May 3, 2007


Below is the latest issue of WellesleyWire, an occasional e-mail digest of noteworthy news and announcements from Wellesley College. For more frequent news and events from the College, visit the News & Public Affairs page at . Included in this issue are the following items:

SYNOPSIS OF 2015 REPORT NOW ONLINE

Eighteen months ago President Walsh began a year-long inquiry into Wellesley's future. The multiconstituency 2015 Commission, which she chaired, and two associated working groups met throughout last year to think broadly and deeply about Wellesley's current condition and its future. The president asked the commission "to imagine how an excellent college can leverage its strengths now to become even better 10 years hence."

Topics raised by the commission and its preliminary conclusions were discussed across and throughout the campus this year, in formal and informal settings and in large and small groups.

A synopsis of the report is available online at President/Announcements/2015synopsis.html

APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TOP 4,000 FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Each year since 2004, Wellesley has received more than 4,000 applications for admission to its incoming class. According to Dean of Admission Jennifer Desjarlais, these prospective Wellesley women are a highly qualified and diverse group. They are citizens of 64 nations and hail from 49 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Forty-seven percent identify themselves as students of color, and eleven percent will be the first in their family to attend college. The Board of Admission mailed acceptance letters in March, and enrollment decisions were due May 1. Several hundred admitted students and their family members visited Wellesley during Spring Open Campus in mid-April, enjoying two days of class visits, campus tours, panel discussions, overnights in the residence halls, and other opportunities to meet members of the college community.

TRUSTEES TAP ALECIA DECOUDREAUX '76 AS NEW CHAIR

The Board of Trustees has elected Indianapolis resident Alecia A. DeCoudreaux its new chair, effective July 1, 2007. In a unanimous vote, DeCoudreaux, who is the first African-American to chair Wellesley’s board, was selected to succeed Victoria J. Herget, who has led the board since 1999 and will complete her 15 years of trustee service in June.

A member of the Class of 1976, DeCoudreaux is vice president and general counsel for Lilly USA. She serves in volunteer leadership roles at several community organizations, including the Indiana University Foundation and the Women's Fund of Central Indiana. A Wellesley trustee since 2002 and a member of the presidential search committee, DeCoudreaux earned her J.D.from the Indiana University School of Law at Bloomington.

More information is available online at Releases/2007/050307.html

WELLESLEY SUPPORTS MARATHONERS DESPITE WET WEATHER

Rain, gusty winds, and chilly temperatures failed to dampen the enthusiasm and volume of Wellesley's famous "Scream Tunnel" during this year's Boston Marathon. Hundreds of students lined the route in front of the Hazard Quad and Munger to cheer runners as they passed the halfway mark. Runners from around the world consider the Scream Tunnel one of the highlights of the race, getting a tremendous boost from the cheers, high fives, and occasional kisses supplied by the Wellesley crowd. A runner from Michigan passed a note, protected in a plastic bag, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you for being here," it read. "You have always been here for me in this race. At the halfway poing in this journey I look to you, standing and cheering, to give strength for the second half."

A Boston Globe photographer assigned to the Scream Tunnel found ample photo opportunities, a gallery of which are online at http://www.boston.com/sports/marathon/galleries/04_16_07_wellesley. [Site may require free registration.]

HOOP ROLLING ENDS WITH A DOUBLE DUNK

R.C. Saint-Amour, an economics and international relations major from Hewlett Harbor, New York, was the winner of the 112th annual hoop rolling competition last weekend. After emerging from the lake, Saint-Amour credited much of her win to a good position at the starting line. She thanked her “little sister” sophomore Savanna Johnson who arrived at the starting line very early in the morning to hold a place for her. After Saint-Amour’s plunge, the seniors cheered as President Walsh, whose 14-year tenure will end in June, was carried to the lake for her own dunking.

More info and photos are online at Releases/2007/042807.html

CATCH THE LATEST OFFERINGS ON iTUNES U

Earlier this year, Professor of Economics Ann Velenchik received rave reviews after performing a stand-up comedy routine in Alumnae Hall, sharing her observation about academia, life, and the connection between tea, junior faculty, and Academic Council. Audios of her performances are now available on Wellesley's iTunes U.

Through Wellesley's partnership with iTunes, anyone with an Internet connection can receive select audio and video content from Wellesley. Other recent additions are video excerpts from Shruti Laya, the annual cultural show of the Wellesley Association for South Asian Cultures and remarks from the winners of the 2007 Alumnae Achievement Awards.

You do not need an iPod or MP3 player to enjoy these offerings; you can listen or watch from your computer. To begin, go to Wellesley's iTunes page, http://itunes.wellesley.edu. If you do not have iTunes on your computer, you will be asked to download it before you can begin. The download is free.

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Mary Ann Hill
Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs
mhill@wellesley.edu
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