The Sandspur Volume 123 Issue 13

Issue 13, Volume 123 Thursday, February 2, 2017

strengths weaknesses opportunities threats

swot analysis

Page Page #2 •• SECTION OPINIONS

Lauren Waymire Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Mariano Managing Editor Micah Bradley Production Manager

CONTENT STAFF Amanda Grace Head Copy Editor Minoska Hernandez Morgan McConnell Copy Editors Eric Hilton Kalli Joslin Section Editors Christina Fuleihan Ellie Rushing Staff Writer Kalli Joslin Nolan Brewer Web Editors

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BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden

General Manager of Student Media

Dr. Bill Boles Faculty Advisor David Neitzel Business Manager Jose Araneta Student Media Graduate Assistant

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voices. The only opposition our mob of activists met in our entire journey were a few faces waiting for their next flight, trying to avoid our gazes—and these people, unlike the hundreds of protectors surrounding me, remained silent.

Show me what America looks like. This is what America looks like.

The “silent majority” seem more and more to me to be a silent few—people who would rather be well-off and alone, afraid to stir the pot or look over the horizon. Sitting passive and being pelted by news of lu-

dicrous executive orders and messages of hatred and fear can make those of us who believe that justice always wins a little tired, and a little complacent.

But on days like Sunday, when I go to lift others up in some place so familiar and close to home, I am reminded that the furthest, best, and most rewarding journey is not taken on a plane but by following the footsteps of those who have gone before you—leaving your trail for those who will follow—on the oft-shared and open-hearted road to equality.

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Women wearing the hijab, chanting while sending smiles to fellow mothers pushing strollers.

A man wrapped in a Pride flag offering memorial ribbons to crowds that will later be rallied by a boy sporting the American flag. Union members cheering into megaphones; five-year-olds coloring their first protest signs on the floor of a nightclub; a shy dog howling with the crowd crying for justice.

Tell me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like.

Sunday morning, I had the wonderful honor of walking alongside over one thousand fellow Orlando residents expressing their deep sorrow and outrage at the latest executive order banning incoming travelers from Muslim-majority nations. The rally at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) was especially effective at illustrating that our community, which suffered such a blow June 12th of last summer at Pulse nightclub, will not be blindly led into prejudice against any group—racial, ethnic, religious, orientated, abled, or otherwise.

Organizers made sure to note that all who showed were not protesters, but “protectors” of their brothers and sisters. This spirit of group accountability and trust was tangible at MCO on Sunday. At a loss after the massacre that occurred a few minutes’ drive from my high school, I attended—alone—my first rally for peace put on by the local mosque leaders in Orlando, and saw the LGBTQ+ and Islamic communities stand together in solidarity, creating a permanent bond that arose again last weekend as strangers from complete different walks of life packed themselves into the airport ter-

minal so that the world might notice their inseparability.

Even more surprising was the reaction from Orlando Police Department officers, who surrounded our caravan as we walked the property. As I passed them on my way out with the rest of the mob, I tried to offer a “thank you” for these men and women who gave up a Sunday afternoon to look after people campaigning for equality, and most of them met my gratitude with genuine smiles and restrained-but-evident pride in the City Beautiful. Travelers, too, stopped at the curb to raise their

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Established in 1894 with the following editorial:

Thursday, September 2014 Thursday, February11, 2, 2017

Page 3 • FEATURES

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Dr. Leslie Poole discusses the intersections of feminism and environmentalism Ellie Rushing

Staff Writer

Rollins College is decorated with a plethora of distinguished professors dedicated to research and scholarly work of many disciplines. With degrees from highly accredited universities around the world, Rollins professors continue to provide their students and the Winter Park community with insightful knowledge and personal experiences the campus would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Dr. Leslie Poole, a professor within the Environmental Studies department, is relatively new to Rollins, but her experience and impact in environmental journalism, history, and women’s advocacy is not. Originally entering her undergraduate years at the University of Florida as a prelaw student, Poole was inspired by movements of the 1970s to “change the world.” As she fell in love with professional writing, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in journalism. From there, she immediately began working for local newspapers, eventually ending up in Central Florida to work for the Orlando Sentinel.

Dr. Leslie Poole has always been interested in the environment, especially in the natural habitats of Florida. Her personal concern for the swampy state was molded by her family history: she is a fourth-generation Floridian. As her journalism career excelled, Dr. Poole focused more and more on covering local environmental issues, using Rollins professors as sources for quotes within her articles. However, when she gave birth to her child, she decided to go back to school and naturally chose Rollins to complete her Master’s degree in liberal education.

Because of her familial connection to the state, Dr. Poole focused her thesis project on a short environmental history report of Florida. This thesis pushed her to return to the University of Florida to earn her PhD in history, which is when she began specifically studying the role women play within environmental movements.

Within her journalism career and graduate study, Dr. Leslie Poole always noticed an underlying factor within environmental movements was the presence of female activists. However,

they rarely received credit for their dedication to the cause.

“There were always women engaged in environmental justice movements. They were always the ‘worker bees’ but never the presidents of the organizations, so their names were never glorified in the end,” said Poole.

The historical presence of women in environmental protection inspired Dr. Poole to eventually publish a book: Saving Florida: Women’s Fight for the Environment in the Twentieth Century. Former governor of Florida Buddy Mackay called the work “exciting and important,” while other highly accredited individuals deemed the piece a “brilliant exposition” that serves as a “long overdue recognition to women.”

When asked if one woman in particular inspired her work, Dr. Poole responded with the name of Marjorie Harris Carr. In 1971, Carr led a successful campaign to save Florida’s Ocklawaha River by challenging the construction of a canal that would have bisected Florida. “I admired Marjorie Carr’s brilliance and poise greatly. Not only was she able to make her work relatable

to the public, but she organized her efforts around facts. Whenever someone doubted her, she had factual evidence to support each claim.”

Dr. Poole also made it very clear that women’s involvement in making environmental change is not simply history.

The League of Women Voters continues to grow in numbers, influencing the promotion of solar panels and redistricting in Florida. Carol Browner, a Miami native, worked local government positions and eventually became head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency under Bill Clinton. Rollins has even been lucky enough to host female advocates on campus, including oceanographer and National Geographic explorer-in-residence Sylvia Earle.

Thanks to the environmental studies department, Lois Gibbs will be visiting soon; Gibbs’ efforts in Love Canal, NY saved over 800 families from being poisoned by chemical waste material buried in their backyards. Students should be sure to attend her lecture on March 22!

Recent events are threatening our environment, but wom-

en are not backing down any time soon when it comes to environmental or social justice. Just this month, the Women’s March on Washington and its sister marches made history as the largest protest the United States has ever had. Even so, one action is simply not enough. The women Dr. Leslie Poole has come to admire so greatly are successful because of their persistence.

“To make a significant change of any sort, not one demonstration can occur. Continual energy must be exerted for the cause. Everyone must work together, get women in the office. It may be uncomfortable, but we cannot sit back any longer,” said Dr. Poole. Marches generate hope, which must be used to fuel progress.

Dr. Poole ended our interview with some words to those hoping to “change the world” like she did not too long ago. “To today’s generation: be heard— in whatever the best way to be heard is. Online petition, letters to the editor, calling Senators, going to a rally, joining an organization. Find your talent and run with it to serve justice in the things you care about.”

Page Page NEWS Page #24 ••• SECTION FEATURES

Thursday, September Thursday, February11, 2, 2014 2017

Rollins community analyzes its mission and marketability Rollins’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats exercise (SWOT) aims to point out and improve the successes and failures of the college’s mission and marketability.

Micah Bradley

Production Manager

A massive campus-wide initiative, called SWOT (the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats exercise), has involved Rollins students, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees in order to analyze the college’s mission and marketability.

In the fall, over 600 individuals from different areas of Rollins completed surveys that asked them to assess the college in the areas of mission and marketability. After the individual surveys, several small groups met, and the Admitted Student Questionnaires (ASQ) were examined.

“The thing that was really nice, which you always hope for as a good qualitative researcher, is the fact that two external consulting firms who were doing independent research at the same time we were conducting the SWOTs, had the same findings,” said Dr. Toni Holbrook, Assistant Provost.

“The other thing that happens when you start having those kinds of conversations, is the whole campus starts to think strategically…We really built some consensus, we educated the community, [and] our results were validated.”

An update was given to the college in October 2016, which presented new data and strategic questions to consider. The ASQ yielded some of the most significant findings—one of the most important factors to accepted students had to do with available majors and their quality.

Students who come from other states have a varied interest in other schools across the country, since they are often looking for a liberal arts education. The direct competition for accepted Florida students is from many of the locally state funded institutions, such as UF, UCF, and FSU (see figures). These large research universities offer a very different

experience than Rollins.

“It really does have to do with educating prospective students about their choice,” said Dr. Carol Lauer, Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning.

Out of this meeting came the twelve strategic questions for 2016, which covered issues such as undergraduate curriculum, Holt School, new facilities for Crummer and CFAM, diversity, and graduation rates (see page 5). After the October meeting, twelve task forces (one of which later split into two) were formed to investigate these specific issues. Later this semester, town hall meetings will help keep the community informed about the findings of these task forces.

In early January, the Final Report on Internal and External Scans was completed. This document includes charts of the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats for both the college’s mission and marketing, and a summation of SWOT’s findings so far.

The college’s mission’s strengths include international focus, community engagement, and small classes. The weaknesses include diversity, career preparation, and driving more decisions with data—most of the opportunities involve building on these weaknesses. Listed threats include competition, cost, online offerings, and political climate.

The college’s marketing strengths include location, the pretty campus, and small class sizes. Marketing and diversity are both listed as weaknesses and opportunities. Cost and competition are both threats.

This report concludes, in part, “No one doubts the advantages of the College’s location, its beautiful campus, and the highly personalized environment its small size allows. Continued and increased focus on internationalization and community engagement are generally agreed upon as well as the need for

increased diversity and better career preparation with more access to internships. The reputation of the College is in need of refurbishing with a brand that emphasizes its commitment to the liberal arts and its academic strengths, and that distinguishes it from the large public universities with which it competes.”

The college has done strategic planning in the past—there were efforts during President Bornstein’s administration and the end of President Duncan’s administration. President Grant Cornwell has been hands-on during much of the process, something that Lauer and Holbrook both emphasized.

“Strategic planning is a dimension of leadership. Through this process we are collectively building a deep understanding of ourselves, our strengths and weaknesses, what we have to build on and what needs fixing,” said Cornwell. “All of this research and collaborative analysis informs my sense of what to focus on as president. There is no delegating work so central to my duties.”

In the coming months, The Sandspur will continue to cover SWOT, the task force findings, and the town hall meetings.

Charts (from top to bottom) Figure 1: Where students admitted to Rollins enroll (Florida residents) Figure 2: Where students admitted to Rollins enroll (Florida residents, based on net price) Figure 3: Where students admitted to Rollins enroll (Out-ofstate residents) Figure 4: Where students admitted to Rollins enroll (Outof-state residents, based on net price) Charts and “Twelve Questions for strategic development in 2016” taken with permission from the “Planning Update Slide Deck” from October, 2016.

Page 5 • FEATURES

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Twelve Questions For Strategic development One: Elaborate on the mission and balance major enrollments Two: Integration of global learning experiences THREE: MIssion and best structure for the Hamilton Holt School FOUR: New Facility for the Crummer graduate School of business and impact on Crummer’s mission and competitive position

Five: New facility for CFAM, impact on connection of art to educational experience Six: Diversity and inclusion seven: Civic Engagement, community based learning, social entrepreneurship, social innovation, and changemaking Eight: Post-graduate direction and success

Nine: On-campus residency requirements Ten: Attaining a 90% persistence rate from First to second year and 80% six-year graduation rate in Liberal Arts eleven: Transparent, rational, and fisically responsible guidelines to steward faculty compensation twelve: Data stewardship, analytics, integrity, and integration

Page 6 • FEATURES

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Zora Neale Hurston Festival unites community Rebecca Candage Web Copy Editor The 28th Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities events spanned over several days, bringing professors, activists, students, and community members together from across the country to discuss a wide range of topics based around the ongoing theme, “Communities of Color.” The first few days of lectures and discussions were based in Eatonville, Florida. Events in the Rollins College area convened from January 26 through 28, when the festival banner hung proudly across the front of Mills, inviting the Rollins and surrounding Winter Park community to conversations about issues concerning race, education, politics, and other hot-button topics present in our society.

On Thursday, January 26, Winter Park festivities began with a focus on “Civic Conversations Concerning 21st Century American Life in Communities of Color.” The day started after several opening remarks—one by our own Olin Library director, Jonathan Miller—and a morning presentation by Dr. Elenor Trayler, who spoke about the definition of community and how it influences our behavior.

Afterwards, there were several breakout sessions throughout the day. A notable presentation was the Charles Blow, New York Times columnist, interview session. Alexandra Mariano ’17, after attending the welcome and interview events, said, “I found the festival to be a… welcome source of new perspectives, all tying back in one way or another to Zora and Eatonville, a community right in our back yard. If we can’t look to our neighbors and our roots for inspiration, then where can we look?” The program also included a new feature to the festival: poster project presentations by select university students. The mentor that aided in the creation and presentation process enjoyed seeing the graduate student’s pride in their work and the smiles on their faces as they spoke to many community members, educating them on their respective topics.

The next day was centered around “Communities of Color and Their Policing” with all presentations in the St. Lawrence African Methodist Episcopal Church. One influential

speaker was Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammed, Harvard professor, who took a historical approach to how the African American community and police force have been in contact with each other since early in U.S. history.

This helped set the groundwork for other presenter’s topics and ideas, including an insightful panel of mayors from historically black towns. Muhammed and other presenters proved “really powerful” in providing a historical and cultural perspective into our community today said Trent Tomengo, professor in the Department of Humanities, History, and Modern Languages at Seminole State College. He was also duly impressed with the play presented that night starring Elizabeth Van Dyke and Joseph Lewis Edwards: “Zora Neale Hurston: A Theatrical Biography.” This show came from New York City to Orlando for a one-night only performance to support the Zora Festival and The Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community Inc. “They really made it come alive,” stated Tomengo.

Saturday, January 28 marked the last event of the festival, a wrap-up of the events and ideas brought up during the conference. Over a delicious assortment of pastries, coffee, and fruit, attendees met to discuss what transpired over the prior two days in the Bieberbach Reed conference room. Topics included the importance of citizen activism, especially in Trump’s America. When prompted to reflect on the festival, one woman explained how she was happy that people were willing to consider solutions to problems, not just hash out issues. Being from the northwestern U.S., she remarked that many of the socio-economic issues that face her city, especially the lower-class, are similar throughout the nation—including here in Orlando.

A professor talked about how he would alter his future classes to fit the new ideas and considerations he and others spoke about during the conference. These events clearly created an impact that will continue nation-wide as the scholars, students, and activists return to their home-states and begin new conversations.

These new ideas and solutions will be sure to be discussed next year; plans are in the works for the next annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival.

Photo Courtesy of Scott Cook

Pre-health meets service in Global Medical Brigades Christina Fuleihan

Staff Writer

The Rollins Global Medical Brigades chapter provides the perfect opportunity for club members and Rollins College students to participate in an annual volunteer opportunity. Any students interested in participating in nine days of service this summer are encouraged to apply. This community-service excursion involves volunteering at a free community medical/dental clinic run in a rural Honduras community and building “ecostoves” to reduce lung disease.

Dominic Pompeo, the current president of the Rollins GMB chapter, participated in the first Rollins GMB trip that took place last year: “On [last year’s] trip, four students (myself included) and our current faculty advisor, Mike Rainaldi, went to Honduras. Once there, the entire trip was very well organized.

Our clinic saw over 500 patients,

each and every person receiving antibiotics to fight common waterborne infections. Any person who desired to see a dentist was given access. Being able to help those who really need assistance is what makes the effort here at home all worth it.”

The upcoming service trip will provide a great opportunity for pre-health students to receive first-hand exposure to clinical care in a non-profit medical center. Students will also have the chance to make a real difference through volunteer work.

While there has been an active GMB chapter at Rollins for several years now, this year will mark only the second volunteer trip the group has been able to participate in. The on-campus GMB organization has raised almost $1,500 in fundraising efforts through 5K races, Spirit Nights at BurgerFi, and supply drives over the last semester to help assure that this trip can once again be possible.

All students who have availability and the desire to participate from May 16-24 should seriously consider joining in this great opportunity to augment Rollins’ mission of global citizenship and responsible leadership. As Pompeo states, “Domestic issues pale in comparison to those abroad in poorer areas of the world. Global Medical Brigades is a perfect opportunity for students who wish to do their part in combating health issues abroad.”

Students will be responsible for recording family medical histories, teaching community members about proper hygiene techniques, filling out prescriptions, and “running intake, i.e. taking blood pressure, height, weight, etc.” Pre-health students interested in joining the trip will have the opportunity to shadow consulting physicians and dentists; interested female students will also be able to shadow OBGYN care.

Page 7 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Top films usher in Oscars season Mason Fox

Columnist

Not only did winter break provide us with time to recharge, spend time with family, and enjoy the holidays, it also fell encompassed the release dates of some of the year’s best movies.

While 2016 certainly had rough patches, it was a great year for film that ended with a bang.

Three movies that stuck out to me over the winter break were La La Land, Hidden Figures, and Nocturnal Animals.

La La Land is charming, funny, and romantic film with outstanding performances by stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.

Earning a historic 14 Oscar nominations, I would certainly recommend that every movie lover

see this film. The film is the third written and directed by Damien Chazzel and was his first film since Oscar-winning Whiplash.

Set in contemporary Los Angeles, a struggling jazz purist by the name of Sebastian (Goslilng) meets Mia (Stone), an aspiring actress and play write, who is fixated on old-fashioned LA. These two meet, fight, and fall in love through a series of song and dance numbers in a way that has not been expressed through film since Singing in the Rain. La La Land is a hit for the ages, with rare originality and a classic feel.

Hidden Figures does a brilliantly job of showing the overlooked past of three brilliant African American women whose mathematic and scientific skills help shaped the course of histo-

ry. Taking place at the height of the Space Race in the late 1960s, Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) works her way from a computer at a segregated NASA to one of the leading minds on the Friendship 7 mission despite facing backlash from other colleagues over her race and gender.

Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) face similar problems as they embark on their own endeavors at NASA. These three women are portrayed by three women equally talented actresses who more than do the roles justice. Hidden Figures is without a doubt the most empowering movie of 2016. I left the theatre proud of these women and inspired by their story of overcoming the odds.

Last on the list is Nocturnal Animals. I chose this movie for the impact it had on audiences.

The film was written and directed by fashion designer Tom Ford. Ford brings his unique style of fashion design to film and the result is something completely unique. Los Angeles art gallery owner Susan Morrow (Amy Adams) receives a soonto-be published novel by her ex-husband Edward Sheffield (Jake Gyllenhaal) who she has not spoken to in two decades.

The novel is titled Nocturnal Animals and is dedicated to Susan.

The novel tells the story of Tony Hastings (also played by Gyllenhaal). As Susan is pulled into the disturbing yet gripping story, she has flashbacks to her marriage with Edward. The movie

shifts back and forth from the novel to Susan’s reality and she connects the dots from the book to their past. Tom Ford showed how ambitious he is about film making with Nocturnal Animals, yet the dark thriller falls short of a completely well-made fill.

Ford’s unique style, while appreciated, was not quite enough to make up for the shortcomings of the movie. That being said, it has audiences talking and thinking, which is more than one can say about most films in this day and age.

La La Land, Hidden Figures, and Nocturnal Animals are three films that any movie lover would appreciate. These movies will make you laugh, cry, think, and appreciate often overlooked things in life.

Actor, LGBT+ actvisit George Takei visits Rollins Kalli Joslin

Section and Web Editor

On Thursday, January 19, acclaimed Star Trek actor and social media monolith George Takei visited Rollins to speak about his experiences as an actor, a Japanese-American, and a vocal member of the LGBT+ community. His visit served as the fourth part of Winter Park Institute’s 2016-2017 series.

Before his speech, he was kind enough to hold a Q&A session in the Bieberbach-Reid room, which I was honored to moderate. He spoke on many of the same topics, but his answers were especially geared toward the room of anxious and hopeful Rollins students looking for ways to make a positive impact in 2017.

His spirited energy and captivating presence instantly put the room at ease, and the tangential nature of his answers brought about stories and laughter that felt like a conversation with old friends.

Allie Furlong ’20 asked a question that was undoubtedly on everybody’s minds the night before Donald Trump was inaugurated as our 45th president: “How can we, as college students, make a positive impact

on the world like you have?”

His answer was at once satisfying and completely unexpected.

He said that while the easiest answer was social media, and sharing thoughts and ideas with a mix of humor is always a good way to reach large numbers of people, we should not stop there.

“We need people that are informed,” he said. He told us to go out into the community and find other people working to make change; he used interning for a political campaign as a personal example. At the end, he outlined the need for compassionate, dedicated politicians and urged students to run for public office to make real, lasting changes at the local, state, national, and global levels.

Sadly, the Q&A lasted only an hour, but was bookended with selfies and autographs. His later session in the Warden Arena of the Alfond Sports Center was a much larger affair; lines spilled out of the building and into the parking lot as Winter Park Institute volunteers struggled to adapt to a new ticketing system. The event started slightly later than planned due to the confusion, but the audience did not seem to mind once Mr. Takei took the stage.

Again, the easy and conver-

sational tone in his voice guided the audience through major points in his 79-year life, from the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II in his childhood, to his starring role in the original Star Trek series, to his experience coming out as a gay man. He had many kind words to say about Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek’s producer, and his concept of “infinite diversity in infinite combinations.”

Even so, he remained a closeted member of the LGBT+ community for over 30 years after his run on Star Trek ended. He was

afraid to risk his career for the sake of being out, a fate he had seen happen to actor Tab Hunter when he was younger.

A proud Californian, his moment finally arrived in 2005 when then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a gay marriage bill despite running on a platform of equality and acceptance. Saying “I had a good enough career. Maybe it’s time I spoke up,” Mr. Takei came out publicly and blasted Schwarzenegger for his duplicity. Since then, he has been one of the most highly visible gay rights

advocates in America.

Despite his fame, Mr. Takei still struggles with the often demoralizing anti-immigrant and anti-LGBT+ sentiments that seem to be increasing since the election. In one of the most powerful moments of his speech, he urged his audience to never lose hope. “Sometimes I get tired,” he said, “but I don’t get disappointed.” Above all, he wants us to keep embracing and celebrating the infinite diversity in infinite combinations that can be found across America today—an honorable and timely lesson.

Photo courtesy of Scott Cook

Page 8 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Winter With the Writers returns for Spring 2017 Jojo Peloquin

Writer

As the 8th president of Rollins College, Hamilton Holt established Winter With the Writers as an idea to support the literary arts and those thriving within them. Since 1927, Rollins College has hosted Winter With the Writers to support and showcase the lives of different authors across the country.

The buildup to an author’s arrival is spent preparing for their presentations. Within the Rollins English department, many of the professors will purposefully use some of the incoming authors’ works as class material to spark interest in the authors’ canons.

Rollins also encourages the Winter Park community and the rest of Central Florida to attend talkbacks. The goal for Winter With the Writers is to encourage and celebrate literary experiences throughout the United States.

Winter With the Writers is

directed by Professor Carol Frost, an established and writer, poet, and professor at Rollins College.

Carol Frost books authors and hires around fifteen interns from the student body each year to participate in the program.

For 2017, Sianna Boschetti ‘18, Joy Camacho, Martin Cardenas ‘17, Caitlin Cherniak ‘17, Michael Dulman ‘17, Ingrid Egeli ‘17, Iman Gareeboo ‘17, Alexandra Holt ‘17, Shunaita Kabir ‘18, Morgan McConnell ‘18, Alexandra Mariano ‘17, Juan Diego Medrano ‘17, and Katherine Stefanski ‘17 have all been chosen to help facilitate Winter with the Writers.

Morgan McConnell said, “There is a lot to look forward to this semester! My fellow committee members and I will be responsible for updating the WWW Facebook page and writing articles for the festival’s website.”

They will update followers with upcoming events like Q&As, awards that incoming writers win, and when authors

will be presenting on campus. All of the interns are looking forward to different writers coming; becoming an intern allows students the opportunity to meet the many writers, some of which they may already admire. McConnell stated that she is looking forward to Susan Orlean because she has been a large admirer of Orlean’s work.

For the 2017 semester, Susan Orlean will be joined by Peter Meinke, David Kirby, Chris Abani, Jay Hopler, and Chris Bachelder in the February WWW lineup.

All are accomplished: Jay Hopler and Chris Bachelder were finalists in the 2016 National Awards; Susan Orlean is a New York Times bestselling author; Peter Meinke “is Poet Laureate of Florida,” meaning the Florida Council of Arts and Culture chose him to promote writing and interest in literature statewide. Susan Orleans will kick off Winter With the Writers on Feb. 2.

Photo courtesy of Gaspar Tringal

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Candage, ‘20

Olga Kern dazzles at Tiedtke Hall Sunday afternoon’s recital left the audience in awe of the Russian pianist’s transcent skill.

Esteban Meneses

Writer

A stunning stage presence enhanced Olga Kern’s worldclass artistry on Sunday afternoon’s recital at Rollins College’s Tiedtke Hall. The eminent Russian-American pianist inaugurated this year’s Visiting Artists Series of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park.

Dressed in a slim-fit, mermaid-cut black-and-yellow dress, adorned with sequins that scintillated like the carillon notes from her right hand, Kern demonstrated an assured affinity for the early 20th-century piano literature of her native Russia.

With a program dominated by Rachmaninoff, Kern’s recital— her second at the Bach Festival— allowed her to showcase the dual

ruggedness and tenderness of the composer’s etudes, preludes, and miniatures.

Kern, 41, has spearheaded a remarkable career as a soloist since winning the gold medal in the Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2001; she was the first woman in more than thirty years to earn that distinction.

Kern’s strength lies in balancing smoothly-running arpeggiated chords—especially when executed by the left hand—underneath a clear melodic line in the right.

She took Rachmaninoff’s etude tableaux No. 9 with hammer-like athleticism and a defined staccato touch, which demarcated and brought out the thematic material. By joining the chordal accompaniment and

melodies in an effortless, dreamlike context, as in the soft etude tableaux No. 8, she brought to life the score’s interconnected lines.

The sound world that emanated from Tiedtke’s grand piano was so lush and disembodied—as if inhabiting a world of its own—that it almost made the pianist’s superb technical prowess illusory.

Kern polished and dwelled in the formal structure of the Russian repertoire, using resounding bass block chords— sustained by the pedal—and creating angelic resolutions on the softer end of the piano’s dynamic range.

Time and again the flowing broken-chord figures, and the intensity of the performer’s lyricism, were captivating.

The pianist then took the full house at Tiedtke on a trip across the Atlantic, from Russia to George Gershwin’s Tin Pan Alley of the 1920s in New York—a starkly different sound world.

A New York City resident, Kern shared in her opening remarks that the Gershwin selections—they included preludes and etudes—were a personal tribute to her recently-acquired American citizenship.

Gershwin’s jazzy syncopations drive the rhythm of his preludes; Kern seemed to vamp jauntily along to the melodies, relishing on the cartoonish flavor of the offbeat-heavy rhythm.

Kern closed the program with the dazzlingly virtuosic Islamey, by Mily Balakirev (also Russian, one of “The Mighty Five”), which she introduced as

“one of the most difficult pieces for piano”—hardly an overstatement. Undaunted, she grasped the fierce tempo with clockwork precision.

The showmanship of the incessant flurry of activity— chromatic lines, and rising and falling double glides in octaves, among others—did not impede her from stressing inner voices to reveal the full range of musicality spread out across the laborious texture that makes up Islamey.

It was a weighty end to the program, which the four brief encores, for all their splashy virtuosity, could not surpass.

The Bach Festival next presents organist Todd Wilson, on February 17, at Rollins’ Knowles Memorial Chapel. Visit bachfestivalflorida.org for all details.