Pamela Brooks Gann, dean of the Duke University School of Law, has been
selected as the next president of Claremont McKenna College. A highly
regarded legal scholar and academic administrator, Gann succeeds Jack L.
Stark, who will retire in June after 29 years as president.
Gann's appointment follows an 11-month national search that began with more
than 200 nominees. She will be the fourth president in the history of the
52-year-old college.
Gann, 50, joined the law school faculty at Duke in 1975 and has served as
dean since 1988. She has taught and published in the areas of federal income
taxation, international taxation and international trade and investment.
A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Gann has traveled in 24
countries and established 12 student exchange programs with Duke Law School,
ranked among the top 10 in the nation. The law school's endowment has
increased eight times under her leadership.
Gann, married and a mother of three, is a graduate of the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in mathematics. She earned
her law degree from Duke. She has also worked as an attorney in private
practice with firms in Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C.
James Ransom '01, a member of the Huntington Beach Search and Rescue team,
was at an accident scene with a police officer when the call came through.
"I'm in pursuit," the excited voice of a motorcycle cop leapt from the
police radio. He was chasing a man in a stolen pickup, and they were headed
toward Ransom and his companions.
The Pitzer College student is not a policeman, but rather part of a
little-noticed yet valuable group of young volunteers who assist the police
and fire departments. On this day, he was riding along as an observer with
an officer when he found himself in the middle of a chase.
The pair dove into the car and took off, lights flashing, siren wailing,
anxious voices on the radio as police cars closed in. A police helicopter
hovered overhead. The man in the pickup abandoned the truck in a Ralphs
parking lot and fled on foot. The dispatcher told Ransom's companions to
take up a spot on the perimeter to prevent the man from escaping. They
stopped their police car behind a wall. On the radio, they heard the chase
coming their way. The man was almost at the wall when police caught him.
Just as quickly as it began, it was over. "My heart rate went up, adrenaline
was pumping and hundreds of questions were running through my head during
the chase," Ransom said.
Ransom's normal activities aren't quite as nerve wracking, but are
nevertheless important. Ransom--who is planning to concentrate in computer
science or psychology at Pitzer--and other search and rescue volunteers
undergo three months of training. Among other things, they practice using
fire hoses, making traffic stops, controlling crowds, searching for missing
persons, using firearms and handling communications. They practice using
pulleys to rescue someone below ground. They even play bad guys to give the
SWAT teams practice--which sometimes annoys the SWAT members because the
search and rescue crew knows some SWAT tactics.
In the field, Ransom, a search and rescue team leader, has been part of a
search team looking for stolen weapons and jewelry. He's been part of a fire
watch-keeping an eye on a burned building for hot spots that could reignite.
And he's worked crowd control at the Huntington Beach Pierfest and Fourth of
July celebration, which routinely draws more than 300,000 people. It's a
20-hour day for the volunteers. Their calls may last just a few hours or
several days.
"A lot of people don't know we exist," said Ransom, who has been a team
member since the age of 15. "It's taught me a lot about dealing with people.
...You learn a lot about people and responsibility." And it's exciting, he
added. "Every day is different-you never know what type of call you'll be
assigned to next." FACULTY & STAFF NEWS
The Claremont Colleges libraries are offering workshops on research in an
electronic environment. Faculty, staff or students can schedule a workshop
for groups of three or more. Librarians also welcome individual appointments
with students, faculty, and staff to focus on specific research interests.
For more information, contact Gale Burrow at x73987.
Pitzer College faculty have recently been featured in several media reports.
Professor Barry Sanders was the subject of a profile in the Riverside
Press-Enterprise in December, and Professor Halford Fairchild appeared on
CNN's Web site to discuss Black History Month. Harry Pachon, professor of
political studies and head of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, was
featured on the opinion pages of the San Francisco Chronicle with an Op-Ed
on the recent lawsuit by minority applicants against the University of
California, Berkeley.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A talk by Pitzer students and alumni, "Surviving and Thriving the Pitzer
Experience," takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the McConnell Living
Room. Alumni and current students will share their secrets, wisdom and
knowledge.
Construction of the new reception area at the south end of the Gold Student
Center, first floor and some second floor modifications, began February 1.
The south entrance door and elevator access may be restricted for
handicapped access only during the construction period. The construction
period is expected to last about four to five weeks. Please do not disturb
the contract workers for any reason except to alert for an immediate danger.
All questions or concerns should be directed to Michael Arnold at x72226.
The Claremont Graduate University is holding a fair to inform students of
the possibility of transferring approved undergraduate credits toward a
master's degree. The B.A./M.A. Recruiting Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. Wednesday at the Burkle Family Building, Room 26 (corner Dartmouth and
Eleventh). Questions can be directed to x18068 or by e-mail.
Candidates for the Claremont City Council will be addressing students,
faculty and staff of The Claremont Colleges at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bauer
Auditorium, Claremont McKenna College. This is an opportunity to find out
where the candidates stand on the trash transfer facility issue.
Free and anonymous HIV testing is available on campus on Feb. 23, March 9,
March 23, April 6, April 20 and May 4. For appointments and testing location
call Health Education Outreach at x73602. Space is limited. This service is
provided in cooperation with the East Valley Community Health Center and is
sponsored by the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services, AIDS
Program Office.
WEEK OF FEB. 15
MONDAY
A Jewish Talmud study group meets at 7 p.m. weekly at the McAlister Center.
For more information, call x18685.
TUESDAY
Professor Steven Lopez of UCLA speaks on "Shifting Cultural Lenses in
Clinical Research and Practice" from noon to 1 p.m. in Norma Rodriguez's
class, Fletcher 106. Lopez is a psychology faculty member at UCLA.
The Washington D.C. alumni chapter wine tasting reception with President
Massey takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the home of James and Desiree Lange, 413
Branch Drive, Silver Spring, Md. Contact person: Desiree Lange at (301)
754-0677.
Women's basketball team plays at 7:30 p.m. at home against UC San Diego.
A faculty fireside chat with Agnes Jackson, emerita professor of English and
Black Studies, takes place at 9 p.m. in the Lucian Marquis Library, Mead
Residence Hall.
WEDNESDAY
The Claremont School of Theology weekly worship takes place at 11:30 a.m. in
the Claremont School of Theology chapel.
Ash Wednesday services will take place at noon at the Sonthe Greek Theater.
The services are sponsored by the Catholic Chaplaincy and Office of the
Chaplains. For more information, call x18825.
Men's tennis team plays at 2 p.m. at home against Occidental College.
Women's tennis team plays at 2 p.m. at home against Chapman University.
Carlos Martinez, a video maker from San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas,
Mexico, visits Pitzer this week to screen his work with collaborator Saul
Landau. At noon at the Ontario Program house, he screens "Suenos y Palabras
Sabias de las Comunidades Tzotziles y Tzeltales." At 7 p.m., the film "Cases
of Violence Against Indigenous Communities in the Chiapas" screens and
discussion takes place in the McConnell Living Room.
The film "Sparkle" is presented as part of the Black History Month film
series at 8 p.m in the multipurpose room of the Gold Student Center.
THURSDAY
A film series and discussion group meets at 6 p.m. weekly at History House,
710 North College. For more information, e-mail Michael Vanderlan.
Media artist Carol Leigh screens her tape, "Blind Eye to Justice," about
HIV-positive women in a California prison, and discusses her work and
activism as part of a five-college spring series on the prison industrial
complex, 6:30 p.m. in Avery Auditorium.
A screening of the film "The Sixth Sun" and discussion with director Saul
Landau takes place at 7 p.m. in the Broad Center performance space.
A Zen meditation group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. at Walton Commons,
Pomona.College.
FRIDAY
A concert featuring songs of Handel, Schubert and Quilter takes place at
noon in Scripps College Balch Auditorium.
An Islamic prayer group meets at noon weekly at McAlister Center. For more
information, call x18685.
Women's tennis team plays at 2 p.m. at UC San Diego.
A Jewish Torah study group meets weekly at 4:30 p.m. at McAlister Center.
For more information, call x18685.
Jewish Shabbat services take place at 5:30 p.m. at McAlister Center. For
more information, call x18685.
Women's basketball team plays at 7:30 p.m. at home against University of
Redlands.
SATURDAY
Women's tennis team plays at 9:30 a.m. at home against California Lutheran
University.
Pomona-Pitzer All Comers women's and men's track meet at 10 a.m. at home.
A Zen meditation group meets from 2 to 4 p.m. in Walton Commons, Pomona
College, corner of Sixth and Amherst.
Men's basketball team plays at 7:30 p.m. at home against Whittier College.
SUNDAY
Protestant services take place at 11 a.m. weekly at McAlister Center. For
more information, call x18685.
A Toastmasters club meets from 6 to 8 p.m. weekly in the Graduate
Mathematics Building, corner of Tenth and Dartmouth.
The film "The Wedding Singer" is presented at 7 p.m. in Avery Auditorium.
The film "Something About Mary" is presented at 10 p.m. in Avery Auditorium.
WEEK OF FEB. 22
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Women's basketball team plays at 7:30 p.m. at California Lutheran
University.
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Men's tennis team plays at 2 p.m. at home against University of La Verne.
Women's tennis team plays at 2 p.m. at University of La Verne.
Baseball team plays at 2:30 p.m at home against Whittier College.
A harpsichord recital takes place at 4 p.m. in the Humanities Auditorium.,
Ninth and Amherst.
SATURDAY
Baseball team plays at 11 a.m. at Whittier College.
An evening of poetry, spoken word and music by the poetry choir takes place
at 7 p.m. in the Broad Center performance space.
The Claremont Concert Orchestra performs at 8 p.m. at the Claremont United
Church, Sixth and Harvard.
SUNDAY
The Claremont Concert Orchestra performs at 3 p.m. at Claremont United
Church, Sixth and Harvard.
The movie "Pulp Fiction" is presented at 7 p.m. in Avery Auditorium.
The movie "Reservoir Dogs" is presented at 10 p.m. in Avery Auditorium.
F E A T U R E:
Claremont McKenna College Gets a New President
P R O F I L E:
Pitzer Student Does Search and Rescue
COMING UP
A class in Basic Judaism meets at 6 p.m. weekly at the McAlister Center. For
more information call x18685.
Professor Barbara Rogoff, a developmental psychologist at UC Santa Cruz,
speaks from 11 a.m. to noon at the Broad Center performance space. The title
of her lecture is "Development as Transformation of Participation in
Sociocultural Activities."
A Zen meditation group meets at 7:30 a.m. weekly at the McAlister Center.
For more information, call x18685.
Women's and men's swimming and diving SCIAC Championship takes place from
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Saturday in Cerritos.
A panel discussion by Carlos Martinez and Saul Landau, Cindy Forster, Ruben
Martinez,
Maria Soldatenko and Jesse Lerner takes place at noon at the Broad Center
performance space. They will discuss Chiapas, the Internet, social change,
the Zapatistas, video and revolution.
Men's tennis team plays at 9:30 a.m. at California Lutheran University.
Catholic services take place at 9:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. weekly at McAlister
Center. For more information, call x18685.
Men's basketball team plays at 7:30 p.m. at Caltech.
A faculty fireside chat with Professor Maria Soldatenko, a professor of
Chicana Studies, takes place at 7 p.m. in the Lucian Marquis Library, Mead
Residence Hall.
Women's tennis team plays at 2 p.m. at home against Whittier College.
Men's basketball team plays at 7:30 p.m. at home against University of La
Verne.
A concert featuring 20th-century chamber music takes place at noon in Balch
Auditorium, Scripps College.
Men's tennis team plays at 10 a.m. at home against Southern California
College.
A Gold Student Center activities trip to the UCLA Fowler Museum to see an
exhibit of African artifacts and fabric takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The cost is $5. Sign up at the Gold Student Center.