Olivia DrakeMay 25, 20068min
Edgar F. Beckham was Wesleyan's first African-American dean of the college. In 1991 he received Wesleyan's Raymond E. Baldwin Medal for service. Posted 05/25/06 Edgar F. Beckham, one of the nation's most influential and beloved leaders in higher education, died Wednesday in Middletown at the age of 72. He was a resident of North Haven. As the first African-American dean of the college at Wesleyan University, Beckham led efforts to build understanding that diversity is integral to excellence in American education. While he served as dean, Wesleyan University became a national model for excellence in education for students of diverse…

Olivia DrakeMay 18, 200664min
Wesleyan students received 145 awards during the Academic Awards and Prizes Reception at the Russell House May 9. The event was organized by the Dean's Office. (Photos by Olivia Drake)   Posted 05/18/06 Two-hundred-and-fifty-eight Wesleyan students were the recipients of 145 awards during the Academic Awards and Prizes Reception at the Russell House May 9. Thirty-three of these students received more than one award. The graduating class of 2006 had 175 recipients, the class of 2007 had 78 recipients, the class of 2008 had 24 recipients, and the class of 2009 had 12 recipients. Ten graduate students, eight alumni, two…

Olivia DrakeMay 16, 20065min
Posted 05/16/06 After attending a digital image workshop, six Wesleyan staff members are seeing picture-perfect. During the April 24 North East Regional Computing Program conference at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., participants had the opportunity to learn about digital image resource development, meeting the image demands of scholars in a changing environment, using digital maps in the classroom, creating and managing institutional digital image collections and visual storytelling among other topics. “The hope is that by assessing current practices in the classrooms, methods for more effective use of these images can be identified and implemented,” says…

Olivia DrakeMay 16, 20066min
Ruby-Beth Buitekant ’09 and Rebecca Chavez ’08 read from the Torah for the first time as part of their Adult B'nei Mitzvah ceremony April 29. Posted 05/16/06 In Jewish tradition, when a child reaches the age of maturity (12 years for girls, 13 years for boys) that child becomes responsible for following Jewish law. The Jewish families hold celebratory ceremonies – B’nai Mitzvah for boys, B’nei Mitzvah for girls – which acknowledge that the child has become son or daughter “of the commandment.” Nowadays, however, not everyone follows these traditions and some Jewish children go on to adolescence without going…

Olivia DrakeMay 16, 20066min
Lirra Schiebler '07, right, speaks on her community research project at "From the Field: First-Hand Reports of Wesleyan Service-Learning Projects" May 12 in the Center for Community Partnerships. Rob Rosenthal, center with blue shirt and tie, is director of the Service-Learning Center. Posted 05/16/06 As part of a Service-Learning project, Lirra Schiebler ’07 learned that some residents in Middletown's North End spend about 47 percent of their monthly earnings on heating and electric bills during the winter season. Schiebler presented her group's study, "Energy Costs in the North End: The Rise in Utilities and its Effect on a Low-Income Community"…

Olivia DrakeMay 16, 20068min
Gay Smith, professor of theater, speaks about upcoming art events during the 2006-07 Center for the Arts season in World Music Hall May 9. Pictured below, far right, Nina Felshin, curator of exhibitions and adjunct lecturer in art history, speaks with guests following the CFA's season announcement. Posted 05/16/06 A fusion of Japanese drumming and jazz, “clown”-theater, Brazilian guitar, creative conversation and West African dance are all in the Center for the Arts (CFA) pallet for the 2006-07 season. During the CFA’s annual Season Announcement May 9, Pam Tatge, CFA director, announced the center’s upcoming highlights. “We are very proud…

Olivia DrakeMay 16, 20063min
Sophie Pollitt-Cohen ’09 is the co-author of the book The Notebook Girls published in April. Posted 05/16/06 Sophie Pollitt-Cohen ’09 is co-author of The Notebook Girls by Warner Books. The book began the journal with her friends, Julia Baskin, Lindsey Newman and Courtney Toombs at Stuyvesant High School in New York City in 2001. The journal provided a way for the high school freshmen to stay in touch despite demanding class schedules, extracurricular activities and busy social lives. Formatted as a reproduction of the girls’ journal, the book is stocked with hand-written notes on lined-notebook paper, doodles and pasted-to-the-page photographs.…

Olivia DrakeMay 4, 200611min
Posted 05/04/06 Wesleyan President Doug Bennet will conclude his presidency at the end of the 2006-07 academic year, he informed faculty, students and staff on May 4.Bennet, who became president in April 1995, led Wesleyan's historic $281 million capital campaign, expanded the size of the faculty, launched an ambitious campus building program, and shaped the university’s first comprehensive strategic plan. "Wesleyan is doing well, both institutionally and in its daily pursuit of excellence," Bennet said to members of the campus community gathered at the steps of North College. "The university is prepared well to engage new leadership, and the time…

Olivia DrakeMay 4, 20064min
Posted 05/04/06 Professor of Chemistry Joseph Bruno will become Wesleyan's vice president for Academic Affairs, effective July 1. Bruno has served as dean of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics since 2003. Bruno will serve as chief academic officer for the university, responsible for attracting and retaining faculty and for supporting their research and teaching activities. In February, after Vice President for Academic Affairs Judith Brown announced her intention to step down, Wesleyan President Doug Bennet began extensive consultations with faculty on the characteristics to seek in her successor, as well as nominations. Bennet decided to seek a Wesleyan faculty member…

Olivia DrakeMay 4, 20064min
A handcrafted quilt, pictured at left, made by library staff members will be raffled off during a book sale sponsored by the Friends of the Wesleyan Library May 13. Posted 05/04/06 The Wesleyan community can book some time at a library benefit this month.Friends of the Wesleyan Library, a volunteer group dedicated to supporting the library, will hold a book sale in the Exley Science Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 13. The center will be filled with over 10,000 books for sale. “It's a perfect opportunity to find research, pleasure, gift or treasure books at a great…

Olivia DrakeMay 4, 20063min
Posted 05/04/06 Interim Vice President for Finance John Meerts has become Wesleyan's permanent vice president for Finance and Administration effective May 1. Meerts has responsibility for the Offices of Finance, Human Resources, Facilities and Legal Affairs. The Board of Trustees will act on a resolution to appoint Meerts as treasurer of the university at its annual meeting this month. In addition, he will continue his oversight of the Office of Information Technology Services, which he has led since coming to Wesleyan in 1996. "In his interim role, John quickly demonstrated the ability to manage a complex budget situation," says Wesleyan…

Olivia DrakeMay 4, 20065min
Wesleyan's new turf field, located behind Physical Plant on Long Lane, was dedicated April 29 during a ribbon cutting ceremony. It is expected to be available for use later this month. Posted 05/04/06 Wesleyan athletes will be breaking new ground this month on their new synthetic turf field. The field, dedicated April 29 during a ribbon cutting ceremony, will be put to use in May. Men’s and women’s soccer, lacrosse and field hockey teams will use the outdoor field regularly, and it will be available for several other activities, as well. John Biddiscombe, director of athletics and chair of physical…