Wes in the News

ABC News Reporter Bill Blakemore ‘65 will deliver a presentation titled “The Psychologies of Global Warming” in Memorial Chapel at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Blakemore has been reporting on climate change for the last several years. His talk will include “examples displaying different ‘psychologies, as well as manmade global warming’s place in the long history of narcissistic insults to humanity itself.’”

This semester, Wesleyan has begun offering a linked major program for Environmental Studies. Barry Chernoff, the Robert Schumann Professor of Environmental Studies, Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences, professor of biology and director of the Environmental Studies Certificate Program, explained the new major to interested students during a recent campus event.

The linked major program is the second major to a primary major. Students must complete all the requirements for graduation from their primary major in addition to those of ENVS as their second major. The basic information about the program can be found here.

Versed, a new poetry collection by Rae Armantrout published by Wesleyan University Press, is a National Book Award Finalist.  There will be a reading of the Finalists’ work on Nov. 17 at The New School in New York City. On the following day, the winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony.

My Vocabulary Did This to Me: The Collected Poetry of Jack Spicer, edited by Peter Gizzi and Kevin Killian, published by the Wesleyan University Press, is one of the winners of the 30th annual American Book Awards for 2009.  The awards are presented by the Before Columbus Foundation and will be formally award on Sunday, October 11th, in New York City.

The Boston Red Sox have signed Drew Dominguez ‘09.Dominguez is the first Wesleyan baseball player signed by a major league team in 44 years. Dominguez was an All NESCAC Player this year and broke the Wesleyan single season hits record this year – a record Dominguez set last year. He will report to the A-level minor league Lowell Spinners after signing.

More than 730 students received a Bachelor of Arts degree May 24. (Photo by Bill Burkhart)

Wesleyan held its 177th Commencement Ceremony May 24. During the event, 732 students received a Bachelor of Arts; 61 received a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies; two received a Certificate of Advanced Study; 31 received a Master of Arts; and 16 received a Doctor of Philosophy. Ten other students will receive a Bachelor of Arts upon completion.

Commencement speeches, photographs and videos are now online in The Wesleyan Connection.
Commencement highlights:
http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/wesleyan-holds-177th-commencement-ceremonies/

Commencement Address by Anna Quindlen P’07:
http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/quindlen-p07-embrace-transformation/

President’s Remarks by Michael S. Roth ‘78:
http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/president-roth-asks-class-of-2009-to-help-shape-culture/

Senior Class Welcome by Ravid Chowdhury ‘09:
http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/chowdhury-09-leads-senior-class-welcome/

Honorary Degree Recipients remarks by Jennifer Alexander ‘88, Mark Masselli and Azim Premji ‘99:
http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/honorary-degree-recipients-speak-at-commencement/

Photographs of the ceremony:
http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/a-pictorial-glance-of-wesleyans-177th-commencement/

Video clips of the ceremony:
http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/24/commencement-on-video-clips/

Phi Beta Kappa Address by Joseph Fins ‘82:
http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2009/05/23/fins-82-delivers-phi-beta-kappa-address/

Now that the danger has passed, the grief sinks in. There is a reflective mood on the campus, a feeling of pain very intense among those who knew Johanna Justin-Jinich well, and a sense of sorrow felt by the entire Wesleyan family.

At the same time, when Sophie and I went to the library on Sunday, it was full of students studying, reading, writing…and simply connecting with one another. The lacrosse team is practicing for the next round of the NCAA tournament, and the musicians are tuning up or just raising their voices in song. Students are turning in exams and professors are grading. The normal rhythms of our academic life are beginning to return.

But these rhythms return while we remember, while we work with our grief.  Students are planning a celebration of Johanna’s life for this week, and we all, I think, take a bit more time to acknowledge what’s really important to us.

In that spirit I want to thank the people I work with here on campus, as well as the entire staff, faculty and students for their extraordinary efforts and cooperation during these difficult days. And I want to thank in particular our Public Safety Department and the Middletown Police Department. In the wake of this tragedy our emergency systems worked because people worked together.

I also want to express my gratitude to the extended Wesleyan family around the world for the hundreds of messages of support we received for our community and for Johanna’s family.

Michael S. Roth
President

Update 9:40 a.m. 5-7-09

IMPORTANT: This page has moved to a new location-please update your links and bookmarks to point to http://www.wesleyan.edu/newsrel/security/

Update 6:25 a.m. 5-7-09

The suspect in yesterday’s fatal shooting has not been apprehended. Based on the advice of local authorities, Wesleyan instructs all students to remain in their residences. Faculty and staff should not come to their offices unless otherwise instructed. We will be sending information soon in regard to food and other administrative services.

Please remain cautious. The police investigation continues, and we remain in contact with them about all developments. We will send information via the usual channels as it becomes available.
(more…)

Wesleyan’s Emergency Management Website has the most recent updates for the campus community on the H1N1 flu strain, also known as “Swine Flu.” The site also has links to pertinent Wesleyan resource sites, as well as state and national sites of note. The Emergency Management site will be updated with new information as appropriate.

Jonas Mischara-Blomberger ´11 and Carl T. West ´11 have each received a Goldwater Scholarship Award for the 2009-2010 academic year. Established by Congress in 1986, The Goldwater is the most prestigious national undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, physics and engineering.