Inspired by the weekly electronic bulletin board of happenings on campus . . .

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David Parichy ’91 of the University of Washington (left) got a chance to talk evolution with biology professor Robert Kaplan and Patrick Phillips ’86.

 

Reports of Life
After Biology Class

David M. Parichy ’91 of the University of Washington was back on campus in September to present his research, “Zebrafish in context: integrative studies of development, evolution, and behavior.” Patrick Phillips ’86 showed up to hear the talk; he is a professor at the Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Oregon, and studies the nematode Caenorhabditis. Both were protégés of biology professor Robert Kaplan, though neither has gone on to study Kaplan’s species of choice—the frog Bombina orientalis.

Meanwhile, professor emeritus of biology Laurens N. Ruben is keeping his hand in, with two articles in press. “Cancer Resistance in Amphibia” is a contribution to a symposium in the U.K; “Bleomycin-induced DNA damage and repair in Xenopus leavis and Xenopus tropicalis,” was co-authored by Reed biology graduate Sarah H. Banner ’02, now a medical student at Tulane.

     
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David Horowitz appeared at Reed last fall in the Public Policy Lecture Series.
 

Horowitz vs. Steinberger—
the Sequel

Following their contentious debate at Reed last fall, conservative activist David Horowitz and Dean of the Faculty Peter Steinberger have kept the dialog going. In a letter to Steinberger, Horowitz wrote: “Your critique of the Academic Bill of Rights and of my campaign is the most intellectually substantive that has been written, and also the most comprehensive since it deals with apprehensions about my motives.” Horowitz went on to request the dean’s permission to include their exchange on his website. Check under the entries: “Horowitz vs. Steinberger: Is There an Academic Blacklist?” and “Horowitz vs. Steinberger Debate at Reed College.”

     

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Sean Penn (right) created a screen version of Emory University at Reed in October.

 

Hollywood Comes to Reed—
Take 2

Following a summer movie shoot involving Morgan Freeman, Reed hosted a second major motion picture in the fall as director Sean Penn descended on the great lawn in front of Eliot Hall with actors William Hurt, Emile Hirsch, and Marcia Gay Harden; 500 extras; and techies too numerous to count. Over a weekend in October, they staged the college commencement scene in Penn’s upcoming movie Into the Wild, based on the bestseller by Jon Krakauer. Here’s the twist: the commencement depicted in the movie took place in the spring—at Emory University in Atlanta. To “Emorize” Reed, Penn’s production team imported hundreds of Kentia palms and yellow mums; they obscured the fall foliage on the south lawn; and they put up signposts for Emory’s schools of law, nursing, theology, and business.

A few hundred Reedies signed up to earn $75 by donning cap and gown and marching in the crowd scenes; political science professor Paul Gronke, meanwhile, could be seen in academic robes playing—what else?—a professor.

 

Honor Principle Goes Digital

Honor now has a home on the web at Reed. The new website details the honor process, as well as the history and inner workings of the honor principle. Please contact the honor council’s education subcommittee at EdSub@lists.reed.edu with any questions or comments.

 

Reed’s Architectural Heritage Online

In 2004, Reed received a grant from the Getty Trust to prepare a master plan for its historic architecture and landscaping. The complete version of the plan is now available online.