Andover Bulletin

2007·32.9 MB·English

by  Phillips Academy

A Message from
John Rogers,
Dean of Studies
Andover's commitmeni to diversity runs deep, and the Academy's latest
Strategic planplacesthis commitment at the* center of our efforts.
We home One Strategic goal: i<» reaffirm the mission of Phillips Academy to be a school thai educates youth
from every quarter through a program tluu effectively challenges them to develop their potential and to
depart ,i\ thoughtful, versatile, responsible participants m the giobai community. (Phillips Academy's
Strategu Plan. October 2004)
Embracing b<>th the opportunities and the hallenges of diversity, Andover faculty .ire studying how we can
make our overall educational program Iftore flexible in order to serve well the wide-ranging needs of our
r\>. eptional Studeni body. For instance, we Strive for flexibility so that our program can nurture able students
who come to us with mam different levels of academic preparation.
Among the most glaring examples of the "preparation gap" is that some ninth-graders enter having
already studied calculus while others enter With little or no grasp of basic algebra. The relatively weak math
background of this latter group generally would preclude them from reaching our upper-level math and
st ience courses. snu ess in these rigorous courses can help build a foundation for Lifelong learning and also
can play a critical role in college admissions.
To redress tin- inequality, Andover faculty from math, chemistry, physics, and English have
collaborated to create a new summer opportunity called the ACE Scholars Program. ACE (Accelerate,
( lhallenge, Enrich) glOWS from the conviction that .ill Andover students deserve the chance to thrive in our
curriculum and to move beyond the limitations imposed by their previous schooling. For the summer of
2007, current Andover ninth-graders m our two lowest level math courses have been invited to the
campus ot the Colorado Rockv Mountain School in Carhondale, Colo., tor five weeks. Approximately 25
participating students will stud\ math and chemistry intensively, while also honing theircritical reading and
writing skills Recognirmg that summer is also a time for recreation and exploration, the program will use
its magnificent natural setting to provide activities such as hiking and kayaking.
All ACE teachers are drawn from Andover's faculty, and the Academy will meet the financial needs
ot all participants. As we launch ACE, we also continue to help place our students in other summer
programs that best meet their individual academic needs, including Andover's own Summer Session.
Translating our commitment to the strategic plan into concrete action is a daunting challenge
Through the creativity and dedication of our faculty, the ACE Scholars Program provides a model of
substantive progress toward this worthy goal.
Non
12. WHO'S HOT? Sibi: Getting 25.
More by Giving Back
THE REINVENTION OF DUNCAN SHEIK MatthewO'Keefe '95
by ScottAubrey Learnofseven PA andAbbotalums Aiding Economic Development
From his most recentCDoforiginal whoexemplify thenonsibispirit: some in Alaska's Interior
material tohisfirstforayonto Broadway, make theirmarkasvolunteers,others byJill Clerkin
music man DuncanSheik '88continues toilforaltruistic projects, andstill more
tocovernewterritory. havepersonal reasonsforinvolvement
inaworthycause. 26.
14. Richard Clapp '63
19.
Taking a Measure of Pollution
LEARNING: A TWO-WAY STREET
by Andrew Rimas
ChrisWhittier '87
by ScottAubrey
Fornearly twodecadesnow, Andover's Aiding Gorillas in His Midst
PALS learningprogramhashroughtout by ScottAubrey 28.
—
the best inarea middle schoolers and
inspired anewgenerationofteachers. Susan McCouch '71
20.
Enhancing Rice Crops to
Feed the World's Poor
Andrew Wexler '70
by ScottAubrey
Bettering Smiles, Changing Lives
by]illClerkin
22.
DEPARTMENTS
Charles Barber '80
Exchange
Feeling at Home Among
DatelineAndover
the Homeless Mentally
II SportsTalk
byJill Clerkin Time&.Treasure
Connection 33
23. Andover Bookshelf
&
Class Notes
Gali Hagel '69 Alumni Close-Ups
Attacking MS through Collaboration In Memoriam
by ScottAubrey Tales out ofSchool 96
—
AN DOVER
700? FROM THE EDITOR
100 Number? —
Change happens .inJ apparently not even the Andmcr
SMttenphmenDmPcotrvtetrotCammvrucitK* HAuclalid'etimny'lsl i.mihmiumnnie.maIgnaztihinse, hitass 1a0m0etnhdeyed.ir1.1sPrheiglulliaprs
ScottAubrey publication schedule from tour Times i year To Three (which
Pwfivot[J'ttxulSmwrj is acluall> how often the Bulletin was published as recently
< as a decade ago). While this change may disappoint some
readers, we think we've got lust the thing to make rhe pill
easier to swallow: when the next Bulletin does arrive on
SharonMafnuson vour doorstep, ll will he bigger and hetter. Additional
CLASSNOUSCOORDINATOR panes will he dedicated to our most widely read content
u campus news, te nures and close-ups profiling alums, and, of
CONTRIBUTING.*RlTfR course, ("lass Notes.
OtSICNANDPUBLICATIONSASSISTANT x Although ihe possibility ot this change was already in
the pipeline last July when I joined TA as director ofedito-
PRODUCTIONCOORDINATOR
rial services and editor ot the Bulletin, I agree with the
move. Here's why:
Photography JeremyCo*art. • In most cases, class secretaries will he afforded more words
EllenHardy.WinHurley.MichaelLutch.
MantaMadetom.ID Sloan ArtWeaver per issue to share news of theirclassmates. Although our
C2006PtMlipi»c*d*m, Andovtr MA dutiful scrihes will prepare notesonly three times a ye—ar,
Allrightirtstnrtd Hoptrtotthupublic* most still will have just as much space to fill annually in
tiermitbtrfproducedortrtnsmitttdin some cases more. (We also suspect ourclass secretaries
will appreciate one less deadline peryear.)
• The space allotted to features about the Academy, its
students and faculty, and its alumni will grow. Just as
tTohuerAtNimOeOsVfiRmBiUUfaf"TMwinisteprubslpirsihnge,dand with (.'lass Notes, we will continue to publish roughly
SummerfrrtheOfficeofCornrnuncationJt the same number ofpages OTarticles each year, but now
P0h1r8t1ho0s4A1c6a1demy ISOMamStreet AndoverMA they will he spread out over three issues instead offour.
MainPAPtigne 978-74M0O0 This will allow the Bulletin editorial staffto provide a
more varied fare ofcoverage each issue, hopefully
Changesotadd*ssanddeathnotices
978-/49-4269 increasing the magazine's appeal to even more members
ilummr»cords<fandoveredu ofour extended community.
PTi.ll.t«AcademyHtbsite
http/*w«andoveredu • Providing more pageseach issue forClass Notes and
articles requires a change in format. Beginning with our
spring issue, due out in May, the Bulletin will he perfect-
bound. That is, the magazine will no longer be held
*KdKilpastil*puditAndoverMA
iditidditionilmillingoffices together by two staples; instead, it will feature a squared
spine, much like you would find on a paperback novel.
•netiddmscntngtsto This new format will allow us to increase the page count
HlhpsAcademy
!0MamStreet beyond that ofa stapled Bulletin, the last of which you
idoverMA01810—4161 hold in yourhands.
SH-073S-S7I8
All of these changes will take effect with our spring
Cover ThePhillipsAcademysealasrendered issue, which will herald the Bulletin's 100th anniversary in
om<pBeanrcbialrbayLCahnedryilstCihaardsye-Fsar1a9c9i4toirnv(ehsetoictucraesiaosn grand fashion. Watch for it in May! In the meantime, I
headofschool OriginallydesignedbyPaul invite you to enjoy this edition, which spotlights
Revere,thesealfeaturestheoords<wnsnVa Andover's PALS learning program, a talented graduate's
phrasethataptlycharactersthelongtime
Andovertraditionofselflessservceofothers first foray onto Broadway, and a set of seven alumni who
continue to uphold the tradition of non sibi instilled in
them at Andover. —
ScottAubrey
—
ANDOVER
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Wanted: Andover Storytellers!
Thank you for publishing my testimonial to Harry Mac Dunlap
'48 [In Memoriam, Spring 2006 Bulletin]. I took the liberty of Alexandra Rahman '08 can easily recall her
sending an extra copy to his widow and was pleased to inform days as an Andover junior, when older
her that we have raised $165,325 for a partial Class of 1948 students would take pride in recounting old
scholarship honoring her husband's memory. You can see from Academy stories for her and her fellow
my participation and that of 19 others that I was not alone in newcomers. Some ofthe tales were scary, others
—
the value I placed on Mac Dunlap and his extraordinary life. peculiar almost all were interesting. Rahman,
I appreciated your changing my early submission to include now an upper, plans to capture these stories for
a new paragraph. Most ofyour editing was an improvement, but posterity by publishing a collection of some of
one change tore the gut out of a meaningful expression well Phillips Academy's more noteworthy bits of
known to tennis amateurs. By changing "encouraged absolute lore, hopefully separating fact from fiction in
fairness on line calls" to "encouraged absolute fairness," you the process.
generalized something that should have remained specific. The book, tentatively titled Sketchy, has
Amateur tennis players like myself (who do not enjoy the been in the works since Rahman was a junior.
benefit of independent line judges to make calls) know that all Teamed with faculty advisor and Andover
players have the right and the duty to make all calls on their archivist Ruth Quattlebaum, Rahman has
side of the net. It offers an opportunity for the unscrupulous to been collecting colorful stories of the school
shade the game in their favor. On occasion, most of us have and its students, teachers, history, and spirit.
been victims of this kind of cheating, and understand we have To date she has amassed 150 pages ofnotes for
no response. That was the important lesson that the "teacher" the project.
in Mac Dunlap was trying to impart. Rahman's intended subject matter is not
This is another way of saying that Mac Dunlap was among necessarily that found in more traditional
the best that Andover has had to offer our world. No greater histories of Phillips and Abbot academies.
tribute canbe paid. — Instead, readers will find reference to hidden
RogerMcLean '48, Acton, Mass. passageways and memorable pranks, secret
societies and massive food fights.
Rahman has worked with the Office of
There were many items ofinterest to me in yourrecent Summer Academy Resources to solicit stories directly
2006 Bulletin, but in particular "Building the Arc" since it from alumni via some of the class secretaries.
resonates with a project I'm involved in, i.e., the Bay Circuit More tales of Andover are welcome, though
&
Trail Greenway, a recreational trail in Massachusetts. There's from all sources.
a startling convergence between Doug Suisman's concept and "We're looking to cast our final net," says
the ideas ofCharles Eliot and Benton MacKay in the '30s when Rahman.
the BayCircuit Greenbelt was first proposed. Members of the PA alumni community are
On another note: I hope the rededication of the Memorial encouraged to e-mail personal anecdotes and
Bell Tower ["Memorial Bell Tower Rededicated," Summer 2006 unique stories of Andover to Rahman at
Bulletin] means restoration ofthe summer carillon concert series [email protected]. (Alumni working in the
my wife,—Mary, and I enjoyed oh so many moons ago. Keep it publishing field interested in assisting with
informal welcoming families to bring lawn chairs and enjoy publication ofthe book are also urged to contact
the cerulean blue ofthe summerevenings. Rahman.) Submissions will be accepted until
Keep up the good wor—k. fall 2007, though Rahman plans to begin assem-
Alan French P'77,'82, Andover, Mass. bling Sketchy this summer.
The book, funded by Rahman's family, will
be made available to alumni at af—uture date.
R.S.VP.
ScottAubrey
Want to respond to something you read?
The Andover Bidletin considers for publication all letters commenting
on the content ofarticles in recent issues. Letters may be edited for
length, grammar, and style. Disagreementwith administrativepolicies
will noteliminatealetterfromconsideration. However, letterscharac-
terized by personal invective will notbepublished.
ANDOVER
Helping Students Cope with Life's Challenges
In- group »»f lowers who gathered Wednesdays tins past t.ill tor Carlos
I Hoyt's mid-morning class didn't learn a thing about geometn or
poetry, science i»r history Instead these students- and those in the other
21 sections ot Life Issue* tackled nonacademic topics such a> identity,
strevs anJ coping, ami gender.
Although not pressured to speak up, ICth-graders are required to
take Life /sstu-s tor two terms and are encouraged to join in the honest
discussion. One October morning last tall, Hoyt's students hroached a
number ol topics from faith to the nuclear family and were asked to
question how their views on such subjects might vary from those ot their
parents or a larger communm .>t which they see themselves a part (e.g.,
lewish adolescents).
This type of course, not new to PA, is perhaps even more important
to this generation ot Andover students because of the rapidly changing
world in which they live. Hoyt, new this academic year as PA's associate
dean ofstudents, s,iys today's students .ire likely more .ipt to discuss what
some might consider onerous subjects Ivcause these youths need more
help negotiating the difficulties of life.
Hoyt s.iys today's teens face more tough decisions, more pressure to
engage in certain adult behaviors before they arc ready. "They're
swimming in them." says Hoyt ofsuch challenges.
To ensure Life Issues maximizes the potential benefit for Andover
Students, Hoyt it leading other members ot PA's adult community in a
thoughtful examination of the course, which may lead to changes in
years ahead. Hoyt says In- first instinct when he joined the Paean'sOffice
this past summer was to rewrite Life Issues, but he wisely held off. "This
is something that is owned by the whole community here." he says, and
mi input regarding the course is being sought from the entire faculty,
some of whom have been teaching the class for years. (In the tall Hoyt
asked tor faculty and staff volunteers to lead the weekly sessions; many
stepped forward, some teaching soloand others in pairs.)
Part of a schoolwide look at how PA addresses nonacademic issues,
the reexamination of Life Issues includes biweekly drop-in lunch
sessions, at which Hoyt gathers input from his fellow instructors. In
class. Life Issues instructors are welcome to adopt a series of materials
used in years past. Or, teachers may use alternate materials supplied by
Hoyt. Then, feedback issought tosee what works best.
"I've said to the faculty: 'Let's use this year as an organic laboratory,'"
Hoyt recounts, excited both for the process and to see the result ot the
discussion still continuing. —
Scott Aukre\
4
Diamond Caps PA Globalization Symposium
Community turns out in numbers to hear
Pulitzer Prize winner
foreconomicreasonsarebeingpenny-wise andpound-
foolish. Theeventualcost, hecautioned, willbe much
greaterifproblems are ignored.
• Bewaryofsocietiesdrivenbythe elite.Thesamegoesfor
societiesthatconsiderthemselvesexclusiveoftherestof
the world. He likened theUnitedStates toagatedcommu-
nity, onewhose idyllicwallswerebreachedon9/11.
—
• Donotclingblindly tocore values beopen tochange.
Diamondnoted that theUnited States'historyofisola-
tionismand consumerismnolongermakessense.
Much of Diamond's address was grounded in ominous
foreshadowing: he predicted the world would be a very
different place 50 years from now if attitudes are not
changed. But, he also noted reasons to be hopeful for the
future. He cited advances in communication and an
abundance of archaeologists and historians as positives:
How would things have turned out differently for Easter
Island had that ancient civilization not been isolated by a
lack of communication with the outside world? What if
Jared Diamond, author of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning those people had been able to learn from past cultures that
book Guns, Germs, and Steel and the 2005 best seller made similar mistakes?
Collapse: Hoiv Societies Choose to FailorSucceed, spoke to and Diamond encouraged the students in the audience to
fielded questions from a packed Cochran Chapel crowd on learn from the past, so as to help avoid catastrophe in the
October 20. His address, sponsored by the Bernard & Louise future. One student, during the ensuing Q&A, asked what
Palitz Lecture Fund, was the culminating event in the 2006 today's high schoolers should do in 20 to 30 years to make
AndoverSymposium:TheChallengesofGlobalization. adifference.
A hugely popular speaker, Diamond is the epitome of "Don't wait 20 to 30 years," Diamond responded, urging
the celebrity scientist. His books, like his talks, tackle the students to get involved and use the
giant questions: Why do some societies thrive and prosper right to vote theysoonwillenjoy.
while others shrivel and die? And, how can humanity The purpose of Andover's yearlong
maximize the opportunity for human happiness while globalization symposiumwas to bring to
saving the planetfrom ecological ruin and collapse? campus distinguished experts to speak
While pacing the front of the chapel, his voice ampli- to students and the public about global-
fied by wireless headset, Diamond presented much of his ization, global citizenship, and the
address in easy-to-digest verbal bullets. He offered a five- dauntingpolitical, social, andeconomic
point checklist of factors that impact a society's survival: challenges that face the world commu-
human impact (such as overuse ofnatural resources); global nity. Among the speakers to visit
change; enemies; allies; and economic, political, and social campus were former NPR reporter
institutions. He used early civilization on Easter Island as Sarah Chayes '80, who champions
an example: That society depleted the island's trees, thus efforts to rebuild postwar Afghanistan;
causing soil erosion and, consequently, a drop in agricul- current NPR diplomatic conespondent
tural production. Cannibalism and civil war resulted, Mike Shuster; Yale professor Jonathan
leading to eradication ofthe culture. Spence; formerU.S. presidential envoy
Diamond also applied his theories to modern-day to Iraq Paul Bremer '59; and author
societies, offering lessons to be learned from the past: andYale lawprofessorA—myChua.
• Addressenvironmentalproblemswiththeseriousness they ScottAubrey
deserve. Diamondsaid thosewhoavoidaddressingissues
AN
DOVER
Board of Trustees Approves Strategic
Initiatives
Ar ,i, annual (all meeting, held OctoKr 19-22. the Phillip. Academy Kurd of Trustees considered a number of .mnortanl
pmraottpeorssedreKlat,e|du-toVmthoergoAadlmsin..i.stPrAa>tiSvteravtieoguincc.PllaanndMoofsfteresdignitisfiscuapntployr,t tthoeaKnuurmdbearpporfovperdopaosleifdl roefnSotvraattieognicprIonj.etcitast.vIens
addition, the board approved the Academy's audited financial statements to, hscal sear 2006 and approved the summer ^007
launch of the ACE Scholars Program.
Among the facilities projects for which the K»ard expressed support are the renovation ofCommon* the expansion of
ihe AJJ.M.n ( ...llerv. and tin- addition of new wing., to two small dorms (Alumni Ilouse and Rurtt House) and Moses Stuart
Houte Though the dormiton expansion plana are s„|| ,n a conceptual design phase, the expectation is that the new wings
will add fc* more student beds and two fe ultN apartments to the Academy's inventory. This increase .s not intended to raise
the total enroUmenl Kit to move the percentage of boarding and da> students closer to the goal set by the Strategic Plan
I i 5 percent boatdlng, 25 perceni day). The board also released the Bulfinch Hall renovation and expansion project for fund
raising Plans to raise funds t,.r tin- renovation of Pearson Hall were placed on hold.
ParticularK notable was the Kurd's decision to authorize the administration to spend up to $2 million in the next two
yean tofinance a numbei ... Strategic Initiatives. The ,n„.at.ves include developing new educational programs tor faculty
and Students, Strengthenmg the Academy's recruitment programs with an eye toward promoting all aspects ofstudent diver-
Mrs, and undertaking a complete redesign of the school's Web site.
One of the educational programs approved as part of the Strategic Initiatives is the ACE (Accelerate. Challenge
Enrich) Scholars Program, which is set to launch in the summer of 2007. pending successful fund raising. For more details'
see the menage from [Van of Stud.esJohn Rogers printed on the Inside front coverofthiseditionofthe Bulletin.
—
Stephen Porter
—
Yale University Law Professor and AuthorAmy Chua
Yale University law professor Amy Chua visited Andover in September to attend
various classes and deliver the Rogers Lecture on "Markets, Democracy, and
Ethnicity," the focus of her acclaimed 2003 hook, World on Fire: How Exporting
Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability, as well as her
forthcoming hook, The Day ofEmpire: Tolerance, Ethnicity, and Power.
Claude Moore Fuess Award Winner and Author Sarah Chayes '80
Sarah Chayes, the author ofThe Punishment ofVirtue: Inside Afghanistan After the
Taliban, shared herperspectives on the harsh realities ofLife in Afghanistan during
an interfaith service held in Cochran Chapel. Since 2002, the former NPR war
correspondent has worked to rehuild the city of Kandahar, which was devastated
during the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Chayes's selfless efforts have made her
Chua the subject ofcountlessnewsstories.
Immigration in America Panel
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Andover hosted a panel discussion,
—
"Immigration in America: Closed Borders Open Arms." Distinguished
NYU
panelists included Dr. Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, a professor at the
Steinhardt School of Education and author of Globalization: Culture and
Education in the New Millennium and Latinos: Remaking America; Rep. Marty
Meehan, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Fifth
Congressional District of Massachusetts; Dr. Ramon Borges-Mendez, a UMass-
Boston professor who has worked as a consultant with organizations such as the
World Bank and the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean; and Dr. Marcia Hohn, director ofpublic education at the Immigrant
Learning Center in Maiden, Mass.
h Renowned Poet Michael Collier
Michael Collier, author offive volumes ofpoetry, including The Ledge (2000)
—
a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award held a poetry reading at
OWH
the Library and attended English department classes. Collier is currently
director of the famed Bread Loaf Writer's Conference in Middlebury, Vt., a
professor ofEnglish at the University of Maryland, and the former poet laureate
of the state of Maryland. His visit was sponsored in part by the Sandra Isham
Vreeland Fund.
—
Jill Clerkin
Meehan
7
FROM THE NEWSROOM
The Phillips Academy Web site is the place to go tot Andovcr's latest news. The following .ire excerpts
trout two articles first published online, e.ich regarding .1 current PA student honored tor his or her accom-
plishments and actions.
Simone Salvo, l'\ upjxT. won
1
a 200o Ciolden Light Award
troin the Maine Photographic
Workshops Salvo. talented
.1
photographer, earned the ti>p
spot nt the workshops' High
School Student Portfolio
l .impetition.
Founded in 197^ as a
summer conservatory for
photographers and filmmakers,
Maine Photographic Workshops
has mikc grown to hecome a
war-round college and learning
tenter tor filmmakers, photogra-
phers, actors, writers, digital
artists, and creative profes-
sionals. A panel of judges select
the Ciolden Light Award
winner, on the hasis ofartistic
vision andcraft.
"When I learned of the
Ciolden Light Award competi-
tion, I was intimidated hy its
prestige and the numerous
photographers who suhmit
their work," admits Salvo,
whose work is shown here. "I
decided to give it a shot and
suhmit a collection of 12 hlack
and white gelatin silver prints.
Weeks later, I received a phone
call announcing my win, and I
could harely speak was so
I
excited! I am still inshock." Pictured are two ofSimone Salvo's award ttos: "Wrapped
Trees" (top) and "Nail Salon" (bottom).
Prateek Kumar i> very good at giving his time and energy, and hecause of that he got to do a little
receiving as well: a memher of the Class of 2007. he was honored as a recipient of a 2006 Congressional
Award Gold Medal.
Kumar was among 242 young Americans to qualify- for the honor, the most prestigious awarded to
youths hv the U.S. Congress. The medal recognizes those who participate in community service and meet
ambitious goals for personal development. Other criteria for selection include physical fitness and cultural
exploration.
An Eagle Scout, Kumar has volunteered his time at a nursing home close to the Andover campus and
worked with children in conjunction with various youth organizations. The Latham, N.Y., resident also
visited Camphill Village, a community-based facility that provides a home for adults who are living with
disabilitiesor require special care. Kumardonated 450 hoursofhis time in qualifyingfor the honor.
Be sure to check unne.andmer.edu for all the latest news and multimedia views from Phi/lips Academy.