Lynx to the Past

Charles Edward Diehl served as president of Southwestern (now Rhodes College) for 32 years, leaving his legacy on the college through its architecture and liberal arts values. In his time as president, Diehl saw a fair share of issues, including being accused of heresy in 1931!

In this episode of Lynx to the Past, Kahlila and Professor Stephen Haynes discuss the details of the 1931 trial and answer the question “what’s the Diehl with heresy?”

On the newest episode of Lynx to the Past,  Maggie Kreis ’24 gets to fulfill every creative writing student’s dreams when she chats with alumna author Charlaine Harris, Class of 1973! 

A prolific writer, her series include the Aurora Teagarden mysteries, the Lily Bard mysteries, the Sookie Stackhouse urban fantasies, the Harper Connelly urban fantasies, the Midnight, Texas novels, the Cemetery Girl graphic novels (with Christopher Golden), and the Gunnie Rose books, set in an alternate history America.

Charlaine has also written many short stories, and together with Toni L.P. Kelner she edited seven themed anthologies. Her books have sold over 39 million copies worldwide!

Charlaine Harris details how being a Rhodes alum has impacted her, shares stories from her time here and gives young writers her insight on the field and craft.

Kahlila Bandele continues to explore the history of international students on campus.  On this episode, Maggie and Kahlila discuss the relationship between Chinese students in the 1950s and American Cold War politics. 

One of these students was David Wen-Wei Chang, class of 1955.  While researching this episode, we learned that Dr. Chang had published an autobiography titled “The Scholar and the Tiger”.  We recently added this book to our collection if you would like to read more about Chang’s life.

Email us your questions, comments, and campus memories at [email protected].

Dilemma was a student-lead symposium at Rhodes that began in the 1960s and continued on into the late eighties.  The event brought experts across many fields to present on campus.

In this episode, Maggie Kreis talks with Dilemma founder, Bo Scarborough, and attendee and alumnus, Ed Uthman, to learn more about the event and its reception on campus. As well, we will walk through some of the most interesting speakers and topics the symposium brought us.

As always, explore the digital archives at dlynx.rhodes.edu and email us at [email protected] with your memories, questions and comments.

A follow up episode to part one of "Rhodes and the Cuban Revolution." In this episode the team interviews Roberto Heros, one of the students from Cuba. Heros went on to become a notable cerebrovascular neurosurgeon. He is now 81 years old and still practicing medicine at the University of Miami! Heros graciously took time to share some of his memories of his time as a student. 

On this episode Kahlila and Maggie are Havana good time discussing the 1959 Cuban revolution. You’ll hear government officials, Rhodes professors, students, and more sharing their thoughts on Fidel Castro’s ascent to power.

If you ever find yourself in need of the time, and you’re okay with doing a little math to get it, look no further than the south wall of Rhodes Tower.

There you will find a vertical sundial, designed and given to the college by physics professor Jack Streete.

Rhodes College and the city of Memphis have lost a dear friend in the passing of Bennett Wood, longtime friend of the college. Mr. Wood authored Rhodes 150, a Sesquicentennial Yearbook, which has become an invaluable resource in the creation of this podcast. Bill Short recounts for us his memories of the life and career of his long-time friend.  

Kenan and Maggie wrap up this season’s celebration of the women of Rhodes with two of our most notable: Jessie L. Clough and Floy K. Hanson. Joined by Bill Short, Rosie Meindel, and Brooke Schedneck, this episode takes a deep dive into the lives and legacies of these two globe-trotting artists.

A portrait of Anne Marie Williford hangs in the common room of the dorm that bears her name.  But who was she? Kenan paints a picture of Dean Williford, drawing upon the palette of memories of Susan Williford Montgomery, Beth Carson Wallace, Frannie Taylor, and Donald Tucker.