Olivia DrakeMarch 2, 20077min
An image from: “Indies Under Fire: The Battle for the American Bookstore" by Jacob Bricca '93, adjunct assistant professor of film studies. The film was screened March 6 at the Center for Film Studies. Posted 03/02/07 Though he loves to read, Jacob Bricca ’93 admits that he was never “a book person,” one of those individuals who have an affinity for books and bookstores. But when he heard that an independent bookstore called Printers, Inc., in his hometown of Palo Alto, California, was closing, he was immediately saddened. “When I was growing up, even if you weren’t into books, that…

Olivia DrakeMarch 2, 20074min
Posted 03/02/07 A new Wesleyan program will facilitate the opportunity for one person’s trash to become another person’s treasure. This month, the Wesleyan freecycle program is launching its own electronic mailing list. Staff, faculty and students are eligible to join the freecycle program. Launched last May by the Wesleyan Recycling Committee with the appearance of the “PODS”, the Wesleyan freecycle program, encourages students, staff and faculty to exchange unwanted items, rather than throwing them away. Wesleyan’s program is part of the national freecycle movement where people give away things that they don't need, or ask for items they do need.…

Olivia DrakeMarch 2, 20077min
Posted 03/02/07 Wesleyan’s 175th Commencement Ceremonies will be held on Sunday, May 27, and will complete the 2007 Reunion-Commencement Celebration that will run from May 24-27. During that ceremony, the following people will receive honorary degrees: Jim Lehrer, P ’85, who will also give the principal address at commencement, will be awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree during the ceremony. Lehrer has anchored The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on the Public Broadcasting Service since 1995. Lehrer joined PBS in 1972, teaming with Robert MacNeil in 1973 to cover the Senate Watergate hearings. They began in 1975 what became The…

Olivia DrakeMarch 2, 20078min
Posted 03/02/07 A new WESU 88.1 FM radio program is gaining a nation-wide audience with its emphasis on indigenous politics. The show, titled ''Indigenous Politics: From Native New England and Beyond,'' was launched Feb. 5 from the Wesleyan-based radio station. J. Kehaulani Kauanui, assistant professor of anthropology and American Studies, is the producer and host of the program. The multi-media program airs shortly after 5p.m., right after the “Jive at Five” community calendar, and runs until 6 p.m. each Monday with a live streaming Web cast on www.wesufm.org. ''Indigenous Politics'' features interviews with political leaders, community activists, filmmakers and artists,…

Olivia DrakeMarch 2, 20073min
Posted 03/02/07 Wesleyan will increase tuition for the 2007-2008 academic year and simplify its fee structure. The new comprehensive fee structure will combine charges that are now billed separately as room and board. Tuition will increase by 5.5 percent to $36,536 for all students in 2007-2008. For freshman and sophomores, the residential comprehensive fee will be $10,130. For juniors and seniors, the fee will be $11,512. The residential comprehensive fees are based on the current room and board charges experienced by students at these class levels, plus a fee increase of $590 and $550, respectively. The increases in student charges…

Olivia DrakeMarch 2, 200712min
  Jennifer Thom Hadley ’84, MA ‘86, library assistant for Scores & Recordings/World Music Archives, studied Javanese gamelan at Wesleyan.   Posted 03/02/07 Q: Jennifer, explain your role with Olin Library as the library assistant for Scores & Recordings/World Music Archives.A: Currently my duties include helping to oversee access services for the department such as circulation, reserves, dubbing requests and stack maintenance; the processing and cataloging of new commercial scores and recordings for Scores & Recordings, original cataloging of World Music Archives materials; helping students, faculty and community members with research inquiries; and helping train and supervise about two dozen…

Olivia DrakeMarch 2, 20077min
  Deana Hutson, director of events, plans Reunion & Commencement Weekend year-round.   Posted 03/02/07 When it comes to hosting a successful Wesleyan event, it’s all in the details. And no one knows better about the minutiae than Deana Hutson. From printing invitations and brochures to suggesting the appropriate venue to creating the ideal menu, Hutson is a master in perfection-planning. Take Wesleyan’s Reunion and Commencement Weekend for example. “We may have 150 different events happening over the weekend, and it can be a real challenge to make sure each event has a space, is staffed, has proper audio or…

Olivia DrakeMarch 2, 200710min
  Steve Formica, construction project coordinator for facilities, provides support for multiple projects.   Posted 03/02/07 Q: Steve, when did you come to Wesleyan?A: I started in April of 2004 and was hired as a project coordinator in Construction Services. Q: What does it mean to be a construction project coordinator? A: The primary role of a project coordinator is to assist with the coordination efforts of project managers. Some of my responsibilities include project cost accounting, inspecting field conditions, preparing bid drawings and specifications, contract administration and preparing monthly and annual reports based on project volume, progress and cost.…

Olivia DrakeFebruary 28, 20072min
DAY FOR GRADUATES: Yonatan Malin, assistant professor of music; Barbara Juhasz, assistant professor of psychology; and Eric Aaron, assistant professor of computer science and mathematics, speak to Ph.D candidates at a workshop titled Tenure Track Tango during Graduate Career Day Jan. 23 in Exley Science Center. The day-long program offered advice to graduate students on how to prepare for a career after Wesleyan. Michael Sciola, director of the Career Resource Center, speaks on job searching and networking. From left, graduate students Hiram Navarrete Ramirez, music; Daniel Bravo Vivallo, mathematics; and Elikem Nyamuame, music, gather during the Graduate Career Day reception.…

Olivia DrakeFebruary 16, 20072min
Posted 02/16/07 Nelson Polsby, renowned political scientist, died on February 6 at the age of 72. Polsby was a member of the Wesleyan faculty from 1961 through 1968, rising meteorically from the rank of assistant professor to full professor. According to Karl Scheibe, professor emeritus of psychology, “Nelson left an indelible mark on Wesleyan, even though he was only here for seven years.” Polsby was a prolific author of books and articles and editor of The American Political Science Review, the premier political science journal. Perspectives on Politics noted that Polsby ranked in the top ten of most frequently cited…

Olivia DrakeFebruary 16, 20073min
Used electronics, including computers, can be placed at the Exley Science Center's loading dock on Pine Street for recycling. Posted 02/16/07 The Wesleyan Recycling Program is increasing their efforts to make Wesleyan a leader in waste reduction and environmental responsibility. "Recycling is required by law in Connecticut, and is the obligation of every member of the Wesleyan community," explains Bill Nelligan, Wesleyan recycling coordinator. Mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, metal and plastic are already picked up from sites all over campus and from Wesleyan housing. Wesleyan also collects aerosol cans, batteries, CDs, DVDs, floppy disks, cell phones, motor oil, rubber-soled…

Olivia DrakeFebruary 16, 20078min
Adrian Cooke, Web administrator for University Relations, is working on content for WesNet, the alumni Electronic Portfolio.   Posted 02/16/07 The first time Adrian Cooke built a Web site, he used it to share photographs with his family. As University Relation’s new Web administrator, Cooke now builds Web sites used by thousands of Wesleyan alumni. He oversees all nodes under http://www.wesleyan.edu/alumni/, pages for the Wesleyan Fund, and works with other departments such as ITS and the Office of Public Affairs’ New Media Services on special event pages for Reunion & Commencement and Homecoming/Family Weekend. WesNet, a site designed to facilitate…