Unplanned Lessons
Professors impart knowledge; students receive it. That’s the basic contract at any institution of higher learning. But sometimes, without anyone being immediately conscious of it, the flow of learning reverses and students teach something to their professors. We asked Williams faculty members to share what they’ve learned from students—and their stories provide some useful life…
Follow the Fish
Spencer Beebe ’68 is helping to build the 21st century deep-green economy in the Pacific Northwest. If rainforests are so important, why doesn’t anybody worry about the rainforest of the Pacific Northwest? That’s a question that plagued Spencer Beebe ’68 when he attended the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. The Americans, he says, were…
Shades of Blue
With human impacts creating a “perfect storm” for the world’s oceans, Williams alumni are working to chart a new course. Williams sits well inland, but oceans powerfully impact our lives even in landlocked places. They produce much of our oxygen and food. They shape weather and climate patterns. And while it’s easy to assume that…
Commencement 2009
What does it take to fulfill our leadership obligation?” Clarence Otis Jr. ’77 asked the 512 undergraduates and 35 graduate students receiving their degrees during Williams’ 220th commencement exercises June 7. “I’ve come to believe it takes three things: sustained curiosity, the ability to dream big dreams and meaningful expertise, or know-how.” In his address,…
D-List
Those who make a habit of reading Williams’ course catalog (and many folks do) may notice a growing number of listings designated with a (D), courtesy of the Exploring Diversity Initiative. Now in its second year, the initiative requires students to take at least one course that promotes “a self-conscious and critical engagement with diversity”…
From the Bookshelf
Inventing Autopia. By Jeremiah B.C. Axelrod ’92. University of California Press, 2009. A visually oriented cultural and intellectual history of how utopian dreams 30 years ago resulted in the sprawling urbanism that characterizes Los Angeles today. First Come the Zebra. By Lynne Barasch (wife of Ken Barasch ’56). Lee & Low Books, 2009. Inspired by…
In the News
Williams professors and others weigh in on the issues of the day. For a complete listing of media appearances, visit www.williams.edu/admin/news/inthenews “We saw it! … The diamond rings were spectacular,” astronomy professor Jay Pasachoff wrote on July 21 for “TierneyLab” (a blog hosted by The New York Times) while he was viewing the longest total…
Body of Knowledge
“My work is about reconnecting with the bodily selves we have learned to ignore and finding wisdom where we have least come to expect it. Dance isn’t often noted for its contributions to academia, but for Kimerer L. LaMothe ’85, her practice of classical, modern and native dance has been as essential to her scholarship…
Community Psychology
“It is one thing to read about … schizophrenia. But it is a very different thing to learn about the profound and diverse experiences of schizophrenia from people who actually have to live with it.” —Annie Liang ’09 A small group of fourth-grade girls was caught up in a cycle of fighting that could have…
Sports Wrap
“This was a totally unbelievable team effort throughout. These kids never stopped believing. … I’m so, so proud of this team—their spirit and determination was inspiring.” —Women’s tennis head coach Alison Swain ’01 after the Ephs defeated Amherst 5-2 to capture the 2009 NCAA Championship. The win avenges the women’s title-match loss to the Lord…
The List Before You Leave
Graduating seniors leave behind many things as they depart from campus, from course notes tucked away in library monkey carrels to the odd dorm-room refrigerator. Three members of the Class of 2009 left something else—a website called “Things to do Before You Leave,” which offers advice to the 550 incoming members of the Class of…
All-Americans Named
Anne O’Leary ’10 was the first golfer in Williams history named to the National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team for the third consecutive year. In women’s lacrosse, Elizabeth Burns and Britt Spackman, both Class of ’09, were named to the 2009 All-America team by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches association and U.S. Lacrosse. Burns…
Williams Wins 13th Directors’ Cup
A spring-season rally vaulted Williams to its 13th Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, awarded annually to the best all-around athletics program in NCAA Div. III competition. The Ephs trailed Amherst by 78.5 points heading into spring but earned berths in six Div. III championships (men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, women’s lacrosse…
Alumni Golfers Tee Up
One hundred four players representing 10 alumni classes took to the greens in June for the Dick & Denise Baxter Reunion Golf Trophy Competition. Thirteen players from the Class of ’84 took first place with a score of 63. The Class of ’04, with 22 players, took second place with a score of 64. At…
In Memoriam
The College marked the passing of Fred H. Stocking ’36, Morris Professor of Rhetoric, emeritus, on July 21. He was 94. An English major at Williams, Stocking received his master’s (1937) and Ph.D. (1946) in English from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Clad in a bow tie and occasionally a cape, Stocking was well-known in Williamstown,…
College Joins New VA Program
Williams is now part of a U.S. Department of Veterans affairs program extending educational benefits to those who have served in the U.S. military since 2001. Under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational assistance act of 2008, veterans furthering their educations receive from the government the equivalent of the highest public tuition in their state. To help…
They Said:
A collection of opinions and ideas expressed at Williams. “When this year’s fund closed the books on June 30, more than 14,200 alumni (59.25 percent participation) had generously given, collectively contributing almost $8.7 million to the College’s operating budget—an incredible achievement considering the recent challenging economic circumstances.” —Katie Chatas ’88 and Bill Sprague ’80, co-chairs…
Williams Club Donates HQ to College
A new chapter in the long, distinguished history of the Williams Club begins Oct. 1 with a ceremony recognizing the donation of its headquarters to the College. Williams plans to lease the building to the club in an arrangement that benefits both parties financially. The club will continue its operations at its 24 East 39th…
Horn Elected Alumni Trustee
The Board of Trustees welcomed Joey Shaista Horn ’87 in July. Horn is a director of publicly traded companies in Thailand, Singapore and Norway in the shipping and offshore industries. She was a ranked equity research analyst at a Nordic securities firm in Oslo, Norway, where she lived for 12 years before moving to Singapore….
Reclaiming Childhood
Absolutely no soccer. It will affect her fertility,” Fatima instructed us as she grudgingly released her daughter’s hand, allowing Ofal to sprint over to the rest of the girls trying on athletic shoes. It was our third week running sports camps for Iraqi refugee girls living in Jordan, so the request came as no surprise….
Unique to Williams
A specialty in Imperial Russian and early Soviet history might seem an odd credential for an interim college president. Leadership transitions in Russia during those periods were nothing to emulate (they often were pretty bloody, in fact), and I doubt the Board of Trustees hoped I would prove to be another Romanov or Lenin. I…
Letters
Regarding “A Century of Change” (June 2009), I am the student pictured with the sign “Coeds Go Home.” I remember the photographer snapping the picture nearly 40 years ago. However, two clarifications are in order. 1) I did not place the message in the window. 2) As everyone who knows me will attest, I am…
Megamenu Social