Molly Ivins '66 remembered
 
Political commentator, author, and humorist Molly Ivins ’66 died January 31 following a seven-year battle with breast cancer. Ivins, who was best known for her sharp-tongued skewering of the political establishment, was the author of the best-selling books "Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush" and "Bushwhacked." Her column was syndicated by more than 300 newspapers across the country. She was a frequent visitor to Smith, often entertaining students with speeches in which she’d urge them to not only change the world by becoming part of the political process but also have fun while doing it. She received a Smith College Medal in 2001. To read Ivins’ 1993 Rally Day address, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu/remember/mollyivins.php, where you can also leave your own tribute to Ivins.
 
  Smith earns top grades for sustainability
  Smith College was recently recognized as a national leader in the area of sustainability, earning one of the few top grades on a report card released by Sustainable Endowments Institute. Because of the potential impact of educational endowments on corporate citizenship, the study selected 100 schools with the largest endowments in the United States and Canada. While more than half of the schools received an overall grade of "C," Smith earned a "B." Only four schools--Dartmouth, Harvard, Stanford, and Williams-- received a higher cumulative grade of "A-." In the specific categories, Smith received an "A" in administration, climate change & energy, and shareholder engagement, a "B" in food and recycling and green building, and lower grades in other categories. The full report can be downloaded at http://www.endowmentinstitute.org/sustainability/.
 
  Physician recognized for life-changing research
 
Pamela Bowes Davis '68, M.D., Ph.D., was recently honored for her life-changing research in the field of cystic fibrosis. Davis, who is the interim dean at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, received the Paul di Sant'Agnese Award at the 20th annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, held in Denver last November. Named for one of the first physicians to devote his practice to finding a cure for CF, the award is considered the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's highest honor for scientific research. Davis, who received a Smith Medal in 2001, was recognized for discovering an innovative way of treating the disease. Specifically, in a four-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Davis and her colleagues showed that high dose ibuprofen slows the progression of CF lung disease. This remains the only anti-inflammatory treatment directly demonstrated to alter progression of the disease. For Davis, the award holds special meaning, since she worked with Dr. di Sant'Agnese at the National Institutes of Health. "He has been such an inspiration not only to me but many physicians who also believed in the reward of academic medicine and world-changing medical research," she said.
 
  Study links negative expectations and women's performance
  A new study by Associate Professor of Psychology Maryjane Wraga documents, for the first time, how certain regions of women's brains react to positive and negative stereotypes. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, Wraga and fellow researchers Molly Helt '05 and Emily Jacobs '04 documented brain activity in 54 women between the ages of 18 and 34 after they had read a stereotypical message about women and then performed a spatial reasoning task. The task required them to view pictures of objects and describe what the objects would look like from different, imagined perspectives. The group exposed to a negative stereotype made 6 percent more errors than the group exposed to a neutral message, and 14 percent more errors than the group exposed to a positive stereotype. "The results demonstrate the remarkable power of culture in determining performance," said Wraga, lead author on the study, published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. For more information about the study, visit http://www.smith.edu/newsoffice/releases/06-038.html.
 
  Grant allows writer to return home
  Dina Rabadi '96 has been awarded a writing grant from the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation to spend a month in Jordan researching her next novel, which will be set in both the Middle East and Detroit, Michigan. Rabadi was born in Jordan and immigrated with her family to the United States in 1978. Her work has appeared in a number of publications, including the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and Fiction magazine. Her trip to Jordan will be the first time she's seen the country and many of her relatives since she was 4 years old.
 
  Symposium brings together alumnae in law
  How would you reinvent the practice of law? That's one of the questions to be discussed during the Alumnae Association's on-campus event, "Smith Women and the Practice of Law," scheduled for March 29-30, 2007. The event, which is open to any alumna involved or interested in the practice of law, will feature alumnae lawyers, law professionals, and Smith faculty. Discussion topics include work/life balance, career paths, ethics, and issues related to diversity and discrimination in the profession. For information, contact Betsy Baird, associate director for alumnae education, at 800-526-2023, ext. 4; bbaird@email.smith.edu. Or visit the Alumnae Association's Web site, http://alumnae.smith.edu/education/women_in_law.php.
 
  A call for future Smithies
  The Office of Admission invites you to add the name of your granddaughter, daughter, sister, niece, or neighbor to its mailing list by following this link: http://www.smith.edu/admission/forms/addtolist.php. At appropriate times during her high school career, she will receive information about Smith. We so value the Smith tradition that when your sister, daughter or granddaughter (or great-granddaughter) applies to Smith, her application fee will be waived.
 
  Teachers wanted
  The Office of Admission is looking for high school teachers to add to a database of alumnae teachers. If you're a teacher, follow this link to tell us who you are and where you teach: http://www.smith.edu/admission/forms/alumteach.php. As a teacher and an alumna, you have no doubt shared your enthusiasm about Smith with your students. We encourage you to continue to spread the word. We look forward to hearing from you.
 
  The language of landscape
 
"Language Abstraction" is the title of a new exhibit by painter and poet Meg Lindsay, MFA '98, on display in the gallery of the Esther Raushenbush Library at Sarah Lawrence College. The exhibit, which runs through March 31 and is open to the public, features paintings and prints that Lindsay says "capture the layering of what looks real, into the abstract." Her subjects include landscapes found throughout the Hudson Valley and birds of prey, with a focus on owls. Lindsay's art has appeared as part of group exhibitions in museums, art centers, and colleges throughout the nation. For information about "Language Abstraction," call 914-395-2470
 
  Stories from alumnae authors
 
Curious how author Jane Yolen '60 has managed to write more than 250 children's books, or how author Ruth Ozeki '80 develops her characters? Check out the Alumnae Association's new series of audio interviews with alumnae authors, "An Author's Voice." Featured so far are interviews with Yolen; Ozeki, author of My Year of Meats; Robin Hathaway '56, who created the Dr. Fenimore mystery series; romance novelist Judith Arnold (Barbara Keiler '74); and Andrea Hairston '74, professor of literature and science fiction author. To start listening, go to http://alumnae.smith.edu and look under the "Audio Transcripts" section. Files are available for download in MP3 format.
 
  A book club for alumnae
  Alumnae share a love of reading and talking about good books. To celebrate this favorite pastime during its 125th anniversary year, the Alumnae Association has developed a unique, worldwide book club for alumnae. Here's how it works: Smith clubs and Smith book clubs are invited to select a book from an online list and then schedule an appropriate faculty member to lead a discussion exclusively for club members. If you don't belong to a club, faculty will be hosting online discussions throughout the year. To select a book and find out more about the reading program, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu and look for the "Read With Us" link.
 
  A woman's life--in nine episodes
 
Leta Tremblay '07 directs Machinal, writer Sophie Treadwell's story of the sensational murder trial of Ruth Snyder, one of the first women to die by the electric chair. In nine episodes, the play traces the life of the main character, showing how a seemingly innocent stenographer can be crushed and driven to murder by what Treadwell once called "the machine-like quality of life surrounding her." Machinal opens at the Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre at Smith on March 1 at 8 p.m. and has performances March 1-3 and March 7-10. Tickets are $7 for the general public; $5 for students and seniors. They may be purchased by calling 413-585-2787.
 
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Plan a Vacation with Smith Travel
Spaces are still available on these exciting spring trips:

LONDON THEATRE, March 25–April 1, 2007
Don’t miss this opportunity to see Sir Ian McKellen playing King Lear during this amazing trip that’s been custom-designed for theatre lovers. Ellen Kaplan, Smith professor of theatre, will share her wide-ranging experience in acting and directing, and Rodney West, of London Arts Discovery, will bring his wit, humor, and tour-directing skills to all aspects of this trip. Varney Porter Truscott ’51, who went on last year’s theatre trip, said, “The London Theatre trip was absolutely marvelous: superbly organized, well-paced, and intellectually stimulating.” Family and friends of Smith alumnae are welcome on this trip. 

GUATEMALA, HOLY WEEK, CULTURAL TRADITIONS, AND THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE MAYA, March 31–April 9, 2007
Celebrate Easter and the arrival of spring by spending Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala, the city that hosts the largest Easter celebrations in the western hemisphere. Karl Donfried, Smith professor emeritus of religion, will join you on this thrilling ten-day journey to explore the culture and sights of Guatemala, including the finest Mayan ruins and some of the best-preserved Spanish colonial cities in all of Central America. 

BHUTAN: INSIDE THE DRAGON KINGDOM, April 28–May 12, 2007
Join Andy Rotman, assistant professor of religion and Ph.D. in South Asian languages and civilizations, as you travel to Bhutan, the last of the intact Buddhist Himalayan kingdoms. You will be mesmerized by this land of peace, prosperity, and spiritual richness. Explore the main sights in Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdue, Trongsa, and Jakar, and attend a private dance performance amid swirling incense, streaming costumes, and magical masks.

For full itineraries and prices on all our trips, contact Smith Travel at 800-225-2029 or e-mail alumtrav@smith.edu. For a full listing of trips and slideshows of past trips, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu/travel.

Benefits for Smith alumnae
Just because you've graduated from Smith doesn't mean you're forgotten. The Alumnae Association offers a variety of services to make your post-Smith life a little easier. Alumnae are eligible for various insurance options, including medical, life, and liability insurances, as well as a credit card that benefits Alumnae Association programs. For information on all Alumnae Association benefits and services, visit http://alumnae.smith.edu and click on a menu item under "Benefit."

Keep in touch
Wondering whatever happened to that Smith housemate who used to keep you company while you studied all night for a midterm? The Alumnae Association's Online Directory makes it easy for you to catch up with your Smith friends. You can search by name, location, profession, and even Smith house. Just visit the Alumnae Association's Web page at http://alumnae.smith.edu, and log in under "Alumnae Directory and E-mail." While you're there, be sure to update your personal information. The directory is most effective when the information is kept up to date. To ensure that your information is correct, log into your alumnae directory account at https://smith.alumnae.net/login.asp and then click on "Personal Information" at the top of the screen.

Life insurance
Looking for a dependable life, liability, or temporary health insurance? The Alumnae Association's insurance program offers reasonable and critical protection for alumnae. Details are available at http://alumnae.smith.edu (click on the "Insurance Benefits" link under "Benefit"). Or for more information, call the AASC's broker, Meyer and Associates, at 800-635-7801. Identify yourself as a Smith alumna.

The Alumnae Association of Smith College promotes association programs and services only.

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For a compendium of the latest news about Smith, press releases, calendar of events, stories, and media coverage, visit Smith College News and Events Web site at http://www.smith.edu/news/
Other useful links:
Smith College Home: www.smith.edu
Alumnae Association of Smith College: http://alumnae.smith.edu
Smith Alumnae Quarterly: www.saqonline.smith.edu
Shaping the Future of Smith: http://www.smith.edu/future/shaping/
Supporting Smith: www.smith.edu/future