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President Emeritus Bill Robinson

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  2. President Emeritus Bill Robinson
  3. Of Mind & Heart Newsletter
  4. February 2008

Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: February 2008

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

I'm in the air again, riding and writing on a flight from Washington, D.C., to Tucson. It's a good thing I'm not flying over Spokane, because we're cruising at 34,000 feet and the campus has about 35,000 feet of snow on the ground. It's ridiculous. Last Monday we closed school for the first time in 12 years. The next day I had the weather chasing me across the country. When I landed for my connection in Chicago the temperature was 49 degrees. After a four-hour layover, it was 5. Whoa!  Last night in D.C., Whitworth Board of Trustees Chair Elect Walter Oliver and I accepted, on behalf of Whitworth, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities' Racial Harmony Award. The honor felt gratifying, even though we are so unfinished in our racial-justice efforts. In accepting the award, I expressed my sincere appreciation to the CCCU, but my deepest gratitude was for Walt. As a young African-American attending Whitworth in the turbulent '60s, Walt excavated the best of Whitworth's mission out of some pretty rough terrain. He never ignored the bad, but he always lifted up the good. He graduated in 1967 and has enjoyed an immensely successful career, culminating in his current senior vice presidency with General Dynamics. Through the years, Walt and Shirley Oliver, '77, have blessed Whitworth so generously. In his role as a board member, Walt's wisdom, hard work and major financial contributions represent a significant chapter in the current Whitworth story. So when he stood to accept the award for Whitworth, it was not the first time Walt had stood for Whitworth, nor did he stand alone. He has been standing for his alma mater for some 45 years, and he stands with all the alumni of color who never gave up on Whitworth, even when we let them down. For those alumni, for you and for all of Christ's blessings, we enter this Lenten season filled with thankfulness.

Academics

The spring term began with the third annual Faculty Scholarship Celebration Luncheon.This is a time of recognizing the breadth and depth of faculty scholarly work. In the previous academic year, 88 faculty members engaged in scholarship that was published, presented or performed. You can read the entire list of their good work on our website at www.whitworth.edu/facultyscholarship.

Our Speakers & Artists Series highlights Black History Month. Gospel Explosion returns to Cowles Auditorium on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m., along with a Kuumba workshop (on Feb. 23), and a lecture on the black press during World War II. (Complete schedule: www.whitworth.edu/speakers&artists.)

While some students traveled the world in Jan Term, many on campus built local excursions into their coursework. For example:

  • Ginny Whitehouse (Communication Studies) took her Intercultural Communication class to spend the day with the newly formed Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church, at Spokane's Immaculate Heart Retreat Center.
  • Chemistry professors Drew Budner and Deanna Ojennus hosted five middle- and high-school classes; each class worked with Whitworth students to set up a simulated crime lab and to solve a fictitious crime.
  • Ben Brody, '97, (Music) traveled with his Music of the Christian Church students to local worship services, studying music's functions in worship.
  • Brooke Kiener, '99, (Theatre) led her Community Arts and Practice class to work with students at Havermale High (an alternative school in Spokane) to write short plays about their life experiences and the effects of poverty. After mentoring teens through the playwriting process, the Whitworth students joined the high schoolers in rehearsing the scripts and performing them as staged readings at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture.
  • Patrick Van Inwegen (Political Science) took his United Nations class to a model U.N. conference in Vancouver, B.C., with students representing Tanzania, World Vision, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, among others.
  • Mike Sardinia, '87, (Biology) had his Field Parasitology students snow-camping in the mountains north of Kettle Falls to collect fecal samples from deer. Sounds lovely.

Whitworth science students recently presented their research at the Murdock Undergraduate Science Research Conference. Below are some projects I'm sure you've all been wondering about.

  • "Nle1 AIV Increases Hippocampal Matrix Metalloproteinases in Culture: A Possible Treatment for Alzheimer's": Paige Claiborn, Ben Moresco, Lisa Rodin; Mike Sardinia, research advisor. (It won't be long before I'll be looking for more Nle1 AIV in my dang hippocampal matrix metalloproteinases.)
  • "Synthesis and Characterization of Cylclopentadienylchromium (III) Complexes": Ben Barrick, Evan Worden; Kerry Breno, research advisor
  • "Prussian Blue-Based Electrochemical Sensor for Hydrogen Peroxide": John Hauck; Drew Budner, research advisor
  • "Enhanced Fluorescence from Rose Bengal due to Reverse Intersystem Crossing": Jenna Cunningham; John Larkin, research advisor
  • "Modeling Excited State Absorption Properties in Scattering Media": Sean McGuire; John Larkin, research advisor
  • "Simulations of Plasma Propulsion and Pulsed Electromagnetic Power": Jennifer Johnston, Joshua Simmons; Kamesh Sankaran, research advisor

Whitworth values the role of internships, in which students see the implementation of academic ideas, develop pre-professional skills, and make a difference in the organizations and communities they serve. Here are a few examples:

  • Journalism major Tracey Brown, '08, interned at KXLY-TV in Spokane, where she produced portions of shows, organized interviews, wrote stories for the website, shadowed photographers and reporters, and acted as promotions department representative at live shots.
  • Psychology major Catherine Furber, '09, interned at the YWCA's domestic- violence shelter, working with women struggling to escape abuse.
  • Marc Grow, '08, completed an accounting internship with the Smith Richards Group on Mercer Island. Marc contributed to the firm by creating reports that were used by clients; he also taught a class on basic finance to families in transitional housing.
  • Speech communication major Katie Skattebo, '08, interned at Hospice of Spokane in the Communication and Development Department and coordinated a biannual community memorial service and meal.
  • Political science major Shaina Western, '08, completed an internship at the Center for Justice, where she ran the Drivers Relicensing Program. While seeing the devastating consequences poverty has on individuals and the community, Shaina experienced great satisfaction in working with clients who re-earned their licenses.

From Feb. 12 to March 20, the Whitworth Art Department will host a show featuring the works of Northwest artist Robert Grimes. Grimes paints his freshly hewn surfaces in oils and further modifies them with chiseled lines and areas of bas-relief; his pieces often take months to complete. Grimes will present a lecture Feb. 12 at 7 p.m., at the conclusion of the opening reception.

The Whitworth Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dan Keberle, has been honored once again by being selected to perform at the 2008 Washington Music Educators Association All-State Conference. The ensemble, which just returned from another fabulous tour of Rome, Florence, and Venice, will perform at noon on Friday, Feb. 16, in Yakima.

Enrollment

If you know students planning to apply for fall '08 undergraduate admission, tell them to hurry. March 1 is our application deadline, and we are again experiencing a record number of applications. Also, encourage prospective students to visit us. Visit information is available online at www.whitworth.edu/admissions, or call our admissions office at 509.777.4786 or 800.533.4668. Regardless of the temperature, visitors will feel our warmth!

The Whitworth Financial Aid Office is beginning to review files for new freshmen and transfer students for 2008-09. New students who have filed the FAFSA by the March 1 deadline will begin receiving their financial-aid awards in March. Continuing students who meet the May 1 deadline for submitting the renewal FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) will receive their awards electronically in May and June. Academic scholarships are automatically renewed.

Student Life

I've been gone for most of Jan Term, but one of the days I was around, I watched from my window a chaotic game of Ultimate Frisbee in the snow. Many student activities involved snow, like "Which white bump is the chapel?" Skiing, snowboarding, attending Spokane Chiefs hockey and watching Whitworth basketball, swimming and tennis (thanks to those of you who funded the bubble) occupied students' non-study time. Students have also begun this year's Whitworth Unplugged, their version of American Idol, a show I always unplug. Wednesday movie mania also kept students entertained and fed during this Jan Term.

In this election season, we all find ourselves asking big questions. As part of Heritage Week, Political Science Professor Julia Stronks will moderate an alumni panel discussion Feb. 13 focused on political engagement. Participants include longtime educator and former Washington State Rep. Don Cox, '63; Breean Beggs, '85, who heads Spokane's respected Center for Justice public-interest law firm; Christian Gunter, '98, who has worked for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, Congressman Rick Larsen, and on hunger issues and responsible property development; and Julie Sund Nichols, '00, who has worked with former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn, Washington gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, and U.S. Senate candidate Mike McGavick. Our panelists will share the ways in which they have sought to connect the worldview convictions they developed at Whitworth with the political arenas where they have served.

February began with the HUB Super Bowl party. (I hear there's a remote village in South America where everyone's sporting T-shirts that say "Patriots: Super Bowl Champs, 19-0." They got them for free.) Now we're beginning Black History Month activities, featuring such favorites as the Gospel Explosion, Spoken Word Night and the Motown Talent Showcase, as well as a Kuumba workshop. Speakers, special dinners and discussions will also be featured this month.

ASWU president Scott Donnell, '08, reports, "The campus is once again united as the students return from their global January expeditions, and the spring semester is now upon us. Although we can't remember what Whitworth looked like without three feet of snow, students are taking advantage of the Narnian climate for Winter Olympics, ski trips, and sledding off the chapel."

Resources

Galen Sanford, a Whitworth senior who received a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study in Poland this spring, sent me a note that speaks for many of our students:  Bill, I just checked my financial-aid report. I recently won a scholarship to study abroad.... Galen then said that even with this grant, two-thirds of his financial aid is from Whitworth donors. So thank them profoundly for me, he asked, for making my studies possible.

Thanks to all of you who provided 2007 year-end gifts. You got us back on track to make our FY08 gift-income budget. Also, there is still time for you to fund and name a residence hall! Thanks for your very generous support. 

Athletics

The Whitworth men's swimming team finished unbeaten in Northwest Conference dual meets for the ninth straight year, extending their NWC dual-meet winning streak to 57 in a row with last Saturday's win over UPS. I shot 67 pictures while I yelled. The Pirates head into the 2008 NWC championships looking to win their sixth straight conference title and seventh in the last eight years. Senior David Dolphay is the two-time defending champion of three different events at the NWC championships (200, 500 and 1,650 freestyles). Freshman Michael Woodward goes into the meet with the NWC's best times in three events.

The Pirate women's swim team achieved their first unbeaten dual-meet record in school history (10-0 overall, 7-0 NWC). They have a chance to capture their first Northwest Conference title since 1995. Senior Samantha Kephart has never lost a butterfly race against NWC competition (dual meet or championship meet), and she heads into the championships as a three-time defending champion in both the 100 and 200 butterfly. Sophomore Natalie Turner has the NWC's best time in every freestyle distance between 100 and 1,650 yards.

Whitworth men's basketball completed the first half of the NWC schedule tied for first place in the conference standings at 8-2. The Pirates (18-4 overall) completed their first-ever NWC road sweep in Tacoma. Senior Ryan Symes leads the team in scoring average, while fellow senior Colin Willemsen has seven double-doubles this winter, more than any other player in the NWC.

The Pirate women's basketball team is in the thick of the hunt for the NWC playoffs.Whitworth (11-8 overall, 6-4 NWC) is currently tied for third place, and the top three teams make the conference postseason. Junior Alida Bower and sophomore Natalie Orrell lead the team in scoring.

Alumni

Heritage Week 2008 events are scheduled through Feb. 16. The complete schedule is available at www.whitworth.edu/heritageweek and podcasts of several events will be posted to www.whitworth.edu/podcast.

Graduates of the last decade with good e-mail addresses in our system recently received a special invitation to view The Ten, our new online newsletter for recent graduates. If you fit this category and didn't get the e-mail (or graduated before 1997 and are just curious), please visit the site at www.whitworth.edu/theten. Also, make sure to update your contact information so that you get the next issue, featuring links to new podcasts, information on career services, and other stories about classmates from your era.

Alums, parents and friends in Portland and Seattle are invited to hear Professor of Psychology Jim Waller present Deliver Us from Evil: Genocide and the Christian World on March 15 at 4 p.m. at Portland's Westminster Presbyterian Church or March 16 at 2 p.m. at Seattle's First Presbyterian Church.

Whitworthians in Southern California are invited to hear Associate Professor of Biology Craig Tsuchida present Christian Evolutionist:An Oxymoron on March 29 at 7 p.m. at Grandview Presbyterian Church, in Glendale, or March 30 at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in San Diego. Registration for all four of these Core 650 events can be found at www.whitworth.edu/alumnievents.

Join Rick Hornor, '70, (Theatre) for his director's commentary and an introduction to the spring production of the Moliere comedy Tartuffe, on Saturday, March 8. The dessert begins at 6:45 p.m. and the curtain goes up at 8 p.m. Cost is $12, and you can register on the alumni and parent website. I think this is an important play for Christians to see. It is hilarious, but it offers a poignant critique of religious hypocrisy and exploitation.

Closing Thoughts

My election-year hope for our students is prompted by an incident that happened when Jesus and his disciples spotted a beggar who was born blind. The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned, the beggar or his parents. Basically, Jesus responded that they were asking the wrong question. His better question was, "Is this an opportunity to bring glory to God?" In this election, I hope our students ask the opportunity question more often than the "Whose fault?" question. In fact, I hope all of us will spend less time finding fault and more time bringing glory to God.