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Special Day Marks Transition from Tuition to Donations

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Buzz the mascot celebrates Tuition Freedom DayOn Wednesday, April 10, more than 200 signs will dot Kalamazoo College’s pathways as part of the second annual Tuition Freedom Day.

Tuition Freedom Day marks the point in the school year when tuition stops paying for the cost of a K education and support from donors takes over. Students are encouraged to visit the Hicks Student Center between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to sign thank-you cards.

Tuition Freedom Day is about showing appreciation for the alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends who make a K education possible. Generous gifts through the Kalamazoo College Fund support scholarships, faculty excellence, and K’s greatest needs.

Alumni and others can also take part in Tuition Freedom Day. Let everyone know why you support K by donating your Facebook status on Wednesday, April 10. You can also make the Tuition Freedom Day Hornet (above) your profile picture for the day.

No Foolin’

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Winter Quarter 2013 is in the history books. Classes have ended, finals are over, and most students have bugged out. Grades are due from Faculty March 26. Spring Quarter classes begin April 1. No foolin’! Residence Halls re-open Saturday, March 30, at 9 A.M. And the first meal served in the cafeteria will be Saturday’s (March 30) brunch. For some alumni reminiscences of Spring Break adventures, check out the College’s Facebook page.

Kalamazoo College’s Career Center Growing Stronger

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Two new reports recently released by the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) document an increase in student and alumni use of CCPD programs and chart the first post-graduate destinations of the Kalamazoo College class of 2012. The 2012 CCPD Annual Report is the unit’s first. CCPD has conducted “Life After K” surveys since 2009. Highlights of the two reports include the following findings.

Of the reporting 2012 graduates seeking employment, 80 percent had secured it by the end of the calendar year.

Of the reporting 2012 graduates seeking graduate education, 95 percent had secured it by year end.

The CCPD supported 98 students’ career development opportunities in summer 2011, including 30 externships and 68 internships.

Alumni engagement in CCPD programs and services rose by 40 percent in 2011-12.

Membership in the Guilds of Kalamazoo College, as measured by new additions to the group on LinkedIn, grew by 554 individuals, or 42 percent, in 2011-12.

Busting Myths

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K-Desi members performed a South Asian dance at "Mythbusters," the 2013 Asiafest
K-Desi members performed a South Asian dance at “Mythbusters,” the 2013 Asiafest.

In 2012, “Redefining Asian” (aka Asiafest) received the “Program of the Year” award at the Black and Orange Awards Ceremony. In 2013 the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Association (APISA), formerly known as Asian Student Association (ASA), produced another spectacular Asiafest: “Mythbusters.” The show took place in a Dalton Theatre packed with by campus and community members. Performing student organizations included APISA, K-Desi, and Cirque du K, and many individual performers participated as well.

“Mythbusters” showcased different facets of the diverse Asian culture, and few forces break stereotypes as effectively as does an awareness of diversity. There were 15 lively performances divided into two acts that included traditional and modern dances, skits, instrumental performances, singing, and poetry reading. The opening piece was a video collection of campus interviews of students who described stereotypes they encounter and shared their opinions about appropriate versus culturally offensive questions. Audience favorites included the Matrix Ping Pong skit, a traditional South Asian dance by K-Desi, and Gangam Style, which received enthusiastic cheering from the audience.

APISA President Pavan Policherla ’13 says, “The purpose of Asia Fest is to aid the club in promoting Asian culture on campus in a fun and entertaining way, as well as try to educate the Kalamazoo community about some issues that the members of the club feel are important and need to be recognized.” Asian students and student organizations start working on the show at the beginning of winter quarter. Each year a new theme is selected by APISA members, one that pertains to issues they think need to be addressed. Asiafest has delighted the hearts of many every year and continues to uphold its tradition of depicting a realistic picture of Asia and its diverse population.

K Honors Extraordinary Student Leaders

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2013 Senior Leadership Award WinnersLeadership development is part of the mission of Kalamazoo College, and gains in leadership capability for every student is one of K’s goals. Each year the College recognizes extraordinary leadership–leaders’ leaders, so to speak–with the annual Senior Leadership Recognition Award.

The 30 seniors honored this year serve as student organization leaders, athletic team captains, student housing resident assistants, peer leaders, departmental student advisors, teaching assistants, literacy tutors, civic engagement scholars, career advisors in the Center for Career and Professional Development, and peer advisors for the Center for International Programs.

Their leadership has benefited fellow students and members of the Kalamazoo community, and their work has contributed to the achievements of organizations such as Helping Youth through Personal Empowerment, the First-Year Experience Program, Farms to K, Student Commission, the Chapel Program, Student Activities Committee, K-Crew, Community Advocates for Parents and Students, the Writing Center, Jewish Student Organization, LandSea, Black Student Organization, Frelon Dance Company, Gospel Choir, Kalamazoo Outing Club, OrangeZest, Asian and Pacific Islander Student Association, and Model United Nations, among others.

The 2013 Senior Leaders are (l-r): front row–Kathleen Barrett, Marjorie Toshach, Allison Liddane, Brittany King-Pleas, Eric Glanz, Darwin Rodriguez; second row–Monika Egerer, Charles Weber, Mary Goyings, Hannah Gray, Eeva Stout-Sharp, Bianca Rasho, Yongle Wang, Grace Kelley, Shoshana Schultz-Purves; third row–Michael Hicks, Caitlin McCarthy, Moriam Aigoro, Elizabeth Vincensi, Craig Isser, In Hae Sohn, Samantha Gross; back row–Melissa Sparow, Lauren Rosenthal, Bradley Merritt, Ian Flanagan, and Angiola Gabriel. Not pictured are Cierra Gillard, Mara Livezey, and Margaux Reckard.

K Declares!

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Kalamazoo College sophomores Sarah Whitney, Cheyenne Harvey and Allison Kennedy
Sophomores (l-r) Sarah Whitney, Cheyenne Harvey, and Allison Kennedy enjoy the festivity of Declaration of Major day.

It almost eclipsed Valentine’s Day! And one could think of it as an academic love story. Tuesday, February 12, was the long-awaited Declaration of Majors (DOM) day held in the Fine Arts Building. Three hundred and thirty seven sophomores gathered to declare and celebrate an academic track of their choosing for the next two and a half years. Scores of faculty members along with their department student advisors eagerly waited at their booths during the lunch hour to answer questions and assist with declaration forms. “This event officially welcomes sophomores to the academic curriculum of Kalamazoo College,” says Lesley Clinard, assistant director of academic advising and institutional support. “It’s a fun time that has become a rite of passage because of the cake and ‘I declared…’ stickers.” DOM makes a difference in academic focus before spring course registration. Most students expressed excitement; a few called it “anticlimactic” and “not a big deal.” Assistant Professor of Classics Elizabeth Manwell says DOM is “an opportunity for sophomores to feel special. Moving forward,” she adds, “students begin thinking about their future courses and all the pieces of the K-plan.” Tristan Kiel, department student advisor of Computer Science, thinks being a sophomore is difficult because class workloads pick up. “But DOM brings together the diverse spectrum of sophomores, and they own and enjoy this momentous occasion,” he says. (Story and photo by Sameen Haque ’14)

Community Responds to Meningitis Case

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Kalamazoo College sophomore Emily Stillman, 19, died this morning (Sunday, February 3) due to complications from bacterial meningitis. Emily was taken to Bronson Hospital around 2 AM Friday morning, February 1. K administration and the Student Health Center learned the diagnosis later that morning and immediately began to work in close collaboration with the Kalamazoo County health department and Bronson’s epidemiology lab.

The health department provided two nurses to help K health professionals with education and prophylactic treatment of persons who had been in close contact (within three feet sometime during the previous seven days) with the student. Those who may have had casual contact should not be affected. The health team provided prophylactic treatment to approximately 120 persons through the weekend.

No additional cases of bacterial meningitis have been reported. According to the health department, the likelihood of additional cases of meningitis at Kalamazoo College is very low.

The Student Health Center has extended its hours to reach out to students to provide prophylactic antibiotic treatment, discuss symptoms of the illness, and discuss vaccination recommendations. (More information on bacterial meningitis is available from the Kalamazoo County epidemiology on-call line: 269–207–5783.) Counseling Center staff members have also been available to students.

This afternoon (February 3) approximately 350 K students, faculty, and staff gathered in Stetson Chapel to remember Emily and to support one another. Emily’s funeral is scheduled for 10 AM Tuesday morning, February 5, at the Dorfman Chapel in Farmington Hills.

K Closed for Holiday Break

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Kalamazoo College will close from December 24 through January 1 and will re-open on January 2. Student residence halls will open on Saturday, January 5, at 9 A.M. The first meal in the dining center will be dinner on Sunday, January 6. Classes start on Monday, January 7. Persons who would like to make a gift to K before the end of the calendar year may call 269.337.7000 between 8 AM and 5 PM, Eastern Standard Time, on Wednesday through Friday, December 26-28, and on Monday, December 31. End-of-calendar-year gifts and be made online or by mail by postmarking the gift by December 31.

Bach Festival Christmas Concert on December 2

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On Sunday, December 2nd, at 4:00 p.m. in Stetson Chapel, the Bach Festival Chorus will present its annual BachFest Christmas! concert featuring works by Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn, and others.

Lyric soprano Rhea Olivaccé will make her Kalamazoo debut with a performance of “O, Holy Night” and as the featured soloist in Moses Hogan’s “Glory to the Newborn King.” Familiar carols and an audience sing-along complete this often sold-out concert and much beloved family holiday tradition.

The first half of the concert will feature J.S. Bach’s Magnificat, with soloists, chorus, and orchestra under the direction of Maestro James Turner. Guest soloists for this piece are Emily Bennett, Giles Simmer and Kaitlin Spencer, sopranos; Sandra Maytan, mezzo-soprano; Steve Martin, tenor; and Marcus Jordan, baritone.

The second half of the program features holiday favorites performed by the choir, including some some traditional Christmas carols in which the audience is invited to sing along. Featured soloists in the second half of the concert include Rhea Olivaccé, soprano, and Carl Witt, piano.

Tickets for BachFest Christmas! are available through the Bach Festival office (269-337-7407) or online through the Bach Festival’s website. Tickets are $22 (center and balcony); $15 (sides); and $5 (students). Children ages 12 and under and free.

Kalamazoo College Political Science Lecture Features Joan Mandle

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Joan Mandle, executive director of Democracy Matters and professor emeritus of sociology, Colgate University will deliver the 2012 William Weber Lecture in Political Science at Kalamazoo College on October 24 at 8 P.M. The event will take place in the Mandelle Hall Olmsted Room; it is free and open to the public. The title of the lecture is “Who Owns Democracy: The 2012 Elections.” Since 2001 Mandle has directed Democracy Matters, a non-partisan campus-based national student organization committed to and commended for getting big private money out of politics. At Colgate she directed the college’s women’s studies program and founded the college’s Center for Women’s Studies. She has been actively involved with many efforts to reform the political system. Her activism is rooted in her participation as an undergraduate in the civil rights movement and her leadership in both the women’s and anti-Vietnam war movements. Mandle served as campaign manager for Congressman Robert W. Edgar of Pennsylvania’s races for the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. She spearheaded grassroots organizing drives in Oakland and San Francisco that resulted in the successful passage of significant campaign finance reform. Mandle has received widespread recognition for both her academic and political work, including awards from Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) and the League of Women Voters of Oakland, Calif.