spring 2009

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Reaching New Heights

College elects new president

Students explore myriad opportunities

I n s I d e

The College Elects a New President page 4 Lori Bettison-Varga to become Scripps’ 8th President

Scripps and the Economy 101 page 6How are we doing? President Fritz Weis and Vice President and Treasurer James Manifold give answers to questions on everyone’s mind.

Interdisciplinary Humanities page 12By Tony Crowley, HarTLey Burr aLexander ProFeSSor in THe HuManiTieS

The Questioning Life of a Humanities Major page 13By Clio Korn ’10

f e a t u r e s

A World of Experience page 16 Scripps students learn about life’s possibilities through internshipsBy Anne DullAghAn

Demystifying Financial Aid page 24in difficult economic times, the office of Financial aid increases efforts to help students and families find solutions.By KrisTinA BrooKs

d e p a r t m e n t s

Editor’s Page IFC

Letters 3

Browsing Room 4

Alumnae News 30

Alumnae Speak 34“Women and Money”

nina rosoff ’65 Michelle Tung Kwok ’98

Class Notes 36Remembrances 40Post Scripps 48

“reality in Watts”by rachael Warecki ’08

Cover: detail of Asking, an oil painting on canvas by Julia Cost ’08, a double major in dance and art. The image depicts two Scripps dancers, Cost and Sara Gaynor ’07, performing Pommes Tissées, the dance thesis of abigail Stopper ’07.

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Mary Shipp BartlettEditor

Carolyn RoblesManaging Editor

Christina KellyProduction Manager

Matt HutaffStaff writer and webmaster

Kelly Boyd ’12 Whitney Eriksen ’09 Jennifer Loesch ’09 Bre’Anca Sanders ’11 Hope Whitney-Monical ’11 Ilona Zbirun ’09 Student Interns

Jay Toffoli Design Co.Design

Dual GraphicsPrinting

Mary Bartlett, p. 11Ian Bradshaw, pp. 6, 19, 23, back coverKristy Campbell, IFC John Trendler, p. 22Matt Hutaff, p. 9 (left)Kristen Miller, p. 22Bill Youngblood, pp. 1, 4, 5, 12, 15, 24-27Getty Images, pp. 9, 17, 39Photography

sprInG 2009: Vol. 80, no. 3. sCrIpps, The Women’s College, Claremont (usps #486-940) is published quarterly by scripps College, Office of public relations and Communication. periodical postage paid at Claremont, California. Copyright ©2007. all rights reserved. postmaster: send address changes to scripps College, Office of public relations and Communication, 1030 Columbia ave., Claremont, Ca 91711-3905.

above, eight of the 12 seniors majoring in humanities gather in front of Malott Commons. Back row: from left, alissa Petrites, Tara Bubriski, yael Friedman; middle: Serena Larkin, emily Seaman, Shawna Foster; front: danielle Clark, Laura Loesch.

F r o M T H e e d i T o r

Mr. and Mrs. Scrippseveryone has her own favorite power couple. arguably, these days in Claremont, that’s mary and fritz Weis.

We’ve all known mary for years. But fritz? Wasn’t he that CmC guy, the one with the bowtie, the “accompanying spouse” at scripps events? until two years ago, that is.

Then, he answered the call to become interim president for a year, while the College did a national search for its 7th president. somehow, one year became two.

It has been a great time. We’ve had the services of a dynamic duo that has served the College with dedication and hard work—and with enviable style and good cheer.

The Board of trustees surprised fritz (and mary) with the following resolution at a dinner march 28. now, fritz will forever go down in the College’s records as the official 7th president of scripps College. Congratulations, and well done!

Resolution Honoring Frederick “Fritz” Weis and naming him President of the College, 2007-08 and 2008-09

Whereas: Frederick “Fritz” Weis was initially appointed interim President of Scripps College for the period 2007-08; and

a highly regarded member of The Claremont Colleges community, he brought to this position a deep understanding of Scripps, the Claremont Consortium, and liberal arts education, and a strong background in finance, college administration, and teaching; and

He demonstrated his commitment to and affection for Scripps by responding to our call for his continued leadership, extending his appointment as interim President for one additional year through 2008-09; and

With a keen understanding that Scripps could not lose momentum during this transitional period, he was instrumental in moving the College forward in key strategic areas. among the significant accomplishments during his two years of service are the implementation of the Faculty retention and Hiring endowment Fund Program, completion of the Sallie Tiernan Field House, cultivating a major gift to increase critically needed student aid resources, and encouraging an improved sense of community on campus; and

Fritz Weis has always been a champion of the open process and demonstrated his commitment to this approach in all of his interactions with faculty, students, staff, and trustees, which earned him the respect and admiration of the College community; and

Scripps has benefited, in particular, from Fritz Weis’ conscientious and wise counsel in the area of business and finance; and

He was particularly successful in developing a strong rapport with students who helped him discover his “feminine side;” and

individually and as a couple, Fritz Weis and his wife, Scripps alumna Mary Fraser Weis, Class of 1966, are models of unselfish devotion to the College, freely giving of their time and energies to friend raising, fundraising, and whatever else is in the best interest of the College.

Therefore, be it resolved: That the Scripps Board of Trustees takes enormous pride in the leadership provided by Fritz Weis during an important transition time of the College. He served the College with generosity, wisdom, and exceptional sound judgment. Through his good efforts, Scripps is better positioned to move to new levels of achievement and national recognition. it is with gratitude that the Board confers the title of President of the College on Frederick M. Weis for the academic years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

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lettersTO THE EDITOR

thanks for such an excellent fall issue. There were several wonderful articles, but a couple really stood out to me, including allison V. Thompkins’ “should We Be a Colorblind society?” such a thoughtful and well-reasoned article, and who better than the author to write it. Wow!

I also appreciated Jessica Heaton’s sensitive article on her encounter at an Israeli checkpoint in the post scripps section. Her honesty about her encounter—and the magazine’s courage in printing such a piece on this controversial subject—was eye-opening.

Last but not least, in scanning through the Class notes section to see what great things alumnae are up to, it was touching to see notices of several same-gender couples and their celebrations of weddings, etc. regardless of where one stands personally on these issues, I believe the College is taking a deeply honoring and respectful stand towards all its alumnae in publishing everyone’s contribution.

Thanks for providing this forum where all our voices may be heard. We know from our scripps background that it does indeed enrich us to ponder ideas we might not normally come into contact with. Well done, and thanks again!

Helen Parker Young ’72

UplaNd, Calif.

We all know that no matter the cover story of the most recent scripps magazine, the most exciting section of the publication is the coveted news notes, the section where we can read about the accomplishments and adventures

of our fellow scripps sister alumnae. I was shocked and appalled at the following note that appeared within this most loved section. It read, “While our policy is not to include engagement or pregnancy announcements, we will be happy to publicize your good news once it becomes a reality—so be sure to keep us updated.” This statement to me was rude and offensive. While I am not pregnant or engaged, I know that for those scripps alumnae who currently are in these two stages of life, it is definitely real to them. Who makes you the decision-maker for these women? If they choose to send in a news note about their pregnancy or engagement, it is their news, and I do not understand how in good conscience you would choose to censor their news based on your closed definition of reality. With the recent passing of my dear classmate, Liz Goodman Logelin ’00, I have been given a new perspective on life. every day is real and precious, and it is not within our right to tell others what is and is not real to them. In the spirit of the alumnae association’s seal “Incipit Vita nova” (Here begins new life), I urge you to print those new notes and to not censor news based on your own opinion of reality. to the women in these stages of life, it is a “new life” in a sense that has begun, and if they want to share their news, then by all means I urge you to print it.

Living my life in the real world everyday,

SaraH Belanger lantz ’00 UplaNd, Calif.

Editor’s note: In response to the above concern, we have reworded our policy (please see p. 37). It is standard practice

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in alumnae magazines not to print news of engagements or pregnancies, and this has been Scripps’ policy since 1998.

I just wanted to congratulate all of you on a spectacular issue of Scripps Magazine. It was funny, beautifully written, and even a little edgy (mark Golub on the elections! Coverage of LGBt and disability rights issues!). and, of course, you knew this was coming—it made me miss scripps dearly, and not just for the beautiful new field House.

aSHleY BootHBY ’07 ENglEwood, Colo.

Love the fall 2008 bulletin [Scripps Magazine]—the field House, the elms, the Bear, and nancy [neighbor] russell—gorgeous photography, so many impressive side bars. Thank you, too, for the information about Mischief in Tuscany. Bravissimo!

nancY SHroYer Howard ’53 ColoRado SpRiNgS, Colo.

Fashion Plates tell cultural tales

in the depths of denison Library lies an unparalleled collection of more than 650 19th-century fashion plates. The precursors of photographs in today’s Vogue, fashion plates tell the story of the culture they portray in both subtle and obvious ways. They are a rich resource for scholars of fashion history and culture, questions of gender, sartorial fashion, and mass-circulating publications.

in 1948, Scripps trustee Benjamin Kirby (1876-1957) donated the plates to Scripps College and named the collection after his first wife, Myrtle Tyrrell Kirby. in spring 2007, after being quietly stored for almost 60 years, the collection was introduced to Heidi Brevik-Zender, visiting assistant professor of French studies, by Judy Harvey Sahak ’64, the Sally Preston Swan Librarian at denison Library. Brevik-Zender used the plates to research modernity, gender, and sartorial fashion in late 19th-century France in preparation for her fall 2007 course, La Mode et La Modernité (The Fashion of Modernity). Together, Sahak and Brevik-Zender initiated the digitization of the collection for the Claremont Colleges digital Library, in order to make the historical resource accessible to a greater audience via the internet.

With engravings ranging from the late 18th-century to the early 20th, the collection represents what Brevik-Zender describes as “the golden age of hand-touched, mass-circulating fashion imagery.” The plates show contemporary scenes of middle- and upper-class life, emphasizing the leisure practices of women, and, at times, men and children, from bourgeois society. While the majority of the collection originates from French, British, and american periodicals, plates from Spain, Germany, and the netherlands are also included, showing the unique values, tastes, aspirations, and norms of each culture.

digitization of the collection was made possible by a grant from Cecilia Conrad, dean of faculty at Scripps College and Stedman-Sumner Professor of economics at Pomona College. The full collection may be viewed at http://ccdl.libraries.claremont.edu/col/fpc.

—JenniFer loeScH ’09

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Scripps College Board of Trustees has unanimously elected Lori Bettison-Varga president of Scripps College, effective July 1, 2009. A nationally known proponent of liberal arts undergraduate research, Bettison-Varga is currently provost and dean of the faculty at Whitman College, in Walla Walla, Wash. Her first faculty position was visiting assistant professor of geology at Pomona College, in 1990-92. She spent the next 15 years at the College of Wooster, in Ohio, as a professor and chair of the geology department.

“Scripps is thrilled that Professor Lori Bettison-Varga will be our next president,” said Board Chair Roxanne M. Wilson ’76, after a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees on March 28. “Beyond being a national educational leader of exceptional range and personal warmth, she has ties to Scripps and Claremont, and we are delighted and proud to welcome her ‘home.’”

Bettison-Varga’s mother is Barbara Yunker Bettison ’54 and her cousin is Susan Yunker Armstrong ’66. She has a PhD and MS in geology from the University of California, Davis, and a BA in geology, with honors, from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

On Sunday, March 29, Bettison-Varga came to Scripps with her husband, fellow geologist Robert Varga, and two of their three children to view the campus and tour their future home—and on a day when it was snowing in Walla Walla, it turned sunny

Welcome to Scripps, Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga!

Lori Bettison-Varga, with her husband and two of her three children, on Engemann Family Terrace of the Malott Commons. From left, Lexie (9), Bettison-Varga, Will (15), and Bob Varga. Their elder son, Matt, is a freshman at the University of Puget Sound.

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Scripps’ New Members on the Board of Trustees

Francille “Fran” Norris ScobleFran Scoble, Scripps’s newest board member, received her BA in English with a philosophy minor from Baylor University, cum laude. She then earned her MA in English from Vanderbilt University as a

Ford Foundation Fellow and completed coursework at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colo.

She served as head of school at Westridge School for Girls from 1990 until her retirement

in June 2008. Her previous professional experience includes positions at St. Mary’s Academy in Englewood, Colo., and Colorado Academy in Denver.

Scoble’s expertise with secondary schools for girls is expected to be a tremendous asset to the Board and the College. She ushered Westridge School for Girls through a major capital campaign, and guided the renovation and restoration of its campus buildings. Scoble also has considerable experience serving on various non-profit boards, including treasurer of the National Association of Independent Schools, past president of the California Association of Independent Schools, and with the National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls, Chandler School in Pasadena, and Planned Parenthood of Pasadena.

Scoble began her term in February 2009 on the Scripps Board; she serves on the buildings and grounds and student affairs committees.

H. Andrea NevesEducator and expert on global cultural anthropology, H. Andrea Neves became a member of the Scripps College Board of Trustees in December 2008.

Neves received a bachelor’s degree in international relations/Latin American studies from the Universidad de Las Americas, in Mexico D.F., Mexico. After teaching at the secondary level in Mexico City and in the United States, she earned an MA degree in social sciences/cultural anthropology and early childhood education from Sacramento State University, and a PhD in education from Stanford University. She has taught at Stanford in the School of Education as a professor and as a visiting scholar, and at Sonoma State University, as a professor of education for more than 30 years.

Her career also includes fellowships from the Fulbright-Hays Program to study the effects of globalization on the educational systems of Tanzania and Uganda. She is presently engaged in development projects and scholarships for young women in Tanzania.

Neves and her husband, Barton Evans, live in Hillsborough, Calif., where they are active in philanthropy in support of education, as well as the arts.

First Nationally Elected Scripps Alumna to Give Commencement AddressU.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords ’93 will address this year’s graduating class on Sunday, May 17, 2009, on Elm Tree Lawn.

Giffords represents the Eighth District of Arizona, a diverse area that covers 9,000 square miles including a 114 mile border with Mexico.

Giffords has a series of impressive firsts: she is the first woman to represent Arizona in Congress in

more than a decade, the first Democrat to win the Tucson-area district in more than 20 years—and the first Scripps College alumna elected to national office.

She is also Arizona’s first Jewish female representative, the youngest woman to be elected to the Arizona State Senate, and only the third woman in Arizona to be elected to the U.S. Congress.

Karen Tse ’86 , founder and CEO of International Bridges to Justice will give the baccalaureate address to the Class of 2009. Tse, an international human rights attorney and ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, founded International Bridges to Justice in 2000. In 2002, Tse was named Scripps’ Outstanding Recent Alumna.

in Claremont and the scent of orange blossoms permeated the air. The new family will occupy Revelle House, and Alumnae Relations, which has occupied the space since 1999, will relocate to an appropriate place on Scripps’ historic campus.

Bettison-Varga succeeds Frederick “Fritz” Weis, who completes a two-year term as president in June. “Scripps excels in liberal arts education, and so does Lori Bettison-Varga,” Weis said of his successor. Scripps’ new president will hold the title of the W.M. Keck Foundation Presidential Chair, established in 1980.

At a dinner for trustees and members of the search committee Sunday night

in Margaret Fowler Garden, Bettison-Varga said she was “deeply honored” to be selected as Scripps’ 8th president.

She added: “I must tell you that I feel I have come home. I feel a deep bond to Scripps, going back to my childhood, but, more importantly, a bond related to my life’s work, which has been dedicated to fulfilling the principles of a liberal arts education. Our mission is to develop in students a lifelong love of learning and the capacity for transformational leadership. Indeed, Scripps is the embodiment of all that I value in a liberal arts education….We have an immensely compelling story—a legacy—rich with history, steeped in the beauty and serenity of this historic campus, and marked by a unique curriculum that empowers a new generation of women leaders. It is a story exemplified by the accomplishments of Scripps alumnae around the world who give of themselves with confidence, courage, and hope.

“It will be a privilege to serve the Scripps community, and I cannot wait to get started!”

More information about Lori Bettison-Varga may be found at www.scrippscollege.edu/news/press-releases/

On Monday, March 30, the Scripps community celebrated the election of Lori Bettison-Varga at a communitywide reception in a packed Hampton Room of the Malott Commons. She is shown here with Scripps President Fritz Weis.

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How is Scripps doing in these uncertain financial times? we asked president fritz weis and Vice president and Treasurer James Manifold to make sense of what’s happening and why Scripps may be ahead of many of the nation’s colleges in weathering this financial storm.

Scripps and the Economy 101

Q. with the decline in the stock market, what’s happening for Scripps in terms of its endowment?

a. Our endowment is down 17.5%, from July 1 through december 31, 2008; nationally, other colleges’ endowments face declines of 25-35%, or more. spending from our endowment supports about 23% of the College’s operations. Ironically, the nation’s ultra wealthy schools are struggling more than we are this year since many rely upon their endowment spending to support up to 50% of their operations.

Q. where does the rest of our income come from?

a. The College has three main sources of income: net student revenues, gifts and other sources, and endowment payout. net student revenues support 64% of our operations, endowment payout, 23%, and gifts to the College and other sources, 13%.

Q. who decides the college’s operating budget each year?

a. The finance Committee of the Board of trustees presents a budget to the full board for approval each spring. The trustees voted to approve the 2009-10 budget at their march 29 meeting.

Q. it certainly wasn’t “business as usual” in determining the operating budget this year. Set the stage for us, please.

a. to say that this year’s budget exercise was challenging would be an understatement. as we watched the financial markets unwind over the last three quarters, each of us involved in the process wrestled with new budgetary realities. The grim news in the media served as a background for the finance Committee’s deliberations.

fortunately, the College has been in budgetary financial equilibrium for the last three years and in financial equilibrium for the last four, based on actual results of operations going back to fiscal year 2005-06. also, we are

projecting we will end the current fiscal year with a $500,000 operating surplus. scripps has always operated on a lean budget, and that has significantly helped us stay financially healthy and be able to move ahead in this current economy.

Q. what is financial equilibrium and why is it important?

a. financial equilibrium is a condition where operating revenues equal or exceed operating expenses. financial equilibrium is important because it provides a stable base from which to absorb financial shocks to the system. The whole financial structure of a college is, by design, crafted for slow, incremental change, rather than supple, quick moves.

Q. the college hired 11 new faculty this year, as well as four last year. How was this possible?

a. These new faculty are all replacements for already budgeted faculty positions. although many other colleges canceled or deferred searches this year, scripps elected to maintain our commitment to small classes and a low student-faculty ratio. With the buyer’s market, we were able to hire a superb cohort of young teacher-scholars and to fill some positions that had been vacant for several years.

Q. are we growing the student body?

a. not at this time. This fall, we anticipate bringing the total enrollment of students to 900, down from 932 in 2008, when we had an unusually high yield from those admitted. This decrease will bring the student-faculty ratio closer to our goal of 10:1. We will move toward our strategic plan goal of 1,000 students only when this growth is consistent with the priorities of the plan, including academic excellence and other measures of quality.

Q. what are the highlights of the 2009-10 operating budget?

• We are increasing student charges by 2.2%, the lowest percentage increase since 1972, and most likely among the lowest percentage increases in the nation this year.

• financial aid dollars in support of scripps students will increase 10%, or five times the rate of the tuition percentage increase.

• endowment spending in support of operations will increase by $325,000 (from $10.9 million to $11.2 million), based on scripps’ approved spending policy. Our policy will be modestly adjusted to slow the impact of market changes on the budget in both up and down markets.

• an anonymous pledge of $5.7 million over the next three years in support of the James e. scripps (Jes) scholars program has added some budgetary flexibility to future operations. next year’s budget includes use of $1.9 million received in support of the Jes scholars program. The remainder of the pledge will be used strategically over the following four years.

• modest salary increases for faculty salaries are being supported in part through spending from the scripps College faculty retention and Hiring endowment fund.

Q. Historically, tuition has gone up each year, by an average of 7% over the last three years at Scripps. the 2.2% increase in total student charges is the lowest percentage increase in the past 20 years. why so low this year?

a. We recognize the difficulties our students and their families are facing in today’s economy. If we can balance our budget, maintain the academic programs, and keep up our staffing levels, and at the same time keep our fees as low as possible, we will do so.

Q. in a year when other businesses and organizations are laying off employees, freezing salaries, and increasing revenue where possible, how can Scripps have such a low tuition increase and give salary increases, too?

a. scripps finds itself in an unusual budgetary position relative to its competitors, principally due to the anonymous gift in support of the Jes scholars program. This astonishingly generous and timely gift has really made all the difference in allowing the budget process to avoid program cuts and the postponement of all strategic plan goals.

Q. what are the college’s contingency plans?

a. In addition to our $500,000 surplus, the College has identified $500,000 of cost savings that could be made as a

mid-course correction should enrollment be short or financial aid exceed the budget.

Q. Shouldn’t we suspend capital expenditures until the economy turns around?

a. This year’s total budget of $2.5 million for capital expenditures is $1 million less than last year’s, and capital equipment in the operating budget is 4% less than last. a total suspension would not save money in the long run; it would create deferred maintenance, something the College worked very hard to address over the last 15 years. It is estimated by some that every dollar of deferred maintenance creates $2-$3 of eventual spending down the road.

Q. what’s ahead for Scripps?

a. What is clear is that scripps is obliged to make decisions that advance its mission based upon current conditions. since we find ourselves in an advantageous budgetary position, we are using this opportunity to gain some ground on strategic plan goals. We are confident that the College is in good financial shape—with sound advice and management from the Board of trustees—to continue to thrive in the years ahead and support its mission of providing the finest liberal arts education to our students.

• net Student revenues 64%• endowment Payout 23%• other revenue 13%

Scripps college revenuesFiscal Year 2009/2010

• academic Program 50%• Co-curricular Program 28%• Marketing 13%• administrative and General 9%

Scripps college operating expenses by cost centerFiscal Year 2009/2010


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Students Take action for good CausesWhen scripps students care passionately about a cause, increasingly they turn to creative and productive ways to get out the word—and raise money.

In march this year, two groups of students literally put their bodies on the line to help fight two deadly diseases, aIds/HIV and cancer.

The first group, composed of members of the Claremont-mudd-scripps (Cms) soccer teams, scripps activities team, and peace and Justice, held a barefoot soccer tournament on the College’s new athletic field on march 7, with 125 student participants. funds raised will go to Grassroot soccer, an organization that uses soccer as a tool to teach people in africa about aIds prevention and works to reduce the stigma around aIds/HIV.

The barefoot soccer organizers from scripps are arlyn madsen-Bond ’11, madden rowell ’11, anna fiastro ’11, and amanda drasny ’09. madsen-Bond reports that they raised $3,275 (more than double their goal) and are waiting for additional donations to come in before they close the books.

“It was truly amazing to see so many people having fun while raising money for such a great cause,” says madsen-Bond. “It goes to show that a small group of individuals can make a difference.”

The second student organization helped put on a 24-hour dance-a-thon to raise money for City of Hope, a comprehensive cancer center focused on research and treatment. dance-a-thon, now in its fourth year, is much like a walk-a-thon, except participants dance the Lindy Hop, nonstop. six scripps students in The Claremont Colleges Ballroom dance Company were joined by six other dancers from Harvey mudd and pomona Colleges, on march 14, at a nearby L.a. fitness facility. at least one member from the team danced continuously for the entire 24 hours. With each dancer responsible for raising at least $50, the team’s contribution to cancer research came to over $600. The six scripps dancers were Jessica Hurley ’09, ellyn Brady ’10, paulina sanchez ’10, elena Hernandez ’11, Julie Lapidus ’11, and april Wong ’12.

scripps students—putting their words and beliefs into action. –Ilona Zbirun ’09 contributed to this article

arlyn Madsen-Bond ’11, center, passes the ball during a barefoot soccer tournament, March 7, on Scripps’ new athletic field to raise money through Grassroot Soccer for aidS education and prevention in africa.

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Scripps Senior alissa Petrites wins davis Peace grant

alissa petrites ’09, a humanities major from Oakland, Calif., is the recipient of a 2009 davis projects for peace grant, in the amount of $10,000, to facilitate her “promoting Breast milk donation” project in south africa.

petrites’ project is designed to further the practice of breast milk donation in durban, south africa, and will have three components: a promotional campaign geared toward potential breast milk donors, the creation of a combined history and manual of the iThemba Lethu breast milk bank to aid the development of further milk banks, and focus groups to explore possible challenges and cultural taboos that women might face in accepting donated breast milk for their premature infants. she will work in collaboration with the director of the breast milk bank at iThemba Lethu, and a professor at the university of KwaZulu-natal.

petrites describes her project as one that “fuses the social and biological, channeling the nutritional and immunological benefits of breast milk through the very social grassroots path of breast milk donation. It, therefore, engenders peace on both a material and interpersonal level.”

petrites is currently co-director of Challah for Hunger, a student-run organization that, through baking and selling challah, raises funds and awareness about genocide in darfur.

Scripps Student named watson FellowKyle delbyck ’09, a history major from mill Valley, Calif., was awarded a prestigious 2009-2010 Watson foundation fellowship to spend a year exploring relationships between dramatic presentations and historical amnesia in Lithuania, taiwan, Cambodia, and Ghana. delbyck, who plans a career as a playwright, is one of only 40 students in the country to be awarded a Watson fellowship this year. The awardees will each receive a $28,000 grant to fund their travel and research.

delbyck called the fellowship “the opportunity of a lifetime.” praising the help she received from scripps, she added: “The scripps committee was so supportive and helpful throughout the whole process.” Led by susan rankaitis, the fletcher Jones professor of studio art, the committee includes Gretchen edwalds-Gilbert, associate professor of biology; amy marcus-newhall, professor of psychology; dion scott-Kakures, the mary W. Johnson and J. stanley Johnson professor in the Humanities; and Yvonne frame, program administrator, Office of the president.

a Bright Future

Graduate school acceptances, awards, and job offers pour in for the Class of 2009. Here are just a few of their opportunities, as of April 2.

■ Fulbright finalists: 9 seniors

■ davis Projects for Peace grant

■ Watson Fellowship

■ MS in Molecular epidemiology, Harvard

■ MFa in dance, uC irvine

■ Montessori Teaching Certificate, St. Mary’s College, dublin, ireland

■ Corps member, Teach For america

■ Consulting associate, Cambridge associates

■ 2+2 Program, Harvard Business School

■ Ma in history of art, Courtauld institute, London

■ Phd in neuroscience, uSC

■ Phd in behavioral and social neuroscience, Caltech

■ Ma in landscape architecture, uC Berkeley, Cornell, university of oregon, and uSC

■ Phd in cultural anthropology, Washington State

■ intern, Vogue magazine

■ Phd in history, uCLa

■ Ma in russian and Slavic studies, nyu

■ Phd in italian studies, uCLa

■ MaTCH Corps member, MaTCH Charter School

■ environmental education intern, islandWood

■ Phd in developmental psychology, Clark university

■ Ma in journalism, Stanford

■ Phd in music theory, u of Chicago

■ Phd in chemistry, Stanford

■ Jd at uC Berkeley (Boalt), uC Hastings, uSC, duke, Georgetown

■ Ma in Latin american studies, oxford university

■ instructor, Williwaw adventures

delbyck has also received a davis Projects for Peace grant, along with a senior at dickinson College, to fund a five-week project in northern ireland. The two women will explore ways in which the reconceptualization of color can be used as a tool of conflict resolution.

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Xiamen Musicians Revisit Campusfor several years, scripps has nurtured a special relationship with Xiamen university, located on a semi-tropical island in the fujian province of China, across from taiwan. Both colleges have sponsored educational exchanges with one another—the most recent being Xiamen’s four-day visit to the scripps campus in early february this year. during the summers of 2007 and 2008, faculty delegations from scripps’ music department were in residence for two weeks each at Xiamen university, sharing musical instruction and performances with Chinese faculty and students.

This time, it was the Xiamen music faculty’s turn, with their second visit to scripps College. at a gala concert in Garrison Theater, they performed, to a standing ovation, traditional Chinese music on ancient and modern instruments they had brought with them from China. dr. min Wang, professor of ethnomusicology, gave a public lecture on nan Yin music in the Boone recital Hall.

a dinner for the Xiamen guests, hosted by scripps’ president fritz Weis and coordinated by professor of music Hao Huang, was held in the founders room at Honnold Library, and included scripps music faculty and students, as well as faculty members and representatives from throughout The Claremont Colleges with expertise or interest in Chinese music, language, and culture. Highlighting an evening filled with toasts, translations, and gift exchanges were two impromptu musical performances by Xiamen faculty members: Liang Zhao playing a Xun (ancient clay flute), presented as a gift to president Weis, and senior composer du Zhaozhi crooning a mongolian folksong.

Scripps’ amazing facultyThe editors of scripps magazine were so impressed with the coverage of recent faculty awards in the student newspaper, voice, that we are pleased to reprint the article, written by Vritti Goel ’12. It has been edited briefly for space.

Two weeks ago [in february 2009], scripps students received an email announcing the recipients of the mary W. Johnson faculty achievement award. named after mary Wig Johnson ’35, a major supporter of and contributor to scripps, the award is given by an

anonymous committee that deliberates upon nominations from scripps community members and awards 12 professors who have reached extraordinary heights in teaching, research, and service.

all recipients were extremely gratified and honored to receive such recognition and were quick to point out that many others deserved awards as well. professor Gayle Blankenburg stated, “The award makes me feel like a valued member of the scripps College community.”

Indeed, scripps professors have won countless awards, published many works and performances, conducted groundbreaking research, traveled around the world, and shared with scripps students the knowledge and wisdom gained from their many experiences. most recipients say that if the decision were up to them, they would give the award to someone else. Yet all the recipients are very well qualified for the honor.

for the teaching recipients, the award is all about the

students. professor marina pérez de mendiola said: “The students I teach here are the reason why I stay at scripps. I have been blessed with incredibly intelligent and dedicated students, and whatever I give them, they give me back 100 times more.”

professor Gail abrams agreed: “This type of academic environment is so stimulating. I feel most fortunate to be at scripps because of the freedom I have to teach what I want and how I want. I believe that significant, lasting learning takes place when students recognize the relevance of course material to multiple and diverse aspects of their lives.”

recipients of the teaching award are: Gail Abrams (dance), Aaron Matz (english), Mark Golub (politics/international relations), Natalie Rachlin (french), and Marina Pérez de Mendiola (Hispanic studies).

The research recipients are given the award for their research from the past year, which includes projects such as publications, scientific studies, art exhibits, or musical accomplishments.

Gayle Blankenburg is a music professor who recorded a Cd of arnold schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire with the chamber music ensemble in which she plays. Blankenburg performed in many concerts both on and off campus and was part of the scripps music delegation to Xiamen university in China, where she both performed and taught.

at a dinner honoring the visiting delegation from xiamen university, Kitty Maryatt ’66, director of the

Scripps College Press, presents an artists’ book to dean of the arts College at xiamen university Su Li, far left, as President Fritz Weis and xiamen Professor

Min Wang look on. The book, To One’s Taste, was created by Scripps College Press students, who

investigated the 2,000-year history of spices traded along the Silk road through China; their work resulted

in illustrated texts based on personal interactions with aromatic spices, printed by letterpress, and

hand-bound in an edition of 109 copies.

Eric Haskell, professor of french and humanities, has received the award eight previous times. His accomplishments for the 2007-08 year include 32 public lectures, a book, scholarly papers and articles, and international travel for research. He particularly focused on “image-text inquiry as it relates to the illustrated book and garden history.”

Nancy Macko, professor of art, received the award for integrating art with other fields. Her works were displayed worldwide, especially in the Czech republic, the rIsd museum of art, and the palace of the Legion of Honor.

Amy Marcus-Newhall, professor of psychology, studied two different topics: genocide and the intersection of work and family. she focused on social justice, intergroup relationships, and women’s issues. marcus-newhall also contributed to three books in the past year and has begun a series of studies on genocide and activism.

Stacey Wood, associate professor of psychology, focused on decision making, even going so far as to joke that “some students say my classes make them better poker players!” she also focused on law psychology, serving as editor for the Assessment of Older Adults with Diminished Capacity: A Handbook for Psychologists.

two professors who have done extraordinary community service also received the faculty award. The recipients are Nancy Neiman Auerbach (politics/international relations), currently on sabbatical, and Rita Roberts (history and black studies).

With their extraordinary accomplishments, these professors set the bar very high for this year’s recipients, who will be announced in the next academic year. Their

many accomplishments have benefited scripps and the outside community. even after receiving this award, these professors have their feet firmly on the ground and modestly applaud their fellow faculty members for their accomplishments. Their numerous accomplishments show us just how superhuman they are.

so, to the professors who won: If it weren’t for your passion and dedication to giving us a high-quality education, academics at scripps would not be nearly as fulfilling as it currently is. Let’s break out the Champagne (or the sparkling cider) and celebrate these wonderful professors who make scripps what it is and make our lives more wonderful every day. Congratulations!

Marcus-Newhall Macko Abrams Wood Blankenburg GolubNeiman Auerbach Rachlin Haskell Matz RobertsPérez de Mendiola

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interdisciplinary Humanities – a grand old Scripps traditionBy Tony Crowley, Hartley Burr Alexander Professor in the Humanities

i knew about scripps and its distinctive curriculum before I arrived on campus for my interview, but once I started to talk to prospective colleagues, I soon

realized, as many people do, that there was something very special about this place. Others have their own reasons for finding scripps attractive, but my interest was stimulated by the Core Curriculum and the Humanities major in Interdisciplinary studies in Culture. forget the beautiful landscape, the modern facilities, the blend of tradition and innovation, the outstanding students, the great colleagues, the soccer pitch also known as Jaqua Quad…It was the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary studies in the humanities that brought me to scripps.

What I didn’t understand until I actually arrived is that the Core and the humanities major are directly linked—both historically and intellectually. Originally designed 10 years ago to cater to the interests of a number of students who wanted to pursue the issues and ideas raised in the Core program, the development and success of the major (26 students declared in the field this year with 12 graduating seniors) indicates that there is a clear demand among our students for the type of interdisciplinary education that will enable them to analyze and engage with the local, national, and international aspects of our globalized world.

teaching the humanities major is fascinating and fun for a number of reasons. first, it takes as its object of study the topic that has dominated intellectual life in the humanities in modernity—culture. from anthropology to history, sociology to english literature, language study to political science, the recognition that we are the subjects of culture and cultures has completely transformed our knowledge of ourselves and our sense of our place in the world. We are now aware of both the complexity of the cultures we inhabit and the opportunities and dangers we face. and if anything can be said to characterize the humanities major, it is precisely a focus on the possibilities and difficulties of our contemporary historical situation.

another reason why the humanities major is so exciting is the emphasis on interdisciplinarity, which is built into the structure of the degree. The

intricacies of culture and cultures can’t be studied simply from within a particular discipline, but require a genuinely interdisciplinary approach—a willingness not just to cross intellectual borders but to breach them and extend them. and that is what we seek to foster in our students—a mode of intellectual honesty and confidence that encourages the creative scepticism which will allow them to challenge the accepted boundaries of knowledge. Once instilled with that turn of mind, through the required introductory courses in theory and method and the interdisciplinary humanities options, the students in the

major are then well-equipped to study disciplinary topics that complement their interests and prepare them to focus on their thesis.

my final reason for finding the humanities major exciting and rewarding is that it allows me to participate in an example of scripps collaboration at its best. I get to work with a set of colleagues drawn from different disciplines, all experienced teachers of Core I, who come together voluntarily to teach the degree. It would not be possible without the invaluable contributions of andrew aisenberg (history), roswitha Burwick (German), marc Katz (German), marina pérez de mendiola (Hispanic studies), nathalie rachlin (french), david roselli (classics), and Cheryl Walker (english).

I suppose one way of accounting for the interdisciplinarity of the humanities major is to see it as a reflection of the significant recent shift in scholarly method that has taken place internationally. But there is another way of thinking about it. although the term wasn’t used in those days (its first use dates from the 1970s), interdisciplinarity has been at the heart of the scripps education since the inception of the College—part of what has made the place unique. In that sense then, rather than being a radical innovation, the humanities major is simply a continuation of a grand old scripps tradition. Given the problems and complexity of our present moment in history, it’s one we should embrace, celebrate, and cultivate.


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the Questioning life of a Humanities Majorby Clio Korn ’10

it’s late afternoon, and professor Crowley is insisting to his “Language, Culture, and society” class that the concepts and categories that define our world

are human creations—it’s all a social construction. a fellow humanities major looks troubled, and professor Crowley remarks, “feel like the floor’s been pulled out from under you?” We laugh because we’ve all had that feeling. When you major in Humanities: Interdisciplinary studies in Culture, you come to expect that your most basic assumptions will be challenged and your worldview thrown into question on a regular basis. I love these challenges, the paradoxes, the questions with no final answers. That’s why I’m a humanities major.

Humanities classes train you to question everything—to recognize the layers of meaning in a situation, assess how these meanings are created, notice who creates particular meanings and who benefits from them, and examine the validity of the assumptions inherent in these meanings. While visiting a museum, a humanities major might ask why a picasso painting, but not a child’s doodle, is considered great art

and afforded a spot on the museum’s wall, or she might reflect on how the meaning of a ceremonial mask changes when it is moved from a ritual context into a museum case. While reading the newspaper, a humanities major might consider who decides what violence counts as war, what as terrorism, what as revolution, and contemplate how these distinctions influence people’s views of foreign policy. These are hard questions. They lead to more questions, not firm answers. They push you to take a close look at how you think, to ask why you think the way you do, and to assess the consequences of thinking in this way. The uncertainty this questioning uncovers can be troubling and unsettling, but I also find it thrilling. The world is a very interesting place when seen through a humanities major’s eyes: boundaries become blurry, distinct categories melt into a continuum, and interpretations multiply.

I find that things get even more interesting when you look at them from the perspectives of both humanities and neuroscience, which is why I’m pursuing a second major in cellular and molecular neuroscience. Both fields investigate how our minds work—neuroscience at the level of the physical brain, humanities on a more conceptual level. The combination of these perspectives is very powerful. for example, writers in humanities have exposed the continuum of gender and sex that underlies the socially constructed categories of “male” and “female,” and their arguments are backed by scientific studies of people

who are born with an indeterminate sex. Yet our society still overwhelming operates on the assumption that “male” and “female” are distinct, mutually exclusive categories. In science, questions are posed and experiments conducted in the context of this view. a humanities perspective, supported by critically examined scientific data, can reshape our thinking and rid it of faulty assumptions.

Humanities offers insights into every aspect of my life. Last semester a friend and I did a project on facebook: we examined how it forces people to define themselves in terms of predetermined categories and the potential for individual creativity within the confines of these categories. When I visited uganda last summer, the mindset I cultivate in humanities classes helped me stay intellectually interested in my experience even when I felt emotionally disconnected from the people around me because their culture was so different from my own; as I taught neuroscience to ugandan counseling students, that humanities mindset helped me be sensitive to their largely non-scientific worldviews. In the future, I plan to conduct research in social neuroscience and investigate the nature of consciousness. Both issues lie at the intersection of humanities and neuroscience, and I’m sure my humanities training will keep me continually questioning as I design experiments. ultimately, I’m majoring in humanities because I think the questions it poses are essential to living a thoughtful life.

Interdisciplinarity has been at the heart of the Scripps education since the inception of the College.

The uncertainty this questioning uncovers can be troubling and unsettling, but I also find it thrilling.

Professor Tony Crowley and Clio Korn in Holden Court. in early april, Korn, a junior, learned she had been awarded a Goldwater scholarship, the nation’s premier scholarship for undergraduates studying science and mathematics; Korn is pursuing a double major in humanities and in cellular and molecular neuroscience.


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Let’s Dance!Combining the creativity of student art with dance; the Scripps College dance department has produced a set of note cards, designed by senior Julia Cost, a double major in art and dance. Cost created the paintings for her art thesis. The set contains eight cards and envelopes, each with a unique image of dancers from The Claremont Colleges performing student-choreographed work. The note cards are available for purchase through the dance department for $18, with all proceeds benefitting Scripps dance. For more information, contact the department at (909) 607-2934.

other art work by Cost will be part of the annual Senior art exhibition, from May 1 through May 17, at the Williamson Gallery.

dancing with the Starssydney freggiaro ’09 knows how to grab an audience’s attention. The scripps senior gave a talk at the asilomar Chromosomes and Chromatin Conference last december on her molecular biology research. she was the only undergraduate attending the meeting, and, thus, the only undergraduate to present. all the others were heads of large laboratories, post doc researchers, and graduate students. “a true mark of distinction for syd and for scripps,” noted biology professor emily Wiley of the Joint science department.

did this august group faze syd? apparently not. as syd is a double major in dance and molecular biology, she wowed the crowd by teaching all the attendees how to do the “pCr dance,” which she made up. pCr, Wiley explains, stands for polymerase chain reaction and is a common molecular biology technique. “unbelievably, she got more than half of these very serious scientists to get up and do the dance with her,” says Wiley. “I’ve never seen anything like it, and it will be remembered by many for years to come.”

Once again, arts and sciences mix in creative ways—especially when a scripps student is involved.

Sydney Freggiaro recreates her PCr dance moves in front of Toll Hall. Syd has applied for a job as a graduate level researcher at The Fred Hutchinson Cancer research Center in Seattle, Wash., to work on micro-rnas and their potential use in cancer recognition and treatments. in the next few years, she will apply to Berkeley’s Phd program in molecular biochemical nutrition, where she hopes to work on a class of genes known as sirtuins, which play a role in dna repair, as well as slow the effects of aging.

Bread lines at Scrippsthe lines to buy freshly baked challah start to form in seal Court most friday mornings well before noon. By 12:30, most, if not all, the bread is sold to eager customers from the Colleges community and from around Claremont. no wonder: the bread, baked, packaged, and sold by scripps students, is delicious—and a large part of the proceeds go toward a good cause.

Challah for Hunger, founded by scripps alum eli Winkelman ’07, is enjoying great success at scripps and across the country. The group, which originated at scripps, officially became a national nonprofit, with branches on 20 college campuses, in february 2009. Its goal is to raise awareness of hunger and disaster relief through the baking and selling of challah, a traditional Jewish bread. at least 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the bread are donated to organizations, such as the american Jewish World service’s sudan relief and advocacy fund, which seek to end hunger and provide relief to desperate areas.

each loaf sells for between $4 and $5. However, to increase their advocacy efforts, student sales volunteers give a dollar discount to customers who write a postcard urging a government representative to take action for disaster relief. They provide postcards and suggested words at the sales table.

In one month, at scripps, students raised more than $3,000, thanks in some part to the new flavors Challah for Hunger now offers. This year, the student bakers are

going beyond traditional favorites (plain, cinnamon, and sesame seed) to include cranberry chocolate and mexican hot chocolate.

Winkelman is overseeing a national program to expand Challah for Hunger to many more campuses to make it a major force in entrepreneurial humanitarian efforts. Having received praise from former president Bill Clinton, steven spielberg, and the american Jewish World service, this student-run organization is on the move. and it all started at scripps. – wHitneY erikSen ’09

Total # of loaves baked and sold each week at Scripps: 115-120Total # of loaves on the 5Cs (Pomona + Scripps): 300Total # of volunteers (in addition to managers): 10Total # of managers: 9amount raised last semester: $4,000amount raised as of april 3: $2,895acts of advocacy each semester:

approx 300 letters/postcards

Senior thesis: Creating KnowledgeThe capstone of a Scripps student’s academic career is her required senior thesis. it is a culminating opportunity to show she has developed the skills and abilities to make a significant, meaningful contribution to the body of knowledge in her chosen major.

Here are just a few of this year’s subjects explored by seniors:

Lauren Latto’s english thesis focuses on the works of Junot diaz and Julia alvarez—two contemporary writers from the dominican republic. She became interested in Latin american literature while studying abroad in argentina and wanted to explore how Latino/a immigrants have integrated themselves into the broader american canon.

Samantha Cheng, biology and ecology major, used genetic analysis to evaluate paternity in two species of rockfish that are a widespread commercially exploited species off the coast of California. “if these fish are fertilizing their eggs with the sperm of multiple males, this greatly increases the level of genetic variation in populations,” said Cheng. “understanding how genetic diversity might be maintained (or not), is vital information for proper management of fisheries stocks so that they can be harvested sustainably….i wanted to research something that had practical applications.”

Fatima Elkabti’s thesis is about Palestinian-american hip hop, poetry, and novels and the ways they recall african-american protest literature in form and content. She was intrigued by the evolution of Palestinian-american writing—the way some authors appeal to white normativity while others reject it for “blackness” or “otherness.”

Sarah Iker, a double major in math and music, wrote one thesis on perfection, detachment, and exoticism in ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso, which she is playing at her senior piano recital. during her analysis, she found that almost every chord and melodic shape in the piece can be explained in terms of the intervals outlined in the very first chord: d, e-flat, and F-sharp. “He begins with at most three notes and then sees what he can invent with them,” she said.

Camille Frazier examined food as symbolic of the larger american experience, with a working title of “The Moral Vegetarian.” one chapter illustrates the link between meat and representations of masculinity as well as vegetarianism and femininity, thus combining her anthropology major with her gender and women’s studies minor.


a WOrLd Of eXperIenCe scripps students learn about life’s possibilities—and abou t themselves—through internships

By anne dullaghan

Imagine finding yourself far across the globe in the remote village of delani, south africa, population 500—miles and miles away from scripps’ lush California campus. You don’t speak the language, and, as a virtual stranger, you need to draw upon all of your interpersonal skills to gain people’s trust.

Your mission: help delani’s villagers develop and improve their schools, library, sports field, water and sanitation, as well as empower the young people to improve their health and education.

Beth Olesen ’10 accomplished all that during her summer 2008 Global development Internship (GdI) with the student movement for real Change organization.

Olesen, a Judith nelsen Keep Leadership Grant recipient, is one of many scripps women who each year take advantage of internships that enhance their academic and personal interests. But more than simply complementing their studies, these internships give students a chance to create professional networks and gain job-specific capabilities.

“an internship is a great way for our students to explore a particular interest in 10 weeks rather than going to graduate school and discovering that they don’t want to pursue that direction,” says Valinda Lee, career counselor in scripps’ Career planning & resources. “Or, students realize how much they love something and want to continue in that field. Working with students to secure internships based on their interests is a big part of what we do.”

from social justice, community-based programs, and international relations to sports, entertainment, and fine arts, the following is a brief glimpse into the wide range of internships scripps women pursue.

Developing CommunitiesBeth Olesen ’10 Judith Nelsen Keep Leadership Grant

The first two weeks of olesen’s time in delani were stressful. To pull together a day camp for the students of Mahlati Primary School, olesen had to draw on great personal energy and organization. She had a small team of eight members to help her manage dozens of children, most of whom did not know english.

They sought help from their South african peers. during a weekend soccer tournament, they asked the high school students to assist on opening day. a dozen or so showed up. By the end of the first week, about 20 students had helped them teach, translate, and engage with the students.

additionally, olesen and her group took the first steps in creating a resource center for the secondary school students. They created two booklets: one on applying to university and steps to take towards different occupations; the second concentrated on sexual health. The pamphlets were distributed to schools and the community center.

From her internship experience, olesen gained valuable insights. “i wanted to be put in uncomfortable situations—to see what it was to be a leader every day, to begin to feel the weight of high expectations.” Finally, olesen wanted to test herself to make sure a career and life built around advocating for human rights was right for her. “i learned from the Gdi that i am working to my full potential when i am both challenged intellectually and asked to apply that intellectual work.”


Understanding Israeli-Palestinian Relations Becky fogel ’09 Conflict Resolution Grant

This past summer, thanks to a generous grant from Margaret Towne d’albert ’54 to study conflict resolution, Becky Fogel was able to learn more about the israeli-Palestinian conflict through Sadaka reut, a Jaffa-based non-profit organization that focuses on peace and conflict resolution.

Fogel, a Jewish american, grew up within an environment supportive of israel. However, when she was studying abroad in egypt her junior year, she found her views challenged by fellow students. This led her to realize the importance of education to peace and conflict work. Sadaka reut provided a perfect fit, as it works to introduce teenagers to Palestinian narratives that are absent in the israeli school system. according to Fogel, “This education not only empowers Palestinian and Jewish youth as separate groups, but allows them to engage with each other and craft an alternative and integrated community, while still cognizant of broader social disparities.”

Fogel’s primary work centered on activities related to Sadaka reut’s summer youth campaign, which utilized art, music, theater, and public presentations to address the ongoing repression of Palestinians within israel and the occupied territories. one of her most eye-opening experiences was seeing the process the facilitators went through before working directly with the youth. “i particularly enjoyed learning about the kinds of activism they felt best achieved their goals—and that sometimes they disagreed on how to do this.”

Fogel notes that the internship gave her incredible insight into different forms peace and conflict resolution work can take. “after the summer,” she says, “i realized it was something i definitely want to pursue.”

The Middle east history major is currently writing her thesis on colonial representations of Palestinian women.

Through her strong commitment to conflict resolution, d’albert, the grant’s donor, hopes to expand the study to a broader group of Scripps students, perhaps resulting in a seminar at Scripps. “education is the path away from battle, but the study of such ongoing conflicts is vital to our global survival at all levels,” she says.

Giving Young People a VoiceOrissa stewart-rose ’10 Angelica Kusar Clark Grant

northern California native orissa Stewart-rose remembers seeing the oakland-based youth radio at work when she was a student at Berkeley High School. all she knew about them was they were a non-profit that offered students media training and exposure to the communication industry. Several years later, thanks to the angelica Kusar Clark Grant, Stewart-rose got an inside look as an intern at the vibrant, community-based organization.

She says it was the hardest job she’s ever had—and the best.

youth radio was founded in 1990 on the belief that underserved youth, ages 14-24, have the creativity, technical skills, and entrepreneurial spirit to become leaders in the multi-media industry and mentors in the community. Staff, volunteers, and interns train young people from under-resourced public schools, community-based organizations, group homes, and juvenile detention centers in broadcast journalism, media production, and cutting-edge technology. its goals are to strengthen basic life-skills, motivate youth to graduate from high school and attend college, and prepare them for multi-media and other careers.

Stewart-rose worked in youth radio’s education and career area as a youth advisor to 20 students. “i would talk to them about everything from how to improve their studying to writing a résumé and looking for jobs,” she says. She created workshops, tapping into what she had learned in her Core classes about how to engage discussion through a diversity of questions and being open to letting conversations go in different directions. “i was able to put into practice what my professors taught me. i could give youth radio students a historical context to what is happening and relevant to them,” she says.

Through the Clark Grant, Stewart-rose was able to work full time at youth radio without having to worry about how to finance her summer. “The organization was so happy to have me, and i was so happy to be there. i feel like i got out as much as i put in. i’ve loved my Scripps academic experience and, before youth radio, i felt hungry to put that experience to work.”

Above left, Becky Fogel spray paints arabic words, with a Hebrew translation/transliteration, on a building in Jaffa as part of the summer youth campaign’s efforts to put more arabic in public spaces, and to do it in a way that promotes understanding, rather than fear or disassociation.

Above right, orissa Stewart-rose and Jacinda abcarian, executive director of youth radio.


Supporting the People of Chiapaselizabeth Lopez ’09 Virginia Judy Esterly Award

Through the Virginia Judy esterly award, elizabeth Lopez was able to assist the non-profit Melel xojobal (“the true light” in the local Tsotsil language) in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. The goal: improve the quality of life for the indigenous urban and rural population in Chiapas, mainly children.

For three months last summer, Lopez lived in the Southern Mexico town on her own. This gave her experiences she would never have had without the Scripps grant, including a close-up view of how international non-profit organizations work to improve communities. as Melel xojobal’s administrative assistant, she organized the library where the group houses key information. “i was able to read all these studies about the street children of Latin america that i normally wouldn’t have access to.”

Lopez is an active figure on the Scripps campus through the Chiapas Support Committee, which educates the community about the state of Chiapas and fundraises. it was this involvement that led her to pursue an internship with Melel xojobal.

The next step for the sociology and Chicano studies major includes a return visit to Mexico City, where she hopes to work with other non-profit organizations. “i have already been on two trips to the area, experienced living with indigenous families, and worked closely with the Human rights Center,” she says. “i am Mexican, and this work is part of my identity.”

Understanding Brain-Behavior Relationships Laura Loesch ’09 Claremont Colleges Neuroscience Fellowship

if you’ve ever watched the television show Lie to Me, you’re probably familiar with the lead character who studies facial expressions and involuntary body language to discover if someone is lying. Laura Loesch undertook a similar project this past summer at Caltech.

one of five recipients of The Claremont Colleges neuroscience Fellowship, Loesch joined the Caltech emotion and Social Cognition Lab run under ralph adolphs, Bren Professor of Psychology and neuroscience. The laboratory investigates the neural underpinnings of human social behavior, pursuing questions such as: How do we recognize emotion from facial expressions? How do we make social judgments about other people? How do we look at people’s faces (how do we move our eyes)? How do we make moral judgments about what is right and wrong?

at Caltech, the lab works to answer these questions using various techniques, including assessment of behavior in neurological patients following specific brain damage, recording of electrical activity in the brains

of neurosurgical patients, probing the behavior of individuals with neuropsychiatric diseases, such as autism-spectrum disorder, and investigating the behavior and neural activity of neurologically normal people during social cognition tasks.

over the summer, Loesch worked to understand these questions of social processing by investigating how gaze behavior, a useful window into cognition, changes during deception for both high-functioning autistic and non-austistic individuals in a realistic social setting. The resources available at Caltech allowed her to use a new technique called “head-mounted eyetracking,” which allows the participant to speak as if in a normal conversation, while an eyetracker allows for three-dimensional recording of the participant’s gaze patterns. This allows scientists to study social behavior in an unprecedented realistic setting.

Loesch has continued at the Caltech lab this year as a hired assistant and, based on her research there, will present a poster this summer at the association for Psychological Science conference.

Loesch has already been accepted into Caltech’s social behavioral neuroscience graduate program, as well as doctoral programs at uSC and uCLa. reflecting on her summer fellowship, Loesch finds that doing this novel research has enhanced her academic career and opened the door to even more opportunities ahead.

Above, a mural promotes children’s rights at Melel xojobal, where elizabeth Lopez worked. Below, Lopez, center, with two local teens at the state zoo in Chiapas, Mexico, during a Melel xojobal-sponsored fieldtrip for more than 200 children.

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Ready for Her Close Up Katy Lind ’06 as a theatre and dance major, Katy Lind wanted to pursue a job in a creative field. after graduation, she turned to the Scripps alumnae network. it was through this vast resource in Career Planning & resources that she found Sarah Greenberg ’93, co-president of marketing at Lions Gate Films.

“Sarah had the job i thought i wanted for the rest of my life, and it was a bit nerve-wracking thinking about meeting with her,” says Lind, whose bubbly personality seasons her conversations. a dedicated student at Scripps, she laughs about the time she glibly told her mother: “i want to work somewhere where people wear cute shoes…hip, creative people. So when i walked into the Lions Gate offices, i looked through the glass doors at a woman down the hall with blond hair, a great outfit, and the cutest shoes. She turned out to be Sarah.”

in that first meeting, Greenberg gave Lind a crash-course in navigating the tricky waters of the entertainment industry. “Sarah spent 15 minutes trying to scare me—telling me you work crazy hours, you don’t sleep, won’t have time to see your family,” Lind recalls. “all the while, my eyes were glowing. after Sarah realized she intimidated me as much as she could and i was still excited, she offered me an internship after graduation.”

The job was just as advertised. Far from the glamorous image of attending movie premiers or rubbing elbows with the stars, Lind performed typical “gofer” tasks. “There were days when i thought she was kidding, like when she asked me how fast i could put 600 Cds on her iPod. it was important to remember that the things being asked of me as an entertainment intern were not equal to the level of respect they had for me.”

Greenberg introduced Lind to Lions Gate executives and showed her how to network. Before the end of the summer, a job opened up and Lind jumped in as the assistant to the other co-president of marketing. in her year-and-a-half at Lions Gate, Lind was also helpful in securing internships for two other Scripps students.

Lind has been accepted to several business schools and says she most likely will attend indiana university in the fall to study brand management.

Reaching Out to Incarcerated WomenHannah segal ’09 Davis Family Foundation Internship Grant

Hannah Segal passionately wants to help people understand the connection between environment and health. Toward that goal, a summer internship in 2008 with the Center for restorative Justice Works helped her gain greater insight into the ways u.S. agricultural practices impact the planet—insights she intends to share.

The Center for restorative Justice is a Los angeles-based non-profit organization that coordinates the activities of several other non-profits: The Women and Criminal Justice network, Get on the Bus, and The Chowchilla Family express. The Women and Criminal Justice network aims to bring outside communities into conversation with communities of women in prison.

as an intern, Segal assisted the center’s head, Sister Suzanne Jabro, working out of the office four days a week and meeting Jabro at the California institution for Women (CiW), in Chino, once a week.

The most important project of the summer for Segal was laying the groundwork for a CiW organic garden. “after the first meeting, i researched legal codes that addressed how we could use the food we grew in the garden and how tools and equipment could be donated to the prison.”

Segal has continued this year as the garden project organizer and reports that a group of 15 Scripps students, as well as other 5C students, volunteer twice a week to garden with the women in the program. a Strauss Foundation Scholarship awarded to Segal to fund the project has paid for all the materials and tools they use.

a history major, Segal plans to apply to medical school the following year after graduating from Scripps. She sees a direct connection between the work she wants to do as a doctor and her work at the Women and Criminal Justice network. “The garden project empowered its participants to take part in making themselves healthy, even from within a prison setting,” she says. “as a doctor, i hope to work on programs that recognize connections between human health and the environment.”

Batter up! emma porterfield ’09 emma Porterfield loves sports. So much so that she gave up a semester abroad so she could stay with her CMS softball team. it was no surprise then that the self-described “major” Chicago Cubs fan would land a summer internship with a major league baseball organization. Through Scripps, she was able to meet Seattle Mariners owner Chuck armstrong, who is married to Scripps alumna Susan yunker armstrong ’66. emma sent him her résumé and got the job.

Porterfield was introduced to the fast-paced life on the baseball diamond right off the bat. The third day as an intern, with her boss and his assistant out of town, she was essentially “in charge” of a game-day event. everything ran smoothly, “but what an introduction!” she relates. She was also put in charge of managing the schedules of a group of eight Japanese interns, led stadium tours, and collaborated with the marketing department to increase the Mariners’ visibility. She also got to eat lunch in the press box and stand on the field for the singing of the national anthem.

The psychology major came out of her internship with great enthusiasm. “i learned how to deal with different types of people, and really appreciate the amazing opportunity i was given. This internship was definitely not all about answering phones or getting coffee.”

Caption Hannah segal

davis family foundation interns, from left: Cassie Gamm ’11, Hannah segal ’09, Halley everall ’10, and alayna fisher ’11.

davis Family Foundation interns, from left: Cassie Gamm ’11, Hannah Segal ’09, Halley everall ’10, and alayna Fisher ’11.

emma Porterfield, front, with athenas teammates on the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) women’s softball team.

GroundworkThree years ago, several Scripps students founded the Criminal Justice network. The organization, co-led by adrian Hodos ’09 and Hannah Segal ’09, raises awareness at The Claremont Colleges about prison-related issues through film screenings, information campaigns, and collaborative efforts with community organizations and criminal justice advocates in Los angeles County. With more than a dozen active members from all the colleges, the club meets weekly. Their commitment to establishing an ongoing project inspired the CiW organic garden.


Crunching Numbers sarah falltrick ’08 For Sarah Falltrick, interning in the research department at the Federal reserve Bank in Boston was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work closely under the supervision of Scripps parent and economist dr. Geoffrey Tootell. “i knew i would be a part of real economic research at a level i had never experienced,” she says. Joining a broader summer intern program at the bank, Falltrick interacted daily with more than 30 interns in different departments. “i learned about what the Fed does other than research and conduct the resulting monetary policy.”

“The Claremont Colleges were a great place to start looking for an intern, given that we aim high in recruiting,” Tootell says. “Since my daughter attends Scripps, i had a few discussions with Scripps representatives on other

matters, and the subject of internships came up naturally. These representatives helped the Boston Fed and me make a connection with the school.”

Falltrick spent the majority of her time entering, organizing, and re-checking data in excel. “not the most glamorous task i can think of, but absolutely necessary in economic research,” she notes. She also participated in a research project on modeling forecasting error in the recent reporting of the Phillips Curve. “i was surprised by the level of involvement i was offered. i did not expect to be included in any of the ‘real’ research projects at such an intimate level. one day, after entering, checking, and re-checking data in excel for weeks, Geoff asked me to run the data in Stata. it stands out as one of the best days of the internship when i successfully modeled his equation in Stata.”

Tootell adds: “Sarah contributed to our ability to conduct both monetary policy research and monetary policy analysis, and she did a great job. Secondly, i think it is important to provide people from the West Coast with an early opportunity to experience life on the east Coast. The place is much different, and the people are different. ”

Today, Falltrick is an analyst and account manager at a rice brokerage firm. She buys and sells rice, produces market analyses regarding the commodities markets (particularly for rice), and manages day-to-day logistics for clients. in the coming year, she plans to attend law school.

duyen tran ’10IIPP Fellow

as an institute for international Public Policy (iiPP) fellow, duyen Tran is participating in a prestigious and unique five-year, multi-part program. it includes a combination of short seven-week summer global policy institutes; a study abroad opportunity that focuses on global public policy, service, and research; and a master’s degree program in international affairs that provides up to $15,000 in matching funds to fellows.

in May 2008, Tran began her fellowship by studying discrimination in the HiV/aidS communities in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam. For two weeks, Tran researched the effectiveness of two key non-government organizations that worked with the HiV/aidS communities and other nGos. Then, she returned to the u.S. in the summer for the seven-week fellowship program at Spelman College.

The politics and international relations major found the last two weeks of the summer program took learning to a new level. iiPP fellows went to new york and Washington, dC, to meet with united nations officials and explore international community organizations. “We had one-on-one discussions with State department members, as well as those at the World Bank and the international Monetary Fund.”

Later, Tran went back to Vietnam for her study-abroad semester. “When i was in Vietnam, i explored economic development further, and i want to continue to study the concept in Southeast asia,” she says.

Williamson Gallery interns for summer 2008, from left, rody Lopez (Po ’09), Zoe Larkins ’09, Simrat dugal ’10, and Patricia yu (Po ’09). Lopez, dugal, and yu all hold Multicultural undergraduate Summer internships, sponsored by the Getty Foundation; Larkins is a Wilson intern, sponsored by Jane (‘64) and Michael Wilson.

An Eye for Art Zoe Larkins ’09 Wilson Internship

For art history major Zoe Larkins, researching, cataloguing, and helping create the andy Warhol photographic display at the ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery was a dream come true. it came about when gallery director Mary davis Macnaughton ’70 suggested that Larkins apply for the 10-week summer internship last year, sponsored by Jane (‘64) and Michael Wilson.

Larkins researched andy Warhol in preparation for a proposed exhibition of 155 photographs he took in the 1970s and 80s, which the gallery received in 2008 from the andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual arts. Larkins read Warhol’s Diaries, then contacted and interviewed key members of the Factory scene, including Gerard Malanga, Mary Woronov, Christopher Makos, and Brigid Berlin. She has continued on the Warhol project as an intern this year for a Warhol show that will open in fall 2011.

Larkins also worked on a grant application to the Judith rothschild Foundation for funds to purchase photographs by esther Bubley and Marion Post Wolcott. Both of these women worked with photographer roy Stryker at the office of War information and the Farm Security administration during the depression and WWii. in addition, Larkins was Macnaughton’s office assistant.

Larkins, as well as other Scripps students, consider Macnaughton a key mentor. “She has introduced me to many of the people she knows in the arts, at both for-profit and non-profit organizations, in the La area. From these connections, i have developed my own. This summer, i will be interning at LaCMa with Senior Modern art Curator and Scripps trustee Stephanie Barron.”

With Macnaughton’s help, Larkins applied and was accepted to the Courtauld institute of art in London, home to one of the finest small art museums in the world. She will be the seventh Scripps student admitted to the Courtauld, supported by the Jungels-Winkler Foundation Fellowship, following Jennifer Brown ’00, abigail Ley ’01, Lily Mitchem ’05, Caitlin Silberman ’06, Geneva Griswold ’07, and Valérie Whitacre ’08. at the Courtauld, Zoe will join Professor Julian Stallabrass’s section, titled “aestheticising Polities? The Political in Globalised Contemporary art.” Larkins said, “at the gallery, i became interested in pursuing a graduate degree in art history, and what i did there prepared me to do so.”


demystifying financial aid By Kristina Brooks

With personal attention and a new 24/7 online portal for students and families, Scripps Office of Financial Aid goes increasingly proactive.

as part of the tide of gloomy economic news, the uncertain future for student financial aid has become a regular topic for reporters and worried families alike. By mid-february of this year, the number of federal financial aid forms filed had risen by 20% over last year, while a headline in the Los Angeles Times of december 27, 2008, bemoaned “students learn too late the costs of private

loans.” parents are confused; students are anxious. What is the future of student financial aid, and how is scripps preparing for it?

“Our guiding principle continues to be that we don’t want finances to be a reason a student doesn’t come to scripps,” says david Levy, who has been director of financial aid at the College

since september 2008, after serving for nearly 19 years at Caltech as director of financial aid and director of educational outreach. “Less than half of the students at scripps pay the full amount of their costs.”

In fact, scripps is one of a small number of colleges that promises to meet the full demonstrated need of its eligible aid applicants through grants, scholarships, low- or no-interest loans, and employment. This is an area of some confusion, as many colleges and universities pledge that they are “need blind” in their admission process, meaning

that they do not consider applicants’ ability to pay. However, these schools often do not meet the full need of their admitted students.

a recent report by the national association for College admission Counseling (naCaC) found that, while 93% of public and 81% of private institutions claim to be need blind, only 32% of public and 18% of private institutions promise to meet the full financial need of accepted students. Thus, “gapping” is prevalent, a situation where a college admits a student but provides an aid package that falls short—sometimes far short—of meeting that student’s financial needs.

When angela* applied to scripps in 2008, the total cost of attendance was “very scary,” she said. neither of her parents had attended college, and angela had been on scholarship at a private, all-girls school since seventh grade. Her father’s small landscaping business in dallas was heavily dependent on both weather and general economic ups and downs. However, angela “was willing to take out loans because I so strongly believed in scripps’s values and felt I couldn’t easily find this kind of education.”

angela applied to scripps early decision, a binding agreement that holds the applicant to attend the College if she is accepted. “my first reaction when I saw my financial aid offer was ‘Wow, that’s a lot of money they’re giving me.’ I was really comforted by scripps’s promise to meet my financial need.”

But how is “need” determined? step into the world of financial aid, a complex zone somewhere north of college admissions and south of managing a stock market portfolio. Lesson number one: every student who wishes to apply for any federal grant, loan or work-study program must file the fafsa, or the free application for federal student aid. scripps also requires that first-year applicants complete the Css prOfILe. Like most colleges, scripps uses the prOfILe and fafsa information to perform an eligibility calculation to determine each student’s “need” and fulfill it with grants,

“We try to remain sensitive to a family’s situation throughout the year,” says Levy. “We’re there for them throughout a student’s entire career here. I had a case this morning with a scripps family that suffered a $40,000 reduction in their college savings plan. Basically, in a situation like that, we do a brand new eligibility calculation.”

Far left, associate director rhonda risser advises a student on her financial aid packet. above, Senior associate director Virginia Miller and director david Levy review a financial aid form.

*student names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality


institutional scholarships, and other financial aid. for middle- or upper-to-middle income families, this

calculation can be a major pitfall in the financial aid process. a family’s definition of “need” and a financial aid officer’s definition are often at odds.

“We employ national standards and formulas,” says Levy. “Based on the information a family provides, we determine the amount that family can realistically be expected to contribute. However, numbers may not always tell the whole story, so we are open to other situations and circumstances.”

each family is like a snowflake, though, with a set of financial circumstances unique to itself. are there other children in college? a non-custodial parent with financial resources but no intention of contributing to college tuition? unexpected medical expenses? a job loss after the fafsa was filed? a huge stock market loss? Obviously, one form cannot cover every drop in income or loss of assets.

While campaigning, president Obama pledged to eliminate the six-page, more than 100-question fafsa form, which just about everyone agrees is both intimidating and overwhelming. many families resort to professional services just to fill out this form. students whose parents did not attend college or whose first language is not english face special hurdles in completing the form themselves.

“I had to figure out the Css prOfILe and the fafsa myself,” reports angela, who is now a first year planning to dual major in sociology and Chicana/o studies. “I got to know david Levy and ms. doty very well through phone calls to make sure all my documents were in and filled out correctly. I also had a couple of outside scholarships, such as the Gates millennium scholarship, and scripps had to communicate with those organizations to work out my package.”

Wendy*, a sophomore dual major in english and legal studies whose mother is not fluent in english, also filled out the forms herself, with the help of her older sister, who graduated from scripps in 2005. Wendy recently had reason to contact the Office of financial aid for assistance in the middle of the year.

“my family had a financial hardship recently, and I contacted david Levy and Virginia miller, senior associate director. even in light of the general economy, they were so helpful and accommodating. Virginia suggested that, instead

By the numbers 2008-09 Student Charges

Scripps tuition, fees, room and board $49,450

Average need-based grant aid per aided student 24,280

Financial Aid by Type

Institutional scholarships $11,022,623Student Loans 2,180,554Parent Loans 1,411,556State Grants 583,097Federal Grants 446,165Outside Scholarships 438,666Work Programs 480,645

T O T A L $16,563,306

Scripps Financial Aid Awards

Scripps Grants 323James E. Scripps Scholars 117QuestBridge Scholars 14

T O T A L 4 5 4

Average loan indebtedness for Scripps graduates $13,207

Average loan indebtedness for graduates of all U.S. colleges $22,700*


of applying for more federal aid, I take out a scripps revolving loan so that I wouldn’t have to repay it until after graduation.

additionally, a new resource that the financial aid office was able to offer Wendy was a book stipend that she could use at the Huntley Bookstore on campus or online to purchase up to $400 worth of books for her semester’s classes.

“We try to remain sensitive to a family’s situation throughout the year,” says Levy. “We’re there for them throughout a student’s entire career here. I had a case this morning with a scripps family that suffered a $40,000 reduction in their college savings plan. Basically, in a situation like that, we do a brand new eligibility calculation.”

angela also faced an unforeseen financial catastrophe when a pipe burst under her family’s home in august 2008. although her family had already received their bill from scripps for the upcoming school year, the financial aid office made last-minute revisions in light of the estimated $16,000

in repairs that the family faced. “I was so committed to scripps at that point that I

was ready to take out loans. However, I feel well taken care of at scripps and know that mr. Levy and Jan doty [administrative assistant] are going to be supportive.”

several students in fall 2008 seemed to have difficulties with the Office of financial aid, however, difficulties that were rumored to result in students withdrawing from the college for financial reasons.

david Levy acknowledges that there were problems with financial aid awards this fall, in part because of hitches in the initiation of a new electronic loan application process and in part because the College’s major private lender, Bank of america, stopped issuing loans. However, he says that any students who withdrew from the College in the fall did not do so because of changes in their financial aid packages.

“We were late in getting awards out,” Levy admits. “although we were attempting to streamline the loan application process, the new system had some glitches and we got forms from students later than required. also, when Bank of america dropped out, students had to find another lender. That was happening to college students everywhere.

“students were concerned because they got their bills, and there was no financial aid on them. people got very

One area that remains of broad concern to most students and their parents is loans: how much debt should students expect to graduate with?• Student Loans 11%• Parent Loans 9%• State Grants 4%• Federal Grants 3%•outside

Scholarships 3%• Work Programs 3%• institutional Scholarships 67%

The office of Financial aid team: from left, Jan doty, financial aid assistant; Virginia Miller, senior associate director; david Levy, director; Melissa Silva, loan counselor; and rhonda risser, associate director.

* from the College Board report for 2007-08.


upset and worried, and there were allegations that students were leaving the College because of a lack of financial aid. We had about 90 appeals by the end of august.”

to tackle the problems and the escalating anxiety, the Office of financial aid addressed each appeal, trying to contact every family by phone, letter, and email, and extended payment deadlines.

“We became more proactive than we’d been in the past,” explains miller. “We used to contact students only, but that led to delays. In general, students are here to get an education. They don’t always know the details of their financial aid situation. We now communicate with students

and their families, and we find we’re getting more timely responses from parents.”

to effect real change, the office went beyond putting out the brush fires and began addressing systemic problems.

“When I got here, I realized that students didn’t understand the award letter brochure,” says Levy. “We formed a student focus group, revised the brochure, gave it to the students, and then rewrote it again based on their comments and suggestions. When we heard students complain about how difficult it was to find campus jobs for their work-study, we initiated online listings they can access 24/7, rather than having to physically consult a notebook in Career planning & resources.”

How does work-study fit into a student’s aid package? at scripps, the first $6,000 of need is met with a grant from the College: the equivalent of erasing $6,000 from the total on a student’s bill. sixty-five percent of all financial aid awarded by the College ($11 million annually from scripps’ resources), in fact, is grant money: free money with no strings attached. after this, the student is offered up to

$1,800 in campus employment through the federal work-study program, and up to $4,000 in low-interest student loans.

“I feel that the purpose of work-study is to give back to the community when scripps is giving so much to me,” says stephanie Kang ’11, who has been working in the Office of admission for the past two years, averaging about five hours per week. “It’s nice to be able to interact with so many prospective students and their families, too.”

Lisette*, a senior psychology major, has also found that working while going to school has its advantages. Her parents’ divorce in the middle of her college career threw a wrench into her financial aid situation. from taking out $1,000 to $3,000 in loans her first two years, Lisette suddenly found herself wondering if she would have to transfer her junior year. However, after a combination of financial help from her grandparents, a scripps scholarship for juniors and seniors, increased loans, and both work-study and on-campus employment, Lisette was able to stay at scripps through her senior year

“It’s really different having to be financially responsible for myself,” says Lisette, who is currently working three on-campus jobs as a tutor, teaching assistant, and research assistant while completing her honors thesis. “I watch my bank account much more closely, and I definitely have less free time. academically, though, I actually get better grades because I have better time management.”

Learning to manage their own finances has been a valuable step for all of the students interviewed for this article. to facilitate this growth, david Levy and his staff have initiated an open-door policy, with four staff members available for confidential conversations with individual students about their financial aid. students are now assigned one financial aid counselor, who will work with them over four years. The staff has also met with several groups on campus, including Wanawake Weusi and Chicana/o studies, to initiate discussions about making the College affordable, specifically, for women of color. Workshops this year on financial literacy and management and credit cards and identity theft have enabled all students to become more financially savvy.

One area that remains of broad concern to most students and their parents is loans: how much debt should students expect to graduate with, and will loans even

continue to be available in the current economic climate?at scripps, loans are capped at $3,500. However, families

may choose to take out more loans when their willingness to pay falls short of their ability to pay the college bill. In these cases, parents are much wiser to seek federal pLus loans on behalf of their children. These non-need-based loans have a fixed rate of 8.5%, as opposed to interest rates as high as 18% for private loans. unfortunately, private loans are the fastest growing segment of the loan market, accounting for some $15 billion this year. parents and students are often unaware until too late that these loans incur a heavy burden.

“We’ll try to work with families to steer them toward parent loans,” says Levy. “The College decided years ago to try to limit the amount of money students would have to borrow because we didn’t want to impact their career choices because of indebtedness.”

The average loan indebtedness of a 2008 scripps graduate is just over $13,000, which compares very favorably to the $20,000 average indebtedness for an american college student today. Wendy, who plans to attend law school after graduation, estimates she will have a total of $12,000 in no- or low-interest loans to repay. angela finds it “definitely comforting to be debt-free [when I graduate] because I plan to go on to graduate school and ultimately want to go into the non-profit sector. not having debt will make a big difference to me.”

While Lisette chose to take out more loans because of her complicated family situation, and faces about $25,000 in loans to repay, she is proud to be financially independent and completely knowledgeable about her own finances.

“I’d encourage students to start working with their parents on their financial aid applications at the beginning of their college career,” she advises, “so that by their senior year, they can do it themselves. a lot of seniors are shocked by what they owe. I managed to keep my loans down by being proactive and going to the financial aid office for help.”

and that’s just what the financial aid staff likes to see. “my favorite part of the job is working with students and families,” says miller. “We want them to understand there’s a friendly face here they can talk to, that they don’t have to come here only when they have a problem. That’s the message we want to get across.”

“I’d encourage students to start working with their parents on their financial aid applications at the beginning…so that by their senior year, they can do it themselves. a lot of seniors are shocked by what they owe. I managed to keep my loans down by being proactive and going to the financial aid office for help.”

*Students’ names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality.

“my financial aid” portal is Here, 24/7!So that students can easily access their financial aid information 24/7, Virginia Miller, senior associate director in the office of Financial aid, has implemented what she calls a “one-stop shop” for students on the Scripps Financial aid website.

Tested by Scripps students and refined in response to their needs, “My Financial aid” is now available to all Scripps students on financial aid. Students can now use the portal, from any computer, to view deadline and reminder information, view and accept awards, track required documents, read messages from financial aid staff, and view their student loan history and lifetime financial aid awards. For student security and protection, entry to the portal requires a Scripps student id and password.

“We want them to understand there’s a friendly face here they can talk to, that they don’t have to come here only when they have a problem.”


alumnæF R O M T H E A L U M N A E A S S O C I A T I O N P R E S I D E N T

dear sisters of the scripps College alumnae association:I would like to thank the many alumnae who, in their

capacity as trustees, council members, staff, and key volunteers, participated in the selection of the incoming president of scripps College. This has been a long process, and many people assisted along the way; special thanks to Lori Steere ’66, who represented the alumnae by serving on the presidential transition Committee 2008-2009. On behalf of the alumnae association, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new College president, Lori Bettison-Varga.

many of you have attended or will be attending a scripps College regional event in your area this spring. scripps College On the road 2008-2009 has brought Core faculty and student presentations to more alumnae than ever this school year. many thanks to the 20% of alumnae who responded to the online regional survey, the compiled results of which have helped the Office of alumnae relations better serve alumnae in the various regions.

don’t forget to access alumnae event information and announcements via the scripps website and to read about alumnae news and posted dates of event schedules in the online newsletter, 10th & Columbia, which is updated every other month. several significant summer events are not to be missed (participation is limited, so send in your registration early):

Sonoma Wine Tour Weekend, June 12–14 16th Annual Camp Scripps, June 25–28 15th Annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival Weekend, august 13–16

NEWS


The shakespeare festival weekend is co-sponsored with Harvey mudd College and featuring special guest scripps professor of english Gayle Greene.

I had the opportunity in february to join faculty, students, staff, and guests who attended various weeklong activities and events when the Lois Langland alumna-in-residence, Dana Cook Dakin ’64, founder of Womenstrust, Inc., spoke about the microlending nonprofit in Ghana that is making a difference one woman and one girl at a time.

Congratulations to three alumnae who are receiving special recognition at Convocation during reunion Weekend, may 1-3. They are, Volunteer of the Year: Evelyn Nelson Senior ’70, Camp scripps representative and coordinator/collector of scripps archives’ photo identification/oral histories; Outstanding recent alumna: Jenny Sedlis ’04, director of external affairs of success Charter network; and distinguished alumna: Pae White ’85, artist. to alumnae who plan to be on campus during reunion Weekend, you have the opportunity and pleasure of meeting these women and hearing each of them speak about their challenges and accomplishments.

I look forward to seeing many of you either on campus or in your region in the upcoming months. If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to reconnect with the College, your classmates, and the vast array of scripps sisters who comprise the alumnae association—you’ll be glad you did.

fondest regards,

Merrilee Stewart Howard ’70 President, alumnae [email protected]

Merrilee Howard, left, and Bre’anca Sanders ’11 visit the ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery in october to see “Performing the Book,” an exhibit of contemporary artists’ books, curated by Professor Kitty Maryatt ’66. Viewers were invited to react and decipher visual and textual cues on display—to participate in performing each book.

elizabeth Cundiff ’84elizabeth Cundiff is the new president-elect of the scripps College alumnae association, with duties beginning July 1, 2009. she will become president following merrilee stewart Howard’s term, which ends June 30, 2010.

after graduating from scripps in 1984, elizabeth’s career focused on marketing and program management for technology companies, including peter norton Computing and symantec. elizabeth retired in 2006 from her position as an It e-business program manager for Hewlett-packard’s software business focused on translating business objectives into managed web services for customers.

elizabeth has been a scripps volunteer since 1997, serving as a class representative, alumnae College chair, eBss committee member, and chair of the 2004 and 2005 Volunteer Leadership Conference. she also served on her 20th and now 25th reunion class committees, in addition to being the 2009 national reunion Giving chair. In 2003, she established the elizabeth Cundiff endowed scholarship for students with financial need. elizabeth is a resident of Culver City, Calif.

College seeks to name “alumnae field”

2009 donate life Float in the rose ParadeLucille Housel Burke ’70 and Merrilee Stewart Howard ’70 display the floragraph of Burke’s son, evan, for the 2009 donate Life float in the rose Parade. Burke and Howard flew to Pasadena the weekend of december 20 to create the floragraph, one of 38 circling the float. according to rose Parade officials, floragraphs are life-like portraits created with organic materials such as rice, nuts, and flowers. evan’s image was chosen by donate Life because of the many lives he affected through his organ donations and his parents’ commitment to the organization. evan died in 2005 from injuries suffered in a skate boarding accident. His heart, liver, and one kidney were used to save three persons’ lives, and through an eye and tissue bank, evan’s corneas were transplanted, granting two people sight. The donate Life float carried more than 1,000 roses along with personal messages of love, gratitude, and hope. – Photo courtesy of Donate Life

Shortly after the College was founded, before there were any scripps alumnae, a group of 50 women supported scripps in

its early years and called themselves the “association of Honorary alumnae.” This group of 50—which corresponded to the number of students in the first-year class—contributed $500 each to purchase property between amherst and Columbia, north of the residence halls, so that scripps students could pursue sports activities. The land came to be known as alumnae park, named for the honorary alumnae.

although the land was indeed used by students for a few sports, plans for alumnae park were never fully realized—until now. today, the College has the sallie tiernan field House, a recreational athletic facility, which includes a superb sports field , which was completed in fall 2008.

Thus far, the field has been used for Claremont-mudd-scripps (Cms) women’s lacrosse practice and league games, women’s intramural ultimate frisbee, an intramural

sports tournament, volleyball, and pick-up soccer games for students and faculty. and next fall, Cms women’s soccer practice and league games will be held on the field, as well as a physical education course in fly fishing.

now, to collectively honor and pay tribute to all scripps alumnae and complete the funding for the field, an anonymous donor has issued a $200,000 matching challenge to name the tiernan field House athletic field Alumnae Field.

You are invited to participate in this generous tribute to all alumnae by making a gift specifically designated to that purpose. You may wish to recognize a friend, alumna, current student, special coach, or a fellow teammate with a gift in her honor, or you may simply wish to share in a project that represents the cooperative spirit for which scripps alumnae are known.

for more information, contact mary Weis, director of constituent relations, at (909) 607-7534 or email [email protected].

Scripps women watch a fellow archer aim high on the Scripps athletic field, circa 1960s.


alumnæNEWS Reunion Special projectsfive Scripps classes, spanning 40 years, are collaborating on special class gift projects. Your participation and generosity in these special projects is greatly appreciated by the Scripps community. for more information or to make your gift, please phone Kate lawrence ’05, associate director of the annual fund, at 909.607.9978.

Learning, earning, returning DaNa COOk DakIN ’64

dana Cook dakin ’64, founder of Womenstrust, Inc., a non-profit microlending company in Ghana, was this year’s Lois Langland alumna-in-residence (LLair). dakin spent a week on campus, in late february, speaking to and interacting with students, faculty, staff, and alumnae on topics related to her work with microfinance,

including philanthropy, africa, racism, and the history of Colonialism, among others.

dakin spoke of living life in thirds: learning, earning, and returning—practices that have defined her interests and passions.

dakin graduated from scripps in 1964, with a major in international relations and an honors thesis on panafricanism. she worked in institutional investment management in the late ’60s, and, in 1976, started her own business creating award-winning marketing materials for money management companies; in this way, she learned about entrepreneurship, as she launched new firms and emerging investment ideas.

In 2003, inspired by her interest in africa, dakin used her financial skills to start a microlending project. One of her former professors, Kathleen Wicker, helped her find the right village, pokuase, in Ghana. dakin listened and learned, and built a relationship of trust with the women of pokuase. she developed an innovative model that takes mfI (providing uncollateralized loans to the poor to fuel entrepreneurship and economic development) to a new and sustainable level by integrating health and education support to address the root causes of poverty.

Through this idea of giving back, Womenstrust, Inc. was born. The organization is now five years old with 1,000 loan clients, scholarship students, enrichment classes, and healthcare support.

The LLair program honors scripps professor emeritus of psychology Lois Langland, whose devotion to encouraging creativity and individuality reflects a central value of scripps College and the program.

a real Shoe-inas manager of the Christian Louboutin store in South Coast Plaza, amita dhingra Singh ’00 is surrounded by some of the most gorgeous and expensive shoes in the world. But while she admits to a lifelong obsession with fashion, she didn’t expect to have a career in it.

Her degree from Scripps was in environment, economics and politics, and her first job was in the technical area of hydraulic modeling, such as pumps, drains, and sewers. a far cry from the glamorous world of four-inch heels.

Then, amita married an iT consultant assigned to Paris, where she earned a degree in French language and civilization, followed by another in design, textiles, and merchandising at the Paris american academy. Her big break into the fashion world came from a job with Loulou de la Falaise, a muse of yves Saint Laurent, with her own couture house. “i did everything,” says amita, “from sales associate to stringing necklaces together. at the end, i was the assistant director of wholesale.”

Later, back in the united States, she held a series of random jobs in the fashion world, eventually getting a call from Christian Louboutin. She jumped at it. “i’ve been collecting Louboutins for five years, so it was a no-brainer,” she says.

amita describes her first pair of Louboutins: “They were yellow, satin, peep-toe shoes. They have this embellishment. it’s round and it’s a beautiful flower. There’s pleating on the sides. it’s from 2003. i still wear them.”

at 29, amita is one of the youngest managers at South Coast Plaza, in orange County, and is already at the helm of her third store.

Photo by Steve Zylius, courtesy of The Orange County Register

1959

1969

1984

1994

1999

In honor of our 50th reunion, we hope our class will raise $65,500 to be directed toward the Class of 1959 Scholarship project. Our collective annual fund gifts will support the QuestBridge* program and two one-year Class of 1959 scholarships.

committee members: Jean Bixby smith, Judy smith Ware, meridith Green Wiberg, and Barbara Cook Wormser

In honor of our 40th reunion, our class gift will be directed to scholarship support. Our collective annual fund gifts will help to ensure that a family’s financial situation is not a barrier to a woman obtaining a scripps education. We hope that our class will raise $20,000 in order to establish two one-year Class of 1969 scholarships.

committee members: ellie david, sudy dostal, merrily smith Haas, marga rosencranz Hancock, margi riles murray, and Charla Connelley shadduck

In honor of our 25th reunion, our class gift will implement a water conservation project to help Scripps become even “greener.” This project includes retrofitting sprinklers to a drip-irrigation system, reusing pool water for the lacrosse field, and using gray water systems for irrigation.

committee members: Connie Butler, elizabeth Cundiff, Jennifer Wells Green, andrea Jarrell, and Ofelia Velazquez-perez

In honor of our 15th reunion, we would like to challenge our class to raise $20,000 for scholarship support at the College. Our goal is to fund two one-year Class of 1994 scholarships. We all know the value of our scripps experience, and we want to ensure that a student’s financial situation is never a barrier to obtaining a world-class scripps education.

committee members: devanie Candelaria doñez, Beth feinberg, michelle maltais, and Kalpana singh rhodes

In honor of our 10th reunion, our class gift will support a program at Scripps that ensures that a family’s financial situation is not a barrier to a woman obtaining a Scripps education. QuestBridge links bright, motivated, economically disadvantaged students with highly selective colleges, such as scripps. Our goal is to raise $15,000 to assist QuestBridge* scholars at scripps.

committee members: amy drayer, rebecca eacret, Lisa Gear, deepika sandhu, and Georgina seabrook

* QuestBridge, an initiative of the Quest Scholars Program, serves as an intermediary between the nation’s brightest, under-served youth and leading institutions of higher education. QuestBridge provides a single, internet-based meeting point that links outstanding students with the colleges, scholarship providers, employers, and organizations seeking students who have excelled despite obstacles. By facilitating these exchanges, QuestBridge aims to increase the percentage of talented, low-income students attending the nation’s best universities, and excelling beyond. Scripps has participated in this program for three years, and there are currently 14 QuestBridge Scholars on campus.


alumnæSPEak


in These Uncertain Times nina rosoff ’65, phd

No whining, please! scripps women are not inclined to whine. Yet these are tough and uncertain times.

at 2:00 a.m., it’s hard to sleep. still awake, at 4:30 a.m, I sip my Costco green tea. a

sardonic grin pulls at the left corner of my mouth. I chuckle quietly to myself, and a full blown smile sweeps over me.

my grandfather, Harry, was 14 years old in the late 1800s. He boarded a boat with his girlfriend, anna, and her sister, fran. It was the middle of the night. The Cossacks had just rounded up their next group of young boys to take to the siberian work camps. There they would die.

Harry, anna, and fran’s parents agreed to force all three children out. Their “hope” was for their safety and life in these uncertain times. With two brass pots filled with flour and sugar water, and the clothes on their backs, they headed for the ship going to america before the Cossacks came. They crossed the atlantic, landing safely in philadelphia. Harry, anna, and fran spoke russian but had neither skills nor a way to make a living, and knew no one in these uncertain times.

Harry and anna were my father ray’s parents.Lee married Josie. They moved from new York to

philadelphia. He’d come up with the idea of refrigeration to replace the big trucks leaving blocks of ice at their door each day. It was 1929. He was about to lose everything. He did… in these uncertain times.

Lee and Josie were my mother polly’s parents.

Harry became a barber. He and anna had four children. They were poor; dirt poor.

Lee built a successful company. He and Josie had two children. Lee fought his way back from the Great depression and was no longer penniless.

ray and polly fell in love in high school, went to the university of pennsylvania where ray became a lawyer, polly a social worker. They boarded a train to texas the night they married. ray and polly had three children; I am one.

today, January 18, 2009, the world of prosperity is but a memory; 25% drop in the housing market; Wall street, the auto industry, retail fail daily.

You know what, these are…uncertain times…yet, for many of us, we have what we need: food, family, friends, faith, freedom, and our health.

I walk into the kitchen to fill the beautiful teacup my daughter gave me. Both hands feel its warmth. I chuckle, shake my head, and think, if these great women before me, anna, fran,

Josie, and polly, along with these great men, Harry, Lee, and ray, could do what they did in uncertain times then I’d better, right now!

I’m less scared, a little excited about the next chapter in our history books and wonder what each sentence will say…in these uncertain times.

no whining! scripps women are made of faith, peace, purpose, and

hard work. We’ll do fine.

what does Money Mean to Me?

michelle Kwok ’98

Here is a dark secret of mine: I have been waiting for the market to crash. However, not even in my wildest dreams has it occurred to me that the housing bubble would burst, the financial market would collapse,

unemployment would rise to a 15-year high, and my own portfolio would lose about 40% in the last few months.

Of course, my intention isn’t for the world economy to suffer from the worst recession since the Great depression. I just want the housing bubble to burst so our family will be able to afford a nice house! Having an md after my name and an Ivy League mBa after my husband’s, I feel like we ought to be able to afford a sizeable home in an attractive area—maybe even a “mcmansion.” The price hikes in the last few years have made this impossible. Thus, I have been impatiently waiting for housing prices to “adjust” themselves.

as a psychiatrist who spends all day asking other people questions, I have been digging deeper into my own desire of wanting a “ginormous” house. Why is a house important to me? Why do I feel entitled to have this house? Why does it bother me that I can’t do it? Why do I want more money? What does money mean to me?

In general, there are two subjects that patients in psychodynamic therapy would rather not discuss: sex and

money. But, given the choice, most people would rather discuss their sexual dysfunction over their issues with money. money brings up all kinds of feelings, and it sure makes relationships messy, to say the least. for instance, who pays for dates was a hotly discussed topic when I lived in Browning Hall. In a way, many of us felt that if they guy paid for our dinner, we were somehow inferior to him, or that we then owed the guy something. If the woman insisted on paying, somehow that would hurt the guy’s feelings. But going dutch seemed so cold!

While I have moved on beyond that—being married makes the question of who pays for dinner a non-issue—

my view of money has been enlightened due to our current financial crisis. I am relieved I am nowhere near retirement age and have plenty of time to build up our portfolio again, and perhaps this may be the only time I am able to afford more than two shares of Google. at the same time, I am also struggling with this question: Where does my comfort lie? Given the volatility of today’s market, I don’t want my hopes

and happiness to be connected with how much money I have lost/gained!

I don’t have all the answers. But, life is a journey and perhaps the journey is meant to be explored with an inquisitive mind—and to be traveled with thrifty habits.

“women and money: how are we doing?”

At the same time, I am also struggling with this question: Where

does my comfort lie? Given the volatility of today’s market, I don’t

want my hopes and happiness to be connected with how much money I

have lost/gained!

My grandfather, Harry, was 14 years old in the late 1800s. He boarded a boat with his girlfriend,

Anna, and her sister, Fran. It was the middle of the night. The

Cossacks had just rounded up their next group of young boys to take to

the Siberian work camps.

MarriageS aNd coMMitMentS’80 Kirsten Anderson to Kathleen, october 11, 2008

’93 Gabrielle “Ginger” Kyle to nabil arwadi, november 8, 2008

’98 Emily Olman to Jason Levis, June 8, 2008

’99 Kirsen Rostad to Jackie Puckett, February 5, 2008

’99 Holly Rushing to Jeremy douglass (Po ’99), november 8, 2008

’00 Lara Allen to alyssa armster-Wikoff, october 2007

’02 Marisa-Andrea Moore to Christen Shelby, august 9, 2008

’03 Normelena Rios to Fabian Moreno, June 2008

’05 Bonnie Brayton to david arthur Weick (CMC ’05), december 2007

’08 Elizabeth Obreza to Philip Hurst, august 8, 2008

BirtHS aNd adoPtionS’89 Margaret E. Davis and Brian L. Perleberg, a son, roy Kenneth, april 11, 2008

’92 Angela C. Dickey and Marcelo Vergara, a daughter, Sofia Celeste, September 20, 2008

’94 Skye Wagstaff Krhoun and rob, a daughter, Parley Cassis, august 30, 2008

’95 Poonam Sharma, and ali Jeevanjee, a daughter, July 16, 2008

’99 Kirsen Rostad and Jackie Puckett, a son, Jack Joseph, September 22, 2008

’00 Lisa LeTourneux Heberlein and Tom (HMC ’00), a son, Miles Joseph, September 26, 2008

’00 Nicole Burkholder Walsh and Jason, a daughter, Vivian noelani, november 18, 2008

’01 Courtney Herlihy Wucetich and Peter, a son, alexander Peter, december 13, 2007

’04 Brittany Henage and daniel, a son, Lincoln Kindrick, May 7, 2008


classNOTES

’36 Elizabeth Rusling Sedat (Bradbury, Ca) I am living in an assisted care facility at a presbyterian retirement home. I just had my 94th birthday. no special news—just the usual contented, peaceful, retirement living. I’m especially enjoying my computer.

’36 elizabeth rusling Sedat I just had my 94th birthday… I’m especially enjoying my

computer.

’40 Elizabeth Merrick Balderston (Corona del mar, Ca) I am still going strong in my little beach house. Being 90 has many connotations—a little scary! Virginia Rupp Beatty (portland, Or) I’m moving into a retirement home with continuing care; it was a difficult, but wise decision. We’ve found many old friends and made many new ones. We’re in walking distance of downtown portland and are keeping very busy with all the social and intellectual activities we can handle. Love to hear from old scripps friends! Mary Treanor Schairer (Los angeles, Ca) my husband, Bob, died march 28, 2008. Deborah Bassett Wakeman (Balboa Island, Ca) I am, now, truly an

“ancient mariner” but, thanks to the scripps injunction, I continue to learn.

’41 Dorothy Bright Davis (arcadia, Ca) I am still in the same house (now after 18 moves) we bought here in 1971. Our children come to visit, all six of them, including four great-grands. Betty Blurock Hohwiesner (Laguna Woods, Ca) I’m still here, finally living long enough to have a great-grandson—born in pennsylvania to my only granddaughter. I am very involved in opera here and am enjoying classes in art history. I should have taken [some] at scripps! But it’s never too late to stuff something else into the old brain. never, ever stop learning!

’41 Betty Blurock Hohwiesner It’s never too late to stuff something else

into the old brain.

’42 Carey Rockey Evans (portland, Or) I am still able to be active. I’m thrilled and proud to have granddaughter Carey Wickham ’09 at scripps. Pauline Riedeburg Plesset (solano Beach, Ca) I am now 87 years old (or young, on some days) and I always look back on my days at scripps as some of the most exciting times of my long life. This year, I was happy to recommend a new student [to scripps] who I believe will enjoy it and profit from it as I did. Thank you!

’44 Kathryn (Kit) Mather Dailey (Bend, Or) I do editing for others and am working on my own story, dividing my time between Bend and Laguna Hills, Calif. I play duplicate bridge (silver Life master) in my spare time. The only classmate I’ve seen is emily ament starr.

’45 Eleanor Cosby Anderson (Great falls, Va) I’m working hard in northern Virginia to “turn Va Blue!” [a democratic political campaign] That, plus painting, pottery, gardening, citizens’ association issues and meetings, and tennis keep me busy.

’47 Frances Hegeman Bryan (san marino, Ca) I spoke to Barbara Watt seymour. she lives on an island in maine. I went to sweden for a friend’s 50th birthday on the Queen mary 2. I took my beautiful grandaughter Katie to new York City—the Waldorf-astoria. We loved it all! she is now in graduate school in arcata, Calif. Patricia Odell Coulter (seattle, Wa) I’m still working, mostly during tax season, and traveling—a cruise up the atlantic coast in June and another from st. petersburg to moscow. at the moment, I’m holding at six great-grands. Connie Parrette Morris

(Orinda, Ca) I have two new great-grands, avery and Caydence. adorable!

’48 Jean Tarr Fleming (pasadena, Ca) I loved helping plan our 60th reunion with shirley, toodie, and peggy. It was such a wonderful weekend. I enjoyed the perfect weather. Interesting lectures—we’d like more—and farewell hugs for those beloved elms now tenderly replaced. High hopes for our 65th. Thank you, scripps. Caro Arnim Taylor (sandy spring, md) I am happily retired in a small Quaker community outside Washington, dC. Natasha Chapro Josefowitz (La Jolla, Ca) my 18th book is coming out in fall 2009—Been There, Done That, Doing it Better. Our 60th reunion was such fun; looking forward to our 70th.

’49 Duane Prince Carraher (pasadena, Ca) Hooray to 2009 and being incredibly active and well. Our 2008 house remodel and the outside property management jobs are completed. Global volunteers, here I come! Dolores (Dodie) Rayfield Epperheimer (san Bernardino, Ca) I spent my 80th birthday last november in Cairo on a glorious tour of ancient egypt, and I thought of scripps, humanities, and dr. Lord. Mary Jo Gardner Fenton (tucson, aZ) I spent Christmas in stowe, Vt., with family. Kate Schamberg Shapiro (tucson, aZ) since I last reported, my husband, Louis, died, in July 2006. everything in the last newsletter remains as is except my grandchildren are almost nine to 27. my granddaughter, morgan, was married in Las Vegas on december 20, 2008—a great family get-together. I take care of our house in tucson, plus take water aerobics, painting, and art board classes. It’s a lot of work. Louis did everything.

’50 Beverly La Fromboise Carlson (portland, Or) to celebrate my 80th birthday, I took all the family plus a girlfriend (oldest grandson’s) to spain for two weeks, from the end of June to July 5. It was a wonderful trip; all 16 were able to come. Sally Bieler Chamberlin (Los alamos, nm) I just had

Scripps alumnae:Have you recently tied the knot? added to your family? Published a book? Please let us know your news by writing us at editor, Scripps Magazine, office of Public relations, Scripps College, 1030 Columbia avenue, Claremont, Ca, 91711, or [email protected].

Scripps Magazine does not publicize engagement or pregnancy announcements.

When possible, we publish wedding photos and other professional-quality images. digital photos must be at least 4” x 6” at 300 dpi. We do not print baby photos, though we do “ooh” and “ahh” over them.


“Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer”* Camp Scripps - June 25-28, 2009 If you haven’t tried camp, what are you waiting for?

In July 2008, more than 100 campers enjoyed four relaxing, fun-filled days on scripps’ beautiful campus—living together in historic residence halls (toll and Clark) and recalling grand old days from their youth.

Of course, camp always offers the usual lively and creative activities that encourage campers to play and learn together, all within the Camp scripps motto: “everything possible, nothing required.”

This year’s tri-chairs are susan Hopkins Coolidge ’65, dale reeves nicholls ’70, and mary munsil Waring ’86.

Join an amazing group of women on June 25-28, 2009, and learn why Camp scripps is a life adventure not to be missed. You may register at www.alumna.scrippscollege.edu/camp09.

*from nat King Cole’s 1963 hit record.


classNOTES

a wonderful trip to California. I visited my daughter, Linda, son, alan, and wife, tracy, and old friends. We drove in our trusty 1991 ford explorer. Caryl Chesmore Hinckley (Bellingham, Wa) I moved into town may 2, but haven’t sold the house on Lake Whatcom yet. my new house is highest on the hill with an awesome view of mt. Baker to the east and Bellingham Bay to the west. Y’all come see me sometime. Shirley Travis Cropper (Waterloo, Ia) Greetings to all old friends (and old is the right word!). I think of you and our years at scripps with fondness and happy memories—and how young we were!

’51 Abbie Gail Weiser (san Juan Capistrano, Ca) That relentless ticking sound I hear is, I think, the encroachment of “Big Bad Old 80” coming up in this year. Thinking it over, it seems the best approach is a ferocious attack between the eyes, at full throttle, all-out warfare—you get the drift. so, I am getting revved up not even to consider giving up my [BmW] Z3, which I still drive year-round with the top down, to the ridicule, I suspect (not the admiration) of the locals. It’s still easy to plop into, but it’s better if no one observes the getting-out procedure I have adopted (something akin to exiting a kayak). anyway, whoever heard of awards given to old ladies who act their age?

’52 Dorothy “Dottie” Jirgal (Carlsbad, Ca) I spent a lovely pre-Christmas celebration with alex Baigrie perkins and some other scripps classmates and alumnae at a beautiful dinner and boat parade in newport Beach.

’53 Helen Peak De Alessi (Coral Gables, fL) We had another wonderful summer in Grand Lake, Colo., at our lovely summer home; the land was bought by my parents in 1929. It was enhanced by a three-week visit from our son, mike, wife rachel, and two

grandchildren, annabel (5) and Charles (3), and, of course, our champion Vizsla, “Brach,” who somehow managed to collect a chinfull of porcupine quills. Joan Wareham Flacke (Wolcott, CO) It has been both a good and bad year. sadly, my husband, Werner, died in april from complications after a stroke. all three sons were here when he died, and also for the beautiful funeral mass afterward a few days later. The good news is that I have another grandchild. ruth anna flacke was born on July 5, just a few weeks after her family moved from Vermont to Boston. I was able to take our horse, don romeo, to

’51 abbie gail weiser [I will] not even consider giving up my [BMW] Z3, which I still

drive year-round with the top down.

two horse shows this year, Las Vegas in June, and the state fair in pueblo, in august. It was great fun, and we did fairly well. We also rode in the Vail 4th of July parade. In september, [my son] Chris and I flew to Germany to see Werner’s sisters and nephew—in Berlin and Westphalia. Then we had a lovely time driving to a resort/spa in Vals, switzerland. Patricia Oliver Powell (sonoma, Ca) I’m happy and well—still pursuing interests of travel, entertaining, and gardening. I took a wonderful trip to Thailand in October, luckily, before the airports shut down. I’m looking forward to our 60th! Carole Segar Shevlin (payson, aZ) I joined members of my class for a grand 50th reunion last spring. Beforehand, we met at ann Kingman smith’s Oceanside beach house for reminiscing, fun, and a chance to catch up on each other’s lives. Those [in attendance] were ann, ann shaw mcfarlane, Helen peak de alessi, patty Oliver powell, Brent shaw foster ’55, and I.

’54 Ann Terry Wade Haven (seal Beach, Ca) Our daughter and her husband presented us with our first grandchild. They live and work in Budapest. Andree Mendenhall Mahoney (rancho Cucamonga, Ca) for

the last three years, I’ve discovered Camp scripps! fun and creativity galore, with learning and memories deep. Thanks to all who make it fabulous. Idelle Feinberg Weber (new York, nY) [my art was featured in the] scripps exhibition “place in time“ contemporary landscapes and lecture, [and at the] Boca raton museum “shock of the real” show. my son, todd, and family are in stockholm, sweden. my daughter, suzanne, has finished a new book, Center of the Universe: Yep, That Would Be Me. she and her family have moved to Los angeles.

’55 Brent Shaw Foster (san diego, Ca) In October, I traveled to transylvania with a good friend who is an expert in eastern european folk art. We drove across fields and up mountains in horse-drawn wooden wagons and stayed in pensions in small villages. It was a beautiful time—she was doing research, and I was having fun.

’56 Nina de Creeft Ward (santa Barbara, Ca) I am still working in clay sculpture, and am also taking some adult education printmaking and Chinese classes. The family is well, though one son lost his home in the Iowa floods and the “tea fire” was not so far away here in santa Barbara. Corda Eby Zajac (santa Cruz, Ca) my husband, Jack, and I go to umbria, Italy, in the summer, and santa Cruz, during the winter.

’57 Farida K. Fox (santa rosa, Ca) my 16-year-old grandson is now living with me—suddenly there are backpacks, drums, oversized clothing, and a gaggle of gangly guys all over the house! I am trying to learn the subtle distinctions between rap and hip-hop, but I’m not a very good student. Carolyn Sheets Owen-Towle (san diego, Ca) recently, my memoir about my father, millard sheets, was published by Oceanside museum of art. an exhibition of his work ran from september 15 to January 4, 2009. This is a joyful realization of a commitment I made to my dad and myself. [editor’s note: please refer to article that ran in the fall


alison Franks ’66Collecting and the Internetalison Franks ’66 co-edited the book Collecting and the Internet: Essays on the Pursuit of Old

Passions through New Technologies, with Susan Koppelman. The essays discuss the age-old pursuit of collecting and the effects of its modern relationship with the internet. Topics include individually created websites, online auctions,

collecting friends via online social networking sites, and online museums. it is now available from McFarland and Company, inc. Publishers.

Megan Edwards ’75Caution: Funny Signs Aheadover a decade in the making, Caution: Funny Signs Ahead is the result of edwards’ addiction to photographing roadside blunders that

began back in 1994. That’s when she and her co-author Mark Sedenquist embarked on a six-month journey that ended up lasting over six

years (chronicled in her first book, Roads from the Ashes: An Odyssey in Real Life on the Virtual Frontier). Caution: Funny Signs Ahead showcases over 200 full-color photographs, the work of more than 90 photographers, in addition to the authors. The images hail from the united States, Canada, and beyond. From crazy spelling, sketchy grammar, odd juxtapositions, and shocking double entendres, to plain old creative weirdness, the signs in this book have one basic feature in common—they make people laugh. (ulysses Press, november, 2008.)

Lynn Wagner ’88 Problem-Solving and Bargaining in International NegotiationsProblem-Solving and Bargaining in International Negotiations is based on Wagner’s Phd dissertation, which she received from the

Johns Hopkins university School of advanced international Studies. awarded the Best Book award by the international association of Conflict Management, Problem-Solving addresses the theory of many analysts “that negotiation

processes determine negotiated outcomes, but none have empirically tested this hypothesis across multiple cases of international negotiation.” (Leiden, The netherlands: Martinus nijhoff Publishers, 2008.)

2008 Scripps Magazine of Damngorgeous.] Valerie Thom Read (Capistrano Beach, Ca) melody pourade fleetwood ’60 and I have gone twice to see the millard sheets show at the Oceanside museum of art—the last time with Carolyn sheets Owen-towle as our docent. The exhibit is, as titled,

“damngorgeous!” and Carolyn’s book is a stunner.

’58 Elizabeth Cook Mitchell (middletown, nJ) I enjoyed the reunion and was tremendously impressed by the presentations of senior independent projects. Our college is one to take great pride in, now, as in our shared past. Adele Toepfer Montgomery (mcmechen, WV) I really enjoyed the 50th reunion! It was great fun to see all of my classmates after such a long time. Thanks to everyone who made this such a memorable experience.

’59 Linda Lewis Kramer (Winnetka, IL) I am making my art showing at printworks Gallery and Corbett vs. dempsey art gallery in Chicago.

’60 Marcia Davidove Baugh (palo alto, Ca) I am busy with much volunteering—aaVW, a woman’s chorus, and office work for a youth counseling service, as well as phoning at the local senior center. I see sue alpert dinwiddie and nancy Lubliner Higby ’62 regularly. nancy and I join Janet Cook (HmC ’60) for magna Cum murder (a mystery convention) in muncie, Ind., each year. Mary Eason Connor (san marino, Ca) I have created a nonprofit, the Korea academy for educators, and organize programs to inform educators about Korean history and culture. Bobbisue Alpert Dinwiddie (palo alto, Ca) I am doing parent education and staff development training focused on adults involved with children ages two to 10. my husband, Ken, is enjoying retirement. We give lots of programs with my harp and his flute, mostly at senior centers.

ManuScripps

Siobhan Shier ’07 NowhereSiobhan Shier ’07 has her first published short story, “nowhere,” in Coach’s Midnight Diner: The Back from the Dead Edition. Midnight Diner is described as a “dynamic extravaganza of horror, crime, and paranormal fiction with a Christian slant.” “nowhere” is the inspiration for Siobhan’s work in progress: Every Nowhere, a book that challenges the concepts of good, evil, and reality. (From the publishers of Relief, a quarterly Christian expression)

Preethi de Silva, emerita professor of musicThe Fortepiano Writings of Streicher, Dieudonné, and the SchiedmayersProfessor Preethi de Silva provides translations of two early German-language fortepiano manuals by andreas Streicher (1801) and by Carl dieudonné and Johann Lorenz Schiedmayer (1824) as well as her own commentary. de Silva is herself an internationally acclaimed fortepianist and harpsichordist. also included is a transcription and translation of a related, unpublished workshop notebook of Johann david and Johann Lorenz Schiedmayer. The book, published by the edwin Mellen Press, is winner of the adele Mellen Prize for distinguished Contribution to Scholarship.

Nancy N. Chen, professor of anthropology; chair, department of anthropologyFood, Medicine, and the Quest for Good HealthProfessor nancy Chen’s book Food, Medicine, and the Quest for Good Health draws on medical texts and food therapy practices from around the world and throughout history, locating old and new crossovers between food and medicine in different social and cultural contexts. Chen observes today’s technology and its effect on what we eat, such as nutraceuticals and genetically modified food, that link food to medicine in novel ways. Chen considers these developments in order to build a framework for understanding diet as individual practice, social prescription, and political formation. Published by Columbia university Press, 2009.


remembrancesSPRING 2009

1934 Louise Harris Veneklasen *Louise Harris Veneklasen died on January

15, 2009, in Glendale, Calif., at age 96. Louise was raised in south pasadena, a proud graduate of scripps College, and a lifelong lover of writing, reading, and learning. she retired from working at uCLa and Va hospitals, and is survived by her son and three grandsons.

1937 Marianne Johnson Finlay *a scripps booster all her life, marianne died december 10, 2008, in redlands, of a fast-moving intestinal infection. In robust health

most of her 93 years, she had only recently given up playing her beloved golf. marianne was a member of the scripps Board of trustees from 1943 to 1948, and again from 1968 to 1973. Because of her lifelong civic involvements, the City of redlands named her one of redland’s 2007

Women of the Year. marianne often said, “every success I had in life was because of my scripps education.” marianne spent more than 30 years selecting and acquiring original artwork for the walls of redlands Community Hospital, to create a healing atmosphere. marianne is survived by three children, several grandchildren, including Brook Craig Walker ’86, and several great-grandchildren.

1937 Sarah Work Smithsarah W. smith, 92, of Las Vegas, died October 7, 2008. sarah was a retired high

school librarian. she enjoyed traveling, gardening, and her dogs, and was a member for 20 years of the Ikenobo Ikebana society of america. Her sharp wit, sense of fun, and optimism will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to have shared in her adventures. sarah is survived by three children, three

granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren.

1939 Doris Leinau ButlerLongtime Claremont resident doris Leinau Butler died on december 13, 2008, at mt. san antonio Gardens after a long battle with cancer. doris earned a teaching credential

and master’s degree from Claremont Graduate school (now university), and taught fourth grade. doris was active in numerous organizations, including the scripps alumnae

association, assistance League, daughters of the american revolution, the mayflower foundation, peO, and ability first. doris is survived by her three sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

1939 Nancy Hargrave Trasknancy trask, a trustee at scripps College from 1977-1979, died november 14 following a brief illness. she was 91. nancy met with her group of scripps girlfriends, ellen ellis, Libby Gregory, and dickey rowan on a regular basis, and was a volunteer and strong supporter of scripps for many years. nancy dedicated much of her life to children and education. a five-term president and member of the san Gabriel unified school district school board from 1988 to 2001, nancy was instrumental in the district’s unification in 1992 and in the construction of Gabrielino High school. she joined the national Conference of Community and Justice and was heavily involved in the Brotherhood Youth Camp, which brought inner-city children together with children from the suburbs. “she was a force of nature and her spirit and enthusiasm for life were infectious. I still remember the years she had a small pig for a pet. There was no one like her!” said mary fraser Weis ’66, director of constituent relations. nancy is survived by her three children and five grandchildren.

1940 Dorothy June Clark Schaefer *dorothy schaefer died in scottsdale, ariz., on may 19, 2008. she was 88. June, as she was known by family and friends, attended Claremont Graduate school, and later served as the dean of student activities at California state polytechnic College in pomona. she was a past president and active member of the nevada state Chapter of peO. June is survived by her two daughters.

1946 Roberta Bond Raineyroberta Bond rainey died on June 22, 2008, in Corvallis, Ore. raised an army “brat,” roberta moved frequently due to her father’s military career. Her travels continued after graduation from scripps, meeting her husband in occupied Japan in 1947, where he worked in the occupation forces. she and her husband raised a family while moving from Japan back to the u.s., then to Germany, and finally Iran, where he retired. roberta served as executive director of the Benton County american red Cross from 1973 to 1989, and later concentrated on supporting the arts and music scene in the northwest. roberta is survived by five children and nine grandchildren.

1947 Carolie Woods NobleCarolie Woods noble, 81, died peacefully at her home in mystic, Conn., on november 12, 2008. an accomplished artist and sculptor, Carolie did graduate work at the pennsylvania academy of fine arts after graduating from scripps. she recently completed a bronze head of her son, Valentine Hollingsworth III. Carolie was the sponsor of the submarine u.s.s. alexander

Hamilton, launched in august 1962. she and her first husband, Valentine Hollingsworth, Jr., established The Thresher fund, in 1963, to provide educational scholarships for the children of the servicemen who perished on the u.s.s. Thresher in april of that year. Carolie is survived by her brother, five children, and 14 grandchildren.

1949 Sally Provine Muehlbergersally Joan muehlberger, 81, died on October 28, 2008. upon graduating from scripps, she received an ma in library science from the university of texas. sally was one of the original 10 docents at the LBJ Library and served as such for 25 years. she was president of the university Ladies Club and active in the university of texas faculty Wives organization. Her passion was traveling with her husband, Bill, around the world. together, they utilized their love of travel and geology to co-write two new mexico geologic and cultural travel guides, one of which won the new mexico Best travel Book award in 2007. sally is survived by her husband, two children, and four grandchildren.

1950 Frances Kay Brossy *frances Brossy died on december 15, 2008, in Honolulu, after a long and courageous struggle with progressive supranuclear palsy. fran was born and raised in Hawaii, a descendant of early Christian missionaries.

she was a generous benefactor to many organizations, including scripps College. In 1999, she endowed the fran Brossy Internship for scripps students. In 2006, frances was recognized by the Hawaiian senate for her outstanding volunteer work. Included in her volunteerism was her devotion to Habitat for Humanity; fran and two partners organized the Oahu affiliate of the Habitat for Humanity project. she also helped establish and volunteered at the time Out nursery, providing free daycare for working mothers, and was a member of the daughters of Hawaii. fran is survived by her husband, frederic Brossy, Jr., four children, and nine grandchildren. for her service, martha Keates, scripps’ former vice president for institutional advancement, wrote: “she had utter beauty and dignity to the very end…. You [fred] and fran will always be my models for the defining nature of love.”

1954 Joanna Svensson BonnellJoanna svensson Bonnell, age 75, died peacefully at home with her three children by her side on august 5, 2008, after a four-year battle with

cancer. during those years, she remained active with dancing and travel to africa, China, and tibet. after graduating from scripps, she received her teaching credential, married, and had three children. she later remarried, and combined her family with her second husband’s. Her humor and love for life was evident in everything she did; she donated her time as a clown named “Bojo,” and brought joy and laughter to many children, the elderly, and others in need of cheer. Joanna is survived by her brother, five children, and 11 grandchildren.

1955 Lorna DarmourLorna darmour died on september 15, 2008, in new York. she had been the new York-based east Coast editor for 20th Century-fox. Lorna was also a benefactor of several organizations, including the Central park Conservancy and The morgan Library and museum in new York.

1957 Judith Butts KyleJudith Butts Kyle died on november 24, 2008, after a long illness. Judith was active in the California federation of Women’s Clubs, and she enjoyed bridge games and social activities with her many friends. she was a warm friend and companion, and enjoyed traveling with her husband, venturing to Japan, russia, and the panama Canal. Judith is survived by her husband, douglas, her brother, three children, and three grandchildren.

1967 Kirsty Russell Moore-CoxeKirsty russell moore-Coxe died on October 14, 2007, at age 61. “she was such an unusual person — full of life, very intelligent, tremen–dous sense of humor, absolutely beautiful, and a perfect wife. she was the highlight of my life for those five years. I consider myself extremely lucky to have met and married her,” writes her husband, frank Coxe.

1968 Anita Wishcamper Grimlandanita Wishcamper Grimland died on february 8, 2008. anita’s friends were saddened to learn of her passing: “I will always remember her large, dark, eyes, her soft texas drawl, and her love of literature,” says Janet Kreft ’68.

1977 Alison Shink Coxalison shink Cox died on february 2, 2009, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer, with her husband, George (CmC ’77), and her family at her side. alison taught elementary school for 15 years and enjoyed photography, traveling, and time spent with her four children. friends from her years at scripps will remember alison for her love of history, insightful writing, and sense of humor.

1979 Diana Davies Frankdiana davies frank died in her sleep on december 4, 2008, at her home in pacific palisades. diana and her husband, Harold r. frank, moved to santa Barbara in december 1987, and she immersed herself in philanthropic work. Her favorite cause was children, and she was instrumental in the growth and prosperity of Girls Incorporated, helping to raise millions of dollars and spearhead numerous initiatives over the last 20 years. she and her husband have also been generous supporters of uCsB, the santa Barbara museum of art, the santa Barbara Zoo, and the scholarship foundation of santa Barbara. she is survived by her husband, Harold, three children, and six grandchildren.

1985 Jennifer Thomas BrownJennifer Thomas Brown died in november 2008, in Ohio, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Jennifer worked in the nutrition department and the CHf (congestive heart failure) floor at Christ Hospital. Her scripps classmates will always remember Jennifer for her kind and generous spirit, imagination and creativity, and unwavering commitment to her academic pursuits. she is survived by her husband, michael, her parents, brother and sister, and numerous other family and friends.

* Member of the elm Tree Society, having made a planned gift to Scripps College.

Some photos are from La Semeuse, courtesy of Denison Library.


’61 Barbara Johnson Murray (tucson, aZ) I spent a magical week in san miguel de allende, mexico, in april with pam moody powers, Charlotte Helmholz Colby, Carol Baker mcCrary, marian martin mayo, and rosanne rennie Holliday. I’m working in tucson real estate. Elizabeth “Betsy” Neighbor Smith (portland, Or) In september 2008, felicia schaps tracy, sherrill O’toole Walker ’62, and I attended the rehearsal dinner of my son, stuart, at sherrill and John Walker’s home on the san diego Bay in point Lomas, Calif. The wedding took place the following day in del mar. Felicia Schaps Tracy (Grass Valley, Ca) It was another wonderful and busy year, with a visit to san diego on the occasion of Betsy neighbor smith’s son’s wedding, at which sherrill O’toole Walker, Betsy, and I had a scripps moment! I also visited susan summer sullivan ’63 and John on their sailboat. I traveled to spain last spring, and yes, I still teach riding. I visited Julia Collins ’64 while at the Breeders’ Cup races, too! What fun. Bonnie Gertsman Youngdahl (encino, Ca) Bob, my husband of 49 years, passed away on august 16, 2007. I miss him greatly, but continue to step out and embrace the world through travel. I visited russia and the Baltics in 2008, and Iran in 2009, followed by a cruise down the danube.

’62 Katharine Weston Cohen (murray, KY) a little plug here for our family’s newest venture—we’ve gone into the music business. We’re probably crazy, but what fun it is! You’ll love our son dan’s Cd called Dan Cohen. Cheers to everyone. Anne Hanes Harvey (Lemon Grove, Ca) In august 2008, we celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary in sweden. among the guests were susan Lovell mcLaughlin, Joanne Glass Keith ’63, margi riles murray ’69, and diana rainer, daughter of the late beloved scripps professor Jesse swan.

’62 katharine weston cohen Our newest venture—

we’ve gone into the music business. We’re probably crazy, but what fun it is!

’63 Nancy Hunt Brandt-Erichsen (anchorage, aK) I regret to inform you that my husband, Thor, died in may 2008. We had an adventuresome life together for 47 years. Anne King Gregersen (La pine, Or) Thanks for all the notes from the 45th reunion! I am sorry I missed it for health reasons. I am now totally recuperated, and I am enjoying Central Oregon living.

’64 Margaret Schack Davis (Lakeside, mt) roy Kenneth was born to my daughter, margaret e. davis ’89, and Brian L. perleberg on april 11, 2008, in portland, Ore. every once in awhile, roy steps out to see Barbara Burns meyers ’64 and Lee meyers’ first grandchild, angelina, born may 12, 2008. Patricia Greene Frost (Lincoln City, Or) I’m looking forward to our reunion—45 years in may! Karen Diehl Merris (Hayward, Ca) my husband, russ, and I are enjoying retirement—traveling, visiting our children in tennesse and alaska. We had a wonderful time at the scripps/HmC Oregon shakespeare festival. We visited anne King Gregerson ’63 in La pine. I enjoy keeping in touch with classmates via the class of ’64 email list. Suzanne Urquhart Reed (san diego, Ca) I had lunch with three alumnae from our class on august 17, 2007—Judy [Harvey] sahak, Carol Buss, and Cindy marder. Cindy gave the luncheon at her home in newport Beach, and we chatted with her husband, John. I have a new grandson, James, born on march 31, 2008, in new York.

’65 Catherine E. Coulson (ashland, Or) all is well in ashland. I am going to be active again, in the 2009 Oregon shakespeare festival’s 74th season, in may. Come visit me. Elaine Drew (monrovia, Ca) I hit medicare age in 2008, and I’m feeling good. my third winter trip in three years was to Churchill, manitoba, in march to see the aurora borealis.

’66 Marilyn McDonough Vinson (The Woodlands, tX) We are sad to report that we lost our younger son, Gregory (pO ’95), to diabetes this past spring. my husband, Lance, and I have been very comforted by the outpouring of love and support for him and for us.

’67 Carole Cochran (playa del ray, Ca) It has been a wonderful family year. my daughter is back in Los angeles after several years in new York, teaching at a dynamic, pioneering, charter elementary school. my son is in san francisco with my adorable grandson, Cole (almost two). I am struggling with health issues, but still having fun. Enid

Obee Cocke (manhattan, Ks) I’m thoroughly enjoying retirement. We were able to spend our summer at our second home in Colorado and to make a wonderful trek to nepal in October-november. Andrea Faste (seattle, Wa) Janet Watson and I got together for dim sum in seattle’s International district in december. Janet and her husband spent an eventful six weeks creating their own tour of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam early in 2008. my husband and I managed a five-day car tour to the Canadian hot springs resorts in the Kootnenay mountains, lured by the name of one of British Columbia’s primitive provincial parks, Valhalla. I feel new hope given the election, for serious work slowing climate change, a fresh approach to national security, and renewed interest in public and voluntary service. I hope my fellow alums feel the same energy! Carol Crowley Lunkenheimer (Wilmette, IL) I retired in august 2007 after 37 years in college admissions work. I’m doing some consulting, but mostly traveling to see family in san diego, Colorado, Wisconsin, and minnesota. It has been fun to see Connie Wagner a lot since she has been in Chicago for several years. Sharon Donnelly Sabin (newberg, Or) my son, erik Landsness, and his wife, Laurie, became parents of twins (one of each) on July 10, 2008. I love being a grandma! With my husband peter’s additional eight grandkids, we have lots now. We love living in beautiful Oregon.

’68 Paula Cooper Patterson (Gainesville, fL) I loved being at my 40th reunion and visiting old dorm

rooms, marveling at the innovations, and appreciating the old familiar haunts. I feel ready to start college now—I’d appreciate it all so much more!

’70 Joan Flaxman Racki (urbandale, Ia) I received the 2008 distinguished service award from the society for College and university planning at its annual international conference in montreal. my mother, Jane freidenrich flaxman ’40, and I then took a cruise up the st. Lawrence seaway.

’71 Margaret Collins (santa Cruz, Ca) tempe Johnson Javitz, roberta simons Quiroz ’74, and I had a great trip to Italy and france last spring, where we viewed many of the masterpieces of Western art and architecture, drank some good wine, and ate excellent food. Mary Rule Dryden (Los angeles, Ca) I’m looking forward to my class’s 40-year reunion in 2011. We should start organizing!

’74 Belinda Busteed Burum (Lexington, ma) I’m teaching english as a second Language (esL), and loving it. my kids are all in college—Harvard, umass amherst, and Lewis & Clark. Dana Mayhew (altadena, Ca) my wonderful son, paul, graduated from usd in winter 2008. Harold and I have enjoyed his political accomplishments on and off campus. I continue to consult in human resources and training and development. Harold has a

classNOTES

law and mediation practice in pasadena. I’m showing my jewelry in museums and gift shops. Of course, I am on the Camp scripps planning committee, and love it!

’75 Constance De La Vega (Oakland, Ca) Human rights advocates, an nGO I helped found, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. We continue to send students to un human rights bodies to learn about their procedures so they can help promote human rights.

’76 Jan M. Kawabata (Honolulu, HI) I’ve been teaching in Hawaii’s public schools for 16 years. I enjoy my life inside and outside the classroom.

’77 Cindy Clarke Dellinger (Los altos Hills, Ca) after 15 years with Bear stearns, I have relocated to stifel nicolaus, and am enjoying my new home immensely. even in these turbulent times, I still love what I do and continue to find new challenges.

’78 Laurel Bonham-Duvall (portland, Ct) rick, alex, and I are well in portland. We wish you all a happy and prosperous 2009. Audrey Perel Silverberg (new Vernon, nJ) I now work to bring art into my children’s middle school. It’s great fun!

’79 georgia galanopoulou I resigned from the American Embassy in Athens recently (after 22 memorable years of work) to spend time with my

16-year-old daughter.

The Lawrence asher Gallery featured the art of Lisa adams ’77, painter and public artist, earlier this year. The exhibit, The Future of Paradise Past, showcased adams’ recent oil paintings. adams says, “The images that appear and reappear in my work stem from a desire to suffuse sources of inchoate matter—the formal elements, the grist of art—with a deeply felt, psychologically-charged worldview, which in turn allows my personal integrity to merge with larger, more universal concerns, cathartic to me, accessible to the viewer.”

upon graduating from Scripps with a degree in studio art, adams completed her MFa from the Claremont Graduate university. She now lives and works in Los angeles.

Betsy neighbor Smith ’61, center, with Felicia Schaps Tracy ’61, left, and Sherrill o’Toole Walker ’62, at the rehearsal dinner held for Betsy’s son’s wedding at Sherrill’s home in Point Lomas, Calif., in September 2008.

The Future of Paradise Past, 2008, 32 x 72 in., oil on panel.


’79 Jacqueline Gabrielson Fein (mission Viejo, Ca) for those of you who read my last entry in the class notes and wondered how I could have attended our 30th reunion a year before it’s supposed to happen, I’m wondering that as well. unless I did some serious time travel and have no memory of it, I must assume that the editors of the bulletin [Scripps Magazine] took some liberty or did a whopper of a typo. I did not in fact attend, but I sure plan to attend in may of 2009 and we’ll have a great turnout. [editor’s note: We apologize for the error and have just ordered Math for Dummies.] Georgia Galanopoulou (athens, Greece) I resigned from the american embassy in athens recently (after 22 memorable years of work) to spend time with my 16-year-old daughter—before she leaves home for college next year, and to write a novel. Writing children’s literature has been my other occupation since 1995. for the time being, I have six books published in Greek, and have worked with two local publishing companies. One of these books, The Magic Cape of Alberich, is dedicated to norma Goodrich, the late scripps professor of french and comparative literature. Jennifer Holland Klekamp (Littleton, CO) my daughter, Jesse, started her first year at scripps and is happy in a quad in Browning. It gives me an excuse to visit campus more often. I am looking forward to our reunion in may. my son, Chris, is enjoying his junior year at Colorado university and being one of three drum majors of the Golden Buffalos marching band.

’80 Kirsten Anderson (santa rosa, Ca) after 22 years, and with the blessing of family, friends, and the California supreme Court, my partner, Kathleen, and I got married on October 11, 2008. It was beautiful and incredibly memorable to all who attended. my wife and I plan to live happily ever after. In addition to my successful massage therapy practice, I’ve begun to volunteer with Hospice. I look forward to my 50s and more of life’s adventures. Bridget Anderson Latka (san anselmo, Ca) turning 50 was

a true celebration. my husband and I spent four weeks in Greece and sicily, I took the remainder of the summer off to play, and started a new position in mid-september. as the new director of advancement for making Waves foundation, I assist in raising funds for this amazing 20-year-old educational enrichment program that supports underserved children in grades five through college. my daughter completed her fulbright year in madrid in June 2008 and has begun a master’s program in design and urban planning at the universidad europeo de madrid. In order to keep balance in my life, I’ve been able to visit with my dearest sister-friends Cindy Lee Woodruff in temecula, Calif., and Leslie Kiem Gollub in san diego. Here’s to 50 more years!

’81 Leslie Jones (Corrales, nm) In may 2007, my older son, aaron, graduated from st. John’s College, and my younger son, Zack, graduated from sandia prep school. to celebrate, we took a trip to Istanbul and the Greek islands. The young men then spent two weeks on their own, in Italy, spain, and france. aaron is living in santa fe and working for a consulting company. Zack is home for a semester, having decided after a year-and-a-half that Hampshire College was not for him. He is applying to transfer to schools out west and is considering pomona, where his dad, robert perls (pO ’79), went, and pitzer, where his aunt, Lynn perls (pI

’82), went. I continue to practice law, almost exclusively representing children, and I continue to live in and love new mexico.

’82 Gwendolen Storey Feher (Briarcliff manor, nY) I’m doing projects in historic preservation and the arts. Our daughter, emily, will be in high school next year. I get together with donna Cheng often in new York City.

’83 Bella Rennert Mahaya Carter (Studio City, CA) I just completed a master’s degree in spiritual psychology, in which my final project was to bring forward a heartfelt dream. after 20 years of writing and publishing in literary journals, my first book, Secrets of My Sex, has been released

by Bombshelter press. The book comprises 71 bold and intimate narrative poems that read like short stories. each poem plunges the reader into the essence of the female experience with unflinching candor. The work has been called brave, but in the words of anais nin: “and the day came when risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk to blossom.” now that the seeds I have planted are finally flowering, I’d love to hear from the “garden” of scripps women that nourished me. I gave a reading at the Lankersheim arts Center in north Hollywood in september. Linan Hatch Ukropina (pasadena, Ca) my husband, Bill, and I continue with our Coldwell Banker commercial office in Glendale, Calif. Our oldest son, nick, (20) is a sophomore at santa Clara university. Grant (18) is applying to colleges now, and Conrad (15) plays football and soccer at Loyola High school.

’84 Andrea Harpole (Brooklyn, nY) after 14 years as a librarian, most recently at new York university, where I also took classes part-time and earned a master’s degree in ergonomics and biomechanics, I quit my job, and am now a full-time student in an industrial design program at the pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

’85 Naomi Lester (rothwell, Wa) This

year, I was promoted to the academic rank of full professor [at Bastyr university]. I’m enjoying life in the pacific northwest with my husband and sons (4 and 8).

’85 naomi lester This year, I was promoted

to the academic rank of full professor [at Bastyr

University].

’86 Karmen Pust Slezak (Churchville, md) I have a beautiful and intelligent daughter, Chelsea Lauren Koter, who is 13 years old. I hope that she will decide to attend scripps!

’88 Megan McGrath Glouner (seattle, Wa) It was wonderful to see so many alumnae and friends at the seattle event in October. I was so proud to bring my 14-year-old daughter with me. mothering three middle-schoolers is busy and lots of fun. I’m playing on a tennis team and still working in real estate.

’89 Tracey Brown Mallah (albany, Ca) I would love to connect with alums in san francisco, east Bay, and marin, informally.

’90 Stacia Deutsch (Irvine, Ca) I am writing children’s books and doing some movie tie-in novels. all fun. Shannon Kimbell-Auth (Lakeport, Ca) I received a Lily endowment for a three-month sabbatical to research the development of freedom of religion in america, and am now working on a curriculum, sharing what I learned. Julie Schaefer Krell (Las Vegas, nV) I can’t believe we moved to sin City! new jobs for marc and me and a new life in sommerlin, a beautiful family-oriented community in Las Vegas near red rock Canyon. I’m the marketing and commications director for the andre agassi Charitable foundation. Our good work supports K-12 education for underpriviledged children. Our sons, Xander (10) and Jonah (7), are adjusting well. any scrippsies in Vegas? Let’s find each

other! Julia Nusbaum (portland, Or) I’ve developed, and am now running, an online program for our school district. It’s interesting and challenging and I love being out of the classroom. I put a band together this summer—it’s awesome to be playing again. I’m doting on my two nephews—they are my sunshine.

’91 Stephanie Jensen Johnson (Gresham, Or) I am back to work after a 10-year hiatus. The kids are all grown up and don’t need me anymore (sniff, sniff). Hopefully, telecom hasn’t changed too awful much in the last 10 years! Gailen Jacobs Runge (Oakland, Ca) I’m still at C&t publishing, now as creative director. Jake (3 ½) started preschool, and Kennedy (2) is missing her brother. meet up with me on facebook or Linkedin, or in person if you’re in Oakland.

’90 Julia nusbaum I put a band together this summer

– it’s awesome to be playing again.

’92 Gabriela Tafoya Dodson (Goleta, Ca) 16 years after graduation! How many things have changed. since our 15th reunion, I have changed jobs—from running a foster care agency to working at Hospice. I had the pleasure of spending time with Carrie reay and elizabeth Berryman ’91. Shalini Malhotra (Corona del mar, Ca) although I’m currently unemployed, I keep busy by taking cooking classes three times a week from a fabulous chef/dentist who comes to my house to teach me divine international cuisine. We make everything from couscous, coconut flan, risotto, to tortellini in many sauces; we also enjoy dancing in the kitchen to Cds she has burned for me from the dominican republic! I have also delighted my family with outstanding desserts, such as lemon mousse and cupcakes with triple sec. I’ve learned many techniques of the cooking world and enjoy it very much. I also take drum lessons with my stepfather. We’ve been learning to play the Indian [drum]

classNOTES

Gabrielle “Ginger” Kyle ’93 and her husband, nabil arwadi, on their wedding day, november 8, 2008.

Poonam Sharma ’95 holds her daughter in their

newly-designed home.

Open to designPOONaM SHaRMa ’95

Poonam Sharma ’95 and her husband, ali Jeevanjee, faced an unusual challenge. The husband-and-wife team of LoC architects had recently purchased two apartments in Los angeles’ Chinatown and were now struggling to find a way to combine them into a single space where they could both live and work. They also wanted to be able to enjoy the same sense of openness and scenic views along with relative privacy they had found in their last home in nearby Silver Lake.

Because they enjoy dining outdoors, the couple focused on an open living area and kitchen that connected to an outdoor space, furnished with a marble-top dining table they had designed themselves.

“you could say that the entire apartment was designed around a table,” says Sharma. “once we had that, everything else fell into place.”

Their new home is the first project that Sharma and Jeevanjee co-designed. it incorporates many of the couple’s shared interests, including using an abundance of plywood with aluminum accents throughout, for contrast.

in the kitchen and office, they used basic iKea cabinets, which they accented with hardware of their own design. “That was our basic challenge,” Sharma says. “To use inexpensive materials and use them in a way that’s beautiful—because there’s an art to teasing beauty out of the ordinary.”

– Based on a Los Angeles Times article, “Courtyard Home in L.a.’s Chinatown,” by Paul young.


classNOTES

(yes, from India), from a young man who comes to our house. We have so much fun, and I must say we’ve gotten to play quite well.

’94 Skye Wagstaff Krhoun (Colorado springs, CO) rob and I welcomed our baby girl, parley Cassis, on august 30, 2008. I am lucky enough to stay home and be delighted by her every day. she loves the water already, so she just might be a swimmer like mom and dad. maybe she’ll enjoy that beautiful new scripps pool one day.

’97 Cindy Okamura Bendshadler (riverside, Ca) The last several years have been blessed and eventful! I received tenure at riverside Community College in 2005, in 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I married my fiancé, daniel Bendshadler, about 10 days later. a year-and-a-half later, we’re still newlyweds, and my hair is back. praise God! Molly Rightmyer (arlington, Va) In march 2009, I started a new postdoctoral fellowship with the usda, working on north american orchard bees in Logan, utah. I will miss my post at the smithsonian, but I’m looking forward to exploring more of the West!

’97 Molly rightmyer I started a new postdoctoral fellowship with the USDA,

working on North American orchard bees in Logan, Utah.

’98 Rebecca Giacosie Marchand (somerville, ma) We just bought our first home here in somerville and are learning a lot about “fixer-uppers.” I’m teaching music history at providence College and hope to complete a certificate in performing arts administration this summer. Emily Olman (Berlin, Germany) I was married on June 8, 2008, to Jason Levis, a phd candidate in music composition at uC Berkeley, and a

percussionist. We are in Berlin for the year, where I am working as a recipient of the robert Bosch foundation fellowship for 2008-09.

’99 Melissa deCardi Hladek (ukiah, Ca) I continue to enjoy teaching full-time and working as a nurse practitioner. Wine country is beautiful, especially when the leaves are turning. I hope to see some of you at our 10-year reunion. Holly Rushing (La Jolla, Ca) On november 8, 2008, Jeremy douglass (pO ’99) and I were married near santa Cruz, Calif., at a beautiful park in the redwoods. many alums from the 5-Colleges were in attendance at our wedding tea-party, and cupcakes and croquet were enjoyed by all. We are now living happily with our two cats.

’00 Lara Allen (Brooklyn, nY) In October of 2007, I married the love of my life after seven years together. Our ceremony was held in Vancouver, Canada, and attended by 65 of our close friends and family, who traveled from as far away as australia. We spent our honeymoon exploring Vancouver Island. We live in Brooklyn, and I work for the International rescue Committee, an amazing humanitarian organization. Elizabeth Caldwell (portland, Or)

In summer 2008, I launched my own photography business—tall Grass photo. I am really happy to be spending more time doing what I love. also, last summer, my son, Linus, turned four. Nicole Burkholder Walsh (san Clemente, Ca) after I spent a year in Hawaii working for a federal judge, Jason (CmC ’98) and I moved back to san Clemente in late 2007. While we were sad to say goodbye to Hawaii, we have a new adventure—we welcomed Vivian noelani Walsh on november 18, 2008. I am working as a deputy county counsel doing general litigation for Orange County.

’01 Olivia Pulley (perkasie, pa) after six months at the special Court for sierra Leone and two semesters abroad in the netherlands and tokyo, I have graduated from temple law school. I moved to London in march, where I hope to qualify as a solicitor. Courtney Herlihy Wucetich (san Clemente, Ca) peter and I welcomed our son, alexander peter, on december 13, 2007. He is now a beautiful, precocious, energetic, and extremely mobile 13-month-old. I’m taking a break from attorney life to stay home with him. dave (pO ’01) and sarah mcLemore schwendimann are alex’s godparents.

’02 Jeannette Allan (Berlin, Germany) I moved this fall to Berlin to do a six-month internship at an environmental security think-tank. We consult and research environmental problems, such as water management, refugees, and renewable energies that can serve as a means to resolving conflicts. The internship has already become a full-time job, and so it looks like I am here for an indefinite amount of time. please come visit.

’03 Stephanie Fell (Washington, dC) I am living in Washington, dC, after receiving my master’s from the university of toronto in the science of information and technology. I am employed by the folger shakespeare Library as a cataloguer. Heidi Jakal (Boulder, CO) my husband and I have purchased

elizabeth Goodman Logelin ’00 a few words on a website tell the poignant story of the beginning of one life and the ending of another:

“on March 24, 2008, little Madeline elizabeth Logelin came into this world. The next day, her mother left it.”

Since the tragic death of Liz Logelin, due to a blood clot following childbirth, her husband, Matt Logelin, has coped with the loss of his wife and the challenges of raising his daughter by turning not only to supportive family and friends, but to the internet. originally, Matt started a casual blog to keep friends and family abreast of Liz’s pregnancy. now, the blog is where he can share his feelings—from pain to frustration to joy in his young daughter—and offer support and friendship to others who have undergone the heartbreak of losing a spouse.

a large and strong community formed around Matt and Madeline through this connection, with people around the world daily reading his blog, www.mattlogelin.com. in order to harness the strength of that network, friends and followers created the Liz Logelin Foundation—“For the Love of Liz”—to “ease the pain and lighten the load felt by widows and widowers everywhere.” it has now become a worldwide charitable foundation and can be viewed at http://thelizlogelinfoundation.org.

Bonnie Brayton ’05 and her husband, david arthur Weick (CMC ’05), married in oahu, in 2008.

Lara allen ’00 and alyssa armster-Wikoff on their wedding day in october 2007, in Vancouver, Canada.

sidney’s Coffee in Boulder. We are a small, community-focused coffee shop, serving locally roasted coffee, local hormone-free milk, and organic products whenever possible. Normelena Rios Moreno (sunnyvale, Ca) I wed this past June to fabian, whom I met while attending scripps. I am also just about half-done with my OB/GYn residency, after receiving my md from usC in 2007.

’04 Brittany Henage (riverton, ut) Lincoln Kindrick was born may 7, 2008. now, at seven months, he smiles at everyone, laughs at his big brother, rolls over, sits up, and is trying his tongue at new foods. He’s still got his huge, gorgeous, blue eyes (yes, I am biased). I still don’t get much sleep, but daniel (CmC ’03) and I are enjoying the little squirt. Amy Tureen (fillmore, Ca) I am working on my phd in women’s literature at the university of Calgary in alberta, Canada.

’05 Bonnie Brayton (Berkeley, Ca) I had a big year in 2008. I eloped with my fiancé, david arthur Weick (CmC ’05), in Oahu, and we celebrated our first anniversary in december. I finished my master’s in plant biology at Berkeley in may, and my husband finished law school at the same time—we are officially no longer students! I am still living in Berkeley (I love it so much I don’t want to leave) and now working at a plant biotechnology company in Hayward.

’07 Lindsey Galloway (superior, CO) I’m working happily as an associate editor at Natural Solutions magazine, a national, natural health magazine sold at Whole foods, Barnes and noble, and Borders, and based in Boulder. I’m definitely a woman of many hats here (just like I was at the Scripps Magazine). I manage a department, write the newsletter and website copy, and write a lot for the magazine itself! It keeps me busy and learning constantly; my only complaint is the colder-than-California winters. Mollie Royer (Los angeles, Ca) I am traveling in southeast asia with several scripps graduates, including ellie Cross, Brianna skellie, and Lisa nowlain ’08. They will be in Chiang mai, Thailand, for the centennial celebration of the Leprosy asylum founded by my great-grandfather.

’07 lindsey galloway I’m working happily as an

associate editor at Natural Solutions magazine.

’08 Elizabeth Obreza Hurst (provo, ut) my marriage to philip Hurst in Oakland, Calif., Lds temple on august 8, 2008, preceded our ring ceremony at pulgas Water temple in redwood City, Calif. my best girlfriend attended scripps our freshman year and was my maid-of-honor, the only member of our bridal party. I’m working at a public relations firm in salt Lake City, and living in provo, where my husband attends Brigham Young university.

Three members of the Class of 1994, with the inaugural program for Barack obama, pose in front of the u.S. Capitol just minutes after the swearing-in ceremony concluded. From left, Michelle Maltais, Kalpana Singh rhodes, and Carrie rhodes.

S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • S C R I P P S C O L L E G E | 4 94 8 | S C R I P P S C O L L E G E • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9

postSCRIPPS

reality in wattsBy rachael Warecki ’08

I was halfway through fifth period when one of my students pulled a gun from his pocket, aimed it at me, and pulled the trigger.

I’d been teaching for only four months, but I was savvy enough to recognize the gun was a fake. I put out my hand, the student handed it over, and the incident became just another moment in just another day at Locke High school in Watts.

such is my life as a teach for america corps member.It is a grueling existence: not only am I a full-time

first-year teacher, I am also the varsity softball coach and a full-time graduate student. It is a difficult lifestyle, and there are some days when I wonder if it’s sustainable.

But the hardest part isn’t juggling the numerous commitments or stressing over the 24/7 nature of the job. It’s knowing that the difference I try to make every day is not enough.

The reality of this was brought home to me over Thanksgiving, when I shared an airport supershuttle with some freshmen from Caltech. They were discussing nuclear physics and neurobiology; they were only one year older than my current seniors. In comparison, some of my 12th graders still struggle with writing complete sentences.

nuclear physics vs. incomplete sentences: that’s the achievement gap. It’s not the difference between a poor education and a good one; it’s the difference between a poor education and a great one. In order to receive an excellent education, pupils must have committed, well-trained

teachers from first grade onward. With every mediocre teacher they have, they lose a little ground; they lose a few more opportunities, and they don’t even realize it. Of course, the quality of teaching is not the sole reason kids fail or succeed; but it is a crucial factor.

The unfortunate truth is that these kids are coming to me at age 17, after 11 years of less-than-fantastic education. It might be too late to get them where they need to be. It breaks my heart.

Yet most people don’t want to discuss the achievement gap. all they ever want to hear about are the “bad” stories—

the stories they expect when they hear the words “I teach high school in Watts.”

sometimes I oblige them, because I’m human, and there are times when I need to vent. I teach students who can’t afford to waste a minute of class, so I’m frustrated when I have to write an office referral within the first two minutes because one of my 10th graders throws a paper ball across the room. Or when a student whom I call “Inspector Gadget”—because I have to confiscate at least three electronic devices from her every period—raises her hand to inform me that her cell phone doesn’t get service in my

classroom. Or when I have to “take away” another student’s imaginary cell phone because she’s pretend-texting while I’m teaching. Or when I find out that girls are pregnant and won’t be continuing their education. The “bad” stories range from the darkly comic to the soul-crushingly depressing, and every time my classroom runs amok, I’m reminded that, as an educator, I am failing my students—students who are

not undeserving, just unused to being in an academic setting.

after I’ve satisfied preconceived notions of what teaching in Watts must be like—and letting off steam—here’s the story I like to tell:

This past semester, I had a 12th-grade student named roberto. as a new father and a former gang member, roberto was trying to turn his life around, but in 2008 he fell just short of the a-through-G requirements needed to graduate. Instead of giving up, he came back again this year. The only class he had left to pass was the first semester of 12th grade english. One semester of my class.

However, since the school year started, his attendance was off-and-on, and, with one month left in the semester, he had a failing grade.

Having a failing grade in one of my english classes is fairly common, even though a d is considered passing in the state of California. Often, my students’ response at the sight of an f is to give up for the rest of the semester. never mind if they’ve received an a for the first quarter—all it takes is one f and they refuse to take education seriously for the remainder of the course. take Carlos, who up through October had an a but

it’s not the difference

between a poor education and a good one; it’s the difference

between a poor education and a

great one.

refused to write the last paragraph of his personal narrative, even though I stood over him for 15 minutes and tried to talk him into finishing it. He never turned the essay in, received a zero for the assignment, and hasn’t done a bit of work since. The same can be said for some of my 12th graders. so, when roberto’s counselor emailed me to ask about his grade—“all he needs is a

d!”—I told her I didn’t think he was going to make it.realizing this, roberto busted his butt for the last month

of the semester. and guess what? It paid off. On the last day of the semester, I had the pleasure of handing back his final research paper with a C and the following note: “Congratulations, roberto! You have officially graduated from high school.” I didn’t say anything, just watched him read the note.

“Thank you, miss, thank you, thank you,” he said. and then we pretended that neither of us was on the verge of tears because we had street cred to maintain.

When school was over, he brought me pancakes and a balloon. But seeing roberto’s expression when he realized that he’d receive his diploma was all the thanks I needed.

This is why I teach for america.

in her Locke High School classroom, rachael Warecki

models her verbal instructions to students

by holding up two fingers, indicating the answer to a grammar question was

“independent clause”; for a dependent clause, she had asked students to hold up

one finger.

“thank you, Miss, thank you, thank

you,” he said. and then we

pretended that neither of us was on the verge of

tears because we had street cred to

maintain.

When your phone rings, a Scripps student may be calling you.

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Teresa Johnson ’11 French and Linguistics

Kate Kosco ’09 History

Laurel Edson ’09 Psychology

Marguerite Manela ’10 Mathematics

in the coming weeks, you can expect a call from one of our Phonathon students with exciting news from campus and an update on this year’s annual Fund campaign.

our student callers are involved in many aspects of campus life. we have soloists in a cappella groups, stars of the lacrosse team, actors in the theater, officers of Scripps associated Students, dancers, researchers in the science labs, and accomplished artists.

They’re excited to hear about your time at Scripps and what you’re doing now. we hope you’ll be just as pleased to speak with them.

spring 2009

Documents

e g e w c

e g e s u

e n s c o

t u r e

t h e w o

n e w s p r i n g

t h e e d i t o rmr

e n t seditors page