INTERNATIONAL
Volcker,
HOUSE
NEWSLETTER
FOR
ALUMNI
AND
FRIENDS
SUMMER
2009
French, Gambari and Mitsui
Honored at Harry Edmonds Awards Gala “Through its existence,
International House has created links and networks across the planet,
heralding globalization even before the term has become —From
popular.”
acceptance remarks
by Ibrahim Gambari
’71
he 85th Anniversary Harry Edmonds Awards Gala, held at Rockefeller Center's famed Rainbow Room on May 11th, paid tribute to distinguished honorees and raised nearly $400,000
for scholarship and programmatic
corporate honoree. Bill Rueckert recognized past recipients along with Marina French Kellen, a past co-chair of the Edmonds Gala on numerous
support at Interna-
occasions.
tional House. The black-tie dinner dance, chaired by I. House Executive Committee Chairman William D. Rueckert and his wife Fleur, attracted more than 200 trustees, alumni, friends and residents, including past Edmonds recipients Anna-Maria Kellen, Abby M. O'Neill, and representatives of Toyota. The festivities also included a message from President Barack Obama. The Edmonds Awards, established to recognize individuals who have advanced international understanding and global awareness, were presented to two trustees, one alumnus, and a distinguished
I. House
President
Don Cuneo thanked attendees for
their support of the scholarship fund, noting the huge and lasting impact such support has had on the lives of many residents. The first awardee, Life Trustee John French II], served for 21 years on the Board of I. House where he chaired the Nominating and Development Committees, and co-chaired five successive Edmonds Galas. A retired partner of Beveridge and Diamond PC, French was introduced by Zarin Mehta, President and Executive Director of the New York Philharmonic, who praised his commitment to I. House, the Philharmonic, environmental causes, and the legal profession. continued
,
on page
|. House Davis Peace Projects Grant Recipients Named
For 2009
P | twelve
(India) & Sumreni
proposals
by
15 International
¢ Maria Jose Bermeo (Ecuador) — Peace
¢ Pooja
House residents for Davis Projects for
Education through Storytelling and Literacy
Peace grants were selected by Davis United
Development with Ecuadorian Youth at Risk
World
orld
nounced
Coll
College (
UWC)
Sct
_) Scholars and
an-
:
a
4
e Stephanie Choo (Singapore) — Alleviating
in March.
:
In the Davis Projects, I. House residents design and implement grassroots projects to
¢ Lindsay Feldmeth (USA) — Kathmandu
promote peace. Twenty-two proposals from
Music for Peace Festival
members of International Houses Worldwide, 4; dbyLH New York be coordinated by I. House, New York, are being ’ ee ee funded at $10,000 each for implementation :
:
The successful applicants from I. House, New York, selected from 42 applicants by special committee, are as follows:
—
the Harms of Human Trafficking in Laos: A : Two-Prong Approach
were among graduate students invited to
this summer.
os
6
.
.
oe
oe
Lala
(India) — Education for Peace (India)
ok
ea
«
¢ Camelia Lalani (Canada) — Clicking to the -
Rhythm
ae
of Peace in Argentina’s Hidden
2
City ¢ Elton McKennedy
(USA) — RISK: Taking
Chances, Giving Opportunities (Dominican Republic)
¢ Tekau Frere (French Polynesia) & Anabay
a
Lakhwani
ie
:
Sullivan (USA) — Climate Change and Mi: : gration: Strategies for Peace in Papua New a Guinea
”
¢ Nimrod
oe a
ae
oe
David Pfeffer (Israel) — Creating
Harmony: A Syrian-Israeli Orchestra Brings ‘ 2. Music to the Kunetra Crossing ee
;
:
e Matt Haygood (USA) — Promotores de Pro-
¢ Christina Renckens (The Netherlands) — Dancing the Difficulties Away: Internal
greso: Empowering Street Youth in Quito,
Peace through Artistic Expression (India)
Ecuador continued on page 3
INSIDE
ee. James Turley Examines Economic Crisis
P.8 Art and Alumni Intersect at Annual Gallery Reception
Speakers Wrap Up Media Series Program 1
PRESIDENT’S
World Newsletter Vol. 44, No. 2
A Publication of International House Office of Development & Alumni
MESSAGE he Candlelight Sunday Supper marks the end of each academic year at International House and brings with it a mixture of joy in friendships, pride in accomplishments, and wistfulness as another group of residents moves on in the world. This spring’s event was no exception, and another great year is under
Assistant Director of Development; Director of Alumni Programs
of the fiscal year. In addition, salary increases have been
500 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10027 www.ihouse-nyc.org
STAFF John A. Wells Director of Development & Alumni Relations
Nicole Davidson
Philip Greven Assistant Director of Development for Institutional Giving Tom Minior
Database Manager Carey Tan
Where we have been hit the hardest, like so many
non-profits, is in the area of annual giving. Unrestricted giving this year will probably be down by about 25 percent, which is close to what other organizations in New York and elsewhere are experiencing. We have lost significant funding from one longtime foundation supporter that will be very difficult to replace. On the bright side, while many
our belts, but as we look back, it is
evident that these are no ordinary times. The global economic crisis which kicked off last fall has altered the landscape. While it has resulted in financial problems for many individuals and institutions, I am cautiously pleased to report that I. House is weathering the storm so far. As June 30 draws near, we are headed to end this fiscal year close to budget with a positive cash flow. This is largely due to the fact that, although we have not seen a drop in resident membership, we have nevertheless been very cautious as we navigate these uncertain economic waters. In anticipation of potential difficulties, we took steps to reduce expenses in both the operating and capital budgets, as $200,000 in capital projects were deferred and we reduced operating expenses by four percent over the course
Relations
those situations through a combination of scholarships, deferred payment plans, work aid and emergency grants. The applicant pool for spring was strong, and there are no indications of a lessening in either the quality or numbers of applicants for the fall. We continue to monitor these conditions closely so as to be able to react quickly to any changes.
individuals have reduced their gifts, the overall number of
donors appears to be holding up, and we have had a surprising and heartening increase in the number of first-time gifts
from alumni. The Resident Member Gift Campaign came through once again this year, raising, with the help of Trustee matches, more than $10,000 toward a fund to maintain
the Study Center in I. House South. It was inspiring to watch this group of residents, many already involved in the community in other ways, enthusiastically engage in this campaign and deliver the final results at the Candlelight Sunday Supper. There is no doubt that we are all challenged by our current economic climate and myriad global issues. The steps we have taken and mechanisms that are in place to detect factors that may affect our community are firmly established and will, I believe, bring International House through these
reduced by 50 percent at least through September. These reductions are being accomplished in ways that are undetected by our resident members, and allow us to maintain effective delivery of our Mission. Programs remain strong and services are in place. The proposed budget for FY 2010 is very lean, with a very modest increase in resident membership fees and tightly controlled spending. Financial difficulties faced by individual resident members increased to some degree, and we have tried to address
uncertain
times.
Dre loner
Development Coordinator
Resident Campaign Raises Over $10,000 for Study Center PHOTOGRAPHERS Elena Bouta Michael Dames Sher Stoneman Sarah Yap
TO REACH
US
Development & Alumni Relations Phone: 212-316-8423 Fax: 212-316-8416 Resident Member Gift ( ampaig n
Email: alumni @ihouse-nyc.org
International House
2008-2009
500 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10027
Date
Programs Office Phone: 212-316-8438
Pay to the Order of
Fax: 212-316-1827
Tentncand Four hunded ond
Email: programs @ihouse-nyc.org
Memo;
loz
Admissions Office Phone: 212-316-8436 Fax: 212-316-1827
¢ Jur ¢ iM:
ig
co-chairs Bogdan
The Study ¢ ent er
= ©6079: 1010074 TT
—
Resident Member Gift Campaign
bf
In te rational
Dulu,
House,
NYC
May
2, 2009
¢$ 10
400
Fund
a,
Christina Renckens and Shirin Eskandani with the symbolic check
they presented to President Don Cuneo.
Email: admissions@ihouse-nyc.org Guest Suite Rentals
Phone: 212-316-8436 Public Room Rentals Phone: 212-316-8465
espite the economic uncertainty around them, the 2008-2009 resident members dug deep into their pockets to support this year’s Resident Member Gift Campaign. The co-chairs of this year’s campaign, Shirin Eskandani, Christina Renckens and Bogdan Dulu, announced at the Candlelight Sunday Supper on May 3 that they had
donors by March 3rd and 250 resident donors by April 3rd,
the co-chairs announced that Trustees Adrian Looney ’92, Mary Miller ’66, Anthony Spikes ’96 and Ross Youngman
’91 will donate an additional $5,000 to the campaign,
bringing the total raised to $10,504. Reflecting on the Campaign and her time at I. House at the Sunday Supper, co-chair Christina Renckens remem-
exceeded their goals and raised $5,504 from 365 residents
bered “how quickly I. House, with all its amazing people
as well as gifts from staff, alumni and friends. The 2008-2009 resident members’ gift is the Study Center Fund. Beginning as early as 2009-10, money from this designated fund will be used to provide improvements to the I. House South Study Center including, but not
became my home... I will remember always having some-
limited to, more comfortable, reconfigured seating, better lighting and additional basic office supplies. The Study Center is at the heart of I. House as a living and learning experience. It is the physical manifestation of I. House’s goal of providing a supportive environment in which residents can achieve academic success. By reaching their goal of 350 donors and $5,000 raised, as well as two previous participation goals of 150 resident
body to talk to, always somebody out there who could give me some supporting words or a hug.” She encouraged the residents “to make the most out of your I. House experience. Get involved, maybe even more than you are now; you won't regret it. I’m passing the torch to you, to keep the I. House spirit alive.” “We are extremely grateful to the residents of International House for their generosity,” said President Don Cuneo. “Receiving this vote of confidence from those who
live the I. House experience daily is a wonderful affirmation of our mission and the work we do.”
Whitehead Corporate Visitor has also greatly enriched the community life over the years. The 2009 McLaine Week was no different and featured a Salon Night, film screening, resident roundtable, and a cultural hour showcasing the region’s celebrities, food and dance. Topping the list of the week’s highlights though were visits from McLaine Program alumni Irina Liczek 98 and Alex Mitro’03 whose return was made possible by the RBF. Liczek, Chief Technical Advisor on
Alex Mitro
'03,
Tudy McLaine
'56 and Irina Liczek
'98
wenty years ago the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) donated the seed money to found the East/ West Program at International House. The program aimed “to expand the involvement of people from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in the life of International House, New York.”
The first scholarship recipient, Steffan Ziegler of then East Germany, arrived in the 1988-89 academic year, and initial programming included Jack F. Matlock, then US Ambassador to the former Soviet Union,
as the 1989 Marshall Visitor, and a panel discussion on the region led by financier George Soros. Three years later, following the World Council of
Alumni Meeting in Prague and the death of I. House alumnus and Canadian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Alan McLaine, the program was renamed The Alan & Tudy McLaine Eastern & Central European Leadership Program. The RBF again contributed a $60,000 grant to continue the program. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund has continued to be supportive of the program throughout its existence. In 2003, the RBF approved a four-year grant to provide funds for scholarships and to add an alumni component to the program through a tracking study, McLaine alumni reunion in the region and bringing program alumni to the House to participate in the annual McLaine Week. “Over the last twenty years the Program has had an enormous impact on the I. House community,” said
Director of Programs & Resident Life Susan Storms at the McLaine closing dinner in April. Through targeted recruitment and scholarships, the House has steadily increased the number of resident
members from the regions of East and Central Europe, the former Soviet Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States from just five in 1988 to 79 in 2008-2009.
Networking events for program participants and extensive educational and cultural programming— highlighted each year by a vibrant “McLaine Week”—
Human Rights at the United Nations Development Program in Turkmenistan, addressed gender policy in Central Asia in a talk on January 26. Through her research in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, she found that greater democratization in a country results in more diffused international norms of gender policy. Education and presence in civil society are the keys to changing women’s status, Liczek believes. But, she cautioned, even educated women are dictated by cultural traditions when it comes to marriage and family. On January 29, Alex Mitro, an alumnus from Slovakia and Supervisor, Risk & Advisory Services at KPMG Slovakia, discussed the key aspects of the January 1st Euro conversion in Slovakia and his observations of life with the Euro in this short period of time and in the
context of the global financial crisis.
Examines
Economic
Crisis
James S. Turley
he global economic crisis, its challenges and opportunities were the focus of the 2009 Whitehead Corporate Visitor James S. Turley, Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, who spoke to a packed Home Room audience on February 25. Introduced by I. House Trustee Sharda Cherwoo, Partner, Transaction Advisory Services at Ernst & Young,
who lauded his leadership skills, appreciation of diversity and accessibility, Turley provided his perspective on what he hopes does not happen in the world’s reaction to the financial crisis. Citing his experience at the 2009 World Economic Forum in Davos in which he observed significant antiAmerican sentiment and blame for the economic crisis,
Turley said he hopes first and foremost that nations do not use the crisis as an excuse to revert to protectionism. “Globalization,” he said, “has done more to lift econo-
Explaining the theory that adopting the Euro will bring improved economic stability and growth, more
mies, families and lives than anything else we can point to.” Countries and companies cannot step away from the
integrated financial markets, and a stronger presence
globalized economy, he said.
for the EU in the global economy, Mitro said that under the Euro, Slovakia’s rating has increased and its currency has been stable. It has also enjoyed improved
Turley added that it is vital that regulation does not become so binding that “it drives out innovation” and entrepreneurship, which are essential to creating jobs. In tandem with his concerns about regulation, Turley fears long-term government ownership of private companies. The longer governments are entrenched in a company, he said, the more they will get invoived in strategy and business decisions, which can stifle innovation. Turley also voiced his concerns about an “environment
price transparency and a steady flow of foreign investment, he added. It remains to be seen, he said, how
inflation will be affected and whether Euro theory will become reality. The topic of Mitro’s talk was fitting given the changing social, political and economic realities in
Central and Eastern Europe. It is because of these very changes and that the McLaine Program will be revamped in the 2009-2010 academic year.
While I. House will continue to offer scholarships to residents from the region as it does for other regions, programming about the region will be integrated into standard I. House activities like cultural hours and resident roundtables, and I. House will introduce the
McLaine Visitor Program, where a speaker will address issues affecting the region. There will continue to be networking opportunities for residents from the region. “The McLaine Leadership Program has had a wonderful and lasting impact on International House and on the residents who have participated in it,” said President Don Cuneo. “We are grateful to RBF for
their twenty years of support of the program and look forward to the next phase of the McLaine Program.”
of fear” where individuals and companies only focus on the bad. Negative groupthink is dangerous, he said, and can further stagnate the economy. Noting that “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste,” Turley said that bad economic times enable companies to enact changes they otherwise could not have considered, such as streamlining corporate governance standards and adopting universal regulations. In addition, while it is difficult, he maintains that
there are a lot of deals to be made in the current climate if companies are well capitalized and financed. In reflecting on the world economy and the current crisis, Turley said it is important to focus not only on capital and liquidity in the short-term, but also on long term issues such as shifting demographics and financial capital that will impact the global economy. These shifts will be transformative and must be embraced if companies are to succeed in the future, he concluded.
I. House Davis Peace Project Grant Recipients Named for 2009 continued from page 1 * Matteo Sabattini (Italy) & Danging Zhou (China) — A Music Camp for Wounded Hearts (China)
¢ Sara Yap (USA) — Running Towards Peace: Activating the Peace and Rights for Girls in Sports in Al-Minya, Egypt The projects were selected by a special committee comprised of Former Director of Programs & Resident Life Eleanor Spiegel, alumna Adeyinka Akinsulure-Smith ’93, 2008 Davis recipient Jean Olivier Begin ’08, and Trustee William $. Moody, who chaired the group. Director of Programs & Resident Life Susan Storms was an ex-officio member. Other International Houses participating in the Davis Projects this year are Chicago, Berkeley, Alberta, Philadelphia, Washington DC, London, Sydney, Brisbane,
Melbourne and Wollongong. The Davis Projects was initiated by I. House alumna Kathryn W. Davis ’32 to encourage young people to find creative ways to promote a more peaceful world. “Davis Projects for Peace has elicited great excitement among the International Houses and their resident members,” said President Don Cuneo. “We are very grateful for this opportunity to participate in this most worthy, innovative program.” Projects are to be completed during the summer of 2009 and final reports on selected projects are due in September. This year’s recipients will be maintaining an online project journal which will be available on the I. House website this summer. The 2009 Davis Projects for Peace Recipients.
pais ot wins stent
ALUMNI
Susan Rosenfeld ’77 is in her 25th year in Niger and her 32nd in Africa. In addition to her “real” job (directing a study abroad program for an American university), she
continues to assist with the care and feeding
Tama Potaka ’01 is currently practicing corporate law at Bell Gully in New Zealand. He recently married Ariana Maria Paul
and they have a daughter Tiaria Te Ikaroa Potaka.
of three chimpanzees.
DECADES
David Wisowaty ’77 joined Management Capital Holding AG as Senior Advisor
based in the United States. Ann Gregory ’63 recently visited Sjamsiah
1940s Joyce Colfax ’45 retired after 53 years of operating the Colfax Happy-Day Nursery School.
Achmad ’62 and several other |. House alumni in Jakarta. Pictured here are: Hassan Abduldjalil, Ann Gregory, Nanie Abduldjalil, Hanny Menajang-Sampelan, Sjamsiah Achmad, and Kusnade Pudjiwinarto. Gregory teaches at the American University in Bulgaria and Achmad is now on the Presidential Commission on Violence Against Women, having recently served on a similar commission concerning regularizing relations between Indonesia and East Timor.
an edited volume titled “Sacred Waters”
(Indiana University Press). Meriemil Rodriguez ’67 retired from E/ .
Nuevo Dia newspaper in Puerto Rico after a 40-year career in media.
Virginia Lowman ’46 was recently presented with a “Golden Nugget” by the Girl Scout Council of Suffolk County in recognition of her
Siu Fun Pun Choy ’57 is retired and volunteers as a member of two school boards and serves on the executive committees of three welfare organizations.
1960s Joel Baker ’64 retired from surgery and lives north of Seattle with his wife Kathleen. Ichak Adizes ’66 was awarded an Honorary Citizenship of Montenegro in recognition of his contributions to the country as a consultant to the Government of Montenegro and specifically the Prime Minister. Steve Clapp ’66 has published “Africa
Timothy Patula ’82 has expanded his international arbitration and mediation practice by creating Patula ADR, Inc.
Cavan Wee '00 wed Jessica Liew of Brunei in a ceremony in Melbourne. Wee is working as Commercial Banking Manager at ANZ Bank.
Jong Park ’03 is now spending many sleepless nights doing his residency at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Oliver Zelies ’03 and Mia Weigel ’04 are now the very happy parents of Isabella Zelies, born on June 20, 2008 in Zurich,
Kinan Azmeh ’04 recently performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and was the subject of a feature story on NPR’s Weekend Edition.
World Education Services (www.wes.org)
Janet Ferguson ’52 is now retired after 30 years of working with families of developmentally disabled children and adults.
ment, Peace & Security at the UN.
Nicholas Gouede ’82 is currently the Programme Specialist of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in the Regional Bureau for Africa at UNDP's headquarters in NY.
Betty Wong ’82 is head of marketing at
1950s
Ann (Hallan) Lakhdhir ’56 is still working with the NGO Committee on Disarma-
Palestinian refugees to attend American colleges.
Ruthanne Schempf ’82 released a CD of American solo piano music entitled American Mirage from MSR-Classics.
the Friends of Sangam Committee and raise funds for the World Center in India.
Isabel Horulu ’56 is living in Los Angeles and enjoys spending time with her son Cem, his wife and three grandchildren.
Executive Director of the Hope Fund, a
Virginia-based NGO, which solicits scholarships for low-income, academically gifted
Switzerland.
75 years of leadership in the Girl Scouts. She
and her husband Rod Lowman ’46 also serve on
James Allen Evans ’53 recently published a novel “Death in Pozzuoli”.
1980s Kathryn Hopps ’80 was recently appointed
which helps internationally-educated individuals get recognition and credit for education among US and Canadian educational institutions and employers. Massimo Bacigalupo ’75 and his wife Angela Kirsten "72 were visited by Karel Vosskuehier ’75 and his wife Gulda at their home
in
Rapallo in September 2008. Massimo is Chair of the Department of Sciences of Linguistic and Cultural Communication at University of Genoa, Italy, and has recently published
an Italian edition of Gregory Corso’s poems,
Ed Billson ’85 runs his own architectural
practice in Hong Kong, where he lives with his wife Claire and their four children.
welcomed their second child, Allen, into the
1970s
Wellington Chu ’88 and his wife, Wakami
Stanley Kanzaki ’71 retired from social work and is about to publish his first novel “The Issei Prisoners of the San Pedro Intern-
the basic and girls’ education unit at the
international development organization CARE
in Atlanta, GA.
George Mathew ’04 organized and conducted the “Mahler for the Children of AIDS” concert and fundraiser at Carnegie Hall on January 12th.
Shi-Ling Hsu ’87 and his wife Debby
while Karel is serving as Ambassador from The Netherlands at Sarajevo.
Rao Kolluru ’70 published his new book “Begin Anew: Re-setting Your Mind’s Odometer”.
Peter Cronin ’04 is a technical advisor in
world on April 14th.
Shimizu, now live in Seattle, WA, where he
Dina and Joerg Raewel 05 welcomed their daughter Sophia Salma on October 27. Oxana Gavrishina ’05 is teaching cultural history at Russian State University for the
recently started a new job at T-Mobile. He
Humanities in Moscow and working on a
encourages all alumni to get in touch with him at wellington@ gol. com.
book about the representation of everyday life in 20th century American photography.
Jane Dennison ’89 lives in a small village in the Pyrenees with her husband and four children.
ment Center”.
Harry Rosen ’70 is leaving Baruch College after 35 years to be the Dean of a newlycreated School of Business at York College, a sister CUNY school. Ronald Welch ’71 continues his long term civil rights legal practice specializing in conditions of confinement in prisons and jails.
Richard Nyamboli ’89 is a communications counselor at the Embassy of Cameroon in Washington D.C.
1990s Doree Miller 90 and her husband Jerome Miller became proud grandparents upon the recent birth of Emma Grace Biniakewitz.
Remembered”, an illustrated memoir of
his Peace Corps tour in Nigeria in the early 1960s and travels home through politically troubled Central and East Africa. Hard copies of the book are available at www. /lulu.com. A free electronic copy can be obtained by e-mailing him at steve.clapp@informa.com.
James Morris ’93 published his newest book “Can Computers Create Art?” Morris is a lecturer in media theory at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication in Kent, England.
Harald Friedl '04 (pictured here) and Mascha Matthews ’05 welcomed a daughter, Alma, born on May 6th.
Joanna Wylomanska ’05 joined J.P. Morgan Worldwide Securities Services in October 2008. She is responsible for legal advice regarding global securities products.
David Herzog 95 now spends most of his Bob Gottschall ’66 and his wife, Yukiko
time in Japan, where he is Principal Trum-
Tani, recently completed their second twoweek photo-climbing hike in Torres del Paine National Park in southern Patagonia.
pet with the New Japan Philharmonic.
Carolyn Zepf Hagner ’66 retired in May as Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy, Northwestern Kentucky University. She has relocated to Oregon to be near her daughter. Henry Drewal ’68 curated the traveling exhibition “Mami Wata: Arts for Water Sports in Africa and Its Diasporas”, which is currently on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington D.C. Drewal has also published
Esther Barazzone '70 recently visited with Fawwaz Jumayan ‘70 and his family in Dubai.
Nancy Blades Fatemi ’74 worked on Capitol Hill for 32 years and is now executive director of the New Jersey State Society.
William Eaton ’96 is teaching history at National Chengchi University in Taipei. Svetlana Shmulyian ’99 and Konstantin Braun celebrated the birth of their newest daughter, Maya, in New York this March.
2000s
Rima Finzi-Strauss ’77 recently hosted a two-hour live program of Chinese music
Alexandre Bonnecuelle ’00 celebrated the
performances (including her own) on Co-
birth of his son Adrien last year in Paris.
lumbia University’s radio station, WKCR
89.9 FM.
Chris Budhan ’06 spent several months in Europe and recently returned to New York. He is currently finishing his doctoral studies through the University of Texas at Austin. Martin Lanz ’06, a choreographer and performer, has collaborated with artists such as choreographer D.D. Dorvillier and
composer/musician Meredith Monk. Pavel Palecek ’06 produced a new documentary entitled The Holy Spies (Cernéa ern j8f) about the systematic liquidation of the Roman Catholic Church by the Czechoslovakian State Security Service in 1945-1989.
Michael Roston ’06 joined TrueS/ant.com,
an online news start-up based in New York,
IN MEMORIAM
as Senior Producer. “If you’ve got a great
idea for a news-driven blog you'd like to pursue,” he writes, “please get in touch.”
Sigurdur Helgason ’45, Longtime Trustee and World Council Co-Chair
Miriam Anderson ’07 has accepted a post
Marla Bojorge Zuniga '07 is one of 300 Spanish lawyers selected to participate in PenalNet, the first European e-network for fluent, secure and inviolable e-communica-
igurdur Helgason, I. House Trustee and longest-serving co-chair of the World Council of Alumni, died February 8th on the Caribbean island of Mustique, in the Grenadines. He was 87. As President of Icelandic
tions among criminal lawyers in the EU.
Airlines (now Icelandair) in
’51, the late James T. Barton 56, Klaus Moessle 85, Vreni
New York during the 1960s,
Hommes ’89, and Adrian Looney ’92. They, and participants in World Council meetings over the years, held him in high esteem for his devotion to the House and his personal warmth. In addition to his service to International House, Helgason was a trustee or director of numerous other organizations. His daughter Edda Helgason recalled that her father was a
as an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.
Carlos Armando Cruz Velazquez ’07 recently performed his 2002 work “on the minimum scent of (the) time...” at the Duo Multicultural Arts Center in NYC.
he helped pioneer the first lowcost trans-Atlantic airfares from New York to Luxembourg and was a key player in the airline’s history, serving as Chairman and CEO before his retirement in 1991. Born in Reykjavik in 1921, Helgason came to New York in 1944 and lived at International House while at Columbia Business School. After graduating he returned to work in Iceland, where in 1953 he joined the airline he would help put on the map. Helgason became re-connected to I. House in 1962, when he was named President of Icelandic Airlines in New York and moved with his wife, Unnur, and four children to Rye.
Longtime family friend and fellow Trustee Kathleen Burns recalled that when her uncle, Bill Frohlich ’37, was asked
Lisa Ma '05 and Eric Wu were married in October 2008 at a beautiful winery in Northern California. Lisa and Eric live and work in Palo Alto, CA.
Tenzin Lekshay ’07 was promoted to the post of Deputy Secretary at the India-Tibet Coordination Office in New Delhi. Juliana Steinbach ’07 lives in Paris and was recently appointed Piano Professor at the Conservatoire National de Region in Caen, Normandie, and her “Music in Brion-
ness of the widespread sexual violence facing women and girls in the DRC. For more information, visit www, congowomen.org.
Maryum Saifee ’08 is in foreign service training with the US State Department. Beginning this August, she will be posted to Cairo for two years to work in the public diplomacy section. raven.
aca arta
Roche in Basel, Switzerland after happily leaving the world of equity trading.
Award for outstanding life achievement. In the early 1980s he built a home, “Emerald Hill”, on the
island of Mustique, that became a cherished family retreat and a sought-after lot at several I. House benefit auctions through the years. He was, upon his death, the first “nonlocal” on the island welcomed for burial in the local cemetery,
Reykjavik that featured music — one of his passions — by
hosted by Trustee David Rockefeller. Two years later, the first meeting of the Council of World Members (now known as the World Council of Alumni), was held in Italy, and he attended
this and most subsequent meetings. An enthusiastic supporter of the ALLNATIONS Dance
Hundreds of mourners attended a memorial service in composers including Bach, Beethoven, Gershwin and Oscar
Peterson. I. House Chairman Paul A. Volcker and President Don Cuneo issued a joint statement which ran in The New York Times, noting the passing of “our beloved friend and cherished colleague...His warmth, generosity and wise counsel will be greatly missed.”
WIL Advisory Council Member Philomene Gates, New York Attorney hilomene Gates, a distin-
guished New York attorney and longtime Women’s International Leadership Program (WIL) Advisory Council Member, died on February 17 at age 90. Born in Florida, Gates gradu-
ated from what is now Florida State University in 1938, and was accepted at Yale Law School but chose instead to embark on an 11-nation European tour in the months preceding the Munich Agreement. In her autobiography, she acknowledged
that the trip changed her life forever. One of only three women to enter George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC, Gates received
her law degree in 1941 and held government positions during the Roosevelt administration. Following World War II she and her husband Samuel moved to New York City where
she devoted herself to family life, raising three daughters. In 1962, Gates established a private law practice, specializing in civil and international litigation. She joined the Association of the Bar of the City of New York in 1971 and
served as a member of its delegation to China in 1979. She was involved in community organizations both in New York and Westhampton Beach where she also resided. She was particularly active in the Girl Scouts Council of
Greater New York where she served as president for eight years and as chairman for 11 years.
At the suggestion of her friend Stephen Kellen, Gates became involved with the WIL Program at I. House at the time
of its inception.
A committed Advisory Council member, the
hospitable Gates opened her home to grantees for dinners, participated in panel discussions, and sought out mentors for WIL participants. Never shy with constructive criticism, she was known at WIL functions to say to grantees on more than one occasion: “Speak up. You can’t be a public speaker if no one can hear you!” “Phil Gates was a valued, active and insightful member of the WIL Advisory Council not only because she was an outstanding lawyer, mother and a dedicated volunteer, but also because of her passion for all things international and her
confidence in a bright future for the world in the hands of the younger generation,” said WIL Advisory Council Chair Patricia Taylor.
Elizabeth P. MacCallum °28
William H. Harbaugh ’47
Alfonza L. Pinkney ’52
Alan C. Crew ’68
Ottawa, Canada
Charlottesville, VA
New York, NY
Montpelier, VT
Anthony S. Harrison 47
Martha Chandler Dolly ’54
Roger C. Kline ’68
Honolulu, HI
East Greenbush, NY
New York, NY
New York, NY
Meda E. Thetford ’37 Eatontown, NJ
Letitia R. Johnson ’48 Philadelphia, PA
Alexander Marshack ’56
Doris M. Peay 72
New York, NY
Concord, NC
Clarence R. Vosburgh '39
BerthaJ. Hopkins ’49
Melbourne, FL
Boonton, NJ
Anthony Leitner 63 Perth Amboy, NJ
Tonio Wiederholt 99 Berlin, Germany
Lester T. Etter 41
George N. Febinger 50
Eiji Takai 65
Clare Wisecarver Madocks
Carlisle, PA
Fort Collins, CO
New York, NY
Walnut Creek, CA
Frances G. Bracken ’43
Silvestre Condez ’51
Kwabena A. Addei ’68
Bellevue, WA
Pandan, Antique, Phillipines
Roslyn, NY
Wallace W. Y. Wong
Michel Dhur '07 is now a Project Engineer at
arts, and furthering international opportunities for higher education. In 2007, he was a recipient of the Harry Edmonds
that effort.” Helgason participated the following year in a major alumni conference at the House, sponsored by Frohlich and
Sandra Hiari ’08 is in Amman, Jordan,
educational campaign seeks to raise aware-
staunch supporter of wildlife conservation, the performing
according to his family.
Alan Cordova ’08 writes for Planet Money (www.npr.org/money), “a blog and podcast that explains the intricacies of the financial crisis to ordinary Americans in plain English.”
Roger Luhiriri 08 was a guest speaker at the recent Washington D.C. opening of “Congo/Women Portraits of War: The Democratic Republic of Congo”. This international photography exhibition and
In 1969, Helgason was elected to the I. House Board of Trustees, and two years later, following Frohlich’s death, was elected Co-Chair of the World Council, a position he held until his death. He shared co-chair duties with succeeding generations of I. House alumni and Trustees: Daisy M. Soros
by the Board in 1963 to take the alumni program to new heights, “it’s no surprise that he approached Sig to be part of
nais” festival is now in its Sth year.
working on the city’s Metropolitan Growth Plan. The plan will attempt to accommodate a population growth of 4,000,000 within the next 17 years.
Company, he provided both financial support and airline tickets during the company’s early years, according to Life Trustee Herman “HR” Rottenberg.
’31
Art and Alumni Intersect at Gallery Reception
Alumni and Residents Network at Annual
Event
early forty International House alumni and over eighty resident members gathered in the Hall of History on
ver seventy alumni and guests gathered at the Opera
February
Gallery in SoHo on March 4
for a reception hosted by
Interest Night (PIN), a popular
the New York Area Alumni Council (NYAAC) and chaired
annual networking event spon-
by Jennifer Jurmark ’02.
sored by the Office of Alumni
Following the success of last year’s “Il. House Under
19th for Professional
Relations.
the High Line”, this year’s reception brought together
For over a decade,
Pro-
alumni from as far back as 1962 and as recent as 2008
fessional Interest Night has
for a lively evening of food, wine, art, and conversations
connected
with friends both new and old.
members with alumni from
“It was fantastic to see the bubbly, vivacious crowd,”
|. House resident
various fields in order to learn
said Jurmark, observing that the event’s success “was self-
about their work, employers
evident by the laughter, conversation, and enthusiasm of
and the job search process.
alumni and friends that filled the gallery.”
Sofia Kotsou, a Greek |.
Patrick Grosso ’06 agreed. “My night was filled with
House resident and finan-
interesting and engaging conversation — something that
cial engineering student at
I’ve come to expect and appreciate from all |. House
Columbia
gatherings.”
PIN, “it was an opportunity to get advice from people with
In addition to good company, attendees enjoyed a
Resident members
discuss careers in international affairs with Nicolas Gouede
University, said of
'82.
relevant suggestions.”
experience in my desired field on how to strengthen my
The current state of the job market was, indeed, a particular concern of this year’s resident participants. Alumni
selection of fine wines and an eclectic variety of hors
background. The alumni were very willing to include us in
attendees responded to the challenge, drawing from their
d'oeuvres from OPIA, an internationally-themed
their networks. A couple of them even offered to introduce
own experiences to provide welcome guidance.
Manhat-
tan restaurant. Alumni who dropped off their business
me to their colleagues and asked for a resume!”
cards at the door were automatically entered to win a dinner for two at the upscale eatery. The beautiful and spacious Opera Gallery impressed
“It’s important to realize that even subtle changes in
Alumni attendees noted that the event was a good
job search strategy can make a
Paone ’96. “Hopefully | and the other alumni volunteers
community.
were able to impart that understanding onto the resi-
many alumni with the outstanding quality of its art col-
“It was very nice to see old friends, other colleagues
lection. On display were stunning works by some of the
and the new residents,” said Lara Kumar-Fuller 05. “So
world’s most renowned contemporary artists, including
much
Jean-Michel
Basquiat, Julian Schnabel and Damien
Hirst.
Aside from the event’s culinary and artistic offerings,
big difference,” said Peter
opportunity to reconnect with |. House and its greater
has changed for me and my peers since we left
|. House, yet there was the same warm feeling when
dents.” The message seemed to have made an impact.
Many
residents reported that the discussions they had at Profes|
walked through the Main Lounge or visited the Pub.”
sional Interest Night helped them to think more creatively about the job search process and about how to apply their
most attendees reported that the true highlight of their
Recent alumna Shravya Reddy ’08 was more surprised
evening was the opportunity to reconnect with the I.
to find what had changed rather than what had stayed the
House community.
same. Reddy attended
Melbourne Nunes ’71 reflected, “Having been a resident over 3 decades ago, this interaction was illuminating.
this year returned with an enhanced
It conjured again a German
attending as an alumna and was in the completely novel
me realize that there are other options beyond just trying
my personal pilgrimage [to |. House] and beyond: ‘Tell me
position of dispensing advice to residents! | soon real-
with whom
ized that my being a recent entrant into the job market
to get tenure as a biomathematics professor. It was very interesting!”
proverb that proved so true in
you travel, and I'll tell you who you are.’ The
conversations and mixture of ideas are still propelling.”
last year’s PIN as a resident and perspective.
education to the working world. “Talking to some of the alumni made me think of new ways to use the tools that I’ve learned in grad school,” said Jan Morup Jorgensen, current |. House resident and
“It was a very different experience for me, since | was
Ph.D. candidate in biomathematics at NYU.
“It helped
was Of value in itself to those looking for some timely and
Canadian Friends to Auction Leonard Cohen ’57 Print anadian legendary singer, songwriter, poet, novelist bey
artist Leonard Cohen, who is riding a wave of ac-
the MacGuigan scholarship have helped successful candi-
as an Order of Canada recipient, Grammy-Award
winner
dates defray the cost of living in New York City for years.
is an
scholarships, CFIH
Few people know, though, that Leonard Cohen
In order to augment funds available for these two is auctioning the unframed
alumnus of International House, where he stayed while
“Paris Again” to the highest bidder by silent auction.
attending Columbia
The print is valued at US$1,000, where bids will start. Bidders should send their bid via e-mail to philjenkins@sympatico.ca. The auction will close on
Canadian
University in 1956-7.
Friends of International House (CFIH),
|. House’s alumni chapter in Canada,
has been lucky
enough to acquire a beautiful print of Cohen’s painting ’02
zens staying at |. House. The McLaine scholarship and
colades for his current worldwide concert tour, is known and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
Oana Pascal '08, Peter Paone '96, and Event Chair Jennifer Jurmark mingle at the NYAAC Gallery Reception.
for two annual residency scholarships for Canadian citi-
July 30, 2009.
“Paris Again”. The reproduction was donated by Cohen
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own a stunning
to CFIH from the Michael Petit Gallery in Beverly Hills
print by a genuine legend of contemporary music, poetry,
California, where his art is featured.
and art!
In addition to its chapter activities, CFIH raises funds
SAVE THE
DATE
Please visit www. ihouse-nyc.org/alumnievents for information about these and other events.
Summer 2009
September 18-20, 2009
Alumni Reception
Pan-European Alumni Reunion and Freunde
Vienna, Austria
Annual Meeting Hamburg, Germany
September 15, 2009 Alumni Gathering/100th Anniversary Celebration
October 17, 2009
San Francisco, CA
Alumni Lunch//100th Anniversary Celebration Florence, Italy
September 20, 2009 Alumni Sunday Supper/100th Anniversary
November
1, 2009
Celebration
1. House Day/100th Anniversary Celebration
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
DIRECTOR'S CORNER
WIL Week 2009 5
he
grantees of the Women’s
International
Leadership
(WIL) Program offered the |. House community a week-long series of events in March celebrating “Women
as Global Agents of Change.” From a coffeehouse to film screenings, the eighteen grantees put together a stimu-
n May 13th, I received a call from Thessonoliki, Greece. An I. House alumna,
Ekaterini Billi 73, had heard about Kathryn Davis’s offer to give International House $2 million over four years if the House can raise $1 million in new and increased gifts to the Annual Fund.
lating week of programming that was true to their theme. Among the events was a career panel
“Trailblaz-
ers!”, which featured successful women
from diverse
backgrounds sharing their experiences navigating their own career paths and answering burning questions from
Ms. Billi lived at the House in the early 1970s while studying chemistry at Hostos
Community College at City University of New York. While she has not returned to the House since then, the
lyzed from the waist down at the height of her career and
experience left a deep and lasting impression that has remained with her throughout the years. Recalling the Sunday Suppers and other programs she had enjoyed in Davis Hall, she told me she wanted to arrange for a generous wire transfer in response to Kathryn Davis’ call to action. Clearly Mrs. Davis’s generous 2:1 challenge has struck a chord with alumni such as Ms. Billi: the funds will renovate and maintain Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Hall while the Annual Fund gifts of Ms. Billi and her
went on to found a nonprofit organization for disabled
fellow alumni and friends will support the programs and activities that take place there, and the I. House resi-
dancers.
dents who take part in them.
residents about to embark on the job search. Panelists included Ariel Lublin who specializes in Conflict Negotiation;
Heather Wolf,
a managing partner
at Merrill Lynch; and Kitty Lunn, a dancer who was para-
A highlight of the week was the Patricia Cloherty Visitor Program featuring Sylvia Ann
Hewlett,
President of
the Center for Work-Life Policy. Hewlett told the audience
how a number of per-
sonal painful experiences such as being fired when she requested a six-month
leave of absence to care for a pre-
mature child, pushed
her out of a promising academic
Having met the requirements of the first year of the challenge, I. House received Mrs. Davis’s first $500,000 installment last November. For the current calendar year, we must raise an additional $250,000 in new and in-
creased gifts to successfully complete the second phase of the Davis Challenge. I hope that, like Ekaterini Billi, you will concur that this $3 million opportunity for I. House — coming at a fragile time in the world economy — is too great to turn down and represents a positive investment in our ongoing SUCCESS.
Jobin. Wells
career and into a lifelong journey to help create a more balanced work-life dynamic for women. Over the years, she said, the Center for Work-Life Policy has documented
that women
start out well posi-
tioned in the work force, but a large percentage of them stall out in their mid-thirties especially in the science, engineering, and technology sector (SET). Women, Hewlett said, make
up 41
percent of advanced
degrees in the
sector, but, by age 35, over 52 percent of women
in the
SET sector have quit their jobs and left the profession. Retaining these women
before they leave and bringing
continued on page 8
Don Cuneo
nternational House President Don Cuneo was elected
Sydney and Wollongong, the group made strides toward
to lead the Heads of International Houses Worldwide at
formalizing its institutional relationship, and members engaged in a robust discussion and exchange of ideas. Cuneo met World Council Member Sam Armstrong
the group’s meeting in Australia in January. International Houses Worldwide comprises stitutions including its newest member, Zealand.
Call for Stories: Help I. House Ceiebrate an Important Anniversary
Leads Heads of I. Houses Worldwide
Each
18 in-
|. House New
institutional head takes a turn as leader
of the group for a term of 18 months, between meetings. At the conference, hosted jointly by sister |. Houses in
90, Christopher Coffman ’81, and other alumni while in Sydney. The group will meet next in Philadelphia in June,
2010.
his fall marks the 100th Anniversary of the fateful 1909 meeting between |. House’s originator Harry Edmonds and the Chinese student on the steps of
Columbia University.
This encounter led to Edmonds
and his wife hosting weekly Sunday dinners at their home for international students which inspired him, along with the Rockefeller and Dodge families, to found International House In celebration of this momentous occasion,
Interna-
Ryan Gawn
tional House wants to hear stories about your first week in New York and your first encounters at |. House.
Nadine Smith
Please share your story. Visit www./house-nyc.org/100, These anecdotes will
be published, as able, on the |. House website and in the fall 2009
’O1,
Nicolas Kahale ’81 at the joint |. House New York and |. House London holiday party in December.
email ndavidson@ihouse-nyc.org or use the enclosed envelope to share your memories.
’05,
Haroon Hassan '03,
World Newsletter.
Volcker, French, Gambari and Mitsui Honored at Harry Edmonds Award Gala continued from page1 “I’m very grateful to the board for presenting me with
charitable arm, the Mitsui USA Foundation, were hon-
to the nation under presidents of both political parties.
this handsome remembrance of my many stimulating times at the House,” said French in his acceptance, “from programs to almost any topic at the Sunday Suppers, and just plain schmoozing with the residents on an afternoon.” Ibrahim A. Gambari ’71, Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and former Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, is a mem-
ored for contributions to international understanding through outstanding corporate citizenship and generous support of scholarships at International House and elsewhere. In his presentation Japan Society President Motoatsu Sakurai noted that since 1989, Mitsui & Co.
Rueckert praised Volcker’s leadership of the House since
ber of the World Council of Alumni.
In her introduc-
tion, Gillian M. Sorensen, Senior Advisor at the United Nations Foundation and a longtime distinguished UN
official, noted that “if I. House has a goal of creating a responsible, informed, and contributing member to a more peaceful world, it is indeed Ibrahim Gambari.” “As I stand here today, I realize how much Interna-
tional House has prepared me for the world of diplomacy and taught me lessons which have endured until today,” said Gambari. Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc. (Mitsui USA), and its
(U.S.A.), Inc. and the Mitsui USA
Foundation have gen-
erously donated over $150,000 to support the programs and events at the House. Accepting the award was Katsumi Ogawa, Executive Vice President of Mitsui USA, who serves concurrently
as a Managing Officer of Mitsui & Co., Tokyo, joined by Shinichi Hirabayashi, President and CEO of the Mitsui USA Foundation. “With its commitment to cultural and intellectual diversity and training of our future leaders, International House is indeed setting the course for our future as a world society,” said Ogawa.
I. House Chairman Volcker was introduced by Bill Rueckert, who read a message from President Obama wishing the gathering well and praising Volcker’s service
1998, and, citing the many prestigious commissions he has led, said that Volcker’s public-spiritedness was
“matched only by his integrity.” Volcker praised the Rockefeller and Dodge families, represented at the event by Rueckert and by Abby O’Neill and Peter O’Neill 92, saying they had “carried on this tradition and helped make this institution flourish and become even more important over the years.” “The United States may not be the great power in the world relatively that it once was,” said Volcker. “All the
more important that we be able to attract and educate students from all over the world and produce the leadership and the understanding that the world needs.” Major support for the gala was provided by the AnnaMaria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Abby and George O’Neill, The Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation, Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., Raymond and Barbara Dalio and Toyota.
WIL
Week
2009
Speakers Wrap Up 2008-2009
continued from page 7
a.
.
Media Program Series
House's yearlong Media Program Series
came to a close this semester with visits from three distinguished guest speakers, each representing different corners of today’s diverse media landscape. In February, |. House welcomed
Nicolas Lemann,
Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, for a thought-provoking discussion entitled
The Future of Journalism. “The whole future of the profession is up for grabs,” Lemann declared, citing the momentous shift from
print to digital media and recent upheavals in the newspaper industry. Though
he admitted that these changes
are often nerve-wracking for those already working in
he
Patrick McEnroe
the field, he pointed out that they also pose exciting
and producer Hugo Berkeley concluded the speaker
opportunities for newcomers.
series with a special screening and discussion of his
“We're very excited to be a part of the discussion,
current project, still in production,
and | hope that’s somewhat true for our students as Yap and Maria Lahuerta,
ported international issues through film, The Exchange
Optimism also pervaded tennis legend and former
Sylvia Ann Hewlett
follows economist Eleni Gabre-Madhin’s struggle to end
|. House Trustee Patrick McEnroe’s March address to
and WIL grantee Liat Shetret.
famine in Ethiopia by building the country’s first com-
|. House residents and friends. McEnroe, who is now back those who do is critical, she believes, to stem the loss of professionals just as they reach their most productive periods.
Other WIL Week activities included a screening of the film Sons of Lwala about two medical students who founded a clinic in rural Kenya, the performance of “SHEroes”, skits and songs representing famous
in history such as Frida Kahlo, Joan of Arc, Anna
Pavlova and many others written and performed
When asked about the impact that his documenta-
reminded the audience that sports and sports media
ries have on their subjects’ lives, Berkeley replied that
can be an important source of inspiration. mined
drain,” she said.
women
modities market.
and CBS Sports,
the biggest impact often occurs when he actually sits
He pointed to tennis player Andy Roddick’s deter-
The world simply cannot afford this severe “brain
an array of dances,
a television commentator for ESPN
by grant-
ees, and a viewing of the award-winning film Persepolis.
down with a subject and interviews them.
performance at last year’s Davis Cup as a prime
example. Though
“You [the interviewee] feel special in some way, like
Roddick was aware that he stood “ba-
someone singled you out to ask you something, and that
sically no chance” against favored opponent Rafael Nadal, he gave the match
his best effort anyway.
takes you out of the moment of your life that you might
McEnroe
be living in and gives you some ability to reflect.”
remarked that by not giving up, Roddick taught viewers
Earlier speakers in the Series included Leo Hindery Jr,
how important it can be “to fight when you know you’re
Managing Partner of InterMedia Partners, Chrystia Free-
probably not gonna win.” “| respect that a lot,” said McEnroe,
The Exchange.
Continuing Berkeley’s practice of illuminating underre-
well,” he remarked. WIL Grantees Sarah
with |. House resident Dino Sossi of Canada
land, the U.S. Managing Editor of the Financial Times
“because it
and Sheila Coronel, the Director of the Stabile Center for
tells you something about the character of someone.
Investigative Journalism at Columbia University School of
And | think that’s something that’s hard to teach.”
Journalism. The programmatic theme for the 2009-2010
In April, award-winning documentary film director
academic year is “the Global Economy”.
Sunday Suppers Examine Economic Crisis, Role of the UN nternational [.
House residents had opportunities during the winter
hear two topical and outstanding speakers at the December
and February Sunday Suppers: Chairman Lynn Pascoe,
United
Paul A. Volcker and B.
Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political
Affairs.
At the Holiday Sunday Supper on December
7th, Volcker, then
recently appointed by Barack Obama to head the President’s Economic
Recovery Advisory Board, discussed the origins and extent of
the global financial crisis. Describing what he called “a breakdown of the financial system” in the US, Volcker said that interrelated global economies would find it
Paul Volcker with resident Jinny Jin at the Decem-
more difficult to achieve recovery in the resulting economic downturn.
ber Sunday Supper.
One of the great challenges, he said, will be moving from nationalization back to a “functioning, confident, private financial system.” “It's going to be a very difficult period economically, and | don’t want to suggest anything other than that,” he said. “But | do think this is an opportunity for renewal of faith in this great democracy.” The US election, he said, “has demonstrated the opportunity for renewal and growth and, | believe, the leadership that this world needs.” At the Sunday Supper on February 8, Pascoe of the UN described the often unsung diplomatic and peacekeeping Khalid Kalbat of the United Arab Emirates demonstrates
work carried out by his organization throughout the world. A career Foreign Service Officer, Pascoe previously held senior positions at the US State Department and was US
Arabic calligraphy at the Pakistani booth during the cultural exhibits portion of the annual All Nations Celebration.
This
Ambassador to Indonesia and Malaysia. He was preceded
year’s celebration featured dance and musical performances by residents, the popular food festival with delicacies from 20
series of mediation efforts underway in Cyprus,
Nearly 1,000 residents, guests, alumni and staff
Pascoe lamented
’71.
before describing a
Nepal, Sierra Leone, Somalia and other countries.
Pascoe said there has been a “conscious effort to reshape the Department of Political Affairs into a more action-
countries and regions, sports demonstrations, a dance party and more.
in his current role by Ibrahim Gambari
“If there’s a problem that can easily be solved, it won’t come to the UN,”
and field-oriented operation that can move more quickly and help prevent conflicts from spreading.” While noting that many of the UN’s successes go unreported
including some 300 volunteers attended the nine-hour event,
in the world media, he encouraged
interested |.
House residents to consider a career there.
which raised over $7,000 for the Annual Fund.
“Nothing is more challenging or more fun than the work we do at the UN.”
Oh the Places They Go Ey
study at New York’s top universities and live at |. House
in a supportive environment that enhances their leader-
completed
of future friendships and users’ hobbies in online social
his Master’s in
networks like Facebook and MySpace.
jazz performance at the
ship and communication skills. They are future global leaders.
Manhattan
These are just a few examples of the remarkable residents of
and will be returning in the
International House and the amazing things they do.
fall to begin his doctoral
ing Katrina: African American
studies and a Performing
City and Beyond, which was pub-
Arts Fellowship at |.House.
lished in March 2009
German
multi-instrumen-
School of Music American
MacMillan
talist Christian Torkewitz, 2008-09
Artist in Residence,
by Palgrave
its third printing. The book is the
Apoorv Agarwal of India presented his research on
German Academic All-Stars
sentiment analysis at the
conducted
jazz ensemble at the Ken-
annual Conference of the European Chapter of the As-
2008 of 275 survivors of Hur-
nedy Center and the German
sociation for Computational Linguistics in Athens, Greece
ricane Katrina, and it includes
Embassy
in April.
a foreword by former president
House in Washington He recently
Voices from the Crescent
Press and is now in
will be performing with the
D.C. this summer. Christian Torkewitz
D’Ann R. Penner is the co-author of Overcom-
Apoorv Agarwal
A Ph.D. student in computer science at Columbia
University, Agarwal is currently researching the predictability
result of an oral history project by Penner from 2005-
Jimmy Carter.
D’Ann R. Penner