UARTERLY Q

SPRING 2011

Also inside: Professor Gail Sahar goes to the Middle East Wheaton students serve in secret Between the Lines 2 Convergence 3 Around the Dimple 4 Home grown 4 Exhibiting an interest in art and medicine 5 Wheaton a cappella:The melody lingers on 6 A minute with Onyedikachi Udeoji ‘12 7 Young at art 8 Professor collaborating on NASA research 9 Studio art faculty show 10 Field Report 14 NASCAR producer enjoys life in the fast lane 14 Replay 15 Snapshots 16 Snow; Alice Hoffman; Beth Ann Milardo Caspersen ’96; Rockapella with President Crutcher 16 Wheaton in the news 16 A fish tale 18 Adventure is always on the menu for Professor of Biology Betsey Dyer, who writes about her unusual summer dining experiences at the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery in England. By Betsey Dyer

Gaining perspective 22 Professor of Psychology Gail Sahar went to the Middle East last summer as one of 10 U.S. academics selected for a special program organized by the Palestinian American Research Center and sponsored by the U.S. State Department. She writes about her personal observations and reflects on how the trip connects to her own scholarship. By Gail Sahar

The secret service 28 Wheaton College Archivist Zephorene Stickney takes us back in time with her look at the critical role that some Wheaton students played in helping to decode enemy communications during World Ward II—in secret. By Zephorene Stickney

The beat of her own drum 32 Cover illustration Katharine Boyce ’71 is one of the longest-serving female partners in a well- David Laferriere known Washington, D.C., firm, where she has become an expert in tribal law. By Bo Schwerin On this page Chapel Field Go Beyond 34 Photo by Amie Rosenblum ’12

Newsmaker: Aimee Lambert Poor ’84 1 WHEATON QUARTERLY Vol. XCIX, No. 2 Newsmaker: Robert Lamarche ’94 2 Editor Sandy Coleman Senior Writer Hannah Benoit Alumnae/i News: Rugby becomes more than a game 3 Art Director Barbara Dill P’92 Designer David Laferriere Newsmaker: Margaret “Maggie” Astolfi ’07 4 Staff Writers Scott Dietz, Lisa Nelson Assistant Vice President for Communications Michael Graca End Page 64 The Quarterly (ISSN 1068-1558) is published four times a year (summer, fall, winter and spring) by Wheaton College and printed by Lane Press of Burlington, Vermont. Periodicals postage paid at Norton, Mass., and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Wheaton College, Norton, MA 02766. Wheaton College © 2011 BETWEEN THE LINES BY SANDY COLEMAN, EDITOR A taste of adventure

In the spring 2010 issue of the Quarterly, I course, the eel is smoked and covered in wrote a story about “The Complete Amateur a lovely sweet sauce). But Professor Dyer’s Naturalist” First Year Seminar, which was adventurous nature, both in and out of the taught by Professor of Biology Betsey Dyer, classroom, is truly something to behold. in collaboration with Professor of Religion We get a glimpse of that in this issue of Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus. As part of my the Quarterly. Professor Dyer writes about fact gathering, I eagerly accompanied the Professor of Biology Betsey Dyer sniffs some edible her latest culinary experience during a class and professors on a field trip to the greenery at her childhood farm in Rehoboth, Mass. summer symposium in England, where she Rehoboth farm where Dyer grew up. looking orange mushroom growing from the got to advance her scholarship as well as It wasn’t enough for students to discuss side of a tree. (Brumberg-Kraus would later entertain her taste buds with... well, you’ve and read about eating off the land in the use one of those in a stew after a student got to read it for yourself. classroom. Dyer and Brumberg-Kraus, two discovered one on campus.) Also in this issue is an essay by Professor well-known campus At one point, as the group was sampling of Psychology Gail Sahar, who reflects on foodies, wanted them to some sort of greenery from the ground and her trip to Palestine last summer as part of a experience it. So I was observing from my objective writer’s program for scholars that was co-sponsored Wheaton. distance, Dyer suggested that I eat what by the U.S. State Department; a story by On a lovely day in they were eating. And faster than I could College Archivist Zephorene Stickney about September, reporter’s say, “Are you kidding me? No way,” she had the secret work of Wheaton students who notebook in hand, I fol- popped the green whatever into my mouth! helped the war effort in the 1940s; and a lowed the group around From what I remember (I’ve been trying to profile of Katharine Boyce ’71, one of the the farm as they learned forget), she had a vague smile of satisfaction longest-serving female partners in a well- about various edible on her face as I munched in disbelief. known Washington, D.C., firm, where she flowers and plants, in- I consider myself an adventuresome diner. has become an expert in tribal law.

Orange mushroom cluding a really strange- I eat raw fish and eel at sushi restaurants (of Bon appetit! NICKI PARDO PHOTOS

Autism story shows contrast to spoken language. Applause for role of music in earlier days I taught at the school (Westchester Exceptional Crutcher’s life Children, Inc., in North Salem, N.Y.) for 27 years. Congratulations on your article about autism in The school grew and thrived and now serves I loved the Convergence essay by President the winter Quarterly. It is truly amazing to see about 85 special-needs children. Once they reach Crutcher in the winter Quarterly about his lifelong how many media stories there are now about 21, many of these students will move into adult experience of playing the cello. I was fortunate to autism spectrum disorders, something few people group homes and lead productive lives. meet him a couple The Quarterly welcomes letters knew of back in 1974 when I was hired to teach a of times during the —Lydia Smith Kaeyer ’62 to the editor on topics you’ve class of 3-year-old autistic children. year leading up to read in these pages or on other I answered an ad in the local Westchester my 50th Reunion topics concerning the Wheaton County newspaper looking for a teacher in this Great looking Quarterly in 2008. We talked community. Please address your field. When I read the ad, a lot about music, LETTERS My copy of the Wheaton Quarterly arrived today. letters to: I thought it said “artistic” The new format is beautiful. I read it from cover as I am a serious children. Since I had majored in art at Wheaton to cover with great interest and pride. Whoever is amateur pianist. Sandy Coleman, editor and had a master’s degree in elementary educa- behind the new look should be congratulated. One of the aspects Wheaton Quarterly tion, I thought I’d apply. Little did I know what I admire most —June Daisley Lockhart ’42 Wheaton College I was getting into. I had four children in my first about President Editor’s note: The Quarterly has long class, all nonverbal, severely autistic, self-abusive, Crutcher is that he 26 E. Main St. benefited from excellent design work by the now- spinning, no social skills, etc., and it was quite is a musician, and Norton, MA 02766 retired Mike Kurgansky and Art Director Barbara something to deal with. I am convinced Dill. The new “look” reflects the contributions of You can also e-mail us: We had 12 children in the school, a psycholo- that this is what our current graphic designer, David Laferriere, [email protected] gist, a speech therapist and a music therapist. It makes him such an who began designing the magazine in January was definitely on-the-job training, experimenting effective president. Playing music uses every part 2010. with lots of ways to reach these children. of the human being: It uses our physical self, as In 1974 autistic children were not mandated it takes enormous amounts of physical coordina- to be educated in the public setting. (A 1978 law Nice winter cover tion; it uses our minds, in that it takes more con- changed that.) We taught many of these kids good I liked the Quarterly cover this issue. It has nice centration than any other activity; and, of course, behavior skills and communication through the colors and is interesting to look at again and it engages our spirit and soul to hear and produce use of sign language, believing that the more vi- again. beautiful sounds. sual clues the kids had, the more they could learn —Kimberly Corey ’91 —Helen Wardwell Du Bois ’58

2 WHEATON QUARTERLY CONVERGENCE BY RONALD A. CRUTCHER, PRESIDENT Full STEAM ahead

President Obama’s State of the Union address yielded one sound bite that has been replayed and re-examined a great deal. “This is our generation’s Sputnik moment,” he said, arguing for a concerted effort to reinvest in the foundations of the American economy. Some commentators have interpreted that disciplines in order to function effectively. invocation of the 50-year-old Soviet satel- It is interesting to note that about 40 lite’s launch as a call for renewed invest- percent of the connected courses at ments in the fields of science, technology, Wheaton combine science, math or com- engineering and math (STEM). To be sure, puter science with the arts, humanities and these are worthy areas on which to focus. social sciences. A case in point: “Living

However, scientific innovation will require Architecture,” which connects courses NORDSTROM KEITH educators and policy makers to think more on cell biology and art history through broadly and boldly. examination of structures. English profes- parts in the arts, continue to call attention Over the past six months, I have been sor Samuel Coale wrote about a fascinating to the importance of scientific literacy for reading about a movement among educators connection between modern physics and all citizens. The American Academy of and scientists to integrate the arts into STEM astronomy in a course examining the ways Arts & Sciences released a collection of education initiatives. (Wheaton Professor in which contemporary American fiction essays last year, Science and the Educated of Education Vicki Bartolini is engaged in has been influenced by quantum theory American, designed to inspire college a planning effort aimed at early childhood and Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. faculty across the country to devise innova- classrooms.) The resulting new acronym, The Wheaton course catalog offers many tive methods to ensure that all students, no STEAM, has provided a rallying point for more examples. matter their major, become knowledgeable some academics to assert the value of the The importance of building bridges about the means and methods of science. arts in education. Personally, I was already among the arts and sciences cannot be In other words, they achieve civic scientific convinced. Based on my own experience, I overstated. The disciplines that comprise literacy, a term coined in the mid-’70s. have always believed that there is a relation- each area of study pursue understanding of We can take great pride in the fact that ship between proficiency and natural ability the world with differing concerns, meth- the Wheaton community can point to its in the arts and a proclivity toward math odologies and perspectives. While each own distinctive efforts to promote the arts, and science. A number of research studies discipline is powerful in its own right, the sciences, humanities and social sciences. seem to support this idea, particularly the arts and sciences are far more than the sum The new Mars Center for Science and link between math and music. Nonetheless, of their parts, when combined. Indeed, pro- Technology, which will open in the fall, will this emerging point of view underscores just ponents for the sciences, like their counter- make tangible our commitment to the full how prescient the Wheaton faculty were range and depth of the liberal arts and sci- when they developed the “Connections ences. The design of this facility will feature Curriculum” almost 10 years ago. The importance of spaces—from flexible labs to group work The connections concept requires stu- areas and a café—that encourage cross- dents to enroll in a set of courses connected building bridges among disciplinary learning. It is a building that will across disciplinary boundaries. The faculty the arts and sciences serve our entire academic community. developed this approach through two years cannot be overstated. The In every sense, the new Mars Center has of inquiry and discussion about the kinds been years in the making. I look forward disciplines that comprise of learning students would need in order to celebrating the opening of the new to prosper in the 21st century. During their each area of study pursue building in September during the col- deliberations, it became clear to the faculty understanding of the world lege’s Homecoming & Family Weekend that problem solving, decision making and with differing concerns, (September 23–25). It will be a triumph critical thinking would require crossing not only of the philanthropy that made it methodologies and disciplinary borders more frequently. Put possible, but also of our deepest values as a another way: students will need to make perspectives. community. connections between and among disparate Full steam ahead.

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Home grown

Students cultivate “real food” movement raca G

“Eating local” is a practice that’s growing faster edge of the Presidents’ House lawn, had sat outreach project called SEEDS—Sustainable ichael M than corn in July. In a 2009 survey conducted abandoned for 17 years. It was completely Education for Environmental Development. by the National Restaurant Association, profes- overgrown when Anne Hooper ’13 decided Originally conceived by Sarah Krause ’10, sional chefs ranked locally grown produce as to bring it back to productive life, follow- SEEDS focuses on hands-on environmental the hottest food trend of the year. ing previous efforts by other students. In the education, inviting local children to campus When it comes to local, you can’t get spring of 2010, Hooper enlisted a group of for monthly events. Last fall the group host- any closer than your own backyard—or in students to help clean up and refurbish the ed an apple festival, a campus tree walk and Wheaton’s case, the Dimple. building, and in September they installed and a greenhouse tour. Some of the SEEDS mem- Last fall, a group of Wheaton students fertilized new topsoil, then planted pars- bers also created a series of environmental teamed up with Jennis Heal, executive chef in ley, basil, rosemary and lettuce. Chef Heal lesson plans in a collaborative independent Dining Services, to organize a weekly farmers’ provided contacts with local farmers, who study that focused on outdoor education. market in the Dimple. Students, faculty and donated soil and plants for the project. “We try to facilitate environmental learning staff flocked to the Friday afternoon markets to At the final farmers’ market in November, by fostering direct relationships with the natu- purchase produce, breads, cheeses, soaps and the greenhouse students sold their first harvest ral world,” says SEEDS co-president Katherine other goods offered by local farmers. of red-leaf lettuce for $1 a head. Eventually, Stanley ’12. Ultimately, SEEDS hopes to create The market—slated to return this spring— they hope to produce enough to supply greens an outdoor classroom in the apple orchard. was sponsored by a new student club called to the campus dining halls. Individual students have also undertaken AfterTaste: Wheaton’s Real Food Movement. For these and other “green” initiatives, projects related to the local food move- The group’s mission is to heighten campus Wheaton students earned an “A” in sustain- ment. For instance, Angelica Sullam ’12 awareness of sustainable eating practices and ability from the Sustainable Endowments used her Regional Scholarship to support a the merits of buying local and organic foods. Institute, a nonprofit organization that works summer internship in which she researched Members also hope to spark a broader dis- to advance sustainability practices in higher the practices of Rhode Island farmers. She cussion about the culture and politics of food education. The organization’s 2011 college writes about food and farming in her blog, “and how important it is for us to reconnect sustainability report card, which profiled 322 The Wheaton Tomato (wheatontomato. with what we see on our plate,” says Lana schools, awarded Wheaton its highest score blogspot.com). Rosen ’13, the group’s co-founder. for student involvement. “When you get something at a farmers’ Members of AfterTaste sponsored a stand Sustainability efforts gained momentum market, it usually has been picked that day,” of their own at the farmers’ market, selling on campus in 2008, when Sierra Flanigan says Sullam. “It’s fresher, tastier and healthier. honey and sandwiches they made on the ’09 and Chad Mirmelli ’09 planned and We need to value and support local farmers, spot with locally produced breads, mozzarel- planted an apple orchard in the garden especially sustainable farms, because they are la and tomatoes, interlaced with basil grown behind the Presidents’ House. The orchard the ones who will continue to function in the by students in a campus greenhouse. has since been expanded, and though it has long run and not destroy the earth’s health.” Q The greenhouse, located at the western yet to bear fruit, it has sprouted a related —Hannah Benoit

4 WHEATON QUARTERLY Exhibiting an interest in art and medicine

Rebecca Sieburth ’11 involve hours of careful enjoys working with mechanical work, and her hands—whether it require practitioners to is sculpting clay in the have finely tuned motor art studio, or handling skills, an innate sense of supplies in an operating three-dimensional space, room. and a knowledge of both It is not often that the subject matter and one gets to do both, but the function of available Sieburth, a studio art tools,” she said. “It takes major who is also focus- a great deal of practice ing on courses that will to attain the physical prepare her for medical memory necessary to school has. Last summer know how tightly to tie she interned at the Baylor a knot or throw a suture. College of Medicine in The same principle ap- Houston, Texas. Assigned plies to learning how to to a vascular surgery pardo make art. team at a Veterans Affairs nicki “I don’t really feel Sculpting in the art studio at Wheaton. hospital, she spent eight weeks a cognitive divide between on a surgery rotation, in a role scientific analysis and artis- similar to that of a medical tic sensibilities—if anything, student. they’re mutually informative. Work began with rounds Creativity is useful in any set- every morning at 6 a.m., with ting, and building a coherent Sieburth carrying supplies and logical framework is a good assisting with bandaging. Then, method for understanding just at 7:30 a.m., when the operating about anything.” (Wheaton’s rooms opened, she would scrub Connections curriculum lets in to have an up-close look students experience this kind of during a variety of surgical pro- cross-disciplinary learning on a cedures—from amputations to regular basis.) carotid endarterectomies, which In the future, Sieburth said she involve removing a fatty buildup hopes to find a medical special- of plaque from the carotid ty in which she can balance her artery. Under close supervision, personal life, art and continued she occasionally got to hold a learning—perhaps a career in Assisting in the operating room in Texas. retractor to help surgeons see urology or ophthalmology. inside the incision site. but beneficial.” who has worked in the studio with “Art making is my oldest and How did it feel, observing her Her interests might seem Sieburth for several semesters, favorite pastime. It’s a creative first surgery? “It was riveting, like a fusion of polar opposites, notes that she has the ambition outlet as well as a way to play- and a little bewildering,” she but for her they are a natural fit. and dedication required to suc- fully engage the world around said. “I definitely got an adrena- “This combination seems like ceed in both art and medicine. me,” she said, also noting that line rush—it was completely the best way to reconcile my “When she is set on a piece, time at the hospital, “I had never novel, intensely real, and very often-feuding loves of art and is not even an issue.” been more sleep-deprived in morbidly fascinating. It was diffi- science. I’ve always loved art, And the skills required for art my life, but never was I happier cult to believe that something so but medicine seems like a field transfer well into the world of to be so.” Q extreme was not only possible, that is rewarding and challeng- surgery, said Sieburth, who is a —Elizabeth Meyer ’14 ing in a way that few other certified EMT, as well as a writ- disciplines are,” she says. ing tutor, poet and saxophonist. Professor of Art Tim Cunard, “Surgery and art frequently

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Wheaton a cappella: The melody lingers on pardo nicki

The 2010–2011 Whims sing in the Slype. Television shows such as “Glee” and “The Sing-Off” Eklund ’11, current president of the GCs. The Blend, founded in 2002, call them- have sparked a renewed love for a cappella nationwide, selves Wheaton’s “first and only co-ed a but at Wheaton, a cappella groups have embraced the cappella group.” (The co-ed Voices United to Jam, which performs gospel and R&B, genre for decades and continue to find ways to give it is not strictly a cappella.) Known for their quirky song choices and on-stage antics, their own notable signature. members of the Blend dress in costumes Founded in 1947 “on a whim,” the director). “Using the voice in a more instru- that fit their show’s theme. At their fall 2010 Wheaton Whims are still making music mental way, repertoire possibilities continue “fruit jam,” costumes included a banana, a more than 60 years later. The repertoire to grow…. Our musical stylings include pop, bunch of grapes, and a juice box. has evolved from the days when “Tea for musical theatre, classic rock, alternative, In addition to presenting their jams at Two” and “Moonlight in Vermont” were barbershop and more.” Wheaton twice a year, the a cappella groups among their standards, but the musical The Wheatones, founded two years perform at many off-campus venues and tradition is unbroken. before the Whims, were Wheaton’s first participate in events such as the International On their latest CD, Where We Once Stood, student-run vocal group. As the liner notes Competition of Collegiate A Cappella. In today’s Whims serve up songs by Jason Mraz, of their 1953 LP quaintly put it, “Back in March 1999, the Whims won a trip to Florida Enya, Lady Gaga and other contemporary 1945, … a group of sweet, young things when they took first prize in the college divi- artists. But now, as then, the arrangements formed themselves into an octet and offered sion of a “songfest challenge” in Boston. are their own, and their services at Wheaton dances and vari- For many a cappella alumnae/i, music the only instruments ous other campus functions.” In contrast remains essential. Members of the Blend went are their voices. to today, the Wheatones were not always on to form the 508s, a Boston-area vocal “The genre of strictly a cappella. In fact, their nickname group. GC alumnus Joe Barbato ’06 sings with college a cappella was once “girls with guitars.” has developed The college began its transition to co- over the last 50 education in the fall of 1988, and the follow- years from the ing spring the Gentlemen Callers (GCs) were shoo-bop/bar- formed. bershop style of close harmonies to “[Then] Dean of Students Sue Alexander an emphasis on vocal percussion and vocal decided that the men of Wheaton, then imitation of instruments,” says Shannon a very small contingent, needed to feel Coco ’11, the Whims’ pitch pipe (musical solidarity with one another,” notes David

6 WHEATON QUARTERLY The Gentlemen Callers in the recording studio, 1992. A MINUTE WITH … Onyedikachi Udeoji ’12

Wheatones album from 1985, front and back.

Amie Rosenblum '12

Onyedikachi (“Kachi”) Udeoji spent 10 weeks working for Whims 1950–1951 Opera Cleveland last summer as a Nancy Porter Fellow. the men’s ensemble Overboard, and Raffi CURTAIN UP: “It was one of the most eye-opening experiences Sweet ’12, a current GC member, is already of my life. I worked as both a finance and productions intern in launching a career as a rock musician. preparation for the first performance of the new season, Bizet’s All of the groups The Pearl Fishers.” ROLE PLAYING: “I, fortunately and unfortu- have signature songs nately, am one of those people who believes they can do it all and special traditions, and still sleep, so when I was looking for a summer internship I some dating back was looking for a way to combine all my interests. At Wheaton I many years. am an economics “Each semester, and music double I, fortunately and unfortunately, am the a cappella major, with a one of those people who believes groups induct new minor in statistics. they can do it all and still sleep. members with the I also have a love tradition of singing affair with fashion. When I visited the Filene Center and an ad- in the Slype at mid- visor directed me toward the fellowship and the opera, I knew night,” says Coco. I was in for a good experience.” BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE: “It’s one of our fa- “Given that I am majoring in economics and music, being a vorite traditions, since all of our friends and finance and productions intern for an opera company was More online: fellow a cappella groups come to support us just amazing. I got to observe, firsthand, how a nonprofit arts Photos and audio at and congratulate the new members.” organization raises funds through grants and fundraisers. I also wheatoncollege.edu/ Susan Rittenburg Epstein ’58 remembers got to see how organizations are forced to restructure to deal quarterly/ when the Whims serenaded her outdoors af- with economic difficulty. The finance part helped me observe ter she auditioned for the group her freshman what I learned in my micro economics classes, while helping year. “Once accepted, I never left the Whims, with auditions for the orchestra helped train my musical ear. and most of their songs have never left me,” My French classes even came in handy when I had to translate she says. “Those songs are the ‘lullabies’ that some instructions in the score of The Pearl Fishers.” PERFECT I sang to my children and grandchildren.” SCORE: “Ideally, I would like to become an international trade Epstein went on to sing in community law economist. My experience at the opera helped remind me choruses for 25 years and is now board pres- of the reasons I want to be a part of trade negotiations. I want ident of the Neponset Valley Philharmonic to help make the process of trading more fair and beneficial to Orchestra in eastern Massachusetts. The underdeveloped countries (specifically, African countries). It melody lingers on. Q may be a lofty goal, but when the world approaches actual ‘fair —Hannah Benoit trade’ I want to be part of that process.” Q

SPRING 2011 7 AROUND THE DIMPLE

s a child, Morgan ages, and began Bakerman ’13 work on a group Ahated going to project for a new museums and galleries. touring program. “They seemed dry and “I really en- dull. For many children, joyed the time the first museum experi- Young I spent with the ence is less than ideal,” other interns,” she says. at he said. “The “Often, museums are biggest challenge places you are made to go art of the internship to by your parents or your was the hierarchical school…. In retrospect, structure of making I think that if I had decisions within received a tour from a a museum. When college student, not an ideas could not adult, I probably would be easily com- have enjoyed it more. So municated within much depends on who the group or to introduces you to the experience.” “If children go to museums and have our supervisors, the process of develop- Last summer, Bakerman was that college a good time, and they have a guide who ing a new program for youth slowed. But I student, holding in her hands the beginning can connect with them and is obviously realized that a museum is a work environ- experiences of many young museum-goers. enthusiastic about their having an exciting ment that I would certainly consider in my The art history and Hispanic studies double learning experience, then they will want to professional career.” major worked in New York as an intern at come back and share their experience with Assistant Professor of Art History Sean the Metropolitan Museum of Art. their families,” she says. “I wanted to be McPherson, who has taught both students, On the West Coast, art history and able to provide a fun but informative expe- describes Rawitsch as a highly original English double major Nicholas Rawitsch rience for the students. There is so much to thinker “who has a way of seeing the com- ’13 was engaged in a similar effort. He learn from art.” mon human element in the experiences and interned at the J. Paul Getty Museum at At the Getty Villa in Malibu, Calif., work of artists in diverse cultural and histori- the Getty Villa, a museum and education Rawitsch worked with a team of other cal settings.” Bakerman, he says, “has a rare center dedicated to the study of the arts students on creating a pilot program to draw ability to communicate the excitement of art and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome the interests of teenage audiences. He also objects to a broad audience.” and Etruria. participated in group discussions about pro- Their contributions through these presti- Both students helped captivate young viding accessibility to information for young gious internships are significant, he points museum-goers, as well as put into practice people and the use of games and activities out, given the competition that museums their own Wheaton coursework. They also to make a visit to the museum fun for all are facing. got to explore their interests in “Museums are making a strong perhaps working at a cultural effort to appeal to younger mu- institution someday. seum visitors in this digital age,” Bakerman’s internship in the says McPherson. “They recognize museum’s education department the need for new curatorial ap- was twofold. She served as a tour proaches, as well as the need for guide for camp groups coming new perspectives on the museum into the museum from all around experience…. The enthusiasm New York City and from around and imagination of students such the world. She also was a teaching as Morgan and Nick can open the assistant in two different studio art eyes of younger museum visitors

AMY ROSENBLUM ’12 classes for children and helped to the excitement of art history.” Q with event-related projects.

Morgan Bakerman ’13 Nicholas Rawitsch ’13 8 WHEATON QUARTERLY Professor collaborating on NASA research

As a geochemist, Matthew Evans has trav- pened before? eled from the lowlands of North America to “We’re really looking into the recent past the very top of the world in the Himalayas to to help us understand the more distant past better understand how water and rocks in- and search for this type of activity,” he says. teract. But it is his latest work, bringing small Among the Wheaton students who have pieces of Antarctica to campus, that perhaps been assisting him are Claire Petersen, a sheds the most compelling light on how our senior from Tacoma, Wash., and Aurelie planet is currently changing. Marcotte ’10, who is now a graduate student Evans, assistant professor of chemistry and at Arizona State University. geology, is conducting research that is part The research that Marcotte did on the of a three-year project that recently received project last year turned into her honors $707,112 in funding from NASA. The grant thesis at Wheaton. Her thesis focused on is being divided among three institutions developing techniques to measure metha- where scientists are collaborating on the pardo nosulfonic acid using Wheaton’s facilities. project. Wheaton’s portion of the grant nicki “By demonstrating our ability to accurately Professor Matthew Evans with his class. award is $96,904. measure MSA, Aurelie made Wheaton’s The project is an interdisciplinary study of 1970s,” Evans notes, “and we can look at inclusion in the grant possible,” Evans says. the connections between recent ice sheet samples from these areas to examine the He sees this NASA research project as one melt, sea ice decline and enhanced ocean phytoplankton activity to help them better of many approaches he and his Wheaton biological productivity along the Amundsen determine exactly what’s going on there with colleagues are using to bring compelling real- Coast of West Antarctica. Evans is collaborat- the sea ice. Our ice core chemical record has world science connected to their own work ing with scientists at NASA, Clark University the potential to extend our understanding of into the undergraduate experience here. and the Woods Hole Oceanographic sea ice past the satellite record.” “The overall connection with this project Institution. The grant provides funding for One of the key elements researchers are is a good one for me,” he says. “And it is students from all three institutions to partici- seeking to provide is a better understanding also a great fit for my students, as they are pate in the research, and the results from the of any precedent for the rapid changes that able to work with me and use the resources project will also be incorporated into under- are occurring in Antarctica, Greenland and in the chemistry department to investigate graduate and graduate coursework. elsewhere. The specific work being carried real-world geologic problems.” Q Evans, along with some of his students, out by Evans and Wheaton students seeks —Randell Kennedy is studying samples taken from the rapidly to answer the question: Has this ever hap- retreating ice sheets of Antarctica. “We measure a sulfate compound called metha- nosulfonic acid (MSA), using the chemistry department’s ion chromatograph.” MSA is a by-product of phytoplankton growth and subsequent decay. Variations in MSA concen- trations in coastal ice cores reflect changes in phytoplankton productivity and sea ice variability in adjacent seas. When sea ice is abundant, phytoplankton growth is reduced, and therefore less MSA is produced; when sea ice is absent, productivity increases and 200m contour intervals so does MSA. This means we can use the Drainage divides MSA record in ice cores as a proxy for sea ice growth and decay now, and in the past. Camps and meteorological observations

NASA’s involvement in the project stems oughin from the space agency’s interest in comparing Previous deep ice cores satellite images of the loss of the Antarctic ice New samples collected in ’09–’10 and ’10–’11

mass with ground-truth studies by researchers ourtesy of I. J C at American colleges and universities. Image and map of the Amundsen Sea embayment of West Antarctica shows ice velocity (color) and glacial flow “They have images going back to the late divides (thick black lines) over a satellite-derived mosaic of Antarctica. Proposed sampling locations for both the 2009–2010 and the 2010–2011 field campaigns are shown (red dots).

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WHEATON QUARTERLY Faculty Exhibition: Recent Work statements. their work and artist is asampling of Weil Here Galleries. in the Beard and 19, 2010, November through 8 September exhibition from creations in an recent art and film their showcased professors art studio Wheaton’s Show and tell THE DIMPLE the Englishmonument Stonehenge.”the in as element avertical against resting or intersecting element ahorizontal of relationship the from comes title The surface. evenly rusted an induce to solution vinegar and salt a with treated finally together, and other, welded each then complement to reshaped and cut generally were pieces found together. The welded were that more, or two pieces, steel scrap by finding created were series this from Works series. #1’ my Henge texture…. ‘Henge from is and shape for feeling ageneral with do to more image, but Gogh Van any representing with do to have little sculptures Hilton’s book Tim with encounter achance and yard scrap my local to trips by frequent inspired were exhibition in this sculptures the of some for departure of points The my make sculptures. to objects found and materials career, scrap Ihave my used entire For artist. as ayoung me for floodgates artistic the opened readymade, the Duchamp’s invention, [Marcel] with along works collage and constructions “Picasso’s Tim Cunard, Tim Van Gogh: His Life His Work and Van Gogh: professor of art . The . The been singular: to give expression to the mystery mystery the to give expression to singular: been way, the my impulsehas my Along life. of arc the reflected has my art of progression “The ultimately, to accept life’s contradictions.” and understand, to attempt in an language visual of power the harness to seek again Ionce works, abstract latest these nature.… Through of cycles in the inhering cruelty and beauty the both accept, to ultimately and understand, to I have sought language, visual Through grief. of process lifelong the death; of mystery and dying of complexities the growth; of wonder the and beginnings new life, new of joy forces—the life’sof contrasting Claudia Fieo, Claudia professor of art Andrew Howard, professor of art Jake Mahaffy, associate professor Patty Stone, associate professor “Going to the edge of the world is sometimes of art and film of art; chair, Department of Art and necessary to gain the kind of knowledge about “Recognizing and accepting limitations and Art History oneself that can only be revealed when one is in learning to adapt without compromise is an “I am inspired by familiar landscapes that are a place that creates a kind of vacuum in which ongoing process and one of the most painful and experienced as part of my everyday environment. nothing exists but the central core of who we important in any lively engagement with reality. I also like looking at a variety of maps—from are. Walking on the beach is a multi-sensory It is artistic living by definition: a generous, topographical trail guides to Google Earth and road experience; the smell of the ocean, the feel of creative way of negotiating the crises and maps from the 1960s. These images present both sand or rock under foot, the constant roar or complications of personal experience. Over an abstraction of the landscape and a very real gentle ripple of the waves, the taste of salt on your the years, as I’ve subjected myself to severe location in time and space. ‘Charles River Diptych’ tongue, and the feel of the sun or mist on your limitations in filmmaking by an insistence that is part of a series of paintings that grew out of my face. As a photographer I am limited to the visual the circumstances, no matter how poor, should daily walks to the Charles River in Newton, Mass. elements of all that I feel and experience. However, contribute to the form of any given project, I’ve Here, the contrasts of ‘nature’ and the man-made through the craft of photography I can convey found that creativity is expressed not in the pure environment are somewhat ambiguous. Concrete the richness of the experience of being in that imposition of one’s artistic ‘vision’ on the world, buildings and light industry surround a part of the place at that time. Tonality, texture, the quality of but in the friction between one’s creative intentions river that still echoes the wild. At the river’s edge, I light, the design of the image, color combinations, and the immutable contradictions provided by am dazzled by the play of light on water as I search shape, form and subject choice are some of the the material world. The stress and frustrations of for a glimpse of fish or the big turtle. In the studio, ingredients that make this possible.” obstacles in the way of ‘art’ are opportunities to contrasts inspire me as well—capturing softness see a previously unknown aspect of reality and, in a rectangle or struggling to make a straight line hopefully, beauty.” with a paintbrush.” oward H A ndrew

Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) SPRING 2011 11 PANORAMA

What initially inspired you to start Portrait of an artist writing it? Professor’s book explores life of Grant Wood Whenever I taught Wood in my American art surveys, I always felt there was some- thing more to his paintings than the literature seemed to explain. His best work has an uncanny quality that moves you in ways that are difficult to pinpoint. I wanted to know more about Wood’s relationships with his sitters, and about how his closeted homosexuality influenced his work. Wood’s sexuality has been an open secret for years, but no scholar had ever examined this di- mension of his life. Why is this artist so fascinating? I find the story of Wood’s rise to fame par- ticularly compelling. Here’s this ambitious, small-town painter who ached for success (he traveled back and forth to Paris through- out the 1920s) but who only achieved it in the place he’d been trying to escape all along. By the mid-1930s, when he had be- come linked with the Regionalist movement, his fortunes depended upon the chauvin- istic and often homophobic rhetoric of his fellow Regionalist, Thomas Hart Benton. Wood’s whole life is a cautionary tale about answered prayers. What does your book reveal about the artist that most people don’t know? The three undercurrents that I explore in Wood’s private life—his closeted sexual- ity, his relationships with his family, and his ambivalence about Iowa—all represent, to varying degrees, a Grant Wood that most people don’t know. Wood’s tyrannical fa- ther, who deeply distrusted his son’s interest in art, died suddenly when Wood was 10. He then proceeded to share a single room with his mother and sister for much of his Even before Professor of Art History R. Tripp Evans’s new biography adult life. Wood’s surprise marriage to Sara Grant Wood: A Life (Alfred A. Knopf, 2010) was released on October 5, Maxon in 1935 is certainly known to schol- it had a favorable review in the New York Times— ars, but I was the first to locate her unpub- lished memoir—a goldmine of information, one of many high-profile reviews. The New York and one that laid to rest any speculation Times, which called his book “provocative,” about Wood’s homosexuality. focused on the fact that the professor gets behind Why are people so intrigued by that the façade of the artist who is best known for his one painting (“American Gothic”)? painting “American Gothic.” Who doesn’t know It’s the painting’s ambiguity, I think, that captures viewers’ imagination. Even in that iconic couple with the stern faces and the Wood’s day, audiences were divided pitchfork? Before Evans went on his 16-city book over whether it was a nostalgic “national

NICKI PARDO NICKI portrait” or a cruel satire. The misalignment R. Tripp Evans tour, we talked with him about the book.

12 WHEATON QUARTERLY PUBLICATIONS, HONORS AND CREATIVE WORKS

Faculty American Academy of Religion in Atlanta, where he images in Cape Cod Life magazine and the Cape Cod Life presented examples of his sacred compositions. The 2011 calendar. Keiter Professor of History December issue of the National Opera Association’s Prentice Professor of Philosophy Nancy Kendrick Alexander Bloom Sacred in Opera journal was devoted entirely to his essay presented the paper ”Friendship and Friendlessness” at co-edited the third edition “Punk Opera as Spiritual Vocation,” describing his 2008 a conference on 18th-century women political thinkers of “Takin’ It To The Streets”: opera The Prioress’s Tale. A Sixties Reader, the at the Monash University Prato Centre in Italy (August comprehensive collection of Professor of English Samuel Coale published the article 2010). “Conventional Persons Plural: Marriage, Madness, and primary documents from Meneely Professor of Biology John Kricher’s book A Suburban Mayhem” about Alan Ayckbourn’s play Absurd the 1960s (Oxford Neotropical Companion was translated into Spanish Person Singular in Trinity Square (Fall 2010). He also University Press). through the efforts of the American Birding Association wrote select book reviews for The Providence Journal, and was distributed for free throughout Latin America. Rick Britto, visiting including one about art history professor R. Tripp Evans’s instructor of music in Grant Wood: A Life (Alfred A. Knopf, 2010). Meneely Professor of Computer Science Mark LeBlanc performance, in November co-authored “Bioinformatics and the Undergraduate English professor Michael Drout published “Paradox: released a new CD titled In Curriculum” in CBE—Life Sciences Education (2010). Tales of Hope” in The Last Man Anthology: Tales of the Sky on iTunes. The CD He also co-authored, along with computer science Catastrophe, Disaster & Woe (Sword & Saga Press, was featured on allabout- professors Michael Gousie and Thomas Armstrong, 2010). His article “Department of What If: Would Hobbits jazz.com as “download of “Connecting Across Campus” in the “Proceedings of the Go On Strike?” also ran in the Washington Post (October the week.” 41st SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science 2010). Delvyn Case, assistant Education,” in Milwaukee, Wis. (March 2010). Tommasina Gabriele, Italian studies professor, pub- professor of music, has Assistant Professor of Anthropology Gabriela Torres has lished “An Apology for Lesbian Visibility in Italian Literary completed a commission from the Portland (Maine) been elected to a leadership position on the American Criticism” in Italica (Summer 2010). Symphony Orchestra for their 2010–2011 KinderKonzert Anthropological Association’s Committee on the Status season. His Christmas overture “Rocket Sleigh” was John Grady, William Isaac Cole Professor of Sociology, of Women in the Profession. performed in December by 15 orchestras across the wrote “Exploring Society Visually”—15 online slideshow Javier Trevino, professor of sociology, wrote the country. He was also a featured presenter at the annual exercises to accompany publications from W.W. Norton introduction to Law and Morality by Leon Petrazycki meeting of the Society for the Arts in Religious and (2010). Theological Studies at the national conference of the (Transaction Publishers, 2010). Professor of Art Andrew Howard published two new

Alumnae/i A Slender Thread (New achievement award from the Port Washington (N.Y.) American Library, August Library Foundation, where she has been president of the The Children’s Hospital Boston Archives and Harvard 2010). board for 11 years. Medical School’s Archives for Women in Medicine and Warren Anatomical Museum celebrated Mary Ellen Crossword puzzles by Philip Manos ’08 co-authored “Highly Efficient Avery ’48 in an exhibit featuring items from her pioneer- Michael Doran ’07 were Reprogramming to Pluripotency and Directed ing career and contributions to pediatrics (Fall 2010). featured in the New York Differentiation of Human Cells with Synthetic Modified Times Sunday Magazine, mRNA” in the journal Cell Stem Cell (2010). Manic Mommies, a family/parenting web site co-founded the Los Angeles Times, and Sandra Ohrn Moose ’63, a Boston Consulting Group by Kristin Sundin Brandt ’94, won two silver awards in GAMES Magazine. the 2010 international W Awards competition, in the senior advisor, was named recipient of Consulting maga- categories of copy/writing, and structure and navigation. Julie Tabershaw Geller zine’s 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. ’62 received a lifetime Katharine Pietsch Davis ’70, published her third novel,

of the sitters’ ages disturbs viewers, as an irresistible subject. He was eulogized In writing this book, I’ve also become well. Most people assume these two are in 1942 as a “People’s Painter,” a man interested in how conservative notions of a May-December married couple, but whose sole interest was the recording of a masculinity have shaped American styles Wood insisted they represented a father bygone America. In reality, Wood’s patriotic and movements, often to the disadvantage and daughter; even he seemed occasionally subjects—whether brimming corn fields, of women artists—or any artist who doesn’t confused about the figures’ identities, or historical paintings like “Midnight Ride fit this mold. This issue is not only important however, because of the work’s odd of Paul Revere”—were not only filtered to the classes I teach, but it’s also a topic substitutions (his sister replaced his mother through a deeply personal lens, but they that would lend itself to a new seminar. as the female model, whereas Wood’s also provided a convenient cover for a man What are your goals regarding the dentist stood in for his deceased father). You who lived in mortal fear of exposure. book? don’t have to know much about the artist How do you plan to use the book in I hope readers will find this a compelling to see that the work projects powerful, and your courses? story in and of itself, whether or not they conflicting, feelings about its subjects. Certainly, I’ll never teach Wood the same have any interest in art history. The flesh- How does the book connect to your way again in my survey classes! But beyond and-blood man behind that pitchfork- research and scholarship? that, the book will help me to do what I wielding farmer is a fascinating, complex I’m interested in American artists’ promotion already enjoy doing in the classroom— figure—and his life is a testament to the of national identity— however personal raising questions about how national identity ways in which prejudice can both warp and their motives may be—so I found Wood functions in American art (or doesn’t). inspire creativity.

Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) SPRING 2011 13 FIELD REPORT Driven NASCAR producer enjoys life in the fast lane She’s gone on ride-alongs at many racetracks, but ask Andrea Pelkey ’02 whether her job has had any impact on how she handles the road, and she’ll just laugh. “My friends and family would say my driving has changed,” she admits. “Let’s just say I’ve gotten a few speeding tickets across a few different states over the last couple of years.” Pelkey’s need for speed makes sense. “When I started at ESPN, I worked on stream drivers like Jeff Gordon, but I had to She’s a producer for NASCAR at ESPN. ‘SportsCenter’ and ‘ESPNews’ and other do a lot of reading and research just to get After working her way up from production shows like that,” she says. “Most of my caught up.” It wasn’t long before she was assistant to producer at ESPN (and earn- background was in basketball, but when we back at the top of her game, leading a small ing an Emmy Award along the way for her got that contract for NASCAR, I had to start team to produce content for 31 of the 36 work), her career path took a major turn in fresh. It was a huge risk, but one I knew I NASCAR races that take place each season. 2007 when the network landed the rights to had to take.” A typical day for Pelkey? Working for telecast several of the NASCAR Sprint Cup NASCAR, she says, there’s no such thing. Learning a new sport races, and subsequently “NASCAR Now.” The season kicks off in February with the With her new role in place, Pelkey imme- The former Wheaton field hockey co- Daytona 500—the biggest race of the year— diately got to work, studying hard to teach captain had experience covering the NBA, and goes straight up through the Sunday herself a sport she knew very little about. “I the NFL and Major League Baseball at ESPN, before Thanksgiving. Every week, she and sat down and made flashcards about each so she was one of the first tapped to help her team pack up and leave ESPN’s head- driver, who was whose teammate—those produce coverage—a promotion she was quarters in Bristol, Conn., to travel and shoot kinds of things,” she says. “I knew the main- thrilled to accept. on location at each race. Her job is to plan out coverage with the other show producers. “We hit the ground running as soon as we arrive, doing live interviews and gather- ing all types of sound from the drivers so that we can put together pieces,” she says. “It’s a lot of scheduling to make sure we have our cameras and reporters in the right place at the right time. Live television is about one thing: organization!” Interest in broadcast journalism Growing up in Palmyra, Maine, she first discovered she had an interest in broad- cast journalism as a student at Nokomis Regional High School. “My high school started a broadcasting team and one of my teachers reached out to see if I wanted to join,” she says. Pelkey—who also played on the girls’ varsity basketball and softball teams—decided to give it a try. She quickly found that sports coverage was a natural fit. “I would play in the girls’ game and then

14 WHEATON QUARTERLY REPLAY

Ten named academic all conference Ferriero anchored a defense that finished Ten Wheaton student-athletes were named to the New England first in the New England Women’s and Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All- Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in Conference team for fall 2010. Student-athletes earning the award shutouts per game (.40) and tied for first in must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or overall shutouts (8). He played an integral better upon completion of the 2010 spring semester, attain at least a part on a unit that allowed one goal or less sophomore year standing and be a competing member of a varsity 14 times. He also is one of three Lyons in team for the entire season. program history to garner all-conference The students are: Nicholas Kacher ’11 and Michael Richard ’13 David Ferriero ’11 first-team accolades three times. (cross country); Taylor Wills ’12 and Lindsay Petrenchik ’13 (cross country); Pablo Mena ’12, Max Swanson ’12 and Jessica Stuart ’12 Geocaris honored with Lindsay Morehouse Award (soccer); Emily Davisson ’12 and Christina Cannon ’13 (volleyball); Women’s tennis player Sarah Geocaris ’11 received the prestigious and Julia Atwood ’11 (field hockey). Lindsay Morehouse Award at the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament NSCAA All-New England players (NEWITT) last fall. Men’s soccer team players David Ferriero ’11 and Yuri Moreira ’11 The award acknowledges a senior were named National Soccer Coaches Association of America player who exemplifies the ideals (NSCAA)/Performance Subaru All-New England players for the of sportsmanship, friendliness, second consecutive season. character, fair play and hard Moreira was selected to the NSCAA work that Lindsay Morehouse All-New England East first team for the represented. A Class of 2000 second straight year, while Ferriero was Williams College graduate and Sarah Geocaris ’11 voted to the second squad. Moreira standout women’s tennis player, Morehouse passed away during the paced this year’s forwards with nine tragic events of September 11, 2001. goals and four game-winners, while In nominating Geocaris for the award, Wheaton head coach sharing the team lead with 20 Lynn Miller noted the player’s outstanding leadership and her points. He is the Wheaton program’s graciousness and humility in victory or defeat. Believed to be the second all-time leading scorer with 44 winningest player in program history, the tri-captain has a combined goals and 96 points, and he has earned 132 victories between singles and doubles matches. all-league honors for the third straight Compiled from news stories by Scott Dietz. Read the full stories at athletics.wheatoncollege.edu/landing/index

season. PHOTOS NORDSTROM KEITH Yuri Moreira ’11

“Most of my background was in variety of activities in It was her ability to multitask that helped basketball, but when we got that pursuit of her goals. her earn a master’s degree in broadcast Pelkey, who majored journalism from Emerson College, just a contract for NASCAR, I had to in sociology, played year after graduating from Wheaton. Soon start fresh. It was a huge risk, but all four years on the after that, she landed her job at ESPN. one I knew I had to take.” field hockey team, She’s a member of ESPN’s mentorship and

pardo and was promoted to women’s retention program and a member Andrea Pelkey ’02 team captain during of the Wheaton Athletic Mentors. She even nicki her junior year. In her received an Alumnae/i Achievement Award I’d hustle out afterwards to do color com- spare time, she worked for the sports infor- during Homecoming Weekend this past fall, mentary for the boys’ game,” she says. “The mation department writing press releases celebrating her accomplishments. show was on local cable in Maine. That’s and covering a variety of sporting events on “Wheaton taught me personal time how I got my start.” campus. management and how to prioritize, which is When it came time to select a college, “Andrea was one of those rare finds—the something I have to do every day in my job,” Pelkey says she knew Wheaton would be type of person who only comes around she says. “Wheaton also gave me the ability perfect for her. “I was originally looking once in a great while,” recalls Scott Dietz, to problem solve and the analytical skills I for a journalism major and found out that assistant director of athletics for media rela- needed to succeed.” Wheaton offered the dual degree program tions at Wheaton. “What I remember most —Rachel Bowie ’04 with Emerson College,” she says. “It was the about Andrea is that if she wasn’t busy she best of both worlds.” wasn’t happy. She had an ability to multitask Rachel Bowie ’04, a former member of the She arrived here in the fall of 1998 and like none other, and she always did so with Wheatones, is a freelance writer and editor based in New York. Read more about her at wasted no time getting involved with a a smile on her face.” www.rachelbowie.com.

Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) SPRING 2011 15 SNAP SHOTS ’12 AMIE ROSENBLUM Food for thought In October, Beth Ann Milardo Caspersen ’96, quality control manager at Equal Exchange, visited campus to talk about the history of the fair trade movement. She was invited to campus as part of the Table Talk series presented by anthropology professor Donna Kerner’s “Feast or Famine” class. “Beth Ann introduced yet Let it another cohort of students to the ideals of providing a fair wage to peasant cooperatives in the developing snow! world that produce our choicest commodities, such Boston-area as coffee, tea and chocolate,” notes Kerner. “They snow total in Jan. were also enlightened as to the nature of democratic 12 storm: cooperatives as alternative business models…. She 12 inches has been generous with her time, coming back Flights canceled frequently for our Table Talk series to educate new in the Northeast: generations of students both about fair trade and also 3,300-plus about how academic and internship opportunities Amount of available at Wheaton can prepare them for a lifetime fun afterward of meaningful work after college.” Caspersen became on Wheaton interested in fair trade while majoring in anthropology campus: at Wheaton. Tons Photos by Amie Rosenblum ’12

WHEATON IN THE NEWS

Miller looks at unemployment in Dollars & Sense The simple reality of the current recession is that people have less As millions of Americans continue to search for jobs, Professor of money to spend, so demand has plummeted and therefore fewer Economics John Miller continues to analyze the challenge. In an businesses are willing to invest in creating jobs or hiring, he noted. article he co-authored in Dollars & Sense, he points out that the Focusing on that, rather than blaming the unemployed, is the way to nearly 10 percent national unemployment rate begin to remedy the situation, according to Miller. is not due to a lack of skills by job seekers, as California community web site spotlights swim team recently indicated by some politicians and The weather outside might have been frightful in Boston, consider- media outlets. ing December’s blizzard, but in California it was delightful. So it is Miller wrote: “The reality of the situa- no wonder that the members of Wheaton’s synchronized swimming tion—the widespread job losses and the long, team headed to La Mesa, Calif., for training during winter break. fruitless job searches of experienced work- Swimmer and team co-captain Christiana Butera ’12, who grew ers—makes it clear that today’s employment up in California, hosted her teammates at her parents’ house near problem is a jobs deficit across the economy, Mount Helix, Calif., according to a news article in the La Mesa not a skills deficit among those looking for work. Patch. The sleepover on cots, air mattresses and couches may sound “While it’s true that any given month ends with some number of like fun and games, but the team was in town for hard work—prac- unfilled job openings, the total number of jobs added to the economy ticing each day from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. They during this recovery has simply been inadequate to put the unem- also held a demonstration for the public at the municipal pool. ployed back to work. In fact, if every job that stood open at the end “I’ve been an athlete my whole life,” Butera said in an interview. of September 2010 had been filled, 11.7 million officially unemployed “I’ve done soccer, gymnastics, dance, swimming, basketball and workers would still have been jobless.” even played for a boys’ flag football team, and this is absolutely the

16 WHEATON QUARTERLY Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) Alice Hoffman speaks Students in English professor Sue Standing’s First Year Seminar were among those who heard acclaimed novelist Alice Hoffman (Here on Earth, Practical Magic, The Ice Queen) read from her work during a campus visit in September. Hoffman spoke of how tradi- tional fairy tales have shaped her

writing, which DEBORAH FEINGOLD is marked by elements of magical realism. As a child, she said, she loved “the deep, dark, emotion- ally true stories of the Brothers Grimm…. Everything in them rang true: the unspoken sexuality, … greed, houses of candy, and cages PHOTO COURTESY OF LIVE.ROSSMEDIA.COM of gold. I didn’t realize it at the time, OOoo wah! A cappella sensation Rockapella rocked the house when they performed in the college’s Mary but these stories were allowing me Bloor Loser ’42 Musical Series during Homecoming. Many people recognize Rockapella as the to explore fear and desire and sor- performers of the theme music for the hit PBS show “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?” row.” In Standing’s seminar, “Vision In addition to their performance in Cole chapel, they taught a master class and found time to and Re-Vision,” students examined pose for a photo with President Ronald A. Crutcher. Left to right: Steven Dorian, Jeff Thacher, how today’s artists draw on sources Crutcher, John Brown, Scott Leonard and George Baldi. from the past, including fairy tales, to create new work.

Candidate speaks highly of Wheaton Michael Rotondi ’92 ran for public office right after he graduated from Wheaton, winning the post of town moderator in Stoneham, Mass., his hometown. The move, he told the Winchester Star, was inspired by his col- lege experience. “It was about serving local government and applying what I learned in political science at Wheaton College,” he said. “I figured I might as well get involved. How else are you supposed to learn about the experiences, the issues and the things that the common people are experiencing in the town?” With 17 years of experience as the town moderator, Rotondi ran as an independent candidate to represent the 31st Middlesex District in the Massachusetts Legislature. Unfortunately, he didn’t win. “It was a tough year for an independent,” he recently told the hardest sport I’ve ever tried. People make fun of it because it looks Wheaton Quarterly. “Many votes followed along party lines…. Oh, so easy. But the goal of synchronized swimming is to make some- well.” thing difficult look artistic. It really challenges you as an athlete and He’s still happy to continue as town moderator. as an artist. For anyone who thinks it’s easy, try it for 10 minutes. You’ll see how difficult it is.”

SPRING 2011 17 A fish tale: The one that didn’t get away from Professor Dyer DAVID LAFERRIERE DAVID

18 WHEATON QUARTERLY By Betsey Dyer Professor of Biology Betsey When I wrote The Field Guide to Bacteria, I strived Dyer says she won’t eat “presweetened cold cereals, to acquire firsthand experience with everything especially of the sort that I described. I went to Yellowstone for hot spring cause the milk to turn colors.” However, just about bacteria, Cape Cod for sulfur bacteria, termite hindguts everything else (including for spirochetes, and on many more field trips and termites) is on the menu for this adventuresome foodie investigations. Some things were impossible at the time, and scientist who savors such as a deep-sea dive in the Alvin submersible or a experimentation. Her stinky summer snack at the Oxford trip to the South Pole. However, for the chapters on Symposium on Food and fermented foods and drinks it seemed like a reasonable Cookery in England last summer is just one example. project to sample all that I wrote about. And mostly I did, including munsters, lambics, kvass and sour porridge.

A major exception was “surströmming.” I have always felt a bit guilty about the secondhand information that I included about this extraordinary fish delicacy. Surströmming, a specialty of northern Sweden, is one of the many fermented fishes that may be found in cuisines across Asia and northern Europe. The name means “sour herring.” However, this is no ordinary pickled herring, of which many varieties abound. Surströmming falls into such an extreme of fermentation that putrefied is a more appropriate word. According to my description in The Field Guide to Bacteria (Cornell University Press, 2003), surströmming is an “extreme example of food enhanced by halophilic bacteria” and the flavor is “so extraordinary” that very little is exported, and only to certain Swedish expatriates. I wrote that a can of surströmming “bulges disconcertingly” because it is packed while still fermenting and producing odiferous gasses. In July 2010, I was at the Oxford Symposium on Food, the topic of which was “Fermentation.” Renee Valeri (from southern Sweden) presented a paper on surströmming titled “A Preserve Gone Bad Or Just Another Beloved Delicacy?” Like many of the presenters, she promised a tasting at the end of her talk. Upon that announcement, a frisson went through the audience of 200 or so food enthusiasts (or “foodies”) who had traveled to the symposium from 26 different countries and who presumably were intrepid tasters of pretty much

SPRING 2011 19 anything declared to be edible. In my im- mediate section, a whispered conference revealed that very few would be taking up Renee on her offer. Meanwhile, I was feeling a sort of dread at the opportunity at last to sample something I had written about. I knew enough about myself to know that I would be obliged to add that missing item in my repertoire of fermented cuisines. But first was Renee’s talk, in which she revealed (and depicted) freshly caught (but soon rotten) herring during the year-and- a-half-long process of being putrefied to liquid and slime. Finally, just a hazy fish-like outline remains, composed almost entirely of bacteria and their wastes. Herring is a staple in traditional Swedish Renee, by way of encouraging us to taste, about 25 got within wind of the table and of cuisine and often the only protein by which reminded us that powerful off-putting odors these only about a dozen gathered in close, Swedes of old times survived the winter. An (such as those of wonderful surface washed snapping photos like paparazzi. However, abundant summertime catch of herring cheeses) often are accompanied by rich, de- few of those were actually planning to taste would be cause for celebration, but then licious flavors. But she also provided many and gradually most backed away. how to preserve it for the long dark months examples from the surströmming literature How to describe the smell? It was perme- ahead? Why not dry and salt it as many on the notorious nature of the putrid smell. ating and pervasive and so overloaded (or Scandinavians do? Apparently the climate of Renee’s talk ended; we could delay the confused) the olfactory neurons that mine northern Sweden precludes efficient fish tasting no longer. I began to justify in my periodically (and deceptively) ceased to drying as well as sufficient salt production mind not eating any. We were about to go smell anything (as though acclimated). Then, by evaporation. Only a tiny bit of salt could to a Szechuan lunch, which was predicted a few seconds later, a jolt of the full stench be added to the herring, and this served to be exquisite, and I did not wish to destroy would be fully noted by the olfactory center only to encourage specialized salt-loving my palate. But then the tasting was post- of my brain, engendering a primitive flight “halophilic” bacteria to establish themselves poned to tea time (4 p.m.), so I had the rest response, which I resisted. It smelled like in a roiling culture. of the afternoon to think about it, during the enclosed head of a small fishing vessel Wintertime hunger and most likely near which time I (and others) wavered. in which passengers had been seasick all starvation must have been the impetus The can of surströmming, which bulged night long as well as suffering from diverse for the rapid transition of attitudes of the in a manner that should have made it illegal, intestinal ailments, and in which the flushing northern Swedes. First, and very briefly, was opened outdoors far from the build- mechanism had finally broken. But that isn’t might have come disgust. But that would be ing. Of the 200 symposium participants (all all: in that same unfortunate fishing vessel, a quickly followed by gratitude for anything presumably great fans of fermentation), only lower hatch recently had been pried open, to eat at all in a snowbound and remote vil- revealing a horrific sight (and odor), a pile lage. Finally (and probably soon after, given of forgotten herring that had been festering the human penchant for rationalization), warmly for the last few months in a slippery came a sort of connoisseurship of the many pool of genuine bilge water. nuanced variations of herring putrefication. I stood several feet from the table, build- Indeed, in some modern northern Swedish ing my courage. It did not help that the communities, late August still begins the woman I was with, an expert on ancient surströmming celebrations. The European Roman fish fermentations that essentially Union periodically tries to regulate and liquefy fish into a sauce called Garum, was restrict this fermentation. Currently, it is not planning to taste surströmming. I said, legal to have cans of it, but people are no “Really? Not even out of scholarly duty?” longer allowed to produce surströmming in She was quite sure not! wooden casks or by burying it (composting The crowd had cleared so that I had a it, actually) in the ground. view of the bacterial fish remains set out

20 WHEATON QUARTERLY On the menu invitingly on plates accompanied by Professor Betsey Dyer ate what? Scandinavian flatbreads. The “pieces” of fish ranged from a sort of liquidy puddle Tiny skinny eels pre- Large smoked eels: kidneys which gave to his to a clot of slime to something that had a palate a fine tang of faintly “During a bicycle trip in bit of structure, albeit slumped. That latter pared like spaghetti: scented urine.’ I couldn’t find Germany, my friends and I gave me resolve, along with the fact that “These really did look like a mutton kidneys at the store, stopped at a restaurant in bowl of spaghetti and were but neither could Bloom. He the samples were small (so as to provide which the only things on the beautifully prepared with a ended up with pork kidneys enough for all). menu (or perhaps the only garlic and herb sauce at a and so did I, prepared as I placed my surströmming on a fragment thing my hosts would consider Barcelona restaurant. Upon described in the chapter. And, of flatbread and, well, I ate it. It was like a ordering) were smoked eel closer examination, it was yes, I did detect a faint aroma dishes. A tray stacked with very complex cheese (that is, well-rotted apparent that each spaghetti- of urine.” milk) with a cascade of front flavors, like strand had a tiny head enormous whole eels (two to three feet long), each with middle flavors and then several layers of and little fins. Also, since the a label tied to its tail, was Tripe (cow stomach) lingering surprises. It was intensely fishy tiny bones were in, they were just a bit firmer than al dente brought to the table, and along with being almost canonically hidden within an spaghetti.” I (the guest of honor) was cheesy: a fish-cheese. It reminded me of encouraged to chose the one opaque soup: an excessively creative effort in marrying our party would be eating. “I think if the chunks had been essential flavors by an ambitious young Calves’ brains pre- Interestingly, these large eels chopped up finer, this would chef of a new fusion cuisine. pared like scram- (caught in fresh water) are have worked out better for me. Instead, each piece came up As for texture, the tiny bones had bled eggs: the adult form of the tiny, immature, spaghetti-like eels from the depths looking like mostly decomposed, but a few remained “The same friend in Barcelona (caught in salt water.)” a pie.” for unexpected resistance. It was toler- who had been eagerly able. It was not exactly “good,” but I could awaiting my look of shock A condiment made imagine myself in a situation (such as upon seeing the plateful of Canned wild boar: August in northern Sweden at a party, at tiny eels took me on another “At the home of friends in of chopped-up occasion to a restaurant which vodka was being served) of having Poland, at a time when people fermented crayfish specializing in calves’ brains stood in long lines to get food, more than one “piece.” with all the append- served brunch style.” we had a special dinner. My And, actually, Renee was right; if it were hosts brought out a large ages recognizable: not for the smell, it would be just a no- Various inverte- antique-looking can of wild “This was in Ghana. I think if I table morsel of very mature pickled her- boar that they had been saving had known what I was eating ring. When others heard of my feat, they brates that crawl on in the back of a cupboard. I might have declined, but it mentioned that I reeked of surströmming. the bottom of the I tried to protest that they was too late. I put quite a bit And we were now back in the close, un- ocean: should save it for some more of this condiment on my rice special occasion, to no avail. and was eating merrily when ventilated confines of the lecture hall. One “Still in Barcelona, I was The can was opened and we I began to detect the textures person asked me if I was concerned that it exclaiming over a wonderful ate it, along with drinking of bits of crustacean carapace marine aquarium in the could have gone bad and would there be quantities of vodka.” and appendages. I was obliged waiting area of a tapas bar. any way of telling. The heartening news to eat it all, as I pride myself It was packed with all sorts is that it is impossible for the bacterial on being the sort of guest who of molluscs, echinoderms, Pork kidneys: does that. Later, the fermented culture that surströmming is to go bad. arthropods, and other “A few years ago I audited aspects of the condiment It is already there (having arrived many creatures that crawl on the a course on James Joyce’s caused some distress.” months ago) and there isn’t any room for bottom of the ocean. I teach Ulysses taught by Emeritus further badness. a course on invertebrates, Professsor of English Dick so I tend to enjoy this sort of Pearce. I became obsessed Professor Betsey Dyer’s research interests thing. Minutes later I realized with trying kidneys for include symbiosis; termite symbionts; that the aquarium was not breakfast after reading in evolution of cells; field microbiology; and decorative; we were choosing Chapter 4, “Calypso,” that: genomics. She is part of Wheaton’s Genom- specimens to be caught and ‘Mr. Leopold Bloom ate with ics Research Group, which is working on sautéed immediately for our relish the inner organs of regulatory sequences of the genomes of consumption.” beasts and fowls…. Most eukaryotes. of all he liked grilled mutton

Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) SPRING 2011 21 Gaining perspective Professor of Psychology Gail Sahar went to the Middle East last summer as one of 10 U.S. academics selected for a special program organized by the Palestinian American Research Center and sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Here, she writes about her personal observations and reflects on how the trip connects to her own scholarship.

Photos by Gail Sahar

22 WHEATON QUARTERLY Psychology professor takes a closer look at Palestine

By Gail Sahar Research Center and funded by the s the small, dilapidated van careened around the mountainous dirt road, I began Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau of to wonder if I had gotten in the wrong cab. Certainly the journey from Ramallah the U.S. Department of State. The seminar Ato Bethlehem, two major Palestinian towns, could not be this difficult. I was one of was intended to increase our understanding four people crammed into the bench seat of a “shared cab.” It was hot, and the open win- of the region and facilitate connections dow seemed to be inviting more dust than cool air into the vehicle. between American and Palestinian To my left sat two young Palestinian women, wearing head scarves and Western clothes, academics. We were based in Jerusalem, and to my right sat a young Palestinian man in stylish jeans and a T-shirt. The young women but traveled to a different West Bank town had gestured for me to sit between them and the young man, presumably concluding that each day, visiting universities, touring I would be more comfortable sitting in such close contact with him than they would. I had cultural sites and meeting with fellow the impression it was unusual to encounter a Western woman such as myself in one of these academics. vehicles and I imagined they were wondering what I was doing there. At that moment, I was Some months earlier, when a colleague wondering the same thing. forwarded the call for applications for this On this particular day, my third to the take charge of making sure our comfortable seminar, I immediately knew I had to apply. As a political and social psychologist, I had last in the occupied Palestinian territories minibus arrived safely at each destination. read a great deal about the Palestinian- (oPt), I was taking public transportation on Not that traveling that way was always easy, Israeli conflict. Much scholarly work on the my own for the first time. Having spent the but it felt luxurious compared to this. topic of international previous 10 days touring the region with a I was participating in the first Faculty conflict cites it as an group of nine other American academics, Development Seminar on Palestine, example—it is the I was accustomed to letting someone else sponsored by the Palestinian American ultimate intractable

Jerusalem skyline from the top of a building in the Old City.

WINTER 2011 23 conflict. But while many American academics have connections with Israeli scholars, there are few with Palestinian scholars. Fewer Americans still have visited the oPt in person to gain firsthand experience with what life is like for Palestinians living under occupation. This aspect of the conflict, the psychological experience of Palestinian day-to-day life, is a relatively neglected piece, one that seems crucial to understand. To many in the West, the Palestinians are associated with terrorism, religious fanaticism and hatred of Israel. But as a psychologist, I found that characterization too simplistic, and I was anxious to gain a more sophisticated

understanding of Palestinian life and culture. Standing by his house with the steeple behind is (from left) Gail Sahar’s father, Habib, his sister Nahil and It is intimidating to write about Palestine. brother Abdullah, and (seated) his mother, Malakeh, in the 1930s. The steeple, right, was photographed during Seemingly simple decisions such as what Sahar’s visit in 2010. to call the land or which map one uses to the history of the conflict, nor is it to made the long journey. The rest of the tale represent it quickly become complex and make a judgment about how to resolve it. is like many American success stories. He politicized. Unfortunately, the emotionally There are many books and articles that do moved up the ladder professionally, married charged nature of the conflict sometimes those things. What I instead hope to do is an American woman, had six children, and gets in the way of having a rational simply to report what I observed on this ended up as owner of a hotel in the Pacific discussion. My goal here is not to describe extraordinary trip. While I am well aware Northwest, where I grew up. But of course, that a visit to Israel would reveal a different the story is complicated by his and our picture of the effects of the conflict, the goal identity as Palestinian-Americans. He came of this seminar was to learn about life on from a country that doesn’t really exist as an the other side of the wall, a side that most independent state, and though he arrived Americans do not see. in the United States by choice, nearly all of his relatives fled or were expelled from the On the road to Bethlehem region at various points. Like most Christian Finally, the cab arrived at its destination in and many Muslim Palestinians, they are part downtown Bethlehem. Upon the advice of the Diaspora. of someone in the station, I hailed another For me, going to see my father’s family cab in search of my father’s house. This home was a dream come true. All of my life, I journey was personal as well as profes- had wanted to go to see the place I had heard sional. Although I was born and raised in so much about and to which I felt a strange the United States, my father was born in attachment. I had seen a picture of the house Bethlehem in 1920 to a Christian Palestinian and many more of the large Salesian church family. After beginning his college educa- that was right next door. I was surprised to tion there, he headed to Milwaukee, Wis., to discover that despite my clear images of the continue his studies and take advantage of place, it was not easy to find. a job opportunity. I had heard the dramatic The second cab dropped me off in the story many times in my life of my dad at age center of Bethlehem’s bustling shopping 25 hopping onto a military plane headed area. After a number of failed attempts for the United States, only to have it crash at communication, I was directed to a upon takeoff. Remarkably, he survived, pharmacist who spoke excellent English and and despite the pleas of his relatives to take knew the area very well. He pointed me in heed of this ominous sign from God and the right direction, and I managed to find abort the trip, he got onto the next flight and first the church, with its tall steeple, and

24 WHEATON QUARTERLY The wall erected by Israel and now covered in graffiti in many places.

then the house. I had a feeling of déjà vu, no doubt from having viewed so many pictures of my dad as a boy and then a young man posing in front of these buildings. Considering its age and what has happened around it, the house was in remarkably good shape, though sadly cluttered with litter like all of the West Bank. The plaque in Arabic on the side was still clear, and I could see the enclosed courtyard where horses and carriages had once pulled up. I refrained from knocking struggles to have a balanced life. But security violations or other charges (a case on the door and asking to see the inside. It despite those similarities, there were stark that received some international media was getting dark, and I still had to find my differences, problems that no American attention). Ultimately, she was able to finish way, alone, back to Jerusalem, a short trip by professor would encounter. her studies long distance, and even recently American standards, but one that required One of our first stops was at Bethlehem had a “graduation ceremony” in a church passing through Israeli checkpoints. That fact University, an idyllic campus run by the De in Gaza at which administrators from the made the duration of the journey completely La Salle Christian Brothers, where we were university presented her with a degree. unpredictable. given a brief tour by the vice president of Faculty and administrators at many of the Though this day was exceptional because academic affairs, an American. We learned universities we visited lamented the fact that of the personal aspect of it, most of my that the college had been closed 12 times by students from Gaza can no longer study days in Palestine were similarly poignant. the Israeli military, once for a period of three at West Bank institutions, which would It is a region filled with hope and despair. years. He pointed out a large hole made require permission from Israel. In fact, travel Everywhere we went, we encountered by an Israeli missile fired into one of the restrictions have turned these institutions resilient, inspiring people, but we were main buildings. It was covered in Plexiglas into regional colleges, attended almost also constantly aware of the impact of the to preserve the memory of the siege on entirely by local students. occupation on even the most successful of Bethlehem in 2002. Although there are 12 universities in the those individuals. Most of the academics I We were told of a student from Gaza, West Bank and Gaza, none of them grant met seemed like my colleagues here. We Berlanty Azzam, who was blindfolded, Ph.D. degrees. Palestinians wishing to shared the typical complaints of college handcuffed, and taken into custody by the pursue post-graduate degrees typically travel faculty: too many courses to teach, Israeli military at a checkpoint in October to Europe, the United States, or elsewhere in difficulties in getting students to think 2009 and prevented from finishing her final the Middle East to do so. This fact causes a critically, not enough time for research, two months of study, despite no record of number of difficulties. Though many return to Palestine after completion of their studies, a number do not. Academic jobs in the oPt are not exactly ideal, what with heavy teaching loads, little support for research, and low pay. So, Palestinian universities rely heavily on visiting faculty from other countries. However, that path, too, is difficult to navigate. Visitors can generally only get 90-day visas, a period slightly shorter than the typical teaching semester. At Birzeit University, much of my conversation with faculty about the possibility of my teaching there for a semester was dominated by the question of how to extend my visit long enough to allow me to finish the term.

The campus of Bethlehem University. WINTER 2011 25 The tile work at Cinema Jenin.

I was astounded by the amount of energy that must be directed at solving even the more minor problems posed by the conflict. For example, the existence of the separation wall erected by Israel and the now hundreds of checkpoints Palestinians must go through to travel from one place to another means that one can never know how long even a short journey will take, or even if it will be possible at all. People spoke of appointment times as tentative for that reason. (Israel maintains that the wall was built for security purposes, though many Palestinians argue that it was Besides the checkpoints, Palestinian roads are posed onto a more recent picture of him intended to annex more of their land.) mostly in terrible disrepair, and we learned playing the violin. Aburedwan was only 9 Even we Americans experienced that Palestinians cannot use the freshly years old when he began throwing stones at unpredictable delays. Though our American paved settler roads. When we finally arrived the Israeli military after seeing a schoolmate passports typically allowed us to be waved at the Jerusalem restaurant for dinner, the shot and killed. He seemed headed down a through relatively quickly, there was one Palestinian colleagues we were scheduled to path of violence and imprisonment when, at evening in which we were turned away meet were unsurprised by our lateness. the age of 17, he was discovered by a music at two checkpoints before finally being teacher who saw that he had a gift for play- Hope and despair allowed to pass through a third. There is no ing classical music. In spite of the difficulties of life in the oPt, explanation given for not being allowed to Remarkably, he eventually received a we saw many signs of hope. For example, pass; there is just an order to turn the bus scholarship to study music in France at the one of our stops on our visit to Ramallah around. At many checkpoints, a young Israeli National Conservatory in Angers. Upon was to a music school called Al Kamandjati, soldier, machine gun in hand, would board completion of his training, he returned which means “the violinist” in Arabic. the bus and walk up and down the aisle. to Palestine to start a music school for The school was founded by a young man On this particular night, we were ordered to the children of the refugee camps. The named Ramzi Aburedwan, who grew up in disembark and walk through on foot. There school now enrolls 500 students at various a refugee camp near the city. On the wall, was a long line of Palestinians in a maze of locations. Aburedwan’s goal is to give these we saw a poster with a picture of him as a metal turnstiles being ordered by guards. children hope and an escape from the harsh young stone thrower in the camp superim- realities of their lives. As we sat waiting to speak with him, a boy of 17 came into the room and spontaneously began singing. He was soon joined by another young man, who accompanied him on the drum. We were all transfixed by the impromptu performance, seeing the joy music brought to these individuals. The school is part of a bigger cultural movement in Palestine that includes The Freedom Theatre, another stop on our tour, which is directed by Juliano Mer Khamis, an Israeli Jewish man. The goal of the project is to expose children of the Jenin refugee camp to theatre and the arts and allow them to safely express themselves. During our visit, we stopped into an ongoing theatre class. One young man in the group, in halting English, told us of the personal

A Palestinian market in Hebron with fencing over the top. 26 WHEATON QUARTERLY Gail Sahar (in green shirt) in Palestine the day the group toured the Old City of Jerusalem with a guide. transformation that led him to use art rather than arms as a method of resistance. He said, “I am putting down the gun, and I am picking up the guitar.” Also in Jenin, we visited Cinema Jenin, which was just reopened after being closed in 1987, during the First Intifada. The inspiring story of the renovation began in 2005, when 11-year-old Ahmed Khatib was playing outside with a toy gun and was shot by Israeli soldiers who said they mistook him for a militant. The boy’s father, Ismail Khatib, chose to donate Ahmed’s organs at the Israeli there emphasizes the importance of thinking to simplify the complex input they must hospital, and they were given to six Israeli of the human rights implications of the process. We are constantly confronted by recipients. The story of Ahmed and his father current situation. The university is focused on so much information that we would be so moved German filmmaker Marcus Vetter making education available to all Palestinians, paralyzed if we did not take mental short that he produced a documentary about it regardless of their ability to afford it. cuts (termed heuristics) and use simple called Heart of Jenin. When Vetter learned categories (such as stereotypes) to evaluate A study in contradictions that there was no local movie theatre in Jenin people and make quick decisions. As I reflect on my experiences on this while on a visit there in 2007, he and Ismail One of the most common of these quick truly transformative trip, I am struck by Khatib took on the project of reopening judgments is to assume people do what the many contradictions of the place. On Cinema Jenin. The recently reopened theatre they do because of who they are—that one memorable night, we were hosted at will include a film school, as well as an is, their behavior is caused by something the beautiful home of two members of the outdoor café and performance area. about them, such as their individual traits Palestinian intellectual elite. We leaned on We saw less room for hope in some or character. We blame the individual, lovely Palestinian tapestry pillows, sipping Palestinian towns, such as the town of not the situation. This tendency toward our drinks, and had witty conversation with Hebron, which we toured with an official “dispositional attributions” is so common fellow academics, human rights advocates, observer from Temporary International that it has been named “the fundamental and other accomplished professionals. One Presence in Hebron. Hebron, a city with attribution error.” colleague whispered to me that she felt deep roots for Christians, Jews and Muslims, We may be particularly likely to blame like she was in a Palestinian Woody Allen was once characterized by peaceful individuals when we do not wish to movie! The next day, we were touring a coexistence between a Muslim majority and acknowledge their suffering or when we refugee camp, where impoverished children Jewish minority. It is home to the Ibrahimi see them as different from ourselves. Of played with sticks amid crumbling build- Mosque/Cave of Machpela in which course, in this case, our judgments about ings covered in graffiti. And yet, there was a Abraham, his wife Sarah, son Isaac and Palestinian individuals are also influenced remarkable consistency in what I observed grandson Jacob are said to be buried. by the ubiquitous media images of the in everyone I encountered. The Palestinian Hebron is now a divided city, and the “Palestinian terrorist,” and we quickly jump people, despite the generally negative ste- tension between Palestinian residents and to the conclusion that all Palestinians can be reotypes used to portray them in the United Israeli settlers was more palpable than in represented by this portrayal. States, are like all human beings. I saw any other place we visited. Settlements are This amazing trip allowed me to directly people who want an education, food on the built directly over Palestinian markets, which observe the complexity of the people and table, freedom of movement, a place to call are covered with wire fencing to prevent the situation. There was no excuse for taking home. I saw people who want Americans to litter from hitting the Palestinians below. A mental short cuts. What I saw was a group understand what they are experiencing. once vibrant Palestinian market is nearly of people who are trying to live normal As a social and political psychologist, I abandoned. Pictures of both Palestinians lives and even thrive in incredibly difficult should not have been surprised to find that and Israeli settlers killed in the conflict circumstances. They could be you or me. Q what I observed in the oPt did not match decorate many of the walls. up to the image most of us Americans have It would be easy to think of this conflict as Professor of Psychology Gail Sahar’s research come to accept. Studies in “social cognition” simply about religion. But at nearby Hebron focuses on attribution theory, ideology and or how we think about the social world attitudes, and her teaching interests include University, we were cautioned from doing consistently reveal that human beings need social and political psychology. so. The chairman of the board of trustees

Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) WINTER 2011 27 In the 21st century, there seems to be no such thing as keeping a secret—not even during a war. For example, last fall WikiLeaks released 391,832 secret documents related to the war in Iraq, revealing unprecedented detail about the treatment of detainees, civilian deaths, field operations and how the war is being conducted. It’s hard to imagine a time when “secret” meant secret. Wheaton College Archivist Zephorene Stickney takes us back to that time with her look at the critical role some of our students played in helping to decode enemy communications during World War II—in secret. Code breakers: The secret service

By Zephorene Stickney

e live in a world in which the revelation of secrets domi- nates the news—WikiLeaks, former CIA agent Valerie WPlame Wilson, Watergate. But step back in time to the world of the 1940s and World War II. Office to the Wheaton archives—except for Wool skirts and cardigans, up-dos and victory rolls, ankle socks and a few oblique mentions by then Wheaton saddle shoes. At Wheaton, 68 faculty members, most of whom lived President J. Edgar Park about “cryptoanaly- in Norton, taught fewer than 500 students. With a student-faculty ratio sis” and “secret projects…operating on the campus under the auspices of the military of seven to one, everyone knew everyone on campus. Along with the and naval authorities” in a Wheaton in faculty, students attended morning chapel and then rushed to the post Wartime newsletter. And then, of course, office (not the Internet) for mail. The class schedule included Saturday there are the memories of Charlotte Covell mornings. “Rings and Bells,” a regular column in The Wheaton News, Leach ’43. Charlotte was one of the first students announced engagements and weddings, while the back-page ads fea- recruited for the course. During her senior tured airmen, soldiers and sailors smoking Chesterfield, Camel or Pall year, then Associate Professor of History Mall cigarettes. If students broke social rules, they were “campused.” Ralph Hidy approached Charlotte about an opportunity to train in cryptology (the sci- Could anyone keep a secret in such a survived. A course so secret that the students ence of secure communications). He invited close-knit community? enrolled in it were told not to discuss it, not her to discuss it further, but emphasized Ask Charlotte Covell Leach, Class of even with each other. So secret that all refer- that she should avoid taking a direct route 1943. She took a “Naval Communications” ences to it were placed in war activities and to their meeting. After meandering around course that was so secret that no grade or war courses files marked highly confidential, campus, she was surprised to find that her enrollment lists, descriptions or records of it and never transferred from the President’s roommate, Marion Black Kennedy ’43, had

28 WHEATON QUARTERLY Paul Blackmore

Charlotte Covell Leach ’43, above with her husband, Myron, and pictured left as part of the WWII messenger service while a student at Wheaton.

directly concerned with the defense of this country and the prosecution of the war.” Twice a week, in the late afternoon, 10 cryptography students would make their individual circuitous routes to Mary Lyon Hall. According to Dorothy, federal agents, probably Navy cryptologists, taught the spring 1943 offering, with training in “cryptic analysis…to crack secret German codes.” The participants were sworn to secrecy about the contents and nature of the course. According to Charlotte, the teachers “told us to forget everything that had happened Twice a week, once we left the class- in the late room.” Homework afternoon, 10 consisted of fractured sections of messages cryptography to decode. Charlotte students would also appeared at the designated location! students for the first course in the spring of and Marion would make their hoto

P Professor Hidy had recruited both of them, 1943, had been called to active service by close their door and individual and several other seniors, including Elinor the Navy Reserve in August 1941 and was spend hours look- circuitous routes A rchives Wilbur Gould and Dorothy (“Dottie”) Reed stationed in Boston, but continued to live in ing for patterns in

ebbie Williams, both of whom are now deceased. Norton with his wife Muriel, a professor in long lists of number to Mary Lyon Hall.

B. G B. What did these students have in common? the economics department. groups. While their Apparently, it was a facility with languages Before they could enroll in the course, the work was not graded, it constituted a fifth arion M and mathematics. Charlotte was a French recruited students and their families had to college course. No one person received an major and minored in math; Marion majored pass a military security check. In a recent entire message, no one ever talked about the in math, while Elinor majored in history and telephone conversation, Charlotte recalled course or their assignment. And their friends economics. Other students in the class were being asked if she “talked in her sleep,” al- never asked why Charlotte and Marion history majors. “All concerned [were] bound though having her roommate, Marion, in the closed their door when everyone else left by an oath of secrecy not to divulge anything course solved that potential problem. theirs open. The course probably improved to the general public about the matter,” Dorothy recalled that “federal agents” in- the students’ problem-solving skills by teach- according to minutes from the Board of terviewed her hometown neighbors, family ing them to think analytically, keep an open Trustees meeting of Nov. 9, 1942. and friends. According to archived faculty mind, and avoid automatic assumptions. In the fall of 1942, staff at the Boston file notes, it was important for the govern- More than 30 colleges and universities, Navy Yard approached President Park about ment to know that each candidate pos- including Mount Holyoke, Smith, Vassar, sponsoring the cryptography course at sessed “the integrity, reliability and loyalty Wellesley and Princeton, offered secret Wheaton. Professor Hidy, who recruited the to the United States necessary for a position cryptology courses during World War II.

Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) SPRING 2011 29 Dorothy Reed Williams ’43 (left), a student representative on the Committee for Defense, with Lt. Louise Gifford Perry ’23, as Perry explains incendiary bombs in a course on civilian defense.

surrounding a large school building, saluted her superiors, and spent the day scanning for five-digit numbers divisible by three. As at Wheaton, decoders were given only sections of messages. But Charlotte particularly remembers the phrase shogo ichi, “noon,” or known position, reported by captains of Japanese merchant, fishing and naval vessels. After she had decoded her portion, the messages were sent to the next room for further work before they were MARION B. GEBBIE ARCHIVES PHOTO ARCHIVES GEBBIE B. MARION forwarded to American commanders. While many of the students majored in gible, and then distributing their translated Rather like in a grad-school experience, languages, the professors themselves would texts by secure means to appropriate these recent college graduates worked have been carefully chosen, and were a headquarters…. Exact and utterly reli- under professors from various universi- diverse group from many different depart- able information could thus be conveyed, ties, among others who had been chosen, ments—from astronomy to philosophy, not- regularly and often instantly… to the Allied according to Charlotte, for their “ability to ed Craig Bauer, a professor at York College commanders. The key concept was that of recognize number and word patterns, and of Pennsylvania, in a prepared talk about security: this whole operation trembled on put words together.” Two of Charlotte’s D.C. cryptology on campuses a razor-edge,” wrote Ronald Lewin in Ultra housemates had been German majors at Decoders during the war. Goes to War: The First Account of World Bryn Mawr, so she assumed that they were labored In May 1943, President War II’s Greatest Secret Based on Official deciphering the German Enigma codes, but around the Park reported to the Documents (McGraw-Hill, 1978). they never spoke about their work. If anyone trustees that eight seniors The thousands of codes being received asked about their jobs (and few did), they clock to had been offered appoint- every day required hundreds of people explained how “bored they were, pushing handle the ments in the Navy “as a trained in cryptology for decoding, as- numbers around all day.” thousands result of work done under sembling and analyzing their import. It Elinor, salutatorian of her Wheaton class and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, gradu- of messages the auspices of the Navy would have been disastrous to the Allies on the Wheaton campus.” if Germany or Japan had discovered the ated with honors in both history and eco- intercepted Those who had excelled vulnerability of their codes. nomics. She joined the WAVES (Women each day. in cryptology were offered After graduating from Wheaton, Charlotte, Accepted for Volunteer Emergency civilian or Navy positions who decided not to marry her fiancé until Services) and moved to Washington, D.C. in the U.S. Navy’s cryptoanalytic group in after the war, and several of her classmates There she lived and worked with 10 wom- Washington, D.C. moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the en in the Naval Communications Annex, The enormous Allied code-breaking ef- Navy. She achieved the rank of lieutenant, decoding Japanese messages. Elinor’s unit forts received various nicknames. “Ultra” junior grade. Marion, who became a was given a secret presidential citation, but was the name given to the project to crack mathematician and computer programmer, the women did not reveal their activities for Germany’s military code, which was itself served in Washington in a different capacity. more than 45 years. nicknamed “Enigma” by the British, while Dorothy married a Navy man. Eunice Work, Wheaton professor of clas- “Magic” denoted the project to decrypt In Washington, D.C., Charlotte’s team was sics from 1925 to 1955, appears to have Japan’s military code, nicknamed “Purple” responsible for deciphering the principal been recruited to teach the cryptography by the U.S. military. Japanese naval code, a feat that enabled course beginning in the fall of 1943. She “Put in the simplest possible terms, the many Allied victories in the Pacific. Each taught it until December of 1943, when she operation called ‘Ultra’ involved intercept- morning she donned her uniform, slipped left for Washington, D.C., to participate in ing enemy signals that had been mechani- her ID around her neck, walked through a Navy languages program described as cally enciphered, rendering them intelli- the gate in two high barbed-wire fences of “a highly secret confidential nature.” As

30 WHEATON QUARTERLY Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) a civilian employee of the Navy’s commu- clock to handle the thousands of messages nication section, she worked with regular intercepted each day. They often went to Navy personnel, as well as with Reserves work during the wartime blackouts, and from universities in California, Chicago and frequently transferred from bus to bus so Wisconsin. She remained on leave to the no one would detect their work location. U.S. Navy throughout 1944 and 1945. Shortly after the war ended, Neva Jane What was her preparation for teach- met U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Robert Upp, who ing cryptology? Perhaps it was her read- had been serving on an attack transport in ing knowledge of Russian, which she had the northern Pacific. One of Charlotte’s or improved with Army-Navy courses at Neva Jane’s decoded messages may have hoto

Columbia and Cornell that introduced her P saved his life. “You never know,” he told to the vocabulary of science, economics, The Hutchinson News. politics and war. A rchives Government records on breaking the

Maud Marshall, then Wheaton assistant ebbie Enigma and Purple codes were declassified professor of chemistry, finished the fall 1943 G B. in 1974. But sworn to secrecy, most civilian

course and taught it in the spring of 1944. arion and Navy decoders did not reveal their con- Among the students recruited to take the M tributions to the war effort. After the war, course that year was Neva Jane Manock many wanted only to move on with their “If you didn’t have graduate Upp ’44, who majored in English and lives. They married, had children, and died minored in history. She also took classes in school or a career lined up, you believing that even their children would not French and mathematics. did what you could to help” the be interested in their war stories. “If you didn’t have graduate school or a war effort, Neva Jane Manock In 1993, during the 50th Reunion of the career lined up, you did what you could to Class of 1943, when the women revealed Upp ’44 (pictured above) said help” the war effort, Upp said in an article their participation in the cryptology class, in The Hutchinson News in 2005. “During in an article in The Hutchinson their classmates were stunned, and mar- World War II, servicemen and women put News in 2005. veled “that there never was a leak—even their own careers and family plans on hold a rumor” during 1942 or 1943, despite the in order to serve where needed to keep usual campus gossip. Q America free, and put down the threats from intelligence, decoding portions of Japanese Germany and Japan.” messages. Like Charlotte, Neva Jane passed Author’s note: I want to thank Sandra Zom- After graduation, Neva Jane joined the several security checkpoints to get to mer, former Wheaton archives assistant, and WAVES, achieving the rank of lieutenant. her office, had a password that changed Professor of History Emeritus Paul Helmreich She moved to Washington, D.C., where monthly, and remained “tight-lipped” about for the background research they provided she specialized in communications and her job. Decoders labored around the on Wheaton’s code breakers.

Break this code In his course description for “Mathematics 202: Cryptography,” Professor William Goldbloom Bloch notes that “We live in an ocean of information and secrets, surrounded by codes and ciphers. Actions as prosaic as making a call on a cellphone, logging onto a computer, purchasing an item over the Internet, inserting an ATM card at the bank or using a satellite dish for TV reception all involve the digitizing and encrypting of information. Companies with proprietary data and countries with classified information: all kinds of organizations need a way to encode and decrypt their secrets to keep them hidden from prying eyes.” His course develops from scratch the theoretical mathematics necessary to understand current sophisticated crypto-systems. Do you want to be a codebreaker? Here is a phrase that Bloch has encrypted: “JCWJ JCTS LWS CWKT UROT WIA LWS CWKT RJ WHDIAWIJUS.” See if you can decipher it and tell us what it says. Write or e-mail us at [email protected]. If you get it, we will brag about you in the next issue of the Quarterly. Here is a hint: This encryption is made via a monoalphabetic substitution, in which one letter is always substituted for another. The Caesar cipher is the most famous example. For Julius Caesar’s version, it is traditionally told that all letters were shifted by three spaces, so that a = C, b = D, c = F, … w = Y, x = Z, y = A, z = B.

SPRING 2011 31 The beat of her own drum Katharine Boyce ’71 builds practice in tribal law

By Bo Schwerin been challenging and exciting. “Many people don’t have a grasp of what As a law partner at Patton Boggs LLP in Washington, tribal sovereignty is,” says Boyce, who has D.C., Katharine Boyce’s days are not typically also represented the governments of Spain and Pakistan, among others. “The tribes are punctuated by the shake of a feather-tufted spear or the sovereign nations whose rights as sovereigns clink of beaded clothing. are recognized in the U.S. Constitution, trea- ties and statutes.” Yet, on one extraordinary occasion in America. Toward the end of her first year, The complex legal circumstances sur- the early 1990s, there she stood amongst a she received a call from O’Hara, who had rounding tribal rights and interests trace whirlwind of color, feathers and tassels. In a returned to the private sector as a partner back to the early history of the United States. circle of spectators, she stood awed as men at Patton Boggs. The firm was seeking a While tribes enjoy sovereign rights and the danced—crouching, stamping, spinning, law clerk with legislative experience, and inalienable possession of their reservation driven by a current of undulating voices and Boyce fit the bill. Juggling full-time work and lands, they struggle constantly to protect their the thump of drums. school, she earned her J.D. in three years. lands or to develop them, notwithstanding Boyce had arrived in Tahlequah, Okla., In 1979, she became an associate at rigid, paternalistic regulations, Boyce says. headquarters of the Cherokee Nation, for Patton Boggs, focusing on public policy. “Lots of statutes and regulations that were the groundbreaking of a new tribal health Early in her career she developed an exper- intended to preserve tribes’ rights are old, clinic and was then invited to this powwow, tise in political and federal election law. By sometimes vague and cumbersome, and a tribal celebration deep with tradition, by 1985, she had gotten involved in an area of always hard to change,” she says. Quality Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller as a nod law that changed her career focus. of life and economic opportunity remain of thanks. Boyce had been instrumental in Patton Boggs, which had previously elusive on most reservations, many of which securing the federal funding for the new represented the Navajo Nation, was hired are among the poorest areas of the country. clinic, as well as funding to survey Arkansas by the defense contracting company owned Much of Boyce’s work with Native riverbed lands so that the tribe could claim by the Cherokee Nation. Boyce worked on American clients has focused on economic clear title and protect valuable oil, gas and several projects with the company’s CEO, development and infrastructure on tribal other resources from trespass and theft. who introduced her to then Deputy Chief lands. Her efforts have secured appropria- She is the longest-serving female partner Wilma Mankiller. Patton Boggs began a tions for new health clinics, water and sewer at Patton Boggs, now one of the largest law long-standing relationship with the tribe (the systems, road expansion, and incentives for firms in the country. Her work with Indian second-largest in the United States, after the Indian contractors. A favorite longtime client tribes and other Native American organiza- Navajo) after Mankiller was elected principal is the National Center for American Indian tions is a central part of a career that largely chief and retained the firm. Boyce served as Enterprise Development, which operates has been devoted to promoting and defend- Mankiller’s Washington counsel for the eight assistance centers that help Native American ing the interests of indigenous peoples. The years she was in office. and tribal-owned companies start and ex- roots trace back to Wheaton. Developing additional tribal clients, Boyce pand businesses. She came to Wheaton already politi- founded Patton Boggs’s Native American Her initiatives have even gone beyond cally active. Her mother was a passionate law practice, which has since expanded American tribes; she has worked on a pro Democrat, and Boyce wore buttons and into one of the leading Indian law practices bono basis with indigenous tribes in Panama stuffed envelopes for John F. Kennedy’s in the country. For Boyce, the last 25 years to clarify their legal rights. She is also assist- presidential campaign as a sixth-grader. of immersion in this unique legal field have ing a client on a project that will help native Her interest in politics and women’s rights Panamanian Kuna Indians harvest timber— found a catalyst at Wheaton. Government Her work with Indian tribes from beneath the surface of a lake. 101, taught by Professor of Political Science Pro bono work is a tradition in law, but Jay Goodman, inspired her to pursue a ma- and other Native American those who know Boyce say her interest in jor in government. After graduation, Boyce organizations is a central public service comes naturally. moved to Washington, D.C., where she part of a career that largely “For Kate, charity and goodwill is an worked for Congressmen James O’Hara and has been devoted to instinctive part of her professional and Brock Adams, gaining valuable legislative personal life,” says Tom Donaldson, presi- experience at a young age. promoting and defending dent of the National Organization on Fetal Continuing her education, she enrolled the interests of indigenous Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS). Long the chair in law school at the Catholic University of peoples. The roots trace 32 WHEATON QUARTERLY back to Wheaton. “For Kate, charity and goodwill is an instinctive part of her professional and personal life.” Tom Donaldson, president of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

women she has mentored to recognize that there are many career opportunities avail- able for women, without sacrificing a family life—even within the tough and complex area of Washington law and politics. “I wanted to become the first woman partner at Patton Boggs who stayed and built an enduring practice,” Boyce says. “Yet, when I came up for partnership, I was married and had three kids. To juggle family responsibilities and maintain a practice was really a challenge.” She attributes much of her own success to her Wheaton education. Professor Goodman, who has stayed in touch with Boyce over the years, says, “It’s no surprise that she has accomplished so much, and her friends at Wheaton also have done well. It was pretty clear that she was very smart.” At Patton Boggs, her office is a testament to a varied, fascinating career in full swing. The walls and nearly every flat surface are crowded with artifacts from the countries and peoples she has represented. One item she proudly displays is a photograph

rowder of herself with Chief Mankiller. (The iconic C Cherokee leader and Medal of Freedom icole N winner died last year.) “It was very satisfying representing the of the NOFAS board of directors, Boyce from severe mental disabilities as a result of Cherokee Nation and particularly working became involved in the 1990s because of her condition. While the petition was denied, with Chief Mankiller,” Boyce says. “She was the incidence rates on some Indian reserva- the NOFAS amicus brief helped bring atten- a wonderful role model and humanitarian.” tions. NOFAS works to prevent birth defects tion to the serious impact of fetal alcohol As much as Boyce was honored to resulting from alcohol consumed by the spectrum disorders. It was just one of the work with Mankiller, it was the chief who mother during pregnancy, which the orga- ways that Boyce has contributed to NOFAS’ honored Boyce that day at the powwow in nization says is the nation’s leading prevent- cause, according to Donaldson. Tahlequah. able cause of developmental disabilities. “It’s her passionate dedication to the NOFAS To Boyce’s surprise, Mankiller called her According to Donaldson, Boyce has orga- mission that leads the organization, attracts out of the ring of spectators. In her hands, nized many teams of Patton Boggs lawyers to others to the cause, and makes a difference the chief held forth a gift—a white shawl assist NOFAS, including filing an amicus brief to the individuals and families living with fetal with long tassels, patterned with blue doves. for NOFAS in support of a petition before the alcohol spectrum disorders,” he says. “It was beautiful and so unexpected,” U.S. Supreme Court. The petition challenged Boyce became a partner at Patton Boggs Boyce says. the death sentence of a defendant who in 1987. It is an achievement that she is suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome. The proud to have accomplished without losing Bo Schwerin is an award-winning author and defendant, Brandy Holmes—so named by sight of her first priority—her family. She works at the NASA Center for Aerospace Infor- her mother after her favorite drink—suffered says she wants her four daughters and other mation as an editor.

Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) SPRING 2011 33 GO BEYOND Rebecca Harvey discovers her career in science

A Wheaton education can take one in always been interested in chemistry, but I unexpected directions. Just ask Rebecca didn’t really see it until I had that experience Harvey ’08. with applying it.” When Harvey arrived at Wheaton as a Benoit recalls that Harvey was “a pleasure freshman, she was planning to pursue a ca- to supervise,” describing her as both a quick reer in dentistry. Today she is an ecological study and a self-directed learner. manager at the Squam Lakes Association in “I was particularly impressed by her New Hampshire, where she monitors water ability to troubleshoot problems as they quality, researches environmental issues and arose and her fearlessness in taking on new leads educational outreach for the nonprofit procedures,” said Benoit. conservation group. As a Wheaton senior, Harvey decided Growing up in southern Maine, Harvey she would go on to graduate school. She had never considered such a career, al- Rebecca Harvey ’08 chose a unique new master’s program in though she had volunteered for an animal environmental science and policy created refuge and enjoyed her AP chemistry class. it has nothing to do with dentistry.’ ” by Plymouth State University in collabora- An internship helped change her mind. But as the weeks went by, she kept think- tion with the Squam Lakes Association. It Wheaton had awarded her a Trustee ing back to how much she loved the work allowed her to gain hands-on experience in Scholarship, which includes a stipend to pay she had done in North Truro and the way ecological management working for the as- for a summer experience. During Harvey’s it had engaged her. The experience helped sociation, while doing her classroom work. sophomore year, biology professor Barbara the chemistry major realize her interest in When she needed a topic for her master’s Brennessel suggested to her that she use it to environmental science. thesis, she turned to her Wheaton experience. intern at the Cape Cod National Seashore, Harvey spent her junior year immersed in She decided on a topic she had first learned where Brennessel has done research. the subject, and the following summer she about during her senior seminar with Professor Harvey spent the summer working out of a received a Wheaton Fellowship to work with Laura Muller: emerging contaminants. lab in North Truro, Mass., monitoring water chemistry professor Jani Benoit on a study Scientists are only beginning to explore quality, managing invasive plants and restor- of mercury levels in Boston Harbor. Their the prevalence and impacts of “emerging ing wetlands, and she found it all fascinating. research, which eventually was published in contaminants,” which include pollutants like “I came back to Wheaton,” she recalled, the prestigious journal Environmental Science pharmaceuticals and personal care products, “and all my friends said, ‘So, Red [her nick- & Technology, gave Harvey a new focus. or PPCPs. Harvey worked with the New name], do you think you’ll go back to the “It really opened my eyes to the world Hampshire Department of Environmental seashore?’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t think so; of environmental chemistry,” she said. “I’d Services to develop a new method of detect- ing and measuring PPCPs in the Squam Lakes and other areas of the Granite State. Her innovation involved using safer and “greener” compounds to detect and mea- sure PPCPs in lakes, rivers and wastewater treatment facilities. Harvey’s approach was not only more environmentally friendly, it was also less expensive, which made it more feasible for state agencies and other laboratories to conduct testing. She has already presented her research at a number of academic conferences, and going forward she hopes to raise awareness about the proper disposal of pharmaceuti- cals and personal care products. If nothing else, she hopes people will heed one basic piece of advice: Old drugs should be thrown away in the trash, not flushed down the toilet as many people do. Q —Ted Nesi ’07

34 WHEATON QUARTERLY Collecting samples from Squam Lake. Working to protect others

In New York City, Christopher Paquet ’03 has made the protection of lives his daily mission. As the intra-agency liaison officer for New York City’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response since July 2009, he plays an integral role in protecting more than nine million lives. His job entails working with the city’s leadership to develop and enhance the response capabilities to biological, natural and man-made disasters. Ensuring the safety of New York City is no small task, especially since the September 11 terrorist attacks. “Planning to respond to emergencies is New York.” never easy,” he says. “The unknowns are Paquet graduated from Wheaton as a great, and the consequences for inadequate political science major, intending to fol- planning and response can lead to losses in low in the footsteps of his grandfather as life. It’s hard to forget that when doing my a politician. However, encounters with a work every day. The work never ends and different type of leadership sent him in a nothing is ever one hundred percent.” different direction. As a graduate student But he loves his work. “My job is never at New York University’s Wagner School boring. I often tell my family and friends of Public Service, he took on the heavy that working here is an educational experi- responsibility of managing a dorm of over ence every day. Although I bring emergen- 900 freshmen and 40 residential advi- cy management experience to the table, sors, who helped the school through a I work with world-renowned doctors and crisis among the student body. During his experts on very complex public health second year at graduate school, he was challenges. The H1N1 response was an given the opportunity to consult with the opportunity for me to get a crash course African Council for Sustainable Health also worked to aid the 10,000-plus families on the spread and prevention of influenza. Development, headquartered in Abuja, who came to New York in the aftermath of It was exciting to be a part of a response Nigeria. As part of a team of four, he was Hurricane Katrina.

that I knew was helping the citizens of asked to assess and report on how to better CROUCH BINDY In his spare time—between responding manage health concerns for the Pan African to bomb threats and flu outbreaks—Paquet Health Organization. serves his community as a volunteer. He “These two experiences made something co-leads New York City health department’s very clear: I needed to continue working in These stories LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender) illustrate the situations where time is of no luxury and Health Issues Group, helping the LGBT com- power of a problems sometimes require complex solu- munity gain support and health care. Wheaton tions,” he says. He also keeps his Wheaton connections education. The college community has So in May 2005 he took his first job contributed more than $85 million through as one of three alums who head Wheaton’s with World Cares Center in New York. The Go Beyond: Campaign for Wheaton, to Tri-State alumnae/i group, and he continues nonprofit organization provides support enhance the college’s excellence by: to value the experience and lessons that led to people rocked by the September 11 • Building the Mars Center for Science him to his current work. “Wheaton makes it tragedy. He became the center’s first man- and Technology. easy for students to explore outside of their ager for disaster preparation and trauma • Increasing scholarship support for comfort zones. In a world as complex as mitigation. In this position, Paquet traveled Wheaton students and their families. ours, a knowledge of many things is a very throughout the country to hold conferences • Growing the Wheaton Fund. powerful tool.” to share important lessons about disaster The college seeks to raise $120 million —Elizabeth Meyer ’14 management. In his time at World Cares, he by June 30, 2014. Learn more at wheatoncollege.edu/gobeyond. SPRING 2011 35 NEWSMAKERS One dress. The same dress. Worn every So I usually walked to work.” She raised nearly $1,500 for day. For 50 days. What the frock?! Föreningen Ny Gemenskap (New Sounds like a fashionista’s a local charity in a concrete Community Association), a non- worst nightmare. And yet, way. I have been so lucky in profit civic group in Stockholm Aimee Lambert Poor ’84 my life, and had made a new that helps vulnerable, disadvan- dreamed up the idea for herself friend whom I greatly respect, taged and homeless people. last fall in an effort to suspend and she influenced me in this Was it worth it? the mental energy spent think- regard. At about the same time, “Absolutely! ‘One Dress 50 ing about what to wear and to I read about a young designer Days: Uniform Hunger’ has be- simultaneously raise awareness who created a dress that could come one of the best experienc- and money for those who may be worn for 100 days. I thought es of my life. During the project, only have one outfit because that was really interesting. I kept conversation with colleagues, they are homeless. She asked that idea in mind and casually friends and family became more

friends, family and colleagues to wondered if I could find a dress > interesting. Nearly everybody

pledge money for each day she I could wear for 100 days. After link has an opinion about clothes, completed wearing the dress. consideration, I thought 50 uniforms, the project, wearing She then donated the funds to a days was more realistic. I also clothes for a long time, the role

intersecting of clothes in their lives, our con-

Swedish charity. decided it was time to examine o A government major while my relationship with clothes and

Class Notes Guidelines Photo Guidelines By fax: (508) 286-8228 Traditional photographic prints (made from a By post: Yes, the postperson is still welcome at our negative) or digital photos can be submitted to the Upcoming Deadlines door. You may mail columns or your news to: Quarterly for publication. Summer 2011: March 10, 2011 Class Notes Fall 2011: June 24, 2011 Tips for Digital Photos Wheaton Quarterly Winter 2012: Sept. 23, 2011 • In general, digital photos should be taken on the Wheaton College Norton, MA 02766 Spring 2012: Dec. 20, 2011 highest-quality setting. • Digital photos should be 4 x 6 inches or larger These deadlines apply to class secretaries and Questions? and 300 dpi. their columns. Submissions from classmates We are here to help tackle any questions, con- should be made directly to class secretaries before • Save the photo as a TIFF or JPEG and e-mail it as cerns or problems that come up as you work on these deadlines. an attachment to [email protected]. your class notSes. We cannot guarantee the publication of class How to Submit Class Notes notes received after the deadline as production E-mail: E-mail your notes to News about members of classes that are not listed or schedules and resources require strict deadline [email protected]. (Subject line: do not have a class secretary may be submitted to the Wheaton Quarterly preferrably by e-mail. compliance. Class Notes “year”)

A1 WHEATON QUARTERLY | UP CLOSE & NEWSMAKERS NEWSMAKERS

For 36 years, a Florida state law had prohibited gay men and lesbians from adopting children. Robert Lamarche ’94 challenged that law by seeking to adopt a 14-year-old boy (Kasey), whom he and his partner had been caring for for two years as foster parents. In October 2010, he became only the fourth gay man in Florida to adopt a child, thanks to a ruling by a Broward County juvenile court judge. And then, on Sept. 22, 2010, a Miami appeals court overturned the law, ruling it unconstitu- tional. A story in the Palm Beach Post stated that “It is a victory fueled by the initiative of gay men like Lamarche and [Donald] Giustiniani, partners for six years.” Several other media outlets also covered the story. “What an Lamarche family at SeaWorld: Donald, Kasey, Sharla and Robert. incredible thing to be a part of,” Lamarche said. He is currently a came to understand who I was as a person and realized that second-year law student at Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova being gay was not only OK, but it also was to be celebrated. I Southeastern University and works part time as a law clerk. He have always felt that as a gay man I was given the opportunity to also is a clinical consultant for the Alliance for Children, a private live my life somewhat differently, blazing my own trail. I get to be nonprofit adoption agency. A psychology major while at a different kind of man in the world, the kind of man that I want Wheaton, he notes that the college played a tremendous role in to be. Wheaton also gave me the strength to stand up for myself shaping his life and encouraging him to speak up. “I moved onto and other people who are oppressed and devalued in the world. I campus in August of 1990 a very insecure and directionless am a part of this victory in Florida in large part because of young man. Wheaton was a nurturing and progressive place. I Wheaton. This is Wheaton’s victory, too.”

NEWSMAKERS

Roxanna Azari ’10 graduated from Wheaton with a far-reaching mission and the resources to pursue it around the globe. A double major in women’s studies and English with a concentration in creative writing, she won a Watson Fellowship to study the religious, political and personal meanings ascribed to the veils worn by women in many Islamic countries. Her plans include visits to France, Morocco, Turkey, India and the United Arab Emirates to uncover the stories of women behind the veil and reveal the diversity of opinions, beliefs and personal stories behind the clothing. While in India last year, Azari struck a chord with people near the city of Mumbai, where she organized a poetry writing workshop and performance with a group of young women. The Mumbai Mirror described the scene this way: “While the loud Azaan from the nearby mosque silenced the crowd of 50 women and few men inside the tiny hall in Kurla, the enthusiasm of the performing poetesses hung thick in the air. After all, it was the evening of Bazm-e-Sukhan, wherein 12 young otherwise-shy Muslim girls from Mumbra were standing before an encouraging audience of family, friends and well-wishers, as they performed their own poetry in various formats. The inspiration behind this activity, Iranian-American spoken word poet Roxanna Azari, stood cheering each of her students-turned-friends.” Azari says the experience so far has been transformative. “I feel like the only ‘certain’ aspect of my project is the feeling of uncertainty. The poetry and performance workshops have been truly eye-opening, and the women I have met along my travels have all given me a newfound sense of hope and strength. Currently, I am running the workshops in Morocco, and working on putting together a national show here with the U.S. Embassy!”

Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) SPRING 2011 A2 ALUMNAE/I NEWS Rugby becomes more than a game

It’s common knowledge that rugby is one of the world’s toughest and grittiest contact sports. At Wheaton, it’s also synonymous with one of the most close-knit groups on campus. Founded in 1998, the Men’s Rugby Club now has about 30 members who play the game throughout the school year. The club is both a competitive athletic team and since their Wheaton days. Even more came ment for the Men’s Rugby Club. a student-run group, which means the players back the following year. The game is now an But the union is about much more than themselves are responsible for everything from annual tradition. money. The group has about 75 active mem- NICKI PARDO NICKI planning logistics and buying equipment to St. Onge was impressed with what he saw bers and meets formally at least twice a year. hiring coaches. on his return. “The club was on such strong In addition to the alumni game—which has Scott St. Onge ’99, one of the club’s co- footing—stronger than anybody would have drawn former players from as far away as South founders, said the group evolved out of a ever imagined,” he said. “As the alumni gath- America and Europe—a group of alumni and Sunday night pickup football game—to this day, ered afterward”—at the local hangout Sporty’s, current students play together each year in a most players have no rugby experience before of course—“we had a long and enthusiastic winter rugby tournament in New Hampshire. Wheaton. It quickly became a core part of his conversation about what more our group could The union’s reach extends beyond the college experience. offer.” They hit upon the idea of creating an playing field, too. Members post job op- “It was such an important piece of my edu- endowment to support the club, and before portunities on the union’s e-mail listserv and cation at Wheaton,” said St. Onge. “It’s a story long they were led into the ambitious cause by help out when someone moves to a new I’ve heard at least a dozen times when I have T. Patrick Bardsley ’99. city. (St. Onge, who was elected National returned,” he added. A shortage of funds had long hampered the Wheaton Fund co-chair at Homecoming last With that in mind, in 2006 St. Onge and a team. Since rugby is technically a club, not fall, and Lounder, who is a Ph.D. student at group of fellow alumni spearheaded the cre- an official sport, its funding comes from the the University of Maryland, College Park, ation of the Rugby Alumni Union, which keeps student activity fee—the proceeds of which are live just a few blocks away from each other former players in touch with the current team split among dozens of organizations. Individual in D.C. They credit their strong friendship as well as each other. players had to cover hotels, gasoline, flags and to the union.) And planning has already “People lose track of good friends after col- other costs out of pocket. begun for a group trip to the 2016 Summer lege. The relationships formed through rugby Led by St. Onge—an experienced fund- Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where rugby will were some of the closest ones—so we didn’t raiser who currently works as a consultant be an official sport. want that to happen,” said Andrew Lounder in Washington, D.C.—and guided by Vice “Rugby, to me, is less about the physical ’05, the club’s 2004–2005 president and cur- President of College Advancement Mary Casey, sport—it’s the camaraderie; it’s the friend- rent Rugby Alumni Union chairman. a group of former players spent the next three ship,” St. Onge said. “That to me is what’s The Rugby Alumni Union grew out of the and a half years reaching out to their fellow important.” Q club’s first-ever alumni game, which was orga- alumni. A whopping 85 percent of them agreed —Ted Nesi ’07 nized by Lounder in 2005 and marked the first to contribute. Last May, the Rugby Alumni time many former players had seen each other Union formally established a $100,000 endow-

A3 WHEATON QUARTERLY | UP CLOSE & NEWSMAKERS NEWSMAKERS Beauty is confidence. That’s what Margaret she shares tips on how to stay healthy in New “Maggie” Astolfi ’07 learned from her fellow York City, offers healthy recipes, and provides contestants when she competed last year to be advice on the latest athletic gear; and M Marks featured in an advertising campaign for athletic the Spot, a local guide to “all things food- wear by FILA. When the company held an related: restaurants, party scenes, event spots open casting call for its latest campaign, Astolfi and menu tastings.” An art history major while answered. The focus is on “real” women who at Wheaton, she now works at Clear Harbor embrace a healthy and balanced lifestyle. She Asset Management, driving the firm’s business was one of seven winners selected to launch development and marketing initiatives. “Every FILA’s Body Toning System. “Since then, I have day at Clear Harbor is interesting, dynamic and remained close with the FILA creative team challenging. To top it off, and this is something and have participated in additional shoots to I once took for granted, I get to work with an represent their lifestyle, tennis and yoga lines,” incredibly smart team of individuals that share she said. The experience was eye-opening and a diverse range of ideas, perspectives and core empowering, she noted. “Meeting the other competencies.” Interestingly, she said, “my ser- women at the casting call and on set reminded endipitous introduction to Clear Harbor came me that feeling beautiful is far beyond how you by way of a contact I met on the production look; it is the ownership of that beauty and set during one of our FILA shoots. It just goes the ability to rock the body with confidence. to show you that you never know who you’ll What was even more interesting was getting to meet and where you’ll end up.” —Elizabeth know the contestants, their stories and back- Meyer ’14 grounds. These are women who contribute to society in so many different ways and who See Astolfi’s photos and read her blogs are constantly finding opportunities to start a at: new adventure.” (Photos of her appeared in www.fila.com/Maggie-Astolfi/magie_ the October 2010 issue of Shape magazine, on astolfi,default,pd.html the Dick’s Sporting Goods web site, and in the www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tf4Y0izUrU New York Times.) Representing real beauty is www.TheFitPost.com just one part of Astolfi’s busy Manhattan life. www.MMarksTheSpot.org She also writes two blogs: The Fit Post, where

Join the club Did you know that Wheaton alumnae/i are eligible for full membership privi- leges at the Downtown Harvard Club of Boston? There are many ways to make the club a part of your life. Enjoy private meeting and reception facilities, ex- clusive monthly events, two dining rooms with varied menus, and other ame- nities. Also, a network of more than 130 private city clubs worldwide stand ready to welcome you when you travel for business or pleasure. For more information on this Wheaton alum benefit, contact the Downtown Harvard Club’s membership office at 617-450-8468, or visit www.harvardclub.com and click on Downtown Club to apply under the special Wheaton initiative. Downtown Harvard Club is located at One Federal Street, 38th Floor, Boston, MA 02110.

Comment on a story? [email protected] (Subject line: Feedback) SPRING 2011 A4 END PAGE A farewell with Gummi Bears

By Kelly Neale ’04 Saying a final goodbye to someone you love is never easy. As a chemotherapy nurse, I frequently observe tions for my future career as an oncology families struggling with this agonizing task. When my nurse and my personal experience with patients get sicker and their spirit slowly slips away, losing my sister. Learning to grieve is not the typical lesson you learn in college. But that’s family members are wrought with fear and anxiety. They what makes Wheaton unique. Professors wonder if their loved one will hang on for just one more teach lessons beyond the scope of aca- demia. They traverse books and lectures to day, or if the time has come to let go. enter your world, see what’s important to you, and teach you life lessons. I never imagined I would be in their position. When my sister passed away, I didn’t My big sister, Annie, had ringlets of fiery I experienced the death of someone close blow up Gummi Bears (although I think red hair and a spirited personality that drew to me. My high school chemistry teacher in Annie would have laughed at that!). But I people to her. But Annie was not a typical California passed away after a brave battle did find ways to smile through my grief. We 31-year-old. She was profoundly physically against leukemia. On a small campus in sang “Tomorrow” from Annie at her memo- and mentally retarded. Seemingly stuck in Massachusetts, I was thousands of miles rial service. Although tears were streaming time, she never progressed beyond the level away from the opportunity to grieve that down my face, I couldn’t help but smile and of a 9-month-old. She could never speak, loss with my community. At the time, I was remember the lesson I learned on a sidewalk wheel her own wheelchair, or feed herself. working on a research project with chem- at Wheaton. She communicated her emotions through istry professor Laura Muller. She sensed my laughing, kicking her legs, or gleefully bob- sadness and asked what I remembered about Kelly Neale ’04 majored in psychology and bing her head. my teacher’s class. I told her I distinctly minored in chemistry. She obtained her bach- In March 2009 Annie developed pneu- recalled blowing up Gummi Bears. Without elor’s in nursing from Columbia University in 2008 and currently works as a chemotherapy monia and spent five weeks in an intensive hesitating, Laura responded enthusiastically, nurse in New York City. She is attending gradu- care unit battling for her life. Despite fervent “Okay, then we’re going to do that!” ate school to become a pediatric oncology efforts to cure her infection, my sister could Laura, Shaelah Reidy ’03, a fellow research nurse practitioner. Neale was a 2010 blogger not overcome her illness. As a family, we student and friend, and I gathered up chem- for the Oncology Nurs- made the agonizing decision to place Annie istry supplies and headed to the front of the ing Society; go to www.onsconnect. in hospice so she could die in Science Center. We lit Gummi Learning to org/reconnect a peaceful environment. She Bears on fire and watched the and search her spent the last week of her life grieve is not the colorful plumes lift high above name to read surrounded by our family’s love. typical lesson campus. I’m sure there was her posts. Because I am a nurse, fam- you learn in some important chemistry ily members often ask me to lesson about carbon, hydrogen interpret medical information college. But and oxygen atoms, but I do not and guide their medical deci- that’s what remember that. I just remem- sions. With my sister’s illness, makes Wheaton ber the relief I felt from finding I struggled with the decision a way to grieve. Our little unique. to withdraw medical interven- experiment left a tiny hole in tions. As a healthcare worker, it’s my job the asphalt that day (shh, please don’t tell a to alleviate pain and treat illness. Choosing public safety officer!). Every time I walked hospice felt like a failure of my professional to class for the next two years, I saw that abilities because I could not find a way to small indentation in the sidewalk gathering heal my sister. Intellectually, I knew Annie snow, leaves or raindrops, and I remem- would not get better, but I empathized with bered that day: the day I learned how to my patients’ families as I struggled emotion- smile through grief. ally with the difficult task of learning to let At the time, I didn’t realize that this go of someone I loved. simple act with a college professor I was a junior at Wheaton the first time would have such relevant implica-

64 WHEATON QUARTERLY My gift. My way. pardo nicki Sally Willis Bancroft ’66 Retired from nonprofit management Married to Ron Bancroft for 43 years; mother of two Volunteer for Safe Passage; Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland; Center for Grieving Children “Three years ago when Ron and I decided to update our will, we spent a lot of time talking about what leaving money means, what we hoped to achieve, what we felt was appropriate for our children, and which organizations would best represent our interests. Wheaton is a part of my heritage. My mother was in the Class of 1931; her sister was in the Class of 1934; one of my brother’s two daughters is Class of 2010, the other, Class of 2013. So my attachment runs deep and wide. Aside from providing a well-rounded education, Wheaton encouraged me to build leadership capability; to understand what it means to be a responsible and caring citizen of the world; and to look for opportunities to make a difference. For these reasons, we wanted the college to be among the institutions to benefit from our legacy gift. So we have established the Helen Patch Willis ’31 and Mary Patch Turnbull ’34 Scholarship Fund to support Wheaton students, while honoring my mother and aunt. It gives us great satisfaction knowing that our gift will play a role in the successes of future Wheaton students.”

Your gif t. Your way. Learn how you can give for the future right now. Call the Office of Gift Planning at 508-286-3459. Wheaton College, 26 E. Main Street, Norton, MA 02766 www.wheatoncollege.edu

Enrich lives. Sheri Brady ’91 Senior fellow at Voices for America’s Children Winner of the 1996 Francine Marie Diaz Memorial Award Wheaton Fund supporter

Speaks up to improve lives. “Voices for America’s Children is a multi-issue child advocacy organization. We have 60 members in 45 states, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. My policy portfolio focuses on child safety, with an emphasis on child welfare. I really believe in the mission, which is to improve the lives of all children, especially those most vulnerable, and their families. This is the most important goal that we as a society can have.”

Listens to her calling. “At Commencement in 1988, [children’s rights activist] Marian Wright Edelman spoke so eloquently and passionately about her calling to work on behalf of children. I was so moved. I knew I wanted to also work to improve children’s lives. I knew that I could not rest in a world where kids go to bed hungry or on the streets. I wanted to provide a voice for children in policy debates.”

Makes a statement with her support. “Wheaton is an important institution in my life. The college helped shape me in many ways and gave me so much. I want it to be around for a long time providing not just education, but also support and valuable lessons for future generations.”

Support Wheaton rowder

Call 800-896-3145 (option 2) or visit C www.wheatoncollege.edu/giving icole N