What's New (for the latest, are you Signed In?)
Posted on: Jul 02, 2026 at 1:05 PM
How many members of the Class of 1967 would prefer to have our 60th reunion during Commencement Week 2027 rather than attending a cluster reunion in October 2028? If you let me know that you would attend a spring 2027 60th reunion with just our class, let me know and if there are enough of us, I will encourage the Alumni Office to make that happen. - Mark Jaffee
Peacebuilding at Home -
Peacebuilding Starts More…
Think You Can Change the World? We Do! And You Can!
A Zoom Conversation with Chip Hauss ’69, Senior Fellow at The Alliance for Peacebuilding
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
6:00-7:00 p.m. (US Eastern)
Today, most Obies—like most Americans—know their country is in trouble. They worry that our country is caught in a downward spiral that puts everything, including our democracy, in peril and want to know what they can do to “change the world.”
Peace doesn’t just happen, we must build it. Anyone can learn to build peace and prevent conflict (it doesn’t take hours of classes) and spark change in your home, school, community, online, and beyond. From building trust at the dinner table to cultivating compassion in schools and workplaces, “tiny islands of change” can connect and grow into a cultural movement with global reach.
Charles “Chip” Hauss ’69 has spent more than fifty years as an author, activist, and mentor. He majored in Government at Oberlin and earned a PhD from the University of Michigan. He is the author of nineteen books in political science and peace studies that explore how large-scale social and political change occur.
Chip and his colleagues at the Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) have launched the “Peacebuilding Starts at Home” movement to connect people to organizations that are working to build peace and prevent conflict in their communities and beyond, as well as developing activities if nothing exists.
Join Chip as he presents the team’s vision and strategy and draws highlights from his just- released book Peacebuilding Starts At Home: How You Can Make It Happen to identify ways you can channel your concerns and apply your Oberlin values and become part of the network to build a more just and harmonious society.
~ REGISTER HERE ~
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Oligarchy -
Oligarchy will be explored in a Zoom conversation hosted by the DC Oberlin Club on Wednesday, June 10, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM Eastern time.
The wealthy and powerful few have dominated the many throughout most of human history. Today with politicians bought and paid for across the political spectrum, the world is heading into an even deeper state of inequality. Strangely enough, for the first time in history, this domination is accomplished through democracy. Yet we aren’t in open revolt against the system. In fact, we seemingly keep voting to prop it up. Why?
In his just-released book The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracy, political scientist Jeffrey Winters of the Oberlin Class of 1982 delivers a timely, incisive account of how we reached this era of in-your-face oligarchy. But this period of shocking inequality is nevertheless an opportunity for change.
Dr. Winters is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Equality Development and Globalization Studies Program at Northwestern University. He specializes on Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia. At Oberlin, Jeffrey majored in Government.
~~REGISTER HERE~~
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A Working Party -
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A Zoom Conversation with Les Leopold ’69 |
Les Leopold co-founded and currently directs the Labor Institute, a non-profit organization that designs research and educational programs on occupational safety and health, the environment and economics for unions, workers centers and community organizations. Les says, "Working people, who do the hard work that makes our country run, have suffered fifty years of stagnant wages and a declining standard of living. They know the system is rigged against them and they blame the political establishment for failing to do anything about it."
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In his new book The Billionaires Have Two Parties, We Need a Party of Our Own, Les offers a novel approach: build a new working-class political organization that concentrates on Red America. He argues that this is needed if we are to move the country away from demagogues. And he contends this can be done without weakening the Democrats in November and in 2028.
The Oberlin Club of Washington, D.C. shares its programs with those outside our region to encourage the participation of Obies wherever they reside. Your attendance at our Zoom programs elevates the discussions through your questions and comments and provides opportunities to enjoy the company of fellow Obies and reconnect with cohorts. Join us as the DC Club continues to examine the elections of 2026.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
6:00-7:00 p.m. (US Eastern)
~~REGISTER HERE~~
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Living a Life in Art -
Living a Life in More…
DATE: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
TIME: 7:30 pm EDT ( 6:30 pm CST, 5:30 pm MST, 4:30 pm PST)
The Oberlin Alumni Classes of 1967-‘72 invite you to join this "Road to the Future" virtual Zoom session to hear four Oberlin studio art majors from the early 1970’s share their stories, show examples of their artwork, and explain how attending Oberlin College affected their decision to major in studio art and impacted their careers and their art. Find out why these Oberlin alumni chose to live a life in art.
The Artists:
Reid Wood ‘70
Naomi Nemtzow ‘71
Pete Sowiski ’71
Vin Grabill ‘71
Phil Koch ’70 – Due to prior commitments, Phil can’t join in. However, his bio and art links are included.
~ REGISTER ~
Bios:
Reid Wood '70 (b. 1948) is a visual artist who has worked in a variety of media, including drawing, printmaking, sculpture, collage, artists books, mail art, digital imaging, and performance art. He earned BA and MA degrees in Studio Art from Oberlin College, with additional study at Kent State University, Akron University, and the Visual Studies Workshop. He holds the rank of Emeritus Professor of Art at Lorain County Community College where he taught for 40 years. He also served for a number of years on the board of FAVA (The Firelands Association for the Visual Arts) in Oberlin and was chair of the Exhibition Committee where he curated 19 exhibitions. As an artist he has shown his work regionally, nationally and internationally since 1975, and examples of his work can be found in several public and private collections and archives, both here and abroad. In 2010 he was awarded a residency in Venice by the Emily Harvey Foundation. His work in digital collage can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and his blog : havent-gardeart.blogspot.com
Naomi Nemtzow '71 (b.1949) is a visual artist living and working in Brooklyn, New York. Nemtzow earned her BA in Studio Art at Oberlin College in 1971, then completed 2 years of intensive study at the New York Studio School. In 1976, she earned an MFA in Painting at American University. Nemtzow has been affiliated with Bowery Gallery since 1979, an artist-run space in New York City. She has had 13 solo shows there, most recently in March 2026, and has been included in numerous group shows. Her work has also been shown in various other galleries and museums in the US and UK. For many years, Nemtzow worked representationally and was best known for her gritty urban landscapes which balanced direct visual perception with abstract compositional analysis. In 2020 during Covid lockdown, Nemtzow stopped depicting the outside world. Her current work begins with abstract composition, built of cut and painted paper, layered with graphic elements. This recent work has no representational intent. Strange creatures, machines, and combinations thereof emerge unbidden from the visual elements. Links: Naomi Nemtzow ; Nemtzow 2026 — Bowery Gallery Work from most recent show https://www.artsy.net/search?term=naomi%20nemtzow; Search Results for 'naomi nemtzow' | Artsy
Peter Sowiski '71 was born in 1949 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received a BA in 1971 in Studio Art from Oberlin College, and an MFA in 1974 in Printmaking from Ohio State University. He is primarily known as a pulp painter, with work in numerous collections in America. Over the last fifty years he has shown in over two hundred exhibitions, and held over eighty-five workshops, lectures and visiting artist posts locally to internationally. Peter is an Emeritus Professor of Fine Arts at Buffalo State University, where he taught from 1974- 2007, did stints as Chair of Fine Arts, of Design, and received the President’s Award for Excellence in Service to the College. He investigated papermaking in Korea, China and Vietnam, and served three terms as President of The Friends of Dard Hunter, Inc., an international organization of hand papermakers. He has worked at Abaca Press as chief screen printer since its inception in 1994. Since retiring, he continues working for Abaca Press and messing up his studio in Buffalo.
Website: petersowiski.com
Vin Grabill '71 received his B.A. degree in Studio Art from Oberlin College in 1971 and a Master of Science in Visual Studies degree from the M.I.T. Center For Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS) in 1981. Vin continued an association with CAVS as a research fellow from 1981-1994, participating in many projects and documenting events and performances of CAVS artists and fellows. After teaching video art at the Massachusetts College of Art from 1984-1988, he joined the faculty of the UMBC Department of Visual Arts in 1988 where he taught video art and film history until retiring in 2020. Vin served as chairperson of the department from 2008-2015. Vin has exhibited works in painting, sculpture, video art and digital still formats since 1980. His single channel and installation video works have been exhibited nationally and internationally. In addition to pursuing his own work in video, Vin has collaborated on video projects with numerous poets, choreographers, and musicians. Websites: https://bakerartist.org/portfolios/vingrabill (video art website); https://www.flickr.com/photos/vgrabill/albums (painting website)
Philip Koch '70: Entering Oberlin College as a Freshman, Philip found himself repeatedly visiting the school’s Allen Memorial Art Museum. He was surprised at how the art and the museum itself left him feeling both invigorated and calmed. That and the Art History 101 he was taking had him hooked. Originally an abstract artist, Philip Koch was inspired by the work of Edward Hopper to change to painting in a realist direction. Koch has been given unprecedented access to Hopper’s studio on Cape Cod, enjoying 17 residencies there since 1983, an honor granted to no other living American artist. He is an emeritus professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Koch’s grandfather was the inventor of the original Kodachrome color film process. He is the great grandson of the Scottish landscape painter John Wallace. Koch also likes cats. Website: http://philipkoch.org/
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All In 4/14/26 -
All In for Oberlin on More…
Every year, Oberlin expands the world’s supply of compassionate, rigorous, pragmatic visionaries who make an exceptional impact on the world. Generations of Obies will come together for 24 hours on Tuesday, April 14, to sustain one of the oldest traditions on campus—philanthropy.
Join our community of students, alumni, parents, faculty and staff who dream of a world with more Obies. Go "All In For Oberlin" by making your gift on or before April 14.
Doomsday Clock -
Doomsday Clock
More…
From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. EDT this Thursday, March 26, Oberlin Assistant Professor of Politics Joshua Freedman will moderate a Zoom discussion with Policy Expert Lynn Rusten ’80 and Stanford Professor Scott Sagan ’77 as they offer ideas on how to reduce risks in ths new age of global nuclear disorder. We're invited to join this presentation of the Oberlin Club of Washington, D.C.
Notes for Next Time -
Robert Kuttner earned a BA in Government at Oberlin in More…
For those of us from his generation, the arc of a lifetime can be described as a period when America made great progress toward social and economic justice and then watched it get away. Why the great reversal? How did the failure to restore broad prosperity lead to political backlash and the rise of Trump?
Moving forward, what lessons might be learned to prevail in winning the arguments and the politics? And how do we make sure there is a next time?
On Thursday, April 2, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. EDT, Bob Kuttner will host a Zoom discussion sponsored by the Oberlin Club of Washington, D.C. He will will read brief excerpts from his new memoir Notes for Next Time: Surviving Tyranny, Redeeming America.
Drawing on his five decades at the center of progressive thought and action to share observations and ideas, Bob will revisit the pivotal moments when different choices could have led to a fairer economy and a stronger democracy. He will outline a hopeful path and assess how we may yet survive Trump if we restore decent life prospects for regular people. Please join the conversation!
Notes for Next Time -
Notes for Next Time
Robert Kuttner More…
For those of us from his generation, the arc of a lifetime can be described as a period when America made great progress toward social and economic justice and then watched it get away. Why the great reversal? How did the failure to restore broad prosperity lead to political backlash and the rise of Trump?
Moving forward, what lessons might be learned to prevail in winning the arguments and the politics? And how do we make sure there is a next time?
On Thursday, April 2, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. EDT, Bob Kuttner will host a Zoom discussion sponsored by the Oberlin Club of Washington, D.C. He will will read brief excerpts from his new memoir Notes for Next Time: Surviving Tyranny, Redeeming America.
Drawing on his five decades at the center of progressive thought and action to share observations and ideas, Bob will revisit the pivotal moments when different choices could have led to a fairer economy and a stronger democracy. He will outline a hopeful path and assess how we may yet survive Trump if we restore decent life prospects for regular people. Please join the conversation!
AI Presentation -
AI: What’s More…
DATE: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
TIME: 7:00–8:30 PM Eastern Time ( 6-7:30 PM CST, 5-6:30 PM MST, 4-5:30 PM PST)
In September Oberlin President Ambar designated 2025-'26 the Year of AI Exploration at Oberlin. Among the goals for the year are:
• Support institutional exploration of AI through speakers, workshops, and hands-on opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.
• Grapple with the concerns that AI raises in faculty research and pedagogy, student learning, ethical and privacy matters, environmental considerations
• Work together to establish policy and procedures.
In this session alumni will receive an update from administration, faculty, and a student six months into the exploration effort. Alumni will have the opportunity to submit questions when registering and during the program.
Speakers:
Laura Baudot, Senior Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Associate Professor of English, and Director, StudiOC
Adam Eck, David H. and Margaret W. Barker Associate Professor of Computer Science and Chair of Data Science and Critical AI Studies
Tanisha Shende ‘26, Senior Computer Science and Mathematics Major, Minoring in Sociology and an Integrative Concentration in Data Science
Biographies:
Laura Baudot (BA, Wellesley College, 1997, PhD, Princeton University, 2005) is Oberlin Associate Professor of English and Director, StudiOC. She chairs the Educational Plans and Policies Committee (EPPC). Her research and teaching interests center on 18th-century British literature and include history of science, 18th-century British art, and book history. Her interest in book history and 18th-century art has grown as a result of developing teaching strategies aimed at both broadening the appeal of 18th-century literary works and giving students a more vivid sense of historical context. In her course on the 18th-century British novel, she holds lab sessions in the library’s Special Collections. She is currently writing a book about how empirical, philosophical, and religious concepts of empty space and nothingness animate a tradition of 18th-century English literary experimentation with the printed book.
Adam Eck is the Arts & Sciences Director of AI Strategy and Innovation; David H. and Margaret W. Barker Associate Professor of Computer Science, Business, and Data Science; and Chair of Data Science and Critical AI Studies at Oberlin College. His teaching interests include introducing students to problem solving using computer science and computational methods, as well as the fundamentals and applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Adam leads the Social Intelligence Lab at Oberlin where he conducts research with students studying multiagent decision-making in complex environments, as well as interdisciplinary applications of machine learning in computational social science and public health.
Tanisha Shende is a senior at Oberlin College majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics, with a minor in Sociology and an integrative concentration in Data Science. She conducts research on human-computer interaction, AI, and virtual reality at Cornell University, MIT, and Oberlin. Her goal is to obtain a PhD in Computer Science or Information Science.
Browning HitlerTrump -
Hitler vs Trump
More…
Awarded an honorary doctorate by Oberlin in 2014, Professor Browning earned his PhD in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with his wife Jenni Horn Browning ’67.
His Zoom talk will attempt a careful comparison and contrast between Hitler and Trump as personalities and politicians, as well as between the fall of Weimar and rise of Nazi dictatorship on the one hand and current events and trends in the U.S. on the other. Insights based upon knowledge of the past are very important for illuminating and understanding our current situation, but the careless weaponizing of the past simply to stigmatize one’s opponents is self-defeating.
This event will be on Tuesday, February 24, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. (U.S. Eastern).
Doing a little on-line research, I failed to find an obituary for Steve from 50 years ago. But I did learn that he came to Oberlin from Ellensburg, Washington, where his father Herbert was on the faculty of Central Washington University. That's a hundred miles east of Seattle. And here's a photo of a similar motorcycle.
Cover-Up -
Cover-Up
More…Mark Obenhaus ’68, shown here, “for the debut of what sounds like a great documentary, Cover-Up.”
The film traces the work of legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, whose dogged reporting exposed cover-ups including U.S. war crimes during the Vietnam War and the secret U.S. bombing of Cambodia; the Watergate scandal; the CIA's program of domestic spying; and the torture and abuse of prisoners from My Lai to Abu Ghraib.
