The HARVARD FOUNDATION Newsletter FALL 2003 VOL. XXIII, NO. 1 Gov. Calderón of Puerto Rico Honored at Harvard Harvard Foundation Director Dr. S. Allen Counter presents Governor Sila M. Calderón with the Harvard Foundation Award. Sila M. Calderón, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (center) and Antonio García-Padilla, President of the University of Puerto Rico (far left) are welcomed by Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers (right), and students, Barbara Sabot ‘07, Adiari Vazquez ‘05, Leyla Bravo ‘05, and Stephanie Paiz ‘05 (left to right). Distinguished WWII Veteran Airmen Honored at Harvard WWII Airmen John Leahr (left) and Herbert H. Heilbrun (right) honored at Winthrop House. Honorees John Leahr and Herbert H. Heilbrun welcomed by FAS Dean William C. The South Asian Association’s Kalpanam Dancers Kirby (center) and students Ellen Yiadom ‘06 (left), and Dina Maxwell ‘06 (right). performed at Lowell Hall. 2 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 3 | COVER STORY Sila M. Calderón, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is Honored with the Harvard Foundation Award COVER STORY | 6 Childhood Classmates John Leahr and Herbert H. Heilbrun, Once Pilots in Segregated U.S. Air Corps, Honored Together 10 | Annual Freshman Orientation Cultural Diversity Brunch Kuumba Singers | 12 Celebrate 33rd Annual Christmas Concert 13 | Raza’s Dia de los Muertos Celebration The First Annual | 14 Complexities of Color Writers Conference 16 | Harvard Black Alumni Weekend Draws 600 Students & Alums Martin Luther King Jr.’s | 18 Life Celebrated at Memorial Church 19 | In Memoriam: Former Harvard Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III In Memoriam: | 20 Harvard Biology Professor Lawrence Bogorad 21 | Grant Summaries: The Harvard Foundation Sponsors Over 160 Student Events & Projects this Fall “Voices of Minority Conservatives” Panel | 22 The Harvard Foundation publishes this biannual newsletter as part of its efforts to keep the Harvard Community abreast of both the Foundation's events, conferences, and gatherings, as well as issues pertaining to Intercultural and Race Relations at Harvard University and throughout the world at large. HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 3 Sila M. Calderón, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is Honored with the Harvard Foundation Award The first female governor of Puerto Rico described her ef- forts to overcome many years of corrupt leadership and re- turn clean government to the commonwealth in a speech at Harvard on Friday, October 17, 2003. Sila M. Calderón explained her reasons for seeking greater autonomy from the United States—a major contrast to former governor Pedro Rossello, who lobbied to make Puerto Rico the 51st state dur- ing his time in office. “The people cherish their U.S. Governor Sila M. Calderón is welcomed to University Hall by Dr. Benedict H. citizenship, and the benefits of Gross, Dean of Harvard College and George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Mathematics. a relationship with the U.S. speak for themselves,” Calderón also noted that the She noted that corrupt lead- Calderón told an audience at commonwealth status of ership over the past 50 years led the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Puerto Rico allowed for a dis- to a large loss of the Puerto “But fiscal autonomy and self- tinct cultural background and Rican government’s founding government allow for an exten- language, while still incorpo- principles of “honesty, compas- sion of our industrial develop- rating citizenship and shared sion, responsibility and re- ment.” common values. spect.” But the corrupted class of former leaders have been exposed, tried and jailed, she said. This corruption and dishon- esty among leaders disheart- ened the public, according to Calderón. “I fear that the children of Puerto Rico were becoming burdened with a jaded but jus- tified contempt for public ser- vice,” she said. As a result, Calderón said she set out to rescue the core val- ues lost by the government, implementing audits of all pub- lic agencies and standing ready to take immediate action over Governor Calderón meets with Havard undergraduate students in the University the slightest hint of misuse of Hall faculty room. public funds. 4 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 Student Leaders Present Tributes to Governor Calderón Krystal Law ‘04 Leyla Bravo ‘05 Olamipe Okunseinde ‘04 Chair of the Harvard Foundation President of Fuerza Latina President of the Black Students’ Student Advisory Committee (SAC) Association (BSA) “I was determined to give Answering questions from people the clean government the audience after her speech, they wanted and deserved,” Calderón acknowledged her she said. And now, she added, decision not to run for re-elec- teachers are being trained in tion, saying she never saw her- ethical education and are re- self as a politician. But she quired to incorporate ethics added that she hoped to con- into daily lessons. tinue public service in new “Ethical seeds will grow into Dr. Robert Woollacott, Professor of ways. lasting values,” Calderón said Organismic and Evolutionary Biol- Before Calderón’s speech, Dr. with a smile. ogy and Member of the Harvard S. Allen Counter, Director of the In November 2000, when Foundation Faculty Advisory Com- Harvard Foundation, pre- Calderón was elected, health mittee, welcomes Governor Calderón sented her with The Harvard care costs were spiraling up and to Harvard. Foundation Award honoring economic development had her humanitarian achieve- been sitting on the back burner “It’s been a long and ments and constant quest to with over 30,000 jobs lost in pre- difficult journey but help those in need. vious years. I’m proud to say we’ve Calderón has a well-estab- The new governor came to lished political history in power and brought with her a been bringing compas- Puerto Rico. She was the first twelve-point economic devel- sion and values back to female chief of staff for the gov- opment plan, which reduced the government.” ernor and was appointed sec- health care costs and created retary of state two years after over 80,000 new jobs. that. In keeping with her cam- In 1995, Calderón was elected paign platform and slogan of mayor of San Juan, Puerto “We want change,” Calderón Rico’s largest city, and her name said that she allocated over $1 has been prominent in the U.S. billion to improve living condi- due to her strong efforts to stop tions for residents. the Navy’s bombing of Though she said great strides Vieques, a Puerto Rican Island. have been made over the last Calderón’s visit to Harvard three years, Calderón stressed was highlighted by a luncheon that it has not been easy and Governor Calderón with Harvard in her honor in the Leverett that there was still much to do. President Lawrence H. Summers. House dining hall, which fea- HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 5 Mariachi Veritas de Harvard Performs for Calderón’s Visit Claudia García ‘05. Mariachi Veritas de Harvard serenades the governor and attendees at the honorary Jaime Guzman (Harvard Graduate luncheon hosted at Leverett House by Co-masters Prof. Howard and Mrs. Ann Georgi. School of Education). Governor Calderón with community HMS Prof. Walter Frontera and Gov- Governor Calderón and Ramón leader José Massó. ernor Calderón with her husband Cantero Frau are greeted by Dean Ramón Cantero Frau (left to right). Georgene Herschbach. tured a musical performance by student group Mariachi Veritas de Harvard. Also present at Calderón’s lecture at the Kennedy School of Government Forum were several Puerto Rican officials and friends who supported the governor throughout her elec- tion, including Antonio García- Padilla, president of the Uni- versity of Puerto Rico. “A brilliant visionary with a strong belief in compassionate governance, she has set Sarah J. Murphy ‘06 a remarkable example for all of us. We are proud to welcome her to Harvard as our Courtesy of the Harvard Crimson. honorary guest...” Dr. S. Allen Counter introduces Governor Calderón to Harvard Reprinted from October 20, 2003. students and politicians at the John F. Kennedy School of Government Forum. 6 HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 Childhood Classmates John Leahr and Herbert H. Heilbrun, Once Pilots in Segregated U.S. Air Corps, Honored Together Fifty years after fighting in segregated U.S. Army air units in World War II, John Leahr (left) and Herbert H. John Leahr (left) and Herbert H. Heilbrun (right) discovered that they were both Heilbrun (right) with John Harvard from Cinncinatti, Ohio, and that they had even posed next to each other for a in front of University Hall. third grade class picture. Harvard honored WWII veterans Herbert M. Heilbrun and John H. Leahr on Thursday, October 16, 2003 for their service to their nation and contributions to intercultural and race relations. Airman Herbert M. Heilbrun of Cincinnati, Ohio flew numerous missions over Nazi Germany during WWII on bombing raids. Other American bomber groups incurred many losses, but Heilbrun’s group was one of few that survived the ravages of the air war without heavy losses. It was not until 50 years later that Heilbrun learned that Airman John Leahr flew missions in Airman Herbert H. Heilbrun flew his bomber squadron had been Europe as a member of the all-Black numerous missions over Nazi escorted by the all-Black Tuskeegee Airmen of the 332nd Germany and Italy during WWII on Tuskeegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Squadron during WWII. bombing raids. Fighter Squadron pilots. In an effort to express his gratitude to the men who pro- HARVARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER, FALL 2003 7 behalf of the President and Deans of Harvard University at an honorary luncheon in Winthrop House attended by students and faculty members, as well as the family and friends of the venerable pilots. Professor Stephen Rosen, Mas- ter of Winthrop House, and Dr. John E.