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With the approach of the centennial of John F. Kennedy's birth, it's fair to ask: Will his legacy endure? By Tom Kertscher Last July [2016], President Barack Obama signed a law creating the John F. Kennedy Centennial Commission, which will develop and carry out activities to mark the 100th anniversary of Kennedy’s birth on May 29, 2017. Kennedy, polls have shown, continues to be among the most highly regarded presidents. But only about a third of Americans were alive when he was assassinated in 1963. So, it’s fair to ask: Will Kennedy will remain relevant? Emily Jennett Butler ’90, a…

Hannah Levin '19 is passionate about film, television, theater and comedy. Since early high school, she has run a website for other young aspiring entertainment professionals featuring interviews with many top actors, directors and others about their careers. Q: Where are you from, and what are you studying at Wesleyan? A: I’m from Westport, Conn. I’m planning to declare a double major in film and English. Q: You launched your website, Master Chat Mag, when you were only 15-years-old. Please tell us about your site and what inspired you to start it. A: When I was a freshman in high school, I was…

Wesleyan is known for its top-notch writing programs and for the accomplishments of its community of award-winning alumni, faculty, students and staff book authors, editors and translators. Members of the Wesleyan community—alumni, faculty, students and staff—are invited to submit their latest books, as well as information about forthcoming and recently signed titles, and other literary news, to Laurie Kenney, books editor for Wesleyan magazine. Books and information received will be considered for possible coverage in Wesleyan magazine, on the News @ Wes blog and through Wesleyan’s social media channels, as well as through possible in-store display and event opportunities at Wesleyan’s new bookstore—Wesleyan RJ…

Beatriz at Dinner, a darkly comedic film directed by Miguel Arteta ’89, written by Mike White ’92, and co-produced by Bill Macomber ’96, world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22. The film premiered with positive reviews with magazines like Vanity Fair calling it “remarkable” with a “timely shiver to it.” After acclaimed films such as Chuck & Buck (2000) and The Good Girl (2002), Arteta and White have reunited again for Beatriz, which starts Salma Hayek as a holistic therapist. She attends a wealthy client’s dinner party after her car breaks down and comes up against a real…

Recent Film Studies graduate Atlas Acopian ’16 has been nominated for the “Snapchatter of the Year” award, presented on behalf of The Shorty Awards. Created to honor the best of social media by recognizing those with an influential and significant presence, The Shorty Awards draws nominees from sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat and more. Acopian gained significant Snapchat clout with his colorful snaps, specializing in narrative pieces, branded content, and music videos. Some of his work featured in his Shorty Award profile include turning the famous Angkor Wat into a real life Temple Run, and creating…

Wesleyan Women in Science (WIS) hosted a tea party on Feb. 3 for students and faculty. All majors and genders were welcome to come mingle with fellow scientists and female faculty from Wesleyan’s science departments and learn more about WIS. (Photos by Caroline Kravitz '19) (more…)

Bill Belichick ’75, head coach of the New England Patriots, led his team to the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history on Feb. 5, beating the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34-28 in OT—the first time an overtime period was ever needed in the 51-year history of the NFL’s annual championship game. The win made Belichick the winningest coach in Super Bowl history. All five of Belichick's wins have come as head coach of the Patriots, a team he has coached since 2000. Beginning his NFL career as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Colts in 1975, Belichick moved…

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Writing in The Times Literary Supplement, Assistant Professor of English Hirsh Sawhney muses on the recent election of Donald Trump and the cultural divide in America while nursing "the second cheapest single malt Scotch" on the menu at a New Haven bar. He contemplates whiskey's particular place in contemporary American culture, talks politics with others at the bar, draws from literature, and recalls the personal struggles of his family and friends. At the conclusion, while discussing the election with a neighbor (referred to, in jest, as "Professor Pesci"), Sawhney argues: My point is that we teach our students to be wary of “othering” people…

Krishna Winston, the Marcus L. Taft Professor of German Language and Literature, translated The Moravian Night: A Story by German novelist Peter Handke. The American translation was published in December 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York. Reviews of the translation have appeared in The New York Times, the New York Review of Books, and Kirkus. Winston specializes in literary translation and has translated more than 35 works of fiction and non-fiction from Handke, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Günter Grass, Christoph Hein, Golo Mann, Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Hans Jonas. Her translations make available to the entire English-speaking world works originally written…

On Jan. 21, three Wesleyan alumni who own the Manchester Monarchs ECHL team, welcomed more than 50 alumni, family and friends to "Wesleyan Night" at the Verizon Wireless Arena in New Hampshire. Among the attendees was men's former hockey coach Dave "Duke" Snyder. Wesleyan Trustee Marc Casper '90, Brian Cheek '92 and Tas Pinther '91 purchased the team in August 2016 and spoke to the attendees about acquiring the team and the importance of giving back to Wesleyan. The Monarchs' parent team is the Los Angeles Kings.

Ákos Östör, professor of anthropology and film, emeritus, lectured and presented his latest film, In My Mother's House, at more than a dozen universities in India, Turkey and throughout Europe in 2016. On a random Thursday in 2005, Östör's wife, Lina Fruzzetti, opened a a startling email that read, “If this is your father, we are cousins.” In My Mother's House follows a decade-long quest to learn more about Fruzzetti's Italian father who died young in Italian-ruled Eritrea, and her Eritrean mother who does not dwell on the past. Above all, Fruzzetti strives to understand her far-flung African, European, and…

Butler ’90 on JFK’s Legacy

Levin ’19 Interviews Entertainment Professionals for Master Chat Mag

Wesleyan Editors Call for New Books by Alumni, Faculty, Students, Staff

Macomber ’96 Discusses Producing Comedy by Arteta ’89, White ’92

Acopian ’16 Nominated Snapchatter of the Year

Women in Science Hosts Tea Party, Conversation

Belichick ’75 Leads Patriots to Super Bowl Win

Shaw ’76 Delivers Keynote Address at Wesleyan’s MLK Commemoration

Sawhney Authors Essay in Times Literary Supplement

Winston Translates Handke’s Moravian Night

50 Alumni Gather for Monarchs Game in New Hampshire

Östör Debuts New Film to International Audiences