2020 – Page 6

A new album created by pianist and composer Noah Baerman, director of the Wesleyan University Jazz Ensemble, features more than 80 minutes of performances honoring his friend and former student, vocalist Claire Randall '12, who was murdered in December 2016. Love Right, produced by Resonant Motion, Inc. (RMI) Records, showcases songs written by Baerman alongside more than 40 Wesleyan-affiliated instrumentalists and singers who navigate a broad multitude of musical styles. It was released on Oct. 9 and is Baerman's 11th album. "Love Right is by far the most stylistically eclectic thing I've ever done," Baerman said. "I've incorporated different styles…

On Oct. 9, 46 students attended the Fallapalooza Fall Concert on Foss Hill. The concert showcased several Wesleyan student bands and celebrated the start of the new school year. Fallapalooza was hosted by Wesleyan's Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD) and the Wesleyan Student Assembly. To ensure the continued safety of the Wesleyan community, attendees were required to register in advance, practice social distancing, and wear masks. Performers were permitted to remove their masks during their performances. (Photos by Simon Duan '23) (more…)

Assistant Professor of Computer Science Sebastian Zimmeck is leading a major initiative to help consumers gain greater control of their personal data online. On Oct. 7, Zimmeck and his collaborator, Ashkan Soltani of Georgetown Law, as well as a group of partner organizations that includes The New York Times, The Washington Post, Mozilla, and the parent company behind WordPress.com and Tumblr, among others, announced the beta launch of the Global Privacy Control (GPC), a new effort to standardize consumer privacy online. As Zimmeck explains it, privacy regulations introduced in recent years such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and…

Wesleyan's careful planning, creative problem-solving, and exemplary adherence to safety protocols have resulted in the campus community staying together this semester. For the third week in a row, Wesleyan has 0 reported cases of COVID-19. "This is a proud and happy moment for us all," said Wesleyan President Michael Roth '78 in a recent Public Health Update. "At the same time, it is a precarious moment. We understand that the pandemic is still with us and that the public health context can change at any time." With these considerations in mind, Wesleyan will hold Thanksgiving Recess from Wednesday, Nov. 25…

When the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted in-person classes last spring, several faculty found innovative and creative ways to adapt to online teaching and learning. In the fourth of a fall-semester series, we’ll be highlighting ways faculty from various departments are coping with teaching during a pandemic, and showcase individual ways courses are thriving in an in-person, online, or hybridized environment. In this issue, we spotlight Robert Kabacoff, professor of the practice in the Quantitative Analysis Center. This fall, he's teaching QAC 201: Applied Data Analysis; QAC 356: Advanced R: Building Open-Source Tools for Data Analysis; and QAC 385: Applications of Machine…

The E2020 Speaker Series features an array of public figures from diverse backgrounds, all with compelling messages about the power of students and young people to affect change amid the urgency of this moment. The E2020 Speaker Series is a centerpiece of Wesleyan's E2020 Initiative, the University’s comprehensive effort to support student learning and civic participation, while engaging the public around the electoral process and broader questions related to civic life. Upcoming E2020 Speaker Series events include a vice presidential debate watch party with Logan Dancey, associate professor of government; "Don’t Hate, Communicate: Discussing Politics and Maintaining Relationships"; "Our Country…

Watch the full event recording online here. And RSVP for the Theater Deparment's next event, "A Conversation with Associate Professor Rashida Shaw McMahon" at 4 p.m. Oct. 19. "Thank you again for all your support and presence," Oliveras said. "The first of many conversations, as we collectively lean into the stickiness and beautiful potential change of this moment."

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected the way faculty teach, students learn, and staff work to help the University. In this article, we spotlight Linda Hurteau, Science Library assistant, who has helped make the library a safe environment for patrons and staff alike. The once busy and bustling Science Library, which stays open until 2 a.m. to accommodate those who study late into the night, is open for service this fall semester. However, the pandemic has drastically changed the way students interact with and use the library. And no one knows this better than Science Library Assistant Linda Hurteau, a 16-year…

Sean Higgins, Wesleyan's Lock Shop foreman, passed away suddenly on Sept. 25. He was 60 years old. Higgins worked for Wesleyan's Physical Plant for 16 years maintaining the physical security of the campus where he insured the safety of students, faculty, and staff. According to his obituary in The Middletown Press, Higgins "showed his love in the form of full-body hugs, homemade pasta sauce, big family breakfasts, and a shared Guinness, no matter the time of day. He loved to hate the New York Giants, indulged in bad action films, and never turned down helping someone in need. His quick…

Baerman, Wesleyan Community Pay Tribute to Randall ’12 with New Album, Love Right

Students Celebrate New School Year with Fallapalooza Fall Concert on Foss

Zimmeck Spearheads Launch of Important Online Privacy Tool

Adherence to Safety Protocols Results in Safe and Successful Fall Semester

PhD Candidate Drum Discusses Biology Research during Graduate Speaker Series

Kabacoff: Teaching Quantitative Analysis during the Pandemic

Jewish Community Celebrates Journey to the Holy Land in WesSukkah

Criminal Justice and Election Discussed at E2020 Speaker Series Event

BIPOC Artists and Theatermakers Discuss the Challenges of Working in White Spaces

Broker ’66 Speaks on Infectious Disease, Cancer at Biophysics Retreat, Public Seminar

Working at Wes during a Pandemic: Hurteau Helps Science Library Adapt to New Social Distancing Guidelines

Lock Shop’s Sean Higgins Remembered for Helping Keep Wes Safe