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Renaissance man

by Joe Geni

Ho hum, just another ordinary four years of liberal arts education at Grinnell for Ben Hanes '05, who was co-captain of the Frisbee team, organized Titular Head and double-majored in Russian and Music. His overture is being performed this weekend by the Grinnell Orchestra, and three months after graduating he'll be spending about two years with the Peace Corps, most likely somewhere in Eurasia. All that, and his finest Grinnell memory was a party.

"We [the Ultimate Frisbee team] throw 10/10 in the fall, which this year was just awesome," said Hanes. "[This year's 10/10 is] probably going to be my finest memory of Grinnell. Just the way that everyone came together and it was a ton of work but a lot of people helped out. We got the whole campus involved, and it seemed like everyone had a good time."

10/10, the annual progressive party in honor of the first student payday of the year, is only one of a number of events organized by the ultimate Frisbee team, which Hanes has been on since arriving at Grinnell and was captain of this year. They also organized the Elephantitis II tournament, which featured 20 teams. The Frisbee team goes on a handful of road tournaments every year as well.

"It's just a really awesome group of people," Hanes said. "It's a great mix of physical activity but yet it doesn't take over your life."

Hanes, who had played recreationally for two years in high school ("We never played by the rules; it was just chaos," he said), found Frisbee just as engaging, but less time-consuming, than the school's varsity sports teams. And less time-consuming was good, given that Hanes had to balance Frisbee with being on the organizing committee for Titular Head for his final three years here (this year he was the Titular Head) and a double major in Russian and Music.

Haines started out as just a Russian major, made easier by a study abroad program, but the Music major was less thoroughly planned. "I actually surprised myself in declaring that but I'm definitely very happy I did," he said.

Hanes plays trombone but focuses mostly on composition and theory. The orchestra is performing the overture he wrote for his senior music project with his advisor, Eric McIntyre, Music, on May 22 at 8 p.m. in Roberts Theatre.

"I think that I like Russian composers and I have a Russian major for the same reason," he said. "Something about character of the Russian artist appeals to me. My favorite composer is Shostakovich [a Russian composer]."

Hanes looks to continue composing on the side "as a corollary to my career," but his immediate future is rather occupied. Starting in the fall, Hanes will join the Peace Corps for 27 months. While he doesn't know his exact destination yet, he was nominated for either Eastern Europe or Central Asia.

"It seemed like a good way to buy some time," said Hanes. "I've talked to people who have done the Peace Corps, so I'm confident that I will find fulfillment in the type of service work that I'll be doing. It's also appealing to spend two years of my life doing that work and then organize my thoughts about what I want to do with the rest of my life."

Hanes plans to travel over the summer. After that, he thinks he's found an occupation that will make him money until the fall ... or at least keep him busy.

"My plan is to make money by playing online poker," he said. "We'll see how that turns out though."

Sidebar: Ben at a glance

Majors: Music and Russian

Sport: Ultimate Frisbee (co-captain)

Events he helped plan: 10/10, Ultimate Frisbee Elephantitis Tournament, Titular Head

Instrument: trombone

Favorite composer: Shostakovich (Russia)

Future plans: travel, make money, then Peace Corps for 27 months

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