PSS - Summer 14 by Hobart and William Smith Colleges

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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES 300 Pulteney Street Geneva, New York 14456 This publication was printed using recycled paper which enables the environmental savings equivalent to the following: 300 trees preserved for the future 87,500 gallons of water saved 750 pounds of air pollution not emitted 37.5 cubic feet of landfill space saved 51,250 kwh of energy not consumed

Magazine printed on 100% post-consumer fiber paper.

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Sarah Ford ’14

is an award-winning Geneva-based author of more than 30 books for young readers including Wild Life and The Ghost of Cutler Creek. Her books have been nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe Award and listed as American Library Association Notable Children’s Books and Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, among numerous other honors.

Why do you write? Writing for children is the most rewarding thing I can imagine doing. Children’s minds and hearts are still open, which means I have an opportunity to write something that might truly touch them in a deep and lasting way. Personally, I feel my moral universe was formed by the books I read, more so than by any other influence – including parents, church or school.

What was your favorite book as a child? Charlotte’s Web Do you ever get writer’s block? Yup. Typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand? Computer.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I was a late bloomer. I had many, many different jobs before I wrote my first book at age 36 and realized, “This is IT!” But none of those early experiences were wasted, and they all led me to where I am now.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing? I get up, go for a run with my dog, shower and “go to work.” Even though my office is at home, I have to think of it that way or nothing would get done.

What was the last book you recommended? The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.

If you could travel in time, where would you go first? I would go to 1956-58, to our tiny back yard on Cumberland Road in Abington, Pa., which seemed to my 5, 6 and 7 year old self to be vast and filled with worlds of adventure.

1. Why do you write? I write because I have stories in my head that I want to read. I very much believe in the idea of writing the story you want to read, so that’s exactly what I do. I’d like to think other people want to read them, too.

What is your favorite quote? From a seventh grade boy: “I know art when I see it, and this book just takes the cake. It takes the salad and the pie; heck, it takes the full eight courses!”

What was your favorite book as a child? Charlotte’s Web

Do you ever get writer’s block? Absolutely.

Typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand? Longhand for short stories, computer for longer works.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Up until I was seven or so, my parents made sure they read to me every night. One night they ran out of books so my dad told me to make up a story. Then, I read the first Harry Potter book and decided if I couldn’t have adventures like Harry did, I could at least write them.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing? I write really well when I first get up in the morning. I try to get up early, write for an hour or two and then go to classes or work.

What was the last book you recommended? The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

If you could travel in time, where would you go first? I’d really like to see a play at the Globe Theater, so Elizabethan England.

What is your favorite quote? The dedication to IT by Stephen King is “children, fiction is the truth inside the lie and the truth is this: magic exists.” I’ve always loved that as the idea that books have magic inside them and that magic can be any truth you want it to be.

10. If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why? The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. Those books had a huge effect on a lot of people my age and that effect is still there.

10. If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why? Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. She only wrote one book, but it’s a doozy. You could learn everything you need to know to live a decent life by reading it, and be utterly gripped and enchanted while doing it.

11. Who was your childhood hero? When I was a kid I had an odd fascination with Elizabeth I of England. There are a lot of young adult books about her (I loved Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer) and I probably read most of them.

11. Who was your childhood hero? Mr. Hank Garback, captain of the fishing boat Tarpon II in Barnegat, N.J., who allowed my brothers and me to first-mate for him.

Summer 2014

3. 4.

DeFelice ’73 and Ford ’14 pose in the Children’s Room of the Geneva Public Library, Geneva, N.Y.

PARALLELS PARALLELS

is an aspiring young adult author. An English major, she is involved with the Little Theatre.

Geneva: Tracking The Renaissance

Cynthia DeFelice ’73

S S

• • • • •

The Pulteney Street Survey

Non profit org. U.S. Postage PAID Rochester, New York Permit No. 944

Geneva: Tracking The Renaissance

INSIDE: • Commencement 2014 • Performing Arts Groundbreaking • Scandling Trust Leverages Estate Gift

Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014 Catherine Williams EDITOR, VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS Peggy Kowalik ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER

Contents 6

Jessica Evangelista Balduzzi ’05 ASSISTANT EDITOR Jessica Evangelista Balduzzi ’05, Steven Bodnar, Ken DeBolt, Kevin Dunn, Jonathan Everitt, Lori A. Gable ’86, Stephanie Kenific ’17, Mary K. LeClair, John Marks, John Martin, Cynthia L. McVey, Ellen Mitchell, Paige Mullin, Katie Kilfoyle Remis, Andrew Wickenden ’09, and Catherine Williams CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/EDITORS Katherine Collins ’09, Kevin Colton, Andrew Markham ’10, Sarah Meyer, Michael Paras, Gregory Searles ’13, Neil Sjoblom ’75, Zi “Elva” Ye ’13 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS/ ILLUSTRATORS Jessica Evangelista Balduzzi ’05, Rebecca Frank, Mary K. LeClair, Betty Merkle, Kathy Killius Regan ’82, P’13, Jared Weeden ’91 CLASSNOTES EDITORS Mark D. Gearan PRESIDENT

Lakeviews

Maureen Collins Zupan ’72, P’09 CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Cultivating the Local Environment

Andrew G. McMaster Jr. ’74, P’09 VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Performing Ar ts Center Groundbreaking

Kathy Killius Regan ’82, P’13 ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, ALUMNAE RELATIONS AND NATIONAL REGIONAL NETWORK Jared Weeden ’91 ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, ALUMNI RELATIONS AND ANNUAL GIVING William Smith Alumnae Association Officers: Chris Bennett-West ’94, President; Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk ’98, Vice President; Susan Flanders Cushman ’98, Immediate Past President; Kate Strouse Canada ’98, Historian Hobart Alumni Association Officers: James B. Robinson ’96, President; Jeremy Cushman ’96, Vice President; Edward R. Cooper ’86, P’16, Immediate Past President; Rafael A. Rodriguez ’07, Historian VOLUME XLII, NUMBER ONE THE PULTENEY STREET SURVEY is published by the Office of Communications, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 639 S. Main Street, Geneva, New York 14456-3397, (315) 781-3700. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Pulteney Street Survey, c/o Alumni House Records, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 300 Pulteney St., Geneva, New York 14456-3397.

Seneca Lake at sunset by Neil Sjoblom ’75.

Opinions expressed in The Pulteney Street Survey are those of the individuals expressing them, not of Hobart and William Smith Colleges or any other individual or group. The Colleges do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or any other protected status. Printed on 100% post-consumer fiber paper. Gas resulting from the decomposition of landfill waste used in place of fossil fuels to produce paper.

Moved to Action

A Healing Force

Commencement 2014

Athletics

Geneva: Tracking the Renaissance

Classnotes

Alumni & Alumnae News

Bookshelf

For questions and comments about the magazine or to submit a story idea, please e-mail Catherine Williams at cwilliams@hws.edu.

Robert B. O’Connor VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT

COVER PHOTO by Kevin Colton and Greg Searles ’13. Among the most beautiful main streets in the country, Geneva’s South Main is known for its colorful row houses, the majority of which were built between 1825 and 1850.

Lakeviews

Dear Friends,

PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON

hen students arrive at Hobart and William Smith, they become residents of one of the most beautiful small cities in the country. In the past two decades, Geneva has undergone significant changes, positioning itself as a vibrant tourist destination with a revitalized downtown area. This progress is the result of collaboration among government officials, the Colleges, the city school district, businesses and the faith community, among other partners. The result has been very positive for the City itself, for its residents, and for Hobart and William Smith. Geneva offers our students a unique opportunity to become contributing members to a community that, as Professor of Anthropology and Sociology Jack Harris often says, is on an “actionable scale.” Every single one of our students participates in community service in Geneva with 80,000 hours contributed last year alone. Working on communityidentified projects and under the mentorship of Geneva residents, our students have built playgrounds and helped to construct homes through Habitat for Humanity. They tutor children, intern at the hospital and research invasive species in Seneca Lake. They collaborate with local agriculture to run farmers’ markets, organize film festivals and help revitalize neighborhoods. When our students graduate, they can say with truth and humility that they made a difference in Geneva. It is my hope that they will take the lessons they have learned and apply them to the communities they will one day call home.

As we go to press with this issue of the magazine, we do so within a heightened national focus on sexual misconduct on college campuses. The Office of Civil Rights is currently President Mark D. Gearan investigating how institutions across the country are handling the enforcement of Title IX laws, including Hobart and William Smith. As I wrote to all alums and parents in May, the Colleges have in place a comprehensive sexual misconduct policy, a robust educational program, and a full-time Title IX coordinator responsible for managing our response and investigation of allegations. Despite these and other efforts, sexual misconduct does happen. When it does, the Colleges respond with compassion and care, ensuring that our students have the services and support they need. And while I am confident in our processes, there is always more we can learn and do – new practices, paradigms and organizational structures that can better serve our students. As our efforts continue, we have created a web page (www.hws.edu/studentlife/ocr) that includes messages to the HWS community, resources on sexual misconduct and Title IX, and frequently asked questions. The web page will be updated as new information becomes available. The Colleges have had a momentous spring semester highlighted by two significant events detailed on the pages of this magazine: the groundbreaking of the new Performing Arts Center and Commencement. Currently under construction and scheduled for completion in January 2016, the new Performing Arts Center will provide critical academic and performance space for theatre, music and dance as well as a screening room for the department of media and society. It is fitting then, that this year’s graduation paid tribute to three alums and two Geneva community members who have dedicated their lives to the arts. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, it was my privilege to confer honorary degrees on Bradley Falchuk ’93, the co-creator, writer and executive producer of the Fox series “Glee” and FX network’s “American Horror Story;” Reynold Levy ’66, the recently retired president of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Dorothy H. Wickenden ’76, the executive editor of The New Yorker; Nozomi Williams, local philanthropist and arts patron; and Carl W. Fribolin, Geneva agricultural entrepreneur whose efforts led to the preservation of the Smith Opera House in downtown Geneva. In a poignant and thoughtful Commencement address about the nature of failure and the birth of heroes, Falchuk reflected on returning to campus 21 years after his graduation: “It’s a great gift you have all given me – the gift of perspective and memory and acknowledgment….” As we plan for the completion of the Performing Arts Center, I invite all alums to return to campus to receive that same gift of perspective, memory and acknowledgment.

Senate Race | ca.1964

WAVELENGTHS

Sincerely,

RFK Visit 50 Years Ago

Mark D. Gearan President

Robert F. Kennedy (standing front and center on the stage) stopped in Geneva on September 29, 1964 during his campaign for the U.S. Senate. The crowd of more than 1,000 people included many teenagers who skipped school to see “Bobby.”

All historic photos in this issue of The Pulteney Street Survey were selected by John Marks, the curator of the Collections and Exhibits at the Geneva Historical Society, who also wrote the captions. Visit the Geneva Historical Society online at www.GenevaHistoricalSociety.com

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Far m Donation

20 Years of Ser vice

Groundbreaking 9 Hobart Medal of Excellence

A Healing Force

Commencement 14 HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

WAVELENGTHS

TOP Daily Update Stories

Two HWS students have been awarded prestigious 20142015 Fulbright U.S. Student Awards to support English Teaching Assistantships. Melissa Hosek ’14 and Laura Alexander ’14 were chosen to represent the U.S. as ambassadors and English instructors for yearlong assistantships in Taiwan and Malaysia, respectively.

TWO AWARDED FULBRIGHTS

HOSEK

ALEXANDER

BENTSI-ENCHILL ’17 WINS THE PITCH

Ato Bentsi-Enchill ’17 was named the 2014 winner of The Stu Lieblein ’90 Pitch, the Colleges’ annual entrepreneurship contest facilitated by the Centennial Center for Leadership. Bentsi-Enchill received a $10,000 award in start-up funding for his idea, RevisionPrep, an online educational service that combines exam preparation with gaming programs for students in Ghana.

BUDMEN ’15 IS NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOW

Peter Budmen ’15 was named a 2014 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, which honors student leaders who have worked to find solutions for challenges facing their communities. On campus and in the Geneva community, Budmen has dedicated his time to volunteering with the Geneva Head Start program and working with local children.

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LUNA ’14 NAMED 2014 RANGEL FELLOW

David Luna ’14 is one of only 20 students nationwide awarded a Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship, which supports individuals who want to pursue a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Luna is the first HWS student to receive the honor which includes full funding for a master’s degree followed by employment with the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service officer.

GEARAN JOINS WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT ON HIGHER ED

President Mark D. Gearan was invited by President Barack Obama to be among 85 college presidents to attend a Higher Education Summit at the White House. The Summit included discussions about higher education’s role in increasing college opportunities, an initiative that has been a primary focus of the Colleges, most recently through the Geneva 2020 project.

ROUND ROBIN HOSTS EXCEPTIONAL FIELD

In April, the most accomplished debate teams in the world converged on the HWS campus when the Colleges hosted the eighth annual Round Robin Invitational, one of the most competitive debate tournaments in the world. As hosts, HWS cannot compete. Sydney University was ranked number one followed by Yale University and Cambridge University.

Overheard

HOWARTH NAMED GOLDWATER SCHOLAR

From a highly competitive field of applicants, Macy Howarth ’16 was named a Goldwater Scholar and Alison McCarthy ’15 received Honorable Mention. The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. In addition, Howarth has been awarded an Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship which includes an internship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

HWS’ VIETNAM PROGRAM “MOST IMMERSIVE”

The Colleges’ study abroad program to Vietnam was named the “Most Immersive” of study abroad programs in Southeast Asia by NerdScholar, a website that provides information and resources to help students make decisions about colleges and financial aid.

OLIVIERI PREMIERS COMMISSIONED WORK

Assistant Professor of Music Mark Olivieri was one of only 10 American composers commissioned to write works based on American musical idioms, which are featured on award-winning pianist Nicholas Phillips’ album, “American Vernacular,” released by New Focus Recordings in January 2014.

“A few years back, I picked up an old journal and saw something my son Jake asked me when he was five: “Do zombies sleep?” It struck me as the title for a fun kids’ book.” Dave Pullano ’84 on his new illustrated children’s book, Do Zombies Sleep?: An Impractical Guide to Monsters, Mutants and Magical Creatures

“I

do think increasingly what we focus on in Washington is often not what people in the rest of the country care about at all.” Todd Purdum, senior writer at POLITICO and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair during his HWS President’s Forum address, “The Real House of Cards: A View from Washington”

“HWS has given so much to me, and I can’t wait to help welcome the Classes of 2018 to such a wonderful and encouraging place.” Dana Williams ’16, newly named 2014 Orientation Leader

“HWS students walk away from a semester of volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club with a profound understanding of how investing time in a child’s or teen’s life can impact that young person positively.”

“Break through that wall!” Advice to the 2014 Pitch finalists from Horace Allen ’85, founder and CEO of LegacyCreators

“A dream come true.” Dave Schwartz ’01 on covering hockey at the Olympic Games in Sochi as a sports anchor for KARE 11, a station serving Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., and as a columnist for Minnesota Hockey Magazine

“Baseball is drama, politics is drama—it’s American culture at large.” Professor of Political Science Iva Deutchman on the new interdisciplinary course, “Baseball and American Culture,” co-taught by Deutchman and Assistant Professor of Theatre Chris Hatch

“HWS launched me. I learned a set of skills that I need in my career today as an executive recruiter: to be adaptable, flexible, a multi-tasker, good communicator and relationship builder.” Sandy Gross ’85, P’18, founder and managing partner, Pinetum Partners LLC and HWS New England Career Services Coordinator on why she gives back to the Colleges

Aly McKnight ’15, Boys & Girls Club of America alum and HWS civic leader

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

PHOTO BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

WAVELENGTHS

Cultivating the Local Environment

PHOTO BY SARAH MEYER

PHOTO BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

This fall, 56 students will regularly visit the Farm as part of the First-year seminar “Consuming the World.”

PHOTO BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

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PHOTO BY SARAH MEYER

ach spring, students in the Environmental Studies Program’s Senior Integrative Experience (SIE) explore the intersection of the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. This year’s SIE students, led by Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Beth Kinne and Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies Tom Drennen, were among the first to visit White Springs Farm as part of their coursework. Located less than a mile from campus on White Springs Lane in the Town of Geneva, the property has operated as a dairy farm, a fruit farm and rotating crop farm—and now offers a wealth of possibilities for experiential learning. When local agricultural innovator, entrepreneur and philanthropist Carl W. Fribolin L.H.D. ’14 and his partner Elizabeth Mitchell donated the more than 35 acres to the Colleges earlier this year, President Mark D. Gearan appointed a committee of faculty, staff and students to imagine the broad potential for the property’s future. The 18 students in this year’s SIE augmented the Farm Committee’s proposals for the farmland and the grounds, which include a barn, stables, spring-fed ponds, an indoor equestrian ring, a family of ducks and even a 23 year-old horse. Along with the donation

“Many, many departments will benefit from this new opportunity. Biology, geology, environmental studies, our emerging food studies program ... This generous gift allows HWS to do all kinds of grounded, hands-on activities.” — Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies Tom Drennen

of the farm, valued at more than $500,000, the Colleges purchased a home on the property. In honor of Fribolin’s donation, the Colleges will rename it Fribolin Farms. “Many, many departments will benefit from this new opportunity,” Drennen says. “Biology, geology, environmental studies, our

emerging food studies program, which often focuses on local food and social justice—this generous gift allows HWS to do all kinds of grounded, hands-on activities.” “It’s a beautiful piece of property that deserves to be maintained and we sincerely believe that the Colleges will do that,” Fribolin says. “Hobart and William Smith have a history of responsible land stewardship. Elizabeth and I wanted the same kind of treatment for this property. Donating it to the Colleges will ensure that it remains agricultural.” One group in the SIE course considered how to best use the house and barns. Other groups discussed how to use the farmland, which is certified organic. “There are so many possibilities for what the Colleges and community could do with the space,” says Haleigh Marshall ’14, a double major in environmental science and geoscience. “What’s interesting to note is that so many suggestions have to do with making things better for Geneva such as growing crops for food pantries or starting an afterschool program. At the same time, we don’t want to infringe on projects that are already under way at places like the Geneva Community Center.” Vice President for Student Affairs Robb

Flowers, who is a member of the Committee, says that “over the course of the next year or so, we anticipate that we’ll be able to begin developing some ideas and priorities.” Ideas include the cultivation of heirloom crops, native crops and grape vines for a winery as well as a greenhouse and beehives to pollinate crops. The opportunity for renewable energy is also under discussion, including potentially installing solar panels and a small, spring-fed hydroelectric generator, to contribute to the Colleges’ goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2020. This fall, 56 students will regularly visit the farm as part of the firstyear seminar “Consuming the World.” Whichever direction or directions the Farm takes, the Colleges intend to embrace the opportunity to expand learning beyond the traditional classroom. “I am very grateful to Carl and Elizabeth for this extraordinary gift and the educational opportunities it will provide generations of Hobart and William Smith students,” says Gearan. “They have made the preservation of the Finger Lakes region a priority. This thoughtful gift will allow HWS to create innovative, experiential curricula that will give students hands-on experiences in the value of this area and the deep responsibility we all have to ensure its future.”

PHOTO BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

by Ellen Mitchell

“Hobart and William Smith have a history of responsible land stewardship. Elizabeth and I wanted the same kind of treatment for this property. Donating it to the Colleges will ensure that it remains agricultural.” — Agricultural Innovator, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Carl W. Fribolin L.H.D. ’14

The donation of the Farm to HWS is the largest charitable gift that Fribolin has made to one institution. Throughout his life, Fribolin has been instrumental in both revitalizing land and sustaining the arts in the region. After graduating from Cornell University in 1940,

Fribolin founded Seedway, a seed-growing and distribution business. Fribolin sold the business to Agway, Inc. in 1987, but not before he had established six new seed production farms throughout the northeast. In 1973, Fribolin purchased White Springs Farm in Geneva. In 2003, he planted 13 acres of grapes, creating White Springs Winery. Those 13 acres have since become 40 and are populated by a variety of grapes and are a separate operation from what is now the Colleges’ property. Fribolin is a member of the Geneva Arts Development Council Board and a board member and past vice president of the Smith Opera House. As co-chair of the Smith’s Restoration Endowment Projects, Fribolin led a team of community members in restoring the Smith Opera House to its intended state as one of the most historic and recognizable theatres in the Finger Lakes. An honorary member of the Finger Lakes Health Foundation, Fribolin is also trustee emeritus of Keuka College. In 2008, HWS honored Fribolin and his work on behalf of the region with the President’s Medal. For his incomparable role as a community leader and contributor to the cultural fabric of the Finger Lakes, the Colleges conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on Fribolin during Commencement 2014. ● HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

by Cynthia L. McVey

DAY OF SERVICE ILLUSTRATION BY MEI-WAH CHOI ’16

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n the early 1990s, an energetic group of students went to Boston for the annual City Year Serv-a-thon. They returned determined to host a similar event and, in the process, helped create a legacy of service and community partnership at HWS. “They saw thousands of people from Boston gathered to give a day of service to the community, got back in the van to come home and said ‘We have to do this in Geneva,’” says Associate Dean of Hobart College David Mapstone ’93, who at the time was the coordinator of the Student Literacy Corps program on campus. Modeled after Serve-a-thon, the first day of service took place on campus in 1994. At first, organizers held their breaths hoping volunteers would show. Students trickled onto the Quad and, before long, 500 people stood ready to serve. Referred to in its early days as “Celebrate Service, Celebrate Geneva,” the program has grown to comprise four annual Days of Service, during which approximately 1,000 volunteers assist nearly 50 area organizations. The large-scale day of service events, now organized by the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning and led by Katie Flowers HON ’11, build excitement for individual service projects and introduce students to community partners with whom they will work throughout their four years. The Colleges now partner with city government, neighborhood associations and other nonprofits to establish sites for each service day. The program has also expanded regionally. While most projects are completed within Geneva, some take place throughout Ontario and surrounding counties. ●

PHOTO BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

Day of Service Celebrates 20 Years

Members of the Board of Trustees, President Mark D. Gearan, students and other members of the HWS community officially break ground on the new Performing Arts Center. (L-R) Cynthia Gelsthorpe Fish ’82, L. Thomas Melly ’52, L.H.D. ’02, Christopher McDonald ’77, L.H.D. ’13, Gearan, Nozomi Williams L.H.D.’14, Craig R. Stine ’81, P’17, Christopher S. Welles ’84, P’12, P’15, Sarah Nargiso ’07, Rita Goldstein Ashton P’04, P’07, Joanne I. Froelich, Edward A. Froelich ’55 and Maureen Collins Zupan ’72, P’09.

Performing Arts Groundbreaking Colleges Surpass Fundraising Goal by Steven Bodnar

obart and William Smith celebrated a momentous occasion on Friday, April 25 when, during the groundbreaking for the new Performing Arts Center, President Mark D. Gearan announced that thanks to an anonymous donor’s $1.5 million gift, the Colleges have surpassed its fundraising goal of $28 million. “This is the largest and most complex capital project the Colleges have ever undertaken,” said Gearan. “In exceeding the fundraising goal of $28 million, we have raised four times more for this project than for any other in the Colleges’ history.” The groundbreaking ceremony formally launched the construction phase for the 65,000-square-foot facility. When completed in January 2016, the three-story Center will provide academic and performance space for the departments of music, dance, theatre, and media and society. “This project has benefitted from the philanthropy and generosity of dozens of alums, parents and friends of the Colleges who, in ways large and small, made the performing arts a priority,” says Vice President for Advancement Bob O’Connor. “The groundbreaking was a way for us to honor the many donors who have made

consistent with the campus aesthetic and this project a reality as well as to celebrate include tall windows, steeply pitched roofs the beginning of a new era of the arts on and a tower. The third floor will include a campus.” rooftop terrace and garden. Internally, plans At the groundbreaking, Gearan credited include a sweeping, the leadership of three “This project has benefitted open lobby linking Board Chairs who worked flexible performance during their tenures to from the philanthropy and and rehearsal spaces enable the project: current generosity of dozens of alums, specially designed Board Chair Maureen parents and friends of the for theatre, music Collins Zupan ‘72; P’09; Colleges who, in ways large and and dance. The Honorary Trustee Charles building will also Salisbury Jr. ‘63, P’94, small, made the performing L.H.D.’08; and Honorary arts a priority.” — Vice President for include 18 faculty offices, practice and Trustee David Deming ‘75. Advancement Bob O’Connor recital rooms, and a Gearan also recognized film screening room. the vision and contributions It will be wired with the latest technology, of Chair Emeritus of the Board of Trustees L. providing facilities for students interested in Thomas Melly ‘52, L.H.D. ‘02. “One trustee lighting, sound or stage management. had a vision, coupled with his commitment, The new Performing Arts Center is and brought his integrity and decades-long being designed and will be constructed engagement at Hobart and William Smith using sustainable practices and materials. Colleges to inspire others,” Gearan said. “We “The building will achieve LEED Silver at a all know we would not be breaking ground minimum,” says Chris Button, senior project today without Tom Melly.” manager for the Colleges who is a LEED In honor of Melly’s contributions to the (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) project, the atrium of the new Performing Accredited Professional with a specialty in Arts Center will be named in his honor. Building Design and Construction. ● When completed, the brick facade of the new Performing Arts Center will be HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

For his life-saving work advancing public health and human rights— particularly the prevention of HIV/ AIDS, Dr. Christopher C. Beyrer ’81 was bestowed the Hobart Alumni Association’s highest honor on Dec. 18, 2013 in Washington, D.C.

PHOTO BY STEVE BARRETT

Moved to Action Chris Beyrer’s ’81 personal encounter with the AIDS epidemic sparks lifelong passion

by Jonathan Everitt

10 Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014

s a young gay man living in New York City in the 1980s, Chris Beyrer ’81 witnessed the gravity of the AIDS epidemic firsthand. He watched friends and loved ones die—including his own partner. Little was understood about the disease. Treatment was ineffective. The experience shook him deeply. “My whole life I was a relatively happy person,” Beyrer says. “I was out early and had an accepting family. I had no experience with this kind of enormous tragedy.” Those tumultuous years led Beyrer to build his career as a relentless public health advocate working on HIV/AIDS prevention. He’s also tackled related issues ranging from substance abuse to human rights, and his work has taken him around the world. Today, he’s a professor at Johns Hopkins University and an internationally renowned expert on AIDS. Born in Bern, Switzerland, while his father was an American medical student, Beyrer’s family later settled in East Islip, N.Y., where he graduated from high school. His parents live there to this day, his father a practicing doctor at age 80. Beyrer was drawn to Hobart and William Smith after attending a sizable high school—his graduating class was nearly 800. He was looking for something on a more human scale. The Colleges also caught his eye because his father, Dr. Charles R. Beyrer, is a 1956 Hobart grad. “Hobart and William Smith offered a nice balance of arts and sciences,” Beyrer says. “I thought I might be a writer when I was young. I was interested in poetry.” But he found his passion in another area. After graduating cum laude from Hobart in 1981 with a bachelor’s in history and spending time in Asia studying Buddhism, Beyrer went on to earn his M.D. at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, N.Y., and his MPH at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Beyrer was working on his residency at Johns Hopkins University in 1991 when he lost his partner, Ed Luther, to AIDS. The grief set him on a course that would shape his career for the next 20 years.

“We were in Baltimore and neither of us had family here,” he recalls. “I was his primary caretaker. To make a living, I was moonlighting at two AIDS clinics at Hopkins. In 1991 and 1992, there was no effective treatment. Basically everybody progressed. It was intensely painful. “Ed had started a memoir that he didn’t Chris Beyer ’81 at the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. have time to finish,” Beyrer says. “Some friends of mine had a house on Fire Island so after Ed’s death, I went there and was living rights. He points to recent developments in AIDS rages on in new parts of the world in alone and grieving and writing. A friend called places like Uganda and in Russia, where he new demographics and new generations from Baltimore. Hopkins had received a grant has been working for more than 10 years. perhaps too young to remember or understand to work on AIDS in Thailand and they needed In a professional life surrounded the threat. someone who could move out there the next by conflict and struggle, Beyrer finds his “New infections among young gay men week. It struck me as a way to keep moving emotional center in things like his relationship are high and rising,” Beyrer points out. “It’s and do something meaningful. I could have with his partner of 17 years, Mike Smit, a proving devilishly difficult to address.” some space away from New York and from all nurse practitioner he married in April 2013. But address it he does. Today, Beyrer is our friends dying. So I went there in 1992.” He also turns to Buddhism, which he’s director of the Johns Hopkins Fogarty AIDS The years in Thailand reignited his drive been practicing for 33 years. International Training and Research Program; to make a difference. “I got involved in Buddhism in high founding director of the Johns Hopkins “I’m eternally grateful to the Thai school,” Beyrer says, “mostly in a search for Center for Public Health and Human Rights; community because it turned out there meaning. I looked at lots and lots of traditions. the co-principal investigator for the Johns was a huge amount of work to do,” he Finding Tibetan Buddhist philosophy was Hopkins Center for says. “I reinvented enormously liberating—and practical in the AIDS Research; and my work, focusing on development of insight.” associate director of HIV prevention and “Public health–my field– “It’s a grounding part of my work,” he the Johns Hopkins policy, outreach, and has been described as explains. “Over the past decade, what I’ve Center for Global working with affected tried to do is bring my Buddhist principles to compassion at a distance Health. communities.” life in my work because there isn’t time to do it He’s also the HIV/AIDS treatment because you’re trying any other way.” incoming president has since taken some to address things like It comes down to simply remembering of the International dramatic turns. He why he’s in this line of work. “In Buddhism, AIDS Society. remembers attending a epidemics. It’s important acts are neutral, but motivation is important. In recognition 1996 AIDS conference to keep the practice of I never give a lecture without first offering of the tremendous in Vancouver, B.C., that up. Reminding myself, this is to reduce difference he has compassion front and when reports of the first unnecessary suffering, to open the audience’s made and continues successful AIDS “cocktail” center.” — Dr. Christopher C. hearts and minds,” he says. to make around the drugs surfaced. Beyrer ’81 “Public health–my field–has been world, in December “It was an described as compassion at a distance 2013, Beyrer received unforgettable experience because you’re trying to address things like the Hobart Alumni Association’s Medal of sitting in a huge hall at a conference, seeing epidemics. It’s important to keep the practice Excellence. for the first time the data that was so clear of compassion front and center. It’s imperative Alongside his HIV/AIDS work, that this combination was working,” he says. in public health that you find people of similar Beyrer has also been a vocal advocate for “The reversal in immune decline and the motivation and connect profoundly with international LGBT rights, which, he explains, incredible physical transformation of people colleagues as people. has new chapters each year – some full of was evident.” “It’s not just the right thing to do—the promise, others full of struggle. Beyrer returned to Baltimore—and Johns outcomes are better.” ● “It’s going to get worse before it gets Hopkins—in 1997. While treatment has seen astounding improvements, the fight against

better,” Beyrer says of efforts to advance LGBT

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

“When I saw the campus, I knew this was the place. The atmosphere and academic environment were just unsurpassed. I was very happy to come here. And very sad to leave.” — Dr. Kathy Platoni ’74

PHOTO BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

WAVELENGTHS

A Healing Force Retired from the U.S. military, Dr. Kathy Platoni ’74, PTSD expert continues to fight for change by Jonathan Everitt

he Watergate scandal. The Vietnam War. Captain & Tennille. The world has changed since 1974, the year Kathy Platoni graduated from William Smith. But one thing that endures: her fiery drive to speak her mind and challenge the status quo. Platoni has taken on not one, but two disciplines: psychology and military service. She’s confronted the dark place where the two intersect, taking a stand for the people most affected by that intersection, refusing to sit down. Refusing to be quiet. She still has plenty of fight left in her, too. Platoni has seen the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on military personnel. She’s a fierce advocate for those who suffer from it. A PTSD expert and a clinical psychologist in private practice, Platoni is a retired colonel with the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve. She’s also served as Army Reserve Psychology Consultant to the Chief of 12 Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014

the Medical Service Corps, the position of chief psychologist for the entire Army Reserve for six years. “‘You have to know what ‘right’ looks like.’ A very wise two-star general taught me that,” Platoni says. “It’s about commitment and investment, and how far you’re willing to go to take care of your Soldiers.” Knowing what ‘right’ looks like comes in handy in other areas, too. As a high school kid looking for the right college, Platoni fell in love with Hobart and William Smith as soon as she set foot on campus. “When I saw the campus, I knew this was the place. The atmosphere and academic environment were just unsurpassed. I was very happy to come here. And very sad to leave,” says the Yorktown Heights, N.Y., native who today lives in Beavercreek, Ohio, with her husband, John D. Hutchinson, retired from the U.S. Air Force.

Platoni started out pre-med, but the required courses changed her mind. “Chemistry and calculus did me in,” she says. “Then something happened. Judy Lane, also class of ’74, and I volunteered at Willard State Hospital—very much like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. We worked with very seriously mentally ill patients. This was my junior year. Boy, it bit me. I switched majors. It was then and there that I wanted to become a clinical psychologist.” After graduating, Platoni went on to earn a master’s in education from the University of Miami-Coral Gables. But when she was accepted by Nova Southeastern University to pursue her doctorate, she realized there was no way she’d be able to afford to finish school. So, Platoni turned to the Army for a scholarship. “I applied and was one of three people who won a full scholarship through the Army for my doctoral studies. I owed them four years.”

ing soldiers manage a range of PTSD symptoms, from flashbacks to panic attacks. “I trained with the best people in the field,” she says. “And in the combat theater, where people are desperate for some inner quiet, it’s a powerful tool.” Despite the roadblocks PTSD sufferers face, things are changing. Much of that change is coming from service members and their families. For instance, self-expression can be therapeutic, and they’re telling their stories. “It’s just recently that people have started to write about their experiences,” Platoni says. “And paint about their experiences. And dance about their experiences.” Staying connected to the people who shared your experiences is a big part of the healing process, too. “We gather for weekend conferences and preserve those bonds,” Platoni says. “The most powerful healing forces are those bonds of Dr. Kathy Platoni ’74 sitting on top of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle in Afghanistan. fellow soldiers. I don’t know anything else that rises to that level. It’s not a pill. It’s each other. an important resource for journalists who cover Turned out that she loved being in ‘You’re my battle buddy. You need help. Here related issues. Platoni has been quoted in The the Army. am I.’” Washington Post, Newsweek, U.S. News and World “It was something so much greater than What drives someone to work so tirelessly Report, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times and Huffmyself,” Platoni says. “It required a tremendous in two demanding fields for nearly 40 years? amount of sacrifice, but it felt very right for me. ington Post, and has been featured on Fox News, Some of it’s undoubtedly innate. But the right I found a home there.” CNN, and MSNBC, among others. start helps, too. Platoni says that happened In her military career, Platoni has been As a soldier herself, Platoni understands at the Colleges. For all her years of education deployed four times—stateside during the Gulf deeply the courage across several instituWar, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and strength it takes tions, Platoni’s memories “Millions have deployed since 2001 Afghanistan and Iraq in support of both Operafor men and women to Iraq and Afghanistan. My guess is from her time at HWS are to confront the tion Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring that 65 percent of people are coming profound. So is her sense demons of PTSD. In Freedom twice. She also served in the aftermath of home—she came back back with PTSD, because of multiple 2009, she was on the of 9/11, supporting the New York Police Deto campus this spring to scene of the infamous deployments.”— Dr. Kathy Platoni ’74 partment at Ground Zero on two occasions. speak to students about fatal shooting at Fort Her exposure to the impact of war makes the psychological cost of Hood, Texas. She comforted one of the victims— war as part of the President’s Forum Series. her a passionate advocate for her fellow service psychiatric nurse Captain John Gaffaney—as he members who suffer from PTSD and war The Colleges have grown since 1974, but lay dying. A second shooting at Fort Hood this trauma. Platoni fights for better care when they the intimate setting and smaller classes that spring prompted several national media outlets come home—and combats the stereotypes comfoster closeness remain. Platoni—a recipient to turn to Platoni for her direct insight, both as a of the William Smith Alumnae Association’s mon among civilians when it comes to psychosoldier and a psychologist. logical injuries. Achievement Award—cherished her time with “Millions have deployed since 2001 to Iraq “Just because you have PTSD doesn’t mean professors whom she says went to the ends of and Afghanistan,” Platoni says. “My guess is that the earth to support their students. you’re violent,” she says. “The misconception 65 percent of people are coming back with PTSD, comes from movies, the press and sensational “You got pretty close to your professors. because of multiple deployments.” cases. It doesn’t necessarily impair you from You developed personal relationships with The repeated exposure to combat takes an returning you to your family and your life.” them. They were such wonderful human beeven heavier toll. Platoni doesn’t hesitate to speak the truth. ings,” she says. “I think there’s a cumulative effect with “I’ve never gone anywhere quietly,” she says. This was a place where she first flourished PTSD,” Platoni says. “The symptoms worsen and as a feisty, outspoken advocate. That early “When Soldiers are damaged by toxic leaders, are harder to treat.” I’m going to stand up against it. I’ve stood up encouragement has served her well. As an expert in hypnotherapy, Platoni against the Taliban and Al Qaeda; if I can’t stand “From being a rabblerouser here, I knew believes in doing whatever works to provide up to the Army I work for, there’s something this was a place that would inspire me to do relief—even if it’s unconventional. For decades, wrong with me.” great things. It took me several years, but that she’s found hypnotherapy to be effective in help- aspiration grew here.” ● Her courage and insight have made her HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Commencement 2014 by Jessica Evangelista Balduzzi ’05

“H

eroes are not born out of glory and success. Heroes are born out of failure,” said Emmy-award winning writer, producer and director Bradley D. Falchuk ‘93, L.H.D ‘14, as he delivered the 2014 Commencement Address at Hobart and William Smith on Sunday, May 18. Commencement 2014 marked the 189th graduation for Hobart and the 103rd for William Smith. Falchuck, the co-creator, writer and executive producer of “Glee” and “American Horror Story,” told the graduates to “go forth and fail. Dream yourself to be the heroes your teachers, friends and family know you already are,” he said. “I think I speak for all of them when I say that I cannot wait to see your dreams come to life in the world.” In his Valedictory Address, President Mark D. Gearan reflected on the meaning of the word empathy. “I believe it is something our world needs so much more of today,” he said. Gearan then pointed to the five Honorary Degree recipients as testimony to the power Brad Falchuk ‘93, L.H.D ‘14, delivered the 2014 Commencement Address. and importance of empathy. During the ceremony, the Colleges conferred honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on five individuals who have devoted their careers and philanthropic efforts to the arts including Falchuck; Dr. Reynold Levy ‘66, former president of Lincoln Center; Dorothy Wickenden ‘76, executive editor of The New Yorker; and local civic leaders Nozomi Williams and Carl W. Fribolin. Gearan concluded by reminding graduates that they are armed with a world class liberal arts education. “Use it well. Use it wisely. Use it with empathy – for other people and other perspectives.” The Classes of 2014 included 289 William Smith and 217 Hobart undergraduates, as well as four MAT students and two Ontario ARC College Experience Certificates. ●

“You’re all going to be faced with the invitation to create yourselves. And the world will tell you that you need to wait. That you need permission to be the hero you dream yourself to be. Not until you get that job, not until you get that engagement ring, not until you have those kids, not until you buy that house, not until you get asked to speak at your alma mater’s commencement. It’s a lie. You all have goals in your minds…. And they all seem super important and urgent and you know if you don’t get them you can’t see why you should go on living. And you know if you do get them that that will be when life can really start. When you can breathe. An imaginary finish line. Take a second to step back from those goals. Because it’s not the goals you want – it’s how you think attaining them is going to make you feel about yourself. But you don’t need the goals to feel that way. Dream yourself to be the hero you see yourself as once those goals are achieved. Be confident. Be sexy. Be important. Don’t believe the voice that tells you that you need to have something to be something.” — Brad Falchuk ’93, L.H.D ’14

“So show this world how much you care about each other. Show them how much you care about the poor, those without voice and power. Show them how much you care about equity and fairness and justice. Show them how much you care about the importance of global citizenship. Show them how much you care about the environment and the importance of our collective stewardship. And show them how much you care about the power of service and the ability of every person to make a difference. In so doing – we will all be better off. And you will bring honor and pride to your alma maters.” —President Mark D. Gearan

SENIOR SPEAKERS

Student speakers Aaron O’Brien ’14 and Kilby Bronstein ’14 also addressed the crowd of students, family and friends on the Hobart Quad. O’Brien shared with fellow graduates a mindset that has helped him though his four years at Hobart-the game of rock, paper, scissors: paper as the external assessment of life, the coping skills of scissors and the self-knowledge of rock. “I hope this class takes the tools, experiences and the spirit of community that we have learned at HWS and applies these skills to the world at large and to those communities in which we settle. I know this class can make a difference.” In her address to her peers, Bronstein quoted her late father’s sage counsel: never to let life pass you by and work intelligently to make the greatest impact. “We have a responsibility to our past, present and future communities,” she said. “We must not only focus on our own advancements but the advancements of the world around us.”

PHOTOS BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

(More

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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

)

As part of Senior Week festivities, the William Smith Alumnae Association hosted its 37th annual brunch to welcome graduating seniors. Speakers included President of the Alumnae Association Chrissy Bennett-West ’94, William Smith Class President Hannah Sorgi ’14, William Smith Dean and Professor of History Susanne McNally HON’14 and Sarah Wethey Heieck ’97. The Class also announced its honorary members, Assistant Professor of Dance Kelly Johnson HON’14 and McNally. Also in attendance was Alta Boyer ’36, who will celebrate her 100th birthday in October. After she shared thoughts on attending William Smith, the women surprised her by singing “Happy Birthday.”

Hobart College seniors gathered for the 10th Annual Hobart Launch at Bozzuto Boathouse, where they were officially welcomed as members of the Hobart Alumni Association. Speakers included Alumni Association President J.B. Robinson ’96, Keynote speaker Jason K. Walbourn ’96, and student speaker Peter Bolte ’14. As a symbol to remember their time at HWS, members of the Hobart Class of 2014 were each presented with replicas of the paddle used by legendary Seneca warrior, Agayentah. The event also marked the formal welcoming of Campus Safety Sergeant Maurice Harling P’16, HON’14 as an Honorary Class Member (pictured above).

During Commencement, the Colleges conferred honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on (L-R): Dr. Reynold Levy ’66, L.H.D. ’14, former president of Lincoln Center; Dorothy Wickenden ’76, L.H.D. ’14, executive editor of The New Yorker; Brad Falchuk ’93, L.H.D. ’14, co-creator, writer and executive producer of “Glee” and “American Horror Story;” and local civic leaders and philanthropists Nozomi Williams and Carl W. Fribolin. “Their dedication to the arts – through journalism, education, and community-building serve as inspiring examples to our graduating seniors of lives of consequence,” remarked President Mark D. Gearan during the ceremony (third from right).

During Commencement, Chair of the Board of Trustees Maureen Collins Zupan ’72, P’09 honored two educators who have dedicated their lives to the service of others by presenting them with the 2014 Touching the Future Awards. Maryterese PasqualeBrown, a social studies teacher at Ithaca, N.Y., High School was nominated by Rebecca Waldrop ’14. James King, a coach at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, was nominated by Thomas Mascia ’14.

Geneva Red Legs | ca.1950s

ATHLETICS

Baseball The Cincinnati Reds had a Class A professional baseball team in Geneva in the 1950s and 60s. The 1960 team included Pete Rose (top row, second from the left) and Tony Perez (second row from the top, second from the right).

The Baccalaureate Ceremony held in Trinity Church celebrated the Classes of 2014. During the service, Amira Abdulkadir ’14, Andrew Hellmund ’14, Donte Taylor ’14 and Hannah Sorgi ’14 shared their own connections to the people, places and ideas of HWS. Dean of William Smith College and Professor of History Susanne McNally HON’14 gave the keynote address.

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Traditional Senior Week festivities for the Classes of 2014 included the President’s Toast, a star-studded concert by the President’s Garage Band (above) and an opening performance by the award-winning student band Mojo.

Updates 18 A Winning Frame of Mind

Lacrosse Le g acies

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

SPORTS UPDATES Block H The Statesmen Athletic Association and Hobart Athletics recognized its top student-athletes of the year at the annual Block H Dinner. Football’s Steven Webb ’14 was presented the Francis L. “Babe” Kraus ’24 Memorial Award as Hobart’s most outstanding senior athlete. The William C. Stiles ’43 Award for leadership, determination, and character was given to basketball’s Richie Bonney ’14, and the inaugural Hanna Award for Excellence in Citizenship, Scholarship, Leadership, and Teamwork was presented to football’s Michael Green ’14.

Heron Awards The William Smith Athletic Department honored its outstanding student-athletes of the academic year at the annual Heron Awards Banquet. Soccer’s Olivia Zitoli ’14 received the Winn-Seeley Award for her achievements in service, leadership, athletics and academics while rowing’s Libby Hughes ’14 was presented with the Marion Harrison Greene ’20 Award for her impact on her team.

For up-to-the minute results and scores, visit www.HWSAthletics.com in the second varsity eight, Head Coach Paul Bugenhagen was elected the ECAC NIRC Men’s Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Hobart will take its top three eights to the IRA Championships in West Windsor Township, N.J. It’s the Statesmen’s ninth appearance at nationals since 2001 and the first with the 1V since 2003. IRA Championship results were not available at press time.

Heron rowers return to NCAAs The Heron Rowing Class of 2014 graduated with four consecutive Liberty League Championships, a first for any team in the conference. William Smith swept the league titles, capturing gold medals in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight and varsity four. The following week, the Herons secured gold medals in the 1V and 2V at the New York State Championships while taking silver in the 1N and varsity four. The varsity four also won a bronze medal at the ECAC NIRC. Ranked seventh in the nation, the 1V will close out the season as an at-large eight at the NCAA Championship in Indianapolis, Ind. The Herons have finished third in the grand final in each of the past two seasons. NCAA Championship results were not available at press time.

that the Herons have qualified for nationals. Three Herons were honored by the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association. Arielle deLisser ’14 was named to the All-MAISA Women’s Skippers first team while Julia Oak ’14 and Jane Rew ’14 earned spots on the AllMAISA Crew Team.

Hughes renews AllEmpire Region accolades William Smith lacrosse defender Rachel Hughes ’15 was voted an IWLCA third team All-American, first team All-Empire Region and the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year after a record-breaking 2014 season. She broke the game and season marks for caused turnovers, notching seven in a win over Clarkson and finishing the year with 50. Hughes also recorded team-highs with 56 ground balls and 32 draws this year.

Stone tabbed finalist for Unsung Hero Award

Hobart oarsmen undefeated heading into IRA National Championships The Statesmen varsity eight is undefeated and ranked 20th in the nation heading into the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships. Hobart captured its 10th consecutive Liberty League gold medal, its second straight New York State gold, and, for the first time, won gold at the ECAC NIRC. With the Statesmen also collecting an ECAC silver medal in the third varsity eight and a bronze

WILLIAM S M I T H H E RO N S

Heron sailors headed to Nationals The William Smith sailing team qualified for the ICSA Women’s National Semifinals with a fifth place finish in the MAISA Women’s Championship. It’s the 13th time since 1999

Hobart lacrosse attackman Cam Stone ’14 is a finalist for the 2014 Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award, presented by the One Love Foundation, a leading non-profit dedicated to ending relationship violence. The prestigious award is given annually to a Division I men’s and women’s lacrosse player who shares the qualities Yeardley Love displayed. Stone is a fouryear starter and a two-time team captain. He produced 49 career goals and 85 career assists for 134 points. Among Division I Statesmen, Stone is first in career assists and tied for fourth in career points. All-time, Stone is eighth in career assists. He was named second team All-NEC this season, as was defenseman Connor Eustace ’14.

Sass named All-Region Dillon Sass ’14 became the first Hobart golfer to be named to the PING All-Northeast Region Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America. He led Hobart in scoring average in each of the past three seasons, averaging 76.8 this year, the best by a Statesman in more than a decade. Sass shot a season’s low one-over 73 in the second round of the Palamountain Invitational.

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A Winning Frame of Mind by Steven Bodnar

rowning a history-making career with Hobart basketball, senior forward Richie Bonney ’14 took home two of the most prestigious national honors awarded in NCAA Division III men’s basketball. Bonney not only is the winner of the 2014 Jostens Trophy, distinguishing him as the nation’s most outstanding DIII men’s basketball player and studentathlete, he’s also the 2013-2014 Capital One Academic All-America of the Year for his sport, an honor given each year to those who are the best and brightest student-athletes in the country. He is the first Hobart student to receive either award. “To be recognized on a national level is quite an honor, and I am glad to be able to bring positive attention to Hobart basketball and the greater HWS community,” says Bonney. “The hard work really paid off and it epitomizes what I hoped to accomplish at HWS: to be a contributing basketball player, student, and member of the community.” The pair of national honors adds to Bonney’s already impressive resume. The Hobart career record holder for points (1,738), field goals made (680), field goal percentage (.583), and games played (114), Bonney led the Statesmen to an 87Basketball forward Richie Bonney ’14 is the winner of the 2014 Jostens Trophy, distinguishing him as the nation’s most 27 record (.763) over the past four outstanding DIII men’s basketball player. He graduated magna cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation, he heads to Boston for a career in the environmental field. seasons, including a 22-7 mark this season. He helped Hobart win four Liberty League regular season titles Bonney’s other academic adviser, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and the 2013 and 2014 Liberty League Tournament Championships. Karen Frost-Arnold, says she first met Bonney during the first-year Bonney and the Statesmen captured the 2011 ECAC Upstate Tournament seminar “Trust and Betrayal.” She says: “Richie has made the most of Championship and then made three consecutive NCAA Championship being here. He has a double major, he’s doing an Honors project, he appearances, advancing to the second round in 2012 and 2014. played guitar in a Reader’s College, he did the HWS Leads Program, he Hobart Basketball Head Coach Mike Neer says Bonney’s impressive works in Admissions, and he devoted a lot of time to athletics. Richie is trajectory has much to do with his personal motivation. “There is great a great example of all the different kinds of opportunities that students value in self-discipline and Richie has recognized that,” Neer says. can grab hold of if they are willing to work hard.” A two-time Capital One first team Academic All-American, Bonney Bonney also volunteered at Habitat for Humanity and helped with earned Dean’s List honors six times. With a double-major in public policy basketball clinics in the local school district and with the Ontario County studies and environmental studies, he is a Druid, Hobart’s senior class ARC. Bonney explains that his family – including grandparents York Mayo honor society, and was previously inducted into the Orange Key Society ’63, GP’14 and Buffy Mayo ’63, GP’14 who traveled more than 200 and the Chimera Society. In May, he graduated magna cum laude and was miles to attend every one of Bonney’s home games – helped him learn elected to Phi Beta Kappa. to balance priorities and make good choices. Under the guidance of Professor of Public Policy Studies and Political “I’ve been very fortunate to be around a lot of great people: my Science Craig Rimmerman, Bonney authored an Honors project titled, coaches, my teammates, my professors and my family,” he says. “I want “Hydraulic Fracturing: Environmental Concerns and Policy Responses.” people to think of me as a person of high character – a good guy. HWS “Richie’s significant achievements as a student, athlete and member is the kind of close-knit campus with an amazing community where you of the HWS community are a reminder of what our students can can form the kinds of relationships that bring out the best in a person. accomplish if they aspire to do so,” says Rimmerman. “Our doors are This is a time I’ll look back on and cherish.” ● always open to students who demonstrate dedication and seriousness of purpose in everything they touch, as Richie has done during his four years on our campus.” PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON

H OBART S TAT E S MEN

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

PHOTO BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

Lacrosse Legacies Sam Washburne ’16, Amanda “Mandy” Ellis Washburne ’80, P’16, Cassandra “Candy” Kappel Bolte ’81, P’14, and Peter Bolte ’14 pose on Boswell Field.

by Ellen Mitchell

manda “Mandy” Ellis Washburne ’80, P’16 and Cassandra “Candy” Kappel Bolte ’81, P’14 loved playing lacrosse and field hockey for former Coach Pat Genovese P’01, P’03, P’05, P’08 at William Smith. They are especially gratified that the lessons they learned on the athletic fields and the bond they continue to feel with the Colleges are reflected today in their sons, Sam Washburne ’16 and Peter Bolte ’14, who play together on the Hobart lacrosse team. Genovese, now associate athletic director, was the first coach of William Smith lacrosse when it began in 1972. She says they played a challenging roster of Division I, II and III teams. “It was competitive, even back in the ’70s and ’80s, but we had a great time,” Genovese says. “Mandy and Candy were very committed team members and accomplished athletes.” “It was fun playing,” recalls Mandy Washburne. “The women’s game was beautiful to watch – short, quick passes, flying down the field. Good athletes picked up lacrosse quickly even if they hadn’t played before. We weren’t expected to be a super-star team because we were brand new.” Candy Bolte, a Heron Society board member, adds: “William Smith athletics was in the pioneering years back then, but the ingredients for success were there: the values of teamwork, personal effort and performance, the sense of representing the Colleges and having a collective vision for victory, strategy and purpose. Pat’s influence on my life has extended well beyond the field.” Thirty years later, the two enjoy seeing each other on the sidelines and tailgating at

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their sons’ Hobart lacrosse games. “It’s like no time has passed,” Candy Bolte says. “What a perfect way to experience this fantastic chapter – as an alumna, a mother, and former teammate. It all gives me an overwhelming feeling of pride and gratitude.” Mandy Washburne’s husband, Stephen ’76, played on Hobart’s nationalchampionship-winning lacrosse team his senior year. Candy Bolte’s husband, Benjamin Bolte P’14, played lacrosse for Oberlin College. After becoming parents, all four coached their sons in youth lacrosse leagues in their respective towns. Their sons met on competing Massachusetts high school teams. Sam Washburne, an economics major, wears No. 20 on his lacrosse jersey just like his dad. “Lacrosse is such a storied tradition here. Hobart was on my list from Day 1,” he says. He adds it has been helpful to have parents who played college lacrosse. “They’ve both given me guidance about time management and they are a big help in keeping me motivated.” Mandy Washburne and Candy Bolte cite former Hobart Lacrosse Head Coach T.W. Johnson, current Hobart Head Coach Greg Raymond, administrators and faculty as highly positive influences on their sons. “There’s no question,” says Candy Bolte, “that in athletics and academics, Peter has been inspired to excel. He’s become a better student because of the people he has encountered at Hobart.” “Coach Raymond’s positive influence on and off the field has been very effective,” says Mandy Washburne.

Raymond, in turn, cites the “wonderful job” the parents have done raising Sam and Peter. “It takes discipline to be successful in the classroom and on the field,” says Raymond. “These are parents who have communicated to their children that with hard work and dedication, you can be a successful student-athlete.” Peter Bolte double majors in psychology and Asian studies and minors in religious studies. He says he will miss both lacrosse and academics after graduating in May. “I love how much the faculty encourages interdisciplinary work. I tell younger students that they should be grateful for the opportunities. It’s just amazing to me how much my perspective has changed because of the people here. My athletic performance is intimately tied to my academic performance, which influences my social life,” he says. “I think it’s really special that I am playing lacrosse here and my mother played here,” Peter Bolte says. “Her experience has strengthened my relationship with the Colleges and my experience has strengthened her relationship with the Colleges. We’re lucky that we share this place. Mom and I will be coming back together in the future to watch both Hobart and William Smith teams play.” Genovese adds that alumnae like Candy Bolte and Mandy Washburne are “the best catalysts and recruiters. They are great people sending their great children to the Colleges, and we’re so lucky to have them.” ●

Seneca Street | ca.1954

FEATURE

Bus Stop Geneva has always been just large enough to warrant public transportation. This bus service operated from the 1930s to the late 1950s.

Geneva: Tracking the Renaissance

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

FEATURE About the Illustrator Zi “Elva” Ye ’13 earned a B.A. in architectural studies and studio art magna cum laude from William Smith. As a student, Ye was the president of the HWS Architecture Society and HWS Arts Collective. She was the recipient of the Arthur Dove Award, Judith Lowe Hyatt Award, Eric Cohler ’81 Award and the Senior Architecture Prize for Leadership, Service and Academic Achievement. Originally from Hailaer, Inner Mongolia, China, Ye is pursuing an architecture degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Geneva: Tracking The Renaissance by Andrew Wickenden ’09

Geneva’s story is the story of many small American cities: the story of agriculture and industry, hard work and struggle, boom and bust. Geneva’s story is that of a college town and a working city. Geneva faces the same challenges as many in the region and across the country—economic, educational, environmental, social—but between the local government, businesses, non-profits, neighborhoods and citizens, Geneva’s story today is the story of rebirth, the story of growth, the story of an exciting future.

ILLUSTRATION OF HWS OFFICES ON SENECA STREET BY ZI “ELVA” YE ’13

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Profile in Partnership: |

• Number of Google hits for Geneva, N.Y.: 27.7 million • Distance in miles from Ithaca, N.Y.: 45 • From Rochester, N.Y.: 45.5

A (Brief) History of Geneva and the North Shore of Seneca Lake

“H

• From Syracuse, N.Y.: 54.8 • From New York, N.Y.: 268 • From Geneva, Switzerland: 3,902 • Number of people in Geneva in 2012: 13,210 • Percentage change in Geneva population between 1950 and 2012: -21 • Percentage of U.S. residents 25 or older who graduated high school as of the 1950 U.S. Census: 34 • Percentage of Geneva residents 25 or older who graduated high school as of the 2010 Census: 85.1 • Who graduated from a four-year college or university: 25.7 • Who are living below the poverty level: 25.9

ow far back do you want to go? Geneva has

been an extraordinary place for a very long time. The Iroquois federation was centered here. Seneca Geneva Hall, built in Lake is the highest spot on 1822, was the first the Erie Canal, and waters building on campus. It is named in honor of the whole system. Geneva the citizens of Geneva College opened just as the who raised the funds to construct it. Erie Canal did, and was the first institution of higher education out here—before Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Founded in 1822, or Ithaca had colleges. The Geneva College was College, later the Colleges, renamed Hobart College 30 years prepared the teachers, the later. William Smith doctors, the preachers and the College was founded in 1908. engineers that built the roads and bridges to the West, and educated the people and kept them healthy (and maybe on the straight and narrow). I like to think the Colleges gave them something of the feisty progressive spirit that has always been brewing here, too, whether agitating for emancipation, women’s rights or some other manifestation of social justice.” —Charlie Temple, HWS professor of education

• Percentage of students in city schools receiving free or reduced lunch: 59.9 • Percentage change in Geneva schools’ graduation rates between 2010 and 2013: +12 • The year Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell graduated from Geneva Medical College, becoming the first woman to earn a degree in medicine in the United States: 1849 • Number of women doctors licensed to practice medicine in the United States as of 2012: 264,846 • Percent of Ontario County population residing in Geneva: 12.5 • Percent of Ontario County population that was unemployed during 2013: 6.25 • Geneva’s record high temperature in degrees Fahrenheit: 99 • Record low: -16 • Grape varietals produced in the Finger Lakes region: 54 • Gallons of wine produced in the Finger Lakes region in 2004: 32.3 million • Annual sales of New York-produced wines as of 2011: $420 million • Traveler spending in the Finger Lakes region in 2012: $2.8 billion • Gallons of water in Seneca Lake: 4.2 trillion • Distance in miles around Seneca Lake: 77.7 • Distance in miles of the Seneca7 road race: 77.7 • Prize money for the 2014 National Lake Trout Derby on Seneca Lake: $21,225 • Number of participants in the Musselman Triathlon since 2004: 10,241 • Amount donated by the Musselman Triathlon to the Geneva Boys & Girls Club since 2004: $110,000 • Number of houses of worship in Geneva: 25 • Estimated number of visitors to HWS in 2010: 277,122 • Acreage of the City of Geneva: 12,224 • Percent of acreage that is HWS: 1.5 For index references visit www.hws.edu/www.hws.edu/alumni/pssSummer14.

raduation rates. Career and college readiness. Literacy. When Mark D. Gearan, president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, asked the Geneva City School District its priorities in 2009, those were at the Trina Newton, top of the list. Geneva City School At that time, less than three quarters of Superintendent graduating Geneva High School seniors were entering college and graduation rates hovered around 70%. While serving on the White House Council on Community Solutions chaired by First Lady Michelle Strong Foundations for 2020 Obama, Gearan was exposed to the “collective impact” As former chair of the Corporation for National and theory modeled in Cincinnati, Ohio’s StriveTogether program. Community Service and a parent of students enrolled in By working in collaboration, individuals, businesses, and nonGeneva public schools, Gearan imagined that a collective profits have tackled the student achievement crisis in Cincinnati effort “could work in Geneva because it’s what people Started by Professor of and moved the dial on a number of indicators of student have been doing here for years. Geneva 2020 always felt Chemistry Walter Bowyer success including high school graduation rates, and reading a decade ago, the Summer organic and achievable because we have a very engaged, and math scores. Academy includes jobvery collaborative community, which provided a strong Gearan began meeting regularly with other community shadowing and sessions on foundation to build upon.” how to apply to college and leaders—from the school district, the hospital, local businesses For example, since 2004, the HWS Summer Academy the financial aid process. and houses of worship—and soon after, Geneva 2020 was has welcomed more than 50 Geneva High School students formed, harnessing the resources of the Geneva community to of color to campus for an immersive two-week learning invest in the future of Geneva’s children. program that includes college-level courses taught by HWS “We had great clarity from the Geneva school system in faculty in a variety of disciplines. As of 2013, 100% of the terms of what they need and where our areas of focus should program’s graduates had gained college acceptance. be,” Gearan says. From lab coats to college preparation to The Geneva Scholarship Associates, another forerunner job-shadowing, “Geneva 2020 lets groups, individuals and to the Geneva 2020 partnership, is a organizations know where they’re needed and how they can community-driven organization that has help.” provided endowed scholarship support since “A community is only as strong as its school district,” says 1968 to more than 190 academically and Trina Newton, Geneva’s superintendent. “To succeed, students financially deserving students from Geneva to need critical thinking skills, so we need to plant the seeds early continue their education at HWS. and utilize the resources we have at The first scholarship for Geneva our fingertips.” High School students of color was “The major organizations in the also established in 1968 by the city and the community all benefit Geneva League of Women Voters when our work reflects the notion of and the Geneva NAACP in memory ‘collective impact,’” says Greg Baker of the late Molly Lydenberg, the first ’00, principal of Geneva High School. director of the Geneva Human Rights “The school district is not able to Commission. Today, the scholarship face its considerable challenges— committee is made up of members of including financial, programmatic both organizations and has financially and preparing college and workThe Festival of Nations, a colassisted more than 100 graduating ready citizens—without drawing laborative effort between the students in furthering their education. on the many resources available Geneva City School District and In that same spirit, Geneva’s the Colleges, is an annual event here in Geneva. To accomplish our Martin Luther King Jr. Committee that celebrates the diverse culmission we will need to continue tures of Geneva. Now in its sevLucile Mallard, established a scholarship fund in 1975 to look for innovative solutions and enth year, the festival features a president of the to aid graduating Geneva High School students of color offer compelling programming to range of musical performances Geneva chapter of in meeting the costs of pursuing higher education. Since including children’s and adult our families to ensure that all of this the NAACP its inception, the Committee—comprised of local leaders choirs, instrumentals and varicity’s children receive a world-class ous styles of dance, as well as like Lucile Mallard, president of the Geneva NAACP, and education.” music, food, art and cultural former president Rosa Blue P’72, P’77, P’84, P’84, L.H.D. activities. With more than 80 local and HWS groups participating, the Festival this year drew more than 3,000 people.

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Graduation rates have increased from 70% to 82% since Geneva 2020 began.

’12 —has helped to send more than 200 local students on to college. “People of color are underrepresented in the political arena, in the school system, in city employment—education is important to making these changes,” says Mallard, a longtime advocate for educational access and opportunity. When she relocated to Geneva from Georgia with her family in 1957, she came from an all-black school and entered seventh grade in Geneva as “one of maybe only two students of color in the class.” Today, 24% of Geneva identifies as Hispanic/Latino, African American or Black. Mallard cites the importance of her ongoing education through coursework, leadership conferences and community service. “Education is a big part of my life,” she says. “And pushing young people to succeed. It’s important to be proactive and get involved. Geneva’s come a long way but there’s always work to be done.”

Seeing Results—and Building on Them For the many Hobart and William Smith students engaged in the Geneva 2020 initiative, the size of the city offers “actionable scale” in the face of “issues that at first seem

Aminata Dansoko ’15 and Aly McKnight ’15

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like that makes it a little more realistic.” As for college and career readiness, the Geneva City School District’s partnerships with area colleges—Alfred University, the University of Rochester, Finger Lakes Community College and the New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls—to introduce students to the coursework and opportunities of higher education. Through Geneva 2020, Hobart and William Smith open their doors to Geneva students for campus tours (every 2nd, 6th and 9th grader spends one day on the HWS campus) America Reads and seminars on the admissions process, Program financial aid and study abroad, “to use our assets to make a material change in the lives of Geneva’s children,” Gearan says. intractable,” says Gearan. “Engagement on this Students in Geneva’s West Street School level prepares our students to be citizens, no (pre-k through 2nd grade) are now in their first matter where they ultimately live.” year of learning the Mandarin language, while “Every community faces challenges, but students at North Street (3rd through 5th) are we also have to recognize that every community in their second year of the program. Some has incredible strengths, Geneva especially,” Geneva High School students are interning with says Aly McKnight ’15, a sociology and public local businesses and with the Geneva Police policy double-major who volunteers with the Department, while others explore biomedical Boys & Girls Club of Geneva. “Right now, real, sciences through a partnership with Geneva statistical change is being made in the school General Hospital and Project Lead the Way, a district because the community thought about non-profit that offers programming, networking its strengths. That’s the kind of community and teacher development to encourage Geneva is.” students to pursue their interests in science, “We’re trying to find innovative ways to technology, engineering and math. help the community, meeting students where In the 2013 high school academic they are, on their own terms and providing the competition, MasterMinds, Geneva won the resources to help them succeed,” says Aminata Rochester regionals and advanced to compete Dansoko ’15, a double major in environmental at the state level. The district has produced studies and political social studies. Dansoko is National Merit Finalists for three consecutive a civic leader for Boys & Girls Club, organizing years—“no other school in the region can say HWS volunteers and working with Geneva that,” Newton says. students. “The The Geneva Schools are challenge is “headed down the right path,” says Although final numbers for 2014 were not to continue available at press time, below is a list of Baker. “To continue to thrive we developing access just some of the places Geneva students must continue to strengthen our to resources, to will study this fall: meaningful partnerships with the make sure the people and organizations that want 1. Boston College school grows with 2. Brown University to help us. We have had considerable the community 3. The Catholic University of America help from the many grants we have and to work with 4. Cornell University been awarded in the past few years. 5. Hobart and William Smith Colleges students to form We are very lucky to be in a location 6. Penn State relationships.” 7. Rochester Institute of Technology of remarkable beauty that also has Geneva 8. Tulane University world-class colleges, a hospital, and 2020 has already 9. University of Rochester a community that is keenly interested 10.Virginia Military Institute helped move in working together for our mutual the graduation success. The story moving forward is rate from 70% an exciting one.” in 2010 to 82% in 2013, and increased the “We already have the leadership and people number of students entering college from 74% in place, with amazing ideas,” says Newton. in 2009 to 76% in 2013. “It takes time and resources, but Geneva’s size “One of our goals is to graduate 90% makes it manageable.” of our students by 2020,” says Newton. “For every three students that walk across the stage, that’s one percentage point. Thinking about it

PHOTO BY NEIL SJOBLOM ’75

Profile in Partnership: City of Geneva

hen Matt Horn took the job of city manager in Geneva six years ago, he sat down with the mayor and a fairly new city council “with a shared vision of Geneva as a working city with a lot going for us—between the lake, the wineries, the Colleges, the proximity to Rochester, Ithaca and Syracuse, Geneva’s proud industrial heritage of the 1940s and ’50s—and now,” Horn says, “we have an opportunity to step with confidence into the next generation using the resources we have.” To capitalize on the talent of Geneva entrepreneurs, community activists and engaged citizens, the City developed the web-based Civic Innovation Hub in 2012. Geneva City Manager Matt Horn Modeled on a similar program developed in Boston, Mass., the Civic Innovation Hub solicits proposals at ideasgeneva.com, and if they are logistically and financially feasible and align with the strategic goals of the city, the City puts them into effect. “Government tradition is to do things to people when trying to do things for people,” Horn says. “Instead, we’re asking citizens and business what they need In 2011, Jeff from us.” Henderson helped While the City isn’t able to support every organize the first idea—proposals for food trucks and urban Seneca7 race, a 77.7 poultry farming have been archived for now— mile relay around Seneca Lake. The some have taken off. 2014 race this April The Geneva Events Factory, proposed sold out in hours and by former HWS Leader-in-Residence and drew 1,400 runners Musselman Triathlon founder Jeff Henderson, on 200 teams. was envisioned as a way to streamline the process of hosting public events in Geneva. “It dawned on me that all events, or at least the ones I was familiar with, had a core set of common needs, like permits, equipment and volunteers,” says Henderson, who has organized races and events across the country. “The city has been warming to the economic and community-building benefits of public events, so the confluence of circumstances seemed to suggest advantages: identifying commonalities and removing redundancies would further the common

good. Everyone could benefit: the city would play host to more events and event directors would have more help putting them on.” Chelsea Campbell manages the Events Factory, coordinating with event planners, Hundreds of events volunteers, City departments and the eventhappen in Geneva goers themselves to ensure that “the logistics every year – from wine of their dream events go off without a hitch, symposia and art shows, to operas and plays. No while trying to create more opportunities for worries: the Lake Trout residents and visitors,” Campbell says. Derby still occurs every Campbell’s position at the Events Factory Memorial Day weekend. was developed as part of the Geneva Serves Fellowship, through which graduating college seniors are hired onto the City’s management team for a one-year assignment. Blake Basye ’13, the other Geneva Serves Fellow, works as an organizational development analyst for the City, responsible for the analysis of departmental operations for each city department, including development of process mapping, assisting department heads with data analysis and process engineering, and making recommendations on sustainability of existing practices. Through Geneva Serves, fellows earn a stipend from the City while Hobart and William Smith provide housing—“another great partnership between the City and the Colleges,” Horn says. “From the City’s perspective, it’s our opportunity to experiment with positions that we’re considering funding. Geneva Serves Fellow Blake Basye ’13 Selecting a graduating senior gives us access to elevated talent and work product when compared to a traditional internship.” Geneva Serves has been so successful that the City has decided to fund a full-time position next year. With these new partnerships between the Colleges and the Victor Pultinas ’09 won City, incentives from the Local Geneva’s Race for Space with Development Corporation and citythe proposal for Lake Drum sponsored programs like the 2013 Brewing, a microbrewery specializing in classic styles, Race for Space, which attracted set to open on Castle Street in proposals for new downtown 2014. For more, go to page 52. businesses, the City is working strategically to encourage economic development, talent capitalization, asset promotion and pride of place. Under the tagline “Uniquely Urban,” Geneva is striving, Horn says, for “economic sustainability, inclusiveness and openness to new ideas.”

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

PHOTO BY SPENCER TULIS/FLTIMES

the city—regardless not only focused on of some of the creating art and culture social challenges but on doing so in ways that we continue to that genuinely build face.” community.” DeVaney, “There is definitely director of an energy change in multicultural affairs the city,” says Pablo and the Women’s Falbru, founder of the Center at nearby arts cooperative, U.G. Keuka College, Collective. recalls that when she arrived in Falbru, who grew up Geneva for her first year at HWS in Geneva and returned in 1991, “the Colleges detoured in 2011 from Boston, visitors up North Street and down says, “I was a little Main Street because downtown nervous about how I was needed badly to be revitalized. going to keep myself Since that time, not only engaged coming back Pablo Falbru, founder of the arts has downtown Geneva changed to Geneva from a major cooperative, U.G. Collective dramatically, but the GNRC has city, but when I got here, worked with the entire city to encourage the I felt that there was this wind of change already citizens to revitalize their own neighborhoods.” happening. It was infectious.” The GNRC—the Geneva Neighborhood He started U.G. Collective in 2012 to Resource Center—is the public face of the City’s encourage local artists “to engage in the Office of Neighborhood Initiatives, working with community through service projects” and “to individuals and with groups of neighbors across develop the infrastructure to accommodate the city to improve their blocks, streets and those projects.” neighborhoods. The collective’s membership requirement “We want to work from the city’s strengths, is a commitment of 24 hours of service highlight the unique characteristics of each throughout the year, but for each hour served, neighborhood and try to collaborate,” says a member will earn credits toward workshops, Sage Gerling, director of neighborhood lessons and other goods and services offered by initiatives, who has a background in landscape other members. architecture and regional planning. “We want to provide opportunities and “Our first step was to look for events that promote creative growth among our neighborhoods ready for change, ready to members in exchange for their time,” take off on their own, and provide energy and says Falbru. focus,” Horn says. “It’s caught on from there.” With ventures like U.G. Collective and With the Love Geneva, an independent grass-roots movement to support economic and social help of local HWS students designed sustainability, Jackie Augustine ’99 sees a architects and several of these “toppers,” growing understanding within the city “that HWS interns, which identify the city’s eleven Geneva is a great place to live, work and play. the GNRC neighborhoods: Castle Heights, That also makes it a great place to invest—not collaborates with City Central, East Lakeview, Founders Square, Hildreth Hill, just money, but time,” says Augustine, a Geneva individuals and Historic North, Historic South, City councilor. “Civic engagement has risen to neighborhood South Lake, The Arbors, Upper a level where I think many more people feel that organizations North and Western Gardens. they have a role to play in shaping this city’s on events and future.” improvements like neighborhood cleanups and “toppers” on street signs, which Gerling says, “have been Neighborhood Resourcing really efficient in motivating people to get Part of the reason Chevanne DeVaney ’95 chose involved and take a stake in their city. People to make Geneva her home is “because the are identifying with their neighborhoods and people here have finding home.” big hearts and take care of each other. There are many Small City, Big Service long-time Genevans “Geneva has the advantages and challenges of a who have worked large city but at a scale you can make a difference tirelessly to see in,” says Mark Venuti, Geneva Town supervisor. this happen, and When Rev. W. James Gerling L.H.D ’09 and who will continue Jane Rea Gerling L.H.D. ’09, moved to the city to work to make in 1980, they discussed the same idea—that sure that this is a Geneva “is a microcosm of a much larger urban safe and good place Chevanne DeVaney ’95 area,” Jim says. “We thought the challenges to live and raise a here ought to be manageable. We could get our family. I believe that arms around the issues.” many Genevans, including myself, are proud of (continued on page 32)

Downtown Renaissance This winter, in the empty downhill space that occupies 305 Main Street, snowboarders sailed off ramps, twisting into grabs and sliding rails at the urban snowboarding competition known as the North Seneca Rail Jam. In the spring and summer, the City will welcome thousands of athletes for the Musselman Triathlon and the Seneca7 race. In the fall, with support Geneva13 is edited by from the local ’zine, Professor of Political Geneva13, the Science Kevin Dunn and annual Finger Lakes Doug Reilly, programming Film Festival will coordinator at the Colleges’ Center for Global screen entries at the Education. Cracker Factory, a renovated industrial building on Geneva’s north side that houses the cultural and arts nonprofit 3Stories. On the first Friday of every month, businesses open their doors to artists and art-lovers for Geneva Night Out, a walkable series of exhibits dispersed among downtown shops and restaurants. Alongside events like HWS Professor of Education Cruisin’ Night, Pat Collins P’09 the city’s annual street festival, and in the tradition of cultural mainstays like the Smith Center for the Arts and St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy, these new developments are part of a “conscious effort to use the arts as a means of fostering community,” says Professor of Education Pat Collins P’09. Collins, who helped establish the Geneva Youth Theatre Guild in 1986 and has been active in Geneva theatre projects Geneva’s newest community for many years, theatre project, an absurdist notes that “there group that goes by the name Headless Sullivan Theater, was have always been founded in 2009 in conjunction lots of people with Geneva13. and organizations doing lots of good work in both the schools and in the larger community but they have not always been on the same page. In the last ten years there have been a number of initiatives which have

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FEATURE

On I Loving Geneva

by Kevin Dunn

am not sure when I fell in love with Geneva. It definitely happened slowly. When I was hired at HWS, I was encouraged by several colleagues to live in Ithaca or Rochester. They argued that there just wasn’t much going on in Geneva. My partner and I rented a place just outside of Ithaca, but we soon found that we were spending all of our social time in Geneva. At least once a week we could be found sitting at Cosie’s, eating peanuts and talking about politics and music. When we decided to buy a house two years later, we knew we were moving to Geneva. Sure, the lake is beautiful, but we were drawn in more by the community. How many small towns have their Burger King go out of business, while more than 40 (!) locally-owned and independent dining establishments survive? Clearly, something interesting is going on in this small city. I was soon impressed by the tenacity of Geneva’s entrepreneurs. If a small business failed, it wasn’t long before another one gave it a shot. Of course there were plenty of naysayers. I recall some locals telling me the Red Dove Tavern would

never last because they didn’t have TVs or serve Bud Light. The Red Dove has been going strong for seven years now, the vanguard of Geneva’s dining renaissance. A few months after the Red Dove opened, my friend Doug Reilly and I decided to start Geneva13 – a zine (DIY magazine) of the local that is published quarterly(ish). The goal was to create a platform that “promotes people’s creative expressions as they construct their identities and communities.” We include photos, poems, art and essays from a broad spectrum of Geneva’s residents, but we also started including lengthy interviews with locals as well. In the years since, I have interviewed barbers, farmers, dry cleaners, migrant workers, bicycle shop owners, social workers, musicians, trash collectors, and so many more. My appreciation has grown for the many communities that make up Geneva. As we wrote at the outset, Geneva13 is a “love song to this town of ours,” but it is not a blind love. We recognize it, warts and all. The majority of Geneva’s schoolkids qualify for assisted lunch. The poverty levels are above the state average (although the crime level is below the state average). Race tensions occasionally boil over, as when a black male was shot in the back by a white Geneva police officer a few years ago (admittedly, the case was more complex than it sounds). The City responded to the controversy well, but there are still no African-Americans on the police force. I could go on, but my point is actually that Geneva’s problems are not unique to Geneva. They are America’s problems. Geneva is a highly diverse community. That is one of the reasons I fell in love with it — and started to teach about it.

Three years ago, Anna Creadick (English), Nick Ruth (Art) and I designed a FirstYear Seminar entitled “You Are Here: Geneva 101.” It came about in part because we realized that an interdisciplinary investigation of place was a great way to introduce incoming students to the wide range of academic experiences and methods they will encounter during their four years at HWS. The course is not about boosterism (though admittedly I do get carried away at times). Rather, it is about utilizing Geneva and the surrounding Finger Lakes region as a microcosm for intellectually engaging in the wide array of issues and challenges students will study at HWS, and go on to grapple with across their adult careers. Whether students are interested in pressing economic, political, religious, or environmental issues or invested in artistic, cultural or civic life, Geneva is big enough to be an excellent laboratory for examining these subjects up-close, yet small enough to propose solutions and put them into action. Its size, location, diversity and challenges make Geneva a pedagogical blessing. Since moving to Geneva, I am more integrated into the community than I thought possible. I’ve started a few artistic ventures, and joined several community boards. About two years ago, I helped create the “Love

Geneva” initiative, an independent grass-roots movement supporting economic and social sustainability in Geneva. The idea was simple: encourage self-sustaining development by nurturing home-grown resources, specifically Geneva’s local businesses and artists. Partly a “shop local” initiative, partly a morale booster, partly a vehicle for encouraging the arts, the project has been embraced to a staggering degree. For example, we started providing free “Love Geneva” bumper stickers, distributing well-over a thousand so far, and it is hard to drive around town and not see at least half a dozen. One of the tag lines we use for Love Geneva is “It’ll Love You Back.” After a decade of living in Geneva and loving it, I’m a walking testimonial to that fact. ●

“It’ll Love You Back.”

PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE KEVIN DUNN has written extensively on international relations and politics in Africa. He is co-author of Inside African Politics (2013); Politics of Origin in Africa: Autochthony, Citizenship, and Conflict (2013); and African Guerrillas: Raging Against the Machine (2007), among several other books. He’s also authored numerous articles on a diverse array of topics that have been printed in publications ranging from scholarly journals to an independent music magazine. In 2009, he produced, edited, and directed a documentary on the legendary punk rocker Stevie Stiletto, titled “My Life is Great: The Stevie Stiletto Story.” A member of the faculty since 2001, Dunn received his Ph.D. from Boston University.

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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Jim had come “Farms and wineries in the to serve a new area often rely on workers congregation, and who are immigrants,” says Jane began working Alejandra Molina, director with the Geneva of HWS Intercultural Affairs. “There must be an City School District acknowledgement about through Head Start, a where our food comes from federally run program and about the issues facing serving young children farm workers. We’re trying to bring awareness to campus from low-income through programming and families, to promote service.” Molina and an school readiness ever-growing number of and cognitive, social students have been working with the Farm Workers and emotional Women’s Institute and the development. While Rural and Migrant Ministry the job at Head Start Worker Education Center to was supposed to be provide services for local farm workers. part-time, Jane went on to serve as the program’s director for fracking. We have to until her retirement. work with farmers and “I found that the wineries on best practices more I knew about to protect the lake. My Geneva, the more I got job is to help residents involved,” she says. In 2012, more than 250 members of the Geneva and HWS communities worked to fundraise and build the and community members In 1996, the Geneva Community Lakefront Playground on the shore of Seneca Lake. Pictured at the ribbon cutting are: Matt plan for the future. We’re same year Venuti Horn, Geneva City Manager; Jeremy Wattles, assistant director of the Center for Community Engagement and all in this together.” helped open the Service Learning at HWS; Belinda Venuti, president of Geneva Community Projects; Mark D. Gearan, president “Synergy” is how of Hobart and William Smith; Katie Flowers HON’11, director of the Center for Community Engagement and Boys & Girls Club Service Learning at HWS; and Steve Wyckoff, one of the project’s many generous donors. Katie Flowers HON’11 of Geneva, Jane describes that collective and Geneva Head investment in the city. Flowers, who directs HWS and around the city installed the Geneva Start inaugurated the Ready to Read program, the HWS Center for Community Engagement Community Lakefront Playground—in 11 with support from the Wyckoff Foundation, to and Service Learning, hours—on the north shore of Seneca Lake. challenge children and families to read a book says, “I am struck In 2013, Peter Budmen a week. Since 2008, by the level of ’15 was awarded a $2,000 Geneva Reads has been cooperation when I Cohen Fellowship to develop a cultivating a culture see HWS students curriculum to encourage Head of literacy through the and Geneva residents Start children at West Street collaborative efforts of interact in oneSchool to continue their learning community leaders like the day community at home, enhance reading literacy city’s public and private service projects and skills and engage parents. schools, the Geneva on-going civic The same year, the Public Library, HWS and engagement Centennial Center for Leadership Finger Lakes Health. The collaborations that awarded Peter’s twin brother Geneva Community Center, Katie Flowers HON’11 produce Daniel ’15 $5,000 operated by the Boys & an effect to design and build Girls Club, opened Jane Rea Gerling L.H.D. ’09 and Rev. greater than the sum of individual a tree nursery in 2010. W. James Gerling L.H.D ’09 efforts. For our many student at the Geneva “There are so many volunteers, the partnership with Community Center examples of how Geneva Geneva undoubtedly serves as a “to help students gain a grasp of doesn’t hide its challenges but embraces crucial step toward leading lives what environmental stewardship them as a community,” says Jim, who is also of consequence in the communities looks and feels like,” says Daniel. board president of Success for Geneva’s in which they will ultimately “The renaissance has been Children, started in find themselves.” fueled here in part by the 1998 “to mobilize the Let’s Play named community to improve Geneva a “2012 the health and wellbeing Playful City USA” of all our children and for the community’s effort to increase their families. It is a play for children. The collaborative of folks from organization awarded the school district, social the community services, local agencies a $20,000 grant toward the Lakefront and programs that serve Playground project. children and their parents, and community partners.” In 2012, with support from the KaBOOM! Foundation and the Let’s Play group, more than 250 volunteers from

32 Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014

wineries and tourism,” says Venuti, “but that only works if we protect our environment. We have fresh water, clean air—people hear ‘Finger Lakes’ and say I want to go there. But with diverse land use—residential, commercial, big farms— come environmental challenges to our watershed. We have industrial interests looking into the area

Geneva Town Supervisor Mark Venuti

The Colleges’ Finger Lakes Institute collaborates with regional environmental partners and state and local government offices to address the environmental and economic challenges of the region. The FLI staff and HWS faculty work with local and state politicians, farmers, scientists and citizens to monitor and improve water quality, sustainable agriculture, construction and a host of other projects vital to the region’s future.

A New Chapter in an Old Partnership In 2012, Geneva saw one of the largest influxes of employees into downtown in recent history when HWS relocated 70 employees to the 18,500 square-foot building near the corner of Seneca and Exchange Streets. “This move follows our consistent and steady efforts to expand our partnership with Geneva while also adding to the vitality of downtown life,” says Gearan. “Geneva is reaching a tipping point in its revitalization process with a renewed and pervasive sense of optimism resulting from the successful establishment of so many new restaurants, shops, businesses and a thriving farmer’s market, which join established businesses with long family histories of commitment to Geneva. We believe that other businesses will discover what we have—that downtown Geneva is a wonderful and supportive place to work.” HWS employees now occupy the first and third floors of the former Five Star Bank building, which had not been utilized for eight years, making the office one of the biggest downtown. Bob O’Connor “At the time of the move from Alumni House, our team occupied six floors of three buildings on campus, which created a management challenge,” says Bob O’Connor, vice president

“Our success is important for Geneva, and Geneva’s success is important for HWS.”

spending and employment impacts for advancement at HWS. of the operation of the Colleges on “Daily interactions with one the Geneva area economy. another are paramount to Under the leadership of ensure our departments are Professor Emeritus of Economics all communicating around our Pat McGuire HON’10, the study shared goals and objectives. considered factors like the HWS As 21st century office settings are moving to open space and budget; student and employee shared work environments, spending in the City of Geneva; the downtown space allows campus construction projects and us to function more efficiently expenditures; and compensation and collaboratively. Given the for the more than 800 employees, Geneva Partnership, and on many of whom live in the city or the heels of Geneva 2020, this the town. The spending impact move downtown is another of the Colleges during 2009, the important step in integrating study estimates, was between our campus community into $110 and $130 million. —Mark D. Gearan, President the Geneva community, to “Looking back, there was a develop further this already misunderstanding about the vibrant community.” interactions and interdependencies With the leased space between the Colleges and the local privately owned and on the tax rolls, this community,” explains McGuire. “There was concern move is one of a number of investments the in the city about the tax-exempt status of the Colleges have made in the city in recent years, Colleges and other not-for-profit institutions like including donations to non-profit organizations the hospital, but also a lack of awareness of what and support of civic projects, as well as a the Colleges do from an economic perspective. commitment of more than $1.7 million in direct The study was aimed to generate that awareness. payments to assist the City in balancing its President Gearan has actively sought to integrate budget. the Colleges into the community and cultivate a Additional initiatives undertaken include sense of shared ownership in Geneva.” the renovation of the Geneva Recreation “Our success is important for Geneva, and Complex Skating Rink; the Colleges’ decision Geneva’s success is important for HWS,” says to refinance capital project debt through Gearan. “We are grateful for the many opportunities the Local Development Corporation, making the city has provided to the Colleges during our available approximately $200,000 for economic nearly two-century partnership. Our mutual development and neighborhood revitalization investment in Geneva ensures a bright future for projects; and a study to identify the specific this beautiful city we call home.” ●

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

ILLUSTRATION BY ZI “ELVA” YE ’13

Geneva’s Future: Stray Thoughts

eneva is a model of what a “G successful and meaningful community looks like.

eeing the renewed “S and creative interest in Geneva

has been really exciting. It really has always been a great place to live and raise a family. Now it is also a place to show off. We can proudly invite people to visit Geneva, take them out for a fancy dinner at Halsey’s or a family dinner at Wing Tai, stop by Microclimate for a glass of wine, go to a show at The Smith, or catch some live music at the Flounge, then walk down to the lake for some ice cream and a walk out Long Pier. It’s pretty cool!”

There is so much optimism and communication between downtown and campus, between the Geneva School District and HWS, between the Ag Station and local farmers—so much enthusiasm around making Geneva a better place. The biggest challenge is finding the financial resources to bring these ideas to fruition.” —DANIEL BUDMEN ’15, a geoscience and environmental studies double major, is working this summer with winemakers in California to make their vinting process more sustainable

“Iam asked all the time if Seneca Lake is healthy.

—LESLEY ADAMS HON ’12, HWS Chaplain

“Geneva seems to be on an upswing

There are things happening here, ideas being born every day and people taking chances on their dreams. It can be frustrating, to be sure, because oftentimes the old “it’s always happened this way so why should we change?” mentality can be pervasive, but there’s enough going on that we don’t get bogged down in that so often. There is opportunity everywhere here, and caring people who want to make this a truly livable city.” —JEFF HENDERSON, who in addition to organizing the Musselman and Seneca7 races is developing an idea to build in Geneva a “model micro-community” with solar power, rain barrels, chickens, worm composting, community gardening, beekeeping and more

is a sense of real investment in this “There diverse, small city

due to the continued participation of those who both live and work here in the very fabric of this place—the volunteerism in the schools, the “Love Geneva” campaign, and the determination by so many small business owners to support the local economy in their own individual businesses. Of course, many of the collaborations behind these new initiatives are a combination of HWS employees and students, the Cornell Agricultural Station folks and the local Genevans, all working together for the greater good. I sense a renewed excitement about living and working here that is a change from 11 years ago. Many more of our faculty and staff are choosing to live here, send their kids to Geneva schools, eat meals at our restaurants and put their own income to work here in our community. I think there is only good ahead for Geneva—more progress, continued collaborations and a richer sense of pride of this place.” —LISA KAENZIG HON’10, Associate Dean of William Smith

o matter where you are in “N the city of Geneva, you are five minutes away from a winery, a

great restaurant, a five-star hotel, our amazing liberal arts Colleges and a beautiful lakefront. Where else

can you get that? As a kid, I was so oblivious to the beauty around me, but I don’t really think it was until after college that I realized all Geneva has to offer. The biggest change I’ve seen is in the culture. Growing up, people wanted to get out. My friends from high school come home and many wish they never left. The community who lives here loves it here. We come together to build playgrounds, to coach sports, to raise money for the sick, for scholarships. The Colleges keep things new and fresh while the long-term residents keep our history and our traditions. The partnership of the two over the past decade has been amazing to see.” —SARAH WETHEY HEIECK ’97, Professional Health Care Representative at Pfizer, lifelong Geneva resident, and President of Geneva Scholarship Associates

34 Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014

This is a hard question, because it is not one that a scientist alone can answer. We as a community need to come together to address that question from multiple perspectives. From my perspective, awareness of Seneca Lake has increased over the last eight years. City residents seem more interested in learning about how the lake functions and how we influence the lake and the watershed that surrounds us. I do think this is a two-way street; that is, residents are becoming more concerned as scientists learn more about the lake and share those findings with the community, and as a scientist, I have become more engaged in my community and applying my research expertise to the Finger Lakes region. I would hope that Geneva’s story moving forward is progressive and inclusive. As a scientist and resident, I would advocate that we increase access to the lake and make decisions that do not jeopardize our greatest natural asset.” —MEGHAN BROWN, Associate Professor of Biology

has had some recent “Geneva successes— the new Lakefront Event Center, the Geneva General Hospital expansion, downtown improvements and several new educational partnerships. The harsh reality is that many people in Geneva are poor, unemployed or under-employed. From an Ontario County perspective, it’s vital that services and resources be coordinated with City government, HWS, and service providers. This direction will enable families to become more productive and part of the progress.”

—CHARLES EVANGELISTA P’05, Ontario County Supervisor, Geneva Wards 3 and 4, Executive Director, Geneva YMCA and William Smith Basketball Assistant Coach

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Actionable Scale by Steven Bodnar

“T

here’s nothing more satisfying and inspiring than having people thank you for the work you’re doing in the community and joining in your efforts with a helping hand,” says Daniel Budmen ’15. Fusing his passion for nature and commitment to service, the environmental studies and geoscience double major researched, planned and partnered with local residents to build a greenhouse at the Geneva Community Center. A volunteer with the area chapter of the Roots and Shoots environmental club, Budmen envisioned an easily accessible place where children could learn firsthand about plants and trees. The greenhouse project became a reality thanks to a $5,000 Centennial Fellowship and the student-community partnership that is emblematic of the types of efforts taking place throughout Geneva, says Katie Flowers HON’11, director of the Colleges’ Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, which each year connects hundreds of students with community partners.

“Community-based research allows a community member or organization to identify a challenge they’d like to tackle and then focuses the efforts of the Colleges – our faculty and our students – to achieve that goal,” says Flowers. “Students have an amazing opportunity to learn from these partnerships. We can all be proud to find applicable ways for our students to contribute to the City in ways that our partners have identified as important to them.” Community-based research and service-learning projects are integral to the relationship between the Colleges and Geneva, with projects ranging from economic impact assessments and environmental audits to literacy programs and public health campaigns.

PHOTOS BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

Fusing his passion for nature and commitment to service, Daniel Budmen ’15 an environmental studies and geoscience double major, researched, planned and partnered with local residents to build a greenhouse at the Geneva Community Center.

36 Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014

Flowers says student learning outcomes are best achieved when there’s a reciprocal relationship present. “Community-based research is a great way for students to explore academic interests in a hands-on way,” she says. “Students are learning from both faculty advisers and local sponsors. It’s a bridge between the curricular and career. A community-based research opportunity could be the first step toward a student’s future, and that’s a very exciting prospect.” Each May, HWS and area partners celebrate the accomplishments generated from this relationship during the Community Engaged Scholarship Forum. At the event, students showcase their research projects and the Colleges present three major honors for outstanding community contributions: The Community Partner of the Year Award, The Compass Award for Outstanding Engaged Student Scholarship and the HWS Civically Engaged Faculty Award. A recipient of the 2009 Civically Engaged Faculty Award, Associate Professor of Education Mary Kelly is currently advising six students on community-based projects ranging from child advocacy to adult learning. In addition, Kelly recently helped to spearhead the fifth annual Arts Experience festival, a two-week event bringing together those with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, the Colleges, and the public to explore the arts. Held in partnership between HWS and the Collaborative of the Finger Lakes, the Arts Experience connects 12 chapters of ARC, a nonprofit serving adults and children with developmental disabilities, as well as more than 300 students and 300 people from community agencies. “Most students really embrace these kinds of opportunities,” Kelly says. “They get to step out of the campus and get to know community partners and local students. It’s an experience that can change who you are. It can change how you see the world when you have the opportunity to connect with others. It’s pivotal to continue to improve those opportunities and to make it happen.” Kelly says community-based scholarship has become an important part of not only how she teaches, but also how she learns. She says all of her courses are rooted in service-learning, a launching point from which many students pursue research projects in Geneva and the surrounding area. “Geneva is the perfect place for students to solve real issues in collaboration with our partners,” she says. “It’s a wonderful learning environment.” Thanks to the close connections formed, Kelly says it is an environment in which real change can take place. Professor of Sociology Jack Harris P’02, P’06, a recipient of the 2010 Civically Engaged Faculty Award, has been working with faculty colleagues and students to extend student-community collaborations for nearly two decades. Through courses such as his “Senior Sociology

Seminar,” Harris inspires students to engage their academic interests locally. “The Colleges are part of a vibrant community where students can learn and engage with neighbors,” Harris says. “One of the great things about Geneva is that it has an actionable scale. Students can really make a profound difference here. They will then take that lesson – that they can make a difference – into their lives and communities around the nation and the world. I can’t think of anything more important.” ●

HWS students and individuals with developmental disabilities work side-byside painting rain collection barrels during the annual Arts Experience festival.

BY THE NUMBERS

Each year, hundreds of students enroll in service-learning classes and take on community-based research projects. Through Orientation, Days of Service and other projects, every student participates in community service activities. Here’s a look at the impact of these efforts by the numbers for the 2013-2014 academic year:

31 740 100

Service-learning courses taught by HWS faculty Students participating in service-learning courses

Percentage of HWS students who participate in some form of community service

80,000

Total hours of community service provided by HWS volunteers in Geneva and the Finger Lakes

133

Partnering agencies and organizations in Geneva and Finger Lakes where students serve

2014 Awards

The Civically Engaged Faculty Award was presented to Professor of Dance Donna Davenport in recognition of her exemplary engaged scholarship including leadership in advancing students’ civic learning and contributions to the public good. Davenport is the adviser of the Social Justice Studies minors and teaches the associated intro course, which involves thoughtful learning around the Geneva Community Compact and the Geneva Community Lunch Program. Additionally, she redesigned Arts and Education as a service learning course to benefit

children in after-school programs in Geneva as well as undergraduate and MAT students. The Compass Award for Outstanding Engaged Student Scholarship was presented to Daniel Budmen ’15, a double major in geoscience and public policy, in recognition of his work with the Roots and Shoots program. Through Roots and Shoots, Budmen has improved children’s literacy and promoted environmental stewardship through the creation a tree nursery at the Geneva Community Center. On campus, he recently was the co-creator of the HWS Drink Local Campaign, an effort to eliminate plastic water bottle use and promote the use of reusable water bottles. The 2014 Partner of the Year Award was given to Geneva Head Start. The award recognizes the inherent value of community collaborations and acknowledges the time, energy and interest invested in the student service and learning experience. “Geneva Head Start both prepares students for kindergarten as well as offers HWS students the opportunity to learn, grow and find a passion for education, teaching and students,” says Peter Budmen ’15, who has worked with Geneva Head Start for two years. Peter Budmen is the 2014 Newman Civic Fellow, named by Campus Compact, which honors student leaders who have worked to find solutions for challenges facing their communities. A public policy major and biology minor, he is one of just 197 students nationwide to be named a fellow.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Q A

Down on Main Street:

ILLUSTRATION BY ZI “ELVA” YE ’13

An Interview with Kirin J. Makker

uring a yearlong fellowship at the Winterthur Museum and Library in Delaware, made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Assistant Professor of Art and Architecture Kirin J. Makker is conducting research for her book project, The Myths of Main Street, which “analyzes how the current trope of Main Street USA (local, self-sufficient, close-knit, middle-class, homogenous) is challenged by a historical reality of networked, nationally-connected, diverse place.” The book is planned for publication in 2018. An expert in the planning, history and evolution of small towns and rural areas, Makker is examining the developmental history of small town America during its building boom (1870-1930). The archives at Winterthur are providing much of the material she needs for several chapters of the book. She documents the progress of her research on a blog, mythsofmainstreet.wordpress.com, where she writes: “‘Main Street,’ whether in a town or city, symbolizes small business and everyday hard-working citizens. In a small town context, Main Street gains mythic ideals: it is non-corporate; it is imagined to be completely separate from urban society and its ills; it is believed to be solely guided by local people and ideas. Politicians and urban planners have attempted to recreate the small town American Main Street in revitalization building and suburbia. But professional planners are distracted by the myths

38 Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014

PHOTO BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

by Andrew Wickenden ’09

Assistant Professor of Art and Architecture Kirin J. Makker

of Main Street, dangerously basing policy and design decisions on nostalgia and artifice.” Makker’s other book project, Village Improvement in America 1800-1930, is under contract with the Library of American Landscape History and is due out in early 2016. Makker also writes for the popular press, her most recent piece appeared in Dwell. Published in March 2014, the article profiles Amy and Brandon Phillips, owners of Miles & May Furniture Works headquartered at the Cracker Factory in Geneva, N.Y.

: Where did this idea of a nostalgic “Main Street” come from?

: There are many answers to that question, so numerous that it’s impossible to identify just one source of nostalgic Main Street. In American and British planning, small towns have been a subject of study since the profession began in the late nineteenth century. People were fearful of dense industrial cities and larger villages, with their apparent self-sufficiency and easy access to the countryside fostered many theories about ideal places to live modeled on cities around 20-30,000 people. Ebenezer Howard’s 1902 concept of “garden cities” is probably the most well known example. In popular culture, small towns have been narrative currency since their boom period in the 1880s; it’s often the case that ‘ideal’ versions of American concepts run parallel to the development of their inspiration. But to get back to your question, one way of looking at the source of nostalgic Main Street is to look at our recent history of small town preservation and the transformation of rural village economies from manufacturing and necessities-of-life small business to a set of shops purely about leisure and lifestyle. The source of this in the last quarter of a century is in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s launch of their Main Street Program, started in 1977. The program was started specifically to educate and help direct local rejuvenation campaigns in communities of 5,000 to 38,000 people. The program’s pilot towns were remarkably successful – Galesburg, Ill., for example, saw a 95% increase in downtown occupancy. By the early 1980s, the National Main Street Center had grown into a robust economic revival model for small town America based in coordinated public-private partnerships, adaptive re-use, incremental growth, and clever promotional programs. The whole program was about developing a “tourist” economy using historic building stock, renovating it into a coordinated set of leisure-based businesses. Since 1980, there have been hundreds of towns across the U.S. that have successfully worked with the National Main Street Center and the program is responsible for fostering more than $55 billion in reinvestment. In addition, their approach and economic model has been used by thousands of other towns, even if these places don’t join the Center. It’s become THE approach to reviving small town America. This is all wonderful, but there are things we should be wary of. Their formula— looking backward to an ideal Main Street— also traffics in nostalgia. There’s a little too much “remember when…” going on in the

marketing materials of many small towns eager for a tourist market. This can backfire in terms of using this type of marketing to draw new residents. The whole look of the nostalgic Main Street is generally about giving visitors a way to step back in time and out of reality. I’m not certain that this strategy is the best for giving a town a vibrant future, where a diverse cross-section of people might want to make their lives. If you want to draw young people to a town, is “antiquing” it the only strategy worth pursuing? Is a Main Street of ‘leisure’ and ‘lifestyle’ ultimately going to foster a rich community life? Sure, it works and it’s better than a dead downtown, but can’t we do better and evolve this model? That’s my concern. There is also a romance we associate with the architecture of Main Street that’s not accurate to its history of development. We tend to view it as a relic of simpler past, when people made things by hand, there wasn’t fierce competition or a need to get the cheapest good, and everything in one’s midst was made locally. The truth is that the beauty and quick growth of Main Street, its frenzy of economic and physical development, occurred because people were clever and took advantage of the latest technologies and markets. There was nothing quaint and simple about life on Main Street in 1900. One might even have called it “cutting edge”—they didn’t want to stay small, they wanted to be big and prosperous, however and in whatever method they could.

: What happened to small towns in the bust (the Great Depression) that followed the small town boom?

ABut the truth is, small towns had always

: As cities struggled, so did small towns.

been struggling as a type of urban economy because they were not large, and thus their economy was typically less diverse than that in a dense city. When a market shifts, there are always remains of the previous boom, relics of a former time. Small towns are, and have always been, in a process of overcoming the position of being remains, just as cities have, but at a much slower

rate of redevelopment. In a way, one of the reasons that the small town is a site of nostalgia is because it has been affected by busts and then has been very slow to recuperate, if it does at all in one person’s lifetime.

: What about today—what’s the outlook for small towns? What causes today’s Main Streets to thrive?

: Twenty years ago, if a resident wanted to gather some neighbors together to sponsor a public art project, they had to go to the public library and do hours of research in periodicals or newspapers to find information on how to run a competition, select an artist, develop a PR campaign, fund-raise, work with the city to implement, etc. Now, you just do an hour of searching on the Internet and you’re suddenly connected with all the resources you need to mount the project successfully. Five years ago, you would not have seen a small downtown shop raise more than $8,000 in a six-week fundraising campaign in order to set up space on their second floor for drinking coffee and browsing through retail. But this year, that’s exactly what occurred in Geneva [at Stomping Grounds]. Whereas suburbia used to be the ideal among the young workforce, it’s clearly not the one and only American dream out there these days. Many young workers are choosing to live in urban settings. Small towns are not densely urban, of course, but they are sometimes preferred to surburbia by these folks. Geneva has been on the upswing because it has an enlarging and active group of residents, a critical mass of people really invested in making the downtown into a livable neighborhood. But it’s not just that social networking has gathered interested parties in small towns together around the issue of livability and civic engagement (which it of course has), but it’s also that the small town resident can become so much more informed about possibilities and all the know-how needed to make the changes they want to see. Honestly, the future is very bright for small town America. ●

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Sustainable Community Development New Minor Connects Students with Community by Lori A. Gable ’86

40 Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014

PHOTOS BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

his spring, HWS students in the Sustainable Community Development Program (SCDP) worked with the City of Geneva and the residents of the East Lakeview neighborhood to determine the future of the former gas station and convenience store known as Joe’s Service Station. Located in the city’s North End, the site sustained several gasoline spills between 1992 and 2008, according to the Geneva Neighborhood Resource Center (GNRC), which over the past several years has been organizing residents and neighborhoods to improve quality of life in the City. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation addressed leaking underground storage tanks associated with the spills in 2011, and the tanks, along with 3,800 tons of contaminated soil, were removed and disposed of in an off-site landfill. However, contaminated soil remains around building foundations. In 2013, the City of Geneva secured funding from the State to complete “a prenomination study” to guide and coordinate future neighborhood Former gas station and convenience store known as revitalization initiatives Joe’s Service Station. in the North End neighborhoods, particularly the area’s brownfield properties. Brownfield refers to an industrial or commercial property, abandoned or underutilized due to environmental contamination or concern over such contamination. In the interdisciplinary Community Design course, which is also the capstone course for the newly-approved Sustainable Community Development minor, Hobart and William Smith students are paired with a municipality or neighborhood group. They meet with residents, community leaders and city officials

Adjunct Professor of Art and Architecture Cari Varner also serves as the Sustainable Community Development Program manager.

every two weeks regarding the course’s area of focus, in this case the service station site. “Our intention is to bring something positive to the site, to restore a sense of pride to an area where the old filling station was an eyesore,” says Hannah Brunelle ’14, an environmental studies major and double minor in sociology and sustainable community development. The Sustainable Community Development Program emerged as a response to student interest and growing public recognition of the need for communities to address social, economic and ecological challenges. The Colleges, through the Finger Lakes Institute, developed the program, along with faculty, staff, and community and business leaders, to better prepare students for careers in economic development, social justice, and stewardship of the natural environment. Approved this spring, the Sustainable Community Development minor integrates co-curricular and experiential

Students in the “Sustainable Community Development Methods and Tools” class co-taught by Adjunct Professor of Art and Architecture Cari Varner and Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Robin Lewis, present their final proposals for the former filling station site to community members, city officials, property owners and HWS faculty and staff at the renovated Farmers and Merchants Bank, now an art gallery and event venue.

components in architectural studies, economics, environmental studies and sustainability. Four seniors graduated this year having earned a minor in the field. “Students in the Community Design course are doing research on the neighborhood and learning about the history and the residents,” says Cari Varner, the SCDP program manager who also serves as an adjunct professor in art and architecture. Varner co-teaches the course with Robin Lewis, assistant professor of Environmental Studies. “We spent the first half of the semester learning what the neighborhood and the GNRC need. The second half of the semester involved developing design proposals for the re-use of the property, based on those needs.” Among the proposed goals for the site are recreation-based commerce, open space and a neighborhood market.

Aligned with community feedback, Brunelle envisions the future site “as a green space for the neighborhood to enjoy with a community garden, barbecue areas and a social gathering space to view nature.” No matter the direction chosen, the ultimate goal is to provide a functional space for the community, underscoring the purpose of the SCDP. “The professors and students bring a wide range of perspective and knowledge,” says Marty Davis, Neighborhood Association Coordinator at the GNRC. “They are a great resource for conducting study, research and building a body of workable solutions—all at no cost to the neighborhood except participants’ time.” ●

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

A TOUR OF GENEVA, N.Y.

BOZZUTO BOATHOUSE

GENEVA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

PULTENEY PARK

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF GENEVA

Designed by local Geneva architect Daniel R. Long, the Bozzuto Boathouse is named in honor of Charles Bozzuto, father of the project’s lead donor, HWS Trustee Thomas S. Bozzuto ’68, and houses the Colleges’ nationally ranked sailing team.

Located in the Prouty-Chew House on South Main St., the Historical Society is a non-profit committed to preserving and interpreting Geneva’s past and cultivating an appreciation for Geneva’s history. Pulteney Park is the original village green at the center of Geneva, as surveyed and laid out in 1794. In the 1820s, the public square, as it became known, was used as a place for horses, wagons and stagecoaches to “park” when people were in Geneva transacting business.

Located at 340 Main St., the cornerstone of the First United Methodist Church was laid in 1912. At the request of the city, the tower and clock were added to the original design plans. To this day, the Carillion chime, located in the clocktower, rings out two hymns, five times a day.

2 5.

In an effort to expand its partnership with Geneva while also adding to the vitality of downtown life, in July 2012, HWS relocated the Office of Advancement to office space located at 20 Seneca St.

SMITH CENTER FOR THE ARTS

THE LEFT BANK

POST OFFICE AND CITY HALL

GENEVA FARMERS MARKET

12 1

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES’ OFFICE

Built in 1894 by local philanthropist William Smith, the Smith Opera House is among the oldest operating theatres in the United States. The beautiful interior and excellent acoustics have made the theatre a premier opera house, concert hall, playhouse, vaudeville venue, movie palace and performing arts venue. Formally Farmers and Merchants Bank, (and also Geneva Savings Bank), The Left Bank now operates as an event venue and art gallery on Linden St. The Geneva Post Office (right) was constructed on Castle St. in 1906, the first one in New York designed in the Colonial Revival style. The interior features a mural titled “The Vineyard” by Peter Blume, installed in 1942. On January 1, 1913, Mayor Reuben Gulvin broke ground on City Hall (left) in the heart of today’s downtown. Held every Thursday in the Exchange Street Parking Lot from June through October, Geneva’s thriving farmer’s market allows residents and tourists to shop fresh and local.

10. DOVE BLOCK

Erected on the corner of Castle and Exchange Streets, the Dove Block was built by the father of Hobart alumnus and renowned American painter, Author Dove ’03. Dove completed his famous Cars in a Sleet Storm (1938) while living on the third floor of the commercial building.

11. ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, located at the corner of Genesee and Lewis Streets, was once a wooden chapel. The current gothic revival structure was commissioned by the Rev. Dr. James Rankine and designed by notable architect Dr. Richard Upjohn in 1868. Rankine served as Hobart College president from 1869-71.

12. THE CRACKER FACTORY

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ZI “ELVA” YE ’13

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The Cracker Factory, a 65,000 square foot turn of the century complex on Lehigh St., is home to Miles and May Furniture Works. Half of the factory is dedicated to manufacturing while the remainder is used for artistic and community development, including gallery and exhibition space, artist studios, and a letterpress printing shop curated by the non-profit, 3Stories.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

JASON FEINBERG ’89, P’17 Dr. Jason Feinberg ’89, P’17, vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer, in the new 17,000-square-foot Emergency Department at Geneva General Hospital.

Finger Lakes Health by Ellen Mitchell

ALUMS MAKE THE HEART OF THE FINGER LAKES THEIR HOME Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region, Geneva, N.Y. has been host to the Colleges for nearly two centuries— a city that has welcomed our students, supported our efforts and advanced our mission. But for many Hobart and William Smith Colleges alumni and alumnae, the region is simply home.

erhaps Jason Feinberg ’89, P’17 wouldn’t be the highly regarded physician he is today if he hadn’t broken limbs so often when he was young. A frequent visitor to an orthopedist in his Long Island community, as a child Feinberg was impressed by what he saw. “This guy was helping all these people get better and that made an impression on me,” he recalls. “I excelled at science and math, which is a strength you need to go into the field. Those two pieces came together and I put my nose down to succeed.” A guidance counselor with a son at Hobart knew Feinberg wanted to pursue health sciences and suggested he visit. Feinberg says he was sold on the campus tour. It was easy to move around and Geneva was close by. Plus, he had encouraging conversations about health professions and the course schedule would allow him to play baseball all four years. Feinberg majored in chemistry and said his college experience was even better than anticipated. His worst fear – that he “would end up in giant classes and not be able to discuss the material in a meaningful way” – never came true. Science courses with Professors Tom

Glover, Val Kish, Ken Carle, Carl Aten and Walter Boyer were particularly influential. Feinberg had been accepted to medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical University when he took Hobart Dean Eugen Baer’s P’95, P’97, HON’07 “Medical Symbiotics” course. “It was just fascinating and very timely and made me even more excited to start my career,” he recalls. In his first year of medical school, Feinberg accepted a U.S. Navy scholarship and was on active duty from 1993-1999, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He completed his medical internship and internal medicine residency while living in San Francisco for three years. By 1999, he had been stationed in Beaufort, S.C., for three years and knew he would be leaving the Navy. Feinberg’s wife, Shayne, grew up and attended college in Upstate New York and was as eager to return to the area as her husband. He gladly accepted an offer from a medical group in Geneva recruiting for an internist. “Geneva meant so much to me as a student, and I was thrilled to move back. The decision was made easier by the beauty of the area, the relative openness and lack of congestion,” he says. “I love the lifestyle.” Feinberg’s career has thrived in Geneva. He left private practice in 2005 to become the first director of hospital medicine at Finger Lakes

Health (FLH) in Geneva, a position he held until last year when he was named vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer. With the new position, Feinberg is responsible for medical leadership at two hospitals and four long-term care facilities. He is enormously proud that Finger Lakes Health is highly regarded for quality, safety and satisfaction. Feinberg has been instrumental in the integration of the FLH and HWS communities. In 2013, HWS presented its Community Partner of the Year Award to Finger Lakes Health for contributing to the civic development and leadership of Hobart and William Smith Colleges students, many of whom intern at FLH. Considering his work responsibilities and active family life, it’s hard to imagine Feinberg behind a desk for long. He and Shayne, program coordinator for the Colleges’ Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, live in Geneva where they are raising their three children – son Jason is a Geneva High sophomore, daughter Lily is a sixth-grader at St. Stephen’s, and eldest son Drew ’17 is a Hobart first-year student. “The experience I had growing up is possible to achieve in Geneva,” he says. “I feel safe. I can get around easily and I enjoy the four seasons. We are very happy to live in this community.” Feinberg adds, “There’s not a week that goes by that I’m not in touch with someone about the Colleges.” He makes a point of seeing HWS friends throughout the year and is amazed how often he runs into people with Hobart connections. He is also working with a dozen classmates to “gain momentum” for a great showing at their 25th reunion in June. “For such a small school, it speaks volumes about how much we are connected to one another,” he says. “People didn’t go to Hobart to get a degree and to forget about the place. Our experience at HWS is even more valuable as we get farther away.” PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON

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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Giving Back to Community SILMARIE REYES ORTIZ ’05

Kelly Mittiga ’94 Kelly Mittiga ’94, senior vice president at First Niagara Bank, stands in front of the vault at the former Farmers and Merchants Bank (and later Geneva Savings Bank) on Linden Street in Geneva. Newly restored by local entrepreneur Sophie Paillard Elkin P’07, The Left Bank now operates as an event venue and an art gallery. It is the only surviving bank building from the early 20th century located in Geneva.

Silmarie Reyes Ortiz ’05, an ESL teaching assistant at the Geneva Middle School, tutors a student whose first language is not English.

A Helping Hand

PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON

by John Martin

ilmarie Reyes Ortiz ’05 knows how much it means, as a child coming from a different culture, to get a helping hand in Geneva. Now she’s made it her life’s work. As an ESL teaching assistant in the Geneva Central School District for the past nine years, Ortiz helps middle school students whose first language is not English with their subjects and homework. She was that Geneva Middle School student once. Originally from Ponce, on the south-central coast of Puerto Rico, her family came to Geneva when she was seven years old. She didn’t speak English. A former Geneva Middle School ESL teacher that she considers her mentor, Rebecca Reyes, was one of many who always gave her words of encouragement. “Geneva has taught me to help others,” she says. “I have been helped as a student and member of the community, and it taught me to do the same for others. I am thankful for those who believed in me.” Ortiz stayed in Geneva after high school to be close to her mother who had fallen ill. She says her HWS adviser, Director of Intercultural Affairs Alejandra Molina, helped manage the transition. A Spanish and Hispanic Studies major at HWS, she was a member of the Latin American Organization, which brought middle school students to

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campus for a day to sample university life. After graduation, she made the city her home. “I stayed after college because I was already a mom, and I knew that Geneva was a great community to raise children. I felt that my children and I could progress here. There are many events where you see people come together for good causes, to help one another out. People in Geneva have a great sense of community.” Ortiz keeps up that service tradition. She is the children’s director at Geneva Hispanic Church of God, helps coach the modified girls’ basketball team, and coaches t-ball for the YMCA. She was the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship dinner this May—the same scholarship she received when she was a senior at Geneva High School. “Geneva is part of a wonderful region that is getting national attention for its attractions and beauty,” she says. “I believe that, as it becomes more diverse, there should be more events, like our Festival of Nations, a multi-cultural celebration for all residents of Geneva, to engage and recognize these groups, and make them feel like a part of their new community. I’m also hoping that, as a result of development, there will be new work opportunities. I would love to see this happen.” PHOTO BY GREGORY SEARLES ’13

by Ellen Mitchell

hen Kelly Johnson Mittiga ’94 talks about life in Geneva, she uses words such as “embrace,” “potential” and “wonderful.” She’s not only bullish about the future of her adopted hometown, she’s part of the reason it’s such a desirable place to live and work. Originally from Baltimore, she returned to Geneva after graduating from William Smith as a part-time teller for Savings Bank of the Finger Lakes, which was acquired by First Niagara Bank in 2003. More than 18 years later, Mittiga is senior vice president, customer experience executive, and one of First Niagara’s top executives. When Mittiga isn’t traveling for work, she takes every opportunity to engage in her favorite extracurricular activity – watching her eighth-grade son and daughter and fifth-grade son play sports. Kelly and her husband and children live in Geneva and their kids attend Geneva public schools. Mittiga has influenced Geneva’s civic success as a past member and chair of the Area Chamber of Commerce. And she has been instrumental in improving the quality of life of its citizens, first through her involvement in Geneva Community Projects, which originated the Whale Watch festival and the first community playground, and later as a result of the ten years she spent on the board and as chair of the Boys & Girls Club. She helped oversee the building of the new Community Center, which she says has been the highlight of her time in Geneva. “This is the most philanthropic community I have ever known,” she says. “It was truly a public-private effort. We all came together to turn a vision into a reality. Thousands of people - young kids, teens, seniors - use the Community Center. Genevans have flourished as a result of the resources there.” Mittiga’s career accomplishments and volunteer contributions were celebrated in 2012 when she received the Athena Geneva Award, which recognizes women leaders in U.S. communities who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, devote time and energy to their community in a meaningful way, and forge paths of leadership for other women to follow. Her current positions on the boards of the Ontario County Industrial Development Association and Finger Lakes Health reinforce her optimism regarding Geneva’s future. “The improvements that have taken place downtown and the business activity along the Routes 5 and 20 corridor have had a positive impact,” she says. “The lakefront provides an economic development opportunity, too, though we don’t want to compromise it. We want visitors to see Geneva as a destination and stop here rather than just pass through. The lovely new Visitors Center on the lake is a positive step toward making that happen.” She adds, “As much as we have done, I still see a lot of potential in the way that folks from Geneva choose to embrace what we have. We need to show people who work here that they should live here, too. Geneva is so wonderfully diverse – it offers so much to so many. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place.” Mittiga has been active in forming the Geneva 2020 Initiative, a collaborative effort between the Colleges and Geneva to advance the Geneva schools and build a stronger community. By harnessing the resources of non-profit organizations, businesses and individuals, the initiative is improving school district graduation rates, increasing literacy and ensuring that every high school graduate is ready for college or a career. Mittiga is particularly pleased with the way HWS faculty, staff and students have become an integral part of Geneva 2020 and many other initiatives. She cites the progress HWS has made in “weaving the students into the fabric of Geneva. “I see it every day. It has made Geneva a better place to live and to raise a family. I am a very proud alumna,” she says.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Neil Sjoblom ’75 For more than 40 years, Neil Sjoblom ’75 has been photographing the people of Geneva at his studio on Linden Street in downtown Geneva.

To see more of Sjoblom’s work, go to www.neilsjoblom.com. PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON

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Snapshots of the Finger Lakes by Lori A. Gable ’86

ith 40-plus years of experience as a Geneva-based photographer Neil Sjoblom ’75 has captured the changes and milestones in the lives and landscape of the Finger Lakes region. “The region as a whole is really coming into its own,” he says. “It’s being recognized internationally in terms of its beauty and quality of life, and is increasingly becoming well known as a tourist destination for its world class wines, food and recreation— not to mention its many fine colleges. I love this location and I’m glad I stayed here.” As a student at Hobart, Sjoblom was known as the “kid with the camera,” backstage at concerts, speeches and political rallies, and on the sidelines of sporting events. “My camera was my free ticket to everything,” he says. “I did lots of photography for what was then called the Colleges’ News Bureau. I was fascinated by the art created out at Houghton House by interesting characters like Professors Loftus, Sher and Hadeishi, and their students, so I became an art major.” By graduation, Sjoblom had “developed a very loyal following of customers in Geneva and was booked for two years solid—so I wasn’t going anywhere. I felt sad that most of my classmates went home mostly to major metropolitan cities to launch their exciting new careers, but mine had already been established. “And I love my work,” he adds, “especially wedding photography. In what other profession are you invited to the biggest party of a person’s life?” Sjoblom, who grew up in Geneva, says he feels fortunate to have attended a small liberal arts college where almost everyone knows one another. His engagement with the Colleges remains strong today, from donating his services in event coverage to hosting interns who want to sample the rigors of a general practice photography studio. Each July, photographers from around the world come to HWS for a weeklong imaging workshop sponsored by the Professional Photographers Society of New York State. The workshop offers courses in portraiture, nature photography, and Photoshop. “I think our workshop is one of the best values in professional photography education,” says Sjoblom, who is a PPSNYS Workshop trustee and secretary. “It’s also been hosted by Syracuse University, Geneseo and R.I.T. but it has been held at HWS the longest of any one place. The vineyards, lakes and architecture make for beautiful backdrops for photographs.” In the City of Geneva, Sjoblom has served on the board of directors for the Geneva Business Improvement District, a program launched by Geneva and the state to help improve downtown. “There are low interest loans available for things like façade improvement, lighting and infrastructure,” Sjoblom says. “As a result, people say downtown Geneva has never looked so good.” With the Finger Lakes wine and tourism industries drawing thousands of visitors and millions of dollars each year, Sjoblom is seeing new customers and new assignments, like photographing wine bottles for advertisements and promotions, “which takes a specialized skill to work with the glass because of the reflection of the labels,” he explains. The Professional Photographers of America, the nation’s oldest and largest association of photographers, has recognized Sjoblom as a Master of Photography, which honors a photographer’s achievements and standards of excellence. For Sjoblom though, photography isn’t just the mechanics of the shutter and flash, or the craft of light and angle. “Every time there’s a disaster like a house fire or a flood, after the families and pets are rescued, people want their photographs,” he says. “Photography is a lot of fun, but it’s also very important in that I’m creating heirlooms that people will treasure forever.”

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Small Town, Big Plans

Shaynon Gramling ’13

by John Martin

Jessica Giles ’98 Originally from Maine, Jessica Giles ’98, an owner of the Stonecat Café and manager of the Tasting Room by Atwater Estate Vineyards, has made the Finger Lakes Region her home since graduation.

PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON

Finger Lakes: Wining, Dining and Growing by Lori A. Gable ’86

s an owner of the Stonecat Café on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake in Hector, N.Y., and manager of a brand new tasting room in Watkins Glen, Jessica Giles ’98 has seen firsthand the growing appetite in the Finger Lakes region for local and organic food paired with fine local wine—and the response of restaurants, wineries and local communities. “We’re now seeing the possibility of niche producers that can focus on just Riesling or Pinot,” Giles says. “This kind of business couldn’t happen just anywhere. This region is blessed with a kind and cooperative community of educated agrarians, artists, technophiles and folks looking to enjoy our blessed landscape. The wine and food industry is pivotal to the financial and ecological success of our region. Geneva stands as a gateway to gastro-tourism.” Originally from Maine, when she graduated from William Smith, there were just a handful of farm markets across the region. Today there are more than a dozen organic farms within a 20 mile radius of Hector, a community of 5,000 about 30 miles south of Geneva, where Giles has worked in the wine and food industry for the past 14 years. Giles ventured into the hospitality field the summer after graduation, starting as tasting room manager and primary server for Sheldrake Point Vineyard and Café in its opening season on Cayuga Lake. A year later, she and her former husband, Scott Signori, opened the Stonecat Café and Bloomer Creek Vineyard in Hector. When Giles first touted the benefits of the organic items on Stonecat’s menu, she felt she had to convince some patrons of its healthy merits, but “now people expect you to be organic,” she says. “It’s not just a political statement.” Retaining a 20 percent ownership of Stonecat Café, Giles has followed her passion for local wines to the new Tasting Room by Atwater, where she manages Atwater Estate Vineyard’s one-of-a-kind shop. In Watkins Glen, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, Tasting Room by Atwater offers tastings and bottles from around the region in one convenient stop. It’s a great way to showcase the best of the Finger Lakes wineries and others across the state, Giles explains, as well as a way to encourage more tourism. “The more you have to offer, the more people will come to see a place and region as a destination,” she says. And for wine enthusiasts and food lovers, Giles has this advice: “Throw a true love of food and beverage into the mix and a dedication to clean, local ingredients for healthy and tasty living, and you’ve got a career in the Finger Lakes hospitality industry.”

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haynon Gramling ’13 may be working in the big time—his New York City employer, Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, closed more transactions for private and institutional investors in 2012 than any other firm in the city—but he still gushes about life as a kid in a small town. “I have so many great memories from growing up in Geneva,” he says. “We have a big lake, and I think that’s the main reason I liked it so much. From swimming, jet skiing, boating and tubing, to barbecues and dock parties, Seneca Lake is a major part of Geneva that brings people together.” Gramling was a standout athlete at Geneva High School. His senior year in the high jump, he won league and sectionals and jumped 6’3” at States, good for second place. “I had a great coach, Mark Pitifer ’83,” he says. “He was a Hobart grad and was very inspirational.” Pitifer called Gramling “Predator,” because he was never afraid to go after his goals. Gramling thrived on that kind of support. “Growing up in Geneva has helped me build confidence,” he says. “The people I have in my life there, including my parents, are very supportive and encouraging. They want to see me succeed, and I do not want to let them down. This makes me work harder, and forces me to never give up on my goals.” When Gramling was a junior in high school, he had an opportunity to attend the HWS Summer Academy. Now in its tenth year, the HWS Summer Academy welcomes to campus some of Geneva High School’s brightest students for a two-week intensive learning program that encourages them to maintain interest in education and pursue college upon graduation. He worked closely with Horace Allen ‘85, founder and chief executive officer of LegacyCreators, which seeks to help under represented men of color succeed. “He was an academic coach for me,” Gramling says. “We had our meetings on campus.” As a high school student, Gramling sat in classrooms with Assistant Professor of Philosophy Rodmon King and Associate Professor of English Laurence Erussard and decided then and there that Hobart was the right place for him. “I applied Early Decision,” says Gramling. Gramling received an endowed scholarship from the Geneva Scholarship Associates, a community-driven organization that provides financial support to academically and financially deserving Geneva High School graduates. Gramling received a bachelor of arts in public policy. “I have great memories from being an HWS student,” he says. “I made so many friends. The great thing about being from Geneva was that I was able to show my HWS friends the things Geneva has to offer. I was able to introduce my friends from both sides, town and college, to each other.” Gramling had worked at the Geneva YMCA during his senior year in high school—where he made a lifelong friend, his boss, Tiffany Sculli ’04, a William Smith alumna. He continued to work at the Y during college. “I helped my boss create and run a couple of exercise classes. I also helped at the Boys & Girls Club, and at my grandfather’s church.” Now, he’s thinking of lending a hand to his hometown again. “I’m learning so much about the commercial real estate industry, and I want to use this to help Geneva become an even better place than it is now,” Gramling says. “I believe that developing the city will attract more investors and small business owners that will help keep downtown alive. I would also like to see many more affordable activities for youth, because not every family in Geneva can afford to pay for their kids to do things. One of my biggest goals is to be successful enough to help fund these activities, and to help to continue to develop Geneva.”

Geneva High School and Hobart College graduate Shaynon Gramling ’13 finds success in the Big Apple.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL PARAS.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Winemakers to Open Lake Drum Brewing by Andrew Wickenden ’09

Victor Pultinas ’09 and Jenna LaVita ’08

n 2012, Victor Pultinas ’09 and Jenna LaVita ’08, both originally from Massachusetts, heard about the “Race for the Space,” competition in Ithaca, N.Y., just days before the entry deadline, and mused, “What if we owned a business? What if we started a brewery?” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo passed the farm brewery bill in June of that year, though for Pultinas, who was working as assistant winemaker at Cayuga Lake’s Sheldrake Point Vineyards at the time, “It was really just dreamland.” But when Geneva announced its own race for space in 2013, Pultinas and LaVita were ready. They drew up and submitted to the City of Geneva a business plan for what has become Lake Drum Brewing. Taking its name from the mysterious, cannon-like booms reported around Seneca Lake, Lake Drum joins the nearly 30 farm breweries that have popped up across the state since the bill was passed. “The farm brewery bill is encouraging homebrewers to pursue their love of producing beer while making a leap of faith into the big leagues,” says Pultinas, who has been an avid

homebrewer for the past five years. As the winners of Geneva’s business development competition, Pultinas and LaVita received a prize package to help the brewery get off the ground, including: • storefront space and one year of free rent; • advertising and articles with the Finger Lakes Times; • architectural services by Sky High Architecture; • signage services from Geneva’s Local Development Corporation and InSite: Architecture; • business guidance from Community Business Advantage; • marketing guidance from Hobart and William Smith Colleges Office of Communications; • and a one-year membership with the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce. Lake Drum has readied its storefront for brewing and tasting with some elbow grease from a few friends and a fundraising campaign through indiegogo.com.

Surpassing the initial goal of $10,000, Lake Drum raised $12,200 from friends and HWS alums in the area and far away, as well as from total strangers. “Using the tools we have at our grasp from winemaking,” Pultinas says, he plans to brew beer once a week on-site, where patrons will be able to see the stainless steel equipment and watch the brewing process. In the fall, during apple harvest, Lake Drum will press fresh New York apples for cider. LaVita, who is the winemaker at Seneca Lakebased Ventosa Vineyards, will act as brewery consultant. During Lake Drum’s early stages, in addition to their own beer and cider on tap, the brewery will “feature other local microbreweries and cider mills,” Pultinas says, adding that because of the farm brewery license, “we can serve basically any other New York product on site.” Set to open in 2014 on East Castle Street, Lake Drum is driven by locality, sustainability

and inclusiveness. Lake Drum will source 100% of their apples and 20% of their hops and grains from New York State, and will solicit input and even brewing assistance from patrons. “We want to provide a space that everyone can come to, that’s inclusive, with affordable options,” Pultinas says. “We want to have a mug club and have incentives to enhance the cooperative style of the business.” As for the beer itself, “we don’t want to be too wild—no chocolate or mint or jalapeno beers,” Pultinas says. “We’ll stick with classic styles—I.P.A.s, stouts, pale ales—while experimenting with different brewing processes from around the world.”

PHOTO BY KATHERINE COLLINS ’09

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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Classnotes

Photos Amy Kulow Taylor ’08 married Matt Taylor on March 8, 2014 at Dibbles Inn in Vernon, N.Y. Bridesmaids included, Alycia Roberts ’08, Jaclyn Wagner ’08, Erinn Cain ’08, Jessica Julius Unger ’08, Rachelle Hansen Summers ’09, Kusi Welch ’08 and Ashley Snyder ’08.

In October 2013, East End Hirshson 3 friends Ellen Brand ’74, Terry Johnson ’74, Irka Elsevier ’74, Vicki Shepard Murray ’74, Joanne Conrad ’74 and Bev Singer ’74 celebrated their second decade gathering in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. In August 2013, Laura Dreyer ’07 and Christian Blake ’07 were married at the Society of Illustrators in New York City. HWS alums in attendance included: Tom Evans ’07, Warren Cramer ’07, Giancarlo D’Orazio ’07, Sarah Walsh ’07, FiL Freedman ’06, Christian Blake ’07, Laura Dreyer ’07, Derek Smith ’07, Whitney Cox ’07, Jessica Ramistella ’14, Jamie Agnello ’07, Peter Marciano ’08, Rachel Emmet ’08 and Ben Sole ’07.

This past fall, Bobbie Barnes Carey ’71, Linda Eberhardt Chilson ’71, Kate Lewis ’71, Marilyn Mayes Kaltenborn ’71, Barb Phillips ’71, Peggy Hall Johnson ’71, Shelley Steen Ackerman ’71, and Claudia Perry Waterhouse ’71 rented a beach house in Newport, R.I.

Susan Garsoe ’69 sits atop a cliff-side cave dwelling of Bandolier National Monument. Garsoe and her husband Tim Davis, hosted Linda Rood ’69 and Roger Turner ’68 on a tour of Georgie O’Keeffe country in New Mexico.

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Joe Tripp ’83; New England William Smith Regional Vice President Adele Schlotzhauer ’83; and Michael Miller ’83 had an impromptu get together in Florida.

William Smith classmates celebrated the wedding of Meg Howley Mitkus ’07 on June 1, 2013 in Cape May, N.J. Pictured from left to right are: Maggie Cullinan ’07, Jenna Gruttadauria ’07, Kacy Cerasoli ’07, Meg Howley Mitkus ’07, Jamie Klein ’07, Kira Desiderio Markowitz ’07, Nicole Balsamo ’07 and Caitlin Davis ’07.

Nick Currie ’08 and Alice Coakley ’08 were married in November 2013 in Washington D.C. Hobart and William Smith alums in attendance were: (front row) Dan Spinella ’08, Sean Murphy ’08, Alice Coakley ’08, Nick Currie ’08, Ashley Middleton Coakley ’04; (middle row) Jamie Kirk ’09, Allison Burns ’08, Megan Hyland ’08, Bridget Millard ’08, Emily Gailun Oakford ’08, Caroline Murphy ’08, Elizabeth Flynn ’07, Maddie Brooks ’08, Jenny Pratt-Woodberry ’08, Kerry O’Connor ’08, Katie Hendricks ’07; (back row) Sam Madison ’08, Lucy Ross ’08, Eric Elkin ’07, Jimmy Farmer ’08 and Rafe Mattingly ’08.

Daisy Bird Geer ’10 married Kyle Geer on December 14, 2013. Guests included: Adam Alvaro ’10, Meghan Cox ’10, Emma Kelly ’10, Rachel MacElhenney ’10, and Charlie Levin ’11 (not pictured).

Libby Smith ’71 and Carol Brown Laufer ’71 sit on the Elizabeth Blackwell Memorial bench in Asheville, N.C.

William Smith classmates Melynda Broomfield Kane ’92, Karen Zaremba Fox ’92, Kristen Hughes Tirola ’92, Alison Bellerose Guage ’92, Sarah Tierney Springer ’92, Allison Costabile Pfannenstiehl ’92 and Joyce Cupaiuolo Rosely ’92 gathered in Miami Beach for an extended weekend.

Malory Green Saki ’09 married Christopher Saki on August 10, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church Watertown, N.Y. followed by a reception at The Maples in Lowville, N.Y. HWS alums in attendance included: (left to right) Jillian Petrella ’09, Shannon Sage ’09, Christopher Saki (groom), Malory Green Saki ’09, Alex Graf ’09, Lauren Read ’09, Heidi Bamatter ’09, and Mark Abroms ’08. The couple resides in Honolulu, Hawaii.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Classnotes

HWS friends, Betsy McNamara ’87, Richard Pendleton ’86 (top row), Sage Wheeler ’87, Mike Scanlan (attending first year) and Erickson Blakney ’87 have formed a giving group supporting non-profits focused on social, economic and environmental justice.

Classnotes

Lou Kahn ’63 (far back), Bonnie Bolstein and Jerry Bolstein ’62, Tom Hadlock ’64, Mal Davis ’62, Renata Renner, widow of Clay Knowles ’63, and Jan Dick (center), widow of Gordon Coe Dick ’62, gather for a mini-reunion.

Bethany Fagan Good ’10 and Logan Good ’10 were married on January 4, 2014 at St. John’s Chapel on the HWS campus. A reception at Ventosa Vineyards followed. HWS was represented by: Michelle and Scott Ikle ’84, and daughter, Katelyn Ikle, Caitlyn Schrader ’10, Darren Scott ’11, Meghan Crump ’10, Nicole Caravella ’10, Lauren Budd ’10, Kevin Curtin ’10, Sherry Funke ’08, Becki Fry ’11, Steve Johnson ’95, Jeff Gibson ’10, Kimmy Tremlett ’10, Rory Sasson ’10, Lindsey Dickens ’08, Courtney Good ’12, Josh Cerf ’12, Ian Barton ’09, Will Greer ’11, Ryan Conley ’10 and Sarah Kirchoff ’06.

Jess Droz DeSantis ’09 married Anthony DeSantis on March 23, 2013 in Richboro, Pa.

Bill James ’03 and Shari Aser were married in September 2013 at the Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y.

At the Rubin Museum in New York City, Isabel Banton Clowe ’74, Patricia Dore ’74, Jody (Carol) Boghussian Spencer ’74, Carolyn Grant Buxton ’74, Dorothy Phillips ’74 and Lisa Gulino ’74 gathered for a mini reunion. Buxton was visiting from her home in England.

Surrounded by HWS friends and family, Jessica Hill Klebanoff ’10 married Brett Klebanoff ’07 in Newport, R.I. on June 1, 2013.

Stephanie Niles ’08 married Justin Wicks on October 5, 2013 in Stowe, Vt. In attendance were Candace Villeneuve ’08, Lauren Knight ’08, Nikki Favata ’08 and Anna Quinn ’08. Surrounded by Hobart and William Smith alums, Trevor Pieri ’08 married Kelly Stephens’10 on September 7, 2013 in Osterville, Mass.

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In September 2013, Kira Desiderio Markowitz ’07 married Scott Markowitz in West Palm Beach, Fla. Pictured from left to right are: Meg Howley Mitkus ’07, Kira Desiderio Markowitz ’07, Scott Markowitz, Caitlin Davis ’07, Annie Blaine ’07, Bridget Millard ’08, Jess Scott ’07, Zana Lawrence ’07, and Nicole Balsamo ’07.

Drew Hubbard (left), the son of Steven Hubbard ’91 and Stephanie Bosch Hubbard ’94, plays pond hockey with Kara and Drew, children of Jennifer Guilbert Shaffer ’91 in Bloomington Hills, Mich.

Jacob L’Etoile and Robin Hoffman L’Etoile ’00, along with big brother Hugh, welcomed a new baby girl, Edith Phyllis Wren on August 9, 2013.

Hobart class of 1988 Sherrill Hall dorm-mates gathered in Jackson Hole, Wyo. for a skiing and snowmobiling adventure this winter. Pictured from left to right are: Mitchell Woods (son of Andy Woods ’88); Andy Woods ’88, Andrew Rochat ’88, Dave Martin ’88, George Dilworth ’88, Chris C. O’Brien ’88, James Sellinger ’88, and William Ellis ’88. Missing from the photo is Cliff Deetjen ’88.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Classnotes

Caroline Wenzel Chapman ’05 and Ryan Chapman were married on August 3, 2013 in Geneva, N.Y. HWS alums and staff in attendance included: Matt Cote ’05, Nick Grimshaw ’04, President Mark D. Gearan, Hobart Equipment Manager Kevin McDonald, Eric Pasho ’05, Director of Conferences and Events Erica Connor, Mia Rabinowitz Cote ’05, Ashley Varrato ’05, Kathleen Frazier ’05, MAT’06, Justin Macklin ’04, Jackie Welch ’07, Laura Parker Mackin ’05, Sarah Mantell ’06, Christine Bennett West ’94, Groom Ryan Chapman, Assistant Hobart Lacrosse Coach Terry Muffley, Caroline Wenzel Chapman ’05, Brighde Dougherty ’04, John Collins P’72, P’74, P’84, P’90, GP’09, GP’12, HON’12, Tyler Serafine ’16, cousin of the bride Madeline Buckley ’15, Mark S. Pitifer ’82 and Leigh Principio Pitifer ’84, P’13, Lisa Genovese ’03, Tracy Genovese ’05, MAT’06, Carmen Genovese ’70 and Patricia Genovese P’01, P’03, P’05, P’08, Alyson Stachura Yoder ’03, father of bride and Assistant Hobart Basketball Coach Carl Wenzel P’05, Amy Pendergast Brennan ’03, Debbie Minarick Grimshaw ’05, MAT ’08, Meghan Welsh Van Keuren ’05, Director of Hobart Athletics Mike Hanna ’68, cousin of the bride Martin Eades ’69, William Smith Basketball Coach Lindsay Drury, Lauren Shallish ’05, William Smith Soccer Coach Aliceann Wilber P’13 and Paula Foote ’07, MAT ’08.

HWS alums celebrated the marriage of Melissa Norvell Hontz ’02 to Obie Hontz. Pictured are (back row): Alicia Lathey Derleth ’02, Kelly Anthony ’02, Sara Wingerath Schlanger ’02, Ian Schlanger ’02; (front row): Lilah Parker Crelley ’02, Kate Campbell ’02, Amy Norvell Krajci ’99, Melissa Norvell Hontz ’02, Obie Hontz, John Norvell ’66, P’99, P’02, Sally Webster ’74, and Eric Hall Anderson ’59. Missing from photo: Joe Karlson ’66 and Aditya Parikh ’02.

While on a three week cruise from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia, John Scher ’57 and his wife Susan visited Hobart, Tasmania.

Hobart alums Steve Petyerak ’93, Scott Mason ’81 and Ryan Adler ’09 caught up during dinner at Keens Steakhouse in New York City this February.

During Festival Weekend in Santa Fe, N.M., HWS friends gathered at the home of Judith Seltzer ’69 and Bob Tucker. Standing from left to right are: Linda Rood ’69, Roger Turner ’68, Mary Howe Kolpacoff ’69, Bob Tucker, Jane Kent Johnston ’69 and Judith Seltzer ’69.

In August 2013, William Smith friends Meredith Strauber Lewin ’87, Nancy Breiling Nessel ’87, Sara Campbell Lodini ’87, Laura Chey-Warren ’87, Andrea Carson Miller ’88, Robin Savits Cooper ’87, Linda Schutz Janssen ’87 and Betsy Carlin ’87 gathered for a reunion in New York City. The women stayed at The Strand, a hotel owned by Hobart alum Tom Glassie ’87.

At St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca, Fla., Dot Chastney Emer ’53 congratulated The Most Reverend Doctor Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, for receiving the Colleges’ 39th Elizabeth Blackwell Award.

Miller House roommates in 1956, Nancy Nichols Boyd ’60, Barbara MacKinnon de Montes ’60 and Beverley Cryer Brewer ’60 enjoyed a reunion in Merida, Mexico.

Eli, son of Tamara VonMatt Simpson ’98, shows of his HWS pride.

Eric Hall Anderson ’59 shows his Hobart pride 1,549 m above altitude in the high valley of Bargis, in Flims, Grisons, Switzerland.

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Steve Chabot ’02 and wife Alison, welcomed Chandler True Chabot on November 28, 2013.

On May 19, 2013, Tahisha Ayala ’05 and her husband, Uriah Dean welcomed a daughter, Olivia Rose.

Richard Wasserman ’70 and Michael Dick ’70, P ’90 represented Hobart in Antarctica this winter. Allison Sperling ’10 and Ben Morris married on August 17, 2013 in Boulder, Colo. Jennifer Crupnick ’10, Lauren Budd ’10 and Francesca Antonucci ’10 joined the celebration.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Obituaries Carolina, receiving the Episcopal Diocesan Distinguished Communicant award in 2014. As an alumnus, William was a Reunion volunteer. He was predeceased by his in-law, Alan Emerick ’44. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Diana Harder Conway ’52; children, William, Pamela and John; seven grandchildren; relative, Alan D. Emerick ’70. J. William “JW” Nystrom Jr. ’51, GP’03, LL.D.’76, of Alpharetta, Ga., died on May 12, 2013. JW graduated with a B.A. in history, was president of Phi Sigma Kappa, and played football, basketball, lacrosse and boxing. He later earned a M.A. in education and history from Trinity College, and a Ph.D. in philosophy and education from Yale University. He held a career in higher education, last serving as executive assistant to the president and vice president for administration at Pace University, and with previous appointments as dean and president at Bennett College, vice president at International College in Beirut, Lebanon, research associate at Harvard University, and an administrator at New Haven College. As an alumnus, he was a career counseling volunteer and was awarded an honorary degree in 1976. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; children, Sigrid, Jenny, Karin; and several grandchildren including Todd B. Saulnier ’03. Roger N. Pellow ’51, of Portland, Ore., died on March 17, 2014. Before attending Hobart, Roger served in the U.S. Army in World War II in Japan. Roger graduated with a B.A. in economics, was a member of Theta Delta Chi, Echo, and manager of the lacrosse team. After graduation, he worked in sales in the wood product industry, working at U.S. Plywood, and later served as vice president of sales for Woodfold Marco until his retirement in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Newman Pellow ’51; children, Linda, Gary and Susan; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sons, Jimmy and Bob. Henry R. Trapnell ’51, of Federalsburg, Md., died on Nov. 17, 2013. Henry attended Hobart for one year before earning a M.D. from the University of Maryland Medical School. Upon graduating, he entered the U.S. Navy, serving one year at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia. He then transferred to Pensacola, Fla., where he earned his Navy flight training and received his wings. Following his stint with the Navy, he forged a career as a physician in Federalsburg. He was predeceased by his uncle, William H. Trapnell ’27, LL.D’60. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; children, Henry, Bruce, Thomas, William, Margaret and Jennifer; and many grandchildren. Allen B. Hughes ’52, of Compton, Calif., died on Oct. 1, 2013. Allen graduated with a B.A. in economics, was a member of Sigma Chi, ski club, Canterbury Club and the lacrosse team. Following graduation, Allen earned an M.B.A. from the Babson Institute. He established a career in sales, serving as vice president at Imperial Metals and Abrasives Inc. Allen is survived by his former wives, June and Mary Lou Hayes Hughes ’52; and children, Allen, Mary-Linn, Heidi and Peter; and eight grandchildren. Mason R. Logie ’52, of Plainfield, N.J., died on Nov. 1, 2013. Mason graduated with a B.S. in chemistry. On campus, he was a member of the debate team, band, and lacrosse team and was president of Epsilon Pi Sigma. Following graduation, he earned a M.S. in chemistry from Lehigh University. Mason held a career as a high school science teacher and in 1964 was awarded a Shell Merit Fellowship to Cornell University

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Obituaries for his outstanding teaching. Passionate about the about the diversity in Plainfield, he was a member of the Human Relations Commission, and was a member of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield for 58 years. Mason is survived by his wife of 61 years, Alice Vann Logie ’53; children, Mason Jr., Catherine and Christopher; and five grandchildren. Joseph L. Poole ’52, of Seneca Falls, N.Y., died on Jan. 22, 2014. Joseph served in the U.S. military during the Korean War before receiving a B.A. from Hobart. As a student he was a member of Phi Phi Delta. Joseph was employed for more than 45 years by Finger Lakes Race Track. He is survived by his sisters, Aileen and Mary; and was predeceased by a sister, Jane. Charles E. Arnold ’53, of Murrells Inlet, S.C., died on Jan. 24, 2014. Arnold graduated with a B.A. in economics, was a member of Beta Sigma Tau, the Herald and Corinthian Yacht Club. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a second lieutenant and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He worked as a consultant for the Imperial Knife Associated companies. He is survived by his wife, Susan. Miles G. Blakeslee Jr. ’53, of Fort Myers, Fla., died on March 15, 2014. Miles graduated with a B.A. in economics, was a member of Kappa Sigma, Schola Cantorum, and played baseball, basketball, golf and tennis. Miles served in the U.S. Army from 1953-55. Miles was vice president at the C.W. Blakeslee & Sons Construction Co., a business founded by his great-grandfather. As an alumnus, he was a member of the Hobart Hartford Club. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joyce Oswald Blakeslee ’53; children, Catherine, Wendy, and David G. Blakeslee ’79; several grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. He was predeceased by a daughter, Linda. William R. Jones ’53, of Longboat Key, Fla., died on Jan. 27, 2014. William graduated from Hobart with a B.A. in classical languages and philosophy. On campus, he was involved in the Canterbury Club, Schola Cantorum, marching band, Chapel Choir, Phi Beta Kappa, Motet Choir, and St. John’s Guild. Following graduation, he attended Union Theological Seminary and was ordained to the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He served as associate minister of St. Andrew’s Church in Yonkers, N.Y. and the Diocese of Osaka of the Anglican Church of Japan. Later, he held a number of administrative positions in pediatric rehabilitation medicine at various hospitals. William was active in the Saratoga Institute of Lifelong Learning and Global Issues Program. As an alumnus, William served as a Campaign for the Colleges volunteer. He was predeceased by his first wife, Emily. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; sons, William, Pearce, Peter and Andrew; nine grandchildren; and a greatgranddaughter. Dominick R. Carnovale ’54, of Farmington, Mich., died on Nov. 26, 2013. Dominick graduated with a B.A. in economics, and was president of Phi Phi Delta and a Druid. He also participated in Little Theater, Canterbury Club, Interfraternity Council, Chimera, Orange Key, football, lacrosse and the Gamma Omicron Tau. Dominick served as Wayne County Circuit Court Judge, Wayne County Chief Assistant Prosecutor, 36th District Court Judge and 47th District Court Visiting Judge. As an alumnus, Dominick served as a Reunion volunteer, career counselor, Detroit Area Capital Campaign Chair and on the Special Gift Committee. He is survived by his children, Mark and Alan; relative, Ruth

Rippey Carnovale ’48 and three grandsons. He is predeceased by his brother, John R. Carnovale ’49.

He is survived by his wife, Paula; children, Samantha Cummis ’91 and Joshua; and three grandchildren.

William R. Allison ’54, of Waterloo, N.Y., died on Nov. 13, 2013. William attended Hobart for one year and participated in Outing Club and Glee Club. He established a career as a chemical engineer with General Electric in Schenectady. Returning to Waterloo, he and his wife, Esther, owned and operated Allison’s Casual Clothes for several years. Additionally, he volunteered as a dispatcher for North Seneca Ambulance and was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. He is survived by his children, Nancy and Brenda; brother, James T. Allison ’60; and three grandchildren.

Philip H. Kabachnick ’58, of Madeira, Fla., died on Feb. 23, 2014. Philip graduated with a B.A. in economics, was the house manager for Phi Sigma Kappa and played on the baseball team. Prior to attending Hobart, Philip was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. Following his service, he joined the stock brokerage firm of Oppenheimer and Co. in New York before operating several retail operations. He later opened Kabachnick, a women’s specialty department store, and founded and operated the New York Clothing Company. Phillip is survived by his wife, Terri; daughter, Tracy; and two grandchildren.

Jonas Morris ’55, of Washington, D.C., died on March 22, 2014. Jonas graduated with a B.A. in history, and was a member of Board of Control, Orange Key, the Herald, WEOSFM, Little Theatre and Chimera. He served as executive director of the National Council of Community Mental Health Centers and publisher of the Morris Reports, a newsletter on federal health policy. He also served as principal planner for the D.C. Commission on Mental Health Services. Jonas spent much of his career working to de-institutionalize people with mental disabilities and provide better settings for their care. In 1994, he earned a Mental Health Services Provider certification from George Washington University. He is survived by his wife, Judy. William W. Morton ’55, of Oklahoma City, Okla., died on Dec. 24, 2013. William graduated with a B.A. in American history. He was a member of Sigma Chi, Chimera, Orange Key, and ROTC, worked at WEOS-FM and served as captain of the football team. After graduation he joined the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1981 as a Lt. Colonel. As an alumnus, he was inducted into the Hobart Hall of Fame as an individual in 2002 and with the 1954 team in 2006. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, JoAnn; children, Scott and Kelly; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A. Richard Magliozzi ’56, of Leesport, Pa., died on Jan. 12, 2014. Richard graduated with a B.A. in history; was a member of Beta Sigma Tau, ROTC, band, WEOS-FM and the Herald. Richard entered the U.S. Air Force and retired from active duty in 1960 as a captain. He served as an executive with the United Way of America. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan; daughter, Kathy; and a grandson. Edward M. Braiman ’57, of Rochester, N.Y., died on Jan. 1, 2014. Edward graduated with a B.A. in American studies, was a member of the Temple Club, Yacht Club and the Sailing Club. He graduated from Albany Law School and held a practice as a workers’ compensation attorney for several decades. He is survived by his children, John, Christopher, Edward, Nancy and Betsy; and 10 grandchildren. Philip B. Cummis ’58, P’91, of North Caldwell, N.J., died on Oct. 25, 2013. Philip graduated with a B.A. in American studies and was a member of the Beta Sigma Tau fraternity. Additionally, he was a member of the Temple Club and worked for the Herald and WEOS-FM. Following graduation, Philip earned a J.D. from Seton Hall University. He established a career as an attorney and retired as Superior Court judge in Essex County, N.J. , and former senior partner in Abromson & Cummis. As an alumnus, Philip served as a class agent, Reunion volunteer and career counseling volunteer.

John G. Kalb ’58, of Huntington Beach, Calif., died on Jan. 14, 2014. John graduated from with a B.A. in psychology, served as vice president of Delta Chi, worked as a station manager at WEOS-FM and was active in Little Theatre and the Drill Team. John forged a career in educational sales for publishers, and at the time of his retirement, was the western regional manager for the Reference Division of Macmillan, Inc. As an alumnus, John served as a Reunion volunteer. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Grover Kalb ’58; children, John and Thomas; and grandson. Edward A. Baker ’59, of Rochester, N.Y., died on Dec. 29, 2013. Edward graduated with a B.A. in political science. On campus, he was a member of the football team and worked for the Echo, the Herald and WEOSFM. Following graduation, Edward earned a LL.B. from Syracuse University College of Law. He established a career as an attorney, practicing in the areas of labor law, premises liability, construction law, vehicular liability and municipal litigation. Edward is survived by his children, Kenneth and Mark; sister, Maxine, and five grandchildren. W. W. Woods Davis ’59, of Ely, Minn., died on Feb. 13, 2014. Woods graduated with a B.A. in economics, served as president of Sigma Phi, played lacrosse, and was a member of Schola Cantorum and the Interfraternity Council. Woods worked for Union Carbide from 1959-1974, culminating as vice president of marketing. An avid outdoorsman, he teamed up with longtime friend Tom Ware to form and operate Tom and Woods’ Moose Lake Wilderness Canoe Trips. In addition, he established and operated Adventure Marketing, which organized fishing trips to exotic locations. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Jane K. Davis ’59; children, Woods Jr., Ben, Elizabeth and Andrew; and 12 grandchildren. Frederick T. Merle ’62, of Rochester, N.Y., died on Feb. 17, 2014. Fred graduated with a B.A. in psychology, was a member of Sigma Chi, participated in baseball, basketball, Newman Club and was a member of the 1960 soccer team that was inducted into the Hobart Hall of Fame. Fred worked for Travelers Insurance, Xerox Corporation, and a small plastic molding company. Upon retirement, he served as a business consultant for 10 years. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; children, Tom, Mary Lou and Christine; and four grandsons. Melvyn Schwartz ’62, P’97, of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., died on March 22, 2013. Melvyn graduated with a B.A. in history and political science and was a member of Phi Phi Delta. He served as the senior class vice president, was a member of the Interfraternity Council, sports editor for the Herald,

served on the Board of Control, manager of the basketball team and of Echo and Pine. Melvyn earned an LL.B. from Brooklyn Law School. He established a career as an attorney and worked for a number of firms in the New York City area including Schechter, Brucker & Pavane, P.C. As an alumnus, Melvyn served as a reunion volunteer. He is survived by his son, Jonas I. Schwartz ’97, and predeceased by his daughter, Jillian. Horace Havemeyer III ’64, of New York, N.Y., died on March 19, 2014. Horace graduated with a B.A. in English, was a member of the sailing team and yacht club, and served as secretary and treasurer of Sigma Phi. After graduation, Horace joined his family’s business, the National Sugar Refining Company, and later went on to build a career as a publisher, first working at Doubleday book publishers for a decade. He then took courses at the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies (IAUS) and worked for Skyline, the IAUS journal. In 1981, he founded Bellerophon Publications and served as publisher of Metropolis magazine. During his career he received many awards and honors such as in 2006, the American Society of Interior Designers, New York Metro Chapter, created the Horace Havemeyer III Award to honor his ongoing dedication to the design community. That year, Horace was also awarded a L.H.D. degree by the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He was a co-founder and director of Exploring the Metropolis, Inc., a nonprofit organization led by his wife, Eugenie, that focused on the built environment. As an alumnus, Horace served as a member of the HWS Board of Trustees from 1980-85 and from 1991-97, as a reunion volunteer, chair of the special gifts committee and for the Campaign for the Colleges Leadership Gifts Committee. For his service, he received a Hobart Alumni Citation in 1989. He is survived by his wife, Eugenie; mother, Rosalind; and three siblings.

a Marine Insurance Broker for 30 years, retiring in 1998. He was also a member of the Lions Club. Thomas is survived by his wife, Kathy; children, Brian and Kevin; and four grandchildren. David A. Busenlehner ’69, of Bliss, N.Y., died on Jan. 5, 2014. David graduated with a B.A. in modern languages and was a member of the swim club. He worked for Bethlehem Steel as a quality control manager, a teacher for the U.S. Army in Berlin, and later as a chemistry and German teacher at West Seneca High School in Seneca, N.Y. David also worked as a stockbroker for S.C. Parker & Co. and was a tax preparer. He is survived by his mother, Beverly; and siblings, Kenneth, Gary and Barbara. George M. Wolff ’73, P’08, of Morristown, N.J., died on Jan. 21, 2014. George graduated with a B.A. in history, and later attended Columbia University. He became a partner of Paterson Bowl-O-Mat and B&W Associates of Morristown. George was a commercial developer and partner at Chandler Associates of Clifton, N.J. He and his siblings founded the Nina and Sam Wolff Caregivers Foundation for families experiencing dementia. As an alumnus, George served as an admissions volunteer. He is survived by his wife, Ilene; children, Rachel A. Wolff ’08, Sandy, Abby and Steven; and a grandson. W. Bruce Atkins ’89, of Yarmouth Port, Mass., died on Jan. 24, 2014. Bruce graduated with a B.A. in Asian Studies before earning an M.B.A. from the University Of Pennsylvania Wharton School Of Business. Bruce’s professional career was in private equity with American International Group, Mitsubishi Bank and most recently, Macomber Capital Advisors, LLC. He had a passion for skiing and qualified for the U.S. Ski Team. As an alumnus, Bruce served as an admissions volunteer. He is survived by his wife, Keiko; children, Ryan and Trevor; and his father, H. Kent.

James D. Hockett ’64, of Huntington, N.Y., died on Oct. 28, 2013. James graduated with a B.A. in political science, was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and Schola Cantorum. James later earned a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, and held a career as an attorney. He is survived by his wife, Sue and children, Matthew and Evan.

J. Weldon Jones ’89, of Cartersville, Va., died on Nov. 17, 2013. Weldon graduated with a B.A. in philosophy and was a member of Little Theatre. He was a talented musician. He is survived by his siblings, Virginia and Milton; and three nieces and a nephew.

John H. Krebs ’64, of Nantucket, Mass., died on Jan. 7, 2014. John graduated with a B.A. in American history, was a member of Sigma Chi and played on the lacrosse team. In 1966, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam as a French linguist and intelligence officer. Upon his return, he held a 45-year career in the restaurant industry. He is survived by his wife, Mary; sister, Susan; in-law, William L. Keller ’69; and a niece, Elizabeth S. Keller ’03.

Helen Sime Moore ’35, of Webster, N.Y., died on Aug. 26, 2013. Helen graduated from William Smith with a B.A. in sociology. On campus, she was a member of the field hockey and tennis teams, Little Theatre, Yearbook, the Choral Club and the Athletic Association. Helen was predeceased by her husband, John. She is survived by her children, Patricia and Jack; six grandchildren and six greatgrand children.

Joel S. Camhi ’66, of Houston, Texas, died on Jan. 30, 2014. Joel graduated with a B.A. in political science and was a member of Beta Sigma Tau. Following graduation, he served for two years in the Peace Corps in India and one year in the federal program VISTA in Arkansas. He later held a career in sales. As an alumnus he was a reunion volunteer. Joel is survived by his wife, Bertha; children, David and Laura; five grandchildren; a great-grandson. Thomas G. Walsh ’67, of Fontana, Wis., died on Oct. 4, 2013. Thomas graduated with a B.A. in American history. On campus, he was a member of the swimming team and captain of the golf team. Thomas was

William Smith

Isabel Goddard ’39, of Doylestown, Pa., died on Aug. 19, 2013. Isabel graduated with a B.A. in home economics and sociology, and was a member of the basketball and volleyball teams. She went on to earn a M.S.W. from University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work. Isabel dedicated her life to hospital and family service social work for more than 40 years. As an alumna, she served as class agent from 1984-97, volunteered for Campaign for the Colleges, served as chair of the 60th Reunion Campaign and as a career counseling volunteer. She is predeceased by her sister, Jean A. Goddard ’36. She is survived by a niece and two nephews.

Margaret Bliss Bennett ’42, of Bloomfield, N.Y., died on Nov. 6, 2013. Margaret attended William Smith for one year and also attended the University of Rochester before establishing a career at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester. A lifelong supporter of the arts, Margaret was an active volunteer for a number of organizations in the community. She is predeceased by her husband, J. Charles. She is survived by her children, Judith, John, Janet and Sarah; along with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arlene Garcy Bruck ’43, of Palm Beach, Fla., died on Nov. 10, 2012. Arlene graduated from William Smith with a B.A. in sociology. On campus, she was a member of the basketball team and the yearbook. Arlene went on to earn an M.A. in sociology from McGill University prior to establishing a career as a research assistant and instructor. She was predeceased by her husbands, Robert and Samuel. She is survived by her children, Maggie and Nancy; two granddaughters; partner Bill Goldberg; and greatgranddaughter. Virginia Burkhard Reynolds ’45, of Warner Robins, Ga., died on March 10, 2014. Virginia graduated with a B.A. in business administration. She was a member of the basketball team, Schola Cantorum, Outing Club, Athletic Association, Little Theatre, Student Council, Christian Cabinet and served as editor of the Pine. As an alumna, she was a member of the William Smith Nassau Chapter. She held a career as an elementary art teacher for the West Babylon Union Free School District. Virginia was a member of the Nature Conservancy and Appalachian Mountain Club. She is survived by her children, Donna, Betsy, Oliver and Tracy; and five grandsons. Anne Ryan Chisholm ’48, of White Plains, N.Y., died on March 16, 2013. Anne attended William Smith for one year. Anne was an administrative assistant at Reader’s Digest, International Flavors and Fragrances, and New York Hospital Cornell Medical Unit. She was predeceased by her husband, Donald. She is survived by her children, Kevin, Charles, Peter, Casey and David; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Joan Benz Havens ’49, of Newton, N.J., died on Dec. 12, 2013. Joan graduated with a B.A. in biology and chemistry and was a member of the Outing Club. Joan and her late-husband Martin operated Havens Poultry Farm. In addition, she was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church in Newton. Joan is survived by her children, Paul and Alan; a grandson; and two stepgrandsons. Barbara Tishman Frank ’49, of Avon, Colo., died on June 14, 2013. Barbara graduated with a B.A. in psychology, was a member of the field hockey team, Ski Club, Little Theatre, Outing Club, and Pine. Barbara enjoyed a number of philanthropic activities and was a member of the Helper’s Club, a volunteer at the local hospital, served on the board of directors for Vista Del Mar, and worked on a women’s group for the National Fraternity Convention of Phi Sigma Delta. Barbara is survived by her children, Robin, Jodie, Elizabeth and Allison; and five grandchildren. Martha Zell Odbert ’50, of Syracuse, N.Y., died on Jan. 10, 2014. Martha graduated with a B.A. in economics and home economics, and was a member of Newman Club and Home Economics Club. She worked in foster care, as a social worker and an elementary teacher. In her community, she

was a member of the League of Women Voters and the Cooperstown Women’s Club. As an alumna, she served as a class agent. She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, George. She is survived by her children, George, John and Susan; and two grandsons. Sally M. Keppler ’53, of Westhampton Beach, N.Y., died on Jan. 30, 2014. Sally attended William Smith for three years before earning a B.A. from Western Reserve University. Sally was active in a number of civic affairs including Mercy Hospital and the American Cancer Society, where she served as vice-president and chair for a number of fundraising events. In 1985, she was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award by the American Cancer Society of Long Island. Sally was predeceased by her husband, Robert B. Keppler ’52. She is survived by her children, Elizabeth and Kimberlee; and five grandchildren. Thelma Hinkle Rogers ’53, of Gaithersburg, Md., died on March 12, 2012. Thelma attended William Smith for one year and studied psychology, and later earned an A.B. from Cornell University and an Ed.M. from Worchester State College. She taught school in Shrewsbury, Mass., Arlington, Va., and Easton, Kansas. She was married to the late-Clare R. Rogers. Marjorie Smith ’53, of Wrentham, Mass., died on Feb. 24, 2014. Marjorie graduated with a B.A. in sociology, and was a member of the Athletic Association, Little Theatre, yearbook and chapel choir. She held a career working as a secretary at an engineering firm. She is survived by Susanne, Robert, Charles and Jim; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a step-granddaughter. She was predeceased by her son, John. Marilyn Hoffman Borg ’54, of Rochester, N.Y., died on March 31, 2014. Marilyn graduated with a B.A. in sociology. She was a member of the Herald, Schola Cantorum, Phi Beta Kappa, Campus Chest, vice president of Delta Phi Alpha and house manager of Brent House. For 28 years, Marilyn worked at the West Irondequoit Public Library. As an alumna, she was a member of the William Smith Alumnae Rochester Chapter. Marilyn is survived by her husband of 59 years, Raymond F. Borg Jr.’54; children Lynda, Eric and Karen; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Mary Ann Carmen Short ’54, P’78, of Fairport, N.Y., died on Oct. 7, 2013. Mary graduated with a B.A. in biology and chemistry. As a student, she was a member of the Herald, Newman Club, Hai Timiai, Big Sister Committee, and Judicial Board and served as president of the Student Association. Mary and her husband, John J. Short Sr.’53, established and ran a manufacturing business, JJ Short. As an alumna, she volunteered for Campaign for the Colleges. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, John; her children, John J. Short Jr. ’78, Nancy and Peter; eight grandchildren; an in-law, Susan Foerster Short ’78; and siblings, Robert, Richard and Celia Carmen Gallo ’56. Marilyn Shaver Dietrich ’58, of Stoneham, Mass., died on Dec. 13, 2013. Marilyn graduated with a B.A. in biology, was a member of WEOS-FM, Canterbury Club, Schola Cantorum, Chapel Choir, Christian Cabinet, Altar Guild, and served as secretary of Young Republican Club. She later earned a M.S. in library science from Syracuse University, and held a career as a librarian at McLean Hospital. She was married to Charles W. Dietrich, and had a son, Charles M. Dietrich.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Obituaries Marcia Reed Stevens ’59, of Simsbury, Conn., died on March 26, 2014. Marcia attended William Smith for two years prior to establishing a career as a writer. In addition, she volunteered for Literary Volunteers. She was predeceased by her husband, Malcolm. She is survived by her sons, Jeff and Phil; and four grandchildren. Constance “Connie” Short Jeffers ’62, of Bluffton, S.C., died on March 17, 2014. Connie attended William Smith for two years and played volleyball. She later earned a B.S. in elementary education from Syracuse University. Connie served as president of Jeffers Handbell Supply, Inc. She is survived by her husband, James; children, Philip, Thomas and Pamela; and three grandchildren. Linda Lewis Grigg ’70, of Mount Laurel, N.J., died on Jan. 29, 2014. Linda graduated with a B.A. in English, participated in Schola Cantorum, the Herald, and Pandora’s Box and served as House President. Following graduation, she earned a M.S. in television-radio from Syracuse University. Linda established a career as a publisher, working primarily as a freelance editor. She is survived by her husband, Alan; son, Christopher; and sister, Cathy. Elizabeth “Betsy” A. Cohen ’86, of Missoula, Mont., died on March 3, 2014. Betsy earned a B.A. in English and played lacrosse. She later earned a M.A. in journalism from the University of Montana. She held a career as a journalist working as an award-winning reporter for the Missoulain and the Montana Standard. In 2002, Betsy won a reporting fellowship with the International Center for Journalists to work in Northern Ireland. Throughout her career she earned many awards for her work, including in 2009, she won the Montana Newspaper Association award for best business reporter and well as the Best of the West award for breaking news. She also worked as a freelance writer and contributing editor to the Modern Arabian Horse magazine. As an alumna, she served as a career counseling volunteer. She is survived by her partner, Michael Gallacher; parents, Gary and Debby; and two brothers, Jonathan and David. Kristen Kawa Caron ’93, of Marcellus, N.Y., died on Dec. 21, 2013. Kristen graduated with a B.A. in English, studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and wrote for the Herald. Kristen earned a M.A. in journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University before becoming a high school English teacher at Kildonan School and Lafayette High School. As an alumna, Kristen served as a career services volunteer. She is survived by her husband, Matt; children, Madeleine and Ethan; parents, Sharon and Mike; and grandmother, Helen.

HWS Community Professor Emeritus of Music Lindsay A.J. Lafford P’65, P’71, L.H.D.’87, of Phoenix, Ariz., died on April 5, 2014. Lindsay graduated from the Anglican Cathedral School and then went on to become the Articled Pupil of the Hereford Cathedral Organist, Sir Percy Hull. He joined the HWS faculty in 1948 and under his direction the Colleges’ music major took shape. While on the faculty, Lindsay led many U.S. and world premieres of works by leading British composers and organized spring tours for Schola Cantorum members throughout the eastern U.S., as well as popular Christmas programs at Trinity Episcopal Church. He retired and moved to Florida in 1979. In retirement, he was invited to conduct the Hong Kong Sinfonietta in a performance of his “In Memoriam” in 1993, and was the recipient of the English title, the Lordship of Ridley, in 1999. That same year, he played the Carillion for President Richard H. Hersh L.H.D.’99’s final Commencement at HWS. In 1987, the Colleges awarded him the degree Doctor of Humane Letters. In 2000, he was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Award. In addition, the Lindsay Lafford Scholarship for Musical Performance was established in his honor. Lindsay is predeceased by his wife, Anna. He is survived by his children Peter, Julia Lafford Welbon ’65 and Llewellyn Lafford ’71.

Downtown Commerce |ca. 1915 Alum News

News and candy store Edward J. Smaldone came to Geneva from Salerno, Italy, in 1912. After selling newspapers on the Geneva-Williamsport, Penn., train for three years, he opened his own news and candy store in late 1915. This view shows the interior of the store at 417 Exchange Street in the Temple Block, with Smaldone proudly standing at the counter.

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Charter Day

Distinguished Faculty Award 93 Regional Events

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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

ALUMNI & ALUMNAE

Alumni and Alumnae News

Columbus Receives 2014 DFA by Andrew Wickenden ’09

REGIONAL EVENTS

June 25 Portland, Ore. Portland Gathering supported by Richard Bradspies ’73

July 9 Beverly Farms, Mass. North Shore Gathering with President Mark D. Gearan hosted by Chris ’84 and Rene Whitney ’83 Welles, P’12, P’15

July 11 Hamptons, N.Y. Westhampton Gathering with President Mark D. Gearan hosted by Craig O’Neill ’89, Mark Burchill ’89 and Paul Kessenich ’92 July 17 Denver, Colo. Denver Gathering (in conjunction with the Lacrosse World Games) hosted by Scott O’Sullivan ’91 July 25 Bay Head, N.J. Bay Head Gathering with President Mark D. Gearan hosted by Jim ’87 and Susan Kellogg P’17 August 2 Roosevelt Island, N.Y. “Alumni Tennis Night” Roosevelt Island Tennis Club August 6 Portland, Maine Summer Sendoff BBQ hosted by Timothy ’01 and Kristin Schram ’03 Riley August 12 Minneapolis, Minn. Twin Cities Gathering hosted by John and Beth Jacob P’15 For more information or to RSVP visit www.hws.edu/summer14 or call Alumni House toll free at (877) 497–4438.

92 Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014

Fellow of the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University Jeffrey L. Amestoy ’68, P’11, P’14 is awarded the Hobart Medal of Excellence during the Charter Day ceremony in St. John’s Chapel. Congratulating him is James (JB) Robinson ’96, president of the Hobart Alumni Association; Jared Weeden ’91, associate vice president of alumni relations and the annual fund; Eugen Baer P’95, P’97, HON’07, dean of Hobart College; Titilayo Ufomata, provost and dean of faculty; and Mark D. Gearan, president.

Charter Day Celebrates Hobart Heritage by Stephanie Kenific ’17

effrey L. Amestoy ’68, P’11, P’14, a fellow of the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, returned to HWS for the annual Charter Day ceremonies this year at which he received the prestigious Hobart Medal of Excellence and served as the event’s keynote speaker. Charter Day commemorates the founding of Hobart College in 1822 and the day on which a provisional charter from the State Regents of New York officially brought the college into being. The Hobart Medal of Excellence is awarded by the Alumni Association to an alumnus who, by reason of outstanding accomplishments in his particular business, profession or community service, has brought honor and distinction to his alma mater. Association President James “JB” Robinson ’96 says he and fellow alums were thrilled to have the opportunity to honor Amestoy. “The Medal of Excellence is the Alumni Association’s highest honor and is given sparingly to Hobart graduates who have achieved great success in their chosen profession or field of service,” says Robinson. “By any measure, Jeff has been hugely successful and influential in his career as a lawyer, an Attorney General, and as Chief Justice of the Vermont

State Supreme Court. We were pleased to bring Jeff back home to Hobart to celebrate these many accomplishments.” In 1999, Amestoy was the author of the Vermont Supreme Court’s opinion in Baker v. State, which held that same-sex couples were constitutionally entitled to the rights and benefits of marriage. In addition to his current role at Harvard University, Amestoy served as the 38th Chief Justice of Vermont’s Supreme Court (19972004), seven terms as Attorney General of Vermont and held the position of president of the National Association of Attorneys General from 1992 to 1993. Michael D. Green ’14, a mathematics major and senior captain for Statesmen football, delivered the student address during the Charter Day ceremony. Green was selected for the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Happiness House, which is noted for its excellent school for children with physical and learning disabilities. Green, an offensive lineman, organized this year’s “Touchdown and Tackles for Happiness House,” an annual fundraiser that this year raised more than $10,000. ● A detailed profile of Jeffrey L. Amestoy ’68, P’11, P’14 will appear in the Fall 2014 issue of The Pulteney Street Survey.

PHOTO BY GREG SEARLES ’13

June 26 Seattle, Wash. Seattle Gathering hosted by Christine Ingebritsen ’84

July 10 Osterville, Mass. Cape Cod Gathering with President Mark D. Gearan hosted by Trustees Cynthia Gelsthorpe Fish ’82 and N. Harrison “Pete” Buck ’81, P’12

HWS EverTrue App

uring Reunion 2014, the Hobart Alumni Association and the William Smith Alumnae Association honored Professor of English Emerita Claudette Columbus with the Distinguished Faculty Award (DFA). A member of the English Department faculty from 1969 until her retirement in 2003, Columbus taught the literature of late-18th and 19th-century authors including John Ruskin, Charles Dickens and Robert Browning. She also studied native Andean practices with two Fulbright grants that enabled her to visit Peru, and additional grants from Hobart and William Smith. With Christopher Gunn, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Economics, Columbus was instrumental in instituting the ombudsmen- and women at the Colleges, and herself served as an ombudsperson. She was instrumental in creating the HWS women’s study and Latin American studies programs, and served as adviser on more than a dozen student honors projects. Professor of English Emerita Claudette Columbus “I hope everyone has (or has had) a professor and a course that anchors them and Teaching. She was also awarded faculty prizes swings them way out into new spaces,” says for community service and scholarship. Assistant Professor of Africana Studies James Her scholarship has continued even after McCorkle ’76. “I feel incredibly lucky that I had her retirement from HWS. In 2013, “at the Claudette at this moment in my life. She was ridiculous age of 80,” as Columbus says, she transformational for me, and no doubt all her was invited to present a paper at the centenary students; hopefully how we respond to the world celebration of a major Peruvian author’s birth; reflects that process that she engaged within the paper was published later that year. us, and which is still going on as one really Columbus says she never finishes thinking about is “extraordinarily grateful to questions once raised.” “Like all great Hobart and William Smith “Like all great teachers, teachers, Claudette Colleges’ varying and ever altering Claudette has a combination of curriculum attributable in part to qualities that make her classes- has a combination the administrative support of the and her-unforgettable,” says of qualities faculty. The Colleges have long Dorothy Wickenden ’76, L.H.D. that make her emphasized cross-disciplinary ’14, executive editor of The classes-and herstudies; they have supported terms New Yorker. “She pushed us to abroad. This breadth of investigation read and think in ways that she unforgettable.” — kept the professors on their toes might describe as transgressive Dorothy Wickenden ’76, and up to date.” – crossing lines between L.H.D. ’14, executive Established in 1990 by the disciplines and reveling in the editor of The New Yorker. Hobart Alumni Association and the dark, perverse and sublime. William Smith Alumnae Association, She taught me to love Thomas the DFA recognizes the importance Hardy and the Romantic poets. that graduates of these Colleges place on the And she has a wicked sense of humor.” contributions of outstanding faculty members Columbus received her B.A. from Bucknell of the past – for their impact as teachers, University, her M.A. with high honors from mentors and scholars. Nominations for the Columbia University, and her Ph.D. from award are sought by all alumni and alumnae the University of Pennsylvania. Her articles, and are professors who are retired or have published in a number of professional journals, range from essays on major figures in the English moved on from Hobart and William Smith for more than five years, or who are deceased. ● Romantic and Victorian periods to essays on Latin American subjects, on which she has For complete coverage of Reunion 2014 including written two books. She led several semesters photo galleries, videos and stories, go to hws.edu/ of off-campus study to London and Ecuador, reunion. and in 2003, received the HWS Faculty Prize for

Connect with HWS alumni and alumnae worldwide using the HWS EverTrue App!

etworking with HWS alumni and alumnae and engaging with the Colleges has never been easier through the new HWS EverTrue app. Available only to alums and the campus community, EverTrue integrates with LinkedIn and Facebook to strengthen personal and professional relationships with a location-based mobile directory. To learn about the features of this exciting new app, visit www.hws.edu/

alumniapp.

Your contact information—name, home address, work address, phone number, email address, job title, and place of employment—will appear to other HWS users only. You can choose to limit access to part or all of your information by submitting the online Opt-Out Form or by contacting Alumni House at alumnihouse@hws.edu. EverTrue does not show “live” location information.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

ALUMNI & ALUMNAE

Nine Regions. Nine Alums. National Regional Network News E

very day, the Colleges receive news of alumni and alumnae. Some of the stories are about career milestones and life accomplishments while others record unexpected connections in unlikely locations. Below we share some of our favorites from the spring semester, organized by Region. For more on the National Regional Network and to submit news, visit www.hws.edu/regional.

MIDWEST Jeff Case ’69, principal of the architectural firm Holabird & Root, gave HWS students advice on careers in architecture. Founded in Chicago in 1880, Holabird & Root designed some of the world’s first skyscrapers and consistently wins industry awards for projects in education, the arts, business and science.

UPSTATE: Artist and sculptor Pietro del Fabro ’67 constructed the American Civil War Memorial in the Village of Waterloo, N.Y. in 2008 to commemorate the lives lost in the Civil War. The memorial was recently named among the “Top 5 Must-See Civil War Era Sites” by CBS.

Regional Events

Connect with alums in your region! Visit www.hws.edu/regional for upcoming event information.

NEW ENGLAND: Gina Perini ’95 of Gorton, Mass., has been named president and chief executive officer of SMS/800, Inc., the database that contains all Toll Free numbers identified in the North American Numbering Plan. Previously, Perini was managing counsel at GTC Law Group LLP and Affiliates where she advised clients on business and global intellectual property matters.

Alums gather for a photo with Professor Emeritus of Economics Pat McGuire HON ’10, L.H.D. ’12 (right) during a New Year celebration held in Albany, N.Y. The event was hosted by James D. ’66 and Barbara Featherstonhaugh P’17. Young alums from the Boston area pose for a photo during an alum networking event at Scholars Boston Bistro in Boston, Mass.

MOUNTAIN WEST Stephen Mugel ’13 (bottom right) recently traveled to Denver, Colo. to visit classmates Trevor Blum ’13, Rachel Hinnenkamp ’13, Aimee Peterson ’13, Hannah Sarokin ’13 and Amanda Woods ’13, who are all living in the Denver area.

WEST COAST HWS Trustee Bill Whitaker ’73, L.H.D. ’97, an Emmy awardwinning veteran of CBS News, has been named a correspondent for “60 Minutes.” He will begin appearing on the program in the fall. As the newest member of the “60 Minutes” team, Whitaker will move to New York following more than two decades stationed in Los Angeles.

94 Pulteney Street Survey | Summer 2014

SOUTHWEST A recent tweet from Jack Willis ’12, a Houston, Texas, resident reads: “Found a note from a fellow HWS grad on my truck last night. I guess I’m not the only alumnus in Houston!” No, Jack, you’re not the only one. In fact, there are 66 alumni and alumnae living in Houston, and 236 alums living in the great state of Texas! Find them all using the EverTrue App!

MID-ATLANTIC: Showing off AUDI’s A3’s trophy for 2014 World Car of the Year, Scott Keogh ’91, president of Audi America, is accompanied by World Car Awards co-chairs Peter Lyon and Matt Davis. Audi America is headquartered in Virginia.

TRI STATE: “Be open-minded and stay hungry.” That was the advice of Jackie Johnson Cox ’05 when she and Kevin Cox ’05 returned to campus to share career advice with students. Jackie is vice president at Zeno Group, a PR agency in New York City, while Kevin is an entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of FastForno, a QSR Neapolitan pizza restaurant, also in the Big Apple.

SOUTHEAST A passion for cycling united alums Jennifer Lacker ’80 and Dave Hoyle ’07 at the Charles Coaching and Nutritional Services Greenville Training Camp in Greenville, N.C. this spring. The week-long cycling camp featured intensive exercises, daily uphill rides and instruction on nutrition and training.

HWS alums pose for a photo at the annual holiday party in Boston, Mass.

President Mark D. Gearan meets with Honorary Trustee Dr. Ethel Cermak ’34, P’68, Sc.D. ’51 as she celebrates her 100th birthday with family and friends in Tarpon Springs, Fla.

Lou Guard ’07, Kirra Henick-Kling Guard ’08, Ariel Stevenson ’05 and Stevenson’s husband, Jesse Silverman, pose for a photo at the Philadelphia holiday gathering. The event was hosted by Honorary Trustee Roderic H. Ross ’52, LL.D ’79 and Patricia Johnson Ross ’53.

At the Princeton, N.J. holiday gathering, Karen F. Bodnar and Jon Bodnar ’80 pose for a photo with David and Mary Kate Barnes P’15. The celebration was hosted by the Barnes family and by Goose ’82 and Chantal Henderson.

Ellen Collins ’90 and Trustee Pete Buck ’81, P’12 attended the reception held prior to former Maine Senator Olympia Snowe’s President’s Forum talk at the Boston Public Library. HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

Trustee Tom Poole ’61, P’91, L.H.D. ’06, Joseph Stein ’86, Eric Stein ’89, Bill Miller ’91 and his family pose for photo during the lacrosse tailgate party at Hofstra University.

Alums gather for a photo during the Hobart lacrosse tailgate party at Hofstra University where the Statesmen took on Brown University.

Fred Mosher ’80, P’08, Allen Lovejoy ’79 and John Bodnar ’80 brought home the hardware during the Elder Statesmen Lacrosse tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Jimmy Banta ’04, Caroline Gibian ’05, Emma Parsons ’05, and Meredith Noel ’05 attended the HWS Los Angeles New Year gathering at the Culver Hotel Velvet Lounge. The evening included a talk by Professor Lester Friedman, Chair of the Media and Society Department. HWS alums, students and friends gather for a photo during a tailgate party before the Hobart lacrosse game vs. Bryant University.

Sara McMenimen ’11, Katrina Carey ’11, Matt Campbell ’12, assistant director of Regional Engagement, Tri-State; Corey McClintock ’12, assistant director of Regional Engagement, New England; and Adriane Klein ’11 join President Mark D. Gearan for a Graduates of the Last Decade breakfast in Boston, Mass.

Reeshemah Brightley ’99, Kimberly Moore ’00 and Cecilia Capers ’92 celebrated the season at the annual New York City holiday gathering.

Alums in the Southwest Region gather for an HWS Texas Connection Happy Hour at the Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen in Houston.

Alums from the Southeast Region pose for a photo during a brunch at Marina Jacks in Sarasota, Fla.

Trustee Edward Cooper ’86, P’16, U.S. Rep. Dr. Alan Lowenthal ’62 (D.-Calif.), Robin Cooper ’87, P’16 and Hannah Cooper ’16 pose for a photo during the HWS Day on the Hill.

At the NYC holiday gathering Derek Akner ’12, Brendan McCooey ’12, Tri-State Regional Vice President Sean McCooey ’78, P’08, P’12, Tim Regan ’12 and Jon Lawless ’13 smile for the camera.

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During the Salisbury Center for Career Services and Professional Development’s LA Experience winter break trip, Kenneth Halsband ’88, producer, executive vice president, and head of physical and post production at Relativity Media, meets with Steve Gemmiti ’14 to view a trailer for a web series Gemmiti created for his senior Honors project.

HWS students gather with U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen ’69, L.H.D.’01 (R-N.J.) at the United States Capitol Visitor Center as part of the HWS Day on the Hill event in Washington, D.C.

HWS Trustee Aileen Gleason ’85, Lindsey Farrell ’08 and Kiersten Hamilton ’12, from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, speak to students during the annual Finance Experience trip to New York City.

HWS lawyers in the Tri-State area gather with President Mark D. Gearan. The inaugural event was hosted by Trustee Andrew L. Gaines ’83.

Alums who participated in the Salisbury Center for Career Services and Professional Development’s Environmental Studies Day pose for a photo. Standing from left to right are: Curt Spalding ’81, Rachel Calabro ’93, Peter Shelley ’69, Dr. Tom Fogg ’74, John Monaghan ’11, Jennifer Lawrence ’03. Kneeling from left to right: David Armstrong ’81, Dr. Porter Hoagland ’77, P’13 and John Clarkeson ’75.

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

BOOKSHELF

Rhyme’s Challenge: Hip-Hop Poetry and Contemporary Rhyming Culture

with

David Caplan ’91 What role does rhyme play in hip-hop? The hip-hop artist sees rhyme as a—or perhaps the—contemporary technique. Rhyme is what it’s like to be alive now. They often rhyme the names of contemporary products. They’re saying, ‘Look at this moment we’re living in. I’m getting the stuff of our daily existence into a song.’

by John Martin

avid Caplan’s ’91 newest book, Rhyme’s Challenge: Hip-Hop Poetry and Contemporary Rhyming Culture, is a study of rhyme in contemporary American song and poetry. “Basically I argue that contemporary hip-hop artists are the most interesting contemporary rhymers,” Caplan says. “Hip-hop artists are notably different from the vast majority of contemporary American poets in that they rhyme, and that they rhyme for a particular effect. Ultimately, I contend that hip-hop is a major contribution to American poetry.” Hip-hop artists, Caplan says, often rhyme for seduction, insult, or doggerel—not without precedent in the longer history of poetry. “In the Renaissance that would be commonplace, the notion that you could seduce David Caplan ’91 someone through the almost magical powers of rhyme,” he says. The same holds true for slights. “Eminem’s insults have much more in common with other periods in literary history. Eighteenthcentury poets were writing rhyming verse left and right denouncing each other.” Caplan is the Benjamin T. Spencer Professor of Literature and the Associate Director of Creative Writing at Ohio Wesleyan University, and he has written several books of poetry and criticism. But he was attracted to hip-hop artists “not because my poetry resembles theirs, but because it differs from theirs,” he says. “I admire their virtuoso rhyming because I don’t do that in my poetry. The other attraction is, if you read literary criticism, you’d think it was a terrible moment in rhyming. They’re all these people saying, ‘The age of rhyme is over.’ And I just thought, well, open your ears. Turn on the radio.” ●

Don’t most people analyze hiphop as a societal phenomenon? Much of the examination of hip-hop has been cultural and sociological, and that’s very valuable. I look at it as a formal, technical question: how do they rhyme, and what effects do they achieve? What are some techniques? They’re using internal and external rhymes—rhyme within the line, and at the end of the line. They employ mosaic rhyme, combining multiple words into one rhyme. They’ll twist the pronunciation of a word to make it rhyme. It’s the sweeping force of language at work. What is the link between hip-hop and language? Hip-hop artists invent new words, and use the newest words. During the last 20 years, English had an immense expansion. Hip-hop came along at the right time. This is a word-based art that loves to rhyme new words; English has tons of new words. This is the oxygen that fuels hip-hop. Are poets noticing? A new generation of American poets is interested in rhyming, and is being influenced by hip-hop. Some of D. A. Powell’s poems, and the rhyming verse of Erica Dawson, are good examples.

Nightstand: Which rapper do you consider a poet? What is your favorite lyric? MARK OLIVIERI

HWS Assistant Professor of Music “One of my favorite rappers, and one who I think is very poetic, is Nas. Here’s one of my favorite lines from his song, “Hip Hop is Dead.” “The bigger the cap, the bigger the peelin’ Come through, something ill, missin’ the ceilin’ What influenced my raps? Stick-ups and killings Kidnappings, project buildings, drug dealings Everybody sound the same, commercialize the game Reminiscin’ when it wasn’t all business It forgot where it started So we all gather here for the dearly departed” –Nas, “Hip Hop is Dead,” Hip Hop is Dead

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BEVIN O’CONNER ’12

Graduate Student, University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop for Poetry “Lupe Fiasco often uses wordplay and sound associations to drive his lyrics forward – creating a rich experience for the listener both intellectually and viscerally. His songs contain interplay between logical “sense” and sense created entirely by sound. His lyrics demonstrate qualities that put many of his raps in the tradition of slam poetry.” “And I’m peerless That means I’m eyeless Which means I’m tearless Which means my iris resides where my ears is Which means I’m blinded But I’m gonna find it I can feel its nearness” –Lupe Fiasco, “Dumb It Down,” Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool

RYAN-O’NEIL EDWARDS ’06 Hip Hop Artist, Singer, Songwriter, www.ryan-oneil.bandcamp.com

“I’d consider most, if not all rappers to be poets. Rappers do the same things as those who put concentrated thoughts into writing, utilizing different meters and often but not necessarily always rhyming. Mos Def uses his position of power and fame to bring attention to different issues. It’s not how he says things, it’s what he says.” “There are places where TB is as common as TV ‘cause foreign based companies go and get greedy the type of cats who pollute the whole shoreline now they purify and sell it for a dollar twenty five” –Mos Def, “New World Water,” Black on Both Sides

Introducing a New Way to Target Your Gift to the people, programs and priorities that matter most to you and the Colleges.

The Annual Fund Priorities 2015 Visit our website to learn how you can direct your gift during the 2015 Annual Fund Campaign.

www.hws.edu/annual

The fund year begins June 1, 2014 and ends May 31, 2015.

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Sarah Ford ’14

What was your favorite book as a child? Charlotte’s Web Do you ever get writer’s block? Yup. Typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand? Computer.

What was the last book you recommended? The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.

What is your favorite quote? From a seventh grade boy: “I know art when I see it, and this book just takes the cake. It takes the salad and the pie; heck, it takes the full eight courses!”

What was your favorite book as a child? Charlotte’s Web

Do you ever get writer’s block? Absolutely.

Typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand? Longhand for short stories, computer for longer works.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing? I write really well when I first get up in the morning. I try to get up early, write for an hour or two and then go to classes or work.

What was the last book you recommended? The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

If you could travel in time, where would you go first? I’d really like to see a play at the Globe Theater, so Elizabethan England.

11. Who was your childhood hero? Mr. Hank Garback, captain of the fishing boat Tarpon II in Barnegat, N.J., who allowed my brothers and me to first-mate for him.

Summer 2014

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DeFelice ’73 and Ford ’14 pose in the Children’s Room of the Geneva Public Library, Geneva, N.Y.

PARALLELS PARALLELS

is an aspiring young adult author. An English major, she is involved with the Little Theatre.

Geneva: Tracking The Renaissance

Cynthia DeFelice ’73

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Geneva: Tracking The Renaissance

INSIDE: • Commencement 2014 • Performing Arts Groundbreaking • Scandling Trust Leverages Estate Gift