Posted 06/04/07 About 30 years ago, unnatural and excessive biological growth started occurring in the small, man-made Beseck Lake six miles southeast of Wesleyan's campus. Septic systems from lakeside homes deposited nutrients into the water, altering the biogeological cycles of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus in the aquatic ecosystem. By 2002, the problem was remedied by connecting the homes to a city sewer system and the quality of the lake water improved. However, excess algae growth continued to form, proving that some unwanted nutrients continued to exist. “What was still polluting the lake?’” asked Tim Ku, assistant professor of earth…

David Wagner, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Connecticut, talks to Wesleyan faculty and Wesleyan Hughes and Mellon Fellows about the 2007 BioBlitz, to be held in Middletown June 8-9. Posted 06/04/07 BioBlitz 2007 is coming to Middletown and Wesleyan faculty and students are playing key roles. For those unaware, BioBlitz is a 24-hour environmental diversity survey that was originated in the state by the University of Connecticut and several partners. During BioBlitz, scientific specialists are partnered up with grade school students and others for field surveys and other activities. The idea is to get…

Posted 06/04/07 Edward P. Jones, pictured at left, a winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award, will be the keynote speaker at the 51st annual Wesleyan Writers Conference, held on campus June 17-22. The Writers Conference welcomes experienced writers, new writers and anyone interested in the writer's craft. One of the leading writers conferences in the nation, it has launched many writers’ publishing careers, notes Anne Greene, director. “All of the programs are designed to offer you new perspectives on your work and the company of other writers who share your interests,” Greene says. This summer’s…

Richard Slotkin, the Olin Professor of American Studies and English, was one of three faculty members to receive the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching by President Doug Bennet during Commencement Ceremonies May 27. Posted 06/04/07 Joyce Jacobsen, the Andrews Professor of Economics; Richard Slotkin, the Olin Professor of American Studies and English; and T. David Westmoreland, associate professor of chemistry were the 2007 recipients of the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching. They received the prize during the 2007 Commencement ceremony May 27. The Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching was inaugurated in 1993 as an institutional recognition of…

Elena '93 and Trustee Robert L. Allbritton '92 have donated $5M to Wesleyan, to help build the Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life. Posted 06/04/07 Trustee Robert L. Allbritton '92, his wife Elena '93 and family have pledged $5 million toward the renovation of Davenport Hall to house Wesleyan's new Center for the Study of Public Life and to challenge younger alumni classes to contribute to the Wesleyan Fund. The Center will be named for the Allbritton family. "Public life is changing, in part because new media have accelerated the exchange of ideas among leaders in government, business,…

The Eclectic Society house, located at 200 High Street, is 100 years old this year. Posted 06/04/07 “Our reputation was one of respect from most everyone,” recalls Bill Moody ’59, P ’91.” We did not come across as rich or preppy or jock-filled or hyper-social or racist or nerdy. We did not dominate a given group or project or sport.” Moody, author of the recently-published book, A History of the Eclectic Society of Phi Nu Theta, 1837-1970, shared memories with current and past Eclectic members during the 100th anniversary celebration of the completion of the Eclectic Society House May 26.…

Posted 05/27/.07 (Click picture to open high-resolution picture. Large images are 300 DPI.)   Chair of the Board of Trustees Jim Dresser '63 and Wesleyan President Douglas Bennet. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient and speaker Jim Lehrer P'85. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Nobutaka Machimura. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Alan Dachs '70, P'98 speaking in front of the Douglas Cannon. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Rosa DeLauro. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Jewell Cobb P'79. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Thomas Malone. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Doug…

Posted 05/27/.07 The following remarks were made by by Wesleyan University President Douglas J. Bennet during the 175th commencement ceremony May 27, 2007. Welcome to the 731 members of the Class of 2007. Slava! Slava! Slava! And if you don’t know what that mean’s you’ll have to ask one of the students. They obviously knew of my love of Russian history. Welcome parents, family members, friends, and well-wishers. Welcome to our distinguished honorees. Welcome Wesleyan trustees, faculty and staff. Welcome alumni and your families, including Welcome to Wesleyan’s 175th Commencement. This is the last time as president I will have…

Jim Lehrer P'85, anchor of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, delivered the commencement address during ceremonies on May 27, 2007. His speech is below: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am honored to be so honored, in such great company, by this great university. It means so much to me personally because I am the devoted father of a Wesleyan graduate, Lucy Lehrer, class of 1985. And she's sitting right over there. My first encounter with Wesleyan was because of Lucy and it was a most memorable one. My wife Kate and I had come here to take Lucy…