News for the Smith College Community //November 11, 1999
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Students Volunteer to Make a Difference By Adele Johnsen '02 To help address some of these problems, there's a corps of Smith students who are committed to making a difference in Northampton and the surrounding area. Service Organizations of Smith (S.O.S.), a campus group that began in 1968, last year coordinated more than 900 positions in volunteer organizations on and off campus for more than 550 students. Part of the organization's mission is "to build bridges among diverse groups of people; to encourage learning by developing community service work placements that are course related; to train students in leadership development; and to encourage and support students to be active, contributing members of the local community." Senior Emily Jamie was an S.O.S. volunteer last year in a 12-week program at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Corrections in Northampton. Working individually with inmates, Jamie taught decisional training, including the ability to "take an objective look at life, to see opportunities, to make decisions, to see a situation clearly and think up lots of possibilities," she says. For Jamie and the inmates, her involvement made a difference, she says. For the inmates, "I think that the biggest impact comes from them seeing that someone is coming to volunteer, to help them without an agenda (unlike caseworkers or correctional officers)." As for herself, "It helps me a lot. I'm a student, I get all stressed out in my life, but by the time I come out of there, I'm feeling so grateful. It shows me how lucky I am to be able to leave." "Getting experience outside of Smith keeps people in perspective," says S.O.S. service support chair Ashley Frost '00, who has worked as an America Reads tutor and volunteered at an elementary school in Amherst twice a week. Frost says volunteering can be rewarding on many levels. "Service work makes me feel fulfilled and happy," she says. "It's a concrete way to get things done and see positive steps taken. It can also be combined with your interests, with what you're studying, and give you hands-on experience for your classes." Community involvement is an age-old tradition at Smith. The college has had one or more active service groups on campus since its doors opened in 1875, when both the Community Organization and Service Organizations of Smith College (SOSC) were founded. These days, thanks to courses like the psychology seminar "Behavior in Nonprofit Organizations," which requires participants to spend approximately four hours a week volunteering for a nonprofit organization, volunteering can also be a component of coursework. Brooke Harrison '00, as part of the seminar, works at the Hampshire Interfaith Cot Shelter. In addition to serving meals at the shelter, cleaning up and spending time with guests, Harrison pitches in on the business end. "We're doing a big campaign, raising awareness about homelessness in Northampton," she says. "We want to raise $2,000, which is about 10 percent of their budget." Harrison, who chairs S.O.S. this year, also volunteers outside of class, she says. Volunteering is a worthwhile experience for volunteers and the people or organizations they serve, emphasizes Tiertza-Leah Schwartz, S.O.S. director. "I think it's a wonderful way for students to participate in the local community, to enrich their experience in being a part of that community. It brings them beyond Main Street, which is a narrow view of the community at large. It's kind of a give-and-get experience, where they give their time and get rewards from that involvement." But sometimes students' busy schedules keep them from volunteering. Many students want to be involved but simply don't have time to commit to long-term projects. Some participate in S.O.S.'s short-term projects -- AIDS benefits, fundraisers for Project Square (crocheting blankets for the needy) and harvesting food for the Food Bank farm -- which can allow a student to "do her part, even if she doesn't have time to volunteer on a weekly basis," says Maria Worthen '00, S.O.S. short-term community placement co-chair. Also available are house projects, which are facilitated once a semester by the house community advisers (HCAs). Lilli Hernandez '02, HCA of Scales House, considered a trick-or-treating fundraiser during Halloween for which people would donate money for UNICEF. "It just takes one experience for you to become involved and become appreciative of other people's situations," she says. And in a community with so many disparities, volunteering for many is a way to bridge the gap between Smith and the world outside.
Christopher Loring, team leader of reference and consultation services with the university libraries at the University of Minnesota, has been appointed director of libraries at Smith College, succeeding Sarah Pritchard, who left Smith last spring to become head of libraries at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Trained originally as a classicist at Boston University, Loring received his education in library science at the University of Minnesota. "Since 1984, he has held increasingly responsible positions in the Minnesota libraries system," says Jefferson Hunter, professor of English language and literature, who chaired the library director search committee. "Among Chris' particular professional interests are the improvement of user services and issues involving technology and copyright," Hunter says. Loring has been instrumental in the creation of several research software programs and in the organization of the U of M public Web site. As head of access services, he oversaw the automation of circulation, led a major space planning and reorganization effort and a project to improve access to U of M's extensive periodical holdings. As a member of the leadership group within the University of Minnesota, Loring participates in addressing issues that extend into all aspects of research libraries. Loring describes the Smith libraries as an extraordinarily rich resource for faculty and students. He says he is "grateful to be given the opportunity to work with a gifted and talented staff. Academic libraries across the country currently face incredible challenges and opportunities. The challenge for Smith libraries staff is to continue providing collections and services that support both the curriculum of the students and the research of faculty while leveraging the new teaching, learning and communication technologies to expand into areas unthought of a decade ago." Loring believes that "in today's information society, a liberal education must include the cultivation of information literacy skills-the skills to discover, critically evaluate and successfully use information. Smith library staff will play a crucial role in assuring that Smith students obtain these skills so that they can thrive in the information age." Said Provost and Dean of the Faculty John Connolly: "Chris has a distinguished record of library service, and his colleagues both in the library and in the faculty at the University of Minnesota praise him highly. His experience, his calm and thoughtful approach and his considerable skill as a team builder will stand the libraries at Smith in good stead in the months and years ahead." Loring grew up in Massachusetts and says that he is pleased to be returning to a state that he views as "one of my homes." With a nod to Garrison Keillor, the host of Minnesota Public Radio's syndicated show, A Prairie Home Companion, Loring says "The home that I leave, of course, is Minnesota, where everyone is above average, where the governor is the official state body and where the artist formerly known as something provides an unusual musical challenge for the Scandinavian population." Loring is expected to assume the post of director of libraries at Smith on or about February 1. Long-time Physical Plant Staffer Dies Richard Hunter, supervisor of special events in the Physical Plant, died November 5 at his home in Northampton. Hunter, 55, was a Smith employee for 33 years. As special events supervisor, he worked tirelessly to make occasions ranging from Rally Day and Commencement to department lectures and academic conferences run smoothly. Hunter was a lifetime resident of Northampton and a founding member of the College Church. He is survived by three sons, a brother, his former wife and three grandchildren. A memorial service was held November 10 in Helen Hills Hills Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield or the Daily Hampshire Gazette Toy Fund for Children. The Search for Signs of Lily Tomlin For some, she may be remembered best for the hilarious roles like Edith Ann, an impish 5-year-old, and Ernestine, a sassy telephone operator, that she created more than 25 years ago on TV's Laugh-In. But Lily Tomlin has since had a dynamic career as a movie actress, comedienne and stage performer for which she has won two Tony Awards, one for her one-woman Broadway show, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. On Tuesday, November 16, Smith will host Tomlin when she performs The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe at 8 p.m. in John M. Greene Hall. The play, written by playwright Jane Wagner, focuses on the female experience in society while offering bitingly true commentary on modern life through the portrayal of several comic characters. There's Trudy, the certifiably insane bag lady; Chrissy, who spends hours in a health club; Agnus Angst, the unhappy punk adolescent; and some of their friends. Tomlin, who received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress for her performance in the 1975 film Nashville, has appeared in more than 20 Hollywood films including 9 to 5, All Of Me, Tea With Mussolini and Short Cuts. Tomlin also recently portrayed an acerbic boss in the hit television sit-com Murphy Brown and has appeared in shows such as The X-Files and Homicide. The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe was made into a film in 1991. The performance is coordinated by Iron Horse Presents, a division of the Iron Horse Entertainment Group, and sponsored by WFCR radio station. Tickets are available for $25 and $32.50 at Northampton Box Office, 586-8686 or 1-800-THE-TICK. ScoreBoard Will return next week. Alexander Woronzoff-Dashkoff, a professor
in the Russian language and literature department, last month
gave a lecture in St. Petersburg, at the Russian Academy of Sciences'
Institute of the History of Science, on E.R. Dashkova, the first
and only woman to head the prestigious academy. Woronzoff-Dashkoff
spoke about his edition of Dashkova's autobiography, Mon Histoire:
Mémoires d'une femme de lettres à l'époque
des Lumière, which was compiled and edited with Catherine
Woronzoff-Dashkoff, a lecturer in the Russian department, and
Catherine Le Gouis, an associate professor of French at Mount
Holyoke College. Student Government Association (SGA) for 19992000 Whatever You Want To Do, There's a Group on Campus for You Do you love to sing but can't quite hit the notes? Are you a closet knitter? Perhaps you're seeking others who share your love for Ultimate Frisbee. Wherever your interests lie, there's sure to be a club on campus for you. Below is a listing of the more than 100 clubs and organizations on campus chartered by the Student Government Association (SGA) for 19992000. Take a look. Maybe you'll discover the group you've been looking for. Organizations are listed by club name followed by contact person, email address, box number, and extension when available. The coordinator of student organizations is Gitanjali Pinto, Clark 105, gpinto@email.smith.edu, ext. 4999.
Whatever You Want To Do, There's a Group on Campus for You Do you love to sing but can't quite hit the notes? Are you a closet knitter? Perhaps you're seeking others who share your love for Ultimate Frisbee. Wherever your interests lie, there's sure to be a club on campus for you. Below is a listing of the more than 100 clubs and organizations on campus chartered by the Student Government Association (SGA) for 19992000. Take a look. Maybe you'll discover the group you've been looking for. Organizations are listed by club name followed by contact person, email address, box number, and extension when available. The coordinator of student organizations
is Gitanjali Pinto, Clark 105, gpinto@email.smith.edu, ext. 4999.
Al-Iman, Khadeeja Mohammed
Ali, Khad7@hotmail.com, 7852, 6571 Organizations in Process Non-chartered Organized Groups Inactive Organizations Defunct Organizations 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). College Wide Campus Climate Working Group Sweater Sale Health Services Mid-December Scheduling Special Evening Opera Workshop Faculty & Staff Faculty Meeting Save the Date Students Take Smith Home Essay Competition Carnegie Junior Fellowships SAS Final Examinations Registration for Spring 2000 President's Open Hours Mellon Fellowships Thanksgiving Dinner Thanksgiving Break Students residing in non-vacation houses for the vacation will need to make arrangements with students in open houses to stay in their rooms and obtain their room key. There will be a $20 fee to stay in Smith housing over Thanksgiving break, $10 of which is nonrefundable (it helps cover the cost of housekeeping). Students residing in vacation housing will be issued a vacation key available for pickup in the Office of Student Affairs, Monday-Tuesday, November 22-23 during regular office hours. A $10 deposit will be refunded pending return of the key to the Business Office, College Hall 5, by 4 p.m., Friday, December 3. For information call Office of Student Affairs, College Hall 24, ext. 4940. |
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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, November 15 Lectures/Symposia Lecture "Single-Cell Level Examination of the Regulation of B Lymphocyte Development." Rachel Gerstein, UMass Medical School. Reception at 4 p.m. 4:30 p.m., McConnell B05 Lecture Monique Savage, associate dean of students and director of counseling and health services, Adrian College, Michigan. Sponsor: Afro-American studies department. 6 p.m., Wright common room Lecture Ann Coulter, columnist and author of High Crimes and Misdemeanors. 7 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room* Fine/performing arts/films Film Antonia's Line. Sponsor: SAFE. 7:30 p.m., Seelye 106* Meetings/workshops Association of Low-Income Students meeting 7 p.m., Women's Resource Center, Davis third floor CDO informational meeting Chase Manhattan Sales & Trading (financial services). 7:30 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room Student Labor Action Coalition general meeting 8:30 p.m., Women's Resource Center, Davis third floor Religious Life Meeting Om, Smith's Hindu organization. With Dennis Hudson, religion department. 6 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel Other events and activities Special event S.O.S. sweater sale. Hats, scarves, sweaters, and gloves. Proceeds benefit S.O.S. 9 a.m.5 p.m., Gamut Language lunch tables Hebrew lunch table with Rabbi Ed Feld. Chat B'Ivrit over pizza. 12:15 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel Yoga class Noncredit, for students. Limited to 40. 4:30-5:45 p.m., Davis ballroom Special event "Evening at the Chrysanthemum Show." Smith community members are invited to attend an illumination of the show. 6-9 p.m., Lyman Conservatory Tuesday, November 16 Lectures/Symposia Panel discussion "Writing About America," with Valley writers Shirley Abbott, Zane Kotker and Joe Nocera and filmmakers Larry Hott and Diane Garey. 3 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room* Lecture "The Search for Truth in Music Performance." Julien Musafia, professor emeritus, University of Southern California, Long Beach. 7:30 p.m., Earle Recital Hall* Reading Jack Gilbert, Grace Hazard Conkling Writer-in-Residence, will read from The Great Fires. 7:30 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room* Lecture "Human Diversity and the Moral Economy of the Cells and Tissues," by Margaret Lock, a distinguished medical anthropologist in the departments of humanities and social sciences in medicine and anthropology at McGill University. She is currently the Neilson Professor at Smith College. 8 p.m., Wright Hall Auditorium Fine/performing arts/films Theater The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. Lily Tomlin. Tickets: $25, $32.50. Available at Northampton Box Office, 586-8686. See story, page 4. 8 p.m., John M. Greene Hall Film Wild Wild West. Sponsor: Rec Council. 9 p.m., Wright auditorium Meetings/workshops Amnesty International meeting 4:15 p.m., Seelye 105 Informational meeting on secondary level student teaching. 5 p.m., Morgan lounge CDO workshop Job search strategies. 7 p.m., group room, CDO SGA Senate meeting Open forum. All students welcome. 7:15 p.m., Seelye 201 CDO informational meeting Independent Educational Services (teacher and administrator recruiting services). 7:30 p.m., Seelye 107 CDO informational meeting Sun Microsystems (computer systems). 7:30 p.m., Dewey common room CDO workshop How to find an internship. 8 p.m., internship room, CDO Religious Life Hillel at Noon Noon, Dawes Kosher Kitchen Other events and activities Special event Distribution of Eating TLC snack packs to promote healthy eating habits. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., post office Language lunch tables CDO open hours Peer advisers available. 7-9 p.m., CDO Wednesday, November 17 Fine/performing arts/films Theater Cloud Nine. Caryl Churchill's humorous account of a colonial family whose Victorian values of chastity and duty barely disguise their chaos and suppressed passion. Tickets: $3. 8 p.m., Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre* Meetings/workshops Campus Climate Working Group meeting Follow-up discussion on the "What's Next?" conference. Noon, Wright common room Faculty meeting Tea at 3:45 p.m. 4:10 p.m., Alumnae House CDO workshop How to write an effective résumé. 4:15 p.m., group room, CDO CDO informational meeting Advest Investment Banking. 7:30 p.m., Wright common room Religious Life Buddhist service and discussion 7:15 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel ECC Bible study Discuss some of Christianity's most basic questions. Snacks provided. All welcome. 10 p.m., Bodman Lounge, Chapel* Other events and activities Language lunch tables Yoga class Noncredit, for students. Limited to 40. 4:30-5:45 p.m., Davis ballroom Special event Dinner for declared Latin American studies majors, minors and professors. 6 p.m., Duckett Special Dining Room SAFE speakout about abuse. 7:30 p.m., Field House*
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Thursday, November 18 Lectures/Symposia Panel "Finding Personal Fulfillment in Our Lives." Led by Suzanne Lehman. Learning in Retirement members will share personal pursuits and experiences that have been meaningful and rewarding to them. Sponsor: Five College Life in Retirement. 2 p.m., Field House* Lecture "Ekphraseis and Meaning in The Aeneid." Christine Perkell, Department of Classics, Emory University. Sponsor: Department of Classical Languages and Literatures. 4:15 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room* Lecture Victoria Bond, visiting composer/conductor, will speak on her music and career. 4:30 p.m., Earle Recital Hall* Lecture "God Under the Lens: The Microscope as a Christian Tool." Clara Pinto-Correia, UMass. Sponsor: Committee on the History of the Sciences. 5 p.m., Wright common room* Lecture Alan Keyes, Republican presidential candidate and former Ambassador to the United Nations. 7:30 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room* Slide lecture "Prophets, Fishes and Mermaids in the Book of Jonah." Shemaryahu Talmon, J.L. Magnes Professor Emeritus, Department of Bible Studies, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and winner of the Israel Prize in Biblical Research and Interpretation. Sponsors: Lecture Committee, Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Mellon Fund of the Smith College Museum of Art, Department of Religion and Biblical Literature, Jewish Studies Program, Helen Hills Hills Chapel. 7:30 p.m., Seelye 201* Fine/performing arts/films Theater Cloud Nine. See 11/17 listing. 8 p.m., Hallie Flanagan Studio* Film Wild Wild West. Sponsor: Rec Council. 9 p.m., Wright auditorium Meetings/workshops Debate Society general meeting. Workshop "Creating, Conserving and Appreciating: Renaissance Panel Paintings and Relief Casts." Claire Renkin, curatorial intern, Rutgers University; and David Dempsey, preparator/conservator, Museum of Art, will examine two Renaissance relief casts to determine their history. No registration required. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Museum of Art Workshop. "Art from Art: Writing in Response to Visual Creation" explores creative writing through responses to works of art. Enrollment limited, preregistration required; $10, members; $20, nonmembers. 5:30-7:45 p.m., Museum of Art Smith Christian Fellowship meeting 7:45 p.m., Seelye 206 United in Anti-Racist Action meeting 9 p.m., Seelye 101 Other events and activities President's open hours First come, first served. 4-5 p.m., College Hall 20 Special event "Superheroes/Villains Showdown" dance. Tickets: $3. 8:30 p.m., Davis ballroom* Friday, November 19 Lectures/Symposia Fine/performing arts/films Theater Cloud Nine. See 11/17 listing. 8 p.m., Hallie Flanagan Studio* Meetings/workshops Smith Science-Fiction and Fantasy Society meeting. 4:30-6:15 p.m., Seelye 208* Religious Life Keystone Fellowship meeting. 6:30 p.m., Wright common room Other events and activities Alumnae House tea Lamont and Morrow houses are cordially invited to attend. 4 p.m., Alumnae House living room Basketball vs. Gordon. Smith Tip-Off Tournament. 8 p.m., Ainsworth* Special event Stargazing at McConnell Observatory. See the moon, planets and other celestial objects with replicas of Galileo's telescopes. Organized by the Louise W. and Edmund J. Kahn Liberal Arts Institute and the Five College astronomy department. 9 p.m., McConnell Observatory* Saturday, November 20 Fine/performing arts/films Dance Faculty Dance Concert. See 11/18 listing. 8 p.m., Theatre 14, Mendenhall CPA* Theater Cloud Nine. See 11/17 listing. 8 p.m., Hallie Flanagan Studio* Concert Kenny Klein, singer of pagan and mythologically inspired folk music. 8 p.m., Wright common room* Other events and activities Swimming and diving vs. Wheaton. Basketball Smith Tip-Off Tournament consolation game. 2 p.m., Ainsworth* Basketball Smith Tip-Off Tournament championship game. 4 p.m., Ainsworth* Sunday, November 21 Fine/performing arts/films Meetings/workshops Religious Life Morning worship in the Protestant tradition. Prayers at 10 a.m. 10:30 a.m., Chapel Special event "How I Can Make a Difference," a musical program and Catholic mass with Gregory Norbet, composer and former monk at the Weston Priory in Vermont. 2 p.m., Helen Hills Hills 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. Bill McConville, OFM, celebrant; Elizabeth Carr, Catholic chaplain. Sunday supper follows. All welcome. 4:30 p.m., Chapel* Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with the Rev. Judith Stevens of St. John's Episcopal Church, adjunct chaplain to the college. All welcome. 7:30 p.m., Chapel* Roman Catholic Eucharistic Liturgy Fr. Bill McConville, OFM, celebrant; Elizabeth Carr, Catholic chaplain. A peaceful liturgy to end the weekend. All welcome. 10 p.m., Chapel* Other events and activities Special event "A Gallery of Readers" with local writers Anne Kornblatt and Robin Hayden. 4 p.m., Neilson Browsing Room* Special event BSA Thanksgiving dinner. Gather over a meal before the break. Tickets: $2. 5 p.m., Unity House Exhibitions "Duyst/Akpem: A Tale of Two Families" Using wood, metal and photographs to create hanging sculptures, D. Denenge Akpem '97 has assembled a multidimensional exhibition that explores the bicultural experience by linking Akpem's paternal and maternal families, which trace their lineage to Nigeria and the Netherlands. Through January 2, 2000. Alumnae House Gallery, 33 Elm St.* "Excavating the Museum" In collaboration with Patricia Erickson's fall class, "Objects, Selves, and Others: The Anthropology of Material Culture," this show concentrates on works collected by former professor Harris Hawthorne Wilder and examines issues related to the collection of Native American art and artifacts. Through December 22. Museum of Art* "The Poetic Imagination: Explorations in Photography" features works by Alfred Stieglitz, Gertrude Kesebier, Clarence White, Anne Brigman and other photographers who, at the turn of the last century, were interested in creating the imaginative vision of the photographer rather than a literal record of the natural world. Organized by Maureen McKenna, Luce Curatorial Assistant for American Art. Through December 22. Print room, Museum of Art* Fall Chrysanthemum Show features a variety of flowers and training techniques including cascades, standards, and student hybrids. This display of ancient horticultural arts is rarely seen outside Japan, where the chrysanthemum has been bred and cultivated for centuries. Through November 21.10 a.m.-4 p.m., Lyman Conservatory* "The Book of Books: Pen & Ink to Polymer Plate" features manuscript and printed Bibles from the 13th through 20th centuries, including the 1999 Pennyroyal Caxton Bible, designed and illustrated by Barry Moser. Through December 22. Morgan Gallery, Neilson Library, first floor "Barry Moser & Pennyroyal Press" features books illustrated with wood engravings by artist Barry Moser. Through December 22. Mortimer Rare Book Room foyer, Neilson Library, third floor "Illuminating Words: The Artist's Books of Christopher Gausby" blends philosophical reflections and passages from early Christian mystic texts with Dadaist compositional techniques. Cocurated by Martin Antonetti, curator of rare books, and Veronique Plesch, assistant professor of art history, Colby College. Sponsors: Museum of Art, Salloch Rare Book Fund, Neilson Library. Through December 22. Museum of Art * "American Spectrum" features
American masterworks from the early 18th century to the present
with an installation of paintings and sculptures on two floors
of the Museum. Through December 22. |
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