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• Gandhi Grandson Says Nations Must Renew Support
• Magnolia Tree Memorial to Honor David Tanger
• Digital Media Students Play Part in Emmy Nomination

Gandhi Grandson Respects U.S.; Opposes War in Iraq

Rajmohan Gandhi, a grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, expressed his respect for the United States, even though he opposes its war with Iraq during the annual James J. Gallagher Jr. Memorial Lecture in March.

Gandhi, academic director of Global Crossroads and visiting professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, shared with an audience of several hundred his feelings about the war in Iraq. He said that although he believes the Bush administration rushed into war without the support of the United Nations, he also feels that the international community must renew its support for America and try to understand that because the September 11 attacks happened on American soil, Americans feel very deeply about terrorism.

Gandhi’s grandfather, Mohandas Gandhi, is known for his non-violent political philosophy that gained the attention of the world in the 1940s and inspired Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Gandhi said that his grandfather would hate to see the destruction caused by the war in Iraq, but that he still would have faith in human beings.

In addition to his teaching positions he is a jury member of the Nuremberg Human Rights Award; a member of the International Council, Initiatives of Change; co-chair of Centre for Dialogue & Reconciliation in Gurgaon, India; and a commentator in The Hindu and The Hindustan Times. He has also authored several books including The Good Boatman: A Portrait of Gandhi.

The annual James J. Gallagher Jr. Memorial Lecture has been established to honor James J. Gallagher Jr., class of 1950. Gallagher taught at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and was professor and chairman of Drexel University's law department until his death in 1977. L. Gene Gatter, classmate and close friend of Gallagher, made this annual lectureship possible through a gift from the Gatter Foundation.

Magnolia Tree Memorial to Honor David Tanger

David Tanger was a beloved member of the Albright community. Serving as director of food service from 1987 until his death on August 4, 2002, he touched the lives of countless Albrightians.

In his memory, the Albright College Alumni Association will purchase and install a magnolia tree to be planted in front of Masters Hall during Alumni Reunion Weekend, May 2 - 3.

If you are interested in contributing to this memorial, please send donations to:

The "David Tanger Magnolia Tree Fund"
Cashier's Office, Albright College, 13th & Bern Streets, P.O. Box 15234, Reading, PA 19612-5234

Digital Media Students Play Part in Emmy Nomination

When associate professor of digital media Anthony Crisafulli heard the Travel Channel was filming on location in Pennsylvania last year he offered the technical assistance of Albright’s digital media department and its students. Crisafulli, along with Nate Martin ’02, Matt Jay ’02, Pat Bracken ’04 and Chuck Figel ’03 spent last June working as production assistants on the Travel Channel series Great Hotels.

The series, which details the best hotels in the area such as the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pa. and the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Del. and their historical importance, was recently nominated for an Emmy Award. "I definitely think they deserved it," said Figel. "I think it’s cool I was a small part of what happened, but I’m not going to gloat about it."

Crisafulli said the best part was the opportunity it provided for the students. "The project allowed students to really understand what a writer does, how important talent is, what directing really is…and they learned it all in a professional environment." The students were responsible for much of the behind the scenes work such as setting up shots, gripping, carrying equipment and sound and camera work.

Samantha Brown, host of Great Hotels, praised the work of the students. "They picked up things right away. They knew when to help out and when to stand on the sidelines. They were wonderful," she said. Great Hotels is the first show from the Travel Channel to be nominated for an Emmy Award.