Campus & Community

Raymond Siever, Professor of Geology, Emeritus, died September 24, 2004 at his home on Avon Street in Cambridge, a victim of Parkinson’s Disease. He will be remembered for his leadership in the field of sedimentary geology, for his excellent work as an educator, and as a benefactor both to his students at Harvard and to the larger geological community.

Harvard students who signed up for last semesters Freshman Seminar titled The Book of Hours: Picturing Prayer in the Middle Ages hurdled some common obstacles for such young researchers. During their study of medieval art history, the 10 freshmen received unlimited access to rare 15th and 16th century manuscripts, became published scholars, and mounted a six-week exhibition at Houghton Library. Not bad for first-semester college students.

In response to the devastating long-term health effects of violence in local communities throughout Peru, the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma is currently conducting a weeklong training session for 25 medical doctors, psychologists, nurses, and social workers. The training initiative – running through Feb. 27 at the Inn at Harvard – was implemented by Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo.

The Office of the Provost makes funds available to faculty for University projects that promise to alter and improve teaching and learning through the use of technology. The Provosts Instructional Technology Fund is made up of two funds: the Innovation Fund and the Content Fund.

Containing an emerging bird flu pandemic at its source will probably only delay – not stop – the illness’ spread because of likely multiple introductions of the pathogen, assert researchers…

Lawrence H. Summers announced today that he will conclude his tenure as president of Harvard University at the end of the 2005-06 academic year.

Despite the mild winter thus far, Harvards annual Daffodil Days fundraiser remains a welcome affair this time of year for its power to conjure up a touch of spring and a heap of charity. Now in its 19th year, the campus-wide program benefiting the American Cancer Society (ACS) will deliver a vivid bouquet of 10 yellow daffodils to participating University faculty, staff, and students for just $7. Or you may purchase a Boyds Bear along with one bunch of daffodils for $25.

Former co-master of Dudley House, Charlotte I. Loeb, died at her home in Cambridge, Mass., on Feb. 8. She was 84.

A survey of 18,000 college students enrolled in introductory biology, chemistry, and physics has found little evidence that high school Advanced Placement (AP) courses significantly boost college performance in the sciences. The study by researchers at Harvard University and the University of Virginia (UVA) found the best predictors of success in college science courses to be high school classes that foster mathematical fluency, value depth over breadth, and feature certain types of laboratory work.

Crimson skaters score gold, bronze in Torino On the heels of Team Canada’s 4-1 win against Sweden this past Monday (Feb. 20) in Torino, former Harvard skater Jennifer Botterill ’02-03…

A U.S. State Department official reiterated the Bush administrations support for continued economic sanctions on Burma Friday (Feb. 17) as part of a multipronged effort to convince the repressive military regime to embrace democratic reforms.

Oscar-winning actress, Bond girl, and Catwoman Halle Berry showed Harvards famously bawdy Hasty Pudding Theatricals a thing or two about bawdy Thursday (Feb. 16), turning up the heat on the roast in which she received Hastys Woman of the Year Award.

Harvard University announced today (Feb. 16) the establishment of a $50 million Professorship Challenge Fund. The group of generous donors who created the fund hopes to encourage gifts from alumni and friends to endow named professorships across the University and provide other critically needed faculty support.

The 10th and 11th meetings of the Faculty Council for 2005-06 were extra sessions held on Feb. 8 and 15 to discuss the process by which the next dean of…

Following are some of the incidents reported to the Harvard University Police Department for the week ending Feb. 14. The official log is located at 1033 Massachusetts Ave., sixth floor, and is available online at http://www.hupd.harvard.edu/.

Looking at the courses Francesco Erspamer is teaching his first year at Harvard, one is struck by their historical breadth. There is a course on the great figures of the Italian Renaissance, one on the writers of the decadent period at the turn of the 20th century, and two that examine the Italy of today, its politics, culture, fiction, and cinema.

In its first-ever capital campaign, the Harvard Business School (HBS) has surpassed the record for the most money raised by a business school, nearly $600 million. This amount far exceeds the goal of $500 million set at the campaigns launch.

In October 2006, the sixth annual contingent of new Gates Scholars, selected from countries around the world, will begin graduate studies at the University of Cambridge, England. Recently, 40 successful candidates from the United States, including three Harvard affiliates, were among the latest round of recipients.

As recent debates over the teaching of intelligent design in our nations classrooms show, the teaching of religion in public schools remains a controversial topic. The First Amendment to the Constitution, as well as the concept of the separation of church and state, cause many educators to shy away from religion in the classroom. Yet the history of the Crusades cant be taught, nor the art of Hamlet understood, without basic knowledge of the religious as well as the political and cultural contexts out of which each emerged. Where will todays youths gain an understanding of the worlds religions if not through their formal educations?

Cherishing Our Hearts and Souls (COHS), a Roxbury-based, community-centered coalition affiliated with the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), has received funding from the Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials (ENACCT) and the networks founding partner, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), to implement a community-wide effort to raise public awareness and improve access to cancer clinical trials.

At a Meeting of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences September 27, 2005, the following Minute was placed upon the records.

A car about to run out of gas can be traveling 70 mph until the moment the tank runs dry. Good thing cars have fuel gauges. While the world economy…

A spouse’s illness can not only be bad for your health, it can kill you, according to a new study of couples over age 65 that highlights the importance of…

Ca. February 1963 – In the latest of a long series of skirmishes with Harvard, Cambridge City Councilor Alfred E. Vellucci proposes that the Lampoon Castle be converted into a…

Elliot Forbes memorial set for Feb. 25 A memorial service for Elliot Forbes, the Fanny Peabody Professor of Music Emeritus, will be held Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. at the…

Peter Godfrey-Smith, whose work at the intersection of philosophy and biology has provided striking philosophical analysis of the nature of genetics and evolution, has been appointed professor of philosophy in Harvard Universitys Faculty of Arts and Sciences, effective Jan. 1.

Hasty Woman of the Year feted today, beginning with parade Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ Woman of the Year Halle Berry will lead the celebrated group’s traditional parade through the streets of…

Down 2-0 with 57 seconds remaining in Tuesdays (Feb. 14) Beanpot championship bout versus Boston College at Bright Hockey Center, the Crimsons Jennifer Sifers 07 was whistled for roughing. Specifically, she was called for bowling over Eagle goaltender Alison Quandt while in pursuit of the puck. Though hardly a cheap shot, Sifers overzealous efforts reflected the frustration and desperation of a player on the verge of losing her first Pot title in a Harvard uniform. And for the program as a whole – being denied a tournament-tying record of eight straight seasons as Bostons best.

The Fromm Foundation and the Harvard University Department of Music are proud to present this years Fromm Festival, a free concert series running March 10-12 in the John Knowles Paine Concert Hall. Curated by composer Hans Tutschku, the concerts are part of an impetus to program work that would otherwise not be seen in the Boston area. The theme of this years festival is e l e c t r o n I c s.

Fourteen Harvard-affliated students are among the 30 graduate students nationwide recently named Paul and Daisy Soros New American Fellows for 2006. Fellows receive a stipend of up to $20,000 plus half-tuition for as many as two years of graduate study at any institution of higher learning in the United States.