Winter 2009 UNIVERSITY OF MAGAZINE UNIVERSITY OF MAGAZINEUNIVERSITY OF MAGAZINE UNIVERSITY OF MAGAZINE Robots to the Rescue Views Fall snow Photograph by Wayne Armstrong October storm dumped more than 13 inches of snow on the metro Denver area two days before Halloween, causing the DU campus to be closed for a day. Fortunately the sun came out the next day, melting much of the remaining snow to A late clear the way for trick-or-treaters and Homecoming celebrants. This view is from the Mary Reed Building looking west. 2 University of Denver Magazine Winter 2009 Contents Features 22 Welcome to the White House Alumna Ellie Schafer was handpicked to show visitors around President Obama’s new home. By Richard Chapman 28 Building a Better ’Bot DU researchers are leading the development of autonomous robots that could someday save lives. By Chase Squires 32 Full House Four parents and two kids make for one big happy family. By Jessica Centers Glynn Departments 44 Editor’s Note 45 Letters 47 DU Update 8 News New international security center 10 Sports Soccer stadium kicks off 13 Academics Studying Shakespeare in London 14 People A soldier’s sacrifice 17 History Arapahoe Acres 19 Arts Trumpeter Al Hood 21 Essay Homeplace 37 Alumni Connections Online only at www.du.edu/magazine: Are we addicted to debt? Americans live by credit, sometimes well beyond their means. And often, the lifelong dance with debt starts in college. By Jan Thomas Q&A: Movie producer Roger Birnbaum (attd. 1968–71) Research: The effects of reading on the brain On the cover: DU researchers are carving a niche developing robots that can collect information and save lives; read the story on page 28. Photo by Wayne Armstrong. This page: Americans are facing a “perfect financial storm” that has led to record foreclosures and credit card debt; read the story online at www.du.edu/magazine. Illustration by Steve Schader. University of Denver Magazine Update 3 UNIVERSITY OF MAGAZINE www.du.edu/magazine Editor’s Note UNIVERSITY OF Volume 10, Number 2 MAGAZINEUNIVERSITY OF MAGAZINE UNIVERSITY OF When I started my freshman year at DU 18 PublisherMAGAZINE Carol Farnsworth years ago, I wasn’t concerned about debt. I was just happy to be going to college at a good school. So Managing Editor Chelsey Baker-Hauck (BA ’96) what if I would graduate with some student loans? I saw them as an investment in my future. Assistant Managing Editor Greg Glasgow By the time I headed to graduate school, I Associate Editor was beginning to worry about debt—I had credit Tamara Chapman card debt and a car payment in addition to my Editor undergraduate loans. Still, the investment argument Kathryn Mayer (BA ’07) won the day. Really, I had no choice but to take out Editorial Assistant loans if I wanted an advanced degree. Laura Hathaway (’10) Craig Korn When I pay off my student loans in about 20 Staff Writer more years, I will have paid more than $100,000 Richard Chapman in principal and interest. Do I regret taking out those loans? Not at all. Art Director I still see them as an investment—simply part of the upwardly mobile, Craig Korn, VeggieGraphics professional American lifestyle, just like the house payment and the 401(k). Contributors Wayne Armstrong • What I do regret is spending so freely with credit cards. Two years ago, Richard Chapman • Justin Edmonds (BSBA ’08) • my husband and I realized that we were making no progress on clearing Jessica Centers Glynn • Allison Horsley • Doug McPherson • Josh Miller • Sarah the credit card debt we’d racked up in college and that we were still likely Satterwhite • Steve Schader • to be buried when we reached retirement age. So we enlisted the help of a Nathan Solheim • Chase Squires “financial fitness” professional who prodded and coached and sometimes Editorial Board Chelsey Baker-Hauck, editorial director • even shamed us into better spending behavior. I’m pleased to say that after Jim Berscheidt, associate vice chancellor two years of hard work, we’re about to zero the balance on our credit cards for university communications • Thomas Douglis (BA ’86) • Carol Farnsworth, for the first time in nearly 20 years. vice chancellor for university communications • If only my debt epiphany had come a decade or two sooner. Jeffrey Howard, executive director of alumni relations • Sarah Satterwhite, senior director of Be sure to read our online feature article about debt published at development for research and writing • Amber Scott (MA ’02) • Laura Stevens (BA ’69), www.du.edu/magazine. It includes some wonderful tips for students and director of parent relations their parents to help avoid the debt trap that has snared so many Americans. I hope it helps. Printed on 10% PCW recycled paper The University of Denver Magazine (USPS 022-177) is published quarterly—fall, winter, spring and summer—by the University of Denver, University Communications, 2199 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208-4816. The Chelsey Baker-Hauck University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) is an Equal Managing Editor Opportunity Institution. Periodicals postage paid at Denver, CO. Postmaster: Send address changes to University of Denver Magazine, University of Denver, University Advancement, 2190 E. Asbury Ave., Denver, CO 80208-4816. 4 University of Denver Magazine Winter 2009 Letters Celebrating Stuart to work, where they get Council. And, as noted on page 4 Thank you for publishing Margaret Whitt’s their food, etc.” A little of every issue, our paper contains remembrance of Stuart James [Essay, fall friendly coercion will 10 percent post-consumer recycled 2009]. I attended the first class he ever be necessary if some- waste. (Cost and availability limit taught at DU, in the fall of 1957 at the old one deviates. our options for higher-recycled- downtown campus. During that class he Ms. Lyndsay Agans, lead author of this content papers.) We also encourage those concerned mentioned flying the B-17 Flying Fortress, plan, correctly recognizes that “The hard with the environment to read the magazine and after class I told him I, too, had piloted work starts now.” Knowing which light online at www.du.edu/magazine rather than that plane. He invited me to join him for a bulb to use, how to properly grow flow- subscribing to the print edition; readers can e-mail beer, and we began what became a lifelong ers and when it’s OK to use a car will take [email protected] to unsubscribe. friendship. He was my mentor at DU, and moral clarity and perseverance. Maybe a after his retirement we got together nearly “green” book can be produced to delineate every Tuesday for the last 12 years of his which actions are correct and which are After reading “Going Green” I remain life to have lunch, drink an occasional beer, not. tremendously skeptical about DU’s carbon and talk literature. He was the closest and Now that the University can feel good neutral plans. As a 2008 graduate of the dearest friend I ever had. about itself by setting goals to reduce its School of Education I am on campus two Jesse Gatlin Jr. (PhD ’61) carbon footprint, wouldn’t it make more to three times a week, mostly at the Ritchie Colorado Springs, Colo. sense to just close the University and really Center. On my way to work out, I see go carbon neutral? water sprinklers watering the lawn during Igor Shpudejko (MBA ’77) the noon hour, wasting precious water. Thanks so much for a wonderful Mahwah, N.J. I don’t see any recycle bins on my way reminder of the impact and influence one to the Ritchie Center or other buildings. teacher can make. I was a student yearning I realize some are there, but they are not to learn more about literature, and Stuart You seriously missed the boat in your easy to find. I see a large open refrigera- James put it in front of me. He engaged article on DU going green. Nice senti- tion unit across the workout area check-in the classroom to speak up and prodded ments. But how about demonstrating the station, keeping drinks and sandwiches our sleepy minds to realize the force and University’s commitment to going green cold with the unit’s cold air escaping into impact that the written word could have— by having the magazine go green? Right the room, again wasting energy. Worst of through Hemingway, Cather, Faulkner, now, you’re using a high quality unrecycled all, there are no water conservation poli- Twain and O’Connor. He opened up a paper to print the magazine on. And are cies in the men’s showers. No auto-off, no world for me, and I thank him for being you using soy-based ink? Not that I can water-saving shower heads, no signs asking a catalyst when I needed one. I’ve been tell. How about you cut out the luxury users to limit their shower times. In fact, fortunate to have had a small handful of paper and go for something with a high countless times I see swim teams stand teachers like Stuart James. They are gold. recycled content? Frankly, I’m appalled and in the showers for up to 30 minutes, just Doug Hall (BA ’81) disappointed that the choice wasn’t made standing under the hot water, wasting not Waltham, Mass. to do so at the outset. Make your alumni only energy to heat the water, but the water proud and be a little bit progressive. Go itself. green yourself and don’t just write an I see why it will take 40 years to obtain Green gripes article about it.