Chinese Diplomat Speaks on US-China Relations Tuesday

Chestertown, MD — As China continues to emerge as an economic and political force, its relationship with the United States evolves. KunShen Zhang, executive aide to the Ambassador of China in the United States will speak about that relationship at 7 p.m., Tues., Nov. 2, in the Hynson Lounge at Washington College. His lecture, "U.S.-China Relations: Present and Future Issues" is free and open to the public.

Zhang holds a Ph.D. in political science from Peking University. Since 1998 he has served as the first Secretary in the Political Analysis Section of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. His talk is sponsored by the Washington College International Relations Club.

Jordanian Ambassador to speak at Washington College

Chestertown, MD — The late King Hussein's quest for lasting peace will be the topic when Dr. Marwan Jamil Muasher, Jordanian Ambassador to the United States, speaks on Thurs., Nov. 18 at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. Dr. Muasher's lecture, titled "Jordan's Path to Peace: King Hussein's Legacy," will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Casey Academic Center Forum.

Hussein, who succumbed to cancer earlier this year, ruled Jordan for 46 years and gained wide acclaim for moving Jordan and its neighbors toward peace with Israel. He has been lauded for remaining committed to a lasting peace in the Middle East, infusing humanity and substance into his peace-making endeavors, and magnifying Jordan's role in international relations despite the complexities inherent in the peace process.

Ambassador to the United States since 1997, Dr. Muasher has served as Jordanian Minister of Information, Ambassador to Israel, Director of the Jordan Information Bureau, a political columnist, press advisor to the Jordanian prime minister, and spokesman and member of the Jordanian Delegation to the Middle East Peace Talks. As a member of the Jordanian Delegation to the Middle East peace process, he has intimate knowledge of how the late king handled the conflicting interests of Arab nations.

Dr. Muasher's talk is sponsored by the Goldstein Program in Public Affairs. It is free and open to the public.

Best-selling Author Brings Citizen Washington Alive in Reading

Chestertown, MD — William Martin, whose book "Citizen Washington" has received five-star reviews from readers, reads from and signs the work at 1:30 p.m., Saturday Oct. 30, at the Casey Academic Center Forum at Washington College, Chestertown, Md.. The event is free and open to the public.

Citizen Washington is a fictional account of a young reporter's search to discover George Washington's true nature shortly after Washington's death, as one character says, before the truth goes "up in smoke." The reporter, Christopher Draper, interviews people who can tell him what they have observed and thought of "America's first icon." His interviewees range from Jacob, a slave at Mount Vernon, to such famous figures as Alexander Hamilton, the marquis de Lafayette, and even Lady Washington herself. In his book, Martin pieces together a wide-lens, multifaceted portrait of citizen Washington, speaking through the voices of his various "testifiers."

In this, the 200th year since Washington's death, the reading by Martin is particularly apt. A Washington College graduate wrote of the book, "As an alumnus of Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, which was founded by a financial donation from George Washington in 1782, I have a special spot in my heart for this man, made more special by this book. By the end of the book I admired Washington more because he was human."

William Martin is the best-selling author of "Back Bay," "Cape Cod," and "Annapolis." He is also the author of the PBS documentary "George Washington: The Man Who Wouldn't Be King." A native of Boston, he graduated from Harvard and received his M.F.A. from the University of Southern California. His other novels include "The Rising of the Moon" and "Nerve Ending."

Allen Hammond, Author & Director of Strategic Analysis for World Resources Institute, to Speak on Environmental Issues

Chestertown, MD — Will the 21st century bring peace and prosperity or decay and destruction? Scientist and author Allen Hammond will probe these and other environmental issues when he speaks at 7:30 p.m. on Thurs., Oct. 28 in Litrenta Lecture Hall at Washington College, Chestertown, Md. His lecture is entitled "Environmental Issues for the 21st Century."

Senior scientist and director of Strategic Analysis for the World Resources Institute in Washington, D.C., Hammond is the author of Which World? Scenarios for the 21st Century. In Which World? Hammond examines the consequences of current social, economic, and environmental trends to construct three possible worlds that could await us in the future: Market World, in which free markets, private enterprise, and global market integration increase economic fortune; Fortress World, in which social and economic gaps widen and chaos emerges; and Transformed World, where social, political, and economic factors create a more harmonious and prosperous society.

Hammond holds degrees from both Stanford University and Harvard University. Prior to joining the World Resources Institute, he created the Research News section of the international journal Science and went on to found and edit such national publications as Science 80-86, Issues in Science and Technology, and Information Please Environmental Almanac. He also broadcast a daily, nationally syndicated radio program for five years and has written and edited 10 books. As WRI's senior scientist, he works to implement institute-wide advances in the use of analytical methods and information tools for policy research; studies environmental and sustainable development indicators; develops web-based communication tools; and writes on and researches long-term sustainability issues.

Hammond's talk is sponsored by the McLain Program in Environmental Studies. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Washington College Student Speaks About "Operation Smile"

Chestertown, MD — Erin Tottenham, a senior English major who interned last summer with Operation Smile in Norfolk, Va., and Lima, Peru, will talk about her experience in an illustrated lecture, at 7 p.m. Weds. Oct. 20 in the Casey Academic Center Forum.

"For a long time, I have wanted to join the Peace Corps after I graduate, and this organization seemed phenomenal," she says. "They reach out to poor, developing, disease-ridden countries. The children they help deserve to be relieved of at least one of their burdens." She said she wanted to be picked for the internship as soon as she heard it was available.

Tottenham noted that the children served by Operation Smile are often considered within their cultures to be not just handicapped, but cursed. "I was taught and fully believe everyone has a purpose on this earth. These children have so much weight on their shoulders, and sometimes these deformities cause them to be ostracized--one more difficulty in their already hard lives," she says. Her values of acceptance and the mission of Operation Smile meshed, "It was an amazing experience--difficult and beautiful. The children, families and the volunteers and staff were very warm and welcoming. I was privileged to take part in such selfless philanthropic efforts."

Washington College is the first school to establish an internship program with Operation Smile, which are funded by 1968 alum Richard Holstein, a pediatric dentist. A not-for-profit, volunteer medical services organization, Operation Smile offers reconstructive facial surgery to indigent children and young adults in 16 developing countries and in the United States and is based in Norfolk, Va. Since 1982, Operation Smile has treated 50,000 children here and abroad.

Schottland Founds Business Leadership Award at Washington College

Chestertown, MD — Citing the need to foster innovation and excellence in American business, Stanley A. Schottland, retired CEO and Chairman of American Packaging Corporation, has established the Schottland Business Leadership Award at Washington College.

Worth a total of $75,000 over the next five years, the award grants one graduating senior $5,000 in cash, with the promise of an additional $10,000 toward graduate school at an accredited business college. Award winners must accept a position within an American corporation for at least two years, after which they will be eligible for the $10,000 tuition grant. Second and third place awardees receive grants of $1,000 each upon graduation.

The Schottland Business Leadership Award competition is open to any Washington College student who meets the academic, moral and leadership criteria. Applicants are judged by a three-member panel comprising a member of the business management department, Mr. Schottland and a representative of an American corporation.

The first Schottland Business Leadership Awards will be granted this spring. Applications must be submitted by February 1, 2000, and are available from Washington College's Department of Business Management.

Millennium Symposium Examines 21st Century Choices

Chestertown, MD — "Reflecting on the Past and Anticipating the Future: A Symposium on The Millennium," will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Saturday Oct. 30, at the Norman James Theatre at Washington College, Chestertown, Md. The symposium features lectures and wide-ranging discussions reflecting on the past and the important issues that affect the future--scientific advances, demographic shifts, and increased demands upon the world's natural resources.

Speakers include Robert Fallaw, Everett E. Nuttle professor of history at Washington College, with an address on the last millennium; Allen Hammond, senior scientist at and director of Strategic Analysis for the World Resources Institute in Washington, D.C., speaking on private sector involvement in solving global environmental problems; Vivian Klaff, associate professor of sociology at the University of Delaware, who will talk about population issues; and Sir John Maddox, former editor of Nature and a physicist, who will speak on the future of science. The symposium will be moderated by Davy McCall, lecturer in economics emeritus at Washington College. A roundtable discussion moderated by David Newell, professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy, will follow the presentations.

The symposium is endorsed by the Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000 an is open to the public. Registration is $20; lunch is $8.50. For more information or to reserve a ticket, please call 410-778-7221.

Halloween Parade Returns to Chestertown

Chestertown, MD — Thanks to Washington College students and the Chestertown Lions Club, Draculas, Frankensteins, and fairy princesses will parade down High Street once again in the town's Halloween Parade. Washington College Student Government President Katherine D. Mahoney says, "We're very interested in keeping good relations with the town, so we jumped at the chance to work with the Lions Club to bring back the parade."

The parade takes place during Washington College's Fall Family Day. "We wanted to focus on the family and bring together all facets of the community on every level. The parade has a lot of support in town," says Mahoney.

The parade kicks off at 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 30. At 4:30 p.m., parade watchers and participants are invited to a Town and Gown reception in Fountain Park, hosted by the Parents Council of Washington College. Among those parading will be children from day care centers; elementary, middle, and high school students; college students and sports teams; and the Washington College homecoming courts and class floats.

"A Land to Die For" Author to Speak at Washington College

Chestertown, MD — The battle over land in the Brazilian Amazonian rain forest has been a deadly one for people and the forest. Author Binka Le Breton will present a slide-lecture at the Washington College International House Lounge about the struggle's consequences for the rain forest and the people who claim it. She speaks at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Her talk is free and open to the public.

Le Breton, a British journalist who lectures worldwide on environmental issues and human rights, also co-directs the Iracumbi Rainforest Research Center in Brazil with her husband, Robin. She is the author of "A Land to Die For,"published in 1997. Her lecture is sponsored by the International House at Washington College.

Distinguished Computer Scientist Helps College Celebrate New Major

Chestertown, MD — Jack Minker, who helped establish the study of computer science at the University of Maryland in 1974, will speak at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at Washington College. In his talk on the history and development of digital computers through the 1950s, Minker will trace the scientific advances that ledto the development of the modern electronic computer, starting with Euclid and Aristotle and including the surprising influence of the Jacquard Loom for weaving patterns in cloth. He will discuss the controversy over who developed the first digital computer, the influence of founders such as Admiral Grace Hopper and Alan Turing, and the role that computers played in code breaking during World War II. His slide-lecture is free and open to the public.

Minker appears as part of Washington College's celebration of its newly announced major in computer science, previously offered as a minor at the school. Assistant Professor Austin Lobo says, "Washington College is committed to a strong computer science major grounded in a liberal arts tradition that values the historical perspective. Dr. Minker is a recognized expert in computer science as well as an elder statesman in the field. We're proud to have him speak on campus."

Minker is professor emeritus at the University of Maryland College Park in the Department of Computer Science and the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies. He has written more than 160 technical articles for refereed journals, books and conferences and is considered the founder of several fields within the computer science. He is also a tireless worker for human rights.

Maryland Association Honors Educational Excellence at October Meeting

Chestertown, MD — When the Maryland Association of Higher Education convenes at Washington College on Oct. 15, attendees can look forward to more than standard conference fare. They'll be treated to a showcase of exemplary educational programs from around the state, one of which includes following the Mongol hordes at Washington College. The hordes aren't roaming the campus. They're safely confined to an animated Web-based map, one of several Assistant Professor Clayton Black uses in his course on early Russian history. The College's use of Web technology in instruction was chosen as an exemplary program by the association.

Eleven Washington College professors work with Nancy Cross, instructional technologist, and Gerry Waterson, assistant director of academic computing, to develop Web-based courses. Their initiatives and computer software training for the faculty and staff of the College are funded by $300,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that supports cost-effective use of technology in teaching. Black says that Web-based instructional technology enables his students to visualize subtle historical points and encourages them to present their best writing for papers posted on the course site.

Also recognized at the conference will be programs from the University of Maryland, College Park; Prince George's Community College; Carroll Community College; Frostburg State University; and Salisbury State University.

Members of the Maryland Association of Higher Education exchange ideas for improving higher education in the state. At the Oct. 15 conference, the MAHE will also announce the winner of its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Italian Renaissance Scholar To Lecture at Washington College

Chestertown, MD — Author and lecturer David S. Chambers of the Warburg Institute, University of London, will deliver a slide presentation and lecture at 4:30 p.m., Thursday Oct. 14, in the Hynson Lounge at Washington College.

An excellent and entertaining speaker, Chambers will discuss how the work of 19th-century scholar and literary artist Frederich Gregorovius embodies ideas of Renaissance Rome. Over a period of 15 years, Gregorovius wrote an 8-volume history still consulted by Italian Renaissance scholars and considered the best account of the medieval and Renaissance Rome by one man.

Chambers' most recent book, "Clean Hands and Rough Justice," closely examines an investigating magistrate in Renaissance Italy. He has written and edited many books and essays on medieval and early modern Italy. The Warburg Institute of the University of London exists to further the study of the classical tradition, defined as those elements of European thought, literature, art and institutions that derive from the ancient world.

"Gregorovius and the Idea of Renaissance Rome," sponsored by the Friends of the Miller Library, is free and open to the public.

Author/Environmentalist Myron Arms speaks at Washington College Oct. 13

Chestertown, MD — Myron Arms, author of Riddle of the Ice and Cathedral of the World, will discuss his sea experiences and global warming at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 13, at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.

In Cathedral of the World, published in 1999, Arms writes, "The ocean's wounds can cause a sailor to weep, not for what humanity may have lost in terms of natural beauty or raw materials or food production but for the ocean itself complete and alone . . . " He suggests, "We need the forests and the oceans as they are if we are to have a planet that is habitable, not only for fish and birds and monkeys and spiders, but for human beings as well."

Arms has voyaged more than 100,000 sea miles and has led seven sail-training expeditions to northern Canada, Greenland, and the Arctic. His writing about the sea has been likened to that of naturalist John Muir, who wrote about America's forests, and writer Edward Abbey, who lived in and wrote about the western deserts.

Arms and his wife, Kay, live on a farm overlooking the Sassafras River. The free slide presentation and lecture will take place in Hynson Lounge and is open to the public. Arms' appearance is sponsored by Washington College's Society of Junior Fellows.