Media bytes

Begun in Summer 2005, the College’s first organic garden, located north of 360 House, has since been doubled in size.

In a Feb. 13 Hartford Courant story on colleges’ increasing use of organic foods, Greg Hopkins, director of auxiliary services, was quoted as saying, “In everything that we’re doing we’re looking at the sustainability of it … and each year we get more involved.”

Men’s basketball coach Tom Satran ’94 was quoted in the Boston Globe on Feb. 9 in an item on team captain Gabe Patton ’07. “He has stayed focused on improving his game, and it has paid off.”

A story on the Grammy Awards in the Feb. 8 Norwich Bulletin included a comment by Lauren Burke ’06, who called them “a bit of a sell-out. (They) continue to glorify those who often contribute little to society and do merely what is expected of big-name celebrities wearing next to no clothing and large amounts of diamond ‘bling’. I’ve never watched them in my life.”

The Burlington (Vt.) Free Press published a Feb. 7 story on Suzie Connor ’06, an outstanding hockey player and team captain. Coach Kristen Steele said Connor is “very true to herself and to her friends.”

The Day ran a story Feb. 3 about Congressional budget cuts and their effects on various state programs. Included was a comment by Elaine Solinga, director of Financial Aid, who said, “Connecticut College is a strong supporter of making sure students graduate with what we call reasonable debt, and so we’re not going to add to that.” Christopher Bothur ’07 said the cuts in federal aid will likely slow his educational progress after he graduates. “I would like to go to grad school, but I can’t be putting myself further in debt.”

“Angels and Insects: The Cinematic Spawn of Guillermo Del Toro,” an article written by David Greven, assistant professor of English, was posted in December to 24LiesASecond.com, a film journal and forum. In January, film critic Matt Soller Zeitz called Greven’s article a “must-read” on his blog, “The House Next Door,” based in New York City.

On Feb. 21, the Norwich Bulletin published an article on the struggle for equality by black leaders. Kamau Birago, assistant professor of sociology, was quoted as saying that the gains made in the 1960s ended in the 1970s. “There’s been this backlash against what was perceived as an unfair advantage blacks were getting under affirmative action,” he said.

In a March 2 Baltimore Sun story about a hip-hop exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution, David Canton, professor of history, was quoted as saying, “Hip-hop clothing must be part of the hip-hop exhibit. ... [It] emerged as a unique urban style, image and attitude that is now a billion-dollar industry.”

On Feb. 26, the Hartford Courant published a story on efforts among state colleges and universities to be environmentally conscious. Amy Cabaniss, campus environmental coordinator, told the reporter about CC’s high standing in the RecycleMania contest and about myriad other local and global efforts undertaken by CC.

A Feb. 24 story in The Day about a campus appearance by mutual fund pioneer Jack Bogle P’80 & ’94, GP’07 included excerpts like this one from his speech: “It seems like a hopeless thing to do, but if another person tells me it’s hopeless, I’m just going to work harder. I’m dazzled by the task of building a better society, but not intimidated by it.”

Jefferson Singer, professor of psychology, was quoted in a Feb. 22 Hartford Courant article on friendship. “Friendship is different than family or even a marriage or a domestic partnership,” he said. “There’s a point where friends don’t have to make up.”

In a Norwich Bulletin story on a city native who was wounded while serving in Iraq, his mother, Denise Pelletier, assistant professor of art, was quoted as saying, “I’m very proud of my son and the job that he’s done. “He’s an amazing person, an amazing soldier. We’re extremely grateful that he’s going to be fine.”