Letters

Letters

THE SPRING ISSUE

On a warm Memorial Day in lockdown, I didn’t know what to read — the news too anxiety-inducing, my current novel not calling my name. I picked up my Spring issue, and wow, was it a pick-me-up! The beautiful layout and travel photos, the reminders of the women who have shaped my life, and a thread through everything of Barnard pride. Just what I needed in these strange times. I promptly picked up the phone and called two Barnard friends. Thanks to everyone who put hard work into the issue! —Beth Napleton ’00

I immediately was jolted by the magazine’s content. I knew something was different and compelling, and now I know exactly why — your redesign and the new exciting content. My 30 years at Gourmet magazine (the last as executive editor) has made me very sensitive to shifts and points of view in magazines, and I congratulate you. —Alice Rubinstein Gochman ’66

Really loved the new magazine! Thank you for having pictures of varied races and colors. That made me feel more welcomed. The articles were excellent, informative, and enjoyable. As much as I enjoy having the magazine in my hand, I do respect the earth, and I am willing to receive it digitally. (We need to save the trees.) Thanks again for your forward thinking. —Xiomara Cortés-Metcalfe ’71

It came today! Looks fabulous! A crossword puzzle? I guess I’ll tackle it — I assume it’s at a certain level; I do the New York Times puzzles seven days a week, and the simpler ones in The Week magazine. As a former class correspondent, I want to send kudos to you and all your staff! —Alice Alekman ’62

The Spring 2020 issue is so stocked with engaging material that I am still savoring it. Among many other things in that issue, I really loved the crossword puzzle. That was fun! I do hope you will continue to run “The Last Image” to highlight visual art by Barnard artists, like how you feature books by Barnard authors in Bookshelf. Looking forward to your future Barnard Magazine issues. —Ronda Small ’72

This issue is the best ever — terrific and very interesting. Congratulations. —Marjorie Bair ’58

Just wanted to say congrats on the new [Summer] issue — it can’t have been easy to go from the new, exciting print version to confining oneself to online, but it is totally understandable. I hope the Magazine can get back on its printed feet soon! —Rona Wilk ’91

SHORTS-TERM MEMORY

I remember well “The Bermuda Shorts Affair” [Spring 2020]. I was chair of Greek Games that year, and we put up signs in the bathroom stalls saying something to the effect of “Drop What You Are Doing and Enjoy Greek Games!” I was summoned by a dean and asked to take down all the posters because they were “in poor taste.” My, how times have changed! —Ruth Nemzoff ’62

CORRECTIONS

The feature story in the Spring 2020 issue misstated Aliza Goldberg’s class year. She graduated in 2014, not 2013.

In the same issue, we misspelled the name of the alumnae artist in our “Sketchbook” feature. She is Suze Myers ’16, not Suze Meyers ’16.

EDITORIAL

EDITOR Nicole Anderson ’12JRN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Hopson COPY EDITOR Molly Frances

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Lisa Buonaiuto WRITER Veronica Suchodolski ’19 STUDENT INTERNS Brigid Cromwell, Solby Lim ’22, Isabella Pechaty ’23, Stefani Shoreibah ’21, Danielle Slepyan ’22

ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION OF BARNARD COLLEGE

PRESIDENT & ALUMNAE TRUSTEE Amy Veltman ’89

ALUMNAE RELATIONS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Karen A. Sendler

ENROLLMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS Jennifer G. Fondiller ’88, P’19

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS Quenta P. Vettel, APR

DEVELOPMENT

VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNAE RELATIONS Lisa Yeh

PRESIDENT, BARNARD COLLEGE

Sian Leah Beilock

Fall 2020, Vol. CIX, No. 4 Barnard Magazine (USPS 875-280, ISSN 1071-6513) is published quarterly by the Communications Department of Barnard College.

Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send change of address form to: Alumnae Records, Barnard College, Box AS, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-6598

EDITORIAL OFFICE

Vagelos Alumnae Center, Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-6598 Phone: 212-854-0085 Email: magazine@barnard.edu

Opinions expressed are those of contributors or the editor and do not represent official positions of Barnard College or the Alumnae Association of Barnard College. Letters to the editor (200 words maximum), submissions for Symposium (400 words maximum), and unsolicited articles and/or photographs will be published at the discretion of the editor and will be edited for length and clarity.

The contact information listed in Class Notes is for the exclusive purpose of providing information for the Magazine and may not be used for any other purpose. For alumnae-related inquiries, call Alumnae Relations at 212-854-2005 or email alumnaerelations@barnard.edu.

To change your address, write to: Alumnae Records, Barnard College, Box AS, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-6598 Phone: 646-745-8344 Email: alumrecords@barnard.edu

From President Sian Leah Beilock

Empathy in Action

Three years ago, I had the great privilege of experiencing my first Barnard Convocation. It was — as I described in my letter then — a “watershed moment” because it brought into focus the very essence of what Barnard is about: a community defined by intellectual curiosity, the lively exchange of ideas, and the drive to make a positive impact on the world. While this year’s virtual Convocation looked quite different, I felt equally inspired as I listened to alumnae, colleagues, and students give a warm welcome to the newest members of our student body. As I addressed the College from Futter Field, I was reminded of Barnard’s strength and resilience. Even in the face of this year’s historic challenges, we came together to carry on this powerful tradition — energized and ready to usher in the College’s 131st academic year. Joining us as keynote speaker was investigative journalist and award-winning author Suki Kim ’92, who shared her insights and personal experiences to help frame this unique moment in time. In her writing, she exposes inequities and uncovers injustices. Activism is at the heart of her work. But in her remarks, she touched on something that’s also essential, especially now: empathy. Her message was clear and straightforward: “Empathy means embracing love as the starting point of facing your challenge,” she said.

Over the past nine months, I’ve seen how empathy and activism go hand in hand. As we grapple with a global pandemic, economic hardships, and the pains caused by systemic racism, there have been countless stories of how Barnard women have stepped up to help and serve their communities. In this issue’s “Barnard’s Faces of the Frontlines,” you’ll read about Ivy Vega ’15, an occupational therapist, whose daily routine changed when the coronavirus peaked in New York City: She had to quickly pivot from providing long-term treatment to assisting colleagues caring for COVID-19 patients in critical condition. The work was demanding, but her time at Barnard, she said, gave her the tools to adapt nimbly to unforeseen circumstances.

The students in our incoming Class of 2024 have demonstrated the same enterprising spirit. Audrey McNeal ’24, for instance, made history in Georgia as the youngest person from her district to become a delegate for the Democratic National Convention. McNeal’s passion for the political process mobilized her to do her part in one of the most significant elections of our time.

Our faculty has also been incredibly thoughtful in creating a curriculum that probes the global and national crises we face today while inviting students to be active participants in tackling these challenges within their communities. In Professor Premilla Nadasen’s seminar COVID-19 and Care Work: An Oral History Approach, students will conduct oral histories of essential workers and learn about who they are, what their experiences have been like, and the risks they shoulder. When COVID-19 forced us to social distance this past spring, many of our own staff, from custodians to IT specialists, continued to come to campus to do their jobs. Thanks to their dedication and hard work, the College was able to thrive as we transitioned to remote learning.

These members of Barnard — like so many of you — have shown a keen ability to employ their talents to lead and care for others, calling to mind these words of the late Supreme Court justice and feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, CLS ’59: “If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself.” At Barnard, each day, I am fortunate to witness a community of true professionals in action. B

From the Editor

A Legacy of Service

A few months ago, while we were planning for the Fall issue, I went down a rabbit hole and found myself deep in the digital collections of Barnard’s archives. I was entranced. On my computer, I flipped through the old issues of the Barnard Bulletin and the Magazine. And then I landed on the Class of 1920’s Mortarboard yearbook. It is a fascinating trove of photographs, stories, and memories, revealing snapshots of Barnard during this historic period. These students, during their four years, lived through World War I, the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, the first Red Scare, and riots. I learned that in the fall of 1919, one-half of the undergraduate body was registered to do Red Cross Work; 55 students signed up for emergency war work; and 32 alumnae volunteered to do war service abroad. These students and alums faced much adversity, but what comes through in these pages is how they persevered and came together to support each other and serve their country.

A century later, we find ourselves in similarly extraordinary times, and like these women, so many of you have exhibited the same fortitude and generosity of spirit, which brings me to the Fall issue.

When we first started to conceptualize the content for the magazine, we asked ourselves a series of questions: What stories need to be told, who should tell them, and how? Immediately, we knew that we wanted to highlight Barnard’s alumnae healthcare workers who’ve served on the frontlines of the pandemic. In this feature, five Barnard grads graciously share their experiences: They tell us about the physically and emotionally challenging moments, the inequities laid bare before their very eyes by the COVID-19 crisis, and how Barnard prepared them for this difficult work. In these profiles, service takes many forms, from providing support and care packages to other medical professionals to helping the most vulnerable populations get treatment and meals, just as nurse practitioner Susanne Johnson ’07 did as the associate medical director of a community health center in Camden, N.J.

Whether an emergency room doctor caring for patients or a student processing the pandemic through zine-making (page 6), members of the Barnard community have demonstrated an ability to recover and adapt to changing circumstances. In our feature “Lessons in Resilience,” you’ll read about how Barnard women, across generations, learned to cope with hardship during their lifetimes. Through support networks and routine, humor and activism, they were able to overcome the stresses and pains of traumatic events, including world wars and global health crises.

As you leaf through this issue, I hope you have the same sense of discovery as I did when I was digging into the archives and that you also find some reassurance in knowing you’re part of a community with a long-standing tradition of meeting challenges with bravery and kindness. These stories, like those that appear in the Class of 1920’s Mortarboard, are not only a window into Barnard’s legacy of service but also a record of its resilience. B