August 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Minor Myers, jr. Welcome Center, has been awarded silver certification as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building – the first new construction building in Bloomington to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The building, named in honor of Illinois Wesleyan’s 17th president, was designed by CSO Architects, Inc., as part of Illinois Wesleyan’s continuing efforts to create a more ecologically friendly or “sustainable” campus. Sustainable features include a geothermal heating and cooling units, the use of special insulated glass for the windows that reflects heat, called low-emissivity, or low-e, glass; and the installation of a traction elevator versus the usual hydraulic elevator.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University’s Earl H. and Marian A. Beling Professor in the Natural Sciences Ram Mohan will be honored in Washington, D.C. at the American Chemical Society (ACS) national conference this month for an article he authored with his collaborator and sabbatical host, Dr. Janet Scott.

The article, “Reactivity of ionic liquids” has been named one of the “Top 50 Most Cited Articles” from 2006-2009. The article was originally published in 2007 in the international journal Tetrahedron. This is the third time Mohan has received the honor, previously recognized for a 2004 article on bismuth reactivity co-authored with several IWU students. “Ionic liquids represent a fundamentally new and different class of solvents,” Mohan said, “This is an exciting time to be working with ionic liquids.”

Mohan’s celebrated research is geared toward discovering environmentally friendly synthetic methods for chemists to use at pharmaceutical and other companies, including work with bismuth compounds. A member of the IWU faculty since 1996, his work is known worldwide. He is the recipient of several research grants, including the largest individual grant at the University. During his time at Illinois Wesleyan, Mohan has co-authored 49 articles with University undergraduates as co-authors.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University alumnus Danny Burke has been pioneering making fresh food available to low-income residents.

Burke, who graduated in the spring of 2009, developed a plan for benefits from SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps), to be used at the farmer’s market in downtown Bloomington. Now the Downtown Bloomington Farmer’s Market is one of just nine farmer’s markets in the state of Illinois approved to accept Link cards, which are the cards used to redeem SNAP benefits in Illinois.

“Healthy food is so connected to community development,” said Burke, who earned a double major in environmental studies and Spanish. “If you secure food and nutrition, you help develop a healthier society.”

As a member of the Illinois Wesleyan’s track team, Burke ran through many neighborhoods in Bloomington, and began to suspect several of them were what anthropologists call a “food desert” – pockets in developed countries where no fresh food is available. “Some areas do not have access to grocery stores, only corner stores and gas stations that carry mainly processed food,” he said. Burke decided to focus his senior seminar paper on providing options to alleviate possible food deserts in Bloomington.

Through his advisor Environmental Studies Director and Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and International Studies Abigail Jahiel, Burke discovered the idea of allowing low-income residents to use SNAP benefits at area farmer’s markets. With the help of Jahiel and Deborah Halperin from the University’s Action Research Center, Burke connected with several local organizations, including the West Bloomington Revitalization Partnership, the Heartland Local Food Network, Harvest of Hope, and Downtown Bloomington Association, which operates the farmers’ market. “Danny saw a need and studied and worked to answer that need,” said Marsha Veninga, co-chair of Heartland Local Food Network, who took on Burke as an intern. “He has gone way above and beyond any class project.”

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – A group of Illinois Wesleyan University students, faculty, and alumni will present a free of charge musical in Portland, Oregon this summer.

Tin Pan Alley Theatre Company (TPA), which was started by an IWU alumnus, will present the musical Triumph of Love at the Artist’s Repertory Morrison Street Theater in Portland. Although the production is free, tickets can be reserved by e-mailing iwantfreemusicals {at} gmail(.)com or calling (503) 708-7553. The show will debut on Friday, August 7 and run until Saturday, August 22. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. PST Wednesday through Saturday, and at 2 p.m. PST for the Sunday performance on August 15.

Tin Pan Alley’s co-founder and artistic director is David Rubin, a Portland native and 2009 Illinois Wesleyan graduate with a bachelor of fine arts. “The idea behind the production,” said Rubin, “is to dedicate Triumph of Love to the average person who is ready to have some fun this summer.” According to production promotional materials, the company hopes to continue to offer free musicals in the future with the support of donations through the Web site and at performances.

The show will feature extensive involvement by Illinois Wesleyan School of Theatre Arts students, faculty, and alumni. Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Scott Susong is the director. TPA’s managing director Natalie Buccomini, ’08, will direct the music (with Rubin choreographing). The musical also features students Maia Diaz, ’10, Neil Stratman, ’10, Melina Rey, ’11, and graduate Tony Lopez, ’08, in lead roles.

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