June 16, 2000

Chemistry, a Love Story: How One Professor Stirs the Arts Into Science

By ZOE INGALLS

More than 20 years ago, when she began teaching at Columbia College here, Zafra Lerman couldn't get any students to sign up for her chemistry class. That is hard to imagine now, as she turns away people left and right.

But back then, it wasn't so surprising. Although the college was smaller than it is now, it was similar in policy -- open admissions -- and in the makeup of its student body -- mostly art or communications majors, many of them from some of Chicago's worst