Richard Wanerman
Male
Rockville, MD (near Washington, DC)
2011, B.A.

 

Majors: History, Government
Concentrations: History and Politics of the Progressive Era
Extra-curriculars: Rowing, Concert Choir
On-campus Jobs: Tour Guide
Favorite Book: The Alienist (Caleb Carr)
Favorite Film: North by Northwest
Favorite Song, Artist, or Group: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

 

  
What was the final factor that made you say "yes" to LU's offer of admission? Lawrence offered me the chance to pursue a rigorous yet fun degree course in the College while still staying musically active in the Conservatory. The ability to work closely with faculty from the start also drew me in.
Who is your favorite professor (and their department) at LU? Why? I have two(!). One is Ed Kern in History-he teaches the more off-color History classes (e.g. "Violence in Mediaeval and Early Modern Europe"), but he loves class discussion and welcomes everyone into the seminar banter. The other is Stephen Sieck, choral director. He has a very casual manner when he talks to students, but can make even a really good choir sound magical.
What is the best course (and its department) that you have taken? Why? Founding the Just Regime, Government. Steven Wulf will push you like no one else can, but he also knows you're capable of the work. It was one of the most thought-provoking classes I have ever taken.
What one thing would you say is “The Lawrence Difference”? The word "no" is rarely heard around here when an idea is put forward. It's both a testament to the creativity and intelligence of the students as well as the creativity and devotion of the faculty that any reasonable idea is pursued, often with great results.
What is an interesting/helpful fact you learned about LU after you came here? Don't feel intimidated, whether it's talking to profs or asking for help. You might at first, and just about everyone does, but the environment here is among the least hostile and most welcoming anyone could find in a college.
What is your favorite part about being a Lawrentian? Everyone is instantly welcomed into the community, and once here, you'll always leave a little bit of yourself here.

 

  
Which is your favorite resident hall? Why? Ormsby, hands-down. It's the homiest of the halls, with hardwood floors, built-in closets, and the easiest location to get to classes from.
What is your fondest memory of your roommate from freshman year? laying music through his surround sound speakers (his dad's in the business) and making people think we ere blasting it...we weren't, it was just that resonant.
What is something you wish you would have brought with you freshman year? Two things: extra shelf space and a set of plates, glasses, and silverware. Unless you're a light packer, you'll find that even in the larger rooms, you don't get enough stacking space. And though we eat a lot in the dining hall and cafe, you still eat a bit in your own room, and after a while paper plates and plastic cutlery don't quite work out.
What do you find most exciting aout the new Campus Center? The Somerset Room. It's a cathedral.
What is your favorite study spot on campus? Two places. For complete concentration, the 4th Floor of the Library-it's deathly quiet. For everything else, the Main Hall student commons. Comfortable, but not in a distracting way.
What is your favorite thing to do in Appleton? Taking a run along the river. Most of the old mill lands have been reclaimed, so the Fox downstream of campus is mostly a big park. It's really pretty in autumn.

 

  
If you were a crayon or paint swatch, what color would be you? Why? I would be a color I call Newport Colonial Burgundy, based on some colonial-era houses I've seen in Newport, R.I. It's darker than your average red, with some purple tints to it, but not quite maroon, so it has a presence about it that is stately but not brash, while also not being dark and quizzical.
If you could only eat one type of candy bar for the rest of your life, which would you choose? Ritter Sport Hazelnut. It's a square bar from Germany that then breaks up into 16 smaller squares, so you get to savor it even more. The chocolate is amazing (it's German, how can it not be?), and the combination of chocolate and hazelnut is one of the all-time greatest combinations.
What is an uncommon hobby you have? Why do you like it? As a student of history and a fan of architecture, I love analyzing old buildings and looking at their original plans. Postmodern architecture has often made the design and form more important than the function, whereas before World War II, architects worked with the function to produce exquisite designs. Each building has a story to tell, and it's often fun trying to piece together the past of a building when remodeling efforts try to hide it.
What is something LU helped you learn about yourself? I learned that limiting oneself to a prescribed set of parameters is not only not fun but completely unhelpful. Life is limitless, and so are the boundaries of the mind. Be curious about everything, and be willing to open up to everything. You'll never know when and where it will help you, or where that curiosity will lead you to. The best Lawrentians do that.