes- (TRUST), a new science and sional ethics. Spitz has directed that Debated DANIEL DUBOIS the $50,000 cash prize go to the technology center. The center’s During the past year, Owen Graduate School of Management, where he teaches initial funding of $19 million voices not often heard at securities analysis. Since assuming responsibility for will be apportioned over five Vanderbilt have made head- Vanderbilt’s endowment in 1985, Spitz has increased its assets years with the possibility of a lines as the issue of a living to $2.5 billion from $300 million. He is the author of numer- five-year, $20-million extension ous articles and several books, including Get Rich Slowly: wage became the focus of ral- Building Your Financial Future Through Common Sense. at the end of the term. Vander- lies, forums and Vanderbilt bilt’s portion of the initial fund- Hustler editorials. Cool Hand Ryan ing is $3 million. The wage debate entered the Junior engineering student Ryan Demeter of Chesterfield, Researchers intend to trans- forefront last November when Mo., finished second out of more than 1,000 students in the form the ability of organizations a union representing about 570 World Poker Exchange Intercollegiate Poker Championship. to design, build and operate Demeter competed against five other regional finalists in a of Vanderbilt’s more than March 14 tournament held in Cancun, Mexico. The tourna- trustworthy information sys- 18,000 employees rejected a ment, which involved online and offline poker open to stu- tems that control critical infra- wage agreement presented by dents from 120 universities throughout the United States, structure. TRUST will address a the administration. Among attracted more than 1,000 students. Demeter won a $3,000 parallel and accelerating trend of groups the union represents are scholarship plus $2,000 in cash. the last decade—the integrating campus groundskeepers, din- of computing and communica- Engineer Wins NSF Award for Work with Smart Devices ing-services workers, custodi- T. John Koo, assistant professor of tion across critical infrastruc- ans and skilled craft workers computer engineering, has received tures in such areas as finance, including carpenters, electri- a CAREER award from the energy distribution, telecommu- cians and mechanics. National Science Foundation. The nications and transportation. Negotiations resumed in Faculty Early Career Development The center will build cyber- awards are considered NSF’s most December, and on March 14 prestigious honor for junior faculty system security through mod- members of Local 386 of the members. Koo will receive eling and analysis, development Laborers’ International Union $400,000 over five years to support of secure embedded (“smart”) of North America voted to efforts to help engineers do a better DANIEL DUBOIS systems, and integration of accept a contract that raised job of designing “smart devices,” reliable components and secure which contain microchips and are spreading rapidly through- wages for the three lowest pay information-management soft- out society. Not counting computers with their printers and grades, which encompass peripherals, the average household already contains some 40 ware tools. It also will develop approximately 240 employees, to 50 tiny smart devices, a number that experts predict could education and outreach pro- by 16 to 18 percent. The new grow 10-fold in the next decade or two. grams geared to K–12 schools, two-year contract took effect undergraduate students, and March 28. Gee Joins NCAA Presidential Task Force institutions serving under- Chancellor Gordon Gee has been named by NCAA President Kevin Myatt, associate vice Myles Brand to a new presidential task force to study the represented populations. chancellor and chief human future of college sports. NCAA officials characterize the goal TRUST academic partners resources officer, says that while of the task force over the next 18 to 24 months as shaping “the include Vanderbilt, the Universi- 21 of Vanderbilt’s employees next phase in reform of intercollegiate athletics.” Gee will ty of California–Berkeley, earn $7.60 per hour—the low- serve on Presidential Leadership of Internal and External Carnegie Mellon University, Constituencies, a committee that will examine the relationship est wage currently paid to full- Cornell University, Mills Col- that college sports has with boards of trust, booster organiza- time workers on campus—the tions, foundations and other interested groups. lege, San Jose State University, University will spend more Smith College and Stanford than $100,000 in training those

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21 employees. Myatt cites Van- derbilt’s employee benefits such {Virtual Va n d e rb i l t} as English as a Second Lan- guage programs, GED pro- grams, and the college tuition http://www.soulincision.com/ assistance program as incen- Soul Incision tives that make the University By day, they’re mostly mild-mannered an attractive place to work, Vanderbilt physicians, nurses and admin- especially for low-wage earners. istrators.When the sun goes down, though, “We try to provide people they get together to play Motown, Mem- with the vehicles with which to phis soul, classic rock and pop. Perform- elevate themselves,”says Myatt. ing about 30 times a year, the nine-member band has shared the stage with Charlie He admits that “wages are criti- Daniels,Vince Gill, Joe Dee Messina, cally important,”but adds that Billy Dean and Trick Pony, among others. the longevity of many employ- Formed in 1998, they’ve just released ees’ work experience at Vander- their second CD. Hear their music and bilt speaks for itself. find out more on their Web site. The current federal mini- mum wage, in place since 1997, is $5.15 per hour, but propo- nents of a living wage say the value of the minimum wage Appeals Court dropping the word “Confeder- Davis to museums. In Augusta, in relevance to cost of living in Rules on Memorial ate” from the official name of Ga., and Montgomery, Ala., the United States has steadily Hall Dispute the building, which was con- conflicts continue over displays declined since 1968. Vanderbilt will not appeal structed by Peabody College in of the Confederate flag. Vanderbilt is one among a state court decision regarding 1933 with partial financial sup- Judging from the letters numerous universities that has the inscription on the pediment port from the UDC. The lawsuit Vanderbilt Magazine continues struggled with the issue of of Memorial Hall, a residence was dismissed by a Davidson to receive on the subject, alum- compensation for lowest-paid hall on the Peabody campus, County chancery court in 2003, ni are far from united in their workers in recent years. Some ending a lawsuit initiated by the but the Tennessee Court of opinions regarding the issue. schools that have instituted United Daughters of the Con- Appeals overturned that deci- “Even today, issues around the living wages, including Har- federacy. sion in May, ruling that the Uni- symbols of the Civil War gener- vard, outsource lower-paying The Tennessee chapter of the versity could not remove the ate very, very intense feelings,” positions so that those indi- UDC filed the breach of con- actual inscription unless it reim- says Michael Schoenfeld, vice viduals are not on the univer- tract suit in 2002 when the Uni- bursed the UDC an unspecified chancellor for public affairs. sity payroll. versity announced it was amount of money based on the “Vanderbilt continues to current value of the organiza- believe that we did the right tion’s original $50,000 payment. thing for the right reasons to A group of Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff gathered in The court decision only address a decades-long contro- front of Kirkland Hall last affects the actual inscription on versy by changing the name of November to voice their concerns the building; all publications, ‘Confederate Memorial Hall.’ about wage issues on campus. maps and housing assignments Nonetheless, the court has refer to “Memorial Hall.” ruled and Vanderbilt will abide Symbols of the Confederacy by the judgment regarding the have been the subject of contro- inscription on the façade of the versy in a number of cities building.” recently. In Memphis, Tenn., city The University plans to cre- officials are weighing a proposal ate an annual forum or lecture to rename Confederate Park, that will deal with issues of Nathan Bedford Forrest Park race, history, memory and the and Jefferson Davis Park, and to Civil War. move statues of Forrest and >> NEIL BRAKE

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T HE C AMPUS

Med Students Find supplies are not sterile, they are {Inquiring Minds} Supply Remedy more hygienic than many of Each day in busy medical the alternatives physicians have Talk Therapy vs. Meds centers across the country, in underdeveloped countries, Research at Vanderbilt and the countless leftover supplies are and they are eagerly accepted. University of Pennsylvania chal- discarded not because they are At Vanderbilt the REMEDY lenges the American Psychiatric program has a bin located in Association’s position that anti- used but because they are no the core room of the surgical depressant medications are the longer considered sterile. At only effective treatment for mod- Vanderbilt a group of medical suites, where they collect items erately to severely depressed students is helping put those such as gowns, drapes, gloves, patients.The research, published supplies to use overseas where sutures, medical equipment April 5 in the Archives of Gener- they’re really needed. Through and tubing. al Psychiatry, found cognitive ther- “Many materials are opened apy may be as effective at treating the REMEDY program, stu- moderate to severe depression as dents collect leftover materials and prepped in the operating KRT/PHIL SEARS antidepressants, and more effec- from the operating rooms and room, but either go unused or tive at preventing relapses following treatment termination. send them to underdeveloped are mishandled,”Hegedus says. “Cognitive therapy teaches patients how to monitor their own countries. The group hopes to expand the reactions and helps them make sense of their own experiences,” operation, placing more bins says Steve Hollon, an author of the study.“They walk out the Medical students Ashleigh around the Medical Center. door with those skills, which help protect them from falling Hegedus, Himali Wijessoriya, prey to helpless feelings.”Hollon is a professor of psychology Kimberly Ma and Renee and psychiatry at Vanderbilt and a member of the Vanderbilt Makowski, with the help of an Scholarship Winner Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development and the Alpha Omega Alpha service Globetrots in Pursuit Center for Integrative and Cognitive Neuroscience. grant and direction from of Public Service No Joke: Laughing Helps Burn Calories Jeanette Norden, professor of Star Wallin isn’t taking Laughter could help trim your waistline. Maciej Buchowski, cell and developmental biology a hard-earned break from director of bionutrition at Vanderbilt, has found laughing rais- and neuroscience, have put a studies this summer. She start- es energy expenditure and increases heart rate 10 percent collection bin in place and have ed her summer vacation in to 20 percent. Ten to 15 minutes of laughter could increase made their first delivery, send- Liberty, Mo., taking part in a energy expenditure by 10 to 40 calories per day, which could translate into about four pounds a ing a 25-pound package to Sri leadership-development con- year. Buchowski and senior research Lanka. ference as one of the nation’s specialist Karen Majchrzak put pairs “We were inspired by one of 2005 Harry S. Truman Schol- of friends and couples in a metabol- last year’s World Health Week ars. From the end of May ic chamber and showed them video speakers, Dr. Khassan Baiev,” through mid-August, she is clips. “People can’t eat at McDon- ald’s and then expect to laugh away Hegedus says. Baiev spoke working in Tanzania as an out- their lunch,”Buchowski warns.“You’d about practicing medicine in reach coordinator for the Jane have to laugh for 15 minutes just to the midst of the Chechen/Russ- Goodall Institute. Then in burn off two Hershey’s Kisses.” KRT/STEVE DESLICH ian war, during which time mid-August she’ll attend a physicians substituted house- gathering of the 2005 Morris Quantum Dots Faster,More Sensitive for Detecting K. Udall Scholars in Tuscon, Respiratory Viral Infections hold thread for suture thread, a In what may be one of the first medical uses of nanotechnolo- hand saw for a surgical saw, Ariz., before returning to Van- gy, a doctor who specializes in infectious childhood diseases and and an ordinary drill for brain derbilt for her senior year. She a chemist have joined forces to create an early detection method operations. Baiev said it pained even plans to climb Mount for a respiratory virus that is the most common cause of hos- him to walk through American Kilimanjaro while in Africa— pitalization among children under 5.Vanderbilt researchers hospitals and see unused sup- but just for fun and in her report that not only can a quantum dot system detect the pres- ence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) particles in a mat- plies in the trash. “spare time.” ter of hours rather than the two to five days required by current “A group of us got together Wallin considers the oppor- tests, but it is also more sensitive, allowing it to detect the virus to figure out how we could tunities invaluable training for earlier in the course of an infection. Professor of Pediatrics help,”Hegedus says. a future career in public serv- James E. Crowe Jr. collaborated with Associate Professor of The remedy was REMEDY, a ice. “Receiving both the Tru- Chemistry David W. Wright in the development. program piloted at Yale Univer- man and Udall scholarships has sity, which allows unused mate- served to strengthen my com- rials to be put to use. While the mitment to living a life of serv-

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Star and Amber Wallin and former foster-youth group. harm’s way.” “We hope this publication The idea for the report came will heighten public awareness after Tennessee Supreme Court about the role of the juvenile Justice Riley Anderson spoke to court in neglect and abuse members of the council at a cases and the tremendous dif- conference they co-hosted in ference that a good judge and a Nashville in June 2004. “For too good guardian ad litem can many of us, as we listened to make,”Michelle Crowley, a Justice Anderson, we were member of the Tennessee struck by the difference Youth Advisory Council, said. between what he said was sup- “If judges and the attorneys posed to happen in juvenile involved in these cases do their court and what had happened jobs well, the system works bet- to us,”says Crowley. NEIL BRAKE ter, children are safer and fami- The report outlines key ice,”says the Picayune, Miss., Wallin has been involved with lies are strengthened,”says standards juvenile-court judges resident. She is the second in Students Promoting Environ- Andy Shookhoff, associate and attorneys should meet and her family to receive the Tru- mental Awareness and Recy- director of the Vanderbilt Child provides detailed criteria by man Scholarship, which pro- cling (SPEAR) and the and Family Policy Center and a which the performances of vides $30,000 for graduate Wilskills Outdoor Education former juvenile-court judge. “If judges and attorneys in meet- education. Her sister, Ashley Program. She plans to pursue they do not, the system falters, ing each of these standards Amber Wallin, was an elemen- a graduate degree in public and children and families are in should be judged. tary and deaf-education major policy as well as a law degree. at Vanderbilt and received the scholarship in 2003. “My sister and I both came Foster Youth to Vanderbilt largely because of Hold Court System the Ingram Scholars Program Accountable at the University,”says Star. As A group of current and an Ingram Scholar she receives former foster youth has issued full tuition and stipends for a report they hope will give special summer projects in children in foster care and con- exchange for devoting around cerned community members 20 hours each month during the tools to hold juvenile judges the academic year and at least and attorneys accountable for one summer to performing protecting the safety and rights community service. This sum- of children who have been mer the Ingram Scholarship abused or neglected. The will allow her to travel to Tan- report, “Judging Your Juvenile zania. Wallin also will receive Court: A Citizen’s Guide to $5,000 from the Morris K. Evaluating Judicial Perfor- Udall Scholarship and the mance in Child Neglect and Excellence in National Envi- Abuse Cases,”was published ronmental Policy Foundation, jointly by the Tennessee Youth which awards merit-based Advisory Council, the Vander- scholarships to students who bilt Legal Clinic, and the Van- demonstrate outstanding derbilt Child and Family Policy potential and a commitment to Center. It was released May 11 pursuing careers related to the at a foster-care forum at the environment. Nashville Public Library with An environmental public Tipper Gore, Nashville Mayor policy and sociology major, Bill Purcell, and the current

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Sunday at Augusta

Sports athletics at Vanderbilt A look Luke List is mastering the game of golf. By NELSON BRYAN or golf enthusiasts, noth- I shot, or if I made the cut or missed the cut, ther, Robert Brown. “We moved to Jasper, ing compares to springtime in who I got to play with, I just wanted to enjoy Ga., when I was 8 years old to be close to my Georgia. As lemmings are inex- it. I wanted to make sure it was my first— grandparents—my mom’s father and moth- orably drawn to the sea, so do and hopefully not last—memorable Mas- er,” he says. “That’s when I started playing the golfing faithful gather by ters. It was a dream week.” golf with my grandfather. That’s where it the thousands to plunge into List’s presence and play have been a began for me. Most every afternoon, I the spectacle and pageantry dream come true for the Vanderbilt golf would get out of school and go play golf that is the Masters Tournament at Augusta program. In his freshman season he became with my grandfather.” FNational Golf Club. In the midst of this year’s Vanderbilt’s first freshman All-American Through middle school, List played golf, annual April rite was Luke List, a sophomore when he was named to the third team. He swam some, and played basketball and base- on the Vanderbilt golf team, playing in his was named first-team All-SEC and was one ball. “But I liked golf the best,”he says. With first Masters Tournament. of five players named to the national All- his interests focused on golf, List left home “It’s a beautiful place,” List recalls of the Freshman honor squad. and became a boarding student at Baylor course noted for its towering pines and azal- He continued his success during his High School in Chattanooga, Tenn. “My eas that cascade to water’s edge.“To make the sophomore year, again being named first- mom and dad decided to move up to the cut was just a bonus. I was team All-SEC by league of- Chattanooga area to be a little closer so my just having a blast being ficials and a vote of con- sisters could go there, and we could all be at there on Sunday. After the ference head coaches. He home. I was at home for my last two years.” 18th green I took a deep finished in the top 10 in 10 List was heavily recruited out of high breath and said,‘Wow, this tournaments. Last Febru- school. He chose Vanderbilt over offers from is Sunday at Augusta. It ary he was named the Auburn, UNC, Georgia, Georgia Tech and just doesn’t get any better Male Amateur Athlete of Wake Forest. “It was a tough decision,” he than this.’” the Year by the Tennessee says. “I respected [Vanderbilt] Coach Press At 20 years of age, the Sports Hall of Fame. McPhaul and felt like he had a program that rising junior from Ring- List comes from an ath- was on the way up. I liked everything he had gold, Ga., was the youngest player in the letic family. His parents were both All-Amer- to offer. I liked Nashville, and we have an Masters Tournament field. Not only did he ican swimmers at the University of North amazing new, state-of-the-art practice facil- make the cut, but he finished in a six-way tie Carolina–Chapel Hill. “We’ve got a family ity. It’s a great recruiting tool for us to have a for 33rd place. He attracted national atten- background in competitiveness,” he says. practice facility at our own course.” tion when he scored a hole-in-one in the “Both my sisters swim as well. It’s nice to During the season Vanderbilt golfers take event’s Par Three Tournament. have parents who know about competition. mostly morning classes so they can hit the “Overall, it was just incredible,”he says of They were very supportive in every sport I links first thing after lunch. The practice the Masters experience. “I really did a great played growing up.” routine depends on the day. “If the day is job and just enjoyed the whole experience. List’s love of golf can be traced back to long, we may play nine or 18. … The short That was my goal going in. No matter what Georgia, the town of Jasper and his grandfa- continued on page 86

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Luke List PHOTOS BY NEIL BRAKE VMagSmr05_pg20-21.final 7/25/05 5:10 PM Page 20

S PORTS

Cutler Osemwegie 2005 Football “I’m honored my teammates voted for me Captains Chosen as their captain,”he says.“I plan on working A pair of fifth-year seniors has been chosen as hard as possible to be the best I can be and by their teammates to serve as captains of the make them proud of my selection.” 2005 Vanderbilt football team. Quarter- Head Coach Bobby Johnson was pleased back Jay Cutler, a three-year starter from Santa with both selections. “The team did a very Claus, Ind., and linebacker Moses Osemwegie, fine job in electing Jay and Moses as their cap- a two-year starter from Nashville, will take tains,”he says. “Both have excelled on the the helm of the Commodores this fall. field, but more important, both have been Cutler becomes only the second Com- “To get elected for a third time means a leaders by example.” modore player in the team’s 116-year histo- great deal to me,”Cutler says. “Hopefully, ry to serve as captain for three seasons. That in my last year, I can help guide this team to 2005 VU Football Schedule honor is shared with Elliott H. Jones, captain a greater success. Getting wins is the reason Sept. 1 at Wake Forest and coach from 1890 through 1892. Cutler all of us are playing this game.” Sept. 10 at Arkansas has started 34 games for the Commodores. On the other side of the ball, Osemwegie Sept. 17 Ole Miss Entering his final season, he ranks first or sec- is the SEC’s leading active defender, start- Sept. 24 Richmond (Parents’ Day) ond among active SEC quarterbacks in vir- ing his senior season with 273 career tackles, Oct. 1 MTSU tually every career statistical category, including 40 more than his nearest competitor. He led Oct. 8 LSU total offense, passing yardage, touchdown SEC linebackers in the 2004 season with 9.4 Oct. 15 Georgia (Homecoming/Reunion) passes, completions, rushes by a quarterback, tackles per game, earning first-team All-SEC Oct. 22 at South Carolina rushing touchdowns and combined touch- honors from the league’s coaches and Asso- Nov. 5 at Florida downs. ciated Press writers. Nov. 12 Kentucky Nov. 19 at Tennessee

He’s often on the road, but Toby S. Wilt, Price Named to Freshman BE’67, is always at home in Nashville and at All-America Team Vanderbilt. A three-year letterman in football from Left-handed pitcher David Price has been 1963 through 1965, he also played on the Vanderbilt selected to the 2005 Louisville Slugger Fresh- golf team in 1966. These days he keeps golf team in 1966. These days he keeps man All-America Team,chosen by Collegiate busy as president of TSW Investment Co., chairman of the board of Baseball newspaper. Christie Cookie Co., and as a board member of other organizations around the country. He maintains his passion for the game of golf and is a founder of the Golf Club of Tennessee. He also maintains his passion for Vanderbilt athletics and has established the Toby S.Wilt Athletic Scholarship “to provide men’s golf scholarships based on academic merit and athletic achievement.”The cur- rent recipient of that scholarship is Luke List, a rising junior from Ringgold, Ga. Price (see Luke’s story on page 18). “Brandt Snedeker also held that scholarship and The 6-foot-6-inch freshman from Murfrees- handed it to Luke when he left,” says Wilt. boro, Tenn.,worked his way into the starting “They both played in the Masters, one rotation, playing in 16 games and starting 10 year apart. Both not only made the cut with a 2.73 ERA. He struck out 92 batters, in the Masters, but they distinguished with a career-high 11 against Tennessee themselves and Vanderbilt by being such great gentlemen at the tournament.” and Florida. He accepted an invitation to participate in the 2005 USA Baseball National Team Tri- als held in late June. He is the ninth Com- modore to be named to a Collegiate Baseball {{WhereWhere AreThey Now?Now?}} Freshman All-SEC team.

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS BY LAUGHEAD PHOTOGRAPHERS

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{Sports Roundup}

Baseball: Lewis Named Lacrosse: Women Earn All-SEC, Players Drafted Postseason Honors Right-handed pitcher Jensen Lewis, a Four Commodores have been honored for their junior from Cincinnati, was named to the performances during the 2005 lacrosse season. All-Southeastern Conference Second Team Junior Kate Hickman, by a vote of the league’s 12 coaches. sophomore Molly Vanderbilt led the SEC in team pitching with Frew, and freshmen a 3.38 ERA, and Lewis led the Commodores Sasha Cielak and with an 8-3 record and 2.62 ERA. Margie Curran were Major League Baseball showed great named to the interest in the Vanderbilt program and drafted American Lacrosse 13 players—eight current players and five Conference’s All- signees—in the 2005 draft. Leading the list League Team: were Lewis and junior Hickman to the first Lewis left-handed pitcher team and Cielak, Curran and Frew to the Ryan Mullins, chosen in second team. Cielak and Hickman were both the third round; junior named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse first baseman Mike Coaches Association South All-Region Second Baxter, picked in the Team. Cielak also was named to the Inside fourth; and senior pitch- Lacrosse All-Americans Third Team. Hickman ers Jeff Sues and Ryan led the Commodores with 41 goals, and Curran Rote, taken in the fifth. was second on the team with 30 goals and 28 Vanderbilt finished draw controls. Cielak and Frew were the team’s the regular season with a 34-21 overall record, defensive leaders, combining for 50 caused 13-17 in the SEC. turnovers and 76 ground balls. Vanderbilt fin- ished with a 6-9 record, 3-3 in conference play. Men’s Tennis: Brown Named All-SEC Women’s Tennis: Falk Vanderbilt senior Scott Brown was named Named All-American to the All-Southeastern Conference First Vanderbilt senior Audra Falk advanced to Team at the end of the regular season, the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA posting a record of 16-5, 6-4 SEC, at the Individual Championships and was named No. 1 singles position. Combined with his an All-American for the second consecutive record at No. year. She finished Falk 1 doubles, he the season with a became the 20-9 record, “winningest” having won at player in the least 20 matches history of in each of her Vanderbilt four years as a men’s tennis. Brown Commodore.

Pole-vaulter Paige Roberts, a senior from Atascadero, Calif., cleared a personal-best 12 feet outdoors at the 2004 SEC championships.

ALL PHOTOS BY NEIL BRAKE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Vanderbilt Magazine 21 VMagSummer05_Holdings_r4i 7/25/05 5:31 PM Page 22 Va n d e rb i l t Holdings Collections and collectibles Collections Serendipitous and Sublime

Vanderbilt’s East Asian Art Collection came into existence largely by chance to become one of the finest in the Southeast. By PAUL DEAKIN

n 1956, Anna C. Hoyt donated has definitely been more than simple good friend of Doochin and Mihal introduced the 105 Old Master and modern prints fortune guiding the expansion of the Asian Asian art aficionados. Doochin was a native to Vanderbilt University. Among these Art Collection. Nashvillian who had moved out to San Fran- were three Japanese wood-block prints The Stern Collection, acquired in the late cisco but was back in town visiting friends and in the evocative ukiyo-e style, some- 1970s, was a huge coup for Vanderbilt. The family. At the time, Doochin was looking for times called “pictures of the floating collection, which includes 25 pieces of East an institution to which he could donate his world.”In the late 1960s, four further Asian art and many rare books, belonged to large Asian art library. Mihal quickly suggest- donations took the total number of Asian Harold P.Stern, for- ed Vanderbilt and Ipieces at Vanderbilt to a modest seven. Today mer director of the made the necessary the collection contains more than 2,000 pieces Freer Gallery of Art arrangements to from Bhutan, Burma, China, India, Japan, in Washington, D.C. bring the books to Korea, Tibet, Thailand and Vietnam, making After Stern died a Nashville. Doochin it one of the finest collections of its type in large number of then invited Mihal the Southeast. major museums out to California to So how has Vanderbilt come to possess and private collectors see his collection. “I such a treasure-house of Asian art in a few attempted to acquire couldn’t believe it,” short decades? The faculty and staff mem- Stern’s world-class says Mihal.“His home bers responsible for shaping and growing the Asian art collection. was floor-to-ceiling collection have had a remarkable knack for Vanderbilt’s emeri- with Asian art. It was being in the right place at the right time. Their tus professor of fine pouring out of clos- story is one of chance encounters, delightful arts, Milan Mihal, ets.”Mihal describes coincidences and serendipitous acquisitions: knew a close friend himself as a kid in a An unplanned meeting after a lecture led to of Stern’s brother and candy shop when the donation of more than 1,000 pieces of was permitted to have Doochin invited him high-quality Asian art. A valuable piece was first pick of the estate to “take what you acquired at a Nashville flea market for $24. before the public auc- want.”Mihal did just A speculative road trip to view a world-class tion. This was how that and returned to collection due for public auction resulted in Mihal came to be California a second a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cherry- driving back to Van- time with Joseph pick several dozen pieces. A set of Japanese derbilt from Washington with many delicate Mella, director of the Vanderbilt University wood-block prints was pulled from the smok- ceramic pieces, Japanese hanging scrolls, and Fine Arts Gallery, to pack dozens of boxes. ing rubble of Berlin by a Vanderbilt faculty “no small amount of fear and trepidation.” To date, Doochin has donated more than member at the end of World War II and found Acquiring the Herman D. Doochin Col- 1,000 pieces, including Japanese and Chinese its way into the collection many years later. lection was another key acquisition. “Again, paintings, Japanese wood-block prints, sten- Whether destiny or synchronicity, there it was pure chance,”recalls Mihal. A mutual cils, textiles and bronzes.

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Another fortuitous encounter brought tion of the Vanderbilt University Fine Arts Mihal into the orbit of Chauncey Lowe, a Gallery is permanently dedicated to the needs Chinese art collector who has since con- of students. Every semester, Mella coordinates tributed many outstanding pieces to the exhibits with professors to ensure that syl- Vanderbilt Asian Art Collection. Mihal was labuses and exhibits are closely integrated. lecturing in Florida and was introduced to The Asian Art Collection also does much Lowe after one of his lectures. “Chauncey to enhance Vanderbilt’s profile on the world invited me to his home, and I almost fell stage. “As a top-tier research university, it is through the floor when I saw his collection,” beneficial for Vanderbilt to support research says Mihal. This chance meeting has led to and teaching about Asia, which contains many significant donations of Chinese art almost two-thirds of the world’s pop- to Vanderbilt, including one of the most ulation,”says Miller. Having objects important pieces in the collection—a mag- from the Asian Art Collection avail- nificent Ding ware vase from the Northern able for viewing “enriches and Song dynasty (960–1126). broadens the perspec- Because of limited exhibition space, the tives of students as Vanderbilt Asian Art Collection functions pri- well as public viewers,” marily as a student learning resource. “Stu- she continues. “As the dents need to be able to handle the objects collection grows, its they are studying,”says Mihal. He provides a original works of art will useful analogy: “Let’s say you’re a music stu- also become the subject dent, and you’re studying a piece of music but of research by outside schol- all you have is the score.You never encounter ars, who will further contribute the piece firsthand. You need to hear it. Stu- to the intellectual diversity of the dents need to have a confrontation with the College of Arts and Science and original work of art—a one-to-one experi- Vanderbilt as a whole.” ence with something that has been created by Singling out other another human being.” highlights from a col- Tracy Miller, assistant professor of art his- lection of this qual- tory at Vanderbilt, agrees. “Photographs of ity and size is no easy art used in class necessarily flatten objects task; the collection is from 3-D to 2-D and distort scale. Seeing orig- broad and deep and inal objects is essential to understanding how includes ceramics, wood- an object was made and used. When block prints, lacquer-ware, sculpture, as “the laptop of its day”), and color wood- students are writing research paintings, calligraphy scrolls, illustrated block prints by Munakata Shiko (1903– papers, we frequently walk books, artists’ notebooks, jades, bronzes, 1975), who is generally considered to be one over to the gallery and look textiles, textile stencils (tough paper coat- of the most significant Japanese artists of the at the object together. We ed with persimmon juice—works of art 20th century. take out a magnifying glass and in themselves), and many other The collection, highlights of which are examine the brushwork or the Asian artifacts. One of the most regularly shown in the Vanderbilt Universi- marks left from carving. This striking pieces in the Asian Art ty Fine Arts Gallery as part of larger thematic is impossible to do with repro- Collection is a Ming dynasty-era exhibitions, offers fascinating perspectives ductions.”Accordingly, a por- (1368–1644), painted terra-cotta into Asian history, religious beliefs and soci- statue of a Bodhisattva, which ety. In doing so it forms an important cul- Left: Horoshige’s color wood-block dominates the rear of the Fine tural bridge between Vanderbilt and the wider print “A Pilgrims’ Association Arts Gallery. Other notable pieces world, and an artistic bridge between tradi- Procession at Kanasugibashi at include an Indian statue of Vishnu, a tional Western aesthetic sensibilities and the Shibaura,” from the Anna C. Hoyt Collection; remarkable six-panel screen from the Japan- sublimities and economical beauties of Asian upper left: the 18th-century Japanese Suzurib- ese Tosa School depicting the 10th-century art making. ako (writing case) is made of lacquer with gold and silver; above: the Western Han dynasty Tale of Genji (purportedly the first novel ever (206 BCE–9 CE) “Horse with Rider” was a gift written), a rare Tang dynasty-era (618–907) Paul Deakin writes about the visual arts and music from Chauncey P. Lowe; upper right: a Ming head of Buddha, an exquisite Japanese for numerous publications. He is a lecturer in music dynasty (1368–1644) Bodhisattva portable writing set (which Mella describes theory at the Blair School of Music.

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Bright“ Privatized Ideas companies where the government was still the Privatization luster protected industries in Doesn’t Translate increasingly competitive global to Increased Profits markets. In addition to achiev- ing competitive gains, privati- Conventional zations were undertaken to wisdom holds that generate revenue for strained Research and scholarship roundup and scholarship Research companies in which national treasuries, to open governments relin- monopolistic markets in quish some level of response to pressures from 1.control through privatization international trade organiza- will out-shine companies in tions, and to answer concerns which government retains a of lending agencies seeking to controlling interest or has sub- have major state-owned bor- stantial veto powers. But a rowers broaden their risk study from the Vanderbilt exposure by issuing shares in Owen Graduate School of public markets. Management finds publicly “The assumption among traded companies remaining many economists, academics under government control and financial-market partici- actually do better in terms of pants has been that govern- performance and market value. ment-owned companies Many governments transferring ownership to pub- embarked on privatizations lic investors should have better starting in the 1980s to financial performance and a enhance performance of lack- higher market value. This is because they don’t have to Mara Faccio deal with political inter- found the opposite to be true. through 2000 that are head- ference and bureaucratic “In the year 2000, for example, quartered in countries belong- red tape, and overall can privatized companies where ing to the Organization for be more innovative, nim- the government was still the Economic Cooperation and ble and competitive,”says largest shareholder traded on Development (OECD)—Aus- Owen Professor Mara average at a price that was 26 tralia, France, Germany and Faccio, one of the authors percent higher than their Italy among them. Govern- of the study Reluctant peers,”says Faccio. “For fully ments retained a controlling Privatization. privatized companies, this rep- interest or had substantial veto When a sample of resented an average 13-percent powers in some 62 percent of government-controlled trading discount relative to those companies. companies was matched their [privately held but pub- In Italy the government against a sample of com- licly traded] peers.” retained influential stakes in panies of the same size The study analyzed 141 major companies like Alitalia and in the same industry publicly traded companies pri- and Finmeccanica, which have

DANIEL DUBOIS and country, the study vatized from the early 1980s seen significant improvements

24 Summer 2005

VMagSmr05_pg24-27.final 7/25/05 5:36 PM Page 25 “

was still the largest shareholder traded on average at a price that was 26 percent higher than their peers. —MARA FACCIO

in performance and market give up control of key indus- small bowel. The study, led by approach to treating type 2 dia- value. While the study does not tries, achieved more than they Dr. Naji Abumrad, professor betes, but has its basis in years identify specific factors con- anticipated,”says Faccio. “In and chair of general surgery, of obesity and diabetes-related tributing to better perform- addition to generating much- will combine the removal of research. “The world commu- ance for these and other needed revenue and spreading the omentum with gastric nity has spent a tremendous partially privatized companies, risk, they gave large companies bypass surgery. amount of time looking at the Faccio speculates they likely a competitive boost.” The investigation is a novel relationship of weight and >> include strong national credit ratings, which enable govern- Researchers ments to provide subsidized Literally Cut loans at favorable rates, as well Belly Fat to as guaranteed government Treat Diabetes contracts and a favorable regulatory climate. One of every 10 Industries in which govern- health-care dollars ments were most apt to retain spent in the United control in privatizations States goes to dia- included petroleum (78 per- betes care—an esti- cent), utilities (77 percent) and 2.mated $132 billion in 2002. transportation (71 percent). There are 18.2 million people The OECD countries where in the U.S. who have diabetes, governments were more likely according to the American Dia- to maintain ownership includ- betes Association, which esti- ed Belgium, Finland, Greece, mates that type 2 diabetes Ireland and Mexico. France, accounts for at least 90 percent Netherlands and Sweden were of all cases. The link between among the countries least excess weight and type 2 dia- reluctant to relinquish control. betes is well established: 80 per- In privatizations where gov- cent of type 2 diabetes patients ernments retained control, they are overweight. did so either through direct Vanderbilt researchers are share ownership or through now looking beyond waistlines “golden shares,”which are spe- and into the role visceral fat cial powers limited to govern- plays in type 2 diabetes. A new ments, such as the right to study will test how the removal appoint board members, of the omentum, a large source approve or veto acquisitions, or of internal belly fat, affects make other significant strategic insulin sensitivity. The omen- management decisions. tum is a blanket of internal “In the end, governments abdominal fat that rests on top that undertook major privati- of the intestines and is attached Dr. Naji Abumrad

zations but were reluctant to to both the stomach and the DANIEL DUBOIS

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“ Removing the omentum is as effective in shutting down liver prod type 2 diabetes. It’s known that what variables might affect the biological agents such as Ricin the higher the weight, the speed of response to the sur- and anthrax, is the goal of a higher the chance of gery and to a reversal in new joint research project developing type 2 dia- type 2 diabetes. between Vanderbilt Institute betes,”Abumrad says. “We The collaboration of a for Integrative Biosystems also have shown the rever- large team of VUMC physi- Research and Education sal of this through gastric cians and researchers will (VIIBRE) and Pria Diagnostics bypass surgery. We know that expand the focus of the inves- LLC, a California company that this surgery leads to significant tigation to include metabolic specializes in miniaturized weight loss and a significant implications—genetic aspects medical diagnostics. resolution of diabetes. We of obesity and diabetes such as VIIBRE has spent three wanted to know how the rever- racial differences, pharmaco- years developing the ability to sal occurred—what were the logical concerns including measure metabolism of small predictive variables that led to chronic inflammation, and groups of cells and studying resolution of diabetes.” cardiovascular elements. how they respond to drugs, With Dr. Alfonso Torquati, There are no known risks to toxins and pollutants. To do assistant professor of surgery, removing the omentum. It is this the interdisciplinary team Abumrad learned that the only commonly removed during has developed two basic tech- weight-loss variable of suffi- surgery for ovarian cancer but nologies: special electrodes that cient determining power in the has not been removed solely can measure the concentrations reduction of type 2 diabetes is for the purpose of treating of the chemicals that cells con- waist circumference. “The larg- type 2 diabetes. sume and excrete in extremely er the waist circumference, the “The effect of the omentum The five-year study is fund- small volumes, and the use of higher the incidence of type 2 on the liver is quite powerful,” ed by a grant from the Nation- fluids flowing through micro- diabetes,”Abumrad says. “So Abumrad says. “This is as effec- al Institutes of Health and will scopic channels to move and we started asking—what is it tive in shutting down the liver’s include 120 to 160 patients. manipulate small numbers of about waist circumference that production of insulin as insulin Half will have their omentum cells reliably. In the process the is so predictive?” is, or as many of the drugs removed along with gastric group has applied for more The answer could be the being used to treat type 2 dia- bypass surgery, half will not. than a dozen patents. internal, or visceral, fat padding betes. We also observed one In an effort to compare racial Meanwhile, Pria has devel- the waistline. Studies have additional surprising finding. differences in type 2 diabetes, oped a micro-optical fluores- shown that removing large Removing the omentum the study is seeking an equal cence spectroscopy system and amounts of abdominal fat on increased the consumption of number of African-American used it as the basis for an inex- the periphery through liposuc- sugar by the peripheral tissues, participants to Caucasian par- pensive male fertility detector tion does not affect insulin sen- primarily skeletal muscle.” ticipants. that can be used in the home to sitivity. Vanderbilt researchers Abumrad and his team will measure sperm motility with are looking at the fat inside the test omentum removal in mor- Home HIV-AIDS an accuracy comparable to lab- belly, most of which is located bidly obese adults. Participants Test Could Become oratory analyses. in the omentum. will be randomized either to a Reality Within “I’m thrilled at how well the In animal studies, they test- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass sur- Two Years VIIBRE and Pria technologies ed insulin sensitivity and how gery with omentum removal mesh,”says John P.Wikswo, the liver and muscle metabolize or a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass A portable device professor of biomedical engi- sugar both before and after surgery alone. The researchers similar to a home neering, physiology and physics removing the visceral fat. They will compare the participants’ pregnancy test that and director of VIIBRE. “We found that after removing the insulin sensitivity before and can quickly detect are already making rapid omentum, the liver cut down after the surgery, as well as the presence of infec- progress on prototyping production of sugar by nearly compare the participants to 3.tious diseases, including HIV- portable instruments for clini- 40 percent. one another to understand AIDS and measles as well as cal diagnosis and biodefense.”

26 Summer 2005

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iver production of insulin as many drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes. —DR. NAJI ABUMRAD

The collaboration’s goal is to ty. But putting microscopic components separate from the professor of biomedical engi- produce its first portable HIV arrays of channels, pumps and microelectronics. The resulting neering and physics, Vanderbilt monitor within two years. valves that can move around device is considerably larger researchers further miniatur- “Today the treatment for tiny amounts of liquid on sili- than comparable lab-on-a- ized this sensor technology to AIDS is very expensive, and con chips proved to be consid- chip systems but much less record rapid changes in the there is always a question about erably more difficult than expensive. metabolism and signaling of when to start and stop anti- expected, and the products One of the key VIIBRE individual cells. To handle such retroviral therapy,”says Pria’s these companies have created capabilities, developed by a small numbers of cells, they adapted a method for molding John P. Wikswo micro-channels and valves into a material similar to that used in soft contact lenses. This has given them the capability to capture, manipulate, grow and study single living cells in extraordinarily small contain- ers—volumes that are barely larger than the cells themselves. Most sensors that have been developed to identify toxic agents are single-purpose. That is, they can identify the pres- ence of a single toxin or a limit- ed number of closely related toxins. The ability to monitor the health of small groups of cells, however, makes it possible to detect the presence of unknown poisons as long as they affect cell metabolism. By examining the impact that an unknown agent has on differ- ent cell types, this approach can DANIEL DUBOIS rapidly provide critical insights chief technology officer, Jason thus far have been too expen- research team headed by Assis- into its mode of action. Pyle. “We are developing a sive for the point-of-care diag- tant Professor of Chemistry “Pria has an outstanding device we hope will allow med- nostics market. David Cliffel, is a sensor suite understanding of the clinical ical professionals and HIV For their home fertility capable of simultaneously and diagnostic device market patients to manage their dis- tester, Pria kept costs down by measuring concentrations of and the ability to rapidly proto- ease in a way that is similar to making their system as simple the key chemicals that cells type optical and microfluidics how diabetes patients can as possible. Instead of trying to consume and excrete devices,”says Wikswo, “but it is monitor their condition since squeeze everything onto a sin- —oxygen, glucose and lactic difficult for the company to the introduction of home gle chip, designers started with acid—with enough sensitivity survey large numbers of possi- blood-glucose detectors.” a desktop diagnostic system to monitor the health of a few ble applications. Yet, here at the Fifteen years ago a number and shrank it into a device thousand cells confined in a University, searching for new of startup companies were cre- about the size of a coffee cup. small volume. applications is one of the things ated to accomplish the goal of One cost-saving aspect was the Under the leadership of we do best.” making “lab-on-a-chip” a reali- keeping of fluid-handling Franz Baudenbacher, assistant

Vanderbilt Magazine 27 VMagSmr05_pg28-31.final 7/25/05 5:38 PM Page 28 InClass

Jagged Edge

Michael Aurbach’s art is large, complex, and rife with wry humor and outrage. A spotlight on faculty and their work on faculty A spotlight By KAY WEST

hat Michael Aurbach, Consider Time and Aging.”The very nature plating the self-portrait, the viewer under- sculptor and professor of the work meant that its debut performance stood that the empty floor of the gallery was of fine arts, avows a life- was also its last, except in its replaying through Aurbach’s coffin. long fascination with still photos and video. Sitting in a small, barren room in the Old boxes is ironic when The sculpture that was sent off to its final Gym/Fine Arts Building one bleak January contemplating the folly resting place was one of a series of “Final Por- afternoon, before the debut of “The Burial,” of trying to contain the traits” Aurbach created in the 1980s—large the very much alive Michael Aurbach becomes man. His towering frame constructions using casket-like structure even more animated as he explains the per- fills rooms of every size; his exuberant person- to compose a portrait of professional and formance, leaping up several times to sketch ality captures audiences of 100 as easily as one. personal identity incorporating architectural the concept on a small dry-erase board mount- THis humor careens unrestrained from sly to elements, objects, and artifacts associated ed incongruously on one pea-green painted slapstick, and his bold, often with that vocation. wall, waving his arms about to mimic the par- radical, opinions on every- Aurbach literally buried Among the por- ticipants’ roles. this sculpture, “Final thing from art to academia traits were an elec- “Whereas sculpture is typically static, this Self-Portrait,” on a are brashly expressed, with- hillside in Atlanta. trician, a banker, a is real time. I have a band, a Jesuit priest, who out self-censure or edit. mail carrier, a truck is also a sculptor at Notre Dame, and three And then there’s his work, driver—and the women who will be professional wailers,”he so large and complex that artist himself. says. “I had gang jackets made up for them by his own admission, it is “Final Self-Por- that say ‘Poppy & the Wailers.’They will pull neither saleable nor storable. trait: Artist” was a their hair and wail. A Dobro player will per- So, what’s an artist to do? simulated museum form ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Man of Constant For one piece, the solu- crate towing a U- Sorrow.’ Once the piece is declared official- tion deftly joined Aurbach’s Haul trailer, both ly dead, we will nail the coffin shut, and the interest in funerary tradition outfitted with tail- pallbearers will carry it to the front of the with his compulsion to defy lights. The U-Haul’s museum to my truck and trailer, which will the conventional practice of contents were hid- be converted to a hearse. Motorcycle police preserving art: He dug a grave den, but inside the will escort our motorcade seven miles through and buried the sculpture, but crate was a gallery Atlanta to a friend’s house where we have des- not before sending it off in space with white ignated a place on a hill as the cemetery. While grand style. The concept for walls, on which the priest is reading over the coffin, an accor- the performance piece, the first he had done were hung reproductions of well known dion player will perform ‘Memories’ from in a nearly 25-year span of showing his work, masterpieces including “Mona Lisa,”“The ‘The Way We Were.’Doesn’t that sound awful?” so intrigued the Museum of Contemporary Gleaners,”“Arrangements in Gray and Black,” So awful that Aurbach is clearly thrilled Art of Georgia that he was invited to stage “The Scream” and “American Gothic”; rather with the concept. “The Burial” as part of the museum’s winter than their original colors, the paintings were In his graduating class at Wichita High

2005 show “Accelerating Sequence: Artists reproduced in black and white. Contem- School Southeast were two schoolmates who PORTRAIT BY DANIEL DUBOIS

28 Summer 2005 PORTRAIT BY DANIEL DUBOIS VMagSmr05_pg28-31.final 7/25/055:38PMPage29 At leftis“Witness: Conspiracy Aurbach’s “SecrecySeries”: themes throughoutMichael The useofsurveillanceand the lossofprivacythrough inspired “TheInstitution.” No. 3,”andatrightisthe technology arerecurring room-sized, Vanderbilt- VMagSmr05_pg28-31.final 7/25/05 5:39 PM Page 30

went on to be very successful artists: contem- ed the Mason-Dixon line, spending a year as a tor, you can’t physically provide enough prod- porary painter David Salle and sculptor Tim visiting assistant professor of art at Hamilton uct to do a solo show,”he explains. Transport- Otterness.“They knew early on that they were College in Clinton, N.Y.,then two years as assis- ing the pieces is a challenge as well. Finally, artists,”he says.“I didn’t take an art class tant professor of art at Eastern Illinois Uni- there are the complex messages inherent in his until my seventh year of college.” versity in Charleston. work, rife with metaphor, puns, double enten- Aurbach’s somewhat delayed development It was a position as assistant professor of dre, satire, wry humor and, most important, has been alternatively or simultaneously pre- fine arts at Vanderbilt University that brought art history. In an interview in the spring 2000 cipitous, circuitous and fortuitous. Poker him back to the South, where he has remained issue of Chicago Art Journal, he said,“My work and ping-pong were preoccupations that led since, now approaching 20 years, teaching is very elitist. I probably exclude 95 percent to his flunking out of the University of Kansas drawing and sculpture.Yet,he insists his goal of the population anyway because I’m relying his freshman year, which subsequently caused is not to “turn out artists. I believe that art is on art historical precedents to make my mes- him to lose his military deferment. However, a vehicle for a great education. I do not teach sage. So I know most people right off the bat a high number in the draft lottery kept him ‘how-to’ classes. My first assignment for a class are not going to get it.”That assertion should out of Vietnam, and the stroke of good luck is to invent a culture, and then make a shrine not be mistaken for an apology; those who led him to decide to give school another try. know him would recognize it as boast, though He began as a biology major—specifically ento- certainly one supported by fact. mology—but when Washington Post sleuth From the start, Aurbach made wordplay reporters Woodward and Bernstein uncovered I’m a social irritant. visual while addressing the subjects of identi- the Watergate shenanigans, his attention was ty and death.“Archis Barkis,”his 1985 reliquary diverted to investigative journalism. After receiv- I get to be like for the bones of culturally famous canines— ing his B.A. in biology in 1974, he enrolled in identified as Lassius Maximus, Benji Minunus the William Allen White School of Journalism ‘60 Minutes’ used to be: and Rintintinius—was in the form of a minia- back at the University of Kansas, which is where ture Roman triumphal arch, measuring just he discovered “I was a really average writer.” nagging, relentless, 20 by 5 by 20 inches. With a nod to the Yiddish language commonly “Final Portraits,”which he began while in spoken in his home—“In Yiddish, one word irritating. … I am not graduate school at SMU, were much larger in can communicate complex ideas”—he focused size than the reliquaries but explored the same on advertising.“Advertising is great!”he exclaims. against authority, concept. As noted in a review of the series pub- “They ask you to use no more than 10 words. lished in 1988 in Art Papers, written by Dorothy I can do that.”Although he received his bach- though; I am against Joiner, rather than delineating the dead per- elor’s degree in journalism in 1976, an art his- son’s appearance,“Aurbach’s ‘Portraits’ juxta- tory course sparked his interest, which ignited stupidity. pose telling objects associated with that life.” the ambition to obtain his master’s degree in “Final Portrait: Electrician”is a metal toolbox- art history. shaped coffin, lined with black rubber (to pre- It was in a line drawing class where the vent shock) with plugs, sockets, copper wire proverbial light bulb went off over his head. or altar to some part of that culture. Anoth- and other materials for adornment.“Final Por- “It was nirvana for me,”he says.“It’s only you, er assignment is ‘personal baggage.’Everyone trait: Banker” is an interpretation of a bank’s the pencil and the paper.”While in the mas- has it.” drive-through window, with the plastic vac- ter’s program, he worked a part-time job as an Aurbach should know. He frequently has uum canister acting as casket. Where else would assistant for the man running the wood shop, been at odds—on campus and in his work— a homosexual’s body be laid to rest, but in the learning the skills that would eventually facil- with the University, and he is clearly conflict- small closet of “Final Portrait: Gay Person”? itate his chosen medium and earn him acclaim ed. “Academia insulates me, and that’s Aurbach’s contemplation of the loss of per- for the craftsmanship of his constructions.“My the beauty of it,” he says. “I don’t have to sonal privacy through technology, methods of ideas don’t make sense as drawings. They are worry about deadlines, I don’t have to make control, institutional power, secrecy, silence sort of in a fantasy realm, so I figured why draw the same thing over and over to satisfy the and surveillance began with a piece he made them, just make them.” demands of the marketplace.” in 1993 with the support of the National Endow- After 11 years and three different courses The demands of the marketplace have ment for the Arts and commemorating the of study at the University of Kansas, Aurbach been of little concern to Aurbach. Most of his 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s went on to Southern Methodist University in work is too large for private homes, and not assassination.“Untitled”includes wooden/styl- Dallas, working as a teaching assistant practical for galleries.“Big pieces like mine can- ized surveillance cameras, representing the U.S. while obtaining his master of fine arts degree not stay in galleries, particularly New York gal- government watching King. in sculpture. leries, which are so limited in space.” That was the first, though it was not so titled Determined not to be regionalized, he vault- Solo exhibitions are daunting:“As a sculp- at the time, of the “Secrecy Series,”for which

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he unexpectedly found inspiration right on “The Institution”(1997),a room-sized inter- bilt, Aurbach responds quickly: “Terrible!” he campus. “A series of events at Vanderbilt led active installation, not only is a shot at insti- laughs.“I’m a social irritant. I get to be like me to the Secrecy Series,”he says, going on to tutional secrecy, but a direct hit on Vanderbilt. ‘60 Minutes’ used to be: nagging, relentless, irri- recount the well known and lengthy contretemps Sheathed in galvanized steel, the triangular tating. I’m one of the only people in my fami- around that time between the University and entryway (an upside-down V) is a reproduc- ly since the Bolshevik Revolution to work for Don Evans, then associate professor of fine arts. tion of Vanderbilt’s administration building, someone else. So it is difficult. I am not against In one of his photography classes, Evans invit- Kirkland Hall. A closer look reveals that it is authority, though; I am against stupidity.” ed students to choose, explore and present the also the inseam of a man’s pants, the pattern- There is little in the academic world that work of a photographer whose work interest- ing on the door a zipper, and the metal flap at Aurbach finds more stupid or more irritat- ed them. One student chose controversial Robert the top the zipper pull. Message boards pro- ing than the notion of critical theory, and Mapplethorpe. Prior to the students’ presen- claim:“We regret any hardships created by this that is driving his new work. “The ‘Secrecy tation, Evans warned the class some of Series’ is morphing into ‘The Critical the images might be offensive, and invit- Theorist.’ Critical theory is a form of ed anyone who thought they might feel scholarship that has grabbed hold of uncomfortable to leave the class. No one academia, that contends you don’t have did; yet, later a female student in the room to prove anything. It’s all theory. I have reported to the dean that she had, in fact, done three pieces; the first used kitchen been offended by the photos. That, accord- equipment because [critical theory] is ing to Aurbach, set in motion a surveil- all cooked up.” lance-type operation that included students In order to affect the system, Aurbach observing, monitoring and reporting on is capable of working within the system, Evans to the administration. While that as long as it suits him. For many years was taking place, a student asked Evans he was deeply involved with the College to show some of his work, which focused Art Association, with the intention of on breast fetishism. Following more com- making sure new teachers understood plaints, the University charged him with expectations, the tenure process for art unintentional sexual harassment. That instructors, how to obtain full profes- accusation so enraged fellow faculty, staff sorship, and how to define national recog- and some students that 300 people protest- nition. From 2002 to 2004 he served as ed the action on the steps of Kirkland Hall president of the CAA, the first person and, later, more than 800 attended an from a Southern institution to do so event sponsored by the Freedom Forum “The Administrator,” since Lamar Dodd from the University another huge Aurbach to discuss the incident. of Georgia served from 1956 to 1958.“It’s sculpture, measures “Everyone survived it,”Aurbach says 8 by 18 by 12 feet. a big deal,”he says proudly.“In 2006 the sarcastically.“But I, and many others, CAA will host a forum here at Vander- never really recovered from it. I have always situation.”“We have no comments at this time.” bilt titled ‘How Far Can You Let Your Students wondered since that time if there might be a “Never reveal your sources.”“Alter personal Go Before You Impinge on the First Amend- student in my class writing a report on me, files.”“Avoid direct contact with employees.” ment?’ Considering some of the things going monitoring me for the administration.” If “The Institution”indicted the whole, then on in Nashville lately, it should be of great “The Confessional,”another piece in the “The Administrator”goes after the parts, mock- interest.” Secrecy Series, is a procession of buttressed ing the individuals who hold the reins of power Though he believes “Vanderbilt still hasn’t sheet-metal arches, each armed with motion- over the University. Entry to the galvanized figured out the art thing,”promising develop- detector beeping alarms that are activated as steel-encased office is prohibited by barred ments are on the horizon. Studio art classes, visitors walk toward the priest’s door. On either openings and needle-like projections along the previously required only for art history majors, side of them is a confessional booth, inside of top.As always, the piece brims with visual word- will count for the first time as part of the which are closed-circuit televisions projecting play so plentiful the viewer always feels he is core curriculum. The decrepit Cohen Art Build- back one’s own image. missing something. Kneepads are provided for ing will be closed, and by early summer a new, Next came the 1998 triptych of relief sculp- addressing the boss, hoops are available for $13 million, 45,000-square-foot Studio Art tures titled “Witness: Conspiracy No. l,”“Wit- jumping through, vacuum cleaners allow for Center will open. ness: Conspiracy No. 2,”and “Witness: Conspiracy sucking up, and a lineup of rubber stamps offers “It will be the first time I’ve had an office in No. 3.”They all contain the tools of surveil- the options to tag something “confidential,” 18 years, and I will have a studio that is easily lance: headphones, cameras, recorders and “delay” or “terminate.” accessible and can accommodate my work. microphones. Asked about his relationship with Vander- That new building will add years to my career.”

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MARC HAUSER VMagSmr05_pg32-37.final 7/26/05 9:54 AM Page 33

Katrina Markoff one thinks she can change the world CHOCOLATEthrough her chocolate. Take a bite; atatimeshe may be right.

Katrina Markoff thinks she can change the world through her chocolate. Take a bite; she may be right.

By RACHEL MORTON

MARC HAUSER Vanderbilt Magazine 33 VMagSmr05_pg32-37.final 7/26/05 9:55 AM Page 34

This could be a rare-antiquities museum installation,

except for the fact that it’s in a busy Chicago mall. Fifty-two individual chocolate truffles are

on display in a glass case. Printed plaques accompany them, explaining origin, provenance and

history. Are they art or confection? Well, there’s only one way to tell. But before you even

think about sinking your teeth into one of these beauties, first contemplate the philosophy

behind this exhibit of edible art.

“One thing, beautifully prepared, eaten late, Markoff is also selling a philosophy of with awareness.”That’s how Katrina Markoff, life through yoga retreats and chocolate, social BA’95,chocolatier and businesswoman, wants causes and chocolate, through lingerie and people to approach Vosges Chocolates. This leather jackets … and chocolate. is not candy to be bought in bulk (though if Spend a day with Markoff and you’ll begin you did, you’d be paying around $69/pound). to see, just as she does, the amazing connec- This is a one-at-a-time experience. tions one can make between chocolate and First you’ll notice the dusting of colorful life—what we eat, what we wear, the causes spices on the top: fiery red paprika, golden we support, the cultures we know. You’ll begin curry, black sesame seeds. One truffle is infused to understand how she can say, without a hint with saffron and covered with a mosaic of of irony, that she wants to bring peace to the multicolored sugar chips. Another rears up world through chocolate. And by the end of like a craggy chocolate mountain with, shock- the day, you’ll begin to believe that if anyone ingly, a heart of cheese. One sports a candied can pull it off, Markoff can. violet. Another has tiny, edible pearls on top. Each of these chocolates has a name and Flavors of the World a story. The naga is named for a tribe in north- Katrina Markoff doesn’t look like your typi- east India, the woolloomooloo for the aborig- cal hard-driving entrepreneur. Her long, wavy, inals in Australia. One tells the story of a dark hair is just this side of disheveled, and notorious exhibitionist from the early 1900s; over her jeans she’s wearing an untucked, another is in tribute to the Gatsbys. One evokes Western-style shirt embroidered with red roses. Japan, another Bob Marley. Markoff looks younger than her 31 years and Go ahead, splurge. Buy one. It’s only about seems sweeter than a company president $2. Take a bite. Your teeth will snap through should. She has a natural beauty and warmth the chocolate to the soft surprise inside. The that seem to captivate everyone she meets, taste is subtle, haunting, aromatic. Chew very from journalists to celebrities to the young, slowly; you’ll want to prolong this experience. hip staffers (who are outdressing their boss Feel free to moan. Markoff, founder of by a mile, with their sharp outfits and high Vosges, would like that. She has traveled around heels). But it’s clear that Markoff’s drive, intel- the world and spent months in her kitchen ligence and charisma are the emotional as well combining flavors and textures to astound as the creative hub around which Vosges and you with each mouthful of delight. its staff revolve. Unconventional chocolate pairings are only For a woman who describes herself as a the beginning of the novel approach Markoff loner and “pretty introverted,”Markoff cer- has taken with her seven-year-old “haut choco- tainly has embarked on a professional life late” company,Vosges (named after the French demanding that she be “on” nearly all her mountain range). It’s been a highly success- waking hours. She presides over the two pro- ful beginning—last year Vosges sold $4.5 mil- fessional kitchens, creating the recipes and lion worth of truffles and chocolate bars, exotic personally cooking the ganaches (the creamy cocoa and rococo cakes. In addition to choco- interiors). She leads the marketing and sales

34 Summer 2005 VMagSmr05_pg32-37.final 7/26/05 9:55 AM Page 35

team with her vision for the company’s exclu- tion in fine French cuisine. Although Markoff sive status in the marketplace. She chooses loved her nine months in Paris, she felt out the artists who create the Vosges look in fash- of synch with the rigid Cordon Bleu doctrine ion and packaging. She oversees the minutia of cooking “the French way because it’s the of event planning, new store layouts and staff right way.”After graduation, instead of appren- training. She personally writes the somewhat ticing herself to a French chef, she set out for breathless catalog copy, and they are her heroes Spain to meet a famous “crazy-genius” Cata- and cultural causes that adorn Vosges t-shirts lan cook, Ferran Adria. and define the company’s social mission. Adria, who has been called “possibly the Markoff invented a character named Sophie world’s most experimental chef,”opened her to help embody and market the Vosges ideals. eyes to new ways of combining ingredients. “Sophie is cosmopolitan, but into political “It was all about experiencing texture,”she In the gourmet food action,”says the cosmopolitan, politically says about his espumas, or foams—whipped aware Markoff.“She can lay down in the dirt versions of fois gras or seaweed.“He did basil section, the chocolates and go camping, but she knows fashion. She’s savory gelato, chicken stock and curry ice a little granola, a little fancy.”Looking at cream.” were dull and predictable, Markoff (still stunning after a long day of Adria told Markoff to get a ticket and travel, work, though her wrinkled shirt is riding up advising her to “use your palate as your guide.” her tummy and her mascara is descending So Katrina journeyed throughout Asia and waxy and loaded with below her long lashes), one sees a woman who Europe, studying the indigenous cuisines of has tramped around the world from mar- France, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Korea,Vietnam, additives. For a woman ket to market, who loves to ride horses, who Singapore, China and Australia. Returning to knows fine cuisine, who looks equal parts the States, she took a temporary job with her Vogue and Mother Jones—and the obvious uncle in Dallas who had a mail-order com- drunk on the flavors of question is, Where does marketing end and pany. At a trade show she wandered into the Markoff begin? gourmet food section and saw the chocolates. the world, it was obvious Well, for Markoff the real beginning was There they were, looking as they had looked her love of cooking. From her childhood EZ- for decades. They were waxy and unattrac- Bake oven, she graduated to a high-school tive. Many were loaded with additives. The that chocolate needed a cake business, and at Vanderbilt she cooked flavors were dull and predictable—the runny for her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. She cherry, the cloyingly sweet ganaches. And wake-up call. majored in chemistry and talks about the those corny red boxes, the doilies, the hearts! “potions” she concocted, both in the kitchen “Chocolate hadn’t had a facelift since its and the chemistry lab. Markoff loved science European origins,”she observed.“And there spices of the world, it was obvious to her that and chemistry, but after graduation she won- was a revolution going on in food. Farmstead gourmet chocolate was in need of a wake-up dered what to do next. She turned to her cheeses and breads, artisan smoked meats, call. She went home to her kitchen and began mother for advice. Wine Spectator, cigars and scotch, fois gras. cooking, determined to lead chocolate into Markoff had a powerful role model in her People were going back to the old European the 21st century. mother, who had taken over her husband’s style of fresh ingredients and impeccable, janitorial-supply business when he became ill, individual products.” One Love, One Chocolate and built it into a major hazardous waste- The sad state of contemporary gourmet Vosges has come a long way since those early removal business. She was a pioneer in that chocolate was especially dispiriting to a trained days in Markoff’s kitchen. After opening her male-dominated industry, and her success chef like Markoff, who appreciated choco- first store in November 1998, she now has stores allowed the family to move from their old life late’s earthy and authentic beginnings. In in Chicago and New York. Markoff recently (which Markoff describes as “living on the side about 250 A.D., the Mayans drank a frothy was invited to open shop in what has been of the highway in Indiana”) to a more com- chocolate drink made from roasted cacao described as the highest-grossing mall in fortable existence that allowed her to attend seeds, chili peppers, cornmeal, vanilla beans America—the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace private schools, take horseback-riding lessons, and other ingredients. As chocolate made its in Las Vegas. Vosges products are carried by travel and, yes, go to Vanderbilt—something way into Europe, sugar was added and the Neiman Marcus in several cities, Bergdorf she says she had wanted “since I was 12.” spices were dropped. More than 2,000 years Goodman in New York, Holt Renfrew in Markoff’s mother encouraged her to fol- later, the result was apparent on the trade- Canada, and Selfridges in London. The Vos- low her heart to the Cordon Bleu in Paris, show floor that day. ges press packet contains press clippings an where she received a diploma and an educa- For a woman drunk on the flavors and inch deep, including mentions in Bon Appetit,

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Vogue, Time, Town and Country, O, and other away stores who want to carry the product. fashion and style magazines. In Touch Weekly “I tell them, ‘We’re flattered, but your cus- pictured Jennifer Garner holding a purple tomers are not our market.’”She laughs that Vosges box and quoted Kelly Ripa testifying her motto is, “We won’t be coming to a store to her love for the exotic truffle collection. near you.”But that is half of the Vosges appeal That Vosges has grown into a $4.5 mil- —its exclusivity. lion company is something that doesn’t really Markoff’s approach to marketing came surprise Joyce Polise, the vice president for out of the fashion industry, and she cites sales. Polise, a youthful-looking middle-aged Calvin Klein as a model: “He has a big store woman, is probably the oldest person in the on Fifth Avenue that defines his brand. Then Vosges Chicago office, and as a veteran small he makes volume in perfumes. We create brand One day after yoga business owner, she brings a certain experi- in truffles. Volume is in candy bars and cocoas.” ence and perspective to the company. But even the candy bars are available only Markoff popped a naga “She’s a genius,”Polise says of Markoff.“Her at Vosges stores, through the catalog, and at instincts are so good. She’s right 99 percent of Whole Foods Markets. the time. Plus she has a wonderful mix of cre- truffle in her mouth— ativity and business and marketing.”Polise Defining the Brand looks around the Chicago office where young The truffles collections Markoff has created the best she’d ever had. professionals with headphones take orders; have established her brand beyond a doubt and where half a dozen hairnet-clad women pack taken her where no chocolatier has gone before. From then on, yoga and ensure the perfection of each purple box; The Vosges truffles are imbued not only with where the boxes are shipped and chocolate is unique spices and flavors, but with culture and received; where visitors are welcomed; where cachet from countries around the world. became an important food is cooked—the whole place is stamped The Aztec Collection offers Latin Amer- with Markoff’s vision for Vosges. ican-inspired flavors of Mexican vanilla bean part of her life and food. The floor is painted, appropriately, choco- and ancho chili. Collection Italiano brings late brown. Vosges’ philosophy flows in pur- Taleggio cheese, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, ple script across the lavender walls: “Purple and wild Tuscan fennel pollen to bear on tion, Markoff has no problem seeing the con- Goddess,”“One love, one chocolate”and “Free chocolate. Her latest, the Zion Collection, is nection. Nor does she think just because it is yourself” greet visitors in the reception area, an homage to the Rastafarians; the five dif- expensive, Vosges chocolate is only for the along with “One ray of light from the goddess ferent truffles contain variations of allspice, wealthy. of wisdom stuns a thousand scholars.”There’s pumpkin, red-stripe beer, hempseed, coffee “This is an affordable luxury,”she says. a yoga loft (Markoff encourages her staff to and coconut. The black pearl unites the fla- “People can afford a $6 candy bar, but they practice yoga and has regular on-site sessions) vors of ginger, wasabi and sesame seed with can’t afford to go to India. It’s definitely not and a neon-green lunch area. A big carton of dark chocolate for a taste of Japan. The budapest snobby and it’s not elitist. Chocolate brings caramel marshmallows (“puffy, gooey com- is sprinkled with paprika, the poivre with everyone together.” fort food”) is open on the factory floor for any- Telicherry peppercorns. But chocolate is just the beginning of the one who needs a quick hit of energy. A vintage All the collections offer an opportunity for Vosges brand. “We’re selling a box of choco- motorcycle leans against a wall (it’s for sale education. Markoff uses her packaging and late plus some. We are selling an experience, through the catalog and Web site). catalog copy to talk about the countries and an energy. It’s about women’s issues, rock stars “These girls don’t know what they have,” cultures that inspire her collections and often and tattoos, clothes and aboriginal people in Polise says about the staff, many fresh out of are home to the spices. Sometimes the collec- Australia,”she explains.“It’s about art and fash- college or on internships for whom Vosges tions offer an opportunity for social action or ion and community and chocolate.” might be their first work experience. She jokes increasing social awareness. The Aztec Collec- The catalogs that Katrina writes and pro- that the only problem working at Vosges is tion carries the message “Save Women in Juarez,” duces several times a year present a multitude “the freshman 15”; putting on weight the first referring to the epidemic of murdered or miss- of chocolate-inspired items—from lingerie to year seems to be a rite of passage. ing young women in that city. Twenty-five per- biker jackets described as an “interpretation The attractions of Vosges seem obvious. cent of the profits from La Grande Hatbox—a of chocolate through the medium of leather.” The product is gorgeous, delicious and novel. $200 collection of chocolate products—goes As the company grows in popularity and Markoff is charismatic and a media magnet. to support V-Day, the global movement to stop its “hip factor” increases, Markoff herself has From a sales perspective, Polise should be wel- violence against women and girls. an increasingly high profile. Her circle of coming new accounts right and left. But that’s If luxury chocolate, indigenous peoples celebrity friends has widened due to her active not Markoff’s strategy. Polise’s job is to turn and civil rights sound like an odd combina- support of women’s philanthropy like V-Day,

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Markoff’s experience with yoga confirmed the rightness of this approach and is very much in keeping with the “Slow Foods” men- tality now prevalent among foodies and restau- rateurs. David Romanelli, BA’95,a good friend from Vanderbilt, introduced her to yoga, and she says that one day after yoga she popped a naga truffle in her mouth: “Oh my god, it was the best I ever had. I was so in the now. Being present when you eat is so powerful.” From then on, yoga became an important part of her life, and it increasingly entered her philosophy about food, especially choco- late. She and Romanelli have recently offered a “Yoga-Chocolate Retreat” to Oaxaca, Mex- ico, where they guide a group through the spice markets and kitchens of a city known for its cuisine, including its hot chocolate and its mole, a chocolate-based savory sauce used in chicken and meat dishes. Romanelli, co- founder of At One Yoga, has three yoga stu- dios in Arizona (one of his partners is another Vanderbilt alum, Ian Lopatin, BA’95). This will be the first of what they hope

PHOTO PROVIDED BY VOSGES will be many such chocolate-inspired yoga retreats. Markoff says of Romanelli:“He’s my best friend. He brought me to yoga.”Romanelli but rather than stand alone in the spotlight, “Toda, toda” (“All, all”), she says to the seems equally as delighted that they’ve found she pulls in friends and relatives to share the mostly Spanish-speaking women as she a way to work together. “We saw this inter- glory with her. observes some remaining pieces of rind. She section, saw space where our careers could In the Vosges catalogs, which offer a dis- takes a knife and begins cutting off the rind to intersect,”he says. tinctly personal voice and a forum for Markoff’s show them how clean it needs to be. If even a How these two forces—chocolate and yoga views, she makes a point of showcasing her little is left on, it could get stuck in the extruder. —play out as partners could be seen at the end staff and associates. There are pictures of her Markoff herself does all the cooking of of one day at the Vosges headquarters. Several fiancé, Jay Scher, modeling the leather jacket these complicated truffles, as well as prepar- potential Oaxaca travelers were invited after (Scher, a building contractor, designed the ing most of the ganache centers.“You shock the work day ended to have a yoga session with new Vosges stores in Las Vegas); there’s a flouncy the cheese if you melt it too fast,”she explains. Romanelli and Markoff. purple dress for sale, designed by her sister, “The emulsion can break; it must be cooked Markoff sets a beautiful stage for the event, Natalie, who keeps the PR and marketing end very slowly.” arranging chocolates on a tray and sprinkling of Vosges New York afloat. Her staff is thanked, fresh rose petals on the floor of the yoga loft. effusively, by name and photo. She writes glow- Slow Food Just before the session begins, she arranges the ingly about friends who create extraordinary Slowing things down is a priority on many purple yoga mats and lights votive candles. honey or marvelous red wine and tells the sto- fronts for Markoff—getting people to think She and Romanelli decide to do a root ries of her collaborations with them to create about their food, eat it slowly, savor it.“Peo- chakra with the group. A chakra signifies one new and wonderful truffles. ple don’t take time to smell, see, to taste food,” of the seven basic energy centers in the body, But despite the glamour and glitz that she says.“It’s all about focusing on one piece Markoff says. “It is a sensory focus—from Vosges offers its founder, Markoff still prefers versus piles of chocolate.” color, smell, taste and feel.”The root chakra the kitchen to the red carpet. In the home- Her newest store in Las Vegas will include is identified with the color red, hence rose office kitchen, she watches as several women interactive displays for awakening the senses petals and rose water for a visual and aural cut the rind off the Taleggio cheese in prepa- to different chocolate sensations—hanging stimulus. As for the taste, Markoff says a root ration for tomorrow’s making of the “rooster,” muslin bags for smells; headphones to hear chakra calls for “something hot.”She decides an especially delicate operation that involves chanting; films depicting the area, the cul- on a truffle from the Aztec Collection that melting cheese and chocolate together. ture or the people evoked by the product. continued on page 86

Vanderbilt Magazine 37 VMagSmr05_pg38-43.final 7/26/05 10:24 AM Page 38 THEInfinite

When for-profit interests start driving access to information, what happens to libraries and the people who use them?

“Will libraries exist at the turn of the next century?” wonders University Librarian Paul Gherman one morning in his office on the sixth floor of Vanderbilt’s Jean and Alexander Heard Library. “I don’t know. Libraries as we know them certainly won’t exist.” The forces defining the future of libraries, and particularly research libraries like those at Vanderbilt, are not completely in a librarian’s control.“It’s a very scary world for libraries with huge dynamics,” explains Gherman,“and now there are big-money players that have never been involved before.” The player Gherman is primarily worried about is Google.“They are either the greatest blessing or the greatest curse,”says Gherman. “They are such a juggernaut. They have money, and they’re brilliant people. The world already says, If I want to find something, I’ll go to Google. They no longer think to go to a library database.”

By LABAN CARRICK HILL

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In fact, the verb “to search” has now been been adding more layers on top of it.”The of what Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges replaced with “to google.”People google the stacks in a library no longer refer simply to dreamed of more than 60 years ago: the infi- Web. That kind of “branding” is extremely linear feet of shelving, but to terabytes of elec- nite library.“I declare that the library is end- hard to compete against.“Google’s mission,” tronic storage as well. less,”asserted Borges. says Larry Page, co-founder of the company, When researchers step into the library, the Matthew Battles, editor of the Harvard “is to organize the world’s information.” threshold is no longer an oak or mahagony Library Bulletin, muses that “we have entered “What worries me as a librarian,”contin- door. They can enter through a virtual por- a final phase in the long-sought-after emer- ues Gherman, “is the idea that they could tal on their computer as they sit drinking a gence of the universal library—a compendium drive out all other avenues of access to infor- mocha latte just about anywhere in the world. of knowledge at once comprehensive, densely mation and become the only access to infor- A student in the middle of a class discussion cross-referenced and instantly accessible.” mation. They’re a for-profit company. What about a poem written by Robert Penn War- The digitizing of major research libraries, does this mean to libraries?” however, is beginning mod- Google already has made estly. Google will scan a mere tremendous pathways into the few million volumes from elite areas that traditionally have institutions. Harvard will make been the domain of academic available 40,000 volumes cho- research libraries. Recently, the sen randomly from the stock company launched Google of the Harvard Depository— Scholar and Google Video. Each a facility outside Cambridge, of these search engines prom- Mass., where the overflow of the ises to find information and university’s libraries is stored. images that will be of use to Consumers will then be able consumers. More important, to search the text of every one Google is changing the way we of these books down to the line, think about libraries, books and word and letter. (Yes,now that information. Google and other commercial For thousands of years, organizations have a greater libraries have been grand repos- role in providing access to itories for printed matter. Each knowledge, researchers, schol- library building typically was a ars and students are thought solid, regal piece of architecture of as consumers.) that alerted its visitors right “The Google library ulti- away to its essential importance. mately is not 40,000 or 4 mil- In the past the librarian’s job in lion discrete books, but one these palaces was to catalog and book: a seamless singularity of collect printed material so that text, ramified and intercon- readers, researchers and stu- nected,”says Battles. dents could journey inside to From this perspective books find a particular book or magazine or paper. ren can pick up her BlackBerry and access the will eventually cease to exist. Instead there Over the last decade, as we all know, that has Heard Library’s Special Collections Web site. would be a continuous text that would def- changed considerably, but not completely. There she can call up an earlier draft of the initely test the limits of what we call books. Librarians still catalog and collect informa- poem and examine handwritten revisions by What this means for the future of libraries is tion, but the kinds of information and the the poet. unclear, but their fate seems to lie in several pathways to access it are dramatically differ- Google has taken all of this a step fur- factors. First, digital data are so unlike books ent. Information is no longer stored simply ther by entering into an agreement with major that it becomes almost impossible to com- in print. research libraries (including such distin- pare them. Instead of a simple advancement “A library is now multilayered,”explains guished institutions as Harvard and the Uni- of technology, digital data require a com- Marshall Breeding, library technology officer versity of California–Berkeley) to digitize pletely new way of interacting and under- at the Heard Library. “There has never been their collections and make them available on standing information. Until now, the most a time when libraries have stopped doing what the Internet outside their particular commu- important information technology was the they had been doing before, but it has always nity. It appears that we are finally at the doorstep bound volume. Between its covers readers

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could experience a book both as a historical of communication can be potentially mis- ware and stored in long-obsolete hardware artifact and a container of images and ideas. construed. The obvious example is sarcasm, will be lost.”More troubling, Murray cites, The Gutenberg Bible or even a mass-pro- where the actual meaning of what is said is is what is happening to CIA reports from the duced pulp novel from the 1940s carries within exactly the opposite of what the chosen words Vietnam War. These documents were stored its bindings archaeological evidence of its cre- mean. Parents of teenagers are well schooled on computer tape reels. Because the tapes are ation, which is something a digital document in decoding sarcasm. Once the context is losing their magnetization, the data is disin- will have stripped away. Philosopher Walter removed, however, the words revert to their tegrating faster than the government can trans- Benjamin called this the “aura.”In his now- dictionary meaning. The intent and mean- fer it to more stable digital-storage hardware. classic essay “The Work of Art in the Age of ing of the words is reversed. Digitizing doc- This means that future generations of histo- Mechanical Reproduction,”Benjamin writes: uments peels away ever-more subtle and rians will have less original material upon “Even the most perfect reproduction of a complex contexts. which to understand and interpret important work of art is lacking in one element: its pres- The only solution is for Special Collections historical events, such as the Vietnam War. ence in time and space, its unique existence to become a museum of technology. Smith As our culture moves further and further at the place where it happens to be. This unique describes how Special Collections is being away from pen on paper, from printed pages existence of the work of art determined the transformed. “When word processing first bound into books, questions emerge about history to which it was subject throughout the time of its existence. This includes the changes which it may have suffered in phys- ical condition over the years as well as the var- The verb “to search” has now ious changes in its ownership. … The presence of the original is the prerequisite to the con- been replaced with “to google.” cept of authenticity.” In more practical terms, a digitized book “What worries me as a librarian,” is bled of everything but its bytes. Its physi- cal presence on the shelf or in one’s hand is says Gherman, “is the idea that gone.“Because the physical document is a disk or tape, it doesn’t become as important any- Google could drive out all other more,”suggests Kathleen Smith, assistant direc- tor of special collections at the Heard Library. avenues of access.” She goes on to explain how that idea changes the way we interact with a piece of writing.“If you think of how many transactions occur via began, everyone was using Wordstar,”she control of the information. A library no longer e-mail today, a system will have to be created says.“You can’t find anyone who has that pro- simply purchases a book and puts it on the that can harvest that data and keep it in its gram anymore. Anyone who has anything on shelf for everyone to use. Who controls access original digital format because it is virtual a Wordstar disk right now, unless you’re going to the information now that the choices avail- born. It has never seen paper. If it is going to to the Library of Congress, is not going to find able have broadened so greatly and access to continue to be there, you’re going to have to a machine that can read it. The software is those choices has become so easy? It’s a crit- upgrade the data as every succeeding gener- gone. So all the things that had been stored— ical issue. Libraries traditionally are open to ation creates new computer technology. Trou- whatever it was—are gone if they were never everyone because these institutions are founded ble arises, however, each time you migrate printed out. If you did print it or reformat it, on the premise that information is free. Cor- something. Small pieces of information are you changed the integrity of the document. In porations, however, are structured to profit lost. What could be read in the year 2090 is a sense, it’s sort of like putting something on from content. Consequently, the more involved going to be different from what was created in the Web; you’re publishing it in a different for- corporations like Google become not only in 2002. The same gist will be there, but it will mat.”The same is the case with hardware, such production of the content but also in the access not be in the same format. It will not look like as information stored on 5-and-a-quarter-inch to it, the less likely it will be freely available in what you e-mailed a hundred years ago. It will floppy disks or on tape. a timely fashion. For those who are affluent, be stripped of its personality and will be just There are, however, even more dire rami- this is not a problem. For Third-World coun- pure data rather than what we would consider fications. “Most likely, we are going to lose a tries desperate for the latest tests and studies correspondence. And that is scary because then huge swath of our cultural history,”says Juanita on issues like AIDS, the dilemma is very real. you lose that context.” Murray, director of Special Collections.“Much By the end of the next century, the ques- Without context, the meaning of a piece of the information created with archaic soft- tion of who controls content will be answered.

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“Long before the end of the century, infor- ulty members.“We want to archive the intel- being a collector [of information] to being a mation will be either public or private,”says lectual property of our University commu- facilitator in a much more proactive way,” Gherman. That is why libraries like Vander- nity. By doing this we build a whole model of says Guise about how she is reshaping the bilt’s Heard Library are at the forefront of how the future can go digitally.” relationship of the medical librarian to physi- making sure information is accessible to all. Perhaps more interesting is the way in which cians. She has placed her librarians on the According to Gherman, the Heard Library is Vanderbilt is working to change the traditional hospital’s clinical teams. Now the librarian taking proactive steps to ensure this happens. role of the librarian to gain access to informa- goes on rounds with physicians, pharmacists Now that information is digitized, observes tion before it comes under the control of pri- and nutritionists. “Rather than waiting for Gherman, libraries no longer own the infor- vate corporations. Librarians now are actively the question to come, they can anticipate mation. Instead, they lease it or subscribe making themselves much more essential to questions. Ultimately a great librarian on a to a database controlled by information researchers, scholars and students. The intended clinical team needs to become the best-read providers. Vanderbilt has come up with sev- result is to increase the need for research member of the team. Then they are more eral responses to this situation. libraries and decrease the value of search likely to feel confident in suggesting things “Increasingly, universities are as they hear the discussion starting to say to their faculty while a patient is being eval- that we should produce our own uated, because the librarian information and put it out there,” might have read a paper that explains Gherman. “Tradition- the others on the clinical ally, our faculty would write an team have not read.” article—in a sense, creating intel- In addition to being lectual property—and then sign actively part of a clinical over ownership to the publisher. team, Vanderbilt’s medical Then we would buy it back at librarians also are training whatever the publisher’s price.” physicians and medical In the past this has not been a personnel in rural areas to problem because the library then become their own informa- owned the printed material in its tionists. Although these med- bound form. With digital infor- ical professionals cannot be mation, libraries must subscribe as well versed in the latest to databases that hold the intel- research strategies, they can lectual property. As long as the become triage information- library subscribes, the content is ists, or “EMFs”—Emergency available. Once the subscription Medical Informationists. ends, it no longer is. Johns Hopkins Univer- Vanderbilt is trying to find sity President William ways to address this limitation R.Brody echoes Dr. Guise’s as the University sees its payments sense of this important change to these databases increasing in the librarian’s job: “Mas- dramatically. At present, approx- sive information overload is imately 40 percent of the Heard Library’s engines like Google. According to Dr. Nunzia placing librarians in an ever more important budget goes to digital information providers. Bettinsoli Giuse, director of Vanderbilt’s Eskind role as human search engines. They are trained That cost certainly will rise. As a result, Gher- Biomedical Library, the only way for the library and gifted at ferreting out and vetting the key man has come up with several strategies to to remain legitimate is for the role of the librar- resource material when it’s needed. Today’s counteract this trend.“Now we pay the pub- ian to change. Just as the wall of the library technology is spectacular—but it can’t always lishers up front to publish the information,” has disappeared, the role of the librarian must trump a skilled human. Have you hugged your says Gherman.“Then we don’t have to buy it break its traditional boundaries. Giuse has librarian today?” back, and it’s available at no cost. This means coined a term straight out of one of Umbert At the Heard Library, librarians are step- Third-World nations can access information Eco’s postmodern treatises to describe the ping outside to become more responsive to that they normally never would have been librarian’s new role. She calls herself and her users. No longer can they expect their users able to afford.”Vanderbilt also has begun colleagues informationists. to come to them. Instead, they must antici- archiving the articles and syllabuses of fac- “The role of the librarian is changing from pate how users might need the library’s

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resources and then show them how it can be small societies who are unable to make it into databases is like building virtual cities of done. One challenge for librarians is the chang- the digital world. First, librarians approached information. ing way in which people think. Content is no small journals in the Middle East that pub- By reaching out to this small community, longer linear as it appears in a traditional lish research on archaeology in the region. Vanderbilt discovered that their librarians’ book. Instead, content is more relational. Surprisingly, these journals were not really skills could be of even more value in the field “If you think about how a 14-year-old interested in getting their publications online. on archaeological digs. This would not have approaches information today, you can imag- Instead, they were more concerned about mak- become evident if not for the Heard Library’s ine how the next generation of scholars will ing available a few thousand books that had initial contact with professionals in Near- take and use information,”says Library Tech- been published between 1880 and 1910. These Eastern archaeology. “What we discovered nology Officer Marshall Breeding. “You hear volumes represented the seminal excavation was that when dig directors today go out and a lot of conversation today about ‘learning reports of what was found at the time. work in the field, they face certain difficul- through gaming’ because that’s how the high “The German, the French and, to a small ties,”says Gherman. “Many countries pro- school and college students today have already extent, the British were out there digging hibit archaeologists from hauling off what shaped the way they think and approach knowl- up all this stuff and writing these reports,” they dig up. They’ve got to bury it again. What edge.”How gaming is changing the landscape explains Gherman. “At the time they maybe archaeologists do is take photographs and of research and analysis is not completely under- stood at this point. What is acknowledged is that people who play video games are more likely to think associatively rather than lin- Libraries are poised to enter either a early. They think in terms of webs of informa- tion rather than books. Web sites like “Game Dark Age or a Renaissance. If it’s an Culture: Thinking About Computer Games” (www.game-culture.com/about.html) are on age of darkness, libraries will probably the cutting edge of this field of study, publish- ing articles about gaming culture and organ- become private. If it’s a Renaissance, izing conferences. “It’s pretty nontraditional when you think libraries will keep the doors of about the differences among teaching, learn- ing, and approaches to information five years knowledge open for all. ago and today,”Breeding continues.“We have graduate students and faculty who think in very traditional kinds of ways who have learned only published 150 to 200 copies of the report. collect their data. After re-interning the objects, to approach information and do research These were scattered around the world at var- they return to their labs with their digital pho- before this sea of change. What will it be like ious libraries, but the majority of scholars tos and their data. Then, if they get around when almost everybody we deal with—fac- couldn’t access them.”Those were the books to it 10 years down the road, they’ll write a ulty, students and graduate students—have archaeologists needed to be digitized and put report about what they found. Eventually, experienced this new way of dealing with on the Web. 150 to 200 copies will be published and will things? It’s hard to imagine, other than the “Interestingly, these are not things that go to selected libraries around the world. fact that it will be largely different. We’ve got are easily scanned because they’re in hiero- There’s a 10-year delay between what is found to be able to react to those kinds of changes.” glyphics and contain drawings of items they and what is accessible to the world. And even Perhaps organizing principles will begin to discovered,”adds Gherman. “They can’t be then it’s not very accessible, and the whole fall more in line with gaming. Certainly, the scanned with OCR [optical character recog- process is very expensive as well.”In the case relational nature of hyperlinks makes infor- nition software]. Still, we went out and did of Etana, Vanderbilt stepped in and published mation more spatial than linear. it. We’ve only done about 200 of those 2,000 these reports more efficiently and affordably One project under way at the Heard Library volumes, and they’re freely available on the on the Web, just as librarians were doing with highlights how Vanderbilt not only is trying Web on the Etana site.”“Etana” is an acronym the older reports. to be ready, but is changing the landscape upon for Electronic Tools and Ancient Near East Vanderbilt’s involvement with this com- which these issues are contested. A project Archives, but the word also refers to an ancient munity did not end there. During ensuing called “Etana,”which was begun nearly two Babylonian myth about building a great city. discussions with these archaeologists, Van- years ago, arose out of a realization that the For librarians at Vanderbilt, this myth res- derbilt librarians were able to develop an skills of a librarian could be applied to help onates because the creation of their new continued on page 87

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By ANGELA FOX and GAYNELLE DOLL Greetings from

There’s more to see and do on Vanderbilt’s 330 acres than most alumni ever imagine. So pack your bags. Your next best vacation option just might be your alma mater. VMagSmr05_pg44-57.final 7/26/05 12:10 PM Page 46

Concert on the Peabody Wyatt Center Lawn

our teenager has informed you that Disney World is for babies. Your wife has put you on notice that if she has to spend another vacation Ywith your parents on Martha’s Vineyard, she won’t be responsible for her actions. That Mediterranean cruise you dreamed about as a 10-year Hillsboro House Bed and Breakfast anniversary celebration? Now your partner says there’s no way he’s getting that close to the Middle East.

Here’s a thought: Picture a lush, 330-acre ing everything from kosher to Caribbean. resort in the middle of one of the South’s top You can stay at bed-and-breakfast inns or tourist destinations. This resort has it all— luxury hotels. Shopping areas have blos- recreational facilities, restaurants, art gal- somed, and there’s more entertainment than leries, live theater and renowned musical ever. Theater and live music of every kind is ensembles. There are championship sports, a nightly event. Parks and gardens beckon art and dance classes, lectures and shopping. nature lovers and provide venues for out- The resort is so well situated in the heart of door art fairs, Shakespeare performances and a great city that visitors are just steps away concerts. from the city’s top attractions. And many of If it’s predictability that you or your brand- the resort’s amenities are free. name-brainwashed kiddies crave, never fear— If you think no such resort exists, it’s time you’ll have no trouble locating the same chain you headed back to Vanderbilt. Even alumni restaurants and hotels and bookstores and who think they know Vanderbilt may not be caffeine purveyors that have sprouted like aware of how much there is to see and do kudzu in every American city. But you won’t here. The University, like the city around it, find them in our travel guide. We aim to show is growing and changing. Today there are you how to have an experience that’s uniquely dozens of international eateries nearby offer- Vanderbilt.

ILLUSTRATION ON PAGES 44–45 BY JIM HSIEH. PHOTOGRAPHS BY NEIL BRAKE, DANIEL DUBOIS, VIRGIL FOX AND GERALD HOLLY

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The Performing Arts

ou’re in Music City, so we’ll start with Ymusic. Vanderbilt is right next door to Nashville’s famed Music Row, and you know uintets, quartets, folks back home are going to ask if you went Qsolo instrumen- to the Grand Ole Opry and tell you about the talists and vocalists, time they saw Little Jimmy Dickens at Kroger. large group ensembles, But if you’re the type who never quite got Hank lectures by famous Williams, and bluegrass music just reminds composers—whenever you of the “Beverly Hillbillies,”Vanderbilt you’re in town, chances has its own music scene. Besides the clubs around are good that some- Elliston Place and Hillsboro Village, there’s thing worth hearing is plenty of music for your ears right on campus. happening at the Blair School of Music. Once an academy that was part of Peabody Col- lege, Blair became the University’s 10th school in 1981. Blair counts a stellar lineup of per- forming artists among its own faculty, or you may have a chance to hear Blair students at the collegiate or pre- college level. Perfor- mances take place in either Martha Rivers Music Perched atop Nashville’s Ingram Performance Hall, a soaring 618-seat highest hill, Vanderbilt’s on the acoustic marvel completed in 2001, or the Mountain Dyer Observatory draws school groups, stargazers Steve and Judy Turner Recital Hall, which and music lovers. During the Blair provides an intimate space for solo and cham- School’s “Music on the Mountain” series ber music. Besides the Blair Concert Series, of free outdoor concerts, you might hear which annually showcases classical and con- Appalachian music, jazz, big band, temporary music, there is the Blair Conver- Caribbean or classical. Concerts usually sations Series, where music giants such as begin in early evening—the better to catch Amy Grant, Marty Stuart, Joshua Bell, Awada- amazing sunsets. Catch the shuttle from gin Pratt and Randy Newman have talked the parking area near the intersection of about their work. And there are collabora- Granny White Pike and Old Hickory Boule- tions with local arts groups, as when Blair vard. Pack a picnic, and bring your own have been covered by the likes of Emmylou and Nashville Ballet join forces to present new blankets or lawn chairs. Weather permit- Harris, John Hiatt and Jimmy Buffett. dance works by rising choreographers cre- ting, the observatory’s Seyfert Telescope Tickets for Bluebird on the Mountain, which is open following performances. ated with Blair composers. Vanderbilt Uni- continues monthly through October, are Thanks to Amy Kurland, owner of the versity Opera Theatre also presents two sold through Ticketmaster. A special car- famed Bluebird Café in Green Hills, musi- productions annually. load ticket is available for those traveling cal offerings at Dyer Observatory also in one vehicle (no RVs). 2400 Blakemore Ave. include “Bluebird on the Mountain,” a 615/322-6042 series featuring top Nashville songwriters. Dyer Observatory, www.vanderbilt.edu/Blair The series debuted in May with rocker 1000 Oman Drive, Nashville Marshall Chapman, BA’71, with Danny 615/373-4897 Flowers and Tom Kimmel, whose songs www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu

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The Performing Arts

or more than three decades, Great Per- F formances at Vanderbilt has brought dance, music and theatre from around the globe to Nashville. From dance legend Merce Cunningham and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble to hip- hop artist Will Power and the documentary theatre group The Civilians, the lineup is always diverse. Shows take place at the Ingram Center for the Performing Arts or Langford Auditorium. 615/322-2471 www.vanderbilt.edu/sarratt/great

ention Neely Auditorium, and watch Mhow alumni of a certain age gingerly pat their posteriors, recalling the wooden pews on which they sat through chapel, Western Civilization classes and commencement exer- cises. Thankfully, the torturous pews have been long banished, and nowadays Neely is home to Vanderbilt University Theatre. Recent pro- ductions with talented student casts included Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical “Com- pany,”Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever,”and Hen- rik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House.” Works by contemporary writers like Tony Kushner, Paula Vogel, David Mamet and David Hare also are presented each season. Curtain is at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. for the main- stage shows. Throughout the academic year, you can catch a Noontime Theatre show: one- Vanderbilt Dance Program act plays staged by student directors, actors and designers.

Neely Auditorium Remember the old Sinking Creek Film Celebration, born at Vanderbilt 615/322-2404 in 1969? One of the longest-running film festivals in the country, www.vanderbilt.edu/vut it’s now known as the Nashville Film Festival —the largest and most international film festival in the mid-South. Held at ountless Vanderbilt students have taken the Regal Green Hills Cinemas, NFF last April attracted some 13,000 Cin their first foreign or art film at Sar- people to screenings of more than 200 films from more than 40 countries. ratt Cinema, where a student committee still The festival provides workshops and panels with participants in the film and selects all the films and handles special pro- music industries. A short list of recent attendees includes Patrick grams. You can catch nearly first-run films The Little Swayze, Oprah Winfrey, Diane Ladd, Michael Moore, John Waters, like “Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,”block- Alison Kraus, Natalie Cole and Tracy Nelson. Buy individual tickets Film Festival to the films of your choice, or purchase a pass to all festival busters like “The Passion of the Christ,”doc- That Grew screenings and events. umentaries like “Supersize Me,”or action fests like “Jackie Chan’s First Strike.”The tickets 800/965-4827 www.nashvillefilmfestival.org

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Art, Indoors and Out

are still cheaper than at the local multiplex— “Twelve Campus Types” or a contemporary spin on art, duck general admission is $5. Ticket sales begin 30 Finto the main lobby of the Sarratt minutes before screening time. Titles, dates Student Center. The Sarratt Gallery and times are subject to change, so call first. presents eight to 10 shows annually with an emphasis on works by emerging Sarratt Student Center regional and national artists. Annual 615/322-2425 events include the Student Art Show, a www.vanderbilt.edu/sarratt/cinema juried exhibit held in April in conjunc- tion with Parents Weekend, and the Hol- hat happens during your vacation iday Arts Festival in December, which at Vanderbilt stays at Vanderbilt. You W features contemporary crafts for sale by can learn belly dancing, or take one of more Tennessee artists. than 40 other classes scheduled weekly, in Vanderbilt Dance Program classes at Memo- Sarratt Student Center rial Gym. Offerings include ballet, tap, jazz, 615/322-2471 funk, modern, hip-hop, Irish, Spanish, www.vanderbilt.edu/sarratt/gallery Bharatanatyam (classical dance of India), ballroom, swing and Latin, plus Pilates, yoga or a blast from the past, check out and t’ai chi. A single class costs $10, or you anderbilt possesses a stellar collection of F“Twelve Campus Types” on Rand can buy a series. Registration is open to stu- Vart, ranging from European Old Mas- Terrace, a piece commissioned in the early dents and the general public aged 14 and ter paintings and modern American prints to 1970s. The bronze sculpture depicts a dozen older. If you don’t want to risk returning African, Oceanic and pre-Columbian works. human figures ranging from a man with a home with a slipped disc, sit back and enjoy Totaling more than 5,000 works, selections briefcase to students in bell-bottoms. There’s student performances by Momentum or from the collection often are showcased in also a Puryear Mims sculpture in the Sarratt Rhythm & Roots, two dance companies that exhibits inside the Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery. courtyard nearby. The stone sculpture of showcase student choreography and their Housed in a red-brick building known as the three nude females is called “The Three Faces original works. Old Gym—imagine playing basketball in this of Fate” and was commissioned from the tiny space—the gallery presents six exhibi- late Mims, a Nashville artist and Vanderbilt Sarratt Student Center tions each year. The gallery is closed during art professor, also in the early 1970s. Two 615/322-2471 academic breaks. more works by Mims can be found in Ben- www.vanderbilt.edu/sarratt/dance ton Chapel on the John Frederick Oberlin 23rd and West End avenues Divinity Quadrangle. 615/322-0605 www.vanderbilt.edu/gallery

“The Three Faces of Fate”

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Learning Combine your Vanderbilt visit with Vacations an art class or workshop. Classes Art, Indoors and Out at Sarratt Art Studios are open to all Vanderbilt students, staff, faculty, alumni, and other members of the Nashville community. Choose he Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for pottery, watercolor, stained glass, darkroom tech- TResearch on Human Development pres- niques, jewelry, drawing, bookmaking or mosaics, to ents four excellent exhibits annually that cel- name a few. You can also master the fundamentals ebrate the artistic skill and diversity of people of making glass beads on a torch or learn principles with disabilities. The Center also has a per- of interior design. Other classes teach batik fabric- manent collection of 18 or more works by making and hand-tinting of black-and-white photo- persons with disabilities. One of the annual graphs. There are weekend sessions during the year, exhibits is “Creative Expressions,”which runs as well as summer adult studio-art classes and mid-October through December and is co- workshops that run mid-June through July. Summer class fees are $110 for alumni and family members sponsored by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Cen- and $120 for the Nashville community. Classes also ter and the Nashville Mayor’s Advisory require a lab fee that varies according to the class. Committee for People with Disabilities. Sarratt Student Center Peabody campus, MRL Building 615/343-0491 or 615/322-2471 21st Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue www.vanderbilt.edu/sarratt/art 615/322-8240

Art at the Kennedy Center

ou’ll find another art gem in the foyer of Ythe Hobbs Laboratory of Human Devel- opment (also part of the Kennedy Center). “Come Play” Titled simply “Peabody, 1968,”the commis- sioned work by the late American artist Ben lsewhere on campus, Vanderbilt Law porary glass art, in the lobby of the Eskind Shahn interprets the human condition in a ESchool has a collection of 11 pieces of Medical Library. Don’t miss sculptures in scene depicting two human figures on either outsider art on display. The collection includes the Chapman Quadrangle, a secluded park- side of a large sun-like face. One figure rises two pieces by the late Homer Green, a Nashville- like area with works by Maurice Blik, Joe Sorci, as if in triumph over the challenges of life; the area artist whose painted wood animal sculp- Lin Swensson, Buddy Jackson and Bill Doak. other figure plummets downward in despair. tures are included in collections around the Other notable works of art include “Fly- Just outside the main entrance of the Hobbs world, as well as works by wood-carver Alvin ing Torso” by Alan LeQuire, BA’78, located Laboratory is “Come Play,”a metal sculpture Jarrett and painter Robert E. Smith. behind the Eskind Library. Another LeQuire by the late Katherine Haven depicting stylized is “Portrait of Margaret Branscomb,”a fetch- human figures dancing in a circle. Four chil- here’s also plenty of art on the Vanderbilt ing life-size bronze of the wife of Chancellor dren at play beckon an isolated fifth child to TUniversity Medical Center campus, rang- Harvie Branscomb, open book in hand, beneath join them. The work was inspired by the late ing from “The Sea Garden,”an interactive mural a magnolia tree behind Neely Auditorium. Nicholas Hobbs, psychologist and Peabody by Nashville artist Lanie Gannon in Vander- The Sculpture Garden adjacent to the terrace professor, and his pioneering philosophy for bilt Children’s Hospital, to an enormous glass of Peabody Library also features beautiful treating emotionally disturbed children. bowl by Dale Chihuly, the father of contem- landscaping around three sculptures.

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Green Spaces

illed with centuries-old magnolias and F dozens of other species of trees, the Van- derbilt campus was certified by the Associ- ation of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta as a national arboretum in 1988. Vanderbilt’s arboretum specializes in native species, although students affixing flyers to some of the spec- imens probably don’t notice whether they’re stapling into a shagbark hickory or a sassafras tree. The trees—6,000 of them by one esti- mate—form a leafy canopy over a living mosaic of grassy lawns and flowering plants, offer- ing quiet spots to walk or pause and reflect. Nature lovers should stop by the Vanderbilt or more greenery, head across West End bookstore and pick up a copy of a small paper- F Avenue to Centennial Park, Nashville’s back, The Trees of Vanderbilt, which suggests version of New York’s Central Park. Centen- several campus walking routes and tells more nial Park is a popular destination for Vander- information about the trees. bilt students, with plenty of paved paths and One of the most notable trees on campus roads for running, inline skating and biking. is the Bicentennial Oak. Near Rand, the tree The park’s centerpiece is the Parthenon, the dates to the Revolutionary War and was des- world’s only full-scale replica of the origi- ignated a Bicentennial tree during the coun- nal Greek temple in Athens. It’s also the city try’s 200th birthday celebration in 1976. You’ll of Nashville’s art museum. Inside, sculptor also find some very old Osage orange trees, Alan LeQuire, BA’78,spent years on his ren- catalpas, pawpaws and princess trees that dition of the “Colossus of Athena Parthenons,” sport showy purple blooms in the spring. goddess of war and patron of Athens. LeQuire’s giant, gold-leafed statue of Athena is the best estimate of what the original in ancient Greece looked like and, standing 42 feet, is the largest indoor statue in the Western world. The park also fea- tures a mile-long road for running or walk- ing, plus a band shell and models of a steam locomotive and an Air Force fighter The iris garden next to the Divinity School jet. You can relax and includes numerous Dykes Medal-awarded feed the ducks at Lake hybrids. You can see much more exotic species Watauga, a large of plants at the Vanderbilt Greenhouses pond with paddle- (Stevenson Center, Building 2, Seventh Floor, boats for rent. In the summertime, huge crowds 615/322-4654), where Jonathan Ertelt, green- gather at the park for craft fairs, free film houses manager, is happy to show off the showings, symphony performances, big-band orchids, African violets, lipstick plants, bromeli- dances, and annual events such as the Nashville ads, aroids, cacti, succulents and other plants Shakespeare Festival. that flourish under his care.

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Feel the Burn

f you haven’t been back to campus since I Vanderbilt had a winning football season (for the record, it was 1982), the prolifera- tion of sports facilities will amaze you. Besides the “big” sports, students are also into Aussie football, club Thai boxing, fencing, field hockey, ice hockey, paintball, squash, scuba diving and much more. Even Ultimate Fris- bee lives on. The good news for you, the alumnus and fitness buff, is that you too can enjoy Van- derbilt’s state-of-the-art facilities for ten- nis, running, weight training, rock climbing and more.

Rec Center Climbing Wall

Vanderbilt Legends Club

quetball courts and an indoor running track. et in a round of golf at the Vanderbilt The facility is free to alumni and spouses vis- GLegends Club. In 2001, aided by donor iting during Homecoming, Reunion, Com- gifts, the University acquired the Legends Golf mencement and other special occasions. Alumni Club in Franklin, approximately 20 minutes and their spouses and dependents also may from Vanderbilt. Now called the Vanderbilt purchase a membership and enjoy the facil- Legends Club, it is the beautiful home course ities year ’round. for the men’s and women’s varsity golf teams. Childrens Way, between 25th Avenue South 1500 Legends Club Lane, Franklin, Tenn. and Natchez Trace 615/791-8100 615/343-6627 www.legendsclub.com www.vanderbilt.edu/CampusRecreation ee for yourself why climbing is such a craze lso at the Student Recreation Center, Sat the Student Recreation Center. The CampVandy is now in its 16th year of Center’s 25-foot climbing wall is the best place A providing a summer day-camp experience to in Nashville for beginner climbing instruction children from 5 to 12 years of age. Campers as well as for more seasoned climbers. Staff enjoy sport activities and games with an members will show you the ups and downs, emphasis on fun, learning and participation. and climbing shoes are available free of charge. CampVandy also offers various dates through- If your fitness interests are more ground level, out the December school break. the center also features a large fitness center with cardio and weight equipment, a swim- 615/343-8186 ming pool, plus basketball, volleyball and rac- www.vanderbilt.edu/CampusRecreation/youth

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ne of the University’s newest sports ven- plex debuted with the Vanderbilt Invitational, O ues, Vanderbilt Soccer Stadium offers where a number of NCAA-qualifying marks a place for 2,400 fans to cheer on the Com- and team records were set. • For varsity ten- modore men’s soccer, women’s soccer and nis, the Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Cen- women’s lacrosse teams. The $2-million facil- ter is one of the finest college tennis facilities ity was completed in 2002. • If your only expe- in the country and was host to the women’s rience with Commodore baseball was at NCAA Regional Tournament in 1997, 1999, McGugin Field, which served as baseball’s 2000, 2001 and 2002. home field for 76 years, you’re in for a treat. For information about events and schedules, Hawkins Field, now in its second season, is call the Vanderbilt Athletic Department at one of the finest college baseball parks in the 615/322-4727 or visit www.vucommodores.com. country. Hawkins Field offers a classic base- ball-park atmosphere coupled with a mod- ern design that includes 1,500 chair-back seats. • Vanderbilt Stadium, the Commodores’ football home since 1981, has undergone a recent renovation, including a new $1-mil- lion natural-grass field. • Crowds still go wild at Memorial Gymnasium, home of Vander- bilt’s top-ranked men’s and women’s basket- ball teams. In 2002 a $25-million renovation was completed. • The Vanderbilt Track and Field Complex, which opened last April, fea- tures one of only two Mondo track surfaces in the Southeastern Conference. The com-

Hawkins Field

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Where to Eat

ashville’s first and only fully kosher veg- Netarian restaurant is Grins Vegetarian Café, a popular on-campus student hangout in the Schulman Center for Jewish Life. Grins (Yiddish for “vegetables” and pronounced “greens”) is a great spot for a healthy lunch or light dinner. Chef Michele Watkins Knaus takes a global approach to kosher, mixing diverse styles and cuisines with fresh local and regional produce to create a menu that changes daily. Sandwich choices range from the Curried Tofu Wrap to the Veggie Sand- wich on Maple-Wheat Bread. Soups, salads and a hot entrée or two round out the menu. Like everything else on the Grins menu, the vegan brownies and chocolate-chip cookies are sure to make you smile. 25th Avenue South and Vanderbilt Place 615/322-8571 www.vanderbilt.edu/dining/ Grins, restaurant_detail.php?location= Nashville’s cafes&restaurant=grins only kosher restaurant teaming lattes, bread bowls Sfilled with shrimp and andouille he Divinity School Refectory was remod- gumbo—what more could you want T eled a few years ago to accommodate din- in your neighborhood café? The Iris ing, reading and social space. A full-service Café, on the Peabody Library ground kitchen offers breakfast, soup and salads, and floor, is managed by Provence Breads, meat-and-three fare. Organized to serve as a a popular Hillsboro Road bakery. social space as well as a dining hall, the large Also on the Peabody campus, at the room features wood paneling, high ceilings, Hill Center you can satisfy your and a large Oriental rug in the Reading Room. appetite at the Hillacious Grill (burg- ers, chicken sandwiches and fries) ther on-campus options include the and the Chef’s Table (changing daily O venerable University Club, where you menus offering barbecue, fried can eavesdrop on administrative power lunches chicken, pasta and quesadillas). and academic tête-à-têtes, and the cozy Over- Made-to-order sandwiches, hot cup Oak on the top floor of the Sarratt Stu- breakfasts and a salad bar round dent Center, where you can dine on the balcony out the options at the Hill. and get a birds-eye view of Alumni Lawn or settle in next to the fireside in winter. Also in For information about any Vander- Sarratt is Rand Dining Center, where many bilt eatery, call Vanderbilt Dining at students still take most meals. Nowadays it 615/322-2999 or visit www.vander- features numerous food stations with Mediter- bilt.edu/dining. ranean and Mexican fare, an extensive salad The Iris Café at Peabody bar, deli-style sandwiches and more.

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Daughter Margaret serves her parents’ famous burgers at Rotier’s

f course, you’ll want to return to the off- Now 21 years old, San Antonio Taco Co. was Pancake Pantry is still pulling in huge crowds O campus scenes of your misspent college started by two Vanderbilt students, Richard in Hillsboro Village, though it was expanded years. Rotier’s, popular with students since Patton, BS’84, and Robin Delmer, BA’85,who in recent years and now has a foyer where you 1945, still serves a mean meat-and-three plate, were hungry for the tastes of their native can wait your turn in comfort. A Nashville cheeseburgers on French bread, spicy fried Texas. With its homemade tortillas, great institution for 40 years, Pancake Pantry serves pickles, chicken gizzards, and the thickest salsa, and a large deck for outdoor dining up stacks of golden flapjacks in varieties rang- milkshake in Nashville. and drinking (all year ’round), SatCo is ing from buttermilk to “raspberry delight”and still a campus hot spot. hearty platters of eggs, grits, biscuits and sausage. 2413 Elliston Place, Nashville 615/327-9892 416 21st Ave. S., Nashville 1796 21st Ave. S., Nashville www.rotiers.net 615/327-4322 615/383-9333

Pie and Remembrance Even today, I don’t know her name, but tasted, and the only flaw in the Soda Shop she was a good-looking woman who didn’t formula was that they never seemed to seem to think about it a lot. She had make enough pies. sandy-blonde hair chopped casually just It was a heart-stopping moment when above her shoulders, and there was a flash the waitress had to tell us they were out, so to her eyes and something in her smile we started doing the only thing we could do. that seemed to be both sexy and wise. We ordered our pie before anything else— All in all, she was a favorite waitress of sometimes even before we took our seats us Vanderbilt boys—my crowd at least— —and our favorite waitress seemed to catch and we made the two-block journey as on quickly. often as we could, down to the Elliston After the first few times, she would bring Place Soda Shop. The waitress was only us the pie before we even asked, then pull one part of the lure. There was also the out her pad to take the rest of our order. food—a meat and three vegetables for “Well,” she would say, deadpan, with just $1.25, or a plate of spaghetti for 85 cents, the hint of a smile. “What’s it gonna be this which seemed to be exactly what a dinner time?” ought to cost. I left Vanderbilt in 1968, having limped Most of us could afford such a price, my way to a history degree, and I didn’t eat with a little spare change for a piece of at the Soda Shop again for 20 years. But I My sexy waitress-friend was still at her lemon pie. And this was not just any lemon came back for a reunion in 1988 and post, and I swear to God this is what she pie. There was a graham-cracker crust and decided the nostalgia would not be com- did. She walked straight to my table with a whipped cream on the top, and a con- plete without another visit to Elliston Place. piece of lemon pie, smiled that same little densed-milk filling that was slathered in The prices were a little bit higher, though smile that I remembered, and said, dead- between. The filling especially was as rich still a bargain, but the most remarkable pan, “Well, what’s it gonna be this time?” and sweet as any concoction I had ever part of it was this: —Frye Gaillard, BA’68

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Where to Eat A Clean,Well-Lighted Place

njoy classic soda-fountain fare at Vandy- hree hotels adjacent to campus Eland. Once called “Candyland,”Vandy- T offer rooms that give you a view land has been featured on the NPR Radio of Vanderbilt: Nashville Marriott at Show “The Splendid Table.”Try the chocolate Vanderbilt University (2555 West drift: chocolate ice cream, marshmallow top- End Ave.; 615/321-1300), Loews Van- ping and chocolate sprinkles. derbilt Hotel (2100 West End Ave.; 615/320-1700), and Holiday Inn Select 2916 West End Ave., Nashville Nashville-Vanderbilt (2613 West End 615/327-3868 Ave.; 615/327-4707). Recent years have seen the rise of lektor Café, the only new off-campus a handful of small inns near Vander- restaurant we’ve listed, is an unorthodox A bilt. Daisy Hill Bed & Breakfast (2816 restaurant run by an Eastern Orthodox priest, Blair Blvd.; 615/297-9795 or 800/239- Father Parthenios, and his wife, Marion, who 1135) is in a classic Tudor Revival does most of the cooking with assistance from Style home built in 1925. Linden her husband. The Greek word alektor means House Bed & Breakfast (1501 Lin- “rooster,”and the Alektor Café does offer a den Ave.; 615/298-2701 or 800/226- delicious chicken salad, but the real reason 0317) is in a renovated 1893 Victorian behind the name is the Christian tradition yellow brick house with a welcom- of the rooster crowing as the disciple Peter ing wraparound porch. Hillsboro denied Jesus for the third time. The menu House Bed and Breakfast (1933 20th includes spinach lasagna, pesto goat cheese Ave. S.; 615/292-5501) is a 1904 Vic- and portabella mushroom sandwiches, potato torian frame house featuring gardens onion soup, spiced Russian tea and homemade and a wide front porch with a swing. brownies. The couple also operates Door to Paradise Books in the café, so Orthodox Chris- tarting in the summer of 2006, tian icons, ethereal music, inspirational books, alumni also will be able to stay Gibson Hall at Scarritt-Bennett and gift items imported from Russia and Greece S in a Vanderbilt residential hall. surround you as you dine. Rooms will be available only during the sum- Southern cuisine in the Gothic dining hall, 1807 Grand Ave., Nashville mer months. The Office of Conferences, which two chapels open for meditation, a library, 615/340-0098 coordinates arrangements for outside groups shopping at The Tattered Map, and a cultural holding camps, meetings, workshops and museum. Therapeutic massage and sessions seminars on campus, will determine rates and with the center’s trained spiritual directors room availability. are also available. You can work or play in the retreat-house art studio, either with your own 615/343-8699 art materials or with the simple art materi- www.vanderbilt.edu/conferences/ als that are provided. Scarritt-Bennett’s small garden offers guests personal retreat at Scarritt-Bennett Cen- the chance to meditate upon the large circu- ter is another option. Near the Peabody A lar arrangement of gray slate fragments in its campus, this quiet Gothic-style enclave is the center. The configuration is a replica of the site of the former Scarritt College and Scar- 11-circuit Chartres Labyrinth, laid in the floor ritt Graduate School, which trained layper- of Chartres Cathedral around 1220, and reflects sons for church vocations for nearly 100 years. a mystical tradition common to many reli- Choose from a deluxe room in historic Gib- gious traditions of the world. son Hall or a standard room in the center’s other residence halls. 1008 19th Ave. S. During your stay you can enjoy the peace 615/340-7500 and beauty of the center’s 10-acre campus, www.scarrittbennett.org

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Trinkets and Treasures

high-school to college-age person on your Christmas list. Vanderbilt logo merchandise includes Commodore dolls, golf balls, sweat- shirts, watches, clocks and fine crystal. There’s also a section of books by faculty authors and a good selection of current best-sellers, greet- ing cards, magazines, bath products and more. Rand Hall 615/322-2994 www.bookstore.vanderbilt.edu

ou’ll want to visit the Sarratt Center for Yold times’ sake, so check out the chang- ing array of original art on display—and for sale—at the Sarratt Gallery. If you plan a Specialty shop in Hillsboro Village December trip, Sarratt’s annual Holiday Arts Festival is one of Nashville’s top shopping traveler should never forget those left experiences, with handcrafted works by glass- A behind. What about a little something blowers, potters, weavers and photographers for the neighbor who walked Rex and watered for sale at reasonable prices. your rex begonias? Your kids’ babysitter, who’s college-bound next year but still on the fence Sarratt Student Center about Vanderbilt or Duke, could use a little 615/322-2471 Commodore persuasion. And a peace offer- www.vanderbilt.edu/sarratt/gallery ing to your brother-in-law for that political discussion that got out of hand over Thanks- ust south of the Medical Center on 21st giving dinner wouldn’t hurt, either. Vanderbilt Bookstore JAvenue South is Hillsboro Village. Although it isn’t officially part of the University, the two f you’ve not yet been in the new Monroe n Vanderbilt’s main hospital, your pur- have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship for so I Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, which opened I chases at the Vanderbilt University Med- long that it’s hard to see how Vanderbilt and last year to great acclaim for its innovative ical Center Auxiliary Gift Shop benefit the the Village could survive without each other. design, The Friends Shop is a good excuse to Medical Center. Besides the flowers and bal- One of Nashville’s oldest shopping districts, have a look. Children will love checking out loons you’d expect, you’ll find lots of chil- Hillsboro Village has welcomed quite a few the big selection of stuffed animals and qual- dren’s books, best-selling paperbacks, magazines, new merchants in recent years. Most continue ity toys at the shop, which is operated by stuffed animals by top makers, gift items, and the Village tradition of small, eclectic shops the Friends of Children’s Hospital. The shop an extensive greeting-card selection. with friendly owners who may function as buyer, salesclerk, stock boy and cashier. While attracts Vanderbilt students for its extensive Vanderbilt Hospital, Second Floor in the Village you can also dine, do your bank- selection of women’s accessories, including 615/322-3422 ing, gas up your car, have your shoes repaired purses, belts, scarves and jewelry. Down the www.mc.vanderbilt.edu hall from the Friends Shop, don’t miss the toy or your clothing altered, buy a bottle of wine, and get a Mohawk or a blue rinse. The whole train that runs overhead around the phar- n the University campus there’s Vander- village is only a few blocks long, but allow macy. As an alumnus you’ll be proud to see bilt Bookstore, where generations of O plenty of time if you need to be somewhere. how Vanderbilt is giving sick kids the most students have purchased their Cliffs Notes, Parking presents your biggest challenge in positive hospital experience possible. bluebooks, and fancy binders to put the best Hillsboro Village, except for driving through Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital face on lackluster class assignments. Find out the Village, which can present an even bigger Second Floor what kind of music today’s students are lis- challenge thanks to on-street parking. 615/322-2379 tening to and what kind of fiction they’re read- www.vanderbiltchildrens.com ing—it’s a good place to shop for any www.hillsborovillage.org/ V

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By PAUL KINGSBURY, BA’80

A conversation with visiting professor Peter Guralnick History from insidethe or 40 years now, Peter Guralnick has been turning out beautifully writ- f ten, impeccably researched magazine profiles and books about key figures in blues, country, and early rock ’n’ roll. His books include a celebrated trilogy on America’s roots DAVID GAHR music—Feel Like Goin’ Home: Portraits in Blues out and Rock ’n’ Roll (1971), Lost Highway: Jour- tor as a potential colleague and peer. On a chilly names of monumental music personalities— neys and Arrivals of American Musicians (1979), afternoon in March, he welcomed me into his Sun Records founder and producer Sam Phillips, and Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm & Blues and the sparsely furnished third-floor Benson Hall bluesmen Howlin’Wolf and Skip James, soul Southern Dream of Freedom (1986)—and a office, with a view of the Kirkland tower behind singers Ray Charles and Solomon Burke, some definitive, two-volume biography of Elvis Pres- the magnolias. Though his curly hair is gray of whom became close friends of his—pop ley, Last Train to Memphis (1994) and Careless and thinning, with his compact frame and up as naturally in his conversation as co-work- Love (1999), each volume of which won a Ralph youthful energy he certainly doesn’t look like ers and neighbors do for most of us. Gleason Music Book Award. During the spring someone who has passed the 60-year mark. In the following interview, edited for length, semester he made a temporary home at Van- Wearing jeans, white tennis shoes, and a green Guralnick talks about how he approaches the derbilt as a visiting professor of creative non- V-neck sweater, he comes across as casual and craft of writing biography and explains how fiction writing. relaxed.Yet,when he speaks about writing and his twin passions for American music and for Despite the considerable acclaim his work American music, he reveals an intense desire writing came together to create a literary career has received, Guralnick is an exceedingly mod- to be rigorously honest and to express himself quite different from what he initially imag- est and friendly man, quick to treat any visi- as clearly as he possibly can. As he does so, ined possible.

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How did you get into writing about music? ond thing I wrote for Rolling Stone was about star in gospel music when he switched over to It was purely to tell people about the perform- “From Elvis to Memphis,”the album. But pop in 1957. And when he switched over, it ers. The underground press started up prob- again it was, in a sense, placing Elvis in the created tremendous shock waves in the gospel ably around ’65, ’66; it was really under way same cultural context as Solomon Burke, world. With his first pop release in the fall of by ’67. Everybody knew how much I loved James Brown, Bobby Blue Bland. Taking his ’57 [“You Send Me”], he had a No. 1 pop hit. the blues, and I knew this kid, Paul Williams, music seriously. What drew me initially to Sam Cooke is the who started Crawdaddy. He said, “Go inter- romance, the ambition, and the talent of Sam Then at some point you said, view Howlin’ Wolf.”So I did an interview with Cooke. Here is an artist who continued to grow I will write a book about Elvis? Howlin’ Wolf. Then he said, “It’d really be right up until the day he died [in 1964]. great if you could write about more music No, it wasn’t that at all. [laughs] It was like an What has accounted for his that you like.”So I said I’d rather write about epiphany almost. Three things came together continuing influence in music? Robert Pete Williams or Skip James than Moby in time between ’85 and ’86. Grape or Jefferson Airplane. But essentially The first was when I was writing Sweet Soul His style, which was so accessible, and the songs it was a very simple thing. I simply couldn’t Music. I was riding down McLemore [in Mem- that he wrote, songs like “Wonderful World,” turn down the opportunity to tell people phis] with a woman named Rose Clayton, who “You Send Me,”“A Change Is Gonna Come,” about this music that I thought was so great. had grown up in south Memphis. So I’m driv- or “That’s Where It’s At.”Songs like “A Change ing down McLemore with her, and we go by Is Gonna Come”and “Wonderful World”con- At that time, in the ’60s and ’70s, this kind of shut-down, boarded-up store on tinue to be recorded again and again. there was a large gulf between popular the corner. It was a drugstore, and she said,“I It’s also the simplicity of the construction culture and high culture, wasn’t there? can remember Elvis would be in here all the of the songs he wrote, along with their incred- Yes, and I’d say that gulf persisted. The first time waiting for his cousin to get off work. He’d ible craft. And then his singing is so accessi- couple of books I published—in ’71 and ’79— just be sitting at the counter, just drumming ble, so instantly charming and ingratiating. didn’t have the slightest possibility of getting his fingers.”And she said: “Poor baby.”And I It’s like Ray Charles told me just before he reviewed in the above-ground press. They were suddenly thought about this kid with acne and died [in 2004],“Man, the cat never hit a wrong very well reviewed in the underground press. drumming his fingers and waiting for his cousin note. And I’m not somebody who says that (I don’t mean to boast about it.) That wasn’t a to get off work, and it was like this flash: This easily. But what’s much more important, he problem. But the idea of a book like Feel Like was not a legend, this was not a myth. sang every note with feeling.” Goin’ Home being reviewed in the New York Times And then a guy named Alan Raymond was Sam Cooke evolved a theory of writing and Book Review—it was never going to happen. making a film about Elvis, a documentary. He of singing: Essentially, he believed that a pop- And in fact, even as late as 1986, when Sweet asked me to do the script, and got me all these ular song was a song that, once somebody heard Soul Music came out, the only way the book got interviews that Elvis had done in ’55 and ’56. it, should be simple enough so they could sing mainstream reviews was through the back door And I listened to these interviews, and I’m think- along with it. And the verse—and this he learned because by that point, a number of people who ing, Gosh, Elvis could tell his own story. I had from Louis Armstrong—was something that had started out with the underground press never thought of it from that perspective before. could almost be spoken. Whereas the chorus were in positions at newspapers and mainstream At the same time Gregg Geller was putting provides the melodic hook, and that was the magazines. I think only in very recent years has out these reissues of Elvis’ records on RCA, thing that people would always remember. If it been generally recognized that America’s great- the beginning of the first serious attempt to you listen to his songs, you can hear that qual- est cultural contribution to the world is in its reconstitute the catalog. So I did the notes for ity. He compared his singing of notes to Louis t vernacular music—whether it’s Duke Elling- a number of them. For “The Sun Sessions” Armstrong because of his delivery of it. He said, ton or Merle Haggard or Bobby Blue Bland. CD, I called up Sam Phillips and asked,“How “Don’t listen to the way our voices sound; lis- did you produce Elvis? How did you get the ten to the way we deliver the verse.” Many readers will recognize you as the material? How did you go through it?”Again biographer of Elvis Presley.Why did you I got this sense not of history as it stood, but Looking back, what do you think has been decide to write a book about Elvis? of history being made before anyone knew it the connection in all your music books? The first thing I wrote about Elvis was in ’67 was going to be history. I think the connection is that it’s all been about because he had put out three singles in a row: what I love. [laughs] They’ve all been books “Big Boss Man,”“U.S. Male”and “Guitar Man.” Now you’ve been writing about about the artistic process and an exploration I may be mixing up the order, but basically they Sam Cooke.What was the attraction of human behavior. In the author’s note in were three blues singles.And I wrote something to writing a biography about him? the front of the Sam Cooke book, I quote Jean like,“Elvis is going back to his roots.”Which Along with Ray Charles, he was probably the Renoir’s film “The Rules of the Game,”where was purely theoretical. But that’s how it felt. foundation for the contemporary soul or he says, “The terrible thing about life is that Then I reviewed Elvis’ ’68 TV special in rhythm & blues sound that evolved in the mid- everyone has his reasons.”My aim has always the Boston Phoenix. And then the first or sec- ’50s to the mid-’60s. He was probably the biggest been to show everybody’s reasons. V

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The“For musicians,Arts the future of this technology has incredible VISUAL ARTS: Shadow: The Chiaroscuro artist Bryce McCloud comple- The Vanderbilt Fine Arts Woodcut, included works by ments the exhibit. The show Gallery continued its spring Italian, French, German, Dutch runs from June through program with the Southern and British engravers. The August. Graphics Council traveling University’s collection of these During March at Sarratt print exhibition, which ran prints was recently augmented Gallery, work by photogra- through mid-March. with a gift from Thomas pher Diane Fox was shown in Organized and toured by the Brumbaugh, professor of fine “UnNatural History.” Fox member printmakers of the arts, emeritus. A selection of traveled to various natural his- Southern Graphics Council, recent linocut prints by local tory museums throughout the the exhibition United States and Europe to presented a wide “Volksmusic” by Bryce McCloud create her series, including the range of graphic American Museum of Natural arts by 35 artists, “UnNatural History” History in New York City. The by Diane Fox including Mark artist mounts each piece into a Hosford, assistant window box frame, imitating tures are being designed by professor of art. the natural history presentation acclaimed visual artists and From late of a diorama with a brass placed throughout Nashville in March through plaque depicting the name of front of the city’s mid-May, the Fine the museum and its location. landmarks and Arts Gallery businesses for a Following the annual Sarratt showed recent period of one Student Art Show through late work by the faculty year uniting April, work by sculptor Randy of the Department the Nashville Palumbo was shown in “Food of Art and Art art, music and Chain” through mid-June. The History. Diverse business commu- New York resident creates Visions 2005 nities behind compositions of found and included work by the cause custom-crafted elements. Michael Aurbach, Susan DeMay, Don Stationed at the Vanderbilt Evans, Mark entrance at 25th and West End Hosford, Marilyn avenues is a fiberglass guitar Murphy, Ron featuring the Vanderbilt logo Porter, Libby Rowe with a tiny LifeFlight helicopter and Carlton hovering above. This is Wilkinson and Vanderbilt’s contribution to opened in con- “GuitarTown,” a public arts junction with project that will feature 50 10- Parents Weekend. foot-tall fiberglass Gibson Les The Fine Arts Paul or Chet Atkins model gui- Gallery summer tars. All oversized guitar sculp- exhibit, Light and

60 Summer 2005 NEIL BRAKE

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opportunitiesCulture for global communication and collaboration. —CAROLYN PLUMMER

of raising money for four char- During the spring a new show paintings began an interna- itable organizations through an of 33 adult paintings by “Sybil,” tional tour to Canada, Germany auction of the guitars. whose name was actually and South Africa. Shirley Ardell Mason—includ- Back in 1973 the best-selling ing several signed by her other MUSIC: book Sybil introduced the personalities—was on view at The spring season for the country to a profoundly dis- Vanderbilt University Great Performances Series at turbed woman described as Medical Center. “The Vanderbilt began in late February when the St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble visited Langford Auditorium and presented a program of works by Borodin, Dvorak, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn. Drawn from the principal players of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Orchestra, the Chamber Ensemble was formed to per- form larger chamber works as a string octet, string sextet, and other configurations including wind instruments.

“Sailing Ships” by Sybil Vanderbilt’s Dyer Observatory NEIL BRAKE took on the festive air of fragmented into at least 16 Hidden Paintings: The Secret Carnival time in the Caribbean separate personalities. An Life of Sybil Revealed” ran when the Vanderbilt Steel Emmy-winning TV movie through the end of April in the Band performed as part of the starring Sally Field as the Mezzanine Gallery of the main Music on the Mountain patient and Joanne Woodward lobby of the Medical Center. Concert Series in late April. as the psychiatrist followed. Following the exhibit, the Even though the low tempera-

St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble

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T HE A RTS &CULTURE

ALIAS

tures made it more like Lawn at Peabody. The Symphony Dogwood Winter than a spring played light classical fare as well day at the beach, the group as selections from the musical warmed up music lovers with “The King and I” and sym- a repertoire that included phonic suites from the films melodies from Trinidad, Cuba “Far and Away” and “Lord of and Jamaica. the Rings: The Two Towers.” The group also performed earlier in April with the ALIAS, a Nashville-based Vanderbilt Concert Choir and chamber-music ensemble dedi- THEATRE: Chamber Singers and in a sep- cated to a diverse repertoire, Nashville’s newest professional arate concert with Sankofa, the performed in May at the Blair The Civilians presented theatre company, Tennessee African drumming and dance School of Music. The program “Gone Missing” in March at Women’s Theater Project, ensemble. All the groups are included works of Brahms and Blair’s Ingram Hall as part of presented “A Single Woman” based at the Blair School of Shostakovich, as well as the the Great Performances Series. at Sarratt Student Center for Music. world premiere of a new work The troupe of six actors staged four performances in June and by Matt Walker. The concert short vignettes in a poignant July. The play is about the life was a benefit for the Maternal and funny review of sketch and of Jeannette Rankin, the first Infant Health Outreach Worker song that was generated from a woman elected before suffrage program, part of the Vanderbilt cross section of interviews with to the U.S. House of Represen- Center for Health Services. New Yorkers asked the same tatives in 1916 as a Republican question: “Have you ever lost anything?”

Vanderbilt Steel Band DANIEL DUBOIS

Vanderbilt Opera Theatre, under director Gayle Shay, offered a double bill of sharp commentary on modern romance and relationships with its spring productions of Gian Carlo Menotti’s chamber opera “The Telephone” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti.” The productions were fully staged and costumed, with the Vanderbilt Opera DANIEL DUBOIS Orchestra, directed by David Childs, accompanying.

The annual Vanderbilt Family Night with the Nashville Symphony took place in mid-May on the Wyatt Center “The Telephone”

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from Montana. A lifelong Be Satisfied: The Life and Times pacifist, a strong advocate of of Muddy Waters, and his doc- women’s and children’s rights, umentary about Muddy Waters, UPCOMING and one of the founders of the “Can’t Be Satisfied,” was nomi- ACLU, she was the first recipient nated for a Grammy Award. VISUAL ART of the National Organization Haygood is the author of four An installation titled for Women’s Susan B. Anthony books, including In Black and “roll–run–hit–run–roll– Award. White: The Life of Sammy tick” by Chicago-based Davis Jr., which won an artist Jin Soo Kim explores Fourteen student actors ASCAP Deems-Taylor- travel, experience and portrayed 50 Timothy White memory through sculp- characters in the Award for tural objects and various Vanderbilt “Outstanding sound elements from Aug. University Music Biography” 25 through Oct. 13 at the Theatre pro- and the Zora “roll-run-hit-run-roll-tick” Vanderbilt Fine Arts duction of Neale Hurston- by Jin Soo Kim Gallery. “Handing “Handing Richard Wright Down the Down the Legacy Award, THEATRE Names” in April. Names” and was named Vanderbilt University Theatre’s first production of Written by Steven the “Literary the academic year will be “The Man Who Came to Dietz to pay homage to the Nonfiction Book of the Year” Dinner” by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, run- immigrant experience, the play by the Black Caucus of the ning Sept. 30, Oct. 1–2 is based in part on stories American Library Foundation. and Oct. 6–8 at Neely passed down in Dietz’s family. Auditorium. The play spans two centuries Tom Wolfe, author of critically and several continents, and fol- acclaimed works The Bonfire of MUSIC lows a German family over the Vanities and The Right Stuff, The Blair School’s new seven generations as they seek spoke in early April at Langford Monday “Nightcap” to set down permanent roots. Auditorium. Wolfe is considered Series will feature Blair the father of “New Journalism,” faculty members Jane BOOKS AND a type of nonfiction writing Kirchner (flute) and WRITERS: that incorporates fictional or Frank Kirchner (saxo-

dramatic elements into the phone) Sept. 19. DANIEL DUBOIS Peter Guralnick—biographer, reporting. Wolfe’s latest novel, music writer, and visiting pro- I Am Charlotte Simmons, was fessor of creative nonfiction published in November and the fierce social atmosphere of Dev is trying his underachiev- writing—hosted “Talking details the initiation of a a fictional university. ing best to stay out of his Lives,” the 2005 Vanderbilt female college freshman into father’s heated bid for reelec- Visiting Writers Series With Wonderdog tion, as well as a co-star’s Spring Symposium, in (St. Martin’s Press), incomprehensible plans to March. Joining Guralnick was Inman Majors, organize a “Bayou Dog” cast filmmaker and biographer BA’86, brings us the reunion. Fortunately, his Robert Gordon, and biogra- unlikely Dev Degraw, efforts to remain uninvolved in pher and Washington Post staff son of the iconoclas- the political fray and as far writer Wil Haygood. tic governor of the away as possible from his TV Guralnick is widely consid- state and former child alter ego are foiled by one ered to be one of the leading actor on the histori- comic entanglement after authorities on American blues, cally bad television another. As he tries to rectify roots and vernacular music. Wil Haygood, Peter Guralnick drama “Bayou Dog.” past glories with more recent and Robert Gordon Gordon’s books include Can’t DANIEL DUBOIS As the story unfolds, foibles, Dev knowingly or

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unknowingly gets thrust upon of race in America. The a career path that will at last civil-rights activism in begin to define him. Los Angeles laid the foundation for critical Bound for Freedom: Black Los developments in the Angeles in Jim Crow America second half of the cen- (University of California tury that continue to Press), by Douglas Flamming, influence us to this day. MA’83, PhD’87, is at once sweeping in its historical reach DANCE: and intimate in its evocation of In honor of Chinese everyday life, as the first full New Year in February, account of Los Angeles’ black the Chinese Student community in and Scholar Asso- the half centu- ciation, the Asian ry before American Stu- World War II. dents Association, Filled with and the Taiwanese moving Students and human Scholars Associa- drama, it tion hosted a Spring Festival brings alive a Spring Festival NEIL BRAKE time and place party at Langford Audito- Dance Festival, sponsored by three-day visit to Vanderbilt, largely rium. Some of the per- the Vanderbilt Dance Program, Simmons spoke about inde- ignored by historians until formances included the fan offered intensive dance training pendent filmmaking and led a now. In addition to drawing a dance, Chinese handkerchief to persons 14 years and older symposium for service providers vivid portrait of a little-known dance, martial arts, Chinese yo- during the first two weeks of to victims of domestic and sex- era, Flamming shows that the yo/juggling and Bhangra (a June this summer. A variety of ual assault. Simmons won the history of race in Los Angeles is Punjab folk dance). classes in a wide range of styles Audre Lorde Legacy Award in crucial for our understanding The Vanderbilt Summer presented an opportunity for 1998 for combining activism concentrated study. and scholarship in the tradi- tion established by Lorde, a In April, Italian choreographer late poet and activist. Emio Greco and Dutch theatre director Pieter C. Scholten pre- Political activist and author sented “Double Points,” in Angela Y. Davis spoke at which different aspects of dual- Vanderbilt as part of Black ity and discord within con- History Month activities. Davis frontation were explored to the has been a nationally recognized mesmerizing music of Ravel’s activist since 1969, when she “Bolero.” was removed from a teaching position at UCLA because of HUMANITIES: her activism and membership in the Communist Party, USA. “NO!”—a documentary about She was on the FBI’s “Ten Most rape in the African-American Wanted” list in the 1970s. community—was screened in Now a professor at the April followed by a discussion University of California–Santa led by filmmaker Aishah Cruz, Davis’ books include Summer Dance Festival Shahidah Simmons. During a NEIL BRAKE

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Blues Legacies and Black The “InsideOut of the Lunch Feminism: Gertrude “Ma” Box” Series discussed dramatic Rainey, Bessie Smith and Billie jazz in March with two Nashville Holiday; Women, Race & Class; artists, Beegie Adair, adjunct and an autobiography. professor in jazz studies, and jeff obafemi carr. Both offered Vanderbilt Divinity School performance excerpts and dis- hosted a conference in April cussed their experiences pen- on “The Virgin Mary in ning new works that bring the Orthodox, Catholic and art of jazz to the stage. Adair is Protestant Traditions” MATT CASHORE/UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME a top national jazz musician Digital Duo sponsored by the Carpenter whose recordings with her trio Playing the viola in Blair’s Ingram Hall in Nashville, Kathryn Program in Religion, Gender are acclaimed by critics and Plummer, associate professor and chair of the strings and Sexuality at Vanderbilt, the beloved by fans. With Ron department at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music, and her Vanderbilt Office of the Short, she has written “Betsy,” identical twin sister, Carolyn, associate professor at the University Chaplain, and a musical that combines jazz University of Notre Dame, playing the violin more than 400 Vanderbilt’s Center for the and bluegrass as it follows miles away in Indiana, were united in a live performance via the Internet. The concert was part of challenge posed by long- Internet2 Day, a faculty distance Internet perform- conference at Notre Dame. ances. “The trick with this Internet2 is a nationwide was the inherent lag-time high-performance network present in streaming,” infrastructure used by 300 explains Kate Gilbreath of member universities, cor- Vanderbilt’s Information porations, government Technology Services staff. research agencies, and not- “For the musicians to play for-profit groups who are together, we needed to dedicated to developing block the sound coming Angela Davis advanced networking from the Notre Dame DANIEL DUBOIS capabilities. player.” The sisters discussed sev- “For musicians, the Study of Religion and Culture. through several generations eral different musical future of this technology Three distinguished experts on the fortunes and legacy of an selections before deciding has incredible opportuni- Mary spoke: Vasiliki Limberis, American family. Carr is the on Bach and Mozart. “The ties for global communi- associate professor of ancient founding artistic director of Bach Andante is from the cation and collaboration,” Christianity at Temple Amun Ra Theatre, and is a Sonata no. 2 for Solo says Carolyn. “The lag University; Anne L. Clark, successful actor, author, Violin,” says Kathryn. “The time is still problematic associate professor of religion teacher and motivational second piece was from for true ensemble collabo- at the University of Vermont; speaker. He is an accomplished Mozart’s Duo in G Major ration, but I look forward and Beverly Roberts playwright and com- for Violin and Viola. We in the next couple of years Gaventa, the Helen poser and is currently played our own parts, but to the Internet2 network H.P. Manson writing a play based I added notes to fill in evolving into a real medi- Professor of New on the life of Nat empty beats so that there um for live performance.” Testament Literature King Cole, a project was always a rhythm for Their performance can and Exegesis at that has led him to Carolyn to play off.” be viewed at www.nd.edu/ Princeton Theological discover a new role as The musical adjustments ~kabbott/rehearsal.mov. Seminary. a jazz singer in DANIEL DUBOIS helped address the major —Angela Fox jeff obafemi carr Nashville.

Vanderbilt Magazine 65 VMagSmr05_pg66-69.final 7/26/05 12:29 PM Page 66 S.P. O.V.*

Family Ties and the Student Point of View Student Point

* Culture of Celebrity

Finding one’s own way in the shadow of a legend. By J. DUSTIN TITTLE

ello, I’m Johnny thought of being a small fish in a big pond. While taking courses like American Pop Music, Cash.” These words Initially, I didn’t tell anyone about my fami- though, the professor would occasionally ask are so ingrained with- ly—there was no need, and I had become sick me to speak up in class and share stories or in my lexicon that of resting so comfortably on the laurels of insights. every time I hear others. My R.A., Will Dodd, was the first to For most of my life, my identity inher- them I’m compelled know. He kept inviting me to attend dorm ently was tied to my relationship with Grand- to roll my eyes out of frustration and jaded- functions, and—three weeks in a row—I told pa John. Not because I chose for it to be, but “Hness, and yet they give me such a deep sense him I was busy because I had to go downtown because it was a byproduct of my growing of comfort and familiarity. for an award ceremony or something equal- up—not only within Nashville but also deeply Growing up as the grandson of Johnny ly unconventional. After the third time, he within this “culture of celebrity.”I realized Cash was and continues to be an experience. asked me why I kept attending all of these that while our culture of celebrity was the I can’t describe it as anything strange functions, and I told largest contributor to my grandfather’s suc- other than that: an experience. him about Grandpa. The cess, there was an overwhelming part of me There are the obvious pros and next day one of my hall that resented it. Bitterly resented it. I remem- the subtle cons, and through mates knocked on my door ber when Grandpa first became ill in the late my adolescence and into adult- and asked if Johnny Cash 1990s and was forced to quit touring. I tear- hood it proved to be something was my grandfather. After fully spoke with my mother and told her that that needed adjusting to, almost that, my entire dorm knew. as selfish and awful as it sounded, I was glad on a daily basis. Things like Obviously, I’m not that Grandpa was infirm because now I would being asked to sign concert- ashamed of my heritage; on be able to see him. At the peak of his career ticket stubs at the age of 9 and the contrary, it is a huge during my lifetime, I saw him twice, maybe having friends come up to me source of pride for me. There three times a year—usually at holiday func- in the school cafeteria to com- just came a point when I tions where there would be dozens of other pliment my grandfather’s per- decided that who I was had family members acting as unwanted dis-

formance on Leno the previous DANIEL DUBOIS absolutely nothing to do tractions. Quality time was a rare occasion, night were regular occurrences. No matter with familial relations, and I set out to prove and obtaining it felt like I had accomplished how many times these things happened, a it. If people were to ask, I’d be forthright with the impossible. subconscious voice always told me, “This them, but my heritage was not something I Sadly, though, the quality time we had isn’t normal.” The most difficult part of would wear on my sleeve. After developing became more and more abundant as Grand- life was adjusting to the unorthodoxy of it close relationships with professors at Van- pa became more and more sickly. I accompa- all. There came a point, however, when I had derbilt, one by one they eventually found out nied him to an hour-long concert he was playing to resign to the fact that this was my normal. about my grandfather, and I was grateful that, at the Nissan automobile plant in Smyrna, Coming to Vanderbilt, I was thrilled at the to them, my family meant almost nothing. Tenn., in the late ’90s. He had done a com-

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The most difficult part of life was adjusting to the unorthodoxy of it all. There came a point, however, when I had to resign to the fact that this was my normal. JON KRAUSE

mercial for Nissan and was performing gratis A year later for Easter of 2003, about nine unique enough to overshadow the magni- for the factory workers. Immediately after he months before he died, I came home for tude of your heritage. finished his set, we both got back on the bus the weekend to visit. I took only one change One of my best friends at Vanderbilt, Emily and, as we were leaving, attempted to play of clothes, and I saw him first on the Satur- Skinner, lost her grandmother in January Scrabble. He lasted about 10 minutes before day before Easter. We interacted normally, of 2005. I asked Emily a few weeks ago if she he had to rest. Eventually, the time we spent but when I visited him again the next day, he had started to forget things about her grand- with each other became more and more reclu- said, “Hey, Dustin!” and confided that his mother. She asked me what I meant, and I sive because he gradually stopped traveling eyesight was so bad he could only remember told her that ever since Grandpa John died, and I’d visit him more and more at his home. me by the clothing I was wearing. Unbe- I have been forgetting the most minute parts One rare occasion when we did travel knownst to me, he had carefully studied my of him: his laugh, his cough, his stare, his together was to attend the ceremony for the outfit the day before so he could address me smell, the way it felt when he entered a room. National Medal of the Arts in 2002. Grandpa while I was there. Thankfully, being around my family helps had won the Presidential Award and asked As I’ve grown older, the way people respond both the grieving and remembering. me to accompany him. I dressed up in my suit to my lineage has become more and more I see him in my mother’s eyes, I hear him and took a cab to the hotel where he was stay- casual, placing emphasis less on him and more through her voice, and I feel his presence so ing. He came out of the elevator and, because on me. I’m glad to be past the point where strongly when I am with her that suddenly his eyesight had degenerated so much, said I’m judged first on Johnny Cash and then on the smaller things briefly but forcefully come to me,“Hey, Ted! Why do you look so nice?” myself. Occasionally, when I tell an inter- back to me. For those few seconds, everything He had mistaken me for our family friend, esting story (about meeting the president, or is how it used to be. The last essay I wrote Ted Rollins. I was with my Aunt Rosanne, and meeting George Jones, or watching a music about my grandfather ended with the sen- she conciliatorily squeezed my arm and said video being filmed), my closest friends will tence,“People will forget Johnny Cash; I will nothing. Not knowing what to say, I simply tell me they had almost forgotten about where never forget my Grandpa John.”Sadly, despite replied, “Hey, Grandpa.”He apologized and I come from. It’s nice to be able to hear that his enormity, I had no idea at the time just seemed embarrassed. you, as an individual, are important and how hard remembering could be.

Vanderbilt Magazine 67 VMagSmr05_pg66-69.final 7/26/05 12:30 PM Page 68 A.P. O.V.*

Some of the Things I Love the Most Alumni Point of View Point Alumni * Are Trying to Kill Me

A waist is a terrible thing to mind. By ROBERT SIEGEL, BA’73

am a chef. Apparently, a really food-addicted chef’s lifetime of stress, hu- er cards life had dealt me and focused them good chef. I graduated from Vander- miliation, obsession and internal conflict. It on food: how to prepare it, how to present bilt in 1973, a molecular biologist. You may sound dramatic and overblown, but it, how to deliver it, how it nurtures people, can imagine everyone’s surprise when that is the hope of every patient who sub- and how I can share part of myself with oth- I announced that I was going to be- mits to weight-loss surgery. ers. It is the gift that allows me to give to hu- come a chef. You know my parents We “fat people” differ from normal- mankind something in return for my exis- were thrilled after all they had spent weighted people in several different ways. We tence. This gift allows me to express concern on a Vanderbilt education. have no idea how to live the life of a normal- over the welfare of our community, and al- IThe meals I prepare are a form of art that weight person. No self-help books, diets or lows people to know that they are welcome, everyone seemingly loves to eat. I love to eat. surgical procedures will effectively implant appreciated and enjoyed. I love to cook, and I love to eat! Why is this a the totality of this information. Normal- A chef accompanies people during their problem? I am morbidly weighted persons have greatest times of joy, and in their lowest obese. So much so that I re- spent their lives making times of sadness. The chef’s profession al- cently opted to have gastric decisions, drawing conclu- lows free movement among businessmen, bypass surgery. sions and learning skills, politicians, scientists, laymen, celebrities, A gastric bypass with duo- consciously or uncon- working people, luminaries, doctors, denal switch is a radical and sciously, within the context wealthy, poor, and all nationalities, races dangerous surgical procedure of their normal weight. Fat and denominations. I have been allowed the during which a surgeon re- people, on the other hand, privilege of educating hundreds to walk moves a good deal of your go through the same along this same path and receive these gifts stomach to form a tiny process based on a differ- in life. I am presented an overwhelming pouch. Then the good doctor ent self-image—an image number of opportunities daily to donate removes your gall bladder negatively charged, full of time and materials to those less fortunate, to and your appendix. Finally, he stress, humiliation, obses- raise dollars for those who are hungry or

reroutes your intestines in DANIEL DUBOIS sion, and the conflict of have diseases or need schools or are victims. such a way that you have only a small length being fat. Any other way to behave just does When I exert effort, emotion and energy that does its job. It is truly a procedure re- not exist in our thinking. It becomes our re- into a production, the results are always un- served for desperate circumstances. The sponsibility to actively seek new behaviors. expected and pleasant. short list of results is that I can’t eat as Life-changing ways must be learned and re- I paint with broad strokes. My palette in- much, and my body can’t absorb much of inforced repeatedly. cludes a huge array of colors, flavors, smells the food I do eat. My career—feeding hungry people—is and textures. The audience and clients are I wondered if the surgeon’s knife could part of my physical identity and has become countless, willing and everywhere. Every really bring a successful outcome to this my spiritual identity as well. I took whatev- plate is a multimedia picture created for

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The concern for serving people and enhancing welfare help me avoid getting close to anyone. If making and serving food is the point, I don’t have to make conversation, be polite, navigate a social scene, or be open with anyone. JON KRAUSE

pleasure and life affirmation. Every table is a Rigorous sanitation knowledge and discipline food can be an attractive mask for an addict stage that must be transformed. must be acquired and followed. The health and who hoards and guards his obsession. The Running a restaurant is like running an well being of hundreds of people are at stake concern for serving people and enhancing army, with motivation and human behavior every day. Forget the hundreds of people; it is welfare help me avoid getting close to any- as tools of the trade. My battalions come in your health and welfare that are at stake. one, by shifting the focus to food. If making brigades called sous chefs, chefs de cuisine, So will the surgery fix a fat guy’s biggest and serving food is the point, I don’t have to garde margers, sauciers, poissioniers, rotis- problem? My surgeon is not an obtuse aca- make conversation, be polite, navigate a so- seurs, patissiers and stewards. Deployment demic; he really had a profound insight. He cial scene, or be open with anyone. decisions are made according to troop says the surgeon’s blade can help fix only one All my chef’s knowledge was pursued in strengths and skill levels. Being a sociologist thing,“the results” of my metabolism. It can the service of an underlying feeling of inad- and historian is imperative, as numerous adjust, to within normal limits, a part that equacy. If I could just know more and be a creeds, cultures, nationalities and religions genetics has played in my life of obesity. It better chef, then I wouldn’t feel quite so in- impose their traditions on my actions. can prevent my body from holding and stor- sufficient. My knowledge conspires to place The culinary arts also provide a good home ing excess amounts of consumable energy. me in the center of the universe, above the for a chemist, with understandings of organ- That’s all. rest. The reality is that every thought that ic and inorganic reactions; for a biologist, with Oh, would that were enough … but it isn’t. crosses the mind is not worthy of note. Most respect for anatomy and diversity; and for a The rest of the problem—the behavioral, thoughts that cross the mind need to cross physicist, experienced in the practical appli- environmental, educational and emotional and just keep moving out. cations of mechanics and thermodynamics. part—still remains. It has taken years to understand what is a Certification in nutrition—normal, childhood, It has taken years to learn that the love, normal portion of food, and the part food geriatric—and disease is required. Familiar- concern and skill I have with food is also an plays in a food-adjusted person’s life. The ity with emergency medical procedures asso- overwhelming obsession to use food as a phrase “this dessert is too rich for me” has ciated with burns, lacerations, fractures, strains, mood-altering substance. The pleasant never been comprehensible, and to this day and a whole host of maladies is a necessity. phrases I used to describe my passion for continued on page 86

Vanderbilt Magazine 69 TheClasses “ Allan Hubbard, BA’69, has been chosen by President

Please Note: Class Notes only appear in the print version of this publication.

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Sharon Munger, BA’68

DANIEL DUBOIS Purpose-Driven Life

Five years ago when Sharon Munger sold the MARC Group Inc., her Dallas-based marketing firm, to a large global advertising-communications holding company, she already knew what she wanted the next phase of her life to look like. She would stay on for three years as CEO (it ended up being five). She would help a select handful of young businesses to grow from being $25 million companies to $200 million companies. And, finally,“I wanted to volunteer my time in areas that could benefit from my experience,” she says. Luckily for Vanderbilt, the timing was right for her to take the helm of the Alumni Association. The daughter of a Texas oilman, Munger, who majored in English at Vanderbilt, says all three of her children have inherited her entrepreneurial streak—including son Shane Whalen, BA’93, chief operating officer of Innovo Group Inc. “I advised my children that they should get a liberal- arts education and worry less about what profession they were going into and more about developing their ability to learn,” Munger says. “It’s probably even more relevant today than it was 40 years ago when I was in school.” Look for more specifics on how the Alumni Association, under Munger’s leadership, is strategically redirecting efforts at the club level, in the Fall 2005 issue of Vanderbilt Magazine.

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T H E C L ASSES “ Dr. Monica Peek, BS’91, is a medical missionary and founder of Sisters Working It Out, an outreach program at a Chicago public housing project.

Alumni Needed for Expanded Interviewing Program This fall the Vanderbilt Alumni Admissions Interviewing Program expands to six more cities: Boston, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. The program allows alumni to serve as a personal link to prospec- tive students and their parents in local communities. By inter- viewing students, alumni provide a more personalized view of the admissions process, promote good will, and put forth a positive impression of Vanderbilt. The offices of Alumni Relations and Undergraduate Admissions jointly launched the program in the fall of 2003 in Atlanta, Chicago and Houston, and last year expanded to include Birmingham, Ala.; Dallas; Memphis, Tenn.; and the Metro New York area. Last year nearly 600 students request- ed interviews in these areas. Now this important program needs more alumni to help recruit and interview prospective students. Training in the above-mentioned 13 cities will take place during late summer and early fall. More volunteers are espe- cially needed for the following areas of Metro New York: Fairfield County (Conn.), Long Island, Westchester and Northern New Jersey. Volunteers also are needed in Southern California from Los Angeles and Orange counties; in Northern California from Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties; and the Peninsula down to San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland. Plans for the 2006–07 application season may include expansion of the Alumni Interviewing Program to the follow- ing cities: Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa in Florida; Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio; Lexington and Louisville in Kentucky; Charlotte and the Research Triangle area of North Carolina; Austin and San Antonio in Texas; and Philadelphia. If you are interested in volunteering in any of the interview cities mentioned, please contact Cami Isaac in the Office of Alumni Relations by calling 615/322-2929 or e-mailing [email protected].

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Frank Sutherland, BA’70

NEIL BRAKE Getting the Story

Frank Sutherland, who recently retired as senior vice pres- ident/news and editor of Nashville’s Tennessean newspa- per, once was certified as suicidal and committed to a mental hospital. It happened when, as a young journalist, he went under- cover to investigate reports of abuse at Central State Psychiatric Hospital, then an unaccredited state facility in Nashville. Sutherland spent 30 days at Central State in 1973–74 after admitting himself as a potential suicide case. He found a shocking lack of patient care. The only time he was seen by a psychiatrist was when he was admitted. When Sutherland asked how he could get well without treatment by doctors, he was told by a social worker, “Well, we lock you up here and if you think about your problems long enough, you’ll get well.” His blockbuster Tennessean series exposing conditions at Central State caused the state legislature to appropri- ate $2 million to improve the facility. The story helped mark Sutherland as a journalist of exceptional promise. As a Vanderbilt student, Sutherland worked 40 hours a week for the Tennessean, which meant it took him eight years to graduate. Since retiring, he continues to write a weekly wine column for the newspaper and is donating his papers to Vanderbilt’s Jean and Alexander Heard Library.

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T H E C L ASSES “ Zack McMillin, BA’94, took first place in the annual Associated Press sports editors national writing contest in 2003 and 2004.

Anuj Sawhney, MBA’97

Bollywood High

After graduating from the Owen Graduate School of Management, Anuj Sawhney returned to his native India and went to work as managing director of AAA, a new family business that makes wristwatch parts. His father is chairman, and his brother Aman, MBA’92, is CEO. The company took off, but Sawhney’s dreams went in a differ- ent direction. “Though my career at AAA met with suc- cess, my heart craved more,” he says. That “more” turned out to be acting. He landed his first commercial from his first audition, and soon did all-India campaigns for such companies as Nescafé and Yamaha motorcycles, and music videos for renowned singers such as Punkaj Udhas and Roop Kumar Rathod. Eventually, he became immersed in the burgeoning Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry, known as “Bollywood.” His first two films, “Nayee Padosan” and “Funtoosh,” have been hits in his homeland, and the next two—“Brides Wanted” and “Naina”—are ready for release. Another film, “Postman and the Prostitute,” with former Miss Universe and current superstar Sushmita Sen, started production earlier this year. “My education gave me the courage to believe in myself,” Sawhney says. “I may or may not be a superstar in Bollywood tomorrow. What is important is that I was given a chance to do what I always wanted to do.”

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BOAT FOR SALE

cheap!

6 Reasons Vanderbilt Should Have Your E-mail Address

1. Stay in the Loop. More and more, Vanderbilt is using e-mail as the primary means of communicating timely, topical news and event invitations to alumni and friends. 2. Reconnect with Friends. Find former classmates through Dore2Dore, Vanderbilt’s online alumni community. 3. Fast News. E-mail delivers quicker news updates than snail mail. 4. Be Heard. E-mail provides a channel for your instant feedback. 5. Save the Planet. E-mail reduces paper usage and allows Vanderbilt to redirect paper and postage costs for expanded program- ming and other vital needs. 6. We’ll Keep It Safe. As with all information you furnish to Vanderbilt, your e-mail address is privileged. We never share it with anyone outside the University without your express permission. And we won’t try to sell you a boat. So go to www.Dore2Dore.net or e-mail [email protected], and update your info today. Vanderbilt already has more than 50,000 e-mail addresses on file from alumni, parents and friends, and the number is growing every day. If you haven’t already done so, please send your e-mail address. And don’t forget to let us know when you change your e-mail address or contact information. Stay in the loop!

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T H E C L ASSES “ Michelle Scarborough, BA’95, joined the cast of Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice 3” on NBC as one of Trump’s advisers. Alumni Association News

Young Alumni Trustee Carrie Colvin, an economics major from Birmingham, Ala., has been elected the 2005 Young Alumni Trustee. Colvin, who received her bachelor of arts degree from the College of Arts and Science in May, will serve a four-year term on the Vanderbilt Board of Trust. As a student she represented Vanderbilt at the Interna- tional Achievement Summit in Dublin, Ireland, where she and 100 other students from around the world participated in discussions with former President Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev, rock artist Bono and others. She served as chair- person for Great Performances at Vanderbilt. As a senior class officer, she helped to raise money for the Senior Class Fund and to coordinate the Zero Year Reunion, Senior Class Pub Crawl, and the Almost Alumni Affair. Colvin has been a member of several academic honor societies, including Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Eta Sigma, Order of Omega, Athenians, Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Epsilon. She also was involved with the Reformed University Fellowship, Student Government Association, Dance Marathon, Habitat for Humanity, International Studies in London, and Momentum (a Vanderbilt dance program).

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Alumni Association News

An Affair to Remember You’re an undergraduate student for just four years, but an alum for the rest of your life. That was the message Alumni Association organizers conveyed to the graduating Class of 2005 at the “Almost Alumni Affair,” held during April in Memorial Gym. About half the Class of 2005—540 stu- dents—turned out for the event. Begun in 2004, the Almost Alumni Affair is meant to help departing seniors stay connected with friends and the University and to show them how Vanderbilt can be a net- working resource through the Alumni Association and its regional clubs worldwide. Twenty-nine alumni volunteers helped with the event, which offered opportunities to learn about free alumni programs and online services, network with alumni, contribute to the Senior Class Fund, pick up official class rings and more.

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T H E C L ASSES

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T H E C L ASSES

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V ande rbilt Magazine 83 T HE C LASSES

From the Reader continued from page 6 Wrong Words claims filed to damages paid out—the data history. This comes from a great-grandson In the Spring 2005 edition of Vanderbilt reflect amazing stability in the tort system, of a Union prisoner in Andersonville [Ga.]. Magazine, Dr. G. Octo Barnett (BA’52) ques- according to the peer-reviewed paper that Charles L. King, BE’53 tions the veracity of President Bush’s com- will appear in the May issue of the Journal Asheville, N.C. ments [in the Fall 2004 issue] that “frivolous of Empirical Legal Studies. ‘The clear impli- lawsuits are running up the cost of medi- cation is that ‘runaway medical malpractice Pursuant to Jack D. Walker’s request of cine” [“From the Reader,”p. 5]. Dr. Barnett litigation’ makes a poor poster child for the you to “please poll the alumni” as to whether recounts his recollection of studies showing cause of tort reform,’the researchers wrote. the “famous Fugitives” would prefer the name that malpractice costs comprise less than 1 ‘The malpractice litigation system has many “Confederate Memorial Hall” to remain on percent of the cost of medical care. flaws, but at least in Texas, sudden increases that building or not: Dr. Barnett is correct, and he is sup- in claim frequencies and costs appear not to I think they would vote yes. That’s OK. I ported by recent studies conducted in my have been among them.’ would vote no. That’s OK. state of Texas. As reported in the March 10, “ … Malpractice insurance premiums in I conclude: So it’s a tie. 2005, Washington Post (page A8): Texas rose an average of 135 percent from That’s OK, too. “The Texas study found little to support 1999 to 2002, prompting the state legislature Michael B. Sonnen, BE’62 those assertions [by President Bush that base- to cap non-economic damages in 2003. Redlands, Calif. less lawsuits against doctors and hospitals “Analyzing claims data from 1988 to 2002, are dramatically driving up health-care costs]. the team found little change in the number By virtually any measure—from number of of claims filed or the total amount paid in

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damages, when adjusted for population I am writing to thank you for publishing ting a profile of an athlete and a personal essay growth and inflation. The total number of Fernando Segovia’s lecture, “40 Years Later: by a novelist in the same publication, but it claims per physician actually declined from Reflections on Going Home.”With sadness works. (Not to mention those stunning pho- 1995 to 2002, and 80 percent of cases were I enjoyed reading it. The Cuba many of us tos of Cuba.) resolved without payment by the physicians knew will never again exist but, like him, I I write this not just as an alum but as a or hospital. will hold on to that “hopeless hope.” writer and university communications pro- “When adjusted for Texas’ economic growth, Olga T. Rust, BS’49 fessional. I am a features writer at the Uni- ‘total payouts fell by $6 million annually,’the Decatur, Ga. versity of Texas at Austin. I wander the UT analysis found. The $515 million in malpractice campus finding stories to tell, and I’m always payouts in 2002 represented 0.6 percent of Kudos thinking about how we present the universi- health-care spending in Texas that year. My compliments on an engaging and ty’s richness to our audiences. I find much to “‘It’s very hard to take the position mal- thoroughly enjoyable Spring 2005 Vander- emulate in this issue of the magazine. practice is a major factor in the increases in bilt Magazine. This is the first time the new Kudos for a job well done. the cost of health care,’ Hyman said. ‘The magazine has caught up with me at my new Vive F. Griffith, BS’89 actual cost of malpractice payouts is really address, and I was excited to discover that it Austin, Texas quite modest.’ wasn’t what I’ve come to expect from alum- “ … ‘Our point, which has been largely ni magazines—something I flip through for Peabody–Vanderbilt Merger neglected in the furious battle over malpractice familiar names and then trash—but rather Having an affinity for teaching, I chose liability, is that attempts to avoid crises in something I wanted to sit down and read. [to attend] Peabody and later added a doc- malpractice insurance prices should focus on I’m impressed with the mix of voices— torate in education at the University of Geor- insurance, not litigation,’ wrote the group, faculty, student, freelancer, alum—and points gia. My wife, Kathryn, an English teacher, also which included two professors at the Uni- of view. I’m not sure how you pulled off put- profited from courses in library science at [the versity of Texas Law School and William Sage, a physician and law professor at Columbia University.” Thus, while President Bush can rightly claim credit for many accomplishments dur- ing his presidency, honesty with the Amer- ican people about the motivations for tort reform cannot be counted among them. Hopefully, Vanderbilt Magazine will conduct a more thorough critical analysis in the future before taking any speaker’s comments at face value. … Perhaps you could invite the pres- ident back to answer the questions raised by these studies. Kelly H. Kolb, BA’83 Dallas

Cuba Thank you for Professor Fernando F. Segovia’s enlightening article on his return to Cuba,“40 Years Later: Reflections on Going Home” [Spring 2005 issue, p. 44]. This extremely well written and inform- ative piece was gripping from beginning to end, and opened a window with a view on Cuba that I had never been afforded before. I found it instructive and quite enjoyable. Dr. Yasmine Subhi Ali, BA’97, MD’01 Nashville

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Joint University Libraries]. We enjoyed liv- VJournal continued from page 7 just for a moment. ing in Nashville and well recall crossing 21st Battaglia, teaching fellow in the Graduate You know when people say you can do any- Avenue South at the Edgehill intersection Department of Religion, the “Women in Acad- thing? You really can. This whole thing began, before there was a footbridge. Thanks for eme Series” was born. As part of the Future literally, as a sentence in my diary. A year later, Ray Waddle’s informative article, “A Match Faculty Preparation Program (F2P2), stu- Women in Academe has sponsored seven dif- Made in Academic Heaven” [Spring 2005 dents receive credit for talking about their ferent panels, a retreat and a support group. issue, p. 54]. lives. We have spoken with tenured women I am grateful for the lessons gleaned from this John A. Vanderford, MA’49, EdS’56 faculty as well as those who are on the tenure experience, which has enriched my life inor- Jacksonville, Ala. track. At the heart of these discussions is the dinately. I know there can be laughter in pain. desire to know the joys and challenges of aca- I have heard, and shared, some truly horrific demic life as experienced by women. I have stories about graduate-student life, but once Letters are always welcome in met beautiful, talented, smart women who an acknowledgement is made that we have all response to contents of the magazine. are doing the best they can in the pursuit of gone through similar trials, a little perspec- We reserve the right to edit for length, an advanced degree. I have spoken with fac- tive is gained. I have learned that when you style and clarity. Send signed letters to ulty who wished the programs from which devote your time to your passion, it isn’t work. the Editor, Vanderbilt Magazine, VU Station B 357703, 2301 Vanderbilt they graduated had offered them a similar I am grateful for having had the opportuni- Place, Nashville, TN 37235-7703, or forum. I sit back knowing that I have played ty to follow that passion. e-mail [email protected]. a part in creating something that may make Vanessa K. Valdés is a Ph.D. candidate in life at this University just a little bit easier, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.

Sports continued from page 18 One Chocolate at a Time continued from page 37 game is a great place to have some putting contains ancho chili. Called red fire, it will be der delivers an undercurrent of heat; there’s contests with teammates. It makes practice perfect “for flavor and strength,”she explains. a tease of cinnamon. Candlelight flickers. No a lot more interesting and fun,” says List. “It is both spicy and filled with antioxidants. one moves or speaks, and the faint smell of “We’ve got a good bunch of guys, with tons You need vigor food for the root chakra rose petals hangs in the air. A warmth lingers of potential and tons of talent. We have dwellings.” in the throat. high expectations for the next couple of After a 45-minute yoga practice, Markoff “It’s good karma,”says Markoff, after she years.” tiptoes around the dim loft, presenting each spends some time talking to her guests about The combination of family and team guest with a lighted candle, a glass filled with Mexico and chocolate and yoga, finally ush- support made the Masters moment all the rose water, and a perfect little chocolate. ering them out into the crisp fall night. more enjoyable for List. “It was fun to have The guests sit on their purple mats amid “This is my life totally. This is totally me,” all my family and friends there, plus my rose petals. They smell and drink the aro- she concludes. “We all have a platform, and teammates and coaches. Everybody got to matic rose water. The only sound to be heard chocolate is my platform. I want to change come for at least a day or two. It was fun is the snap of teeth biting through the outer the world, one chocolate at a time.” V just to walk down the fairways and see them chocolate layer of red fire. Ancho chili pow- throughout the gallery. I had a great time.”

A.P.O.V. continued from page 69 ments of a professional career are months been breathtaking with few regrets. it still surprises me when someone says, “I spent in eating-disorder clinics. The great Here is the “Ya see, Timmy.” (In the don’t want any more, thank you.” success of having a number of my own movie “Speechless,” Kevin explains to Julia It has taken years to understand that sug- restaurants is accompanied with nine differ- that every episode of “Lassie” ended with a ar is a mood-altering substance that skews ent surgeries needed to repair knees, hips, life lesson that was announced by the emotions and rationality and affects behav- and problems due to obesity. With my 30 phrase, “Ya see, Timmy … .”) Success in the ior. Even with understanding, insight does years of marriage to an extraordinary woman obesity struggle, as in anything, must come not equal behavior change. Simple sugars re- (and she is amazing) are also 30 years of diet gently and unnoticed, just one more step in main the bane of my existence. Even the sur- misery. Next to the amazingly fulfilling life I a long line of many. These steps, like the step gery doesn’t lessen the absorption of sugar. have had, there are years spent with thera- of bypass surgery, are taken with a great deal So here is the struggle that is my lot. pists and self-help groups. Everything gained of effort and, hopefully, not taken with ob- Sprinkled between the stellar accomplish- has had its price; nonetheless, the road has session, stress or illusion.

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The Infinite Library “We think this tool is transformative to and makes it available to everyone. With- continued from page 43 archaeology,”says Gherman.“We now have out IA, 100 years from now all this cultural even more timely and efficient way to man- it under way. It’s called Digbase and Digkit. and social data would be gone. IA ensures age the information recorded in the reports. Digkit is the software archaeologists carry that the most transforming phenomena in “We found that every dig director who went into the field on their laptop. Digkit collects contemporary culture is not lost. out into the field developed his own data- the data in a standardized form, while Dig- Kahle and Gherman believe it is essential base, but there was no commonality between base houses the data here at Vanderbilt, ulti- for libraries to remain a third party, affiliat- digs,”explains Gherman.“What libraries are mately as a computer system to store ancient ed with producers of content only in an effort about, at their core, is a set of standards. We Near-Eastern archaeological findings. to make it more accessible.“A third party pro- all describe a book exactly the same way. We “These are examples of what libraries are vides a long-term memory that helps people have the Marc Record, which is a standard- doing now that, some years ago, you never learn, remember and grow,”says Kahle. ized electronic record across thousands of would have imagined the library doing— Gherman believes even more critical issues libraries to describe information exactly the which is going out there working with the beyond access are at stake. What he and other same way. So we asked, Why not apply the scholar to help him capture some sort of research librarians believe will keep libraries same standards to that field? We sat down cultural asset,” says Gherman. Gherman relevant can be boiled down to that classic with archaeologists and found that one believes this development is a key way that computer-programmer aphorism “garbage guy would say,‘I found a wall.’Then anoth- Vanderbilt and other research libraries in/garbage out.”Whatever is put into a com- er guy would say, ‘I found a line of parallel can compete with major private corpora- puter is what will be retrieved. Consequent- stones in a row.’We were able to offer stan- tions such as Google. For Gherman and other ly, as a wide-open search engine, Google dardized nomenclature to describe what librarians, the threat to freedom of infor- cannot control the garbage coming in. There- they’re finding.” mation has shifted from such 20th-century fore, it cannot guarantee the content it deliv- The deeper that Vanderbilt’s librarians dangers as huge, all-powerful governments, ers is not garbage. As the role of the librarian delved into this culture of Near-Eastern archae- such as Big Brother in George Orwell’s futur- evolves, they are becoming collaborators with ology, the more areas they discovered where istic allegory 1984, to more 21st-century per- professionals in specific fields in order to their special skills would be of even greater ils that are explored in today’s cyberpunk apply their principles so data may be pre- benefit. They observed that Western archae- literature. In Neal Stephenson’s ground- served and made accessible for future gener- ologists use geospatial mapping. The first breaking Snow Crash, the world has devolved ations. “Libraries do have a role,”concludes year, they dig down only so far. The second into a patchwork of corporate-franchise city- Gherman,“and it is to work with scholars to year, they continue using the same gradient. states and is on the verge of an Infocalypse help them capture, preserve and make acces- Israeli archaeologists did the same thing, but (translation for the uninitiated: an infor- sible the data they develop. Archaeology is at the end of the first summer, they reinvented mation apocalypse). The greatest fear librar- only one area, and it’s just a beginning.” the gradient for the next summer. Conse- ians express these days is the loss of control At the end of the day, Gherman believes quently, there was no consistency in an Israeli of content to large corporations, much like libraries are poised to enter either a Dark Age archaeological dig from one summer’s gra- those in Stephenson’s book. or a Renaissance. If it’s an age of darkness, dient to the next summer’s gradient, which Outside the academy, one person who is then libraries will probably become private, caused incredible confusion among archae- fighting the good fight is Brewster Kahle. In much like the libraries in the monasteries of ologists and researchers. Clearly, there was a the past decade he has dedicated his efforts the Middle Ages. These repositories will pre- real need for standardization, a skill librari- to trying to protect public access to infor- serve world culture but will not offer gener- ans were able to bring to the table. mation through his nonprofit corporation, al access to all. If it’s a Renaissance, then “We were awarded a grant to sit down with Internet Archive (www.archive.org). “The libraries will keep the doors of knowledge a group of computer experts and archaeolo- average life of a Web page is about 100 days,” open for all to visit. More likely, the future gists to devise a computer program that would explains Kahle in an interview with Lisa Rein of libraries is somewhere in between. Nev- collect this data and put it into a standard- on the Web site OpenP2P.com. “So if you ertheless, one thing is for certain: By the ized, searchable database,”says Gherman. want to have culture you can count on, you beginning of the next century, we will know This means that every summer, dig directors need to be able to refer to things. … What which it is. could collect their data and upload right traditionally happened is that there are libraries, On the bright side, Kahle notes in a recent off their laptops into the database, which and libraries collect out-of-print materials issue of American Libraries,“Records did not would be searchable across multiple digs. One and try to preserve and make open access kill concerts, and VCRs did not kill the- dig director could say, “I found a shard that to materials that aren’t necessarily commer- aters. Books are not dead, and the library will looks like this. Did anybody else find one like cially viable at the moment.”IA is just that continue to be a rich space for learning and it?” They would be able to do a search across library for the World-Wide Web. Every few discovery.” V other digs and find it. months it archives everything on the Web

Vanderbilt Magazine 87 VMagSmr05_pg86-88.final 7/25/05 5:01 PM Page 88 SouthernJournal

Reflections on the South Strong Medicine

Mother knows best when she hears the cry: “I’ve got a tick!”

By Dr. A. SCOTT PEARSON JIM HSIEH

bout this time every year, Is the head on? her arms with webs of loose flesh hanging there’s a cry that swells up in You hoped and prayed that the small black like draperies. households across the South: nubbin was there, complete with a chunk Then I saw them. “I found a tick!”When I think of epidermis, because you surely didn’t want Deep in the left armpit, beneath a tuft of about ticks, I think about her going back for more. It took only one hair, were three black spots. my mother. missing-head tick to make her change her Moles? No. Mothers hate ticks. At least mine did. I extraction method radically. Ticks! Aseemed to be the first child infested on our A new and improved technique illustrat- Three juicy, blood-filled ticks were suck- West Tennessee farm each year. The finding ed an important scientific principle. Ticks ing the last days out of my sweet patient (we of a tick would summon my mother from rapidly conduct heat. Her recipe for the use had bonded by that point). With a pair of anywhere in the house while my older broth- of fire to remove ticks was as follows (please tweezers, I gently pulled them straight out er vied for an unobstructed view of the tor- do not try this at home): (1) Strike a match; (the appropriate method, no flames or potions ture, an event for him of unequaled pleasure. (2) Blow it out; and (3) Immediately apply needed), placed them in a specimen container, My father would remain calm in his recliner, to the tick. I can still remember the burn- and with a satisfied grin told the nurse to send only to enter the treatment plan if a large ani- ing ember coming perilously close to private them to the lab for testing. And yes, the heads mal was found to be attached. parts while my brother foamed at the mouth were intact. What followed was a very sophisticated, with glee. By the end of this ordeal, I could Three days after she was admitted, her diagnostic question: not have cared less where the head was. fever had resolved. She still couldn’t talk, but Is it latched on or still crawling? Sixteen years ago, when I was a medical her eyes tracked to those around her, enough This question was hardly necessary, as student in another city, a woman was trans- improvement for a return trip to the nurs- crawling ticks were merely flicked off and ferred from a local nursing home to the ing home. I held the doors as the attendants never reported. By the time my tick was dis- hospital. It was the first day of my internal- pushed her into the elevator on a stretcher. covered, it had been hunkered down for a day medicine rotation. She had a fever and was As she brushed by, she winked. She had to or two, maybe longer, somewhere on a thin non-responsive, nearly comatose. My supe- use both eyes, but she definitely winked at strip of skin shaded only by undergarment. riors predicted it to be the last day of her 91- me, her tick-extracting surrogate son. My mother’s method for tick extraction year life. The usual sources of fever—urinary As the doors closed I had a deep desire to changed dramatically during my childhood. tract infection, pneumonia, etc.—were ruled embrace that fragile skin around her neck. She started out using Campho-Phenique, that out. Then she was declared my patient. Great. Was it the ticks? Who knows? But I still think WD-40 of all medical ointments, used on Her history was brief because she couldn’t about her today. And I appreciate my own everything from ringworm to poison oak. I talk. Her only son was in another state and did mother’s burning diligence with those little can still remember the cooling sensation on not answer the phone. This left the physical blood-suckers. the skin, like Vicks salve between your cheek exam for diagnosis. In a small room with a So remember: Check yourself for ticks. and gum. nurse as chaperone, I examined her skin. I lis- There’s always a mother around, somewhere, The problem was that the tick liked it tened to her heart and lungs, felt her neck, when you need one. too and would hunker down even more. This examined her back. resulted in great angst and a gentle teasing- “What are you looking for?” my bored, Dr. A. Scott Pearson is an assistant professor turned-to-yanking the tick out. My mother cross-armed nurse asked me. of surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical would then examine the pathologic specimen “I don’t know.” Center. and ask that universal prognostic question: I searched her legs, groin creases, and raised

88 Summer 2005 VMagSmr05_C3.final 7/26/05 1:26 PM Page 1

Wenyan Zhu could sit back and relax on May 13 as she took her place among more than 2,400 graduates from Vanderbilt’s Class of 2005. For four years, she’d driven herself to do her best—and Vanderbilt offered plenty of opportunities to complement her ambition.Thanks to a Carell Scholarship,Wen majored in biomedical engineering, minored in English and biology, volunteered at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, and served as prose editor of The Vanderbilt Review. Next up: a degree in dentistry at Columbia University. Make a gift today to the Shape the Future campaign, and you’ll help new generations of young men and women like Wen drive the future.

Shape the Future a Campaign for Vanderbilt

[email protected] 615.322.3016 VMagSmr05_C4.final 7/26/05 1:34 PM Page 1

Tomorrow’s health care leaders must have a thorough of Vanderbilt Medical Center, Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School understanding of the transformed dynamics of health care of Management and Nashville’s vibrant health care community delivery and technology — and the management, finance and into one cutting-edge, experienced-based program. operational savvy to capitalize on them. It’s world-class preparation for the new world of health care. We’re preparing those leaders today — by uniting the resources And only one place in America brings it all together like this.

HealthCare

www.owen.vanderbilt.edu