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st. Lawrence
University Magazine Summer 2015
We
What do spent
bullet casings
have to do
with art?
Create
See page 21
18 pages of poetry, fiction, music, dance, sculpture, non-fiction,
100%
painting, photomicrography (we’ll explain), and even a recipe—
student-produced
ty issu
ivi e
at st. lawrence university magazine | summer 2015
re
p.18
the c
,
Summer 15
Poetry Shakespeare wrote of “the poet’s eye.” A mix of SLU students let us see the world through theirs.
Fiction shares a fragment of her University Fellowship novella.
Music
Tessa Yang
Read how fiddler Jake Brillhart & Laurentian Singers Ryan Daniels & Corinne Niekrewicz compose.
Non-fiction & open windows with their words.
Dance
Meghan O'Brien, Mallory Garretson Genevieve Moss-Shorter
Hannah Chanatry leaps onstage and pushes her comfort zone.
Sculpture The elephant in the room? Not always a bad thing— Brooke McGowan explains why.
Painting
+
Art+Writing=Statement: Steven Yardley, Tzintzun Aguilar Izzo & Hannah Brook Smith show us how.
And if that’s not enough, we give you a lesson in photomicrography and a recipe to boot!
It wasn’t just the new rooster who
had a sweeping panorama from what
President Fox has called the highest
man-made point in the St. Lawrence Departments In Every Issue
Valley; the workers who installed
4 On Campus 2 A Word from the President
it there on May 1 did, too. But they
soon descended, while the rooster 13 On Social Media 3 Letters
remained, surveying the campus and 14 Sports 40 Class Notes
announcing the wind direction, just as
36 Philanthropy in Action 65 From the Archives
his predecessor had done for 87 years
before succumbing to the fire of
October 2013. For more on the
On the Cover: You see the art; you see the artist; you see the artist holding in her hands a part of the art. What’s the connection?
chapel’s restoration, see page 10. Photography by Tara Freeman. To read this magazine online, go to stlawu.edu/magazine.
Letters
st. lawrence university magazine | summer 2015
AWord From the President
Hello, St. Lawrence? Get Me Rewrite
pus experience. I would bravely make that challenge for young people in college to ing was not naïvely declaring the poten- How Professor Culpepper taught inform my view of the world and
a singular proposition for the liberal arts, crumple the paper and refill the pen, this tial, let alone the triumph, of large-scale I woke this morning thinking of how my decision-making.
but I would stop short of suggesting this is something much harder to teach than behavior modification in the face of the influential (history professor) Jack —John Budington ’74
idea as a marketing slogan. “Come to our it used to be. The volume of unfiltered most irrational human instincts to kill Culpepper was. When I took a course Vancouver, British Columbia
university…and learn to delete, copy, and blogging and the habits of stream-of- and destroy. He was asking a question: from him, on the first day of class he
paste… your education.” That will never consciousness texting, for instance, may Can human nature be altered, improved walked in and told us we had a choice. ‘The wretched impact of
do, though there is an apple seed of truth not dominate college culture, but the or remade? By the middle of the 20th We could come to lectures as usual, electronic communications’
in it; the truth is that at St. Lawrence the “one-draft-and-send” habits have become century, however, after another horrible or we could make an appointment to The following letter was addressed
whispered words “one more time,” heard more rooted each year, and not only in war, philosophers and theologians had meet with him and pursue an inde- to Josephine Del Deo ’47, author of
in the rehearsal space, on the practice student patterns of communication. mostly abandoned Hocking’s question. pendent study project for the entire “Abandoning the Spoken Word” in
field, or at the long wooden tables of There are other ways of looking at I can understand why, because there semester. The entire class opted for the our winter 2015 issue, and is presented
scattered books and papers, create the best the proposition that the second draft is is a profoundly fine distinction drawn independent study. With that, class was here with the writer’s permission.
moments of transacting the deepest, most absolutely essential in the quality of one’s between human nature and human dismissed for the semester. Thank you so much for your editorial.
vital learning. So, let me explain. education and, of course, in one’s most character, but I think there is also a The first thing Dr. Culpepper said to It was nice to know that I am not alone
Lorrie Moore ’78, one of today’s defining moments that require personal point left standing. me at my appointment was, "What do in these feelings.
foremost American authors of important choices in life. I keep near my desk a Human beings always have a chance you know about Artemis?" Easy: not a You have elegantly described the wretch-
literary fiction, returned to campus this book called Oxford Unbuilt (1983) as a to get it right or get it better, but thing. I was in shock, wondering what ed impact of electronic communications
spring to read from her recent work and almost never without a second draft. Artemis had to do with Civilization and on our society and our literacy. While I,
discuss her life as a writer. She described The question, therefore, remains Its Discontents (or whatever the course like you, recognize the advantages that
starting out with a manual typewriter, “Human beings open; at least it should to those of us was called). computers provide in accessing informa-
but it was used only for the second draft. who care so deeply about liberal arts The next thing he did was to write out tion, I abhor the invasion of privacy by
The prose writing began in her right arm always have a chance to education. Hocking says education 15 to 20 book titles on a piece of paper Facebook, cell phones and other gadgets.
as the ideas flowed into her hand to be supplies the mind, even the most rigid and tell me to read them and come see I have a cell phone primarily for emer-
set first on foolscap, ink to paper. Then get it right or get it or lazy thinking, with “a method of him again the following week. I walked gency use and for travel arrangements,
there was the tedious, time-draining, work and some examples of success.” out of his office feeling my shock grow but rarely use it. I refuse to participate in
H
physical effort of transcribing the un- better, but almost never A St. Lawrence education is always a into panic. Facebook. I still read actual books and the
,, e blotted his copybook.”
This is what David L.
Torrey ’53 said to me
when assessing the
remarks of a public
proven words into type, the kind of raw
print that sometimes hole-punched the
page if the “o” key was struck fortissimo.
Now, like most of us, she is a two-
handed writer and observed that the
technical capacity to make editing and
without a second draft.”
reminder that one of the most magnifi-
cent university campuses in the world
method of rehearsing and practicing
success; it’s also incompletely built, even
unfinished long after graduation. It
ought to feel somehow like a continu-
ous charge flowing between the battery
terminals of liberation and discipline.
Heavy course loads were not new to
me, thanks to prep school, so I did what
he asked. By the time I left his office after
the second appointment, my life had
changed. He had opened my eyes to a
world that I had not known existed.
Washington Post in paper, though I confess
to reading The New York Times online,
and I do use email. I wonder how future
generations will understand people who
no longer write and read letters?
I will now go to the library in search
official in Ottawa. corrections instantaneously on-screen has had countless architectural first drafts For some it will be a jolt, for others a I put more effort into that project than of Melville’s The Bell-Tower. Thank you
David lives in Montreal, reads seven caused her to ponder that had these that were never translated from concep- stimulus, but the abiding power of what any other scholastic endeavor ever. The for suggesting it.
newspapers a day, knows hockey and creative tools always been available, there tual drawing into towers of marble. It’s we ultimately teach here is that the first knowledge and insight I received from —Cynthia E. Wilson ’62
loves opera. He has the practiced eye of would conceivably have been at least one a history of what did not happen, what draft is not good enough. n —WLF one semester with Dr. Culpepper still Alexandria, Virginia
a fair observer, understanding the close more book among the many she has al- did not get funded, what did not gain
difference in an essay or speech between ready published. And yet, on balance she support as the final choice of halls and
just the right touch and untouched also lamented what has been lost in the libraries forming the university. The book
excellence. Most work, the kind worth
doing and worth doing well, most of the
way she writes now—she no longer does
or can keep copies of earlier drafts.
is a curious compendium of rejected
designs. Every college-educated person
ST. LAWRENCE university magazine volume lxIV | number 3 | 2015
time needs the benefit of a second draft. Implied in our society’s changed meth- ought to keep in mind the equivalent
vice President for communications St. Lawrence University does not discriminate against students, faculty, staff or other beneficiaries on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age,
Artists, writers and entrepreneurs will ods of creating works of excellence in collection of unbuilt plans, the unpub- Melissa Farmer Richards disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in admission to, or access to, or treatment, or employment in its programs
and activities. AA/EEO. For further information, contact the University’s Age Act, Title IX and Section 504 coordinator, 315-229-5656.
typically support that fixed assumption any art form—pictured, heard, or writ- lished first drafts of life. Editor-in-Chief
Neal S. Burdick ’72
Design director
Jamie Lipps A complete policy listing is available at www.stlawu.edu/policies.
of perpetual doing-over. ten—is a warning that just because the As the First World War was ending in assistant editor photogr aphy director Published by St. Lawrence University four times yearly: January, April, July and October. Periodical postage is paid at Canton, NewYork 13617
Meg Bernier ’07, M’09 Tara Freeman and at additional mailing offices. (ISSN 0745-3582) Printed in U.S.A. All opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the author and do
The nature of college is also learning second draft may have evaporated in the 1918, its devastation forever immeasur- not necessarily reflect those of the editors and/or St. Lawrence University. Editorial offices: Office of University Communications, St. Lawrence
art director News editor
how to work on a second draft, learning sequence of completing the final work, able, a Harvard philosopher gave a series Alex Rhea Ryan Deuel University, 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, NY 13617, phone 315-229-5585, fax 315-229-7422, e-mail nburdick@stlawu.edu, Web site www.stlawu.edu
that the blotted copybook is not the last the necessity of revising has never disap- of public lectures called “Human Nature associate art director
Susan LaVean
class notes editor
Sharon Henry
Address changes A change-of-address card to Office of Annual Giving and Laurentian Engagement, St.Lawrence University, 23 Romoda Drive,
Canton, NY 13617 (315-229-5904, email slualum@stlawu.edu) will enable you to receive St.Lawrence and other University mail promptly.
word of a successful education and cam- peared. And yet, I believe, while always a and Its Remaking.” William Ernest Hock-
2 3
st. lawrence university magazine | summer 2015
on campus
Know
it All.
A roundup of news from campus.Want more? Find us online:
www.stlawu.edu/news
1 Chapin Professor of
Geology Jeffrey
North Country and to teach
a course on North Country
there. The festival will take
place Oct. 22-25 and will be
degree from UB. For more,
visit www.stlawu.edu/biology/
Chiarenzelli history, issues and events. headquartered in Canton. To health-careers.
’81 has been
appointed the
Chiarenzelli proposes a course
on regional natural history and
see the film, visit www.vimeo.
com/128016602
4 Matthew Monhart
’16 has received
first MacAllaster
Professor of North
issues related to environmental
contaminants, climate change
3 St. Lawrence
students
a prestigious
summer
Country Studies. and geology. can now prepare research
The professorship was
established in 2014 through
2 Directing what
he calls a surreal
for a professional
pharmacy degree,
fellowship
award from the
the generosity of MacAllaster horror comedy, James thanks to a new partnership Endocrine Society,
family members and friends Corbett ’15 has won the with the University at Buffalo. to study "The Effects of
to honor the memory of the first-ever St. Lawrence The program consists of three an Estrogen Disrupting
late North Country native International Film years of undergraduate classes Compound (Atrazine) on
Archie F. MacAllaster ’50, Festival student film at St. Lawrence, followed by the Amphibian Immune
photo: james chandler ’15
P’78, longtime treasurer competition. He directed four years at UB’s School of System” with Alex Schreiber,
of the Board of Trustees. a five-minute film, “Surreal,” Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical associate professor of biology.
The position recognizes a about a man living in a dream Sciences, resulting in a Such fellowships are rarely
Creative Wear
faculty member who agrees world and dealing with the bachelor’s degree from SLU awarded to students from
to conduct research on the terrifying things that reside and a Doctor of Pharmacy liberal arts programs.
Say It Many Ways Fashion Club offers another outlet for expression
L
I
By Hannah Chanatry ’15
ast spring, Chenqu
“Joyce” Jiang ’17, left, and t’s a typical Friday night at Club members love using events like to combine all of the things that we learn
Xuehang Pan ’17 wrote St. Lawrence University. Which the Glamour Shop to encourage students and practice in our meetings into one
“congratulations to you” means a set of tables in the Sul- to explore their creative sides. “Through show that people can see,” says Tonisha.
in Mandarin Chinese calligraphy to livan Student Center is covered fashion, people are able to take on “We collect clothing donations, which
newly accepted Chinese students. with eye shadow, mascara, nail identities that other art forms may not are altered and transformed into the
“We wanted to make it a little polish in every color, magazines, allow,” says Tonisha, an economics and outfits that are featured.”
more personal and pay attention glitter, curling irons, bobby pins, and business double major with a Chinese Looking back on her time at
to the cultural backgrounds of just about any other product you could studies minor. “We like to make sure that St. Lawrence, Tonisha takes pride in
Chinese students,” said Musa think of. people know this by encouraging them to all she has accomplished with the club.
Khalidi, director of international This is the Glamour Shop, a new dress how they want to dress, in whatever Creating it as a first-year, she made
admissions. “Chinese students opportunity for students hosted by the way best expresses who they are or who strides sharing her love of expression
now represent a sizable pool of Fashion Club. “It’s a place where students they want to be.” with the St. Lawrence community.
students at St. Lawrence, and we can go to mingle with members,” says One of the more high-profile ways the “Many people believe fashion has one
wanted to recognize their culture Tonisha Kerr ’15, a Brooklyn native and Fashion Club achieves this goal is with face, when in fact, it can be whatever
with a little extra touch. It’s a small president of the Fashion Club. “They can its annual Fashion Show. Every aspect of you make it,” she says. “Fashion
gesture to congratulate them in talk fashion; look at magazines; get their the show is student-run, from the overall wouldn’t be fashion if it weren’t for the
their own language.” hair, nails, or makeup done; get tips on design to the individual production of different styles and perspectives that
The calligraphy notes were outfit ideas—it's open to everyone!” clothing. “The show essentially allows us come together to create it.” n
included in the acceptance
packages that were mailed to 12 In the spring “In Memory,” we misstated the date of Professor Emeritus “Bernie” Lammers’s death.
Penalty
n
Professor Lammers died December 20, 2014. n In the same issue, the name of the 1940s radio professor
Chinese students, welcoming them Box in the review of Jim Roselle’s book is incorrect. Her name was Gladys Pasel. n We regret these errors.
into the Class of 2019.
4 5
st. lawrence university magazine | summer 2015
on campus
Sustainable Dining
U
By Meg Bernier '07, M'09
pon arrival on campus in
Following up on the sustainability focus in our spring issue, Dining Services reports that it is fall 2011, Steph DeNor-
playing its part, too. The spring 2015 Sustainability Newsletter provides this sample of steps mand ’15 immediately
(for the full list, visit www.stlawu.edu/sustainability-newsletter): began educating the
St. Lawrence community
about LGBTQ issues.
At the Northstar Café Vegetarian/ “When I got here, I was convinced
• Working with the Vegan Food there weren’t any other LGBTQ students
Environmental Action • Amount of beef served in or a lot of activism going on, so I didn’t
Organization (EAO), several Northstar Cafe and Dana know what to do or whom to talk to,”
types of liter bottles eliminated. decreased. Steph says.
• Working with Thelmo, new • More vegan baked goods Fast forward four years: Steph has
ordering procedure instituted to prepared in-house. established the LGBTetc. student
reduce food waste, (resulting in) organization and hosted several events,
a 73 percent decrease in orders Local Food including the University’s first Pride
not picked up. •A ll honey, maple syrup, Week in April.
shell eggs, milk, yogurt, and “We were very excited to see Pride
At the Time Out Café some cheeses purchased Week happen,” Steph says. “It was a
• Dispenser drink options added. locally all year. marking point for a lot of us and showed
• Customers pay a premium for • 800 chickens purchased in us that the University is passionate about
bottled beverages. 2014-15 from local providers. focusing on our LGBTQ students.”
The week included events like sex-
At Dana Dining Hall Recycling/ positive trivia night, tie-dying t-shirts,
illustration: edmon de haro
• Since no-tray policy begun in Composting nationally-recognized LGBTQ activists
2009, reduction of 25 tons of • New containers for recycling and speakers, a movie screening, and a
food waste per year. plastic and cans in seating area Day of Silence, when students vowed
• Reduction of 360,000 gallons of at Northstar Café. silence to call attention to the silencing
grey water treatment per week. • All processed/cooked food at effect of anti-LGBTQ bullying and
• Returnable green take-out Dana that does not have reuse harassment.
containers in use. potential is composted. “We had almost 20 participants,
about double what we’ve had in the
past,” Steph notes. “For the last couple
Honored at Commencement
F Students Host University’s
lanked by
President William
First-Ever Pride Week
L. Fox ’75, left,
and Board of
Trustees Chair Jeffery H.
Boyd ’78, recipients of
honorary degrees at the 2015 ‘focusing on our LGBTQ students’
Commencement on May 17
were, from left, Judith Hart of years, our Day of Silence has fallen “One of our goals with Pride Week was Above: Students spent an afternoon
Angelo ’64, songwriter; on Admissions’ Accepted Student Visit to reach students who don’t normally tie-dying expressive t-shirts as part
John M. Angelo ’63, financial Days. It shows we’re thinking about come to these events, and we were very of St. Lawrence's first Pride Week.
manager; Peter Hatch P’15, issues and that we’re supportive here, successful in doing that,” says Ashlee
garden historian; and Jane and that’s something a lot of LGBTQ Downing, coordinator of Volunteer Ser- LGBTQ Student Services has been
Clark, president of the Clark students are looking for.” vices and co-chair of the week. “Several established thanks to the Saints Activists
Foundation. Inset: The Rev. In addition to Steph’s LGBTetc. group, students told us they hope it happens for Equity (SAFE) grant, a collaborative
Fred G. Garry, pastor of the SaGA (Sexuality and Gender Activists), again. Most important, the students interdepartmental initiative aiming to
First Presbyterian Church in MAASV (Male Athletes Against Sexual involved in planning it were happy to feel provide advocacy, information and resources
Watertown, New York, who Violence) and the newly-formed Ally supported. We can tell them we support for LGBTQ students, allies and the overall
received this year’s North group of faculty and staff were critical them every day, but Pride Week was a St. Lawrence community. For more, go to:
Country Citation. reasons why Pride Week was so successful. way for all of us to show it.” n www.stlawu.edu/lgbtq.
6 7
st. lawrence university magazine | summer 2015
on campus
laurentian
Reviews
indy rock many of us listen to today duced the uniquely American sound of
all stem directly from the American bluegrass. McNally largely, although not
experience with its history of progress, completely, skips over this because his
growth and redemption tarnished by book is about the Mississippi. In his eyes,
slavery, racism, civil war and depression. the history of the river is both a meta-
McNally documents it all in a well-told phor and a fact for much of what we are
chronicle that will fascinate even casual today, culturally and musically.
Going Live with
music fans by uniting history, culture —Bruce Carlisle ’78
and music. Sign Here
McNally, who spent 25 years as the With Major League Baseball’s All-Star
Laurentian for Life Week
traveling publicist for the Grateful Dead, time of year upon us, it’s fitting to con-
is an historian by training and sider an All-Star book.
trade. The book is thor- Kevin McKelvey ’87 and his
oughly researched brother Steve have privately
I
and documented, published Labor of Love: By Meg Bernier ’07, M’09
but, more Reflections and Im-
important, it ages from a Lifetime n late March, students poured into Dana Dining Center Head women's track and field coach Kate Curran rings a bell to
reads like the of Baseball Autograph for Sunday Brunch just as on any other Sunday, eager to kick off the annual L4L 4K run and walk.
work of a true Collecting. The family's get their hands on mozzarella sticks and Belgian waffles.
An American Musical Journey storyteller. collection, presumed to But their eyes lit up as soon as they saw the Laurentian All week, Laurentians shared anecdotes and photos that illus-
When music lovers untangle their What separates be the world's largest for Life Week table, filled with free t-shirts, stickers and trated how they continue to serve, learn, connect, give and cel-
headphones and click into an old Bob it from others private collection of schedules to prepare them for five days of learning and ebrate being a member of the St. Lawrence community. Check
Dylan song, or the “I Shall be Released” about the origins its kind, was started in celebrating what it means to be a Laurentian. The Dana lobby out what they posted: stlawu.edu/social/l4lweek2015. n
cover by Grace Potter ’14h and Matt of today’s music is the 1940s by their father. was filled with “Happy Laurentian for Life Week!” well-wishes as
Burr ’03, the first thing that comes to McNally’s adherence “After auctioning off much of one of the year’s most popular weeks got under way. Laurentian Lightning Chats
mind is probably not Huckleberry Finn to an examination of the it, we took to documenting its most But how do alumni get to take part in the fun, too? That’s
navigating the Mississippi River by raft. culture and historical events that gener- unique and relevant artifacts,” Kevin what the 30 committee members behind the week, which culmi- Taylor Castator ’15: “My Journey at St. Lawrence”
But that’s exactly where Dennis McNally ated each subsequent musical movement. says. “What came of this is a visual his- nated on Charter Day, April 3, asked themselves following the
’71 takes us with On Highway 61: Music, We also learn how certain things we tory of the game.” inaugural event in 2014. In addition to several regional network- Justin Sipher, vice president of libraries
and information technology
Race and the Foundation of American Cul- never thought about came to be. For And what a great visual history it is. ing events and opportunities to take part via social media, the
“WI-FI Networks: Myths, Realities and the Future”
ture (Counterpoint, 2014). example, we find Dylan growing up In small coffee-table format, the book group opted to livestream a few of the week’s biggest events so
Route 61 is a real highway, paralleling in the Minnesota version of the North presents the story of America’s national Laurentians everywhere could watch. Jake Hurlbut ’15
the Mississippi from New Orleans (the Country, listening to Delta blues from a pastime through stories, records, and A new feature was also one of the week’s most popular: “Crashing the Net: Technology Meets Hockey”
old slave markets) to northern Minne- powerful Shreveport radio station. legends in their own hands, from Cy Laurentian Lightning Chats featured six students, fac-
sota (Dylan’s birthplace). Between those If there is a quibble with the book, it Young and Ty Cobb to Hank Aaron ulty and administrators who each gave a nine-minute talk Ana Estevez, associate professor of biology
times and places, McNally argues, lie the is perhaps rooted in its strengths. Not and Roger Maris. —NSB focused on their areas of interest and expertise. The chats “Nanoparticles and Neuroprotection”
true roots of modern American music every note of American music grew from and other well-attended events, such as a poetry reading Mark Raymond M’94, head football coach
and culture. “Negro spirituals,” Stephen the seeds planted in a Delta cotton field. We provide information on books by alumni featuring President William L. Fox ’75 and a webinar from “Leadership in Action”
Foster, Tin Pan Alley, swing, jazz, Robert The Scots-Americans of the Appala- and others on a first-come, first-served basis. LinkedIn’s Sara Jones’12 about how best to use the social
Johnson and the blues, folk, rock n’ chians, not noted for being respectful of Books that do not receive attention here may network, were streamed live and can be viewed at alumni. Steve Horwitz, Dana professor of economics
roll and finally the rootsy, blues-tinged African culture, independently pro- be recognized in a future issue. stlawu.edu/l4lweek. “Unsupervised Play as a School for Peaceful Conflict Resolution”
8 9
the
st. lawrence university magazine | summer 2015
on campus
spire
ascendant
“The spire will ascend anew; the rooster shall resemble a phoenix.”
S
o said President William L. than many recalled, airborne for only a
Fox ’75 in the aftermath of few moments before it was swung into
the October 2013 fire at place and secured by two fearless men in
Gunnison Memorial Chapel. a bucket swinging gently at the end of a
On May 1, 2015, a week cable suspended from a 300-foot crane;
short of 19 months after the then the delicate weathervane; and finally
fire, those prophetic words came to pass, the famous rooster, who resolutely swung
,,
The new chapel spire will
once again be a symbol of
as a new spire was lifted into place on a
warm, promising North Country spring
morning. Laurentians fortunate enough
to observe, and the thousands of others
into a northeast-southwest orientation,
indicating to all the wind direction
that morning. It was over almost before
anyone realized it; as the noontime sun
pride for all Laurentians. who viewed the live-streamed proceed- shone brightly, the spectators on the
Allen Splete ’60 ings, were witnesses to only the second Quad broke into applause, and some
such moment in University history, and spontaneously into the alma mater.
I couldn’t help but smile to the rare visage of the spire in its na- And so Gunnison Memorial Chapel
as I watched the spire scent copper aspect, even as the inevitable is whole once more. With interior work
ascend to the top of forces of nature began turning it toward finished, its inaugural public use was an
Gunnison with fellow its more familiar blue-green patina. emotional Laurentian Singers Concert on
students, staff, faculty The spire began its journey to the top Commencement Weekend. The restored
and alumni; it was of Gunnison with an 865-mile truck chime first rang out again for that week-
like welcoming an old ride from Campbellsville, Kentucky, end’s Baccalaureate Service, courtesy of
friend back home. where it had been fabricated. On the veteran ringer Cody Witherell ’11.
Kelly Gamache ’15 appointed day, construction crews began “The first glimpse will tell the whole
at sunrise, proceeding step by step as story in an instant,” President Fox also
It was a kind of healing. though assembling a mammoth model: said after the fire. “It is the best story
Lennie Dougherty first the base, bigger than most people architecture will ever tell, when human
McKinnon ’58 remembered; then the spire, smaller ambitions soar.” n —NSB
10 11
st. lawrence university magazine | summer 2015
on campus on social media
#SLUfamous
we rally: Laurentians take part in First Lady Michelle Obama’s #ReachHigher Initiative.
I chose Saint Lawrence
because of the amazing
opportunities available!!
#StLawU2019 #ReachHigher
@jonesyrox219 via Lauren Annaldo ’10 @ms_tashamac12
Can't wait to go to St. Lawrence
next year! I chose SLU because
All That Work Pays Off of the great atmosphere and
wonderful people!
T
#Stlawu2019 #ReachHigher
hree alumni of St. Lawrence’s McNair Scholars While on campus, Giri encouraged students to pursue
@sarahb516 @bgolfchamp
Program (www.stlawu.edu/cstep-and-mcnair) their passions and not become discouraged. Parham
recently earned their doctorates, the first to added, "Graduate school success depends upon finding I chose St Lawrence because
do so. Two of them visited campus last spring: Animesh a topic you care about immensely, (then identifying) a of the amazing people I've
Giri '08, right, graduated from the doctoral program strong support group.” met and the opportunities it
in economics at Emory University in 2014 and Brittany Giri teaches economics at Berry College in Atlanta and will give me in the next four
Parham '10 graduated in May from the University at is publishing research on the impacts of migration and
years, also because I couldn't
Buffalo's dual Ph.D. program in Psychology and School remittances in Nepal. Parham is a primary mental health
imagine attending any other
Counseling. Steve Peraza ’06 also graduated this year clinician in Baltimore and a researcher on mental health
school and loving it as much
from the University at Buffalo, with his Ph.D. in history. policy and practice for the University of Maryland.
as I love SLU already!!
#StLawU2019 #ReachHigher
New Major in Statistics Approved
T
Cameron Dehais Maggie Urquhart Nicole Kubista
he New York State Education Department has approved a new
statistics major at St. Lawrence, giving students the opportunity to
major in a discipline that has only recently become distinguished
as a distinct field. Although statistics is an increasingly important
discipline in the information era and can be applied to a variety of fields, it is
rarely offered as a major at liberal arts colleges.
“There is difference between mathematics and statistics,” says Michael
Schuckers, left, associate professor of statistics and author of the statistics major
I chose #StLawU2019 for the
proposal. “Mathematics uses deductive reasoning to go from the general down incredible sense of community, the On days like these, I know that
to the specific, while statistics uses inductive reasoning that looks at a subset of many opportunities SLU provides, all the hard work was worth it.
and the close proximity to nature! Thank you for helping me.
data and applies it to a larger population.” He cited Gallup Polls as an example.
#ReachHigher #ReachHigher #StLawU2019
St. Lawrence’s minor in statistics will remain. For more, visit
@karipierre22 @c_to_the_olin @kayapps
www.stlawu.edu/math-computer-science-and-statistics.
Find out more about the First Lady’s efforts to celebrate students who take charge of their future and complete their education: whitehouse.gov/reach-higher.
12 13
st. lawrence university magazine | summer 2015
SPORTS
Nick Hughes, women's coach and direc-
tor of rowing, shouts instructions to his
team with the help of some old-fash-
ioned collegiate low-tech.
“We were very fortunate in those early
years to have the support of University
Trustees Mike Ranger ’80 and Allan (and
Kate) Newell,” Hughes recalls. “All three
have a deep affinity for the river and were
enthusiastic about the rowing program
establishing itself there. Were it not for
their generosity, we wouldn’t have the
lovely facility that we now call home.”
Finding a home was only one step in
sustaining a program. Another involved
building a coaching staff. The first hire
after Hughes was George Repicky, who
was added to the staff in 2003 and
elevated to the role of head coach of the
W
men’s team in 2005.
hile recruitment of
left Photo: George Repicky
experienced prospec-
tive student-athletes “Since we spend so much time training
started at the incep-
tion of the program, for what seems like a very short racing
Rowing at St. Lawrence
so too did the process of attracting
top-quality athletes already on campus season, it takes an incredible amount of
who were new to the sport. “Rowing
remains one of the few collegiate sports hard work and dedication both to the
Long boats, short history, dedicated athletes that people can pick up when they get to
sport and to the others on the team.”
I
By Kelly Vergin college,” Hughes explains. “Instruction
of novice rowers is vital to our program.”
n 1999, the Crew Club at Strait found Nick Hughes practically in Team practice times normally have “p.m.” If history is any judge, that instruction Gabrielle Schreffler ’16
St. Lawrence University made her back yard after he saw the job posting after the digits. With rowing, it's “a.m.,” seems to be working. Current U.S. Na-
a bold step and moved into the in an area newspaper. It had been a last when the St. Lawrence River is at its tional Teamer Meghan Musnicki ’05n
world of varsity athletics. Rowing minute-decision to advertise locally for most amenable was introduced to the sport in 2001 at tions. Still, because spring is as short as “My experience as a student at
at St. Lawrence has not been a position that was attracting attention St. Lawrence. She became a member it is in the North Country, being on the St. Lawrence would not be what it is
the same since. The program has made from all over New England. senger van. Suffice it to say, we’ve come a of the U.S. Women’s Eight that won water is never met with complaint.” without rowing,” says Gabrielle Schref-
progress by leaps and bounds, with solid “Nick was the right guy for the job,” says long way since then.” an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2012 While there is not only a great deal fler ’16. “Since we spend so much time
organization, solid leadership and dedi- Strait. “He brought youthful energy to the With a lack of ample water on campus, Games in London. of training on the water, a tremendous training for what seems like a very short
cated student-athletes who have called program as well as instant credibility.” the first order of business was to find a The rosters for both the men’s and amount of time is spent on campus, racing season, it takes an incredible
themselves members of and pioneers of Hughes, a former lightweight rower at suitable training and competition site. women’s squads have grown steadily in the weight room in Newell Field amount of hard work and dedication
the St. Lawrence rowing program. Dartmouth College, was hired prior to After some false starts at Hannawa Falls as rowing has become more popular House and in the team’s erg room in both to the sport and to the others on
“Taking a program from the club the official start of the varsity program to and Norwood Pond, the program finally on campus. Commensurate success Augsbury Center. the team. Every day we push ourselves
level and developing it into a successful help guide the transition from club level made the move to the St. Lawrence at comes as a result of that popularity. “It’s not a sport for the faint of heart,” to get stronger and faster in order to
varsity program is a process that can to varsity. Waddington in 2002 with the help of the The women qualified for the NCAA Hughes comments. gain those integral few inches when we
take several years,” says former athletics “While rowing on the St. Lawrence New York State Power Authority, which Championships three consecutive years The next major step in the continued get off the starting line.”
director Margie Strait M’73. “I knew River dates to the early 1800s, rowing at owned the desired land, and Strait, who (2008-10), taking sixth place in back- improvement of the program will be An effort is already underway to secure
we needed a strong leader as a head St. Lawrence had a much less illustri- knew the area well as a Waddington resi- to-back seasons. the establishment of an indoor train- funding for the new training facility.
coach to not only get the program off ous history,” says Hughes, who is now dent. She played a major role in securing “Rowing is a sport that rewards ing facility featuring a rowing tank With continued support from alumni
the ground but also achieve the success director of rowing. “I arrived to find the the land that became the home of the industriousness, first and foremost,” says where rowers can more closely replicate and friends of the rowing program, it
that we have become accustomed to extent of the club’s fleet of shells – two University Boathouse and the launching Hughes. “These athletes train exception- outdoor conditions when snow and ice could be up and running within the
here at St. Lawrence.” fours – strapped to the top of a 15-pas- point for training and competitions. ally hard, often in very difficult condi- make such training impossible. next year. n
14 15
st. lawrence university magazine | summer 2015
SPORTS
Marching In
A hearty “Go, Saints!” for these
Standing O achievements in winter and spring 2015
For more, go to www.saintsathletics.com.
Divya Biswal ’15, track and field: National champion Kara McDuffee ’15, women’s basketball: Class of
in long jump, 2nd in triple jump on home field / United 2015 Outstanding Female Scholar-Athlete / Phi Beta
States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Kappa, summa cum laude graduate / 2015 Capital One
Association Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year / SLU Division III Third Team Academic All-American / third
records in long and triple jumps indoors and outdoors, player in program history to earn WBCA All-America
60 and 100 hurdles and as part of 4x200 relay / 31 honors / unanimous Liberty League Player of the Year
individual championships and six relay titles / sixth / fourth-leading scorer in program history / single-
straight Liberty League Field Athlete of the Year / season record for rebounds.
nine-time All-America / Martha Finch Award winner as
outstanding female athlete in the Class of 2015. Austin Roney ’15, men’s soccer: 2015 recipient,
Daniel F. Sullivan Athletic Leadership and Community
Megan Kellogg ’18, track and field: All-America / 7th Service Award / top-level defender on three Liberty
in 5,000-meter run in Nationals at St. Lawrence. League champions / four NCAA tournament
appearances / Phi Beta Kappa, ODK / chair, SAAC
Trevor Bibb ’15, cross country and track and field: Community Outreach Program / Habitat for
Class of 2015 Outstanding Male Scholar-Athlete / Humanity; Singing Saints / volunteer, Fatherhood
ECAC 10,000-meter champion, 15th in Nationals at St. Program at Riverview Correctional Facility, and local
Lawrence / Liberty League All-Academic teams, cross youth soccer coach.
country and track / three straight NCAA championships
in cross country / 3,000 and 5,000 meters indoors and Marisa Turner ’16, track and field: All-America / 5th
5,000 meters outdoors winner in NYSCTC. in high jump in Nationals at St. Lawrence.
Durocher Named Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation
L
ong-time men’s soccer coach Bob Durocher M’94 has abiding loyalty to St. Lawrence.”
been named director of intercollegiate athletics and “We will continue to measure our success by how well we
recreation at St. Lawrence. He began inspire our student-athletes and provide them
his new duties last April 1, replacing the best experience possible,” Durocher said.
Margie Strait M’73, who served in the position “I will work hard to uphold the outstanding
from 1997 to January 2015, when she retired. legacies of the directors who came before me.”
Durocher oversees strategic leadership of Durocher joined St. Lawrence in 1990 as an
all sports programs, staff and facilities of instructor for exercise physiology and head
the Athletics Department, which includes 83 coach for men’s soccer. He led the 1999 team
In May, Jack Whelan ’15 became the employees. He is also chair of the University’s on its 22-0-0 run to win the NCAA Division III
first individual qualifier for the NCAA sports studies and exercise science academic national championship. Over 25 years, he steered
Championship in St. Lawrence men’s golf minor. the team to 17 conference championships, 17
program history; there, the Martha Finch “Our national search led us to the candidate NCAA championship appearances and an overall
Award winner as the outstanding male with the best credentials, the strongest record of 323-101-45.
athlete in his class set program records experience and the highest level of esteem From 1993 to 2000, Durocher also served
for finish (tied for 26th) and 72-hole score that a coach can earn,” said President William L. Fox ’75. “Bob as director of the Stafford Fitness Center. In 2000, he was
(297). He also won the Liberty League Durocher understands the role of athletics in a liberal arts promoted to assistant director of athletics. In this role, he
individual championship with a record- college, he is a superb mentor of student-athletes, he has well- oversaw the administration and management of the Augsbury
breaking eight-under-par final round of 64. honed financial and organizational skills and he is proud of his Physical Education Center and Newell Field House complex.
17Poetry, fi c t io n , d a n c e , m u s ic ,
n o n -fi c t io n , s c u lp t u r e ,
paintin g , p h o t o m ic ro g ra p h y ,
and even a recipe!
Begun by Sierra Leone’s Victor Kai-Rogers
’08, Kaleidoscope has continued as a much-
anticipated highlight of the annual arts
calendar on campus; shown here is a drum
circle in Peterson-Kermani Performance Hall
during the spring 2015 rendition. Kaleidoscope
and Africa Night showcase the University’s
broadly talented international students.
100%
student-produced
19THE POET’S EYE
the arts and sciences THE POET’S EYE
After a Good Rain
1 In May or June
the mushroom foragers
retreat
to the hillside
at dawn.
2 With baskets in hand,
they kneel
to the dew
feeling for soft caps
nestled
in the grass,
reaching
for those white
gems knuckled
into the earth,
those little temples
that sprout
as quickly as
their gatherers
find them.
3 The foragers lean
against
the elephant in the room
the sloped terrain,
Brooke McGowan ’15
ill Pflugheber ’86 is a microscopy specialist in the biology heads bowed in
Hometown: Dorset, VT
department and instructor of Biology 392, Research
Methods in Fluorescence and Confocal Microscopy, and Major: Art & Art History
F
dogged prayer
Biology/Geology 391, Research Methods in Scanning
and cheeks rosy
Electron Microscopy. Each year, she organizes confocal or her part in last year’s Senior Art Exhibition in our ecosystem. The installation is designed to encourage the
and scanning electron microscope (SEM) image contests, open to as the gills Brush Gallery, Brooke McGowan ’15… well, let’s question, who are we to put a monetary value on another spe-
anyone, and invites the campus community to judge the entries. of a meadow mushroom let her explain it herself, as adapted from a blog she cies? The spent shells, shot by my own hand, not only act as a
Winners in spring 2015 were Matt Edmond ’15, a neuroscience wrote for the Admissions office and from her artist’s decorative element but also allude to the morbid message of this
and philosophy double major from Eagan, Minnesota, in the1 plucked and dropped, statement, “This is Not an Elephant,” which leads with the piece, (which is) an educational, visual and tactile aid, speaking
confocal category, and Quinn Self, a neuroscience major and landing following epigram: for those without a voice.”
chemistry minor from Richmond, Vermont, 2 in the SEM field.
in the basket
“Ultimately, my goal is to demonstrate that the value I give this
Nor is this competition limited to the confines of the St. Law- “The question is, are we happy to fabrication is as arbitrary as the value society has given to ivory
rence campus. A previous winner, Clifford Reilly ’16, 3 entered belly up. suppose that our grandchildren may and therefore living individuals. If I cannot find a way to further
his prize image in this year’s Nikon It’s A Small World contest, a never be able to see an elephant my career with it in three months, then I will donate it to St.
world-wide competition that attracts thousands of entries, mostly except in a picture book?” Jude’s Hospital. Of course, I would remove the bullet shells, but
from scientists. Clifford’s image finished in the top 100, rating it the poet —David Attenborough I hope it can find a home where it will be loved someday.” n
an Image of Distinction. “He and one other were the youngest ever
Kelsey Hatch ’15
to have winning images,” says Pflugheber. n “For this exhibition, I built a life-size elephant from chicken
—NSB Hometown: Grafton, MA wire, fishing line, tulle fabric and spent bullet shells to discuss To see more of Brooke McGowan’s art, visit brooketmcgowan.
Major: English the impact that the exotic animal trade has on the fragility of weebly.com or @ThoseVTVibes and @btmcg on Instagram.
21the music-maker
Jacob Brillhart ’15
Hometown: West Topsham, VT
Majors: English & Music
acob Brillhart ’15 may well be the only says, including two that he performed at the St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence alumnus to go on to post- String Orchestra concert on campus last spring (to listen to
graduate work in violin-making. He will start them, follow the instructions below). “When I'm composing,
at North Bennet Street School in Boston on I tend to play the piece over and over, to the point where I
September 8. am sure everyone who can hear me is driven mad. This helps
“It's a very specialized trade school for me to smooth out any aspects of the piece that are unnatural,
violin-making, as well as several other trades, while simultaneously giving me the opportunity to add more
including jewelry-making and bookbinding,” complexity in each repetition. It also ensures that I commit the
explains Brillhart, shown here in his room, piece to memory from the outset. Usually, only after I have let
carving a new bridge for a 100-year-old Ger- it sit, hardening and solidifying in my mind for several days, or
man violin that he’s restoring—another talent distinctive if not even weeks, do I write it down.” n —NSB
the artist guild
unique among Laurentians. “The violin-making program takes
three years to complete, and only 12 students total are enrolled, To hear Jake Brillhart perform his compositions “Beth Telford’s
with just two admitted each semester.” Jig” and “Tory and Adrian’s Wedding Jig,” go to www.stlawu.edu/
Jake has composed “quite a few pieces of fiddle music,” he magazine and click on the Music link.
alking into The Artist Guild theme house reason, at the same time.”
feels like coming home. Everywhere I turn In the past, The Guild hosted public art shows, drama
is another reminder of why I love this place, performances, and even body painting workshops. Now, house
from the Lion King mural on the bathroom members have embraced open expression even more by literally
stall, to the paintings covering every inch of the common room, opening their doors to campus with the Open Artist Hour.
to the footprints on the ceiling left there from 2013, back when They put on music, bring out all of their art supplies, and
I lived in the house. provide snacks. “It harnesses that creativity and imagination,
“It felt warm, comfortable, welcoming, and a place where I whether it be art or just conversation,” says Emily. “People who
belonged,” says Emily Rodger ’17, a multi-language major from don’t take formal art classes have a place to come to and just do
Waterloo, New York. Searching for her niche at St. Lawrence, whatever they want.”
Emily instantly gravitated to “The Guild.” No matter who comes through The Guild, whether for one
“It’s about being open to all forms of art, whether visual, or night or an entire year, part of them never leaves. “When you
music, or crafts like knitting, or dance, or poems,” she says. “It’s look around this house, there are pieces of people everywhere,”
everything that has to do with expressing one’s self.” says DJ. “You walk through here and know you have something
Open expression has always been a hallmark of The Guild. “I so much bigger than just the people you are living with.”
remember there being no judgment, at all,” says Darion “DJ”
Ambrosino ’16, a double major in sociology and psychology “The Artist Guild is a family,” says Emily.
from Johnston, Rhode Island, recalling her first impression
of the house. “Everyone was in the same place, for the same I couldn’t agree more. n —Hannah Chanatry ’15
laurentians
support
N
early 100 donor-funded current An example is Quinn Self ’15, whose award-
use and endowment funds support winning image can be seen on page 20. His
student research and its associ- summer 2014 research on the underlying
ated creativity on campus. These mechanisms that control nervous system
include department funds, University Fellows function under both healthy and pathological
and Tanner Fellowship funds, as well as travel conditions was funded by the Donald K. Rose
and research grants administered through University Fellows Endowment. For more,
the Center for International and Intercultural visit www.stlawu.edu/neuroscience/student/
Studies (CIIS). quinn-reed-self.
23the dancer
THE POET’S EYE
Hannah Chanatry ’15
Hometown: Cazenovia, NY THE POET’S EYE
Majors: English, Performance & Communications Arts How I Will Travel to the
Spirit World
C
I will dance
ollaborating with the off my gnarled,
Laurentian Singers to springy tongue
perform” Gravedig-
ger” at last spring’s
—trip,
dance recital was an incredible
probably—
capstone to the work I have done
at St. Lawrence. From the initial
idea to the final product, the entire Burst
process was an ebb and flow of into a plumage
ideas, pushing all of us, singers and of yellow pine needles
dancers alike, out of our comfort
zones. It was well worth it; after And coalesce finally
four years of working with Barry
with micro-organic
Torres in the Laurentian Singers
cousins.
‘A musician,
and Kerri Canedy in the dance
program, it was moving to see the
“Enjoy the carbon cycle!”
not just a singer’
people I have grown close to in
each program come together at the I’ll giggle,
end to create something so unique as a gentle gust
and beautiful. n untangles and then
—Hannah Chanatry ’15 scatters
Corinne Niekrewicz ’15
Hometown: Kingston, NY my specificities,
Major: Biology loosening the sinews
still binding my
usic and musical performance has always been a big part rotten knees.
of my life. At St. Lawrence, my experiences as a Lauren-
tian Singer and involvements in the music department Free,
Who We Are Now have shaped me as a musician, not just a singer. cradled on
THE POET’S EYE Recently, while I was studying 16th-century musical aspects and the blue back
devices in the seminar Michelangelo’s Music Lessons, my attention to
THE POET’S EYE Every October I remember what we used to be. spine of the wind,
detail flourished, enabling me to appreciate the beauty of simple music
Memories of us creep into my mind like the vines I will become ambiguous
as well as thoroughly reflect on the intention of a particular piece of
of this pumpkin patch where I carve fake faces into the blank music before performing it. Through exploring the defining charac-
teristics of early compositions, such as polyphonic structure/imitation And join the currents
orange spaces: jagged cuts over and over, dull blade points, modal centers, solmization syllables and the emotional qualities of the cycles,
into flesh, tearing out pulp, seeds, and shredded insides associated with each, the manipulation of “tactus” or tempo, and the the seasons;
implications of cadences, I have acquired a unique skill set that can relinquish my consciousness
spoonful by spoonful. I am as empty as this jack-o-lantern, take me to new levels of musical creation. and stop looking
mere decoration, sides curling as decay sets in, Whether decoding root motives of a composition for true deliver-
for the reasons.
ance in performance or synthesizing new musical ideas, such tools have
the poet artificially lit by a tiny tea light candle. completely changed the way I think about the meticulous art of music-
The flame eats away at the wick as time ate away at us, making. As a performer and a writer, I try to embrace simplicity and
put forth the not-so-evident yet beautiful details that make a musical the poet
melting wax pools in the hollow cave of my heart and hardens.
experience radiantly full. n —Corinne Niekrewicz ’15
Amanda Brooks ’17
I remember you asked, “What happened to us?”
Hometown: Westford, MA To hear Corinne Niekrewicz perform three selections from her Senior
and as the words left your mouth, your breath flickered Sean Morrissey ’16
Major: Environmental Studies – English Recital (“Gretchen Am Spinnrade” by Franz Schubert; “Moondance,”
my light until poof, with some vocal improv, by Van Morrison; and “Waltz for Debbie” by Bill Hometown: Milton, VT
Evans), as well as her early music composition “Sing Joyfully to God,” go to Major: Environmental Studies – English
I was out.
www.stlawu.edu/magazine and click on the Music link.
24 25Back to Your Kind by Tessa Yang ’15
Author’s Note: Below is an excerpt from the novella I completed for my 2014 University Fellowship. The story
describes protagonist Elsie returning home to care for her older sister, Margo, who has begun showing symptoms
T
of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The following scene is a flashback to their childhood in Chicago.
he last time Elsie had set foot in Margo’s house, corn, or outside the doors of Covenant Church?
it had still belonged to Grandma Annelise, their In all of these photographs—sent off, developed, and returned
father’s mother and Elsie’s namesake, something by mail in September—Greg and Elsie appeared unsmiling and
for which she never fully forgave her parents. wary, as if fearful the camera might reach out and strike them.
Who wanted to share a name with a mean old This infuriated Elsie. It was well enough for Greg; everyone knew
lady who smelled of throat lozenges and whose cold, bony fore- he was a coward. His arms had been stuck in front of his face for
finger perpetually hooked itself in Elsie’s collar, dragging her away three days after they were born. But she was strong, she wasn’t
from whatever object she’d picked up to alleviate her boredom? afraid of anything. She made to tear the photographs in two. The
“That’s an antique.” “That is not a toy,” in throaty, accented tones. stack was too thick, and she succeeded only in bending them
Once Elsie was returned, sulking, to her chair, Annelise sat before Margo descended upon her.
back on the flora sofa and gave herself a little shake. Small yet “They’re not yours,” sneered Margo, holding the photos just out
tough-looking, she reminded Elsie of the wizened crabapple tree of reach.
in the schoolyard, which she always took for dead until it started “It’s not fair! You get everything. I hate that stupid camera, and
dropping fruit each fall. I hate you—”
“Now dear, where was I?” Annelise asked Elsie’s sister. It was “I don’t care what you think!”
Margo’s thirteenth birthday and she had never looked smugger, So they went, on and on, until their mother emerged from the
inflated with the newfound superiority of adolescence. “Ah— garden, dirt-spattered, still clutching a shovel and looking furious
yes—thirteen is an important day for a girl. Nowadays it’s all enough to beat them both with it.
the working artist
about eighteen, but when I was young—” Elsie had no inkling of the feud to come when she laid eyes on
Greg, sprawled on the floor like someone’s forgotten toy, that camera in her grandmother’s house. She was charmed by it,
seemed just as baffled and bored as Elsie, but Margo sat straight- but she knew better than to ask if she could touch it. Margo had
backed on the sofa with her hands folded neatly in her lap. She never wanted to share anything. Elsie responded by abhorring
was in a new dress with a white flowered sash, her hair spread everything her sister held dear: New dresses, hair bows, diaries Ryan Daniels ’16
in equal piles of gold across either shoulder. Watching her smile with silly little locks. Hometown: New York City, NY
as she accepted one of Annelise’s nasty lozenges, Elsie had the At the doorway with their father, they assembled in a line to
Major: Government
sudden conviction that Margo would never truly grow up. That bid their grandmother goodbye. Annelise hugged Margo, folded
she would always just be there, constant, hovering in older sister some lozenges into Greg’s small, trembling hand, and gave Elsie
limbo, six-and-a-half years above Elsie and Greg. They would a final look-over. “The state of her, Clifford,” she scolded. “The Ryan Daniels ’16 is says. “The melody then develops into between myself and others. The process
change, all right—they would become big enough to make their scabs on her knees—her hair—couldn’t you at least do something already a working lyrics, which tend to revolve around my can change throughout this stage, because
own rules, and Elsie could hardly wait for the day—but Margo, about her hair?” artist,” music own life and experiences. It could be often I will make mistakes that appear to
though her limbs might grow and her hair get longer, would Elsie’s father smiled in his guilty way. “It’s not like it was when department chair something I experienced a year ago, or make the sound even greater. This causes
somehow stay just as she was: Eternally dreamy-eyed, smiling you were a girl, Mother. Elsie’s a free spirit. We like her that way.” David Henderson something from that day. me to switch directions frequently, until
politely on their grandmother’s musty old sofa. “She looks like a dog that’s crawled out of the woods,” commented in April. “Great voice, “Once I have crafted the lyrics into I'm satisfied.
Before their father returned to pick them up, Annelise had a sniffed Annelise. excellent pop music sensibilities, verses, choruses and a bridge, I am “Next I lay down my vocals.
gift for Margo: A white box with black edging and a protruding “And you,” said Elsie, her fear evaporating now that escape was building his digital chops in Chris ready to create the musical piece,” he Harmonies and background are almost
square at the top—a camera, Elsie understood a moment later, so near, “look like a crumpled-up old umbrella.” She took Greg’s Watts's Music and Technology course continues. “The amount of time this always on the spot without any previous
its shiny lens staring like a patient black eye. Margo beamed hand and fled out the front door, onto the Chicago street that this semester.” takes can vary depending on my vision ideas. Once I have recorded my vocals to
and clutched it to her chest in childlike abandon. A moment smelled of hot tar. They ran past a rundown church, a grocer’s, a Ryan’s eclectic musical interests take of the song. The piece in the link [see my satisfaction, I send what I have done
later, remembering herself, she smoothed her grin into another basketball court where shirtless boys shimmered like mirages as him from the Laurentian Singers, directions below] took a month to to my engineer, and we converse for
modest smile, gave Annelise a hug, and set the camera care- they jumped in the heat. where last spring he sang material from craft the chords. I sit at a piano and weeks on what can be fixed, edited or
fully on her lap, but she didn’t let go of it. In fact, for months “Where are we going?” cried Greg. Giuseppe Verdi to Richard Rogers to sing the song as I play, over and over deleted. From this point, he masters the
afterward, she was barely without it. “We’re running away!” Elsie shouted triumphantly. “Forever. Stevie Wonder (during the latter’s “Sir until I understand it well enough to project after a series of mixes, and the
She snapped photos of sunny lawn chairs, wilted daisies, the And they’ll never find us!” Duke,” he and fellow Singer Taylor record effectively. song is finally complete and ready for
elongated shadows cast by swing-sets. When she tired of things, If Greg was upset by this startling news, he didn’t let on. He Sukdolak ’16 danced as well as sang) “Once I am in sync with what I'm me to share.” n
Margo moved onto people. Though she had previously regarded kept pace with his sister, and they ran and ran, two brightly- to SLU Funk to contemporary music, playing, I craft the song. Starting with
her little siblings with little more than tight-lipped tolerance, colored blurs on the city sidewalks. n which he composes. the piano, I layer the instrumental To hear Ryan Daniels perform a sample
now, suddenly, Margo saw them for what they were: Blonde- “My process begins with a faint with synthesizer, bass lines, percussion, of his original music, go to www.stlawu.
haired, blue-eyed little angels, twins, and who wasn’t nuts about
twins, especially when they were posed before a rippling field of
the author melody I hear in my mind after hearing
almost any song from any genre,” he
breaks, and soft, edgy, atmospheric
sounds, which I feel creates a distinction
edu/magazine and click on the Music link.
note: May contain explicit lyrics.
Tessa Yang ’15
26 Hometown: Pittsford, NY 27
Major: EnglishYou can also read
