Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: January 1998

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

I don't know exactly how I got in the habit of identifying my location when writing these newsletters, but today I'm looking down on the Pacific Ocean with my nose pointed toward Asia. I actually like these long plane rides, although the last time I made this trip I left the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, crossed the international dateline that night, and skipped right to Friday. No turkey, no pilgrims, just Friday. Alas. Next year I think I'll to each of you. It should be a great year for Whitworth.

Academics

Because we have had only a few days of classes since I wrote the December Mind and Heart, I thought I would focus this section on our Jan Term courses. Everyone seems to enjoy the change of curricular rhythm for these three weeks, especially the skiers. I don't have a list of our on-campus courses, but just as I left this morning, I received the following sampling of the courses being taught off campus this term:

Prejudice Across America Study Tour: This course, taught by Jim Waller, associate professor of psychology, examines expressions of prejudice (primarily racism, sexism and Anti-Semitism) in the American landscape. It includes a month-long Amtrak journey, with visits to national museums, exhibitions and relevant historical sites, and lectures from nationally renowned experts.

Ecology of the Baja Region: Working from a base camp located in a small coastal village on the Sea of Cortez, 22 students, led by Dean Jacobson, assistant professor of biology, will study the ecology of the Baja region in California and Mexico. Students will camp out in th desert while studying the flora and fauna of this remarkable area.

Domain of the Arts: San Francisco: This class has been popular for many years. Led by Laura Bloxham, professor of English, students experience musical, dramatic, cinematic, artistic and dance events along with daily class sessions and a general introduction to urban San Francisco.

Music Study in London: Led by Deborah Hansen, assitant professor of music, students will hear live performances by some of the world's best orchestras, choruses and solo performers presenting music from the Renaissance to the 20th century. There is also a trip to Stratford, Oxford and Coventry. (I feel strongly that this class has gone far too long without presidential attention, and I confess my negligence. Surely, I must soon tear myself away from my duties and take a firsthand lood at the extent to whixh these students' needs are being met.)

British Culture Through Theatre: In this course, Rick Hornor, associate professor of theatre, suffers through a visit to London, accompanying students to theatre performances and seminars and introducing the various aspects of English theatre and British culture, including a backstage tour of the National Theatre and opportunities to meet a theatre critic, director or actor. Other planned events include Cats, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and a trip to Stratford to see the Royal Shakespeare Company, with stops in Oxford adn Coventry.

Historical Geography of the Bible: Led by Raja Tanas, professor of sociology, who was born in Bethlehem, students will study the historical and geographical settings of the Bible. Whitworthians will stroll the main streets of Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth while learning about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Christian Spiritually: Holing up for three weeks at Tall Timber Ranch, a camp bordering the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area above the town of Leavenworth, Wash., Jerry Sittser, associate professor of religion, and his students will cover the history, theology and practice of Christian spirituality and its implications for life today. Students study, worship, work, build friendships and live in community -- often snowbound -- throughout the course.

American Studies: San Francisco: Ann Dentler, instructor for our English Language Program, will use the resources of the San Francisco area to lead international students in a study of American culture designed to develop an awareness and understanding of the values, attitudes and cultural patterns of American life. The course will explore the ways in which religion, the frontier, and a heritage of abundant resources have shaped American values.

One other item I should report is related to the search process for the vice president of academic affairs position. We have a good pool of candidates and are about to conduct phone interviews based upon our reference checks. Thanks for your interest, suggestions and prayers.

Enrollment

Although it is too early to draw meaningful inferences, our admissions picture for next Saturday looks pretty good. We are a little behind last year's application count, but we have been very impressed with the applicants and we hope to have a good conversation ratio. Here are the numbers: 362 freshman applications (199 of them early-action apps), 253 acceptances; 19 transfer applications, 10 acceptances; five international applications, one acceptance.

One of my recent concerns was echoed a couple of weeks ago in a letter from an alumnus. He was impressed with Whitworth's strong academic profile, but was saddened that one of his young relatives with a high school GPA of 2.5 and mediocre SAT score would probably not be admitted to Whitworth. As he described this student in his letter, I had no doubt that he was presenting the picture of a great candidate for admission. Although the "mean" numerical profile of our students has risen sharply, we still admit students who are either late bloomers or are "excessively well-rounded" (a term that has evolved in our house). Often these students absolutely flourish during their Whitworth years. There are many factors tthat influence success, and we look at them all. If Whitworth were to become an institution for the academically elite only, it would lose the richness and hope brought by those students who are utterly transformed during their years here.

If you know high school juniors or seniors who are interested in visiting Whitworth, the Admissions Office will host a "Campus Close-up" February 15-16 to introduce prospective students to the people, academic programs, student life and campus activities at Whitworth. For more information, please call Admissions at (509) 777-3212 or (800) 533-4668.

Parents, now is the time to reapply for financial aid for 1998-1999. For students wanting to attend summer school or to use work study during the summer, our priority deadline is March 1. Returning students who are working next year's packages should apply by May 1.

Resources

Good news on the campus construction projects: Phase II of the Campus Center is taking shape, with framing and sheeting of the exterior shell almost complete. The roof and interior mechanical work are progressing well, and the contractor anticipates starting drywall work by March 1. About the time we wrap up work on the Campus Center, we'll be getting on the Johnston Science Center. As soon as classes end, workers will start renovation work on this project supported by the National Science Foundation.

Thanks for your great generosity in the first half of our fiscal year. The Whitworth Fund is running about $12,000 ahead of where we were at this time last year. The unrestricted gifts that compose this fund support our students and faculty as we work to keep a Whitworth education affordable and accessible. We've increased the 1997-98 Whitworth Fund goal by $100,000 over last year's, so we are really counting on your continued support through June 30th. Thanks again.

Thanks also to those of you who gave appreciated stock to Whitworth at the end of 1997. We experienced a substantial increase in the number and amount of gifts given through stock transfers. Even Bonnie and I joined in. Our one appreciated stock was feelings so lonely amoung an otherwise perfect set of losers, we gave it to Whitworth and restored symmetry to our small but consistent portfolio.

Again, thanks for your generosity. Total giving for the year is up. We're grateful to you and thankful to God.

Student Life

Word from our ASWC activities coordinator: The talented and socially supercharged Matty Broker suggests that Jan Term will not lack for action. Among more visible events are Movie Night, Ice Cream Social, Eighties Explosion, Comedy Concert, Trash-4-Cash, Ski Trip, Black Student Union Trips to Martin Luther King Jr. March, Karaoke, Wild Walls, Laser Tag, Swim Meet, Green With Envy Dance, Super Bowl Party, and a Schweitzer Ski Trip.

Congratulations to the 1997 yearbook staff, led by Dave Roth, editor, and supported by Tad Wisenor, advisor. Natashi 1997 received a first-place award from the American Scholastic Press Association in that organization's annual judging.

Athletics

Today is either January 9 or 10; I'm not sure whether I've crossed the dateline yet.Whatever day it is, we have athletics events this weekend, so Assistant Director of Publications Terry Mitchell is going to do the section on sports when I sent this to her for edits. Thanks, Terry. Speaking of edits, I won't be doing any on this and therefore I wash my hands of anything objectionable. When I get to Nagoya, Japan, I'll send this back to campus by e-mail, and I'm done.

The Pirate basketball teams went four-for-four in the Fieldhouse this weekend, with the women scoring 97, their second-highest point total ever, against Pacific University on Friday night, beating the Boxers by 24. Sophomores Star Olson and Emily Stuenkel came up big: Olson scored 25 and Stuenkel had 14 points and 11 assists. On Saturday, the women came back from a 15-point second-half deficit to beat Linfield 64-60, with freshman Jamiew Wakefield scoring 18. The women, who've won three in a row, are now 3-1 and tied for first in the conference, with a 4-6 record overall. This weekend their off to Portland and Tacoma to take on the Pioneers of Lewis and Clark and the Lutes of PLU. The Bucs are looking good.

Men's basketball also had a great weekend, welcoming senior Ben Heimerman back to the squad for his last semester of eligibility. Heimerman warmed to the welcome, tallying 12 points and seven boards (in just 14 minutes) in Friday's 78-63 victory over a very physical Pacific team and scoring 17 (with another seven rebounds) against Linfield on Saturday night. The Bucs were down five points at the half in the Pacific game, by they came back to outscore the Boxers by 20 after the intermission. Jeff Mix took a beating under the boards, but scored 17 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. The next night, against Linfield, Jeff had another great game, with 15 points and 10 boards. The men's home win streak now stands at 36; the Pirates are 3-1 and tied for first in the conference, and their overall record is 7-3. This weekend they embark on their toughest road trip of the season, taking on Lewis and Clark and Pacific Luteran. Go Bucs!

The nationally ranked swim teams finished up their Christmas vacation training trip by competing at UC Santa Cruz against UCSC and Seattle University. The Pirates, who averaged 12,000-16,000 yards per day during training, competed well against UCSC and SU, with freshman Brian Rice (this week's NCIC Men's Swimmer of the Week) and juniors Alison Eckenroad and Jeremiah Pappe winning two individual events each. This weekend, both Buc teams lost on the road to Linfield, and both won at Lewis and Clark. Sophomore Mindy Galbraith had an awesome weekend for the Bucs, winning the 200 and 500 freestyles against Linfield, and the 1,000 freestyle -- in 10:41.81, a new school record by nine seconds --against Lewis and Clark. Whoa!

Miscellaneous

Core 650 is back! On Saturday, Feb. 28, Associate Professor of Religion Jerry Sittser and Associate Professor of History Dale Soden are headed to Los Angeles to offer two excellent presentations/discussions. The program will begin at 2 p.m. at Brentwood Presbyterian Church (12000 San Vincente Blvd.), and two topics will be "Reflections on Whitworth: Christian Higher Education and the Evangelical Tradition," and a look at pop culture titled "From St. Paul to Paul McCartney." The program will include a dessert between sessions and will conclude by 5:30 p.m. There will be a charge of $10 per person to defray the cost of the event. Both Jerry and Dale are wonderful teacher/scholars whom I know you would enjoy.

Dates to Remember

Closing Thoughts

It's taken me at least 3,000 miles to write this newsletter. I'm a slow writer, a slow typer, and I've been distracted by that sure-to-become-a-classic movie, George of the Jungle. But the other reason it's taken me so long to write this is that I've had several chats with the man in the seat next to me. He, too, is a college administrator, having been a faculty member for many years at Harvard and Southern Methodist University. As we talked about career, I found myself holding forth about the fufillment I draw form the great mission and people of Whitworth College. I am most thankful to God for sustaining our school and for allowing me to be a part of its work. And I am thankful to you for supporting us through another year in which the hearts and minds of our students have been abundantly enriched. Have a great 1998, and may God be with you.