Staff Spotlight

  1. November 1, 2004

    Spotlight: Marching together

    Revelli Hall, home of the Michigan Marching Band, is a place imbued with an atmosphere that spans generations. Pictures and memorabilia from years past speak of a time-honored tradition, one that is brought firmly into the present by the vitality that fills the hall as hundreds of band members file in for their daily practice.…
  2. October 25, 2004

    Spotlight: The music of the night

    Just before sunset on a warm day, bats will start flying out to feed, a timeless ritual in the cycle of nature. The sight of hundreds or thousands of bats flying against the darkening sky may sound spooky to most people, but not Ronald Torrella. “People in general are afraid of bats because of popular…
  3. October 11, 2004

    Spotlight: Engaging the senses

    Springtime may be in the distant past for Michiganders, but looking at Mike Gould’s latest pictures from his mushroom hunting expedition last April, one could almost feel the warm breeze blowing. (Photo by Theresa Gratsch) Gould is an audio engineer, a writer, a Web designer and a mushroom lover. He also is a computer systems…
  4. October 4, 2004

    Spotlight: It is rocket science

    To some, Tom Griffin’s workday reads like a page out of a high-tech thriller: install new shock tubes, make sure the helicopter-blade testing site is up to OSHA code, tweak the fittings on the supersonic wind tunnel. But he’s no mad scientist or top-secret NASA employee; Griffin’s just living another day as Supervisor of Laboratory…
  5. September 27, 2004

    Spotlight: Keeping up the house

    We’ve all seen it happen: A gorgeous, old Victorian home (or schoolhouse, town hall, bank) sinks into dilapidation, or worse—undergoes a sloppy renovation. Cedar siding slowly sloughs off or gets covered by cheap aluminum. Rich mahogany doorframes rot or get a coat of thick paint. Stained-glass windows chip or get replaced by something more energy…
  6. September 20, 2004

    Spotlight: Covering ground with the marathon man

    Imagine this: It’s 2 a.m. You’ve been riding your bike non-stop for 18 hours. Your muscles are screaming. You’ve sweated all you can. People are dropping out all around you to sleep, vomit or just quit. Somehow, amidst all of this, you manage to be glad that you drove the four hours and forked over…
  7. September 13, 2004

    Spotlight: Windows on the computing world

    It was the first week of classes, and scores of students realized that—oh no!—they needed software for their computers. And they needed it soon. They rushed into the Computer Showcase in the Union, in search of a deal and a quick way to cross one item off their to-do lists. Phil Harding, right, helps Bojan…
  8. September 7, 2004

    Spotlight: Getting a move on

    Marcus D. Weemes is an easy man to recognize—big smile, friendly face and an unforgettably pleasant demeanor. But try to find him during student move-in at Mary Markley Hall and you’re in for a lengthy search. Marcus Weemes stays steady in the flurry of activity during student move-in at Markley Hall. (Photo by Martin Vloet,…
  9. August 16, 2004

    Spotlight: All cleaned up: Pearly white comedy

    She may not utilize the same four-letter flaunting that brought fame to comedy greats like Chris Rock and George Carlin. But with her brand of “clean comedy” and the help of her alter ego, Miss Spitfire, Kimberly Smith is lighting up smiles all over town. Kimberly Smith as “Miss Spitfire,” below, and in more traditional…
  10. July 19, 2004

    Spotlight: The music man, with strings attached

    If you had asked John Sargent five years ago what his hobby was, he would have had a hard time telling you. But with the help of a few good how-to books and plenty of trial and error, today Sargent is the proud maker of more than two-dozen archtop guitars. (Photo by Marcia Ledford, U-M…