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Jefferson in a jiffy--If you missed professor of history Joseph Ellis's campus reading from his new book on Thomas Jefferson, you can catch it on C-Span this Sunday. C-Span's show "About Books" on May 25 (at both 9 pm and midnight) will feature videotape of Ellis's March reading in the New York Room, which was sponsored by the Odyssey Bookshop.

Not home alone--Psychologist Francine Deutsch says it is possible for couples with kids to share all domestic and child-care duties equally. And she's going to share her thoughts on the topic with the wider world in Halving It All, which has just been accepted for publication by Harvard University Press.

From the Holocaust to new life--Music professor and composer Allen Bonde collaborated with English professor and poet Robert Shaw to produce Twentieth-Century Psalm, which received its premiere on May 4 in Peabody, MA. Especially written for Yom HaShoah, the day of remembrance for the Holocaust, Twentieth-Century Psalm was commissioned and performed by the Gordon College Women's Choir. This work will be published by Schaffner Music.

Moving on with a still life--A still life print created by Amy Craigen Palmer '98 was recently exhibited at First Expressions Gallery in Boston. The intaglio print was selected from more than 500 entries by undergraduates and graduate students. The still life depicts cups and boxes shown as though they are interacting. The arrangement, reminiscent of Giorgio Morandi's style, infuses the otherwise simple objects with a monumental feel. Manipulating and transforming qualities is a specialty for Palmer, who excels in the personification of objects.

Taking the money and running--Stephanie Peacock '98 wanted--as the Steve Miller Band song goes--to take the money and run with her idea of going to Russia and studying educational reform there. She'd hoped the money would come from a grant, but when none materialized, she decided to "max out" her credit cards and go anyway.

Peacock will spend the bulk of this summer researching her topic in the western Russian cities of Kaliningrad, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. She will visit with teachers, students, parents, and other individuals involved in the country's educational reform.

Encouraged by associate professor of Russian Peter Scotto to pursue the project, Peacock will look at what is happening with special education in Russia. Specifically, she wants to know how the country can reform this area, incorporating Western ideas of individualism in particular, given its crushing economic problems.

To prepare for her trip, the Russian studies major has found families to stay with and identified a host of contacts involved in education. She also completed two semester-long independent study projects with Scotto about Russian educational reforms during and after the Soviet era. When she found it difficult or impossible to locate current information about special education in Russia, she decided to take a hands-on approach and travel there herself.

Peacock's interest in things Russian began in her Sacramento, CA, hometown through family friends who had adopted a Russian girl. At Mount Holyoke, she continues her contact with Russian children by tutoring two adoptees from Russia in their South Hadley classroom.

Raffle winners--Winners of items donated by participants in the recent Employee Benefits Fair sponsored by the human resources office are listed below, with their office affiliations, prizes, and the donating organizations' names.

Bernice Lynch, post office (a duffle bag from AETNA Pension Plan); Gary Shaw, buildings and grounds (a book from the Alcohol & Drug Awareness Program); Karen Couture, development (a cookbook from the Alumnae Association); Kathy Kirby, internship program (dinner for two from American Benefits); Marilyn Pryor, biological sciences (a cookbook and bag from Blue Cross/Blue Shield); Linda Callahan, art department (a book by Joseph Ellis from the College Bookstore); Linda Samano, Human Resources (a cake from dining services); candles from the Five College Credit Union to: Jeanne Tripp, public safety, Vicha Hajdamowicz, buildings and grounds, and Cheryl Roy, dean of administration's office; Cathy Valiquette, buildings and grounds (a duffle bag from Fidelity); Joan Przybycien, library (golf umbrella from Fidelity); John Laprade, student activities (piñata from Human Resources); Kristen Zagranski, dining services (a bike helmet from Kaiser Permanente); Geri Brockway, Frances Perkins Program (massage from Ruth Morin); Ellen Ortyl, dean of faculty's office (massage from Heidi Runnals-Vedovelli); free window etching from Remillard Insurance agency to: Dina Bevivino, dining services, Jim Wehner, dining services, Karen Fortunato, health center, Doris Lusignan, comptroller's office, Shirley DeTour, financial services, Jackie Chartier, payroll, Susan Perry, library, Claudette Crochiere, human resources, Jan Dragon, treasurer's office, Doris Pichette, housekeeping, Carol Supinski, financial services, Rozelyn Douglas, library, and Karen Griffin, Alumnae Association; Deb Leary, financial services (leather portfolio from TIAA/CREF); Linda Cavanaugh, admission ($50 gift certificate at Carmelina's from UNUM); Mary Brewer, financial services (a travel bag from UNUM); Dan Griffin, public safety (brunch for two from Willits-Hallowell Center).

We want your news - Send items of interest to Emily Weir, Office of Communications, or email eweir@mtholyoke.edu.