Odds and Ends

John Shelton ‘35 #153

Ken Smith ‘33 #138 writes that Dr. John Shelton ‘35 #153 was honored by the American Scientist Magazine (Nov/Dec 1999 issue). They listed his 1966 book, Geology Illustrated, as one of the top 100 science books of the century. Here are a few of the other authors also on this list (you’ll recognize a few): Charles Darwin, John Steinbeck, Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, Albert Einstein, and Linus Pauling.

Hyrum Strong ‘32 #107

The late Hyrum Strong ‘32 #107 and wife Nora were honored by the Morro Coast Audubon Society in October, 1998.

[From Pacific Flyway, Morro Coast Audubon Society newsletter, October 1998. –Eds.]

Hyrum and Nora Strong both were presidents of MCAS and both achieved a life list of 600 birds. Hyrum submitted a bid for fifty dollars which, when the County accepted it, gave us the site for the Overlook at the end of 1st Street in Baywood Park. He was instrumental in securing the Fairbanks property for the Heron Rookery and was a founder of the Natural History Association. Hyrum and Nora played a leading role in enabling State Parks to acquire ranch property that extended the Park’s boundaries to Los Osos Creek. When the ranch property came on the market, State Parks could not act immediately so Hyrum and Nora brokered a loan from National Audubon to temporarily secure the property.

Nora was the organizer and a supreme delegater. When she asked somebody to do something, she was never refused. Her paintings and drawings featuring birds were always on exhibit.

The Strongs started Bird Study in their living room. They were also instrumental in initiating the Peregrine watch at Morro Rock and in convincing the Chapter to be a major supporter of the Captive Peregrine Falcon breeding program at Santa Cruz. The Strongs brought a fledgling Audubon chapter into full flight recognized by National Audubon as a group with Impact and influence.

Thomas Warren ‘26 #49

Ogdensburg, New Jersey’s Sterling Hill Mining Museum dedicated the Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence last October 16, 1999. The following is excerpted from the announcement of the dedication.

Who is Thomas S. Warren?

Thomas Spencer Warren was born in 1903 and is still active at age 96. Most collectors of fluorescent minerals know him as the founder of Ultra-Violet Products, Inc. (now UVP, Inc.) but few are aware of his powerful influence on our hobby, or the depth of his lifelong commitment. To begin with, Tom originated the most important tool we have: the mass-produced, hand-held, portable ultraviolet lamp. He developed the M-12 battery-powered “Minerlight” lamp in the late 1930s for prospectors hunting scheelite; many of these were traded to Franklin and Sterling Hill miners and found their way into the mines in lunch boxes.

Tom’s initial interest may have been economic-luckily the uranium boom kept UVP going after 1945-but like many collectors he also became obsessed with the beauty of minerals “under the lamp,” and never lost an opportunity to promote them. He displayed minerals along with his UV lamps at hundreds of mining and mineral trade shows, and gave innumerable lectures and demonstrations; he also sponsored the first public exhibit of fluorescent minerals (at Knott’s Berry Farm around 1940).

By the 1950s UVP made not only portable and line-operated hand lamps, but also powerful display lamps such as the S-68, still used in museums worldwide. The company also had the largest stock of fluorescent minerals ever assembled. Even after Tom stepped down as CEO of UVP in 1973, he continued to run the mineral business until 1984, and the last of its stock was not dispersed until around 1992.

During the fifty-plus years of involvement with fluorescent minerals, Tom promoted them every way he could. In addition to exhibiting all over the country, including the early Franklin, NJ shows, he sponsored the early “Bibles” for collectors: Sterling Gleason’s Ultraviolet Guide to Minerals and Bob Jones’ Nature’s Hidden Rainbow’s. More recently (1994) he personally published Ultraviolet Light and Fluorescent Minerals, with one of the four sections written by him.

When the Fluorescent Mineral Society was founded by Don Newsome in 1971, Tom saw that early FMS activities were sponsored by UVP, and its print shop produced the early FMS journals and newsletters. In 1974 the FMS organized the first all-fluorescent-mineral show, and this too was held at Tom’s factory in San Gabriel. UVP under Tom Warren even helped with Hoya’s development of the long-life short-wave filter, the most significant development in UV lamp technology in decades.

All this ignores the rest of his life: Tom Warren also raised three children, shepherded UVP into dozens of other scientific and commercial markets, and in short has led a remarkably meaningful and active existence. However, for us he is truly the godfather of every collector of fluorescent minerals. Far more than anyone’s, his efforts, enthusiasm, and accomplishments determined the shape and scope of our hobby today. Honoring him with a Museum of Fluorescence at the Sterling Hill Mining Museum seems wholly appropriate.

[The dedication was written by Richard C. Bostwick. –Eds.]

A bronze plaque installed at the museum reads:

Thomas S. Warren The Franklin Mineral Museum Inc. Honors Thomas S. Warren for his lifelong efforts in developing ultraviolet lamps and promoting the display, knowledge, and appreciation of fluorescent minerals among collectors and museums worldwide. His encouragement has been the foundation for our interest in the beauty and science of fluorescent minerals.

Walton Dougher ‘57 #458

When Walt Dougher was announced as the recipient of the 1999 Rose & Scroll Award, given to Manhattan Beach’s citizen of the year, the audience members at Friday’s Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce installation banquet had to concede that he was an obvious choice.

After all, the requirements for the awards—demonstrated long-term service to the community through unselfish participation and broad-based involvement, outstanding personal integrity and character—define the kind of person Dougher is.

“He’s done so many things unselfishly and on a volunteer basis for the community,” said selection committee member Julian Christensen. “He almost got it last year.”

“He listens and is patient and is a stable influence in our city,” said committee member Millie Anderson.

Dougher’s service-related resume is impressive. This 30-year Manhattan Beach resident is a newly elected member of the City Council, after a one-year stint on the Planning Commission. He also has served as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles County Beach Commission and is a Board Member of Arts Manhattan. He is past chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and past president of both the Manhattan Little League and Manhattan-Hermosa Youth Football.

And, most importantly, he and wife Barbara raised four sons in the city.

In 1997, and again in 1999, Dougher, a retired Southern California Edison executive, served as Interim Executive Director of the Manhattan Beach Chamber off Commerce for several months, relying on the experience he gained as president of Redondo Beach’s Chamber of Commerce in 1992-93.

“Walt has bailed the Chamber of Commerce out twice when they didn’t have leadership,” said former mayor Jack Cunningham, a Rose & Scroll committee member and past recipient.

“He’s just done a marvelous job for the community. He was unjustifiably deserving.”

“This year just keeps getting better and better,” Dougher said. “Election to the City Council, a new granddaughter and now the Rose & Scroll. I am honored and humbled to be chosen for this honor.

Wash Favors for Phi Delt Friends of NAP

Below is a series of notes between your editor, some Phi Delta friends, and some Actives regarding dropping in at the Wash.

Paul,

A group of us old Phi Delts (Dave Clegg ‘84, Krister Engdahl ‘83, Bruce Weitzenhoffer ‘82) are heading to Las Vegas this weekend but flying first into Ontario and then driving out to Vegas. We’re going to stop by campus on Friday and were considering attending the Wash. I read The Student Life article regarding ABC issues and the question is will there be a Wash this Friday? Have you heard any news?

Just wondering?

Paul Martin ‘83 (Susie Gould’s ‘84 #917 husband)

Jen, April, Katie, Phil, Someone!

Please send Paul Martin (the Mr. half of Nu Alpha Phi alum, Susie Gould ‘84 #917) info on the Wash this Friday. Is it on? Or has the ABC screwed that up?

The Wash is happening. It will be at the Wash, unless it rains, it will then be in Social room 6. It should be from 3–7, and it is the initiation wash, so much fun will be had by all. They are now requiring guest passes, so alums should be able to go to ASPC (now in Walker) and just get them. If they can’t they should come to the wash (by 4:30) and I will register them!

Jen

lucky bastard!

In a big way. It was a beautiful day on campus last Friday. We grabbed our lunch at Juanita’s and beverages at the Lucky which we knew as the old Talking Alpha Beta. Then we headed to the Wash to drink in all the old memories. After lunch we walked around campus to see what was new—then back to the Wash for the festivities. We met some of the current Nappies (including Jen who cleared us with the server—thanks), had a couple of beers and picked up some necessities for Las Vegas from a friendly Nappie and we were off. It was great. I’m still sporting some tan/sunburn. I can’t tell you how many times I got burned in the wash in my four years there. I wish we’d been able to stay longer but Vegas called. I’m attaching a few pictures I took with my digital camera. Hope you all enjoy them.

[We’ll share these in the next issue. –Eds.]

Plaz

Nu Alpha Phi Memorial Scholarship News

I am pleased to report to you on the 1999–2000 Nu Alpha Phi Scholarship and the William H. Schoonmaker, Jr., Scholarship. We have selected Jacqueline Madrid, a junior from El Paso, Texas; Robert Santillano, a junior from Sacramento, California; and Stacy Tarango, a junior from Rancho Cucamonga, California, to be honored as the Nu Alpha Phi Scholars. In addition, we have selected Christine Behnan ‘01 #1243, a junior from Sauk Centre, Minnesota, to be honored as the Schoonmaker Scholar.

Jacqueline is majoring in Psychology, and she is considering a career in education. Jacqueline pursued her interest in education by working as a student assistant for three to eight year olds at the Mary B. Eyre School. Jacqueline is interested in multicultural education and community outreach programs; therefore, she is involved in the AIDS Awareness Committee and Pomona Partners, a program geared to informing at risk students about college opportunities. This spring, Jacqueline is taking advantage of Pomona’s extensive study abroad opportunities. She will be studying in Madrid, Spain.

Robert is majoring in Mathematics, and he is planning a career in education. In a personal statement written this summer, Robert summarized his motivation to become a teacher as, “The only time in life where one’s main goal is to better herself is when she is receiving an education. I can’t think of anything greater than having a career dedicated to helping people better themselves.” To this end, Robert chose to work for a summer enrichment program for elementary to high school students called Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA). During the academic year, Robert works as the Hosting Intern at the Office of Admissions.

Stacy is majoring in Politics and Biology, and she is planning a career in medicine. Stacy carefully selects activities and courses that will prepare her for her career in medicine in an inner city either domestic or foreign. She has worked in fund-raising and information dissemination as an Intern for the America Cancer Society. Over the summer, she studied culture and poverty in Ghana, West Africa while working on the construction of a preparatory school.

Christine is majoring in Anthropology. She is a current member of Nu Alpha Phi. Christine was raised around Arabian horses. She has been riding, showing, and grooming horses since she was eight years old. At Pomona, she works as the World Music Director for the KSPC radio station, and she volunteers as the Treasurer for the College of Boethius, a part of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and Equus. This spring, she will study abroad in India. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, dancing, and roller-blading.

We think that Jacqueline, Robert, Stacy, and Christine represent the very best that Pomona College strives for in its students, including hard work, community involvement, and scholarship. We want to thank you again for the Nu Alpha Phi members’ generous gifts, which allows such students to attend our College.

Sincerely,

Colleen R. MacDonald

Associate Director
Office of Financial Aid
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J. Carol Madrid ‘01

Dear Nu Alpha Phi,

As a recipient of your scholarship, I would like to thank you for your generous gift. I am third year psychology major and a Spanish minor, and hope to attend graduate school after I graduate from Pomona. I am interested in multicultural education and other community outreach programs. Currently, I am working with a junior high school in Pomona where we give the students some exposure to higher education. Also, I am interning at a Women’s Center for drug rehabilitation. I am also interested in AIDS Awareness issues on campus. I am extremely excited about my upcoming trip to Madrid, where I will be studying abroad for the Spring semester.

Thanks you once again for the wonderful gift!

Sincerely,

Carol

Robert Santillano ‘01

Dear Nu Alpha Phi,

To receive an educational scholarship is a true blessing. Mostly because there is an understanding between both recipient and donor that education is one of the most prolific gifts. It is essential to the betterment of the individual who receives it, and the betterment of the society with which that person interacts. Because of this, I care to dedicate a substantial part of my life to education, sharing what I have learned with those who have not been as fortunate, and hopefully opening many eyes to the opportunities that surround them. As I continue my education at Pomona College, I can never forget the faith that so many have placed in me to be here. I am truly grateful, and there is one thing that I can assure them: I will never be stingy with the knowledge I have gained.

Thank you,

Robert Santillano
Pomona College
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Stacy Tarango ‘01

Dear Nu Alpha Phi,

Thank you for your generous financial support that helps to make my experience at Pomona College possible. This is the halfway point of my third year and I am planning on spending the semester break thinking about what I would like to be involved with before I graduate. I’ve recently changed my major from biology to politics with a biology minor. This allows me to complete medical school requirements while studying topics I really care about. My focus is on development in less developed countries and I plan to take courses on inner city America as well. Since these are the places that I would like to serve as a physician, I value the preparation I am receiving in my classes.

Since coming to Pomona, I have been involved in tutoring programs for inner city kids and I spent last summer in Ghana, West Africa, as part of a team working to add a new building to a school in a rural village area. I don’t know what I will be doing next summer or exactly what I will do after graduation and before medical school, but I am excited about what I will learn and how my character will be shaped. Being at Pomona College has opened incredible opportunities to me and I thank you for your role in supporting me here.

Sincerely,

Stacy M. Tarango
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Instant Messaging To Be Added

All you maggots out there familiar with Instant Messaging, pay attention. We’re going to start soliciting, storing, and serving up your ScreenName, your account number, whatever it’s called on the service(s) that you use. For starters:

Justin Maxwell ‘98 #1183

AIM: OctaveCat
ICQ: 26911072

ICQ: 68536903

AIM: NappieMan

Send along your system/account name and we’ll publish them on our website. Initially, they’ll just be listed on a web page, but eventually, we hope to incorporate them into the database.

Alumni Cabin Coordinator

Eric Olson ‘62 #585 has conferred the Alumni Cabin Coordinator responsibilities on Matt “Cruiser” Cohen ‘98 #1139 based on Matt’s good work while an Active. Cruiser can be reached by e-mail here:

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Pomona Fraternities: 5-College Organizations

In January 1999 we received a report from April Collier ‘99 #1148, then President of Nu Alpha Phi, that Pomona College’s policy had changed permitting fraternities to accept members from all Claremont Colleges.

While still somewhat sketchy, the story seems to have unfolded after a group of Scripps students wanted to start a sorority.

They soon realized that while Scripps did not have enough students wanting to join a sorority, women from other campuses (mostly CMC) had an interest.

The Scripps students amended their charter application to be an official 5-College organization. [This is where it gets a little fuzzy folks. –Eds.] There was apparently some pressure on all colleges to reciprocate and, perhaps uncharacteristically, Pomona caved in and permitted its fraternal institutions to accept members from the wider, Claremont College community. Nu Alpha Phi now sports, officially, several off-campus brothers and sisters. [Unofficially, off-campus pledges have been conferred all-but-official standing in Nu Alpha Phi for some time. –Eds.]

John Seery #f — Class Day Speech

Class of 1999. I am honored and humbled that you have asked me to speak to you on this glorious day. But I am also a little perplexed about why you selected me as your speaker. I am NOT funny. I am NOT profound. John Cleese is funny. President Stanley is profound. Well, maybe I am a little funny, but not everyone appreciates my wisecracking ways. Still, I’m flattered to be here, especially since I learned that I beat out Keanu Reeves in the balloting.

Truth be told, I really don’t feel funny at this time of year, I usually get depressed the day after graduation. My students are leaving me, and my entire constitution doesn’t quite understand why. We professors fall a bit in love with our students—that love isn’t parental love, nor is it romantic love, but it is a species of love nonetheless. That’s the secret reason we professors wear robes on graduation day—it is to hide our emotionally fragile selves, because underneath those gowns our knees are knocking. So tomorrow, I ask you, after graduation, first, hug your parents and relatives, then hug your friends and classmates; but then, find a professor and hug that poor, pathetic creature. You are abandoning us, and we are starved for affection and affirmation. Besides, it is the one day when we can enjoy a holiday from sexual harassment laws, so please, hug a professor or two.

Instead of dispensing advice today, I am going to engage, uncharacteristically, in unabashed boosterism. My solemn contention is that your class, the Pomona College class of 1999, is the greatest class ever, the greatest class in the history of the college, the greatest class perhaps anywhere in history, the greatest class ever on the planet. (Actually, I think next year’s class might be a tad better, but never mind that). First, by all politically correct criteria, you have progressed well beyond your forebears—collectively you are the most environmentally conscious, the least racist, least sexist, and least homophobic class ever to leave these grounds; you are the most globally connected, the most technologically adept, the most appreciative of diverse peoples and ideas. And more of you are vegetarians than ever. But I don’t want to lecture to you, I just want to sing your praises. Today I want to indulge in telling you of some of the displays of greatness I have witnessed from your class, and I’m going to name names. Please wave to the crowd if and when I call your name.

Sarah Kerbescian played alto saxophone for four years in the concert band at Pomona, and I can tell you that she didn’t do it for the fame or glory. Few of you, frankly, ever attended those concerts, but you missed one of the most beautiful saxophone voices I have ever heard. Sarah’s tone was always clear and vibrant, her facility graceful and quick. I had the pleasure of playing with Sarah a few years ago in a quartet that we unofficially called, The Pomona College Coed Naked Sax Quartet, and our little group somehow inspired the great composer and professor emeritus Karl Kohn to write a piece dedicated to us. My huge regret, Sarah, is that I have been unable to play that piece with you—fatherhood intervened—but I will remember your tone and good cheer in future years. For the rest of you, find a way to keep music in your lives, as Sarah has, who plays for the sheer love of playing.

Ben Johnson—this guy is a national chess champion, a national master, and yet he never told his classmates—maybe he wanted to hustle them, I don’t know. But as his professor, I saw his prodigious abilities of concentration at work. In our senior seminar this year, Ben would listen intently to his classmates, quietly plotting moves three steps ahead of their ideas, and finally he would break in and speak. What he did not say, and what his peers never realized, is that he had just checkmated them. Somehow he forgot to bring me back a souvenir bust of Lenin as promised from his semester abroad last year in St. Petersberg—so much for those abilities at concentration—but I guess he was busy learning Russian and playing international grand masters. Ben’s going back to Russia, to play more chess, and then he’ll go to law school. I pity his future courtroom adversaries who try to outmaneuver his legal gambits.

Mahvish Jafri ‘99 #1155 [And NAP Scholarship recipient. –Eds.] told me earlier this year, incidentally and without fanfare, that reading Emerson’s essay on friendship had literally changed her life. The essay made her realize the importance of cultivating friendships during her college years—such memories are the most important treasures that you will take away from here—and so she and her housemates started a practice whereby they would invite fellow students they did not know particularly well over to the house for dinner and conversation. Emersonianism is talked about with great pretension on the East Coast, but methinks it is better practiced here.

Aaron-Andrew Bruhl is a champion athlete, Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year, he’s our Downing Fellow next year, he’s been admitted to Stanford and Yale law schools—and on top of all of that, he’s modest! I asked him why he didn’t apply for a Rhodes Scholarship, and he said, Ah, I really didn’t want to spend two years in England. People have been wondering around here about why Pomona students haven’t won any Rhodes scholarships in a while, and has anybody thought about the weather factor? Or that Pomona students just have their sights set on other goals, less glitzy but no less grand? One of my mathematics colleagues who sat on the Downing committee said that he wouldn’t be surprised if Andrew is the fifth deciding vote out of nine someday. I can say that, because I know that it won’t go to Andrew’s head.

Lea Scheppke is one of those Penny Dean swimmers who swims about 40 miles every day, and she performs arcane lab experiments on limpids or something like that in biology, and SHE’s funny. Known as the female Dave Barry, Lea is an aspiring humor columnist. After reading one of her columns about how dirty her dorm rug had become, I gave her an old Hoover vacuum cleaner of ours. I’m not sure she really appreciated receiving an old dusty vacuum cleaner from a professor—who would?—so once I realized that I had embarrassed both of us, I tried to say that it was a metaphor for her continuing education. But she humored me, and forgave me, flashing one of her famous endorphine-induced smiles.

I’ve had the privilege of seeing Jordan Snedcof representing his peers on the Academic Procedures committee, speaking his mind, questioning convention at every turn—in fact, I can say, without violating confidentiality, that a few of you are graduating tomorrow thanks to the intervention of your Academic Affairs commissioner, Jordan. But I most remember a special faculty meeting called last year to discuss the candidates for dean. The faculty was squabbling about whether to look to outside candidates for the position, or to insist on our own internal candidate. A moment I’ll never forget, a student observer, Jordan Snedcof, dared to raise his hand and spoke to the group, sorting out the issues with a clarity that had eluded the professoriate at large. What courage! To my mind, it was a turning point in our deliberations; and so, Dean Palmer, you should know that to some significant degree you owe your job to the extraordinary leadership and eloquence of one Jordan Snedcof, and many of us will be thanking him for years to come.

Shellie Sewell was in a class of mine that went on a field trip to the Roy Rogers Museum, and I expected somewhat that these savvy undergraduates would deconstruct and sneer at Hollywood’s notion of yesteryear’s cowboy. But Shellie wrote a piece afterwards that moved me to tears. She had shared a cigarette with an older white couple near their RV in the parking lot of the museum, and they all talked. And she speculated later that probably no where else in the Los Angeles area would this couple initiate such a conversation with an African-American woman, and she thanked Roy Rogers for that experience. Later I sent Shellie a photo of Dale Evans that I noticed she had secretly been admiring in the Museum gift shop. I can also say that this past semester the best class in my Political Freedom course was conducted by Shellie. An Oxford historian was visiting that day, and afterwards, he didn’t want to speak with me, he made a bee line for Shellie Sewell; and the rest of the day, I am told, that’s all he talked about during his visit to Pomona—Shellie Sewell, Shellie Sewell—and I’m sure he’s still talking about her back at Oxford. Although she’s now an international academic star, Shellie is eschewing that limelight next year and will become a labor organizer instead. Integrity doesn’t need an audience.

Dean Campbell—this guy’s smile can charm the pants off anyone, and indeed he somehow coaxed me out of mine. It’s not what you think; he convinced me to play inner tube water polo, where I became a man more dunked against than dunking. But I got the chance to see Dean’s goaltending tenacity that lurks behind that winning smile—this guy is the Mark McGwire of intramural sports around here—and yet he also brought that cheerful ferocity to his academics. Dean managed to write a senior thesis this year that my economics colleague Eleanor Brown called one of the best uses of empirical research she’s ever seen. The thesis was on the legalization of drugs. But hey, I know Dean’s clean. Clean Dean, the transfer student dream.

When Francisco Duenas wasn’t making agitprop posters this past semester, he was writing brilliant scholarly papers for my Idea of America class. Frankie often presented himself as a sharp but thoughtful critic of American society, favoring for instance Robert Pinsky’s critical poetry over Walt Whitman’s unchecked exuberance, but he never told the class that he was most proud of having helped his mother pass her naturalization exam a while back (and I learned this again only within the safe confines of the Roy Rogers Museum). I noticed in the school paper that he wanted some speaker at this year’s graduation to say something in Spanish, so for you and your mother Frankie: Felicidades a todos los estudiantes! Y a los paps de Francisco, gracias por mandarlo a nuestra universidad. Y fuera un estudiante muy excelente. Eso es todo lo ke puedo decir. Bien dicho, no?

Ponytailed Paul Kahn has the gift of gab—not just any gab—he can quote lines from Shakespeare at the drop of a hat, or he can launch into an extended political analysis. Talk to Paul about the PAC skills curriculum—forget about it, don’t get him started!—Paul hates the PAC system, which suggests that our curriculum hasn’t completely suppressed intelligence and good sense. Earlier this year Paul offered to organize a student petition drive—he said that he could come up with a thousand signatures—calling for an ice rink here at Pomona College—but I suggested that we had to put that visionary idea in cold storage for the time being. Paul’s going off to drama graduate school at NYU next year, and you better get his autograph today, because next time you’ll probably be begging for tickets on Broadway. I say, we should all support Paul so that he can become rich and famous so that he can donate lots of money for the Pomona College Ice Rink in the next capital campaign, after the current one peters out.

Amy Teng was the first student who ever received an A+ from me, and I’ve now taught for something like eighteen years, at Berkeley, Stanford, Santa Cruz, Tufts, and Pomona. I’ve taught future Rhodes scholars, Marshall scholars, Watson scholars, many amazing students along the way. But Amy was the first to crack the Seery code. She’ll be going to Harvard Law School next year, and I’m supremely confident that that A+ wasn’t a fluke—and I can say that, because Amy confessed to me a few days ago that she did not vote for me for Class Day speaker.

Finally, Fernanda Baretto creatively combined media studies and politics into an interesting double major, but more than that, Fernanda competed for four years in ballroom dancing. She invited me to one of her dances, and whoa, was I treated to a visual feast. Here’s a woman who can tango, can rumba, can cha cha, and she holds her own in the waltz—she didn’t win the competition that night, but I blamed her partner, who just couldn’t match her style, romance, discipline, and dignity. Fernanda just upstaged him, the poor freshman shmuck. Fernanda will be studying entertainment law next year or she might become a film director, either way, she’s going to be continuing her dancing at the competitive level, next year for the USC dance team.

Ladies and Gentleman, I am proud to say, the spirit of liberal arts is alive and well at Pomona College! It lives on. Believe it or not, there are skeptics even among us, doubting Thomases, who question the merits of liberal arts, who want proof, and so I want to tell you, the class of 1999, you must remember what went on here. I know that you will continue to be exemplary in your personal conduct, but I want you to stand as clear examples for others. I want Pomona College students to seek out and to occupy positions of leadership, I want Pomona College people to rule the world. I want the world to be run by persons whose greatness consists in many understated virtues, persons who listen, persons who need not be ostentatious or self-aggrandizing, who need not wear their talents on their sleeves, persons who know the inner wisdom of those lines from Wordsworth about a good person’s little, nameless, unremembered, acts of kindness and love that have no slight or trivial influence on that best portion of one’s life. Accomplishment, hard work, and ambition can indeed go hand-in-hand with friendship, kindness, and humor—that is who you are, class of 1999. And so, I want you to evangelize, I want you to spread the word. If you can’t find passion and conviction about what went on here, you will never awaken to the rest of life. So hereby, starting today with you, I pronounce the next century to be, The Pomona Century. You’ve got to make it happen. If you must, make Pomona College and liberal arts education into a religion. Let only the eager, thoughtful and reverent leave here. This is a community of faith. From here on out, wherever you are, whenever you hear anyone say the name of your great college, Posoba College, no CalPoly Pomona, no, Panama College, Palomino College, no Pomona College, I want you to raise your hands into the air, and imagine that you can see Mt. Baldy off in the distance, just like now, imagine that you can see Mt. Baldy off in the distance, and when those sweet words ring out, you must shout, Hail Pomona Hail, Not Oh hell Pomona, but Hail Pomona Hail. Let’s try it, altogether. Pomona College. Pomona College. Pomona College. Amen. Congratulations! Go well, be good, see you tomorrow!

Desperately Seeking Acorn Amble Coordinator

Bob Nigbor ‘78 #794, after fifteen years of organizing the Acorn Amble, has asked that we seek a new volunteer to take over handling this event. Your editors do not currently understand the complete list of tasks associated with coordinating this annual run (early Saturday morning of Alumni Weekend); they most likely include officially registering the event with the Alumni Weekend Events team, laying out the route, taking a few photographs, and reporting to the Oak Leaf on the winners.

We will contact Bob to get more details on running the event. Please contact us at NAP Editor if you are interested. If you would like to discuss the responsibilities with him directly, Bob can be reached here: email_deleted

Alumni Representative Report

The Actives have been quite busy on campus this year adding 18 or so new members during the Fall ‘99 and Spring ‘00 initiations bringing the total number of on campus Actives to ... approximately 47.

Much work was done to correct erosion problems with the trail over Spring Break 1999. The trail was lined with stones, widened and smoothed creating much easier and safer passage to our beloved haven in the mountains: The cabin.

In what has become a perennial problem, changes in the Alcohol policy continue to plague the Actives. The most recent change prevents us from collecting donations at the Wash. This has hurt our collective pocket-book, however as the Wash is our service to the colleges, we allocate most of our dues to it. As a result, our visibility on campus tends to be higher than the other fraternities.

Several of our graduating seniors have garnered important, noteworthy honors. Houston Gilbert HMC 2000 was awarded a Fullbright allowing him to travel to Germany next year to become part of a working group of scientists and philosophers studying the uses of bio-engineering and issues of bio-diversity. Houston expects this study to result in him co-authoring a book exploring differences in how the United States and European Union deal with these important issues.

As always, we Actives encourage any and all alumni to show up at the Wash on any Friday afternoon to reconnect and enjoy some libations under the sunny southern California sky. The same goes for trips to the cabin. Any alum wanting to take a trip up the canyon can contact our cabinmeister:

Ryan Crie '00 #1201
909-397-0510
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Benjamin James Godsill ‘00 #1211
Alumni Representative

Pomona College Alumni On-Line Community

Pomona College has put together a really fine set of community pages for the Alumni. Check it out:

http://www.pomona.edu/Alumni/home.html