Barnard Magazine

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by  Barnard College

WINTER 2013
PREPPING FOR
THE FUTURE
Barnard’s Toddler Center Turns 40
The United States Constitution: Up for Review?
From Telescopes to Microscopes: Alumnae Scientists
An Honest Look at How We Lie
THE ULTIMATE
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
BARNARD REUNION
May
30-June 2013
2,
Please markyour calendars for Reunion 2013!
If you would like to serve on your class committee and be involved in planning Reunion,
please contact Alumnae Affairs at [email protected] or 21 2.864.2005.
B
BARNARD
MAGAZINE
WINTER 2013 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS
THE UNREPENTANT LETTERS
18 2
ADVOCATE
3 PRESIDENT’S PAGE
by SusanJohnston
An interviewwith retired federaljudge Nancy 4 INSIDE
Gertnerabout hercareer,women and the law, 5THROUGH THE GATES
and hernew memoir Staff: LindaA. Bell: New Provost
21 ALUMNAE IN SCIENCE Reception: Fond Farewells
by VL Hartmann Lecture:Truth &TheConsequences
Profilesofsix alumnaewith careers inthe Studies:The Modern Novel Goes Digital
“hard"sciences Event: Mankind's Messenger
Student: Camera Ready
AN IMMUTABLE DOCUMENT?
28
SYLLABUS
by Dimitra Kessenides 14
Professor HerbertSloan exploresThomas Science: Introduction to Physics
Jefferson’s ideathattheConstitution should 15 THE SALON
be revised everygeneration Writer: Ruth Nemzoff
30A MILESTONE AT 40 YEARS Writer& Director:Jamie Babbit
by Susan Hansen Performer: Marlena Hoiter
An innovation when founded,The Centerfor 34ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
ToddlerDevelopmentcontinues its academic A letterfrom the president,AABCelections
research and providescreative playfor
37 CLASS NOTES & PROFILES
youngsters
Alumnae Profiles:Joan Birman, Kathy Ebel,
ON THE COVER PamelaCole
In Memoriam
Atthe CenterforToddler Development
Photograph by Mark Mahaney 69 SOURCES
Investments: Charitable GiftAnnuities
by Lois Elfman
21 75 LAST IMAGE
by Rivka Widerman
76 LAST WORD
by Elizabeth Burford Breston
!TiMim,iiTL
It!
BARNARDMAGAZINEWINTER20131
LETTERS
BARNARD
offinancial aid. Although she is in graduate
school now and on a restricted budget, an
annual giftof $20 represents approximately
fourvisits to Starbucks, and consequently EDITORIALSTAFF
should not be seen as atremendous sacrifice. EDITORAnnetteStramesiKahn'67
EDITORIALMANAGERAbigailBeshkin
Although I have notdone the math, ARTDIRECTOR&DESIGNERAnnaNozaki
empiricallythe average percent ofclass DESIGNERKeithScharwath
giving forthosewho have graduated in the RESEARCHEDITORRebeccaGeiger
STAFFWRITERAlyssaVine
last20years seemsto be in the mid-to-high EDITORIALASSISTANTNatalieKorman'13
teens. Barnard mustchangethe cultureto,
ALUMNAEASSOCIATIONOFBARNARD
yes, indoctrinate students in theirobligation
COLLEGE
to provide annual gifts, each year, everyyear, PRESIDENT&ALUMNAETRUSTEEMaryAnnLoFrumento'77
even if only a$10 or $20 giftfrom those
COLLEGERELATIONS
pursuing professional schooling oradvanced
VICEPRESIDENTDorothyUrmanDenburg'70
degrees.The habit must become ingrained. DIRECTOROFALUMNAEAFFAIRSErinFredrick'01
Lack ofGiving The excusethatwas used in myyears,thata
COMMUNICATIONS
Therewas atopic thatwas missing from couple was more likelyto giveto his school
VICEPRESIDENTJoanneKwong
PresidentSpar's column (“Why College Costs than to hers, should not be accepted in 2012. ASSISTANTVICEPRESIDENTPatriciaKeim
So Much,” Fall 2012) explaining the reasons Ifevery alumnawhovalued her Barnard CREATIVEDIRECTORDavidHopson
college Is so expensive:Alumnae giving. I see education gave an annual gift. I’m sure class EDITORIALDIRECTORAnnetteStramesiKahn
from the “Class Notes" section that Barnard participation would be significantly DEVELOPMENT
has made no progress since I graduated above 50%. VICEPRESIDENTFORDEVELOPMENTBretSilver
(1971) in teaching its studentsthe necessity —BashaYonis '71
oftheirfinancial supportaftergraduation. I (BeverlyJohnson) Winter2013,Vol.CM,No. 1
judgethis not bythe dollaramounts given, via e-mail BarnardMagazineiUSPS875-280,ISSN 1071-6513)
but by percentage ofthe class which gives ispublishedquarterlybytheAlumnaeAssociation
ofBarnardCollege.
anyamount atall. Plaudits
When my daughtergraduated from Scripps Thankyou so much forthe excellentfall issue. PeriodicalspostagepaidatNewYork,NY,and
in 2011,there was a“competition" between I enjoyed reading the entire magazine with all aaddddirteisonsalfomramiltion:gAolfufmicnease.PRoesctomradsst,erB:arSneanrddcCohlalneggee,of
the five undergraduate colleges ofthe ofthe outstanding articles.The photographs BoxAS,3009Broadway,NewYork,NY 10027-6598
Claremont Consortium to have the highest from students abroad are stunning.
participation in senior giving.The suggested I do have to make acomment regarding VEaDgIeTloOsRIAlAuLmnOaFeFICeCnEter,BarnardCollege,
giftforeach seniorwas $20.11, in honorof Carol Chrystie’s letterto the editor. I think 3009Broadway,NewYork,NY 10027-6598
hergraduation year. Scripps achieved 100%. she is astute in herobservation that men Phone;212.854.0085E-mail:[email protected]
Since hergraduation, I have reminded my sometimes cut in the line overwomen, Opinionsexpressedarethoseofcontributorsor
daughterof her need to give back every however I mustdisagree with her“hang your theeditoranddonotrepresentofficialpositions
singleyear, to the extent she can afford— head in shame Barnard"statement,as I also ofBarnardCollegeortheAlumnaeAssociationof
especially since she herselfwas the recipient Co)itimied on Page 71 BarnardCollege.Letterstotheeditor(150words
maximum),submissionsforLastWord(600words
maximum),andunsolicitedarticlesand/orphotographs
willbepublishedatthediscretionoftheeditorandwill
WRITE US beeditedforlengthandclarity.
The “sandwich generation" is often used to definethose people,very often women, ThecontactinformationlistedinClassNotesisfor
who are feeling squeezed between caring foraging parents and supporting their theexclusivepurposeofprovidinginformationforthe
children, notto mention thinking oftheirown retirement. Doyou consideryourself magazineandmaynotbeusedtoranyotherpurpose.
Foralumnaerelatedinquiries,callAlumnaeAffairsat
a member?Would you be willing to speak to awriterfrom Barnard aboutyour [email protected].
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2
PRESIDENT’S PAGE PhotographbySteveDeCanio
DEBORASPAR
FEAR OF
FAILING
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Erica Jong’s (Class of ’63) epic Fear ofFlying, a passionate and
explicit tale that broke the boundaries of feminine fiction. Before Jong, women were apparently allowed
to have sex, but not write about it. After Jong, with her detailed descriptions of sex and affairs and
desires, there was no going back.
Fear ofFlyinghit the bestseller lists in 1973, and remained there throughout 1974 and
1975, eventually going on to sell more than 18 million copies. Part ofwhat made the
book so popular, no doubt, was the sex. Indeed, asJong herselflater recalled, “[I]t
became the book teenagers read to learn about sex, the book women read to liberate
themselves, the book men read to learn about women.” (I know. It saved me from Dr.
Spock Talks to Six- to Twelve-Year Olds, my only prior resource.) The bigger impact
ofFlying, though, came from the vigor with whichJong separated sex from romance,
—
and marriage from the norm. Until Fear ofFlying or more precisely, until the shift
—
in social attitudes thatJong captured so emphatically women ofa certain age were
expected to fall in love, get married, and have babies, in that order. Afterward they
—
were free free to embrace excitement and to abandon what they were supposed to do
in favor ofwhat they desired.
Today, Flying, like most ofus, bears the undeniable mark ofits age. Its central
affair would register these days as a humdrum hook-up; its explicitness pales before
that ofgrocery-store bestsellers like the apparently infinite Shades ofGrey. Yet there
—
is still something about the book that I fear our current students miss a sense of
adventure, perhaps, or an embrace ofrisk that transcends sexuality. Demographically,
college students in 2013 are having considerably more sex than were their
counterparts in 1973. They are having sex earlier, with more partners, and with far
less commitment thanJong’s heroine could have imagined. What I sense they are
—
missing, though, is romance not just ofthe sexual sort, but the starting-out-in-life
sort. The sort that makes young women board slow-moving trains and find whatever
might await them.
Today, our students tend to travel along more precise tracks. Like students at
elite colleges and universities everywhere, they come to us with well-honed resumes
and years ofcollege preparation. They have taken dance classes and clarinet lessons;
launched nonprofits, organized science fairs, and studied endlessly for the SATs. Once
they arrive on campus, they throw themselves into even bigger whirlwinds ofactivity.
Clubs. Student government. Study groups. Many ofthem are double- or triple-
majors. Som—e undertake multiple internships. Very few, it seems, have time to catch
their breath much less to embark upon adventures that don’t lead to specific ends.
Sometimes I am awestruck by their energy and ambition. But sometimes I am sad.
Like when one extraordinary young woman nearly broke down in my office, worried
that her commitment to an incredible off-campus activity might drag her grade-point
average from an A- to a B+. Or when another confessed that the pressure ofit all was
pushing her to exhaustion. Some ofthis is natural, since college has always been a
busy time oflife. Some ofit, no doubt, is being prodded by the still-sullen state ofthe
economy. But some ofit, too, I fear, is being driven by this generation’s deep-seated
resistance to anything that falls short ofperfection.
This is the generation, after all, that grew up with attachment parenting and hours
ofeducational television. They grew up playing elementary-school soccer on teams
Continued on Page 71
BARNARDMAGAZINEWINTER20133
6
INSIDE
EDITOR'S LETTER
WHAT’S INSIDE
Oneof Barnard’s mostnoteworthy
institutions,The CenterforToddler
Development,celebrates its40th anniversary
thisyear.A radical ideain 1973,thecenter
has becomean importantresearch site
torearlychildhood development;toddlers
enrolled atthecenterareencouragedto
learnthrough creative play. Happily,the
JSuUneM2M3E-JRulyIN20THECITYPROGRAM JLuInBeE2R3A-LJuAnReT2S9INTENSIVE youngstersare alsoasure bellwetherof
Twocourses,admissionsandcareerworkshops,fieldtrips Onecoursefromavarietyoftopics,oneweek spring—whatis amorecheering sightthan
andfun asmattering ofsmalltryplaying onthe lawn
adjacenttoThe DianaCenter?
Retiredfederaljudge NancyGertner
found hertruecalling,the law,whileat
Barnard duringthetumultuous Sixties. Now
aprofessoratHarvard,Gertnerreviews her
careeras an activist, lawyer,andjudge in her
newbook,and admitswhatevercasewas
beingtried in hercourtroom,shealways had
an opinion butsteadfastlymaintained her
requisite impartialityonthe bench.
YOUNGWOMEN’SLEADERSHIPINSTITUTE DANCEINTHECITY HistoryProfessorHerbertE. Sloan
July7-July14 July7-July17 scrutinizesthe Constitution in aQ&Asession
Immersiveleadershipworkshops&interactiveWomen's Theory,NYCperformancesandtechniqueatAlvinAiley thatexaminesthedocumentthrough
Studiesprojects Extension
BARNARD thewriting offoundingfatherThomas
Jefferson,aboutwhomthe professorisan
acknowledged expert.Jefferson's ideaof
an always-changing Constitution remains
unaccepted, but his excoriations aboutpublic
NEW YORK and personal debtresonatetoday.
CITY
IN
Barnard’s sciencefacultymembers
encourage and offerincredibleopportunities
INPARTNERSHIPWITHCOLUMBIAUNIVERSITY
totheirstudents—advantageousteacher-
studentratios,advanced studies,amajor
research universityacross Broadway.The
researchersand scientiststhatgracethe
pagesofourphotoessayattesttothe
successoftheirefforts.Whydoesastudent
committoarigorous courseofstudyin the
“hard”sciences?Find outin ourpages.
Interested in onlinestudy? MaryGordon’s
onlinewebinarsdealingwiththe modern
novel drewdoublethe numberofexpected
NEW!ENTREPRENEURS-IN-TRAINING NEW!SUMMERSCIENCESEMINARS enrollees. Dowe lie? Doweever...review
July7-July1 June23-June29 whatProfessorDan Ariely’s research reveals.
Atransformativestartupbootcampforyoungwomen Interactiveclasses,science-relatedfieldtrips And wecan’twaittoseetheToddler
Center'schildren playing onthe lawn,either...
www.barnard.edu/summer
—The Editor
4
THROUGH THE GATES byLoisElfman'80 PhotographbyDorothyHong
.
’ STAFF
k
i
i
i
LINDA
BELL:
A.
NEW
PROVOST
AND DEAN
OF
THE FACULTY
Morningside Heights differs vastly from the rustic
surroundings in Pennsylvania where she’s spent most ofthe
last two decades, but despite a bit ofsensory overload, Linda
A. Bell finds the energy ofNew York and Barnard inspiring.
Previously the provost and theJohn B. Hurford Professor of
Economics at Haverford College, Bell began her new position
in October and has spent much ofher time meeting with
professors to learn more about their work. “Eve been having
discussions with the faculty about research, what kinds of
courses they’re teaching, their views on particular curricular
objectives, what their resources to support their research look
like, what their strengths as a department are, and some of
the challenges they face,” says Bell. “My desire ... is to learn
from them,” she adds. “The students and the faculty are the
College’s two most vital assets.”
As provost. Bell is Barnard’s chief academic officer, which
involves overseeing all academic departments, programs, and
“One of the joys of myjob at centers, as well as the library. One ofthe things she finds most exciting is the sense
ofcollaboration among faculty and departments, and the courses and research that
Barnard [is] the ability to interact
grow from these collaborations. “One ofthe unique things about working in an
with and learn from the alumnae. environment like Barnard, and one ofthe underlying missions ofmost small liberal
—
Those alumnae I’ve met are arts colleges they foster interdisciplinary conversation and interaction,” Bell says.
fantastic women who are doing “Interdisciplinary engagement requires resources both in terms oftime and financial
really interesting things and have resources. One ofthe ways in which Barnard faculty collaborate, is that they are
engaged and involved in cross-disciplinary pursuits.
a deep love and admiration for “You think in different directions,” she continues. “The beauty ofit is in the
the College that is inspirational.” unexpected interactions and all the discoveries that you didn’t know were out there.”
Bell hopes to enhance the emphasis that Barnard is able to place on student
scholarship and on close student-faculty interaction. She also plans to continue
—
developing one of Barnard’s unique features New York City-specific opportunities
for students both on and offcampus. On a personal level. Bell, her husband, and
two sons had been frequent visitors to New York before moving here, the family
enjoying museums, galleries, restaurants, and the energy so typical of a world
capital. She speaks enthusiastically about the city’s multiculturalism and the feeling
ofendless possibilities.
Bell is an empirical labor economist and her research has mostly been applied
work with a strong policy focus. She’s dealt extensively with issues ofgender in
the workplace and in society as a whole. “Standard theory in economics is that
— —
discrimination while it can exist in a moment in time cannot persist through
Continued on Page 71
BARNARDMAGAZINEWINTER20135
—
byAlyssaVine PhotographsbyDorothyHong
RECEPTION
FOND FAREWELLS
SAYING GOOD-BYE TO COLLEAGUES & FRIENDS
In December, a farewell celebration honored 15 longtime administrators and staff
—
who retired in 2012. With laughter, champagne, good food and plenty oftissues
as well as family and friends, colleagues said good-bye and offered special thanks
to these cherished members ofthe campus community. In her remarks, President
Debora Spar noted the impressive longevity oftheir service to the College: a
collective total of 365 years! Senior administrators and faculty members then spoke
about the individuals with whom they had worked closely, acknowledging their
dedication, professionalism, and good humor.
6
CALENDAROFEVENTS
F^3RU RY 10. ' PVI
jACKKEROUAC’S BILINGUALISM:
BIOGRAPHICALANDSCHOLARLY
PERSPECTIVES
APANELDISCUSSIONWITHHASSAN
MELEHYANDJOYCEJOHNSON'55
SulzbergerParlor,3rdFloorBarnardHall
JackKerouac'sOntheRoadbecameacultural
touchstoneforgenerationsofreaders,but
fewrealizethatKerouacbeganwritingitin
French.HassanMelehy,associateprofessorof
FrenchatUNC-ChapelHill,andJoyceJohnson,
authoroftwobooksaboutherrelationshipwith
Kerouac,willdiscussKerouacwithanemphasis
onlinguisticandculturaltranslation,
MARCH 1 ANDMARCH2
THESCHOLAR& FEMINIST: UTOPIA
ACONFERENCE
BarnardCollege
Imaginingutopiascanbeanimportantcatalyst
forchange.Atthisyear'sScholar&Feminist
Conference,academics,artists,andperformers
willcreateadynamicconversationaboutvisions
offeministfuturesthatspurmovementsand
powerongoingworkforjustice.Information&
registrationatbcrw.barnard.edu.
MARCH 11,8 PM
FRANCIS POULENC’S GLORIA
APERFORMANCEBYST.OLAF'SCHOIR
ANDTHEBARNARD-COLUMBIACHORUS
AliceTullyHall,LincolnCenter,Broadwayat
\N. 66thSt.
Premieringin 1961 inBoston,FrancisPoulenc's
masterfulchoralworkhasbecomeoneofthe
mostcelebratedmusicalinterpretationsofthe
RomanCatholicGloriainexcelsisDeo.The
Barnard-ColumbiaChorusjoinstheSt.Olaf's
Choirforthisspecialconcert.
MARCH 13,6:30PM
ACONVERSATION WITH CHRISTINE
QUINN
EventOval, TheDianaCenter
Sincetakingofficein 1999,Speakerofthe
NewYorkCityCouncilChristineQuinnhas
championedarangeofissues,including
marriageequality,affordablehousing,andmore.
JoinSpeakerQuinnforaconversationthatis
certaintoshedlightonthefutureofourcity.
MAY9,6:30PM
(Readfromleft)1 RetireeNellDlllon-Ermers,administrator,politicalsciencedepartment,withherhusband,Howard TTHHEETPOODWDELREROFCEPNLTAEYRFUTLULRENASRN40ING:
2SusanCohn'66,outgoinglongtimeexecutiveassistanttoDorothyUrmanDenburg'70andCohn'ssister,RuthStern HOWOUR CHILDREN REALLY LEARN
3leJavoisnegpthheLedSeapuatretrmernett,ir5edPfarrotmy-rgeoseidresntAinanllAivfeerasnad,hdoiurescitnogr.,4resBiidoelnotgiiaclallifsec,iaenndceDsoucgoolradsinMaatgoert,KrpyusrtcyhnaasiBnugchaanrdowstsokriesis TDHEEVEJLULOIPAMHEONTWELEWCATRUDRECHBIYLKDATHY
director6PatJacksonjoinedhersisterGwenWilliams,amanagerwhoisleavingtheprovost'soffice.7Professors
HIRSH-PASEK
DavidWeiman,RobertMcCaughey,andStephaniePfirmanatthereception8VivianTaylor,vicepresident,community
development,andBrendaSlade,director,healthservices,bothretired.9DeanoftheCollegeAvisHinksonspeakingat EventOval, TheDianaCenter
theevent10EnglishProfessorChristopherBaswellandAssociateDeanJamesRunsdorf,advisortothejuniorclass, Schoolsincreasinglytrimrecess,sayingthe
salutedtheirdepartingcolleagues.11 SaulDavis,director.ScienceandTechnologyEntryProgram(STEP),andRicky timeisbetterspentinacademicpursuits.But
White,associatecontroller,areleaving,12GailBeltrone,vicepresident,collegeservices,withoutgoingdirectorofmail statisticssuggestotherwise.KathyHirsh-
andprintservicesAlanAndersonCC'68,hiswife,Mary'70,son-in-lawEddieVenegas,anddaughterKarinVenegas13 Pasek,StanleyandDebraLefkowitzProfessor
Well-wishersKarenFairbanks,professorofprofessionalpractice,architecture,LindaBell,provost,andJenniferFondiller, ofPsychologyanddirectoroftheInfantand
deanofenrollmentmanagement LanguageLaboratoryatTempleUniversity,
RetireesnotattendingwereJohnAdams,STEPcounselor;SolletteBaker,humanresourcesmanager;KarenBlank, debunksthemyththatplayandlearningare
deanofstudies;SusanLee,seniorassociatedirector,financialaid;andSusanQuinby,director,disabilityservices. incompatible.
Fullcalendarofeventsatbarnard.edu/calendar
BARNARDMAGAZINEWINTER20137
—
byMelissaPhipps IllustrationbyPingZhu
LECTURE
TRUTH & THE
CONSEQUENCES
BEHAVIORAL ECONOMIST DAN ARIELY INVESTIGATES
HONESTY & (DIS)HONESTY
Ever hearthejoke about the kid who comes home from school
with a note from his teacher? He’s in trouble for stealing a
pencil from the boy sitting beside him. His dad is furious.
“Why would you steal a pencil? It’s wrong,” says Dad. “Ifyou
need a pencil, just tell me. I have dozens ofpencils I can bring
home from the office!”
—
This is just one of Dan Ariely’s anecdotes sometimes
—
raunchy, sometimes biblical illustrating how easy it is
to rationalize one’s own dishonesty. During a lecture at
Barnard’s Diana Center, Ariely, who is theJames B. Duke
Professor ofPsychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke
University, shared some ofhis fascinating experiments
designed to make sense ofwhy humans act the way they do.
His bestselling books. Predictably Irrational and The Upside of
Irratio?iality, explore the notion that we are not as reasonable
as we may think. His latest book, The (Honest) Truth About
—
Dishonesty: Hozv UT Lie to Everyone Especially Ourselves,
offers insights into how and why we all regularly lie or cheat,
sometimes without even thinking about it.
Ariely is among the growing ranks ofthinkers, authors, and
—
speakers among them Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point),
Steven Levitt (Freakonomics), and Daniel Kahneman (Thinking,
—
Fast and Slow) bringing economic concepts to popular
culture. To understand the professor fully is to experience him
as a personality. He only started writing research-based books
to garner interest in the experimental cookbook he’s wanted to
write for years Dining Without Crumbs: TheArt ofEating Over the Kitchen Sink is
his next project. But his engaging research and creative storytelling struck a nerve.
A favorite on lecture circuits, millions ofpeople have watched Ariely’s TED talks
and other videos on YouTube. He writes the “Ask Dan Ariely” advice column for
The \Xdll StreetJournal, and is the founder of a research organization called The
Center for Advanced Hindsight. One online fan sums up the appeal: Ariely is the
kind ofguy you want to hang out with. His heartbreaking backstory ofsuffering
third-degree burns over much ofhis body as a young man still informs his work.
The painful and often irrational treatments he was forced to endure led to an
interest in human behaviors and motivations.
He began his Diana Center lecture with some rational questions that people
rarely ask themselves: “How many people have lied in 2012?” and “Have you lied in
the past week?” Many members ofthe crowd kept hands raised for both questions.
“The reality is we lie a lot,” he said. “At the same time, how many ofyou think of
yourselves in general as wonderful, honest people? Probably most ofus.”
“Today it’s easy for us to be dishonest to a larger degree without thinking of
8