Friday, October 28, 2005

Where the Wild Things Are: Renowned Nature Artist to Speak on Painting in the Great Outdoors, November 9

Chestertown, MD, October 28, 2005 — Washington College's Joseph H. McLain Program in Environmental Studies presents "Painting the Environment: A Lifetime of Adventure," a lecture by artist Julie Jeppsen, Wednesday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the College's Litrenta Lecture Hall of the Toll Science Center. The event is free and open to the public.

An acclaimed oil painter, Jeppsen specializes in her vivid depictions of nature scenes involving horses, bears, wolves, and other wildlife.

Growing up under the open skies of Wyoming and Utah, she developed an early appreciation of nature and notes, "Being outdoors inspires me to paint." A firm believer that nature is the best teacher of color, lighting, value, and composition, Jeppsen paints with live models, be they pointing golden retrievers by the side of a river or charging bears in the open wood.

Characterized by bold colors, applied wet on wet, Jeppsen's work has appeared in annual art shows across the nation, including the Russell Show in Great Falls, Montana, and the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, South Carolina.

A Color-Blind Society: Myth or Reality? Discussion November 3

Chestertown, MD, October 28, 2005 — Washington College's Center For The Study of Black Culture is sponsoring a discussion series titled, "A Color-Blind Society: Myth or Reality?" The first forum will take place on Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the Hynson Study Lounge. The entire campus is invited to participate.

The purpose of the discussion series is to heighten community awareness of contemporary racial identity issues, provide a safe place for students to openly reflect and honestly discuss these issues, and initiate a dialogue that will lead to a more unified and trusting campus community.

Two forums—one for fall, one for spring-have been designed specifically to engage Washington College students. This Thursday, representatives of student organizations will to come together and share their experiences dealing with (or not having to deal with) racial and ethnic identities in their clubs, sororities, fraternities, and athletic teams.

For more information, e-mail mstevens2@washcoll.edu, or contact Nina Wilson, Diversity Advisor, at ext. 7457 or nwilson3@washcoll.edu.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Art Scholar Investigates Turner's Slave Ship, November 9

Chestertown, MD, October 27, 2005 — Washington College's C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, in conjunction with the Department of Art, presents as part of the American Pictures Series, "Turner's Slave Ship as American Picture: Color and Painting in New York City at the End of Reconstruction," a lecture by Eric Rosenberg, Wednesday, November 9, at 4:30 p.m. in the College's Hynson Lounge. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.

Rosenberg will discuss Joseph Mallord William Turner's famous painting, The Slave Ship(Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), which was embroiled in Reconstruction-era controversies over the direction of American art and social relations when it was exhibited in New York City between 1872 and 1876. As a result of the painting's extremism of technique and subject matter, anxieties arose regarding the importance of color as a cultural marker and indication of identity.

Rosenberg, who is Chair of Art History at Tufts University, specializes in modern and contemporary American art and is the author of articles appearing in several journals and exhibition catalogs, including Art History, Appendx, Friedle Dzubas: Critical Painting, and Art History and its Institutions.

The lecture is part of the American Pictures Series, which examines individual works to reveal their historic and artistic meaning. Past lectures have featured artists ranging from Gilbert Stuart to Mark Rothko. The series is cosponsored by the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and the Department of Art at Washington College. Drawing on the special historical strengths of Washington College and Chestertown, the C.V. Starr Center is dedicated to exploring the early republic, the rise of democracy, and the manifold ways in which the founding era continues to shape American culture.

For news about upcoming events at the C.V. Starr Center, visithttp://starrcenter.washcoll.edu/, or by call Program Manager Kees de Mooy at 410-810-7156.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Tea Party Crashers? Professor's Course, Student's Research Raise Historical Questions

Chestertown, MD, October 26, 2005 — When junior Erin Koster—a history, American studies, and secondary education major from Tranquility, New Jersey—took C. V. Starr Scholar Adam Goodheart's course "Chestertown's America" last year a Washington College, she didn't know that historical research can sometimes stir people's passions, especially in a 300-year-old colonial town like Chestertown, Maryland.

Assisting Goodheart with his research on the famed 1774 Chestertown Tea Party, an event celebrated by the town every May with a reenactment on the Chester River, Koster discovered that history is not always as it seems and can be more complex than we imagine it. As George Washington once wrote, "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily," and that is what Goodheart and Koster did.

The results of their research have just been published in the Autumn 2005 of The American Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa's quarterly academic journal.

Read "Tea and Fantasy: Fact, Fiction, and Revolution in an American Town" (PDF).

Cloak & Dagger, Written by Senior Brian Cornelius, Premieres on the WC Stage, November 4 and 5

Chestertown, MD, October 26, 2005 — Washington College's Drama Department presents "Cloak & Dagger," a senior playwriting thesis by Brian C. Cornelius and directed by Carrie Chapter, Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5, at 8 p.m. in the College's Tawes Theatre.

Marking Cornelius' playwriting debut, "Cloak & Dagger" focuses on a young, struggling writer who unwittingly falls into a web of espionage. As the story unravels, he becomes at odds with the truth in the outside world and within himself. According to Cornelius, "Initially, I saw Cloak & Dagger as a cinematic story but, as I developed it for the stage, it allowed me to flesh out the characters and really explore them."

Impressed by Cornelius' vision and outcome, director Carrie Chapter notes, "The whole experience of putting this play together has been very fresh and intriguing. It's thrilling to be a part of this premiere play."

No reservations are required and the public is invited to attend this free performance. For show information, call 410-778-7835 or e-mail drama_tickets@washcoll.edu.

Philosopher Sheds Light on the Postmodern Ego, November 3

Chestertown, MD, October 26, 2005 — Washington College's Department of English, Department of Philosophy, and Philosophy Club, with help from the Sophie Kerr Commitee, present "The State of the Postmodern Ego," a lecture by Dr. John Hurley, Thursday, November 3, at 4:30 p.m. at the Rose O'Neill Literary House. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.

A professor of philosophy at the University of Hartford, Hurley will discuss the four well-known themes in the postmodern movement—its interdisciplinary structure, its dearth of grand narratives, the absence of a logocentric deus ex machina, and the virtual status of the human body—as they relate to literary criticism. He will also relay his belief that the underlying state of the postmodern ego embraces the full implication of the cogito in all of its forms.

Hurley is the author of two philosophy-focused novels, Diary of the Attending Rays (Potes & Poets Press, 1999) and Those Brownsville Blues (Potes & Poets Press, 2001).

The talk is sponsored by the Sophie Kerr Committee, which works to carry on the legacy of the late Sophie Kerr, a writer from Denton, Md., whose generosity has done so much to enrich Washington College's literary culture. When she died in 1965, Kerr left the bulk of her estate to the College, specifying that one half of the income from her bequest be awarded every year to the senior showing the most "ability and promise for future fulfillment in the field of literary endeavor" and the other half be used to bring visiting writers to campus, to fund scholarships, and to help defray the costs of student publications.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

WC's Nu Delta Alpha Honor Society Steps out for Community Dance

Chestertown, MD, October 25, 2005 — Washington College's Dance Honor Society, Nu Delta Alpha, announces, "Get Up and Dance," their Second Annual Community Dance Day, Saturday, November 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the College's Johnson Lifetime Fitness Center.

The free event is open to children K-8 and no prior dance experience is necessary.

Under the direction of Professor Karen Smith, the members of Nu Delta Alpha will offer instruction in hip-hop, Broadway dance, and creative movement. As an additional community service project, Alicia Moore, chapter president, and other members of the society will be teaching dance classes to students at Garnett Elementary and Kent County High School on November 2.

Nu Delta Alpha is a nationally recognized dance society that attracts students with a desire to pursue dance beyond actual movement. The society places an emphasis on honor and recognizes academic achievements, technical performance abilities, community service, and scholarly achievement related to the field of dance.

Monday, October 24, 2005

Quake Shakes Washington College Stage, October 28 & 29

Chestertown, MD, October 24, 2005 — Washington College's Drama Department presents "Quake," a senior thesis directed by Mali Royer and written by Melanie Marnich, October 28 and 29, at 8 p.m. in the College's Tawes Theatre. No reservations are required and the public is invited to attend this free event. For show information, call 410-778-7835 or e-mail drama_tickets@washcoll.edu.

Searching for the love of her life, Lucy, played by senior Julianne Marton, embarks on a cross-country trip and establishes several fleeting and eccentric relationships along the way. Eventually her quest entwines with a quirky female serial killer, portrayed by freshman Christina Carty, and her adventure takes on a new dimension as they explore the problems associated with human connection and the frailty of love.

Director Mali Royer notes, "I'm simply in love with the characters. The first time I read the script, the characters were hilarious and quirky and genuine, and I wanted to bring them to life."

Hailed by critics for her poetic dialogue and surreal romantic humor, playwright Melanie Marnich "deconstructs the ordinary and typical in order to find beauty" in this thought-provoking play.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Washington Post Columnist David Broder Asks "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?" at November 1 Talk

Chestertown, MD, October 20, 2005 — Washington College's Harwood Lecture Series in American Journalism presents Washington Post columnist and political observer David S. Broder on "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?", Tuesday, November 1, at 7:00 p.m. in the College's Hynson Lounge. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

A national correspondent covering the political scene for The Washington Post, Broder writes a twice-weekly column that covers the broader aspects of American political life. The column, syndicated by The Washington Post Writers Group, appears in more than 300 newspapers across the globe. Broder was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in May 1973 for distinguished commentary and has been named "Best Newspaper Political Reporter" by Washington Journalism Review.

A survey for Washingtonian magazine found that Broder was rated "Washington's most highly regarded columnist" by both editorial-page editors and members of Congress, leading 16 others in ratings for "overall integrity, factual accuracy and insight." In 1990, a survey by Washingtonian magazine of the opinion-page editors of the largest 200 newspapers rated Broder as "Best Reporter," "Hardest Working," and "Least Ideological" among some 123 columnists. Media critic Ron Powers on CBS-TV said, "Broder is not famous like Peter Jennings, he's not glamorous like Tom Brokaw, but underneath that brown suit there is a superman."

Before joining the Post in 1966, Broder covered national politics for The New York Times(1965-66), The Washington Star (1960-65), and Congressional Quarterly (1955-60). He has covered every national campaign and convention since 1960, traveling up to 100,000 miles a year to interview voters and report on the candidates. He is a regular commentator on CNN'sInside Politics and makes regular appearances on NBC's Meet the Press and Washington Week on PBS.

Washington College's Harwood Lecture Series in American Journalism was established to honor the distinguished career of late Washington Post columnist and ombudsman Richard Harwood, who served as a trustee and a lecturer in journalism at the College. Recent speakers in the series have included such political and media figures as Karl Rove, Howard Dean, Robert Novak, John McCain, James Carville, Judy Woodruff, Al Hunt, Mark Shields, and Paul Gigot.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Charitable Giving: New End-of-Year Tax Opportunities for Donors

A Special Gift Opportunity for 2005 Only

Chestertown, MD, October 19, 2005 — When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region, tens of thousands of Americans were left homeless. Thousands of Americans volunteered and gave to support those in desperate need.

As the recovery process began, Congress recognized that all American charities would need support. In order to assist charities in this time of great need, Congress changed the charitable deduction rules. Cash gifts for any purpose given between August 28 and December 31, 2005, are deductible up to double the normal charitable level. Cash gifts for the rest of 2005 will be generally deductible up to your full income.

Major Cash Gifts in 2005

Some of our friends may consider this to be an excellent time for a special major cash gift. Keep in mind, your gift does not need to be specifically for Katrina relief. You may wish to complete a pledge to Washington College or support a special purpose such as the Washington Fund or the 1782 Society. We are appreciative that some of our friends may wish to make a much larger gift, possibly doubling the level of their normal contribution.

IRA Gift Withdrawals Possible

Another option made possible by the change in rules for the last three months of 2005 is an IRA withdrawal gift. You may have a large IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or other qualified retirement plan. With the ability to deduct charitable gifts up to your full income, you can take a withdrawal from your IRA, give that amount to the College and take a deduction for the full value. Those who choose to do an IRA withdrawal gift will either be from a state that does not have an income tax or one that allows a charitable deduction similar to the federal rules. Some states follow federal laws and may permit the 100% deduction for the last three months of this year.

Most IRA donors will also want to keep their federal adjusted gross income under $145,950. Above this amount, there may be a reduction in the value of your itemized federal deductions.

Act soon for greatest benefit

Time spent reviewing your tax and financial affairs this fall may bring unexpected benefits to you as well as your charitable interests. Check with your advisors about the best ways to take advantage of special giving opportunities. Keep in mind that everyone's circumstances are different and state and federal tax laws may affect your plans. As always, we will be pleased to assist you in any way possible.

Contact Don Moore
Senior Development Officer
Major and Planned Gifts
dmoore2@washcoll.edu

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Prominent Neuroscientist to Speak on the Potential Therapeutic Utility of Stem Cells, October 19

Chestertown, MD, October 18, 2005 — Washington College's Department of Psychology, Pre-Med Committee, Beta Beta Beta, Sigma Xi, and From One Family to Another (FOFTA), with major support from the Daniel Z. Gibson/John A. Wagner and Special Events and Visitors Funds, present "Embryonic Stem Cells," a lecture by Dr. John Wood McDonald, III, October 19 at 7 p.m. in the College's Litrenta Lecture Hall of the Toll Science Building. The event is free and open to the public.

Director of the Kennedy Krieger International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, McDonald is a leading scientist in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) and therapeutic interventions for individuals with resulting paralysis. While overseeing the development of a wide range of multidisciplinary approaches to the treatment of SCI, his research focuses on the advancement of interventions to reduce spinal cord injury, promote remyelination, enhance regeneration, and encourage recovery of function.

At the University of Washington in St. Louis, McDonald spearheaded the development of the "activity-based restoration" (ABR) therapies designed to help patients with long-term spinal cord injuries recover sensation, movement, and independence. ABR therapy has been publicly credited for producing the substantial recovery by actor/activist Christopher Reeve prior to his death.

Monday, October 17, 2005

Creation, with a Twist: Drama Department Presents The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, October 21 and 22

Chestertown, MD, October 17, 2005 — Washington College's Drama Department presents its first senior thesis production of the season with The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, written by Paul Rudnick and directed by senior Kate Amann, October 21 and 22, at 8 p.m. in the College's Tawes Theatre. No reservations are required and the public is invited to attend this free event. Donations will be collected at the box office to benefit local AIDs outreach and education.

For show information, call 410-778-7835 or e-mail drama_tickets@washcoll.edu.

Revamping the traditional stories of the creation of the world, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Toldasks the question, "What the world would be like had God made Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve?" The play opens with the Stage Manager, who may or may not be God, cueing the creation of the world, and follows the "first" couples-Adam and Steve, and Jane and Mabel-from the Garden of Eden to modern-day Manhattan. Although the cast of nine cleverly tackles the politically incorrect and often shocking humor of Paul Rudnick, the play deals with weighty issues such as the meaning of life, the despair of AIDs, and the existence of God.

Director Kate Amann ultimately believes the show examines "faith and the fact that you don't have to base your faith around what someone else has written down or in the frame of conventional religion in order for it to work for you."

Dashboard Confessional to play Washington College's Lifetime Fitness Center November 5

Chestertown, MD, October 17, 2005 — Washington College welcomes Dashboard Confessional to its Benjamin A. Johnson Lifetime Fitness Center, Saturday, November 5, 2005, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Washington College students, faculty, and staff can purchase tickets for $15 each (with a five ticket maximum) from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the Office of Student Affairs.

Tickets are $25 per person and are available starting October 24 through all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com,or by calling 410-547-SEAT.

It's been four years since Chris Carrabba first decided to record some of his private songs and released them as the spartan Swiss Army Romance, recently reissued on the Anodyne Records, and three years since the release of the second Dashboard Confessional album, the brutal, masterfulThe Places You Have Come to Fear the Most. As Carrabba toured that record, first solo, then with some friends—and eventually as the dedicated quartet that comprises Dashboard Confessional today—a funny thing happened. The diehards who had packed his earliest shows—when he was just a stage-fright wracked kid alone onstage with an acoustic guitar, sandwiched between hardcore bands—had spread the word about his songs like unkept secrets, and the number of fans doubled, then tripled, and everyone of them knew all the words to all of the songs by heart.

MTV picked up on what was happening and started playing the video for "Screaming Infidelities," then made Dashboard the first non-platinum act to get its own episode of MTV Unplugged. A summer tour with Weezer followed. Then an MTV Video Music Award—the one, of course, that was voted on by the fans. Their latest album, A Mark A Mission A Brand A Scar, was recorded and produced in Carrabba's hometown of Boca Raton, Florida, by Gil Norton of The Pixies and Foo Fighters fame, and continues to charm audiences worldwide with its effusive and complicated sound.

Learn more about the band at dashboardconfessional.com.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

A Marshland Chronicle: Washington College Welcomes Acclaimed Nature Writer William Sargent, October 26

Chestertown, MD, October 11, 2005 — Washington College's Joseph H. McLain Program in Environmental Studies and the Center for the Environment and Society present "A Marshland Chronicle," a lecture by award-winning nature writer William Sargent, Wednesday, October 26, at 7 p.m. in the College's Litrenta Lecture Hall, Toll Science Center.

The event is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a book signing.

A consultant for Public Television's NOVA science series, Sargent is the author of seven books on science and the environment, including the acclaimed The House on Ispwich Marsh, which examines a unique New England ecosystem, and Crab Wars: A Tale of Horseshoe Crabs, Bioterrorism, and Human Health.

Eloquently capturing the issues plaguing scientists, entrepreneurs, and environmentalists across the nation, Sargent's works "turn an event as mundane as a rising tide into poetry," according to The Boston Globe.

The former director of the Baltimore Aquarium and a research assistant at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Sargent has taught at The Briarwood Center for Marine Biology as well as Harvard University.

Leading Expert in Native American Culture Examines Tensions during Jamestown's Settlement, October 27

Chestertown, MD, October 11, 2005 — Washington College's C.V. Starr Center for the American Experience, the Departments of Sociology and Anthropology, and Sultana Projects, Inc., present "Not Entirely Welcome: Indian Responses to English Arrival in the Chesapeake," a lecture by Helen Rountree, author of Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown,Thursday, October 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the College's Hynson Lounge. The free event is open to the public and will be followed by a book signing.

A nationally recognized expert on East Coast Indian tribes, Rountree will discuss the turbulent relationship between Algonquians who inhabited the Chesapeake Bay region and the English settlers of Jamestown who established their foothold in 1607, and explore the cultural misunderstandings and differences that led to tremendous bloodshed on both sides. Rountree served as a consultant for the Time-Life series on American Indians and for the PBS series, Land of the Eagles.

When Disney Studios released the 1995 movie, Pocahantas, Rountree subsequently devoted many interviews to debunking the myths surrounding the young girl who, today, plays such a pivotal role in the American imagination. After 31 years of teaching, Rountree is now Professor Emerita of Anthropology at Old Dominion University and is one of the principal contributors to John Smith's Chesapeake Voyages, 1607-1609, a forthcoming book to be published by the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network. Due to her work on behalf of Native Americans of the Chesapeake, she was made an honorary member of the Nansemond and Upper Mattaponi tribes.

The lecture is co-sponsored by the C. V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, the Washington College Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and Chestertown's Sultana Projects, Inc., which operates the reproduction 1768 Schooner Sultana and conducts educational cruises and outreach programs to promote and foster a greater appreciation for the Chesapeake Bay's history and environment.

Washington College's C. V. Starr Center—drawing on the special historical strengths of Washington College and Chestertown—is dedicated to exploring the early republic, the rise of democracy, and the manifold ways in which the founding era continues to shape American culture.

Information about upcoming events is available online at http://starrcenter.washcoll.edu/, or by calling Program Manager Kees de Mooy at 410-810-7156.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Houston Chronicle's Michael Hedges on Contemporary Journalism, Good and Bad, October 21

Chestertown, MD, October 10, 2005 — Washington College's Sophie Kerr Committee and the Rose O'Neill Literary Housepresent "A Discussion of Contemporary Journalism," a talk by Michael Hedges, journalist and reporter for The Houston Chronicle, Friday, October 21, at 5 p.m. at the Rose O'Neil Literary House. A light supper will be served, and the public is invited to attend this free event.

Working for the Journal Newspapers, The Washington Times, and Scripps Howard News Service, Hedges has reported on some of the world's top stories throughout his career. As the Washington Bureau Reporter for The Houston Chronicle, the nation's eighth largest daily newspaper, he led the paper's war on terrorism coverage in Washington and covered wars and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. A four-time nominee for the Pulitzer Prize and named Washington's investigative reporter of the year by the weekly City Paper, Hedges will offer an in-depth look at the state of journalism as it exists today.

The lecture is sponsored by the Sophie Kerr Committee, which works to carry on the legacy of the late Sophie Kerr, a writer from Denton, Md., whose generosity has done so much to enrich Washington College's literary culture. When she died in 1965, Kerr left the bulk of her estate to the College, specifying that one half of the income from her bequest be awarded every year to the senior showing the most "ability and promise for future fulfillment in the field of literary endeavor" and the other half be used to bring visiting writers to campus, to fund scholarships, and to help defray the costs of student publications.

October 23 Banquet Supports Washington College's Newly Chartered Ducks Unlimited Chapter

Chestertown, MD, October 10, 2005 — Washington College's newly chartered chapter of Ducks Unlimited invites the public to its first annual banquet, Sunday, October 23, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the College's Casey Academic Center Forum. Banquet tickets can be purchased for $30 per person or $50 per couple in advance or at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased before October 17 by sending a check or money order to David Brooks, c/o Washington College Ducks Unlimited, 300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Md. 21620.

For more information or reservations, call Margaret Sentman 443-553-5667.

Along with a delicious selection of barbecued ribs, wings, and chicken, pulled pork, and assorted desserts, banquet tickets entitle guests to a Ducks Unlimited membership for one year and to participate in the evening's live and silent auctions for decoys, limited edition prints, jackets, parkas, and blind bags donated through the generosity of local businesses. All proceeds support the wetland conservation efforts of Ducks Unlimited.

The first college chapter in Maryland, Washington College's Ducks Unlimited works to conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl. In addition to these efforts, the club hosts fundraising activities and workshops, such as an annual decoy carving class.

For more information about Ducks Unlimited, e-maildbrooks2@washcoll.edu or visit the national Ducks Unlimited website at www.ducks.org.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Tea & Talk at the Lit House: Chaucer and the Anti-Feminist Tradition, October 25

Chestertown, MD, October 5, 2005 — The fall 2005 season of Washington College's Rose O'Neill Tea & Talk Series commences with an examination of the medieval writings of Chaucer. Corey Olsen, assistant professor of English, will present "Reductio ad absurdum: Chaucer, The Wife of Bath, and the Anti-Feminist Tradition," Tuesday, October 25, in theRose O'Neill Literary House. The talk is free and all are welcome to enjoy tea and discussion. Tea will be served at 4 p.m., followed by the talk at 4:30 p.m.

An expert in medieval literature, Olsen will discuss the extraordinary relationship between Chaucer's Wife of Bath and "the dominant, antifeminist teachings of many prominent medieval writers." Arguing against the notion that Chaucer supports the misogynistic stereotypes of women, Olson suggests that "through the Wife of Bath's self-conscious fulfilling of those stereotypes, Chaucer exposes the absurd and destructive logical consequences of the anti-feminist tradition."

The Rose O'Neill Tea & Talk Series showcases the research, writing, and talent of Washington College's faculty and is held in the College's Rose O'Neill Literary House.Established in 1985, the Literary House was acquired and refurbished through the generosity of alumna Betty Casey, Class of 1947, and her late husband Eugene, and named in memory of his late mother, Rose O'Neill Casey. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary year, the O'Neill Literary House reflects the eclectic spirit of Washington College's creative writing and academic culture.