Archives: May 2005

May 27, 2005

Varmus '61 elected to Royal Society

Harold Varmus ‘61, former chairman of the National Institutes of Health and 1989 Nobel Laureate, has been honored with another accolade: he is now a fellow of the Royal Society, “the independent scientific academy of the UK dedicated to promoting...

Brian Meacham '97 at 10:47 PM

Two!

With two events remaining, Amherst’s women’s track team has already had its most successful NCAA meet ever, with two national champions. On Thursday night, Carter Hamill ‘05 demolished the field in the 10,000m, winning by over a minute in 34:00.43,...

Parker Morse '96 at 09:21 PM | Comments (1)

May 26, 2005

Pouncey interviewed

Past president Peter Pouncey was interviewed in the Wednesday, May 25 Daily Hampshire Gazette (paid subscription required) about his new novel, Rules for Old Men Waiting. Pouncey’s book has received many positive, and some glowing, reviews.

Parker Morse '96 at 01:31 PM

Hamill '05 to defend NCAA title

It is not often that we get to write about Amherst alumni contending for national championships.

Parker Morse '96 at 11:44 AM | Comments (1)

May 25, 2005

Diver '65: "I feel sorry for you"

While Amherst has, in our memory, not lacked for presidents capable of delivering a good Commencement address, we’re becoming fans of Colin S. Diver ‘65, president of Reed College in Portland, Oregon, whose annual “remarks” introduce Reed’s primary speaker. Diver’s...

Parker Morse '96 at 09:59 PM

Serial intern (a What Next Story)

A few weeks ago, we posted the first in a series of stories we’re calling the What Next Stories—the unusual routes taken by Amherst graduates without a clear path at graduation. As Amherst magazines arrive in our mailboxes and we...

Parker Morse '96 at 09:49 PM

May 23, 2005

Commencement news and photos

Yesterday’s 184th Commencement was a wet and cold affair, according to news reports and photos. Anyone attend in person and care to give a first-hand account? Springfield Republicanreports on commencement speaker John Porciau ‘05 and President Anthony Marx’s addresses. The...

Brian Meacham '97 at 03:32 PM | Comments (3)

May 21, 2005

Boston sportscaster sues Conley '94 over "Fuzzy"

Bob Lobel, dean of Boston sportscasters, has filed a libel suit against Darby Conley ‘94 for what Lobel’s lawyer calls “false and malicious libel of and concerning Lobel.” The May 13 “Get Fuzzy” comic, which has been removed from the...

Brian Meacham '97 at 05:50 PM

Commencement tomorrow, honorands announced

Amherst College will hold its 184th Commencement Exercises this weekend, with graduation and the conferring of honorary degrees to take place tomorrow on the freshman quad, weather permitting. Honorary degree recipients this year include Kazuo Asakai ‘67, Japan’s ambassador to...

Brian Meacham '97 at 09:55 AM

May 20, 2005

Amherst Magazine on Amherstiana

The Spring 2005 issue of the Amherst Magazine has just been mailed out and updated online, and, among other things, it features an article about Amherst memorabilia and eBay. The article, titled “Wild, Wild Web: The Hunt for Amherst on...

Brian Meacham '97 at 04:45 PM

May 19, 2005

New Heights for Fox '97

Heights, the new film written by Amy Fox ‘97, will open in theaters June 17. The film premiered at Sundance in January, and features Glenn Close, Elizabeth Banks, James Marsden, and Jesse Bradford. Fox was commissioned by producer Ismail Merchant...

Brian Meacham '97 at 10:53 AM | Comments (1)

May 18, 2005

Next steps in the RMP

With the [new James and Stearns][1] looking ready for occupancy next fall, and the [Geology building][2] emerging from its wraps, the Residential Master Plan seems to be close to completion, at least as concerns new construction.

Parker Morse '96 at 10:07 AM

May 17, 2005

The new Geology building emerges

While the east and south faces of the new Geology building remain largely shrouded, the scaffolding has come off the north and west sides. Am’erst swung by this afternoon and took some pictures for the benefit of those who aren’t...

Parker Morse '96 at 10:13 PM

May 16, 2005

Amherst '05s talk about September 11

An ABC News story talks to two members of the Class of 2005 about their memories of September 11, 2001, near the beginning of their freshman year. Margaret Cahoon ‘05 and Paige Wallace ‘05 were among the students from colleges...

Brian Meacham '97 at 06:24 PM

May 15, 2005

The best time of year

Finals were over on Friday, and tomorrow the B&G crews will begin clearing the dorms in preparation for next weekend’s Commencement and the following Alumni Weekend. I noted the full dumpsters in a post on flashesofpanic.com. The town is otherwise...

Parker Morse '96 at 12:29 PM

May 13, 2005

Harris '73 fulfilling "duty" of public service

The Chatham Courier of New Jersey reports that Bruce Harris CLASS YEAR TK, appointed to the city council last year to fill out the term of another councillor who was elected mayor, is running for a full term. Harris told the Courier, “My parents were always involved in community activities, … I see running for public office as part of a tradition in my family that I wanted to maintain.

Parker Morse '96 at 01:17 PM

Mandela scholars coming to Amherst, unlike Mandela

News outlets today are buzzing with reports of Nelson Mandela’s “early Commencement” honorary degree from the College, awarded yesterday in New York City.

Parker Morse '96 at 11:54 AM

May 12, 2005

I graduated, what next?

Via “send,” planworld reader Laurel Kilgour ‘03 notes, “It’s that time of the year again in which the plans from seniors turn into frantic freakouts about being jobless, directionless, or both.” And while it’s been a few years, we remember...

Parker Morse '96 at 07:41 PM

May 09, 2005

Dean Parker on minority applicants

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Tom Parker is quoted in a Boston Globe “Campus Insider” article about the number of African-American students in Amherst’s recent freshman classes. Parker explained the relatively small number of black students in the class...

Brian Meacham '97 at 09:57 PM

May 08, 2005

Gov. Freudenthal '73

Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal ‘73 delivered the commencement address at the University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences graduation ceremony yesterday. Gov. Freudenthal described graduation season as a time that “restores my faith in the future. When I look...

Brian Meacham '97 at 07:29 PM

May 07, 2005

Conley '94 on language

“Get Fuzzy,” the nationally syndicated comic strip by Darby Conley ‘94, is featured in an article about language in comic strips by Roger Vanharan of Wisconsin’s Beaver Dam Daily Citizen this week. He talks first about a memorable “Calvin &...

Brian Meacham '97 at 09:15 AM

May 06, 2005

Dunbar '44 dies

The College website has a brief “In Memoriam” posted for Professor Emeritus Henry Dunbar ‘44, who died yesterday (May 5th).

Parker Morse '96 at 03:25 PM | Comments (1)

May 05, 2005

Producer Chuck Pratt '49 passes away

Charles A. Pratt ‘49, producer of such classics of ’70s American cinema as Willard (1971), Walking Tall (1973), and The Great Santini (1979), has died at the age of 81. Pratt was born in Chicago in 1923, and after attending...

Brian Meacham '97 at 11:37 PM

May 03, 2005

New book news

The Innocent, the new novel from Harlan Coben ‘84, is reviewed in the Detroit Free Press this week. In other book news, the next book from Scott Turow ‘70, a World War II-era legal thriller titled Ordinary Heroes, is eagerly...

Brian Meacham '97 at 04:47 PM

May 02, 2005

Conover '80 on Courtroom 302

In yesterday’s New York Times Sunday Book Review, Ted Conover ‘80 Books | Sunday Book Review ” ‘Courtroom 302’: The Wobbly Wheels of Justice” href=”http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/books/review/01CONOVER.html?”>reviews Steven Bogira’s new book Courtroom 302: A Year Behind the Scenes in an American Criminal...

Brian Meacham '97 at 10:32 PM

Jeffrey Wright's summer plans

In her Summer Movie Preview, the Denver Post’s Lisa Kennedy names Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers “Best Ensemble.” The cast behind this honor is led by Bill Murray, and includes Julie Delpy, Jessica Lange, as well as Jeffrey Wright ‘87 as...