President Massey welcomed the community back in a memo announcing the College's best fund-raising year ever. "I am extremely pleased to tell you that we raised $4.2 million last year," Massey wrote last week. "The Annual Fund realized an 18 percent increase over the previous year, and for the first time ever we exceeded the $1-million mark. Alumni contributed a record amount and raised their participation rate to 33 percent, the highest ever. Trustee giving witnessed a 38 percent improvement over the year before and was the highest level ever."
Massey also praised the faculty and staff's strong commitment to the College's success, noting that giving by the two groups increased by 55 percent last year. She also thanked the entire advancement staff for their hard work over the past year.
In other areas, Massey told the community that the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute has moved into its new quarters on Pitzer's campus. The Office of Student Affairs, Early Academic Outreach and the Career Services office have relocated to Mead Hall.
The admission office, meanwhile, reported that the incoming freshman class numbers 253, up from last year's 207. The class saw increases in the number of Latinos (42 vs. 35), Asian Americans (30 vs. 17) and international students (9 vs. 6), but a drop in African Americans (12 vs. 15). As in the previous year, a little more than half of the new freshmen hail from California, with Washington, Oregon and Massachusetts among the other states most heavily represented, said Arnaldo Rodriguez, vice president for admission and financial aid. International students come from Japan, Russia, Australia, Canada, South Korea, the Philippines and Singapore, he added.
The appointment of Naomi Weiss Glasky '90 as assistant director of alumni relations, a new position at Pitzer, was announced in July by Greg Saks, director of alumni relations.
Glasky, who started in mid-August, comes to Pitzer from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif., where she served as annual fund officer. Before that, she coordinated volunteers and was an event-planner and fund-raiser at the Jewish Federations of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
"I've always wanted to come back to Pitzer," said Glasky. "I've been doing fund-raising and party planning since I graduated."
At Pitzer, Glasky has remained involved as a volunteer, serving on both her five- and 10-year reunion committees and as an active member of the North Los Angeles/Ventura alumni chapter.
"Naomi's strengths in volunteer management and event planning, and her keen understanding of alumni cultivation, will be tremendously helpful as our alumni programs continue to grow," Saks said.
Glasky added: "My job is to get more people involved. Instead of fund-raising, I'm doing 'fun-raising.'" FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS
This year, look for the Pitzer Press to incorporate suggestions from readers that resulted from last spring's reader survey. The office of public information received 47 responses to the survey. Among the features respondents said they want to see more of: news about opportunities for involvement (20), profiles of students (19), and news about campus events (19). Respondents also rated faculty and staff news (27) and calendar items (28) as the most important features. Thanks to all who responded! If you have any other questions or comments, please send them to the editors or to Patrick Lee.
Campus security will conduct annual vehicle registration for faculty and staff in the lobby of Scott Hall on Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. until noon and Sept. 16 from noon to 3 p.m. If these dates are inconvenient for you, you may register anytime at campus security, 251 E. 11th St. Ticketing of unregistered vehicles begins Sept. 28. Bring your vehicle registration, driver's license number and Pitzer identification card to register first-time vehicles, or your hang-tag and Pitzer ID if you are re-registering the same car.
If you received a fall 1999 Pitzer temporary student roster, please note that the telephone and room information is incorrect. A permanent roster will be sent out the week of Sept. 13. If you or your office need a corrected temporary roster before that date, please contact the registrar's office at x72650.
COMINGS AND
G O I N G S
In the registrar's office, Cheryl Morales has been promoted to registrar, Laura Purcell has been promoted to assistant to the registrar and Kiara Canjura has been hired as student services assistant. Kiara, a 1999 Pitzer graduate, has worked as a student assistant in the registrar's office for the past three years.
The admission office has welcomed two new admission counselors: Yvonne Berumen and Gary A. Clark Jr. Yvonne graduated from Pitzer in 1997 and worked as an admission counselor at Occidental College for the past two years. Gary graduated from Christopher Newport University in Virginia and worked in admission at his alma mater and The College of William and Mary.
In the advancement office, Suzanne Zetterberg '68 has resigned to take a job as director of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Commons—the new student center at Scripps College. Susanne Faulstich has been promoted to director of annual giving and Sheryl Gorchow Stuart moves from associate director of development to director of advancement communications. Naomi Weiss Glasky '90 joined the staff as assistant director of alumni relations, a new position, in mid-August. (For more about Naomi, see this issue's Profile.) Sandy Reeves is now administrative manager with a wide range of responsibilities, including acting as point-person for the office.
The Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, which recently moved to Pitzer's campus, has added two professionals to its senior research staff, Paula Y. Bagasao and Waldo Lopez-Aqueres. Bagasao is the new director for information technology and education research. She is a former Clinton-Gore appointee to the U.S. Agency for International Development as senior policy advisor for information technology and development. Lopez-Aqueres, newly appointed director for economic research, is a former senior transportation analyst for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Gabriel James Robert Juhasz was born to Alex Juhasz on July 16. Gabriel weighed in at 7 pounds and was 20.5 inches long.
Mark your calendars and be ready for the start of Faculty-Student Fireside Talks. The talks will begin in the next few weeks on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. in the Marquis Library. Discussion will focus on grants and fellowships you will want to know about and may be hoping to win. "The expected array of wonderful discussions on subjects near to the hearts and minds of our faculty and students (but not necessarily concerned with money) will follow," says Professor Al Wachtel, who coordinates the series. "One such talk last year, Cynthia Werner's on bribery as a form of everyday economic and social exchange, has evolved into a paper that has been accepted for publication!"
A complete schedule of Welcome Week and orientation events and activities can be found here.
WEEK OF AUG. 30
MONDAY
TUESDAY
McConnell dining hall will close so the entire Pitzer community can dine together on the mounds starting at 5 p.m. After dinner, join in a drumming circle sponsored by the student senate from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.
International House holds an open house from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Claremont McKenna College.
WEDNESDAY
Last day to sign up for the PAct-sponsored trip to Laguna Beach on Saturday. Register at the Gold Student Center service desk before 5 p.m.
THURSDAY
Enjoy steel drummers, fire-knife dancers, "mocktails," food and fun at the five-college luau and pool party from 9 p.m. to midnight at Gold Student Center
FRIDAY
Join in the fun as the Pitzer community celebrates September birthdays with food and music at the First Friday of the Month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Gold Student Center.
DJs, food and prizes are on tap for a Disorientation Dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the East Dorm of Harvey Mudd College.
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
WEEK OF SEPT. 6
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
The class of 2000's senior dinner takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room of Gold Student Center. Join your classmates, get important information and meet your liaison, class representative and (soon-to-be-fellow) Pitzer alumni. For more information, contact Grace at x18130.
McAlister Center presents a volunteer study break from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in McKenna Auditorium at CMC.
THURSDAY
F E A T U R E:
Annual Fund Surpasses $1 Million
P R O F I L E:
Naomi Weiss Glasky '90 is Pitzer's Newest 'Fun-Raiser'
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND
O P P O R T U N I T I E S
COMING
UP
Information on federal work-study and non-work-study jobs is available at a Job Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the multipurpose room of Gold Student Center. Hosted by career services.
First day of classes.
Have some falafel and schmooze with Jewish students over lunch from noon to 1 p.m. at McAlister Center, located on 10th Street between Columbia and Dartmouth.
An exhibition featuring more than 50 pairs of slippers opens at Hinshaw Gallery, located upstairs at the Grove House, at 7 p.m. The show is the brainchild of Alexis Akagawa '97, who "changed shoes and slippers up to seven times a day last year when I was in Japan, so I'm a little interested in footwear these days." Free refreshments.
Pitzer faculty and staff take on the students in a rousing game of softball from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gold Student Center playing field. Come play or watch and enjoy a root beer keg!
Soak up the sun or prowl the shops and galleries of lovely Laguna Beach! The bus leaves from Gold Student Center at 11 a.m. sharp and returns to campus around 7 p.m. Sponsored by PAct. The trip is free, but limited to 45 students. Sign up at the Gold Student Center service desk no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Come watch the PAct Sunday Night Movies at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. in Avery Auditorium.
Labor Day holiday for staff.
The Student Alumni Relations Council holds its first meeting of the academic year at 11:30 a.m. in the McConnell Living Room. Bring a lunch and participate in planning activities for the year. For more information, contact Grace at x18130.
Get posters and other art for your room or office at the Trent Graphics Poster and Art Sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the lobby of McConnell Center.
Don't miss the five-college Turf Dinner and Activities Fair (or you won't eat, because the dining hall is closed!) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the mounds. Get information from five-college and Pitzer clubs and organizations so you can get involved!