The Nelda K. Balch Festival Playhouse will present the Pulitzer Prize winning drama “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry from Feb. 23-26 at the Playhouse, 129 Thompson St., in Kalamazoo. Karen Berthel will direct the show in keeping with the season’s theme, “Broadway Firsts: Stories of ‘Outsider’ Cultural Landmarks in American Theatre.”
The play follows the Youngers, a poor African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. Lena, the family’s matriarch, receives an insurance check when her husband dies. Lena wants to use the money to buy a house. However, her son, Walter, would rather quit his job as a chauffeur and invest the money in a liquor store. The family’s tragedy is that everyone fails to see how achieving their individual dreams might cost others theirs.
Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, and was the first with a black director. The New York Drama Critics’ Circle named it the best play of 1959. Kalamazoo College students Quincy Crosby ’17, Tricia LaCaze ’18, Shown Powell ’18 and Donovan Williams ’20 are among the actors featured.
The shows start at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23-25 and 2 p.m. Feb. 26. Kalamazoo College students, faculty and staff are admitted free with their school ID. The general public may call the Playhouse box office at 269-337-7333 for tickets. Reservations are encouraged.
Kalamazoo College will continue a tradition of supporting student-written and -directed plays in the Senior Performance Series from Feb. 9-12 at the Nelda K. Balch Festival Playhouse’s Dungeon Theatre, 139 Thompson St., Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo College will present its Senior Performance Series from Feb. 9-12, 2017.
Shows will take place at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-11 and 2 p.m. Feb. 12. This year’s plays are:
“Stuck in Neutral,” written by Kyle Lampar and directed by Thaddeus Buttrey. A young man tries to put a traumatic experience behind him during his first day as an Uber driver;
“Piss & Vinegar,” written by Camille Wood and directed by Clapton Marquis. Four teenagers seek the truth behind a sinister scandal during their suburban summer vacation;
“Gruesome Playground Injuries,” written by Rajiv Joseph and directed by Aidan Ives-Johnson. Two “scar-crossed lovers” are intertwined through their internal and external injuries;
“101 Humiliating Stories,” co-produced by Madison Donoho and Emma Franzel. Two women journey through embarrassment and laughter in this comedy about success, and the
ever-inspiring Sigourney Weaver.
Please note all Senior Performance Series plays contain mature subject matter and language. Tickets for the general public are $5. K students are admitted free.
Kalamazoo College faculty, staff and students are invited to an Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 Master Plan Meeting on Tuesday, January 31, at 6 p.m. in the Mandelle Hall Olmsted Room. That meeting is one of 12 neighborhood gatherings being organized by the city. Each meeting focuses on a specific neighborhood and provides an opportunity for participants to share input on where they live, work or play. The hands-on activities and small discussion groups that characterize these open-house style meetings allow participants describe the improvements they’d like to see and the priority of projects they consider optimal. Some of the topics for the Kalamazoo College/West Main Hill neighborhood meeting will be: pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; vehicular management (including on-street parking and traffic calming; M-43/West Main; West Michigan Avenue at M-43/West Main; West Michigan Avenue Lovell Street. Questions on this meeting or the Imagine Kalamazoo process can be sent to Christina (Dudek) Anderson ’98.
Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College will participate in the national Ghostlight Project on January 19, 2017. The event will unite more than 500 theatres, ensembles and companies, and high school and university theatre programs in a pledge to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone–regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis) ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
On that day before the U.S. presidential inauguration, “we invite the public to gather outside the Nelda K. Balch Playhouse no later than 5:25 p.m.,” said Ed Menta, the James A.B. Stone Professor of Theatre at K. “We will enter the theatre together and then turn on our lights (a cell phone or flashlight) in solidarity, tolerance and ritual connection to theatres cross the United States. We are especially proud that class of 1983 alumna Lisa Kron is one of the developers of the event at the national level.”
Festival Playhouse will participate with other members of Theatre Kalamazoo, the consortium of theaters in Kalamazoo County. According to Ed, the symbolism is inspired by the theatrical tradition of keeping illuminated a “ghost light” in a darkened theatre. “We create light for the challenging times ahead,” he said.
“Theatre is never apolitical,” he added. “And throughout history–from Greek tragedy to the WPA’s Federal Theatre Project to the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa–plays and performances have helped create conditions for political and social change.”
The Nelda K. Balch Playhouse is located on the campus of Kalamazoo College, on the corner of Academy and Thompson Streets, near the parking lot between the Light Fine Arts building and the Dow Science Center.
What does the annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.–his achievements and his ideas–mean for the present moment, what K students’ might term “our moment?” How should his spirit apply–in imagination, in word, in action–to their now and their future?
These are questions posed by and to students by and to the College’s Intercultural Center. The answers to those questions (both continually developing) will inform Kalamazoo College’s 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation on January 16, 2017.
As in the past, K’s activities will be part of various city events on that day. The 2017 MLK celebration Kalamazoo-wide theme is “The Transformative Power of a Unified Dream.”
Director of Intercultural Student Life (ISL) Natalia Carvalho-Pinto and students worked together to shape a celebration that creates opportunities to “consider what transformative power and resistance mean for new generations,” says Carvalho-Pinto. The ISL theme for this year’s K events is “Transformative Power and Resistance in the New Century: What Does ‘The Dream’ Look like Today?”
The day will feature four events, beginning with a convocation address by poet Danez Smith (10:50 a.m. in Stetson Chapel). The title of his talk is the same as the theme for K’s events, and it is free and open to the public.
Smith is the award-winning author of [insert] Boy (YesYes Books, 2014) and hands on ya knees (Penmanship Books, 2013), and he is a founding member of the multi-genre, multicultural Dark Noise Collective. His writing has appeared in Poetry, Ploughshares, Beloit Poetry Journal, and Kinfolks, among others.
His poems focus on intersecting matters of race, class, sexuality, faith and social justice, and it is characterized by a power, rhythm and imagery that invites and demands a reimagining of the world.
Smith then will lead a poetry workshop (12:30 p.m. Hicks Banquet Room, lunch provided) that is open to K students only. The workshop–titled “Future Tense: Poetry as Blueprint”–will explore the use of poetry to imagine realistic utopias in the not so distant future, and how those futures can allow us to reverse engineer the steps we would need to take to make them. “By looking at speculative worlds of some of today’s young poets of color,” says Carvalho-Pinto, “the workshop will inspire us toward change, possibility, action, dreaming and building the worlds we deserve.”
At 4 p.m. (gathering at Red Square) K students, faculty and staff will join their counterparts from Western Michigan University to walk to Martin Luther King Jr. Park in downtown Kalamazoo. Transportation back to K’s campus will be provided.
The afternoon’s poetry workshop will culminate at 6:30 p.m. with a reading in the Intercultural Center (Hicks). Students will share relevant writings and reflections–their own and that of others, some perhaps written that day during the workshop–about the day’s theme and celebrations. “The potential power of this event is extraordinary,” says Carvalho-Pinto. “We did this at Ferris [State University], and it was one of my favorite events.” The reading is open to the entire Kalamazoo College community, as is the film that will follow at 7:30 p.m. ISL has tentatively scheduled a screening of The Rosa Parks Story (starring Angela Bassett).
“We’re very excited about this year’s events,” says Carvalho-Pinto, “especially their potential to get us thinking about how what we celebrate on this day should infuse our present and future. And I’m particularly thrilled that Danez Smith will be a part.”
***
if you press your ear to the dirt
you can hear it hum, not like it’s filled
with beetles & other low gods
but like a mouth rot with gospel
& other glories. listen to the dirt
crescendo a boy back.
come. celebrate. this
is everyday. every day
holy. everyday high
holiday. everyday new
year. every year, days get longer.
time clogged with boys. the boys
O the boys. they still come
in droves. the old world
keeps choking them. our new one
can’t stop spitting them out.
-from “summer, somewhere,” by Danez Smith, Poetry, January 2016
Honors Day soloist Lauren Landman and President Jorge Gonzalez
Kalamazoo College Family Weekend served as backdrop for the College’s annual Honors Day convocation. More than 250 students were recognized for excellence in academics and leadership in six divisions: Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences and Physical Education. Recipients of prestigious scholarships were recognized as were members of national honor societies and students who received special Kalamazoo College recognition awards. In addition, student athletes and teams who have won Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association awards were feted. The students who received awards or recognition are listed below.
FINE ARTS DIVISION
THE BRIAN GOUGEON PRIZE IN ART, awarded to a sophomore student who, during his or her first year, exhibited outstanding achievement and potential in art. Kaiya Herman-Hilker Qynce Chumley
LILLIAN PRINGLE BALDAUF PRIZE IN MUSIC, awarded to an outstanding music student. John Bowman Christopher Coburn Matthew Peters Madeline Lauver
COOPER AWARD for a junior or senior showing excellence in a piece of creative work in a theatre arts class: film, acting, design, stagecraft, puppetry, speech. Quincy Crosby
THEATRE ARTS FIRST-YEAR STUDENT AWARD, given to a sophomore for outstanding departmental efforts during the first year. Kate Kreiss Robert Davis Maren Prophit Louise Thomas
FOREIGN LANGUAGES DIVISION
LeGRAND COPLEY PRIZE IN FRENCH, awarded to a sophomore who, as a first-year student, demonstrated the greatest achievement in French. Lauren Arquette Danny Horwitz
HARDY FUCHS AWARD, given for excellence in first-year German. Emma Eisenbeis
MARGO LIGHT AWARD, given for excellence in second- or third-year German. Eric Thornburg
ROMANCE LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT PRIZE IN SPANISH, awarded for excellence in the first year in Spanish. Kate Kreiss Daniel Cho
CLARA H. BUCKLEY PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN LATIN, awarded to an outstanding student of the language of the ancient Romans. Emma Peters
CLASSICS DEPARTMENT PRIZE IN GREEK, awarded to an outstanding student in the language of the ancient Greeks. Brittany Jones
PROVOST’S PRIZE IN CLASSICS, awarded to that student who writes the best essay on a classical subject. Danielle Gin
HUMANITIES DIVISION
O.M. ALLEN PRIZE IN ENGLISH, given for the best essay written by a member of the first-year class. Kate Kreiss
JOHN B. WICKSTROM PRIZE IN HISTORY, awarded for excellence in the first year’s work in history. Mackenzie Callahan
L.J. AND EVA (“GIBBIE”) HEMMES MEMORIAL PRIZE IN PHILOSOPHY, awarded to that sophomore who, in the first year, showed the greatest promise for continuing studies in philosophy. Katherine Bennett Garrett Sander
NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS DIVISION
WINIFRED PEAKE JONES PRIZE IN BIOLOGY, awarded for excellence in the first year’s work in biology. Min Soo Kim Cydney Martell Maggie Smith
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY PRIZE, awarded for excellence in the first year’s work in chemistry. Meghan Horal
FIRST-YEAR CHEMISTRY AWARD, awarded to a sophomore student who, during the first year, demonstrated great achievement in chemistry. Anthony Diep Nicholas Ludka
LEMUEL F. SMITH AWARD, given to a student majoring in chemistry, pursuing the American Chemical Society approved curriculum, and having at the end of the junior year the highest average standing in courses taken in chemistry, physics and mathematics. Collin Steen
COMPUTER SCIENCE PRIZE, awarded for excellence in the first year’s work in computer science. Hans Wieland
FIRST-YEAR MATHEMATICS AWARD, given annually to the sophomore student who, during the first year, demonstrated the greatest achievement in mathematics. Dahwi Kim
Allegra Allgeier
THOMAS O. WALTON PRIZE IN MATHEMATICS, awarded to a member of the junior class for excellence in the work of the first two years in mathematics. Abhay Goel
COOPER PRIZE IN PHYSICS, given for excellence in the first year’s work in physics. Kayla Park Ricardo DelOlmo-Parrado
SOCIAL SCIENCES DIVISION
DEPARTMENTAL PRIZE IN ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY, awarded for excellence during the first and/or second year’s work. Paige Tobin Meghan Horal Hannah Muscara Adam Edery Benjamin Smith
C. WALLACE LAWRENCE PRIZE IN ECONOMICS, awarded annually to a economics student who has done outstanding work in the Department of Economics and Business during the sophomore year. Maria Franco Hannah Kline Logan Smith
C. WALLACE LAWRENCE PRIZE IN BUSINESS, awarded annually to a business student who has done outstanding work in the Department of Economics and Business during the sophomore year. Cody Colvin Jacob Wasko Alex White
IRENE AND S. KYLE MORRIS PRIZE, awarded for excellence in the first year’s courses in the Department of Economics and Business. Christopher Coburn Rachel Frank Evelyn Wagner
WILLIAM G. HOWARD MEMORIAL PRIZE, awarded for excellence in any year’s work in political science. Lauren Arquette
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY FIRST-YEAR STUDENT PRIZE, awarded for excellence in the first year’s work in psychology. Michelle Alba
MARSHALL HALLOCK BRENNER PRIZE, given by the family and friends in memory of Marshall Hallock Brenner, class of 1955, to be awarded to an outstanding junior for excellence in the study of psychology. Kyle Hernandez
PHYSICAL EDUCATION DIVISION
DIVISION OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION PRIZE, awarded to those students who, as first-year students, best combined leadership and scholarship in promoting athletics, physical education and recreation. Jordan Wiley Amanda Moss Cheyenne Allyn-White
MAGGIE WARDLE PRIZE, awarded to that sophomore woman whose activities at the College reflect the values that Maggie Wardle demonstrated in her own life. The recipient will show a breadth of involvement in the College through her commitment to athletics and to the social sciences and/or community service. Malak Ghazal
COLLEGE AWARDS
GORDON BEAUMONT MEMORIAL AWARD, awarded to the student who displays qualities of selflessness, humanitarian concern and a willingness to help others, as exemplified in the life of Gordon Beaumont. Sarah Bragg Mireya Guzman-Ortiz
HENRY AND INEZ BROWN PRIZE, awarded in recognition of outstanding participation in the College community. Sidney Wall
VIRGINIA HINKELMAN MEMORIAL AWARD, awarded to a student who displays a deep concern for the well-being of children, as demonstrated through career goals in the field of child welfare. Moises Hernandez
HEYL SCHOLARS – CLASS OF 2020
Taylor Ashby Kento Hirakawa Matthew Krinock Samuel Maddox Shukrani Nsenga Michael Orwin Marjorie Wolfe Julie Zabik
POSSE SCHOLARS – CLASS OF 2020
Iffat Chowdhury Fabien Debies Neelam Lal Madisyn mahoney Israel Mazas Joseph Ney-Jun Melissa Pasillas Cesar Soria Gabriel Ugarte Raphaela Varella
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR – CLASS OF 2020
John Patton
ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA – CLASS OF 2019
Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society that recognizes excellence in academic achievement during the first college year. To be eligible for membership, students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and be in the top 20 percent of their class during the first year.
Lauren Arquette Meredith Ashton Max Aulbach Katherine Bennett Kevin Bhimani Emily Boyle Moly Brueger Mackenzie Callahan Tapiwa Chikungwa Heeseong Cho Jennifer Cho Christopher Coburn Ricardo DelOlmo-Parrado Anthony Diep Emma Eisenbeis McKinzie Ervin Alex Fairhall Rachel Frank Ian Freshwater Sarah George Natalie Gratsch Claire Greening Meghan Horal Sadie Jackson Min Soo Kim Mackenzie Landman Madeline Lauver Hyunyn Lim Sara Lonsberry Nicholas Ludka Cydney Martell Abigail McDonough Jacob Mooradian Emma Mullenax Kayla Park Andrew Parsons Cecilia Ringo Skylar Rizzolo Scott Roberts Timothy Rutledge Austin Smith Benjamin Smith Margaret Smith Natalie Thompson Evenly Wagner Ailih Weeldreyer
ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP AWARDS
ARCUS CENTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP Donovan Williams
CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN JOURNALISM Emiliana Renuart Maia Taylor
CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN MUSIC Anna Christinidis Liam Fries Joshua Gibson Kathryn Martin Boemin Park Orly Rubinfeld
CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN VISUAL ARTS Georgie Andrews Brianna Burnell Lizi Chinchilakashvili Nutsa Chinchilakashvili
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Lakshya Choudhary Shiva Sah
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM AND SUSTAINABILITY Aiden Voss Madeline Ward
MICHIGAN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (MIAA) AWARDS
The following Hornet teams earned the 2015-2016 MIAA Team GPA Award. Team members achieved a 3.3 or better grade point average for the entire academic year.
The MIAA each year honors students at member colleges who achieve distinction on the classroom and in athletic competition. Students need to be a letter winner in a varsity sport and maintain at minimum 3.5 grade point average for the entire school year.
Michael Allen Kelsey Adamski Ryan Andrusz Elizabeth Arellano Lauren Arquette Alberto Ayala Sonal Bahl Victoria Beehler Kennedy Boulton Riley Boyd Allie Brodsky Molly Brueger Thomas Bryant Hayley Buckhout Matthew Burczyk Janice Burnett Alex Cadigan Kathryn Callaghan Olivia Cares Charlie Carson Katherine Cebelak Madeleine Chilcote Cody Colvin Anthony Convertino Anna Dairaghi Christina Dandar Elan Dantus Sabrina Dass Eric De Witt Ricardo DelOlmo-Parrado Dana DeVito Cecilia DiFranco Mikayla Doepker Guillermo Dominguez Garcia Alivia DuQuet Erin DuRoss John Dynes Charles Edick Emma Eisenbeis Rachel Epstein Angelia Evangelista Kevin Ewing Andrew Feeley George Fishback Matthew Fitz Chris Francis Maria Franco Ian Freshwater Brett Garwood Sarah George Camille Giacobone Emily Good Evan Gorgas Monica Gorgas Kyle Hahn Griffin Hamel Jordan Henning Kaiya Herman-Hilker Kyle Hernandez Samantha Hicks Megan Hoinville Shelby Hopper Allia Howard Robert Hudson Nicole Huff Julia Hulbert Jordan Jabara Clare Jensen Claire Kalina Spencer Kennedy Kelsey Kerbawy Benjamin Kileen Dahwi Kim William Kirchen Hannah Kline Emily Kozal Stefan Leclerc Da Bin Lee Jacob Lindquist Jordan Loredo Nick Ludka Megan Malish Sarah Manski Nicholas Marsh Cydney Martell Mallory McClure Alexander McDonnell Thomas McLravy Madison Moote Christopher Muir Victoria Najacht Jonathan Nord Skyler Norgaard Mackenzie Norman Andrew Novetsky Michael Oravetz Alexandria Oswalt Dylan Padget Dana Page James Paprocki Bradley Popiel Nicole Prentice Megan Riley Phillip Ritchie Scott Roberts Sophie Roberts William Roberts Rebecca Rogers Anna Roodbergen Keigan Ryckman Matthew Ryder Mason Sarosi Ashley Schiffer Grady Schneider Eleanor Schodowski Aaron Schwark Cameron Schwartz Jacob Scott Lauren Seroka Sharif Shaker Claire Slaughter Grace Smith Kathleen Sorenson Sophia Spencer Vethania Stavropoulos Mira Swearer Lily Talmers Alexander Townsend Lydia Turke Elizabeth Tyburski Kaela Van Til David Vanderkloot Jacob Waier Kyra Walenga Jacob Wasko John Wehr Alex White Joshua Whitney Hans Wieland Jordan Wiley Madeline Woods Sarah Woods Brent Yelton Matthew Zhiss
Nearly 100 Kalamazoo College students, participating as cast members and crew, will present “The Rocky Horror Show” Nov. 3-6 at the Nelda K. Balch Playhouse, 129 Thompson St., in Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo College will present “The Rocky Horror Show” Nov. 3-6 at the Nelda K. Balch Festival Playhouse.
The stage production of this cult classic, directed by visiting instructor Jon Reeves, tells a story about Brad and Janet, a newly engaged couple, who get stuck with a flat tire during a storm and discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank N. Furter, a transvestite alien scientist.
Brad and Janet meet many characters through dances and rock songs as Frank N. Furter unveils his latest creation, a muscular man named Rocky. The production is a satirical tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies from the 1930s through the early 1970s. Please note there is mature subject matter and language.
The shows start at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3-5 and 2 p.m. Nov. 6. There’s also a midnight showing planned for Nov. 4.
Kalamazoo College students, faculty and staff are admitted free with their school ID. The general public may call the playhouse box office at 269-337-7333 for tickets. Reservations are encouraged.
The tension between what is politically possible under the world’s current political and economic systems and what is ecologically necessary exposes an urgent need for change, said journalist and activist Naomi Klein, keynote speaker for the conference, “Without Borders, Post-Oppression Imaginaries and Decolonized Futures.” The conference was sponsored by the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College and attracted several hundred activists and social justice experts from across the country.
According to Klein, even though the recent Paris climate change agreement looked like the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era, the treaty is neither legally binding nor sufficient in its goals to avert ecological disaster.
“Fossil fuel frontiers have to be closed if we have any hope of a future,” said Klein. “Politicians have absolutely no plan to do this.”
Adequately addressing climate change has failed since the late 1980s, emasculated by a neoliberalist interpretation of capitalism that promotes privatization, fiscal austerity, deregulation, free trade and reductions in government spending to enhance the public sector. Such policies have created in people a profound sense of hopelessness about climate change, said Klein.
“We are told that selfishness and short-sightedness is part of human nature, which prevents us acting,” said Klein. “This is not true and it steers us away from an analysis of our system. In fact, the fight for survival is human nature.”
Many local, grassroots groups are advocating steps to address climate change because they see the issue’s connection to an unjust economic system that is failing for a vast majority of people all over the planet, she added.
Klein challenged the audience to work for “climate justice” by reversing the “extractivist” point of view of the Earth and promoting the “caretaking” of one another, an ethos that indigenous people advocate.
“It’s not just ‘energy democracy’ but ‘energy justice’ that we need,” said Klein. “This leads to clean energy projects and jobs.”
She also emphasized that service work like nursing, child care, public interest media should be redefined as climate work that sets out to create a “caring and repairing economy.”
“We need to embed justice in every aspect of our lives,” said Klein. “The people are hungry for transformational change, and we have to go for it on all fronts.”
The conference focused on four related themes: Afrofuturism, Decolonized Knowledge, Sustainable Futures, and Next Systems.
Text by Olga Bonfiglio; conference photo by Susan Andress
A new multi-purpose structure for people who use Kalamazoo College’s 140-acre Lillian Anderson Arboretum will be dedicated at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the arboretum.
In fall 2015, oxen hauled 30 logs of red pine harvested from the Lillian Anderson Arboretum to be used in constructing the new Batts Pavilion, which will be dedicated Tuesday, Oct. 25.
The Dr. H. Lewis Batts, Jr. and Jean M. Batts Pavilion is named for two Kalamazoo College alumni who had a significant impact on natural education in Kalamazoo and beyond.
A generous grant from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation enabled the construction of the off-grid Batts Pavilion and other infrastructure improvements including an accessible trail and an improved driveway and parking lot.
Kalamazoo College Biology Professor Binney Girdler serves as the arboretum’s faculty director and was active in its design. Girdler said she expects this to be a transitional year where she and others explore uses of the Batts Pavilion to enhance users’ experience of the arboretum.
“A main goal is to enhance our ability to fulfill the mission of the arboretum: to provide access to nature for members of the college community as well as the larger community,” Girdler said. “Part of the pavilion is open air so it will always be available to visitors. The other part is enclosed with one room being large enough for a class and two rooms for storage.”
The Batts Pavilion is due south of the Anderson Arboretum parking lot, far enough from M-43 that road noise is minimal. It is also situated where a clearing had been so few trees had to be cut down. The structure’s main support beams are made of red pine, which were harvested from the arboretum and moved to the pavilion’s construction site by oxen so heavy machinery would not be needed.
“The pavilion provides a tiny bit of civilization in the middle of the woods, and it’s a space to gather in inclement weather,” Girdler said. “We envision use by biology and chemistry field labs, as well as humanities and arts classes. Through these courses and in their extracurricular activities, our students can build partnerships with community groups to help connect more people to nature; the new parking area will allow a K-12 school bus to drop off kids for an exploration of the woods or wetlands.”
Nora Naranjo Morse will deliver the annual Phi Beta Kappa lecture at Kalamazoo College on Tuesday, October 11, at 8 p.m. in the Mandelle Hall Olmsted Room. The event is free and open to the public. Morse Morse is a sculptor, writer, and producer of video films that look at the continuing social changes within Pueblo Indian culture. Her talk, “Numbe Wahgeh,” focuses on the historical treatment of the Pueblo people and history retold by indigenous peoples.
An artist best known for her work with clay and organic materials, she has been trained in the Pueblo clay work tradition of the Southwest. Her installation exhibits and large-scale public art speak to environmental, cultural, and social practice issues. Beyond New Mexico, her work can be seen at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.
She studied at the College of Santa Fe, where she received her B.A. degree in 1980, and is the recipient of an honorary degree from Skidmore College. In 2014 Naranjo Morse was awarded a Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Artist fellowship. She is the author of two books: a poetry collection, Mud Woman: Poems from the Clay, and a children’s book, Kaa Povi.
Morse will spend two days on K’s campus. In addition to her public lecture she will visit four classes and meet with various faculty and students.
Kalamazoo College faculty, staff and students are invited to an Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 Master Plan Meeting on Tuesday, January 31, at 6 p.m. in the Mandelle Hall Olmsted Room. That meeting is one of 12 neighborhood gatherings being organized by the city. Each meeting focuses on a specific neighborhood and provides an opportunity for participants to share input on where they live, work or play. The hands-on activities and small discussion groups that characterize these open-house style meetings allow participants describe the improvements they’d like to see and the priority of projects they consider optimal. Some of the topics for the Kalamazoo College/West Main Hill neighborhood meeting will be: pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; vehicular management (including on-street parking and traffic calming; M-43/West Main; West Michigan Avenue at M-43/West Main; West Michigan Avenue Lovell Street. Questions on this meeting or the Imagine Kalamazoo process can be sent to 
The tension between what is politically possible under the world’s current political and economic systems and what is ecologically necessary exposes an urgent need for change, said journalist and activist Naomi Klein, keynote speaker for the conference, “Without Borders, Post-Oppression Imaginaries and Decolonized Futures.” The conference was sponsored by the 
Nora Naranjo Morse will deliver the annual Phi Beta Kappa lecture at Kalamazoo College on Tuesday, October 11, at 8 p.m. in the Mandelle Hall Olmsted Room. The event is free and open to the public. Morse Morse is a sculptor, writer, and producer of video films that look at the continuing social changes within Pueblo Indian culture. Her talk, “Numbe Wahgeh,” focuses on the historical treatment of the Pueblo people and history retold by indigenous peoples.