Psychology professor Siu-Lan Tan and K alumnus John Baxa ’09 published a book chapter on their video game research in the book Interdisciplinary Advancements in Gaming, Simulations, and Virtual Environments (published in 2012 by IGI Global, edited by R. Ferdig and S. de Freitas). Their research focuses on the role of music and sound effects on video game performance in gamers with different levels of expertise. It is based on collaborative work between Tan and Baxa beginning in his sophomore year, continuing through his Senior Individualized Project, and extending beyond his graduation. Baxa is currently a graduate student pursuing a degree in Entertainment Technology at Carnegie Mellon University, where he will learn video game design and may be able to implement their research on sound design in future video games. Baxa (right) is pictured with Tan (center) last April, at her Lucasse teaching award presentation. Also shown is Sally Warner ’08 (left), who worked with Tan for three years to co-organize service-learning projects and assisted her on a book manuscript. Warner is currently working on a Doctorate in curriculum, instruction, and teacher education at Michigan State University.
alumni
Soo-to-Kazoo in ’62: 50 Years Later
In the fall of 1962 Kalamazoo College Cross-Country Coach Warren “Swede” Thomas loaded his Hornet harriers in a van (a.k.a. the Blue Goose) and drove the team to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula. The team’s mission: run the 287 miles back to campus in 10 days. Well, not every mile (some portions were driven), but a good chunk was traversed by sneaker sole, including the five-mile span of the Mackinac Bridge (you could do that back then on days other than Labor Day).
The “Blue-Goosed Soo-to-Kazoo in ’62” training trip had a hometown trajectory because the team made stops in hometowns of as many team members as possible. Fifty years later, team member Don Schneider ’63 honored the early-September anniversary—albeit by van and tandem bicycle—with his wife, Jean Chin. The commemoration kept the hometown theme, and Don and Jean visited former teammates Dave Bellingham ’63 (Jan), Bill Atkinson ’63 (Linda), and Dennis Lamb ’63 (Pat) in Rapid City, Suttons Bay, and Frankfort, respectively. “Those were wonderful visits,” said Don. He and Jean also made sure their biking routes included Saugatuck (hometown of teammate Bob Brackenridge ’63), Plainwell (hometown of Dick Payne ’65), Whitehall (hometown of the late Tom Schaaf ’65), and Muskegon, where Don starred on the Muskegon High School cross country and track teams. In all, the couple biked a little more than 300 miles, including some rides of astounding scenic beauty near Charlevoix, Traverse Bay, Ludington, and Crystal Lake.
The bike trip was a nice way to honor the memory of “Swede” Thomas, who also taught physical education and directed the Career-Service Center at K. Said Schneider: “We also hope the anniversary ride stimulates attendance at the Class of 1963 reunion at next year’s Homecoming (October 18-20, 2013).”
Alumna Will Deliver Keynote Address at Alzheimer’s Conference
Mary Ellen Geist ’78, author of Measure of the Heart: A Father’s Alzheimer’s, will deliver the keynote address at the Schreiber Caregiver Conference on Tuesday, October 16, 2012. The conference takes place at Western Michigan University’s Fetzer Center in Kalamazoo; the title of Mary Ellen’s talk is “The Heart of the Matter.” Mary Ellen is a former broadcast journalist of 20 years who gave up her career as a CBS Radio anchor in New York City so that she could return to her childhood home in Northern Michigan to help care for her father when his Alzheimer’s disease became too overwhelming for Mary Ellen’s mother. Her book chronicles this experience, and its insights have inspired millions of caregivers.
K Alumnus’ Sculpture Part of International ArtPrize
After graduating from Kalamazoo College in June with a studio art major and classical civilizations minor, sculptor Daedalian Derks ’12 spent the summer rebuilding and expanding a portion of his Senior Individualized Project for installation in downtown Grand Rapids as a competitor in the international art competition ArtPrize 2012.
The sculpture is called the “Binary Strip,” and is a kinetic installation made from stainless steel aircraft cable and lightweight aluminum panels. The panels harness the power of the wind on the bank of the Grand River and spin, changing from black to white and back again.
ArtPrize is the only art competition in which the grand prize winner is chosen solely by public vote. With more 1500 artists involved in the competition this year representing some 50 countries and almost every state in the U.S., support from Daedalian’s alma mater is critical. To be eligible to vote, one must register at an Exhibition Center in Grand Rapids. Once one is registered, voting is easy and can be done through texting, online, or with a smartphone app. The app can be found at the ArtPrize Web site and voting can be done at the site.
The competition begins September 19 and ends on October 7. The Binary Strip is installed on the Grand Rapids Public Museum (see photo), just north of the Blue Bridge walking bridge. The Museum is also an exhibition center, so viewers can both register to vote and see “Binary Strip” in one place. The “Binary Strip” voting number is 52874.
Welcome Back, Orange-and-Black: Homecoming 2012
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is October 19-21. Join fellow Hornets on campus for the 8th annual 5K Run/Walk, departmental receptions with current and emeriti faculty, the K versus Hope College football game, and much much more! All alumni, students, faculty, staff, and K friends are invited.
Weekend highlights include:
– Reunion activities for the classes of 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and a special Emeritus Club celebration
– The 7th annual Farms to K Social
– A student film festival featuring seven documentaries produced in film production classes
– Lunch on the Quad while enjoying the band, Canasta, which boasts some strong K connections
– A special dedication and celebration of the Kalamazoo College Athletic Field Complex
Don’t miss out on K’s biggest event of the year. Check out the Homecoming site to register. If you would like a registration form mailed to you or need assistance with online registration, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 269.337.7300.
Nancy Stevens ’83 Reaches New Summits
After graduating from Kalamazoo College in 1983, Nancy Stevens moved to Colorado to work at a Girl Scout camp. Soon she began hiking “Fourteeners,” Colorado’s numerous 14,000-foot mountains. Her first was Long’s Peak. Her most recent is Grand Teton. Impressive? Yes, especially considering that Nancy has been almost completely blind since birth. Read about this K alumna with “contagious positive energy,” in an Aug. 29 article in the Jackson Hole News & Guide. Keep climbing, Nancy!
K Professor Takes First Place in Literature Competition
Kalamazoo College Writer in Residence Diane Seuss is the first-prize winner in Mid-American Review’s 2012 Fineline Competition for Prose Poems, Short Shorts, and Anything in Between! Judge Amelia Gray selected Seuss’s piece “I emptied my little wishing well of its emptiness” out of some 1,000 entries. The work will appear in the forthcoming fall issue of Mid-American Review.
K Connection Spans 30 Years in Internship
Cassandra Fraser, Class of 1984, is a chemistry professor at the University of Virginia. This summer she hosted Michael Paule-Carres, Class of 2014, in her laboratory, where he did research for his Senior Individualized Project. “It was kind of scary to contemplate that 30 year gap!” wrote Fraser, who had a good antidote for any mild “gap fear.” The formula included the excellence of the lab work Paule-Carres conducted. “He synthesized and characterized a luminescent polymer that will be used to make oxygen nanosensors for wound diagnostics, tumor hypoxia imaging, and other medical uses,” Fraser explained. And for extra measure, a few funny photos were added. “We took some research group pictures, including some of Mike (right) and me together, the Kalamazoo College chemists. We even attempted to make K’s with our bodies, not so successfully mind you, but maybe it’s the thought that counts.” Mike has returned to campus for the beginning of men’s varsity soccer practice.
K Alumna Lends Flute Virtuosity to Art Project
Marian Heller ’84 is involved with an art project called “Kokopelli Rising,” part of the Burning Man annual art event that will take place August 27 through September 3 in Black Rock City, Nevada. Marian informed the artists about Katherine Hoover’s flute composition “Kokopelli,” (played by Marian in a live performance). Marian will record the piece for the artists to play on site at the art installation in Nevada. And she will attend as well.
Alum Keith Crandall Hired to Direct Computational Biology Institute at George Washington University
Keith Crandall ’87 has been hired by George Washington University to direct its new Computational Biology Institute.
Computational biology combines elements of computer science and biology, and its practitioners develop tools to analyze data generated in researching genetics and genomics, including genetic mapping and DNA sequencing.
Crandall’s research interests have included crustacean biology, biodiversity, and infectious diseases. His B.A. from Kalamazoo College is in biology. At Washington University in St. Louis he earned a Ph.D.in population and evolutionary biology and a master’s degree in statistics. His work at CBI will include an investigation of the impact of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, using gene expression to identify how oil pollutants affect deep sea crustaceans.