News for the Smith College Community | April 10, 1997

NewsPeople NewsArchive

Knight Grant to Further Diversity Effort

Significant new initiatives that will assist Smith in expanding efforts in the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty and student body were announced last week by President Ruth Simmons.
 
In December, the college was awarded one of five $150,000 leadership grants given in 1996 by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to be used at the discretion of the presidents of the recipient colleges . In awarding the grants, the Knight Foundation noted that private liberal arts colleges "are the cornerstone of our system of higher education." However, notes Simmons, "the important role that these colleges have played in the system of higher education has been diminished by their relative inability to recruit and retain a diverse faculty and student body. Faculty and students who bring to the campus a wide range of perspectives and life experiences enrich an intellectual community."
 
Simmons has thus announced that she will allocate the Knight funds for the following purposes:
"I believe," says Simmons, "that these initiatives offer promise for helping the Smith community achieve the diversity it seeks."

Welcome to the WAG Center

by Maggie Kymn '99, SGA academic computing advisory committee student liaison
Since its grand opening on Halloween '96, the WAG (Web and Graphics) Center has helped many Smithies create their own home pages. The WAG Center, located in room 4D of Jahnige Social Science Center in Wright Hall, is equipped with three Apple Macintosh Quadra 840 AV computers with 16" monitors. Each computer is outfitted with Adobe Photoshop, PageMaker, Illustrator and Painter and is connected to the campus networks and the Internet. The WAG Center also provides two Apple color scanners, one color printer, one digital camera and Zip drives.
 
The WAG Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-midnight. Friendly WAG consultants are always willing to help those who wish to create or expand their Web pages and can teach them how to use the scanners, digital cameras and software.
 
Jim Blau is the manager of the WAG Center as well as the educational computing analyst for the educational technology division of Information Systems. As an undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts, he worked for the Sport Management Program as their computer consultant and managed their office computer system. After graduating in May 1995 with a B.A. in English, Blau decided to stay in academia and was placed at Smith by a temp company and eventually hired by the college. Blau had been working for educational technology for eight months when Hugh Burns, the director of E.T., recommended the creation of the WAG Center as a way of providing student access to computer graphic design tools and HTML instruction. Blau has worked with Burns and E.T. colleagues Linda Ahern and Tim Shortell to make WAG possible.
 
"I find Smith to be a very friendly workplace and the students are very serious and dedicated. This makes it rewarding for me to help them," says Blau. He plans to "keep working at giving students access to Web design and other high-end computing technology, because that kind of technology is becoming increasingly pervasive in people's personal and professional lives."
 
Blau's favorite website is http://the-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/search.html. His office is located in Seelye B6 and his extension is 2889. He can also be reached via e-mail at jblau@smith.edu. Blau is always looking for suggestions for improvements and other ways to provide wider access to the kinds of tools and assistance available in the WAG Center and welcomes any suggestions from students.
 

Falsettoland Rings True

Falsettoland, directed by Liz Fenstermaker '97, will be presented in Theatre 14 this month. Composers and lyricists William Finn and James Lapine have created a wry and compelling musical about the life of a not-so-unusual family that is transformed by the disease that has transformed a society.
 
Homosexuals, women with children, short insomniacs and "a teeny tiny band" open the play, which has been described by Frank Rich of The New York Times as "a musical of jubilance and courage, not defeat." Director Fenstermaker sees this production as bringing back to the public eye the notion that musicals can be "engaging and fun while still holding meaning and value."
 
She believes that Falsettoland, set in 1981 at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, can "serve as a turning point for many histories." The musical seems to focus on its men -- Marvin has left his wife and his young son for a male lover -- but Fenstermaker is quick point out that, through a 1997 lens, the women -- Trina, the wife and mother; Dr. Charlotte, the male lover's doctor and neighbor; and Dr. Charlotte's lover, a kosher caterer -- hold equally important roles. All the characters glue this family together in one way or another.
 
Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. on April 17-19 and 23-26 and at 2 p.m. on April 20, and a number of special events are being held in conjunction with the play on several of these dates. April 19 will be Family Night, when children under 18 can attend for free with an adult. April 24 will be a benefit show for AIDS CARE/Hampshire County. All of the evening's proceeds will be donated to this very important local organization currently serving 40 area people with AIDS. The April 25 performance will be interpreted for the deaf in American Sign Language.
 
Admission to Falsettoland is $5 (general) and $3 (students, children and senior citizens). Call 585-ARTS VOICE or 585-3374 TTY for tickets and information.
 

Alden Aids Adas

The college has recently received a $75,000 challenge grant from the George I. Alden Trust of Worcester as an incentive to increase significantly the pool of money available to provide financial aid to students in the Ada Comstock Scholars Program. The Alden Trust's grant will be paid to the college after Smith successfully raises an additional $225,000 in endowed gifts to meet the trust's challenge.
 
A significant number of the more than 250 students currently enrolled as Ada Comstock Scholars come from backgrounds of social and financial hardship. "Smith's ability to offer these women adequate financial aid is essential to their success in completing a degree while coping with inevitable life challenges like coordinating child care, housing, food and other social and financial arrangements," observes Eleanor Rothman, the program's director.
 
Providing aid for these women, many of whom due to their age and family circumstances typically have higher living expenses than traditional undergraduates, is a continuing challenge. Thus, the Alden grant is extremely welcome, says Sandra Doucett, director of corporate and foundation relations.
 
Following the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Ada Comstock Scholars Program a year ago, graduates established an endowed fund to provide scholarship support for future participants. The Alden Trust's grant has added momentum to that effort. Furthermore, the college has already begun to raise the funds to meet the Alden challenge. Ann and Godfrey Perrott, a Massachusetts couple who have long admired the program, have made the first donation -- $28,000 -- toward the Alden match.
The Alden Trust was established in 1912 by George I. Alden, an inventor and a mechanical engineer who was co-founder, president and chairman of the Norton Company.
 

Ergo Argot

The way you live has a lot to do with the way you feel. Lifestyle changes will complement the ergonomic changes that you have made at work. This will help you feel better and have more energy for the finer things in life. Remember to eat healthy, stay in shape, get plenty of rest and try to reduce stress. When at home, use good ergonomics whether you are watching television, working at your home computer or doing any other activity.
 

To Their Health

Smith has received $110,000 from the Metropolitan Life Foundation to support the creation and dissemination of a pioneering and comprehensive health curriculum for young women.
 
In partnership with the YWCA of western Massachusetts and with the involvement of Smith faculty members and undergraduates as well as high school students from around the country, the project will examine issues of importance to the health and wellness of adolescent females and create a resource manual on young women's health for use in both school and community settings.
 
"The distinctive aspect of this curriculum will be that it focuses on a holistic and comprehensive approach to girls' health rather than on sexual activity and drug use," observes Dr. Leslie Jaffe, director of the Health Service.
 
Co-authors of the health curriculum will be Jaffe, Barbara Brehm-Curtis of the exercise and sport study department who, with Jaffe, teaches Smith's course on "Women's Medical Issues," and Kerry Homstead, director of social services for the YWCA of western Massachusetts, whose expertise is in adolescent health issues and youth programming.
 
As part of the project, these specialists in adolescent health will work with a highly diverse group of young women to create a curriculum integrating many aspects of teens' health and wellness. "The direct involvement of teenagers in the creation of the resource manual will result in the incorporation of authentic adolescent voices and experiences," says Gail Scordilis, the senior Smith administrator overseeing the project.
 
The Smith Summer Science Program, which Scordilis directs, will serve -- along with the YWCA of western Massachusetts -- as research and test site for the project's curriculum and resource manual.
 
Smith and the YWCA launched the project last summer with a $66,150 grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The Metropolitan Life Foundation grant will provide funds for the next steps: collaboration with teenage girls, research, publication, field-testing and revision of the resource manual and curriculum guide as well as their dissemination through workshops and at regional and national medical and health-education conferences.
 

Overheard at High School

What's the word on women's colleges these days in the hallowed halls of America's high schools? Well, it seems like that depends on where you are and to whom you talk. For example, Tom Riddell, dean of the first-year class, recently sent AcaMedia a clipping from the Smoke Signal -- the student newspaper at nearby Minnechaug Regional High School. In "Time Out, Substitution," Smoke Signal editor-in-chief Lisa Basile laments, "During the first semester of this year, I have been greeted with an entourage of substitute teachers who have conducted less than productive classes. Here is a quick sampling of what I have been forced to sit through.
 
"Substitute number one filled in for my independent study teacher. He asked about the colleges to which I was still applying. I told him I thought I was most interested in Wellesley College, at which point he rolled his eyes and told me that he had dated some women from Mount Holyoke and Smith and that he found them 'a little too pushy.' Great educational instruction..." (Hiss, boo!)
 
But on the other end of the spectrum is college counselor Jean Roller from Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts. AcaMedia had heard a rumor that all Tabor girls are required to investigate at least one women's school as part of the college search process. "Required may be too strong a word, but we certainly strongly advise our students to consider women's colleges," says Roller, a Middlebury College alumna who regrets that her own guidance counselor never encouraged her to explore the single-sex option. She estimates that 95 percent of Tabor girls research one or more women's colleges during the summer between their junior and senior years. "Many of them have heard about women's colleges from their mothers," Roller adds, "but the picture they get is what the mothers remember from the 1960s or so. We think it's important for them to visit the women's colleges of today, so that they can see what is very special about them in the '90s."
 
Tabor also sponsors an informal biannual lunch for female juniors that features a speaker from a women's college along with Tabor faculty members who themselves attended women's schools. "The students are always very impressed," Roller notes, "when they see that some of their favorite teachers are women's college graduates."
 

Vexillology

by Lorna R. Blake
Have you watched the ceremony in which a military honor guard folds the flag, just removed from the coffin of a soldier, and hands it to the widow or parent of the deceased? It gives new meaning to the word reverence -- the sort of reverence we used to have for holy things. I've read about an old Scottish Highlander, survivor of a prison camp in Hong Kong, who searched for 30 years for the flag he buried as the Japanese army was arriving in 1941. He didn't bury the regimental silver; he buried the flag. Recently we read of a young Greek who was shot dead climbing a flagpole to haul down a Turkish flag on the divided island of Cyprus. He joined thousands of people who have literally died for a flag over the last few centuries. As I write this, there is controversy over a mural painted by children on the wall of a vacant building in Holyoke. The innocents painted the Puerto Rican flag above the United States flag.
 
When did ordinary folk start feeling so strongly about a piece of colored cloth? For centuries, flags bore coats of arms of kings, cities or ruling families and evoked little emotion in those who saw them. To the average peasant or artisan, the flag flying over the castle or military encampment evoked about as much emotion as we, in modern times, feel when we see flags in front of a used car lot or on a neighbor's porch announcing Valentine's day.
 
I'm not about to embark on a Ph. D. thesis to answer the above question, so let's just look at the influence of the French. You can think what you like of the Bourbon kings, but you must admit that fleurs de lis made a pretty flag. The design survived in Quebec and, to the surprise of vexillologists, has recently reappeared on the flag of Bosnia. To the French in the late 18th century, however, the fleurs de lis represented the tyranny of the king. They wanted a new flag that represented ordinary people and their republican principles, so there could be no symbol of ruling family, bishop or other grandee. What could be safer than bands of color? Hence the tricolor-possibly the most influential flag in history. Of the 185 flags flying in front of the United Nations, 52 are tricolors, if my count is correct. There being only so many colors to choose from, some flags look very similar. For example, one e-mail message I've received tells me the Irish flag is hung the wrong way in the ITT. That's because the flag in question is that of Côte d'Ivoire and has the gold band next to the hoist rather than the Irish flag's green.
 
I hope you identified the flags of the African countries I mentioned last time. The colors on the flag of Côte d'Ivoire represent the gold of the northern desert and the green of southern agriculture separated by a band of white representing national unity. The Ghanian flag is a horizontal tricolor with bands of red, for the blood shed for freedom, yellow for mineral wealth (the British called it the Gold Coast) and green for its rich forests. There is a black star, representing the lodestar of African freedom, set in the middle of the yellow band. Kenya's flag is unique and magnificent. It consists of bands of black, maroon and forest green separated by narrow bands of white, with a Masai shield and crossed spears in the center. Nigeria has a tricolor with two vertical bands of green separated by white. South Africa's flag is the youngest -- so young in fact we know not just the year it was first flown but the minute. It replaced the old orange, white and blue tricolor at one minute after midnight on April 27, 1994. It's too complicated to describe briefly, but look for the green Y shape outlined in white with red, blue, black and yellow elements.
 
Now for Uganda and Zimbabwe. Uganda's flag consists of six horizontal bands of color, with black representing the people, yellow representing the sun shining on this equatorial country and red for brotherhood. In the center is a crested crane on a white disc. Zimbabwe's flag has seven horizontal stripes of color: green at the edges followed by yellow and red and one black stripe in the middle. Next to the hoist is a white triangle on which is a red star (denoting the government's socialist principles) almost covered by a golden bird. I don't know if there is hidden meaning here for the bird represents the nation's ancient heritage, having been found carved on stones in the ruined city after which the state is named.
 
As you jog around, look for answers to these questions:
Keep communicating to lblake@ais.smith.edu.
 

Job Openings

This is a listing of jobs available at our publication deadline. For complete information, see the bulletin board in the Office of Human Resources or call the job hot line at extension 2278.
 
Printing assistant, Central Services. Apply by April 16.
Research associate, Advancement. Apply by April 25.
 

The End Is Near

Do you have a story, calendar listing or notice that you plan to put in AcaMedia this semester? The last AcaMedia of the 1996-97 academic year will be issue #27 (April 24), and space is sure to be tight. The deadline for that issue is Wednesday, April 16. News items and People News items should be submitted in advance of the deadline, if possible. Don't get shut out!
 
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People News

Crazy Quilting

The patchwork quilt that now hangs on Jill Charbonneau's wall is the result of a sort of high-tech quilting bee. About a dozen students contributed to the final product, which began as an assignment in Jane Tuckerman's Photo II class, says Charbonneau, an Ada Comstock Scholar and art major who will graduate in May.
 
Tuckerman gave each student several muslin squares that had been soaked in a solution to make them light sensitive. The students were then expected to use imagination and artistic ability to create designs on their squares. The theme of the quilt was to be "creepy crawlies," notes Charbonneau. "The class wanted to come up with something other than flowers or a similar typical quilt theme, so I suggested this." Indeed, in lieu of more traditional fabric fare like lilies or lilacs, there are lizards, snakes, bumblebees and jelly fish that slither or scramble across each of the squares. Charbonneau, an ace seamstress who admits she is never far from her sewing machine, bound the individual pieces together.
 
According to Tuckerman-who is the Harnish Visiting Artist and will return to teaching at the Art Institute of Boston and Harvard after concluding a two-year stint at Smith next month-this is a class where students are taught to use "alternative emulsions." Ordinarily, she explains, black and white photographs are developed on paper that is made with silver emulsion that is light sensitive. Photography II, however, introduces other options, such as cyanotype, an emulsion that contains iron salts. The quilt exercise was, for many of Tuckerman's students, a first chance to try the less familiar solutions and to test their reactions to light. "I'm also a great advocate of people working together," Tuckerman points out, "and the quilt gave us the chance to do that." "Jane is an extremely innovative teacher," adds Charbonneau. "She's one of the finest I've ever had."
 
The quilt, currently "on display" in Charbonneau's tiny room tucked under the eaves at 150 Elm Street, will be available for public viewing as part of her senior art show, April 22­29, in Hillyer Gallery.
 

Body Suite

Smith senior Megan Bathory will present "Louder than Words," an evening of conversation and choreography, on Thursday through Saturday, April 17-19, at 8 p.m., in the East Street Theater, 47 East Street, Hadley.
 
The concert was created through the Smith Scholars' Program, which is designed to allow self-motivated students to pursue an interdisciplinary area of interest in a project of their own devising. Bathory's project explores body-based systems of communication-the ways in which people communicate through bodily movement.
 
Bathory, who is from Gill, brings together a lively group of talented performers and artists for her concert, which will feature eight pieces that stand alone but also become part of a cohesive whole. According to a review from the Greenfield Recorder, "Megan has a way of taking complex issues and abstracting them into an art, a movement. And she does so tastefully, too."
 
This production is funded, in part, by Smith's Nancy Kershaw Tomlinson Memorial Fund. Reservations are recommended and may by made by calling (413) 863-0016. Ticket prices are $5 for general admission and $3 for students, children and senior citizens.
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Monday, April 14

Special event: Clothesline Project T-Shirt Making. SAFE will provide space and materials for women to make their own t-shirts for the Clothesline Project, which will be up Tuesday, April 15, through Thursday, April 17.
9 a.m.-6 p.m., Davis ballroom*
 
Special event: Earth Day Tabling. MassPIRG's letter-writing campaign to precede Earth Day on April 19.
10 a.m.-3 p.m., mailroom lobby*
 
Religious activity: Christian spirituality study/discussion group. Topic: Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle. Lunch served.
noon, Bodman lounge, Chapel
 
Meeting: Campus Climate Working Group.
noon, Wright Hall common room
 
French language lunch table
12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room
 
Italian language lunch table
12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room
 
CDO résumé critiques by peer advisors.
1 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
CDO Workshop: Writing Your First Résumé.
2:45 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
CDO Workshop: How to Find a Summer Job or Internship.
3 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
Lecture: Teachers' workshop on Stephen Antonakos: Inner Light. Associate curator of painting and sculpture Linda Muehlig introduces the exhibition of neon. Ten dollar fee includes exhibition brochure. Enrollment is limited; preregistration required. Send name, school address, phone and check (payable to SCMA) to: Teachers' Programs, SCMA, Northampton, MA 01063. PDPs available.
3:45-4:45 p.m., Museum of Art*+
 
Meeting: Amnesty International.
4-5 p.m., Seelye 105
 
Meeting: Smith Debate Society.
4-5 p.m., Seelye 107
 
Discussion: "Is a Career in Journalism for Me?" Alumna career conversation with Sue Chan '90, AP reporter
4:30 p.m., CDO library, Drew Hall
 
Special event: Green Tara Meditation with Geshe Lobsang Tsetan, Tibetan Buddist Lama from the Buddhist Learning Center in Washington, New Jersey. Sponsored by the East Asian Studies Program and the Department of Religion (Ada Howe Kent Program.)
4:15-5:15 p.m., Wright Hall common room*
 
Meeting: PIRG.
7-9 p.m., Dewey common room
 
Special event: Reading by Ron Carlson from his forthcoming book, The Hotel Eden. Sponsored by the Committee on Community Policy.
8 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room*
 
Meeting: Society for Creative Anachronism. Help build the Five College chapter of SCA. It's a historical, educational society that recreates the best of the Middle Ages.
9 p.m., Seelye 208*
 

Tuesday, April 15

Special event: Clothesline Project. Sponsored by SAFE.
9 a.m.-6 p.m., Seelye lawn (rain site: Davis ballroom)*
 
Special event: Earth Day Tabling. (See 4/14 listing.)
10 a.m.-3 p.m., mailroom lobby*
 
Luncheon meeting: Sigma Xi. "Physics: 'Living on the Edge of Chaos,'" by Bruce Hawkins, professor emeritus of physics.
noon, Smith College Club downstairs lounge
 
Religious activity: Episcopal-Lutheran Fellowship meets in parish house parlor for worship, lunch and friendship. All welcome.
noon, St. John's Church, Elm Street
 
Hebrew language lunch table. Pizza provided.
noon, Bodman Lounge, Chapel
 
CDO Discussion: "Your Role as Women in Medicine in the Next Millennium," a discussion with Dr. Benita Walton '74.
noon, Wright Hall common room
 
Deutscher Tisch language lunch table
12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room
 
Japanese language lunch table
12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room
 
CDO Discussion: "Working for the Environment: A View from Both Sides." Career conversation with Leslie Carothers '64, former EPA leader and current corporate executive. Pizza provided.
12:15 p.m., Dewey Common Room
 
Lecture: "Dr. Whoopie Answers All." Explicit answers to your explicit questions. Free latex goodie bags for all. Cosponsored by PSE. Part of Women's Wellness Week 1997.
7 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room
 
Panel: Leading Lives. A panel of distinguished alumnae will recount the paths they have followed since leaving Smith and share the lessons they have learned. Sponsored by the Smith Leadership Program.
4:30 Alumnae House Living Room
 
Meeting: Study group to discuss and experience the spiritual insights of The Celestine Prophecy. All welcome.
7 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel
 
Meeting: Senate. All welcome.
7 p.m., Seelye 201
 
CDO workshop: How to Prepare for a Successful Interview.
7 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
CDO open hours
7-9 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
Workshop: Female figure-drawing session. Smith students w/ID and Five College students w/ID and sticker welcome. Questions? Jen at ext. 7698 or Naomi at ext. 4054.
7-10 p.m. Hillyer 18
 
CDO résumé critiques by peer advisors.
8:15 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
CDO workshop: Self-Exploration.
8:15 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
Film: Antonia's Line. In conjunction with the Clothesline Project and Speak-Out, SAFE will show this beautiful movie portraying the strength of survivors.
9 p.m., Wright Hall auditorium*
 

Wednesday, April 16

Special event: Clothesline Project. Sponsored by SAFE.
9 a.m.-6 p.m., Seelye lawn (rain site: Davis ballroom)*
 
Senate Elections
9 a.m.-5 p.m., Seelye Hall foyer; mailroom lobby
 
Religious activity: A gathering and informative discussion/reflection for Catholic Adas. Lunch served.
noon-1 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel
 
Korean language lunch table
12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room
 
Spanish & Portuguese language lunch table
12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room
 
CDO résumé critiques by peer advisors.
1 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
Discussion: Demystifying Feminist Stereotypes. Join FSU for a lively discussion over dinner about images of feminism in society that will be sparked by a recent Ms. article that featured Urvashi Vaid, Gloria Steinhem and more. Sign up in the post office.
6-7 p.m., Duckett Special Dining Room
 
Religious activity: Buddhist service and discussion.
7:15 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel
 
Workshop: Male figure-drawing session. Smith students w/ID and Five College students w/ID and sticker are welcome. Questions? Jen at ext. 7698 or Naomi at ext. 4054.
7-10 p.m. Hillyer 18
 
Film: You can speed-learn. A three-year course in just three minutes? It can be done. Trust the professor. European history since Napoleon, a two-semester sequence at Smith, will be covered in 15 seconds flat. This episode of The Prisoner is of special interest to students who have taken HST250: Europe in the Nineteenth Century, and is open to all. Best of luck with your exams!
7:30 p.m., Seelye 201*
 
Meeting: Smith College Collective (Film Club).
7:30 p.m., Nonprint Resource Center C103
 
Special event: SAFE Speak-Out, a semi-annual event where women are invited to speak about their own experiences with sexual violence and to hear other women's stories. Reception follows.
8 p.m., Seelye 207
 
Lecture: East Asian Languages and Literatures Department Lecture: "Foxes and the Art of Transformation in Traditional Japanese Theatre," by Janet Goff, scholar, translator and editor living in Tokyo, and author of Noh Drama and The Tale of Genji, winner of the 1992 Arisawa Award for translation.
8 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room*
 
Special event: Speak-Out reception.
10 p.m., Wright Hall common room
 

Thursday, April 17

Senate Elections
9 a.m.-5 p.m., Seelye Hall foyer; mailroom lobby
 
Special event: Clothesline Project. Sponsored by SAFE.
9 a.m.-6 p.m., Seelye lawn, rainsite: (Davis ballroom)*
 
Luncheon meeting: "Why Teach Science Fiction: Ursula LeGuin and the Utopian Impulse," by William Oram, Helen Means Professor of English Language and Literature. Part of the Liberal Arts Luncheon Series, open to faculty, emeriti and staff.
noon, Smith College Club lower level
 
Workshop: Meditation Sessions for Stress Reduction. Part of Human Resource's Training and Development Program. Registration required. Questions? Call Kathleen Chatwood at ext. 2263.
noon, Dewey common room
 
Luncheon Meeting: Hillel at Noon, a weekly discussion and luncheon gathering. Veggie food catered by Fire and Water Café. All welcome.
Questions or RSVP to the Kosher Kitchen at ext. 5074.
noon, Dawes House, Kosher Kitchen
 
Chinese language lunch table
12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room
 
Russian language lunch table
12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room
 
Lecture: "Sensory Perception Among the Greeks," by Robert Garland, the Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Professor of the Classics at Colgate University. Sponsored by the Department of Classical Languages and Literatures.
4:15 p.m., Wright Hall common room*
 
Concert: Informal Recital. Student performers.
4:30 p.m., Sage Recital Hall*
 
Workshop: Interested in discovering innovative ways to use the World Wide Web in your courses? Faculty and staff are invited to attend a live teleconference, "The World Wide Web: Gateway to Effective Learning Information." Sponsored here at Smith by information systems and the libraries, this is a live PBS teleconference from the Eighth National Conference on College Teaching and Learning. Questions? Contact Hugh Burns (ext. 3079/hburns@sophia.smith.edu).
3-4:30 p.m., Seelye 201
 
CDO workshop: Job Searching and Surfing on the Internet.
4:30-6 p.m., Seelye B-3
 
Meeting: Smith Debate Society.
5-6 p.m., Seelye 107
 
Lecture: "The Crisis in Albania," by Elsa Ballauri, Albania poet, journalist, human rights leader.
5-6 p.m., Seelye 206
 
Special event: Stop the Clock-Women Unite Against Violence. An annual evening of march and rallies against violence against women. This is a chance to get involved and raise awareness about violence against women. There will be speakers, performers and musicians for this community-wide, Five College event. 545-0883.
6 p.m., Meet at Unitarian Society, Main Street*
 
Lecture: Pioneer Valley Chapter for the Association of Social Workers.
6:30 p.m., Wright common room*
 
Meeting: Newman Association. Dinner served.
6:30 p.m., Bodman Lounge
 
Performance: Falsettoland by William Finn and James Lapine, directed by Liz Fenstermaker '97.(See news article.) Reservations: theatre box office, 2­5 p.m. Tuesday­Friday and one hour prior to performance or 585-ARTS/3374 TTY. Tickets: $5 general; $3 students and seniors.
8 p.m., Theatre 14, Mendenhall CPA*+
 
Dance performance: "Louder Than Words." An evening of choreography and conversation by Megan Bathory '97. (See news article.) Reservations recommended: (413) 863-0016. Tickets: $5 general; $3 students, children and seniors.
8 p.m., East Street Theater, 47 East Street, Hadley*+
 
Film: Waiting to Exhale. Sponsored by Rec Council.
9 p.m., Wright Hall auditorium
 

Friday, April 18

Special event: Earth Day Tabling. (See 4/14 listing.)
10 a.m.-3 p.m., mailroom lobby*
 
ASL language lunch table
12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room
 
Lecture: Gallery Talk: "Twentieth-Century American Drawings from the Collection," by Alona Horn, graduate curatorial intern, SCMA.
12:15 p.m., Museum of Art*
 
Special event: Human Genome/Human Rights Panel. Part of a larger Five College symposium on the same topic.
2 p.m., Wright Hall auditorium*
 
Special event: 1997 American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) National Championship Tournament, hosted by the Smith Debate Society. Universities and colleges from across the U.S. will be on campus to compete for the National Championship title in Parliamentary Debate. The "out rounds" on Sunday will be free and open to the public. Questions? Contact Carmen Delgado at ext. 6167 or Lorien Hill-Purcell at ext. 6247.
3-7 p.m., Stoddard Hall auditorium
 
Special event: Green Tara Meditation. (See 4/14 listing.)
4:15-5:15 p.m., Dewey common room*
 
Meeting: Smith Science Fiction and Fantasy Society.
4:30-5:30 p.m., Seelye 208
 
Africa Day special event: Café Afrique.
4-5:30 p.m., Mwangi Cultural Center*
 
Religious service: Shabbat Eve Service.
5:30 p.m., Dawes House, Kosher Kitchen
 
Community event: Shabbat Eve Dinner.
6:30 p.m., Dawes House, Kosher Kitchen
 
Concert: Loud Music Festival. A showcase of signed and unsigned bands of various genres from all over the country. There's something for everyone here.
7 p.m., John M. Greene Hall*+
 
Meeting: Smith Christian Fellowship. Come sing, pray and chat.
7-9 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel
 
Africa Day performance: Rich flavors of African coffees and teas mingle with the soothing rhythms of African music. Interact with African studies faculty. Poetry and theatre performance in an intimate space.
7-9 p.m., Mwangi Cultural Center*
 
Performance: Falsettoland. (See 4/17 listing.)
8 p.m., Theatre 14, Mendenhall CPA*
 
Dance performance: "Louder Than Words." (See 4/17 listing.)
8 p.m., East Street Theater, 47 East Street, Hadley+*
 
Special event: Touch of Smith Quality. Come see the stars shine as the Smith Lifeguards put on their annual synchronized swimming show. Tickets $1.50 at the door.
8 p.m., Dalton pool, Ainsworth*+
 
Africa Day party: Dance to the beats of Africa and the Diaspora, R&B, hip hop.
9:30 p.m., Mwangi Cultural Center*
 

Saturday, April 19

Conference: 8th Annual Africa Day. This year's theme is "Theater as a Form of Political Expression." We will have a keynote address, speakers and interactive workshops dealing with the theme led by playwrights, directors and performers of African theater. Sponsored by Smith African Students Association. Questions? Call ext. 7371.
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wright Hall auditorium*
 
Special event: Five College Earth Day Celebration. A day of speakers (including Ralph Nader), musical performances, tabling and family activities pertaining to environmental activism. Sponsored by MassPIRG and the Five College Earth Day Committee. Questions? Call 585-7373.
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Amherst Common*
 
Introductory symposium for the 8th annual Africa Day, "Theater as a Political Expression in Africa." Workshop descriptions and introductions by panelists.
11 a.m.-noon, Wright Hall common room*
 
Special event: 1997 American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) National Championship Tournament. (See 4/18 listing.)
11 am-7 p.m., Stoddard Hall auditorium
 
Special event: Africa Day. Vendors will sell wares such as African jewelry, books, clothes, trinkets, food, etc. Questions? Call ext. 7371.
11 a.m.-7 p.m., Chapin lawn*
 
Softball v. Wheaton
noon, athletic fields*
 
Special event: 8th Annual Africa Day 1997 luncheon. "Cold Cuts and Conversation."
noon-12:50 p.m., Wright Hall common room*
 
Africa Day workshop: "Liberation: The Politics of Protest and Resistance Art Forms," led by Maurice Henderson.
1-2 p.m., Wright Hall common room*
 
Africa Day workshops: "New Noise, Political Expression and the Performance Poet," led by Eric Webb; "The Language of Drums: African Storytelling to Hip-Hop," led by Ozzie Jones.
1-2 p.m., Dewey common room*
 
Tennis v. Williams
1 p.m., outdoor tennis courts*
 
Special event: Opening reception for Paper Bound: A Showcase of Contemporary Papermakers and Bookbinders, hosted by the Mortimer Rare Book Room. Members of Smith College and the community, as well as members of the Guild of Book Workers, are cordially invited to view the exhibition and to meet the book artists and Martin Antonetti, the new curator of rare books at Smith.
2-5 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room*
 
Africa Day workshop: "It Ain't Easy to be Different: Writing and Performing Monologues," led by Kimmika Witherspoon.
2:15-3.15 p.m., Wright Hall common room*
 
Africa Day workshops: "The Spoken Word: Storytelling as Theater," led by Ed Shockley and Theater outside of Theater; "Poetry and Rap as Political and Dramatic Art Forms," led by M.C.Melody.
2:15-3.15 p.m., Dewey common room*
 
Africa Day keynote address: "Theater as Political Action: After The Protest Play What Next?" by P.J. Gibson.
3:30-4.30 p.m., Wright Hall auditorium*
 
Concert: Senior Recital. Christine Hartzler, piano; assisted by Kate Neville '99, violin. Works by Bach, Schubert, Chopin, Frank Bridge and Irene Britton Smith.
4 p.m., Sweeney Concert Hall*
 
Africa Day special event: Dinner. Admission $6 (dinner, show, party). Treat yourself to sumptuous dishes from Africa and the Caribbean.
5:30-7.30 p.m., Scott Gymnasium*
 
Special event: Touch of Smith Quality. (See 4/18 listing.)
8 p.m., Dalton pool, Ainsworth*
 
Performance: Falsettoland. (See
4/17 listing.)
8 p.m., Theatre 14, Mendenhall CPA*
 
Dance performance: "Louder Than Words." (See 4/17 listing.)
8 p.m., East Street Theater, 47 East Street, Hadley+*
 
Special event: Africa Day Cultural Show. SASA African and Caribbean extravaganza; student performance, skits, dances and poetry (dinner/show/party, $6; dinner/show, $4; show/$3; after-party, $3). Questions? Call ext. 7371.
8 p.m., Wright Hall auditorium*+
 
Africa Day special event: Viva Africana! Cultural show; admission $4 (show, party). Celebrate the wealth of cultures thriving in Africa and the Diaspora in song, dance, poetry and skits. An Afrocentric extravaganza!
8-10 p.m., John M. Greene Hall*
 
Party: Gyrate to beats of calypso, soukous, lingala, reggae, hip hop, rap and lots more.
10 p.m., Mwangi Cultural Center
 
Special event: SASA After-Party. (dinner/show/party, $6; dinner/show, $4; show, $3; after-party, $3). Call 585-7371.
10 p.m., Mwangi Cultural Center, Lilly Hall*+
 

Sunday, April 20

Religious activity: Quaker (Friends) discussion group. Meeting for worship begins at 11 a.m. Child care available.
9:30 a.m., Bass 210*
 
Religious service: Protestant ecumenical Christian church morning worship. Coffee hour follows. All welcome.
10:30 a.m., Chapel*
 
Special event: 1997 American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) National Championship tournament. (See 4/18 listing.) The closing and the final round will be Sunday evening in Sage Hall, check in Stoddard Hall for finals times and places.
10 a.m.­7 p.m., Stoddard Hall auditorium*
 
Discussion: "The Problem With the Word: Christianity and Sexuality." Questions? Call Abby Rupp, ext. 4828 or Betty Stookey (617) 576-6590.
12:30-2:30 p.m., Bodman lounge, Chapel
 
CDO workshop: Résumé critiques by peer advisors.
1 p.m.-3:15 p.m., CDO group room, Drew Hall
 
CDO open hours
1-4 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
CDO workshop: Job Search for Seniors.
1:15 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
Concert: Senior Recital. Dee Dee Clendenning, classical guitar. Works by Bach, Bronwer, Jorge Morel, Jorge Cardoso and Tarréga.
2 p.m., Sage Recital Hall*
 
Lecture: Gallery Talk. Stephen Antonakos on the exhibition Inner Light. Followed by a slide lecture in Hillyer 117, "The Icon in the Eastern Christian Tradition," by Vera Shevzov, religion department.
2-4 p.m., Museum of Art and Hillyer 117*
 
CDO workshop: How to Find a Summer Job or Internship.
2:30 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
Concert: Senior Recital. Fiona Fong, soprano, with Constance LaSalle, piano. Music of Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Strauss, Poulenc.
3 p.m., Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage Hall*
 
CDO workshop: Career-Related Stress Management Workshop. Are you terrified about finding a job? Can you deal with the fact that you are graduating? Sick and tired of sending out résumés and applications for jobs or internships? Come to the CDO for tips on how to manage career-related stress.
3 p.m., CDO, Drew Hall
 
Religious service: Roman Catholic mass. Informal dinner follows. All welcome.
4:30 p.m., Chapel*
 
Performance: Falsettoland. (See 4/17 listing.)
8 p.m., Theatre 14, Mendenhall CPA*
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By action of the faculty, students are responsible for the observance of notices and calendar listings appearing in AcaMedia. Members of the Smith College community are expected to make their announcements through this publication. Submit calendar items and notices to Mary Stanton, Garrison Hall. Items for news articles (not calendar listings) should be sent to Sally Rubenstone, Garrison Hall. (E-mail submissions of notices and news articles are welcome as well: send to mstanton or srubenstone@ais as appropriate.)
 
Deadlines
Copy is due by 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, for issue #27 (containing the April 28 to May 10 calendar listings). Please note that this will be the last issue of AcaMedia for the 1996-97 academic year. Late information cannot be accepted.
 
AcaMedia staff
Cathy Brooks, layout
Sally Rubenstone, editor
Ann Shanahan, contributing writer
Mary Stanton, calendar/notices
 

Exhibitions

"With Liberty and Judgment for All: A Selection of 20th-Century American Photographs." Arranged by Leslie Ivie (Smith) and Raven Manocchio (Hampshire). An interactive show exploring the relationships between art, audience and museum display, with two installations in the Common Room, Smith College Museum of Art. The first installation opens Tuesday, April 15; the second opens on Saturday, April 26 and closes Sunday, May 4.
 
Stephen Antonakos: Inner Light (April 10-June 29). Opening reception, April 10, 4:30-6 p.m., Museum of Art.
 
Museum of Art, 585-2770. Hours: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.; Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Print Room hours: Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m., during exhibitions. Other hours by appointment.
 
Paper Bound: A Showcase of Contemporary Papermakers & Bookbinders. Exhibition of 21 unique bookbindings for paper. A collection of samples from hand papermills in the U.S. by members of the Guild of Book Workers, a national organization of bookbinders, printers and other book and paper artists. (4/4-6/15) Sponsored by the Mortimer Rare Book Room.
 
Neilson Library. 585-2907. Monday-Thursday, 7:45 a.m.-midnight; Friday, 7:45 am-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-midnight.
 

Faculty Meeting

There will be a special faculty meeting to discuss the Self Study on Wednesday, April 23, at 4:10 p.m. in the Alumnae House Conference Room. Tea will be served at 3:45 p.m.
 

Sunday Services Return To Helen Hills Hills Chapel

Re-lighting and re-painting projects in the Chapel having been completed; regular Sunday services of folk and jazz music will be held at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate the return to "home base." Guest musicians will include Noel Paul Stockey and Lauren Cantlon '00, flute.
 
Roman Catholic Mass at 4:30 p.m. the same day, with celebrant Jim Sheehan, S.J., and Elizabeth Carr, Catholic chaplain. Followed by a special welcome-back-to-the-Chapel dinner. All invited.
 

Scott Gym Locker Room

The women's locker room in Scott Gym will be closed for the summer, beginning on May 3, to allow for complete renovation of the facility. All locker users-students, faculty, staff and alums-must remove their belongings and locks by Friday, May 2. After that date, locks will be cut and items will be bagged. Lockers may be reserved again during the locker sign-up in September.
 

Pre-Exam and Exam Periods

All members of the Smith College community should remember that events are not to be scheduled during the pre-examination study and formal examination periods (May 3-9). No events during this time will be announced in AcaMedia.
 

Submission of Papers and Projects

The members of the Administrative Board urge students not to use campus mail for delivery of papers and not to leave papers tacked to doors, slid under closed doors, in mailboxes in public places or allow them to be delivered by friends. Students should keep paper copies of submitted work.
 
Each year the Administrative Board is asked to vote on cases regarding final papers or projects that have gone astray. The best way to avoid such situations is to submit papers to an actual person (e.g., to the professor of the class or to a departmental staff member who can verify receipt). Specifying the time and location of delivery of the work in such cases is advantageous both to the faculty member and to the students in the class. Students and faculty should also be reminded that the college requires that papers delivered in the mail be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
 

Printer Failures, Etc.

The Administrative Board has been asked to provide guidance to faculty and students concerning printer, diskette and other technological failures coincident with due dates of papers, take-home exams and other written assignments.
 
As is the case for all assignments during the semester and up to the end of the final examination period, faculty members are empowered to grant extensions to their students. If there is some technological reason for difficulty in presenting an assignment, a faculty member may grant extra time for submission of the work. (Extensions beyond the end of the exam period may be granted only by class deans.)
 
A faculty member may require confirmation of the problem (e.g., from a computer center staff member). Alternatively, the faculty member might ask the student to submit a diskette with the relevant file (along with information about the platform and the word processing program) as a substitute for the written work.
 
The Administrative Board urges students to prepare their work in a timely fashion (and to back it up) in order to avoid last minute technological difficulties. Nevertheless, the board recognizes that these difficulties do -- and will continue to -- happen. Staff members at the computer centers may be able to provide technical assistance when such problems occur.
 

Health Service Deadlines

Because of the turnaround time on Pap tests, none will be done at the Health Service after May 2. They will resume again in September. Seniors should schedule their senior physicals before May 2.
 

Board of Counselors

The Visiting Committee, the Board of Counselors group of the Smith College Museum of Art, will hold their spring meeting in Chicago, from 9 a.m.-noon, Friday, April 18.
 

Sunnyside Jobs

The Smith Child Care Center at Sunnyside is now accepting applications for work/study positions for the upcoming school year. Students work as morning or afternoon classroom aides with children ranging in age from 13 months to five years. If interested, call ext. 2293.
 

You Know Where You're Going to Be

Field Day, April 27, 1997
 

Open Campus

The Office of Admission has invited admitted applicants (the class of 2001 and transfers) to visit Smith for Open Campus on Thursday, April 17, and Friday, April 18.
 
These prospective students will explore many aspects of campus life through contact with students, faculty and staff. Most of them will be making the final decision about which college to attend. Please take the time during this busy week to welcome them and answer their questions.
 
Approximately 200-250 prospective students and 175 parents are expected. Dining Services will make every effort to accommodate student visitors in the houses. Current students may assist the effort by inviting Smith guests to meals on days other than those of Open Campus.
 

Daughters to Work

For those bringing daughters (9-15 years old) to campus on "Take Our Daughters to Work Day," April 24, there will be a welcome session in the Alumnae House living room at 10:30 a.m. and campus tours, departing from the Alumnae House living room, at 2 p.m. Mothers may also want to take their daughters to lunch at the Smith College Club.
 

Examination Workers

Students are needed to work in the distribution of final examinations. Please sign up at the financial aid office.
 

Registration For Fall 1997

All students returning for the fall semester 1997 should be sure to submit their registration forms to the registrar's office on their assigned days as indicated in the registration instructions. Students who are unable to do so have until Friday, April 18, to register. The deadline for Five College registration is also April 18. No Smith or Five College forms will be accepted after this date.
 

Access Van

The ACCESS Van Service, which will start on Monday, April 14, is being created to provide on-campus transportation solutions for students, faculty and staff with permanent or temporary disabilities. Passengers can rely on the ACCESS van to get them to their classes, campus jobs and campus activities safely and efficiently. Students, faculty or staff wishing to use the ACCESS van should contact the Office of Disability Services at ext. 2071. In most cases, a doctor's note is required before Disability Services will authorize use of the van. The hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For reservations, call 575-5143.
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AcaMedia staff: Sally Rubenstone, Cathy Brooks, Mary Stanton


AcaMedia is published weekly during the academic year by the Office of College Relations for the Smith College community. This version of AcaMedia for the World Wide Web is maintained by the Office of College Relations. Last update: April 10, 1997.

Copyright © 1996, Smith College. Portions of this publication may be reproduced with
the permission of the Office of College Relations, Garrison Hall, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts 01063; (413) 585-2170.

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