Oberlin is moving up in the rank of schools with volunteers in the Peace Corps. This year, 18 alumni are serving around the globe, making the college No. 11 in top-producing schools.
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Ishmael Beah '04 earned a 2008 Alex Award for his book A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, which chronicles his years as a child soldier in Sierra Leone's civil war. Presented by the Young Adult Library Services Association and sponsored by Booklist , the Alex Awards are given annually to 10 books written for adults that also have special appeal to young adults.
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Oberlin History Professor Pablo Mitchell's groundbreaking work on Latino history has put him in a class of under-40 intellectuals named "Emerging Scholars of the Year" by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine.
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While most people were watching the ball drop in the Big Apple, a group of Oberlin students were preparing to embark on a service trip to Kenya. On the remote Island of Pate, they are spending their winter term teaching in classrooms, helping to build homes and schools, and learning as much about the culture as possible.
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Professor of History Michael Fisher, an expert on South Asian history, was a recent guest on Minnesota Public Radio’s Midmorning program with Kerri Miller, where he discussed the political instability facing Pakistan following the assassination of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27. “This is a time of extreme uncertainty and danger for the people of Pakistan and throughout South Asia,” said Fisher.
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A student movement at Oberlin is giving fund managers a run for their money. What started as seed money from alumni has blossomed into a viable endowment fund managed by the Student Finance and Investment Club. Make no mistake, this is no play money: These finance-minded students have managed a portfolio that consistently beats the S&P 500 index.
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Less than a year after performing to rave reviews in New York City as the house band for the American premiere of Olga Neuwirth’s opera Lost Highway, the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble (CME) returns to Manhattan for the opening leg of a tour that includes two world premieres and a very special guest — percussionist Steven Schick. Conductor Timothy Weiss, Director of Oberlin’s Division of Conducting and Ensembles and Ruth Strickland Gardner Professor of Music, will take the CME through their paces.
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The shootings and lock-downs at American colleges and universities this year have raised serious questions about how institutions ensure the well-being of their faculty, staff, and students. However, a more pressing issue—the rising number of college students across the country who are suffering from mental illness—is often overlooked. An opinion editorial by Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov sheds light on a trend that is affecting campuses across the country.
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Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov was a guest on the Chronicle of Higher Education's Audio Extra with Paul Fain. During their conversation, President Krislov discussed the College's role as an economic engine in the community and explains why it makes sense for Oberlin to play an active role in northern Ohio. He also describes how the College has helped the local schools and hospitals and the collaborative efforts between the College and town to address issues of sustainability. Hear the conversation
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Students concerned about a reduction of available low-income housing in New Orleans staged a teach-in on campus on December 5 to raise awareness and support for a mounting protest against the demolition of residences damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The New York Times posted a story on its website about the teach-in that first appeared in the Review and was made available through UWIRE.
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A group of climate and policy experts is asking the next president to lead a massive and urgent effort to reverse global warming by steering the country away from a carbon-fueled economy. The Presidential Climate Action Project issued a report that contains more than 170 recommendations and calls for a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Paul Sears Professor of Environmental Studies David Orr came up with the idea for the group about a year ago at a gathering of climate experts.
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Tailback R.V. Carroll '09 made Oberlin football history when he was named the 2007 recipient of the Mike Gregory award as the North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. The first Oberlin player to ever receive the award, Carroll led the conference in rushing (103.8 ypg), scoring (9.8 ppg), and touchdowns (16) and was the only 1,000-yard rusher in the NCAC this season. Joining Carroll as first-team all-NCAC selections are receiver Chris Schubert '08, defensive lineman Chris Pisani '08, and defensive back Chase Palmer '08.
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Giving back is more than just a part-time activity for Irvin Ashford '91...it's his job. As vice president of public affairs at Comerica Bank in Texas and state manager of the Community Reinvestment Act Department, his job is to create programs that benefit the community. Ashford was recently named the recipient of a Business Community Award by the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapters of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA).
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The Conservatory is redefining music education for the 21st century with a new Master of Music Teaching (MMT) program. While Oberlin's MMT program reflects the interests of the millennial generation—the desire to pursue a performance career, a dedication to investing in and improving local communities, and a passion for spreading the joy of music through teaching—area schools will also benefit.
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Oberlin's Creativity and Leadership Project affords students a variety of opportunities to build the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to launch their own ideas. By engaging the Oberlin community of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends, the program exposes students to the many facets of entrepreneurship, including learning firsthand what it takes to make a dream a reality.
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On Tuesday, November 20, the Cleveland Orchestra will make its 206th appearance on Oberlin College's Artist Recital Series, one of the oldest continuing concert series in the United States. Among the world's most revered symphonic ensembles, the Cleveland Orchestra and Conductor Jayce Ogren will present Mozart's Symphony No. 34 and Brahms' Symphony No. 1.
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If you've seen the film The Deerhunter or the TV shows ER or Law & Order, then you've seen Joe Grifasi. You may not remember him, but you've seen him. Grifasi is one of countless jobbing actors—those who work steadily in "juicy little roles" supporting the leads in major films and television shows. This Thursday, Oberlin's theater program is bringing Grifasi to campus to work with students during a three-day residency.
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No one has been in a position to see the presidents, and the presidency, so intimately, over so many years as Billy Graham. In their recent book, The Preacher and the President, co-authors, Michael Duffy ‘80 and Nancy Gibbs, offer an in-depth look at the noted evangelist and his unique relationships with U.S. presidents. They will present their views on Graham and the 2008 presidential election Thursday, November 15 in Finney Chapel.
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The dedication and commitment Joanna Johnson '11 put into her daily training as a member of the Oberlin College women's cross country team paid off in a big way when she won the individual title at the 2007 North Coast Athletic Conference championships. "When I crossed the line I could hardly believe it," Johnson said. "I never expected to win a race this year, but it felt wonderful to do so." Johnson hopes to build on her success and lead the Yeowomen to the NCAA championships.
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What impact have globalization and digital communication had on contemporary art? Has the loosening of economic, cultural, political, and social-system boundaries broadened art's very definition? And what is "new art"? These and other questions will be explored in a free symposium on November 9 and 10, when Oberlin brings five international curators and critics to campus for a substantive investigation of art's Global Compass.
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President Marvin Krislov has just announced that three separate gifts in the amount of $4 million each have been pledged to Oberlin: $4 million for environmental stewardship and $8 million toward construction of the Phyllis Litoff Building, the new home for jazz studies.
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On November 2, Oberlin will celebrate the inauguration of Marvin Krislov as its president. In keeping with the college's traditional dedication to teaching and academic excellence, the inaugural ceremony in the Heisman Field House will begin at 4:35 p.m., after classes conclude.The ceremony is part of a weekend packed with events and activities celebrating the vibrant contemporary life and rich history of Oberlin College, the Conservatory of Music and the City of Oberlin.

Mr. Krislov became the 14th President of Oberlin College in summer 2007. He came to Oberlin from the University of Michigan, where he was vice president and general counsel, leading the university's successful defense before the United States Supreme Court of its admission policies designed to create a diverse student body. Mr. Krislov is a summa cum laude graduate of Yale University. A Rhodes Scholar, he earned a master's degree in modern history at Oxford University's Magdalen College, and a doctor of laws
degree at Yale, where he served as editor of the law journal.
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Oberlin College has picked up another "first." Sierra magazine has named it the "Coolest" among the top 10 green schools in the U.S. Selecting the top campuses was "inspiring and exhausting," say the editors. "For Sierra's first such survey, we looked at everything from colleges' clean-energy purchases and green building policies to their bike facilities and the food served in their dorms."
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Students and faculty will have a first-hand, behind-the-scenes view of Buddhist ritual music from Korea when members of the Young San Preservation Group and their leader, the Reverend Monk Dong Hee, lead a workshop demonstrating chant styles and instruments as ritual objects. The workshop takes place Monday, October 29, 2007, at 7:30 p.m. in room 238 of the Conservatory's Bibbins Hall, and serves as a prelude to the group's Finney Chapel performance—"The Sound of Ecstasy and Nectar of Enlightenment: Buddhist Ritual Song and Dance from Korea"—the following evening.
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Inaugurating a brand new partnership between Oberlin Shansi and a second Indonesian institution are May 2007 graduates Jesse Gerstin and Sarah J. Newman. Both Shansi Fellows will spend the next two years on the island of Sumatra teaching English at Syiah Kuala University (better knows as UnSyiah) and volunteering with local NGOs.
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Faculty in nine departments at Oberlin are engaged in teaching and research in computational modeling, a fact that makes the College rare among U.S. undergraduate institutions, particularly since possession of such high-end skills is becoming increasingly necessary for advanced study and success in the workforce. It is a good reason to celebrate the College's acceptance of a five-year, $541,000 grant from the National Science Foundation's Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program (S-STEM). The award will make possible 24 two-year scholarships for Oberlin junior and senior science majors with a demonstrated interest in computation and mathematical modeling.
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Andre Emmerich, a distinguished alumnus and dear friend, will be remembered for his deep intellect, keen eye, and his commitment to enriching the lives of students through personal encounters with great works of art. After graduating from Oberlin in 1944 at age 19, he remained an active supporter of his alma mater, particularly the Allen Memorial Art Museum, where he worked during his college years. He offered invaluable advice and aesthetic expertise by returning to Oberlin to lecture, serving on the museum's Visiting Committee, lending to exhibitions, and augmenting the AMAM collection through generous gifts. He passed away on September 25 at the age of 82.
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At a time when digital downloading has silenced a number of major music retailers, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music is facing the music with its own new, commercial label. Oberlin Music, which features select recordings made by the talented students and faculty members at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, debuts with two releases—"The Oberlin Orchestra In China" and "Beauty Surrounds Us"—that capture the Conservatory's sense of innovation, spirit, and universality. The recordings are available on traditional CD as well as on digital music channels worldwide, including Apple's iTunes.
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Cleveland Municipal Court Magistrate William F. B. Vodrey '87 will initiate the Oberlin Law Scholars Program on Tuesday, October 30. A yearlong multi-faceted collaboration between the Department of Politics and the Office of Career Services, the program will establish a direct link between students and prominent Oberlin alumni in a variety of legal professions. Vodrey will teach the core course, Legal Advocacy, which will launch an intensive curriculum open to sophomores and juniors with a committed interest in law.
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"A building should broadcast its purpose to the world," says Paul Westlake, who leads the architectural team designing the Phyllis Litoff Building, a new home for jazz studies at Oberlin.
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When Manhattan's Rubin Museum of Art (RMA), a museum of art from the Himalayas and the surrounding regions, celebrated its third anniversary, several Oberlin graduates were featured participants. The celebration, the first annual Nine Rivers Gala, was held last Tuesday, October 2, at the museum.
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Oberlin students historically have been willing to devote their time, talent, and sweat to help others. Last year, in fact, at least 55 percent of the student body volunteered at more than 80 area nonprofit organizations. This year, a campus group is taking a completely different approach to giving with the launching of the Oberlin Student Philanthropy Club.
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In 1839, Lucy Hall, a senior in the Ladies Course, perhaps set the bar for all Oberlin teachers who came after. Despite vigilante threats, Hall persisted in her desire to teach and proceeded to take charge of a school for students of color. That same passion for imparting knowledge in the service of social justice continues today. Next June, the first group of teaching candidates will begin rigorous preparation for careers in education by embarking upon the new Master's degree programs established by the College and Conservatory of Music.
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To celebrate the opening of the College's $1.5 million new Academic Commons in Mudd Learning Center, a brief program will be held Friday, September 28, at 4:30 p.m. on the library's main floor. Open until 2 a.m., the reconfigured high-tech complex allows more space for collaborative learning and interaction among students and faculty, including group study rooms, consolidation of support and circulation services, vivid décor, and the Azariah's Café, which cheers coffee habitués no end.
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Three years ago, despite long-standing tensions between the United States and Iran, Oberlin began efforts to reestablish educational exchanges between the two countries. This month the College has had the extraordinary opportunity to welcome distinguished Iranian scholar Laya Joneydi to campus. An associate professor of law and political science at the University of Tehran, Joneydi is an important academic voice within Iranian society in the areas of women's rights and civil liberties.
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Geoffrey C. Ward '62 has won five Emmys and two Writers Guild of America awards for his work in public television as a screenwriter and author in collaboration with Ken Burns. He has also authored 14 books, including his latest, The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945, the lavishly illustrated companion book to Burns' seven-part documentary that began airing September 23 on PBS.
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Sophomore Emma Howell was just 20 years old when she died unexpectedly in June of 2001. A gifted poet, Emma was first published by age 15, and at Oberlin her writing style grew under the influence of teachers and cultural experiences. Surrounded by prolific writers early on, Emma was determined to find her own voice, and with works represented in Slim Night of Recognition, a compilation of her poems published by her parents earlier this year, clearly she had.
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On Friday, September 28, the College will celebrate the recent restoration of the elegant fountain on the lawn of the College's Allen Memorial Art Museum with a public program at 1:30 p.m. on the museum plaza. Commissioned by Henry Haskell, Class of 1896, in memory of his beloved wife, Katharine Wright Haskell, Class of 1898, the fountain supports the figure of a small angel lifting into the air on wings.
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On Monday, September 17, Oberlin College will commemorate the ratification of the U.S. Constitution with an address by Theodore Shaw, director-counsel and president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. The event will include a faculty panel discussion moderated by President Marvin Krislov, and a question and answer session.
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The American Council of Learned Societies – the preeminent representative of humanities scholarship in America – carries out its mission in a variety of programs across many fields of learning, but awarding peer-reviewed fellowships is at its core. This year, the Council awarded Stephen Crowley a post-doctoral fellowship in Southeast European Studies to conduct research at Collegium Budapest/Institute of Advanced Study in Hungary.
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The Arts and Life section of The New York Times has featured the work of many Oberlin alumni, including Eric Bogosian '76, Julie Taymor '74 to James Burrows '62, and Bill Irwin '73, to name just a few. In recent weeks, Oberlin alumni have again caught the attention of the national arts scene with reviews in the Times: playwright Michael Hollinger '84, musicians Karen O '00 and Brian Chase '00 of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and filmmakers Ry Russo-Young'03 and Lena Dunham '08.
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Oberlin College recently welcomed its Class of 2011, which includes 796 members from 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as from 26 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. More than two-thirds of the diverse new class had academically ranked within the top 10 percent in their high schools. They were selected from more than 7,150 applicants to Oberlin's College of Arts and Sciences and its Conservatory of Music.
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More than 300 new Oberlin students will take part in the College's 11th annual Day of Service (DOS) on Saturday, September 1. By engaging in a wide variety of volunteer projects at community organizations throughout the city and the surrounding area, new students connect with nonprofit groups and realize how important they are to the greater Oberlin community. DOS also provides Oberlin and Lorain County citizens with invaluable services and resources.
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