University Magazine Spring 2015 ST.LAWRENCE Are We Green Yet? SUSTAINABILITY TAKES ROOT IN OUR INTELLECTUAL CULTURE P. 16 ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2015 Spring,15 Features Nowadays, when we ask ourselves “Are We Green Yet?” we’re 16 talking about a lot more than just energy consumption. SLU Connect-DC may be “One Small Step Inside the Beltway” 24 for our students, but we’re betting it will lead to many giant leaps. As her graduation looms, a stellar student-athlete probes what makes 26 her think “There’s Something About This Place.” He’s an actor, a philanthropist and a distinguished Laurentian. 30 That’s what we say when “Introducing Kirk Douglas Hall.” Departments In Every Issue 4 On Campus 2 A Word from the President You might say these are 12 Sports 3 Letters St. Lawrence’s representatives in Congress. They’re the 32 Philanthropy in Action 41 First-Person students who participated in 37 Laurentian Portraits 42 Class Notes the University’s inaugural SLU 40 On Social Media 81 From the Archives Connect-DC program in January. One of them, Mariah Dignan ’15, On the Cover: Sustainability at St. Lawrence is a work in progress, and illustrator Edmon de Haro far right, tells us more on page JEFF MAURITZEN © demonstrates that it’s becoming part of our cerebral DNA—as well as part of our pipes and groundskeeping. 24. And if what she predicts : Above: Alexander Kusak ’12 captured this shot of a trio of Denmark Program students in Copenhagen. proves true, you may see her SITE Margot Nitschke ’16, center, describes how Denmark incorporates sustainability into its national life; page 20. back here in a few years. OPPO All other photography by Tara Freeman. To read this magazine online, go to stlawu.edu/magazine ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE | SPRING 2015 A Word From the President Been Around the Barn Letters campus, a day trip made by students and ing team has done for public awareness, facts as presented; we also expect that A different kind of performance sciences from both a humane and an ana- faculty to the capital city of Ottawa usu- though being national champions twice literary texts will cause human feelings Most alumni know that the new Kirk lytical perspective. When I think about ally begins the tour at the War Memorial, in the last three years merits more than a to stir in class, but without losing the Douglas Hall [see page 30] is named in my many positive learning experiences at a vivid freeze frame of 1915 that captures footnote mention. This proposition does capacity to analyze what things mean honor of the actor, philanthropist and St. Lawrence, Bernie Lammers is always a a scrum of exhausted combat soldiers, not require wreaths and ribbons to clear or matter. I marvel at the mature loyal Laurentian. But few know that he major portion of the equation. one of whom rides a draft horse, an eye- the jump: The horses on campus and the emotional intelligence being developed was also president of Thelmo his senior Issues of social justice were a major part riveting large animal with brute shoulders students who care for them exemplify the around the horses by an experience for year (1938-39), and an advocate of of his life view. When he saw wrongs, he pulling a big gun on a muddy road. liberal arts philosophy that so many of us students that shows the grace of trust higher academic standards at the college. fought for what he viewed as good for the When we come back to Canton, are giving our lives to perpetuate. and the gift of being trusted. That year, Prof. Harry Reiff, of history college, the community and his country. however, there remains a subtle sense of When I visit the Elsa Gunnison Apple- Years ago, I spent a day with a and government, lamented the “incred- Our contact with Bernie crossed gen- a living past. The North Country is still ton Riding Arena, affectionately known as St. Lawrence alumnus at his workplace ible clutter of extra-curricular activities erations through my brother Sterling ’84 frisky as horse country. The “rush hour” “the barn,” for a horse show or an impulse on a Hudson Valley farm. A world-re- on the campus...a situation inimical to and our daughter Jessica ’04. My wife, on Main Street signals the familiar whir of drop-in, I observe qualities that I wish nowned breeder and trainer of Arabian the best interests of an institution intent Melissa, and I had the good fortune of passing cars (and pick-up trucks), but then every student at St. Lawrence will find horses, he took me into a round barn, on developing citizens with a good spending time with Bernie in May of there is the occasional clip-clop cadence in equivalent ways. I notice the constant told me to stand quietly against the scholastic background.” (The Hill News, 2013, during a class reunion. A short as old as the rhythms of a Roman road. atmosphere of patience and pace while wall as he worked the paces and turns April 17, 1938.) A solution proposed Christmas note just before his passing At home, I hear daily the Amish buggies walking the corridor of stalls. Its whis- of a young horse. It was a truly sublime by Douglas (then known as Isadore showed, as always, his upbeat nature and on market errands. It makes me think of pered air resembles the feeling of a library. and beautiful moment to see this man Demsky) was a committee, made up hope for humanity. the pictures kept in our archives of college The French scholar Arlette Farge once and magnificent horse communicate of students, which could review poor —Jim Goodspeed ’73 professors on horseback and the children so effectively in a language that ap- student performance brought to its Queensbury, New York of the farms who brought their trunks to ,, proached something mystical. attention by professors. campus by horse cart. I have witnessed It takes tremendous athletic balance Thus, the new dormitory honors The Van de Waters’ country place St. Lawrence’s widespread reputation and intellectual poise to ride a horse, a not just a notable actor, but also his I was sorry to read of the death of Peter reaches many admirers of our accom- in my barn tours creature that is both extremely power- contribution to St. Lawrence as a Van de Water ’58. His future wife, plished liberal arts alumni in every field ful and remarkably gentle. While I student leader and advocate of higher Becky Blaisdell ’60, lived just a few of work and service. We have numerous a way for students to be couldn’t achieve that myself in exactly academic standards. doors down from me freshman year in reasons for the world to know the same way, I can take its example —Daniel D. Reiff Dean-Eaton Hall. In about 1965, the St. Lawrence. And yet, we should also be emotionally connected and use it to explain a college’s purpose, Kenmore, New York Van de Waters bought a shabby old known as a place that cares about horses. in making clear how we want all our The writer is Harry Reiff’s son and the place near St. Regis Falls, my home- This is not a personal appeal to nostalgia to an activity students to turn out, bringing gentle- author of Teacher, Scholar, Mentor: Dr. town. They were often at my dad’s saw- he guide in paris or “back-to-the-land restorationism” ness out of power, equilibrium out Harry Reiff of St. Lawrence University, mill buying supplies. We both had three left the message to inspired by a historian’s active imagina- without being of speed. Socrates once had a student available through Brewer Bookstore. children by then, so we were invited out meet at the statue tion. Yes, I know that if Napoleon had who wrote knowingly about horses. He for s’mores over a fire. I will never forget of Charlemagne installed a reliable supply chain of fodder, foolishly emotional. maintained that in looking at a horse, Remembrances of Bernie that day. We have read about Peter and by Notre Dame he might have reached Moscow sooner ,, the key is to pay attention to the feet. We were saddened to learn of the passing Becky ever since because of their in- Cathedral. No than the first snowfall. And in the liberal arts, too, the show is of teacher, mentor and friend Dr. Bernie volvement in so many worthy activities. matter what grand The fact is I never learned to ride, wrote, “To feel the allure of the archives never the same as knowing the source. Lammers in December [see “In Memory,” —Jeanne Giffin Wright ’60 city, it is easy to though my mother, wife and daughter is to seek to extract additional meaning —WLF page 80]. He helped me view the social Manchester, Connecticut find on horseback can be found in family albums sitting a from fragmented phrases found there… a marble king or horse confidently. I grew up in a city with an unplanned glimpse offered into an a bronze general to mark the place of more than two dozen equestrian statues, unexpected event.” The barn has the pull ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE VOLUME LXIV | NUMBER 2 | 2015 rendezvous. We had earlier been in Nor- but now I live in a setting with more than of an unfinished story at the pen’s nib, T VIce PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS St. Lawrence University does not discriminate against students, faculty, staff or other beneficiaries on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, mandy’s medieval city of Rouen to visit two dozen active equestrians (almost all a first draft taking patience to trace and Melissa Farmer Richards disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in admission to, or access to, or treatment, or employment in its programs and activities.