July 24, 2008
Etc.: Campus news & notes
A STORM OF RECOGNITION: Sutapa Basu, director of the UW Women’s Center, was one of four women honored during the Seattle Storm’s Women of Inspiration Night recently. The four were singled out as “accomplished women who have been trailblazers in their fields.”
“Part of the mission of the Storm is to provide young girls and boys role models they can look to for inspiration, to show them what is possible to achieve in life when you work hard and reach for your dreams,” said Storm CEO Karen Bryant. “This night is an opportunity to shine the spotlight on women who have dedicated themselves to helping others and have done so much to give back to the community.”
Basu has been recognized as a national leader and advocate for young immigrant women, particularly those who have been victims of human trafficking abuse. Through her work at the Women’s Center, she helped create the first statewide anti-trafficking legislation. Similar legislation has now been introduced in 24 other states. She also supports various women’s organizations in India, including anti-trafficking and violence institutions, microcredit programming for underserved populations, and a school for girls in impoverished circumstances. She travels to India annually to build upon the network of programs that support the advancement and education of women and young girls in communities of need.
“Dr. Basu’s courage and ability to recognize the disparities and challenges that exist for women are what make her a strong leader in advocating for women’s rights,” said Dolores Sibonga, a UW Women’s Center Board member and former Seattle City Council member. “Throughout her life, Dr. Basu has had the courage to challenge the roles that were expected of her and women in society.”
Other honorees were Mimi Gates, director of the Seattle Art Museum; Ramona Pierson, founder and CEO of SynapticMash; and Colleen Willoughby, founding president of Washington Women’s Foundation. The Storm’s Women of Inspiration Night included a special ceremony during halftime of the July 14 game.
ARTIST WITH THE MOSTEST: UW Drama Professor Tom Lynch is one of two people being honored by Seattle Opera with Artist of the Year awards. Lynch was the set designer for Seattle Opera’s production of Wagner’s Flying Dutchman in August 2007 and the opera’s co-production with the Metropolitan Opera of Gluck’s Iphigenia in Tauris in October 2007.
“Seattle Opera is more than fortunate to have as talented a theater designer as Tom Lynch coming into our world,” said Opera General Director Speight Jenkins. “Starting in 1988, through nine productions, he has created brilliant sets for Seattle Opera. Seattle has been further favored by his appointment as professor in scenic design at the University of Washington.”
Seattle Opera’s Artist of the Year award was created in 1991 to honor the individual who had made the most significant contribution to the success of the season. The award was later expanded to honor two artists — one a conductor, director or designer; the other a singer. Honored along with Lynch was tenor Larry Brownlee.
HOMETOWN HERO: Tacoma has been chosen as one of Outside magazine’s top five towns to live in — and the UW Tacoma is credited with making a major contribution to the city’s revitalization.
“Nothing breathes new life into an inner-city ghost town like a couple thousand college kids,” writer Katie Arnold said in the article, which appears in the August 2008 edition of Outside.
When UW Tacoma opened its doors in 1990, the university not only provided the downtown area with a steady stream of college students, it also renovated rundown historic buildings and transformed them into a college campus that has received national awards for urban development, architecture and historic preservation.
“We appreciate national recognition for the contributions UW Tacoma has made to the revitalization of the city,” campus spokesman Mike Wark said. “What is really being recognized is a community’s desire to unify behind a vision that includes historic preservation, access to higher education and downtown community development.”
Outside, one of the nation’s leading active lifestyle magazines, reaches over 2 million readers a month. The August issue is available at newsstands now.
CHARISMATIC DOC: Charisma, a one-woman show performed by UW physician Hope Wechkin, is back for a two-night run on July 25 and 26.
Charisma is the story of a hospital patient being treated for lupus and how she deals with an assortment of visitors. Wechkin, clad in a hospital gown, performs all the characters with her only costume changes being her shoes. During the performance she also sings and plays violin, mandolin, piano and, as she told University Week in February, “(plays) some cool percussion instruments.” She performs a script written by Margaret Shafer, and this version of the production is directed by Joanne Ward.
Melinda Bargreen, music critic for The Seattle Times, wrote about Wechkin when the physician-actress’ show first ran, “She does it full-bore, all-out, utterly unselfconsciously, with a strong, soaring soprano and substantial violin-performance skills.”
Wechkin, a family doctor who specializes in end-of-life care, is a faculty member in the UW Department of Family Medicine and medical director of Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland.
Charisma will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences Theater, 1100 12th Street in Seattle. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors. The production is part of the Ernest Becker Summer Institute, sponsored by the Ernest Becker Foundation.
