SOA dorms welcome new RD

by Valarie Hunsinger

Justin Leak, is an open, very friendly, low maintenance guy. These qualities should come in handy as he takes on the role of Resident Director for the Stewart-Akin-Odell dorms at Lewis & Clark College.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Leak attended Penn State as a first-generation college student, and he graduated in 2002. Eight months ago he turned down a Peace Corps assignment to move to Los Angeles and two weeks ago, he ended up at LC.

At Penn State, Leak double-majored in Speech Communications and Africa and African American Studies. When it comes to extracurricular activities, he says, “What didn’t I do?” Leak was involved in debate, a lot of community service, and led multi-cultural student groups.

He was a Resident Assistant for 2 years, participated on selection committees for new Resident Directors, and instructed courses on how to be a successful RA.

In addition to his Residence Life activities, Leak worked part-time as cashier at the cafeteria and is noted for saying, “If you want service with a smile go to McDonalds.”

He has traveled all over the world including Japan, Spain, and the Bahamas. His greatest accomplishment includes graduating from college, at times taking 24 credits. Without a doubt, Leak can relate to the busy schedules of most students.

After college, Leak moved across the country to Los Angeles, where he worked for the Art Institute of California, L.A. and lived there for 8 months.

The decision to come to LC had a lot to do with similarities to the East Coast. Leak said the College reminds him of Penn State because it is a friendly and cozy campus, but he notes that the non-East Coast attitude and dress make it even more appealing.

At Penn State he was a cheerleader for Residence Life, so a Resident Director position is perfect for him. As the RD of SOA, Leak’s hopes to highlight the unique characteristics of his dorms, especially the multi-cultural and substance-free aspects, by focusing on organizations and community outreach programs. When he’s not focused on the needs of undergraduate students, Leak will be a student himself, attending LC’s graduate program for Psychology Marriage Family Training.

In his free time, Leak enjoys swimming, running, cooking, and watching sports. He likes to read self-help books, his favorite being “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

Being a reality television show junkie, he brags that he has met numerous Real World contestants. Leak also loves the show Survivor and when answering that all-important question of the one thing that you would bring on the island he says, “Vaseline.”

Getting to know Leak might pay off big in the long run because his ultimate goal is to become a millionaire while helping one hundred others also become millionaires. Stop by and meet him when you can still say, “I knew him when.”

Famous artist left Art Deco touches around LC campus

by Joe Clock

What does Lewis & Clark College have in common with the Chrysler Building or the Empire State Building?

Although most don’t know it, every day we pass by artistic metal work by Oscar Bach for Lloyd Frank’s Fir Acres manor, which is now the Manor House and the campus grounds.

Bach is a well-known metal artist whose work appears all across the country in famous buildings like those mentioned above and many others.

Bach made many of the ornamental metal fixtures on the Manor House and around the grounds of the estate.

According to History Professor Stephen Dow Beckham, LC’s campus is of “national significance” because of its connection with Bach. Beckham also said that all the pieces on campus were hand pounded at Bach’s New York studio and shipped here complete.

Bach’s work is very detailed, often showing images of plants and animals.

The railings of the ladders leading into the outdoor pool, for example, are in the shape of fish, with their noses pointing into the pool and their tales serving as the back. Their fins flip up to meet the curving metal railing.

Bach’s decorative metal work on some of the windows on the Manor House is also very detailed. Circular frames are connected by a continuous vine with shapes of grape clusters and birds and small animals. These features are typical of Bach’s work, according to Tracy Bernabo of the Friends of Oscar Bach.

Other examples of Bach’s work on campus include weather vanes on top of the Manor House and the dovecote and weather vane on top of Albany.

Bach also built the Monkey Gate, originally the door to the conservatory at Fir Acres that was destroyed by a hurricane in 1962. The restored gate is currently in the Fields art building.

Although little publicized, Bach’s work on campus received some attention last year when Bernabo contacted the College about adding a mention of his pieces on campus to the Friend’s of Oscar Bach Web site, which lists Bach’s work across the country.

Bernabo worked with Beckham, the College Relations office and others to catalogue Bach’s work on the Fir Acres estate.

Bach was born in Germany, and before he began doing metal work on buildings he did metal work for cruise ships. In addition, one of the projects that made Bach famous was a Bible cover that he designed for the British government, which they gave as a gift to the Pope Leo VIII. Bach also did some practical metalwork for railroad companies, stove companies, radiator companies and others.