Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: January 1997
An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson
You have probably heard that Mother Nature has been at it again in the state of Washington. The ice storm I reported in the December Mind and Heart was followed by a huge dumping of snow (the skiing was unbelievable), which was followed by unseasonably warm weather, which was followed by flooding, which was followed by bone-chilling temperatures. All this natural chaos has taken place in the last month. And speaking of Mother Nature, she got even with me for smarting off last month about going to Hawaii during the ice storm. This past weekend I forgot my coat on a trip to Denver and San Francisco. Sunday morning it was 12 below zero in Denver, and Monday morning San Francisco recorded the lowest temperature for that date in its history. My raw physical discomfort was compounded by remarks from some of the wonderful folks at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs. They tried to console me by explaining that I was lucky it was "dry cold." I have no idea what they were talking about. Actually, it was a wonderful trip to Colorado, during which I had opportunities to hear alumni in Denver talk about their heartfelt appreciation for Whitworth College, to enjoy a rich worship experience in Colorado Springs, and to have several great visits in the Bay area. These excursions make it hard to stay on top of my work, but I always come home feeling very proud to be a member of the Whitworth community. Thanks to all of you for the ways you have enriched this college. Although our enthusiasm has been tempered by the heartbreaking tragedies I will mention in the "Milestones" section on side two, the past month has been very good, all of nature's assaults notwithstanding.
Academics
We are right in the middle of Jan Term and the students love it. The off-campus tours around the world always draw praise, but even the students on campus find the cadence of January Term to be less frenetic than the juggling that is required during the semesters.
At present we have 46 students in Africa. Political Studies Professor John Yoder and Communication Studies Professor Gordon Jackson are leading 16 students on a study trip to South Africa titled "Press, Prophets and Politics." They are studying the relationship among media, church and politics. The trip includes visits to Cape Town and squatter camps, and an excursion to the ostrich farm where Gordon once worked as a tour guide. Another 30 students are involved in a medical mission to Kenya. This trip has been coordinated by Judge Robert Quall, a 1961 Whitworth grad and the son of long-time faculty member and dean Al Quall. Because a central purpose of the trip is to provide basic medical service, many of the students are pre-med majors.
One of the most celebrated Jan Term classes this year is a new physical education course titled "Liturgical Dance." After the first day of this class, taught by Judy Mandeville, one of the students reported, "I have experienced Christ for the first time in my life in a new and fresh way." To our enormous good fortune, the pioneer of sacred dance in the United States, 88-year-old Margaret Taylor Doane, is a resident of Spokane. This author of five books and star of two videos captivated and inspired the class when she made a guest appearance and challenged the students to use dance as a meaningful way to communicate joy, compassion, and resiliency in their Christian faith.
This semester, faculty sabbaticals are being taken by Jim Waller, associate professor of psychology, who will continue his research in the psychological dimensions of extraordinary evil, focusing on the Holocaust; Randy Michaelis, assistant professor of education, who is exploring new ways to incorporate technology into teacher education; Doug Sugano, associate professor of English, who is doing research for a possible book on the N-Town (medieval Christian) plays; and Jerry Sittser, associate professor of religion, who is studying the impact of Christianity on postwar America.
Lest you are misguided enough to think librarians excel only in whispering and in helping students find stuff, we are proud to report that Hans Bynagle, our library director, recently published the second edition of his book Philosophy: A Guide to the Reference Literature.
We are also happy to learn that the National Council of Teachers of English just published the book In the Long Run: A Study of Faculty in Three Writing-Across-the-Curriculum Programs, co-authored by Whitworth Associate Professor of English Linda Hunt and Barbara Walvoord. In this book, Whitworth faculty members are featured with some of their creative ideas for writing-intensive programs. We should also extend kudos to Linda for the Norwegian National Television Network's coverage of her research into Helga Estby's walk across America with her daughter in 1896. Helga, a mother of nine, was a Norwegian immigrant trying to win a $10,000 wager to save her mortgaged family farm outside Spokane. Christmas Eve was the 100th anniversary of her arrival in New York, and Norwegian television highlighted this event.
Admissions & Enrollment
We have good news and mediocre news. The good news is that we have accepted 100 more students than we had last year at this time. The mediocre news is that the total number of applications is down slightly from a year ago. Overall, we are very encouraged by our situation.
I spoke with several high school students in Denver who are interested in attending Whitworth. I think that most of these students would benefit from our heart-and-mind mission. If you know prospective students you would like us to contact, call me or the Admissions Office, (509) 466-3212 or 1-800-533-4668.
Our Financial Aid Office is organizing an Eastern Washington Community Financial Aid Night, during which a number of the local colleges and universities will be available to work with students and their families who are applying for financial aid. The session will be held on January 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Whitworth's Financial Aid Office (located on the second floor of McEachran Hall) will be open and fully staffed to help students and parents with financial aid applications and questions.
Finances
In the vernacular of our student phonathoners, you folks were "beyond huge" in the month of December. Because of your generosity, we ended our first six months $73,096.03 ahead of where we were at the halfway point of last year's Annual Fund giving. Especially significant is the fact that this figure includes more than 100 additional gifts. As of December 31, 1996, the college had received $714,443.79 in Annual Fund contributions, including $507,774.77 in unrestricted estates, which we plan to add to our endowment, and $75,000 from Washington Water Power.
Bonnie and I held a victory party for this year's record-breaking phonathon team. These delightful and determined students reached their fiscal year goal of $100,000 in pledges by Christmas. It was obvious to us that one of the keys to this group's success was how much they enjoyed talking to all of you who were contacted. Thanks for your generous support.
One of the many wonderful stories that came out of the Development Office during December was about an alumnus and his wife who increased their Whitworth Annual Fund gift by $200. They included a note explaining that they were making four new $50 gifts in the names of several family members, rather than simply giving another material Christmas present. These gifts will bless not only those honored, but also the students for whom $50 of financial aid is "beyond huge."
I'm happy to report that we should be able to absorb the final price tag on "Ice Storm '96" within our operating budget. We hold a very good insurance policy that covers most of our losses. We hope these claims will not affect future premiums too severely.
I trust these positive financial reports encourage you in your support of Whitworth. I have never been very impressed by crisis appeals, and I believe the friends of Whitworth College are more likely to invest in good financial management than in a series of emergencies. Actually, it doesn't really matter whether you like victories or crises; our responsibility is to provide you with accurate information, and we will keep doing that. If we get into some kind of financial jam, I'll let you know. But right now, the budget is on target, and we are very thankful to you and to God.
Student Life
This has been a great year for skiing. ASWC provided discounted lift tickets to Schweitzer, and organized a trip to Red Mountain in British Columbia. In keeping with the snow theme, Warren Hall brought back a Whitworth tradition from the '50s known as the "Snow Frolic." As in days of old, the Snow King and the Snow Queen walked under a tunnel of uplifted ski poles to receive their crowns.
Other Jan Term programs include an appearance by professional comedian Earl David Reed, a night of storytelling from the Theatre Department, a performance by Whitworth's own improv troupe, three-on-three intramural basketball (the highlight being last night's nail-biting victory by three of us rickety old faculty members over a trio of virile young bucks), rock- climbing at Wild Walls, and home athletic events.
Thanks to the parents of our residence hall students, who sent special, secret gifts for their sons and daughters to receive from Santa during the Christmas dorm parties. And special appreciation goes to those of you who sent an extra gift to students who, for one reason or another, were unable to receive a gift from home. In Stewart Hall and The Village alone, we received more than 25 extra gifts from very generous parents. Apart from the lump of coal received by a Mac Hall man (parenting at its best), the gifts brought great joy to your children.
Athletics
In what many thought would be a rebuilding year, Whitworth's men's basketball team is off to its best start in history. The Bucs are 11-1, surpassing the 9-1 start by the 1953-54 team. Going into this weekend, the team has won nine in a row, and 27 consecutive home games. Because star guard Nate Williams has missed about half the games with a knee injury, only one starter remains from last year's squad that went to the national championship. Rounding out the starting five when Nate is healthy are Sean Weston, Jeff Mix, Gabe Jones, and Ben Heimerman, a newcomer who is having a great year.
The women's basketball team is right at .500 as it enters into a full schedule of conference play. This weekend the women take on two undefeated rivals in Tacoma. Rebecca Moore, Sherri Northington and Jennifer Tissue are having excellent seasons, although Jennifer has been plagued by injuries. Both the men and women's teams have great coaches: Warren Friedrichs, the 1996 NAIA National Coach of theYear, and Helen Higgs, the 1994-95 NCIC Coach of the Year.
Both the men's and women's swim teams look very strong. The men are 6-1, due to consistently strong performances from Guy Mikasa, Jerry Rice, Jeff Rice, Ben Swinehart, Brian Crane, John Rasmussen and Jeremiah Pappe. The women stand at 4-3 and have been led by Jan Okada, Sarah Ewan, Shannon Braun, and Mindy Galbraith. Both teams are coached by last year's NAIA National Men's Coach of the Year, Tom Dodd, who is in his 10th season and has built an excellent swimming program at Whitworth.
Whitworth's men's and women's ski teams, which compete in the Northwest College Ski Association, are enjoying the snowy weather. Competing against skiers from the largest universities in the region, both teams enjoyed an encouraging start last weekend at a meet in McCall, Idaho. Sophomore Alisun Knowles hopes to ski her way to regionals again this year, and Olivia Mongellaz, an exchange student from France and experienced mogul skier, is a great addition to the team. The men's team, still gaining needed experience, is seeing some great runs from sophomore Aaron Pagniano and freshman Josh Decker. On Super Bowl weekend the teams will enjoy "home snow" for a meet at Mount Spokane.
Milestones
The most tragic event on a college campus is the death of a student or an employee. Sadly, we have experienced both this month. On Jan. 3, the life of junior Tony Winter, '99, ended much too soon. For Tony, Whitworth represented a second chance, which he pursued with energy, enthusiasm, and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Tony, in his late 20s, majored in psychology after rebuilding a life that had been hurt by some bad decisions. Tony's teachers and friends loved him, cheered for him, were proud of him, and supported him (except in the class where he delivered an impassioned argument that Beavis and Butthead were prototypes of Maslow's self-actualization). What a guy! We will miss Tony.
On January 17 (her birthday), Vicki Lewis, certification and placement coordinator in the School of Education, died after a painful and protracted battle with cancer. Vicki's blessings to Whitworth College came in the form of inspiring devotionals at board meetings, chapel, and informal gatherings; mentoring relationships with students, faculty and staff; and just doing her work so well over the last 12 years. She was one of the most spiritual souls in our community. My last visit with her was symbolic. In an exchange of the usual roles when I visit the sick, Vicki ministered to me, prayed for those of us at the college, and sent me off wondering who had visited whom. We will always remember Vicki for her unshakeable faith. Thanks to Dennis Sterner and the staff of the School of Education for their sustained care of Vicki through her long illness.
Miscellaneous
The Whitworth heart is big. This year our employee United Way Campaign exceeded its goal by more than $1,000, with contributions totaling $13,500. Organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Spokane Food Bank, Lutheran Social Services and the Martin Luther King Center will serve more people because of Whitworth's generosity.
Dates to Remember
February 3 Spring Semester Begins
February 6 Theatre Performance: "And God Said"
February 13 Great Decisions Lecture Series Begins
February 18 String Ensemble Concert
February 22 International Club Banquet
Closing Thoughts
We extend best wishes to all of you for a prosperous 1997. A Bible verse that has been on my mind lately comes from II Corinthians 9, in which we find the promise that "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you may abound to every good work." May God's grace abound to you in the coming year. Thank you for your faithful friendship.
