News for the Smith College Community //February 3, 2000
|
A Thousand Ways to Spend J-Term By Adele Johnsen '02 Alyssa Merwin '02, for example, whose family vacation landed her in sunny Costa Rica for two weeks, visited the country's "natural saunas and mudbaths, volcanoes, beaches, rainforests, and cloud forests," she said, a little wistful after her return. She wasn't the only one who encountered some much-needed warmth during the January break. Zahra Rasul '03, from Vancouver, spent part of her break snowboarding in 70-degree weather. At Whistler, a ski resort located just north of Vancouver, Rasul says she encountered "some kind of climate-inversion thing" that created the unusually warm weather. Not that she minded, she says. "I was snowboarding in a tank top. It was great." For Sarah Field '02, J-term was a time to get in touch with her heritage. Thanks to a $15 million donation from Jewish-Americans Charles Brontheim and Michael Steinheart, Field and 5,000 other Jewish students (including nine from Smith, eight from Amherst College, and two from Hampshire College) spent January 314 on an all-expenses-paid trip to Israel. "It was a really powerful experience," says Field. The students "saw all the sights" of Israel, visiting Jerusalem, riding a boat on the Sea of Galilee, climbing Mount Masada, and covering themselves with mud from the Dead Sea. The trip also gave them a glimpse of the social and political climate in Israel, says Field. "We spent a day with high school kids, talking about our cultural differences," she says. "Also, at the end of the trip, we learned about the peace talks that are now going on in the area. It was really meaningful. This is all the stuff you hear on the news, and we were there." The trip was especially powerful for Field, whose parents met in Israel, she says. "It was cool to be in this place where my family came from, and where there are thousands of years of rich Jewish history. This trip made me feel a really strong connection to Israel, and it was nice to make new friends at Smith and Five College connections." Comparative literature major Becky
Shaeffer '02 also spent her January break learning in an international
setting. Joining 13 other Five College students in an intensive
Smith philosophy class, Shaeffer ventured to Sarnath, India,
to learn about Tibetan Buddhism, culture and history. The students,
who studied at the Central Institute for Higher Tibetian Studies,
stayed in a guest house on the school's campus. "We went
on a pilgrimage to Bodh Gya, the site of the Buddhist Enlightenment,
spent some time in Delhi, took classes at the institute, and
learned some yoga and meditating," Shaeffer says. The highlight
of the trip? "On New Year's Day, we woke up really early
and went on a boat on the Ganges and saw the millennium sunrise.
Then we went to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama's address and had
a proper audience with him. It was the best part of the trip
and definitely a highlight of my life." As of January 3, Bill Weakley has been on the job tending to campus sites as Smith's first Web manager. Weakly brings to the job considerable programming experience from UMass and State Farm Insurance. Weakley will work to "better manage the Smith Web site so that it's up-to-date, inclusive, and more easily navigated," says Information Technology Services director Herb Nickles. Among the first items on Weakley's agenda is to install a search engine on Smith's Web site so viewers can access specific information within the site by searching for key words. Also, Weakley will be assisting in the installation of a new, improved server to accommodate personal Web sites on campus. The implementation of the new server should result in fewer crashes of the college's system, says Weakley. "Our goal is to have no crashes," he says. Until the Web manager position was created, Nickles says, "there wasn't a single person who did this [managed Smith's Web site]." As a result, navigating and maintaining the Smith site has been difficult for campus users. Lacking a unifying contact, "individual departments [struggled] to get support" with their own sections of the Web site. Weakley will change that, offering assistance to all areas of campus, ranging from advancement and admission to college relations. Weakley, who was hired in December, holds a bachelor's degree in English from Ohio's Wittenberg University and a master's degree in professional writing from Illinois State University. "We're very excited," Nickles says. "This is going to help everyone out." United Way Campaign A Record Success Thanks to 595 faculty and staff members, and even a few students, who contributed to the Smith College 1999 United Way Campaign, a total of $153,665.54 was raised, meeting the $125,000 goal in the campaign's first month. The campaign's success can be attributed to several factors: · A successful Key Club campaign
brought two Alexis de Tocqueville Society members to the campaign
plus a record number of $1,000-and-above donors and new $500$999
donors Members of the Smith community should be proud of the college's excellent leadership in the 1999 Hampshire Community United Way Campaign. Next to Umass (which has many more employees than Smith), Smith College is the largest financial contributor to the Hampshire Community United Way. Thank you to Smith's 1999 United Way Campaign Committee members, who gave so enthusiastically and diligently of their time and talents to this important community effort. They are: Alan Bloomgarden, Debbie Cottrell, Cheryl Donaldson-Davis, Sandra Doucett, Claire Kmetz; and honorary members Frank Ellis, Ann Leone, David Osepowicz, 1999 co-chair Peter Rowe, and Donna Schnopp. Leaders for the Smith 2000 United Way Campaign will be Peter Rowe, chair, Sandra Doucett and Debbie Cottrell, assistant co-chairs. Smith community members who would like to join next year's United Way Committee or volunteer in any capacity to help with the on-campus campaign are encouraged to contact Peter, Sandy or Debbie. Thank you. Judi Marksbury, Chair A-Caroling We Will Go Back before Y2K, in the few weeks before winter break, while many students were busy cramming for finals, senior Annie Prickett was out spreading holiday cheer. Prickett and about 20 other students, along with chemistry department chair Bob Linck (who donned a Santa Claus costume) and a 1-ton Clydesdale named Daisy, toured the streets of Northampton on the nights of December 14, 15, and 17, treating listeners to a host of traditional holiday songs, like Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and O Come All Ye Faithful. Some of the carolers' stops included the nearby homes of President Ruth Simmons and college faculty members. Prickett began the caroling tradition two years ago, during her sophomore year at Smith. At first the group, which consisted mainly of students from Tyler house, caroled mostly around campus, visiting faculty members who lived nearby. But over the years, as interest has grown, so has the troupe of carolers and the number of faculty homes on its tour. Now it's "a conglomeration of people," says Prickett. "We've now started taking out cars and seeking out special faculty we want to carol to." What kind of reaction do the carolers get? "Everyone just loves it," says Prickett. Though the carolers are never unexpected (they notify faculty members before arriving to make sure they'll be home), Daisy the Clydesdale always adds an element of surprise. "She has great shock value," Prickett laughs. The carolers concluded their rounds at the president's house, where they were invited in to sip hot chocolate. President Simmons even let Daisy poke her head in. The horse "walked right up the steps and put her front hooves inside," Prickett says. "It was hysterical." Though many of the carolers are seniors, Prickett says she hopes the caroling tradition will continue long after her graduation and departure. Watch and listen for them next year at a faculty home near you. Campus Center Plan Revised The college has received many comments from students, faculty, staff and alumnae as well as members of the community about the preliminary renderings of the Campus Center that were posted on the Smith Web site and shown at a community forum in early December. Many of the responses indicate serious concern about the design, especially whether it would be a good fit with the campus and the neighboring buildings. These concerns have been shared with the architects who have been asked to take them into consideration as they revise and develop their plan. When new renderings are complete, the architects will present them, along with further details about proposed materials and finishes, to the Smith community. The date for that meeting will be announced as soon as it is set. Those who wish to offer thoughts and opinions about the campus center design and have not yet done so may e-mail Maureen Mahoney, dean of the college at mmahoney@smith.edu. Michael Albertson, chair of the math department, was recently elected to chair the Discrete Math Activity Group of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Albertson was elected to a three-year term that began January 1. As chair, Albertson will oversee SIAM conferences and symposia as well as the publication of quarterly newsletters. The activity group consists of 525 mathematicians of whom about 30 percent are from outside the United States. SIAM is a professional organization of mathematicians that seeks to promote the role applied mathematics plays in advancing science and technology in industry. The society lists more than 300 institutional members and 9,000 individuals. ...................................................... Sources of further information, if any, are indicated in parentheses. Notices should be submitted by mail, by e-mail (mstanton@colrel.smith.edu) or by fax (extension 2174).
Master Class Access Van Service Storm Warnings Library Hours Hillyer Art Library Werner Josten Library Faculty and Staff Kyoto American Studies Fellowships Performance Appraisal Advisory Task
Force Students Class of 2000 Graduate Study Abroad Equestrian Center Parking Counseling Service Offerings Writing Assistance Smithsonian Internship Program SSAS grants Add/Drop Course Deadlines President's Open Hours Fine Arts Council Public Interest Internships Meditation Stress Reduction |
|
Sources of further information, if any, are shown in parentheses at the end of event descriptions. An asterisk following a listing indicates that the event is open to the public. Admission charges, if any, are listed when known. Items for this section must be submitted on Event Service Request Forms. Monday, February 7 Lectures/Symposia Meetings/workshops Informational meeting Peace Corps. 7 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room SLAC general meeting 8:30 p.m., Women's Resource Center Religious Life Other events and activities Yoga class Noncredit, for students. Limited to 40. 4:456 p.m., Davis ballroom Tuesday, February 8 Lectures/Symposia Literature at Lunch. "Poems of Youth." Paul Pickrel, professor emeritus of English language and literature. Beverages provided, bring lunch. 12:10 p.m., Seelye 207 Lecture "Machines for Living: The Political Significance of Domestic Architecture in Late Imperial China." Francesca Bray, professor of anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara. Sponsor: Committee on the History of the Sciences. 7:30 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room* Fine/performing
arts/films Reception for "Where the World Meets the Sky: Photographs of Ladakh and Tibet," by Ellen Kaplowitz. 4:30 pm, Hillyer Meetings/workshops SGA Senate meeting Open forum. All students welcome. 7:15 p.m., Seelye 201 Religious Life Other events and
activities Language lunch tables President's open hours First come, first served. 45 p.m., College Hall 20 Yoga class Noncredit, for students. Limited to 40. 4:456 p.m., Davis ballroom S.O.S Community Service Fair. Representatives from more than 30 local nonprofit agencies will offer information about how to get involved with Smith's community neighbors. 78:30 p.m., Davis Wednesday, February 9 Meetings/workshops CDO informational meeting Dell Corporation summer internships, for juniors and seniors only. 6:30 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room CDO informational meeting ACORN. 7:30 p.m., Seelye 202 Religious Life Ecumenical Christian Church Bible study. Explore a variety of topics. All welcome. 10 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel Other events and
activities Language lunch tables Classical languages.12:15 p.m., Duckett Special Dining Room C Yoga class Noncredit, for students. Limited to 40. 4:456 p.m., Davis ballroom
|
Thursday, February 10 Lectures/Symposia Reading The Magic Fire, by Lillian Garret-Groag, is set in Peronist-era Argentina, where the members of a multigenerational family are caught up in the turmoil of the dictator's rule. Director, Lucinda Kidder, MFA candidate, UMass theater department; assistant director, Matthew Daube, MFA candidate, Smith theatre department. 7:30 p.m., Earle Recital Hall* Fine/performing
arts/films Other events and
activities Language lunch tables Korean, Russian. 12:15 p.m., Duckett House Special Dining Room Special event "Stargazing with Galileo's Telescopes." See the planets, moon and other celestial bodies with replicas of Galileo's Renaissance telescopes and modern telescopes. Warm beverages provided. Sponsors: astronomy department, Louise W. and Edmund J. Kahn Liberal Arts Institute. Part of the 19992000 Kahn project, "Star Messengers: Galileo at the Millennium." 8 p.m., McConnell Observatory* Friday, February 11 Fine/performing
arts/films Meetings/workshops Religious Life Keystone B.I.G. meeting for general fellowship. 7 p.m., Wright common room Other events and
activities Alumnae House tea Talbot and Wilson houses are cordially invited to attend. 4 p.m., Alumnae House Living Room Drag Ball sponsored by LBTA. Tickets $3 single, $5 couple. All are welcome. 9 p.m., Davis Ballroom Saturday, February 12 Fine/performing
arts/films Sunday, February 13 Meetings/workshops Religious Life Morning worship in the Protestant tradition with the Rev. Leon Burrows, interim Protestant chaplain, and student liturgists presiding. Prayers and light breakfast in Bodman Lounge at 10 a.m. All welcome. 10:30 a.m., Chapel * Association of Smith Pagans meeting. Organization for those who practice nature-based religions. Seekers welcome. 4 p.m., Lamont basement Roman Catholic Eucharistic Liturgy Fr. Stephen Ross, OCD, celebrant, priest/scholar-in-residence; and Elizabeth Carr, Catholic chaplain. All welcome. 4:30 p.m., Chapel* Other events and activities Exhibitions "Where the World Meets the Sky: Photographs of Ladakh and Tibet." Photographs by Ellen Kaplowitz. Sponsors: East Asian Studies Program, Department of Art. Through February 27. Hillyer gallery* "Excavating the
Museum II: H.H. Wilder and Early 20th-Century |
