Dedication of Asian Studies Center to include art of the tea ceremony

Campus community members are invited to attend the dedication of the new Asian Studies Center, Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m., in the East Wing of Olin Hall. The event will include a tea ceremony in the Chikurakken, or “Enjoying the Bamboo Room,” which was designed by Akira R. Takemoto, “sensei” and assistant professor of foreign languages and literatures – Japanese. Whitman’s Chikurakken is one of the only functioning tea spaces in the United States. It replaces the space in Sheehan Gallery previously used for tea ceremonies.

Note another change of scenery for Sensei Takemoto: he has moved to a new office, Olin 114, next door to the tea room. Visitors will no longer find him on the third floor.

Pictured: Takemoto and Noriko Omoto, native speaker, Tekisuijuku, demonstrate the art of the tea ceremony on the newly-constructed tea space.

Flu update: six-week cycle, vaccine and your “flu I.Q.”

The six-week cycle of flu-like illness leads the current news from the American College Health Association: "Waves of ILI appear to occur in local and regional areas over a six to seven week time interval. Many outbreaks will have waned significantly by the time H1N1 vaccine becomes widely available. Therefore, the next two to three months represent a critical period for achieving high rates of vaccination among college students before the next wave starts this winter," according to Dr. James C. Turner, president of the American College Health Association and executive director of the department of student health at the University of Virginia.

Vaccine update -- The Walla Wall Health Department reports that the H1N1 vaccine will not be available until December.

What’s your “Flu IQ? You can test yourself by taking the Flu IQ Quiz.

Faculty accomplishments

Kate Jackson, assistant professor of biology, and her Congolese students have discovered an amphisbaenid that is commonly called a "worm lizard." But in fact, says Jackson, it is neither worm nor lizard nor snake, but rather occupies its own group of elongate, limbless reptiles. The creature collected by Jackson and her students is double the maximum length of any amphisbaenid ever collected in Africa.

“Amphisbaenids are fossorial (burrowing) and can be found by digging up soil or, better still, garbage dumps,” said Jackson, who is on sabbatical this semester. “This specimen was collected near the village of Mayongongo in the Republic of Congo. We are in the process of writing this specimen up as a new species.”

October issue of Penrose Library newsletter online

Featuring news of technology and collection updates, new staff and more, the October 2009 issue of the Penrose Primer is available online.

Coming Events
All free unless otherwise noted

Monday, Oct. 19 – Saturday, Oct. 24
Canada Week – Opens with a belated celebration of Canadian Thanksgiving, which will feature turkey and Québecois cuisine. Regular meal plans and fees apply. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Prentiss Dining Hall. Click here for the complete schedule of Canada Week events.

Tuesday, Oct. 20
“From Where I Stand” – the lunchtime series on viewpoints about race and ethnicity, returns. Jason Pribilsky, associate professor of anthropology, will moderate the first conversation, on the topic of “Race and Language.” Participating faculty include Zahi Zaloua, foreign languages and literatures-French; Kay Fenimore-Smith, education; and Heidi Dobson, biology. Noon in Olin 130. RSVP to Maggi Banderas at banderm@whitman.edu.

Tuesday, Oct. 20
Discussion: “Corn not Coca: US Trade Policy in Colombia and Communities of Resistance,” part of the Witness for Peace Speaker Tour, will feature a discussion with Rafael Coicue, indigenous leader and human rights coordinator from Southern Colombia. The presentation will take a look at the war on drugs, free trade agreements and the non-violent social movements organizing for sovereignty and justice in Colombia. 7:30 p.m., Olin 245.

Thursday, Oct. 22
Reading: The Visiting Writers Reading Series opens the 2009-2010 season with a reading by poet Wayne Miller. 7 p.m., Kimball Theatre, Hunter Conservatory.

Thursday, Oct. 22
Dedication: the college’s new Asian Studies Center and Tea Room will be dedicated Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in Room E110, Olin East. Open to the public.

Thursday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 25
Theater: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. A “pair of star-crossed lovers” defy their families, risking all they have to be together. Shakespeare’s tragic romance, rich in poetry, atmosphere and dramatic events, transcends the ages, and is as alive today as it was 400 years ago. Alexander Stage. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Call Box Office at x5180 for reservations. Season tickets on sale through Oct. 30.

Friday, Oct. 23
Music Recital: Fridays at Four series presents the Ron Eustis Jazz Combo, 4 p.m., Kimball Theatre, Hunter Conservatory. x5232.

Friday, Oct 23
Concert: The Whitman Sampler Concert, presented by the Hall of Music, 7 p.m., Cordiner Hall. x5232.

Save the dates

Tuesday, Oct. 27
Lecture: Jenik Radon, visiting O’Donnell professor, will be speaking on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. He will present “German Reunification, German Unity: What it means for me personally, for Germany, and for the world.” 7 p.m., Olin 130. Reception to follow at the German House.

Thursday, Oct. 29
Skotheim Lecture: Patrick Manning will present “The African Diaspora and the Emergence of the Modern World.” A specialist in world history and African history, his current research addresses global historiography, early human history, migration in world history, the African diaspora, and the demography of African slavery. 7:30 p.m., Olin 130.

Parting Shot
By Greg Lehman, photographer/communications officer

Andrew Strong ’13 multi-tasks during lunch on the Reid lawn Friday, researching for the club Action for Animals.   Full size.

The Fountain is published by the Office of Communications. Send news to Editor Lenel Parish at thefountain@whitman.edu. Photos are accepted. Submissions are due by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for the following week's issue. Director of Communications: Ruth Wardwell. Online: www.whitman.edu/fountain