The College in the Media - Archives

An article in the April 28 edition of Newsweek magazine about consumer debt mentions psychology professor Stuart Vyse and his new book, "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money." This article was also published by the Washington Post, Charlotte Observer, Orlando Sentinel, St. Petersburg Times, The Atlanta Constitution, Economic Times (India) and the Fort Worth Business Press.

An April 27 column in The Day by David Collins '79 explained why, in his new movie "The Visitor," writer, director and actor Tom McCarthy chose to make his fictional character a professor at Connecticut College. "I liked the idea of Connecticut College," McCarthy said. "I have friends who have gone there. It has a good reputation."

The Day reported that Ulysses Hammond, vice president for administration, and Christopher Clouet, New London's superintendent of schools and a Connecticut College trustee, were honored as "Community Champions" by the Opportunities Industrialization Center of New London County on April 24.

The Connecticut College Arboretum was featured in the calendar section cover story in the Hartford Courant April 24. The article quoted Glenn Dreyer, director of the Arboretum and adjunct associate professor of botany, and included a number of photographs of the Arboretum.

Psychology professor Stuart Vyse published an opinion piece about the credit card industry in the Providence Journal April 23. The piece was also published by The Press-Enterprise (CA) on May 10.

Jack Tinker, director of recruiting, was quoted in an April 22 Wall Street Journal story about what students should do if a job offer is rescinded.

Martha Merrill '84, dean of admission and financial aid, was interviewed live on NBC's Today on April 21. Merrill spoke about the admission process and what students should do to stand out.

Patricia Carey, vice president for College Relations, was quoted in an article about colleges' emergency communication plans in the April 2008 edition of University Business Magazine. Carey discussed Connecticut College's implementation of Connect-ED, and the article included a photograph of members of the college's emergency response team conducting a test of the Connect-ED system.

Sarah Noble '08, who will bicycle 3,743 miles across the country after graduation to raise money to provide affordable housing, was profiled by the Cohasset Mariner (MA) on April 17.

A story in the April 17 edition of The Day reported that Connecticut College recycled 44.83 pounds per person and 40.36 percent of the solid waste generated on campus during the 10-week national "RecycleMania" competition, earning a spot in the top 10.

On April 16, the Daily Star (NY) reported that Jeff Idelson '86 has been named the permanent president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Idelson had served as the hall's interim president for three weeks. This story was also reported by The Boston Herald, MLB.com, Hall of Fame Magazine and many other media outlets.

A story about myths in the Augusta Chronicle (GA) April 13 mentions that the "five-second rule" was recently tested by two molecular biology students at Connecticut College.

Paul Maroni, vice president for finance at Connecticut College, discussed the management of the College's $210 million endowment in a column in the Hartford Courant April 11. "The endowment must be invested in a way that will benefit not only students of today, but those who are here in years to come," Maroni said.

On April 10, The Day reported that Charles Stone '08 was selected to play in the 2008 New England Basketball Coaches Association Division III Senior All-Star Game at Babson College.

Psychology professor Stuart Vyse was quoted in a April 9 Washington Times story about consumer debt.

Jefferson Singer, professor of psychology and author of "Memories that Matter: How to Use Self-defining Memories to Understand and Change Your Life," published a blog on PsychologyToday.com in which he discussed memories of the Beatles on April 9.

On April 8, the Hartford Courant reported that Sandro Aguilar '08 was one of five college students to receive a 2008 Higher Education Community Service Award from Michael Meotti, Connecticut's higher education commissioner. Aguilar received the award for helping the guidance department at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School in New London improve the academic and social performance of Latino students.

The Providence Journal published a story April 6 about a recent book by Sunil Bhatia, associate professor of human development, titled "American Karma: Race, Culture and Identity in the Indian Diaspora." In the book, Bhatia uses participation observation and in-depth interviews to explore how professionals from India redefine their self identity after they are inserted into the racial dynamics of American society.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology and author of "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money," was interviewed about consumer debt April 4 on Psychjourney.com's "Audio Book Club."

On April 4, the New York Times published a review of a three duet pieces created and performed by David Dorfman, associate professor of dance, and Dan Froot.

Tara Suilen Duffy '94 was featured in the April 2008 edition of Marie Claire magazine in a story about women working and living in foreign countries. Duffy lives in Beijing and works as a consultant to The Asia Foundation, focusing on environmental and disaster-preparedness programs.

Connecticut College was included in an April 3 Wall Street Journal story highlighting the low admission rates of many of the nation's top colleges and universities this year.

A story about fundraisers led by Sunil Bhatia, associate professor of human development at Connecticut College, was published March 31 by India Express, one of the leading newspapers in India. Bhatia is raising money for the construction of toilets in the slum areas in Pune, India. Bhatia's Connecticut College fundraiser netted $32,000 in 2007, while a recent fundraiser at Brown University netted $14,500 for the cause.

A March 29 column by the Washington Post's Michelle Singletary included excerpts from her online chat with Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology and author of "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On to Their Money." The column was also published by The Boston Globe, Providence Journal, Chicago Daily Herald, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Miami Herald, Cherry Hill Courier Post (NJ), St. Louis Post Dispatcher, Tampa Tribune (FL), Green Valley News (AZ), Lawrence Journal World (KS), Shreveport Times (LA), HeraldNet (WA) and NewsOK.com (OK).

The Dallas Morning News profiled fashion designer Peter Som '93 March 31. Som, creative director for Bill Blass, recently presented two of his collections at New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Elaine Solinga, director of financial aid services, was quoted in a March 29 Hartford Courant story about how the troubled economic forecast has some college officials and other financial aid experts closely watching the student loan market. Solinga says she is working to ensure Connecticut College students do not have problems securing student loans.

Jason Nier, associate professor of psychology, was interviewed about the psychology of looting on WNYC's "The Brian Lehrer Show" March 28.

The Oneonta Daily Star profiled Jeff Idelson '86, acting president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, on March 27. The article details Idelson's long career in baseball. The story was also reported by Allied News (PA), Niagara Gazette (NY), Mineral Wells Index (TX), Tonawanda News (NY), Terre Haute Tribune Star (IN) and Corsicana Daily Sun (TX).

An exhibit of Art Professor Barkley Hendricks' 19th-century American landscape paintings was previewed by the Providence Journal March 27. The exhibit is currently on display at Rhode Island College.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was quoted in a March 25 Kankakee Daily Journal (IL) story about the federal government's $150 billion economic stimulus package.

On March 25, MLB.com reported that Jeff Idelson '86 was named acting president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum after the previous presidents immediate resignation the day before. Similar stories were also reported by WKTV (NY), Hall of Fame Magazine, Oneonta Daily Star (NY), Corsicana Daily Sun (TX), Terre Haute Tribune Star (IN), Niagara Gazette (NY), Tonawanda News (NY), Mineral Wells Index (TX).

A March 24 India New England story about donations collected at a Brown University fundraiser for Shelter Associates, an organization working to address sanitation and poverty conditions in India’s slums, quotes Sunil Bhatia, associate professor of human development, who organized the fundraiser. A similar fundraiser was held at Connecticut College last year.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was interviewed about his new book, "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money," March 24 on WSAU Radio (WI).

Ralph Reidel '08, Rebecca Wells '08 and Jack Tinker, director of recruiting for the College's Office of Career Enhancing Life Skills, were quoted in a March 24 story in The Day about job prospects for new college graduates. Tinker said that while job prospects vary depending on the career field, this has been an 'active year' in terms of the number of job postings he's seen for new college graduates.

On March 22, The Day reported that with a $1 million gift from the Sidney E. Frank Foundation, in honor of Louise Rosentiel Frank '44, Connecticut College has established a scholarship to provide financial aid to students in need who are pursuing majors in literature and writing.

A March 19 article in the Hartford Courant mentioned that Taylor Katz '08 is one of five student poets who will read their poetry on the Connecticut Poetry Circuit Student Tour.

On March 19, The Day reported that David Canton, professor of history, led a successful racial tolerance workshop for students from two local high schools. The workshop was prompted by a racial incident at a girl's basketball game between the two schools last month.

The Norwood News (N.Y.) reported that six Connecticut College science professors visited DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx to engage students in hands-on experiments March 17 as part of the College's new Science Leaders program. The program is designed to increase the number of women and minority students graduating from the College with degrees in the sciences.

A March 17 article in The News-Times (Danbury, CT) profiled Joel Barlow High School seniors and basketball stars Jenn and Jaqueline Shinall '12, who decided to attend Connecticut College because of the College's focus on academics.

Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse, author of "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money," explained why so many people are deeply in debt during a March 17 interview on WMRA Radio, an NPR affiliate in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse was quoted in an article about credit card debt in The New York Times on March 15. In the article, Vyse says that people are finding themselves in credit card debt in part because "immediate choices are extremely powerful and difficult to resist" and credit cards play into that desire for immediate gratification.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology and author of "Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition," was quoted in an article about superstition in the Chicago Tribune on March 15.

Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse was quoted in a March 9 Los Angeles Times article about mortgage debt. In the article, Vyse said attitudes toward mortgages are colored by our increasingly fast-paced culture.

Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse's new book, "Going Broke: Why American's Can't Hold On To Their Money," was highlighted by a personal finance columnist as one of three books addressing American's propensity for debt in the Star Tribune (MN) March 8. The story was also published by the Orlando Sentinel.

The Wall Street Journal highlighted Connecticut College's funded internship program, which gives students the freedom to create their own internships, in a story published March 6. Heather Day '09 and Frannie Noble '08 are both featured in the article. The story was also published by The Baltimore Sun, The Ledger (FL), Globe and Mail (Toronto), AZCentral.com (AZ), Wilton Villager (CT), and The Stamford Times.

On March 6, Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse was quoted in an ABC News story about credit card debt. "Almost anybody can get a credit card, and it can be exchanged for almost anything," Vyse said. "Thirty years ago if you wanted to buy something ... you had to go down town and you had to have the money. You had to make a much greater effort to do so."

Jefferson Singer, professor of psychology, published a blog on the Psychology Today Web site March 6. In the blog entry, Singer, author of "Memories that Matter: How to Use Self-defining Memories to Understand and Change Your Life," talks about the moments in life that capture who you are and what you are all about.

On March 5, the VietNanNet Bridge announced that William Frasure, professor of government, became the second American ever to earn an honorary doctoral degree from Vietnam National University (VNU). Frasure received the honor in recognition of his contributions to the development of cooperation and friendship between the university and Connecticut College. The story was also published by Nhan Dan Vietnam and The Day.

Art Professor Barkley Hendricks was profiled in the Duke Chronicle on March 5. His new exhibition, "Barkley L. Hendricks: Birth of the Cool," is currently on display at Duke University's Nasher Museum.

On March 5, The Day published a story about the life and accomplishments of Ernest Schlesinger, professor emeritus of mathematics, who recently passed away.

Connecticut College's waste disposal composting system was highlighted in a story about college and university sustainability initiatives in the March/April issue of EMagazine. The article quoted Misha Johnson '08, who said, "by creating a community of consciousness around food producers and consumers, the environment can and will benefit."

A March 4 story published by Antiques and the Arts Online reported that Janis Mink, visiting professor of art history and architectural studies, along with the students in her seminar class, will curate a new exhibition at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum.

MaryAnne Borrelli, associate professor of government, was quoted in a March 4 Connecticut Post story about women voters.

On March 3, both The Day and New England Entertainment Digest Online announced that a contemporary dance piece by Zenas Hutcheson '08 will be included in the 2008 National College Dance Festival in New York City This June. Hutcheson has also been nominated for the American College Dance Festival Association Dance Magazine's 2008 Outstanding Student Choreographer Award.

Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary recommended Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse's new book, "Going Broke: Why American's Can't Hold On To Their Money," for the Color of Money Book Club for March on March 2. The story was also reported by The Providence Journal, Cherry Hill Courier Post (NJ), Stockton Record (CA), Shreveport Times (LA), The News Journal (DE), Laurence Journal World (KS), HeraldNet (WA) and NewsOK.com (OK).

Jefferson Singer, professor of psychology, published a blog on the Psychology Today Web site March 2. In the blog entry, Singer, author of "Memories that Matter: How to Use Self-defining Memories to Understand and Change Your Life," wrote that if Barack Obama is elected president, the event may generate what he refers to as a "flashbulb memory."

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology and author of "Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition," was interviewed on Stamford University's Philosophy Talk March 2 about the difference between science and pseudo-science.

A March 1 Dallas Morning News story about designer Peter Som '93 said that Som presented his fashion collections twice to good reviews during New York's recent Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

A Feb. 29 story in New England Construction mentioned that Konover Construction was awarded best in show for Connecticut College's $9 million Campus Renewal project at the Excellence in Construction Awards ceremony recently.

On Feb. 28, The Boston Globe published a story about Emily Ricketson '08, a cross-country and track captain who recently helped the Camels record the second fastest 4x400 meter relay time in program history.

A story about the "New Creativity Project," an initiative by the College's Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology, was published in The Day Feb. 28. The project was designed to help local educators explore ways that common technologies, such as iPods, camera phones and digital cameras, can be used to enhance creativity and artistic expression in middle and high school students.

Jeanne Stern '03, one of the College's commissioned artists at this year's 11th Biennial Arts and Technology Symposium, was interviewed Feb. 27 on WLIU's "In The Morning with Bonnie Grice" about the Symposium, her current work and her experience as a student in the College's Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology.

Lindsay Michel '08, a Winthrop Scholar and tri-captain of the women's basketball team, was profiled in the New Haven Register Feb. 26. Michel was recently named to the College Sports Information Directors of America/ ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first team.

Barkley Hendricks, an artist and art professor at Connecticut College, was profiled by The Day Feb. 26. Hendricks' traveling art exhibit, "Barkley L. Hendricks: Birth of The Cool," is currently on display at Duke University's Nasher Museum.

A story about the issues raised by Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, in his new book, "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money," was published by Bankrate.com Feb. 25.

Ryan McManus '09, the No. 2 player for the women's squash team, was profiled by the Boston Globe Feb. 24.

Robert Campbell '08, tri-captain of the men's ice hockey team, was profiled Feb. 24 in the Boston Globe.

A Feb. 21 Reuters book review of psychology professor Stuart Vyse's new book, "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money," was published by The Boston Globe, Guardian Unlimited (UK) and Forbes.com. A similar review was published by the New York Sun.

Dorothy James, professor of government, was quoted in a Feb. 21 Hartford Courant story about the role of public speeches in presidential campaigns. James said historic presidential speeches conveyed a "vision and a sense of authenticity of the individual speaking and the sense that this individual could be trusted to carry out that vision."

Armando Bengochea, dean of the College Community, was quoted in a Feb. 20 story in The Day about the resignation of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Bengochea, who left Cuba with his family when he was a baby, said that with Fidel's brother Raul leading the country, there is little hope for major change.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was quoted in a Feb. 19 Houston Chronicle story about the superstitions of trial lawyers.

Vice President of Administration Ulysses Hammond, who recently received Dominion's "Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership" award, was profiled in the Norwich Bulletin Feb. 14. "I think selfless service to others is the highest form of civic engagement in our society," said Hammond, a leading volunteer in the community.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was interviewed about his new book, "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money," by a number of media outlets, including Newsweek.com, Wisconsin Public Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, CBS Radio Network and Traders Nation Radio, as well as a number of other radio stations.

The Hartford Courant reported on Feb. 13 that the Connecticut College men's hockey team defeated in-state rivals Wesleyan and Trinity in the same season for the first time since 1999-2000 season. With the victories, the College remains in contention for a berth in the NESCAC hockey playoffs. "It's something extra to beat Wesleyan and Trinity on the same weekend," center Trevor Bradley '10 said.

A Feb. 13 story in The Day mentioned that David Canton, assistant professor of history, will host a workshop on racism, tolerance, leadership and sportsmanship for students at New London High School and Tourtellotte Memorial High School in Thompson. The workshop is in response to allegations that racial slurs were used at a girls' basketball game between the two schools.

A Feb. 9 story in The Day announced the Connecticut Board of Education recently granted full approval of Connecticut College's teacher certification program.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology and author of "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold on to Their Money," was quoted in a Feb. 9 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story about how many people plan to use their tax rebates to pay off debt. Vyse said that when people expect to receive a windfall of money in the future, they often plan to make wise use of it - like saving or paying debt - but that other needs and desires may influence that decision when they actually receive the money.

Three Connecticut College students were quoted in a Feb. 6 Hartford Courant online article detailing Connecticut's presidential primary. The article quoted Hayley Bentley '09, Jeff O'Neil '09 and Emily Rosenfeld '09, who were working at the Connecticut College Democrats table in the student center, reminding students to vote. Two other Connecticut College students, Adrian Stover '08 and Bethany Boles '08, were quoted in a similar article in The Day.

Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse was quoted in a Jan. 29 Hartford Advocate about the results of a recent poll, which found that more than a third of Americans believe high-ranking officials either helped commit the 9/11 terrorist attack, or at least allowed them to happen.

Jack Tinker, director of recruiting and associate director of the college's career center, was quoted about how to prepare for a job interview in a special advertising section published Feb. 3 in the Tribune Daily Newspapers, which include the Los Angels Times, Chicago Tribune, Newsday, Baltimore Sun, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel and Hartford Courant.

Jefferson Singer, professor of psychology, was quoted in a Feb. 2 story in The Day about the idea of "perfection" and how it relates to the New England Patriot's quest for a "perfect" season.

A list of reasons to love Connecticut in the February 2008 edition of Connecticut Magazine mentions that Connecticut College is one of many institutions contributing to the state's exceptional higher education.

A Jan. 29 story in The Day mentions that Connecticut College is one of nearly 1,600 schools and colleges across the country participating in "Focus the Nation," a national environmental awareness event to inspire action to address climate change. "This is the issue of our generation," said Sarah Berkley '11.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News (WFSB-TV) covered the opening of Connecticut College's "Light and Image: The Object In View" exhibit on Jan. 28 as part of their "town-by-town" segment. The exhibit, which includes photographs, installations, sculptures and films by eight contemporary artists, will be on display through March 1.

On Jan. 28, the History News Network published an opinion piece by James Downs, assistant professor of history, about how the history of the noose has enabled the media to define racism.

President Leo I. Higdon Jr. published an opinion piece in the Hartford Courant Jan. 28 about the value of a liberal arts education and the critical role liberal arts graduates will have as leaders in the future workforce. "Because liberal arts institutions teach students how to think, not what to think, liberal arts graduates will be the ones who adapt best as the pace of change accelerates," Higdon wrote.

The New York Times published a feature article about art professor Barkley Hendricks on Jan. 27. The article says Hendricks, whose painting style mixes pop art, photorealism and black nationalism, is "one of this state's most gifted but least-known artists."

James McNeish, adjunct assistant professor of music and Connecticut College recording engineer, was profiled by The Day Jan. 25. McNeish, who runs the College's recording studio and teaches a course in recording technology, says studying the guitar is a lifelong pursuit with infinite rewards. The story was also reported by Newsday, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, Waterbury Republican American and Stamford Advocate.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology and author of "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money," was interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio on Jan. 24. Vyse said that the personal debt accrued by Americans is the byproduct of our turbo-charged economy.

On Jan. 24, the Waterford Times published a story about Connecticut College's new Science Leaders Program, which seeks to increase the number of women and minority students graduating from the college with a degree and research experience in the sciences.

Vogue magazine's January 2008 list of top 25 cultural highlights included art professor Barkley Hendricks' traveling retrospective of oil portraits, which marry Pop Art, photorealism, black nationalism and Renaissance portraiture.

Connecticut College was mentioned in a Jan. 25 Chronicle of Higher Education story about how college admissions offices deal with all of the mail that pours in during the January crunch. The story also quotes Martha Merrill, dean of admission and financial aid.

A Jan. 22 Hartford Courant story about how few schools will be able to follow the lead set by Harvard and Yale and drastically cut costs for families earning in the low six figures mentions that Connecticut College is expanding its financial aid program by substituting grants for half of the loans to students of families earning between $50,000 and $75,000. Martha Merrill, dean of admission and financial aid, is quoted.

David Canton, assistant professor of history, was quoted by ABC News Jan. 15 about an ongoing investigation of several big name hip-hop music stars who may have used performance-enhancing drugs. "This reflects society's obsession with body types," Canton said of the alleged drug use. "LL Cool J always had a physique that was popular with female consumers. There is a relationship between his body type and buying albums." At Connecticut College, Canton teaches a class on the history of hip-hop culture.

A Jan. 15 Hartford Courant story mentioned Connecticut College is one of at least 40 Connecticut schools and organizations participating in "Focus the Nation," a nationwide effort to teach students and policymakers about climate change and prompt them to act.

A Jan. 15 story in The Day reported that the Connecticut College's men's basketball team beat the Coast Guard Academy in overtime with a score of 53-46.  It was the Camels' first win over their top rivals in four years. "This just shows the resiliency that we have this year," guard Christian Mosley '08 said.

Basketball standout Charles Stone '08 was profiled by The Day on January 14. The article said Stone, a 6-foot-6 center who has been a team captain since his sophomore season, "hasn't merely emerged as one of the best men's basketball players in the history of the program. It's the way he's arrived: with personality and presence that would qualify him as a perfect candidate to headline any admissions brochure."

On Jan. 14, The Day reported that 14 Connecticut College seniors have been selected as Winthrop Scholars, the highest academic honor bestowed by the College, awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional scholarship, personal fitness and promise.

Marc Zimmer, professor of chemistry, published an opinion piece in the Jan. 11 Providence Journal about the latest developments in cloning and the need to discuss the ethics of human cloning. "We've essentially answered the question about how to clone humans," Zimmer wrote. "Now we need to discuss whether humans should be cloned at all, and, if so, under which circumstances and which controls. It's a conversation that must happen. Soon."

Frank Graziano, professor of Hispanic studies, was quoted in a Jan. 9 Reuters article about the yearly pilgrimage tens of thousands of Argentines make to Mercedes to pay respects to a popular folk saint Antonio "Gauchito" Gil.  Graziano, author of "Cultures of Devotion: Folk Saints of Spanish America," said folk-saints like these are "extraordinarily creative responses to poverty and the failure of institutions."

Simon Feldman, professor of philosophy, was quoted in a Jan. 3 Norwich Bulletin article about the overwhelming response to a local man's good deed of returning a lost check – worth $185,000 – to its owner.

David Dorfman, associate professor of dance, was quoted in a Dec. 30 New York Times article about the Chelsea Dance Theater Workshop's Fresh Tracks series, which showcases emerging choreographers. Works by two of Dorfman's former students will be performed at this year's workshop. "I was as excited for them as I was when I got it," said Dorfman, whose work was showcased by Fresh Tracks in 1985.

Khadija Griffith '11, Laila Johns '10 and Colleen MacPhee '10 published an opinion piece in The Day on Dec. 22 about their experience volunteering at the New London Hospitality Overnight Shelter. "Our semester as volunteers at the Homeless Hospitality Center shelter has shown us three truths: stereotypes about the homeless are often invalid; we can learn a wealth of knowledge from the homeless women and men; and by acknowledging our privilege and embracing the feeling of discomfort we can move one step closer to starting a revolution for social change," the students wrote.

David Kyuman Kim, assistant professor of religious studies and director of the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity, was interviewed on PBS’ Tavis Smiley Show on Dec. 20 about his new book, "Melancholic Freedom: Agency and the Spirit of Politics."

The Day reported on Dec. 20 that Connecticut College has launched a new program to increase the number of women and minority students graduating from the college with a degree and research experience in the sciences. The Science Leaders Program, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, will prepare these students for a wide range of science-related careers and provide a solid foundation for graduate study or medical school. "Connecticut College offers a comprehensive science education -- our students go on to be world-class researchers, doctors and academics," Dean of the Faculty Roger Brooks said. "We're delighted to be able to offer these opportunities to more students from underrepresented groups."

On Dec. 19, The Day reported that Connecticut College will build an $8 million state-of-the-art fitness center overlooking the Thames River and Silfen Field. "The center will feature leading fitness equipment and will more than triple the amount of space on campus for exercise and wellness," the story said.

Sunil Bhatia, associate professor of human development, was interviewed on WNPR Connecticut Public Radio on Dec. 18 about his recent book, "American Karma: Race, Culture, and Identity in the Indian Diaspora." Bhatia said he used participation observation and in-depth interviews to explore how professionals from India redefine their self identity after being inserted into the racial dynamics of American society.

A story about Katy Serafin '08, who recently scored her 1,000th point as member of the Connecticut College women's basketball team, was published in The Journal News (NY) on Dec. 18. Serafin, a native of Carmel, N.Y., was named NESCAC conference player of the week on Nov. 26, and is ninth on the college's all-time scoring list and sixth on the rebounding list.

Connecticut College's new composting system, which converts food scraps from the campus dining halls into fertilizer, was featured on NBC 30 News (WVIT-TV, Hartford/ New Haven) as part of the network's "Going Green" series Dec. 17. The story featured students Misha Johnson '08 and Tyler Dunham '09, who spearheaded the project, as well as Dining Services Board Plan Manager Mike Kmec.

Glenn Dreyer, adjunct assistant professor of botany and Charles & Sarah P. Becker '27 Director of the Arboretum, was quoted in a Dec. 17 story in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette about oriental bittersweet vine, a plant commonly used for holiday wreaths and dried flower arrangements. The vine can re-sprout and grow to 100 feet long, killing forests, fields and wetlands, so Dreyer suggests burning holiday decorations made with plant to dispose of them.

A story about "Mr. Brownstone," a "Guns N' Roses" tribute band made up of Connecticut College alumni Andrew Thurlow '01, Gerard Egan '01, David Godowsky '02 and Sean Greenhalgh '01, was published by The Boston Globe on Dec. 14. The incredibly popular tribute band, which started in 2000 with what was meant to be a one-time joke gig at the Connecticut College student center, was performing in Boston over the weekend.

A Dec. 14 Chronicle of Higher Education story about the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment lists Connecticut College as one of 17 institutions where all electricity is green, as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Climate Commitment, signed by Connecticut College President Leo I. Higdon Jr. earlier this year, is a pledge by college and university presidents to reduce and ultimately neutralize greenhouse gases.

Andrea Wollensak, associate professor of art, published an opinion piece in the Dec. 12 Hartford Courant about how art supplies are great holiday gift alternatives to the plastic toys recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in recent months. "When you've read through the [recall] list and are wondering if there are any safe toys left, or if you're feeling overwhelmed by endless franchises, early brand loyalties and overly stimulating media, do your kids a favor: Introduce them to art,” Wollensak wrote.

Phil Ray, associate dean of students and associate professor of English, was quoted in a Dec. 7 article in the Miami Herald about the controversy related to the newly released film, "The Golden Compass." Ray, who teaches the book as part of a literature course, said that the religious controversy is largely American made, and that his students – who have gone on to read other books in the series – have not complained about anti-religious tones in the books.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was quoted in a Dec. 7 Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colo.) article about how hockey goalies have a reputation for being eccentric. Vyse says hockey goalies are more superstitious than most athletes. "They face more pressure than the rest of the players," Vyse said. "And with added pressure, usually there are more superstitions involved."

Martha Merrill, dean of admission and financial aid, was quoted in an article on Univision.com, a Spanish-language news outlet, about how to improve your chances of being accepted by a particular college. Merrill says that an essay and interview can help an applicant stand out, and suggests going to the admission page on the Connecticut College Web site to read "Essays that Worked."

A book review of "Electric Salome: Loie Fuller's Performance of Modernism," a recently published book by French professor Rhonda Garelick, was published in Time Out Chicago on Nov. 29. "The best part of Electric Salome is how Garelick puts Fuller's story into a context that we can appreciate," the review said. The book was also reviewed by The Times Literary Supplement on Oct. 26, and was chosen as a top holiday pick by the Los Angeles Times on Dec. 7.

Biology professor Robert Askins' presentation at the Connecticut Forest Conservation and Science Forum was broadcast by CT-N (The Connecticut Network) on Nov. 29.

Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse was quoted in a Nov. 28 article in The Missourian (Columbia, Mo.) about the superstitious rituals of sports fans.

Deborah Eastman, assistant professor of biology, and Morgan Maeder '06, Benjamin Polansky '06 and Bryanne Robson '06, published a paper about a set of genes that are important for development in the Nov. 26 edition of Genetics: A periodical record of investigations bearing on heredity and variation.

Sarah Barr, associate director of The Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy at Connecticut College, was profiled in a Nov. 24 issue of The Day. In the article, Barr discusses the importance of volunteerism and the impact Connecticut College students have on the local community. "The goal," she said, "is for them to really have the skills to transform the communities where they hope to work or to really begin to move policy issues forward and make a difference on our campus, in the New London community and in the communities they go to after they graduate."

The College's Nov. 19 "Dump 'n Grind" event celebrating the new on-campus composting initiative, which will convert food scraps from the dining halls into fertilizer, was reported by WFSB-TV Channel 3 (Hartford/ New Haven) and The Day. "The idea was to really involve the local community in our conservation and to be thinking outside our campus walls in our stewardship and our influence, both economically, socially and environmentally," said Misha Johnson '08.

Marc Zimmer, professor of chemistry, published an opinion piece in the Nov. 18 issue of The Day about newly created transgenic mice with fluorescent multicolored neurons. The technology used to create the colored neurons is based on the same proteins Zimmer studies. "It is not their colorful splendor that makes these genetically modified mice so amazing," Zimmer wrote. "It is their potential to revolutionize neurobiology that excites scientists like myself and has our neurons firing away creating oodles of endorphins."

A poem by Charles Hartman, English professor and Connecticut College Poet in Residence, was read Nov. 18 on "Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor," a public radio show.

Victor Pacheco, a visiting assistant professor of art history and architectural studies, was featured in a Nov. 16 article in The Hartford Courant about his living sculpture of avocado plants. The project, Pacheo said, is about community and culture.

The Hartford Courant, The Day, WDRC-AM 1360, The New London Times and The Waterford Times all reported that Chemistry Professor Marc Zimmer was named Connecticut's 2007 Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

The Day published an article on Nov. 14 about Connecticut College's expansion of grant aid to students from low- and middle-income families, which will begin in the fall of 2008. Martha Merrill, dean of admission and financial aid, said the initiative would provide greater access for students and improving the College's overall academic profile.

Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse was quoted in a Nov. 10 Kansas City Star story about a recent poll that found one in five sports fans believes superstitions can make teams win or lose. "It's an illusion of control for fans," Vyse said. "They can feel like they have control when they really don't have any at all."

A Nov. 10 Hartford Courant article about the extended length of this year’s fall foliage season quoted Glenn Dreyer, director of the arboretum and adjunct associate professor of botany. Dreyer said he is surprised both by how late the foliage colors are appearing and how long they are lasting.

Deborah Eastman, assistant professor of biology, published a paper in Nature, an international weekly science journal, on Nov. 8. The paper, co-written by a number of students and recent alumni, is about the identification of evolutionary signatures through the comparative analysis of 12 Drosophila genomes.

On Oct. 29, The Day published a story about how 108 Connecticut College students recently registered to vote in New London, an extraordinary amount in a year without a state or presidential race. The Connecticut College Democrats, led by Jeffrey O'Neil '08, encouraged students to vote by knocking on dorm room doors, and the college's Office of Volunteers for Community Service set up voter registration booths in the student center. Matthew Fairman '09 and Randy Fixman '09 also encouraged students to register by stressing the importance of political awareness and participation as part of a project through the college's Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy. "We're not just out to get people to vote all row A or row B," Fairman said. "It's really about instilling habits of activism and civic participation."

Connecticut College is listed as one of this year's top producers of Fulbright Awards for U.S. students in the Oct. 26 edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education. Five of 13 student applicants received awards this year.

On Oct. 24, Taylor Katz '08 published a blog entry on theday.com titled "In the Presence of Greatness," which details some of her recent experiences at Connecticut College, such as conversing with Richard Wilbur, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, and attending the Daniel Klagsbrun Symposium on Writing and Moral Vision, which featured authors Jhumpa Lahiri and Ben Fountain. "The event was just as delicious as last year," Katz wrote about the symposium. "Blanche Boyd, [professor of English and] the writer-in-residence here, asked the two authors questions about writing, their lives, their connections to other authors, and all sorts of other compelling questions."

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, published an opinion piece in the Oct. 21 Providence Journal about the need to improve and expand programs to teach Americans personal financial management. "Until we face the underlying problems of a consumer culture with too much debt and not enough savings, our economy will continue to spring leaks," wrote Vyse, who is also author of the forthcoming "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On to Their Money."

On Oct. 21, The Day published a story about the memorial service held at the College for Richard Goodwin, land preservationist, past president of the Nature Conservancy and Katharine Blunt Professor Emeritus of Botany at Connecticut College, who died at the age of 96 in July. At the service, which was attended by more than 100 former students, professors and friends, Goodwin was remembered as "an outstanding scientist, and arguably, the conservationist of his generation."

An article about Connecticut College's award of more than $1 million in four separate National Science Foundation grants, which will support important global warming research, chemical reaction analysis and College's efforts to engage future scientists, was published in The Day Oct. 20.

An Oct. 18 article in The Day announced that Amanda Clark '05 qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, as a member of the sailing team that will represent the United States in the 470 class next summer. Clark, a two-time intercollegiate All-American and a two-time New England Singlehanded champion for the Camels, is the third woman to qualify for the Olympic Sailing Team from the Connecticut College athletic program.

On NBC's Today Show Oct. 17, authors David Kidder and Noah Oppenheim mentioned that [Jim Downs,] professor of history at Connecticut College, served as the consulting editor for their book, "Intellectual Devotional: Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Converse Confidently about Our Nation's Past."

On Oct. 16, The Day published an article detailing the many road trips that women's cross country coach Ned Bishop has planned and executed for the team over the years. Most recently, during fall break, the team traveled to the Tori Neubauer Invitational in West Salem, Wis., placing 12th out of 29 teams. "The general idea is we like to take our kids on some special trips that are a little bit different each year to run against different competition and just get outside of New England if we can," Bishop said. "It's nice to have a meet that every single team is unfamiliar and just for the overall experience for the kids to do something special."

Amy Crespi '08, captain of the volleyball team, was featured in The Boston Globe on Oct. 14. Crespi, who chose to attend Connecticut College "because of the institution's highly respected academic program and the opportunity to play volleyball at the next level," has 368 kills, 505 digs and 125 blocks in her career. "Amy is doing a great job of embracing the role of a captain," coach Josh Edmed said. "She has great leadership qualities and has been very influential in the success our team has experienced early on this year." The article also mentions that Maria McGinness '08 is a middle blocker for the squad and that Courtney Mayer '08 is a senior captain for Connecticut College field hockey team.

On Oct. 11, The Jamestown Press published an article about Michael Marshall '11, who was recently named New England Intercollegiate Men's Sailor of the Week. "Mike is achieving success so early in his college career because he trains harder than everyone around him," coach Jeff Bresnahan said.

An Oct. 9 article in The Day featured Bailey Andrews '10. The article, titled "A Woman of Many Talents," discussed Andrews role as the starting goalie for the College's women's soccer team, a position she has filled capably after the team's first-string goalie was injured, and as a musician – she just recorded her own music CD. "I'm amazed how talented she is," coach Winnie Edmed said.

Andrew Pessin, assistant professor of philosophy, published an opinion piece in the Hartford Courant on Oct. 7 about how scientists at the University of Minnesota recently discovered an enormous void in space, a vast area of nothing. Pessin argues, however, that "nothing" is really something rather significant. "Thinking about nothing is a lot more complicated than you might think," he wrote. "And that is not nothing. It is the absence of nothing, which is really something. Or is that everything?"

Glenn Dreyer, director of the arboretum and adjunct associate professor of botany was quoted in an Oct. 7 article in The Day about how the New London metropolitan area was named one of the 25 "Best Green Places" in America by Country Home magazine. On Oct. 6, The Day published an article about a memorial service at Connecticut College for William Meredith, a Pulitzer Prize recipient, one of the most influential American poets of the 20th century and an emeritus professor at the College. The article quoted Richard Wilbur, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and good friend of Meredith's who spoke at the Oct. 5 service. "Bill Meredith's poems, almost from the very beginning, sounded like a civil, witty and serious man conversing with a few friends," Wilbur said.

Tim Cheney, director of admissions, was quoted in an Oct. 5 article in The Hartford Courant about the importance of high school seniors maintaining focus and continuing to take challenging courses during their senior year. "We are looking for students who can continue to keep their foot on the academic accelerator and maintain a level of consistency in their performance at the highest possible standards," Cheney said.

In an Oct. 2 blog entry on theday.com titled "Higdon is My Homeboy," Taylor Katz '08 wrote about how students at Connecticut College love President Leo I. Higdon Jr., even selling t-shirts referring to him as their "Homeboy." "There is a certain Conn patriotism that seems to have arisen since Higdon has arrived on campus," Katz wrote. "I have loved this college since I arrived at it, but it seems that now it is cool to do so."

A Sept. 26 news story on Houston's KTRK-TV (ABC13 News), quoted David Canton, assistant professor of history, about radio talk show host Bill O'Reilly's racially charged comments about a famous restaurant in Harlem. Canton said O'Reilly's comments represent "colorblind racism."

On Sept. 26, stories in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and The Daily News of Newburyport featured Connecticut College Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Kareem Tatum '01 and Todd Taplin '89, respectively. Tatum led the Camels to the first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1998, and is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players in college history. Taplin, a soccer and hockey standout, broke school soccer records for career assists (35) and season assists (11 in 1985), tied the College mark for game assists (3 in 1985) and graduated as the program's second all-time leading point scorer (117 career points).

Connecticut College's successful test of Connect-ED, the College's new emergency alert system, was reported by News Channel 8 (WCTX-TV, Hartford) on Sept. 26.

On Sept. 25, the Wall Street Journal quoted Jack Tinker, director of recruiting for the College's center for Career Enhancing Life Skills (CELS), in an article about how recent college graduates can find jobs overseas that pay well and boost their careers. Tinker suggests that interested graduates contact a company's overseas office directly or take a short-term position in a foreign country, then pursue higher-paying position after settling in the country.

Kathryn Gutleber '08 published an opinion piece in the Sept. 25 edition of E Magazine (The Environmental Magazine) about the connections between environmental philosophy and the practice of yoga. "In our daily lives we encounter violence, theft and greed everyday, but what both yoga and environmentalism teach us is that the first step to igniting social change is greater consciousness of our actions on an individual level, which will lead to a collective difference on our planet," Gutleber wrote.

David Canton, associate professor of history, was quoted in a Sept. 24 Associated Press article about a 1957 federal court order to integrate an all-white high school in Little Rock, Ark. Even though, at the time, public attention was focused on the high profile civil rights battles in the South, Canton said, "Most African-Americans were looking at Little Rock and comparing it to where they lived in the North and thinking that this is a national problem." The story ran on AP's Arkansas state wire, South regional wire and Pennsylvania wire, and was reported by the Lexington Herald-Ledger, Baxter Bulletin and todaysthv.com.

Arang Keshavarzian, professor of government, was quoted in a Sept. 19 article in the United Press International about how the Iranian government has recently been enforcing laws against moral offenses. "There has definitely been a crackdown over the last six months," Keshavarzian said.

On Sept. 19, The Day published a story about college aficionado Steve Lake, who took a tour of Connecticut College led by Abby Van Slyck, the Dayton Professor of Art History and director of the College's architectural studies program. Lake, a Las Vegas man whose goal is to visit 500 colleges, said Connecticut College, the 401st school he has visited, was "one of the prettiest I've seen." Lake also mentioned that Connecticut College was one of his favorites in a Sept. 25 article in the Worcester Telegram.

A Sept. 18 "WNPR News" story on WPKT-FM 90.5 about Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal to allow three resort-style casinos in Massachusetts quoted Economics Professor Don Peppard. Peppard, who has studied the impact casinos would have on the state, said that he thinks Massachusetts would benefit from legalized casino gambling.

The Boston Globe profiled Jorge Vega '97, who recently won the Platinum Studios and AT&T Comic Book Challenge with his comic, "Gunplay," on Sept. 16. Vega won a publishing deal and is pursuing the possibility of a movie. His comic book will be released in March 2008.

Designer Peter Som '93, was interviewed on the Bloomberg Television show "Night Talk" on Sept. 14. "I knew I wanted to do fashion since I was in fifth grade," said Som, who was recently named the creative director for Bill Blass. "I grew up sketching. I was very shy as a kid and that is what I would do for hours. It was sort of my own little world." Som, who majored in art history, added that the liberal arts education he received at Connecticut College helped prepare him for a career in fashion.

A September 4 article in The Guardian, a national daily newspaper in the United Kingdom, discusses the results of an early 1990s study by Psychology Professor Joan Chrisler and her former students, Ingrid Johnston '92, Nicole Champagne '92 and Kathleen Preston '93, on the impact of "The Menstrual Joy" questionnaire. Their study, originally published in the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly, found that women were often shocked or surprised about the survey and felt its title was sarcastic and ironic.

A Nashua Telegraph article about the benefits of college internships, published September 4, featured Allison Stauble '08 and quoted Jack Tinker, director of recruiting for the college's center for Career Enhancing Life Services. "Internships are hugely important for students today," Tinker said. "It gives them a chance to see if they have the skills and the personal qualities and the desire to pursue that particular career." Stauble, who recently completed an internship as a curator at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Mass, agrees. "I definitely have a much better idea of what the career is like," she said, "and I have a better idea of what I have to do to get into the career."

Former Young Alumni Trustee Eugene Kogan '03 was featured in an August 31 article in the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. In the article, Kogan, a senior political analyst at Americans for Informed Democracy, talked about the value of a liberal arts education and what it was like attending Connecticut College as an immigrant from Russia.

An August 29 article in the Hartford Courant about the SATs mentions that Connecticut College asks for some specific subject area SAT scores, but does not require applicants to report overall SAT scores. It quotes Martha Merrill, dean of admissions, as saying that strategy has helped the College take a closer look at students from disadvantaged areas or from homes where English is not the primary language spoken. The article also quotes Tiffany Ayala '10.

Psychology Professor Jefferson Singer was quoted in an August 26 article in The Journal News (NY) about how students are using online websites as memorials. In the article, Singer warns, "the cult around an individual who has died tragically at a young age can always be seductive to other young people who are feeling alienated or lonely or not getting their due of recognition."

In August, The Day and The Norwich profiled Carla Canepa '08, who was awarded an American Cancer Society research fellowship. "I've been interested in medicine, and particularly cancer, since I was a freshman in college after reading the book 'One Renegade Cell,'" Canepa said. "Since then, I've been known to my friends as the 'cancer freak,' who is always looking for articles on cancer and sharing my passion for science."

Connecticut College's new emergency communication system, Connect-ED, which will allow emergency messages to be sent via email, text message and voice message to students, faculty, staff and other designated contacts, was featured in an August 24 article in The Day about new security initiatives at various local colleges. "The University of Connecticut, Connecticut College and Mitchell College are taking advantage of students' personal communication devises in addition to the college-maintained voice mail and e-mail systems," the article said.

Evan Piekara '07 published an opinion piece in The Springfield Republican on August 22 about his decision to participate in "Teach for America" before pursuing a career in finance. "Teach for America would give me the opportunity to put my money where my mouth is, both figuratively and literally, paying more than just lip service to social activism," Piekara wrote. "Only in recognizing persistent problems in our society and actively taking a stand against them can we alter the course of our country toward a more equitable, just and opportune place for all." 

History Professor Leo Garofalo was quoted in an article in the July/ August edition of imbibe Magazine about chichi, a sweet and sour fermented drink produced from ground corn. Garofalo, an expert on Peruvian culture, said chichi doesn't keep for long periods of time because it is made with a short fermentation process. "This is not a drink you can transport across bumpy mountain roads," he said.

Catherine Stock, professor of history, was interviewed on the "Dan Mulhern Show" on WJIM 1240 A.M. Radio on August 21. Stock spoke about leadership and what the country needs in a president.

On August 17, Martha Joynt Kumar '63, author of "Managing the President's Message" was interviewed on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal." During the interview, Kumar, who spent nearly 12 years in the White House during the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, discussed how presidents interact with the media.

President Lee Higdon published an opinion piece in The Philadelphia Inquirer on August 15 that explains why college tuition is a great investment and outlines the value students gain as a result of that investment. "At this time of year, as students go off to college, it's important to remember what your student gets out of the college experience - and what the college invests in the student," Higdon wrote.

Philosophy Professor Andrew Pessin published an opinion piece in The Providence Journal on August 10 encouraging people to take money they might have spent at the movies and donate it instead to people in need. "There is a lot of misery in the world right now, and if all of us just cut back even a little on our luxuries and redirected our resources we could do an awful lot to combat it," Pessin said.

On July 16, Modern Medicine published an article about a new study by psychology professor Ann Devlin, which showed that individuals judge the quality of medical care and their expected comfort level by the look of a medical building's exterior. "Earning patients' trust starts well before a doctor enters the exam room," the article said.

On July 26, the Arizona Daily Star profiled screenwriter Will Conroy '86. Conroy, who also runs a historic hotel previously owned by his great-grandmother, recently co-wrote "Trans-Siberian," which the paper describes as "a thriller with an A-list cast" that is scheduled to hit theaters sometime next year. "He has a great ear for punchy, witty dialogue," Conroy's co-writer said. "He builds his characters out of what they say, which is a rare talent for a screenwriter. And his writing is lean and economical, never indulgent."

Psychology Professor Jefferson Singer was quoted in the "Cosmo Quiz" section in the August edition of Cosmopolitan magazine about how women can keep men intrigued by not divulging too much information too early in a relationship. "Only share once he has," Singer said. "And stick to neutral topics with new guys."

On August 3, Web Administrator Laurie Schaffer was featured in a piece on News Channel 8 (WTNH) about beating the heat by staying indoors. Schaffer, an avid runner, chose to run on a treadmill in the Connecticut College fitness center instead of running outdoors, as the temperatures reached the mid-90s with high humidity. "You can just feel the air quality – it's bad," Schaffer said.

An August 5 article in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette profiled actress Athena Fitzpatrick '02, her theater career and her new role in "Becoming Natasha," a play about the global sex trade, produced by a New York theater group. "It's been a pretty intense project for me," Fitzpatrick said.

Connecticut College was featured in a July 31 article in The Day about the increase in college applications experienced by colleges across the country, and its effect on college admissions in Connecticut. Connecticut College experienced an 11 percent increase in applications, which Whitney Soule, director of admission information and systems, attributed to a new college president and new recruiting efforts. "It's allowed the college to increase the racial diversity of the class, from 13 percent last year to 15 percent this year," Soule said.

James McFarland, professor of German and director of the Film Studies program, was quoted in a July 31 article in the Norwich Bulletin about the passing of master filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. "It's a monumental passing. It’s hard to find a direct analogy in contemporary cinematic culture," McFarland said "His work is quite diverse ... like a Scandinavian Vaughan with portentous themes and ostentatious symbolism, but one forgets he also directed comedies. His favorite opera was not a Vaughan opera, but Mozart's 'Magic Flute.' "

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was quoted in an article about the superstitions, rituals and routines of baseball players in the June/ July issue of Athletics Magazine. "We like to have certainty where we can; we like to have control over our world, so we look for patterns and regularities, and sometimes we see them where they don't really exist, and that's how superstitions are often developed," Vyse said.

On July 6, Richard H. Goodwin, land preservationist, past president of the Nature Conservancy and the Katharine Blunt Professor Emeritus of Botany at Connecticut College, passed away. Stories about Goodwin's life and accomplishments appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine and The Day. On July 12, the Hartford Courant published an editorial praising Goodwin's work in land conservation. "Few people leave a legacy that will benefit generations for centuries to come," the editorial said. "Richard H. Goodwin, among the world's leaders in preservation, helped energize a movement that has protected millions of acres around the globe for posterity." The Day also published two editorials saluting Goodwin for his important contributions to the field of ecology and for his environmental stewardship.

Psychology Professor Stuart Vyse is quoted in a July 2 USA Today story about the American culture of shopping and spending. "Never have Americans, who have always liked their toys, been faced with a situation where their impulses are so hard to control," Vyse said. "If you want a new widescreen TV in your house in one day, you can do it. The effort involved in shopping has been reduced to nothing, and everyone is made to believe they can afford anything." Vyse's upcoming book, "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold on to Their Money," was also mentioned. This story was also reported by The Journal News (NY).                                        

Phil Ray, dean of the College Community and an associate professor of English, was featured in a July 2 Associated Press story which contemplates the death of Harry Potter in the series' latest installment. "For Rowling to have put Harry Potter through all seven volumes just to kill him off, the point of all development would be wasted," Ray said. "Death strikes me as being the strangest ending of all." This story was also reported by Newsday, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CNN, Court TV, Houston Chronicle, Frontline (India), The Khaleei Times (United Arab Emirates) and many other news outlets.

In an op-ed piece published in the Hartford Courant on July 2, Professors Mark Zimmer and Eugene Gallagher discussed important aspects high school students should consider when they "shop" for a college by comparing the experience to that of buying a car. "There's no substitute to taking a college for a 'test drive,'" they wrote. "Spend a lot of time on campus. Take the tour; sit in on classes; talk to lots of students; arrange an overnight or weekend stay at your preferred choices. Looking carefully at the ongoing intellectual life of the college is the equivalent of a look under the hood."

On July 2, Chemistry Professor Marc Zimmer published a piece on InsideHigherEd.com about the declining number of American engineers and scientists. In the piece, he considers several reasons for the decrease, including the fact that the number of American men attending college is declining, that the current administration has eroded the authority and autonomy of science, and that stricter immigration rules are forcing foreign science students to leave the country after graduation.

On June 20, Patricia Carey, vice president for College Relations, was interviewed on NBC 30 News (WVIT), about gender imbalance among students applying to college. "When we look at the profile of our incoming class, there is no discernable difference in terms of average SATs or rank in class," Carey said. "So, we do get more female applicants than men, but it doesn't affect the quality of the class." She added that when Connecticut College considers an applicant, they look at many different variables. "Academic performance is the first thing. Then we look at extracurriculars, we look at life experiences, we look for diversity geographically because we are a national college, we look for diversity of ethnic background, socioeconomic background, and gender is a factor in there, but by no means a very important one."

Several news outlets reported on the opening of a 50-year-old time capsule found in the cornerstone of Connecticut College's Crozier-Williams student center. The opening ceremony, held on June 19, included comments by President Leo I. Higdon, Jr., Class of 1957 President Judith Hartt Acker '57, Vice President for Administration Ulysses Hammond, and Evan Piekara '07, the immediate past president for the SGA. Laurie Deredita, director of special collections and archives, and College carpenter Mike Wardlaw also participated in the ceremony and were featured in the news stories. Stories were reported by The Day, the Norwich Bulletin, NBC 30 News (WVIT - NBC), News Channel 8 (WTNH - ABC) and Channel 3 Eyewitness News (WFSB - CBS).

Molly Goettsche '07 and Nicole Moin '07 were featured in a June 12 segment on ABC's "Good Morning America" about the research they conducted on the "five-second rule" pertaining to dropped food. Other stories about their research, which concluded that wet foods can remain on the floor for 30 seconds and dry foods for nearly five minutes before rogue bacteria attach to the foods, were reported by The Boston Globe (online), The Hartford Courant, NPR News Blog, CNN Radio Network, Fox News Live, The Toronto Sun, The Los Angeles Times, The Baltimore Sun, The Chicago Tribune and more than 100 other newspapers, blogs, and radio and TV stations. Assistant Professor of Biology Anne Bernhard, who oversaw the students' experiment, was interviewed live on BBC radio and was quoted in several stories, including stories in Newsday, The Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Sentinel (Fla.)

The June issue of Grace, a magazine published by The Day, profiled College archivist Nova Seals. The article, which was titled, "Not your mother's librarian," detailed Seals' life, unconventional career path and work at the College.

Bruce Branchini, professor of chemistry, was interviewed on WFCR 88.5 FM's "Morning Edition" about his study of bioluminescence, defined as the emission of light by living organisms. "Bioluminescence is an interesting phenomenon," Branchini said. "In general, there are three different uses of bioluminescence in nature. It's either a phenomenon, like in the fireflies, for courtship and mating, or in some organisms, particularly some marine organisms, bioluminescence is used to scare potential predators away ... it also can be used in an offensive fashion, in which the bioluminescence enables the predator to find the prey and then consume it."

Glenn Dreyer, director of the Arboretum, was quoted in a June 3 New York Times article about Connecticut's state flower, the mountain laurel, and the legal protection it receives. "If it's on someone's property," Dreyer said, "no plant can be dug or picked without permission."

The passing of William Meredith, the Henry B. Plant Professor Emeritus of English, was reported by a number of news outlets. Stories about his life and accomplishments were reported by The New York Times, Associated Press, NPR, The International Herald Tribune, The Hartford Courant, The Boston Globe, Newsday and The Day.

Joan Chrisler, professor of psychology, was quoted in a May 26 article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about a new birth control pill that suppresses menstruation. "Women in our society are constantly told that the things that are most 'female' about us (e.g., our periods, our hips) are bad and need to be eliminated or altered," Chrisler said.

Several news outlets reported on a protest during President George Bush's May 23 visit to the United States Coast Guard Academy that was organized by chemistry professor Marc Zimmer. "Our focus is on the science," Zimmer told The Day. "In 20 or 30 years, when people look back, the biggest mistake of this administration will be that it did not pay enough attention to the environment." Joan Chrisler, professor of psychology, was quoted in a similar story in the Connecticut Post; and religious studies professor David Kyuman Kim, mathematics professor Bridget Baird and Zimmer were quoted in a story by the Providence Journal. The New Haven Register, NECN, MSNBC, Fox 61 News (online) and WNPR also reported the story.

A May 22 Providence Journal story profiled Alyse LaLiberte '07, who overcame a torn ACL in the winter of her senior year to qualify for the NESCAC Championships in the hammer throw as part of the track and field team. "Stories of inspiration abound during this season of college commencements and high-school graduations, but Alyse LaLiberte's is special," the author wrote. "LaLiberte's determination to return to the Camels' track team before the end of the outdoor season sets her apart."

A May 21 article in The Day recapped Connecticut College's 89th Commencement. The article quoted Senior Class President Christopher Bothur, 2007 Class Speaker Sara Skinner, President Leo I. Higdon Jr. and Keynote speaker Robert Ballard. A separate story in The Day featured David Owyang '07, who graduated from Connecticut College on the same day his twin brother graduated from Trinity. Commencement articles also appeared in the Hartford Courant and the Norwich Bulletin and Ballard's commencement speech was broadcast on C-SPAN as part of its "Commencement Addresses" series on May 31.

Psychology Professor Jefferson Singer is quoted in a June 2007 edition of Psychology Today about people who publicly expose personal secrets using today's technology. "There's a way in which our lives seem valid only if they obtain some veneer of media recognition," Singer said.

Preservation Specialist Doug Royalty published an op-ed in the Hartford Courant about the historic steel house on campus on May 13. "It's a modest house but a significant building on a number of levels," Royalty wrote. "A careful restoration would once again reveal the compact, modern home that Winslow Ames, among many others, saw as a way out of America's Depression-era housing crisis."A May 11 article in The Roanoke Times mentions that the more than 250 hand-cut wooden hearts that members of the Connecticut College community painted for the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy are on display in the Virginia Tech student center, which, according to the article, has become a "museum of mourning."

President Lee Higdon published an op-ed in the May 6 edition of The Providence Journal about leadership in higher education. "We must be strategic as we set goals, measure results, and create a shared vision across all constituencies," Higdon wrote. "Through conversations at all levels and with all constituents, we unveil aspirations, set direction, test theories, gauge reactions and begin the process of developing a shared vision and a strategic plan to get there. It's a straightforward process, one I've used with positive results at every institution I've led."

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was quoted in an article in the May issue of Ladies Home Journal about people who are more likely to use horoscopes. According to the article, Vyse said that "People who fear the unknown and feel better believing their destiny is controlled by external forces," are more likely to look at their horoscopes on a regular basis.

Connecticut College's prominence in international education was highlighted in a USA Today article on April 24 about the growing numbers of students seeking to do internships abroad. Senior Paul Dryden, who completed an internship last summer at Universal Music Argentina in Buenos Aires, was featured in the article. In the article, Dryden said that "In the U.S., I've done a lot of internships where interns do a ll the busy work - copying, stapling, the boring stuff. But in this position (in Argentina), I felt very valuable to the company."

Connecticut College was recently featured in a number of articles about the environment. On April 22, Amy Cabaniss, campus environmental coordinator, and Gerald Visgilio, professor of economics, published an op-ed in The Day about the college's environmental programs and policies. Faculty and staff were also quoted in two articles in a three-part series on the effects of global warming in southeastern Connecticut in The Day on April 22 and 23. The first article featured botany professor Scott Warren; the second featured arboretum director Glenn Dreyer and zoology professor Robert Askins. Connecticut College was also mentioned as one of more than 100 campuses using cage-free eggs in an article in the "Education Life" section of The New York Times.

An article in the April edition of Connecticut Cottages and Gardens, featured numerous photos of the arboretum and quoted Glenn Dreyer, director of the arboretum and the Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies, in a story about the formation of Smaller American Lawns Today (SALT) at Connecticut College about 10 years ago. "People are trying to redefine American landscape design and horticulture into something more environmentally appropriate," Dreyer said. "SALT is about getting people to do what they can with the space that they have."

On April 19, Connecticut College held a vigil to remember the victims of the Virgina Tech tragedy. The vigil was covered by several local media outlets, including The Day, The Hartford Courant, News Channel 8, Channel 3 Eyewitness News, Fox 61 News and NBC 30 News. Additionally, Senior Steve Strauss and Ulysses Hammond, vice president of administration, were quoted about Connecticut College's campus safety in an April 18 aricle in The Day about local college's reactions to the tragedy. The college is "also using this as an opportunity to remind students to familiarize themselves with (the school's) emergency plan, which is on an internal Web site," Hammond said.

Alumnus Adam Werblow '88, who has been the sailing coach at St. Mary's College for the last 20 years, ws featured in an April 16 story in Sailing World. "If I won the lottery tomorrow I'd probably still do what I do," Werblow said. "We have great kids here; it's a beautiful place."

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was quoted in two stories about the superstitions associated with Friday the 13th in The Chicago Tribune's "RedEye" publication and The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on April 13. Vyse also published an op-ed piece about boating in Stonington, Conn., in the April 15 edition of The Providence Journal.

John Nugent, senior research analyst, was featured in an April 11 online Chronicle of Higher Education article about careers in campus administration. The article states that Nugent enjoys "that he gets involved at one time or another with every division of the college - admissions, athletics, financial aid, academics, and others."

Senior Alex Maybury published an op-ed piece in The Trenton Times on April 10, about his decision to attend a liberal arts college. "The liberal arts college experience changed my life and transformed me into a real student ... a student who loves to learn," wrote Maybury.

Abby Van Slyck, associate professor of art history, was quoted in an April 8 article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the planned demolition of a controversial building at the Gettysburg National Military Park. "If you tear it down, you wipe out an important comment and voice from the moment in time that it was built," Van Slyck said of the building.

An April 7 article in The Day announced that William Meredith, the Henry B. Plant professor emeritus of English, will receive a lifetime achievement award from the Commission on Culture and Tourism.

Armando I. Bengochea, dean of the college community, explained some of the reasons he changed jobs from Brown University to Connecticut College in a "Why I Moved" column in the Chronicle of Higher Education on April 6. "I lucked out because this was a position that I could have designed for myself," Bengochea said in the article. "It encompasses all the thing that I've been trained to do."

Amy Cabaniss, environmental coordinator, was featured in an April 1 New York Times story about RecycleMania. Cabaniss noted the college's long-standing practice of sending food waste to a pig farm. Cabaniss and Tyler Dunham '09 were also interviewed in an NBC 30 story on April 2 about the college's environmental commitment. "I think people are finally just starting to realize we have to do something now so it doesn't kick us in the butt later," Dunham said in the segment.

Anita DeFrantz '74 was profiled by the San Diego Union-Tribune on April 1 about her rowing career. "This sport opened the world to me," she said in the article. "It made it possible for me to be an Olympian and to live in the Olympic Village, which totally changed my life."

ABC World News with Charles Gibson featured Connecticut College in a segment on March 30 about the cost of a college education. President Lee Higdon said tuition starts with attracting the best faculty and achieving low student-faculty ratios and also includes staffing and maintaining a 750-acre campus. The segment featured footage of the college's classrooms, dining facilities, residence halls, athetic complex and open space.

A March 24 Associated Press article about a "Comedy Studies" program at Chicago's famed comedy club "Second City," quoted Russell Chase '07, who is enrolled in the program. "I don't want to do the struggling acting thing," joked Chase. "But I was like, 'Wow! That's so much better than sitting at a desk working on spreadsheets.'"

Lan-Lan Wang, professor of dance, was quoted in a New York Times article on March 18 about the contemporary dance scene in China. Wang, a native of Taiwan, was one of the first American modern dancers to teach and perform in China after the Cultural Revolution in 1978, and is currently directing the college's Yunnan China/ Mekong Project in partnership with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. "I'm extremely pleased," Wang said of China's progress, adding that she hopes the focus will remain on the art of modern dancing.

On March 20, The Day published an article about David Dorfman, the William Meredith Associate Professor of Dance, who's dance company, "David Dorfman Dance," was recently named company-in-residence at Connecticut College. "Students will have the company in class, working with me at the helm," Dorfman said. "They'll have that first-hand experience rubbing elbows, doing plies, doing these movements with the company."

An article about "weird things that are very normal" in the March issue of Glamour magazine quoted Joan Chrisler, professor of psychology, about how women love their body more as they get older. "By 40, we learn there are things more important than our weight," Chrisler said.

In an Associated Press article that discussed that young people are using iPods and cell phones to tell time instead of traditional watches, Paul Dryden '07 was quoted as saying "to be honest, I can't remember the last time I wore a watch - I'm guessing early in high school." The article was published in more than 100 newspapers and websites around the country.

Eugene Gallagher, professor of religious studies, was quoted in a March 4 article in the Hartford Courant about self-declared saviors and "would be Christs." Later in the month, Gallagher was a featured expert in a two-hour History Channel documentary titled "Cults: Dangerous Devotion." In the documentary, Gallagher stated about the power of cults that "passions and commitment that can be engendered by religion are extraordinarily powerful, and sometimes no other human beings can stand in their way."

Laurie Deredita, curator of special collections, including the Lear/Carson Collection at Shain Library, was quoted in a March 7 Washington Post article about a celebration of the life of environmentalist Rachel Carson. "She was the one who kind of rang the alarm bell, that we have to start thinking about the world around us in a different way," Deredita said.

President Lee Higdon and his wife Ann gave advice to college-bound students, discussed the value of the liberal arts and talked about growing up in Westchester County, N.Y., in an article on the Journal News (N.Y.) newspaper website on March 8.

Joan Chrisler, professor of psychology, was quoted in a March 20 HealthDay article about the increase in cosmetic procedures. In the article, Chrisler points out that the number of cosmetic procedures has jumped 446 percent since 1997. "These numbers make me sad," she said. "It suggests people are so dissatisfied with themselves, they are willing to take risks and subject their bodies to all kinds of damage."

The Times (Trenton, N.J.) published a story on Feb. 26 about Nick Perold '07 and his experience as the president of the college's newly-reinstated Surf Club. Perold secured funds from the Student Government Association for beginner surfboards and wet suits, and the club frequently travels to the Rhode Island coast in search of the perfect wave - even in sub-freezing temperature. "To the dedicated, surfing is aesthetic and dynamic - two factors of the creative process common to all forms of expression," he said.

On Feb. 17, columnist Chuck E. Potter Jr. wrote about the passing of Professor Harold Juli in The Day. "Adjectives can't exaggerate the qualities that defined the life of Dr. Harold Juli," Potter wrote. "He was  favorite among staff, students and administrators at Connecticut College, where he was a professor of anthropology and archaeology."

Scott McEver, director of student activities at Connecticut College was featured as an "Everyday Hero" by WFSB-TV, (Hartford/New Haven) on Feb. 16. McEver has taken five trips to New Orleans to help with hurricane reconstruction. "After the first trip, you sort of, I think, either never look back at it again or you go back and you go back and you go back," he said in the interview.

Marc Zimmer, the Barbara Zaccheo Kohn '72 Professor of Chemistry, published an "Observer" piece, "Guerilla Puzzling: A Model for Research," in the Chronicle of Higher Education on Feb. 16. In the article, Zimmer explains how undergraduates at colleges such as Connecticut College can contribute to scientific questions through research. He states that "undergraduate projects can be more like guerrilla attacks. They can concentrate on one aspect of a puzzle and be done in one or two summers... If they do not produce results, they might make the professor less likely to get future grants, but they do not harm the undergraduates' chances of finding employment or getting into graduate or medical school."

Exceptional play by the men's hockey team, which earned a NESCAC playoff berth for the first time in eight years, garnered attention from the Boston Globe, The New London Day and other regional newspapers in late February.

Jean Handley '48, was named Citizen of the Year by Business New Haven newspaper and was featured in the Feb. 5 issue. Handley served as chair of the college's Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1992, and is known as a champion of the arts in New Haven. "I feel as though I have to do certain things and I have to do them in the best way possible," she said in the article. 

 

 

Last Modified: Monday, July 14, 2008 15:46