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This year's two Jonathan B. Rintels 1927 Prizes, highly prestigious honors
for senior theses in the humanities and the social sciences, were awarded to
Andrew Kraebel '06 and Alexandra Spielhagen '06 in March. "There are about
150 to 200 senior honors theses written each year, and these are considered to
be outstanding examples," says Assistant Dean of the Faculty Jane
Carroll.
Andrew Kraebel '06
Alexandra Spielhagen '06
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Kraebel's thesis, "Exercitia et Raptus: Teaching, Learning, and
Queering Twelfth-century Mysticism in the De Quatuor Gradibus Violentae
Caritatis," explores the way clerical celibacy subverts masculinity in a
piece of writing by Richard of Saint-Victor, a 12th-century Scottish mystic and
theologian. "Kraebel's knowledge of the period, of the field of mystical
mysticism, his skill at reading critically and analytically, and the clarity
and elegance of his writing make this thesis a most impressive document,"
wrote the award committee in a letter to Kraebel, who majored in religion.
Kraebel, who is currently pursuing his master's degree in religion at Yale
University, says, "So many of the ideas I was able to develop were a
result of the outstanding support provided by various medievalists among the
faculty, as well as the religion department in
general. The fact that my advisor [Christopher
MacEvitt, assistant professor of religion] let me study many interrelated
aspects of 12th-century culture provided me with a valuable background."
Kraebel presented an abridged version of his thesis at the New England Medieval
Studies Consortium Graduate Student Conference in February, and he plans to
edit his work for publication.
Spielhagen, an anthropology major, analyzed the high-profile efforts of the
Lower Elwha Klallam tribe to preserve its
culture and heritage by reburying its ancestors. Her thesis is titled
"ReclaimingTse-whit-zen: Contesting Burial Rights in the Pacific
Northwest." The award committee wrote, "It was remarked that when
your work is more widely distributed to other tribal communities facing similar
issues across the country, it should serve as a useful tool to help them choose
the best strategy to protect their ancestors." After completing her
thesis, Spielhagen was delighted to learn that the state of Washington paid $17
million in a settlement to the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, and allowed them to
rebury their ancestors.
By STEVEN J. SMITH
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