Faculty News Briefs

David Schmitz, Robert Allen Skotheim chair of history, was interviewed last week by NPR for a Web story titled “Events, Not Ideals, Dictate U.S. Stance on Strongmen.” It explores meetings President Obama has taken with leaders of nations led by dictators, highlighting the criticism the president has received for his recent meeting with President Ali Ben Bongo of Gabon. Based on having authored two books on U.S. Relations with “right-wing dictators,” Schmitz is quoted in the section of the article that spotlights relations with Vietnam.

Kristin Vining, music assistant, has written an original operetta titled “Alice in Wonderland,” “a contemporary youth opera written with developing voices in mind,” for the 2011 Opera Camp Workshop hosted by Walla Walla High School. The workshop, to be held August 1-6, is geared towards students 13 and above and is described as “an intensive summer repertory experience.” A culminating performance will be held on August 6 at 7 p.m. at the Wa-Hi Performing Arts Auditorium.

How I spent my summer vacation

Click to enlarge

Idalee Hutson-Fish, adjunct instructor of dance, writes, “I’m off on another wild adventure in Italy.” She is spending her summer traveling around Italy on a dance tour with 11 students from The Dance Center. Kate Kight ’13 is serving as her travel companion and personal assistant during the two week tour, which will include performances in Florence, Fermo and Ladispoli. After the tour, the two will travel to site such as Pompeii and Heracleum which relate to Kight’s interests as a classics major. At right, a poster for their performance at the Bargello National Museum in Florence.

Chemistry in Art Workshop

This week, June 19-24, Whitman again will host the National Science Foundation-sponsored "Chemistry in Art" workshop as part of the Center for Workshops in the Chemical Sciences (CWCS) series.

There will be 24 chemistry professors, art professors and museum conservators from all over the country attending. They will use two classrooms in the Hall of Science (140, 138) and three labs (240, 242, 251).

Deberah Simon, workshop host and senior lecturer of chemistry, says, “If you see new faces in the science building at all hours for the next week, you’ll know why they’re all here.”

Parting Shot
By Greg Lehman, photographer/communications officer

I caught this seemingly mystical, magical scene of a developing rainbow over the Memorial Building from the roof of Cordiner Hall. Full size.

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