When it comes to picking the subject of one of his acclaimed biographies, fascination is always a factor for author and journalist David Maraniss. Speaking to fellow author Jeff Pearlman, Mr. Maraniss said that each new book “insinuates itself into my life and in a sense takes over.”
“Formats change but two things remain eternal, or so I hope,” he noted during the interview. “The human need to understand ourselves through story and the essential need to search for truth and separate fact from misinformation.”
The author and Washington Post associate editor will lead off the 2015 Writers’ Workshop Series at the Williston Northampton School with a public lecture on September 24 in the Dodge Room, Reed Campus Center.
Delving into the very personal is at the heart of the 2015 Writers’ Workshop Series, which will explore a range of journeys—of professional growth, political power, and revenge—through the work of four strong storytellers this fall.
Williston Northampton School’s popular lecture series, conceived by authors Madeleine Blais P ’00, ’04 and Elinor Lipman P ’00, is celebrating its 18th year of hosting inspiring and inventive writers on campus.
Lectures are always free, open to the public, and take place in Williston’s Dodge Room in the Reed Campus Center at 7:00 p.m.
Ian Cheney
The 2015 series begins with acclaimed journalist and award-winning biographer David Maraniss, who will speak about his most recent work, Once in A Great City: A Detroit Story, on September 24. Mr. Maraniss has been nominated in the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting for the Washington Post, and has written acclaimed biographies on Barack Obama, Vince Lombardi, and Bill Clinton, among others. His latest book explores his hometown during the rapid changes of the 1960s.
On a recent Friday afternoon, SAGE Dining Services staff—even those who had worked for the Williston Northampton School for years—were on a tour of the Birch Dining Commons. Their guide pointed to new features: food stations with flat surfaces that could be hot or cold, a counter that opened the grill to the dining hall, and new drink stations.
There was fresh tile underfoot, stainless steel trim along the walls, and the smell of paint throughout. Stacked about were power tools and construction equipment as a few last areas continued to take shape.
This summer, the dining hall and StuBop in the Reed Campus Center were the focus of extensive renovations. The goal for both was to modernize the facilities, giving them a fresh, modern look and better ease of use for students, faculty, and the SAGE staff.
“This gives the dining service a considerable amount of flexibility on the different offerings they can provide,” said Williston’s CFO Charles McCullagh of the changes. “They can really be pretty versatile on what they want to bring out and serve.”
He said the updates, which he described as overdue, would allow SAGE staff to offer a wider variety of options and incorporate more sustainable practices, such as water bottles and compostable food wrappers.
“It allows them to be incredibly flexible with the menu,” he said. “I think it’s going to allow them to be very responsive to what kids like. There’s going to be no limitations for them.”
What does 175 years of history taste like? That’s what Williston Northampton wants to know with a delicious new contest that will celebrate the school’s long and rich heritage.
Williston’s Ice Cream Flavor Contest, a collaboration between the school and Mt. Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream in Easthampton, began on Friday, September 4 and runs through November 24. Entries will be judged on flavor combinations, creativity, and use of school spirit, with the winner announced to the public on February 22.
The contest is open to anyone, whether or not they’re connected to the school, with entries accepted both at the ice cream parlor counter and via an online form.
Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and 175th Anniversary Coordinator Liz Cheney P ’20 said the decision not to limit contest entries was a deliberate one.
“It was one of those little fun things to hopefully get people’s creative juices churning,” she said, adding that the contest was also a way to remind people, both on campus and off, about the school’s long history.
“It’s bringing exposure to the school, but also [about] trying to help a local business, just those two things marrying,” she said. “And it’s a simple way to make people aware that it is our 175th.”
The Williston Northampton School will be celebrating its 175th anniversary with special events throughout the year, starting with a kick-off ceremony at Convocation on September 18.
It seems fitting then, that the keynote speaker of Williston’s opening ceremony will be someone with a long history of service to the school.
John P. Booth Jr. ’83 is an alumnus who, since 2012, has also served as a Williston Northampton trustee. As Upper School academic dean at Brunswick School in Greenwich, and former chairman of Brunswick’s History/Social Sciences Department, Mr. Booth has a long track record of excellence in education.
Mr. Booth received his bachelor’s degree in history from Williams College, where he was Herbert H. Lehman Scholar, and his master’s in American History from Fordham University.
The Convocation ceremony will be held on the main Quadrangle of the school’s campus at 5:30 p.m. (in the event of rain, Convocation will be held at the Athletic Center). Senior class president Nate Gordon will also address the Williston Northampton student body and faculty. Students will then proceed to class dinners following the ceremony.
Photo by Kathleen Dooher
Mr. Gordon said in an email that the goal of his speech will be to motivate students to uncover what they enjoy at Williston and then invest themselves in that.
“I talk about my own experience as a Williston student and my work with the newspaper,” he wrote. “In honor of the 175th Anniversary, I am incorporating aspects of Williston history as it relates to the theme of my speech.”
In a letter about the speaker, Chief Advancement Officer Eric N. Yates P ’17, ’21 noted that he expected Mr. Booth to use the keynote to “convey his passion for his Williston Northampton experience.”
Contact Liz Cheney, in the Advancement Office, at (413) 529-3074 or at echeney@williston.com with any questions.
