Olivia DrakeDana Royer, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences, researched why pointy-leafed plants are more common in colder climates. Posted 04/01/06 Smooth or pointy is there a reason? If that question refers to a leaf, a study by a Wesleyan researcher may have an answer that includes some cold facts about sap flow and the weather. The study by Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Dana Royer and featured in a recent issue of the International Journal of Plant Sciences looks at the characteristics of plants with pointy leaves versus smooth-leafed plants and finds the difference is more…
At right, Jessica French Smith 09, paints a mural with students from Nagarote, Nicaragua. She was one of more than 100 Wesleyan students who volunteered their spring break time to help others around the nation and world. Posted 04/01/06 Jane Maxson 06 spent her spring break on the gulf coast; however she wasnt sporting a sun hat and flip-flops on the beach. Equipped with a hammer, nails and tool belt, Maxson spent her time-off school volunteering for hurricane relief efforts. Maxon was one of over 100 Wesleyan students and faculty volunteering world-wide during break.Helping the Hurricane Victims Maxon and 50…
Walter Curry, head track and field coach, says he loves to make a difference in his student-athletes' lives. Posted 04/01/06 Q: When did you become the head mens and womens track coach?A: I started coaching at Wesleyan in December of 2002.Q: You are a U.S.A. Track and Field Level II certified coach in sprints, hurdles and jumps. At Wesleyan are these what you specialize in?A: My first three seasons with the team I coached just the sprints, long, triple and high jumps. I was lucky enough to have a really good part-time hurdle coach and a very good parttime…
Beth Labriola, associate registrar, is responsible for daily office operations, the drop/add system, the grade entry system, transfer credit articulation and the diploma process. Posted 04/01/06 After 14 years working in the Office of the Registrar and Office of Graduate Student Services, Beth Labriola says every day at Wesleyan is just as exciting. Im constantly being challenged, and because of these challenges, I have really been able to grow, she says from her office in North College. Theres always something new going on here. Labriola, associate registrar, came to the university in 1992 as an administrative assistant in the…
Barb Spalding, associate director of Campus Fire Safety, teaches Annalisa Kelly '08 how to use a fire extinguisher in a set-up drill. Spalding hopes to teach all students on campus how to use the devices. Posted 04/01/06 Q: Barb, how did you work your way up to the associate director of Campus Fire Safety?A: I started in November 2003, as a consultant, hired by Joyce Topshe, the assistant vice president of facilities to do a fire/life safety study of the undergraduate residences. In April 2004 I was hired as a fulltime employee as associate director, project manager in Construction…
FEMINIST POLITICS: Carolle Charles, associate professor of sociology from Baruch College, City College of New York, presents "From Confrontation to Negotiation: CONAP and a New Form of Doing Feminist Politics in Haiti" in the Center for African American Studies Lounge Feb. 27. Charles is the mother of Jane Charles-Voltaire '07. The well-attended event was sponsored by the the Center for African American Studies. (Photo by Olivia Bartlett)
Pictured at top, Alex Gorelick '09 performs during a WesGuitars meeting March 9. Pictured in back, from left, are Bolivian guitarist, Marcos Puña and Cem Duruoz, private lessons teacher of classical guitar and WesGuitar coordinator. Pictured below is WesGuitars member Sylvia Ryerson 09. (Click the speaker button to hear Gorelick playing Prelude No. 1 by Heitor Villa-Lobos) Posted 03/16/06 Sylvia Ryerson 09 came to Wesleyan with an interest in classic guitar, but no real ability to play the instrument. But after joining a new club called WesGuitars, shes already memorized pieces by Brazillian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos and Cuban conductor Leo…
Passers-by walk across Cross Street at a pedestrian walkway. Brightly-colored signs have been installed in the center of the street in an effort to improve campus safety. Posted 03/15/06 In its on-going efforts to continually improve campus safety, Wesleyan has been taking various measures to upgrade services and capabilities appropriately. These include:Pedestrian SafetyBrightly-colored signs have been installed in the middle of crosswalks on Church Street and Cross Street reminding motorists that they must stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Lighting has been improved at several crosswalks and a new crosswalk signal will be installed on Washington Street. Public Safety's on-going…
Drew Black, wrestling coach, stresses intelligence, power, quickness, superb conditioning, flexibility and a high degree of self-confidence with his Wesleyan athletes. Posted 03/15/06 Q: Youve been coaching wrestling at Wesleyan since 1998. What spurred your interest in the sport initially?A: It all started my freshman year of high school in Mahwah, N.J. My brother was a sophomore wrestler on the team. My intention was to go and play basketball at the vertically challenged height of 4-foot-9 and 75 lbs. The wrestling coach spoke to me in the locker room just before the wrestling season was about to begin and…
Posted 03/15/06 Five Wesleyan faculty members received Mellon Career Enhancement Grants for the 2006-07 academic year.Wesleyan, along with Amherst College, Grinnell College, Oberlin College, Pomona College, Reed College, Smith College and Williams College, are in the third year of a major collaborative grant from the Mellon Foundation to enhance faculty career development. Faculty members from each of the institutions compete for semester research leaves, summer stipend grants, and workshop grants designed to encourage and promote increased scholarly activity for the faculty of the eight institutions. Hilary Barth, assistant professor of psychology, and Abigail Hornstein, assistant professor of economics, received Mellon…
Nancy Healy, manager of Broad Street Books, says the shop's new cosmetic changes, like the new bookshelf behind her, are meant to create the ambiance of a small independent bookstore. Posted 03/15/06 Q: When were you hired to manage Broad Street Books and how is it going so far?A: I was brought on board in the last week of January. It has been an interesting and eventful month! I have spent this first month learning about the history of the store and getting to know my staff, as well as getting acquainted with Wesleyan. Things are going very well…
David Phillips, senior class dean, talks to seniors about their personal challenges, academic records, postgraduate options, and academic goals. Posted 03/15/06 Sometimes a students academic problems are caused by something not-so-academic. As a class dean, David Phillips spends much of his time advising students - discussing academic, social, and personal challenges and achieving personal goals. Hell work with individual students, professors and even parents, to support students in their pursuit of a positive learning experience. "What I like about my job is that I get to deal with the whole student rather than just a particular aspect of a…