International House Newsletter for Alumni and Friends
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LoS 74 Newsletter « Fall 2006
World Council to Meet ©
lans are being finalized for the 24th meeting of International House’s World Council of Alumni, which will take place in New Delhi, India, from March 20th to the 25th
next year.
Anil Raj and Dorcas Sugirtharaj are two of the over 1,000 residents originally from India that the House has welcomed since its founding.
To help maintain the House’s relationship with India and strengthen its alumni network there, The World Council of Alumni will host its 24th meeting in New Delhi in March,
in India
Formal sessions will be combined with networking events with local alumni and educators, as well as excursions to the Taj Mahal and other famous attractions. The meeting will feature sessions that examine South Asia’s history, religion and culture, and the integration of economics and the environment in the region, India’s rising economic power on the global stage, its tertiary educational system, and a panel of Indian alumni reflecting on their I. House experiences. As a result of the meeting, International House plans to establish a strong alumni network in India in the form of an alumni chapter that will not only assist the House in its mission, but also provide support for its members as they progress in their professions and rise to leadership positions in India. Another goal of the conference is to maintain International House’s ties with the Indian educational community. I. House is proud to have welcomed over 1,000 Indian students since its founding in 1924 and wants to continue this mutually beneficial relationship. The House also expects to increase representation from other areas of South Asia.
This is the second time a Council meeting has been held in India; the last meeting there
took place in 1984. All International House alumni (not just
those serving on the World Council) are invited to participate in the meeting. Activities will include a city tour of New Delhi, a visit to the Agra Fort and Taj Mahal, a special tour of the Radico Welfare Center, a school run in the slum area of New Delhi for educating children and women, and numerous alumni dinners and receptions including one hosted by the US Ambassador David Mulford. Alumni living in India will soon receive information about these gatherings. World Council participants will travel to the Neemrana Fort Palace, a palace dating back to the 15th Century for council business meetings. Post-conference trips to Corbett National Park and the Golden Triangle area will also be offered. For more information about the conference and to register, please contact Nicole Davidson at ndavidson@ihouse-nyc.org or 212-316-8425 or visit us on-line at www.ihouse-nyc.org.
David Rockefeller Pledges $5 Million to I. House
INSIDE » Nobel Laureate
Speaks p.3
onorary Trustee David Rockefeller has © pledged $5 million over five years to International House in support of programs and scholarships to benefit I. House residents in the years to come. “I am pleased to provide this support to International House, which has been a part of my life since I was a young boy,” said Mr. Rockefeller. Nine years old when International House
from 1969 until 1981. During his career with Chase, he gained a worldwide reputation as a leading banker and spokesman for the business community. He spearheaded the bank’s expansion both internationally and throughout the metropolitan New York area and helped the bank play a significant role as a corporate citizen. He is Honorary Chairman of the Americas Society, the Council on Foreign Relations and
opened its doors in 1924, David Rockefeller
the Trilateral Commission, and Chairman
recently recalled his father’s role in the House’s creation, and its inspiration. “My father and his friend Cleveland Dodge assisted Harry Edmonds in realizing his dream of a home for international and American graduate students at a critical time,” he noted. “They saw the need for a new brand of leaders with a global vision, and student exchange as one way
Emeritus of the Rockefeller University and the Museum of Modern Art. He has been involved in numerous other business, cultural and
to achieve that objective.” “I. House continues to play an important role in promoting peace and understanding » Late 1990s Alumni
Reunion
p.2
more than 80 years later,” said Mr. Rockefeller.
David Rockefeller’s service to International House spans 66 years, during which time he has served as Trustee, Chairman of the Executive
» UK Alumni Chapter Launched i>
Committee and, since 1965, as an Honorary Trustee. His is the longest service of any family member including his mother, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, his brother John D. Rockefeller III,
his late wife Margaret (Peggy) Rockefeller, his niece Abby M. O’Neill, and great-nephew, current Trustee and alumnus Peter O’ Neill 92.
David Rockefeller with General Colin Powell at the David Rockefeller International Visitor Program in April of 2006.
educational organizations. Mr. Rockefeller was first elected to the
“Like his parents before him, and other family members since, David Rockefeller has thoughtfully guided International House forward in its role as a meaningful, influential force in the lives of countless graduate students and young
International House Board in 1940, succeed-
professionals,” said Donald L. Cuneo, alumnus
C. Marshall, and Ralph Bunche. Elected an
and current President. “This act of personal generosity will have a wonderfully positive impact on our ability to deliver the mission of this great institution for generations to come.” The youngest child of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, David Rockefeller graduated from Harvard University and the University of Chicago (Ph.D., 1940). After service in World War II, he began a career in banking capped by his tenure as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Chase Manhattan Bank
ing his mother. After World War II he served as Chairman of the Executive Committee for a dozen years, and welcomed to International House such figures as Eleanor Roosevelt, George Honorary Trustee in 1965, he has continued to
play an important role in the life of the House and its residents. In 2000, David Rockefeller invited former South African President Nelson Mandela to speak at International House during its 75th Anniversary celebrations as International Visitor. That year, the Board of Trustees named this program the David Rockefeller International Visitor Program in honor of his six decades of distinguished leadership and service.
President's Message nother exciting academic year is well underway at International House. With the successful I. House South renovation project now behind us, I have taken great pleasure in spending extra time getting to know this year’s remarkable resident members. In my interactions with residents throughout the House, I am happily reminded of the many ways in which diversity continues to be a hallmark of their unique experience. Already this semester, 99 countries are represented by the 700-strong resident population, including previously underrepresented nations such as Madagascar, Kuwait and Liechtenstein.
Another statistic that is having a profound effect on the community this year: approximately 480 residents are here for the first time. This is the anticipated result of the smaller-than-average compliment of resident members admitted during last year’s renovations. What these new resident members may lack in terms of familiarity
with our community, they more than make up for in World Newsletter
A newsletter for Alumni and Friends Vol. 42, No. 1
enthusiasm, as the House has been abuzz with activity since Welcome Weeks in early September. Demonstrating their eagerness to get involved in
their new home and to have an impact, first year resi-
A publication of
dents are serving in leadership positions on the Residents’
International House
Council, as Equipment Technicians for the myriad events
Office of Development & Alumni Relations 500 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10027-3916
Staff JOHN A. WELLS
Director of Development e& Alumni Relations
ANDRE ALLAIRE Assistant Director of Development for
Individual Giving
NICOLE DAVIDSON Assistant Director of Development for Alumni Relations CATHY GALON
Database Manager LIUBOV GRECHEN Development Associate for Corporations
held throughout the House and are participating with
great zeal in such programs as Resident Roundtables, Community Weekends, Salon Night, Fall Fiesta, Sunday Supper, Cultural Hours, the International Leaders and Women’s International Leadership programs and much more. Combined with the high participation levels of second and third year residents, the House is as vibrant and creative as ever.
The Admissions Committee and Admissions Office staff have worked hard to select such a well-rounded, highly qualified group of residents from an applicant pool that numbered over 1,350. That’s a 20 percent increase over the number of applications received for
prospective residents from across the globe. Once they’re here, we provide an engaging experience for them while at the House and offer significant scholarship aid to facilitate their full participation in the community. The Programs & Resident Life Office has organized a broad array of cultural and educational programming designed to encourage interaction and understanding among residents. You will read more about this fall’s incarnations of some of the House’s oldest traditions, such as the Sunday Supper, later in this issue of the World Newsletter, as well as about some of the speaker programs we have arranged. All of these activities have drawn lively participation from residents, and I am
very much looking forward to upcoming events such as this spring’s All Nations Celebration and the David
Rockefeller International Visitor, former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, in April. With such an engaged
and dynamic houseful of residents, they are all sure to be terrific experiences. I recently marked my 13th anniversary as President
of I. House, although as an alumnus myself (1966-1969), my relationship with this great institution dates back
40 years. Much has changed over the decades, both here at the House and globally, but our mission of fostering cross-cultural understanding among tomorrow’s world leaders has remained constant. The International House experience is as vital and
transformative today as it was 82 years ago when our doors at 500 Riverside Drive first opened. Since that day, this community has informed and inspired tens of thousands of individuals from countries across six continents. Everything we do here today is in support of this important mission and the tradition of brother-
hood on which the House was founded. It is no small task, but the core tenets of the I. House experience—
diversity, leadership, international community and understanding—can change the world. Thank you for your efforts to ensure that we succeed.
the 2005—2006 academic year and a strong indication that we are succeeding in our efforts to actively recruit
Dina
k hiner
CYNTHIA KapPiL THEK Development Associate for Foundations NICOLE UNA Development Assistant Photographers MICHAEL DAMES JED MICKA KATHERINE SCHLOZNIKOVA SHER STONEMAN
Visit our Web Site http://www. ihouse-nyc.org To Reach Us Development & Alumni Relations Office (212) 316-8423 Fax (212) 316-8416
e-mail: alumni@ihouse-nyc.org Programs Office (212) 316-8438 Fax: (212) 316-7181
e-mail: programs@ihouse-nyc.org
LATE 1990s ALUMNI RETURN TO !. HOUSE “When is our next reunion?” was the question most often overheard through the laughter and conversation at New York City Calling... the 1995-2000 Global Alumni Reunion held June 2—4 at International House. Over forty-five alumni from Georgia,
Germany, The Netherlands and Arizona, Texas, Washington DC, Boston and the New York area in the United States returned to International House for a weekend full of activities. President Don Cuneo welcomed the alumni home during an opening reception and informed them about several of the recent changes at I. House including the I. House renovations. His remarks were brief, allowing alumni to catch up with old friends or meet others who lived at the House at their time. After the reception, alumni continued the good times at a Pub Party.
———
Having heard about the many changes to International House, alumni were treated to tours of I. House by current resident members on Saturday. Saturday night featured a special candlelight ceremony, usually performed at the final Sunday Supper of the Academic Year, which co-chairs Martin Lacher 96 and Jaap Biemens 96 led by reciting the I. House pledge. After good food and conversation, alumni retreated to the Pub where they were wowed by the vocal stylings of Bryan Anthony ’95, ’00. Anthony moved the crowd with his smooth renditions of classics such as “At Last” and “I Love Paris.” The weekend concluded with a champagne brunch on Sunday where alumni enjoyed one last meal together before parting ways and promising to keep in touch,
Admissions Office (212) 316-8436 Fax: (212) 316-1827
e-mail: admissions@ihouse-nyc.org Public Room Rentals (212) 316-8465 Guest Suite Rentals (212) 316-8436 As a nonprofit organization, a copy of our most recent
annual financial report is available from the Department of State Office of Charities Registration, Albany, NY 12231 or from the President’s Office International House 500 Riverside Drive New York, NY
2
10027-3916
World
Newsletter
Smita Paul ’98, Richard Jardine ’96, Jay Kadiyala ’95, Barbara Gugluizza '96.
Reunion Co-Chairs Jaap Biemans ’96 and Martin Lacher 96 with Kevin Lewis ’96.
STIGLITZ DISCUSSES MAKING WORK AS MCCLOY VISITOR “Globalization can be made to work.” That was the message of Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate and professor of economics at Columbia University, addressing over 200 International House residents, staff, Trustees and World Council of Alumni members at the October 26 John J McCloy Visitor Program at International House.
Stiglitz began by examining how and why he feels globalization has been unsuccessful, saying that instead of decreasing the economic inequality between developed and developing countries, globalization has increased this disparity both between countries and within them. Trade agreements, such as NAFTA, have failed because tariffs and subsidies, particularly in agriculture, have remained. Noting China and India’s successful management of globalization, Stiglitz argued that access to and use of technology is key for a country to take advantage of globalization. Poor countries, however, do not have the resources or education to do so and are therefore left behind. Debt, a problem facing nearly every country, is also a barrier to success, said Stiglitz.
Debt forgiveness is good, he believes, but as it does not address the underlying problem, the debt cycle will continue. Problems have also arisen because “economic globalization has outpaced political globalization,” Stiglitz remarked. Countries, particularly the United States, continue to protect national interests in the global arena instead of focusing on what is fair and most efficient. The end of the Cold War and the American practice of attempting to “to win the hearts and minds” of other countries has made this phenomenon worse, he noted.
GLOBALIZATION
Focusing on intellectual property as a key inhibitor to the success of globalization, Stiglitz explained his view that protecting intellectual property restricts the use of knowledge, which in turn restricts economic efficiency. Patents are thought to spur innovation, but instead create monopolies, which prevents growth, he argued. Stiglitz criticized the intellectual property incentive system, that drives which pharmaceutical drugs are made. He called for a system under which big prizes are given to companies that make important drugs, like those to fight malaria and other diseases ravaging poor countries, and smaller ones for the “me too” drugs that rich countries demand. Stiglitz remains optimistic, noting that globalization is constantly changing and the barriers to its success diminishing. For example, he said, the World Trade Organization has recently ruled that US cotton subsidies are WTO illegal. The evidence of global warming is increasing and will soon force countries to react and lastly the Dollar-based global reserve system is beginning to fray. The question, Stiglitz concluded, is whether “we will respond to the crisis with a short term solution or address the underlying problems in a systemic way.” Stiglitz’s address was preceded by a reception hosted by the Board of Trustees honoring the 40th anniversary of the World Council of Alumni, I. House’s umbrella alumni council that first met in Lake Como, Italy in 1966.
The McCloy Visitor Program, established in 1988 in honor of former I. House Chairman John J. McCloy, features individuals who have
distinguished themselves in aspects of foreign and economic policy.
BOLLINGER CITES ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES AS GLOBALIZATION SERIES IS LAUNCHED cy
olumbia University President Lee C. Bollinger kicked off International House’s Globalization Series on October 3rd by stating that the phenomenon of globalization is one of the great unexamined issues of our time. “Universities have not intellectually caught up, in research or teaching, with the massive and profound changes that are underway in the world,” said Bollinger. “We have a very significant amount of work to do to bring ourselves into alignment with these changes.” Bollinger said that globalization, driven by the markets, business, communication and travel, is transforming the lives of all individuals,
but most institutions of higher learning do not focus on it as they should. Columbia, he said, is one of the most committed academic
institutions to addressing these new challenges.
Columbia President Lee Bollinger speaks with residents following his address.
Stating that knowledge of specific countries and regions has significantly lost ground over the years, Bollinger called for a major shift in university focus. While China is undergoing the largest human migration from rural to metropolitan areas in human history, he said, we have relatively little expertise devoted to this phenomenon. “Interests change,” said Bollinger. “I’m not offering a criticism of these paradigms of intellectual life, but I will say that they have produced a lack of alignment between the world as we now see it
occurring and our intellectual focus and attentions.” To enhance the university’s engagement with the issues of globalization, Bollinger noted Columbia’s creation of the Earth Institute and the Columbia Committee on Global Thought, led respectively by world-renowned economists Jeffrey Sachs and Joseph Stiglitz. Bollinger opined that today’s students should graduate from
leading universities with a knowledge of international trade, international institutions, histories of foreign societies in a global sense, and an awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. To be a global university in terms of relationships with and presence in foreign countries, Bollinger suggested three possible scenarios: continue to build and expand international connections; intimately cultivate a handful of these connections, offering joint-
degree programs; or build campuses in other countries. While Columbia is pursuing the first two options, it chooses to remain an American institution based in New York, with an international perspective shared by its many global citizens. Bollinger expressed confidence in the university’s ability to fully align itself
with today’s increasingly globalized world. I. House Resident Rim Nour of Tunisia, Joseph Stiglitz, Jose Medina of Spain, and President Don Cuneo before the McCloy Visitor Program on October 26.
The audience in the Dodge Room included residents, staff, alumni, and nine I. House trustees, among them Columbia Vice President for University Development Fred Van Sickle, who introduced Bollinger.
Longtime Donor celebrates 75th Anniversary The F.M. Kirby Foundation, a generous supporter of
International House since 1974, is celebrating 75 years of distinguished service in the philanthropic field. Based in Morristown, NJ, the RM. Kirby Foundation has been an unswerving partner in International House’s
efforts to promote transnational understanding for more than three decades. Through unrestricted gifts, the Foundation has played a central role in attracting talented young leaders to I. House through outreach scholarships as well as in providing exceptional cultural programming and effective leadership training. In June, the Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to the House by renewing its annual gift of $18,000,
thereby joining the Chairman’s Society of distinguished supporters who sustain International House’s ongoing
efforts in providing an intensive educational experience to a diverse group of resident members.
“In today’s increasingly interdependent world, the promotion of constructive human interactions and the development of culturally-astute leaders is more important than ever,” said S. Dillard Kirby, Executive Director of the Kirby Foundation. “We are delighted to support International House’s efforts towards building bridges across cultures and in preparing future global leaders.” The late Fred M. Kirby, a co-founder of the E.W. Woolworth Company established the Kirby Foundation in 1931. Each year, the Foundation recognizes a limited number of especially deserving health, educational, cultural, religious and other charitable organizations whose programs and locations are or have been of interest to the Kirby Family, or are reflective of important, contemporary problems of society. In 2005, the Foundation donated approximately $22.4 million to 350 organizations primarily located in
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The E.M. Kirby Foundation’s giving reflects the Foundation’s core philosophy that “private philanthropy, at its best, encourages self-reliance and diminishes the government's role.” The Foundation believes that dedicated grantor-grantee partnerships “tend to ennoble and enrich” individual lives and by extension, our society. “It is always a source of inspiration when a major foundation recognizes the value of the unique services we offer to emerging leaders from all over the world, “I. House President Don Cuneo said. “Our work in helping them meet the challenges of the 21st century would not be possible without steadfast supporters such as the EM. Kirby Foundation.” President Cuneo added, “we are deeply grateful for the Foundation’s continued generosity and look forward to an enduring partnership to advance our mutual goals.”
Wor Id Newsletter
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the Decades 1940s Mary Judy and Richard Stark ’42 have been married since 1942 and are still active at 86 and 90, respectively.
Mary Judy continues to play in National Tennis Tournaments and Richard is a retired actor.
Francoise Lagoutte ’67 now provides “home stays” for visiting students in Bordeaux, France. He was inspired by his experience in 1967, when he benefited from such stays in the United States. Jochen May ’67 retired from his job as Municipality
Kung Wang ’42 is retired
Officer with the Krefeld
from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, where he was the consultant to the president of Pennzoil and stationed in Beijing. He has published two books about ChineseAmerican history.
Municipality in October, 2006.
Augusta Edwards °46 volunteers in Newport News Public
Schools as a reading tutor and storyteller. Norma Branson ’49 has retired as a social worker.
Aldo Busot ’49 recently visited Lebanon, where he tried to contact former I. House resi-
Meriemil Rodriguez 67 is an editor for El Nuevo Dia in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Yogesh Tyagi ’67 is a professor of International Law at Jawaharlal Nehru University
and editor of the Indian Journal of International Law. His primary research interest is increasing cooperation between India and Pakistan on issues of human rights.
he would like to hear from
Edward Gingold 68 is managing the Combined Federal Campaign for the Federal Energy Regulatory
those living there so they
Commission this year, hop-
dents. Before his next trip,
can arrange to meet.
ing to raise nearly $285,000.
Jonathan Kuhn ’85 curated
Mahendra Singh ’74 recently retired as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of
an exhibit called, “Splash! A 70th Anniversary Celebration
Diana Bickley ’92 still enjoys teaching and music making, especially with choirs. As she
Delhi. He visited I. House
of New York City’s W.P.A.
approaches retirement, she is
with his family this summer.
Pools”, in which photographs chronicled the history of 11 NYC pools constructed in the aftermath of the Great Depression.
planning to do some traveling and hopes to catch up with some old friends. She sends her greetings to all!
Herman Curiel ’76 is the lead author of Outreach and Care Approaches to
HIV/AIDS Along the US/ Mexico Border published by Haworth Press.
his MBA
from Columbia
Marguerite Marty 99 has started her own business
doing translations in French, English and Spanish after the birth of her daughter and has offered to provide these services at a discounted rate to I. House alumni and residents. Contact her at marty_marguerite@yahoo.com
for more information.
1980s
Homeland Security, which she says was an exciting place to work during the recent presidential elections.
to
Business School in 2006.
Joel Cahen ’79 wants to extend a welcome to all alumni on their next visit to Amsterdam: gerritkey@jhm.nl.
the Mexican Ministry of
is the youngest woman
ever receive the Booker Prize, Britain’s best-known literary award, Milos Andjelic 99 received
David Cooper ’78 is a poet who has translated the poetry of Rachel Eshed’s Little Promises from Hebrew. Promises won the AKUM award in Israel.
Ruth Ornelas ’80 is an Advisor to the Minister in
Kiran Desai 98 won the 2006 Man Booker Prize for The Inheritance of Loss, a novel that examines identity, displacement and the indissoluble bonds of family. She
I. House alumni were among those celebrating the marriage of
Joanna Lee ’88 to Ken Smith at a gathering in the Guizhou province of southern China in late August/early September. Back row, |-r: Martin Garguilo ’87, bride Joanna Lee, Trudy Chan ’04, and husband Frank Oteri, John Wells. Front row: Sabine Kreuzer Garguilo, World Council Member Arlene Barliec ’84, ’87, groom Ken Smith. Celebrating but not pictured: Alex Beels ’97 and Daniel Ng, former non-resident member,
Teja Ranade 99 is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), Boaz Weinstein ’99 and his wife are the proud parents of Dov Simon Weinstein Belu,
born on January 28, 2006. Boaz is an associate with the
law firm of Cleary Gottleib Lavanya Sankaran ’92
Old Acquaintances Ne’re Forgot by Adrian Looney ’92 Bhagwan “Sitee” Sitlani arrived at International House from India to commence his studies in business and economics at Columbia University in 1950. Marjorie Stamm left her Texas hometown for New York in 1951. After completing a degree
from India. She visited the International House website and obtained his address from the on-line directory. She wrote him a long letter recounting the happenings of her life since 1951 and waited for a response.
in Spanish at the University of Illinois, she enrolled in business
Upon receiving the letter on a warm Mumbai morning,
Spanish, conversational French, typing, and shorthand courses at Columbia University and moved into International House. The first residents Marjorie met were Sitee Sitlani and his friend Paul Huygelin from Belgium. Despite their very different backgrounds, Marjorie and Sitee developed a close friendship in the one semester they shared at I. House. But through the years and life changes such as Marjorie’s career as an English teacher at Southern Methodist University and later as an analyst for the US Navy’s Submarine-launch Ballistic Missile program, and Sitee’s return to India and successful career in management at one of the largest Indian oil companies, they lost touch. Last spring, Marjorie, who reminisces often about her time at the House—what she calls the most important of her life—wondered what had become of her old friend Sitee
Sitee smiled as he realized that it was his old friend Marjorie Stamm, now Rosenfeld, in Carlsbad, California. Shortly thereafter, the two spoke by phone and reminisced about their times at the House and their friend Paul Huygelin, who unfortunately has been lost to both of them. Much had changed over the last 50 years, but the warmth of their friendship had withstood the test of time. They plan to see each other in person next year when Sitee will travel to the United States to visit his children and son-in-law from Ireland, who is also an I. House alumnus To reconnect with your lost friends, visit www. ihousenyc.org/alumni/stay_in_touch to register and search the on-line directory.
1950s
1970s
Christopher Avery ’82 is
David MacKenzie ’53 has written two biographies of
Dominique Frachon’71 is the Executive Director of Invest in France Agency for the Benelux Countries.
the director of the non-profit Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, based in the UK, USA and Hong Kong. The center tracks the social and environmental
leading 19th Century diplomats in Serbia, Jovan Ristic
and Jovan Marinoric, which will soon be published in the U.S. by East European
Monographs of Columbia University.
1960s Matitiahu Braun 65 retired from the New York Philharmonic this summer and has moved to the Orlando area, where he is enjoying
Silvia Hartman ’71 retired from the Pan American Health Organization as a Biostatistician/Epidemiologist, and has returned to Argentina. Currently she is working with the Bioethics Committee of the Argentinean Society for Clinical Research and with the UN Retired Staff Association.
1990s
Quarterly Health Beat, a daily
Elizabeth Katkin ’91 was a
report on healthcare policy and politics.
key advisor in establishing the Moscow School of Management, the first real business school in Russia. The School broke ground
World
newsietter
Victorien Assi 94 has published his first novel, The Crossroads.
with Besjakov, on July 28, 2006. She joins her older sister Amanda Rebekka, who was born November 7, 2005.
Mary Carey 84 is an associ-
is also the president of the Ranjan Sen ’84 is Chief of the Laboratory of Cellular and
Molecular Biology at the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
Mitra Malek ’01 has held positions at the Sarasota
Herald-Tribune and Tampa Heico Wesselius ’97 was recently appointed to the Board of the Anne Frank Center, USA.
Zaiga Strautmane welcomed their daughter Adina Henny, pictured
ate editor of Congressional
in the world and written 10 traveling books, which are best sellers in Turkey.
recently attended the I. House 1995-2000 Alumni Reunion and had a blast! She would love to hear from friends who didn’t make it.
School of Social Work. She
Bay Business Journal. Now she is a Growth Reporter for the Palm Beach Post
in Florida.
Gregor Vilkner 02 and
Robert Gottschall 67 retired in November 2005
has visited over 180 countries
(www.c6capital.com), a company that does carbon trading in Russia and Ukraine.
They have been living in
get in touch with I. House residents from 1970-71 in those regions.
Turkish Travelers’ Club, and
John O’Brien ’93 has founded C6 Capital
Eukaris and Jeyabalan Subbiah ’83 met at I. House in 1982 and married in 1984. Venezuela since 1985, where Eukaris works as a school
she began a doctoral program at Columbia University
is scheduled to make her debut at the Grand Théatre de Geneve as Pamina ina new production of Mozart’s “Die Zauberfléte”.
communities.
and his wife, Yukiko Tani, live in Bethesda, MD and are planning a mountain trek in Bhutan in October.
in southern California.
the Resident Social Worker since August 2001. This fall,
Jennifer O'Loughlin 02
and Chile and would like to
Research program at the US Department of Energy. Bob
works as a school librarian
impacts of 3000 companies worldwide.
teaching and performing.
Orhan Kural ’73, a lecturer at Istanbul Technical University,
Margaret Sollitto 93
2000s Astraea Augsberger ’00 has been working at I. House as
performed his multi-media work, Bahian Counterpoint as part of the NWEAMO “Pulse: The Influence of Africa” Festival in New York City on October 7th.
psychologist in underserved
with the Materials Sciences
Wall Street Journal.
Gregory Beyer 02
She travels quite a bit to Europe
after over 28 years of work
4
from the 1990s.
published her first book The Red Carpet, in April 2006. Her work has also appeared in the Atlantic Monthly and The
and a member of the New York Area Alumni Council Steering Committee.
in September at a ceremony attended by President Vladimir Putin.
Hansen Alexander ’98 has written his first novel From
West Point to Watergate, published by Publish American.
Nicole Pantos Vilkner ’03 announced the birth of their
son, Darcy Maurice Vilkner, who was born on Thursday, October 19th at 2:43pm,
weighing in at 7.5 pounds and 20 inches. Giorgi Meladze ’03 became a father to daughter Tekle in August.
Ivna Giauque ’03 was married to Jeffrey Giauque on June 5, 2004 in Croatia. For the last two years they have been working at the U.S. Embassy in Managua, Nicaragua, where Jeffrey was with the U.S. State Department and Ivna with U.S. Department of Justice implementing an
anti-corruption program. They moved to the Washington, DC
area this summer. David Hein ’03 released his new album, NORTH OF
Katia Tiutiunnik ’04 had several of her solo and chamber compositions performed in a concert in June as part of the Saint Petersburg International
Music Festival “Petergoff Assemblies”. Dinuk Wijeratne ’04 was recently appointed music director of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra. He is entering his second season as resident conductor of Symphony Nova
In Memoriam Margaret Simmons *40
Shao Meng Su Chen ’54
Mimi Gowan ’59
Radnor, PA
New York, NY
Richmond, VA
Banks I. Paul 52 Duncanville, TX
Peter Lindsay ’55 London, United Kingdom
Wilson Batista ’98 New York, NY
Life Trustee Phyllis Hirschfeld Dies; Board Member Since 1961 Phyllis Hirschfeld died September 29, 2006 in New York City following a recent illness, after more than 45 years of service on the International House Board of Trustees.
Scotia.
Widely admired for her beauty, intellect, and charm, Mrs. Hirschfeld was elected
NOWHERE on October 18.
as a Trustee in 1961 and as a Life Trustee in 1976. She served on the Development, Membership and Scholarship Committees, and chaired fund-raising events that included the “Promises, Promises” theater benefit in 1969. A native of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Hirschfeld attended the University of Wisconsin Phyllis Hirschfeld and graduated from City College of New York. She played trumpet, wrote children’s books, and worked in advertising during the early days of television. Her interest in International House began in the late 1950s, when on a trip to Yugoslavia she met a number of students who were coming to New York to pursue their education with no place to live.
He will be touring the United States over the next few months.
[By
For a list of dates in your area, visit www.davidhein.net.
Lin Hong 03 performed as part of The Juilliard School’s Evening of Chamber Music at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in March 2006. Hsiu-Yuan Yang ’03 is a law student at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Mariya Zavorokhina ’03 is the chief librarian of the Hebrew and Yiddish reading hall in the Oriental Center of the Russian State Library and is improving
her professional skills with advanced librarian courses.
Mrs. Hirschfeld and her husband Leonard, a longtime Manhattan periodontist, had three sons, Emily Nicklett ’05 and Andres Rengifo ’05 were married on August 31, 2005. Emily is pursu-
the youngest of whom carried on the family tradition by joining the International House Board. Thomas P. Hirschfeld, who is chairman of the Audit Committee, has served as a Trustee since 1993.
ing her Ph.D. in Health Services at the University of Michigan. Several I. House friends were on hand to celebrate the occasion with them.
HAVING A SPECIAL EVENT? or Wale), Ke LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT Mot
Shahnaz Habib 705 authored an essay, “Backlash”, that appears in a collection: Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers, published by Random House.
Robert Kuszinger ’05 and his wife welcomed a daughter, Lili Kuszinger, in September.
Kiondra Sampey-Sagna ’06 assumed the position of
Consider holding your Special Event at International House Rooms for 10 to 500 people for the following: Wedding Receptions ¢ Office Retreats * Conferences Corporate Events & Meetings * Catering Available/Guest Rooms & Suites For more information about Special Events contact:
Phyllis Burnet, Resident & Auxiliary Services Phone: 212-316-8465 ¢ Fax: 212-316-7182 * Email: pburnett@ihouse-nyc.org
International Studies Academic
Nadine Bell ’04 and Michael Unger ’04 were married in June in the Home Room at
International House. The couple is living in Burlington, Vermont
where Nadine is an Assistant Professor in the Rubenstein School for the environment at the University of Vermont and Michael is a Career Counselor at the university’s business school. Eric Erickson 04 received his Masters in Social Work from Columbia in 2005 and now works as a family therapist in
Washington Heights. Zeina Hakim ’04 is living in Geneva, where she teaches French Literature at the University of Geneva. She misses New York and particularly I. House, which she always considers her second home.
Facilitator at a newly opened high school (only 85 students!) in Charlotte, NC. Her most important duty is to ensure
the school’s curriculum and extra-curricular activities
have a meaningful international focus.
*Discounts available to |. House alumni
FRIENDS OF I. HOUSE UK LAUNCHED AT LONDON ALUMNI RECEPTION ®
Joseph Zachary Silayan ’06 is currently writing the
screenplay from a novel he wrote while living at I. House, Orange. Did you like reading about your fellow alumni? Have
you received a promotion, gotten married, had a child or moved? Share your updates with us so we can publish them in Alumni Through the
Decades, We love photos, especially those of alumni getting together. Submit notes and photos as Jpegs to alumni@ ihouse-nyc.org and we will
publish them as space allows.
Ahu Alanya ’06, Shahadat Chowdhury ’06, Johnny Liang ’06, Melinda Agyekum ’05 and Ny Griffith ’05 were among the over one hundred alumni, residents and friends celebrating Herman “HR” Rottenberg’s 90th birthday celebration at a special Ice Cream Social held in his honor on June 29.
ore than 40 alumni joined I. House President Don Cuneo for a cocktail reception to launch
the newest I. House alumni chapter, Friends of
International House, UK on September 26 at The Savoy in London. President Cuneo praised the Trustees of Friends of International House, UK Haroon Hassan ’03,
Elizabeth Katkin ’91 and Nicolas Kahale ’81, for their efforts in establishing the chapter and especially Katkin’s firm, Hogan & Hartson for their pro bono efforts in registering the chapter as a charity. Cuneo also expressed deep gratitude to Lord Sainsbury of Turville ’70 for his generous underwriting of the reception. Haroon Hassan, President of Friends of
International House, UK described how the organization will be a registered charity through which United Kingdom-based alumni can make contributions to the House to support scholarships, programs and facilities and receive a tax-deduction. The chapter, he said, will also hold periodic alumni events and assist the House with its resident recruitment efforts in the UK. He encouraged alumni in attendance to get involved on the steering committee of the organization and many alumni expressed interest in doing so. The United Kingdom is home to nearly 400 I. House alumni, the fifth largest grouping worldwide. Most of these alumni are based in the London
as well as an alumni breakfast and reception earlier that year and a weekend in London in 2002. Alumni who wish to become involved with Friends of I. House, UK should contact Haroon Hassan at haroon_hassan@yahoo.com. Those wish-
ing to make a contribution to the organization may do so by sending a check made out to Friends of International House, United Kingdom to: Elizabeth Katkin Hogan and Hartson Juxon House
100 St Paul’s Churchyard London EC4M 8BU United Kingdom Wire transfers may be sent Barclays Bank Account Number 80345776, Sort Code 200000.
area. Friends of International House, UK was formed
after several years of successful alumni events in London including a President’s Reception in 2004
FIHUK Trustees Nicolas Kahale ’81, Elizabeth Katkin ’91 and Haroon Hassan 03
World
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the north east of the country), as well as North and South
Kivu in the great lakes region, are still faced with serious challenges, occasioned by the presence of foreign armed groups (FAGs) and Hutu rebels (FDLR) from Rwanda, who are believed to have been involved in the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994.”
REUNION BRINGS TOGETHER MCLAINE REGION ALUMNI
| Alumni Group Holds 19th Annual
Gathering in Frankfurt
ith generous funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, International @ House hosted a reunion for alumni from Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States in Budapest, Hungary September 8-10. Alumni from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Poland and Hungary attended. The reunion, the first of its kind, reflected back on participants’ experiences at International House and specifically with the McLaine Program. Both at the
More than 60 alumni and family members from Germany, Belgium, Finland and Italy converged in Frankfurt for the Pan-European Alumni Gathering and annual meeting of Freunde des I. House during a balmy weekend of dinners, meetings and sightseeing September 22-24. The weekend began with a dinner on Friday
opening reception hosted by World Council of Alumni Member Pal Peter Toth ’87
| evening at the Restaurant Opera in the Alten Oper,
and during the formal session on Saturday, alumni reminisced about community weekends, movie nights, ball room dancing, late nights in the pub, decorating the I. House Christmas Tree, All Nations, Fall Fiesta and long intellectual conversations
in the Dining Room.
Klaus Moessle ’85, Kristina Herzog 94 and Clemens Kuechler ’87
Frankfurt’s elaborately restored grand opera house. On Saturday, alumni gathered for the annual meeting of Freunde at the offices of Lazard, courtesy of alumnus Andreas Heubner 86. The meeting included a treasurer’s report, remarks by Freunde founder and World Council Co-Chair Klaus Moessle’85, and an update on I. House activities by President Don Cuneo who was joined by his wife Bonnie and Director of Development & Alumni Relations John Wells. Freunde also approved grants totaling $9,100 for scholarships for four returning and four new I. House residents. That evening, after a tour of the Goethe House museum and old town Frankfurt, the group gathered at the home of Klaus and Irina Moessle for dinner. During cocktails, businessman Igor Reichlin, Head of the Moscow Office of CNC Communications, spoke about the current business and political environment in Russia. Pianist Ekaterina Kitaeva performed a program of pieces by Chopin and Rachmaninoff and violinist Sabina Rakcheyeva ’04 spoke movingly of her I. House experience and performed a solo piece of her own composition and another accompanied by Ms. Kitaeva. Don Cuneo expressed his appreciation of everyone for the beautifully planned weekend and most especially for the hospitality of the Moessle family during what everyone agreed was a productive, fun and lively gathering.
WEST-TO EAST: Alumni Host Gatherings from Zurich to Beijing Kasparas Kemeklis 04, Gintare Kemekliene ’04, Philip Apostol 94, Dilyana Giteva ’04, Yury Shentsov ’01 and Indra Odina ’99
On October 13, nineteen residents participated in the New York Area Alumni Council’s annual Walk
on Wall Street, Anthony Spikes ’96, Director in Balazs Denes 04, the keynote speaker at the formal session, who is currently the Executive Director of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, encouraged the alumni to think about how a network in the region could be formed to perpetuate contact among alumni. Alumni discussed ideas for this regional alumni network, suggesting that an annual event, similar to the reunion, held in a different city each time, was a sustainable method for alumni to reconnect. This event could take many forms including focusing on a particular topic of interest. Suggested locations for a future meeting included Dubrovnik in Croatia and Prague in the Czech Republic. The weekend also included a lunch at the Kosuth Ship Museum on the Danube, where alumni enjoyed views of the Buda Hills, dinner in the famous cobble-stone-lined Castle Hill district and a city tour of Budapest via open-air bus. A smaller group visited the historical artist village of Szentendre where they enjoyed shopping for local crafts.
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the Private Equity Placements Group at Citigroup Global Markets, hosted a session on investment banking while trustee Adam Quinton, Managing Director welcomed residents to Merrill Lynch for a luncheon and session featuring keynote remarks by WIL Advisory Council Member Candace Browning, Senior Vice President for Global Research, a visit with Kishor Laud ’95, Instructor since 2000
Director in the Global Equity Linked Products Group, a panel discussion and a tour of the trading floors. The day wrapped up with a session at Banc of America Securities, organized by Sriram Koneru ’98, RMBS/GSF Analytics, with remarks
by Managing Director, Global Markets Trading Technology, Giles Nugent and I. House alum-
nus, Omar White ’98, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives Group, Global Liquid Products.
Hr Ss —_— Ree §+§ 0
The first round of elections did not produce an outright winner and a run-off election is planned for October 30. The announcement of the July 30 results touched off violent clashes in Kinshasa and polarized the country into two zones. Yet, the population, Amalu believes, is excited and is looking forward to “working assiduously to build on the significant gains made so far in the transition and electoral process.” Whatever the second round outcome, the country is focused on “the establishment of as inclusive a Government as possible that would lay the foundation for national reconciliation and broad based efforts towards consolidation of peace in the country.” Numerous challenges, particularly relating to boarder issues and the presence of foreign armed groups, exist even if the second round of elections remains peaceful and a new government is elected. Amalu remains excited and looks forward to being involved as MONUC participates in addressing these challenges by “providing support to the new Government and civil society in strengthening democratic institutions; promoting the rule of Law and basic human rights; building an adequate security environment; strengthening economic management; and establishing and consolidating state authority nationwide.”
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_ presidential and parliamentary elections. _ After years of violence and chaos, the elec_ tions were a welcome and timely step toward _ peace and reconstruction. For World Council of Alumni Austin Amalu Member Austin Amalu 791, this important step inspired great hope and optimism. Amalu, Senior Humanitarian Officer for MONUC, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been involved with MONUGC since 2001. His twenty-year career at the UNDP has also brought him to the United States, Rwanda, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Namibia in a variety of capacities. MONUC was founded in 1999 to facilitate the implementation of the Lusaka Accord, which called for a cease-fire in the “Africa World War’, and is the largest and most expensive mission in the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO). With a military and civilian staff of over 20,000 representing 100 UN member states, MONUC has assisted the DRC in ensuring the cease-fire, furthering peace negotiations and shepherding the transition government. MONUC has helped facilitate voter registration and the referendum to endorse the constitution and is now piloting the electoral process.
Amalu, who lived at International House while pursuing his Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, first became involved with MONUC as a Regional Administrative Officer in charge of its Sector Office in Kisangani, a port city along the Congo River. In this role, he persuaded the Ressemblement Congolais Pour la Democratie, the then rebel group that controlled the area, to reopen the port for movement of goods and services in order to support the suffering population. Later he worked with several international NGOs and UN agencies to provide relief assistance to thousands of Congolese forced to live in forests in the Equator Province during several waves of war and civil unrest that destroyed their villages. In his current role in the Civil Affairs Section, he is assisting MONUC “to pre-position the country for the transition from emergency to rehabilitation, to eventual economic take off” This role is extremely daunting since “most parts of the country, mainly in the Ituri region (in
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Congo (DRC) held its first round of historic
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PROFILE: Finding Light at the End of the Tunnel in the Search for Peace and Stability
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ALUMNI
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Around the World
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Alumni Chapters Around the World spent a week in Europe where
Three Named to I. House
Don Cuneo and
Board
I had the good fortune to attend
At the October 26, 2006 meeting of the
both the annual
Board of Trustees, three new members,
meeting of Freunde des International
Shinichi Goto, Harvey Kipnis and Nicholas Rostow, were elected as Trustees.
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House, eV. in
Shinichi Goto, is the
Frankfurt and the inaugural reception
Senior Vice President and
for Friends of International House U.K.
Chief Coordinating Officer
of Toyota Motor North America’s New York office.
Prior to his current assignment, Goto was Group Vice President of Toyota Motor North America’s Washington, D.C. office with responsibility for government and industry affairs. He began his career with Toyota in 1973 and worked extensively on international legal affairs. Goto graduated from Nagoya University, where he studied law, and subsequently received his Master of Law (L.L.M.) from
the University of Pennsylvania. Harvey Kipnis, a senior partner at OgilvyOne Worldwide, has been a member of the Marketing Committee of the International House Board of Trustees. In this capacity, he has been providing valuable guidance on improving the House’s marketing strategy, particularly in revamping the website. Previously, he worked as a client relationship manager at Bronner, Slosberg, Humphrey (now Digitas), where he also served as
President. At OgilvyOne, he manages Allstate, American Express, Ameritrade, ColumbiaHouse, DHL, and FM Global. Nicholas Rostow is University Counsel and Vice
Chancellor for Legal Affairs at SUNY, where he also serves as a tenured full professor. He is a University Fellow at SUNY’s Levin Graduate Institute of International Relations and Commerce. From 2001-05, he was General Counsel and Senior Policy Adviser to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Previously, he served as Special Assistant for National Security Affairs to Presidents Ronald Reagan and
George H.W. Bush, and Legal Adviser to the National Security Council under National Security Advisers Colin L. Powell and Brent Scowcroft.
Twenty I. House alumni and guests and friends gathered at the Stockergut farm in Kilchberg for the third Swiss alumni meeting on August 27, where they enjoyed a wonderful jazz concert by Piccadilly Six and good Swiss food and drinks. Following the concert, alumni attended a coffee and cake reception at the home of World Council of Alumni Member Karl Safft 88 overlooking Lake Zurich. Pictured here are front row: Karl Safft ’88, Paul Keel ’69, Guest of Renate Franta. Middle row: Vidula Bhoyroo-Safft with daughter Priyanka, Erna Keel, Jacqueline Henn-Overbeck ’91, Christina Bauer-Wegmueller ’73,
Nadia Papayani ’04, Renate Franta ’01. Back row: Bret Kraus ’90 with daughter Karla, Gernot Overbeck, Steffen Deus, Timothy O'Leary ’82, Thomas Menzel.
in London. Two branches of the House’s growing worldwide network of alumni chapters—which also includes Canadian Friends of International House (Les Amis Canadien de la Maison Internationale) and the New York Area Alumni Council
(NYAAC)—these groups provide oppor-
tunities for alumni to remain in close contact with both the House and one another, personally and professionally. I. House benefits greatly from alumni involvement in these chapters as they assist with recruiting highly qualified prospective residents and organizing networking opportunities for new alumni in these regions. The German, Canadian and U.K. chapters are also incorporated as tax-exempt charities in their respective countries, meaning that alumni living or working there can support I. House philanthropically while taking advantage of local tax incentives. Our goal over the next several years is to broaden the network of alumni chapters around the world as both a service to I. House’s global alumni and as a way to
further the philanthropic tradition on which the House was founded. Steps are currently being taken to establish an Australasian group with a focus on Melbourne, Sydney and Aukland, for example. Future chapters may also be developed in India, Brazil, Japan
and France. If you are interested in getting involved with an existing alumni chapter or would like to help establish one in your area, please contact me at jwells@ihouse-nyc.org. As a recent alumnus pointed out to me not long ago, your time living at the House is actually the shortest period of your I. House experience. Becoming involved with the alumni community in your area will enable you to keep the spirit of I. House alive for many years to come.
SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT WORK International House offers a number of scholarship programs to attract and retain the best and brightest young global leaders and assist them with their housing and living expenses. These programs help the House maintain the exceptional geographic, cultural and economic diversity that is central to the mission of the House. Nox Mafu and David McCormack are two of the more than 150 residents receiving financial aid this fall. David McCormack
Nox Mafu
Fort Hare, South Africa For Nox Mafu, her first day at I. House marked the culmination of a long held dream. She had heard about International House through friends while pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Connecticut and frequently found herself surfing the I. House website to find out about the latest news and happenings around the House. Nox was captivated by the sense of community that prevailed at the House and yearned to become a part of its dynamic environment. A Ph.D. student in Public Policy Analysis at Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, Nox is a recipient of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Grant for International House resident members from South Africa. She graduated from the University of Fort Hare, the first Black University in Southern Africa, which counts many famous leaders among its illustrious alumni, including President Nelson Mandela. While a lecturer at the University of Fort Hare, she was selected to come to the United States through a University of Connecticut-African National Congress partnership, which serves to promote human rights worldwide. On receiving the Mellon scholarship, Nox said, “in simple terms, it is unlikely that I would have continued with my studies without the grant. I was just about to leave the United States and quit my studies. Now I have a chance of completing my degree.” In her remaining time at I. House Nox hopes to make an impact at I. House as an ambassador for South Africa and plans to return home upon finishing her studies so she can actively participate in the social and economic development of her country.
House alumni gathered at the Robert College Alumni Club overlooking the magnificent Bosphorus waterway for a bar night in Istanbul, Turkey on September 20th. Organized by longtime World Council of Alumni Member Isabel Horulu ’56 and Cem Soysal 90, the evening included a piano performance by Yapincak Gurerk ’98. Memories and drinks flowed and alumni expressed their homesickness for the House and desire to stay in touch. Pictured here Cem Soysal ’90, Yavuz Tarku ’93, Halit Yerebakan ’03, Resat Akkan 82, ’00, Yauuz Marioglu and guest. Isabel Engel Horulu ’56, Yapincak Gurerk ’98 and Tarik Acikalin ’77. Not pictured: Pinar Imer ’03, Bahar Eris 02, Emre Polat 98.
Chicago, United States David McCormack was born in London
and grew up in Chicago. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Boston College, where he studied Environmental Geology Science with a minor in International Studies (Asian Political Science).
After graduation, David joined the Peace Corps as an Environmental Action Volunteer in Benin, West Africa, where
he initiated and directed a weekly radio program on environmental and health education. He also trained and supervised local peer educators in HIV/AIDS and organized a health club at the local high school. Upon his return to Chicago in 2005, he worked as a consultant for the Chicago Climate Exchange, conducting research on market-based solutions to environmental problems. Currently, he is pursuing a master’s degree in International Affairs with a focus on International Energy Management. “From playing basketball and soccer in the Frohlich Gymnasium to taking language classes to just having meals with people from around the world in the Dining Room, I. House has so far fulfilled all of my expectations for an open, dynamic and diverse community that offers a wealth of educational opportunities to complement my studies at SIPA,” he said.
A recipient of the International House Mitsui USA Scholarship, generously donated by the Mitsui USA Foundation, David hopes to eventually return to Africa to pursue his interest in energy policy.
I. House alumni and friends living in China gathered on September 7th for a cocktail reception hosted by World Council of Alumni Member Arlene Barilec ’84, 87 on the occasion of a visit by Director of Development & Alumni Relations John Wells. Pictured here in the front row: Arlene Barilec and Felicity Zhang. Back row: Maureen Chiu, Frank Oteri, Trudy Chan ’04, John Wells, Mi Zia ’04 and Van Horn Zhang ’05. Maureen was given unofficial status as an Honorary Alumna when it was learned she attended an Alumni Ball in the late 1990s with family friend Joanna Lee ’88.
World
Newsletter
AIUALOD
Earlier this fall I
In e& Around
Welcome
International House
Weeks at |. House
The first few weeks at International House were resplendent with a flurry of activities to welcome new and returning
Cultural Hour Celebrates the US
99 countries and 95 academic and training institutions. To help residents navigate the complexities of the House’s facilities, the Programs & Resident Life Office organized a team of staff and resident volunteers to greet new members to the community upon arrival and to provide tours of the House. Recognizing how overwhelming New York City can be
On October 13, International House hosted an American Cultural Hour, the first in over three years despite Americans making up one third of the resident population. Thirty enthusiastic American and other residents organized the cultural hour, which took residents on a Road Trip of the United States. Through skits that mimicked the quintessential American experience of driving cross-country, residents were introduced to the unique cultures and history found in New England, Appalachia, the Deep South, Southwestern Region,
to the first time visitor, the Orientation and Social Activities
California, Hawaii and the Northwest including Alaska.
resident members, who numbered 703 and represented
Program Fellows coordinated several activities to help familiarize new residents with the city including neighborhood tours where they explained how to purchase a metrocard for the subway, where the nearest bank is and the fastest routes to Columbia and other universities, among other important information. Other “get to know New York” activities included a Yankees game, a trip to Jones Beach on Long Island, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and dinner at the famous
I. House invites alumni to donate unused tickets to the New York City Performances Program Fund as a taxdeductible contribution and thereby help us connect our community members to the City’s vibrant art scene. If you are unable to attend a scheduled concert, ballet, or any other performing arts event in the city for which you hold tickets, please contact the Office of Development & Alumni Relations at 212-316-8425 at your earliest convenience, and preferably at least one week in advance of the event.
Oh, The Places They Go: I. House Residents Around the World They study at New York’s top universities and overcome odds to come to the United States. They live at I. House in a supportive environment that enhances their leadership and communication skills. They go on to be the leaders of the World. They are the remarkable residents of International House and these are just a few examples of the amazing things they do and people they are.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, and resident favorites the Metropolitan
Tom Vandebosch of Belgium, who is pursuing his law degree at Columbia University,
Opera’s “La Traviata” in Central Park and a tour of the famous Museum of Modern Art.
\ is a 2006-2007 Fulbright Scholar. He is ) Residents enjoyed plenty of delicious food at the American Cultural Hour including pecan pie, barbequed meats, green bean casserole and Brunswick stew donated by seven local restaurants or hand made by residents.
Along the way, residents learned how to “speak southern” from Tennessee native Stephanie Jeter, listened to a Native
American Folktale reading, experienced an earthquake in Los Angeles and explored America’s rich music history with Jazz, Motown, and folk performances including a roaring rendition of “This Land is Your Land.”
Kimberly Sanchez of Puerto Rico and Monica Brooker of the United States sign up residents for the Resident Roundtable at the Programs Fair on September 12.
The traditional Welcome Barbeque on the Green Terrace and President’s Tea on the Sakura Park Patio kicked off the academic year, and the Orientation Night held on September 7 familiarized new and returning resident members with I. House staff and procedures. The Programs Fair on September 12 introduced resident members to Fall Fiesta, salon nights, the International House Tutorial Program, language exchange, cultural hours and much more. Resident Members also enjoyed two “community weekends” at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center in Cold Spring, New York, where they participated in various team-building and recreational activities.
Sunday Supper Tradition Continues More than 300 residents, alumni, staff and other guests participated in the House’s oldest tradition on September 17, attending the Welcome Sunday Supper. President Don Cuneo and his wife Bonnie kicked off the evening’s festivities by hosting a lively reception in the Main Lounge. At the dinner in Davis Hall, third-year resident Kimberly Sanchez of Puerto Rico emceed the evening’s program, introducing fellow resident Adebayo Adefope who gave thanks for the meal with a traditional blessing from his native Nigeria. Following the meal, Sunday Supper Speaker Theresa Bischoff, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater New York, urged the audience to get involved with one of the hundreds of international and local chapters of the Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Crystal Societies worldwide. She also encouraged residents to learn more about her organization’s work so they could be active participants in their own recovery should they ever find themselves in need of rescue or relief. The evening concluded with spirited performances by three talented first-year residents. The first, Juliana Steinbach
from France, delighted the crowd with Debussy’s L’Isle Joyeuse for piano. Shirin Eskandani, a Canadian mezzo-soprano, was accompanied on the piano by Filipino resident Jeremy Rafal as she gave her renditions of two songs from Manuel de Falla’s Siete Canciones Populares Espanolas and Seguidilla from Bizet’s Carmen.
NYC Performances Program Launched The enviable music tradition and arts programming at I. House have always served as a unifying force that transcends barriers imposed by nationality, ethnicity, religion and language. In recognition of this vital role of the arts in promoting international understanding, International House has launched a new program this fall, the New York City Performances Program, to help I. House members savor the artistic treasures of New York City. With generous contributions from International Trustee Blaise Halluitte 70 and his wife Barbara, and from
Life Trustee Herman “HR” Rottenberg, the program offers subsidized tickets to resident members and staff to attend a diverse array of world-class performances in New York that would otherwise be unaffordable.
also the 2006-2007 Belgian American Educational Foundation Fellow. At
Columbia, he is the Editor of the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law.
Fulbright Scholar Gricelys Rosario of the \ Dominican Republic is an architect by training, but has extensively researched the economic and environmental viability "Y of using hydrogen as an alternative fuel to reduce pollution and promote conservation, energy efficiency and sustainability in developing countries. Her research, which proposed an operational project based on hydrogen technology buses for public transportation in Santo Domingo, was awarded the 2005 UNIBE Environmental Science Prize by Iberoamerican University. A
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Neeru Shrestha, a human rights lawyer
\ from Nepal who has argued several cases \ involving equality/nondiscrimination ] issues before the Supreme Court of
~ Nepal, is a 2006-2007 Public Interest Law Fellowship recipient at Columbia University. She is also a professor of human rights and involved in training local activists in Nepal. |
Takayoshi K. Wiesner is engaging in exciting research at Columbia University where he will examine the relationship between sociocultural values and political beliefs, especially regarding democracy in East and wie South East Asia. Wiesner is from Japan. He hopes his research will help correct misunderstandings about political beliefs and cultures in Asia and promote a healthy democratization process in the region.
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Join |. House for the eighth ®
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Harry Edmonds
Awards Gala
I. House Residents at the Nederlander Theater for Rent, the Broadway Musical to kick off the NYC Performances Program.
Honoring Coordinated by the NYC Performances Program Fellow in collaboration with the Office of Programs & Resident Life, performing arts events offered through this Program include operas, classical concerts, ballet and contemporary dance and theater performances Thus far, residents have attended a Mozart and Stravinsky
concert at the New York Philharmonic featuring violinist Gil Shaham and a performance of the Tony award-winning Broadway show, Rent, which was attended by 20 residents to kick off the program on September 19. Future outings are planned to the Metropolitan Opera’s Tosca and the New York City Ballet.
Sigurdur Helgason ‘45 Sidney Taurel ‘71 Toyota Motor Corporation Thursday, May 17, 2007 at the Rainbow Room in New York City Check www.ihouse-nyc.org/gala.html for more information as it becomes available