Stanford Report, April 7, 2004

IN MORE THAN THREE DECADES AS Stanford's top cop, former director of public safety MARVIN HERRINGTON adroitly handled everything from student occupations of campus buildings (during the Vietnam War era) to overseeing the security of visiting heads of state, including an emperor, a queen and three American presidents. Herrington will share his behind-the-scenes perspective on Tuesday, April 13, in a talk sponsored by the Stanford Historical Society titled "One Cool Cop Tells All (Almost)." Herrington, who was police chief from 1971 to 2001 (and served as interim chief in 2002), will be interviewed by BILL STONE, the Alumni Association's chief from 1977 to 2000. The talk will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Oak East Lounge at Tresidder Union.

DURING THE TWO DECADES LOIS WAGNER has spent directing Stanford Events and Stanford Lively Arts, she "has built Lively Arts from a small adjunct program to one of the top university programs in the country," SHARON LONG, dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, said Sunday afternoon. Long and other colleagues, family and friends gathered at the Faculty Club to celebrate Wagner's 20 years of achievement with a reception and private concert by the EMERSON STRING QUARTET and bassist EDGAR MEYER. Although Wagner's tenure has been marked by artistic achievements such as commissioning British composer JOHN TAVENER's Grammy Award-winning Lamentations and Praises, Wagner possesses other potent talents, Long said. As the person in charge of Commencement, the task of herding independent-minded faculty into line for the procession into the stadium falls to Wagner. "Faculty follow her meekly," said Long. "She is a force to be reckoned with."

COLE PORTER MEETS SHAKESPEARE'S The Taming of the Shrew in the Tony Award-winning 1948 musical, Kiss Me, Kate, to be staged April 9-10 and 15-17 at 8 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium by Ram's Head Theatrical Society. Tickets for the show are $15; $9 for students. To purchase tickets online and for more information about the musical, visit the Ram's Head website at www.stanford.edu/group/rams-head. Tickets also will be sold at the door.

OVERHEARD AT COMMUNITY DAY: "YOU want mama to do this? You must be kidding," said KRISTINA KOVACINA, who works in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology, to her 4-year-old son, NICOLAS, as they approached SLAC's popular exhibit that demonstrated how it's possible for a person to lie down on a bed of nails -- provided there are enough nails and a person's weight is properly distributed. Continued Kovacina to Nicolas: "Ask your father."

Write to Barbara Palmer at barbara.palmer@stanford.edu or mail code 2245 or call her at 724--6184.

Barbara Palmer