FeaturesThe Science of SiblingsSpring 2015When you meet Vishwanath “Vishu” Lingappa ’75, one of the first things you notice is his voice. In a blog for National Geographic, Carl Zimmer calls it a “radio-talk-show-host” voice. Other descriptions could equally well apply. It is a CEO’s voice and an orator’s voice. A simple interview with Lingappa has more dramatic pianissimos and booming crescendos than a Beethoven symphony. Most of all, though, it is a big brother’s voice, loud and encouraging and demanding at the same time. In a literal way, Vishu has always been there for Jairam and his sister Jaisri ’79.
FeaturesWould You Do the Honors?Spring 2015Honors students are oblivious to time when they’re in the classroom. Three-hour evening seminars extend into discussions lasting until after midnight. When a professor stands to announce the end of class, students cluster like bees around a honey pot, protesting and pleading: “But we’re not done yet!” “Just one more question?” Professors leave only when each student is satisfied. Two members of the College faculty have experienced honors as both students and teachers. Richard Valelly ’75, Claude C. Smith ’14 Professor of Political Science, says, “The idea that intellectual life is not only intense but also pleasurable was the principle I took away from honors. ...
FeaturesAligning AspirationsSpring 2015If you’ve read Zola, you may have seen the term charrette in his 1885 novel L’Oeuvre/The Masterpiece. To the French author, a charrette was a handcart that 60 frantic architecture students collaboratively commandeered in a mad rush to transport design projects to an evaluation site. To the 100 Swarthmoreans who collaboratively attended a two-day sustainability charrette, the term meant “a thoughtful and deliberate opportunity to evaluate proposals, compare priorities, and eventually coordinate aspirations with budgetary realities,” as Interim President Constance Cain Hungerford noted in her introduction to the February event. Hungerford, who has chosen sustainability as her presidential priority, stressed the urgency of the issue.
Features'Hey, Coach, What Did You Think of My Class?'Spring 2015Coaching is typically associated with activities such as sports, singing, or SAT prep. Yet, two years ago, after reading physician Atul Gawande’s 2011 essay “Personal Best” in The New Yorker, about the lack of mentors for doctors, Kenneth Sharpe, working on a Templeton Foundation project on Institutional Design for Wisdom, had a question: “Why shouldn’t faculty members be coached—even coach one another?” The seed for the Faculty Teaching Seminar was sown. Sharpe pitched the idea to Professor of History Timothy Burke, then recruited Professor of English Literature Betsy Bolton.
FeaturesGreat Lakes GladiatorSpring 2015Tax evaders, beware. They may have smiled two years ago when they heard the good news. Their nemesis, relentless Carl Levin ’56, the senior senator from that old rustbelt state, had announced his retirement. For only two more years would they turn on the network news and see his blue eyes peering over those glasses slung low on his nose, hear that voice with its flat Michigander vowels drilling, drilling for the truth as he led a Senate hearing investigating offshore subsidiaries devised by corporations to evade the taxman.
Common GoodCollege warmly welcomes its 15th president Spring 2015Warmly welcomed on a snowy February day, Valerie Smith met hundreds of the students, staff, faculty, and Board members she will soon serve as Swarthmore’s 15th president.
Common GoodNew Student Journal Fosters Science LiteracySpring 2015Claudia Luján ’15, Ariel Parker ’15, and Randy Burson ’15 launched The Swarthmore Journal of Science in January.
Spoken WordEngaging ChangeSpring 2015Laura Cacho arrived from Melbourne, Australia, in February 2014 as Swarthmore’s first director of sustainability.
Community VoicesA Deep LookSpring 2015Much work has been done—and we have a lot of work still to do. In my eight months here, I’ve focused on learning about this campus and meeting as many people as I can.
Web ExclusivesIt Takes a MarginSpring 2015Jesse Marshall ’11 co-founded and directs Margination, the Troy, N.Y.–based nonprofit maximizing opportunities for struggling community members.
Rewind‘To Whom Much Is Given’Spring 2015As a black, Hispanic female from Linwood, Pa., I was not the typical Swarthmore engineering student. In fact I was only able to attend thanks to Swarthmore’s generous financial aid package.
Global ThinkingSeeking Asylum Spring 2015Working since the 1970s with refugees and asylum law, Bruce Leimsidor ’63 is interested in all aspects of human rights, including, most recently, the recriminalization of homosexuality in India.
Alumni NewsGabriel Quinn Bauriedel ’94—Founding Director Spring 2015Gabriel Quinn Bauriedel ’94 is the founding director of a new MFA program that unites the Pig Iron Theatre Co. and the University of the Arts’ Ira Brind School of Theater Arts.
Liberal Arts LivesTaking it to the Streets in Phnom PenhSpring 2015In late December Hannah Kurtz ’13 ventures out after dark for the first time on her red Vespa, a loaner from the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), in this city of 1.5 million people.
Alumni NewsAlumni College Abroad, Aug. 7–17Spring 2015Tour southeast Alaska with Carr Everbach, professor of engineering.
Alumni NewsMartha Rice Sanders ’77—Exceptional Librarian Spring 2015Martha Rice Sanders ’77 was honored at the Innovative Users Group (IUG) conference with its 2014 Beacon Award.
Web ExclusivesImagINe All the People …Spring 2015Project enriches campus community through photography and personal narratives.
Alumni ProfilesBy the NumbersSpring 2015At age 13, a gift from his father opened his eyes to a different path to the big leagues.
Alumni NewsRuth Perry ’78—Public Health Honoree Spring 2015Ruth Perry, executive director of Trenton Health Team, was awarded the Frank J. Osborne Memorial Award for public health contributions in November.
FeaturesSupporting the College's MissionSpring 2015Chris Niemczewski ’74 explains the endowment and the Board’s decision two years ago not to divest from fossil fuel companies.
Common GoodA Revolutionary RevelationSpring 2015It’s Nov. 16, 1776: Do you know where your ancestors are? Two Swarthmore staffers do, and, inexplicably, they were together.
BooksA Revolutionary DuetSpring 2015The Match Girl and the Heiress is an unconventional love story at the heart of a great social-justice crusade that began roughly a century ago.
Common GoodSwimmers to SwammersSpring 2015Kate Wiseman and Supriya Davis ’15 are two of the most decorated swimmers in Swarthmore history.
Alumni ProfilesVideoHorse PowerSpring 2015Art Laver ’64 and his wife, Marcy, have created a therapeutic riding program on 12 acres of pastureland near Swarthmore.
Learning CurveStill Keeping the BeatSpring 2015Rob Lewine ’67 has played with some of the best classic rockers since transferring to UCLA’s film school his junior year.
Common GoodHappiness is ...Spring 2015What does happiness mean to you? Tell us in 350 words or fewer before May 1.
Alumni NewsRick Becker ’76—Lauded Toxicologist Spring 2015Rick Becker ’76 received the 2015 Arnold J. Lehman Award from the Society of Toxicology in March.
Liberal Arts LivesMap QuestSpring 2015Twelve years ago, Michael Buehler ’89 decided to leave his management-consulting career to become a dealer in rare maps.
Alumni NewsWinter 2015: Captioned!Spring 2015We received the following submissions to the winter caption contest:
Common GoodA Star on the Court and in the CommunitySpring 2015Karl Barkley ’15 was named to the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team, which honors college basketball players who have given back to their communities.
Common GoodHonorary Degrees AnnouncedSpring 2015John Alston, Supreme Court Justice Randy Holland ’69, and Professor Molly Miller Jahn ’80 will receive honorary degrees.
Alumni NewsAdele Diamond ’74—Influential Neuroscientist Spring 2015Adele Diamond ’74 received the Urie Bronfenbrenner Award for Lifetime Contributions to Developmental Psychology from the American Psychological Association.
Alumni NewsAnne Chandler Fristrom ’55—Distinguished Educator Spring 2015Anne Chandler Fristrom ’55 received the 2015 California Association of Teachers of English (CATE) Distinguished Service Award.
Alumni NewsExtern Program Unites Alumni and Students Spring 2015During winter break, 335 Swarthmore students participated in Career Services’ Extern Program.
Alumni NewsSpeak Up!Spring 2015What was your favorite place on campus? Send your comments to bulletin@swarthmore.edu.