LOWELL HOUSE NEWSLETTER Monday, 19 October 2009 Volume 33, Issue 8 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter Format Guide: Announcements from Advising Tutors will always follow the Ask 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   Monday, October 19 *High Table *Reception | 6:00-6:30 pm, Masters' Residence *Dinner | 6:30 pm, Dining Hall Tuesday, October 20 *The Hidden Life of Tutors |8:00-10:00 pm, JCR Wednesday, October 21 *Gov advising office hours | 7:00-8:00 pm, Dining Hall *Meditation with Dorothy Austin | 9:00-10:00 pm, Tower Room *"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 Thursday, October 22 *Masters' Teas | 5:00-6:00 pm, Masters' Residence *German Table | 6:00-7:00 pm, Dining Hall *Lowell Poemical Society | 7:00-8:30 pm Sunday, October 25 *French Table | 6:00-7:00 pm, Dining Hall *Milk and Cookies | 10:00 pm, Library Monday, October 26 *Gov advising office hours | 7:00-8:00 pm, Dining Hall Wednesday, October 28 *Round Table Dinner with Professor Steven Pinker | 6:00-7:00 pm, Small Dining Room *Gov advising office hours | 7:00-8:00 pm, Dining Hall *Meditation with Dorothy Austin | 9:00-10:00 pm, Tower Room *"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 Thursday, October 29 *Masters' Teas | 5:00-6:00 pm, Masters' Residence *German Table | 6:00-7:00 pm, Dining Hall *Lowell Poemical Society | 7:00-8:30 pm Sunday, November 1 *Sociology Table | 5:00-6:00 pm, Dining Hall *Lewin Musicale | 10:00-11:00 pm, Library *Milk and Cookies | 10:00 pm, Library    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------    FROM THE RESIDENT DEAN * Brett Flehinger, Allston Burr Resident Dean Room A-22, 5-2283 (lo-abrd@fas.harvard.edu)   -PLEASE COME BY. I’ll hold office hours this week on Monday from 2:00-3:30 and Tu-Fr 11:00-12:00. Please come by for anything you want, including just to say hi. If the drop-in hours don’t work, just contact me for an appointment (5-2283, lo-abrd@fas.harvard.edu), I’m glad to have you come by and talk for any reason. --PLEASE GO AWAY. We are pleased to let you know that Lowell House has two student advisers for study abroad, Naa Ammah-Tagoe and Sergius Wat (in contrast sad and lonely Winthrop House has none and has to borrow our reps when we let them). Sergius and Naa have studied in China, France, India, Switzerland, and South Africa and will be happy to talk with you about their experiences and everything that foreign study has to offer. They’ll be setting up in the dining hall from time to time and can be reached at swat@fas.harvard.edu or ntagoe@fas.harvard.edu. --NEW CALENDAR. This is a good time to begin thinking about the compressed schedule brought about by the new academic calendar. When the last boat finished the Head of the Charles in 2008, eighty-five days remained before final exams started. As of October 19, 2009 there are fifty-four days until finals begin. Panic is definitely not required, but it is good to remember that you’ll have less time to catch up this year than in previous fall semesters (on the bright side, the winter break will be so much better your hair will stand on end). --PEER HELP. It is midterm season, and if you find that your grades in a class aren’t quite what you hoped for, there are lots of places to go for assistance. The Bureau of study Counsel has peer tutors for a small fee ($7 an hour). To learn more go to: http://bsc.harvard.edu/requestatutor.htm. The Writing Center can provide free assistance on any aspect of writing from planning to revise.* More info at: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k33202 * To be truthful, they leave proofreading to you, but they help with everything else! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   ASK BETH, the HOUSE ADMINISTRATOR * Beth Terry, A-22, 5-2283 (lo-admin@fas)   Dear Beth, What happened at Trivia Night? Signed, Frankly Fake Question   Dear Frank, “... perhaps the SCR will regain their title as the most trivial body in Lowell House!  We can only hope....”    As I quote my own column from last week’s Newsletter (because that’s just how self-referential I am) the cloud of defeat has already settled like dust in my soul.  Alas, the SCR is not the most trivial body in Lowell House.  That mantle remains draped around the shoulders of our JCR.   And those churlish brutes were out in force last night. Led by Umang the Barbarian and sustained by beer and occasional impolite wafts of superiority, the undergrads took an early lead and crushed a pallid array of tutors in the first round. However, after a replenishing donut break, the SCR began to feel their strength returning and rallied in an admirable way throughout the second, third and fourth rounds.     Moments of notable courage were Karl Procaccini’s solo charge into the breach (making up six points all on his own) and Laura Dawes’ steely calm in the face of labyrinthian literature questions. As always, Noam, Bruce and Ben captained the SCR team with vigor and reliable gravitas.   Yet even these shining beacons of learning could not withstand the blows dealt by Robert’s insidious obsession with Nabokov and Bryan’s encyclopedic retention of music. As the SCR faltered and fell on their swords one by one, the JCR jackals just kept tearing off more flesh as hyenas shrieked and laughed in the background.   In a valiant maneuver alumnus Dan Craig held off the coup de grace until the fifth round when Umang and his hordes stormed the castle and Susan DeWolfe pushed them all off the parapet with the 23rd psalm.  The SCR fell to its death.  And then there were no donuts left.  But I’m not bitter.  ~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 to http://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: - 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: *** UPenn, Univ. of Chicago, Univ. of Michigan: October 20, 5:30-7:30pm, TICKNOR LOUNGE, BOYLSTON HALL.  [NOTE THE NEW TIME & LOCATION]  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.  ***Harvard Law School: November 2, 5-6pm, Winthrop House JCR.  Join the HLS Dean of Admissions for a discussion about law school and law school admissions. MAILING LIST: Interested in the law? Thinking about law school?  Sign up for the Pre-Law Mailing  List: http://www.lowell.harvard.edu/advising/pre-law/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------   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   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 Serviceshttp://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   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------    FROM YOUR ROUNDTABLE DINNER TUTOR * Marta Sobur (msobur@fas.harvard.edu)  1. Tuesday October 20th - 8-10pm The Hidden Life of Tutors, Junior Common Room  "In short presentations the Lowell House tutors and Resident Dean talk about their academic research and professional projects."    2. Wednesday October 28th - Round Table Dinner with Professor Steven Pinker, 6-7pm Small Dining Room, Attendance: 15 RSVP to msobur@fas.harvard.edu    Round Table Dinners - Fall Semester Schedule Steven Pinker Harvard College Professor and Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology Wednesday October 28th, 6-7pm Small Dining Room Michael Puett Professor of Chinese History in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations Wednesday, November 4th, 6-7pm Small Dining Room Gregory Mankiw Robert M. Beren Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics Tuesday November 10th, 6-7pm Small Dining Room Steven Levitsky John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences and Professor of Government Thursday November 12th, 6-7pm Small Dining Room Matthew Kaiser Assistant Professor of English Thursday November 19th, 6-7pm Small Dining Room   Attendance limited to 15 students. RSVP to msobur@fas.harvard.edu. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------    *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * * *  SPORTS @ LOWELL HOUSE *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * *  *  * * *    IM's this week: Monday 10/19 @ 7pm @ Stadium: Soccer vs. Dudley 2 Tuesday 10/20 @ 8pm @ MAC: Volleyball B vs. Winthrop Wednesday 10/21: Frisbee playoffs begin time TBD Sunday 10/25: RIVER RUN!!!! (men @ 11, women @ 11:30) Newell Boathouse Sunday 10/25 @ 8:30pm @ Murr: Tennis vs. Cabot Your IM reps: Katrina (katrinawelch4@gmail.com), 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: 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  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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.