Note from Dean Brown: J-transfers, Major Declaration, Oversubscription, Study Abroad & Musical Madness

Hey Class of 2013–Welcome back!  I hope that you all are looking forward to a great spring semester!  With the snow and sleet today, I’m sure you’re looking forward to sunny warm weather as well!

  J-TRANSFERS:  There are 14 January transfers joining the Wes community, 11 of whom are in the Class of 2013.  They are coming from places as diverse as Bowdoin, USC, the University of Iowa, Bunker Hill Community College, and Washington University.  Please WELCOME THEM and make them feel at home as part of your incredible, smart, talented and capable class (really, truly).

DROP/ADD:  This period begins with the start of classes on Thursday, January 20 and concludes on Wednesday, February 2.  Make sure your grading mode selection is correct!

 MAJOR DECLARATION:   As you look at your course schedule for the spring, make sure that you have the courses and pre-requisites needed to declare your major between Thursday, February 3 and Friday, March 4.  Departments and programs will sponsor Open Houses between February 7 -25.  I will send you the schedule once that has been confirmed.  The Open Houses are a great opportunity to check out a major, meet the faculty, and ask questions.   Also, Jim Kubat of the Career Resource Center will be doing another workshop on “Choosing Your Major” on February 2 at 7 p.m . in Usdan 108.  Check out as well http://www.wesleyan.edu/deans/major_declaration/ .

OVERSUBSCRIPTION:   One thing to keep in mind is the University’s regulation about oversubscription.  In order to promote a liberal arts education, the faculty put into place a regulation that limits the number of credits in each department that can be counted towards graduation.  The maximum number of credits is 16.00.  If you have over 16.00 credits in any one department, you will be “oversubscribed” in that department and those additional credits (not necessarily those particular courses) will not count towards graduation.  If courses are cross-listed, i.e., listed in more than one department or program, they will count towards oversubscription in all departments in which they are listed.  This means that if you enroll in an AMST course that is also cross-listed as a HIST course, it will count in the HIST department as a credit for purposes of oversubscription.  See the academic regulations at http://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/AR.html .  As long as you have as many credits over 32.00 as you are oversubscribed in a department, you are okay.  However, you need to remain alert to where you are vis a vis the 16.00 credit limit in a department.   Any questions?  Come see me, and you will be hearing more about this from me as time goes on.

STUDY ABROAD:   Check NOW for programs and deadlines that you have the slightest interest in.  Due dates for apps are sooner than you think and it takes TIME to investigate all your options for the fall and/or spring of next year.  Think about how where you go and how the courses offered may play into your potential major.

MUSICAL MADNESS:  Yes, 2013 rocks and will prevail over all others at the third annual musical competition between the classes on Thursday, February 24 at 7 p.m.  The entry forms are on the class blog–http://classof2013.blogs.wesleyan.edu/.   Enter solo or as an ensemble for an acoustic, electric or a capella set with an original or cover of any musical genre—from jazz to opera, from rock to hip hop.  A faculty/staff/student panel of judges will award prizes for Best in Class and Best in Show.  Get your act together and feel the love!  Entry deadline is February 17.

COME SEE ME!:  As always, don’t hesitate to come see me with any questions or concerns you may have—or just to chat—as you move forward into your fourth semester—or  fifth semester for those of you who are December Completions 2012.  I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to and what you have been thinking about.

Glad you are back!  Best, Dean Brown

Poet Susan Howe and Musician David Grubbs — tonight

Please join us for a performance by poet Susan Howe and composer David Grubbs

Wednesday, December 1, 2010  8 P.M.   CFA Hall

Renowned poet Susan Howe is a major force in contemporary letters and author of over a dozen books of poetry and critical prose, including Singularities, The Non-Conformist’s Memorial,  Souls of the Labadie Tract, My Emily Dickinson, and the forthcoming That This. She has collaborated with David Grubbs on two CDs. Howe is the English Department’s Distinguished Visiting Writer for 2010-11.

David Grubbs has released 11 solo albums and is known for his collaborations with writers and visual artists. He directs the Blue Chopsticks record label and is completing the book Records Ruin the Landscape: John Cage, The Sixties, and Sound Recording.

Both artists will be available for a Q & A the same day from 4:15-5:00 at the Shapiro Writing Center’s events room (3R in Allbritton).

These events are co-sponsored by the English Department, the Music Department, and Writing at Wesleyan.

 For more information contact ewillis@wesleyan.edu / x 3582 or visit http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesleyanUniversity/85de9330df/TEST/62189d0651

Note from Dean Brown: Withdrawal Deadline, Semester Calendar, Study Break, & Some Spring Events

Hey 2013’ers,

Glad you’re back!  Whether you went home, to a friend’s or relative’s, or stayed on campus, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break and are ready to dive into the last two weeks of classes.  I know it’s hard to believe that fall semester courses will end on Friday, December 10.  While certain parts of the semester may seem to go slowly, the entire period seems, in retrospect, to have zoomed by.  These last two to three weeks will telescope.  NOW is the time to get super-organized work-wise, if you haven’t already. 

The calendar for the rest of the semester is: 

  • Reading Week:  Saturday, December 11 – Tuesday, December 14 at 5 p.m. 
  • 2013 Study Break:  Monday, December 13 from  9-11 p.m., 3rd floor Allbritton
  • Finals:  Tuesday, December 14 at 7 p.m. – Saturday, December 18
  • Housing Closes:  Sunday, December 19 at noon

THE LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM FULL SEMESTER AND SECOND QUARTER CLASSES IS THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 AT 5 P.M.  Talk with your professors to get a realistic sense of where you stand in your classes.  If you decide to withdraw, get the form from the Registrar’s Office or mine.  You will need to get the signature of the instructor and your faculty advisor before getting mine.  That should not be a problem since you will be consulting with both of them prior to your decision to withdraw.  I’d be more than happy to talk with you about it as well.

In addition to the great STUDY BREAK brought to you by the 2013 class council in two weeks, STAY TUNED for the 2013 DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT on Sunday, February 13 (with a new consolation round this year, so get your teams ready!) and MUSICAL MADNESS on Thursday, February 24.  (For some reason, the class of 2014 thinks they have the chops to challenge the awesome and amazing talent in the class of 2013.  What is that all about???) 

As always, check the class blog (really) and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me either by e-mail (lsbrown@wesleyan.edu), by phone (x2758), drop-in (hours below), or appointment (x2758). 

Best, Dean Brown

UCC Event: Lunchbox Serenata 11/30

 

Usdan Common Connections on Tuesday, November 30

Lunchbox Serenata – Noon, Beckham Hall

Tired of eating in the Usdan? Get your lunch to go and bring it to Beckham Hall for 45 minutes of great, classical music. Lunchbox Serenata is a new Student & Faculty Recital Series!

Zimmermania at Earth House — 11/4

Zimmermania: The Bob Dylan Wannabe Contest

Do you find yourself humming Just Like a Woman in the morning and whistling Like a Rolling Stone at night?  Can you emulate Robert Zimmerman’s raw and simple voice? Or do you want to present your own take on one, two or a generous handful of his songs?

Although beginning as a competition to see who can make everyone believe that the ol’ boy is sitting right there in our living room, this has historically become a free-for-all sing-along in which even those who least expected to perform found themselves telling the room how the times they are a-changin’. We have a uniquely-tuned piano but that’s it, so bring instruments!

Facebook Event

Date: Nov. 4 – Nov. 4
Time: 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Place: Earth House (159 High St)
Cost: $00

Benefit Concert: Omar Offendum at Eclectic 10/29

OMAR OFFENDUM CONCERT

Wesleyan’s Pakistani Flood Relief Initiative is bringing back Omar Offendum, a Syrian-American MC/Producer,

to debut his new album Syriana-americanA at Eclectic this Friday.

 Bones Complex will start the show.  

WHEN: 10.29.10     WHERE: Eclectic    TIME: 10:30 pm – 1:00 am
TICKETS: $3 sold NOW in Usdan and $4 at the door

Buy tickets while they last, because you really don’t want to miss this!
All proceeds go to Oxfam, Red Cross and Islamic Relief for Pakistani Flood Victims.

Musical Madness: February 2011

Hey 2013’er’s,

Whether you’re solo or ensemble, acoustic or a capella, whether you do rock, gospel, jazz, opera, classical, reggae or vocals, it’s not too early to being thinking about Musical Madness in February 2011.  If ensemble, all members must be in the sophomore class.  Talent abounds in the Class of 2013, so let’s hear it!  Think about it and do it.

Wes Composers Concert — tonight

                                                                                Wesleyan Composers Concert
                                                                                   Thursday, October 14, 8pm

                                                                                             Crowell Concert Hall
                                                                                                 Free Admission

Join the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) as it performs works of Wesleyan graduate student composers Akiko Hatakeyama, Lawrence Sekalegga and Tyshawn Sorey, and a work by faculty composer Alvin Lucier.

Fallapalooza Pics

Many thanks to the 2013 Class Council, Bon Appetit, the CFA crew, the t-shirt guy, and Physical Plant for their great work in putting on Fallapalooza.  Photos courtesy of Sydney Hausman-Cohen ’13 and random others.

Fallapalooza, September 25, 2010, CFA Green, Wesleyan University

FALLAPALOOZA! Sat., Sept. 25 5-8 p.m.

 FALLAPALOOZA!

  Join the Class of 2013 in celebrating a new school year with

a special hot autumn meal

& performances by your FAV bands

 Clover Street Band, Thelonius Funk, Linus,

Bones Complex & The Japanese

 The CFA Green  September 25   5-8 p.m.

FREE WESLEYAN 2013 t-shirts for sophomores only–first-come, first-served

ALL are welcome ! 

Bring your Wes ID 

 

Rainsite: Beckham Hall, music/t-shirts only 8-11 p.m.