QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
Our Best Feet Forward The Peace Corps and global goodwill | 12
The Sharks Are Alright A look at what’s swimming in regional waters | 24
Inside the JFK Library Treasures and tidbits from a digital archivist | 28
The Age of Disinformation
QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 24, NO. 4 FEATURES
12 Global Go-Betweens They are perhaps our country’s most effective, if unofficial, ambassadors of goodwill. We explore what the Peace Corps means to URI.
18 The Age of Disinformation Blame it on the strange interplay of cell phones, commercial clickbait, and our own increasingly partisan appetites. URI professors and alumni warn that consuming news can no longer be a passive endeavor.
24 State of Sharks Globally, shark numbers are dropping. Here’s a health check for the red-toothed marine predators that regularly patrol the waters of coastal New England.
28 Inside the JFK Archives It may be the job that defines librarian envy: William Bjelf, M.L.S. ’08, works at the collection that commemorates our most beloved President.
MORE ONLINE
uri.edu/quadangles
More inspiring tales from
Peace Corps volunteers
Commencement 2017
The results of our Commencement Cap Decorating Contest
DEPARTMENTS 2 FEEDBACK 4 PRESIDENT'SVIEW 5 5-MINUTEEXPERT Mercury and the fish you eat
6 NEWS&VIEWS 10 PRESSBOX 30 CLASSACTS News from your classmates 32 CLOSEUP Megan Perez ’13 37 CLOSEUP Phillip Rhyner ’07 40 BACKPAGE Round three of our photo caption contest
COVER ILLUSTRATION: KEITH NEGLEY. CONTENTS: JOE GIBLIN
FEEDBACK Write to us: pjack@uri.edu Read more online: uri.edu/quadangles
Could You Get Into College in the 1890s?
Here are the requirements for admission to the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts for September 1893. The College had opened the year before; this is the earliest admission test we could find. Arithmetic Find the L. C. M. and G. C. D. of 724 and 896. Find the cost of 8,462 lbs. of hay, at $9.50 a ton. A field containing 18 acres is 80 rods long. Find the cost of fencing it at $1.25 a rod. 4. A merchant sells a wagon for $161, and gains 15 percent. How much did he gain? 5. Find the value of 7 4/11 – 5 1/10 4 1/3 of 2 1/5 6. If copper is mixed with 20 percent. of its weight of nickel, what percent. of the mixture is nickel? 7. Find the interest on $960 from March 5, 1882 to Sept. 25, 1888, at 7 percent. 8. Which is the better to buy flour at $8 per barrel on 6 months’ credit, or at $7.50 cash, money being worth 6 percent? 9. What will be the cost of plastering the walls and ceiling of a room 27 feet 4 inches long, 20 feet wide, and 12 feet 6 inches high, at 27 cents per square yard, if 20 square yards be deducted for doors, windows, and baseboard? 10. A farmer sowed 5 bushels, one peck, 1 quart of seed, and harvested from it 103 bushels, 3 pecks, 5 quarts. How much did he raise from a bushel of seed? 1. 2. 3.
I
enjoy every issue of QuadAngles, but I wanted to point out that on p. 24 of the Spring 2017 issue, I believe Bob Perlow is posing with Alan Thicke, not Robin Thicke. I laughed when I saw the error— I had to actually stop and think myself for a minute. I’m from the URI school of journalism way back in the mid-70s. Ended up as a fashion copywriter in advertising for department stores, took a detour to become a banquet chef for 30 years. I still work in a kitchen, but have been a feature writer for Southington Magazine here in my hometown for the past two years. The old standards of perfection never wore off, I guess. Credit the URI J-professors for that. And, my family spends a lot of time editing what we read— we are total hardasses. Keep up the good work! Patty Fasulo Boissonneault ’78 Southington, Conn.
Editor’s Note: Sorry about the error and thanks for letting us know, Patty!
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
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QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
Geography What are the circles of the earth? What are the meridians? Define latitude and longitude. What two meridians bound the hemispheres? Define the two principal forms of government. Bound North America and describe its political divisions. Why is the climate of Western Europe different from that of America in similar latitudes? Describe the mountains, principal rivers and lakes of North America. Describe the natural routes of commerce.
QuadAngles is a quarterly publication of the University of Rhode Island Alumni Association. The URI Alumni Association informs and engages current and future alumni as committed partners of the University, its mission and traditions. Executive Editor Michele A. Nota ’87, M.S. ’06, Executive Director, URI Alumni Relations; Secretary, Alumni Association Executive Board Editor in Chief Pippa Jack, pjack@uri.edu Art Director
Kim Robertson
Contributing Barbara Caron Editors Dina M. Dionizio ’91 Shane Donaldson ’99 Dave Lavallee ’79, M.P.A. ’87 Kate O’Malley Elizabeth Rau
1895 (c.) Davis Hall
History 1. When, where and by whom was America discovered? 2. Name four prominent statesmen before the Revolution, and tell all you can about them. 3. Give the causes of the Revolutionary War. 4. In what other wars did the United States engage before 1860, and for what reasons? 5. What is meant by the Missouri Compromise and the Monroe Doctrine? 6. Name the causes of the late Rebellion. 7. Name three important battles of the Rebellion. 8. Who were the leading generals–Union and Confederate– in the late war? 9. Who was the Union, and who was the Confederate President during the Rebellion? 10. Name the Presidents elected since the late war. State whether they have been Democrats or Republicans, and how many terms they have served.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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English Name the parts of speech and give an example of each. Compare the adjectives good, bad, pleasant, awkward and beautiful. Illustrate the differences between transitive and intransitive, regular and irregular verbs. Give the principal parts of lie, lay, sit and set. Write four sentences containing forms of the above verbs correctly used. Rewrite the following selection, using capitals and marks of punctuation as they may be needed: as i lie here wrote helen jackson while waiting for death nothing looks to me of any value except the words I have spoken for the Indian. i did not write ramona said the great heart it wrote itself the heart had been consecrated and the work followed let t his ramona school in this time honored city be consecrated with the wealth of full hearts and hands and the good result must follow. Write a short composition on either of these two subjects: a–A day’s fishing. b–What I know about cooking.
Contributing Susan Froberg Designers Johnson Ma Bo Pickard Photographer
Nora Lewis
Digital Media
Tina Walker
Editorial Board
Kelly Mahoney ’03, Executive Director, External Relations and Communications Linda A. Acciardo ’77, Director, Communications and Marketing Tracey A. Manni, Director, Communications, URI Foundation
URI Alumni Alexis Giordano, Specialist Relations Staff Christina Haas ’05, Assistant Director Karen LaPointe ’77, M.B.A. ’84, Associate Director Kate Maccarone ’08, Assistant Director Nicole Maranhas, Associate Editor Meredith Morrow, Program Assistant Mary Ann Mazzone, Office Assistant Esther Reynoso ’15, Executive Assistant Samantha Rodrigues ’11, Specialist Amy Simonini, Assistant Director Samantha Stevens, M.S. '15, Specialist McKayla Stubbs ’16, Program Assistant Alumni Assoc. Susan R. Johnson ’82, President Executive Board Daniel G. Lowney ’75, President-elect Louise H. Thorson, M.B.A. ’85, Immediate Past President Kathleen P. O’Donnell-White ’90, Vice President Patrick J. Cronin ’91, Vice President Steven R. Frazier ’07, Treasurer Alumni Assoc. Councilorsat-Large
Laurel L. Bowerman ’77, M.B.A. ’84 Matthew T. Finan ’11 Colleen Gouveia Moulton, M.B.A. ’98 Mackenzie Hofman ’12 Sulina M. Mohanty ’07 John J. Palumbo ’76 Joseph F. Penza, Jr. ’69 Perry A. Raso ’02, M.S. ’06 Karen E. Regine ’81 Thomas F. Shevlin ’68
Alumni Assoc. College Representatives: Arts and Sciences, Nancy J. S. Ferrara ’88, M.B.A. ’97 Business Administration, Jordan D. Kanter ’99, M.S. ’00 Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies, Bianca S. Rodriguez-Slater ’10 Engineering, Anthony J. Rafanelli ’78, M.S. ’85, Ph.D. ’95 Environment and Life Sciences, Catherine Weaver ’82, B.L.A. ’96 Health Sciences, Christine S. Pelton ’84 Nursing, Silifat “Laitan” Mustapha ’97 Graduate School of Oceanography, Veronica M. Berounsky Ph.D. ’90 Pharmacy, Henrique “Henry” Pedro ’76 URI Foundation, Thomas M. Ryan ’75 Faculty Senate, Diane E. Kern ’84, M.A. ’93, Ph.D. ’03 Student Senate, Cody Anderson ’17 Student Alumni Association, Anthony Kennedy ’17
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 3
PRESIDENT’SVIEW
Celebrating New Graduates, New Growth
CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers ’91 addressed the Class of 2017 at this year’s Commencement. Duthiers, the son of Haitian immigrants, is a Peabody and Emmy awardwinning journalist who says he still draws on his URI experiences—from his ROTC training to political science courses, to his work for the Good 5 Cent Cigar and WRIU.
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QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
The University of Rhode Island—your University— has educated generations of Rhode Islanders. Rhode Islanders like former Chairman and CEO of Hasbro Al Verrecchia, former Chairman and CEO of CVS Health Tom Ryan, President of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce Laurie White, and Executive Director of the State of Rhode Island’s Tomaquag Indian Museum Lorén Spears, who received the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, at this year’s Commencement ceremonies. Each of these accomplished individuals has made a difference and made a mark in so many ways. This year’s graduating class continues in their footsteps and is poised to contribute to our society in ways we may not yet imagine. As we send another class of graduates into the world and reflect on our 125 years as the state’s flagship public research institution, there is much to celebrate. This year we congratulated our largest graduating class in history with 4,122 students being awarded 3,666 undergraduate degrees and 749 graduate degrees. We are a thriving community of scholars; our application and enrollment numbers continue to soar; our campus is alive with the sounds and sights of cutting-edge facilities that have in turn attracted talented new faculty members to the University. As a result of public support and investment, URI is increasingly a first-choice destination for exceptional
high school seniors. At URI, we have seen positive results from our efforts to help all students complete their degree programs in a timely manner. A decade ago, only 45 percent of first year students completed 30 credits and were on track to graduate on time. Now, almost 72 percent are on the glide path to graduate within four years. We credit these increases to intentional student success initiatives. Our “Take 5, Finish in 4” campaign encourages students to take and complete 15 credits each semester. Degree maps, strong professional advising, the addition of our popular winter “J” Term, the growth of our summer sessions, and increased on-line courses are all ways we meet students where they are to help ensure their academic success. URI represents opportunity—a chance to join a community of learners and scholars, with all the advantages of a global research university and a collegiate campus social experience. This year’s graduating class demonstrates Rhode Island’s place as an education leader committed to the success of its entire citizenry. Congratulations to our graduates for their academic excellence, leadership, and perseverance.
David M. Dooley President, University of Rhode Island Learn about some of this year’s inspiring graduates and scholarship winners at uri.edu/commencement
PHOTO: JOE GIBLIN; COURTESY VLADIMIR DUTHIERS
5-MINUTEEXPERT
THE
of
WORLD FISH ADVISORIES
One thing we know for sure: Recreational fishing season is here. But which fresh fish are safe to eat? That’s harder to determine.
Environmental sources of mercury lead to bioaccumulation.
There are different EPA advisories for different fish around the country, but they often focus on just one contaminant, usually mercury, points out Marcella Thompson, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing/Academic Health Collaborative. That’s a useful thing to measure, but there are other substances to worry about: PCBs, dioxins, and even biotoxins caused by other organisms, such as algae blooms. When Thompson did her doctoral dissertation on toxicants in women of childbearing age, she found that 98% had detectable levels of mercury, PCBs, and lead. The risk factors: first age, then fish consumption. But don’t count fish out, she says— those stats don’t take into account the good things we get from fish, such as omega-3s and selenium, which make it a vital part of a healthy diet. “We’re not saying don’t eat fish—we’re saying be careful of where the fish live, how old they are, and where in the food chain they are,” says Thompson. That’s because, as most of us know by now, bigger predatory fish, such as tuna, are worse for us than smaller prey fish. The reasons are a phenomena known as biomagnification, in which toxins build up from what fish eat, as well as bioaccumulation—how long they live. So everyone should limit servings of tuna, swordfish and the like, while children under 6 and pregnant or nursing women should avoid bigger
ILLUSTRATION: BRETWOOD HIGMAN; PHOTO: RANDY J. OSGA
Marcella Thompson
or longer-lived species. Smaller game fish like striped bass and bluefish have lower levels of mercury, but the Rhode Island Department of Health warns against eating any of those two species that were caught in Rhode Island because of PCBs. PCBs are stored in fat, so avoiding the fattiest parts of fish can help. Mercury, on the other hand, is stored in muscle—the part of the fish we’re generally looking to eat. How does biomagnification apply to freshwater fish? Well, bigmouthed and smallmouthed bass, pickeral, and eel are all predators. In fact, RIDOH warns that all freshwater fish in the state are off limits because of PCBs, with the exception of stocked trout, because they’re raised elsewhere on a safer diet. Thompson is two years into a long-term research partnership with Rhode Island’s Narragansett Tribe, along with colleagues at Dartmouth, Princeton and Brown, to explore just this issue. She’s measuring mercury and PCB levels, as well as omega-3s and selenium, in fish that live in ponds on the Narragansett reservation, where freshwater fishing is part of the tribe’s cultural heritage. The aim is a more nuanced picture of how much fish is good for you. Her preliminary tests are coming back elevated for mercury and PCBs, but need to be confirmed. Where does all this leave the average consumer? It’s still fun to take the kids fishing, but if you’re planning to keep and eat your catch, think stocked trout for fresh water, and smaller species for salt. If you’re heading to the market, DOH says that, generally speaking, shellfish, light tuna and salmon are all low in mercury. This July, Providence will host an international conference on mercury levels. Thompson will be part of it. There won’t be any easy answers. • —Pippa Jack
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 5
NEWS&VIEWS Meet the Professor
Textbook Example Resale simplified for URI and JWU students
5 Things About Justin Wyatt 1. Title: Assistant Professor in the Harrington School of Communication and Media’s Department of Communication Studies and Program in Film/Media 2. Expertise: Media market research, media advertising and history, film history 3. The Big Question: You’re a young, newly minted scholar with a Ph.D. in film and television studies from UCLA. What to do next—tenured position at a respected university? VP of a television network? Yet how could you ignore one of modern life’s most burning questions: Why are people so keen on Keeping Up with the Kardashians? For Wyatt, the answer was “All of the above.” 4. The Career Path: Leaving academia for television and then leaving television for academia was the plan, Wyatt says: “I always intended to bring all this knowledge back to the classroom.” He left a tenured position at the University of Arizona in 2000 for a 15-year career in television, serving as a vice president of research for E!/NBCUniversal and CMT/MTV Networks/Viacom. That meant qualitative and quantitative research for shows such as Desperate Housewives, Lost, Grey’s Anatomy and Keeping Up with the Kardashians. (FYI: Fans of the show told Wyatt that it isn’t the glitz and glamour that keeps them coming back. It’s the curiosity about living in a large, blended family and the fantasy of having a large group of squabbling sisters who, nonetheless, have your back when it comes to the rest of the world.) 5. Kingston Calling: For the past two years, Wyatt has made sure his students learn what it takes to work in media through real-world creative exercises. A typical assignment might be students pitching television tag lines to their classmates. “It mirrors the experience of working in a creative ad agency,” Wyatt explains. “Students want to know what it takes to break in. I tell them, ‘It’s not about how smart you are. It’s about collaboration, and putting the ego in check so you can work with others in a creative environment.’”
Textbooks—not always top of mind for incoming freshman, until sticker shock hits—have long been resistant to resale and exchange programs. That’s changed thanks to Anthony Markey ’17, an accounting major who started his online college resale business, Libby, in December. The idea came to Markey after he returned from a semester abroad and needed to make some quick cash. When he attempted to sell his slightly used textbooks to online retailers, he received very low offers. Libby “encourages a fair resale value,” say Markey and his business partner, recent Stetson University graduate Laionel Cintron. For students at URI and JWU, the site facilitates studentto-student transactions and allows searches by specific courses and professors. Students at other schools can so far access only limited functions, including a search for the best prices on textbooks from popular sellers like AbeBooks, ValoreBooks, and Chegg. But Markey plans to roll out the service nationwide. “We want to break down some of the financial barriers within higher education that are caused by the high costs of textbooks,” he says. More at uselibby.com
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Going Nano in the Fight Against Cancer Imagine being able to see the signs of cancer decades before we can now. URI Chemical Engineering Assistant Professor Daniel Roxbury and researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have invented a technique that could detect a wide range of biomarkers that signal the start of cancer—many years before symptoms surface. MicroRNA, a nucleic acid like DNA, is present in plants and animals. Out of the thousands of identified sequences, a subset is highly elevated in a number of human cancers. They’re found in blood, urine and saliva, and detecting them is a high priority for biomedical researchers. At present, detecting them from a blood test, for example, requires going to a clinic. Roxbury and the other researchers have their sights set on continuous home monitoring that could generate automatic alerts. Using carbon nanotubes—tiny needle-like hollow cylinders that are 100,000 times smaller than a strand of human hair—they have engineered nano-biosensors that can easily be implanted under skin. The procedure is relatively noninvasive compared to, say, surgical biopsy. “We could detect a signal from deep within a mouse,” Roxbury reports. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society, was reported this spring in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. “It’s certainly a monumental step,” says Roxbury. “The next stage would be to construct some kind of wearable device, maybe a wristwatch, that incorporates this technology.”
Roxbury, 31, a native of Flemington, N.J., joined URI last year and leads the NanoBio Engineering Laboratory.
PHOTOS: NORA LEWIS; COURTESY DANIEL ROXBURY; KATHLEEN MAHER
Truman Honoree Autumn Guillotte ’18 learned about public service and the political process at a young age. She campaigned for her state senator in high school, and as a URI freshman, clerked for the R.I. Government Oversight Committee. She’s also advocated for women’s rights as an intern with the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Women, fought for voting rights with the College Democrats of Rhode Island, and championed constituent rights as an intern in the office of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed. Autumn Guillotte ’18 of North Kingstown, R.I. It all paid off when the history and philosophy honors student found out this spring that she is Rhode Island’s Truman Scholar for 2017, winning $30,000 toward her graduate education. She plans to study labor law. “The laws in the U.S. are the foundation of how people are able to live, to interact with the government, to benefit or defend themselves,” Guillotte says. “Being a lawyer and using these laws or changing these laws to help everyday working people is exciting to me.” The University of Rhode Island was named a Truman Scholarship Honor Institution in 2005 for its active encouragement of students to pursue careers in public service, the only public university in the Northeast with this designation.
To learn more about URI's 125th Anniversary and events, visit URI.edu/125
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 7
NEWS&VIEWS
Inside Dementia What’s it like to do the laundry if you suffer from a brain disease like Alzheimer’s? BY CAROL MCCARTHY ’84 With my gait unsteady, I was led down the hall by a confident hand on my arm. I kept blinking as I shuffled along toward a dim apartment, but my side vision remained blurry. When I looked ahead, I saw only black. My hands were stiff and awkward, and my movements crude, exaggerated. All the while, the noise in my head blared nonstop: A wall of static, competing voices, music, laughter—and suddenly, a siren, which made me jump and blurt out: “Oh God!” In the apartment, I clumsily sorted through a pile of laundry on the bed, trying to find the white T-shirts so I could fold them and put them in the dresser. With my sight compromised, I tried to go by feel, differentiating the shape and texture of a shirt from a sock. But this was difficult with my crippled hands. I struggled to fold the shirts into anything other than a blob. I walked with deliberation to the dresser and put my messy T-shirts in the drawer. Relentlessly, the noise rattled my brain, and I came to hate the repeated peals of Author Carol McCarthy sorts laundry. laughter bouncing around my skull. Back at the pile of laundry, I dug around for socks, pairing them up uncertainly. I finished my tasks and, mercifully, Jodi DiRaimo—resident engagement director at The Lighthouse at Lincoln, an assisted living facility for people with dementia—slipped the headphones off my ears. I whipped off the glasses and started pulling at the gloves. I had just experienced “A Walk in Their Shoes,” a simulation designed to experience what it is like to live with dementia and to increase awareness and compassion. The altered sunglasses I wore mimic vision loss from age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma or cataracts, which affect many people with dementia. The knobby pieces of rubber inserted in my shoes simulate corns or neuropathy, and made walking uncomfortable and balance dicey. The textured gloves robbed me of tactile sensation, and the elastic around two fingers on my dominant hand gave my movements the limitations of someone with arthritis. Finally, the headphones blasted a cacophony into my ears, imparting the auditory distortion that a person with advanced dementia often experiences. DiRaimo described it as white noise, but it was so nefarious, I thought of it as black noise. DiRaimo uses this tool to educate Lighthouse employees and family members, to help train staff members of the Alzheimer’s Association of Rhode Island and other health-care professionals, and to enlighten participants in the Alzheimer’s Association support group she runs. Researchers with URI’s George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience are working to tackle the challenges of dementia, of which there are 100 types, and DiRaimo shared the “walk” experience at the URI Brain Fair in March. The Ryan Institute sponsored the event as part of Brain Week Rhode Island, which focused on brain science and brain health. My “walk” lasted only a matter of minutes but felt much longer. I ended it with perspective, understanding, compassion, and a certain amount of fear and dread.•
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Narragansett Bay’s Toxic Algae Oceanography Professor Tatiana Rynearson explores the real-life mystery of the shellfish-poisoning blooms. How does a bloom get started? An algae bloom is the result of a perfect set of conditions. Algae are like plants; they photosynthesize, so they need light and they need nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorous. They also need to have a situation where predators aren’t there to eat all the algae. Isn’t the timing of the last algea bloom, in the middle of winter, unusual? You don’t generally think of blooms happening in winter—there are no flowers out yet and no leaves on the trees. But in Narragansett Bay we have a winter/spring bloom because there’s a lot of light, we have a lot of nutrients in the Bay, and some of the grazers that are so important are not around. The classic spring bloom happens many places around the world, and it’s really important for fisheries and to support the food web—it kickstarts biological activity for the year. What do we know about this particular organism? It’s called Pseudo-nitzschia, and it’s a genus of diatoms that has formed harmful algal blooms on the West Coast for quite some time. A lot of research has been done to try to figure what’s going on out there. Pseudo-nitzschia is comprised of a number of species, some of which produce the toxin while others don’t—and the species that produce the
Horror Show Collaborating with the world’s best-selling writer
Rynearson is studying the algae as part of the 60-year Narragansett Bay Long-Term Plankton Time Series, run out of URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography.
toxin don’t always produce the same amount, or any toxin at all. There are things going on we don’t understand. How does it become toxic and what does it do to us? Pseudo-nitzschia produces a toxin called domoic acid; filter feeders like clams and mussels bring it into their bodies, then get harvested and eaten by people. Domoic acid causes an illness called amnesic shellfish poisoning—you might vomit or get a headache, and you could also get a coma, develop short-term memory loss and even die. It’s potent. Has it always been here? We don’t actually know which species it is or where it came from. We know it’s been here for a long time. Maybe there’s a new species that we can’t identify yet—there are about 48 species in this genus, and even under a microscope, they’re hard to tell apart—or maybe the existing inhabitants of Narragansett Bay have turned toxic.
Derek Nikitas had a special place in his 10-year-old heart for horror movies: Night of the Living Dead, Creepshow, Frankenstein. “I was terrified, but I enjoyed the experience,’’ he remembers. “I liked thinking about the line between what was real and made up.” That early obsession paid off with the publication of a book co-authored with the planet’s best-selling novelist, James Patterson, who has sold more than 300 million books worldwide. Diary of A Succubus was released April 4. “It was the best fun I’ve had writing anything,” says Nikitas, an assistant professor of creative writing. The 132-page novella is part of Patterson’s e-book series, Bookshots. It’s about a succubus, a supernatural femme fatale who seduces powerful men to infiltrate their evil secret society. As a shy child in Manchester, N.H., Nikitas wrote stories throughout grade school, then college. Fast forward to 2009, and his second thriller, The Long Division, was a Washington Post Book World Best Book. He joined URI five years later; shortly afterward, one of Patterson’s employees invited him to a sort of audition. Using an outline for a book that Patterson supplied, Nikitas was to write a few pages using the “Patterson house style”—clear, cinematic and energized with short chapters that each begin with a hook and end with a cliffhanger. “It’s incredibly difficult to do,” says Nikitas, “even though people assume it’s easy.” Nikitas must have captured the style, because he’s now working on another Bookshots novella, You’ve Been Warned—Again, a haunted-house tale set in Rhode Island and scheduled for release in late October.
Assistant Professor Derek Nikitas
Rhode Island’s Missing Rs—This hilarious but sweet children’s book is the work of Jill Austin ’01, a native Rhode Islander who has published two books. The first was RI Loves, an alphabetical tour through her home state; Where Did All the Rs Go? is her second self-published book. Learn more at RILoves.com
PHOTOS: ISTOCKPHOTOS.COM; NOAA; BEAU JONES; NORA LEWIS
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 9
PRESSBOX
One Shining Season Rhode Island guards Jared Terrell ’18 and Jarvis Garrett ’18 embrace on the floor moments after the Rams defeated VCU 70-63 on March 12 at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. For the Rams, it was the second Atlantic 10 conference tournament title in program history. E.C. Matthews ’18 was named the Most Outstanding Player of the A-10 Championship after averaging 19.3 points and 5.7 rebounds over the three games. Joining him on the all-championship team was Hassan Martin ’17, who averaged 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks during the three-game run through the conference tournament. The victory clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, Rhode Island’s first trip to the dance in 18 years and ninth time in the tournament overall. Joined by hundreds of Rhody fans who made the cross-country trek, head coach Dan Hurley’s team went out to Sacramento, Calif., as the No. 11 seed in the Midwest region and upset No. 6 Creighton, 84-72. The Rams never trailed in the game as freshman Jeff Dowtin ’20 scored a career-high 23 points and Kuran Iverson ’17 added 17 points to lead the team to its first NCAA tournament win since 1998. In the Round of 32, Rhode Island fell just short against No. 3 Oregon, 75-72. Stanford Robinson ’18 had a career night, scoring 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the floor, and Terrell added 15 points and six assists for the Rams. “I couldn’t be prouder, obviously, of these guys for what they’ve done for the great state of Rhode Island and our amazing fans,” Hurley said of his team following the loss to Oregon. Rhode Island finished its memorable season with a 25-10 record, marking the fourth most victories in a single season in team history. Martin—who won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honor for the second consecutive season—became the first player in league history to lead the A-10 in blocked shots for four consecutive seasons. Matthews, who will return for his senior season, was a third-team all-conference pick, and Dowtin became the fourth player in Hurley’s five seasons at Rhode Island to earn all-rookie team honors for the Rams. For more basketball pictures visit uri.edu/quadangles
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QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
PHOTO: MITCHELL LEFF
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 11
A strong presence at URI since its founding in the 1960s, the Peace Corps is increasingly visible at Kingston thanks to a new prep program. Corps volunteers—perhaps our country’s most effective, if unofficial, ambassadors of goodwill—carry a global perspective and service mentality into their lives back home. Those qualities are more relevant than ever. BY DAVE LAVALLEE
GLOBAL GO-BETWEENS Frances Vazquez
“Even as a student at Classical High School, I thought differently than my friends. They would be buying new clothes and shoes, but that never satisfied my soul,” says Frances Vazquez ’17, a Providence resident and native of Costa Rica who graduated in May with a degree in environmental science and left directly for Cameroon. “My mother wanted me to go to graduate school, but I thought, now is the perfect time to enter the Peace Corps. I have no bills and no commitments.”
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helby Maldonado ’09 had malaria twice and was in a car accident while serving in Zambia from 2010 to 2012. Susan (Haynes) Ozbek ’63 traveled to Turkey in 1964. About six months into her tour, she was thrown out of bed one night by an earthquake. She wound up living in tents with other volunteers and villagers. Neil Ross ’62, M.Ed. ’68, URI’s first Peace Corps volunteer, was sent with two fellow volunteers to a mountain valley in the Dominican Republic in 1962. There was no one there to greet them; they initially had no place to live and no project counterparts. None of them would trade those experiences for the world. Every Peace Corps volunteer we spoke to used similar phrases: It was the best experience of my life. It had a profound influence on me. It changed me and made me a better person. Since 1962, a year after President John F. Kennedy established the federal program, 425 University of Rhode Island alumni have committed to the program’s two-year stint of service around the globe. Fifteen more are currently on assignment from Cambodia to Cameroon. This
year, the University got a nod for the second year in a row as being a top volunteer-producing school. “Peace Corps service is an unparalleled leadership opportunity that enables alumni to use the creative-thinking skills they developed in school to make an impact in communities around the world,” says Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley. “Many college graduates view Peace Corps as a launching pad for their careers because volunteers return home with the cultural competency and entrepreneurial spirit sought after in most fields.” That combination of independent thinking and global savvy can be life defining, and means Corps cohorts tend to resist the isolationist rhetoric that currently informs debate about travel and immigration across Western Europe and the United States. “As Peace Corps volunteers, we worked hard to build positive images of America,” reflects Ross. “Many friends made 55 years ago remain in contact—we visit, share photos of grandchildren. Since the 2016 election, they have started asking me what’s happening here. They don’t like us losing our image as the world leader. And they’re worried they won’t be able to renew their visitor visas. There’s nothing I can say to reassure them.” ➔
PHOTOS: NORA LEWIS
Bob Hicks Bob Hicks ’70 was nearing retirement and panicking about what to do next when he read a newspaper story about the Peace Corps. In 2015, the former Rhode Island school superintendent was on a plane to Micronesia, where he worked with 60 school principals— across a dozen islands—to prepare them for their schools’ accreditation. His new coworkers were dedicated and responsive, he says. An awkward moment came, however, when he was showing videos about good American classroom practices: “Are all American schools segregated?” one principal asked him. “I knew this to be true,” Hicks reflects, “but it forced me to confront it.”
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There and Back
Shelby Maldonado “Being a Peace Corps volunteer was the most beautiful experience,” says the two-term Rhode Island representative for Central Falls. “The village people taught me how to love and forgive even in difficult circumstances.”
“To this day, having been a Peace Corps volunteer informs everything I do,” says Shelby Maldonado, who had dreamt of serving in Africa since her high school days in Central Falls, R.I. A year after graduating, she boarded a 22-hour flight to Zambia. There, after an orientation and just days before traveling to the village she’ d been assigned, she fell ill. Despite a malaria vaccination, she had acquired the endemic disease. “For three days I was very sick, with a fever of 106,” she recalls. “I had to fly back to a hospital in Lusaka. That’s when the homesickness set in.” Maldonado was alone and scared; her mother wanted her to return home. But her health rebounded, and she decided to go through with her term. Mlolo Village became her home base; from there, she used a mountain bike to travel among health clinics that served 17,000 people. “I wanted to make a contribution that would be substantial,” she reflects, “and to do that you had to work with the elders, the village chiefs. The villagers made me a home near the elders. They had never had an American live among them.” One of her biggest challenges was getting the men, whose worth was based on the health and size of their cattle herds, to pay closer attention to their children. It wasn’t all work: She went to Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River and on the trip, saw elephants with their calves. She was able to touch a lion.
Susan Ozbek’s time in Turkey was also transformative. After a rigorous battery of tests, she flew to Istanbul in 1964. “Then we hopped on a ship, traveled down the Aegean Sea and took a bus to Salihli,” she says. “The buses were small and so all of the luggage was tied on the top.” Inside her creaky old bus, there were signs saying Allah’a emanet, which means God take care of us. “That was a little unnerving,” she remembers. Once in Salihli, Ozbek taught high school English to classes of 50 to 60 students, some the same age as her. The students were focused and attentive, with impeccable manners, and were fascinated with Ozbek and her fellow volunteers, who were the first Americans they had met. “We were like movie stars,” she recalls. “Everyone would run 14 QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
out in the street to see us. They were very enamored of John F. Kennedy because they thought he was a good, strong leader. They knew he respected people from other countries.” Although Salihli was an agricultural area, home to grape vines and olive trees, the high school had high standards, including a foreign language requirement that was so tough many students had to repeat it. “It looked like something out of America from about 100 years before,” she says. “Horse carts and camel caravans went through the town. The simplicity impressed me.” At night, she taught English to villagers, among them a local teacher called Turker Ozbek. They began chatting regularly in the teachers’ room over tea. The Corps discouraged romantic involvement with local residents, but the two continued
Susan Ozbek Her journey began on the day JFK was assassinated. “We were all asking ourselves what we could do,” she remembers. “We were young, idealistic, looking to introduce others to Americans and the reality of who we were beyond films and battles.” Above, at her home in Warwick, R.I. Top right, with students in Turkey circa 1965.
PHOTOS: NORA LEWIS; COURTESY SUSAN OZBEK
to see each other, and married shortly after Ozbek’s service ended in 1966. “My mother and aunt came to the wedding, and our students washed our car inside and out,” Susan Ozbek recalls. “A band played Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here.” The couple moved to the Aegean coastal city of Izmir, where they raised their sons and lived until 1971. Then the family moved to Rhode Island, where Susan has been named a teacher of the year. But Turkey still called. “I took a sabbatical and went back to Turkey in 1998 to teach in Izmir,” she says. “After I finished teaching, my husband and I bought an apartment and stayed for two years. We returned to Rhode Island in 2000.” Eight years later, while visiting Izmir, Turker passed away. “We were happily married for 44 years,” Susan says. “I spent so many wonderful
years in Turkey with the Peace Corps and with my husband and sons. I go back to visit twice a year to see relatives and friends.” For Neil Ross, the lifelong connection formed as a volunteer has been to the Corps itself. After his two-year tour in the Dominican, Ross became a Peace Corps recruiter. Then he created and taught in a vocational training program in the new Job Corps in Kentucky; returned to URI for a master’s degree in education; and was hired by URI in the new Sea Grant program as New England’s first extension agent. He oversaw URI’s Peace Corps training program in 1981, and after 18 years with URI, left to create and run the nonprofit International Marina Institute. He is one of the founders of URI’s year-and-half-old Peace Corps Prep program, serving as alumni coordinator. “I was a self-limiting person until the Peace Corps,” says Ross, who now lives in Kingston with his wife, Nancy, who volunteered with the Corps in Thailand. “When faced with a difficult task I had never done before, I often didn’t try. Peace Corps placed me in situations that were totally unknown to me—a new country, a new language, new food and a new culture.” His initial assignment called for him to work with other volunteers in controlling forest fires in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. But he felt some of the other volunteers were stronger firefighters, so he began teaching English to high school students and adults, including teachers. He also helped form an agricultural cooperative. “I became a community organizer, a programmer and an innovator,” Ross says. “I had never taught English, but my Peace Corps training had ➔ UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 15
Kate O’Malley “I have huge concerns about the growing emphasis of military action at the expense of international aide,” says Kate O’Malley ’73, who served two years and then extended her contract to work on Kenya’s national nursing curriculum, learning the techniques she would bring to a career in interdisciplinary health care training and outreach in California. “The entire Peace Corps budget in 2016 was $400 million—that’s about 500 Tomahawk missiles. Where we spend our money reflects our values.”
taught me I could do more than I thought I could.” During his service, a local priest asked him to become the village’s scoutmaster for a troop of 22 Boy Scouts. That small assignment led to a lifetime commitment—Ross has been honored for his local, national and international service to scouting. In the first of many return trips to the Dominican Republic, Ross wound up talking with a former Scout. As they chatted, the younger man told Ross that his father had wanted him to quit school and get a job, but he replied: “Neil graduated from high school, so I am going to finish high school.” When he finished high school, his father again told him to get a job, but he said: “No, I am going to college, because Neil went to college.” Now, says Ross, he is a doctor of dentistry in his mountain village and visits Ross regularly. Watching Ross’s eyes fill up with tears as he recounts the tale, it’s hard to say who got the most out of the relationship. Of thousands, perhaps millions, of stories like this—intensely personal, undeniably tangible—is the Peace Corps made. • For more, please see our profiles and Q&As with more alumni at uri.edu/quadangles
Caroline Burns “An advisor here was discussing why we should serve overseas while there are so many people we could help in our own country. He quoted something to the effect that you must serve where the need is greatest and where you can make the most change. I think of this all the time,” says Caroline Burns ’15, currently serving in Rwanda. “The most difficult time was the first month alone—as soon as my advisor drove away, I could feel the tears welling up. After a month or so my language was better and I had my favorite little stores to go to, to buy eggs and toilet paper and other essentials. I learned that the loneliness couldn’t control me.”
“It truly is the toughest job you will ever love.” Anne Stulik ’76, right, who served in Yemen from 1978 to ’80 as a newlywed with her husband Ed Stulik ’76.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY KATE O’MALLEY; CAROLINE BURNS; ANNE STULIK
Preparing for Peace Corps In May, the University of Rhode Island wrapped up its first year with the Peace Corps Prep program, which prepares students for service with the Peace Corps or other international aid groups. It’s the only such program in Rhode Island, reflecting the University’s status as a top volunteerproducing Corps school—in 2017, URI ranked 21st nationally on the Peace Corps’ list of medium-sized schools, up from 25th last year. Prep students benefit from seminars by former volunteers and guidance from URI admnistrators about requirements, from a foreign language to study-abroad experiences. It’s “a roadmap,” says Nancy Stricklin, assistant to the provost for global strategies and academic partnerships and administrator of the Peace Corps Prep program. While completion does not guarantee admittance to the Peace Corps, it does give those who complete it an advantage. And in any case, Stricklin says, some students “might not want to commit to two years in the Peace Corps. But they might still be interested in some type of international service.” Students say it’s a good dose of realism. “You can prepare yourself mentally,” says Tabatha Lewis ’18, an environmental sciences major who is one of 26 students enrolled in the program. She is planning to enroll in French classes next year in hopes of eventually serving in Africa. “I have always been fascinated by Africa, and would like to work on clean water issues, sewage treatment and septic systems to prevent water-borne illnesses,” says the Connecticut native. Lizz Malloy ’17, a journalism major who minored in sociology and wildlife conservation, said the Prep program taught her something fundaPHOTOS: NORA LEWIS; MICHAEL SALERNO
mental: “The importance of working with people, instead of trying to save them. You’ll never create anything sustainable if saving people is your goal.” Plus, adds Malloy, who hails from Wareham, Mass., “It’s nice to be around people who have similar interests and who are going through the same process.” Former Peace Corps volunteer Michael Rice, professor of fisheries, animal and veterinary science and the academic coordinator for the program, says students from a variety of majors can find a role. “The Peace Corps needs those with skills in public health, agricultural and wildlife management, engineering, humanities, social sciences and education ,” says Rice, who brings his J-term winter break classes to the Philippines, where he volunteered. •
Neil Ross Rowanne Curran ‘20, Michael McWeeny ‘18, Neil Ross ‘62, M.Ed. ‘68, and Tabatha Lewis ‘18 go over Peace Corps Prep details in the Memorial Union. “They asked me if I was Catholic,” Ross remembers of first arriving in the Dominican shortly after the Bay of Pigs. “I said no, Baptist. They said, then you must be a communist. They were so anti-communist and so devoutly Catholic.”
Kathy Fidler “URI graduates have contributed their skills to communities around the world,” says Kathy Fidler, Peace Corps public affairs specialist. “They consistently impress me with their motivation and professionalism.”
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Made-up news stories are as old as our democracy, but in a culture saturated with partisan appetites and viral clickbait, the term “fake news” has become explosively political—and often misleading. From yellow journalism to Facebook algorithms, and from Eastern European web dens to classrooms in Kingston, URI scholars and alumni take a clear-eyed look at today’s media landscape.
The Age of Disinformation BY ELLEN LIBERMAN
ave you heard the story about the child sex ring that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and campaign chairman John Podesta ran out of a Washington D.C. pizza parlor? It was conjured out of a WikiLeaks dump of Podesta’s emails by conspiracy theorists on a social media message board. The idea began to shift shape into a news story, floating through the internet on sites like InfoWars, picking up details that involved occult practices, and intensifying on Facebook and Twitter. This made-up, unhinged story—through repetition and virality—acquired the gloss of truth for some. Edgar M. Welch, a 28-year-old man from North Carolina, showed up at the Comet Ping Pong pizza parlor last December with an assault rifle and a handgun, to save the imaginary child sex slaves. Welch shot three bullets into the restaurant and pointed his gun at one employee. No one was injured, no kidnapped children were found. He was charged with multiple felonies. In an interview with the New York Times, Welch refused to concede that the story was fake news. But, Alex Jones, the host of InfoWars, issued an apology for promoting the story and Welch pleaded guilty to weapons and assault charges. In late March, the specter of “Pizzagate” also rose in a Chafee Hall lecture room, where Journalism Department Chairman John Pantalone offered 18 QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
it as “Exhibit Number One” at a teach-in on an old phenomenon with a new name that has risen as a topic of scholarly interest and civic worry. “Fake news is a deliberate effort to mislead, and the internet has magnified it, because it’s an open highway—anyone can get on. It makes me crazy,” he says. “Sometimes I think the internet should just melt away.” There’s little prospect of either the internet or the false stories that circulate on it going away. In fact, it’s been boom times for the fake news business. But, the academic community has taken up the challenge of using this moment in the culture to define the terms, to study the impact, to keep the conversation going and set the strategies for combatting its influence.
What is Fake News?
The Wyoming Institute of Technology (WIT) bills itself with gravitas as “one of America’s first independently-owned nuclear science facilities... at the forefront of scientific research and advancement in the United States for more than seventy years, serving as a leading voice in a wide assortment of fields, from environmental issues to medical science to consumer tech and beyond.” And its “About WIT” tab chronicles a distinguished 75-year history. ➔
ILLUSTRATION: KEITH NEGLEY
Six types of fake news: disinformation, propaganda, hoaxes, satire/parody, partisanship, and inaccuracies in journalism.
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If the reader misses the acronym, the articles like “Gender Change Procedure Now Available for Pets,” and authors, such as Dr. Richter DasMeerungeheuer (German for the sea monster) give the game away. That didn’t stop credulous readers from circulating its stories on social media widely enough to be debunked regularly on Snopes.com. No, there is no study showing that one out of every three Americans has been implanted with an RFID microchip, the fact-checking site assured the Internet. And, the American Journal of Medicine Blog was forced to print a story disclaiming a WIT article reporting that the AJM was about to publish a study conducted by an institute scientist linking Asperger’s syndrome to a predilection for murder: “Since the Journal’s editorial office has been contacted about this fake research article, we felt the need to clarify that this story is completely false. No such article was ever submitted to the Journal, and as far we know, the blog post is meant to be a spoof,” the Journal’s editors wrote. The WIT website is satire, but its parodies were passed along as truth. Is WIT fake news? “It’s a really slippery concept, and the reason it is so slippery is because it means different things to different people,” says Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Scott Kushner. Renee Hobbs, professor of Communication Studies at the Harrington School of Communication and Media and an internationally recognized authority on digital and media literacy education, has cited six types of fake news: disinformation, propaganda, hoaxes, satire/parody, inaccuracies in journalism, and partisanship. “Each has potential risks and harm,” Hobbs says. “The term is a problem because fake news lumps together all of those different kinds of
information without considering the purposes, the motives and the outcomes.” For example, disinformation—intentionally misleading “news,” often used in wartime—is very different from hoaxes—hilarious deception in service to cultural criticism—which again are different from partisanship, defined as a mix of news and opinion with a political slant. According to Google trends, the search term fake news took off after the November election, but the concept is older than Guttenberg’s printing press. In the sixth century, Byzantine historian Procopius’s Secret History trashed his patron Emperor Justinian, passing off as true some alternative facts, such as that Justinian could make his own head disappear. During the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin sought to sway British public opinion to his case for reparations by printing a fake newspaper supplement with two articles chronicling Native American atrocities—a shipload of scalps gifted to King George—committed against the colonists at the behest of the British government in quelling the Revolution. In 1890, a circulation war between the New York Journal and the New York World helps to gin up a real one, by framing the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine off the coast of Cuba as a deliberate act of Spanish aggression. Historically, says Department of Communication Studies Chair Kevin McClure, the press had been an active purveyor of slander, gossip, and outright falsehoods—to its detriment. “In the 19th century, any politicians worth their salt had their own newspaper,” he said. “The parties ran newspapers. It was messy and ugly and all kinds of untruths were spread about.” The 10-week Spanish American War ended
“It’s a really slippery concept, and the reason it is so slippery is because it means different things to different people.” Scott Kushner, URI Assistant Professor of Communication Studies
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ILLUSTRATIONS: KEITH NEGLEY
with Spain ceding ownership of all its colonies outside of Africa—Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines—to the U.S. And the battle for newspaper readers between Journal publisher William Hearst and World owner Joseph Pulitzer resulted in a backlash against yellow journalism and the development of more sober journalistic standards of objective and factual reporting. But the media landscape is always changing. More recently, while the expectation has been that mainstream newspapers will stick to the facts, television outlets like FOX News and MSNBC more liberally mixed opinion and straight news reporting. The presidential election saw the rise of a new trend: fake news sites created by young webmasters in Eastern Europe and elsewhere abroad, looking to make a buck on the advertising. They discovered that there was no better clickbait than stories vilifying Hillary Clinton and praising Donald Trump. “In most instances, they were not launched to achieve a political aim, but to achieve an economic aim,” says Kushner. “They could build websites and use Facebook algorithms to drive traffic, to use human attention to sell advertising.” Social media may only be a decade old, but it has emerged as the primary fuel of fake news, experts agree. “We have a pool of content that is no longer controlled by the mass media. It’s controlled by a network of friends, using the criteria of their social network,” says Hobbs. Universal human processing factors like confirmation bias and selective exposure—the tendency to seek out information that already confirms one’s existing views, while avoiding contradictory information— create a petri dish for fake news virality. “In the old days, news that got shared had authority or expertise. The authority had a title or credentials we understood as expertise. Now we are transferring that to an attention authority. It’s clear that the ability to control other people’s attention is surpassing the old forms of authority or expertise,” Hobbs says. “When news is consumed as unbundled snippets, we are less likely to ask those media literacy questions: Who is the author and what is the purpose?”
click·bait • /’klikbāt/ • noun informal (on the internet) content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular webpage.
Antagonism, In Caps On a March Saturday, at 6:15 a.m., one day after an outwardly uncomfortable press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Donald Trump tweeted this: “Despite what you have heard from the FAKE NEWS, I had a GREAT meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Nevertheless, Germany owes...vast sums of money to NATO & the United ➔
PHOTOS: MICHAEL SALERNO; COURTESY U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Communication Studies professor Renee Hobbs leads a seminar on misinformation with international journalists and researchers at the U.S. Embassy in Rome this spring.
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“It can complicate our jobs when consumers are hearing things contrary to what we are telling them, but there’s that old cliché: In time, the truth will come out.” John King ’85, CNN’s chief national correspondent, shown while reporting from the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
States must be paid more for the powerful, and very expensive, defense it provides to Germany!” The press, from Fox News to the New York Times, had reported the publicly accessible portions of the first state visit between the President of the United States and the de facto head of the European Union, and noted that Trump had repeatedly criticized Merkel in the past. For instance, when Time magazine picked Merkel as the Person of the Year, Trump tweeted that she was “ruining Germany” and he has called her a “catastrophic leader” on other occasions. But some news outlets also reported that the encounter was awkward, relating details such as that Trump avoided eye contact with the Chancellor during the press conference and ignored several requests from photographers to shake hands, a routine image captured at these events.
So Was That Fake News? Kushner observes that politicians like Donald Trump have deployed the term like a weapon, disparaging news stories he dislikes as fake— and at the same time, critics point out, making claims he’s been unable to back up. “Journalists make mistakes sometimes, and in good faith publish things that are not true,” Kushner says. “What has gained currency, in the attempt to discredit the press, is to pounce on honest errors as fake news. That’s the weaponization.” And some journalists see this label as an imprecation. In accepting an international press freedom award from the Committee to Protect Journalists, CNN international correspondent and Harrington board member Christiane
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Amanpour ’83 made a cri de cœur to her peers to fight against “the tsunami of fake news sites,” and to “recommit to robust fact-based reporting without fear or favor—on the issues.” Harrington board members Bill Loveless ’73, an independent energy journalist and contributor to USA Today, and John King ’85, CNN’s chief national correspondent and anchor of its Inside Politics program, see fake news as not so much a professional threat as a reminder to stick to the fundamentals. They cite the techniques they learned in URI’s journalism program and as staffers at the Good 5 Cent Cigar. “I don’t know if it rises to the level of a crisis, but I would say it’s worrisome,” Loveless says. “It’s a prevalent point of view. The polls all seem to say that journalists aren’t held in high regard. Attacking the press in derogatory terms is only going to promote that point of view and make a reasonable discussion in society that much harder to achieve.” Loveless, who got his start at the Cigar covering anti-war protests, adds: “This debate over fake news really makes me stop and think about what I do. I’ve been a journalist since I was 19 years old, and in many ways, I operate the same way as I did when I was a reporter at The Pawtucket Times. The technology changes, but I always go back to those standards of fairness and accuracy. They are more important than ever.” King, whose network has been specifically cited by Trump as putting out fake news, points out adversarial relationships between politicians and the Fourth Estate have always been part of a journalist’s reality. “The language may be new, but the goal is the same: to intimidate and influence,” he says. “We
PHOTO: JOHN NOWAK/COURTESY CNN
live in a time of fractured politics, and Trump just takes the practices of the past and puts them on steroids. Stay calm, defend your brand and get it right—and if you get it wrong, fix it immediately and transparently.” Ultimately, King has confidence that news consumers will be able to discern the factual information. “It can complicate our jobs when consumers are hearing things contrary to what we are telling them, but there’s that old cliché: In time, the truth will come out. Most of the people consuming the news are interested, active citizens and they will figure it out.”
Toward a More Media Literate World It has always been communication lecturer Jerry Jalette’s practice to let his media research students choose the topic they want to explore in the last two weeks of the semester, and it had always been the students’ decision to examine sexual content in media. But last fall, they unanimously chose fake news. “I thought it was striking. I’ve been teaching for a long time and typically they choose sexual media, but it was pretty overwhelming—they wanted to talk about fake news and what the research says. I think it was because it was in the news all the time, and they were tracking the election.” The current climate means these have been busy days for Hobbs also. In early March, she joined a News Literacy Working Group coconvened by Facebook and Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication to discuss long and short-term strategies to combat the spread of misinformation. From there she spent a week in Rome at the invitation of the U.S. State Department to lecture and present on the subject of media literacy and fake news, and whether the negative impact of fake news could be blunted by better algorithms and educational strategies to address the problem. “We can’t do much to change the attention economics,” Hobbs says. “But Facebook intends to label content and use algorithms to suppress the real junk. Whether or not that will be effective is a controversial debate right now.” As fake news alters the civic discourse and the course of history with a heretofore unmatched ease and speed, URI is responding—not only in individual classrooms, but
ILLUSTRATION: KEITH NEGLEY
through its general education requirements and by sharing its expertise. Following a new academic requirement promulgated by the regional accreditation body of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, as of last fall, undergraduate students are required to take courses which support a learning outcome of developing “information literacy to independently research complex issues.” Identifying credible sources of information is now among the core competencies students are required to develop. “It’s not just news information, but scholarship,” Kushner says. “Is it reliable or should we discard it? It’s something all students have to study while they are here.” In January, the URI School of Education was among the sponsors of a two-day invitation-only symposium to explore digital literacy in higher education. This summer, the URI Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies will host its fifth Summer Institute in Digital Literacy, a 42-hour intensive program for K-12 and college faculty, librarians and media professionals. The March teach-in, entitled “Finding Reliable Information in a Post-Fact World,” was the brainchild of Professor of English and Gender and Women’s Studies Karen Stein, who remembered these information exchanges fondly when she was a young faculty member in the late 1960s. Stein says that the civic engagement post-election and the onslaught of misinformation inspired her to organize the event. “There were teach-ins everywhere— students were hungry for knowledge,” she says. “I’ve just been appalled by everything that’s been going on and I thought: we need an old-fashioned teach-in. This campus is much too quiet.” •
Identifying credible sources of information is now among the core competencies students are required to develop.
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State of
SHARKS
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Some 50 different species of this most famous of marine predators regularly patrol the waters of coastal New England. Globally, shark numbers are dropping, but scientists say the news here is good— unless you’re a seal on Cape Cod. BY TODD MCLEISH ost people are familiar with one species of shark: the misunderstood great white, made infamous by the movie Jaws and the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. But more than 500 species of sharks ply the oceans of the world, and about 50 species can be found at one time or another along the East Coast, from the modest smooth dogfish to the massive basking shark. Many of them are studied by a handful of University of Rhode Island alumni and faculty—who tell a very different story about sharks than is conveyed by the popular media. Unless you’re a fisherman or boater who spends considerable time in offshore waters, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever see a shark in southern New England, says Nancy Kohler ’77, Ph.D. ’87, along with Lisa Natanson Ph.D. ’90 and Camilla
McCandless Ph.D. ’07. The three study the life history of sharks in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico for the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Apex Predator Program, based right next door to the URI Narragansett Bay Campus. They also conduct coastal surveys to monitor shark abundance, and collect biological data about sharks captured at recreational fishing tournaments.
But sharks are here, they say. Lots of them.
A blue shark, Prionace glauca, swims in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Rhode Island. Blues, found worldwide, prefer deeper waters and migrate long distances. Feeding primarily on small fish and squid, they are the sharks most commonly caught by anglers off New England. They can grow to be 10 feet long at maturity, and rarely bite humans.
They ticked off a long list of sharks that spend at least part of the year in the area: blue, mako, common thresher, sand tiger, smooth and spiny dogfish, basking, great white, porbeagle, and occasionally tiger, hammerhead and sandbar sharks. But the species most likely to be caught by ➔ UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 25
All sharks can detect electromagnetic fields thanks to their extra sense organs, the ampullae of Lorenzini. Some are so sensitive that at close range, they can detect immobile animals by their heartbeat.
Greg Skomal videos a great white near a popular swimming area off Cape Cod. Carcharodon carcharias are found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans and can grow to 20 feet. A primary predator of marine mammals, they’ve been visiting the Cape, with its growing seal population, more frequently in recent summers. Worldwide, they are the species of shark most likely to attack humans, although the last fatal attack in Massachusetts was in 1936.
fishermen in offshore Rhode Island waters is the blue. “Blue sharks use different parts of the Atlantic for different parts of their life history,” explains Kohler, who studied the species for her doctoral dissertation. “This area is mostly a mating ground for them, which is why many of the larger sharks that fishermen catch are adult males. They pup on the other side of the Atlantic.” One result of Kohler’s long-term tagging study of the species is a map of the impressive migrations they undertake—they travel through almost every part of the Atlantic Ocean. She says blues might, for instance, be tagged off New England and recaptured south of the equator, and they often return to the exact same place in local waters year after year. Fishermen also catch a great many spiny dogfish, though few fishermen are happy when they do. The four- to five-foot sharks are often reeled in by recreational fishermen targeting cod and other groundfish. While there is little market for them in the U.S., Natanson said there is a regional commercial fishery for them to meet the demand for fish and chips in Europe. 26 QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
Natanson, who recently started a study of the reproduction of dogfish, says spiny dogfish have a unique distinction among the sharks of the world. “They’re pretty small in the world of sharks,” she says, “but
Brad Wetherbee attaches a satellite tag to a mako’s dorsal fin. Sharks he has tagged have moved through the waters of 27 countries; one swam 14,000 miles in one year.
their two-year gestation is the longest of all the shark species.” That doesn’t mean they are necessarily slower to reproduce than other sharks, however. “Most sharks have a two-year reproductive cycle—they’re pregnant for one year and then they rest for one year,” she explains. “Dogfish also have a two-year cycle, but they don’t rest in between.” While dogfish are the most likely shark species to be captured close to shore and in lower Narragansett Bay, they aren’t the only ones. McCandless says commercial fishermen using fish traps in the bay sometimes catch small sand tigers and even small white sharks, and recent evidence suggests that sand tigers are regular visitors to Rhode Island’s coastal waters. “We currently survey shark nursery habitat along much of the U.S. Atlantic coast and have plans to look at Rhode Island coastal waters for this purpose, and Narragansett Bay is an obvious fit for that study,” McCandless says. “We’ve done some exploratory sets in the Bay, and we’ve primarily caught dogfish and skates. We haven’t caught any sand tigers yet, but we know they come up here in the spring time, and they have been caught in fish traps in the Bay.” One of the most charismatic sharks to visit southern New England waters is the mako, a species prized by fishermen and one that URI Professor Bradley Wetherbee has studied for many years. He and colleagues from Nova Southeastern University have tagged more makos in the Atlantic than any other scientists. Their research is aimed at learning about the health of mako populations, the migratory routes they travel, and the locations of the preferred feeding grounds for what he calls the “fighter jets of the shark world” for their swimming abilities. He tracked one mako on a year-long, 6,500-mile migration in 2015 and 2016, but it was caught and killed a short time later by commercial fishermen off the coast of North Carolina. Sadly, it’s not an uncommon occurrence. More than a third of the more than 50 mako sharks he has tagged have been killed by fishermen. “Makos are caught in all kinds of fisheries all around the world,” he says. “They’re the shark everyone wants to catch because
PHOTOS: BRIAN J. SKERRY/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE; GEORGE SCHELLENGER
Dogfish
they’re good to eat— be. Attacks happen like a shark version of so infrequently. Sharks on Campus swordfish—and they The probability is fight and jump and so low that their This summer, Brad Wetherbee launched a put up a big battle. But bigger concerns weeklong shark camp to provide underit takes a great deal of should be rip tides represented high school students with an opportunity to learn about sharks, effort and money to and car accidents. participate in a shark-tagging expedition, catch and track “Many people and get their first college experience this sharks. We don’t want are also fascinated summer. He’s also working to establish an to see our research by them, though,” undergraduate shark research and subjects captured and he adds. “People education program based in the URI killed, and lose their come to the Department of Biological Sciences. A boat has been donated so he can take students contribution to scibeaches hoping to on shark tagging trips and conduct shark ence.” see one. It’s been an surveys in southern New England waters. Wetherbee doesn’t eye-opening expe“Students contact me all the time wanting object to shark fishrience for me. I see to work with sharks,” Wetherbee says. “It ing. In fact, his a lot of positives would give them an experience they research is aimed at coming from it.” couldn’t get elsewhere, and it would be a collecting information While most great opportunity to conduct field work, about the animals so people are fearful study charismatic animals, and learn they can be better of sharks, Wetherfirsthand about the local marine environment.” managed and available bee says sharks for sustainable harvest have much more to All he needs to get started is funding for gas, boat maintenance, fishing gear and for many years to fear from people bait. He is also looking for dock space. come. He just hopes than people have For more, visit uri.edu/wetherbee. that any fisherman reason to fear who catches a shark sharks. An estiwith a satellite trackmated 70 million ing tag on its fin will release the shark back sharks are killed each year by commercial into the water unharmed. and recreational fishermen—mostly to The shark species that has received the meet the demand in China for shark fin most media attention in the region lately soup—and there is concern that the rate is has been the great white, because their unsustainable. numbers have increased in recent years as Skomal said the greatest concern for they feed on the growing number of gray global shark conservation is in countries far seals that breed on Cape Cod beaches. And from the United States where harvest levels caught up in the media frenzy has been are high and there is little or no fishery Greg Skomal ’83, M.S. ’90, a shark biologist management. “You really have to look at for the state of Massachusetts. where it’s happening and what species,” he He has cataloged 258 great white sharks says. “If most of the harvest is in a certain in southern New England since 2014, a region, then those sharks are in serious number he says rivals other hotspots trouble. There is so much diversity in the around the world where the species has shark world, though. Some species are been intensively studied. He is trying to get prone to over-exploitation and others can a sense for the total size of the population, be harvested sustainably.” what they’re doing while they’re here, and Sharks in U.S. waters, however, are being where they go when they leave the area— managed well, the scientists said, and the both to help conserve the species and to data suggest an optimistic outlook. address public concerns. “The indexes are going up, indicators “Our approach has been that the more like our coastal survey have shown a steady we know about its population size and increase, and even the shark fishing tournawhere it spends its time, the better ments are regulated,” says Kohler. “I’m not equipped we’ll be to advise beach managers seeing the doom and gloom here that we to enhance public safety,” Skomal says. hear about elsewhere.” • “The public is worried, but they shouldn’t PHOTOS: THOMAS ALEXANDER; HENRIQUE NDR MARTINS; BORIS PAMIKOV; BEARA CREATIVE; REBECCA BELLENI
Sand Tiger
Thresher
Basking
Mako
Spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, are shallow-water bottom dwellers that reach 5 feet. The market for them as food in Europe is rising. Sand tigers, Carcharias taurus, are distributed worldwide. This relatively placid species can grow up to 10 feet and has no known human fatalities. Common thresher, Alopias vulpinus, is named for its thresher-like caudal fin, as long as the body of the shark and used to stun prey. Up to 20 feet long, they have small mouths and are not known to threaten humans. Basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus, is the second largest living fish, typically reaching up to 26 feet. It is a plankton eater. Shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, the fastest sharks, grow up to 14 feet. The species most commonly targeted by fishermen off New England, both for sport and food, they are also a primary target of the global shark-fin trade. There were 42 human attacks documented globally between 1980–2010.
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 27
INSIDE the JFK ARCHIVES
Treasures and tidbits from the library that commemorates a beloved President. BY TOM KERTSCHER
Oval Office exhibit.
W One exhibit features a recording of Kennedy’s acceptance speach.
In July, President Barack Obama signed a law creating the John F. Kennedy Centennial Commission, which is developing activities to remember the youngest man ever elected president. Kennedy, polls have shown, continues to be among the most highly regarded presidents. 28
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hen it comes to President John F. Kennedy, the anniversary that is most remembered is his assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. But the centennial of his birth fell on May 29, an occasion to honor much more than Kennedy’s death. A URI alumnus is among the few whose job is to preserve the artifacts of Kennedy’s life. William Bjelf ’08 has worked as the assistant digital archivist for audiovisual collections at the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in Boston since earning his master’s in library information science. The library’s digital collections include Kennedy’s personal papers and presidential papers. We asked Bjelf about his work.
PHOTOS: ©TOM FITZSIMMONS; JAMES B. HILL, JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY LIBRARY, BOSTON.
The library in Boston, Mass.
What does your job involve? I research and help implement standards and best practices for the digitization of photographs, sound recordings, and moving image materials, and for the preservation of digital files. I create and maintain documentation for audiovisual digitization and cataloging workflows, coordinate the digitization of audiovisual assets and catalog digitized audiovisual items. What are some of the most important contributions you have made in preserving JFK moments? Preserving collections here is always a team effort. It’s rewarding to learn the best practices for transferring sound and moving image content from analog “carriers,” such as magnetic tape or film, to digital files. The content can be preserved and made available digitally. For those of us who didn’t grow up as audio engineers, it’s very interesting to encounter old analog media and equipment, audio tape reels and cassettes and playback machines, for example, and then to learn the technical parameters required for faithful digital reproduction. Several years ago, Library colleagues oversaw the digitization of our White House Audio Collection, a collection of recordings of President Kennedy’s speeches and other public remarks. Now I’m helping to preserve our digitized content, including the digital transfers of those historic recordings. President Kennedy’s famous Swearingin Ceremony and Inaugural Address are part of that collection. Digitization issues are similar with video and film. For obsolete video sources we need to know some technical details from old television standards. For motion picture film, a few years ago our team began coordinating with vendors to create high definition digital transfers of some materials. We’ve also created workflows for “born digital” recordings. For instance, we’re now accepting donated oral histories recorded digitally for our Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Collection.
PHOTOS: CECIL STOUGHTON, WHITE HOUSE/JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY LIBRARY, BOSTON
The Victura, Kennedy’s beloved sailboat.
What is the favorite piece of JFK material you’ve worked with and why? Sound recordings of President Kennedy’s telephone conversations have struck me as particularly interesting. These relatively candid moments range from routine to high stakes. For example, President Kennedy’s personal secretary is ordering envelopes in one telephone recording, and in another recording, President Kennedy is discussing rules of engagement for naval vessels during the Cuban Missile Crisis. As you listen along, you sometimes feel as though you’re in the moment. In our United States Information Agency Audio Recordings Collection, there’s another interesting item, a recording of a Voice of America broadcast of the opening ceremonies of the John F. Kennedy Library Exhibit at the National Archives. In the recording, Dave Powers, who had served as special assistant to Kennedy and later became museum curator of the John F. Kennedy Library, speaks about the exhibit and its reception. He mentions the inclusion of President Kennedy’s desk in the exhibit and recalls a routine involving the desk. In the Oval Office, President Kennedy’s young son, John F. Kennedy Jr., in the morning would hide under the desk and make a noise to get his father’s attention. President Kennedy would ask if there was “a rabbit in there.” His son would then come “busting out,” and President Kennedy would act surprised. During digitization work, we encounter an interesting variety of content. What about your time at URI helped you succeed in your career? URI’s information studies program gave me a solid foundation in professional ethics, research and description, and relevant technologies. My internship gave me hands-on experience working in a digitization program. During this internship I saw how an institution approached digital imaging, how it made use of scanners and cameras, particular digital file formats, and automation in parts of its digital asset management system. This experience was crucial for me. •
Kennedy, 1963
JFK IN R.I. Married Jacqueline Bouvier at St. Mary’s Church in Newport in 1953. The wedding reception was held at Hammersmith Farm. Spoke at Providence City Hall on Nov. 7, 1960, on the final day of his presidential campaign before defeating Richard Nixon on election day. “Let me make it clear, this campaign is now coming to an end, and tomorrow the respective responsibilities of Mr. Nixon and myself cease and yours begin,” he said. Became on June 7, 1961, the first president since Teddy Roosevelt to speak at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport. “I know that you are constantly warned during your days here not to mix, in your Naval career, in politics,” he said. “I should point out, however, on the other side, that my rather rapid rise from a Reserve Lieutenant, of uncertain standing, to Commander-in-Chief, has been because I did not follow that very good advice.”
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 29
CLASSACTS
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’46
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Judith A. Boss, M.S. ’91, published Deception Island
30
QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
Brian Mitchell ‘69
Janet W. Rusk and John E. Rusk ’48 of Pittsfield, Mass., celebrated 70 years of marriage.
’48
William F. Cowen of Green Valley, Ariz., writes: “My life’s work in forestry and university teaching is a result of the education I received at URI...and I am proud of it. My years at URI were magical.”
’51
Alec Voight of Milford, Conn., writes: “The river of life keeps flowing and so fast. In 1946 I was a member of the first wave of veterans to attend URI. I met my life’s partner, the late Pat Joslin ’54, and made many friendships that lasted a lifetime. Being a member of the fraternity of Sigma Chi helped me cement friendships outside of college and assisted me throughout my career in engineering. I am grateful for continued good health and mobility. I am still painting my life’s portrait and thank God I am not out of paint yet. I achieved celebrating my 93rd birthday this summer. I am on the go every day and enjoy social activities and swimming. All these events have captured a lifetime of memories and allow me to meet new friends along the way. I am very proud to be part of the legacy of URI and to be able to reflect back on what it has done to assist me in achieving my life’s goals.”
’69
Brian Mitchell of West Kingston, R.I., is retiring as managing director of the Kingston Chamber Music Festival after this summer’s 29th annual festival (July 19-30, 2017). “It was somewhat serendipitous that, as my journalism career was winding down, I was doing more and more work for the festival until I was named its first managing director in 2001. I was very fortunate to be able to work in two different fields, both of which I was passionate about.” Founded in 1989 by violinist David Kim (honorary doctorate ‘01), the festival has grown into one of the most prestigious music festivals of its kind in the country. (See photo at left)
’72
Dr. Leonard Greenhalgh, M.B.A., of Spruce Head, Maine, was awarded Dartmouth College’s Martin Luther King Social Justice Award for Lifetime Achievement (he is professor of management in the Tuck School of Business and director of the school’s programs for minorities, women, and Native Americans). He is also the recipient of the State of Maine’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Environmental Excellence, for his work in restoring coastal wetlands. Douglas J. Wood recently released Presidential Conclusions, the third novel in his political thriller series about a woman who runs and wins the presidential election in 2020 (the first two books are Presidential Intentions and Presidential Declarations). Judy Nazemetz of Valley Village, Calif., writes of a recent movie role that unexpectedly had her working with fellow alums: “Ashton Avila 2013 needed someone to play Mabel, a cashier at the only gas station open late on the way to Vegas, for her film I Got You Babe, shooting in Los Angeles. She hired, me, a fellow URI grad, who could offer real-world experience—I was a cashier when you had to figure out the change yourself. I Got You Babe premiered April 15 and also features Mariah Scally ’13 in the pivotal Waitress role.”
’75
Mary C. McKay of Mclean, Va., just published a book, Swimming Lessons, a firsthand account of raising children suffering from mental illness. (See image to right)
’77
George S. La Cross of Barrington, R.I., writes: “After a 34-year career at the Providence Journal, mostly as promotion department copywriter, I recently joined the staff of Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. I also am a volunteer at Rocky Point State Park (Warwick, RI), producing promotional videos and helping staff events there.” (See photo page 36)
’82
Gordon B. Arnold of Westborough, Mass., is the author of Animation and the American Imagination: A Brief History, which was recently published by Praeger/ABC-Clio publishers. Arnold, who is Professor of Liberal Arts at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Mass., is also the author of three previous film-related books. (See photo to right)
’91
Judith A. Boss, M.S., of Exeter, R.I., writes “My novel Deception Island (Wild Rose Press), a suspense novel set in Antarctica, has just come out as an audiobook. If you are interested in doing a review, please email me at jbgentoo@aol.com and I will send you a code for a free download.” (See photo page 30)
’92
Christopher C. Giamo of Halesite, N.Y., has been appointed head of regional commercial banking at TD Bank. Based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and New York, New York, Giamo has U.S. accountability for small business, middle market and commercial lending; government banking; treasury management services and corporate deposits; and commercial credit management. Giamo joined TD Bank in 1998 as the head of its middle market lending group in New Jersey. Giamo serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Long Island Association, Global Gateway Alliance, Huntington Hospital and TD Private Client Wealth, LLC. He resides in Long Island with his family.
Better Together: Following in their parents’ footsteps, the children of Jessica Ruhle ’03, Gregory Ruhle ’01, Daniel Kinsella ’02, and Jennifer Kinsella ’03 proved that campus is still a great place to hold hands
’93
Jennifer C. Clark of Norwalk, Conn., shared a job update: “In February, human resources outsourcing and consulting firm OperationsInc (www.OperationsInc. com) announced the promotion of Westport resident Jennifer Clark to the position of Director, Talent Acquisition Services. Jennifer Clark joined OperationsInc in 2013. Clark has over 22 years of diverse recruiting experience, previously working for executive search firms as well as serving as an in-house recruiting resource for an international law firm. In addition to setting client recruiting and talent strategies, Clark also oversees and manages the OperationsInc Talent Acquisition Division.”
Gordon B. Arnold ’82 published Animation and the American Imagination: A Brief History
Mary C. McKay ’75 published the book Swimming Lessons
Kimberly Perry of Providence, R.I., writes: “Can’t believe I graduated over 20 years ago. I am enjoying working as a customer experience manager at Michaels Crafts. It is fun helping customers with the projects, and I learn something new every day. I am interested in becoming part of the Tiny House community. Would like to connect with anyone that can help build or buy a tiny house.” Amanda Read ‘13, Tim Viall ‘13, and Brianne Leahy ‘13
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 31
CLOSEUP
Flight Path Megan Perez ’13
The commercial space near Quonset, R.I., where Perez landed her dream job has good parking and plenty of interior light. But most importantly, it has a 20-foot garage door. Perez, 27, has done the usual odd jobs since graduation: waitress, tour photographer, pest exterminator. No matter how miserable (see “exterminator”), she could turn to her artistic outlet: the whimsical, maker-oriented world of cosplay. The acronym stands for costume play; it’s a form of accessible performance art, and an exploding subculture full of 20-something fans of Japanese cartoons, Marvel superheroes, space operas, video games, and anything Disney. Perez first went to AnimeBoston, one of the biggest regional cons (short for conference), as a URI freshman. She embraced role playing—and thanks to her creativity, could make costumes that were the envy of friends and friendly strangers alike. Not long after, she switched majors from animal science to art. Among the other wide-eyed first-timers at the con that year was Thomas DePetrillo of North Kingstown, Find the solution at alumni.uri.edu/membership
32 QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
R.I. A long-time winner of every Halloween costume contest he entered, DePetrillo realized—as he posed for photo after photo in his Transformers Bumblebee costume—that he might actually be able to monetize his hobby. Fast forward to 2016, and Perez got a part-time gig at Extreme Costumes, the company DePetrillo founded. Wielding EVA foam, corrugated polycarbonate and a hot glue gun, she made the massive arm and leg shells that fit over the aluminum frame for Zeus, a 9’6”, fully articulated robot costume commissioned by a dance troop in Austria—who doesn’t fit through normal doorways. This year, after DePetrillo landed a contract from Hasbro, Perez came on at 40-hours a week—his fifth full-time employee. “The population of people going to cons has grown so much,” observes Perez. “I’d like to make it my career. Hopefully it keeps getting bigger.” BY PIPPA JACK PHOTO: NORA LEWIS
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 33
’99
Adam J. Gwaltney of Providence, R.I., shared a January job update: “Nixon Peabody is growing its corporate practice in New England with the arrival of new partner Adam J. Gwaltney. Based in Rhode Island, Adam will split his time between the firm’s Providence and Boston offices. Adam brings a broad range of traditional corporate, public finance, and securities experience to Nixon Peabody. Joining Nixon Peabody from Hinckley Allen’s Providence office, Adam graduated from Boston College Law School and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island.” (See photo page 36)
’03
Jessica Rhule of Coventry, R.I, writes: “Wanted to share this picture we took of our kids before a basketball game on January 15. We were walking around campus and reminiscing. All of these kids are offspring of parents who met and started dating at URI. We all graduated between the years of 2001 and 2003. We’ve continued to stay in touch and our kids are the best of friends. (See photo page 31)
’07
Michelle Karn of North Smithfield, R.I., wrote in with this update: “After completing nine years with the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association in Providence, I recently accepted a new position at The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company of Warwick, R.I., as the corporate marketing and communications director. I’m thrilled to lead the marketing and communications efforts for this Rhode Island company. And I enjoy reading about my classmates and colleagues!”
Congratulations to our 2016–2017
ALUMNI OF THE GAME The Alumni of the Game program, held at A–10 men’s basketball home games, recognizes URI alumni who demonstrate the best of what our graduates are all about—successful careers combined with service to their communities and to the University. HONOREES Jamie Hilton ’83 Bruce Gouin ’74 and M. Christine Benoit ’74 Tony ’51, M.S. ’62 and Betty Faella, M.S. ’67 Bill Murray ’78 Dave Janiesch ’12 Bob Alvine ’88 Rich Krupski ’80 Joe ’80 and Linda Matthews ’80
Tony ’51, M.S. ’62 and Betty Faella, M.S. ’67, pictured with URI Alumni Relations Executive Director Michele Nota ’87, M.S. ’06 and President David M. Dooley, were honored at the UMass vs. URI game on January 15, 2017, in recognition of their dedication and service to the University.
34 QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
’12
Stephanie Fairbanks, M.S. ’16, has joined the Denver office of CTL|Thompson, a full-service geotechnical, structural, environmental and materials engineering firm. The firm says Fairbanks brings experience in foundation design, bridge construction and environmental remediation that will add to CTL’s bench strength on projects in need of cantilever systems, tieback systems, soil nail walls and mechanically stabilized earth walls. Before joining CTL, Fairbanks served as a geotechnical and waterfront project engineer with GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc., in Providence, Rhode Island, where she consulted on geotechnical pre-design investigation programs, subsurface exploration and slope stability analyses on projects in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She also served as a geotechnical and waterfront engineer at Exeter, Rhode Island-based Fairbanks Engineering Corp., her family’s business. (See photo, page 36)
’13
Chad Conner of Sparta, N.J. got engaged to Alexa Giuliano ’13 of North Smithfield, R.I., on March 1, 2017 Elena K. Krajeski of Western Ukraine writes: “A couple of years ago, after graduating from URI with my bachelors in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, I was trying to make a decision about what masters program I wanted to apply for. After a year of working, I decided that I wasn’t ready for more academics just yet, but I needed a practical learning experience, so I applied for the Peace Corps. When I found out I was accepted, I thought I would go work on a farm in Africa or South America. Instead I was placed with a local government in a small town in Western Ukraine by the Moldovan/Romanian border. I was surprised because I never thought of Europe as a place in need of foreign assistance. It has been a wonderful experience thus far and I hope to improve upon it until my service ends in December 2017. Please feel free to contact me on LinkedIn with any questions regarding my Peace Corps experience. I would also be happy to hear from prospective volunteers and PC returnees! Будьте щасливі іздорові! До зустрічі URI.” (See photos page 36)
PHOTOS: NORA LEWIS
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Big Chill Weekend 2017 Thank you to everyone who attended Big Chill Weekend 2017—the events of the weekend were a huge success! All money raised directly benefits student scholarships at URI. The University of Rhode Island Alumni Association and the 2017 Big Chill Weekend Committee express sincere appreciation to: Platinum Jubilee Sponsors: Cox Business and Toray Plastics (America), Inc. Golden Jubilee Sponsors: Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Hasbro, Inc.; and IGT Silver Jubilee Sponsors: Alex and Ani; Amica Insurance; Dimeo Construction Company; Laurie White Taricani ’81 & Jim Taricani; Liberty Mutual Insurance; Lifespan; and Robert Vincent ’75 and Grace Vincent. A special thanks to Rhode Island Monthly, as well as our other generous sponsors and auction/raffle donors. Scenes from the Big Chill 125th Anniversary Gala at Belle Mer in Newport, from top to bottom: Scholarship recipient Jarolyn Fernandez ’17, a triple-major in health studies, communication studies, and Spanish, thanked donors for their support. Manny ’88 and Mary Vales ’88 enjoyed the evening. Rhody the Ram and President David M. Dooley showed their Rhody spirit in support of student scholarships. Past honorary chairs Robert ’75 and Grace Vincent perused the silent auction. Maryann Brandmeier chatted with guests of Platinum Jubilee sponsor Toray Plastics (America).
IT’S ALL ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS. See more photos at: alumni.uri.edu/bigchill UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 35
Ocean State Writing Conference OCTOBER 26–28, 2017
Come write with us this fall. Three days of inquiry and inspiration. Readings, craft sessions and workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and screenwriting. Read more: uri.edu/writing-conference
Elena K. Krajeski ’13
Gerardina Kurowski
Tim Viall of Berkley, Mass., writes to tell us that he’s spending more time with fellow alumni than he expected. “I and two other graduates of Regina Bell’s public relations program (all graduating in 2013) have ended up at Boston Medical Center in various roles. I’m a media relations specialist, my colleague Brianne Leahy is a marketing communications specialist, and Amanda Read just joined as an interactive communications web editor. I think it’s a funny coincidence that we all graduated from the same (small) PR program, we all had jobs prior to joining Boston Medical Center, and the hospital itself is as prestigious as any of the other institutions in the city.” (See photo Pg. 31)
Weddings Eric R. Postemsky ’08 to Kaitlynn M. Postemsky on September 10, 2016 Daniella Duffy to Steven Ricci ’09 on October 8, 2016 Gina Franceschini ’09 to David Ribeiro on December 30, 2016 Giovanni Joseph Gaudio
George S. La Cross ’77
Matthew T. Marcello Jr ’43 of Middletown, R.I., on March 2, 2017 Armando F. Lusi ’47 of Warwick, R.I., on March 14, 2017 Tudor Jones Jr ’47 of Concord, Calif., on January 16, 2016 Arthur H. Coy ’48 of Glastonbury, Conn., on December 17, 2016 Edmund S. Darling ’49 of Waterford, Conn., on November 2, 2015 Richard G. Phelps ’49 of Maryville, Tenn., on January 1, 2017 Roswell S. Bosworth Jr ’49 of Bristol, R.I., on February 7, 2017 Elizabeth W. Huston ’50 of Kingston, R.I., on January 20, 2017 Nancy W. Sevin ’50 of Cranston, R.I., on June 15, 2016 John F. Leslie ’51 of Waterford, Conn., on January 6, 2017 Marion V. Lucas ’51 of Weston, Mass., on March 4, 2017
Gabriella Cortes ’13 to Patrick Brehio on October 15, 2016
Phyllis R. Berry ’51 of East Providence, R.I., on December 17, 2016
Births
John B. Allis ’52 of Laramie, Wyo., on December 19, 2016
Jennifer Langheld Byrne ’99 and Aidan Byrne ’99, a boy, Dylan Aidan, on February 23, 2016 Carrietta (Sepowitz) Gaudio ’02 and Joseph Gaudio, a son, Giovanni Joseph Gaudio, on September 27, 2016 (See photo Pg. 36)
Michelle Karn ‘07
In Memoriam
Jonathan Kurowski ’06 and Maria Kurowski ’07, a girl, Gerardina Kurowski, on June 30, 2016 (See photo Pg. 36)
Daniel F. Shea ’53 of Wakefield, R.I., on December 13, 2016 Nancy J. King ’53 of East Greenwich, R.I. , on January 21, 2017 William F. Hoss ’53 of Danielson, Conn., on January 27, 2017 Joseph C. Jalbert ’54 of Beaverton, Ore., on January 1, 2017 Patricia A. Zanella ’54, M.A. ’68 of Warwick, R.I., on November 29, 2016
Stephanie Fairbanks ‘12, M.S. ‘16 Adam J. Gwaltney ’99
36 QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
PHOTO: PHILLIP RHYNER ‘07
CLOSEUP
Deep Dive Phillip Rhyner ’07
In his dreams, he’s in the ocean. Rhyner, an ocean engineer in California, has a side project that’s taking over his sleep—and much of his waking life. His small company, Orca Robotics, is one of 21 semifinalists for the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, a $7 million global engineering competition for autonomous ocean exploration. “I go to sleep and wake up with it running through my head,” says Rhyner. “The design constantly evolves; you can’t shut it off.” His underwater drone must move swiftly and at great depths, and relay high-resolution data in real time. This October, the first physical test will launch in Puerto Rico, culling the field to ten teams that will split an initial prize of $1 million. It’s not the first time the Narragansett, R.I., native has gone deep: his remotely operated, submersible sub-dredge searched for gold on the Alaskan sea floor in the Discovery Channel show, “Bering Sea Gold.” But XPRIZE, with its grand dream of a new era of ocean exploration—and its enormous top prize of $4 million—is a game changer. Rhyner and his wife put their retirement savings into the drone, while family members are helping source aluminum and the powerful piezoelectric crystal he’ll need for his transducer. At URI’s Bay Campus, students will help test the transducer this summer. “I’m proud to add the University as a member of the team,” Rhyner says. “My support system helps me stay focused. Yes, we’re eating less steak and more ramen, but it’s easy to sacrifice when I’m thinking, ‘I need that money for batteries.’ ” BY PIPPA JACK
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 37
Louis Sugarman ’55 of Providence, R.I., on January 15, 2017
Robert J. Higgins ’67 of New York City, N.Y., on December 31, 2016
William P. Considine ’55 of Warwick, R.I. ,on February 20, 2017
Jacques R. Chamuel ’67 of Brookline, Mass., on November 2, 2016
Jeanne M. Marcoux ’56 of Lincoln, R.I., on January 2, 2017 Kevin W. Smith ’57 of North Port, Fla., on February 24, 2017 William Dumais ‘57 of Groton Long Point, Conn., on September 8, 2016 Salvatora A. Quetta ’57 of Providence, R.I., on February 13, 2017
When Is It Time to Move On? Every two years, it’s smart to knock on your career door and assess your current role. But as inviting as a “knock, knock” should be, it can be overwhelming to open the door to career questions and figure out what to do next. In the latest Alumni Career Services article, we help you identify the three most common indicators that it’s time to move on. Contact Alumni Career Services at 401.874.9404 or email our Alumni Career Advisors: Audra Lavoie: audraryan@uri.edu Karen Rubano: krubano@uri.edu Read more I alumni.uri.edu/careerservices
James H. Erinakes ’67 of Coventry, R.I., on November 17, 2016 Shenshen L. Wu ’67 of Shrewsbury, Mass., on February 4, 2017 Ambrose C. Miller, Jr ’68 of Jupiter, Fla., on February 2, 2017 Robert P. Blessing, M.B.A ’69 of Rumford, R.I., on January 11, 2017
Everard J. Grain ’58 of Aiken, S.C., on November 17, 2016
Joseph E. Dwyer ’70 of Cranston, R.I., on January 14, 2017
Howard M. Lesnick ’62 of Lake Worth, Fla., on January 1, 2017
Norman Alberigo ’70 of Mansfield, Texas, on May 3, 2016
Edward J. Creamer ’63, M.S ’68 of Barrington, R.I., on December 22, 2016
Charles H. Alfred, M.S. ’71 of Warren, R.I., on January 4, 2017
Robert N. Bailey Jr ’63 of Sanford, Maine, on February 18, 2017
Michael P. Fecher, M.S. ’71 of Uncasville, Conn., on January 18, 2017
Thurston L. Gray ’63 of Portsmouth, R.I., on February 3, 2017
Pearl D. Scagos ’71 of Barrington, Mass., on March 17, 2014
Peter L. Chamberlain ’64 of Rumford, Maine, on October 31, 2016
William B. Hunter, Ph.D. ’72 of Peterborough, N.H., on December 15, 2016
Richard G. Pincus ’65 of Manasquan, N.J., on October 8, 2016
Howard A. Lasus ’73 of Fairfax, Va., on January 2, 2012
Marsha P. Goldberg ’66 of Stockbridge, Mass., on January 1, 2016
Linda M. Reichler ’73 of Avon, Conn., on August 26, 2016
Patrick A. Kelly ’66 of Providence, R.I., on February 20, 2017 Robert E. Munroe ’67 of Chesapeake Beach, Md., on January 16, 2017
Robert B. Giles ’73 of Port Charlotte, Fla., on November 30, 2016 Brian F. Hussey ’74 of Narragansett, R.I., on December 17, 2016 Felix H. Maez ’74 of Middletown R.I., on March 25, 2016
Hello, summer! July 7 Family Day at Roger Williams Park Zoo July 22 URI Night with Revolution Soccer August 12 URI Night with the PawSox
us Join ree for th at gre s. t even
38 QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
Elizabeth S. White ’75 of East Greenwich, R.I., on January 29, 2017 Dr. Domenic A. Coppolino ’76 of Wakefield, R.I., on January 22, 2017 John E. Sewall ’76 of Candy, Ore., on February 21, 2017 Paul A. Cyr ’76 of North Kingstown, R.I., on December 30, 2016 Edward F. Hemingway ’77 of Fort Wayne, Ind., on December 16, 2016 Debra H. Engoron ’78 of Stockbridge Mass., on June 21, 2010 Roberta H. Ryan ’78 of North Berwick, Maine, on January 4, 2017 Robin H. Burrows-Mello ’78 of Wakefield, R.I., on July 23, 2016
ALUMNISCENE March 17 NCAA Tournament Game Watch in NYC “It was so fun watching Rhody with other URI alum in NYC! It was a double-whammy: NCAA Tourney basketball and a chance to reconnect with friends!” —Lauren Silverman ‘12
Deborah T. Pierik ’79 of Wakefield, R.I., on January 20, 2017
March 30
Jane E. Winton ’80 of Warwick, R.I., on March 12, 2017
Alumni of Color Network Spring Panel
Dr. Samuel J. Montalto Jr ’82 of Westerly, R.I., on March 4, 2017 Rhonda H. Dvorin ’84 of West Hartford, Conn., on April 20, 2012
“The Alumni of Color Network Alumni Panel event gives me an opportunity to hear the stories of alumni with similar majors and challenges. This is meaningful because it allows me to witness the successes from people with similar backgrounds, who look like me and also shows me that everything that I am currently working towards is obtainable.”
James V. Solis ’85 of Westerly, R.I., on January 25, 2017 Nancy M. Martell ’85 of Ashaway, R.I., on February 3, 2017 John K. Setten ’89 of Old Greenwich, Conn., on January 22, 2017 Andrea Luisi ’90 of Cumberland, R.I., on February 26, 2017 Steven C. Post ’90 of Wilmington, N.C., on January 12, 2017 Sylvia Campbell, M.S. ’90 of Santa Rosa, Calif., on January 1, 2017 Robert D. Garrett ’92 of Fort Myers, Fla., on February 12, 2017 David J. Pilkington ’93 of North Kingstown, R.I., on December 10, 2016 Gerald H. Charest ’99 of Westbrook, Conn., on January 14, 2017 Lisa R. Horne ’01 of Warwick, R.I., on February 21, 2017 Brandon J, Gailliard ’13 of Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 9, 2017 Raymond W. Warren ’37, of Kilmarnock, Va., on Feb. 5, 2017
Faculty and Staff In Memoriam Professor of Education Jules P. Seigel of Englewood, Fla., on February 16, 2017
–Andres Brito, class of ’17
April 20 PawSox Baseball in Charlotte “The Charlotte URI Alumni event at the Knights v. PawSox baseball game was great fun! It was awesome to meet and reconnect with URI graduates from the ‘60s through the 2000s and their families. Everyone had a fun time watching the game and enjoying the buffet. I look forward to seeing everyone again soon.” —Sue Colucci ’04
If you attended a URI alumni event and would like to share a photo and a reminiscence, we’d love to hear from you! Please write to us at alumni@uri.edu.
Learn more I alumni.uri.edu UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 39
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PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST Have a funny idea for what’s going on in this photograph from the University of Rhode Island library archives? Email your caption to pjack@uri.edu, or respond at uri.edu/quadangles.
it Subm y sb entrie 4, July 2017
MARCH WINNERS Chickens are part of the DNA at Kingston, and more than 20 people entered captions—some more than one—for the undated photo we ran in the last issue, which is labeled simply “Poultry Class” in our archives. Of course, chicken-and-egg and chicken-crossing-road jokes are irresistibly evergreen. But our alumni surprised us with their depth of fowl knowledge—for instance, many pointed out that the rooster in question is too light in coloring to be our state bird, the Rhode Island Red—and their literary pizzazz—including a reference to Plato’s last words. So what do we know about this photo? Well, the cock is likely to be a Leghorn, a common breed, says Animal and Veterinary Sciences Lecturer Fred Launer. It could also be a Rhode Island White, a breed developed in Peacedale, R.I., in the late 1880s. As for the class-like ensemble, John Hosea Washburn, first president of the R.I. College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, initiated the nation’s first, six-week Poultry School during his tenure from 1892 to 1902. The classes, an early blooming of what would become URI’s Cooperative Extension, continued after Washburn’s tenure ended, drawing farmers from all over the state. With so many great entries, it was almost impossible to choose winners, and some were a little too earthy to print. Here are some of our favorites; please see more online at uri.edu/quadangles. • 40 QUADANGLES SUMMER 2017
WINNING CAPTION:
“For the record, he’s a Rhode Island White, and I know it doesn’t rhyme, but when he dies, he’ll be Rhode Island dead.” – Steve Bousquet ’76 RUNNER UP: “The problem with your idea, Mr. Jones, is that, while crowing ‘cock-a doodle doo’ comes naturally to him, the bird lacks the intelligence to be taught to crow ‘Think-a big, we do.’ ” – Bob Crossley ‘81 TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Take note, this is the end the egg comes out of.” – Kim Craig Ponte ‘83 “Hey professor, how many of these did you say make up a 12-piece bucket?” – David Singer
PHOTOS: COURTESY URI SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
This view made possible by you. She recently graduated from URI and looks forward to a career in accounting. But Cassie Jacob ’17 will never forget the moment she stood on the Great Wall of China. And she’ll remember that gifts from people like you made it possible. URI’s Annual Fund supports academic excellence, scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, and so much more. Make a gift. Make a difference.
Give online at urifoundation.org/giveonline or call 401.874.4786.
Alumni Center 73 Upper College Road Kingston, RI 02881 USA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
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October 20–22, 2017 • uri.edu/afw