Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: February 2001
An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson
Well, it's Groundhog Day. My siblings and I can't think of groundhogs without wincing. In our dad's later years it seems he did a little hunting from the living room. According to our mother, he would sit just inside their open front door, waiting to pump a little lead into the ill-fated critters that were digging up the front porch. After a few bad shots, traumatized neighbors started waving white flags every time they saw Dad. This year, Groundhog Day marks the end of a fascinating week for me. I was lobbying in Washington, D.C., for the first part of the week and in Olympia for the last part. In summary, D.C. has money; Olympia doesn't. When Senator Ted Kennedy told a group of us college presidents he was excited about President Bush's education plans, we figured that was about as bipartisan as it gets. As I reflect on a week in which I had conversations with Senate and House representatives at both state and federal levels, as well as a discussion with Washington Governor Gary Locke, I am enormously impressed with the hard work, sharp minds, good wills and desire to serve exhibited by these folks. They get bashed by a lot of us on the sidelines. But they want to help students, and for that we should all be grateful.
Academics
We are pleased to announce the establishment of Whitworth's School of Global Commerce and Management, effective July 1. In forming this school, we are pulling together into one unit our undergraduate business programs and our master's degree program in international management. The new school will operate much the same way as our School of Education has functioned since it was founded in 1991. Whitworth has been widely recognized for its strong international emphasis, even before globalism overtook the business world. So in some ways we are formalizing an institutional strength, while creating synergy and efficiency through the integration of two related departments. To head this new school, we've begun a search for a dean, skilled in both the academic and business arenas, who can help our students make great mind-and-heart contributions in the expanding world of business.
The end of January brought two internationally known speakers to campus. Author and neuropsychologist Malcolm Jeeves provided a fascinating exploration of the neurological and biblical evidence about the relationship between body and soul. Two days after Dr. Jeeves' visit, we welcomed author, educator and peacemaker Fr. Elias Chacour, a Christian Palestinian who has been nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in the Middle East. After pleading for a halt to the persecution of Palestinians, he asked simply for friendship. But his request was conditional: "If being our friend means the Jew is your enemy, we don't want your friendship." Chacour lives out the axiom that without forgiveness, we won't know peace.
In the past 24 hours I have heard two examples of indirect ways in which our students benefit from the excellence of the Whitworth faculty. Susan Mabry (Computer Science) is currently helping the Boeing Corp. arrive at optimal computing solutions for air traffic management, and Tony Mega (Chemistry) is helping Hollister-Stier with some complicated sugar analyses. These relationships allow faculty members to keep current with real-world applications as they develop their curricula. Moreover, these relationships often lead to internships and jobs for our students.
We typically welcome new faculty aboard in the fall, but this year we have four joining us midyear in both permanent and interim capacities: Christie Anderson (Organizational Management), Keith Beebe (Religion), Gretchen Hoy (Economics and Business) and Jason Tobeck (Kinesiology and Athletics). Jason, by the way, is a Whitworth grad ('94, '99 MA) and former football star. Now he stays in shape by playing noonball, trying to make me feel good by sinking to the level of my rapidly deteriorating skills. But I believe I have reached depths that not even an obsequious new faculty member can plumb. Alas. Actually, all four of these folks are very gifted and I am quite proud to have handed Jason two Whitworth diplomas.
Congratulations to Terry McGonigal (Chapel), Jerry Sittser (Religion) and Dale Soden (History/Weyerhaeuser Center for Christian Faith and Learning) on receiving a $50,000 planning grant from the Lilly Endowment. The grant will help the college prepare a major request to Lilly to help us study how we can help our students understand their future jobs in light of their faith, or to link their career choices to vocation and ministry.
The Whitworth Wind Ensemble will perform on Friday, Feb. 16, at the All- Northwest Music Educators Convention in Spokane. The wind ensemble was one of two college/university wind ensembles from the six-state Northwest region invited to perform at this prestigious event, and this is the group's second consecutive invitation to appear at All Northwest. Also, the wind ensemble's new CD, New Century Dawn, is available for purchase ($16) through the Music Department office. It was recorded last spring and includes selections from the ensemble's spring tour program.
I've just run across great reviews of two books recently published by our faculty members: Religion Professor Jim Edwards' The Divine Intruder, Navpress, and Dale Soden's The Reverend Mark Matthews, University of Washington Press. Of Jim's book, Prism magazine writes, "Edwards cuts through all the clichÈs and claptrap of contemporary Christianity and gets to the heart of the gospel." The review is packed with accolades, but this quote is the one Jim most hopes is true. The Columbia magazine review of Dale's book on Mark Matthews, pastor of Seattle's First Presbyterian Church from 1902 to 1940, concludes by noting, "...Soden's book is filled with history, each chapter bringing new surprises and information.... It would be hard to read this book without recommending it to others."
Enrollment
Freshman applications for fall 2001 are well ahead of last year. As of February 1 we have received 1,021 freshman applications, compared with 565 a year ago. The main reason for the increase is an accelerated process that completes the application process more rapidly, but we do expect at least a 20 percent increase in this year's application pool.
Student Life
February is the start of the spring rush in the student-life arena. Valentine's Day brings "The Dating Game," with the lucky winning couples being treated to all-expense-paid dream dates. Discounted symphony and movie tickets will also be sold this month to continue the month's "Night on the Town" theme. Also, the Black Student Union will host an entertaining evening called "The Gathering," and toward the end of the month they'll sponsor a soul-food dinner and dance. I want you to know that romance is alive and well on college campuses. For example, I asked one of our sophomore men what special little thing he would do for his sweetheart on Valentine's Day. He suavely replied, "Maybe I'll shower."
Resources
We are very excited about President Bush's desire to permit charitable rollovers of funds in tax-deferred retirement accounts. This plan would allow people at least 59 years old to transfer funds from their retirement accounts to Whitworth without paying tax on the asset. This provision is among the items I stumped for last week in D.C. As the arm of our Institutional Advancement office that focuses on deferred gifts such as annuities, trusts and bequests, The Whitworth Foundation will watch this closely. By the way, the foundation is doing well under the leadership of Executive Director Jan Stricklin and Board Chair Ray Lawton . Effective the first of this year, the foundation has established a new relationship with Kaspick and Co., of Palo Alto, Calif., to provide administrative and investment services to the foundation and to our many and valued trust donors.
Yesterday, a half-dozen Whitworth students stuffed themselves into our beater van and went to Schweitzer ski resort where they skied on more than a foot of day-old powder. That's the good news about the weather. But the good news for the skiers is bad news for our heating bills, because it is unseasonably cold. With our monstrous new energy rates, we need a heat wave. In the face of these big energy bills, we also need all of our great friends who made pledges to The Whitworth Fund to remember us by June 30. Many of you already have, and we thank you. If you haven't yet decided what to give to The Whitworth Fund, anything you can do will give us a nice warm feeling. Thanks.
I have two wonderful acts of generosity to report. Alumni Walter and Shirley Oliver ('67/'77MA and '77, respectively) have pledged $500,000 to the new academic building. We are so grateful! But even if the Olivers never gave a dime, they still would have enriched Whitworth immensely. Walt's wisdom, charm and hard work as a member of our board of trustees have earned him the praise of our Advancement staff, who say that he's a phenomenal Development Committee chair. To our African-American students, both Walt and Shirley have been role models of spiritual, relational and professional success. And Shirley has lit up every room she's ever entered, including many here at Whitworth. So thanks to these two wonderful Whitworthians. We also received a bequest of $100,000 from the estate of Ester and Hal Dornsife. The Dornsifes were so impressed with Whitworth President Ed Lindaman that they established an endowed chair in his name. This latest bequest from them is being applied to a faculty development endowment they funded a couple of years ago in the name of their pastor and friend Rev. Jim Little, a former Whitworth trustee and another one of God's treasures. Deep appreciation to the Dornsife family!
The final great news that I'm thrilled to report is that our anonymous donors for the new residence hall have pledged the balance we need to begin construction this spring. This is a huge gift, and one that's being made by a couple with big hearts and a strong love for Whitworth. The facility should be ready sometime in mid-fall, depending on when the ground thaws, which this weather isn't helping. We are blessed by the generosity of these wonderful friends of Whitworth.
Athletics
You have to love our swim teams. The Pirate men finished 9-3 overall and 6-0 against Northwest Conference opponents, including last Saturday's 126-79 handling of powerhouse UPS. The Pirate men have a great chance for the NWC title (Feb. 15-17)) at the Evergreen State College in Olympia. Juniors Troy Schuknecht and Brent Rice have each been named NWC Swimmer of the Week in January. The women's team finished 7-5 overall and 5-1 in the NWC. Their only conference loss was to Puget Sound. Senior Erin Kay and junior Marta Holsinger have been outstanding and could be favorites to win events at the NWC championships. Head Coach Tom Dodd always has these teams on top of the league.
The women's basketball team is 8-10 overall and 6-5 in the Northwest Conference. The Bucs are still alive for the final playoff berth (3rd place) in the NWC because they host both of the league-leading teams (PLU and UPS) this weekend. Jamie Wakefield is concluding her outstanding career in record-setting fashion. She is now ranked third on the all-time women's scoring list with 1,243 career points. And senior Kelly Middlesworth was named NWC Player of the Week for her outstanding performances against Lewis & Clark and Linfield on Jan. 19 and 20. She recorded an impressive triple-double against L&C (11 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists.)
The men's basketball team holds its playoff destiny in its hands. The Pirates (10-9 overall, 6-5 NWC) are currently in third place in the conference. The top three teams advance to the playoffs. The Bucs host important contests against PLU and UPS this weekend. As a team, Whitworth ranks 7th in the nation (Division III) in field goal percentage (50.3%). Freshman Bryan Depew leads the team in scoring, averaging 15 points per game. The Bucs have also been getting great contributions from senior guards Kelson Ramey and Ryan Nelson.
After leading our men's basketball team to national prominence and a second-in-the-nation finish in 1996, Warren Friedrichs is retiring as head coach of the men's basketball program. Warren has made a huge contribution to Whitworth. He turned our basketball program into one of the best college programs in the West, and the entire Whitworth community has come to love and support Whitworth basketball in a way that seems to lift everyone's spirits. But what impresses me as much as Warren's record is that he's built the program with integrity, perspective and good people. Warren has never forgotten that basketball is a game, and the fact that he pursued and earned his Ph.D. has served as a reminder to his players that student-athletes are students first. All in all, Warren reflects Whitworth's mind-and-heart commitment to excellence. And in that respect, he has led the young men of Whitworth's basketball team, and the rest of us, with Christian integrity.
Alumni
I hope you'll join Religion Professor Jerry Sittser and Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Tad Wisenor, '89, for a reception in Boise on Saturday afternoon, March 10.Jerry will discuss his new book, The Will of God as a Way of Life, and Tad will bring news of the campus. More information is on the way.
On March 16, you're invited to a dessert and play introduction by Theatre Professor Rick Hornor, '70. Rick will introduce Whitworth Theatre's spring production, a new version of Carlos Goldoni's comedy, "Servant of Two Masters." Call 509-777-3799 or 1-800-532-4668, or e-mail atomson@whitworth.edu for more information.
All the details of the Core 650 trip to Munich from July 2 to 12 are available on the web at www.whitworth.edu/alumni/munich2001.htm. Spaces are still available. Contact Tad Wisenor at 509-777-4401 with questions.
Whitworth's 25th, 35th, 45th and 50th reunions are scheduled for June 29 to July 1.Information is available online at www.whitworth.edu/alumni/reunion2001.htm.
Closing Thoughts
The lament I recorded last summer has become the joy of our winter at Whitworth. Terry McGonigal's cancer is gone. We're so thankful to God. After chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the doctors now see no sign of the lymphoma they discovered last June. Terry's buoyancy and hair have roared back. He's even threatening us with ponytail talk. I guess we can never be sure why some are taken and some are spared. But we do know that ours is a God of redemption. And it seems so good that physical redemption has visited one who has been the usher of God's spiritual redemption to so many. Thanks to all of you who prayed for Terry. And thanks to all of you who pray faithfully for Whitworth.
