Inside Rhodes
An electronic newsletter for Rhodes Alumni
February 2007 issue

Greetings from Rhodes College
     You will notice a different look to this issue of Inside Rhodes.   Tracy Comer, the Administrative Assistant in the Alumni Office, typically formats the newsletters and provides shading to set different sections apart.  Tracy was going to get this one out, but her new baby had a different idea and decided to arrive early!  Tracy 's daughter, Jordan Alise Comer, was born on February 12.   We will do the best we can without Tracy for the next few months, but some of the extras on this message were put aside in the interest of getting it out.

     Earlier this week, you received a survey that was developed by two of our senior women.  Emily Deichmann '07 and Rebecca Smith '07 worked with faculty, Alumni Relations staff, and alumni over the fall semester to build and refine an alumni survey.  In part the work of the students was conducted to meet academic requirements of a senior seminar course, but I assure you that their commitment to this project has grown.

     The survey will take between 20 and 30 minutes for you to complete.  It can be completed and submitted electronically; thus, there will be no need to print it and mail it back.  Moving your cursor over the various response fields will open the response choices.

     Strong participation will help the students secure better data.  From our perspective, the more complete response we have, the better we will be better able to serve the alumni community.  We need your help.  Please complete and return the survey.  The electronic version of the survey is available on the Alumni Relations home page http://www.rhodes.edu/alumni/default.asp by CLICKING HERE.

Chapter News
Most of our contact with alumni in regions where chapters are located is through emails. Should you be receiving this electronic newsletter but you are not receiving announcements about local chapter events, please call or email the Alumni Relations Office.

Mobile:
No report

Atlanta :
The Atlanta Chapter's Weekend of Study and Style scheduled for March 8-11, 2007 has been postponed; however, members of the Rhodes community in the Atlanta area are invited to a reception on Thursday, March 8, featuring Dr. Troutt.  Details will be coming soon, so mark your calendar.

The Atlanta Chapter will host a multi-event on Thursday, April 5, at the home of Jane and J.L. Jerden '59.  The first portion will be a career networking event for current students from 4:30 - 6 pm.  This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn from alumni about beginning a career in Atlanta .  Please make plans to attend and show our students your support.  Immediately following, there will be a reception for accepted students for the class of 2011.  This event has proven a great success in the past with alumni providing final encouragement towards Rhodes for prospective students.  Join us from 6 - 7:30 pm to share you experiences with some of the best and brightest from the Atlanta area!  Details will follow shortly, so watch your inbox.   (We realize that this event occurs in Holy Week, but our students are on Easter recess and will be able to attend on April 5.)

Washington DC :
Approximately 70 alumni, parents, and friends of the College attended a special tour of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art on February 3.  The tour was led by David McCarthy, James F. Ruffin Professor of Art and Archaeology, and his former students Hugh Shockey '96 and Laura Caroline Johnson '06, both of whom work at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The Washington DC Chapter will host a career networking event for students and young alumni on the evening of Monday, March 12.  Details will follow shortly, but please make plans to attend.  This is a wonderful opportunity to lend advice to students and young alumni about living and working in our nation's capital.  They will appreciate your support.  For alumni living outside the DC area having interest in participating, please contact Bud Richey richeyw@rhodes.edu for further information.

An effort is underway to bring the photography exhibit, "Unembedded" to DC.  The exhibit features work of photojournalists covering the war in Iraq , including photos by Thorne Anderson '89 among others.  The chapter is seeking financial support within DC to offset the cost of the exhibit.  For more information about the exhibit, visit http://www.unembedded.net/.  Should you wish to help the chapter in its effort to secure the exhibit, please contact Mark Perriello '99 Mark@scottyandura.com.

Birmingham :
No report.

Arkansas :
The Arkansas Chapter hosted a happy hour belated birthday celebration honoring Elvis Presley on January 11 at Ferneau's in Little Rock .  Approximately 20 members of the Rhodes community enjoyed fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches and a drink special created for the occasion called the Tupelo .  Thanks to Marynell Branch '77 for "Taking Care of Business" organizing this event! 

On January 31 the Arkansas Chapter in concert with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hosted an opening reception for "Unembedded", a photography exhibit on the Iraq war with additional text about the war's impact on public health featuring work by Arkansas native and Rhodes alumnus Thorne Anderson '89.  Thorne attended the reception and gave a presentation about his work.  For more information about "Unembedded" visit http://www.unembedded.net/.   

On March 22 a Dutch treat lunch meeting will be held in Little Rock at 11:45 am for the purposes of electing new officers for the Rhodes Chapter of Arkansas and developing plans for future chapter events.  Location of the meeting is dependent upon how many alumni attend.  If you are able to attend or consider yourself a "strong maybe," please report your interest and attendance plans to Charlie Kinslow '72 Charles.Kinslow@morgankeegan.com or 800-758-4298 on or before March 1 in order that final arrangements may be made for a meeting location.

Memphis:
The Memphis Chapter is hosting a student recruitment event Monday, February 19, 6:30 - 8  pm, room 51 of the Paul Barret, Jr. Library.  This is a wonderful opportunity for alumni to share experiences and help promote Rhodes to the area's best and brightest students.  For more information please contact Crissy Stemkowski '02 at cstemkowski@cbhs.org.    

Volunteers in Memphis are needed to provide lodging for guests on March 31 and April 6 who will be traveling to and from New Orleans to participate in clean up projects.  Krista McClain '05 who teaches in Chicago will have 25 high school students and five adults with her on this spring break trip.  Please email alumni@rhodes.edu and enter subject line "Chicago Students - Katrina Cleanup" if you are able to offer sleeping space on one of these nights. 

The Memphis Chapter is hosting an alumni reception with President Troutt, Tuesday, April 10, 6 - 8 pm, in the McCallum Ballroom in the Bryan Campus Life Center .  Please mark your calendar.  Details coming soon.

Nashville :
No report.

North Texas :
No report.

Houston :
The Houston Chapter continues to hold monthly happy hour gatherings the first Thursday of each month.  March's happy hour will be Thursday, March 1, at Benjy's in the Rice Village .  The fun begins at 5:30 pm, and drink and appetizer specials are offered until 7  pm.  April's happy hour will be Thursday, April 5, at The Red Lion Pub, 2316 S. Shepherd, 5:30 - 7 pm.

The Rhodes Chapter of Houston invites you to attend a wine tasting, Wednesday, February 21, 7 pm, at the Tasting Room River Oaks located on West Alabama near Kirby.  The cost is $30 and seating is limited, so make your reservations early.  Admission includes the tasting conducted by a sommelier and appetizers.  For more information contact Ashley Browning '99 at ashleybrowning@hotmail.com or (713) 927-4850.  To register please CLICK HERE. Advanced registration is required.

Please join Houston area alumni and parents as we attend the River Oaks Garden Club's famous annual Azalea Trail Tour, Saturday, March 3.  Tour gardens and homes of River Oaks including Bayou Bend on Lazy Lane.  For discounted advanced tickets of $15 please register before February 27 by CLICKING HERE.  Children under the age of 12 are free.  Starting February 28 you may purchase $20 tickets at Randall's Grocery Stores or River Oaks Garden Club at 2503 Westheimer.   The group will gather at Taco Milagro at the corner of Kirby and Westheimer for lunch at 11:30 am.  If you purchase advanced tickets, please arrive at Taco Milagro prior to 12:30 pm to collect your pre-paid tickets and caravan to the first home tour.  < /span>For more information contact Rachel Rosson '99 at rachel@greenwoodking.com or 713-256-4167.

The second annual Crawfish Boil is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 12 noon - 3 pm at Woodrow's, 3111 Chimney Rock.  Tickets are $12 before April 1, and $15 at the door. Children under 12 are free. Join fellow members of the Rhodes community to welcome accepted students and their parents to the Rhodes family.  Admission includes all-you-can-eat crawfish and chicken tenders.  A cash bar is available.  To register please CLICK HERE.

Chicago :
Chicago Chapter leaders are in the planning stages of hosting a reception for accepted students from the Chicago area in mid-April.  Stay tuned for details as plans progress.

New York City :
Leslie Curry '98 organized a career networking week in New York January 2-5, 2007, for current students.  Twenty-six students had the opportunity to learn about living in New York and working in fields such as investment banking, finance, and marketing.  As part of the week's activities, young alumni received the students at a gathering on January 3, and a general alumni reception was held for the students January 4.  Thank you to all those who helped organize the tour, plan the receptions, and supported the students' endeavors with your attendance.  Riding on the success of this year, we look forward to the tour becoming an annual event.  For more information CLICK HERE.

St. Louis :
Welcome our newest chapter!  The St. Louis Chapter held their first event, an evening of bowling and fun at the Pin-Up Bowl, February 3.  Approximately 20 members of the local Rhodes community attended this event.  Thank you to Terry Johns '92 for organizing this evening of fun.

New Orleans :
Coming soon to the Big Easy: Rhodes' thirteenth chapter!  Those who have expressed interest in leading chapter efforts will gather Tuesday, February 27, for an organizational meeting.  The newly established Rhodes Chapter of New Orleans in concert with the Alumni Office will host a reception Wednesday, February 28, 6 - 8 pm, at Joey K's Restaurant, 3001 Magazine Street.  For more information or to RSVP for this event please CLICK HERE.  Alumni, current parents, former parents, and friends of the College are welcome to attend. 

Ways to Help the College

Join the Rhodes Career Network - Alumni established in their fields have been  remarkable sources of support for Rhodes students and young alumni.  Numbers of alumni volunteering to assist and those seeking assistance are both increasing dramatically.  Please consider participating by serving as an informational resource for those following you, by creating internships for students (not limited to Memphis area), and by posting open positions in your agencies or businesses.  Some specific ways in which you can help are:

Nominate Alumni for the Alumni Board -The Alumni Association Executive Board will select six alumni to serve a three-year term on the board during its meeting of March 30-31.  Confirmation of these selections will occur at the Homecoming Alumni Convocation.   Nominations of fellow alumni or statements of self-interest will be valued.  Please think about nominating others or serving yourself.  Nominations/statements of interest may be sent electronically to alumni@rhodes.edu or through the mail to the Alumni Office. 

Call Classmates - We can use volunteers willing to make calls requesting Annual Fund gifts.  Volunteers will be asked to call between 10 and 15 classmates.  Please think about serving in this way.  If you are willing to help with the Annual Fund calls, please contact Amanda Tamburrino '98 tamburrino@rhodes.edu in the Development Office. 

Make a Gift - The College depends upon financial support from alumni and others to help us in our quest to realize the Rhodes Vision.  Gifts are put to good use in supporting the College's operations and moving programs toward excellence.   Gifts may be made online or by sending checks in care of the Alumni Relations Office.

Be a Class Reunion Leader - On February 10 a Reunion Leaders Retreat was held on the campus for the purpose of planning class reunions.  Considerable progress was made, but there is plenty of room for alumni in the classes ending in 2 and 7 to become involved.  Contact Libby Wyrick wyricke@rhodes.edu in our Development Office if you would like to help with your Class Reunion.

Give Books - We welcome books written by Rhodes alumni.  If you are in a position to give two copies of your works, one will be placed in the archives of the Barret Library where it will join books written by your fellow alumni.  The remaining copy will be placed in general circulation for use and enjoyment by students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Provide Lodging - Volunteers in Memphis are needed to provide lodging for guests on March 31 and April 6 who will be traveling to and from New Orleans to participate in clean up projects.  Krista McClain '05 who teaches in Chicago will have 25 high school students and five adults with her on this spring break trip.  Please email alumni@rhodes.edu and enter subject line "Chicago Students - Katrina Cleanup" if you are able to offer sleeping space on one of these nights. 

Announcements  

Homecoming/Reunion Weekend '07 - Save the date and plan to attend Homecoming October 19 and 20, 2007.

Travel Opportunities - See Rhodes to Travel programs offered through the Meeman Center for Lifelong Learning.

Stay Informed - Between issues of the Rhodes Magazine, an excellent source of information about life at the College is the Rhodes Web site.  The homepage www.rhodes.edu has icons for "Events" and "News."

For news about classmates and other Rhodes friends, join Lasting Lynx, the password-protected online community open only to Rhodes alumni.

Black History Month Activities - The Multicultural Affairs Office has released a schedule of activities celebrating Black History Month which are available on the events portion of the Rhodes Web site referenced above.

Use of Contact Information

     In the spring of 2003, Rhodes College launched an online community for the purposes of facilitating contact among members of the alumni community.  One of the features of Lasting Lynx is that it is password protected and only Rhodes alumni and upperclassmen students are able to join.  We have seen steady growth in the community and today just over 5,000 alumni have joined.

     One of the areas of increasing activity is junior and senior students searching the alumni directory feature to find alumni in fields and geographic regions that are of interest to them.  They are asking for counsel on various employment fields, help in finding internships, and assistance in finding entry level jobs.  The stories that we hear from students about your response and willingness to help are remarkable and, in this regard, the online community is working in fine fashion.

    There have been three occurrences of which I am aware when alumni have used the electronic directory to secure email addresses of alumni living in their communities and send messages informing their fellow Rhodes alumni of the professional services they provide.

     We don't have many rules regarding use of the information that alumni can secure through the electronic directory.  The big rule is that one must be a member of the Rhodes family to join.  The use of contact information in the electronic directory to provide information about professional services is a sensitive matter.  Please do not use contact information in this manner.

     There is a "Yellow Pages" feature on the online community which allows community members to both post their services and search within the postings.   My hope is that alumni will find ways to utilize the professional services of their fellow alumni in various fields.

Closing

     Activity is high in the Alumni Relations Office.  Projects underway include building a new alumni Web site that will be reflective of the rest of rhodes.edu in both navigation and appearance, learning more about how alumni want to receive information, working with Rhodes Chapters as they develop and implement programs in their communities, and collaborating with other units within the College as we seek to serve alumni and students.

     This issue of Inside Rhodes presents several areas in which alumni can respond to requests to help.  I urge you to think about ways in which you can support the work of Rhodes and help as you are able.

     Just as I addressed in the opening segment of the newsletter, I use this closing as a means to ask that you respond to the survey by completing and submitting it.  This is something that all alumni can do.  Your participation matters and will help greatly.

     Later this month, members of our staff will work with alumni and parents to establish the Rhodes Chapter of New Orleans.  New Orleans was on our early list of places to raise the Rhodes banner.  Hurricane Katrina changed everything.  New Orleans is a special city to Rhodes.  Palmer Hall was built, almost entirely, as a result of a gift from the Presbytery of New Orleans.  Many of our students through the years have come from the Crescent City .   We will celebrate the addition of New Orleans as we have the previous additions to the fold and as we will the new chapters that will follow.

     Before signing off, I want to share an experience that illustrates in a very tangible manner the culture of care and support that exists within the Rhodes community.

     Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with a senior student who is arranging a four-part lecture series that will focus on the medical treatments underway at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital .  His primary motivation is to expose some of the younger premed students at Rhodes to the work of the hospital.  There is no class assignment, academic credit, or payment involved which spurred the activity.  He is doing it because the opportunity is present to match a resource in the community to the younger students who follow him at Rhodes.  He thinks that the younger students will benefit from this exposure.

     As we spoke about how he would imagine the lecture series unfolding, he realized that the program would have value to students of Christian Brothers, Lemoyne Owen, University of Memphis , and UT-Memphis.  And, in fact, students from those institutions will be invited and welcomed.  Yet, returning to why he would put the time and energy into this effort during his final semester as a Rhodes student, the motivation is centered upon his concern for his fellow students.

     This story about Jeremy is one example of Rhodes community members extending a helping hand to others within the Rhodes family.   Much attention is focused on efforts of Rhodes folks helping those less fortunate through service programs, and even as we continue that commitment to serve others, let's not lose sight of what a remarkable community this is in which members of the Rhodes family are willing to help one another.

     It is a privilege to serve on the staff of this special institution where alumni and students care enough to help their fellow community members.  I marvel at the good you are doing.

     Following the sign off below, please see a list highlighting recent scholarly activity of the faculty.

     Until next month, all best wishes from the Constituent Programs staff,

Bud Richey, Associate Vice President and Director of Alumni Relations

Alumni Relations Office 
Tracy Comer, Administrative Assistant
Holly Hilliard, Associate Director of Alumni Relations
Matt Semko'98, Coordinator of Student Alumni Projects

Meeman Center for Lifelong Learning
Marilyn Hury, Director of Meeman Center
Barbara Cockrill, Administrative Assistant
Cissy Whittaker, Administrative Assistant

Scheduling and Events Office
John Rone '71, Director of College Events
Stephanie Swindle '06, Coordinator for Communications, Scheduling and Events 

Rhodes College, Office of Alumni Relations, 2000 North Parkway, Memphis, TN 38112-1690, 800-264-LYNX (5969), alumni@rhodes.edu.

Faculty Accomplishments for January-February 2007

Biology 

Journal Articles:

Jaslow, C. R., W. H. Kutteh, R. W. Ke, K. S. Patterson, S. Cholera & L. K. Jennings. 2006. Relationship of the CD9 protein on human granulosa cells and platelets with fertilization rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).  American Society for Reproductive Medicine Meeting. New Orleans.  October 21-25, 2006.

Jaslow, C. R., J. Carney, L. Norman, S. Fong, R. W. Ke & W. H. Kutteh.  2006.  Etiology of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) in 1018 women.  American Society for Reproductive Medicine Meeting.   New Orleans. October 21-25, 2006.

Kutteh, W.H., C. R. Jaslow, & R. E. Ke. 2006.  Elevated homocysteine levels in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are associated with A1298C mutations of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) in the absence of C677T mutations.  American Society for Reproductive Medicine Meeting.  New Orleans.  October 21-25, 2006. 

English  

Book:

Petty, Leslie. Romancing the Vote: Feminist Activism in American Fiction, 1870-1920.  University of Georgia Press . Dec. 16, 2006.

Modern Languages and Literatures 

Paper:

Gu, Ming Dong.   "The Theory of the Dao/Taiji: A Conceptual Model of the Mind?" Southeastern Conference of the Association of Asian Studies. Nashville , TN. January14, 2007. 

Political Science

Article:

Nelson, Michael. "Diary of a Political Scientist II, Summer 2006: Gambling, Gethsemani, and Gary Jacobson," PS: Political Science and Politics , Vol. 40, No. 1 (January 2007), pp. 153-156

Nelson, Michael. "Giving the Left Somewhere to Go" (review of documentary An Unreasonable Man), Chronicle of Higher Education, Chronicle Review section (January 26, 2007), p. B16.

Book chapter:

Nelson, Michael. "The Politics of Tribal Recognition: Casinos, Culture, and Controversy," in Allen J.  Cigler and Burdett A. Loomis, Interest Group Politics, 7th ed. (Washingon: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2007), 65-85