Olivia DrakeOctober 1, 20056min
Liz Lerman of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, discusses "The Making of Ferocious Beauty: Genome,” the first in a series of lectures addressing the implications of genetic research. (Photo by Lex Leifheit) Posted 10/01/05 The year 2003 marked a major milestone in human genomics: the completion of the sequencing of the human genome. With that milestone came a seemingly endless number of possibilities, and the challenge of understanding their consequences. “Where do we as individuals and where do we as a society draw the line, and who should do the line drawing?” asked Kathy Hudson, director of the Genetics and…

Olivia DrakeOctober 1, 20055min
Posted 10/01/05 Wesleyan will again help build a stronger, healthier Middlesex County during the Middlesex United Way’s annual Community Campaign. The campaign kicked off Oct. 6 at the President’s House. This year’s goal is $140,000, which is $5,000 more than last year’s goal. For more than 60 years, the Wesleyan community has supported the local United Way. Its Core Services provides funding to 32 local programs and services offered by its 23 partner agencies. These include the American Red Cross, 2-1-1 Infoline; Middlesex Hospital Family, Advocacy Program; Middlesex Hospital Homecare; Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters; Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater; Salvation…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 28, 20052min
In preparation of the new Suzanne Lemberg Usdan University Center, portions of the old Fayerweather Gymnasium are being removed. Demolition is more than 80 percent completed as of Sept. 6.   Associated Building Wreckers tear the building apart, beam by beam, brick by brick. Construction crew members demolish what is left of the Fayerweather pool, built in 1913. Alan Rubacha, Construction Services consultant, is the project manager. The renovated Fayerweather Gymnasium will become Fayerweather Hall. The facility will host a ballroom, catering kitchen, theater, dance studio and storage. The new university center will be built on the right side of…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 9, 20057min
Makaela Kingsley '98, associate director of Alumni Relations, Ciaran Escoffery '00 and Roxanne Williams '98 share a laugh during a previous Alumni and Parent Volunteer Weekend at Wesleyan.   Posted 09/09/05 When Karen and Michael Haley sent their son, John ‘07, to Wesleyan in 2004, they were anxious to learn more about the community in which he would be spending the next four years. That year, they attended an Alumni and Parent Volunteer Weekend. They not only became informed, they became involved. “We were so impressed that weekend with how cordially we were welcomed and made to feel a part…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 9, 20054min
  At top, Wes-Haul volunteers Daniel Rubin ’06 and Hanako Moondance ’06 carry a refrigerator into freshman Jennifer Bunin’s room in the Fauver Field Residence during Arrival Day Aug. 29. At right, Ian Renner ’08 helps carry students’ belongings into Clark Hall.   Posted 09/09/05 U-HAUL? Not here. Leave that up to Wes-HAUL, a team of volunteers that welcomed new students to campus. They unloaded cars, carried belongings, directed traffic and answered questions during students’ Arrival Day Aug. 29. Wes-HAUL started five years ago as a small University Relations initiative and has evolved into a cross-university effort. More than 35…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 9, 200510min
Kevin Butler, assistant dean of Student Services, is the contact person for students with physical differences and co-advisor of the Student Judicial Board.   Posted 09/09/05 Q: When were you hired at Wesleyan?A: I was hired in fall of all 2004 and started in January 2005 as the assistant dean of Student Services.Q: What led you to working at Wesleyan?A: I have excelled in conflict resolution and judicial affairs at several institutions. I thought it would be interesting to advise a student judicial board, which is something I hadn’t done before.Q: And what is your role with the Wesleyan Student…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 9, 20058min
Manny Cunard, director of Auxiliary Operations and Campus Services, works from his new office on Pine Street.   Posted 09/09/05 When Manny Cunard came to Wesleyan two and a half years ago, several services were in need of structure. Others needed to be invented. “I resolve problems,” says Cunard, director of Auxiliary Operations and Campus Services. “That’s what this job is all about. You have to be committed to problem solving to provide the best services for Wesleyan’s students, staff and faculty.” Cunard is responsible for such operations such as the campus bookstore, dining services, the House Sale Program, laundry…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 9, 20058min
Dave Hall, grounds and special events manger, stands in front of an old elm tree planted along College Row. Wesleyan once had hundreds of elms on its property, and now only a few remain. The rest have fallen prey to old age or disease.   Posted 09/09/05 When Dave Hall takes a daily stroll across Wesleyan’s campus, he has no destination in mind. He simply enjoys the luscious landscape. It is, after all, his masterpiece. As manager of Wesleyan’s grounds and events, every tree, shrub, flower garden and grassy knoll is part of his canvas. “Most people walk through campus…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 9, 20054min
Abigail Hornstein, assistant professor of economics, studies corporate performance.   Posted 09/09/05 Abigail Hornstein has joined the Economics Department as an assistant professor. Hornstein received her bachelor’s degree in Chinese language and history; her master’s degree in economics and international business from New York University Stern School of Business; and her Ph.D in economics and international business from the New York University Stern School of Business. Her dissertation examined the capital budgeting decisions of multinational enterprises. She examined U.S. firms in the 1990s to determine if effective capital budgeting is associated with where a firm invests. “I found that effective…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 9, 20054min
Posted 09/09/05, Updated 09.16.05 We The People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this, Constitution for the United States of America. –Preamble to the U.S. Constitution   We The People of Wesleyan University observed Constitution Day with a series of events Sept. 15-16.   Wesleyan’s observance is part of a nation-wide observance the U.S. Department of Education has mandated for all educational programs in all…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 9, 20055min
Posted 09/09/05 Accessing creativity will be the topic of discussion during the fourth annual Shasha Seminar for Human Concerns Oct. 6-8 at Wesleyan. “The Shasha Seminar is a wonderful example of Wesleyan's commitment to lifelong learning,” says Linda Secord, director of alumni education. “We expect this year's discussion of creativity to be stimulating, giving participants newly informed perspectives that they will take with them as they return to their personal and professional lives.” Through a series of seminars and hands-on workshops, alumni, parents and friends will expand their understanding of the creative process and its impact on human endeavors. Past…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 9, 200511min
Michaelle Biddle, head of Preservation Services, uses a special tool to preserve a book in the Preservation Services in Olin Library. Biddle and her student technicians make page mends, reback books and remove mold from pages.   Posted 09/09/05 Q: When were you hired at Wesleyan and what was your job title then?A: I was hired in 1983 as the assistant to the librarian. Initially, I was the clerk of the works for the $10 million library addition that was added in the mid-1980s. In 1988 I was asked to develop a preservation program for the library’s circulating collections. Now…