Olivia DrakeAugust 30, 20127min
(NEW! Arrival Day video!) [youtube width="640" height="420"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxAC03h8bg4[/youtube] At 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 29, Lorin Ferris '16 of Bellevue, Wash. arrived on Wesleyan's campus in a rented Jeep, packed with her West Coast belongings. "I brought my entire closet," she says, standing among disheveled heaps of half-unpacked suitcases and boxes in her Butterfield Residence room. "Most of this stuff is clothes and jackets … also bedding, sheets and towels. I did some shopping here (in Connecticut), but I brought a lot with me, too." "You couldn't have brought anything more," says her father, Frank. Lorin, who plans to major in mathematics,…

Olivia DrakeAugust 30, 20123min
Got milk? All-natural dairy products, farmed and distributed by two Wesleyan alumni, are MOOving into the university's Dining Services this semester. Rick Osofsky ’66 and his daughter Kate ’94 are owners and operators of Ronnybrook Farm Dairy in Ancramdale, N.Y. As second and third generation dairy farmers, the Osofskys pride themselves on their natural farming methods using a small herd of Holstein cows. "Our dairy products are bottled on site in the morning, and since we're located less than two hours from Wesleyan, they arrive fresh," Rick explains. "We're both so pleased to bring a bit of our farm back…

Olivia DrakeAugust 30, 20122min
By looking at high-resolution images captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, scientists are able to see gullies, which are argued to be geologically recent. Because they are most likely formed by water, it is believed that they can answer the question of whether or not there is still "active" water on Mars. As a summer Wesleyan McNair scholar, astronomy major Lavontria Aaron '14 used a hyperspectral instrument to determine if the gullies contained minerals (salts) which would be left behind by water brines. "By examining the spectrum of the brines, we'll be able to learn more about Mars' history and…

Olivia DrakeAugust 30, 20126min
This fall, Wesleyan's Institute for Lifelong Learning will offer courses on 20th-Century Photography, the paintings of Paul Cezanne, ethical eating practices, Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear, promoting healthy psychology, Scandinavian culture and more. The third year of courses begins Sept. 6 and most take place at the Susan B. and William Wasch Center for Retired Faculty at 51 Lawn Ave. in Middletown. "Our objective is to use the talents of retired faculty members and current members of the Wesleyan faculty, plus others in our community who are similarly qualified, to present a set of short, intellectually stimulating and lively courses to area residents,"…

Olivia DrakeAugust 30, 20121min
Sixty-four international students hailing from Algeria to Zimbabwe joined the Class of 2016. International Student Orientation began Aug. 26. The program is designed to introduce international students to campus life at Wesleyan and ease their transition to the United States. Students took campus tours, went shopping, learned about writing programs, health matters, counseling and psychological services, performed a skit, and attended a workshop on managing U.S. academic and Wesleyan culture. The international students transitioned into New Student Orientation on Aug. 30. Photos of International Student Orientation are below: (more…)

Olivia DrakeAugust 30, 20123min
Q: Jennifer, you started working as Wesleyan's sustainability coordinator on July 2. Please define "sustainability" and explain the purpose of this new position. A: I think of sustainability as people living such that current and future generations of humans and animals, as well as the Earth itself, can thrive. Sustainability doesn’t just have to do with the environment; it’s about people, too. As the sustainability coordinator, my job is to turn these ideas into tangible actions that help the campus to operate more sustainably and show how others how to change behaviors to live in a way that’s in harmony…

Olivia DrakeAugust 30, 20122min
Q: Ed, when did you join the Events and Scheduling office as the facility and event manager for the Memorial Chapel and the '92 Theater? A: I came to Wesleyan in October 2003. Q: As a facility manager, what is your role? A: I make sure that the buildings and equipment are in working order for each event. I manage events within the spaces. I work with presenters so that they are ready for their event, manage the student House Staff who are there for the safety and comfort of patrons. The House Staff consists of 40-60 students who work the events in the…

Olivia DrakeAugust 30, 20121min
Robert Weber, an electrician in the Physical Plant-Facilities department, received a Cardinal Achievement Award in July. Weber was honored for demonstrating extraordinary initiative or providing outstanding service with regard to specific tasks in his department. This special honor comes with a $150 award and reflects the university’s gratitude for those extra efforts. The award recipients are nominated by department chairs and supervisors. Nominations can be made anytime throughout the year. For more information or to nominate a staff member for the award, visit the Human Resources website and scroll down to Cardinal Achievement Award under “Forms.” Recipients will continue to be recognized in The…

Olivia DrakeAugust 30, 20122min
The Wesleyan Open Golf Association raised and donated $1,500 to the Middlesex Coalition for Children to support The Diaper Bank. The Diaper Bank supplies more than 200,000 diapers every month to young children in low-income families in Middlesex Country, New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford. The organization also raises awareness that "basic human needs" include diapers and that these needs are not being met for children living in poverty. The association raised the funds during a golf tournament July 14 at Banner Country Club in Moodus, Conn. About 75 participants payed an entry fee, which included an 18-hole round, prizes and…