SHOOTING FOR THE STARS: In 1878, Maria Mitchell, Vassar’s first professor, and several of her students, battled July’s intense heat as they journeyed over 2,000 miles by train to Colorado to observe a solar eclipse firsthand. Other astronomers traveled from around the world to witness the event, but except for a few of their wives, the Vassar crew was the only group of women. Mitchell, who also discovered a comet, was the first professional woman astronomer in the U.S.
MIXING IT UP: At Vassar, it’s not unusual to find a chemistry major in an art history class or for a music major to design a biology experiment. Because Vassar has no core curriculum, students are free to explore any and all disciplines — and they do. Students have the choice of concentrating in a single discipline, an interdepartmental or multidisciplinary program, or designing an …
CHRIS ROELLKE HITS A HOMERUN: Chris Roellke, Vassar’s new dean of the college, is a familiar face among students. Because of the college’s shared governance, students and administrators each have a stake in community decisions, so it’s not unusual to find Roellke meeting with the Vassar Student Association (VSA) or in the residence halls, leading a town hall style meeting with President Hill. …
ROBOCHAMPION: After battling it out to win two campus robot competitions when he was a student, Research Associate Josh de Leeuw ’08 recently took his game to an international level, placing second in the worldwide …
MEET THE STUDENT BLOGGERS: Want to find out what it’s like to live, work, and play at Vassar? Meet the student bloggers who have their fingers on the pulse of Vassar athletics, fashion, culture, and politics. …
MAKING WAVES: You could say Emily Love ’09 has spent the past four years in the fast lane. She first arrived at Vassar with a passion for drama and a desire to take her swimming to the next level. She took it to the next level – and beyond – rewriting the college record books in the pool …
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: If practice makes perfect, then it’s easy to see why Peter Ludlow ’09 is at the top of his game. Whether he’s packing a powerful serve for Vassar’s men’s tennis team or playing the piano, Ludlow’s days often include hours of practice. …
ORKESTAR DOES LETTERMAN: What’s it like to perform on stage with indie rock favorite Beirut? In January, 32 students who were part of the “Vassar Orkestar” found out. Then, at Beirut’s request, some of the Orkestar members joined the band to perform on Late Night with David Letterman and at two sold-out performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “It was very surreal,” says Paul Buffa ’09, a double bass player. “We were too nervous to remember much. But being on stage with a full audience and Dave Letterman 10 feet away was definitely the most memorable part.”
Watch the Vassar Orkestar perform with Beirut on Late Night with David Letterman