LOWELL HOUSE NEWSLETTER Tuesday, 13 October 2009 Volume 33, Issue 7 -------------------- Newsletter Format Guide: Announcements from Advising Tutors will always follow the Ask Beth column each week. Announcements regarding *Events* and Attractions will always be in the last section. Please remember to scroll down to that last section for event announcements and details if you are looking for them. -----------------------------------------------------------------   CALENDAR Tuesday, October 13 * Application deadline for registered non-resident students wishing guaranteed housing in their House of previous residence for spring term.  * Info session with Columbia Law Dean Nkonye Iwerebon, 5:00-7:00pm, JCR Wednesday, October 14 * Italian Table, 6:00-7:00pm, Small Dining Room * Gov advising office hours, 7:00-8:00pm, Dining Hall * "Glee" Study Break Sponsored By Queer-Straight BGLT Tutor Alliance 9:00-10:00 pm, JCR * Physics table, 9:30-10:30 pm, Dining Hall * Meditation with Dorothy Austin, 9:00-10:00 pm, Tower Room Thursday, October 15 * You are warmly invited to TEA, 5:00-6:00pm, Masters' Residence * TRIVIA NIGHT, SCR v. JCR, 9:00-11:00pm!!!! * German Table, 5:45-7:00 pm, Dining Hall * Lowell Poemical Society, 7:00-8:30 pm  Friday, October 16 Head of the Charles Regatta Weekend *Be absolutely sure to REGISTER YOUR GUESTS in Building Manager's Office! Saturday, October 17 Head of the Charles Regatta Weekend * Apple-Picking Trip To A Lowell Alum's Orchard! Brought to you by the Food Literacy Project (Lowell FLP rep: Jessica Luna, luna@fas) You may have seen the delicious pears, peaches, and grapes in the dining hall last week, from Dr. Chivian's Orchard. Now is your chance to visit the orchard and learn where and how this fruit grew! On Saturday, October 17, Dr. Eric Chivian invites a small group of Lowell students to come to his farm and help harvest two heirloom varieties of apples, Baldwins and Pound Sweet.  Dr. Chivian’s apple trees are grown from seedlings with truly unique and historical origins.  His property, Pairidaeza Farm, is an heirloom fruit orchard in central Massachusetts.  “Pairidaeza” comes from the old Iranian language Avestan, meaning "a wall enclosing a garden or orchard."  Dr. Chivian is an alum of Lowell House (’64) and of Harvard Medical School (’68).  He currently directs the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.  Dr. Chivian shared the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize for co-founding International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.  Transportation to and from campus and lunch will be provided by HUDS.  We will leave campus at 9:00 am on Saturday, October 17, and return no later than 2:00 pm.  Pairidaeza Farm is located in Petersham, MA, 1.5 hours west of campus.  The autumn leaves should be at their peak so this is the perfect time for a gorgeous daytrip out of Cambridge.  If you are interested in this truly unique opportunity please sign up ASAP by emailing Theresa McCulla at theresa_mcculla@harvard.edu.  We can only take 5-7 students and will build a waiting list if need be. Sunday, October 18 Head of the Charles Regatta Weekend Monday, October 19 SEVENTH MONDAY * Last day upon which students may withdraw from a fall term course. After this date students are responsible for all courses in which they are enrolled. * Last day upon which March 2010 Degree Candidates may submit a completed and signed petition for a secondary field to the Office of the Registrar. There are no exceptions to this deadline.  * Gov advising office hours, 7:00-8:00pm, Dining Hall * HIGH TABLE:  Reception at 6:00pm, Masters’ residence; Dinner at 6:30pm, Dining Hall (sorry, no InterHouse this evening) * NEASC Evaluation Team led by Georgetown University President Jack DeGioia. All Harvard College students are invited to attend a discussion with the NEASC Evaluation Team led by Georgetown University President Jack DeGioia on Monday, October 19 from 5-6pm in the Ticknor Lounge of Boylston Hall. The team will be meeting with Harvard faculty, students, and staff during its four-day visit to campus, as part of Harvard's reaccreditation.  For more information on how reaccreditation works, and to view the self-study report that Harvard has prepared as part of this process, please see: www.provost.harvard.edu/institutional_research/accreditation.php. All students are welcome to attend.  Light refreshments will be served. Tuesday, October 20 *The Hidden Life of Tutors, 8-10pm, JCR In short presentations, the Lowell House tutors and Resident Dean describe the part of their lives usually hidden from the House life - their academic research or career projects. Wednesday, October 21 * Gov advising office hours, 7:00-8:00pm, Dining Hall * "Glee" Study Break Sponsored By Queer-Straight BGLT Tutor Alliance 9:00-10:00 pm, JCR * Physics table, 9:30-10:30 pm, Dining Hall * Meditation with Dorothy Austin, 9:00-10:00 pm, Tower Room Thursday, October 22 * You are warmly invited to TEA, 5:00-6:00pm, Masters' Residence * German Table, 5:45-7:00 pm, Dining Hall * Lowell Poemical Society, 7:00-8:30 pm  Friday, October 23 Saturday, October 24 Sunday, October 25 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  FROM THE RESIDENT DEAN * Brett Flehinger, Allston Burr Resident Dean Room A-22, 5-2283 (lo-abrd@fas.harvard.edu) -OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK. I’ll hold office hours this week on Monday from 2:00-3:30 and Tu-Fr 11:00-12:00. Please come by with any questions, concerns, or comments that you might have. Office hours take their meaning when you show up. Without you there, I’m just hanging out in a room by myself. I’m also happy to see you at other times, and if the drop-in hours don’t work, just contact me for an appointment (5-2283, lo-abrd@fas.harvard.edu). -WITHDRAW DEADLINE. In a class that you don’t want? Need to cut down on the number of courses you have to concentrate your energy? The drop deadline has passed but you may still withdraw (like a drop but leaves a “w/d” on your transcript)through Monday, October 19. Withdrawals use the Add/Drop form (available outside of the House Office) and they require a signature from your concentration/sophomore adviser and then Brett. -THIS WEEK IN HARVARD HISTORY. Ninety-nine years ago this Wednesday (October 14), Williamina Fleming of the Harvard College Observatory discovered the tenth new star of her career. For more, please see the full story on the bulletin board outside of the House Office, or go to: http://ezp1.harvard.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/pqdweb?did=104952305&sid=4&Fmt=10&clientId=11201&RQT=309&VName=HNP -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   ASK BETH, the HOUSE ADMINISTRATOR * Beth Terry, A-22, 5-2283 (lo-admin@fas) Dear Beth, My four classes (two pass/fail) are leading my consciousness into serious procrastination and a general sense of ennui.  How might I put my intellect to better use? Signed, No Thesis in N Dear No Thesis, Funny you should ask. You should use your primed mind this Thursday, October 15th at our TRIVIA NIGHT contest beginning at about 8:00ish in the JCR. History: the Senior Common Room members brutalized their Junior Common Room counterparts in Trivia Night in the legendary Fall of 2003 contest and frankly, the JCR never got over it. There was howling, gnashing of teeth, and spitting of tacks. With the energy of a maddened underdog the students proceeded to beat the SCR members to a pulp in the following TWO contests of 2004. The war was on. In Spring 2005, however, in a VERY exciting twist of fortune, the most thrilling Trivia Night ever witnessed in recorded history took place.  There was come-from-behind victory for the SCR in sudden-death overtime! The earlier defeats were avenged and the tutors reigned supreme.  (The scoring of this nail-biter remains enshrined on a Krispy Kreme donut box in the House Office.) In the following Fall 2005 Trivia battle, Madame Victory enjoyed yet a second parade with the SCR. Tutor feathers were dangerously fluffed by the warm zephyr of hubris and sagacity.  Of course, Madame is rarely faithful. The SCR went on to be blindsided by a sophomore ambush in the Spring of 2006 and succumbed to the humbling force of a new aggressor. The next Trivia Night contest, the Fall of 2006, was a tightly fought battle. The student champions prevailed again--but only by a *single* point (leaving all parties trembling with nerves and in need of third and fourth donuts). By Spring 2007 a revitalized SCR had recovered their ambition and managed a very skillful defense. They triumphed by the skin of their collective wisdom teeth, yet again by a *single* point. Vengeance was sweet. Perhaps TOO sweet. Because in the Fall of 2007, Spring of 2008, Fall of 2008 and Spring 2009 we’ve witnessed a JCR rebound with back-to-back victories. As we approach Fall 2009 and our much-anticipated TRIVIA NIGHT, I implore any bored minds out there to join the battle and test your mettle.  There will be snacks and beer.  And perhaps the SCR will regain their title as the most trivial body in Lowell House!  We can only hope....so stay tuned.  ~Beth   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM THE FELLOWSHIPS TUTORS * Susanna Mierau (smierau@fas.harvard.edu) * Josh Goldman (jdgoldm@fas.harvard.edu) * Courtney Peterson (cmpeters@fas.harvard.edu) LOWELL HOUSE FELLOWSHIPS WEBSITE The Fellowships section of the Lowell House website features an annotated list of common fellowships designed to make it easy to find fellowships that will fund whatever it is that you're hoping to do.  Check it out at http://lowell.harvard.edu/fellowships LOWELL FELLOWSHIPS MAILING LIST Want to know what fellowships are out there?  Want to know about them before the deadlines appear in the newsletter?  Want more information on the fellowships listed below?  Subscribe to the fellowships mailing list to get notices about once every week or two of upcoming deadlines and things to think about (relevant for sophomores, juniors, and seniors).  To subscribe, go tohttp://lists.hcs.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lowell-fellowships . OFFICE HOURS We hold office hours on Sunday--and this week Wednesday--evenings in the dining hall, during which we'd be happy to discuss your plans and look over your application essays. To visit us during office hours, you need to sign up at least one day in advance on the sign-up sheet next to the fellowships bulletin board, right next to the entrance to the JCR.  If you have specific questions, please email us at any time.   UPCOMING INFOSESSIONS (in OCS conference room unless noted) - 20 Oct, 4 PM: Rhodes/Marshall Interview Panel - 27 Oct, 4:30 PM: Social Impact Funding Forum (OCS reading room) - 28 Oct, 8 PM, Leverett JCR: Harvard-Cambridge Scholarships meeting with selection committee DESHAUN HILL & HARVARD STEPHENS SCHOLARSHIP: $1500 for two Harvard African-American students showing academic excellent & community service.  To apply for Lowell nomination, submit CV, Harvard transcript & one letter of recommendation to Lowell House Office by Oct. 20. *  *  *  UPCOMING FELLOWSHIPS *  *  * FOR GRADUATE STUDY ABROAD: - 15 October: Gates Cambridge Scholarship.  Funds 1-4 years of graduate study at Cambridge in any field.  Must have strong academic record.  Open to citizens of any country except the U.K. - 16 October: DAAD Scholarship.  Funds 1 or 2 years of study in Germany.  This is administered through CGS but their Harvard deadlines are not updated yet. - 16 October: St Andrew's Society Scholarships.  Funds one year of graduate study in Scotland.  You must have at least one Scottish ancestor. - 09 November: Eben Fiske Studentship. Postgraduate multi-year advanced degree study in the U.K. - 24 November: Williams Scholarship. Postgraduate study in the U.K. (international government and public affairs) - 01 December: Harvard-Cambridge Scholarships. Postgraduate study in the U.K. - 04 December: Henry, Knox, Smith (non-science), and Von Clemm Fellowships. Postgraduate study in the U.K. - 07 December: Mackenzie King-Harvard Scholarship. Postgraduate study in Canada (in a Canadian field) - 08 December: Herchel Smith Harvard Postgraduate Scholarship. Postgraduate study in the U.K. (natural sciences, computer science, or mathematics) FOR PURPOSEFUL TRAVEL (seniors only): - 01 February: Millfield, Shrewsbury, and Stowe Teaching Fellowships.Postgraduate teaching in the U.K. - 18 February: Gardner, Shaw, Sheldon, Trustman Traveling Fellowships.  Funds a year-long project of your choice in a foreign country.  FOR GRADUATE STUDY AND/OR OTHER POSTGRADUATE ACTIVITIES: - 21 October: Merage institute for the American Dream.  $10,000/year for two years for study, travel, internships, etc.  Must have a green card or be a naturalized citizen. - 29 October: Carnegie Fellowship.  Provides a one-year fellowship at the Carnegie Institute for International Peace. - 30 October: Hertz Fellowship.  Funds 5 years of graduate study in the applied physical sciences.   - 01 November: Soros Fellowship.  Stipend + tuition grant for graduate study of any kind (including law & medicine).  Must be a naturalized citizen, have a green card, or be the children of naturalized citizens. - 02-12 November (depending on field): NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.  Funds 3 years of graduate study in any field of science or engineering, including economics, psychology, and history of science. See http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201&org=NSF - 10 December: Beinecke Scholarship.  $2,000 for senior year and $30,000 for graduate study in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. FOR UNDERGRADUATES: - 22 October: Truman Scholarship.  Money for senior year of college and graduate school (and prestige).  Open to juniors who plan to go into government or public service (broadly construed). - 2 November: Goldwater Scholarship.  Prize for outstanding sophomores or juniors in science/math/engineering.  Also comes with funding toward your remaining undergraduate years. FOR MORE INFORMATION: See the Lowell House fellowships website. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  FROM THE LOWELL HOUSE PRE-LAW COMMITTEE Website: http://www.lowell.harvard.edu/advising/pre-law/index.php Email: loholaw@fas * Karl Procaccini (karlprocaccini@gmail.com) * Sandy Alexander (sbalexander@gmail.com) * Sandy Ullman (ullman@fas) LAW SCHOOL VISITS IN OCTOBER: *** Columbia—October 13, 5-7 PM,  Lowell House JCR Learn about Columbia Law School (and law school admissions) with Nkonye Iwerebon, Dean of Admissions. *** Georgetown—October 15, 3 or 4 PM, OCS All Harvard Seniors are cordially invited to meet with Andy Cornblatt, DEAN OF ADMISSIONS AT Georgetown University Law Center FOR GROUP INTERVIEWS Thursday, October 15th 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM.  ADVANCED SIGN UP IS REQUIRED.  INTERESTED STUDENTS SHOULD REGISTER BY E-MAIL TO Patrice Robinson AT pnd4@law.georgetown.edu *** University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, University of Michigan—October 20, 6:00 – 8:00pm, OCS Reading Room In a session that they term Law School Admissions 101, join the Deans of Admission from these three great schools for a realistic look at how applications are reviewed. Panelist and student participants will debate the merits of actual law school applications to select the best students. You’ll learn what works and what doesn’t in the competitive law school admissions process.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM THE PREMEDICAL COMMITTEE (lohomed@fas) Ilya Leskov (chair), Lizzy Rossin, Marlys Fassett & Mary Alexander Premed Office Hours: Sundays 6-8 p.m. in the dining hall drop-in or by appointment (email lohomed@fas by Saturday noon) Current Applicants!: Please check in with the premed committee this week re: the status of your secondary applications/interviews.  Email lohomed@fas.harvard.edu or drop by office hours.  Email List: To be added to the premed mailing list, email your name, class year & sophomore advisor's name to lohomed@fas.harvard.edu Advisor Assignments and handouts from the September Intro Meeting are posted on our website:  http://www.lowell.harvard.edu/advising/pre-med.php Upcoming OCS events:  Thu Oct 15 4:30-5:30 Exploring Careers in Medicine Discussion For OCS answers to FAQs about course selection for premeds, see: http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students/careers/medicine/premedguide09.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM YOUR CAREER AND PRE-BUSINESS ADVISING TUTORS * Russell Miles - Resident Tutor (rmiles@oxfamamerica.org) (especially international careers) * V.J Patel - Non-Resident Tutor (v.j.patel@gmail.com) (especially business) * Jevan Soo – Non- Resident Tutor ( jsoo@mba2011.hbs.edu)  (especially business, MBA’s, public service) Thinking about what you will do after Harvard? It's never too early or too late to start!! Who can help you with this? The career and pre-business advisers at Lowell are Russell Miles, and V.J Patel. We are here to help you think through that decision and work out what you really want out of life and your career!   There are so many interesting and valuable options available to you which are worth exploring. E-mail us to make an appointment to come and chat with us. Another great place to look for resources and information is the Office of Career Services http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students.htm. Russell is creating an e-mail list in order to send out messages about key dates and events. Please contact him if you are interested to have your name on this mailing list -rmiles@oxfamamerica.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  FROM YOUR RESIDENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ADVISER * Russell Miles (rmiles@oxfamamerica.org)  Interested in international relations, international aid and development? Want to discuss international issues raised in class? Need help thinking about research paper topics? Interested in an international career in  public service, government or private sector, or simply  wanting to travel to other regions of the world?  E-mail me to make an appointment to talk with me about all these questions. I am creating an e-mail list in order to send out messages about key dates and events related to  international development and international relations. Please contact me if you are interested to have your name on this mailing list - rmiles@oxfamamerica.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * * *  SPORTS @ LOWELL HOUSE *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * * *  IMs for the next two weeks: WED 10/14 @ 7pm @ Stadium: Flag Football THURS 10/15 @ 7pm @ MAC1: Volleyball B SUN 10/18 @ 5:30 @ Murr: Tennis MON 10/19 @ 7pm @ Stadium: Soccer TUES 10/20 @ 8pm @ MAC2: Volleyball B IM reps: Katrina (katrinawelch4@gmail), Brian (bkaufman@fas), and Joe (jalin@fas) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOWELL FAN CLUB: Brodi (bkemp@fas) O entryway & LoHo LoCo tutor air horns.  yelling.  sloshing soda and popcorn.  House tattoos... We're starting a new LOWELL FAN CLUB to support athletes in the House... Varsity, JV and Club.  Our version of Crimson Crazies...  named...  LoHo LoCos (Lowell House Locos)!!! Schedule: Sat-Sun, 17-18 Oct:    Crew (HEAD OF THE CHARLES) (M & W) Sat-Sun, 17-18 Oct:    Soccer v. Brown (M) Saturday, 07 Nov:       Waterpolo v. TBA (N Divisional Championships) (M) Saturday, 14 Nov:       Ice hockey v. Princeton (W) Sunday, 29 Nov:         Fencing v. Harvard Invitational (M) Saturday, 05 Dec:       Squash v. Cornell (M) We're trying to get to one game / match for every athlete in the House.  We've started with the athletes we know about, but if you are racing, playing or competing this fall in another sport not listed below, pick a week that we don't have something scheduled and LET US KNOW!  We'd love to cheer you on. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM YOUR WELLNESS TUTOR Brodi (bkemp@fas) O entryway MEDITATION WITH DOROTHY AUSTIN Wednesdays 9pm Tower Room First session: Wednesday October 14th Dorothy will offer an introduction to meditation on the 14th followed by a meditation session. Bring a yoga mat if you have one; otherwise just wear comfy clothes. Hope to see you there! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOWELL MARATHON CLUB Brodi (bkemp@fas) O entryway Interested in running the 2010 Boston Marathon with Lowellians?  More information to follow regarding training plans, but for now, try to get out regularly (2 or 3 times per week) to run a couple of miles. If you're up to a solid 3 or 4 mile run twice a week by December 1, you'll be primed to get going!  I want as many people to cross the line in April as possible. I had never run before last December, trained for four months and did it ... you can too!!! It was an amazing experience and I'd love to share it with you. There is already a group of 10 or 12 people who are planning to run it ... join us! We'll be having an intro meeting toward the end of October to share training tips and plans, talk about fundraising and to gEt eXcITed!!!!!! *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * * *  LANGUAGE TABLES AT LOWELL HOUSE *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * * *  GERMAN TABLE *Nayla Hamdi (nayla@brandeis.edu) Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Then come to the German Table every Thursday at 5:45 PM in the Lowell House Dining Hall. All levels of proficiency are welcome. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *  *  * WELLNESS TIP OF THE WEEK *  *  * The average American consumes 53 pounds of bread a year, or about 2.7 slices a day.  Unfortunately, most bread consumed is made from enriched white flour, which has been stripped of many essential nutrients.   So choose whole wheat bread instead.  Some breads that look like they're whole wheat are not, so always check that the first ingredient on the list is whole wheat flour. And remember, the shorter the ingredient list on the package, the more nutritious the bread (or any food for that matter) usually is. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  FROM THE EDITORS Got an item for the newsletter? Email it to lohonews@fas. Items received by noon on Saturday will be in Mondays newsletter, space permitting. Do not despair; all submissions will be included in the online edition.