FYI: A Newsletter for Colby Employees

ALCOHOLEDU OPEN TO ALL
A new online science-based alcohol education program, AlcoholEdu, has impressed skeptical students since its introduction this fall, and it will be required Web reading for future entering classes. Coordinator of Alcohol and Drug Programs Rachel Henderson (health services) said a typical response from students required to complete the AlcoholEdu program has been "I didn't want to do it, but it was really pretty good." Faculty and staff and their families are welcome to use the site, www.alcoholedu.com. Use the new user login ID: C3280. Colby gets a record of the name entered during login and whether that person completes the course but none of the answers or data entered. Henderson says students especially like the online blood alcohol content calculator.

AREN'T WE BALMY
While in Washington, D.C. over Thanksgiving, Sammie Robinson (multicultural affairs) encountered some prospective students who were awfully curious about Maine's climate. When he asked what they thought the temperature might be in Waterville that day (late November), they guessed 10 to 30 degrees below zero with two feet of snow on the ground. USA Today to the rescue, he showed them it was actually 46 degrees. And he hastened to point out that meant 46 above zero.

TEACHER, SCHOLAR, CHEMIST
Congratulations to Julie Millard (chemistry), who received a 2004 Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award. The honor comes with a $60,000 grant to fund Julie's research and a fellowship for a scientist to help her with research and course development.

DISTINGUISHED BOOK, EDITOR, SPEAKER
A book edited by Tom Morrione '65 (sociology), George Herbert Mead and Human Conduct, by Herbert Blumer, was selected as one of Choice magazine's 500 outstanding academic books for 2004, an honor reportedly accorded to less than one percent of academic books published in the U.S. The book will be featured at April's Symbolic Interaction and Ethnographic Research Conference, where Tom will be a distinguished speaker.

GLAD IT'S FICTION
What better characters to embody environmental concern and global reach than Colby students? Richard Riemer '68 passed along a short story titled "The Men on the Wall" (2001). In it author Brendan DuBois tells of an environmental organization, GlobalEcoSense, for which students are documenting toxic waste dumps in Russia. After stumbling into an unsecured bioweapons facility, three Colby students become the object of a clandestine military abduction, since they're infected and threaten the entire human race. It's a successful if not a happy ending -- the students and their abductors perish, but the world is saved. Nice to see Colby representing global environmental activism, though.

JON WEISS ON NEMIROVSKY
Jon Weiss (French) won't see his biography of Irene Nemirovsky published until February, but recent attention to the works of Nemirovsky, a writer who perished in Auschwitz, put the spotlight on Jon this fall. On Nov. 14 he published an op-ed, "An Old Tale of Shame for Today's France," in the Los Angeles Times, and he was quoted in London's Daily Telegraph in October.

SERVICE AWARDS 2004
At a special lunch on Wednesday, 27 employees will be recognized for 10, 20, or 30 years of service to the College. Senior among them are Toots Fredette (financial services) and Janice Kassman (dean of students), each with 30 years at Colby. Eleven employees are being honored for 20 years on the job: Helen Balgooyen (health services), Jerry Boutin (PPD), Jim Dickinson (security), Bob Gillespie (communications), John Henderson (PPD), Glenda Lessard (PPD), Ray Phillips (ITS), John Rodrigue (PPD), Bruce Rueger (geology), Mark Serdjenian '73 (dean of students), and Cindy White (PPD). Fourteen employees ring in with 10 years of service: Larry Brown(library/athletics), MaryLou Caron (athletics), Karen Gillum (library), Chuck Jones (science division), Kathy Knox (security), Gus Libby (PPD), Earl Martin (PPD), Jan Munroe (counseling services), Richard Nale (personnel services), Jackie Edgar Person (office of the president), Ruben Rivera (financial services), Barb Shutt (bookstore), Margaret Viens '77 (alumni relations), and Debbie Williams (PPD). Congrats, and thanks, to all 27.

COLBY BLUE GETS GREENER
For two years Colby's admissions viewbooks have been printed on paper made from 100-percent post-consumer fiber made with a chlorine-free process using only wind-generated electricity. We recently shifted all Colby stationery orders to the same paper. The impact? Brian Speer (communications) says that in a year's time: 432 trees will be spared, 19,469 lbs. of solid waste averted, 1,247 lbs. less waterborne waste produced, 38,049 lbs. of atmospheric emissions eliminated, 248,670,912 BTUs worth of fossil fuels saved. Emissions averted are equivalent to a 6,000-mile trip by car -- or 3,448 trips to Jorgensen's for lattes.

LYN BROWN ON GIRLS COALITION
Lyn Mikel Brown (education, WSGS) wrote a neat article for the November-December New Moon: The Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams. Titled "The Coalition vs. Mean Girls," Lyn's piece describes an alternative to the "mocking laugher, whispers, eye rolling and well-placed taunts" that girls might expect if they were to trip on the bleachers at school. She describes how the "Girls Coalition" at the junior high in Winslow, Maine, worked on how and why girls fight, what divides them and "how to become a loyal group that stands up for other girls." Part of the article is online.

WEARING COLBY'S WELCOME
Flying in to Logan in November, Parker Beverage (admissions) had on a fleece vest with a small "Colby" on the breast. That was enough to prompt three alums and one pair of Colby parents to strike up separate conversations. Meanwhile, over Thanksgiving Bruce Barnard (campus services) wore Colby gear in and around New York. At the Macy's parade he met a 1990 grad whose newborn son is named Colby, and at the Metropolitan Museum store in Short Hills the clerk was the mother of a current student. A ski instructor at a book signing had a cat named "Bowdoin Colby" and shared along story explaining why. Ask Bruce -- who says "I think everyone should wear Colby clothing when they are traveling," -- for details.

NUTCRACKER CONNECTIONS
If you were thinking of taking kids, grandkids, or just yourself to The Nutcrackerthis year, try to see the Bossov Ballet Nutcracker performance at the Waterville Opera House this Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. These two shows feature Anna Sagaser, age 13 and daughter of Elizabeth Sagaser (English), as the young Clara. Her little sister Julia, age 7, also makes an appearance, tumbling out of a toy box to fight giant mice. Adrian Silver '04 also dances in this Christmas classic.

TOY SOLDIERS REUNION
A full-page story in the Nov. 21 Lewiston Sun Journal features Kenneth P. Nye '64, a professor of graduate studies at USM and a hand crafter of pewter toy soldiers. The story recounts how Nye returned to Colby when his son, Kenneth A. Nye '88, was a senior. Without enthusiasm Nye the elder visited the Colby Craft Fair, where he noticed a display of toy soldiers that rekindled a childhood interest. The exhibitor, Emeritus Professor Harold Pestana (geology), and Nye, his former student, didn't recognize one another at first, but soon the student was back taking notes and the following weekend made his first mold. Now Nye sells his creations at The Toy Soldier Shop in his home in Yarmouth for $11 to $20.

YOUR COLBY IMAGES
Highlights from Colby's photo archives and from photographer Alan Nyiri are now available for sale as framed or matted prints through www.MyColbyImages.com. The Colby Bookstore partnered with Nyiri, owner of MyColbyImages, to offer prints in three sizes -- 10, 14, or 20 inches. Choose among 189 different images of Colby's campus, people, and events.

RECEIVE TRAVEL GRANTS
Deb Aitken, U.S. All Star Track and Field, Atlantic City... Todd Coffin, U.S. All Star Track and Field and Cross Country Clinic, Atlantic City... Julie de Sherbinin, American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Boston... Peter Ditmanson, International Association of Historians of Asia, Taiwan... Joseph Marchal, Society of Biblical Literature... Tilar Jenon Mazzeo, Modern Language Association, Philadelphia... Steven Nuss, Princeton Conference on Music and Christian Scholarship, Princeton, and Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu... Stewart Stokes, The Joy of Sculling Coaches Conference, Saratoga Springs... Jennifer Thorn, MLA Conference, Philadelphia.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Administrative Science: Visiting faculty, one course, American Business Management. Feb. 1–May 30, 2005
Chemistry: Sabbatical replacement for organic chemistry. Nine-month position beginning 9/1/2005.
Chemistry: Teaching-research fellow in biochemistry. One-year appointment beginning 6/1/2005.
College Relations: Assistant director of annual giving, full-time, year-round position. Beginning immediately.
French: Visiting or assistant professor in French, three courses, fall semester. Beginning 9/1/2005.
Health Services: Coordinator of alcohol and drug programs, part-time, 20 hours per week, academic year appointment. Beginning immediately.
Security: Security officer, evening and/or night shift, including weekends. Beginning immediately.