Olivia DrakePosted 05/01/08 A new color will stand out against the traditional black and red regalia decorating Wesleyan Universitys graduating class during its 176th commencement ceremony in May: Green. As a symbol of the universitys dedication to producing Reunion & Commencement Weekend with an eye toward increased sustainability, graduating seniors, graduate students, faculty and staff members and attending guests will have the opportunity to don green ribbons indicating their agreement to the Wesleyan Community Climate Commitment. The Climate Commitment was created as a result of Wesleyan President Michael Roth signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in November 2007.…
A new series of works by choreographer Ann Carlson, pictured above, will be part of the "Feet to the Fire" festival on May 10. Posted 05/01/08 The Wesleyan community will explore its environmental impact through an eco-arts festival called Feet to the Fire on May 10 that will feature food, music, art, theater and a premier by a world-renowned choreographer. Running from noon to 5 p.m. at Veterans Park in Middletown, Feet to the Fire will combine the variety of arts performances, interactive exhibits and a farmers market with food from Connecticut vendors. Exhibits coordinated by the Jonah Center for…
Posted 05/01/08 American philosophers with a background in virtue ethics will convene this summer at Wesleyan to explore Chinese philosophy. The six-week seminar, titled Traditions into Dialogue: Confucianism and Contemporary Virtue Ethics, will take place July 7 through Aug. 15 at the Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies. The event is funded by a $128,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent grant-making agency of the U.S. government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. Fifteen participants, all doctorates in philosophy, will receive stipends to support their attendance at the seminar.According…
Iwan Djanali is the recipient of a Hartford Area Business Economists scholarship. Posted 05/01/08 Iwan Djanali '09 says by studying economics, he's not only gained a firm understanding of the market, but also an understanding of peoples behavior. "Some of the best conversations I have had with professors and fellow economics students and friend, revolve around the world of economics; from crime to credit crunch, from pollution to public policy, from mini markets to money markets, I am always ready to offer my opinions as an economics student just about everything in life," says Djanali, who is majoring in economics…
At left, Deborah Sierpinski, administrative assistant in classical studies, medieval studies and archaeology, donates a quilt she made to Roslyn Carrier-Brault, co-chair of the Friends of the Davison Art Center Picnic and Auction 2008 and administrative assistant in chemistry. The quilt is one of several art and antique items up for bid at the auction-picnic, to be held May 17 at Wesleyan. Posted 05/01/08 Artist Samuel M. Greens oil painting of a breezy shore is a masterwork, and its next home could be yours. The painting by the accomplished artist and professor emeritus of art at Wesleyan is up for…
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION: Wesleyan President Michael Roth speaks to the 102 attendees of the Wesleyan Employee Service Recognition Lunch for employees that have worked at the university for 20 years or more. The event, held inside Beckham Hall in the Fayerweather building, was coordinated by the Office of Human Resources. At left, Ilana Konerding, postal clerk at Wesleyan Station, celebrated her 23rd year at Wesleyan, and Rita Corsino, custodian in Physical Plant-Facilities, celebrated her 22nd year. Celebrating their 20-years plus are, from left: Gina Driscoll, associate director of development events; Vera Schwartz, the Mansfield Freeman Professor of East Asian Studies, chair…
Ayanna Perez, 11, is DJ Ferrell for the Middletown Youth Radio Project. Posted 04/21/08 The Middletown Youth Radio Project (MYRP), Central Connecticut's premier youth radio training program, aired its 25th live broadcast April 18 on Wesleyans WESU 88.1 FM. From 6:30 to 7 p.m., two young DJs hit the airwaves and play their newest original songs, stories, poems, and commentaries, interspersed with anecdotes and their favorite tunes of the week.MYRP is a weekly radio program written, produced, and hosted by kids ages 10-17. The first live broadcast aired on Sept. 10, 2007. The youth, many of whom live in the…
Sporting a blue sweatshirt, Janis Astor del Valle, director of the Green Street Arts Center, gathers with others featured in the film, "Marriage Makes a Word of Difference, which promotes marriage equality in Connecticut. Astor del Valle's wife, Amy Myers, is pictured in the brown sweatshirt. The film's director Fran Rzeznik is on the far right. Posted 04/21/08 When the Hartford-based organization Love Makes a Family (LMF) was looking for interesting stories about how same-sex couples met, Green Street Arts Director Janis Astor del Valles wife Amy Joy Myers sent in the unique story of their first meeting as childhood…
Molecular biology and biochemistry majors Noah Biro 09, above, and Alison Ringel 09, below will conduct independent research next year with help from a Goldwater Scholarship. Posted 04/21/08 Alison Ringel 09 and Noah Biro 09, both molecular biology and biochemistry majors, will conduct independent research as Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program fellows in 2008-09. The two students were among 321 juniors and seniors nationwide selected for highly competitive undergraduate scholarship in science, math or engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship is applied to their undergraduate studies. Next year, they will receive up to $7,500 each to help defray…
In the dry, Rift Valley province of Kenya, communities are struggling with deforestation issues and infertile soils for farming. This rural area relies heavily on firewood for cooking and warmth, however locals are being forced to travel further for resources, limiting the time spent supporting their families.As Davis United World College Projects for Peace recipients, Robert McCourt 08 and Nyambura Gichohi 08 will help this community create alternative energy through biogas this summer. They will work with the Noontoto Womens Project, a group of 25 women that have come together to aspire to improve their livelihood. As one of 100…
Wesleyan's Long Lane Farm originated in 2004 as a place students could learn about food security issues and grow their own produce. It recently won an award from the Department of Higher Education. Posted 04/21/08 Wesleyans student-run Long Lane Farm received a Higher Education Community Service Award from the State of Connecticut for sustaining community-supported agriculture and providing needy families access to fresh, locally-grown produce. The award was presented by Michael Meotti, commissioner of the Department of Higher Education, and State Representative William Dyson, chair of the Connecticut Commission on Community Service, during an award ceremony April 1 in Cromwell,…
At right, Paiki Muswazi, deputy client services librarian at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, meets with, from left, Jody Schenker, library assistant; Barbara Jones, the Caleb T. Winchester University Librarian; Graziano Kratli, international program support librarian at Yale University; Alec McLane, music librarian and director of the World Music Archives; and Diane Klare, head of reference, during his visit to Wesleyan April 14. Posted 04/21/08 A librarian has traveled from the other side of the world to experience ways librarians in the United States aid researchers. Paiki Muswazi, deputy client services librarian at the University of…