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Social Understanding Through Travel

International travel is the key to social understanding, according to Pulitzer Prize winner David L. Marcus.

"It's so important for people in the United States to spend some time travelling in other countries," Marcus told a group of students gathered for an informal lunchtime discussion March 21. "It really doesn't even matter where you travel - as long as you do it. It opens your eyes."

Marcus covers education news for U.S. News and World Report. In 1994, he shared the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for a series on violence against women. He is the co-author of "Hidden Wars," a series that was a finalist for the Pulitzer in 1992. He has been a guest lecturer at several colleges and universities, including the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Houston.

During his time as a foreign correspondent for the Dallas-Morning News, Marcus interviewed a number of presidents, including Alberto Fujimori, president of Peru from 1990 to 2000.

Marcus recalled a meeting with Fujimori in the presidential palace after he had been in office about a year.

"He told us so much about his life - including things about his kids," Marcus recalled. "I came to realize he was a lonely guy in a weird way. He was the most powerful guy in the country, but he really just wanted someone to talk to. That was such a fascinating experience for me."

Still, Marcus said his favorite interviews weren't with presidents or other famous, powerful people.

"I really enjoy just hanging out and getting to know ordinary people - I always like talking to people on their farms or in shopping centers or schools," Marcus said. "There's so much you can learn from people."

He said average people were often far more admirable than famous individuals.

"I've seen some reformers who have spoken great words," Marcus said. "But then they do not live up to those words - those promises. They are beaten down by the system or they become corrupt or they compromise their beliefs. And in some cases, they were just great liars in the first place. It can be very disappointing."

Marcus is the university's Woodrow Wilson Fellow for 2002. The Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows program brings professionals from a wide variety of fields to the campuses of private liberal arts and comprehensive universities for a week of residency. Redlands is one of six colleges on the West Coast chosen for the program.

Recital Showcases Students

A select group of eight School of Music students performed in the annual President's Honor Recital and Reception March 17 in Memorial Chapel.

The recital was presented by President James Appleton and highlighted the talents of students selected through a competition in the School of Music.

Since the establishment of the annual recital during the 1980s, music students have competed every November before a panel of three non-faculty members. The top student is selected to perform with the Redlands Symphony. Between five and eight students are typically awarded places in the recital.

This year's student performers were: senior Joseph Bartell of Hemet, saxophone; senior Jeremy Fletcher of Renton, Wash., saxophone; junior Amanda Gillette of Mira Loma, voice; junior Ayako Hattori of Garden Grove, piano; graduate student Sunja Kim of San Bernardino, piano; junior Nichole Listander of El Cajon, voice; graduate student Jonathan Peske of Redlands, clarinet and sophomore Alisha Piete of Tualatin, Ore., flute.

Senior Lara Urrutia of Moreno Valley was selected to perform with the Redlands Symphony Orchestra in March 2003.






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University holds state's only two-day children's literature festival

Teachers, librarians and book lovers had a chance to meet some of America's best children's authors and illustrators during the Charlotte S. Huck Children's Literature Festival March 8-9.

The University of Redlands event is the only two-day children's literature event in California. Only a few two-day festivals are held nationwide.

Speakers included: Kristiana Gregory, author of historical books including "Winter of the Red Snow" and "Cleopatra," which both were made into HBO specials; Kevin Henkes, creator of picture books and novels including "Wemberly Worried" and "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse;" Anita Lobel, illustrator for books including "This Quiet Lady and "Princess Furball;" and Pam Munoz Ryan, author of "The Flag We Love" and "Riding Freedom."

The festival was designed primarily for educators interested in learning more about available children's literature.

"In California, teachers are not required to take a children's literature class when they earn their credential," said festival coordinator and San Bernardino educator Marjorie Arnett. "This allows teachers to learn more about quality authors and books. The conference isn't about teaching reading - it's about getting good materials into the hands of teachers and students."

The festival was first held in 1997 and is named after Huck, who was a professor of literature for 30 years at Ohio State University before retiring to Redlands. Char Burgess, dean of student life, was named after Huck, who is her aunt.

"Having her name associated with the festival really helped us to bring in some big names," Arnett said of Huck. "Now, we are really starting to develop a national reputation. It's exciting."