The Bees’ Needs

K alumna Rachel Mallinger holds a visual presentation for Wisconsin’s Wild Bees
Rachel Mallinger

The power of science in large part is the power of great storytelling. When the stories lead into mystery … well, that’s when science continues, generating more stories and encountering more mysteries. The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Genetics/Biotech center harnesses the power of stories during a public series called Wednesday Nite @ The Lab, occurring every Wednesday, 50 times a year. Attendance is high, and K alumna Rachel Mallinger ’05 will be the featured presenter on Wednesday, March 26. Her topic: “Wisconsin’s Wild Bees: Who Are They, What Do They Do, and Why Should We Conserve them?” Rachel earned her B.A. in biology at K, her M.S. in entomology and agroecology (UW-Madison) and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in entomology at UW-Madison. Wisconsin has more than 500 species of native wild bees, and their contributions to pollination are becoming more and more important as honey bee populations decline. Mallinger’s talk will focus on effect of land use change and farm management on the abundance and diversity of wild bees. “I will also discuss the role of wild bees in crop pollination, and address whether or not they can fulfill our food needs,” she wrote. Mallinger wants to learn more about the roles of insects in agricultural ecosystems and how insects can be managed to enhance the sustainability of farming. She currently studies wild bees and pollination services within fruit orchards. She enjoys working with farmers, experimenting in her own vegetable garden, and cross-country skiing during the winter. At K, Rachel studied abroad in Thailand, and she also mentored a SIP student supervised by Ann Fraser, associate professor of biology. According to Fraser, that student is now applying to Ph.D. programs to work on wild bees. “That will make at least four grads in the last eight years who have done to work on wild bees,” adds Fraser. “I’ll be working with three students this summer on another bee project (looking at the impacts of honey bees on wild bees), and a student organization on campus is starting work on constructing ’buzz boxes’ on campus to improve foraging and nesting habitat for wild bees. Maybe,” grins Fraser,” we need a new college mascot.” The hornet’s probably safe for now.

Research Sheds Light on Liver Cancer Pathway

Diane DeZwaan ’05 is conducting cancer research in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. She is one of the authors of a research article whose impact of has been much larger than expected. The article, which appears in the journal PLOS/Genetics, is titled “The Stress-Regulated Transcription Factor CHOP Promotes Hepatic Inflammatory Gene Expression, Fibrosis, and Oncogenesis.” Her research provides evidence of a chain of events that leads to the formation of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC), the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Liver cancer is most commonly caused by viral hepatitis, alcoholism, or obesity, all of which activate cell stress in the liver. DeZwaan’s research may be the first that links  elements of this stress response–specifically the expression of a stress-regulated transcription factor called CHOP–to the appearance of cancerous tumors in the liver.  The research also showed that exposure (in mice) to a tumor-causing agent when CHOP is absent results in fewer tumors and less cell death. The findings of the research establish CHOP as a biological marker for liver cancer and showed its importance in promoting liver tumor formation. It’s possible that the genesis of tumors by CHOP is a common feature of liver cancer. The research raises intriguing questions that require additional research, which may lead to important new insights into the development of liver cancer. The editors of the magazine were so taken by the potential of the work that they contributed a perspectives article (“The Integrated Stress Response in HCC: Not Just CHOPped Liver”) on it. Television and print media outlets in Iowa have published stories on DeZwaan’s research. As an undergraduate at K DeZwaan majored in biology, studied abroad in Australia, and played on the Hornet basketball team.

Jordan Klepper ’01 joins The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Kalamazoo College alumnus Jordan Klepper on the Daily Show
Jordan Klepper ’01 is the newest correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Mon-Thu at 11pm on Comedy Central. The Kalamazoo native earned a B.A. degree in math at K and performed in Monkapult, the student-run improve troupe.

Jordan Klepper ’01 has joined The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as the newest correspondent on the popular late-night Comedy Central show. During his March 3 debut episode, Jordan reported “live” from Ukraine, but his take on events in the politically unstable country quickly devolved in a comedic take on his own new and perhaps unstable job status.

Jordan has performed at New York City’s Upright Citizens Brigade (UBC) improvisational comedy and sketch comedy group for three years. He was also a correspondent on the comedic sports show Friday Night Tailgate on the Big Ten Network for three seasons, and performed at Second City and iO theaters in Chicago, where he met his wife and frequent collaborator Laura Grey. Together, Klepper and Grey created and starred in the UCB Comedy-produced pilot Engaged, which they later turned into a web series. His TV credits include IFC’s Bunk and MTV’s I Just Want My Pants Back.

Jordan grew up in Kalamazoo, attending Kalamazoo Central High School and the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center. A Heyl Scholar at K, he earned his B.A. degree in mathematics, while participating in many Theatre Department and Festival Playhouse productions. He often performed in K’s student run improv troupe, Monkapult.

Jordan’s sister, Caycee (Klepper) Sledge ’05 is K alumna and classmate of another well-known Monkapult alumnus, Steven Yuen ’05, who appears as Glenn on AMC’s popular TV show The Walking Dead.

Jordan is the first new correspondent on The Daily Show in more than two years and joins Samantha Bee, Jason Jones, Aasif Mandvi, and Jessica Williams. The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m. ET on Comedy Central.

Check out a selection of web videos, short films, and web series featuring Jordan Klepper and Laura Grey at http://klepperandgrey.tumblr.com and http://splitsider.com/2014/03/the-daily-show-hires-jordan-klepper-as-its-newest-correspondent.

Break a leg, Jordan!

K Alum and Social Justice Warrior Dies

Kalamazoo College alumus Chokwe Lumumba speaks at a lecturn
Chokwe Lumumba ’69

Chokwe Lumumba ’69, mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, died on February 25, 2014. He was 66. He came to K from Detroit, Michigan, as Edwin Taliaferro. He majored in political science, played football and basketball, and was instrumental in the creation and growth of the College’s Black Student Organization. He was profoundly affected by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which partly inspired his lifelong dedication to human rights and social justice.

Lumumba changed his name in 1969. He took his new first name from an African tribe that resisted slavery centuries ago and his last name from the African independence leader Patrice Lumumba. His loss is widely mourned, and a news obituary appeared in the February 26 New York Times.

Lumumba moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1971 to work in the civil rights movement there, then returned to Michigan where he earned his law degree (Wayne State University) and continue the fight for political and economic liberation of all people. He returned to Jackson in 1988 and spent the next two decades as a tireless defense attorney and human rights advocate, representing mostly African-American defendants.

A dedicated socialist, Lumumba was also a leader and organizer of the “Republic of New Afrika Movement,” a group that welcomes both blacks and whites in the struggle “for human rights for black people in this country and human rights around the globe,” said Lumumba.

Lumumba served one term on the Jackson City Council before he was elected Mayor of the capital in 2013. Among his achievements he persuaded voters to add a local sales tax to improve the city’s aging infrastructure. He is fondly remembered by many family and friends, among them Kalamazoo College classmate and fellow Mississippian Max Garriott ’69, who wrote: “I was privileged to witness his early development as a leader in the turbulent 1960’s at Kalamazoo College, and fate had it that as two Northerners from widely varying backgrounds we found ourselves shortly after graduation in service to the African-American community of the Jackson area, he as a lawyer and I as an educator. Jackson shall be forever rightfully proud of this giant of a man who, in the short span of seven months, managed to rally even the most skeptical citizens to his side. His firm commitment and gentle demeanor, coupled with courage and determination in the face of adversity, are exactly what this wonderful city needs to emulate as it now faces a future deprived of his guidance as its mayor. My prayers go out to his beautiful family and friends.”

LuxEsto did a feature story (Fall 2010) on Lumumba, and that article closed with his own words: “The struggle for human rights–black rights and white rights–is far from over. Everywhere you look in the world today, you see economic oppression, class oppression being visited on suffering human beings.

“That oppression is simply not acceptable. It must be fought. And you can be sure we will go right on fighting against economic and social injustice of every kind for as long as it takes!”

Sing me a song of the Revolution
Marching like fire over the world,
Weaving from the earth its brightest red banner
For the hands of the masses to unfurl.

Sing me a song of the Revolution
Drowning the past with a thunderous shout:
Filled with the strength of youth and laughter,
And never the echo of a doubt.

O mighty roll of the Revolution,
Ending the centuries of bloody strife,
Ending the tricks of kings and liars,
Big with the laughter of a new life.

Breaking the bonds of the darker races,
Breaking the chains that have held for years,
Breaking the barriers dividing the people,
Smashing the gods of terror and tears.

Cutting, O flame of the Revolution,
Fear from the world like a surgeon’s knife,
So that the children of all creation
Waken, at last, to the joy of life.

(Langston Hughes, “Song of the Revolution”)

K Alumni in the News

Gerald E. Rosen ’73, who has served for 24 years as a U.S. District Court judge in Detroit (five years as chief judge), delivered the 29th annual I. Goodman Cohen Lecture in Trial Advocacy at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit on Feb. 4. Rosen’s lecture, “Trial Practice as Viewed from the Perspective of the Trial Judge,” took place in the Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium at the law school, 471 W. Palmer St.

David Porada ’02 is now project manager in the Detroit office of Tri-Merit LLC, a national leader in providing research and development tax-credit services to CPA firms and individual clients. He holds a law degree from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He previously served as an account executive at Robert Half Legal where he dealt directly with executives at corporations and partners at law firms to assess their needs and address complex issues. David also spent time as a research specialist with Thomson Reuters Westlaw.

Molly (Shelter) Parker, D.O. ’05 has opened a family practice with a special interest in women’s health at Three Meadows Medical Plaza in Hillsdale, Mich. The Ann Arbor native earned her doctor of osteopathy degree at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Mo.

Molly (Shelter) Parker (center) with her new medical assistants at the Three Meadows Medical Plaza
Dr. Molly (Shelter) Parker (center) with her new medical assistants at the Three Meadows Medical Plaza in Hillsdale, Mich.

Megan Bauer ’12 will receive the 2014 Henry D. Messer Youth Activist Award, one of the annual Catalyst Awards from Equality Michigan, for emerging as a powerful force in Michigan’s LGBT equality movement. As Community Engagement Coordinator the Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center since late 2012, Megan has had an impact not only in the Kalamazoo area, but across Michigan. During her K days, she worked with Habitat for Humanity as an AmeriCorps volunteer and with Queers for Economic Justice in New York. Megan will receive her award at Equality Michigan’s annual dinner February 22 at Motor City Casino to honor the individuals, groups or organizations leading the fight to secure equality for LGBT and HIV-positive persons in Michigan.

Sam Bertken ’12 wrote an entry for the real estate blog Movoto titled “30 Things You Need To Know About Kalamazoo Before You Move There.” It’s fun and informative and yes, you need to know these things about Kalamazoo (and about K, which gets TWO entries in his blog post). At last count, Sam’s entry had earned nearly 46,000 views.

Kalamazoo College alumnus Keeney Swearer
Keeney Swearer ’13

Keeney Swearer ’13 is part of a group art show at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center in the Park Trades Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave, Suite 103A, Feb. 7-28. An opening reception takes place Friday Feb. 7 from 6-9 p.m. during the February Art Hop in downtown Kalamazoo. Read more about Keeney and see his artwork at www.keeneyswearer.com.

Eric Glanz ’13 was the subject of a recent Detroit Jewish News article. Eric is taking post-graduate classes in biological sciences at Wayne State University in Detroit and preparing for the Medical College Admission Test. The West Bloomfield, Mich.-native was a four-year starter on the Hornet baseball team (catcher!) and co-captain during his junior and senior seasons. He was also a member of K’s Athletic Leadership Council, hosted potential student-athletes, and tutored Kalamazoo area middle school students in math. He’s now a Class Agent for the K Class of 2013.

Gail Griffin, Iris Parker, and Keeney Swearer ’13 Display Their Creativity This Weekend

Iris Parker
Iris Parker displays this and other photos from her “Zulu Marriage Rituals” exhibit during the Feb. 7 Art Hop from 5-8pm at the Black Arts & Cultural Center in the Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall in downtown Kalamazoo.

Professor Emerita of English Gail Griffin has written a 10-minute play that will receive its first public reading on Sat. Feb. 8 at 2pm during the Theatre Kalamazoo New Play Festival at the Epic Theatre in the Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall in downtown Kalamazoo.

During the Friday Feb. 7 Art Hop, ACSJL Visiting Fellow Iris Dawn Parker will exhibit her photos of Zulu marriage rituals in South Africa from 5-9pm at the Black Arts and Cultural Center in the Epic Center, Suite 202, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall.

Also during the Feb. 7 Art Hop, Keeney Swearer ’13 will display his newest artwork from 6-9pm at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center in the Park Trades Center, Suite 103A, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave.

The Art Hop and the New Play Festival are free and open to the public.

Jessica English ’94 Delivers a Win for Birth Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo College alumna Jessica English
Jessica English ’94

Jessica English ’94 is the grand prize winner of the Kzoom Video $10,000 video services giveaway in Kalamazoo. Jessica owns and operates Birth Kalamazoo, which offers natural childbirth and breastfeeding classes, birth and postpartum doulas, lactation consults, and birth doula training. She received $7,500 in video services, after receiving 4,091 votes in the online voting contest.

Teju Cole ’96 Tweets His Newest Story

Teju Cole at a microphone
Teju Cole

Teju Cole ’96 has published a short story titled “Hafiz.” Or, rather, his followers have published it on Twitter through a series of tweets and retweets.

“I took advantage of the hospitality of my friends and followers online by asking them to tweet out certain things,” he told National Public Radio’s Rachel Martin recently. Tweet from runty reader

“…[W]hen I retweeted all of these things, in sequence, they all joined together to make a coherent story. It was just an idea, very much dependent on the generosity and kindness of the people I asked to participate, and I think it worked out quite interestingly.”

Here’s a sampling of the 30-plus tweets that compose the story:

11:05 AM – 8 Jan 2014
. . . to the subway, I saw a man on the ground. He sat on the sidewalk, under trees, with his feet out to the quiet street.

11:14 AM – 8 Jan 2014
There was a stillness in the scene, as in an altarpiece. There was a helpless air in those who stood around him.

12:07 PM – 8 Jan 2014
He gave no indication of being aware of our presence. He was tranquil, wordless. The tears were falling from his eyes.

12:59 PM – 8 Jan 2014
Coming close to take his pulse, I smelled alcohol. His tear-stained cheek shone. I placed a thumb on his wrist. His hand was cold.

Teju Cole is the author of critically acclaimed novel “Open City.” Listen to his interview with Martin and read “Hafiz” in this National Public Radio report.

Aaron Saari ’98 is new part-time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Yellow Springs, Ohio

First Presbyterian Church Pastor Aaron Saari
Aaron Saari ’98  (Photo by Megan Bachman)

Aaron Saari ’98 was recently hired as the new part-time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Yellow Springs, Ohio. A bible scholar and theologian, Aaron is the author of “The Many Deaths of Judas Iscariot,” a book about the historical figure and the issue of suicide. He’s been a visiting professor at Xavier and adjunct instructor at Antioch University Midwest teaching courses in writing, Christianity, and non-Western religions.

Aaron, who grew up in Yellow Springs, hopes to attract new people to the church by emphasizing the church’s inclusivity and social justice commitment.

Read more about Aaron’s life and work in this Yellow Springs News article.

Important Film Will Shed Light on Use of Rape as a Weapon of War

Ivana Ivkovic Kelley
Ivana Ivkovic Kelley

Ivana Ivkovic Kelley ’95 has launched a Kickstarter campaign to complete post-production of a documentary film she is making on the use of systematic rape as operational military doctrine during the Bosnian War. The fundraising campaign is the second associated with the project. A successful first campaign of $16,000 supported travel, filming, and production costs of the project, which is titled Persephone Speaks: The Forgotten Women of Bosnia. “The sexual violation of women erodes the fabric of a community in a way that few weapons can,” she wrote. “Rape’s damage can be devastating because of the strong communal reaction to the violation and the pain stamped on entire families. “I’m excited for this film to shed more light on the issue of sexualized violence, and hope this will be the first of many documentaries to come.” Ivkovic was born in Croatia and emigrated to the United States (Chicago) as a young child. Growing up she spent alternate summers “home” on the Adriatic coast with Croatian friends and relatives. Her first year at K was the year the Serbian army invaded Slovenia and Croatia, beginning the Bosnian War. For her Senior Individualized Project, Ivkovic worked for Kareta, a small nonprofit feminist group Zagreb, assisting survivors of Serbian rape-death camps.

After graduating from K (political science and women’s studies) Ivkovic earned an M.F.A. (playwrighting) from the University of Southern California and then worked for a number of small production companies and large studios in Los Angeles. She has interviewed many survivors of the war in Bosnia and recently left her studio job to devote her full time to completion of the Persephone project. The second Kickstarter campaign has less than a month to complete; readers are invited to participate.