Currently@Carleton

Full Content

Effective immediately, Vickie Duscher, Receptionist and Scheduler, now serves as the office’s receptionist and is the person to contact for scheduling appointments on the President’s calendar. She also coordinates document management, which includes managing mail, filing, and OnBase electronic filing. She provides administrative support for the President and the Special Assistant to the President for Administration and Planning.

Elise Eslinger has assumed additional duties under the title of Special Assistant to the President for Administration and Planning. She continues to act as the President’s chief of staff, performing the range of jobs typically and historically associated with the position, such as supervising the President’s staff and managing the President’s time. She also assists with strategic thinking and higher education trends study. Elise represents the President’s Office at a number of associations and meetings on- and off-campus and will serve on various College planning and other relevant committees.

Ellie Morisette, Administrative Assistant and Travel Coordinator, provides administrative support to the President in a variety of ways, including travel arrangements, correspondence, events, and record-keeping. She also provides travel assistance to the Special Assistant to the President for Administration and Planning.

Jane Nelson, Secretary to the Board of Trustees and Assistant to the President, continues to provide support to the College’s Board of Trustees and the Trustee committees and activities. She also is responsible for a variety of other functions in the President’s Office, including scheduling the President’s travel appointments and serving as a liaison with External Relations for development events, coordinating special projects, overseeing student workers, and monitoring the office budget and requests for the President’s Discretionary Funds. Jane also provides administrative support for vice-presidential level searches, including the current process for the Dean of Students position.

Full Content

It's a scary experience climbing into the mind of Neil LaBute. With great skill he delineates a quintessentially modern ambivalence toward love, achievement, and success. People don't know what they want. To know what you want you might have to know who you are, and LaBute's people scarcely know themselves, let alone their friends and lovers. In a LaBute play, the characters to watch out for are the ones who know just what they want and exactly what they're willing to do to get it.

There is a mythic dimension to The Shape of Things. It resonates with important themes such as the power of love, the possibility or meaning of transformation, the nature of human relationships, and the role art plays in our lives. But LaBute is a great story-teller, and the play is above all a story; the story of Man, the story of Adam and Eve(elyn).

Full Content

In 1971, Frances Moore Lappé’s bestseller, Diet for a Small Planet, awakened a whole generation to the social and personal significance of our food choices. Today, with concerns growing over genetically modified organisms and the impact of corporate globalization, she teamed up with her daughter to write a sequel.

In Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet, the Lappés pick up where the original book leaves off. Together, they travel to Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, as well as here in the United States, to seek answers to the most urgent question of our time―whether we can go beyond today’s consumerism and the isolation of ‘me first’ capitalism and find paths we each can walk that will heal our lives and the planet. Published in February 2002, Hope’s Edge is in its third printing and hit Number 3 on the San Francisco Chronicle bestseller list.

While writing Hope’s Edge, Lappé, author of twelve other books, was a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is the co-founder of two national organizations concerning food and the roots of democracy. In 1975, with Joseph Collins, she launched the California-based Institute for Food and Development Policy (better known as Food First) to educate Americans about the causes of world hunger. Still making waves after twenty-six years, the Institute was described by The New York Times as one of the nation’s "most respected food think tanks." Its publications continue to shape the international debate on the root causes of hunger and poverty.

In 1990, Lappé co-founded the Center for Living Democracy, a ten-year initiative that helped make visible and accelerate the spread of democratic innovations in which regular citizens contribute to problem-solving in all dimensions of public life. She served as founding editor of the Center’s American News Service, which over five years placed solutions-oriented news stories in more than 300 newspapers, including almost half of the nation’s top 100 newspapers by circulation.

Lappé’s books have been used in a broad array of courses in hundreds of colleges and universities in more than 50 countries and have been translated into over a dozen languages. Her 1989 book, Rediscovering America’s Values, written as a dialogue, has sparked discussion on democratic values in thousands of settings. The Los Angeles Times called the book "original" and "provocative"—a "remarkable and valuable resource… It will help individual readers clarify their own personal values." Her 1994 The Quickening of America: Rebuilding Our Nation, Remaking Our Lives focuses on the success stories and practical tools of citizen problem-solving.

Full Content

We are very pleased to announce the eleventh round of Curricular Computing Grants. The grants—including funding, equipment, and technical support—are awarded by the Advisory Committee for Academic Computing (ACAC).

• Stacy Beckwith—to design CAN-8 exercises for Hebrew 101, 102, 103, and 204.
• Mark Hansell—to design CAN-8 exercises for students of Chinese and Liguistics to work on pronunciation, ear training, and acquisition of basic linguistic concepts.
• Mark Kanazawa—to create intermediate level exercises for his econometrics course.
• Stephen Mohring—to explore the use of rapid prototyping systems as a three-dimensional printer and its possible uses in helping students to solve three-dimensional problems.
• Linda Rossi—to further experimentation with video editing tools.

Jeff Ondich, Chair of the Advisory Committee for Academic Computing
Andrea Nixon, Associate Director for Academic Computing

Full Content

The fund was established in 1970 in honor of Elizabeth Nason, as her husband, John Nason, retired from the Presidency of Carleton. The fund enables prominent professional women to come to campus, exposing students to women who are successful in their careers. Recent campus visitors include astronaut Mae Jemison, poet Maya Angelou, and author Jean Kilbourne. During Winter Term 2005 the fund will support best-selling author Frances Moore Lappe’s February 11th convocation "Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet For a Small Planet," as well as the Korean Students Association film screening with prominent filmmaker Dai Sil Kim-Gibson.

Funding decisions are made by the Distinguished Women Visitors Committee comprised of representatives from the faculty, staff, and student body. Applications are considered at any time; however, preference will be given to those received by Tuesday, February 17.

To apply, submit a proposal with the following information to Committee Chair, Kathleen Foley kfoley@acs.carleton.edu. The proposal should contain:

• Name of group/individual making request
• Contact person’s phone number and e-mail address
• Name and qualifications of proposed Distinguished Woman Visitor
• Date(s) of proposed visit
• Outline of visit schedule; note opportunities for DWV Committee to meet visitor
• Description of housing, transportation, and meal plans required for visitor
• Estimated number of students meeting/hearing visitor
• Description of pre-visit publicity
• Total cost of visit
• Amount requested from Nason Distinguished Women Visitors Fund
• Source(s) and status of additional funds needed to bring visitor to campus

Distinguished Women Visitors Committee: Tricia England ’08, Kathleen Foley (Chair), Elizabeth McKinsey, Mija Van Der Wege, and Kaaren Williamsen.

Full Content

The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships program is the world's largest privately-sponsored international scholarship program. It provides the opportunity for students to study outside the United States for one year and up to $25,000 for round-trip transportation, tuition and fees, room, board, necessary educational supplies, and additional language training (if necessary). Please let qualified students know about this very competitive, but wonderful opportunity.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
- open to men and women
- excellent academic ability
- any field of study
- willing to be "ambassadors of goodwill" while they study abroad
- sufficiently informed about national and international affairs to be able to discuss issues with people of other nations
- sincerely interested in other cultures
- mature and out-going enough to mix easily in unfamiliar situations
- capable of speaking effectively to various groups of people (Rotary clubs and others), both abroad and later in the United States

Application Deadline: Friday, April 1, noon

Applicants MUST be available for interviews in Northfield during the week beginning April 4 and MUST be available for district interviews on May 21.

For specific qualifications and more information see On-campus Website or Official Website.

I hope you will help me identify excellent potential candidates by either e-mailing me the students' names or directing them to me at x4020 or mjflynn@carleton.edu.

Full Content

Do you know a student who may not be an art superstar, but who nonetheless is deeply and joyfully involved in art? If so, nominate this student for a Toni Award!

The Carleton Toni Award Selection Committee is seeking nominations from faculty and staff for a student whose character reflects the values and outlook of a beloved dance and choreography teacher, Antoinette "Toni" Sostek. Those characteristics which best describe the ideal candidate are generosity of self and spirit, joy in practicing and sharing in the arts, appreciation of the arts and of his/her place in it, and eagerness to explore the possibilities of creative expression.

In order to nominate a student, the faculty/staff member need only campus mail or e-mail the nominee's name to Linda Luedke at lluedke@acs.carleton.edu. Although nominations close March 28, if you have someone in mind, don't wait! We will confirm all nominations.

For more information go to Dean of the College homepage then click on:
Information for Faculty
Prizes, Honors, & Awards
Toni Award in the Arts

Full Content

Wednesday, February 9: Pedagogical Discussion Series Managing Difficult Discussions facilitated by Mary Savina, Coordinator for the Perlman Center for Learning and Teaching and Nancy Cho, Associate Professor of English

Many faculty members find class discussions hard to lead, particularly when the discussion topics may relate deeply (or should!) to the personal experiences of the faculty member and students. How can we balance the academic goals for discussions with students' desires to personalize some topics? How can we encourage open and honest discussion of sensitive issues in a way that allows all students to participate and to learn from each other? This pedagogical discussion is part of an ongoing LTC effort to share faculty approaches to discussion and other teaching techniques.
4:30 to 6 p.m., Headley House, with light refreshments

Thursday, February 10: Under Construction—From the Magic Attic in Esternay

Scott Carpenter, Professor of French
Carl Weiner, W. H. Laird Professor of History and the Liberal Arts, Emeritus

This pilot project allows students and researchers access to more than 600 letters and supporting materials dealing with the life and times of a provincial family of French notaries in the 19th century.

Noon to 1:30 p.m., Alumni Guest House Meeting Room, with lunch provided for 50

Looking ahead:

Tuesday, February 15: Nothing So Practical as a Good Theory: Field-based Learning and Pedagogy

• Phillip Sandro, HECUA senior program director, director of the Metro Urban Studies Term, Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs with a panel including
• Humberto Huergo, Professor of Spanish and Director of the Carleton Spanish Seminar in Madrid
• Sarah Cadwallader '05, Border Studies in Texas and Mexico through Earlham College
• Sinda Nichols '05, HECUA Scandinavian Urban Semester in Oslo

Phil Sandro of HECUA will discuss the (abundant) research results that show the value of experiential, field-based learning and provide guidelines and examples for constructing field-based learning programs that will fulfill their potential. Humberto Huergo and two Carleton students will give a local perspective by discussing the programs they have organized and participated in.

A suggested reading is available from the LTC in preparation for this discussion.
Noon to 1:30 p.m., Alumni Guest House Meeting Room, with lunch provided for 50 Co-sponsored by the Office of Off-Campus Studies

Thursday, February 17
First meeting for Parker Palmer book group, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Headley House

Building Intellectual Community Through Collaboration Workshop Dates: August 22-26, 2005

The Perlman Center for Learning and Teaching and the Writing Program invite proposals (due March 1) from faculty members for chapters of a new volume tentatively titled Building Intellectual Community Through Collaboration. Based on the success of the first volume of faculty essays, Reflection on Learning as Teachers, we invite faculty members to write from their professional experience, using workshop methods to prepare an edited collection of related chapters. Editors are Carol Rutz, Director of the Writing Program (and co-editor of the previous volume) and Mary Savina, Coordinator of the LTC. Funds from the Mellon Faculty Lifecycles Grant support this project. See more details.

Innovations in the Scholarship ofTeaching and Learning at the Liberal Arts Colleges
We invite you to join us for a conference that will bring together faculty members from liberal arts colleges to share innovations in the scholarship of teaching and learning. The liberal arts colleges are widely recognized for excellence in teaching and learning. Yet, the specific instructional practices that contribute to such excellence are not frequently shared publicly, nor are they often well documented. Registration deadline is February 25. Local faculty members may register for the conference at a reduced rate of $55. RSVP for dinner is required.

Full Content

How does this work? Well, if anytime in the last ten years, you acquired a PC with Microsoft Windows or Office, or bought Microsoft Office or Works or Windows for a PC, you are entitled to part of this $174.5 million claim against Microsoft. If you threw the envelope out, you can file your claim online, or download a replacement form.

Still with me? Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer, but the documents in the envelope are reasonably clear, so I'll summarize my understanding of them here. As an individual, if you claim five or fewer items with a value less than $100, you only have to complete the simple two-minute form, and don't have to offer proof of ownership. For each of the five items, you only have to list what it is, what year you got it, and where you got it. For example, it's Windows 98, you think you got it in 1999 with a PC you bought from Gateway. That's it—you're done.

If you do just this much, and file or mail the claim form by February 20, you or Minnesota public schools will receive a monetary benefit, with no extra effort needed. What you will get are vouchers: each copy of Windows or MS-DOS is worth $15; each copy of Office or Excel worth $23. If you do nothing with the vouchers, Minnesota public schools get 100% of their value. Or you can donate or sell your vouchers. If you're eligible, please take it this far, so that Minnesota benefits and Microsoft pays.

Or, if you want the money yourself, you can redeem your vouchers against what you spend on any new hardware or software products (not necessarily Microsoft's) in the next four years. For that, you will have to submit proofs of purchases, but then you get real checks back. If you want to do this, you need to read the detailed instructions and restrictions (there aren't many), so see the documentation on the Web site. It's also possible to claim more than five items to get vouchers for more than $100, but it will take more documentation. Again, there are clear instructions on the Web site.

Thanks for reading this. Wouldn't it be great to pump millions into public education in Minnesota, tax free?

Full Content

New Volume Discount Policy
The Bookstore has revised the discount policy to offer you improved discounts when your department orders multiple copies of a book. Until now your discount has been 10%. Here is the new discount schedule: 10-24 copies (per title) = 15% discount , 25-49 copies = 20% discount, and 50 copies or more = 25% discount. Some restrictions will apply; for example, short-discount titles are ineligible.

Friday is Author Day!
You will have several opportunities on Friday, February 11 to meet authors and attend booksignings. The Convocation speaker will be Francis Moore Lappé, author of Diet for a Small Planet and Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet, written with her daughter, Anna Lappé. Hope’s Edge presents her analysis of the global food and hunger challenge and is the subject of her talk. Convocation begins at 10:50 a.m. in the Skinner Memorial Chapel and a booksigning will follow, with books available for purchase there or in the Bookstore.

Carleton student R. Kayeen Thomas '06 will give a reading from his recently published book Light: Stories of Urban Resurrection on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the Athenaeum of the Gould Library. The recipient of several awards, including The White House Correspondents Essay Prize, Thomas is an accomplished writer with a unique literary voice. This event is sponsored by the Bookstore and the African American Studies Department. Refreshments will be provided and a booksigning will follow his reading. Please join us for a very interesting event.

Northfield Reads
Don’t forget the Northfield Reads program on Friday evening. Robert Alexander will be discussing his novel The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar at the UCC Church (300 Union Street ) at 7 p.m. Northfield Reads, sponsored by the Carleton Bookstore, the St. Olaf Bookstore, and the Northfield Public Library, is the all-town book group and has been successful in stimulating wonderful discussions and conversation. We hope to see you there.