Olivia DrakeAt left, Wesleyan Jewish Chaplain Rabbi David Leipziger and Muslim Chaplain Imam Abdulla Antepli try on traditional Turkmenistan hats in an Egyptian Bazaar. At right, Jessica Strom 07, Alana Miller 08 and Jeremy Gillick 07 observe the only mosque in Ankara, Turkey. Posted 05/02/05 What is life like in a secular Muslim nation, especially for Jews? This was the question that motivated 17 Wesleyan students 12 Jewish, 5 Muslim to go to Istanbul, Turkey, in March during spring break to see for themselves. The eight-day trip, which was envisioned and created by Wesleyans Muslim Chaplain Imam Abdullah…
Posted 05/02/05 More than 150 guests, many from academia and the pharmaceutical industry, attended the 33rd Peter A. Leermakers Symposium May 5 at the Exley Science Center. The annual, one day meeting brings together internationally recognized chemists for a day of intensive examination of a particular subject in chemistry. This years symposium, titled Chirality, united scientists working in the general area of stereochemistry. The speakers have played a fundamental role in the control and understanding of stereochemistry. Stereochemistry is a property that certain molecules have that can make two molecules behave completely differently as drugs, even though the structures of…
From left to right, Ambika Ahuja 05 of Thailand, Zaheed Essack 05 of South Africa, Phudorji Sherpa 05 of Nepal, and Lianne Morris-Smith 05 of Jamaica converse at the International Student Senior Reception. Posted 05/02/05 The Office of International Student Services held an International Student Senior Reception at the Russell House April 27. More than 25 international students and exchange students attended. Some gave brief remarks about their experiences at Wesleyan while others mentioned ways they plan to stay connected with Wesleyan after graduating. Whether they stay in this country or travel back to their home country, these students…
The Human Resources department's new Virtual Orientation Web site provides vital information for new employees. Posted 05/02/05 Prospective employees can learn all about Wesleyan before they even set foot on campus -- just by going online. The Human Resources department has launched a Virtual Orientation Web site this month for new employees. The site can be viewed at: http://www.wesleyan.edu/hr/newemployee The site features a list of important resources, interesting facts and valuable information that employees will need before they arrive and during their first month at Wesleyan. We wanted to create a place for new employees to learn as much…
CLASS ON THE GREEN: Students make good use of the spring weather on April 5 by holding class outside on the College Row lawn. A Wesleyan student leads a group of prospective students and their parents on a campus tour on April 12. Here, they are passing by the Center for Fine Arts. On April 6, Foss Hill and Andrus Field became the hot spots for warm-weather activities. Temps exceeded 60 degrees. (Photos by Olivia Bartlett)
Posted 04/19/05 Wesleyan University recently announced that it will confer four honorary degrees during its 173rd commencement exercises on Sunday, May 22 to the following recipients: Amy Gutmann (Doctor of Letters) Amy Gutmann, Wesleyan's commencement speaker, became president of the University of Pennsylvania this year. Formerly, she was provost and Laurence S. Rockefeller University Professor of Politics and the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University. She was the founding director of the Princeton University Center for Human Values, a multi-disciplinary center that supports teaching, scholarship and public discussion of ethics and human values. Bill Belichick (Doctor of…
Posted 04/15/05 "Vanity Fair" contributing editor Christopher Hitchens and Pulitzer Prize nominee Michael Parenti participated in a debate titled "Iraq and the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy" April 18 at Wesleyans Memorial Chapel. Hitchens is an Oxford-educated self-described liberal who has become a supporter of U.S. intervention in Iraq. A former columnist for The Nation and book critic for Newsday, he is now a contributing editor for Vanity Fair magazine. His books include "Hostage to History: Cyprus From the Ottomans to Kissinger" and his most recent, "Love, Poverty and War: Journeys and Essays." Parenti, a Yale graduate, has been a…
A new grant will expand emphasis on computer science instruction and resources. Posted 04/15/05 An $800,000 Mellon Foundation grant will allow the Mathematics and Computer Sciences departments at Wesleyan University, Connecticut College and Trinity College to collaborate on a new cost and resource sharing arrangement, expand the departments curricula and provide incentives for more computer science faculty to work in a liberal arts setting. The grant will fund the hiring of four post-doctoral fellows in computer science who will develop new courses, seminars and workshops. While each fellow will be employed by a home institution, all four will provide…
Registrar Anna van der Burg stands outside the registrar's windows in North College where she helps students answer questions about class enrollment. Posted 04/15/05 Not long ago, all Wesleyan students returning to campus each semester had to participate in Enrollment Day. This meant hours of waiting in lengthy lines snaking through the lobby of the Exley Science Center. If they wanted to drop or add a class, students would have to chase down professors and their advisor to sign the drop/add slip. Students would carry this slip over to the registrars office, again waiting in long lines for…
Eva Bergsten-Meredith, adjunct assistant professor of physical education, is the women soccer team's head coach and lacrosse team's assistant coach. Posted 04/15/05 Q: When did you join the Physical Education Department as an adjunct assistant professor and what are your responsibilities? A: I came here in July 2004. Im head coach of the womens soccer team, assistant coach of the Lacrosse team and I teach physical education classes. Q: What is your educational background? A: I have a bachelors degree in graphic communications from Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire, and Im currently taking classes through Wesleyans GLSP…
Debbie Mathre, hostess of Wesleyans University Club, serves a tray of treats inside the eatery on 164 Mt. Vernon Street. Posted 04/15/05 Q: When did you start at Wesleyan? A: About eight years ago. I had been laid off from an office-job and was looking for work and there was an opening at the campus center. Cooking was always a hobby of mine, so I applied, and got a job behind the line. Q: And when did you start working for the University Club? A: The University Club has been in existence for many, many years, but I…
Jerry Maguda, computer operations specialist, helps Wesleyan employees and students solve their computer problems. Posted 04/15/05 Q: When did you come to Wesleyan, and were you always a computer operations specialist? A: I started July 7, 1977 or 7/7/77. A lucky number? I was hired as a computer operator, and in time my title changed to production manager for administrative systems. I left Wesleyan in 1982, because at that point in my career I felt I needed more exposure to ever changing technology. From 1982 to1985 I worked 2nd and 3rd shift jobs for different employers ranging from a…