Astronomy Professor William Herbst studies the star, KH 15D. Pictured are images of KH 15D out of eclipse (left) and in eclipse (right) as taken from Wesleyan's observatory.   Posted 03/31/05 It's 3 million years old and 2,400 light years away, but a distant star discovered by Wesleyan researchers has given insight into how our solar system may have formed. NASA wants to know more, and has given William Herbst almost a quarter of a million dollars to keep looking.   This month NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) awarded Wesleyan Professor of Astronomy William Herbst a $216,000…

  Posted 03/31/05 The next time you grab a bite to eat or enjoy a drink at the Red & Black Café, you’ll also be helping students in need at Wesleyan. Ed Thorndike, Jr. '89 and Karen Kaffen-Polascik, owners of Wes Wings and Red & Black Cafe, will donate 1 percent of their gross sales from Red & Black Cafe to support financial aid through the Wesleyan Annual Fund (WAF). "This is something we've really been wanting to do," says Thorndike. "I contacted University Relations and we were able to set it up and make it work. It's really gratifying…

Maria Cruz-Saco will become dean of the college.   Posted 03/31/05 Maria A. Cruz-Saco, interim dean of the college at Connecticut College, will become dean of the college at Wesleyan University on July 18. Wesleyan's dean of the college is responsible for the programs and services that support student learning and development. The office of the dean encompasses the class deans, the Office of Residential Life, student and behavioral health services, the Office of Student Activities, the Office of Community Service, the chaplains, and the new Usdan University Center. The dean serves as a member of the university's senior staff.…

Phil Cotharin, temperature controls mechanic/energy management specialist, examines a variable frequency drive that controls the neighboring air handling unit in the Exley Science Center. The system significantly reduces energy waste. Posted 03/31/05 Use less. Get more. That’s how Phil Cotharin, temperature controls mechanic/energy management specialist, is helping Wesleyan save thousands a year by slashing energy usage. In an agreement finalized February 17, Connecticut Light & Power Company has agreed to pay Wesleyan a $27,450 incentive for keeping energy usage down. “When Wesleyan uses less energy, CLPC can produce less energy, and it won’t have to build another power plant to…

  Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Manju Hingorani researches pathways that lead to carcinogenesis.   Posted 03/31/05 Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Manju Hingorani recently earned an award totaling more than $571,700 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research on pathways leading to carcinogenesis, including the development of colon, rectal, stomach, and ovarian cancers. The five-year grant will specifically fund the research of Hingorani's laboratory focuses on the workings of proteins responsible for DNA mismatch repair with the long-term goal of understanding how defects in repair are linked to many forms of cancers. "I am…

Economics Professor John Bonin is the editor of "Journal of Comparative Economics."   Posted 03/15/05 As John Bonin recalls a recent overseas trip, one scene in particular stands out."The tree-lined streets with boutiques sprinkled among retail giants like the Gap could have easily been in a European city," says Bonin, the Chester D. Hubbard Professor of Economics and Social Science and editor of the "Journal of Comparative Economics." Perhaps the most remarkable part of this recollection is that the streets he describes weren't in Europe or even the west. They were in Shanghai, China. The image is important because it…

    Posted 03/15/05 Wesleyan University made a record-breaking contribution to this year’s Middlesex United Way annual community campaign. Frank Kuan, director of community relations and volunteer community campaign chair, reported that Wesleyan raised $140,018 for the local United Way chapter, exceeding the campaign goal of $135,000. This is the most Wesleyan has ever raised for Middlesex United Way in the 60-plus years the university has been involved in the campaign. Middlesex United Way supports critical human care services and county-wide projects that improve community conditions. “This goes to show that Wesleyan employees care about the community that they work…

Posted 03/15/05 On March 4, Tom Cornish '05 was transported to a local hospital with symptoms consistent with meningitis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Tom was infected with strain B of Neisseria meningitidis, a strain not protected against by any existing vaccine, though one is in development. Based on this information, Tom had meningococcal meningitis, which is a type of bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Tom's condition has improved significantly since being admitted to the hospital and he is making steady progress toward recovery. Wesleyan's Office of Health Education has compiled a page with information about…

Luke Snelling '05, a DJ with WESU 88.1FM, speaks on air during his talk show March 3. The student-run station now broadcasts shows via the Internet.   Posted 03/15/05 On March 14, Wesleyan's student radio station, WESU 88.1 FM, introduced a new broadcast schedule that combines original programs by students and community members with program feeds from WSHU in Fairfield, Conn. For the first time, WESU will begin to broadcast via the Internet, a move that should add listeners both on campus and among alumni and parents. In addition, WESU will begin to raise funds from its alumni, local underwriters,…

Jessica Pfund, '05 and Phillip Resor, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences, observe one of Middletown's few remaining agricultural sites.   Posted 02/23/05 It started out with little more than an idea, some old aerial photos and a handmade map. Several months and a lot of hard work by three dedicated people later the result may provide a whole new way to evaluate and influence the look and growth of towns in Middlesex County for years to come. Not bad considering it all started out as a question from an inquisitive undergraduate. The undergraduate, earth and environmental sciences major…

Money from the Wesleyan Campaign helped to fund a variety of initiatives, including new facilities and refurbished facilities like this computer resource center in The Exley Science Center. Posted 02/23/05 In October 2000, Board of Trustees Chairman Alan M. Dachs '70 made a pledge to the Wesleyan community: "I promise you that when you contribute to the Wesleyan Campaign, your gift will produce results and ensure Wesleyan's legacy for the next generation and generations to come," he said. His promise is already being fulfilled. Five years and $281 million dollars later, Wesleyan has renovated dozens of classrooms, added 20 new…

"Wesleyan University: In a New Light" is photographed by William Mercer, a 1964 alumnus. The book is for sale at Broad Street Books.   Posted 02/23/05 Wesleyan as it appears every day, Wesleyan as you remember it, and Wesleyan as you've never seen it before. Those are the images and words that fill "Wesleyan University: In a New Light," a new book produced by University Relations and the Office of Communications. Rich with the colors, activities, and faces that populate the campus, the book features 150 high quality images taken during the 2003-2004 academic year by photographer William Mercer '64.…