Media Bytes

A Nov. 20 article in The NCAA News profiled CC's Project Kids, Books, Athletics (Project KBA), a community program designed to teach local children the importance of literacy and physical fitness. "Studies indicate that if children learn to read by third grade, their success in academics will be much higher," said Tracee Reiser, interim dean for multicultural affairs, associate director of the Holleran Center and associate dean for community learning. "And regarding fitness, obesity is an extremely pressing issue in our community and nation. Having examined those two critical needs in our community, we created a program that would address both."

A Dec. 11 article in New York magazine previewed the opening of "Nan Kempner: American Chic," a display of the clothing collection of the late Nan Kempner '52 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. The article quotes designer Yves Saint Laurent, who says, "Nan Kempner, to my eyes, always represented this modern, free, independent, and elegant woman. She is probably the woman who best wore my clothes, with whom I shared the longest and greatest complicity."

Dorothy James , professor of government, was quoted in a Dec. 11 Washington Post article about presidential exploratory committees. She told the paper that exploratory committees have become a routine campaign ploy. "A lot of people have to do it because it's done," she said. "There's no proof that bumper stickers and posters turn out more voters. But if everybody does it, then you do it."

Two articles in The Day, published Nov. 18 and Dec. 8, discussed the possibility of the College divesting from companies with ties to Sudan. The first covered a panel that met to discuss the issue and the College's options. The second referenced a letter from President Higdon to the campus community announcing that the College had no direct investments in any company doing business in Sudan, but that the College does own some co-mingled funds "which include relatively small investments in six companies that do business in Sudan." The article also states that Higdon plans to "organize pressure on the managers of these co-mingled funds, let them know Connecticut College opposes investments in Sudan, and also convince other institutions to put similar pressure on their own fund managers."

A Nov. 13 article in Newsday about internet addictions quotes Jefferson Singer, professor of psychology. "'Addiction' is a heavy label, so if that's throwing you, ask yourself a few questions," he said. "Even if it's not an addiction, the issue is: Is it causing impairment in your social life or occupational life? Are you not getting to work the way you should be? Are you not socializing the way you used to?"

Professor of Psychology Joan Chrisler was quoted in an article in the December issue of Self magazine about the dangers of becoming addicted to dieting. Chrisler explained that being a 'restrained eater,' or chronic dieter, is equivalent to "a subclinical eating disorder, an anxious state where you never let yourself eat what you want or you're always watching what you eat. If a restrained eater finally gives in and eats what she is craving, she generally gets out of control."

Senior Kelly Barkley was quoted in the Nov. 16 Fox News article, "Iraq, Terrorism, Education Aid, Women's Rights Top Political Agenda for College Students." "I would like to see women's reproductive rights put in the hands of women and not the federal government, meaning I would like for women to be able to decide what is proper for their bodies," Barkley was quoted as saying.

On Dec. 10, Alex Hybel, Susan Eckert Lynch '62 Professor of Government, published an op-ed in The Day about the involvement of Iran and Syria in the Iraq war. "Iran and Syria's determination to ensure that Washington would not succeed at transforming Iraq into a viable and stable ally of the United States was wholly predictable," he wrote.

Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was quoted in a Nov. 16 article in Nature magazine about good luck charms in science labs. "Superstitions can help lab members bond in a sort of 'psychological hopefulness,'" he said.

A Dec. 5 Newburyport, Mass. Daily News article profiled cross country standout Brian Murtagh '09, who recently earned All-New England honors. Coach Jim Butler is quoted, saying, "Brian doesn't think he is special. That's what makes him special. He is very modest, very even-keeled. Unflappable."