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Table of Contents wellesleyweek
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us news ranks wellesley no. 4 among liberal arts colleges For the sixth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Wellesley College fourth among national liberal-arts colleges. For the past dozen years, Wellesley has placed among the top five colleges in the annual listing. “We are pleased that Wellesley College again has received national recognition for the high caliber of its liberal-arts education,” said Andrea Levitt, associate dean. “We believe that Wellesley’s strengths as an institution in terms of students, faculty, staff and alumnae support are outstanding.” Wellesley follows Williams, Amherst and Swarthmore (ranked 1-3) and shares fourth place with Carleton and Pomona colleges. Wellesley received kudos for its campus diversity, ranking fifth among liberal-arts colleges in that category. In another nod, a photo and caption singled out Wellesley’s undergraduate research and creative projects. In the category of “Highest Graduation Rate,” Wellesley was ranked No. 8, with 91 percent. Under “Most Students Studying Abroad,” Wellesley made the list with 58 percent. Wellesley ranked ninth on the “Best Values: Liberal Arts Colleges – Bachelors” list, which compares the actual cost of attending a college after factoring in need-based grants. The College had an average discount of total cost of 52 percent. Wellesley also made the list of colleges and universities whose graduates carry the least amount of debt. U.S. News includes a lengthy feature on Wellesley with a number of student interviews. Writer Samantha Levine notes that Wellesley’s “idealism can be a powerful influence on young women still learning about themselves and their role in the world. ‘I believe more in myself and what I can do,’ says (Deborah) Richman (’06), sitting in the window seat of her neo-Gothic dorm room and peering out over Lake Waban. ‘I think that’s kind of the point of being here.’” Other outstanding categories include alumnae support, which at 54 percent earned the College the No. 8 “giving rank” in the nation. Another standout is average freshman retention rate; Wellesley boasts a 96 percentage. The latest edition of U.S. News’ “America’s Best Colleges” was published in the Sept. 1 issue and can be read in part at www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php. campus undergoes a multitude of improvements Patrick Willoughby, physical plant, spent his summer overseeing a multitude of projects. While the Davis Parking Facility and Wang Campus Center hold front and center, other important projects are also in process. Tower Hill has been overhauled to upgrade sewage, water and steam lines and to install extensive new drainage. “The work to date, which continues, is below grade, and no one is ever going to see it,” Willoughby said. “We’re reconfiguring the roads and sidewalks – what I call the hardscape. The landscaping will predominantly happen next spring. We’re redoing the courtyard on the south side – that’s going to be regraded and will go back to plantings and lawn.” The redo also will provide an accessible entrance. Children will benefit from one project. “We’ve expanded and are rebuilding the two playgrounds we have on the college for the Wellesley Community Children’s Center and the Page School,” he said. “We’re making them compliant to regulations for surfaces and type of equipment. A majority of the equipment is being replaced and updated.” The project will finish in November with plantings next spring. The new service building has been spruced up with help from Day to Make a Difference volunteers. Willoughby also is trying to control the burgeoning Canada geese population on the athletic fields. He recently installed fake coyotes, “an archery target you can buy. We purchased two and it actually seems to keep the geese off the fields.” Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture is seeking people with a passion for plants who wish to enrich the lives of others by introducing them to the world of horticulture. Volunteers are needed to serve as docents or as visitor center staff. The docent training program, which runs for six Mondays beginning Oct. 20, teaches the ins and outs of conducting horticultural tours for schools, garden clubs, service organizations and senior citizens groups. Training for visitor center staff includes instruction and partnering with experienced volunteers. To enroll, e-mail horticulture@wellesley.edu. varon reveals a ‘southern lady, yankee spy’ Elizabeth Varon, history, has written a book about one of the most remarkable figures in American history. Southern Lady, Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, A Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy (Oxford University Press, 2003) is the story of a woman who defied the conventions of the 19-century South. Varon provides a gripping account of Van Lew, who led what one historian called “the most productive espionage operation of the Civil War.” Under the nose of the Confederate government, she ran a spy ring that gathered intelligence, hampered the Southern war effort and helped scores of Union soldiers escape from prisons. Varon describes a woman who was very much a product of her time and place, yet took controversial stands from her early efforts to free her family’s slaves to daring wartime activities. Varon’s biography brings Van Lew to life, showing how she used the social and female stereotypes of the day to confound Confederate authorities (who suspected her, but could not believe a proper Southern lady could be a spy), even as she brought together Union sympathizers at all levels of society. “Popular Civil War literature is filled with romantic and sensational stories of female spies, many of them made up out of whole cloth,” writes James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom and Crossroads of Freedom. “But the story told in Southern Lady, Yankee Spy, is eminently true. Based on thorough research and written with grace and style, this account of Van Lew’s contribution to Northern victory is a valuable addition to Civil War scholarship.” Varon also has written We Mean to Be Counted: White Women and Politics in Antebellum Virginia. student pens op-ed on upcoming election Paige Shevlin ’06 has written an op-ed piece, “For Democrats, the right question is ‘who can beat Bush?’” that appeared in the Aug. 8 Manchester, N.H., Union Leader. “My hope is that some readers decided to vote for Edwards or Gephardt because of the article,” Shevlin said. “I really want the Democrats to pick the best candidate so that they win in 2004.” She wrote the following synopsis of her viewpoint: “In the upcoming primary, Democrats must choose the candidate who has the best chance of triumphing in a national election. Although John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Howard Dean are at the top of Democrats’ lists, these candidates cannot win a national election because they are Northern Democrats. With the exception of Kennedy, whose victory was due to his good looks, charm and corrupt politics, a Northern Democrat has not won an election since 1948. Furthermore, Gore in 2000 and Carter in his bid for a second term are the only Southern Democrats who have lost a presidential election in recent history. Southern Democrats pull in moderate voters. In 2004 the swing vote will be extremely important. For that reason Democrats should focus their attention on Gephardt from Missouri and Edwards from North Carolina. Gephardt and Edwards are the only chance at that 2004 gold ring that Democrats in Iowa, New Hampshire and everywhere else are hoping for.” The op-ed can be read at www.theunionleader.com/Articles_show.html?article=24611&archive=1. philip kohl, anthropology, has received a Fulbright Senior Specialists grant in archaeology at Chinggis Khaan College. The Fulbright Senior Specialists Program offers two- to six-week grants to leading U.S. academics and professionals to support curricular and faculty development and institutional planning at academic institutions in 140 countries around the world. Created to complement the traditional Fulbright Scholar Program, the Senior Specialists Program aims at increasing the number of faculty and professionals who have the opportunity to go abroad on a Fulbright. The program’s purpose is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. tony martin, Africana studies, has a feature on early 20th-century African-American leader Marcus Garvey on the BBCi’s web site. “The Rastafarians were influenced by Garvey’s interest in the regeneration of Africa and his advocacy of at least selected repatriation to Africa,” writes Martin. “They also liked Garvey’s idea that people should see their God in their own image…” The article is at www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/features/marcus_garvey/martin.shtml. nicole
smith
has been named head field hockey and lacrosse coach and assistant professor
of physical education. She has served as field hockey and lacrosse head
coach at Bryn Mawr College and head lacrosse coach and assistant coach
for field hockey at Wesleyan University. She earned a bachelor of arts
in English and a master’s in liberal studies from Wesleyan, where she
was a four-year starter on field hockey and lacrosse teams, a two time
All-America selection and Wesleyan’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete
of 1997. cws workshop. “Recruiting for Seniors.” 7 pm, Science Center 277. Info: x2352. tuesday
september 9 cws meeting. “Recruiting for Seniors.” 7 pm, Science Center 277. Info: x2352. cws
meeting.
“Senior Orientation to CWS.” 4:30 pm, Jewett Auditorium. Refreshments.
Info: x2352. opening reception. exhibit, Underground Studios VI. 4:30-6:30 pm, Jewett Art Gallery. Info: x2944. cws
meeting. “Recruiting for Seniors.” 7 pm, Science Center 277.
Info: x2352.
thursday september 11 deadline. Tanner Conference applications. Info: www.wellesley.edu/CWS/Tanner2003/tannertop.html or call x3779. tennis vs. Clark. 4 pm. Sponsor: Athletics. Info: x2900. cws meeting. “Recruiting for Seniors.” 7 pm, Science Center 277. Info: x2352. flower
sunday. 10:30 am-noon, Houghton Chapel. Sponsor: Religious
Life. (See story, page 4.) Info: x2685. monday
september 15 exhibit. Underground Studios VI. Through Sept. 30, Jewett Art Gallery. Features nine Wellesley College artists, all using different media and styles: Nancy Edwards, Jeanne Hablanian, Sandra Lauria, Andrew Mowbray, Pamela Rogers, David Sommers, Jim Turbert, Richard Vabulas and Michael Westfort. Info: x2944. exhibit. Reinstallation of the Permanent Collection. Through Dec. 31, DMCC. Post-1945 collections reinstalled in the Towne and Contemporary galleries focus on prominent American and European artists of the 1960s and 1970s. Works include iconic sculptures by Andy Warhol and Louise Nevelson and pieces by artists such as Agnes Martin, Joseph Beuys and Robert Rauschenberg. Info: x2051. .
flower sunday celebrates community and friendship A Wellesley College tradition, Flower Sunday, will be celebrated Sunday, Sept. 14, at 10:30 am in Houghton Memorial Chapel. This year’s theme for Flower Sunday is “Tending the Garden of Humanity.” Flower Sunday is a community-wide celebration of friendship held on a Sunday in September. Upper class women “big sisters” bring their “little sisters” to this celebration planned by the religious life team and multi-faith council. The students are greeted by the president and deans who present flowers to each student. This gathering is a favorite and cherished tradition among Wellesley students. For more information, contact the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at x2685. Click
Here to View Previous Issues Return to the Office of Public Information's Homepage WellesleyWeek is published each Monday by the Office for Public Information during the academic year. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Phone numbers are dialed 781-283-xxxx. Campus-sponsored event listings are welcome via online form or e-mail to calendar@wellesley.edu. Printed submissions can be sent to Calendar, Public Information, 354 Green Hall, Wellesley College, 106 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02481. Deadline for calendar submissions is the Monday prior to publication. For paid subscription information, call 781-283-2373. Created
by: Moira Sinnott '04, Elizabeth Molnar '05, Claire Gross '04 |
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