RECOMMENDATIONS What Other People Say About Wendy Darling

THE BOSTON PHOENIX
Comments of Robert David Sullivan, Supplements Editor,
The Boston Phoenix, Boston MA

Wendy Darling completed an internship with me at the Boston Phoenix in the summer of 1995. She assisted me in conducting research for news stories, verifying the information in our entertainment and events listings, and keeping track of the voluminous mail in my department. Wendy also conceived, researched, and wrote a comprehensive article on gay-and-lesbian life for newcomers to Boston. That piece became the cover story in the September 1995 issue of One in Ten, a supplement to the Boston Phoenix.

Wendy was very conscientious, thorough, and reliable in all her duties. She completed tasks in an accurate and timely manner -- sometimes a difficult combination but one is essential at a weekly newspaper. She quickly picked up on the particular style of the newspaper -- for example, she kept track of the hundreds of books sent to our office for review and was able to determine which were appropriate for consideration by the Phoenix.

It was a pleasure to work with Wendy, and I recommend her highly for any position in journalism, publishing, or research.

RUSSIAN
Comments of Joseph Lake, Associate Professor of Russian,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Wendy Darling was my student for two semesters in a course of elementary Russian. She was by far the best student in the class, so that I can vouch for her academic ability, particularly since Russian is by no means easy. Her was, as I say, of the highest quality, and consistently so. She did all without fail, participated actively and with genuine interest, and could always be relied upon to know the answers and to ask the right questions.

This ability to excel at her work is combined with a temperament, and an approach to her work, that are equally unusual. She manages to combine a very serious air with an understated, dry sense of humor. She is posed and articulate, but she wastes no words.

We had occasion to have fairly extended conversations outside class as well, so that I am in position to vouch for her faculties of observation and critical judgment. She speaks very well, as indeed is a prerequisite for the sense of humor which I have just described.

I do not know a great deal about her background, but it seems to me that she is usually self-reliant and inventive, used to making her own way and to drawing maximum profitability from a given situation.

I consider Ms. Darling to be excellently qualified for [this scholarship/internship]. I am certain that she will make a fine journalist -- indeed that she is already doing so, and that her record makes this clear. While I, as her Russian teacher, may speak to a different side of her education, I think I am nonetheless in a position to make good judgment: I have seen her ability to use language, and I have seen that it is combined with character, and with a seriousness of purpose that make her certain to persevere and to achieve her goals.

THE MASSACHUSETTS DAILY COLLEGIAN
Comments of Marty Martinson, Staff Member,
Stonewall Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

I just want to take a moment, before I take off for the summer, to tell you what an outstanding job I think you have done this year covering GLBT events on campus in the Collegian. You have continually kept our communities visible on the UMass campus, covering events and issues thoroughly, thoughtfully, articulately, and accurately. As a lesbian and a grad student staff member at the Stone Center, I really appreciate and commend you for the fabulous work you do for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, QUEER communities.

I hope you enjoy a relaxing, fun, rejuvenating summer, and I hope to see you and work more with you next year.

Wendy's values and character are unimpeachable. The school where she matriculates will be enriched.

MASTERPIECES OF BRITISH LITERATURE
Comments of Louise Tomlinson, English teacher,
Andover High School, Andover, MA

Wendy Darling was a student in my Masterpieces of British Literature class during her junior year, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to recommend her as an outstanding candidate for college admission.

The course stressed in-depth analysis of thematic structure and the exploration of subtle connections among a variety of ideas. Wendy rose to the challenge with confidence, vigor, and enthusiasm. Exceptionally intelligent, articulate, and independent, she is one of the most intellectually eager and committed students that I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

She is undaunted by complexity and truly stimulated by the demand for creative thinking. Her enthusiasm and intensity never waned, and she proved to be a leader in class discussions. Unlike many students her age, she in comfortable with the "gray areas," the problems with no absolute, unqualified solutions. The fact that many answers provoked new questions and increasingly divergent as well as lateral thinking spurred her on to take risks with new perspectives and possibilities for interpretation.

She in an extraordinarily perceptive, critical thinker who is truly at home in the cerebral realm -- she does not suffer fools lightly! Wendy is a dedicated scholar who transcends the literal and plays joyfully with the music of the spheres as well as that of the intellect: she writes powerful poetry crammed with vivid imagery and the clashing songs of Man's search for identity and confirmation. One of her poems provided the title for last year's school literary magazine, "Who Am I to Say?" Her basic writing skills are superior to those of her classmates and reflect the sophistication of her thought processes.

Wendy is a fine young woman whose sense of purpose and focus distinguishes her from the merely bright. Honest, forthright, and sincere, she is a very intriguing person. I am confident that she will continue to explore, question, and create and prove a most successful professional in whatever field of endeavor that she ultimately chooses.

ANDOVER TELEVISION CENTER
Comments of Karen L. Hayden, Director of Local Access,
TCI Cablevision, Andover, MA

As the Director of Local Access in Andover, MA., I am writing this letter on behalf of Wendy Darling. Ms. Darling was a member of our Video Club for four years. During that time, she was an asset to our local programming efforts.

With a sharp wit and well-stocked vocabulary, Ms. Darling contributed scripts to several projects, including a segment entitled "Budget Cut Nightmare." This segment was part of a magazine program which attempted to show viewers what the budget cuts were doing and could do to the Andover schools.

Not particularly camera shy, Ms. Darling wrote and created "Wiebke's World," appearing as the strange and unique character, Wiebke Fesch. The show was a take-off of Saturday Night Live's "Sprockets" with a dash of "Wayne's World" thrown in. Wiebke's use of the double entendre was almost an artform itself.

Although known for her comic persona, Ms. Darling also hosted several serious interviews on our program "In the Spotlight." This program featured an introduction of a new assistant principal to the viewing audience and an explanation of local Earth Day activities.

Ms. Darling was also talented behind the scenes as well. She was a reliable camera operator for portable VHS equipment, studio and mobile truck set-ups. She is a skilled technical director on several models of Panasonic switchers, and has basic working knowledge of the AMIGA Broadcast Titler II program. She is also a competent editor on VHS and 3/4" editing systems.

Most recently, Ms. Darling wrote, edited, and co-produced "What Does Massachusetts Do For You?", a project which combined footage taken by Massachusetts Electric employees, professional and student crews, animated graphics, music and narration. The electric company intends to show the tape at public speaking engagements around New England.

I hope that you will enjoy working with Wendy Darling as much as I have.