7 - 14

march

2005

wellesley launches new tradition, the common text project

A community, by definition, holds many things in common. Now, the Wellesley College community will share another experience, the Common Text Project.

“Thanks to a generous gift from Naida Wharton ’80, Wellesley is starting this year a new tradition,” said Timothy Peltason, director, Newhouse Center for the Humanities. “We’ll be choosing at regular intervals (each year—or some years, each semester) a single work of art—perhaps a poem, a novel, a play; perhaps a film, or a photograph, or a painting; perhaps a great musical performance or composition—and then bringing together all interested members of the community—faculty, staff and students—who would like to experience the work together, to learn more about it, and to come into fuller possession of it by discussing it with one another.”

Frank Bidart, English, will lead the first Common Text Project, which is the poem, “For the Union Dead,” by Robert Lowell. He will offer a public presentation of the poem on Tuesday, March 8, from 4:30-6 pm in Jewett Auditorium.

Lowell himself described the poem as about “childhood memories, the evisceration of our modern cities, civil rights, nuclear warfare and more particularly, Colonel Robert Shaw and his Negro regiment, the Massachusetts 54th.”

Bidart was the natural choice to lead the project. “In addition to being a long-time Wellesley faculty member and a distinguished poet in his own right, Frank was a student of Robert Lowell’s, a close friend and advisor and the editor of Lowell’s Complete Poems,” said Peltason. “The other thing that will make this experience memorable is the wide participation of as many members as possible of the Wellesley community.”

The poem can be accessed online and in a keepsake booklet that will allow participants to study the text. Following Bidart’s presentation, a dinner will be held in McAfee dining room for the campus community only, featuring small group discussions facilitated by faculty, staff and students. To RSVP to the dinner discussion, call x2698. For more information on the Common Text Project, call x2592.

latino writer will speak about the art of fiction

Mezcla, a campus Latina organization, will present a lecture, “My Experience as a Latino Writer,” by acclaimed Dominican writer Junot Diaz Tuesday, March 8, at 5:30 pm in Pendleton West 212 with a reception in Pendleton Atrium at 5 pm. A new wave of writing is emerging today from Latinos and other minorities, and Díaz’s collection of short stories, Drown, serves as a strong expression of art as well as a political and cultural manifestation of urban realities in the barrios.

At his Wellesley presentation, Díaz will address the implications of minority writing for political, cultural and social discourse. The discussion will focus on understanding the craft of fiction and the writing process. “The goal of this event is to encourage and inspire young Wellesley writers to find their unique voices through writing,” said Mezcla member Rosa Fernandez.

Díaz’s fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, African Voices, Best American Short Stories (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000), and has won the Pushcart Prize XXII. He is an associate professor at MIT and a recent fellow at the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard. He has received a Eugene McDermott Award, a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, a Lila Acheson Wallace Readers Digest Award, the 2002 Pen/Malamud Award and the 2003 U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, contact rfernand@wellesley.edu.

einstein’s world

In celebration of the World Year of Physics 2005, the Physics Department and Theater Studies will present actor Tom Schuch in the award-winning, one-man show Einstein: A Stage Portrait, by Willard Simms, Tuesday, March 8, at 7 pm in Alumnae Hall Auditorium.

In the play, the year is 1946, the Bomb has been dropped and the world has forever changed. Albert Einstein has invited the audience over to his home to set the record straight about his life. The event promises “an evening of humor, introspection, science and a little violin.” Audiences walk away with an understanding of the man who solved many of the world’s most difficult puzzles with astounding creativity and a delicious sense of humor. For more information, call x2000.

writers to discuss human rights in the americas

On Tuesday, March 8, at 4:30 pm in the Library Lecture Room, writers Peter
Kornbluth and John Dinges will present a lecture, “Humans Rights in the Americas.” Both have written extensively on South American dictatorships and human rights violations.

“(Kornbluth) is the author of The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier on Atrocity and Accountability – an important book,” said Marjorie Agosín, Spanish. “He will talk about the writing of the book; it contains declassified papers on the U.S. intervention in Chile. Dinges has written about the conspiracy between Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, and what really happened during the dictactorships in all three countries, especially Chile.”
Dinges has been a correspondent for Time, The Washington Post and ABC Radio. He has worked at National Public Radio as foreign editor, managing editor and editorial director. He is the author of The Condor Years: How Pinochet and His Allies Brought Terrorism To Three Continents (New Press, 2004). Kornbluth is director of the National Security Archive’s Chile Documentation Project.

“Chile has become so important in the news because Pinochet, the dictator, has lost amnesty for crimes against humanity recently, so this subject is a very timely one,” Agosín noted. “These are very courageous people because if not for them, the truth would not have come out about the crimes during the Pinochet regime.” The lecture is sponsored by the Spanish Department and Latin American Studies. For more information, call x2402.

pulitzer prize winner talks about khrushchev

William Taubman, winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for biography for his book on Nikita Khrushchev, will speak on “Khrushchev: The Man and His Era” on Thursday, March 10, at 8 pm in Pendleton Atrium.

“Today—as Americans watch with concern the erosion of Russia’s vulnerable democratic processes—we have much to learn from the experience of Nikita Khrushchev,” said Nina Tumarkin, director, Russian Area Studies Program, sponsor of the event. “The fate of this ebullient and flawed reformer who led the U.S.S.R. through some of the most dangerous years of the Cold War after the death of Stalin will illuminate, among other things, the impact (for better and for worse) of personality on politics in Russia. Taubman will share some of his profound and uniquely intimate knowledge about the man who took the Soviet Union from Stalinism to the perils of superpower diplomacy on a grand and global scale.”

Taubman, a professor of political science at Amherst College, is an internationally known expert on Russia, the former Soviet Union and the Cold War. In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Khrushchev: The Man and His Era won the 2004 National Book Critics Circle Award for biography, the 2004 Vucinich Prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, the Robert H. Ferrell Book Prize of the Society of Historians of American Foreign Policy and the Independent Publishers Book Prize for biography. Khrushchev, one of Taubman’s many books, was reviewed on the front pages of The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and in many other publications. It was selected by several newspapers, as well as by The Economist, as one of “the best books of 2003.” For more information, call x2602.

colleagues in the news

This month, a memoir writing workshop will be led by ruth harriet jacobs, Wellesley Center for Research on Women, through the local Council on Aging. Preregistration is required by calling the Council on Aging at 781-235-3961. Class size is limited to 25 people. Both inexperienced and experienced writers are welcome. Jacobs was for many years a professor at Boston University and then chair of the sociology department at Clark University. She also teaches memoir writing at Brandeis.

jean kilbourne, visiting scholar, received the Myra Sadker Equity Award in Washington, D.C., on March 1. The award recognizes organizations and individuals for their work and achievements in gender equity. Kilbourne is internationally recognized for her pioneering work on alcohol and tobacco advertising and the image of women in advertising. For more information, go to www.sadker.org/eventsau_05.htm.

guy rogers, classical studies, will present lectures this month on Alexander the Great at the Washington, D.C., Society for the Preservation of Greek Heritage and at a symposium for an exhibit of artifacts from the time of Alexander’s reign at the Onassis Foundation and Cultural Center in New York City.

steven schiavo, psychology, has been quoted in a Hartford (Conn.) Courant article, “The Comforts of Home, Or Not,” on the ways people who work in a cubicle decorate their space. Decorating one’s office indicates an attachment the workplace; it’s a way of making it seem more homelike. “Decoration is really tied to a sense of ownership—this is my space; this is my territory,” he said. Read the story at www.courant.com/features/home/hc-homecubicle0211.artfeb11,0,1373069.story.

calendar

monday march 7

lecture. “Synthetic Quests: Metalloenzyme Models and Unusual Organometallic Complexes.” Speaker: Rebecca Conry, chemistry, Colby College. 12:30-1:20 pm, SCI 278. Sponsor: Chemistry. Info: x3149.

italian table. 12:30-1:30 pm, Tower Court private dining room. Info: x2616.

cws workshop. “Job Search Correspondence.” 4:30 pm, FND 120. Info: x2352.

cws workshop. “Self-Assessment.” 4:30-6:30 pm, GRH 338. Preregister. Info: x2352.

cws panel. “Classical Studies Majors.” 4:30-6:30 pm, Jewett Sculpture Court. Info: x2352.

meeting. College Government Senate. 6 pm, Academic Council Room. Info: x1181.

esl tutoring. 6-8 pm, PLTC small conference room. Info: x2480.

meditation. 7-8:15 pm, meditation room, lower chapel. Sponsor: Buddhist Community. Info: x2793.

lecture. “The Intersections of Race and Sexual Orientation.” Speaker: Ava de Leon, playwright. 7:30-9 pm, PNW 212. Info: WLBTFmail@wellesley.edu.

apt workshop. “Aha! I Remember!” 8 pm, Dower. Info: x2641.

tuesday march 8

cws workshop. “Interview Skills.” 12:30 pm, GRH 428. Info: x2352.

lecture. “Common Text Project.” Speaker: Frank Bidart, English. 4:30-6 pm, Jewett Auditorium. Sponsor: Newhouse Center for the Humanities. (See story) Info: x2698.

lecture. “Humans Rights in the Americas.” Speakers: Peter Kornbluth and John Dinges, authors. 4:30 pm, Library Lecture Room. Sponsor: Spanish. (See story) Info: x2402.

lecture. “My Experience as a Latino Writer.” Speaker: Junot Díaz. Reception: 5 pm, PNE 225A; lecture: 5:30-7 pm, PNW 212. Sponsor: Mezcla. (See story) Info: x7045.

lecture. ““Art and Feminist Politics in Southeast Asia.” Speaker: Sheba Chhachhi, artist. Reception: 6-7 pm; slideshow/talk: 7:30-9 pm, Collins Cinema. Sponsor: DMCC. Info: x2051.

performance. “Einstein: A Stage Portrait.” Tom Schuch. 7 pm, Alumnae Hall auditorium. (See story) Sponsor: Physics. Info: x2000.

sharing circle. 7-8 pm, Little Chapel. Sponsor: Unitarian Universalist. Info: x3484.

lecture. “Christian-Hindu Encounter: Worldwide and Personal.” Speaker: John Carman, Harvard Divinity. 7:30 pm, Library Lecture Room. Sponsor: Religion. Info: x2609.

german table. 7:30-8:30 pm, Schneider loft. Info: x2584.

apt workshop. “Time Got You Down?” 8 pm, Tower Great Hall. Info: x2641.

wednesday march 9

meditation. 12:30-1 pm, meditation room, lower chapel. Sponsor: Buddhist Community. Info: x2793.

french table. 12:30-1:30 pm, Bates private dining hall. Info: x2403.

spanish table. 12:30-1:30 pm, Tower Court dining hall. Info: x3571.

academic council meeting. 12:30-2 pm, Academic Council Room.

workshop. “Producing Installations.” Speaker: Sheba Chhachhi, artist. 12:30-2 pm, DMCC. Info: x2051.

russian table. 1-2 pm, FND 416. Info: x3584.

apt workshop. “Goal Setting.” 1:30 pm, Tower Great Hall. Info: x2641.

anime film. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds. 4:50 and 7:30 pm, FND 207. Sponsor: East Asian Languages and Literatures. Info: x3226.

exhibit openings. The Reign of Terror, Ghada Amer, artist, 5:30 pm. The Master Prints; Richard Wallace, art; Elizabeth Wyckoff, DMCC, 6 pm. The Observed and Envisioned, Afshan Bokhari, art, 6:20 pm. Modernist Art, Dabney Hailey, DMCC, 6:40 pm. DMCC. (See story) Info: x2051.

meeting. Good Book Club. 6:30 pm, BIL 202. Sponsor: Protestant Christian Chaplaincy. Info: x2655.

apt workshop. “Eek! There’s Not Enough Time!” 7 pm, Shafer. Info: x2641.

performance. “Pinned Down by Pronouns.” 7-9 pm, Molly’s Pub. Sponsor: Spectrum. Info: Spectrummail@wellesley.edu.

thursday march 10

cws workshop. “Second Interviews.” 12:30 pm, GRH 428. Info: x2352.

meditation. 12:30-1 pm, meditation room, lower chapel. Sponsor: Buddhist Community. Info: x2793.

wcw seminar. “New Directions in Sexual Harassment and Gender Violence in Elementary and Secondary Schools.” Speaker: Nan Stein, Ed.D. 12:30-1:30 pm, Cheever House. Info: x2500.

lecture. “Planning for Your Financial Goals.” 12:30-1:30 pm, Academic Council Room. WC employees only. Sponsor: HR. Info: x2212.

lecture. “Iran: Next Hot Topic in U.S. Foreign Policy.” Speaker: Philip Kohl, anthropology. 4:30 pm, Slater. Sponsor: Slater. Info: x2146.

apt workshop. “Goal Setting.” 5 pm, Freeman. Info: x2641.

esl tutoring. 6-8 pm, PLTC small conference room. Info: x2480.

performance. Black Folks’ Guide to Black Folks. 6:30-9:30 pm, Collins Cinema. Sponsor: Harambee House. Info: x2134.

apt workshop. “Knock3: Communicating with Faculty.” 7 pm, Beebe. Info: x2641.

theatre. Talking With. Director: Nora Hussey, theatre. 7 pm, Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre, Alumnae Hall. Cost: Free to Wellesley/MIT students with ID; staff/ other students/seniors: $10; general admission: $12. Sponsor: Theatre. Info: x2000.

seminar. “Asian Straight Talks.” 8 pm, Claflin living room. Sponsor: Asian Awareness Month Committee. Info: x2959.

lecture. “Khrushchev: The Man and His Era.” Speaker: William Taubman, political science, Amherst College. 8 pm, PNE 225A. Sponsor: Russian Area Studies. (See story) Info: x2602.

benefit concert. Jonah Cohen. 8:30-9:30 pm, Schneider. Sponsor: BASIC. Info: BASICmail@wellesley.edu.

friday march 11

prayer/discussion. Muslim communal (Jummah). 12:45-1:30 pm, lower chapel. Info: x2025.

performance. Tres Vidas: Three Lives, Three Stories, One Show, by Marjorie Agosin, Spanish. 8 pm, DMCC. Info: x2051.

theatre. Talking With. Director: Nora Hussey, theatre. 8 pm, Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre, Alumnae Hall. Cost: Free to Wellesley/MIT students with ID; staff/ other students/seniors: $10; general admission: $12. Sponsor: Theatre. Info: x2000.

saturday march 12

theatre. Talking With. Director: Nora Hussey, theatre. 2 and 7 pm, Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre, Alumnae Hall. Cost: Free to Wellesley/MIT students with ID; staff/ other students/seniors: $10; general admission: $12. Sponsor: Theatre. Info: x2000.

performance. Chinese Cultural Show. 7-9:30 pm, Jewett Auditorium. Sponsor: Chinese Students Association. Info: CSAmail@wellesley.edu.

sunday march 13

worship service. 11:15 am, Houghton Chapel. Sponsor: Protestant Christian Chaplaincy. Info: x2655.

theatre. Talking With. Director: Nora Hussey, theatre. 2 pm, Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre, Alumnae Hall. Cost: Free to Wellesley/MIT students with ID; staff/ other students/seniors: $10; general admission: $12. Sponsor: Theatre. Info: x2000.

catholic mass. 4 pm, Houghton Chapel. Sponsor: Newman Catholic Ministry. Info: x2688.

meeting. Darshana. 5 pm, meditation room, Houghton Chapel. Sponsor: Hindu Community. Info: x2794.

monday march 14

italian table. 12:30-1:30 pm, Tower Court private dining room. Info: x2616.

lecture. “Islam and Women.” Speaker: Riffat Hassan, Islamic feminist scholar. 5-7 pm, PNE 225A. Sponsor: Pakistani Students Association. Info: x2959.

meeting. College Government Senate. 6 pm, Academic Council Room. Info: x1181.

esl tutoring. 6-8 pm, PLTC small conference room. Info: x2480.

apt workshop. “There Are Only 24 Hours in a Day: Are You Using Yours Wisely?” 7 pm, McAfee. Info: x2641.

meditation. 7-8:15 pm, meditation room, lower chapel. Sponsor: Buddhist Community. Info: x2793.

lecture. “Children and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Speaker: Sally Theran, psychology. 7-9 pm, PNE 239. Sponsor: OMHA. Info: OMHAmail@wellesley.edu.

lecture. “Stalin and the 1932-33 Ukrainian Famine Crisis.” Speaker: Terry Martin, history, Harvard. 7:30, Library Lecture Room. Sponsor: Anthropology. Info: x2138.

ongoing

exhibit. Modernist Art. March 9–June 2006. Sponsor: DMCC. Info: x2051.

exhibit. The Reign of Terror. March 9–June 19. Sponsor: DMCC. Info: x2051.

exhibit. The “Master Prints” of Hendrick Goltzius and Mannerist Art. March 9–June 19. Sponsor: DMCC. Info: x2051.

exhibit. The Observed and Envisioned: 16th to 19th Century Indian Miniature Paintings of Mughal and Rajput Women. March 9–June 19. Sponsor: DMCC. Info: x2051.

exhibit. Dedicated to the Class of 2005: A Look at the Class of 1905. Archives, Clapp Library, through March. Info: x2127.

exhibit. Vegetables from the Garden: Watercolors by Nan Rumpf. Greenhouses Visitor Center, through March 14. Info: x3094.

don't miss...davis museum celebrates spring openings

The Davis Museum and Cultural Center will hold an opening celebration for several Spring 2005 exhibits Wednesday, March 9, from 5-7 pm, including a reception and artist and gallery talks. At 5:30 pm, “Reign of Terror” by artist Ghada Amer will be presented. On display through June 19, this site-specific work in the museum’s lobby focuses on definitions of “terror” and “terrorism” derived from 18th-21st century American, English, French and Arabic dictionaries. Cairo-born Amer’s works explore feminist, historical and political issues. At 6 pm, find out about “The ‘Master Prints’ of Hendrick Goltzius and Mannerist Art” with Richard Wallace, art, and curator Elizabeth Wyckoff. At 6:20 pm, the focus switches to “The Observed and Envisioned: 16th- to 19th-Century Indian Miniature Paintings of Mughal and Rajput Women” with visiting instructor in art Afshan Bokhari. On display through June 19, an exhibition of Indian miniature paintings looks at the realistic, earthly depictions of women in Mughal (Muslim) art with the more idealized, ‘other-worldly’ qualities of Rajput (Hindu) works. At 6:40 pm, explore modernist art with curator Dabney Hailey. On display through June 2006, this thought-provoking installation includes works by Claude Monet, John Singer Sargent, Diego Rivera, Auguste Rodin, Jean Arp, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Sonia Delaunay-Terk. For more information, call x2051.

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