honorificabilitudinitatibus - colby-sawyer...
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honorificabilitudinitatibusWesson Honors Program neWsletternovember 2007 Vol. 5 no. 1
Last year, in Danforth Hall, there was a room on
the first floor that few students even knew existed.
It contained a small number of tables and chairs,
one whiteboard, limited material resources (books,
paper, writing utensils, etc.) and one computer.
Those of us who did know that this room existed
also knew that the printer only worked if you
really pleaded with it. This small space in Danforth
Hall was the only room on campus designated
exclusively for use by Wesson Honors Program
students. Well, the days of the finicky printer and
little room to organize any type of Honors Program
gathering are over!
The Wesson Honors Program has been given
clearance to renovate and maintain the rooms on
the fourth floor of Colgate Hall, also known as
the old art studio. The space contains one large
room with beautiful skylights and two smaller
rooms that are both double the size of the old
space in Danforth Hall. So far, immense progress
has been made regarding the space’s restoration.
One of the smaller rooms, “the blue room,” is
already painted, and it currently contains a brand
new table and chairs set, a computer, a whiteboard,
and a bookcase. This room is truly immaculate.
The other smaller room, “the green room,” is fully
painted as well, and the larger room is still in the
works in terms of painting and cleaning. A group
of Wesson Honors students have been meeting
in the space biweekly to determine who will have
access to each room and when, what types of
materials and resources will be provided in each
of the rooms, how the rooms will be decorated,
and how we will all maintain the space’s renewed
pristine appearance.
by Megan Ruggiero ‘10
I wish to sing the praises of the impertinent
question - the question some would say is “not
suitable to the circumstances, inappropriate,
and out of place.” But I do not think any question
- other than say “will this be on the test?” is out
of place in a classroom full of lively discourse
and thought. Rather I agree with Gary Trudeau,
the creator of the cartoon Doonesbury, that “the
impertinent question is the glory and engine of
human inquiry.” My use of the term “impertinent
question” is not original, but in the tradition of
scholarship as I understand it, builds on others’
ideas - amplifies, extends, and applies someone
else’s ideas - in new ways. I am particularly
intrigued by the way Trudeau’s “impertinent
questions” can be models for sustained inquiry,
invention, and creativity - the condition I want
for all of us. I encountered Trudeau’s ideas in
a commencement address at Yale three years
ago and his ideas have stuck with me -
or stuck to me - persistently. He offered these ideas
to the graduates: “The impertinent question
is the glory and engine of human inquiry.
Copernicus asked it and shook the foundations
of Renaissance Europe. Darwin asked it and it is
repudiated in certain quarters to this day. Thomas
Jefferson asked it and was so invigorated by it
that he declared it an inalienable right. Daniel
Defoe asked it and invented the novel. James
Joyce asked it and reinvented the novel which was
promptly banned. Nietzsche asked it and inspired
Picasso, who restated it and inspired a revolution
in aesthetics. The Wright brothers asked it and
their achievement was ignored for five years.
Computer whiz Steven Jobs asked it and was
ignored for five minutes, which was still long
enough for him to make $200 million. Whether
revered for reviled in their lifetimes, history’s
Coordinator’s
nanosecondmovers framed their questions in ways that
were entirely disrespectful of convention. And,
he concluded, [c]ivilization has always advanced
in the shimmering wake of its discontents.” The
impertinent question is, in my mind, the mark
of the scholar.
studentcontributors
(continued on page 2)
14
Free Parking!
Features
Free Parking! The New Honors Space
The Honors Contract
Interning Amid the Stacks
The Honors Pathway
Quotes from ‘Betwixt and Between’
Notes from the Editors
Advisory Council Update
Coordinator’s Nanosecond
by Professor Ann Page Stecker
Colby-sawyer College
all You need to Know about the Honors Program’s new space
The honors advisory committee is not a
solidified group of students at this point. Our last
meeting was attended by Kimberly Walleston,
Noah Richard, Megan Ruggerio, Aimee Cates,
Amy Hebert, Kayleigh Flynn, Aubrey Thomas,
and Rachael Smith. This was just one meeting
and we are not far enough along in the process
to know who will remain active and who else
could potentially join. There is also a primary
Honors Advisory Committee that is composed
of faculty and staff members, facilitated by Ann
Page Stecker. The students of Ann Page’s Honors
Pathway are in charge of event planning this year,
as is traditional for first year students. The events
they are potentially planning include a Battle of
the Bands, a movie night, and a game night. The
upper classmen are also interested in organizing
another scavenger hunt for the spring semester,
along with our big plans for the volleyball
tournament and the Spring Carnival.
First on our list of priorities right now is the
new Honors space, and determining access
and utilization for each room. We are currently
working with Professor Chris Kubik to draft a
business plan for the space. We will hopefully be
opening up at least one of the rooms to the entire
campus as a study space and conference area.
The other two rooms will be for Honors access
only, and will provide students with quiet study
areas, computer access, and areas for group
meetings. We are also looking to get a coffee
machine and printer/copier.
Honor’s Committee
advisory council update
by Kimberly Walleston ‘09
From tHe
editors
editing and
layout design
Writers
Aubrey ThomasElisabeth Ryan
Megan RuggieroAbigail CramerFirst Year PathwayKimberly Walleston
Call For suBmissions
The Honors Newsletter is a forum for all honors
students to discuss and read about events in
the Honors program. We encourage students to
submit articles for publication in the newsletter.
We would love to hear more about the Honors
Pathway experience this semester. There is also
a fascinating discussion going on in the Honors
section of Introductory Sociology this semester.
We are hoping to run a column in every issue
that will discuss Honors Contracts. Additionally,
senior Capstones are coming up and we would
like to highlight these fascinating projects in
future issues. Students in these classes are wel-
come to submit articles to the newsletter. If you
are interested in submitting to the newsletter
please contact Aubrey Thomas at akthomas@
colby-sawyer.edu or Elisabeth Ryan at eryan@
colby-sawyer.edu.
I am an English major, and as part of the English
program I had to complete an internship in a
field that was in some way related to my studies.
Having a love of libraries (and with the hope
to have a career in Library Science), I decided
I wanted to be an intern at a library. I knew
I needed to work on completing my honors
credits, so I asked Ann Page Stecker if an honors
internship would be a possibility. She said it was,
and she informed me that I would be the first
student to complete an honors internship. With
that in mind, we met a number of times while I
was organizing the internship and planning the
interdisciplinary components.
i loved my internship, and i had a great time working with the library staff.”
After working on this for a good part of last
semester, I finally was able to do the internship
over the summer at the library here on campus.
The way I set up the internship, the entire basis
of my work was interdisciplinary (rather than
just one component being interdisciplinary);
I worked with three different librarians in each
of their three disciplines within library science.
I worked with Lianne Keary, the former Archivist,
on processing multiple collections. I worked with
Kevin French, the systems librarian, to learn just
exactly what ‘systems librarianship’ is (database
management, for the most part). I worked with
Anastasia Wells, the former cataloging librarian,
on cataloging and processing incoming books.
This was the area of my internship that I was
most interested in and that I spent the most time
working on. I now have an extensive working
knowledge of the cataloging procedures used
by librarians all over the country. Much of
what I learned from Anastasia was information
many graduate students in Library Science are
not exposed to while getting their degree; a
frequent complaint of recent graduates from MLS
programs is that they do not have the cataloging
experience their prospective employers require.
Needless to say, I gained extremely valuable
work experience. Earlier in the semester, after
Anastasia had left and before the library had
found a replacement for her, I was able to
complete most of the tasks of the cataloging
librarian so that the library could continue to
bring in new materials during that time.
2 3
“
tHe Honors ContraCt
interning amid the stacks
abigail Cramer
Honors PathwayBetwixt and Between
“i’ve never looked at the world the way i’m learning to in this class; my eyes are constantly being opened.” Jen Creasey
Our class interprets the meaning of liminality and outsiders and then relates it to many sources such as books, movies, and newspapers.
We are talking about and analyzing worldly issues in a lot of different ways, by looking at the from different perspectives.
We are learning about borders and liminality. We get to learn about these by exploring different voices and their journeys they describe.
This pathway forces you, not only to understand liminality in terms of the readings, but through the discovery of others’ experiences, the liminality in your own life. This new understanding allows for a greater empathy for others and a new way of looking at other cultures in a way you wouldn’t think to.
Deb MacEachern
Sara Bawtinheimer
Amy Nadeau
Caitlin Thornton
Right now we are learning how to analyze both text and film, and bring them together with some common themes. The class is focused on the liminality of life, that is the edges that are so universal for everyone no matter their race, religion, or social class.
This pathway is thought provoking, wonderfully insightful, and just plain fun.
This class has made me think about the world in ways I never thought I could. I feel more well rounded because of it
I enjoy being a TA for this class. I am experiencing this class for a second time basically, and it is interesting to see a new group of kids’ perspectives on books and materials that I have already.
Aimee Cates
Averie Zdon
Nicole Morin
Kim Shannon
This course has gotten me into the habit of noticing borders, both physical and not.
To an outsider, this pathway would consist of huge es-says, an abundance of books, and lengthy discussions, but on the inside it’s full of individuals coming together and observing different forms of liminality.
The Honors Pathway is an eye opening experience. There are many different works and movies about cultures and lifestyles that are very new and foreign.
Kayleigh Flynn
Jake Daniele
Meghan Steele
Preliminary plans have been made regarding each
of the rooms. “The blue room” seems to be the
perfect fit for a group study area or an independent
study area. “The green room” is a natural space for
a computer lab. The program is planning to equip it
with multiple computers, a large LaserJet printer, a
copy machine, and perhaps even a scanner. It has
been decided that only Honors Program students
will have access to these two rooms. The larger
room will most likely become a lounge, and it will
be our gift to Colby-Sawyer College. The plan is
to grant access to all Colby-Sawyer students
and faculty. However, these plans are far from
finalized. Other topics of discussion that still need
to be addressed are decorating, times of access for
each of the rooms, and how the Honors Program
will be able to keep an eye on the activities that
will take place in our new space.
It is also important to note that if you are an honors
student at Colby-Sawyer College, we would love
to have your input regarding the usage of this
new space. The group that has been meeting in
the new space throughout the past weeks is not
a select group. It is open for all Honors Program
students to participate. The group plans to also
take part in planning Wesson Weekends and
Honors Program-sponsored activities on campus,
as well as proposing new honors courses for the
college. The more involvement the group has, and
the more enthusiasm and effort it puts forth, the
better the Wesson Honors Program will be. Please,
feel free to contact Kim Walleston (kwalleston@
colby-sawyer.edu), Noah Richard (nrrichard@
colby-sawyer.edu), or myself (mruggiero@colby-
sawyer.edu) if you have any questions or would
like to become involved with the honors advisory
group. Also, stay tuned for information on future
meetings and other opportunities. Cheers to our
new space!
continued from page 1
I am an English major, and as part of the English
program I had to complete an internship in a
field that was in some way related to my studies.
Having a love of libraries (and with the hope
to have a career in Library Science), I decided
I wanted to be an intern at a library. I knew
I needed to work on completing my honors
credits, so I asked Ann Page Stecker if an honors
internship would be a possibility. She said it was,
and she informed me that I would be the first
student to complete an honors internship. With
that in mind, we met a number of times while I
was organizing the internship and planning the
interdisciplinary components.
i loved my internship, and i had a great time working with the library staff.”
After working on this for a good part of last
semester, I finally was able to do the internship
over the summer at the library here on campus.
The way I set up the internship, the entire basis
of my work was interdisciplinary (rather than
just one component being interdisciplinary);
I worked with three different librarians in each
of their three disciplines within library science.
I worked with Lianne Keary, the former Archivist,
on processing multiple collections. I worked with
Kevin French, the systems librarian, to learn just
exactly what ‘systems librarianship’ is (database
management, for the most part). I worked with
Anastasia Wells, the former cataloging librarian,
on cataloging and processing incoming books.
This was the area of my internship that I was
most interested in and that I spent the most time
working on. I now have an extensive working
knowledge of the cataloging procedures used
by librarians all over the country. Much of
what I learned from Anastasia was information
many graduate students in Library Science are
not exposed to while getting their degree; a
frequent complaint of recent graduates from MLS
programs is that they do not have the cataloging
experience their prospective employers require.
Needless to say, I gained extremely valuable
work experience. Earlier in the semester, after
Anastasia had left and before the library had
found a replacement for her, I was able to
complete most of the tasks of the cataloging
librarian so that the library could continue to
bring in new materials during that time.
2 3
“
tHe Honors ContraCt
interning amid the stacks
abigail Cramer
Honors PathwayBetwixt and Between
“i’ve never looked at the world the way i’m learning to in this class; my eyes are constantly being opened.” Jen Creasey
Our class interprets the meaning of liminality and outsiders and then relates it to many sources such as books, movies, and newspapers.
We are talking about and analyzing worldly issues in a lot of different ways, by looking at the from different perspectives.
We are learning about borders and liminality. We get to learn about these by exploring different voices and their journeys they describe.
This pathway forces you, not only to understand liminality in terms of the readings, but through the discovery of others’ experiences, the liminality in your own life. This new understanding allows for a greater empathy for others and a new way of looking at other cultures in a way you wouldn’t think to.
Deb MacEachern
Sara Bawtinheimer
Amy Nadeau
Caitlin Thornton
Right now we are learning how to analyze both text and film, and bring them together with some common themes. The class is focused on the liminality of life, that is the edges that are so universal for everyone no matter their race, religion, or social class.
This pathway is thought provoking, wonderfully insightful, and just plain fun.
This class has made me think about the world in ways I never thought I could. I feel more well rounded because of it
I enjoy being a TA for this class. I am experiencing this class for a second time basically, and it is interesting to see a new group of kids’ perspectives on books and materials that I have already.
Aimee Cates
Averie Zdon
Nicole Morin
Kim Shannon
This course has gotten me into the habit of noticing borders, both physical and not.
To an outsider, this pathway would consist of huge es-says, an abundance of books, and lengthy discussions, but on the inside it’s full of individuals coming together and observing different forms of liminality.
The Honors Pathway is an eye opening experience. There are many different works and movies about cultures and lifestyles that are very new and foreign.
Kayleigh Flynn
Jake Daniele
Meghan Steele
Preliminary plans have been made regarding each
of the rooms. “The blue room” seems to be the
perfect fit for a group study area or an independent
study area. “The green room” is a natural space for
a computer lab. The program is planning to equip it
with multiple computers, a large LaserJet printer, a
copy machine, and perhaps even a scanner. It has
been decided that only Honors Program students
will have access to these two rooms. The larger
room will most likely become a lounge, and it will
be our gift to Colby-Sawyer College. The plan is
to grant access to all Colby-Sawyer students
and faculty. However, these plans are far from
finalized. Other topics of discussion that still need
to be addressed are decorating, times of access for
each of the rooms, and how the Honors Program
will be able to keep an eye on the activities that
will take place in our new space.
It is also important to note that if you are an honors
student at Colby-Sawyer College, we would love
to have your input regarding the usage of this
new space. The group that has been meeting in
the new space throughout the past weeks is not
a select group. It is open for all Honors Program
students to participate. The group plans to also
take part in planning Wesson Weekends and
Honors Program-sponsored activities on campus,
as well as proposing new honors courses for the
college. The more involvement the group has, and
the more enthusiasm and effort it puts forth, the
better the Wesson Honors Program will be. Please,
feel free to contact Kim Walleston (kwalleston@
colby-sawyer.edu), Noah Richard (nrrichard@
colby-sawyer.edu), or myself (mruggiero@colby-
sawyer.edu) if you have any questions or would
like to become involved with the honors advisory
group. Also, stay tuned for information on future
meetings and other opportunities. Cheers to our
new space!
continued from page 1
honorificabilitudinitatibusWesson Honors Program neWsletternovember 2007 Vol. 5 no. 1
Last year, in Danforth Hall, there was a room on
the first floor that few students even knew existed.
It contained a small number of tables and chairs,
one whiteboard, limited material resources (books,
paper, writing utensils, etc.) and one computer.
Those of us who did know that this room existed
also knew that the printer only worked if you
really pleaded with it. This small space in Danforth
Hall was the only room on campus designated
exclusively for use by Wesson Honors Program
students. Well, the days of the finicky printer and
little room to organize any type of Honors Program
gathering are over!
The Wesson Honors Program has been given
clearance to renovate and maintain the rooms on
the fourth floor of Colgate Hall, also known as
the old art studio. The space contains one large
room with beautiful skylights and two smaller
rooms that are both double the size of the old
space in Danforth Hall. So far, immense progress
has been made regarding the space’s restoration.
One of the smaller rooms, “the blue room,” is
already painted, and it currently contains a brand
new table and chairs set, a computer, a whiteboard,
and a bookcase. This room is truly immaculate.
The other smaller room, “the green room,” is fully
painted as well, and the larger room is still in the
works in terms of painting and cleaning. A group
of Wesson Honors students have been meeting
in the space biweekly to determine who will have
access to each room and when, what types of
materials and resources will be provided in each
of the rooms, how the rooms will be decorated,
and how we will all maintain the space’s renewed
pristine appearance.
by Megan Ruggiero ‘10
I wish to sing the praises of the impertinent
question - the question some would say is “not
suitable to the circumstances, inappropriate,
and out of place.” But I do not think any question
- other than say “will this be on the test?” is out
of place in a classroom full of lively discourse
and thought. Rather I agree with Gary Trudeau,
the creator of the cartoon Doonesbury, that “the
impertinent question is the glory and engine of
human inquiry.” My use of the term “impertinent
question” is not original, but in the tradition of
scholarship as I understand it, builds on others’
ideas - amplifies, extends, and applies someone
else’s ideas - in new ways. I am particularly
intrigued by the way Trudeau’s “impertinent
questions” can be models for sustained inquiry,
invention, and creativity - the condition I want
for all of us. I encountered Trudeau’s ideas in
a commencement address at Yale three years
ago and his ideas have stuck with me -
or stuck to me - persistently. He offered these ideas
to the graduates: “The impertinent question
is the glory and engine of human inquiry.
Copernicus asked it and shook the foundations
of Renaissance Europe. Darwin asked it and it is
repudiated in certain quarters to this day. Thomas
Jefferson asked it and was so invigorated by it
that he declared it an inalienable right. Daniel
Defoe asked it and invented the novel. James
Joyce asked it and reinvented the novel which was
promptly banned. Nietzsche asked it and inspired
Picasso, who restated it and inspired a revolution
in aesthetics. The Wright brothers asked it and
their achievement was ignored for five years.
Computer whiz Steven Jobs asked it and was
ignored for five minutes, which was still long
enough for him to make $200 million. Whether
revered for reviled in their lifetimes, history’s
Coordinator’s
nanosecondmovers framed their questions in ways that
were entirely disrespectful of convention. And,
he concluded, [c]ivilization has always advanced
in the shimmering wake of its discontents.” The
impertinent question is, in my mind, the mark
of the scholar.
studentcontributors
(continued on page 2)
14
Free Parking!
Features
Free Parking! The New Honors Space
The Honors Contract
Interning Amid the Stacks
The Honors Pathway
Quotes from ‘Betwixt and Between’
Notes from the Editors
Advisory Council Update
Coordinator’s Nanosecond
by Professor Ann Page Stecker
Colby-sawyer College
all You need to Know about the Honors Program’s new space
The honors advisory committee is not a
solidified group of students at this point. Our last
meeting was attended by Kimberly Walleston,
Noah Richard, Megan Ruggerio, Aimee Cates,
Amy Hebert, Kayleigh Flynn, Aubrey Thomas,
and Rachael Smith. This was just one meeting
and we are not far enough along in the process
to know who will remain active and who else
could potentially join. There is also a primary
Honors Advisory Committee that is composed
of faculty and staff members, facilitated by Ann
Page Stecker. The students of Ann Page’s Honors
Pathway are in charge of event planning this year,
as is traditional for first year students. The events
they are potentially planning include a Battle of
the Bands, a movie night, and a game night. The
upper classmen are also interested in organizing
another scavenger hunt for the spring semester,
along with our big plans for the volleyball
tournament and the Spring Carnival.
First on our list of priorities right now is the
new Honors space, and determining access
and utilization for each room. We are currently
working with Professor Chris Kubik to draft a
business plan for the space. We will hopefully be
opening up at least one of the rooms to the entire
campus as a study space and conference area.
The other two rooms will be for Honors access
only, and will provide students with quiet study
areas, computer access, and areas for group
meetings. We are also looking to get a coffee
machine and printer/copier.
Honor’s Committee
advisory council update
by Kimberly Walleston ‘09
From tHe
editors
editing and
layout design
Writers
Aubrey ThomasElisabeth Ryan
Megan RuggieroAbigail CramerFirst Year PathwayKimberly Walleston
Call For suBmissions
The Honors Newsletter is a forum for all honors
students to discuss and read about events in
the Honors program. We encourage students to
submit articles for publication in the newsletter.
We would love to hear more about the Honors
Pathway experience this semester. There is also
a fascinating discussion going on in the Honors
section of Introductory Sociology this semester.
We are hoping to run a column in every issue
that will discuss Honors Contracts. Additionally,
senior Capstones are coming up and we would
like to highlight these fascinating projects in
future issues. Students in these classes are wel-
come to submit articles to the newsletter. If you
are interested in submitting to the newsletter
please contact Aubrey Thomas at akthomas@
colby-sawyer.edu or Elisabeth Ryan at eryan@
colby-sawyer.edu.