Issue 14 H Spring 2011 H H H SPECIAL 2011 VANDERBILT STUDENT MEDIA HALL OF FAME NEW INDUCTEE ISSUE H H H tunnelvision A publication for alumni of student media at

thank you to our donors

Vanderbilt Student Media is grate- ful to its alumni and other donors whose contributions help sup- port alumni outreach efforts such as this newsletter and our Hall of Fame event. With your help we are better able to maintain a strong and active network and more able to help our students achieve their media goals. Our thanks especially to these donors Fred Buc terry eastland frye gaillard tyler kepner neil skene from the past year: Class of '79 Class of '71 Class of '68 Class of '97 Class of '73

Supporters Anonymous, ‘98 Anonymous John Boys ‘61 Fred Buc ‘79 Paige Orr Clancy, ‘98 Corinne Cookson ‘07 Charles Cook Dawson ‘65 Katherine Degerberg ‘85 T. William Estes ‘54 L.John Haile ‘67 Steven Hall THE 2011 CLASS Brad Hammond ‘74 Don House ‘75 Jerry N. Jordan ‘49 Juliann Schwan Larimer ‘88 Marni Lessa ‘92 Edyth Lasky Malin ‘47 Michelle Manzo ‘92 Hugh J. Moore ‘66 Steve Oggel ‘64 Harry Howe Ransom ‘43 Tom Rosenblatt ‘74 Daniel & Jennifer Schiffer ’04, ‘03 David C. Scott ‘88 Jim Tart, ‘64 John Travis ‘50 Homecoming Gold Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame’s 2011 class named Kevin B. Barnard ‘80 Roy Blount Jr., ‘63 by Ann Marie Deer Owens, Class of 1976 • Hall of Fame Committee • Senior Public Affairs Officer, Vanderbilt News Service Ann Carroll ‘74 Jay Graves, ‘93 G.Marc Hamburger ‘64 Five Vanderbilt University alumni who A ceremony and reception to honor Laurie Houston ‘91 made their mark as student journalists and the third class of inductees is scheduled jim leeson award Sally Houston ‘82 distinguished themselves through profes- from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Vanderbilt Irwin J. Kuhn ‘76 Geoff McClelland ‘62 sions that include author, writer, Student Life Center’s Ballroom B. The event, Paul Pirillo ‘86 legal counsel, publisher and radio executive which will be held in conjunction with Raleigh Romine ‘71 will be inducted Oct. 21 into the Vanderbilt Vanderbilt’s Homecoming/Reunion week- Carl L. Sebelius Jr., ‘61 Jeffrey D. Segal, ‘75 Student Media Hall of Fame. end, will include an announcement about Justin Seibert, ‘99 Those selected for the 2011 class are the creation of the Jim Leeson Award to rec- Robert Lawrence Shaw ‘04 Frye Gaillard, writer-in-residence at the ognize excellent student journalists. Leeson Kara Smith ‘00 University of South Alabama who has writ- was a longtime adviser at Vanderbilt Student Margaret Tarpley John H. Turner ten extensively on Southern race relations, Communications who forged lasting rela- politics and culture; Terry Eastland, pub- tionships with many students. Student Media Star lisher of The Weekly Standard and political The Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Jim Leeson, photo by Thomas Rushton Lamar Alexander ‘62 writer; Neil Skene, vice chairman and legal Fame was established in 2009 to honor This year's Hall of Fame induction will include Chris Carroll Robert C. Eager ‘67 counsel for MedAffinity Corporation and Vanderbilt University alumni who have the announcement of the creation of the Jim Sam Feist ‘91 historical writer; Fred Buc, general man- achieved outstanding personal or profes- Leeson Award for excellence in student journal- William W. Gwinn Jr., ‘77 ager for WRLT-FM, Lightning 100; and Tyler sional accomplishments and/or have made ism. Leeson, who died in May 2010, served as Alison Ruth Scholly Summy ‘90 consulting journalist to VSC for approximately 10 Sean Seelinger, ‘07 Kepner, national baseball writer for The years from 1974–'84. New York Times. Hall of Fame, continued on page 3 Alumni Sponsor Curt Jeffrey Mayer, ‘05 Justin Stephen Smith ‘03

Alumni Gold Sponsor Anonymous, ‘74 Skip Bayless ‘74 Radio license sale starts endowment

To make a tax deductible contribu- WRVU programming to continue service and will resume over-the-air broad- “The media industry is changing dra- tion to Vanderbilt Student Media, cast service on WPLN’s HD3 channel begin- matically, a fact nowhere more obvious please go to www.vandymedia. ning in the fall of 2011. than on a college campus where younger org and click on the “Donate” online and on new HD channel. button, or contact Paige Clancy The agreement calls for a payment of consumers and content producers are gravi- at [email protected]. The Board of Directors of Vanderbilt $3,350,000 from Nashville Public Radio to tating to innovative technologies,” said Mark Thank you. Student Communications and the Board of Vanderbilt Student Communications, gives Wollaeger, Vanderbilt University English Directors of Nashville Public Radio agreed WRVU the use of WPLN HD3 and guaran- professor and chair of the VSC Board of H H H June 7 to the transfer of the license of WRVU tees internship opportunities for Vanderbilt Directors. “This agreement will help ensure 91.1FM to Nashville Public Radio. students in Nashville Public Radio’s award- for our students the opportunity to shape The station’s new call letters will be WFCL, winning news department. the future of media for years to come. VANDERBILT STUDENT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. and its mission will be to showcase classical After careful deliberation, which included “Students and faculty members represent- music and the arts and promote local per- a nine-month public exploration, the VSC ing VSC researched various options privately 1967 2011 formances and events. The change in format Board concluded the creation of an endow- and publicly for two years and ultimately was effective midnight, June 7. ment was critical to ensuring student media’s concluded the sale to Nashville Public Radio WRVU’s eclectic programming format ability to service the information and cultural Celebrating 44 years in 2011 continues without interruption as an online needs of the Vanderbilt student population. WRVU, continued on page 7 2 tunnel vision bright lights an alumni column… The Hustler’s peculiar place in Media Leaders Vanderbilt baseball history The VSC Board of Directors selected the following media leaders for the 2011-12 academic year: The editor from ’68 tells the story… by Chuck Offenburger, Class of '69

Editor's note: At press time, the baseball team was for the

first time hosting a “Super WRVU InsideVandy.com The Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Regional” playoff, with the Robert Ackley Peter Nygaard Hustler Television winner of the 3-game series Station Manager Director Chris Honiball Andrew Kirkman with Oregon State advancing Editor-in-Chief Station Manager to the College World Series in Omaha.

Forty-six years ago, when I started as a student at Vanderbilt Chuck Offenburger (left) and Doug Bates at a Vandy game. University, almost no one on campus ever attended a home baseball game, except for the 15 to 18 players on the Commodores’ The Slant The Torch The Vanderbilt Orbis Political squad and maybe a few of their parents. They hadn’t had a winning Dan King Valerie Hsu Review Andri Alexandrou Review season in more than 10 years. They seldom ever won more than one Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Ariel Mason Editor-in-Chief Matthew Taylor or two games in a season. Editor-in-Chief Division Head In March of 1969, The Vanderbilt Hustler described what the ’68 team had been like: “…the program was less organized than those of most high schools. The players wore uniforms of dime store qual- ity and the athletic department was staging a minor holding action on equipment. It turned out ultimately that the Commodores of ’68 NOT PICTURED: didn’t even deserve the wares they were getting, as the shoddy outfit fanned, erred and laughed its way to an 8-19 record and a 2-14 finish Chief Copy Editor Zach Fisch in the SEC…” The thought back then that an alumnus might ever fly back to the News Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor WRVU Program campus in Nashville, to watch the ol’ alma mater play baseball? Hah! Liz Furlow Meghan Rose Matt Scarano Director Scott Cardone Preposterous! But that’s exactly what I did in late April this year, to watch a Vanderbilt 3-game series against archrival at Hawkins Field. Television Strange as it frequently seems to me, Vanderbilt now has one of the Program Director Rachel Abeshouse best college baseball programs in the nation. Crowds for home games now can approach 5,000. Nearly all games are televised or streamed. For six straight years, they’ve made the NCAA playoffs. Twice in the last five years, they’ve wound up only a game or two short of qualifying for Life Editor Multimedia Web Developer the College World Series in Omaha. Several former Commodores have Kristen Webb Editor Max Gillett gone on to play . Maybe most impressive of all Grace Aviles is that Vanderbilt has played at a very high level of college baseball, and done so consistently, since the early 1970s. This season’s team has a Yastrzemski playing rightfield – Mike, the grandson of baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski of Boston Red Sox fame. They have a pitcher named Jack Armstrong, just like the “All-American Boy” in the syndicated radio show that kids loved 60 years ago. This Armstrong is just one of a half-dozen quality pitchers on this year’s staff. And these Vanderbilt players today can hit the ball. Around the horn, their names even sound like a real ball club – Gray, And the awards go to … Casali, Westlake, Gomez, Esposito, Kemp, Loftus, Yaz. Meanwhile, we alumni and other fans worry constantly that our head coach , now in his ninth year, is going to be stolen away by one of Vanderbilt Student Media hosted its annual year- a mentor is fitting – Hannah plans to work as an the perennially elite college baseball programs. end awards ceremony on April 27, and Mark elementary school teacher. Now, I don’t know whether to be thrilled or embarrassed to report Wollaeger, VSC board chair and English profes- sor, presented the following awards: that I have a niche in the story of the renaissance and current golden age of Commodore baseball. How? WRVU Award Well, I was involved in what surely must have been one of the all- The WRVU Award for Dedication to Excellence time low points – if not the very nadir – of Vandy baseball. Alexander Award in Radio was given to rising junior Emily Foster. It happened in the spring of 1966 when I was the third string The award was endowed in 2007 by former WRVU catcher on the freshman team, and we were playing in Pulaski, The Charles Forrest Alexander Award in general manager Dr. Jamie Noble and is presented Tennessee, against a fine team from Martin Methodist Junior College Journalism was given to graduating senior Hannah annually to an undergraduate Vanderbilt student there. In fact, we were getting clobbered. Our coach, Sam Hirt, had Twillman. This prestigious award is presented annu- who is a current WRVU DJ, a member of the been growling all evening at the home plate umpire, and suddenly ally to a student who has achieved distinction in executive staff, and one who has shown excellence Hirt seemed to snap. He called me to his corner of the dugout, told Vanderbilt stu- beyond expec- dent journal- tations for me to get in the game as catcher, “and I want you to raise so much hell istic projects. their posi- The award’s tion in their selection cri- dedication to Alumni Column, continued on page 7 teria include: WRVU either the degree of in listener- active partici- ship, program- pation in stu- ming, music dent journal- education of tunnelvision ism projects the public, Tunnel Vision is published by Vanderbilt Student Communications, Inc. and activities, engineering, Edited by o b j e c t i v i t y or financial Paige Clancy and thorough- support. ness expressed Foster served Stories by Hannah Twillman Paige Clancy, Ann Marie Deer Owens in material or Emily Foster as the training and Gaby Román work, regard director, and Layout and Design by for journalistic and personal ethics, and impact of her enthusiasm for the position and WRVU helped Jeff Breaux and Matt Radford journalistic activities on student life at Vanderbilt to attract a record number of new student trainees Printed by Twillman worked in Student Media throughout to the station in the fall. She also co-hosts the Franklin Web Printing, Co. her career at Vanderbilt. She began as a copy edi- show “91 Across,” and has been integral in other

Please send address updates via mail, phone, fax or e-mail to: tor at The Hustler and became the paper’s editor- station activities such as “WRVU on the Wall,” Vanderbilt Student Communications Attn: Alumni Mailing List • 2301 Vanderbilt Place • VU Station B 351669 • Nashville, TN 37235 in-chief in her junior year. She spent the spring Parent's Weekend broadcasts from Studio C, and

615-322-6610 (phone) • 615-343-2756 (fax) semester helping out in the Newsroom, chasing the WRVU charity CD sale. [email protected] • www.vscmedia.org down news stories, writing and editing, and men- toring her fellow student journalists. Her role as H H H Issue 14 • Spring 2011 3

Hall of Fame: third class of honorees to be inducted Oct. 21 during Homecoming

Hall of Fame, continued from page 1 program on Saturday mornings since October 1993. The show has a strong connection to Buc’s days at WRVU distinguished and lasting contributions to their field and is one of the highest-rated time periods on the sta- and/or to society in general. Induction into the Hall tion. “It’s fun, not work, and keeps me close to the listen- of Fame is the highest honor Vanderbilt Student Media ing audience,” Buc said. “I don’t ever want to forget why can bestow on its former students. To be eligible for I got into this business.” induction ceremony recognition, alumni must have worked as a student staff Skene, who grew up in Macon, Ga., remembers that member at least 10 years prior to the Hall of Fame induc- one of the strong influencers on his decision to come to tion date. Vanderbilt was Robert Thompson, who was two years Kepner, who was born in Philadelphia, knew before ahead of him in high school. Thompson was managing he enrolled at Vanderbilt that he wanted to write about editor of the Hustler during Skene’s freshman year. baseball for a living. He even published his own base- Skene says he was always at the Hustler office in ball magazine in high school and first year of college. Alumni Hall and even typed his school papers there. “I Kepner received the prestigious Fred Russell-Grantland was amazed at how much I learned from talented people Rice Scholarship. He said that what attracted him to who included Clay Harris, Skip Bayless, John Bloom campus was a school with great academics along with and Dave Rapp,” Skene said. “Vanderbilt really upped the opportunity to cover outstanding athletic programs. my game.” The fact that Nashville was warmer than Philadelphia He majored in political science and was editor of the did not hurt either. Hustler his senior year. After graduation in 1973, he fol- Student media alumni are invited to join us at the Student “My experiences at the Vanderbilt Hustler student lowed Harris and other Hustler colleagues to the Tampa Media Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 4:30 p.m. newspaper defined my time on campus,” Kepner said. Times. Then he enrolled at Mercer University’s Walter F. on Oct. 21 in the Student Life Center Ballroom B. Space He was assistant sports editor, sports editor and editor- George School of Law, where he graduated magna cum is limited, so please let us know if you plan to attend by in-chief before earning his bachelor’s degree in 1997. laude in 1977. visiting www.vandymedia.org to RSVP. Kepner majored in American Studies and still remem- Skene has artfully combined his journalism experi- bers pulling all-nighters in the Sarratt Student Center to ence and law training in a variety of positions starting finish the newspaper. “The staff would go to breakfast at the St. Petersburg Times, where he was capital bureau for Vanderbilt Magazine. the next morning with feelings of total exhaustion but chief. He led coverage of state government with a major Eastland noted that the ability to be versatile has wonderful accomplishment too,” he said. emphasis on the Florida Supreme Court. He was named always been important for success in journalism and He noted that the chance to cover major sporting editor of the St. Petersburg Evening Independent in Vanderbilt prepared him well. “I believe that a great events, especially the road games and tournaments, pre- 1984. He then led Congressional Quarterly as president liberal arts education is ‘useful’ to almost any line of pared him well for all the traveling he has done in his from 1987 to 1997 during its major expansion into elec- work, especially for those who plan to be involved in the profession. “I learned a lot about this nation, and I also tronic publishing. media,” Eastland said. “Vanderbilt was important to the learned to be more versatile as I covered other sports Skene, who now lives in Tallahassee, Fla., is a share- development of my career.” besides baseball,” Kepner said. A trip to Los Angeles holder, vice chairman and legal counsel for MedAffinity For Gaillard, a native of Mobile, Ala., working on to cover a women’s basketball tournament as well as a Corporation, which provides electronic health record the Hustler and the Impact Symposium were two life- journalism conference in St. Paul, Minn., are among his software for health care providers. He is also president defining experiences. As Impact vice chair in 1967, college memories. of Holly Lake Investments. During his spare time, he is Gaillard helped bring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Stokely Kepner wrote about the Anaheim Angels for the writing the third volume in a series on the history of the Carmichael and Allen Ginsberg to campus for the high- Riverside Press-Enterprise and the Seattle Mariners for Florida Supreme Court. caliber speaker series. the Seattle Post-Intelligencer before heading to The Eastland grew up in Dallas, Texas, and was a finalist The guest line-up for 1968, when Gaillard was overall New York Times. Starting in 2000 he covered the Mets for the Scholarship. Although he was not chair, included Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Julian Bond and then moved to the Yankees beat in 2002. Last a recipient, Vanderbilt’s strong reputation in sports writ- and William F. Buckley. “I had a strong sense that the year Kepner, who lives in Wilton, Conn., was named a ing attracted him to campus. nation was coming apart during the tumultuous ‘60s national baseball writer for The New York Times. Eastland covered sports for the Hustler. He remem- and the way that I could best put it in perspective was to Buc, a native Nashvillian, developed a passion for bers writing about the baseball team under Coach Larry write about what was happening,” Gaillard said. radio, especially WRVU, starting in his teens at what is Schmittou and still keeps up with its current happenings. Gaillard worked for the Hustler all four years of col- now called University School of Nashville. In order to be John Lachs and the late Walter Sullivan were among his lege and served as news editor before graduating in 1968. eligible to work at WRVU, Buc enrolled as a high school favorite professors. Eastland earned his bachelor’s degree Among his fondest memories was following and writing senior in Vanderbilt’s Division of Unclassified Studies. in 1971 with a major in philosophy. He went to Balliol about musical icons like Johnny Cash, who taped his Buc took an evening calculus class and was granted College at the University of Oxford for a second bach- television program at the Ryman Auditorium. Gaillard permission to work a weekend air shift. His work at elor’s degree. majored in history and earned his bachelor’s degree in WRVU sealed Vanderbilt as his choice for college. He then put his journalistic skills to work with edi- 1968. He worked for the Mobile Register before return- “WRVU was like a fraternity and almost a full-time job torial positions at the Greensboro Record, San Diego ing to Nashville to write for the Race Relations Reporter, for me in college,” said Buc, who worked his way up Union and Virginia-Pilot. In 1983 Eastland’s career took a newsletter published by the Race Relations Information from assistant music director to general manager. a political turn into the Reagan administration when he Center. Its offices were just a few blocks from campus. He also worked a part-time job at WKDA-AM and was named chief speech writer for then-U.S. Attorney He eventually became Southern editor at the Charlotte WKDF-FM while attending Vanderbilt. “I paid my dues – General William French Smith. Eastland later became Observer, where he covered the city’s landmark school working graveyard shifts and changing Sunday morning director of public affairs for the Justice Department. desegregation case. public affairs and church tapes,” he said. He graduated Eastland, who lives in McLean, Va., has written several Gaillard has written or co-authored more than 20 in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in business admin- books, including Ethics, Politics and the Independent books, including Cradle of Freedom, The Dream Long istration and went to work full-time at WKDA-KDF in Counsel and Freedom of Expression in the Supreme Deferred and Watermelon Wine: Remembering the various on-air and operational capacities. In the late Court. Golden Years of . With Music and Justice ‘80s Buc became part of the original “Rebel 100” staff of The Wall Street Journal, National Review, Commentary, for All was published by Vanderbilt University Press. WRLT-FM. Wilson Quarterly and New Republic are among the Gaillard, who now lives in Coden, Ala., serves on the Buc then worked for Jefferson-Pilot Communications publications where his articles have appeared. He was advisory board for Vanderbilt Magazine. in Charlotte, N.C., and KCFX-FM in the Kansas City mar- a correspondent on documentaries for PBS examining ket. He co-founded a national advertising agency before how the media covered a particular story, such as Gulf For more information on the Student Media Hall of returning to his hometown and WRLT, now known as War Syndrome. Since 2001 he has been publisher of Fame ceremony, please visit www.vandymedia.org. Lightning 100. Buc was named general manager in 1998. The Weekly Standard, whose offices are in downtown He has hosted the station’s popular “Retro Lightning” Washington, D.C. He is a member of the advisory board H H H H H

InsideVandy is Vanderbilt’s online student news source. Here you will find breaking news from around campus complete with multimedia coverage. Stop by InsideVandy.com often to keep in touch with what’s going on in the Vanderbilt community. 4 tunnel vision

distant voices alumni updates… A glimpse into a few lives that helped shape student media at Vandy

1961 Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli. The Fed 1970 edition published in October, 2010 also included 100 recognizes government and industry leaders comments by Vanderbilt professor and SCENE who have gone above and beyond their daily contributor, Dr. Bruce Barry. M. Clarke Woodfin, Jr. H B.S., M.D., John Donaldson H B.A., 1970 responsibilities and have made a difference in 1961 - M.D. (Commodore yearbook) Donaldson lives in the way technology has transformed government. (WRVU) Woodfin lives in Shelbyville, TN, and Alexandria, Virginia, and said: Retired from the 1974 An award to the Army Vice Chief of Staff is not said: I served at WRVU in the Fall of 1954 and World Bank in November 2010 after 15 year a stretch for a woman who started off editing a the Spring of 1955. Also serving there was Rob working in communications, especially in Africa. Michael Vietti H VU magazine named Spectrum. Recall that the Lightfoot, B.S.’58, M.D.’61, a fellow graduate Prior to that, I worked with a public affairs B.A., 1974 first use of the term “magazine” -- an analogy to of MBA ’54. At that time WRVU was located company representing foreign clients, and previ- (WRVU) Vietti lives in a military storehouse of varied materiel -- was in in one of the towers at Neely Auditorium and ously worked for the Treasury and Commerce Santa Rosa, CA, and said: The Gentleman’s Magazine in 1731. See – life’s was known simply as “WVU.” I seem to recall Departments after working on Capitol Hill for The head of Human puzzle pieces sometimes fit together -- even if it the name “Jim Bachman” as being one of the a US Senator. I’m doing a bit of consulting now, Resources for Santa Rosa takes 280 years. station managers. Interestingly, the movie “The and am active as a volunteer with Little League Community Health

Glen Miller Story” had come out a few months baseball. Centers. We provide earlier and RCA produced an album of Glen excellent primary care Miller recordings which I played over the WRVU 1972 for the under-served in network. I recall also taking a voice test to see if I our community ensur- Michael Vietti ing that all who enter had a “good radio voice.” Barry L. Master H B.A., 1972 our doors will be heard, valued, and honored. (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Master lives in Fairview, 1963 NC, and said: Wife Marcia Froula Master (B.S. 1975) and I will be traveling next month to see 1974-1975 Roy Alton Blount Jr. H B.A., 1963 our younger daughter Allison L. Master receive (The Vanderbilt Hustler, Spectrum) Blount lives in her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Clark Thomas H 1974-1975 Mill River, MA, and said: My book “Alphabetter Stanford. Marcia’s a preschool special education (The Vanderbilt Hustler, Versus magazine, Commodore Juice: The Joy of Text,” sequel to 2008 “Alphabet teacher while I’m attorney for a child support yearbook, VSC Board member) Thomas lives in Juice,” came out on May 10. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli enforcement agency for two counties. I continue Nashville, TN, and said: Don’t know if you know, (center) received the President’s Award from my hobby of Vanderbilt baseball fan and got sig- I photographed for the Hustler my freshman & Anne Armstrong (left) (VU66), president of 1105 sophomore years, edited the 1974 (Centennial) 1965 Government Information Group, and James M. natures on of former VU players Nick Myers, vice president of Northrop Grumman Christiani and Ryan Flaherty at AA minor league Commodore my junior year, and was hired by Information Systems Chancellor Heard during my senior year, which Ted Robinson H B.A., 1965 game last weekend in Sevierville, TN. contributed to ending my role as a student one (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Robinson lives in Marietta, semester before graduation. My *reunion year* is GA, and said: After a long career with IBM, then 1968 1973 mixed because I started Vandy in Summer School 10 years of contract work for IBM and Microsoft, just weeks after high school, then attended school I tried turning my gardening hobby into profit Robert Rodgers H Michael Anzek (St John) H B.A., 1973 in England for a year, before returning as a fresh- with a small landscaping practice. After discover- B.A., 1968 (WRVU) Anzek (St John) lives in Arab, AL, and man afterwards. FWIW, I was also an RA in Kissam ing one cannot do a 30-year-old’s job in a 60-ish (WRVU) Rodgers lives said: WAFN-FM (FUN 92.7) owned by Vanderbilt my sophomore year. I've been a professional pho- body, we retired to spend more time w/ grandkids in Olympia, WA, and Alum Michael Anzek (St John) is being heralded tographer since tenth grade, and I'm still shooting and volunteer pursuits. Still working, just not said: For the past sev- as the ONLY radio station in North Alabama to despite many changes, in both subject matter, getting paid. eral years I have hosted broadcast continuous Tornado Disaster informa- and imaging technologies. In August 2010, I a weekly internet radio tion from the April 27th outbreak. The station returned to my *barefoot portrait* roots and show which features which covers over seven counties in the area went have just started a new *Shine a Light On* series guests who provide sup- “live” 55 minutes after the tornado struck Arab of special relationship portraits (via my simple- port, information and AL and stayed on the air with non-stop informa- Photographs.com site), that may well led to a resources to individuals tion for six consecutive days. Robert Rogers who currently experi- renewed relationship with Vanderbilt, This, after ence the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The fifteen years with zero relationship to Vanderbilt, radio show page is: http://www.blogtalkradio. even tho I live two miles from campus, and just com/parkinsons-recovery. across the street from the Chancellor. Someone could write a fairly entertaining and intriguing 1969 history or novel about the untold stories in VSC’s past. We may all be better off keeping it off the record, but I appreciate what you are doing to Joe Callan Stamper H B.A., 1969 recognize the rich heritage of Vanderbilt student Patty James Robinson (B.A., 1966) and Ted in (Commodore yearbook) Stamper lives in Cleveland, media. Regards, Clark Thomas Florence, 2007 TN, and said: What’s new? I’ve finally figured it out!! After a world-class formal education and 64 1966 years of life experience I summarize it in this nut shell: “Perspective is everything; it’s all made up The WAFN-FM Fun 92-7 Staff Edward L. Turner H B.A., J.D., 1966 anyway.” Much love to all, Joe (The Vanderbilt Hustler, Spectrum) Turner lives Howard Saul Waldman H B.A., 1973 in Paris, France, and said: Member of the Vestry (The Vanderbilt Hustler, WRVU, Commodore year- at The American Cathedral in Paris Member of book) Waldman lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and the Executive Committee of Democrats Abroad said: JW Yachts France. See web site of these organizations for

further information. Clark Thomas. Photo’s from About page on simplePhotographs.com site Anne Alexander Armstrong H B.A., 1966 (Commodore yearbook, Spectrum) Armstrong lives 1976 in McLean, VA. Her husband John Armstrong (B.A., 1963) said: In 1962-63, as I began edit- Jim Clark H B.A., 1976 ing Spectrum (an amalgamation of the previous (The Vanderbilt literary, honors and humor pubs on campus), a Review) Clark guy across the hall in the Quad began to turn his lives in Wilson, dorm room into a computer. Yes, his entire room. NC, and said: And this was 40 years before Mark Zukerberg Jim Clark launched a website called “Facebook”. Then, thir- is presently ty (or so) years ago, before Facebook and Twitter Shia Waldman And Zeide Howard Waldman the Elizabeth started bring about revolutions in the mid east, H. Jordan my wife Anne Alexander Armstrong (B.A., 66), P r o f e s s o r who was the fourth editor of Spectrum, wrote Me persuing serious scentific research on the of Southern an article about the information revolution and origins of Life Janet Carney Schneider H B.A., M.A., Literature at began to appreciate the potential for computer 1973 Barton College technology. Soon, rather than merely having a (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Schneider lives in in Wilson, NC. computer being built across the hall at Vandy, Mary Margaret Oliver H B.A., 1969 Nashville, TN, and said: Since getting a graduate In the fall of I had a computer newsletter being produced in (The Vanderbilt Hustler, Versus magazine) Oliver degree at Vanderbilt, I have worked at University 2010 he became the guest bedroom at home. It is a long way from lives in Atlanta, GA, and said: Mary Margaret School of Nashville, teaching, counseling, and Chair of the Spectrum, but Anne is today the 1105 Government Oliver continues to serve as a State Representative presently directing the college counseling pro- Photo of Jim Clark from the back cover of his CD THE D e p a r t m e n t Information Group President. The 1105 busi- in the Georgia General Assembly, elected in 2010 gram. My work on the Hustler as a reporter, usu- SERVICE OF SONG. of English ness network publishes across multi-platform for her fourth term. Mary Margaret also previ- ally consisted of covering VU students who were (Photo by J. Keith Tew) and Modern media – print, online, events, content solutions ously served in the Georgia State Senate, and volunteering in the Nashville Community. The Languages. His second solo CD, THE SERVICE and custom research. Its information technology has chaired the Judiciary Committees in both Hustler experience was educationally valuable OF SONG, featuring his musical settings of B-to-B publications such as Federal Computer the House and the Senate. She practices law in and since I graduated, I have gone back to volun- the North Georgia “farmer poet” Byron Herbert Week (FCW), GCN, Washington Technology, Decatur, Georgia. teer at some of these non-profits I discovered as Reece, was released in November of 2010. Defense Systems, the Federal Employees Almanac an undergraduate. Learning to write journalisti- and Federal bring comprehensive and concise cally and venturing into new territory to cover coverage of local, state and federal government stories was broadening and taught life lessons. 1977 life. 1105 also produces trade shows and forums such as FOSE and GOVSEC. I have always won- Pat Nolan H B.A., 1973 Jack B. Anon H B.A., 1977 dered whether my old computer-building class- (WRVU, Commodore yearbook) Nolan lives in (WRVU) Anon lives in Erie, PA, and said: I mate reads any of Anne’s pubs or spoke at an Nashville, TN, and said: THE NASHVILLE SCENE have been married for 30 years to Ellen Anon 1105 conference. Speaking of this year’s Twitter has selected “CAPITOL VIEW COMMENTARY” an Internationally acclaimed photographer and Revolutions in the mid-east, innovations in IT in by Pat Nolan (A&S,’73) as the BEST POLITICAL author of 7 books. Our son Josh is a cartoon engi- government this year concomitantly centered on COLUMN in the Nashville area. The col- neer at Disney-Pixar and has credits in 7 movies the defense establishment. Therefore, when Anne umn is produced weekly for the website of as well as being a co-author with his mom! Our presented the 23st annual Federal 100 Awards NEWSCHANNEL5, WTVF-TV (www.newschan- son Seth runs a hedge fund. I continue to busy this year, the President’s award went to Army Mary Margaret Oliver nel5.com). The honor in the SCENE’s “BEST OF” with research/patient care in ENT, but have fun Issue 14 • Spring 2011 5

traveling the world with my family and my cam- Lynne Riggs Anderson H B.A., 1984 1990 including 2+ years era (JackAnonPhoto.com) (WRVU) Anderson lives in Hilton Head Island/ setting up the company’s San Asheville, and said: Bruce K Negrin H B.A., 1990 Francisco office, 1978 Recently founded an excit- (WRVU) Negrin lives in New Rochelle, NY, and Ryan is switch- ing educational tech com- said: Just completed the 120th edition of my ing to a client- Kevin McDonald H B.A., 1978 pany that uses text mes- weekly radio talk show entitled “New Rochelle side career back (The Vanderbilt Hustler, WRVU, The Vanderbilt saging to teach. eTextPrep News and Views”. The is broadcasted by Whitney East. In June, Undergraduate Review) McDonald lives in Waban was developed over 18 Radio on WVOX 1460AM and can listened to on Ryan begins work (Boston), MA, and said: I have launched a new months, code was written the internet at www.wvox.com Thursday nights in Connecticut web-based research & reporting service, dealing and copyrighted, and offi- at 8pm. The radio program’s mission to is to add as AVP User with corporate governance in Brazil: http://www. cially launched February depth and open a dialogue about local, county Ryan on his wedding day in mcdonald-lehnerreport.com. Please take a look 2011, via national broad- October 2010 at the Boston Experience at The and state issues that affect the city and its Public Library and let me know what you think! cast and email campaigns. Hartford. Lynne Riggs residents. Guests include members of the City Anderson/CEO The system capitalizes on Council, local journalists and community news Daniel M. Gray H B.A., 1978 eTextPrep the incredible power and makers. The Bruce Negrin Radio Program has 1999 (The Vanderbilt Hustler, WRVU, Versus magazine) popularity of txt msging among students, and been embraced by the New Rochelle community Gray lives in Falls Church, VA, and said: Have been offers several different subscriptions including and has affected positive change for the city and Justin Seibert H B.A., 1999 re-connecting with VERSUS pal and outstanding an SAT/ACT Prep, a Middle School Challenge its residents. Take a listen and see how a pioneer- (Vanderbilt Television) Seibert lives in Wheeling, architect Rich Chenoweth ’79, who is doing a and a host of Advanced Placement courses, with ing WRVU Hip hop DJ can wax poetic about WV, and said: Our children have received several virtual recreation for the U.S. Capitol Historical more on the way. The system also features an political issues. trophies and medals for participating in team Society of how the House of Representatives and application for schools and groups that includes sports. Because, hey, why shouldn’t everyone get Senate appeared when the British burned the U.S. a private, Twitter-like, txt msging channel for trophies? Wait - what was the question? Capitol in the late summer of 1814. I hope we teachers to communicate interactively with their can get Rich to speak to the D.C. alumni about students, offering study tips, quiz questions, and John Paul Olarte H B.A., M.D., 1999, his efforts, and that he can also do some presen- homework reminders. A great response in the 2003 tations about the Capitol’s appearance during market so far and importantly, students in the (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Olarte lives in Durham, the Civil War, for the Civil War Sesquicentennial. pilot programs have given eTextPrep an over- NC, and said: On Feb. 2, 2011 my wife Megan Also, since WRVU may go online, can we bring whelming “thumbs up!” Have you ever tried to McInerney Olarte (VU B.E. ’99) and I welcomed Bart Grooms ’78 back onto the air for his superb old-fashioned call your teen to no avail? Alas, a our fourth child, Sawyer Nathan. He joins siblings jazz show, and can VERSUS be allowed to rise simple text message works every time! Best! Liam, Lana and Sebastian. I am a psychiatrist from the dead as an online alumni only publi- at North Raleigh Psychiatry and Consultation/ cation? VERSUS alumni, please respond to this Liaison Psychiatrist at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, idea. NC. 1985 Bruce Negrin Looking Good

1980 Gary D. Gerson H B.S., 1985 Joshua Lurie H B.A., 1999 (The Vanderbilt Hustler, WRVU, Versus magazine) 1991 (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Lurie lives in Los Angeles, Daniel C. Bowen H B.A., 1980 Gerson lives in Bloomfield Hills, MI, and said: CA, and said: Joshua Lurie founded Food GPS (www.foodgps.com), a website dedicated to pin- (WRVU, Commodore yearbook) Bowen lives in Still chugging along at Cranbrook, getting ready Troy Underwood H B.A., 1991 pointing the highest-quality, best-tasting food Cincinnati, OH. to be one of our first online teachers. My three (Versus magazine) Underwood lives in Los and drink, regardless of price or cuisine. He’s also kids are getting huge and fun. Just had another Angeles, CA, and said: Recently joined The Walt a contributing editor for The Feast and writes article published in the spring issue of Vanderbilt Disney Company as a Director of Current Series 1983 on a regular basis for DineLA, the LA Times and Magazine (“How to Fake a Book Report”). Check for Disney Television Animation. it out! I still hang out with WRVU announcer Tasting Table. You may also recognize Lurie from Harry S. Campbell H B.A., 1983 Andy Cohen (BA 1983). an episode of “The Cosby Show.” (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Chris R Norris H B.S., 1991 Campbell lives in (WRVU) Norris lives in Marietta, GA, and said: Overland Park, KS, Raising 2 kids, coaching baseball, attending and said: I just began a dance recitals, playing real estate broker in too Sabbatical (early retire- many firms and just trying to keep it between ment...who knows?) the lines. after 26 yrs in the busi- ness world. I am focus- ing on speaking about and writing a book on “Real” Leadership. I will Harry S. Campbell also strive to be an effec- tive COO, reporting to Joshua Lurie the CEO of the house, my wife!

Maddie and Isaac dressing up as prince and prin- 2000 1984 cess.

Me and Dex (AKA Wayne) at my parents house William Lowery H B.A., 2000 Stephen Andrew going on Freshman spring break in 1987. Wow! (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Lowery lives in Santa Kennedy H B.A., 1987 Monica, CA. 1984 (The Vanderbilt 2002 Hustler, Versus maga- Robert W. Kerr H B.A., 1987 1992 zine) Kennedy lives in (WRVU) Kerr lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Adam Jackson H Colleyville, TX, and said: I did the classical show on RVU from the Drew Watson H B.S., 1992 B.S., 2002 said: Steve Kennedy summer of ’86 (when it went from midnight (The Vanderbilt Hustler, WRVU) Watson lives (The Vanderbilt Hustler) is the managing part- till 3 am Sunday night) till graduation in ’87. in Kula, HI, and said: I never really thought of Jackson lives in San ner of an intellectu- By then it ran all night. Tried to segway into the myself as a media person, nor the concept that Francisco, CA, and said: al property firm in monday morning regular stuff by playing artsy/ I might actually end up writing following my I’m currently work- Dallas, TX (Kennedy, whimsy instrumentations; I like to think it was Hustler stint, but then again, I never thought I’d ing on my second ven- Clark & Williams) like today’s “mood” music. We called the show end up a chef, either. Along the way, I stumbled ture-backed company, and focuses his prac- Bootleg Classics. Never qualified us for comp into my own column for a food magazine, so as DriverSide.com, and tice on copyright tickets to the Exit Inn though.... an associate said: “You get paid? Then call your- also work as an angel The background artwork infringement, trade- self a writer.” For the past several years I’m been investor in early-stage is a painting by Susan mark infringement living in Maui where I am the chef/owner of a Sales, a client of the Firm. 1988 high-tech companies in and patent litiga- catering company for private/corporate jets. Her artwork has been Adam Jackson Silicon Valley. featured on the cover tion matters. He has Caroline Eve Gabriel H B.A., 1988 of the Neiman Marcus represented pho- Christmas Catalogue can (WRVU, Versus magazine, The Vanderbilt Review) 1996 tographers, media be found in art galleries in Gabriel lives Taos, Telluride and Dallas. companies, software H Andrea Sims Frankenfeld H B.S., 2002 in Spearfish, Katherine (Rowe) Numerick B.S., companies, electon- (Commodore yearbook) Frankenfeld lives in India, SD, and said: M.Ed., 1996 ics companies, oil companies as well as multi- South Asia, and said: For the past year, my I just pub- (Commodore yearbook) Numerick lives in national conglomerates. husband and I have been working as media lished my first Leavenworth, KS, and said: Kate Numerick consultants in South Asia, volunteering with the book called, returned from her third deployment to the mid- International Mission Board. I have been writing The Fateful dle east and is attending the US Army’s School stories about how God is working among South Fork: Each of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at Ft. Asian peoples. It is the most fulfilling work I’ve Bite of Food Leavenworth, KS. SAMS prepares just 125 US and ever done. And, I know that some of the writing Connect with Takes You to international military and interagency students I did at Vanderbilt helped to prepare me for this Disease . . . Or each year to be senior strategic and operational time. old VU friends Health. Read planners in their respective fields. and classmates… it and become Author, C. Eve Gabriel, M.S. a Qualivore! 1997 Looking for old friends and H classmates? Ben Snowden B.A., 1997 (The Vanderbilt Hustler, WRVU, Versus magazine, H B.A., 1988 Slightly Amusing) Snowden lives in Silver Spring, visit (The Vanderbilt Hustler, WRVU, Versus magazine) MD, and said: Ben Snowden is an environmental Duralde lives in West Hollywood, CA, and said: attorney with Wallace, King, Domike & Reiskin in Alonso Duralde (A&S m’88) recently served as a VUconnect.com Washington, DC. He and his wife Rebecca live in juror for the USA Film Festival/Dallas’ National Silver Spring, Maryland, along with their daugh- Vanderbilt's online Short Film and Video Competition, which pro- ter Nora, who arrived last August. community, where you vides up-and-coming filmmakers with cash prizes as well as eligibility for consideration for the can connect with alumni, Academy Awards. He can be seen regularly on 1998 students and friends “What the Flick?!” a movie-review show on network on YouTube, alongside Ryan Denning H B.A., 1998 around the world. TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz and of (WRVU) Denning lives in Bloomfield, CT, and My husband and I are wearing traditional Indian the Associated Press and “Ebert Presents at the said: After 11 years and 11 months at award- attire and celebrating the Easter holiday with our Movies.” winning digital agency R/GA (www.rga.com), small church fellowship. 6 tunnel vision

alumni updates… Alumni SPOTLIGHT

2003 east to Philadelphia, the organization - including Marketing, Field where I’ll be attending Operations and Distribution. In April of 2011 CNN Names Sam the Wharton School I was promoted to District Dealer Operations Nicole Susonne Pietrantoni H B.S., of the University of Manager and was relocated to Lexington, KY. I 2003 Feist Washington Pennsylvania. I look now work with 14 Dealerships in KY and WV on (The Vanderbilt Review) Pietrantoni lives in forward to calling upon operational improvement. In 2010 I became a Reykjavik, Iceland, and said: I’ve been living Bureau Chief my Vandy education, my PADI certified Rescue Scuba Diver and continue in Reykjavik, Iceland, where I am a Fulbright VTV experience, and my on my path to becoming an instructor. scholar. This year I have been creating artwork, Sam Feist five years of work in the having exhibitions, and also teaching community (Class of 1991 entertainment industry Meredith Collins Casey H B.A., 2008 arts workshops. and member as I pursue my MBA. Stay (The Vanderbilt Hustler, InsideVandy.com) Casey of the Student tuned! lives in Washington, DC, and said: Meredith Media Hall Lindsay Miller Casey, former News Editor for the Vanderbilt of Fame), Hustler, is leading the Marketing and Public political direc- Relations efforts at NavigationArts, a leading web tor and vice 2007 president of consulting firm. NavigationArts clients include Washington- Marriott, Nextel, Blackboard, Teach For America, David Fotouhi H B.A., 2007 based pro- Newspaper Association of America, NPR, (The Torch, VSC Board member, Student Media g r a m m i n g NASDAQ, St. Jude Medical, Smithsonian, and for CNN, has Advertising) Fotouhi lives in St. Louis, MO, and the U.S. State Department. For more information, been promoted to Washington, D.C. said: I graduated from Harvard Law School last please visit www.navigationarts.com. Meredith is bureau chief and senior vice president. May and passed the Texas bar exam. I am cur- enjoying life in Washington, DC and recently ran Ken Jautz, executive vice president of rently nearing the end of a one-year clerkship into Glenna DeRoy, former Vanderbilt Hustler CNN/U.S., announced on May 17 Feist with Judge Raymond W. Gruender on the United Editor-in-Chief, at a conference about mobile. will oversee daily operations of the States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Meredith also keeps in touch with Sean Seelinger, bureau and lead all newsgathering and St. Louis. In the fall, I will begin work as an asso- former Vanderbilt Hustler Editor-in-Chief. programming from the nation’s capital. ciate in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, “For two decades at CNN, Sam has Michael A. Gleason H B.A., 2003 Dunn & Crutcher LLP. demonstrated his commitment to seri- (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Gleason lives in ous journalism and strong political pro- Washington, D.C., and said: Michael A. Gleason Jordan D Mamorsky H B.S., 2007 gramming,” Jautz said in a news release. (B.A., 2003) and Amanda (“Mandy”) Thompson (The Vanderbilt Hustler, InsideVandy.com) “His experience, vision, and under- (B.A., Scripps College, 2006) were engaged to be Mamorsky lives in New York, NY, and said: I was standing of our nation’s capital will married on April 2, 2011. Michael is an associate in recently selected to be an interdisciplinary fellow ensure CNN’s Washington bureau and the antitrust group at the Jones Day law firm and at Yale MBA/Law/Divinity School to research and its coverage remain second to none.” Mandy is a Legislative Assistant for Congressman write on the failures of business ethics, corporate “I couldn't be more excited to take Pete Stark. Both reside in Washington, D.C. on this new role and build on the great governance, journalism and the tremendous exper- and regulatory H tise of the CNN Washington bureau,” Melanie Faulkner Shepard B.A., c o m p l i a n c e said Feist. “It is not only one of the 2003 during and in largest news bureaus in the world, it is (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Shepard lives in Nashville, the aftermath undoubtedly one of the finest. Leading TN, and said: I teach English and Journalism at of the finan- Meredith Collins Casey this outstanding team at a time of Centennial High School in Franklin and am the cial crisis. In advisor for the school paper. I hope to stay in dynamic change in our industry is addition to Rachel D. Unger H B.A., 2008 invigorating and humbling.” touch with other Hustler alumni. this opportu- (The Slant) Unger lives in New Orleans, LA, and Since January 2009, Feist has served nity, I will be said: After working for Vanderbilt’s Development CNN’s political director and vice presi- 2004 working with and Alumni Relations dent of Washington-based program- other profes- ming, overseeing Washington program- for a short stint in 2010, Robert Shaw H B.A., 2004 Jordan Mamorsky sionals in a ming, including John King, USA, The I escaped Nashville a new fiduciary consulting venture called Global Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, State (The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt Television) Shaw week before The Flood of the Union with Candy Crowley, and lives in New York City, NY, and said: After finish- Fiduciary Governance LLC. GFG will be geared and moved to Baton Reliable Sources. As political director, ing up my MBA at NYU Stern, I will work full-time towards Dodd Frank compliance work, busi- Rouge. After about 9 he also coordinated all facets of CNN’s at Bloomberg Sports as the Director of Content, ness ethics consulting, and strategic initiatives months of applica- daily political coverage including the Executive Producer and Sports Anchor for the for Fortune 500 executives. Specifically, for the tions, table-waiting, production of political specials such as syndicated baseball program Ballpark Figures, company, I have developed a unique patented and interviews, I final- primary nights, conventions, and elec- and Business Development for Bloomberg Sports “Fiduciary Audit” product for hedge fund manag- ly made it through the tion nights. Media. ers that is intended to identify defects in opera- HR gauntlet at Tulane As political director and senior tional compliance with Dodd Frank, SEC regula- University. I now executive producer of political coverage tions, and pertinent securities case law. work as a Recruiting through the 2006 midterm and 2008 The moustache is real, Assistant for the presidential elections, Feist oversaw I swear! Mike Burns H B.A., 2007 Freeman School of political coverage for “America Votes (The Vanderbilt Hustler, VSC Board member) Burns Business’ Career Management Center. I’m loving 2008” and The Situation Room with Wolf lives in Washington, DC, and said: Graduated law Blitzer, the weekday program he helped the wonderful warm weather and the laid-back school from Georgetown in the spring and joined conceptualize and launch. In the 2008 pace of life in the Big Easy! the Podesta Group, a government affairs firm, in election cycle, Feist coordinated and produced CNN’s nine presidential pri- the fall as its compliance manager. 2009 mary debates as well as the network’s record-breaking primary, caucus and 2008 Dustin Swysgood H B.E., 2009 convention coverage that earned the (WRVU) Swysgood lives in Huntington, WV. network a Peabody Award. Feist was Rob Shaw Andrew Hard H B.M., 2008 also instrumental in the “America Votes (The Vanderbilt Hustler, InsideVandy.com) Hard Mike Kranzler H B.A., 2009 2006” coverage of the midterm elec- lives in Nashville, TN, and said: I’m currently (The Vanderbilt Hustler InsideVandy.com The Slant) tions that earned the network an Emmy 2005 attending Vanderbilt Law School, scheduled to Kranzler lives in Beach, FL, and said: I Award. graduate in 2013. Feist formerly managed the produc- was named the Social Media Director at OMG Robert Edward Caldwell H B.S., 2005 tion of Inside Politics and Crossfire. Prior National, an INC 5000 multimedia design firm to joining Crossfire, Feist was the found- (The Vanderbilt Hustler, WRVU) Caldwell lives in specializing in audio, video, and web production. ing executive producer of CNN’s daily St. Louis, MO, and said: Robert is currently an I am in charge of both our internal social media newscast Wolf Blitzer Reports. He also attorney defending indigent people accused of efforts and those a growing portfolio of clients served as the executive producer of crimes in Missouri. He wonders when he will around the world, as well as creating and manag- CNN’s weekend programs Late Edition become a superstar musician and when he will ing new small business advertising campaigns. with Wolf Blitzer, The Capital Gang and actually start writing his book. Evans & Novak. 2010 Feist has produced live programs Alex Kwak H B.A., 2005 from nations around the world includ- (The Vanderbilt Hustler) Kwak lives in Chicago, Nikki Bogopolskaya H B.A., B.S., 2010 ing: Russia, Israel, the United Kingdom IL, and said: Alex recently (Dec. ’10) accepted the (The Vanderbilt Hustler, Versus magazine, and China. He has produced inter- position of Director of Annual Giving at Rush InsideVandy.com) views with such world leaders as George University Medical Center in Chicago. W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton, Bogopolskaya lives in Washington, DC, and Mikhail Gorbachev, Al Gore, Barack Aaron Kraft H B.A., 2005 Obama, Yitzhak Rabin and Margaret said: I work in down- (Orbis) Kraft lives in Bloomington, IN, and said: Thatcher. town Washington as Aaron graduated in May 2011 with his MBA from Ally Scott (fiancee), at our engagement celebration After working as a freelance producer Media Coordinator University Kelley School of Business. dinner. at CNN’s London bureau in 1990, Feist for e.Republic, He will be relocating to Minneapolis, MN where joined CNN full-time at its Atlanta Glenna DeRoy H B.A., 2008 the nation’s lead- he will be starting work as a Senior Operations headquarters in 1991. During the 1992 (The Vanderbilt Hustler, InsideVandy.com) DeRoy ing publishing, Consultant with OptumHealth, a division of presidential campaign, he moved to the lives in Arlington, VA, and said: I have accepted a research, event and UnitedHealth Group. Washington bureau where he has held job with CBS on their Local Digital team in New new media company a number of positions including associ- York. I’ll be the Manager of Social Media Strategy focused on the state ate producer, producer, senior producer 2006 for 24 local websites owned by CBS, such as Nikki Bogopolskaya and local govern- and assignment editor. CBSNewYork.com. I previously worked at USA ment and education Feist received his bachelor of arts Lindsay Miller H B.A., 2006 in political science from Vanderbilt, TODAY in McLean, Va. markets. I also serve as the Washington, D.C. (Vanderbilt Television) Miller lives in Los Angeles, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He received Community Manager for the start-up dating site his law degree with honors from the CA, and said: This fall, I will be taking my talents Madeleine Frances Pulman H B.A., How About We. I am a regular contributor to sev- Georgetown University Law Center, 2008 eral national media groups including Citystream which included a semester study- (The Vanderbilt Hustler, InsideVandy.com, and Citysearch, as well as a writer for prominent ing international law at Cambridge Commodore yearbook) Pulman lives in Lexington, entertainment, fashion, and food publications University. Feist is a member of the UPDATE KY, and said: After graduating in May 2008, I in the NYC/DC area. In my free time, I write a Council on Foreign Relations and the your contact information at joined Nissan North America in marketing and moderately humorous lifestyle blog called City bar of the District of Columbia. moved to their Southeast Regional Headquarters Girl in The District. H H H VUconnect.com in Atlanta, GA. From June 2008 - March 2011 I roatated through various positions within H H H Issue 14 • Spring 2011 7

WRVU: change will bring increased opportunities, studio upgrades, HD service

WRVU, continued from page 1 Radio. The previous year’s VSC board approved the Nashville Public Library. Nashville Public Radio, a public exploration of a sale. charter member of National Public Radio, separat- best addresses the greatest number of needs,” Wollaeger “The $3.35 million VSC will receive will fund an ed from Metro Government in 1996 and has since said. “This arrangement will allow 91.1 to preserve stu- endowment we expect to grow over the years and been governed by a board of private citizens. dents’ radio experience online and on-air via HD, provide a reliable source of revenue for student “This belongs to the community,” Nashville remain a community asset, develop an intern- media at Vanderbilt now and into the future,” Public Radio President Rob Gordon said. “We ship program at Nashville Public Radio and cre- Wollaeger said. “We believe this accomplishment want Classical 91.1 to reflect our region’s vibrant, ate financial security through an endowment for is significant and tremendously beneficial to stu- energetic arts scene. Over the coming weeks and VSC.” dents and the Vanderbilt community.” months we’ll ask area arts organizations for feed- The VSC board has been evaluating the pos- For WRVU, this new assurance provides VSC back and input on how to make the station a vital sibility of selling the 91.1 license since the fall of increased opportunities to continue its invest- resource for the arts in our region. 2009. Board members spent this time engaging in ments in audio technology, studio upgrades, mar- “We are grateful for the confidence the Vanderbilt meticulous research, soliciting outside ideas and keting, special events, WRVU staff training and Student Communications board has placed in us feedback, and talking with students, alumni, other more. The VSC board is looking forward to the and applaud the current and earlier VSC boards Vanderbilt community members and radio indus- various possibilities for WRVU in the near- and and staff for their many years of careful custodian- try experts to consider numerous options, he said. long-term. ship and management of 91.1 FM,” Gordon said. Student and faculty board members who served Nashville Public Radio is an independent, com- “We are also delighted to offer opportunities for on the board during this most recent academic year munity-licensed public radio station, originally Vanderbilt student interns to experience what it is approved the sale of the license to Nashville Public licensed by the FCC in 1962 as a unit of the like to work in a professional newsroom.”

Alumni Column, continued from page 2 with that umpire that you get thrown out.” I’d caught 100 or more baseball games in my life by then, and I’d never had a coach give me an order like that! My recollection is that I lasted for only a batter or two. The first time the ump called a ball, I stood up, jerked off my mask, got right in his face, called him a “homer” and howled that he’d been jobbing us all night. The home fans rightly jeered me. On the next pitches the ump called balls, I escalated my protests to arm waving and profanity. Then when I took it on up another few notches and questioned the ump’s ancestry, he sternly cautioned me. After that, all it took was one magic word – you can imagine it – and I got a classic heave-ho ejection! From that sorry moment, Vanderbilt baseball surely couldn’t have gotten worse. But it certainly didn’t improve with urgency. The varsity team in that spring of ’66 went 2-16. In 1967, I tried out for the team again but got cut. Many of my classmates were good players, took over varsity positions and the team wound up 11-12, which was respect- able by Vandy baseball standards. Then the university made a major change. For the first time in years, if not ever, they hired a full-time year-’round baseball coach instead of a part-timer who just worked dur- Student leaders Meghan Rose, Theo Samets, Chris Honiball, Hannah Twillman, Kristen Webb and Liz Furlow pose with Hustler alumni Douglas ing the season. The new coach was Larry Schmittou, who T. Bates III and Chuck Offenburger during their visit to campus in April. was only 27 years old but was already known as one of the best high school baseball coaches in the Nashville metro you ‘Smokie’.” He laughed, shook his head and gave us a league baseball franchise, the . In the late area. His first team was that hapless one in 1968 I told you “let’s do it!” 1980s and early ’90s, the Schmittou group bought six more about earlier. The Hustler wrote that the team “banished any Thank goodness the team was ready, too. They jumped minor league franchises around the nation. He sold them all delusions of grandeur Schmittou might have had.” off to a 9-2 start in their first 11 games. In our newspaper in 1996 and retired from baseball. He now is a partner in a But he went to work recruiting over that summer and fall. stories, we were lavish in praise of our Commodores, chain of centers in three states. And, yes, they still When the ’69 team reported for workouts in late January, unmerciful toward the opponents and rather daring in call him Smokie Schmittou. Schmittou had put together a squad of 25, and half of them encouraging beer drinking at the baseball games. Guess And that’s how the turnaround in Vanderbilt baseball were freshmen from the Nashville area. Several of the new- what? The students started flocking to the ballpark. There actually happened. It took a whole lot of leadership from a bies were given baseball scholarships, a first at Vanderbilt. were only a half-dozen bleacher seats behind home plate, young coach, the grit of a bunch of players determined to get Schmittou also put together a 41-game schedule, “the most but the students didn’t want to be there anyway. Instead, better, with an assist from some ink-stained ragamuffins on ambitious schedule we’ve ever had.” And in the pre-season we sat in the sunshine on the elevated banks down the first the student newspaper. he boldly predicted, “I’ll go on the line now that we’ll win base line. Early in the second half of the season, the team So, imagine the thrill on my return to campus for base- more than we lose if our boys work hard enough at it.” was 18-11 and Smokie Schmittou and his boys were the ball this spring. The Commodores not only beat Tennessee, Nearly everyone on campus thought that was just so talk of not only the campus, but also among Nashville’s they walloped the Vols in the three games – 10-1, 10-1 and much bluster from Schmittou. sports fans. 19-3! It may well have been the most dominating weekend But it seemed to be such fun bluster to my pal Douglas T. When they won two of three games in a home series of baseball ever by the Vanderbilt team. Being an Iowan, I Bates III and me. We were ornery seniors on the staff of The against highly respectable Auburn, we noted in the paper kept pinching myself and saying, “Is this heaven?” Hustler. I had been the rather controversial and liberal editor that there were “beer cans by the dozens and hundreds Bates, who is now an attorney in the west central of the paper in the fall semester, but was removed from lead- of enthusiastic fans.” When we asked Schmittou what he Tennessee town of Centerville, and I had a great time prowl- ership when I tanked academically. Bates was a conservative thought of the students’ hubbub, he said, “Give ’em six ing around the campus, disrupting the work days of as many columnist on the editorial pages. We decided that as a last cool ones, and they think I’m the most popular man on of our old friends as possible – Provost Richard McCarty, gasp in our college journalism careers, we would put a little campus!” We also reported that six students had their IDs development director Robert Early, athletic director of com- pizzazz into the woebegone Vanderbilt baseball program. lifted by the Campus Police for allegedly drinking beer at munications Rod Williamson, the grad schools’ Steve Smartt We scheduled an appointment to talk to the coach. What the game. Among them – Bates, his girlfriend and me. We and retired political science prof Robert Birkby. we discovered was a young, country sort of guy who knew all had to report to the college deans for discipline, which And we had a great time when we dropped in on the baseball, for sure, but he didn’t know anybody on campus. amounted to a scolding. But we did enjoy Bates’ girlfriend Vanderbilt Student Communications newsroom. There we We asked him what his eventual goal was for the baseball being told by the Dean of Women that her behavior had found Hustler editor-in-chief Chris Honiball and a half- program. “To win the SEC,” he said without flinching. been “that of a ruffian in the streets.” dozen key staff members who were studying together for We liked his moxie. So we told Coach Schmittou that we Alas, the team then went on a slide against tough SEC final exams! “What you are doing here,” Bates told them, thought we could help him. Here might be the funniest part competition, losing 7 of the next 8 games. But they finished “is something Offenburger cannot relate to.” We got a quick of this story: He seemed to take us seriously. with a flourish against non-league teams and wound-up briefing from the students on Hustler operations today, We told him that between the two of us, we knew nearly with a 21-18 record. Not only was it the winning record and regaled them with a few newspaper tales from the late everybody at Vanderbilt, and that we’d get the students to Smokie Schmittou had predicted; it was also the first win- ’60s. Then we two musty old alums serenaded them with show up at games and have a good time. We told him the ning season since 1955! “Dynamite,” reported to Rotier’s for our pre-game meal and two of us would start writing the baseball stories for the And from then on, things got better in a hurry. In 1973 made our way to Hawkins Field. Hustler, and that we were going to have some fun with it. and again in ’74, another of Schmittou’s predictions came He said great. We told him we’d need colorful quotes from true – those teams won SEC championships. He continued Chuck Offenburger was a Vanderbilt Hustler staff member from him and his players. No problem, he said. And we needed coaching through the 1978 season, and in his 11 years, the 1965-69, rising to editor-in-chief in the late spring of ’68. He one more thing. “What’s that?” he said. We told him that Commodores won 300 games. He then handed off the pro- went on to a long career in journalism in his native Iowa, includ- his name, Larry Schmittou, “just isn’t colorful enough. We gram to Coach Roy Mewburne, who kept it rolling for his 24 ing 21 years as a columnist for the Des Moines Register. He now want to give you a nickname – ‘Smokie’ – a great baseball years and then handed off to Coach Corbin in 2003. lives outside Cooper, an Iowa town of 30, from where he free- name.” Schmittou looked at us blankly and said, “I don’t Schmittou went on to form a partnership with several lances and faithfully follows Vanderbilt sports. You can reach him even smoke.” Doesn’t matter, we answered, “just let us call country music stars in Nashville and they bought a minor at [email protected]. Issue 14 • Spring 2011 tunnel vision the alumni newsletter for student media at vanderbilt university 8 Alumna manages new History Channel series by Gaby Román, Class of '10 An English major, Carroll wrote for The Hustler been very gratifying how much people enjoy it.” and voiced newscasts on WRVU. These activities, “We’re finishing up an episode that focuses on along with many roles at VU Theatre, ignited an voting right now. That could be the most boring interest in writing for television, she said. Armed thing in the world, but in this show, it’s so fascinat- with experience in student media and a liberal arts ing and fun. Being able to find ways to do that – to background, Carroll received a full scholarship to keep good, rigorous attention to solid history – and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications yet still make the show watchable. It’s funny and a at Syracuse University, where she earned a master’s great way to get across good stories from history,” she degree in television and radio. said. “I found when I went to Syracuse that a lot of “How The States Got Their Shapes” explores how people there had majored in television and radio. My borders evolved and continue to change in response background at Vanderbilt really prepared me for the to religion, transportation, communication, politics, career path of doing documentaries. I’m always very culture clashes and even Mother Nature. The docu- grateful of having that liberal arts background – it mentary series airs on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST on the was more valuable than anything else,” she said. History Channel. After graduate school, Carroll went on to write, direct and produce Ann Carroll history shows for National Geographic, Discovery and Ever wonder why some states have panhandles History, such as “Digging while others are near perfect squares? Why is Texas for the Truth,” a documen- bigger than multiple states combined? The map of tary series exploring archaeol- the United States is a jigsaw puzzle of crooked lines, ogy and ancient mysteries. She right angles and odd sizes. VSC alumna Ann Carroll also worked at the Smithsonian (B.A., 1974) explored these issue as executive pro- Institution for a number of ducer for “How The States Got Their Shapes,” a new years, hosting a weekly radio History Channel series that tackles the back story of program and making exhibi- our jagged geography. tion films. The series, which premiered on May 3, followed Carroll’s newest project broadcast journalist, actor and comedian Brian began with a History Channel Unger on a road trip across the nation in search of special she created called “How the stories behind our states’ boundaries. Through The States Got Their his search, he discovered not only how the states got Shapes,” which grew their shapes, but also how the states have shaped us. out of a book of the Unger, who is best known as one of the first corre- same name by Mark spondents and producers on Comedy Central’s The Stein. The special’s first Daily Show, interacted with state residents through broadcast was in April 2010, quizzes and games. and its success earned a commis- Carroll’s interest in strong stories attracted her to sion for the 10-episode series this sum- the series’ content. As the “showrunner,” she oversees mer. 18 to 20 people working on various aspects of pro- “Mark Stein’s book was more for reference, so duction while setting the tone of its creative presenta- I had to take a different approach for it to work on tion and unique blend of history and humor. television,” she said. “It was a real challenge, but it’s PRSRT STD PAID U.S. P osta g e F rank l in , TN P ermit N o . 357

NOMINATION FORM We welcome your nomination for the Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame. Deadline: Nominations for inclusion in the 2012 Hall of Fame class are due by Dec. 1.

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