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“This
old
house
is a nice
old
house.
. .
Lad
BUT it is old and so the daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance has become only a delaying action. After fifty years of use by
the International House family some serious renovation is needed. You have heard this before but we thought you would like to know just exactly what is being proposed in order to modernize the House. Here are samples of the kinds of projects that are planned. Fifty years ago, when the House was
built, showers were made of tile affixed to concrete.
All
those
years
of
hot
showers
have eroded the concrete and most of the showers leak water into the walls and ceilings below. In 1975 there is a new way of constructing showers — they are made of fiber glass. Our plan is to replace the old showers with modern fiber glass units. The cost of fuel to heat the House is going up all the time and we have no control over its price. All we can do is try to be as careful as possible about how we use it. Presently our House is on one thermostat for heat. It’s either on all over the House or off. You will remember that certain rooms, those
warmed
by
the
sun,
always
needed
less heat than those on the inside of the House, and that is still true. But we presently have no method to lower the heat in one part of the House and leave it on in another. One of the projects for modernizing the House is the installation of a zone heat control system. Below is a list of the projects which are recommended as first steps for putting the House into modern, cost-saving condition. Before you read the list just let me add one additional factor. In 1952 there were 119 employees of International House — in 1975 there are 50. In 1952 there were 23 housemen; today there are 13. In 1952 there were 29 maids; today there are 5. In order for these few people to keep the House
in tip-top
condition
they
need
the
best help of modern systems and materials.
PROJECTS FOR RENOVATING Shower repairs Roof and terrace surface repair Replace door checks in resident rooms Replace fire alarm system Sidewalk replacement Replacementof Kitchen equipment Replace steam lines and return lines Window repair Renovate elevators
Install emergency lighting system Design and install zone heat control system Fire escape estension repair Repair exterior masonry Replace carpeting in Cafeteria Retile resident area corridors Consolidate office space Redesign and renovate Reception area Redesign and renovate Claremont entrance Install 4000 AMP electric service Resurface gym floor Install rest rooms (2) in Auditorium area The money for these renovations will come from the Capital Campaign, as you already
know.
Because
the
need
for
these
renovations is so critical, the success of the Capital Campaign is essential for the future of the House. | thought you would like to know how exactly it is planned to spend this money that you are helping to raise in order to assure the future of International House. It is to you who lived here that ‘’This nice old House” ultimately belongs. OJ Rudd Director of Development and World Members
\ aoe!
ame Uh a
Ut-7
Come
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ve
eae
Orientation Week-ends Initiated One of the most exciting projects the House
has
undertaken in recent years is the orientation weekends for new residents. On an orientation week-end, a group of about thirty students goes to the country
Friday night, returning Sunday afternoon. These week-ends are designed by students and staff to give new residents an opportunity to meet people and to get a feeling for the International House community
and
its possibilities.
This year one hundred and fifty |. House residents had a chance to go on one of these week-ends, visiting either Holiday Hills in Pawling, New York or the Institute of World Affairs in Salisbury, Connecticut. Since this is a most important innovation your Newsletter editor went on a week-end. What follows is an account of her orientation. Staff Member Gets Oriented by Margy Henkels, News/etter Editor “Oh, no. Not me on an orientation week-end.” That was my initial reaction to the prospect of a week-end
in Salisbury,
of students from My
second
Connecticut
International
thoughts
were
with
a group
House. not
much
What
impressed
walk to the lake and people to find it. When
went off with some other we got there, we went for a
swim. The water was clean and clear. | can’t remember what
different.
We were a shy group on the long ride out of the city. Our efforts to get to know each other were forced and tentative. There were so many of us (thirty), and what had we in common? After we arrived at the Institute of World Affairs and found rooms, we all gathered in the dining room. Each of us was given one half of a card and assigned the task of finding and getting to know the person with the other half. My match turned out to be a young woman from Tokyo named Saho, who is studying acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio.
the night before had done the job. After breakfast we went outdoors to explore. The countryside was beautiful, and there seemed to be many delightful things to do. | decided to
we
talked about or pinpoint when
pened, but suddenly
| realized
it hap-
| was having a good
time. It was interesting to hear a Puerto Rican and a Colombian comparing ways of growing coffee and
to discuss the relative importance of coffee in their country’s economies. | enjoyed talking to Shinji about jazz, who we liked, who we didn’t like, where we differed.
me was that that very day,
this lady had had her first audition on Broadway. Do you know how difficult it is to go to those auditions? And of course it is not the most usual state of affairs for an artist from Japan to arrive here and achieve success in musical comedy. Here was a person of great determination and maybe even talent. Interesting. After
each
of us had
met
our
match,
we
intro-
duced the person we had found. What had seemed a large and unmanageable group suddenly seemed smaller and more approachable. When everybody went to bed, we staff people sat up talking, sharing that closeness you feel when you know everyone else is asleep. As we went into the hall we heard Saho singing. Eileen said, ““Saho will never be lonely with that voice to keep her company.” The first thing | heard the next morning was the sound of someone walking up and down the hall saying, ‘Breakfast is served. Breakfast is served.”’ Evidently the people who had volunteered to cook
We
spent
pleased
—
the rest of the day biking,
boating,
doing
what we
swimming,
walking,
taking pictures, talking, exploring the town, playing cards, playing frisbee. That evening at supper Eileen told us all a love story, a rather problematic one at that, and asked that we think about each of the characters and
choose
which
one
we respected
most. After supper we were assigned a group to discuss our choices and the reasons for them. Simple, huh? Not so. A more divided group you never
saw.
We
had
quite
a heated
discussion,
one
that got a little hysterical in places. It was interesting, though, to see who became allies, who opponents and on what grounds. After the discussion a few of us went outside to cool off. When we came back in, the large room was an inviting sight. People had settied into groups, toasting marshmellows, singing, playing Scrabble. | joined in a word puzzle which almost drove me crazy,
but
did
we
laugh!
| have just been reviewing the annual reports that we have published over the years, and despite some facelifting and new programs, the House really has not changed very much in twenty years. In the latter part of the nineteen fifties, we were concerned with modernizing the physical plant; with strengthening our ties with the United Nations (where International House enjoys Non-Governmental Organization status); with establishing a comprehensive scholarship program; and with setting up a floor host and resident advisor program. The early sixties saw the House establish a joint training program with Teachers College, where students of guidance and counselling received practical experience as foreign student counselors. We took in several Peace Corps training groups; established the George C. Marshall Visitor program; initiated the first World Conference of International Houses and Centers (attended by seventy delegates from seventeen countries); financed a research project
The next morning it was time to go home. | was happy to get back to the city, sad to see everyone drift
away
to
their
rooms.
But
now
when
| see
someone from that week-end, it’s someone |'m glad to see, and it’s areal pleasure to stop and talk.
Reflections on Starting My Twenty-First Year by Howard A. Cook, President About thirty of the fifty members of the staff of |. House helped me celebrate my twenty years at International House on October 1st. On hand were three staff members who were at |. House when | arrived on that cold, clear, October morning back in 1955. They were Frank Kennedy, Anne Torres and Irene O'Sullivan. Hank Richardson, our chief engineer, who started work six months later in early 1956, was also on hand. Back in 1955, when the number of employees stood at 119, we couldn't have held such a party in my apartment at 100 LaSalle Street; there wouldn't have been room. As | reflect on the House over the past years, the one thing that stands out is this. It is the same wonderful place that it has always been. Harry Edmonds found the perfect ingredients for the ideat student community. — Put 500 young graduate students from ninety countries together in one building, inspire them with a purpose, and the results cannot help but further better international relations. Today the number of students who want to live at International House is far greater than the number of rooms available. Our 500 rooms are 100% occupied. As one staff member put it, ‘We must be doing something right.”’
on
the
impact
of
International
House
on
its
foreign residents; opened a Clothing Bank for students; and strengthened the House’s financial base through a development program. The latter 60's saw increasing involvement of our students in volunteer community projects, such as the Harlem tutorial programs, classroom teaching and the school assembly programs. It also brought students into all staff administrative committees and two students onto the Board of Trustees in 1970. Our first World Conference of International House
alumni
also
took
place
in
1970
in
Kyoto;
and the Long Range Planning Committee was active in planning for the Golden Jubilee of the House. Then came our 50th anniversary to draw our worldwide International House family together and to launch a Half Century Fund Campaign to assure the future of the House, whose financial operations
were being threatened by inflation. Despite the discouragement of a $105,000 deficit for the year which ended August 31, 1975, | continue to be optimistic as | start my twenty-first year. During the next few years | intend to spend a major portion of my time raising money for the House to ensure the success of the Half Century Campaign. | consider it vitally important to take care of urgent needs in three areas. First, the plant needs to be put in order. (See “This old house is a nice old house. . .“” — Ed.), hard pressed students need more scholarship aid and certain programs which have been curtailed should be fully restored. The mission of International House is more important today than ever before, and | know that our staff, the Trustees,
students,
and most import-
antly, all of you alumni who are reading this will see to it that International House continues to fulfill the high expectations of all who believe “That Brotherhood May Prevail’.
Council Chairman Reports The Council of World Members is growing. Since this Council represents all of you, it is essential to have delegates from as many countries as possible. You can see from the map how far we have progressed.
Our
new
appointees
are
Guillermo
Baraya '52 of Bogota, Colombia; John Treasure ‘47 of London, England; Jamal Haddad ‘45 of Tehran, lran; Arnold Stalder ‘54 of Basel, Switzerland; Hector Soucy ‘57 of Caracas, Venezuela and Gerald Barsdorf ‘56 of New York City, U.S. The Council alternates are Hernando Bahamon ‘51 of Bogota, Colombia and Clarence Akwai ‘38 of Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. The Council meeting scheduled for June, 1975 in Beirut had to be cancelled. We are looking for a site for the 1976 meeting. As you know, world members groups in different countries are contributing to the Capital Campaign by endowing rooms at International House. | am very pleased to report the following pledges or gifts:
Canada Republic of China Denmark Finland
Ss 20 $10,000 $ 6,000 $10,000
France
$10,000
Federal Republic of Germany Hong Kong Iran South Africa
$33,300 $s OOO $ 1,000 3: 3H
Sigurdur Helgason ‘45
News from around the World
Bill Bittel ‘55 wrote from Australia saying, ‘’| am now a lecturer in Education at the Adelaide College of Advanced Education.” Sergio Pimentel Mendes ‘63, the Council Member from Brazil sent, ‘‘News for you, straight and fresh from Brazil! Renato
Pedroso
‘29
(!) is a pilot (!) and still flies
professionally!
Otto Bier ‘41 is a biologist. He is the director of the world-famous snake farm of Butantan and was responsible for the vaccination of over sixteen million persons (against meningitis). John
Cotrim
‘42 is president of one
of our
largest
power plants, Usina de Furnas. Vicente Chiaverini
‘43 isan engineer and also teach-
es at Sao Paulo University. Mario Guimaraes Paulo University.
Ferri
‘45
is a professor at Sao
Dorina Monteiro de Gouvea Nowill '43 is president of the Brazilian Foundation for the Book for the Blind. She is blind herself and does a magnificent job for the blind. Nathan Shwartzman ‘52 is a great musician. He has been conducting all the symphonic and _philharmonic orchestras in Brazil. Maria Conceicao Tavaras '53 is a nationally known economist, also teaching at Sao Paulo University. Several books published.
Let Us Hear From You The i. house world newsletter can be one means of continuing the kind of exchange you participated in at International House. Would you please respond to any or all of the following questions as a way of sharing experiences with your fellow alumni?
What are you doing now?
Can you tell us a little about changes you see happening in your part of the world?
Is there any new interest in your life which you could describe a little, something you are learning about or doing
in a new way?
Are there any topics which you would like to suggest for discussion among alumni in the newsletter?
Please return this to Margy Henkels, World Members Office, 500 Riverside Drive, New York City 10027.
NEWS
of the Canadian
continued
Association of Public Health.”
Ms. E.R. Broisman ‘46 wrote from New Delhi, India saying
that she was appointed
Deputy
Director
of
the International Labor Organization Regional Office there, which covers ILO programs in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldive Islands. Ms. Broisman was formerly stationed in Bangkok. Gordon Ellens ‘67 is teaching the History of Asiatic Religions at the International School of Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. He is also an advisor toa large Japanese company which has dealings with the West. On a recent visit to the House, Ellens said, ‘| have learned much about the nature and
function of religion from the Japanese ability to live without it, and yet live in depth, purposefully. They believe in themselves and possess their own souls. Japan is in ferment. The ‘generation gap’ is perhaps wider than in many other places because of social changes wrought by the war and its aftermath and by the breakup of rural communities and concentration of unattached persons in the cities working in industry.”’ Council
Member
Myong
Whai
Kim
‘60
sent
this
news from Seoul, Korea, ‘‘Like many of our fellow alumni of International House, | am also having rather hectic days recently; our Parliament is in session
Maria Bonomi ‘58 is now a famous artist in Brazil— etchings in most recognized museums and art galleries.
Adam Landau ‘60 is in business with GTE and has helped a lot of Brazilian enterprises in setting up their
data
processing
Helena Angelina the U.S.”
systems.
Lavander ‘67 is in training back in
The members of the permanent committee for |. House world members in Brazil are Sergio Pimentel Mendes ‘63, an economist; Sidney Taurel ‘70, an administrator; Tomas Felsberg ‘70, a lawyer. Their goals are searching for lost alumni, research among found alumni, and better communication among
Council
Members.
Gail Levine ‘70 sent this news from Canada, ‘| am working as an audiologist, part-time at a small hospital and part-time at a doctor’s office and am very
happy. | miss |. House, where the people were beautiful. Montreal is beautiful, too.”’ Marie A. Loyer ‘65 reports, ‘‘In September, 1975 | was appointed Dean of the School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Canada, and during the same year, Chairman of the Rector’s Committee on the Status of Women. | am also holding the position of President of the Ontario Region Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing and Secretary
at the moment.
Consequently,
| have to do
lots of homework in order to meaningfully participate in the assembly debate. Understandably our predominant theme at present is the question of national defense. ‘| resigned from Yonsei University after twentythree years of service as Professor of Political Science in order to become a member of our Parliament.
It’s quite a change, of course, but | find that
the life of a parliamentarian is very challenging and rewarding. In particular, | am working as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. This involves much exposure to the international community here in Korea and activities in promoting international friendship. This, | think, is in a way an extension of the modus vivendi of International House.
“As you may know, | am also the publisher of the Korea Observer, an English quarterly, published by the Academy of Korean Studies where | happen to be the president. The Academy recently held an international symposium on the issue of Korean overseas residents. The symposium turned out as a great success. In addition to the huge audience it attracted, there were some eighty professors who took part in the symposium in various capacities. The occasion provided us with a golden opportunity to appreciate such important issues as one’s adjustment and assimilation in a cross-cultural environment. | think that we, as members of one global Continued on the next page
NEWS
continued
village should all be familiar with those issues.”’ Abdul Qayum '47 is living in Lahore, Pakistan and is partner of Noon Qayam and Company, a firm of consulting engineers and architects. He wrote, ‘’’The old order changeth yielding place to the new,’ and it isso in Pakistan. We are also going towards Socialism as is but natural in the poor countries of the world. The Western way of life is also affecting us fast. Since the last three years | have been learning languages and have passed courses in French, German and Arabic. | have also learned a little Spanish on my own.” Arnold Mobbs ‘33 wrote from Geneva, Switzerland, “Going to retire next week after forty-one years of active ministry. | studied one year at Union Theological Seminary, New York near International House in 1932-33. | enjoyed joining your house, and a few days ago met old friends from that time, Harold and Betty Snyder-Linton in Washington. ‘| have been ten years pastor in France during the war, then in a city parish in Geneva until 1950 and from this time in Celiguy near Geneva, ‘the parish of the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey. From the United States Nina .Rayevsky Lief ‘24 wrote recently from Wilton, Connecticut. She was a member when meetings were held in Earle Hall and remembers Organizing the first folk art exhibit in the new House. Dr. Lief’s husband, Victor F. Lief died earlier this year. Dr. Lief is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at New York Medical College and the Director of the Early Childhood Development Center. She now commutes from Wilton to her office and work in New York City and wonders if any of the members of the early 1920's are in the vicinity. Frances Willard von bilingual education,
Languages,
Maltitz '37 wrote a book on Living and Learning in Two
Bilingual/Bicultural
Education
in the
United States. The book was published by McGrawHill last winter. Rita Chow ‘61 is Deputy Chief Nurse Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service and Deputy Director of the Office of Nursing Home Affairs in Rockville, Maryland. She was recently elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. This year Springer Publishing Company published her most recent book, Cardiosurgical Nursing Care. George W. Simmons '51 wrote, saying, ‘| am Professor of History and Chairman of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Detroit in Detroit, Michigan. The author of books and articles on Russian and Soviet History | am still active in the field in which | was training at Colum-
bia’s Russian Institute when | stayed at the International House and am still in touch with friends | made at |.H. | have studied in the Soviet Union and hope soon to be able to return again to that country. From Holland, Michigan Wilson Strand '55 wrote, “It may interest you to know that Zavallis Press of Nicosia (Cyprus) last year published my Voices of Stone: A History of Ancient Cyprus. \t is the first ancient history of that country to incorporate the many archeological discoveries since 1960. “This note is rushed because | returned but two days ago from research at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, where | did further research on ancient Cyprus. | leave later today, as a recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, to participate in a post-graduate seminar beginning tomorrow on ‘The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires: Political and Cultural History,’ during which time | will stay near the Oriental Institute, where the six-week seminar is held, at International House at the University of Chicago. In the fall, | will return to teaching ancient history at Hope College.” Mr. and Mrs, A.T. Sullivan ‘61 sent this news from the University of Michigan, ‘‘Tony is almost finished his Ph.D. in French Colonial History. He iscurrently Program Officer and Assistant Secretary of Earhart Foundation in Ann Arbor. We often see Ali Mazrui ‘60, his wife, Molly, and their three boys. He is Professor of Political Science here.”’
Mark P. Yolles ‘56 is living outside of Albany, and and is Guidance Chairman of the Scotia-Glenville Schools in Scotia, New York. Aagot
Tharaldsen
featured
‘25 was
in a group show which
the work of twelve women
artists this fall.
The show was at the Harrison Public Library in New York. Miss Tharaldsen is a retired music teacher and organist and choir director now living
in Rye, New York. Ned McCabe ‘66 graduated from Fordham with a Masters Degree in Social Work last spring. ‘‘| ama part-time therapist and continue to work for the Youth Counsel Bureau.” Helene Fuller ‘60 wrote from Oxford, Ohio saying that her “‘latest effort is publishing a book of plays written by African students’’ which will be used in American English classes and study abroad programs. The plays were written by Miss Fuller's students at Miami University. Antonio Mullet ‘63, Council Member from Puerto Rico, is a former state supervisor of schools in Puerto Rico and past president of the San Juan Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. He recently completed a three year radio and television campaign for his
philosophy
of
personality, an
international
educa-
tional theory which he is advocating as part of a proposed reform of the Puerto Rican school system. Mr. Mullet is a member of the Puerto Rican Senate. From
South
Carolina, Manuel
Keepler ‘66 sent the
news that he is Chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at South Carolina State College and that Dannie Keepler is program manager of the Head Start Supplementary Training Program there. Adriane (age eight) who was born while the Keeplers were at |. House is doing well. Paul E. Baker '25 wrote from Dallas, Texas saying that he is enjoying, in retrospect, the years he spent at |. House in association ‘‘with the world family of students”.
House. Those final decisions were very difficult to make, but | have reaped the benefits of the total experience many times over. (Judy McDonnell is a teacher from Brisbane, Australia. This year she won a scholarship from the Australian government to study early childhood education at any school in any city in the world. When she goes back to Brisbane, she will be teaching other teachers the techniques she learned this year. — Editor) My home country lies far ‘‘down under’, and life in International House has enabled me to meet with people from cultures and traditions a little different from my own and to share in crosscultural, international friendships and discussions. New York is a unique city that has to be explored to be appreciated. With friends from International House, | have enjoyed the museums, the theater, the
An Overview from Down
Under
by Judy McDonnell ‘75
mee ad
VW
As | reflect on my year’s experience as a graduate student at International House, many thoughts whirl around in my head. ‘Terrific’, ‘terrifying’, “Unbelievable” and ‘‘overwhelming’’ were just a few of my immediate reactions to my first few days in New York City. But as | quickly made friendships with fellow students, International House became for me, a home away from home. It has been an exciting and stimulating year. In many instances, it was difficult to comprehend that | was really experiencing life in such a dynamic environment
with
students from so many different
countries of the world. It has been an enriching experience both socially and educationally. | am pleased that | chose to study at Bank Street College of Education, New York and live at International
music,
the
restaurants
and
the
diversity
and
excitement of New York City. In the House | have become involved in student activities, and | have been fortunate to enjoy trips and weekend visits away from the city, out into the countryside. These group activities have been real sharing experiences in which closer friendships have been developed and extended. | realize that one needs to give a little of oneself in order to receive a little in return. A sharing experience is a two-way process. | must admit that life in the House has had its frustrating and anxious moments, but the dynamics and the vitality of the day to day encounters have certainly overshadowed these fleeting feelings. As my thoughts are directed towards my departure and return to my country, Australia, | have a feeling of sadness, but | know the friendships that | have established with fellow students will be long and lasting. We have come to share the diversity of our cultures, traditions, customs and beliefs. As individuals we have come to trust one another and feel secure in our relationships. | personally feel that it is these basic human qualities that have brought us so much closer together. We all need to strive if the International House motto, “That Brotherhood May Prevail’’, is to be realized. The personal friendships, contacts and communications which we shared will, | am sure, mean a lot to
our various countries and peoples and humanity in general. | am sure that my experiences here at International House will mean even more to me personally upon my return home. It is as one builds upon experience that growth develops. | have been challenged to look more closely at many of my previously firmly held values. Now, as | reflect on these insights, | know that | will be able to see my country in better perspective on the world scene. Life at International House has been a rich experience.
Va Aurel Balint ‘73 sent in the following poem, which he translated from the Romanian. It is by Mihail Eminescu (1850-1889), whom Mr. Balint considers the greatest Romanian poet. Up to the Star
Help Students Fight Inflation The Clothing Bank is an |. House institution which some of you know and some of you don't, but which is well worth experiencing. Organized by alumni to meet the needs of students who arrive unprepared
Up to the star which has risen,
climate,
the
Clothing
There is such a long way
students
with
everything
That the light needed
nightgowns. Alumni clean, used clothing
Thousands of years to reach us.
Bank
for the cold
now
from
top
supplies hats to
and friends donate (coats, suits, jackets,
sweaters, pants, shirts, blouses, ties, hats, shoes, boots, robes, gowns, pajamas, scarves,
Maybe it extinguished on his way
gloves) as well as books, luggage, handbags, jewelry and plants.
In the blue distances long ago,
The
But his ray is shining
students
buy
at
phenomenally
low
prices ($1 for a pair of pants), and the proceeds go into the Scholarship Fund. This
Only now.
year
The light of the dead star
House
Moves slowly on the sky. It existed sometime when seen;
it couldn't be
We see it now, but it doesn’t exist.
the
New
York
Alumni
presented
the
with over $800 from the Clothing
Bank. If you have clothing to donate, drop it off or send it to Pauline Herman at International House. If you want a receipt for tax purposes, enclose a note stating the value of your gift.
So, when our deep affection Disappeared in the deep night,
Correction
The light of our dead love
The pictures of the Candlelight Dinner in New York City which were included in the last issue
Still followed us.
were taken by Trina Lipton ’72,
International House is a non-profit residence and program center for graduate students from all nations. Its program, supported by contributions from individuals, corporations
and foundations, seeks to achieve three basic goals: to promote friendship and mutual respect among young people of all countries
and
cultures;
to
provide
oppor-
tunities for students to experience American life through trips, home visits and active participation in the community; to help students
reach
fessional
goals.
their
educational
and
pro-
Vol. Il No. 2 A letter for former members of International House, 500 Riverside Drive, N.Y.10027 November, 1975 Margy Henkels, rod