History Course Tackles Vietnam War

Chestertown, MD, July 21, 2000 — In the space of 30 years, Vietnam went from being a word Americans barely knew to one that excites passionate feelings in several generations. Equally important, the Vietnam War remains a trauma from which American military and political strategists have yet to recover. The tumultuous conflict and the diplomatic and political climate preceding and following it will be among the topics examined in "The Vietnam War: A Turning Point in the 'American Century'," a history graduate course offered at Washington College this fall.

Visiting professor Ann Connell, Ph.D., who teaches the course, comes to Washington College from George Washington University where she has taught in the Honors Program on the subjects of the Vietnam War, the Peace Movement and the civil rights struggle in the United States. Connell, a graduate of the University of Maryland, holds a masters degree in American military history and a Ph.D. in American diplomatic history.

Like many Americans, Connell is passionate about the subject, having come to study the period before, during and after the Vietnam War with much personal experience behind her. In 1968, she and her husband adopted a Vietnamese orphan. The next year, Connell's 19-year old brother Joe, a Marine, was killed fighting a North Vietnamese regiment in Quang Nam Province near Danang. In 1999 the family visited the orphanage where the couple's daughter spent her first 10 months of life. They went on to find the site of Connell's brother's death. There, with help from a former Viet Cong soldier and local villagers, they placed a shrine honoring Joe's sacrifice and all the war dead.

"The war was a great tragedy for so many families on both sides," said Connell. She believes it is important to understand how American idealism, leadership and power could have led to what in retrospect seems to have been a predictable unraveling of United States policy in Indochina. "To begin a study of the Vietnam War in 1965 with the commitment of U.S. ground forces is like tuning into a show when it's half over," Connell said. "This course will examine not only the war in Vietnam from 1965 to 1975, but also the circumstances and decisions that led to that costly commitment in the contexts of the Cold War, the nationalist fervor in the Third World, the emergence of social activism in America and, the diplomatic and political exigencies which shaped the second half of the 'American Century'."

The class will be held Thursdays, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 7. For more information, call 1-800-422-1782.

Washington College Professor on Marc Steiner Show Friday

Richard Striner, associate professor of history at Washington College, will appear on the Marc Steiner Show on WJHU, 88.1 FM, at 1 p.m., Friday, June 23.

He will be discussing his new book, The Civic Deal, and responding to calls from the audience.

In The Civic Deal, Striner presents a philosophy for reinvigorating government stewardship in American public life. He advocates a melding of conservative and liberal ideas and values to create effective and far-reaching public policies.

James MacGregor Burns, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox," says, "I greatly admire The Civic Deal because of the way it has brought together grand intellectual and political traditions in American history and applied them effectively to problems today."

Washington College President Toll Hailed As Tops In Maryland Education

Chestertown, MD, June 9—The Maryland Association of Higher Education will present Washington College President John S. Toll with its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award at the organization’s annual symposium today at Towson University.

"Dr. Toll's career as both a distinguished faculty scholar and campus and system administrator, in both the public and private sectors of Maryland higher education, truly exemplifies what the MAHE Lifetime Achievement Award is meant to recognize," says MAHE president Craig Clagett. "Along with his stellar academic accomplishments, Dr. Toll is known for his genuine interest in helping others, whether students, staff, or colleagues. He has set the standard for service to Maryland higher education."

Founded in 1946, MAHE is now in its 54th year serving the interests of all sectors and all professions of higher education in Maryland. Through its conferences, Web site, and publications, MAHE promotes communication and cooperation among all those interested in furthering higher learning in Maryland.

Toll’s accomplishments during his more than 46 years in higher education, 33 in the state of Maryland, led to this first-ever honor. A Yale graduate with a Ph.D. from Princeton in physics, Toll began his career in Maryland education in 1953, when he joined the University of Maryland faculty after helping to establish the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. He served for thirteen years as chair of UM’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, leaving to assume the presidency of SUNY Stony Brook. For his work there, Toll was listed among "100 Who Shaped the Century" by Newsday, the principal newspaper of Long Island, New York.

Toll came back to Maryland from Stony Brook in 1978, invited by the University of Maryland to become president of the five-campus system. At the request of then-Governor William Donald Schaefer, Toll headed the merger of Maryland’s two public multi-campus university systems in 1988. This led to the founding of the University of Maryland System, with Toll named Chancellor. He remains Chancellor Emeritus.

In 1994 Toll returned to the physics department at the University of Maryland, working with graduate students and faculty on research and lecturing at freshman honors seminars. He became Acting President of Washington College on January 1, 1995, and accepted the invitation of the Board to continue as president that year.

The private liberal arts and sciences college has flourished under his leadership, with no aspect of institutional life untouched by his enthusiasm.

His impact was readily apparent to the accrediting agency that visited in 1994 and returned for a follow-up visit in 1999. The Periodic Review Report of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools reported "phenomenal progress" and an "incredible turnaround which . . . far exceeds the expectations of even the most optimistic member of the 1994 Review Team."

Toll’s first initiative at the College was to develop and launch the Washington Scholars Program, a $10,000 per year scholarship program for members of the National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society. As a result of this initiative, honor society members entering the College make up more than 50 percent of the total freshman class, an increase from less than 25 percent in 1995. The number of entering freshmen also has increased 20 percent from 236 in 1994 to 282 in 1999. The Class of 2000 is the first graduating class of Washington Scholars.

During his first five years in office, Toll has overseen the addition of majors in environmental studies, anthropology and computer science, a dual degree program in pharmacy, and a K-8 teacher certification program to complement secondary education training. The College also has established itself as a leader in international education and currently offers 38 study abroad programs around the world. Two varsity sports—co-ed and women’s sailing and women’s soccer—have also been added.

As student enrollment as grown, so has the size of the faculty—a 28 percent increase of full-time faculty from 65 in 1994 to 83 in 1999.

An inveterate fund-raiser for education, President Toll has spearheaded The Campaign for Washington’s College. Initiated in 1997 with a goal of $72 million, the campaign has yielded $60 million in funds raised after one year of the public phase. The Campaign is raising money to support academic programs, including developing centers for the study of creative writing, environmental studies, and the American experience; student scholarships; faculty salaries; improved facilities; and endowment.

"John Toll’s leadership has been critical to the early success of this Campaign," notes Jay Griswold of Baltimore, vice chair of the College’s Board of Visitors and Governors and chairman of the Campaign. "He is greatly admired and respected in academic circles and political arenas alike."

Washington College Honors President With Creation Of John Toll Chair

Chestertown, MD, June 1 — In recognition of the accomplishments of Washington College President John S. Toll, the College’s Board of Visitors and Governors has established the John Toll Chair at Washington College.

The creation of the chair was announced at the Chevy Chase Club in Washington, D.C. Keynote speaker at the event was Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

The professorship has been endowed through a gift of $2 million—$1 million raised from board members over a period of only six weeks to be matched with $1 million from the Hodson Challenge. Jay Griswold, chairman of the Campaign for Washington’s College, said, "The members of the board had already contributed $18 million to our Campaign for Washington’s College. This commitment on top of that is indicative of the board’s gratitude for President Toll’s leadership.

"Dr. Toll’s untiring work on behalf of the College has been key to the success of our Campaign. His first five years have been characterized by one success after another." The

Campaign has raised $60 million in the first 20 months of a 5-year effort to raise $72 million for academic programs, faculty, scholarships, and campus enhancements.

The John Toll Chair will be awarded to an outstanding faculty member in any discipline at Washington College who exemplifies the College’s goals of superb teaching and advising, fine research and excellent service. The recipient must also display a strongly positive attitude and a deep commitment to Washington College and its students. The professor will be chosen by the president and approved by the board.

Among Toll’s accomplishments are the following:

• The College’s endowment has risen from $27 million to $109 million.
• Enrollment has increased more than 20 percent, from 1006 to 1225.
• The number of National Honor Society students making up the student body has more than doubled to 550.
• Four major building projects have been completed. The most recent, Louis Goldstein Hall, will open this fall.

Toll came to Washington College a distinguished figure in education. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in physics with highest honors from Yale University in 1944 and serving in the Navy during World War II, Toll completed his Ph.D. in physics at Princeton, where he helped to establish Project Matterhorn, now known as the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. In 1953 he joined the University of Maryland faculty and served for thirteen years as chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, considered one of the best in the country.

In 1965 Toll became the first president at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His work there earned him election to Newsday’s "100 Who Shaped the Century."

On June 9, Toll will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Association for Higher Education, the first the organization has given. In July, he will be one of only eight educational leaders to receive the Council for the Support of Education Chief Executive Leadership Award.

Washington College Awarded Clare Boothe Luce Professorship

Chestertown, MD, May 24—Washington College has been granted a Clare Boothe Luce Professorship in Chemistry by The Henry Luce Foundation, Inc. of New York. Leslie A. Sherman, an analytical and environmental chemist, will be the first Clare Boothe Luce Professor in the College's history. The CBL Professorship was granted by the Clare Boothe Luce Program Selection Committee and funded through The Henry Luce Foundation.

The Luce grant is designed specifically to enhance the academic careers of women in science, engineering and mathematics. Active in journalism, the theatre and governmental service, the late Clare Boothe Luce created the program to advance her keen interest in helping women achieve their potential. Under the terms of her will, Mrs. Luce established a legacy that benefits women with talent and ambition in areas where they are still largely underrepresented—science and engineering.

"Since women were first admitted to Washington College in 1891, they have challenged cultural attitudes toward women in education, in sports and in professions. We are proud of our record in encouraging women to pursue the baccalaureate as well as careers in the sciences," John S. Toll, President of Washington College said. "The endorsement of our efforts from this prestigious source will enable us to make even greater strides in advancing the causes championed by Clare Boothe Luce." Washington College is a private liberal arts and sciences college located in historic Chestertown on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Founded in 1782 under the patronage of George Washington, it was the first college created in the new nation.

Sherman, a graduate of Carleton College, holds a M.S.C.E. degree in water chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Department of Civil Engineering, and a Ph.D. in soil chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to her teaching and research positions, she has been a program analyst with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a marine science policy fellow for NOAA's National Sea Grant Program. She served with the Peace Corps for two years as a science teacher in Cameroon, West Africa. Most recently, she taught environmental studies, water resources and environmental chemistry.

Sherman will add a strong science component to the College's recently established interdisciplinary major in environmental studies, Frank Creegan, chairman of the Chemistry Department said. In direct response to expressions of interest by students, Sherman will also offer upper level courses in analytical chemistry emphasizing limnology, the scientific study of bodies of freshwater, and marine science. In addition to courses in chemistry, Sherman will develop a freshman seminar focused on women in science.

The Luce grant of $403,548 will support the expenses of the professorship for five years. The College will also provide funding for two student research assistants each summer, as well as one teaching assistant and one student assistant during the academic year.

Washington College Awards Nation's Largest Undergraduate Prize

Chestertown, MD — Most college seniors will look back on their graduation ceremony as a day of pomp and circumstance culminating in a handshake and a diploma. For Christine Lincoln, a 34-year old single mother and English major at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, the ceremony brought other rewards: top honors, a dream fulfilled and a check for $54,266. Lincoln's creative writing portfolio, which she describes as an exploration of "what it means to be African-American," earned her the largest undergraduate literary award in the country — the Sophie Kerr Prize.

The awarding of the Sophie Kerr Prize, given annually to the graduating senior who demonstrates the greatest "ability and promise for future fulfillment in the field of literary endeavor," has in recent decades been a highlight of the commencement ceremony at the 218-year-old liberal arts college. The Prize, worth $54,266 this year, is among the largest literary awards in the world. Washington College has awarded more than three quarters of a million in prize money since it was first given in 1968, most often to writers of poetry and fiction. Scholarly and journalistic works, though less often selected, are given equal consideration.

Lincoln's winning submission was a collection of mostly short fiction entitled "Sap Rising."

"Christine is a superior storyteller as well as a perceptive critical writer" said Professor Richard Gillin, chair of the English Department and of the Sophie Kerr committee which selected Lincoln's text from a pool of 23 submissions. "She integrates scene and mood, uses haunting rhythms, dramatic tensions, and gathers these elements and fuses them to make the ordinary world come alive with insight."

Robert Mooney, Director of the O'Neill Literary House who served as Lincoln's thesis advisor described Lincoln as "a true storyteller, a natural, one mindful of the past that has made the present who carries it forward to keep it alive and, in the process, enriches the lives around her." He adds "The profound courage that undergirds Christine's characters mirrors her own."

An admirer of such diverse writers as William Faulkner, Somerset Maugham and Toni Morrison, Lincoln says it was her grandmother who taught her "the magic of words" and inspired her to become a storyteller. Lincoln remembers hearing story after story on the porch of an old farmhouse in Lutherville, Maryland, the community where Lincoln grew up and which she fictionlizes as "Grandville," in many of her stories. Lincoln says her stories enact the tension between personal desire and the struggle to belong to a community, a conflict she finds at the heart of the African American experience where the African conciousness of "we" meets the American obsession with "I."

Lincoln's exploration of cultural issues took her twice to South Africa during her undergraduate years. She received grants from the Washington College Society of Junior Fellows to spend time in that country studying problems of domestic violence. Closer to home she worked with other student leaders to found the Center for the Study of Black Culture on the Washington College campus. All this while raising Takii, her six-year-old son in an apartment near campus.

Lincoln was working as a radiology technician in Baltimore when her son was born seriously ill. "I gave up everything — my house, my car — to pay his medical bills for the two years." Faced with the prospect of starting over she decided to pursue her dream of the writing life. A newspaper article about the Sophie Kerr prize drew her to Washington College, the only school to which she applied as a transfer student from Baltimore City Community College. "I read about their community of writers and knew that was the place for me," Lincoln said.

Lincoln plans to pursue a Ph.d. in African Literature at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Sophie Kerr Prize is the namesake of an Eastern Shore woman who made her fortune in New York, writing light women's fiction during the 1930s and 1940s. In accordance with the terms of her will, one-half of the annual income from her bequest to the College is awarded each year to the graduating senior demonstrating the best potential for literary achievement. The other half funds scholarships, supports student publications and the purchase of books, and brings an array of visiting writers, editors and publishers to campus to read, visit classes, and discuss student work. Her gift has provided the nucleus for an abundance of literary activity on the bucolic Eastern Shore campus.

Washington College is a small liberal arts college on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Founded in 1782, it is Maryland's oldest chartered college, and the tenth oldest in the nation.

Green Party Candidate Ralph Nader Speaks at WC April 30

Chestertown, April 20—Ralph Nader will speak at Washington College on Sunday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. Ranked third in polls on presidential candidates, Nader will talk about how government, corporations, and free trade will affect the global environment in the 21st century. His appearance in the Casey Academic Center Forum on campus is free and open to the public.

Nader is a noted lecturer whose simple message of being an active citizen touches a chord in his audiences. Years after they graduate, college students tell him how his lecture evening changed their lives.

Honored by "Time" magazine as one of the 100 most influential Americans of the 20th century, Nader has devoted his life to giving ordinary people the tools to defend themselves against corporate negligence and government indifference. After publication of his 1965 book "Unsafe at Any Speed," about potentially fatal mechanical defects in some cars, and the Senate hearings that resulted from it, Nader was catapulted into the public sphere. Seat belts and air bags in automobiles resulted from Nader's expose.

Nader was instrumental in the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA; the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA; and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. He helped draft and pass the Safe Water Drinking Act, the Meat and Poultry Inspection rules, and the Freedom of Information Act. Nader has formed numerous citizen groups, including the Center for Auto Safety, Public Citizen, Pension Rights Center, the Coalition for University in the Public Interest, and the student public interest research groups that operate in more than 20 states. He is now also working with alumni classes, including his own at Princeton University and Harvard Law School, to redirect their efforts from parties and reunions to volunteerism and community projects.

This William James Forum lecture is also sponsored by the Louis Goldstein Program in Public Affairs, The Society of Junior Fellows and the Campus Events and Visitors Committee.