In this final episode in the class of 1988 reunion series and penultimate episode in this project, I speak with Tom Smith, who is currently Associate Professor of Chemistry at Williams. Learn about stair diving in Hubbell House, why non-Ephs don’t understand why we will start up a conversation with anyone wearing Williams gear, regardless of age or location, and the heartwarming story of a young man from Vermont who went to Williams even though his early memories of the place would drive most right thinking football fans away forever.

The last episode of the project is set to be recorded next week, as I have run into a scheduling issue with the guest, so don’t be saddened if there is no show immediately following this one.

 

 Interview with Tom Smith [16:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this penultimate episode of the Class of 1988 series, I speak with my other JA, Lisa Mandl. Find out about the cultural and meteorological differences between Williamstown and Vancouver, BC, how she met her husband (though we are getting only her side of the story) and Lisa clears up one of the little mysteries of my Freshman year. Also, both she and Jody Abzug mentioned the infamous Brews and Screws party at Tyler (which had to change it’s name due to administration policy) Does this party still occur?

And yes, Lisa, your ability to ask penetrating questions is still functioning admirably, as I and my wife have been chewing over your observation (not included in the podcast) that my JA’s were from Kansas City and Vancouver, and I married a woman from Kansas City and honeymooned in Vancouver. Thanks loads.

 

 Interview with Lisa Mandl [11:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of Eph Interviews, I speak with Phil Wilcox about moving from Denver in the 50’s to Williamstown and driving the backroads of New England. Whit Stoddard and Lane Faisal make their first appearance on the show. 

 

 Interview with Phil Wilcox [12:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode, I speak with Jody Abzug and learn about life as an Art History major, the irony of her rugby nickname, and the incidental parts of Williams life that she misses.

 

 Interview with Jody Abzug [12:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is interview 15 out of 20, and in this episode, I speak with Lou Lustenburger and learn about the Dragon Wagon, why going swimming in Lasell is much nicer than being interrogated by the President of Amherst, and the benefits of keeping a portrait of Winston Churchill in your law office.

 

 Interview with Lou Lustenburger [12:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode, I speak with Carter Zinn, the CC President from 1987-88, about the efforts to address race relations during his time at Williams, and, on a less serious note, why a 2 gallon tub of low cal Italian salad dressing can be a very dangerous thing for a Freshman to have.

 

 Interview with Carter Zinn [17:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of Eph Interviews, I speak with Chet Lasell about Professor Bob Waite, the press hoopla over his fraternity’s decision to admit African-Americans and the joys of sportswriting for The Berkshire Eagle in 1957, a magical autumn for the Williams football team.

 

 Interview with Chet Lasell [18:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Ah, the class of 1988. They graduated my senior year, and in this installment of the show, I speak with Scott Berman, who helped throw a rather infamous party in the Infirmary, a party I remember attending. Human sexuality classes, the hour of power and wandering in the outback, it’s all here.

 

 Interview with Scott Berman [14:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This episode of the series is with Ed Hughes, in which we learn about putting ringers in touch football games on the Freshman Quad and what happens when you have to feed your entire fraternity on a Sunday.

 

 Interview with Ed Hughes [10:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In today’s episode of Eph Interviews, I speak with Katie Kent, class of 1988 and currently Associate Professor of English and Chair of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Williams. Learn about her memorable first day in Williamstown and what it’s like to be a faculty member at the college you attended.

 

 Interview with Katie Kent [14:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode, I speak with Jack Kent and learn about the location of the now vanished Williamstown train station, the lectures of Philosophy Professor Bill Miller and a lost opportunity to go trout fishing with Frankie Todd.

If you like these shows, get ready for one a day for a while. I’ve got a lot of interviews scheduled. For instance, tomorrow, I’ll be talking with Jack’s daughter, Katie Kent ‘88, who teaches English at Williams.

 

 Interview with Jack Kent [11:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’ve been talking about the feed for a while, but it has taken me a while to get around to it. If you want to subscribe, the URL is http://www.heronandcrane.com/Eph_Interviews.xml

Hopefully, a link will appear on the sidebar of Ephblog, so once this post is off the front page, people will still be able to access it.

Update: Ronit asked if I would create a Feedburner account for this feed. Your wish, as they say…

The new feed is feed://feeds.feedburner.com/EphInterviews. This will allow me to get some stats, as well as make it easier to integrate into Ephblog.

Two in a row? Yes, and in this installment of the class of 58 reunion series, I speak with Jim Murphy. Learn about sheep shearing, the “Fiji Fun House”, motorcycles and how a man’s fortune can turn on a rainy day.

 

 Eph Interview with Jim Murphy [10:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As I work my way through the class of 1958, I had a chat with Jim Conlan about how different the campus was on weekends when women were around, as well as how to prepare for a pop quiz in Art History.

I do have another interview that I will be posting tomorrow. I’ve been buried with publisher work, as well as doing my May episode of The Invisible Hand. Of course, the April episode engendered no controversy here on Ephblog, so I may post the May one as well

 

 Eph Interview with Jim Conlan [14:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This interview is with Bruno Quinson, Class of 1958, in which we learn about the seductive power of Red Sox baseball games, Wall Ball and acting in French. 

Bruno was also extremely helpful in suggesting Ephs to contact. I have to complete interviews with 10 members of the class of 1958 by the reunion, and May is going to be a tricky month for me, with a bit of travel. Will I be able to do it?

 

 Interview with Bruno Quinson [11:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For my money, one of the best things about both Ephblog and these podcasts is getting to know the men I like to call the “Eisenhower Ephs”, those members of classes from the 50’s. Here on Ephblog, we have the Shirley Temple like sunniness of Frank Uible and the dry wit of Dick Swart (Hope you were able to stay warm last weekend, Dick. That’s an Oregon inside joke) The podcast has already featured David H.T. Kane and in this episode, I speak with Joe Young, the current class secretary for 1958.

For any high school seniors who sweated out the Williams application and kept vigil all winter, please note that not everyone had the experience that Joe had getting into Williams, but it does reinforce the power of fortuna, as the Romans would say, in daily affairs;)

 

 Eph Interviews: Class of 1958, Joe Young [12:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The latest in the 1988 Podcast series is with Nicole Melcher, College Council VP in 1987-88, fellow Kansan, and one my J.A.’s (I will hopefully be interviewing my other J.A., Lisa Mandl, quite soon) Talking to your J.A. for the first time in about 20 years is an intensely nostalgic experience, and what you are hearing is about 10 minutes of what was an hour long conversation. Thank you Dave, for helping me get back in touch with Nicole and Lisa.

 

 Standard Podcast [9:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Yet another alum podcast, this one with Katie Kessler Chatas. Learn about the weather, bad haircuts at The Clip Shop (Wow, it’s been a while since that business crossed my mind) and the tacky 70’s party at Mission Park. Do they still have that one?

 

 Standard Podcast [10:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The first interview in the class of 1958 reunion is with David H.T. Kane. It runs 12:57. Hmm, David Kane. Where have I heard that name before?

 

 Interview with David H.T. Kane [12:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As Dave has mentioned, I am putting together some interviews for the class of 1988’s 20th reunion, and hopefully some for the class of 1958’s 50th reunion. First on deck is Dave himself, not only answering the questions he provided you yesterday, but also talking about Ephblog itself. The interview runs a shade under 17 minutes.

 

 Eph Interview, Class of 1988, Dave Kane [17:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For those interested, here are the questions that Chris Gondek ‘90 will be using for the alumni podcast interviews. Background here.

(more…)

In celebration of the upcoming reunion and in order to drum up interest, I have arranged for Chris Gondek ‘90 to interview 10 members of both the classes of 1958 and 1988 for podcasts. Chris does this professionally at The Invisible Hand and has contributed links at EphBlog on occasion.

Basic idea is that Chris will interview 10 classmates using more-or-less the same set of questions for each, all focussed on their time at Williams. Interviews are meant to be brief, so the final result will be about 20 minutes. What is your fondest memory? What is the biggest mistake you made? What professor had the largest impact on you? And so on. Some questions might be the same for one class but not the other. For example, members of the class of 1958 should all be asked for a funny fraternity story and for their memories of how they felt in 1962 when fraternities were eliminated.

Chris will then post the intreviews on-line and we can link to them from the reunion webpage. We will probably post 1-2 a week in the time leading up to reunion.

Chris and I will probably do/post an example interview in the first week of April to give folks an example. The purpose of this post is to let people know about this project and to solicit suggestions for questions. With luck, we will do similar interviews for many years to come.

Of course, the College itself should do this project but, with luck, our friends in the Alumni Office will take it over once they see how successful it is.