SUniversityT. MagazineLA SummerW 2016 RENCE ALUMNI CREATIVITY It’s abounding in genres from sculpture to poetry—beginning on p.14 Some traditions really don’t change much. Compare Tara THE Freeman’s shot of ODK tap- ALUMNI CREATIVITY ping activities on Moving-Up ISSUE Day 2016 with the one from 70 years ago, below, which p.14 appeared on our Archives page in the spring issue. The principals in 2016 are Marco LiCalzi ’18, inductee, being escorted by Aaron Bushey Hansen ’16, left, and Emily Goulet ’16; for identification of the 1946 personalities, turn to “Letters” on page 4. Summer,16 The PHOTOGRAPHER whose work is shown above begins our salute to alumni creativity. We showcase others, including a PAINTER, a POTTER and a couple of SCULPTORS. William Shakespeare wrote of “the poet’s eye,” and throughout the package we present several POETS along with a pair of COMPOSERS and one MEMOIRIST. There’s more, and more still— FICTION for example—available on our new website. Check it out at stlaw.edu/magazine. Departments In Every Issue 4 On Campus 2 A Word from the President 10 Sports 4 Letters 32 Philanthropy in Action 38 Class Notes 36 On Social Media 71 In Memory 37 First-Person 73 From the Archives On the Cover: Hope Thurston Carter ’84 says her grandmother’s marbles were part of an experiment in macro-photography perspective. Above: Of “Frozen Bubbles,” she says, “If you blow bubbles outside when it’s very cold, ice crystals form and grow up the sides, eventually covering the entire bubble, if it doesn’t pop. Like snowflakes, no two bubbles ever form the same way.” Additional photography by Tara Freeman. To read our magazine online, go to stlawu.edu/magazine. ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2016 A Word From the President ST. LAWRENCE Nota Bene: “Yielding But A Dream” UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE VOLUME LXV | NUMBER 3 | 2016 VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS are countless instances of Neal precisely in late June at the time of the solstice. In forests of the North Country. It still “A person whose life Melissa Farmer Richards clarifying one’s intended meaning. Quebec, for instance, going back to 1636, evokes the quality of feeling free and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Before Neal became an editor, he was great fires were lit at night on the banks of alive, if only for a few years before the and career has been Neal S. Burdick ’72 first a reader, a writer and a student, the St. Lawrence River by the first French burdens of responsibilities begin to DESIGN DIRECTOR notably an accomplished St. Lawrence colonists to observe Midsummer’s Night. press. Like the staging of the play, we one of making words Jamie Lipps student. He and I share a formative Another view of the tradition, ex- watch the actors step upon the set as CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER memory of taking our courses in Shake- pressed years before Shakespeare wrote new generations of college students make sense, an editor has Alex Rhea speare from two different professors, his play, was published by the English coming to a rural place. They enter ASSISTANT EDITOR but arriving at the same inflection point Puritan Philip Stubbes. With considerable a realm that is far from the control to think about the Meg Keniston ’07, M’09 that demarcated a new road in our life’s disdain, he said it was an occasion that of city etiquette, while also probing NEWS EDITOR intellectual journey. We both lament gave young people winking permission their first steps on the edge of a nature work of the eye without Ryan Deuel missing Tom Berger in peak form, but to go “gadding over night to the woods, unbound, or at least not so tightly PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR can imagine him reciting Portia’s “quality where they spend the whole night in bound as life before college; they also missing anything.” Tara Freeman of mercy” speech in improvised drag pleasant pastimes.” take measure of their own natures, ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR before astonished undergraduates believ- Many Laurentians, remembering the while testing the familiar structure of Susan LaVean ing they had just suspended disbelief. Or enchanted social arrangements of warm themselves and trying out new ways of CLASS NOTES EDITORS put another way, they were looking upon being and belonging. speare’s single-word emphasis, a person Anna Barnard an unbelievable professor. Nevertheless, The unforgettable character Puck in whose life and career has been one of Sharon Henry we learned our plays by ear and eye from “Before Neal Burdick this deceivingly elaborate play is a pure making words make sense, an editor other large personalities. force of nature himself, independent has to think about the work of the eye One of the first plays studied in the became an editor, he was of normative human manners and without missing anything. typical college Shakespeare class, also order; he exhibits a life where rational The eye is for looking, seeing and one of the first plays written before the first a reader, a writer choice is not the first concern. Can reading. Each of these functions of the “So long as I remain alive and well bard’s two explosive moments of cre- students get that or must it wait? eye is distinctive, but taken together I shall continue to feel strongly about ative genius occurred in 1599 and 1606, and a student—notably What does Puck’s purpose, assuming they are necessary for the liberal arts to prose style, to love the surface of the earth, is A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Years its carefree license is vital in some way, succeed in full, and particularly for an St. Lawrence University does not discriminate against students, faculty, staff or other beneficia- and to take pleasure in solid objects and later, I am still not satisfied that I ever an accomplished finally mean? Emotion, intuition and editor to achieve the best production ries on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, scraps of useless information.” caught everything going on, though it uninhibited responsiveness must also values possible. Powers of observa- or national or ethnic origin in admission to, or access to, or treatment, or employment in its —George Orwell, “Why I Write” (1946) is a play within a play, so part of the St. Lawrence student.” become central to learning, so long tion, simply looking, belong to all the programs and activities. AA/EEO. For further in- joke is on the players as much as the as we can hold that thought for just a senses that build intellect, but the eye formation, contact the University’s Age Act, Title IX and Section 504 coordinator, 315-229-5656. play-goers. In many ways now, this while longer, maybe for an extended is primary. How we see something A complete policy listing is available at www.stlawu. y friend neal burdick ’72 work anticipates the literary genres stretch after college, but hold off from requires the finer eye to take the view edu/policies. is arguably the dean of of fantasy, science fiction and virtual college nights, may in hasty rebuttal have dismissing too soon the charming, of analysis. And finally, in the activity Published by St. Lawrence University four times yearly: January, April, July and October. Periodical American university worlds, so perhaps today’s students are the better argument about the ultimate spontaneous sprite Puck as a make- of reading, we become interpreters and postage is paid at Canton, NewYork 13617 and at additional mailing offices. (ISSN 0745-3582) magazine editors. He has better equipped to enter the frolic of an good of starlit pastimes. Some of those believe shadow. make judgments. Emerson expressed Printed in U.S.A. All opinions expressed in signed held the blue pencil at St. Lawrence for imaginary moment and place. And yet, voices in strong favor of the “gadding,” Shakespeare uses the word “eye” education as a process of enlargement, articles are those of the author and do M not necessarily reflect those of the editors and/or over 38 years and before it becomes a it also reminds us how much an editor after all, would become happily married. more times in A Midsummer Night’s which is what the eye is constantly St. Lawrence University. Editorial offices: Office of University Communications, St. Lawrence Uni- stub, he’s retiring it and himself with this is like a playwright—always mindful of Shakespeare was on the side of love, most Dream than in any other play. It is not doing to look closely, see clearly and versity, 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, NY 13617, phone 315-229-5585, fax 315-229-7422, e-mail nburdick@ issue. That’s a longer run than Harold an audience, calm before the opinion of of the time, but it was never straightfor- from an unintentional habit that he read creatively. With the practiced eye stlawu.edu, Web site www.stlawu.edu Ross had at The New Yorker. Neal has his critics, and constantly stitching complex ward, never unequivocally so, because, writes the same word multiple times. of an editor, Neal Burdick has enjoyed Address changes A change-of-address card to own facility with words, of course, but as lines and plots together like the seams well, in reality it’s complicated. He does so as a unifying concept and a dream job, undoubtedly knowing Office of Annual Giving and Laurentian Engage- ment, St.Lawrence University, 23 Romoda Drive, an editor, he has memorably improved of a king’s robe. A Midsummer’s Night Dream somehow as a topic of exploration, for the eye many days that turned out to be the Canton, NY 13617 (315-229-5904, email slualum@ stlawu.edu) will enable you to receive St.