Lauren Rubenstein

Amid rising student interest, Wesleyan has announced a new interdisciplinary minor in Integrated Design, Engineering, and Applied Sciences (IDEAS), beginning in 2017-18. It will be hosted within the College of Integrative Sciences (CIS). The IDEAS minor will introduce foundational skills in engineering and design, and bring together existing arts, design, and applied science courses to create a more formal structure to guide students interested in these fields. According to Professor of Physics Francis Starr, a co-proposer of the minor and director of the CIS, “The new minor plays into Wesleyan’s unique capabilities and dovetails with Wesleyan’s commitment to prepare students…

Every Thursday morning, beginning at 6 a.m., Dalton Garver ’20 finds himself at Yale University engaged in physical training—ranging from weightlifting to running to core circuits. This is followed by marching practice, a review of Warrior Knowledge, and, on occasion, lectures from guest speakers about the Armed Services. Garver, of Fresno, Calif., is believed to be the first Wesleyan student to participate in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Yale. He joined this semester, but first decided to do ROTC as a junior in high school after talking to his brother’s friend about his own experience in…

Wesleyan has joined 67 of the nation’s top colleges and universities in an alliance to substantially expand the number of talented low- and moderate-income students at America’s undergraduate institutions with the highest graduation rates. This growing alliance, called the American Talent Initiative (ATI), brings together a diverse set of public and private institutions united in this common goal. ATI members will enhance their own efforts to recruit, enroll, and support lower-income students, learn from each other, and contribute to research that will help other colleges and universities expand opportunity. “Bringing students of diverse backgrounds to campus enhances the learning experience…

Numerous Wesleyan faculty and students in the sciences attended the March for Science in different parts of the state and country on Earth Day, April 22. Laura Grabel, the Lauren B. Dachs Professor of Science and Society, professor of biology, professor of environmental studies, professor of feminist, gender and sexuality studies, spoke at the New Haven march. "I decided to march because science is being seriously threatened by the Trump administration," she explained. "Trump has not filled almost all of the science positions, has no science advisor, and is using little evidence-based thinking in his decision making. Some of his appointments are puzzling and…

Professor of Theater Ron Jenkins was a guest on the BBC program "Sunday" to discuss his new play, "Islands: The Lost History of the Treaty That Changed the World." The play, commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Treaty of Breda in which the Dutch ceded Manhattan in exchange for the tiny spice island of Rhun, premiered April 21 and 22 at Wesleyan's Center for the Arts. Jenkins' interview begins about four-and-a-half minutes in. Or, on the BBC page, scroll down and select the "Islands" chapter. "We're performing the actual text of the 1667 Treaty of Breda. In this treaty, if you look closely at the words, you'll…

President Michael Roth writes in The Washington Post about the Hungarian government's efforts to close down the Central European University (CEU), a leading private university founded by liberal Hungarian-born financier George Soros. CEU is accredited in the United States and registered in New York State, but has no U.S. campus. The Hungarian government has targeted the school by passing a law requiring universities to have campuses in the place where they are registered. The response has been mass demonstrations and even threats to suspend Hungary's European Union membership. Pointing to recent debates over free speech at American universities, Roth writes: While we in the United…

Professor of Government Giulio Gallarotti was a guest recently on "Best of the Valley/ Shore" on WLIS/WMRD to discuss "Current Challenges of American Foreign Policy." "Our economy is doing well, the stock market is strong. The Fed's been talking about raising interest rates, that's how well we're doing. And that hasn't happened in a long, long time," said Gallarotti by way of introduction. "There's a lot going on all over the world and Americans are involved all over the world because we're a global power." On recent tensions with Russia, he said: "I think it's always been a kabuki dance, even at…

Wesleyan has just introduced MyinTuition, a new online tool that gives families a fast, user-friendly way to gauge college costs while factoring in financial aid. It will be available for students applying to the Class of 2022 and beyond. By asking users six basic financial questions, MyinTuition is able to offer a good early estimate of the amount a family will need to contribute for one year at Wesleyan. The form takes about three minutes to complete, and provides a breakdown of the estimated costs paid by the family, work-study, and loan estimates, in addition to grant assistance provided by…

A team of Wesleyan students took second place with a 24.28 percent return in the 2017 Adirondack Cup, a stock picking contest for college students interested in the investment field. This is the sixth year that Wesleyan has fielded a team, and represented the best performance to date. The contest offers a unique setting for students to test their investment research skills using businesses not widely covered by analysts and the news media. Over 160 students from 22 colleges and universities participated in the contest this year, which focuses exclusively on "small cap" public companies, the expertise of the contest's…

As the recipient of a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, Michaela Fisher '17 will spend a year studying cooperatives in five countries. Her project, titled "Cooperative Worlds: Exploring the Global Cooperative Economy," will take her to Spain, Argentina, New Zealand, Germany and Canada. Watson Fellows are all seniors nominated by 40 partner colleges. According to the website, “Fellows conceive original projects, execute them outside of the United States for one year and embrace the ensuing journey. They decide where to go, who to meet, and when to change course.” Fellows receive a $30,000, 12-month travel stipend and health insurance while abroad. The Thomas…

Associate Professor of History Erik Grimmer-Solem presented a talk, "The Wehrmacht Past, the Bundeswehr, and the Politics of Remembrance in Contemporary Germany," at the meeting of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences (CAAS), April 12. Grimmer-Solem also is associate professor of German studies and a tutor in the College of Social Sciences. His expertise is in modern German history with specializations in economic history, the history of economic thought, and the history of social reform. He has also developed research interests in German imperialism, German-Japanese relations before 1918, and Germany in the two world wars. Grimmer-Solem discussed his research, which uncovered…

Richard Slotkin, the Olin Professor of English, emeritus, was featured in a PBS American Experience special, "The Great War," on April 10. "It's a watershed in American history. The United States goes from being the country on the other side of the ocean to being the preeminent world power," says Slotkin in Chapter 1 of the series. In Chapter 2, Slotkin appears beginning around 15 minutes. "When Wilson declares war, the total armed trained force of the United States is less than a quarter of a million men," he says. "The British Army loses more than that in one battle." "In order…

New Minor in Design, Engineering and Applied Sciences Announced

Garver ’20 Trains in Air Force ROTC

Wesleyan Joins Alliance to Expand Access to Lower-Income Students

Wesleyan Faculty, Students March for Science

Jenkins Interviewed on BBC About New Play ‘Islands’

Roth Writes on Hungary’s Attempts to Shut Down a Leading University

Gallarotti Discusses Rising Tensions Over Russia, North Korea on Radio Program

Wesleyan Introduces New Financial Aid Online Tool

Wesleyan Team Takes Second Prize in Investment Contest

Fisher ’17 Wins Watson Fellowship to Study Cooperatives

Grimmer-Solem Delivers Talk at Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences Meeting

Slotkin Featured in PBS Special, ‘The Great War’