A publication of the School of Arts and Sciences University of Pennsylvania / Spring 2003 NEWS INSIDE

2 Dean’s Column Making the Grade

3 Drawing Water from Chemistry Professor Madeleine Joullié the Well of Science AN APPRECIATION Science in the Curriculum

8 Catching the Sun bout ten years ago, SAS Faculty Member Madeleine Joullié, G’50, Wins Nobel Prize for Neutrino Science Gr’53, was about to leave a clinic at Jefferson 10 AHospital in Philadelphia following SAS Journal some medical tests. 14 “You’ve got to see the doctor,” Black and White and she was told. “You’ve got to wait.” Read All Over Preaching the Gospel of Joullié braced for bad news. Race in America “It’s an honor to meet you,” the physician, a woman, greeted her. 19 Desperately Seeking “You probably don’t remember me.” the Self “No, I don’t, but probably I Freshman Creates taught you Organic.” Joullié has Self- (and Other) Portrait been teaching Organic Chemistry 24 in the School of Arts and Sciences History’s Mysteries (or its predecessor) since 1953, New PBS Series when she became an instructor. Later she would become the first woman to join the department’s standing faculty. “I was a bio major,” the doctor reminded her. “I was scared to death of Organic. They told me there was this hysterical woman teaching the course. I came and talked to you, and then you encouraged me. You tutored me on Saturdays. You took me to ACS (American Chemical Society) meetings. You wanted me to be a chemist, but I wanted to be a doctor. You wrote me letters of recommendation....I’m here because of you.” For 50 years, future doctors, nurses, chemists, and other bright young minds have been taking

Lisa Godfrey CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 Making the Grade BY DEAN SAMUEL H. PRESTON

DEAN’S COLUMN “The greatness of the School’s educa-

tional programs and Lisa Godfrey the quality of the faculty who teach ot long ago, a visiting com- The report cites a number of generous sabbatical policies.” We them and who mittee, made up of distin- impediments to progress. “Without continue to search vigorously for produce innovative N guished scholars from modern facilities that keep pace resources and strategies to enhance some of the nation’s finest universi- with those improvements,” the our faculty, with one eye on deliv- research will create a ties, arrived on campus to carry out committee warned, “Penn will fall ering better educational opportu- ‘halo effect’ that a comprehensive review of the from the top tier of universities in nities and the other on enhancing will benefit all of School of Arts and Sciences. The the scientific disciplines—an our scholarly reputation. Penn’s parts.” process, the first in the School’s his- unfortunate result during an age I am proud of our successes and tory, was invaluable in helping us to when the revolution in biology, our progress, and eager to take up —SAS External Review gauge progress toward achieving the medicine, and information are the sobering challenge the reviewers ambitious goals set forth in our creating opportunities for academic set before us: “The School operates strategic plan and in providing us leadership.” For that reason, we’ve in an intensely competitive world with thoughtful feedback. made construction of a new life- with a small set of peers, many of The panel reviewed data and sciences building a top fund-raising whom have stronger starting met with faculty, students, and priority. The restoration and mod- points—larger resource bases, administrators over four days. In a ernization of Bennett Hall and the larger faculties, smaller student report delivered last spring, the music building are major items on populations, better facilities, higher external reviewers offered the fol- our facilities agenda. Other aging prestige, stronger histories. Its lowing summary assessment of the buildings, such as Williams and peers, moreover, are not standing School of Arts and Sciences: “It McNeil, are also in serious need of still. They are making significant offers educational programs of the an upgrade. investments of their own, with the highest quality at both the under- An eroded physical plant impedes result that the challenges facing the graduate and graduate levels and is faculty recruitment and undermines School are going to become more a center for innovative research morale. Faculty remain our most complex rather than less. Thus, spanning a wide range of disci- vital resource, and we have done a finding the revenues to make fur- plines. By all measures, moreover, good job building upon the foun- ther advances relative to its peers it is a far better school today than dations of existing strengths. will be a major undertaking.” it was a decade ago, with a better “Some of the departments in the I am grateful for the committee’s faculty, more selective students, arts and sciences already rank hard and careful work, its generous improved educational programs, among the very best of their kind,” encouragement and frank assess- stronger leadership, improved fac- the external committee observed, ment. “Penn is already an out- ulty and staff morale, and a health- “and its faculty includes scholars standing institution,” the external ier financial base.” and scientists who would be con- review concluded. “Enhancing the It is a gratifying report card, but sidered valuable additions at any of School of Arts and Sciences’ place it also challenges us. “The School the leading research institutions.” as its core will make it even better.” of Arts and Sciences has achieved Still, the reviewers added, the size I am confident that SAS and the impressive gains in recent years with of our faculty is small compared to university possess the abundance of tightly constrained resources,” the other top-tier schools, and SAS innovative talent and vision, and panel said, adding a cautionary note. “continues to face strong competi- the hunger for excellence to meet “The next phase in its development tive pressures from its peers, some the challenge ahead. is likely to be more expensive as well of which offer, on average, higher as academically more difficult.” salaries and, in some cases, more

2 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES Drawing Water from the Well of Science

New York Times science writer Gina Kolata surrounded by Vagelos Scholars in the Molecular Life Sciences. Her son, Stefan Kolata, C'03 (seated right) is a cognitive neuroscience major. The Vagelos Scholars, from chemistry professor Ponzy Lu’s freshman seminar, Chem 22,are required to read the Tuesday Science Times section every week and are quizzed on its contents. Reports Lu,“My grading rewards curiosity outside the box” or course content. Lisa Godfrey

SCIENCE IN THE CURRICULUM

Last fall, chemistry undergraduate chair Don Berry opened an e-mail from a young alumnus who was working on a television script. “One of our characters has the chemical formula for fudge brownies,” the former English major explained. To lend the authority of science to their show, the writers wanted to use the actual molecular structure, but their search for the formula had turned up nothing more scientific than a recipe. “So I thought I’d e-mail you, since you’re at my alma mater, and see if you could point me in the right direction.”

SPRING 2003 3 “This isn’t a Penn problem; it’s a national problem. And if it were an easy one, it would have been solved a long time ago.”

The right direction, Berry “Despite the observation that College students who, according to indicated, was an about-face to America’s basic research in science, senior surveys, regularly turn up reconsider the ill-advised query. mathematics, and engineering is their noses at the science portion In scientific parlance, a brownie world-class, its education is still of the general requirement. is a “mixture” of many ingredi- not. America has produced a sig- Department staples like Biology ents—from cocoa to nuts—each nificant share of the world’s great 101 and 102, says Schultz, prepare of which is composed of several scientists while most of its popula- future leaders, policymakers, and chemicals. A formula identifies the tion is virtually illiterate in science.” citizens to make informed decisions kinds and number of atoms that Almost three-quarters of SAS in a world where science and tech- make up each molecule of a uni- undergraduates major in something nology touch their lives everyday— form substance—H20 for water; other than the natural sciences, but diet ads, cloning, acid rain and C2Cl4 for tetrachloroethylene, the they must take some science as part ozone depletion, reproductive tech- dry-cleaning fluid Nobel laureate of the general requirement for a nology, consumer and political Ray Davis, Hon’90, used to capture liberal arts degree. Teaching science marketing, genetic fingerprinting solar neutrinos (page 8). “A for- to non-science majors is an impor- and genetically engineered food, mula implies there is a single type tant priority for the College, but, global warming, and much more. of ‘brownie molecule,’” Berry wrote as several faculty point out, the He is not alone among science back, “which there isn’t.” professional rewards for the faculty in touting the advantages of Conceding that popular televi- scientists who do the teaching are “real” science courses and lab work sion “mangles” the science “most of weighted more toward research, for non-science majors. Students the time,” Berry still was surprised grant getting, teaching department need to learn the basics of science, a College graduate, even one who majors and graduate students, and the argument goes, and the best had not majored in chemistry, running a laboratory. With that way to do that is through the tradi- should fail to grasp so basic a kind of reward structure, declared tional introductory courses that concept. “In an ideal world there one, teaching the “unwashed majors must take. would be a level of science literacy masses” is not necessarily in their “I think it would be wonderful that all educated people should best interests. in principle,” says Berry of that achieve,” he says, “but I have no “This isn’t a Penn problem,” rigorous ideal. “A good back- idea how to define it,” although, it College dean Rick Beeman com- ground [in the sciences and math] seems, it should include a grasp of ments, “it’s a national problem. gives you a firm ability to deal the difference between a recipe and And if it were an easy one, it would with scientific issues you might a chemical formula. have been solved a long time ago.” come across in daily life or reading Biology professor Richard Schultz the Tuesday [Science Times section unwashed masses proposes one solution. If science of the] New York Times—but I igh-level worry were spinach, he contends—and can’t give that to everyone who is among educators many non-science majors think it at Penn.” and scientists over is—then undergraduates just have It’s not simply because Schultz’s the “crisis” of public to eat it. At least eight full servings solution would overload the liberal ignorance about in the course of an undergraduate arts curriculum with science. thingsH scientific has been ongoing education: two semesters of Education for science majors is in America since Sputnik. In a biology, two of chemistry, two of structured vertically, with each 1996 report that reviewed under- physics, a semester of math, and layer of knowledge stacked on top graduate education in the sciences one of statistics. It’s good for of a lower tier of prerequisite (Shaping the Future), the National them, he insists, and there’s no learning. The intro-level science Science Foundation stated, need to make it more palatable to courses that Schultz would hold

4 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES Chemistry and the Culinary Arts

THE RICH AROMA OF BEEF FLOATED LAST FALL FROM A KITCHEN NEAR THE CLASS OF 1938 SEMINAR ROOM IN THE QUAD. CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR PONZY LU WAS WARMING FIVE KINDS OF BROWN SAUCE—ONE THAT HE HAD MADE AT HOME FROM SCRATCH AND FOUR COMMERCIAL VARIETIES. THE STUDENTS GATHERING FOR HIS PRECEPTORIAL, BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY OF COOKING, WERE ABOUT TO TASTE THE SAUCES ON SEGMENTS OF out to non-majors are aimed STEAK SANDWICHES, PURCHASED FROM A NEARBY LUNCH TRUCK. primarily at laying the foundation PRECEPTORIALS ARE SMALL, NON-CREDIT COURSES THAT MEET of vocabulary and concepts needed ABOUT THREE TIMES A SEMESTER AND OFTEN TAKE UNORTHO- to ascend the major’s many-storied DOX APPROACHES TO SERIOUS ACADEMIC SUBJECTS. LU’S PRE- superstructure of courses, which CEPTORIAL BROKE DOWN TO ABOUT TWO PARTS FOOD AND ONE handle increasingly complex ideas PART SCIENCE. FOR THIS SESSION, THE CLASS TRIED TO DISTIN- and delve more deeply into disci- GUISH THE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES IN SMELLS AND TASTES AMONG plinary subfields. “Once you go THE SAUCES WHILE LU TALKED (SOMETIMES WITH A MOUTHFUL beyond the introductory courses, OF STEAK AND SAUCE) ABOUT THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE TONGUE, you’re supposed to jump in with THE MICROBIOLOGY OF OLFACTION, MAILLARD BROWNING REAC- both feet,” remarks Larry Gladney, TIONS, AND THE PREPARATION OF SAUCE BOURGUIGNONNE. THE an associate physics professor. CLASS WAS PART COOKING LESSON, PART SOCIAL COMMENTARY, Many introductory science AND PART SCIENCE. NEXT SESSION: PIG PHEROMONES AND sequences are also “service courses,” Lisa Godfrey TRUFFLE TASTING. fulfilling requirements for pre-med curricula and other professional in the title [of a course],” Gladney programs as well as providing complains, “the number of people foundational knowledge for other who will actually voluntarily sign science disciplines to build upon. up for it is approaching zero.” The classes are among the universi- “My soundbite on this,” Beeman ty’s largest, and the students are puts in, summarizing the annual highly motivated and work hard. senior survey, “is that we found field or range across a number of “If you try to add on teaching maybe a third of our students enter sciences, stringing them together [these courses] to students who Penn fearful and ignorant of science along a single theme. His new really aren’t interested in science and leave Penn fearful and ignorant spring-semester course on The Ups but are coming in with completely of science.” and Downs of Temperature different motivations for what embraces the latter. “It’s my per- they’re supposed to get out of the some solutions sonal attempt to ...teach a course course—I suppose it’s too over- think the notion of that has a little bit of lots of differ- loaded as it is to do that right.” minimalist literacy in ent kinds of science,” he says. Gladney touches on one of the “ modern science is a The main text for the course is more vexing issues in teaching responsible notion,” his new book, A Matter of Degrees, science to non-scientists. Many affirms Bob Giegengack, a narrative for general readers that undergraduates want merely to chairI of earth and environmental probes “what temperature reveals fulfill the science sector of the science. “I don’t know how you do about the past and future of our general requirement as painlessly it, and I don’t know how you get species, planet, and universe.” as possible. Others are genuinely this into someone who is deter- The book—and the course—use interested in learning more science mined not to receive it.” temperature as the “connecting but want something more engaging Some SAS faculty think they thread” that winds through some and relevant than the groundwork know how, and a few have devel- of the great scientific questions of of details and jargon that majors oped science courses aimed at the last century: the origins of life, need. Many are also insecure teaching non-science majors. DNA, the Big Bang, plate tectonics, about their ability to handle the Physics professor Gino Segre dis- the birth and death of stars, the math—or else are bored by it. tinguishes two possible approaches: microcosm of subatomic particles, “We feel as though if you put physics explore in some depth a particular and other big ideas that Segre wants

SPRING 2003 5 increased understanding of mod- ern biology and how it impacts their life,” she remarks, “and enough of a foundation and interest that they will continue to read the New York Times science section” or other science news. to get across to undergraduates. in plenty of readings from what Ingrid Waldron, another biology Besides his book, students also read booksellers call popular science professor, believes all non-science more technical scientific papers literature as well as articles from majors should develop some per- and excerpts from science text- Scientific American, Discover maga- spective on how scientists see the books. “It’s a little bit of a wild zine, and other substantive sources world. Students need to “under- experiment,” he cautions. “I’m not of science reporting. “I try to get stand discussions of science sure how successful it’s going to be, students interested in reading enough to be competent citizens, but I thought it was worth trying.” about science in ‘lay’ texts that competent healthcare consumers, Biology professor Sally Zigmond are well written and palatable to etcetera,” she argues. “What I want chooses the discipline-in-depth them,” she explains. is to find something they are inter- pole of Segre’s dichotomy. For six She also recognizes and takes ested in and use that as a hook to years she has taught and refined a advantage of students’ strong get them to learn some of the other course that moves along the front- writing skills, assigning frequent things that I, as a professional lines of scientific discovery: What papers—five short, two long—in scientist, want them to learn.” Every Lawyer, Businessman, and which they must trace out the link- Waldron reels in groups of stu- Citizen Needs to Know about ages holding together the evidence dents on a line baited with Biology Molecular Biology. The course and conclusions in scientific of Human Reproduction and Sex looks at genetics, gene expression, studies. Almost all her students say Differences, a course cross-listed cancer, the immune and nervous they take the course to fulfill the with women’s studies. It discusses systems, and viruses with forays science requirement, but Zigmond anatomy, genetics, hormonal into bioethics, evolution, and measures success by how excited control, infertility, contraception, genetic engineering. The main they become over some of the sexual behavior, sexually transmitted resource for the class is a basic ideas. “What I want is for them to diseases, and other health-related biology text, but Zigmond mixes come out with some kind of topics. Students are eager to learn

6 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES “One of the things that you can get from reading the Science Times is an appreciation for how to reason. And I think that it carries through into every aspect of your life.”

selves to keep abreast of sciences “When I was a freshman, you outside their own specialties. know, it was the most—it was like Gina Kolata, a science writer for going to the movies. It was the the Times, wants readers to under- most marvelous thing that ever stand “the logic and the big point” happened to me.” that she’s writing about. “One of It’s important, he says, not to the things that you can get from “force feed” science but to convey reading the Science Times,” she to nonscientists a sense that the says, making a point that faculty work of science is fun. “I tell Just keep coming back to, “is an appre- So Stories to undergraduates about ciation for how to reason. And I how the world works,” is how he think that it carries through into describes his approach. “What I every aspect of your life.” really am is entertainment.... Kolata talks like an educator but The only way you’ll get any of that she thinks of herself more as an [scientific knowledge] into them is basic concepts of molecular biology entertainer. She’s not trivializing by making it interesting in the way and rudimentary statistics, she her job but pointing up how science, a TV program is interesting or a finds, if it will help them under- like reading a good book, going to movie is interesting or what your stand better the issues that concern a museum, or any other form of uncle’s telling you over Thanksgiving them personally. Waldron uses a intellectual stimulation, can be dinner is interesting.” He tries to mix of popular press articles and pleasurable, a kind of entertainment. get students to look at their sur- scientific papers to make students Stripping away the jargon that roundings more closely and to more adept at evaluating scientific obscures the science for the nonsci- think about what they observe information—how scientists put entist, she tells stories about the with stories about how cars, for together experiments and what experiments, the chain of evidence, instance, would be different if makes a persuasive study. The the reasoning to results, and the people were shaped like giraffes. approach, she stresses, leaves out scientists behind the latest strides The narratives he concocts can lead lots of the detail and complexity forward. “If I can’t make you read students to a sense that the everyday, that science majors would be it,” she asserts, “it doesn’t matter just-so world is quite surprising— responsible for. “I want them to how important it is. If you stop extraordinary even—when you be aware that what they’re getting after the first paragraph, it doesn’t understand it from the point of is a version that’s comprehensible matter how interesting it is.” That’s view of science. And he’s delighted to them, starting from where why she uses the “dinner table test” when a student comes back to him they’re starting.” to see if her themes and writing with a story about the antics of a strategies can draw family and guests squirrel they’d been passing for the E word into more than polite conversation. years but had never noticed before. sk science faculty to It’s Zigmond’s excitement measure Biology chair Andy Binns agrees define a minimal level of a successful course. that “there are good courses [in the of science literacy, For some of the science faculty, curriculum] for our non-science and you’ll commonly their first, memorable encounter majors, but there probably aren’t hear them invoke as a with their discipline felt like a kind enough.” Still, adds chemistry Astandard the ability to understand of entertainment. Biology professor professor Marsha Lester, who’s and critique the Tuesday Science Dan Janzen, who teaches Humans putting together a new course on Times section of the New York and Their Environment for non- environmental chemistry, “it’s just Times. Many seem to respect the science majors, rhapsodizes about an obligation that we have as caliber of writing and read it them- his experience taking Biology 101: CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

SPRING 2003 7 catching the sun Ray Davis’ neutrino “telescope” in the Homestake mine measured 20 feet in diameter and 48 feet long.

8 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES SAS FACULTY MEMBER WINS NOBEL PRIZE FOR NEUTRINO SCIENCE

Nearly 40 years ago, physics professor Raymond Davis, Jr., Hon’90, went almost one mile underground to study the Sun. He used 100,000 gallons of dry-cleaning solution as a telescope. For his trouble, the Royal Swedish Academy in 2002 gave him a Nobel Prize.

Davis was the first scientist to detect did his experiment capture only a solar neutrinos, an achievement third of the neutrinos predicted by that proved the Sun shines because theorists? The discrepancy between of nuclear fusion. He shares the the measurements and the yield prize in physics with Masatoshi expected by the standard solar Koshiba of the University of Tokyo model became known as the “solar for “pioneering contributions to neutrino problem,” spawning astrophysics, in particular for the decades of neutrino astrophysics, Raymond Davis, Jr. detection of cosmic neutrinos.” which has now come to fruition. the Sun’s core morphed into tau Riccardo Giacconi of Associated Scientists from Penn’s physics or muon neutrinos, which Davis’ Universities, Inc., was also named and astronomy department are on telescope was not designed to “see.” for his work in X-ray astronomy. the frontline of neutrino research, A major implication of the SNO When hydrogen atoms in the contributing to discoveries at some discovery that neutrinos “oscillate” solar core fuse to make helium, the of the world’s leading neutrino from one “flavor” to another is that reaction also releases neutrinos, observatories. Professor Ken Lande to do so, they must have mass. elusive particles that stream away has carried out research with Since the miniscule particles are from the Sun in a cosmic blizzard. Davis at the Homestake facility the most numerous bits of matter Neutrinos are about as close to since 1972, and emeritus professor in the cosmos, new questions about nothing as you can get without Alfred Mann has worked with what this result means for the fate actually arriving. Zillions pour Masatoshi Koshiba’s group in Japan of the universe are now open for over the Earth every second; almost on the Kamiokande detector. exploration. And some basic all of them pass through the planet In 1999, an international team assumptions of particle physics, as though it weren’t there, making of scientists, which included which posited a massless neutrino, them nearly impossible to detect. SAS professors Eugene Beier, are being rethought. Davis’ solution was ingeniously Douglas Cowen, and William Frati “SNO has hit two homeruns,” simple: 600 tons of tetrachloroeth- along with some graduate students, observed Princeton astrophysicist ylene, a chlorine-rich liquid. The began operating a giant neutrino John Bahcall, who provided major giant tank was placed at the bottom detector more than a mile below theoretical underpinning for Davis’ of the Homestake gold mine in ground in a Canadian nickel mine. work. “The first is the precise South Dakota to shield it from The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory confirmation of solar theory and cosmic particles more interactive (SNO) uses an acrylic sphere that the second the proof of new physics than neutrinos. A collector counted holds 1,000 tons of heavy water, that changes the textbook description argon atoms, which are created surrounded by 10,000 photo-sensors, of neutrinos.” Discover magazine when a neutrino strikes a chlorine which detect neutrino collisions. ranked the SNO breakthrough as atom. Only ghost-like neutrinos, With that more sophisticated number two in its 100 Top Science Davis reasoned, could pass through instrument, the SNO researchers Stories of 2002. that much rock to reach his appara- found that the solar neutrinos With his innovative neutrino tel- tus deep underground. Over a peri- thought to be missing all these escope, Ray Davis opened the book od of 30 years, he managed to catch years had been there all the time. of neutrino astronomy. Notes about 2,000 neutrinos from the Sun. During the eight-minute journey Bahcall of the SNO discoveries, The accomplishment settled one to the Earth, about two-thirds of “It closes one chapter and opens a

Photos courtesy of Brookhaven National Laboratory question, but raised another: Why the electron neutrinos created in much richer book.”

SPRING 2003 9 SAS JOURNAL Jon Perlmutter

ON CAMPUS Campus Perspectives: War with Iraq David RoosGary Becker James Wolfensohn Weighing Both Sides As the prospect of war with Iraq became a Merriam Term Professor of Political Science Granoff Forum reality, SAS faculty and students came and associate director of the center; James D. Wolfensohn, president of the together to examine the pros and cons. history professor Arthur Waldron, World Bank Group, spoke on “Poverty The Christopher H. Browne Center for Lauder Professor of International Relations; Reduction: The Future of Global International Politics sponsored a series Bruce Kuklick, Nichols Professor of Development and Peace” at the 2003 of talks with Stephen Walt, academic American History; and Nubar Hovsepian, Granoff Forum. While on campus, dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of associate director of the Middle East Center. Wolfensohn met with MA and MBA Government, addressing “Why War with On the Road students in the Lauder Institute of Iraq is Unnecessary and Unwise,” and In January, three busloads of Penn students, Management and International Studies Kenneth M. Pollack of the Brookings faculty, and staff joined an antiwar protest and discussed policy with the faculty and Institution, author of The Threatening in Washington, D.C., to encourage public doctoral students in the economics Storm: The Case for Invading Iraq, who dialogue on the war. SAS associate dean department. The Granoff Forum was presented the opposing viewpoint. A Walter Licht, who participated in the established in 2000 through a generous review of Pollack’s book by Merriam Term 80, protest, stated,“Millions of people are gift from Michael Granoff, C’ to offer Professor of Political Science Ian Lustick marching in protest throughout the world. leading decision makers an opportunity to appeared in the March 17 issue of . . . In the absence of substantive critique in examine globalization and its impact with The Nation. Lustick also recently appeared the media and minimal opposition from the students and faculty at the University on ABC News’ Nightline. the Democrats, opponents have no alter- of Pennsylvania. Previous forum speakers End of the Beginning? native but to take to the streets to stop include President Bill Clinton and A symposium entitled “Iraq: The End of this runaway history.” George Soros. the Beginning?” brought students and faculty together to debate the unfolding RESEARCH FRONTIERS invasion and the likely repercussions for Show Business ethnic relations, humanitarian disaster How do you make mega stars like Julia David Roos, Merriam Professor of Biology management, stability in the Middle East, Roberts and Mel Gibson? Jeffrey Berg, and director of Penn’s Genomics Institute, and U.S. foreign and security policy. Par’06, chairman and CEO of International was part of an international team of Sponsored by the Solomon Asch Center for Creative Management, Inc., came to scientists who recently decoded the Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict and SAS, campus to talk about his 30-plus years as genome of the malaria parasite, faculty participants were political scientist a talent, literary, and film agent for one of Plasmodium falciparum. Roos’ group, Brendan O’Leary, the Stanley I. Sheerr the leading agencies in the U.S. and Europe. in collaboration with genetics research Endowed Term Chair in the Social Sciences professor Chris Stoeckert and colleagues and Asch Center director; Ian Lustick, Goldstone Forum at the Penn Center for Bioinformatics, developed the parasite genome database, The third annual Goldstone Forum, an online resource (http://PlasmoDB.org/) 15,000 sponsored by the Philosophy, Politics and that receives more than hits per Economics Program, was held on February day from more than 100 countries. A CD 26. This year’s event featured Nobel laure- version has been distributed to researchers ate Gary S. Becker of Chicago University, worldwide who lack reliable high-speed who spoke on “Knowledge as Human Internet access. This breakthrough Capital in a Modern Economy.” Becker is a research has been published in Nature, pioneer in the use of economics to analyze highlighted in Science, featured as the cover human behavior. The Goldstone Forum story in the major annual compendium of was established in 2001 by SAS overseer genome database resources, and listed by

Ben Bressman Steven F. Goldstone, C’67. Discover magazine as one of the top science

10 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES stories of 2002. Roos’ laboratory has also STUDENT AWARDS ALUMNI been a leader in mining the parasite genome Adam Zimbler, a senior in the Huntsman Each year, SAS alumni from a variety of database to develop new targets for anti- Program in International Studies and Business, professions return to campus to speak and malarial drugs. He recently received a Senior was one of 40 students to receive a Marshall share their professional experiences with Scholar Award in Global Infectious Diseases Scholarship this year. This award from the students. These alumni are representative from the Ellison Medical Foundation. British government provides American of the broad—and often surprising—range Biology professor Nancy Bonini averted students with two-year scholarships for of career opportunities that await College the onset of a neurodegenerative disease graduate study in the United Kingdom. graduates. in fruit flies by administering medication Zimbler will pursue a master of philosophy to flies genetically predisposed to a disorder degree in politics at Oxford University. similar to Parkinson’s. Her findings, which Leadership Lessons have significant implications for the Dean’s Scholars Lively discussions and insider info continue to make the Robert A. Fox Leadership treatment of human diseases like Parkinson’s The 2003 Dean’s Forum, which was to Program’s Lessons in Leadership series and Alzheimer’s, were published in the feature two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning a success. In the fall, Aliy Zirkle, C’92, November issue of Nature Medicine. author David McCullough, was cancelled mushed onto campus to talk about due to the “snow storm of 2003.” Initiated her career as an Alaskan dog breeder FACULTY AWARDS in 1984 to celebrate the richness of the and the experience of being the first arts and sciences, the Dean’s Forum offers woman to win the Yukon Quest Sled Dog The Franklin Institute awarded Franklin the University community and the public Competition. She continues her quest Medals to Robin Hochstrasser, Donner the opportunity to meet with leading for first place in the Iditarod. After Zirkle Professor of Physical Sciences, for his use intellectual figures who exemplify the came David Montgomery, C’68,WG’70, of ultrafast lasers to study the structure liberal arts tradition. At the time of the president and CEO of the Philadelphia of molecules in solution and to physics lecture, the SAS Dean’s Scholars are Phillies, whose job this year included get- and astronomy research professor recognized for their outstanding academic ting a new stadium built and signing Raymond Davis, Hon’90, for his work in performance and intellectual promise. neutrino physics. Davis received the Nobel Jim Thome as the ball club’s first baseman. Prize (story on p. 8) in physics for pioneer- Undergraduate Dean’s Scholars Next came Richard Kelson, C’68, executive ing work in neutrino astronomy. Laura Chang VP and CFO of Alcoa, Inc., whose responsi- Dominic DiPalantino bilities include information technology, Peera Jaru-Ampornpan business support services, e-business Eric Knibbs activities and environment, and health Jason Lewis and safety areas. Erica Miao Avshalom M. Rubin James R.A. Shaw Katie Turner

Graduate Dean’s Scholars Christopher M. Adams Veronica E. Aplenc Erin Fay DiMauro Ömür Harmansah Farah Jimenez Authentic Happiness, the latest book Aislinn Melchior by Robert A. Fox Leadership Professor Dierdra Reber Martin Seligman, Gr’67, has been named Jessica Rosenfeld Books for a Better Life’s “Best Psychology Erika Summers-Effler Book” of 2002. The award, presented by Sayumi Takahashi the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Allison R. Tumarkin-Deratzian Aliy Zirkle recognizes the best self-help, motivational, College of General Studies Dean’s Scholar or advice book of the year. Charles N. Lord

SPRING 2003 11 SAS JOURNAL

The spring brought John J. King II, C’72,a Art collectors Robert Lehrman, C’72, and College Alumni Society senior VP at Rosetta Inpharmatics, Inc., to Katherine Stein Sachs, CW’69, and her The College Alumni Society, Penn’s oldest talk about working as a leading provider husband Keith Sachs, W’67, are among the alumni body, fosters the intellectual rela- of genomics and proteomics technology alumni who have opened their private tionship of alumni with the University and for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology collections to art history students studying provides support to undergraduates in the industry. Marjorie “Midge” Rendell, CW’69, exhibition planning and design. The course, College and to the School at large. Led by U.S. Court of Appeals judge and First Lady taught by Jennifer Hirsh, C’93, combines art president Steve Sokolow, C’77, and vice of Pennsylvania, spoke about a career in history and theory with visits to public and president Laurie Nelson, C’91, the society law and politics. Jean Chatzky, C’86, spoke private collections, galleries, and alternative offers programs such as a recent talk on about her career as editor of Money maga- display spaces. Students then curate their Woodrow Wilson by Bruce Kuklick, C’63, zine and financial advisor for the Today own exhibition at Penn’s Institute for Gr’68, Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Show. Finishing up was Alan Hassenfeld, Contemporary Art, guided by ICA’s Whitney- Professor of American History, and a C’70, CEO of Hasbro, whose family toy Lauder Curatorial Fellow. The exhibit, discussion of the Bread Upon the Waters manufacturing business has kept Mr. s(how), runs from May 3 to July 27. scholarship program by Elin Danien, Potato Head on store shelves for 50 years. CGS’82,G’89, Gr’98. Rachael Goldfarb, C’99, Michael Feinberg, Distinguished Alumni 91 90 96 C’ , and Farah Jimenez, C’ ,L’ , came The 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award back to campus to help the College launch was shared by Stanley Prusiner, C’64, a new publication to assist students in M’68, Hon’98, and Melinda Wagner, Gr’85. preparing for the wide range of career Prusiner won the 1997 Nobel Prize in opportunities that await them. The medicine for his discovery of the prion, a brochure, Where will you go from here?, rogue protein that is unlike anything else is online at http://www.college.upenn.edu/ previously known to cause infectious career/careers.pdf. disease. Melinda Wagner received the 1999 A panel discussion on careers in finance Pulitzer Prize in music for her gave SAS students a glimpse of what their Concerto for Flute, String, and Percussion. liberal arts degree prepares them to do. 86 Gerry Scott McClure, C’ , director of BV Philadelphia’s Book Group Ventures LLC; Gordon Paris, C’75, The City of Brotherly Love has chosen a WG’77, managing director of Berenson Guthrie Ramsey 78 78 Minella & Company; Jonathan Rosenstein, book by Lorene Cary, C’ ,G’ , a teacher C’86, senior managing director of Trilogy in the English department, for One Book, Capital; and Jeff Solomon, C’88, principal One Philadelphia, a program to unite Philadelphia Music! Philadelphians in the reading and with the Ramius Capital Group, talked Join us Alumni Weekend for Philadelphia discussion of a single book. Cary’s about their paths to finance careers. Music!, an examination of the city’s The Price of a Child tells the story of a contributions to jazz, gospel, and rhythm young slave who escapes while traveling and blues. Assistant professor of music through Philadelphia, and “rides” the Guthrie Ramsey will provide commentary Underground Railroad to freedom. The and perform with some of Philadelphia’s Penn Humanities Forum participated in finest musicians. Friday, May 16, from the project by hosting a town meeting 3 to 5 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium’s Amado on April 8 with Cary, Penn president Recital Hall. For more information and to Judith Rodin, CW’66, Philadelphia mayor register, look up the 2003 Alumni Weekend John Street, Richard L. Fisher Professor in online at http://www.alumni.upenn.edu/ English Wendy Steiner, and Duke University alumni weekend2003/. professor Houston Baker, Par’93.

12 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES SAS Welcomes New Overseers Following Franklin’s dictum, SAS has created the Center for Programs in Contemporary Jon Avnet, C’71, Par’02, film producer Writing to unite Penn’s three key writing and director resources: the skills-based Critical Writing Christopher J. Carrera, C’88, partner, Program, the Creative Writing Program, Goldman Sachs and the Kelly Writers House, a thriving 99 04 Daniel Dosoretz, Par’ , Par’ , president, extra-curricular writing community. CEO, and COO of Radiation Therapy Services Kelly Family Professor of English Al Filreis George H. Walker, C’91,W’91,WG’92, directs the new center. The programs will managing director, Goldman Sachs help students organize and articulate their thoughts through writing; develop their own style and enjoy the writing of others; MOVING FORWARD THROUGH and interact with emerging and world- PHILANTHROPY renowned writers. The center’s new home New Home for McNeil at 38th and Walnut will offer a seminar room with state-of-the-art instructional The search is on for an architect to develop technology, equipment for digital editing plans for a new building, on the corner of College Dean Rick Beeman and archiving, and convenient access to 34th and Walnut streets, to house the the nearby Writers House. distinguished McNeil Center for Early CHANGING OF THE GUARD American Studies. Construction and upkeep of the new building has been made Professorships in Criminology Richard R. Beeman, dean of the College possible through a $6 million gift from the The Jerry Lee Foundation has endowed of Arts and Sciences and the history Barra Foundation and Robert L. McNeil, Jr. professor most likely to teach dressed as two new assistant professorships to Davey Crockett or Thomas Paine, will step recruit faculty in the field of criminology. down as dean. Beeman’s five-year tenure Writing Right Dean Preston and Jerry Lee, president of Philadelphia radio station WBEB FM, as head of the College produced several If you would not be forgotten, recently signed documents establishing initiatives, including a revamping of the As soon as you are dead and rotten, the new chairs, which will be closely advising system and the introduction of Either write things worthy reading, affiliated with the School’s Jerry Lee Center the Pilot Curriculum, an experiment in Or do things worth the writing. of Criminology. The center was estab- curricular renewal. He will spend next —Benjamin Franklin year at Oxford University as the lished in 2001 by Lee’s foundation, which Distinguished Harmsworth Professor has given more than $7 million to the of American History. study of criminology at Penn.

Rebecca Bushnell, professor of English and current associate dean for arts and letters in SAS, will step in as the new College dean. Bushnell has served as associate dean for five years, overseeing the School’s humanities departments. A scholar of early modern English literature, culture, and history, she came to Penn in 1982 and is the recipient of the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Dean Sam Preston and Jerry Lee

Al Filreis

SPRING 2003 13 BLACK AND WHITE AND Michael Eric Dyson Preaches the Gospel of Race in America

HAT’S THAT TRAIL OF SMOKE THAT’S RISIN’ IN THE SKY,” NINE-YEAR-OLD “W MICHAEL DYSON ASKED HIS MOM LONG AGO.MORE QUESTIONS PILED ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER WITH GROWING URGENCY:WHY CAN’T I GO OUTSIDE TO PLAY? WHY IS THE CITY ON fiRE? AND WHY ARE PEOPLE RUNNIN’ UP AND DOWN THE STREET WITH TELEVISIONS AND STEREOS? Last fall, Michael Eric Dyson, the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities, came from DePaul University to join the religious studies department in SAS. He also holds an appointment in the Center for Africana Studies. The city he watched burning as a little boy was Detroit. It was the hot summer of 1967. By the time the fires were put out, 43 people were dead, over 7,000 had been arrested, and 14 square miles of city neighborhoods had been looted and burned. Less than a year later, Martin Luther King would be murdered. He remembers the visceral “Humpf!” his father let out when news of the killing was announced on TV. Dyson grew up in a working-class, poor-black community, where the schools and churches endowed children with a “sense of somebodyness.” He recalls, “We took for granted that black folk could achieve and love each other without hating anyone else, including white brothers and sisters.” His father labored in an automobile factory, and when the kids were old enough, his mother went to work as an aide in the public schools. With five boys in a three-bedroom house, it was a struggling but intact family. Up until the ‘67 riots, young Dyson had given almost no thought to matters of race. “But that’s when it all came crashing in on me,” he says. “I was just aghast at the destructive cycle that had ripped through our neighborhood. It was so perplexing. Why is it that skin color should make that big a difference?” The questions have been coming hard ever since, and Dyson says he’s just READ ALL OVER trying, as the hip-hoppers say, “to represent.” (“Tell it like it is,” for older alumni.)

MANY SELVES, MANY KNOWLEDGES Before becoming an Ivy League professor, Dyson had donned a number of identities: ghetto golden Lisa Godfrey boy, prep-school expellee, knife-toting gang

SPRING 2003 15 member, teenage welfare dad, facto- Since his youth, Dyson has ry worker and odd-job man, moved within a mix of “rival episte- preacher, philosophy major in a mologies,” taking up and putting white Southern Baptist college—he down again the academic jargon lived out of a car for a month—Ivy of arcane theory, black-clergy League Ph.D., prolific writer of cadences and Bible allusions, and popular books, public intellectual. the erudition of the street with its He still preaches most Sundays and rap and rhythm of the “Motown remains an ordained and commit- curriculum.” This semester, he is ted Baptist minister, but he doesn’t teaching a popular course on mur- have his own pulpit. He was booted dered hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur, out of a church for trying to ordain which uses the life and lyrics of the women deacons, and he likes to flashy pop idol to take a deep look “rub against the feathers of [his] at racial identity, black masculinity, Baptist brethren” by advocating for and the political and moral dimen- gays and lesbians. sions of race in America. “Shakur “I view myself as a work in grappled with the questions of evil, progress,” he says, “an improvised suffering, and how one understands expression of identity that is the complex claims of what’s good constantly evolving.” The glint in and what’s bad,” Dyson argues. The Michael Eric Dyson in the Darkwater exhibit at the his eye is part mischief and part tradition-bound academy, he seems Author Ross Gallery, part take-all-comers militancy. As a to suggest, pushing against the of the 30 years celebration of African American professor and public intellectual, boundaries of multidisciplinary studies at Penn. he revels in playing the “paid pest.” study, needs to link up the “world of Lisa Godfrey The record of his publications and the mind and the world of concrete appearances suggests it is money outside the academy.” His course well spent. In print, his byline and his book, Holler if You Hear Me, Northern ghettos in its grip— appears in journals of religious on the black rapper do just that, King’s views had darkened. opinion, mainstream newspapers, teasing out social commentary from “He later concluded that most scholarly publications, and mass- pop culture and earning Dyson the Americans were unconscious market magazines, not to mention sobriquet “hip-hop intellectual.” racists,” Dyson contends, and that eight mostly brisk-selling books. He “Different ways of knowing the race, poverty, and war are intimately is also sought after on the national world and trying to challenge what connected, thus challenging the lecture circuit and by TV anchors we think is knowledge,” he exhorts. deep-held belief that American and radio talk-show hosts, and the capitalism and its overseas exploits press often looks him up for sound- A MORE MILITANT KING were righteous undertakings. As bites on hot-button issues of race. yson has written books one of the earliest critics of the war about more palatable in Vietnam, “King shattered the D African American icons— prism through which America Malcolm X and Martin Luther King viewed itself as a world power, and “THE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN —but, if they are more acceptable he linked its global expansion to THE PRINCIPLE OF DEMOCRACY AND ITS to mainstream sensibilities, it is forces of oppression that made it a because their message has been bully....This is not the King we PRACTICE HAS BEEN MOST POWERFULLY robbed of its discomforting sting. choose to remember.” Instead, we GLIMPSED THROUGH THE LENS OF RACE.” Writes Dyson, “King’s true legacy honor him with a national holiday has been lost to cultural amnesia.” that sentimentalizes the black ora- The civil rights leader began tor’s oft-cited “dream” of a nation, his activism as a liberal reformer where people “will not be judged who believed that racism could be by the color of their skin but by the overcome with appeals to the content of their character.” conscience of white society. By the “[W]e have frozen King in a time of his assassination—when timeless mood of optimism that the civil rights struggle had moved later that very year he grew to from the boldface racism of the question,” Dyson writes. We listen South to confront a more subtle selectively to just 34 words of that and implacable racism that held speech and forget the nightmare of

16 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES 30 YEARS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

hat we’re trying to do through African American studies is professor, began to put together the university’s first African American “W teach the broader world what kind of issues have been at the Studies program.“The revolution called the ‘Black Studies Movement,’” heart of this experience,” notes Michael Eric Dyson, a new faculty says Tukufu Zuberi, the current director of the Center for Africana member with the Center for Africana Studies.“We want to open up vis- Studies,“transformed our assumptions about the need to simply study tas and horizons of understanding that educate and enlighten, because Western society in order to know civilization.” Today, the center offers so many of us are unmolested by enlightenment.” over 30 courses each semester, mostly through SAS departments. The earliest study of matters relating to African American perspec- Besides a major and a minor in Afro-American Studies, the center offers tives at Penn (and elsewhere) took place without the benefit of formal a full calendar of programs for students and the public. This year, the courses. The first such course at Penn was The Condition of the Negro in center sponsored Back to the Future: Thirty Years of African American Philadelphia, taught by sociology professor Samuel Lindsay in 1896. Studies at Penn. The year-long celebration included discussion panels, That same year, W.E.B. DuBois came to the university to study the lives lectures, art exhibits, readings, films, and campus visits by distinguished of blacks in the city’s seventh ward, ground-breaking research that scholars and intellectuals. yielded his epochal work The Philadelphia Negro. “Many of us are not even on the highway to become a victim of By the late ‘60s, in the wake of the preceding decades’ civil rights knowledge,” says Dyson. “African American studies is trying to situate struggle, new history courses began to appear in Penn’s curriculum: The people on that highway, to put an off ramp into your community. Once Negro in America, Controversial Topics in Negro History, and Black having introduced that highway there, you can see that its commerce History. Writer John Edgar Wideman, C’63, then an associate English flows back and forth. Great good can come as a result of that.”

pain and betrayal, of segregation afflict great numbers of African THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN COMING and deprivation that it also recounts. Americans. “As a presumed HARD EVER SINCE AND YSON SAYS HE S Conservatives have ingeniously achievement,” Dyson writes, “color- , D ’ taken over the “brilliantly disturb- blindness reinforces the very racial JUST TRYING, AS THE HIP-HOPPERS SAY, ing rhetoric” of I Have a Dream, misery it is meant to replace.” according to Dyson, twisting the King himself was critical of the “ TO REPRESENT.” meaning into something its author self-help, “bootstraps” approach to never said, and thereby repudiating achieving equal opportunity that the legacy of King. conservatives favor and a strong declared, “Our Constitution makes California’s Proposition 209, advocate of affirmative action. The it clear that people of all races must which eliminated affirmative action fundamental aim of race-conscious be treated equally under the law.” in college admissions and job remedies is the correction of past Comments Dyson, “The ingenu- applications in 1996, “pilfered” the and present inequities—the posi- ity of the right wing has been to language of the 1964 Civil Rights tioning of historically excluded appropriate the language of civil Act: “…the state shall not discrimi- minorities to better access oppor- rights and turn it against the very nate against, or grant preferential tunities that most have by virtue of people who fought for it to become treatment to, any individual or being American citizens. “You have real.” In choosing the birthday of group on the basis of race, sex, to take race into account,” Dyson the slain civil rights leader to make color, ethnicity…” When each maintains. “If race has been taken his proclamation, Bush acknowl- piece of legislation was written, into account to hurt us, then it must edged the power of King’s legacy Dyson points out, the “racial pre- be taken into account to help us.” while at the same time abjuring it, sumptions and practices were radi- On the birthday of Martin Luther casting remedies as “quota systems cally different.” In ’64, segregation King earlier this year, President that use race” to parcel out jobs, reigned and the law was intended George Bush announced that his education, and other advantages. to counter the social heritage of administration would file briefs “This is the perverse genius of slavery and Jim Crow. The univer- with the Supreme Court challeng- making King the patron saint of sality written into the California ing admission policies at the the movement to destroy affirma- law assumes that equal opportunity University of Michigan. Calling the tive action. In these circles, King is is no longer a “dream,” despite the university’s affirmative action prac- portrayed as a color-blind loyalist poverty and disadvantage that tice a “quota system,” the president at all cost. Perhaps the most tragic

SPRING 2003 17 price paid for viewing King in this you don’t understand the flinching because we didn’t have to deal with manner is that racial justice is that comes when the voice is the consequences. Now we have to trumped under the baleful banner raised....That’s why 9-11 was so deal with the consequences. It’s of ‘true equality’.” interesting to me. I think for the similar to when white society first time many white Americans finally felt the reprisal of black RACE AND TERROR knew what it meant to be black.... people in riots.” e can’t pretend that race Your life can be going swimmingly. is not a significant factor You’re doing all the right things: A BIG DIFFERENCE Win social relations, getting your education, working yson’s self-identification as asserts Dyson, that we are so color- very hard, living by the American a “paid pest” compels him blind nobody even notices race creed. At any moment, the terror of Dto keep hammering away anymore. As evidence he offers an race can impose itself on your life at issues of race in writing, in incident from his own life, which with lethal intensity, and it can just speaking, in teaching, and in the demonstrates in living color how crush you. That’s what terror does, scattering of soundbites like seeds being black dogs his movements and that’s the experience of many of hope. A preacher-professor, he through society. black people for most of our histo- thirsts for justice, and he seeks to Unsure about why he had been ry in this country.” He can recite a make it happen by opening eyes stopped by police late one night, he list of names from recent newspa- and clarifying, for anyone who will protested, “Sir, I’m a Baptist minister per accounts of black men who’ve listen, the structures of oppression. and a Ph.D. student at Princeton.” been viciously maltreated by “Whiteness invests in its own igno- “Yeah, and I’m the damn presi- police, and he adds, as far as equal rance and denial,” he declares. “It dent. Now get out of that car and opportunity goes, the higher eche- protects our conscience from being walk this line.” lons of American society remain torn and shredded by the sharp Alarmed by the hostility in the disproportionately white. edges of knowledge.” officer’s voice and alert to the bru- “I don’t think the president is an Dyson remains clear-eyed about tality visited upon black men at the evil man,” Dyson stresses. “I think the dark history of race in this hands of police, he exited the car he’s probably a nice guy with good country, but he holds pessimism with unease. No violence came of intentions,” but many whites “have about the future in abeyance. the incident, but Dyson was shaken consciences that have been spared Racial beliefs and behaviors are by the intimidation. strong scrutiny by a willful inno- learned and therefore reversible. “Unless you experience that cence.” The only blindness that A lifetime of socialization and every day,” he explains, “you don’t pervades American society, he con- learning is a fragile thing, he notes, really understand it—that kind of tends, is a racial naiveté, an incuri- and can be wiped away—for good terror, that kind of not-knowing, ous and complacent ignorance of or for ill—by a single experience. that kind of arbitrary violence. If how white-skin privilege is deeply “I reserve a measure of unknowing you’ve never had that experience, inscribed in the American contract. [about the future], in deference to “[A] crucial function of whiteness the fact that unexpected things can is to blind itself to its worst tenden- ambush you and give you a sense “THAT’S WHY 9-11 WAS SO INTERESTING cies, its most lethal consequences,” of a joie de vivre.” It could be just a he writes in Open Mike, one of his little thing, like the time he walked TO ME.I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME latest books. “[E]ven if the intent to into a soul-food restaurant with his harm does not exist, the malevolent wife and started kidding with a MANY WHITE AMERICANS KNEW WHAT IT consequences of white supremacy group of white people seated at a MEANT TO BE BLACK.” are just as real.” big table strewn with food. Americans’ failure to grasp why “I’m so hungry,” he said to them. extremists from the Arab world “I want some of that chicken ya’ll should hate us and want to harm got right there.” us is a version of this culpable “Oh, sure. You can have some,” blindness, he observes. “We have they laughed. been doing some nefarious, He sat down with the group, and exploitative stuff globally, and we two white women from another have not paid the price for it on table, with more food than they our own soil....It just shows how could eat, contributed their leftover strong we were—we didn’t even catfish, chicken wings, ribs, and feel it necessary that we should greens to the spur-of-the-moment understand why they didn’t like us CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

18 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES “NoDESPERATELY SEEKING way THE SELF was I going toFreshman compromise Creates Self-(and Other)my Portrait project or artistic vision for him.”

“We wanted the students to experience what it would be like to try and do this thing Lisa Godfrey they’d been analyzing all semester.”

y photos for my self-portrait project turned body,” she explains. “You’re not gonna know there’s a real out pretty well,” freshman Laura Goldberg me, an ‘essential self,’ if you just see the outside of me.” “M told her boyfriend back home in Cleveland. Goldberg, who has “horrible” eyesight, also blurred the It was November, and she was working on a project for images—a montage of body parts—to mimic how the her class, The Self-Portrait. The interdisciplinary course world looks to her when she’s not wearing contacts. pulled apart some of the tricks and props that artists use to Initially she planned to fill in the background with painted represent themselves in literature, art, drama, and film. objects that “represent me” and call the work 20/400, the Besides the usual analytic work, the class had an end-of- measure of her visual acuity.Then her boyfriend “flipped out.” term creative project. “No way was I going to compromise my project or artistic “Cool,” replied the boyfriend.“I’m glad that worked out.” vision for him,” she insists, describing the two-hour phone “I hope you don’t mind,” she followed up, “The photos discussion, the tears, the heated back and forth. are nude.” After confiding to her journal the argument with her “Oh no!” he exclaimed. “If someone else sees you nude, boyfriend, Goldberg lifted some of the recurring lines she what does that say about you?” uttered in her defense and used them as a red-over-black In the conflagration that went up, the boyfriend’s protes- graffiti background for the photographs. “I’m innocent,” tation posed a query that was surprisingly pertinent. What plead the red words. “I didn’t mean to.” In black: “such a others thought, it turned out, became an integral part of big deal;”“it’s just a school project;”“it’s art;”“will you still the “self” Goldberg tried to portray in her portrait. love me?” “We wanted the students to experience what it would be In the fire of feelings, Goldberg found that her self-por- like to try and do this thing they’d been analyzing all semes- trait was “tainted” by this other self, so she called it Tainted ter,” explains instructor Catriona MacLeod, an associate by Love. “The whole project was changed because of love,” professor of Germanic languages and literature. Tina Lu, an she elaborates. “My emotions and my project were both assistant professor of Asian and Middle Eastern studies, and tainted by someone close to me.” Victoria Coates, Gr’98, a lecturer in art history, co-taught If you look closely at a bottom corner of Tainted, in dark- The Self-Portrait with MacLeod. blue lettering obscured by overwritten text, you can make An avid photographer, Goldberg decided early on to use out an “I’m Sorry.” photos of herself. She posed nude because clothing choices Goldberg got an A in the course, and her boyfriend still might reveal something of her personality. “You just see a loves her.

SPRING 2003 19 “AT FIRST THEY TRIED TO DISCOURAGE ME AND MAKE FUN OF ME, BUT WHEN THEY REALIZED THAT I WAS DOING WELL, THEY WANTED TO COPY MY CLASS NOTES.”

Madeleine Jouillé nearly one per month, and was in Boston, where she took all the CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE recently elected District III director chemistry courses that were offered, Chem 241 and 242, or some earlier of ACS. An offer to edit a new earning a degree in three years. “I versions, from Joullié. In 1978, the chemistry journal had to be turned just loved being in the lab and mak- ACS awarded her the Garvan down. “She’s not just a venerable ing things,” she says. Many of her Photo: Lisa Godfrey Medal, in part for “devoted and professor,” remarks chemistry weekends were spent studying at the inspirational teaching.” At the time, professor Ralph Hirschmann, Boston Public Library, which main- Chemical & Engineering News “she’s a dynamo.” tained a set of Chemical Abstracts. reported that Joullié was teaching Ask why she doesn’t retire and “I remember one time on a more than 250 students each she replies, “because I don’t know Saturday,” she recounts, “some girl semester. “Every time I go to the how to do anything else....I get was crying in her room. I asked, hospital, there’s a good chance that up in the morning and I can’t wait ‘Why are you crying?’ I thought I’ll run into someone I taught, but to get to work. I’m annoyed at something was wrong with her. I don’t remember what grade I everything that gets in my way.” On She said, ‘Because I don’t have a gave them.” her office door, graduate students date.’ I was pretty surprised that When the Nobel committee have posted a sign that reads BOSS, one would cry for something like announced that alumnus which helps clarify the order of that. It never occurred to me that Michael Brown, C’62, M’66, Hon’86, things on the fourth floor of the I should have a date on Saturdays had won the 1985 prize for medi- Chemistry building, in case there is or any other day.” cine, Joullié quickly called the any doubt. Photos of past students Few of her classmates embarked College office. “Thank God,” she and their babies are scattered upon careers at graduation: most muttered when they told her Brown around her office. went on to marriage. “I didn’t have had received a good grade in orn in Paris, Joullié a clear idea of what I would do,” she Organic Chemistry. “I was worried grew up within a pro- recalls. “But I didn’t feel comfort- I might have given him a C.” tective family in Rio de able with what I had learned, so I At age 75, Joullié has intense Janeiro; she was not decided to go learn some more.” blue eyes and close-cropped silver permitted to go down- Her heroes were the likes of hair. One hand is black and blue townB by herself. Hoping to expand Louis Pasteur, Madame Curie, and and swollen from a recent fall. She his daughter’s horizons, her father Armauer Hansen, who discovered still teaches, publishes scientific shipped her off to Simmons the leprosy bacillus. “I had the idea papers (well over 200) at a rate of College, a small women’s college that I was going to cure diseases

20 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES and save the world.” So, at the [of qualified Ph.D.s],” remarks women and minorities or else risk recommendation of “this guy” at Helen Davies, Gr’60, a professor of losing federal funding. From 1976 MIT, Joullié came to Penn, where microbiology in the medical school to 1980, she monitored the hiring she was the only full-time female and fellow committee member. and promotion of SAS faculty, graduate student in chemistry. “The probability of that having comparing resumes of male and In those days (1949), there were been due to chance was . . . simply female candidates and sometimes no bathrooms for women in the astronomical.” The report also refusing to sign off on hires that Harrison Chemical Laboratory, found that women who held pro- overlooked qualified women. “Even which housed the chemistry facility. fessorships were concentrated in though I was told that I was crazy, Joullié had to cross an alley to the the lowest ranks, received lower that I would cause faculty to resign, old Smith building, then known salaries, and waited longer for pro- and that I didn’t know what I was as the Hygiene building, where motion than men. Joullié, an assis- doing,” she says, “I think I made the women technicians were at work on tant professor at the time, was one faculty aware of affirmative action.” a government project. Many of the of the “very, very few” women Provost Eliot Stellar later appointed grad students were not reticent science professors on the arts-and- her chair of Penn’s Council for about reminding her of her place. sciences faculty, Davies notes. The Equal Opportunity, which oversaw “Girls don’t do well” in science, committee issued a number of the activities of all schools’ affirma- they told her. “At first they tried to recommendations that set the tive action officers. discourage me and make fun of university on the path toward equal “Madeleine was pivotal in this me,” she remembers, “but when opportunity for women. whole women’s movement at Penn,” they realized that I was doing well, “There were a few women in the says Davies. “One of the important they wanted to copy my class notes.” early ‘70s who changed this institu- things about her is that she is fear- fter earning a doctor- tion,” observes chemistry professor less and formidable. No matter what ate, she interviewed Marsha Lester. “Madeleine was the cost to herself, if Madeleine feels with DuPont but was one of them.” Lester is the second that some information needs to be told the chemical woman to join the ranks of the discussed—it may not be diplomati- company only hired chemistry faculty. “Madeleine is cally correct at that moment—she Awomen in their library, not in their very outspoken,” she comments. will do it. She’s a brave human being research divisions. She accepted a “She has an edge to her....For a and just plain honest.” non-tenure-track position as an woman to have done this 30 years There is still some subtle and instructor at Penn, teaching under- before I came—there had to be “hidden discrimination,” Joullié graduate organic chemistry five an edge.” Adds Hirschmann, points out, but she believes women days a week and running the lab. “Whenever she speaks at faculty have made “tremendous progress” For five years, she had no graduate meetings, there’s never any doubt over the course of her career. “I students and carried out research in about what she meant. It’s one of used to say the best thing affirma- collaboration with undergraduates. her charms.” tive action did for women was to Later, only female grad students Later in the ‘70s, just before one put a ladies’ room on every floor, began to work with her. At faculty of the regular faculty meetings, which is true in a way. But it’s really meetings the secretarial duties were Vartan Gregorian, then SAS dean, done more than that. I think now, if usually delegated to her, and often put his arm around Joullié and pro- they really want to, women can the men would not take her com- nounced, “Madeleine, I’m making essentially do anything.” ments seriously. “I got no respect, you my affirmative action officer.” n her field of research, and,” she underscores, “I didn’t “What is that?” she replied. “I’ve Joullié is a standout both as want any from people like that.” got to find out what it is, first.” a woman and as a leading In 1970, Joullié served on the “Never mind,” he explained, scientist, regardless of gender. Committee on the Status of “we’re announcing it.” “She’s one of the very few Women, which collected and Even though she was conscripted Iwomen—we can count them on analyzed data to document the and was given no staff, Joullié didn’t two hands and maybe a foot— second-class standing of women wait to be told what to do but set who do hardcore synthetic organic on Penn’s faculty. The committee the pace for change. Reviewing the chemistry,” says Cynthia McClure, a found that women constituted only NIH bluebook, which outlined young chemist from Montana State seven percent of university faculty, affirmative action guidelines, she University who spent the fall in fewer than six percent in the arts then met with department chairs Joullié’s lab and in her home as a and sciences. “[That was] far fewer —all men, she recalls pointedly— guest. McClure wanted to move into than would be expected by the and explained how they would be research on nitrogen-containing number of women in the pool required to make efforts to recruit compounds, which are active

SPRING 2003 21 “MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT NOTHING IS TRIVIAL IN CHEMISTRY, BUT MOSTLY WE JUST HAVE FUN.”

in biological systems like human points out that Joullié’s “seminal Joullié has also played a leading bodies and thus key to making contributions” are in the synthesis role in research on didemnins, new drugs. “In order to be on the of “very difficult classes of molecules natural products isolated from sea cutting edge,” she explains, “I need- of great importance because of squirts. Didemnins are known to ed to become better versed in the their biological activity.” initiate apoptosis, or cell death, and techniques and methods” the Penn One of those contributions thus have potent antitumor and chemist had pioneered for building involved collaboration with the immunosuppressive activities. She customized and complex organic renowned cancer warrior Judah has produced several didemnin molecules. “She’s highly respected Folkman at Harvard Medical analogs, and she has synthesized because her chemistry’s awesome School and National Medal of probe molecules to track and and she publishes an amazing Science winner Paul Weisz, a study the biological activities of amount, and she develops new professor (now emeritus) in Penn’s didemnins. One of the didemnin ways to make compounds—that’s engineering school. For a long relatives she made, didemnin B, what we all look for....Her group time, Folkman had been studying was reported to induce apoptosis is one of the leading laboratories in angiogenesis, the formation of new more rapidly than any known the world synthesizing bioactive blood vessels, and its role in dis- compound. Newer, more potent nitrogenous compounds. Those of eases that include tumor growth versions are being synthesized in us in the field regard her as the and some forms of blindness. her lab. ‘Grande Dame’ of organic synthesis.” Folkman had developed promising Some of the substances Joullié Synthetic organic chemistry is the therapies that attacked angiogene- has put together could previously science of building designer mole- sis, but there were problems with be derived—with great effort and cules out of molecular pieces, side effects. After reading one of in small amounts—only from sometimes with the aim of tweaking Folkman’s papers, Weisz thought natural sources. Her syntheses have some basic molecular architecture he saw a solution and sought out made available quantities of com- to obtain a particular biomedical Joullié to design and piece together pounds that allow scientists to more thoroughly test and study their biomedical effects. Research “SHE’S HIGHLY RESPECTED BECAUSE HER CHEMISTRY’S AWESOME she did on ninhydrins prompted a AND SHE PUBLISHES AN AMAZING AMOUNT, AND SHE DEVELOPS NEW visit by Secret Service agents and led to fluorescent products now WAYS TO MAKE COMPOUNDS—THAT’S WHAT WE ALL LOOK FOR.” used in some countries for finger- printing. “My experience is that effect. Many of the synthesizing a molecular configuration that nothing is trivial in chemistry,” she techniques are not yet at a stage would work better. Together they maintains, “but mostly we just have where companies can enlist scientists synthesized beta-cyclodextrin sul- fun.” One of her current projects to take up systematized or automat- fate, a sugar that attaches more involves the synthesis of ed processes to create a desired effectively to the walls of growing Isoroquefortine C, a substance product. The science is still very blood vessels, delivering more of found in the blue veins of much an art form, and Joullié has the steroid cortisone, which stops Roquefort cheese. excelled in pioneering methods that the growth of new capillaries. Two years ago, Philadelphia are simple, efficient, and elegant. Subsequent tests showed that, with Magazine named her one of the Some of her syntheses are cited in Joullié’s made-to-order com- “76 smartest people in Philadelphia,” the textbooks. pounds, Folkman’s original treat- and she has a closet full of awards, Calling herself a “pragmatic ments could be made 100 to 1000 culminating in the prestigious 2002 chemist,” Joullié has followed her times more potent. Since webs of Cope Senior Scholar Award from intellectual curiosity, as well as the new blood vessels are vital to the the ACS. “Madeleine’s career is willingness of grant givers to pro- growth and spread of malignant that of a woman pioneer,” notes vide funding, in deciding which tumors, chemotherapies that target Hirschmann, who is a member of projects to undertake. “If a problem angiogenesis have become an the National Academy of Sciences involves chemistry,” she says, “I important part of cancer-treatment and a National Medal of Science don’t care what the problem is, I regimens. Studies also indicate that laureate. “She was the first woman will try to solve it.” Her research beta-cyclodextrin sulfate reduces organic chemist to be appointed to branches down a number of paths. restenosis, the overproduction of a tenure track position in a major Professor Barry Trost, C’62, a syn- cells on artery walls at the site of American University. She has a dis- thetic organic chemist at Stanford surgical procedures, growths that tinguished record as a scientist, as a University and former student, can lead to blockages. teacher, and as a mentor of students

22 PENN ARTS & SCIENCES regardless of sex, and she remains a Drawing Water from the Well of Science Black and White and Read All Over highly active, highly productive, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 well-funded organic chemist.” scientists, and I think more of us festivities. The diners talked about ooking back over her should feel that sense of obligation.” how rare it was to feel that kind of research achievements, Lester hopes to hook students who uninhibited generosity from white Joullié muses ruefully, want to understand phenomena Americans and about how sad it “We had big ambitions like acid rain and the growing was that such a small thing should of doing things to make ozone hole, and is aiming to give feel so sweet and should seem to Lthe world better, but I don’t think future leaders and decision makers make such a big difference. “It indi- I’ve done anything great. I was a better understanding of environ- cates both the depth of the depravi- pretty naïve, right?” mental problems and the value of ty in race relations,” he muses, “but You can never tell. Over her half science in general. also the thin cords on which it hangs.” century at Penn, she has produced Kolata insists that science is “Right now my pastorate is what a lot of basic research, yielding a intrinsically fun and fascinating I’m doing,” says Brother Mike. He rich body of knowledge whose when it’s presented at a level non- calls it a “secularized ministry,” and future application is impossible to scientists can appreciate and in a he preaches in tongues, mixing the make out. “Sometimes things way that draws them in. “It’s intel- idioms of the church, the academy, turn out [to be] more important lectually interesting to talk about and the street. “My church is the than you think,” she considers. “In physics,” she says with excitement. world,” he expounds with a sweep this business, it’s not always easy “What’s the world made of? of his arm, as if to take in the to predict.” Where did the universe come entire realm Between God and She’s right—not just about the from?” When she talks about Gangsta Rap, the title of an earlier vagaries of doing science but writing science stories, she keeps book, “and I want to bring the about the unforeseen futures that throwing out short rhetorical ques- gospel to as broad an audience as unfold from teaching. In 1998, tions—the kind that might enliven possible.” the American Chemical Society a dinner table conversation: Why honored Joullié for her contribu- is something true? How do you tions as a mentor and teacher know that? What’s the evidence? with its Award for Encouraging “I’ve learned a lot,” she main- Women into Careers in the tains. “I’ve learned a lot about how Chemical Sciences. to think from being a science As a graduate student in 1959, reporter. I guess that’s because I Helen Davies took Qualitative have the best tutors in the world.” Organic Analysis with Joullié. “She was magnificent,” Davies recalls. “I had never had a woman teacher at the University of Pennsylvania until I had Madeleine....It made me aware that a women faculty member could exist, which was not always apparent then in most departments.” The sentiment echoes the undergraduate who long ago took Organic with Joullié and later examined her as a physician: “I’m here because of you.” “I think that’s true in so many, many cases,” surmises Davies, counting herself as one among that multitude. “It’s just the story of her life.”

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“Detective” Tukufu Zuberi, a professor of sociology, is on the case. Director of the Center for Africana Studies, Zuberi is one of four people in charge of the “detective bureau” that will check out “the history hidden on America’s doorstep” in the new PBS series History Detectives. In the program, which premieres in July, world-renowned architects, antiquarians, and historians will use the latest investigative methods to make amazing discoveries about the homes and histories of everyday Americans.

Series producer Tony Tackaberry says Zuberi was picked because,“He’s a fantastic personality . . . and he brings this incredible brain to a variety of stories. We want persons with the intellectual credentials to investigate weighty and serious topics, but with the charisma and personality to engage the viewer, and I think Zuberi does this.”