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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Gary Yohe, the John E. Andrus Professor of Economics, suggests that the government place a growing tax on the cost of carbon during a hearing March 30 in Washington D.C. Posted 04/17/06 When Gary Yohe, the John E. Andrus Professor of Economics, received a call from Senator Joseph R. Biden's office to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C., he didn't hesitate. In fact, he hurried. Yohe, who was the sole expert, recommended by both the Environmental Defense Fund and Pew Center on Global Climate Change to Senator Biden's office, had only a few days…

Posted 04/17/06 The Wesleyan community will celebrate Earth Week April 16-April 22 with a series of activities, lectures and observations. Events include:  Lecture on "The Purpose of Nature" Verlyn Klinkenborg, a writer and professor of literature and creative writing at Fordham University and Harvard University, will deliver the Earth Day address “The Purpose of Nature” at 8 p.m. April 20 in Memorial Chapel. A reception and book signing immediately follow in the Zelnick Pavilion. Verlyn Klinkenborg is the author of Making Hay, The Last Fine Time, The Rural Life, and Timothy: Or, Notes of an Abject Reptile, and many magazine…

Rachel Ostlund ‘08 sprinkles seedlings inside a shelter at Long Lane Farm. The farm is expanding this spring to a full acre. Pictured below are vegetables grown last year by the Long Lane Farming Club. Posted 04/17/06 Although Wesleyan’s Long Lane Farm Club uses organic methods to grow its produce, a little “Miracle Grow “ has been sprinkled on one aspect of their garden: its progress. The Long Lane Farm Club was created in 2004 so students would have a place to come together and learn about food security issues. What began as a 50-foot plot of flowers and vegetables…

Baseball player Jeff Maier '06 has received national media attention this month for breaking Wesleyan's career hits record. Posted 04/17/06 Jeff Maier '06 a government major and third baseman on the varsity baseball team set the all-time record for most hits in a career against Bates College on April 12. During the game he finished 2-for-3, doubling twice, to give him 170 career hits. Prior to the game he posted four of the Cardinals' 13 hits during a double-header with Middlebury at home April 9 to tie Bill Robinson '03 for the team lead in career hits with 168. Maier's…

All alumni of color are invited to a reunion April 21-23 on campus. The reunion will coincide with WesFest so alumni have the opportunity to mingle with prospective students. Posted 04/17/06 Wesleyan's alumni of color will have the opportunity to reconnect with each other and meet the newest generation of students of color during a reunion on campus on April 21-23. "We Are Family: Wesleyan through the Years" will allow fellow alumni of color to reminisce about five decades of Wesleyan's distinctive history. It will also provide an insider's glimpse of Wesleyan today and all of the renovations, enhancements and…