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President Emeritus Bill Robinson

  1. Whitworth University
  2. President Emeritus Bill Robinson
  3. Of Mind & Heart Newsletter
  4. January 2008

Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: January 2008

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

Happy new year! I hope yours began with people you love. Ours did. Bonnie and I welcomed 2008 standing on a Mexican beach with our family. For many of our students, Jan. 1 served as their final down day before Jan Term carried them to foreign soils. I was reminded in Mexico that the foundation of intercultural understanding is learning what we don't know. International travel dramatizes that point, sometimes painfully. I am kind of a first-generation know-it-all. Drop me into any situation and watch how fast I start to explain it. But I get stupid in a hurry when immersed in the language and actions of other cultures. I am humbled by my ignorance, and that's a great place to begin the learning process. When our son was on the 2002 Central America study program he ran into a little language problem when he tried to tell his Spanish tutor he was sweaty, but told her instead that he was horny. You've got to believe that a) he was humbled, and b) he was a little more inspired to learn his Spanish. None of us can lay claim to a tabula rasa. But I hope this Jan Term is one in which humility -- forced or chosen -- will erase the biases written on our students' social and intellectual tablets. We carry so many assumptions that interfere with new ideas. Humility creates open spaces for learning while stimulating inquisitiveness. It's also godly. As I write this on the morning of Epiphany, I am reminded of what stunning humility the wise men found when they visited their King. May the critical year of 2008 be one in which a spirit of humility prompts humanity to learn rather than fight.

Academics

The Jan Term docket is full. Course topics include...

  • reconciliation, with Ron Pyle (Communication Studies), Andi Saccoccio (Theology) and John Yoder (Political Science), in South Africa;
  • language and culture, with new faculty member Lindy Scott (Spanish), in Guanajuato, Mexico;
  • British culture through the arts, with Debbie Hansen (Music) and Rick Hornor, '70 (Theatre), in London;
  • jazz, as the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble travels with Dan Keberle (Music) to Rome and Venice;
  • computing, with Susan Mabry (Computer Science), in the technological hotbeds of Ireland and Wales;
  • religion, peace and conflict in Northern Ireland, with Jim Waller (Psychology);
  • a Core 250 study of western civilization from southern to northern Europe, with Forrest Baird (Philosophy);
  • English and business in an interdisciplinary program, with Pamela Parker, '81 (English), and Craig Hinnenkamp (Business), in Thailand;
  • geology, with Tom Hillman (Physics), on the big island of Hawaii;
  • Christian spirituality, with Jerry Sittser (Theology), at Washington's Tall Timber Retreat Center;
  • multicultural teacher education, with School of Education faculty, in a number of places including the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, India, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand;
  • French language and culture, with soon-to-retire Carol Smucker (French), in Guadeloupe.

This year is also one in which the acclaimed semester-long Central America study program takes place. Students will study in several countries, led by Karla Morgan (Economics), Kim Hernandez (Spanish), Michael Le Roy, '89 (Academic Affairs), and Jim Hunt (History). At the program's recent 25-year anniversary celebration, it was amazing to hear how many students' lives and careers were put on course by this experience. We even have a wonderful student enrolled right now who was "found" by an alum who went back after commencement to work in Central America.

And speaking of Spanish (not to be confused with speaking in Spanish, which I was attempting a few days ago), Angeles Aller was invited to join a statewide panel on the teaching of foreign languages in public schools, and Dinorah Scott is working on a language-research project in which she is her own subject. Angeles and Dinorah are faculty members in the Whitworth Modern Language Department. Dinorah's topic is language acquisition and the interference/assistance of other languages such as Portuguese and Spanish in learning French. She will present her research next summer at Calvin College.

We just learned of a School of Global Commerce & Management alum whose academic prowess will now result in her speaking Spanish. Sharon Sprott, '07 MIM, presented her final thesis on sustainable mining-company management at this year's Northwest Mining Association's Annual Conference. As a result, she received an offer to join the business-development team for Hecla Mining, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. Her first assignment will be in Mexico.

Continuing with the language theme, the art exhibit Sticks and Stones will run from Jan. 7 to Feb. 1. Meagan Stirling, '02, and Jonathan Chamberlain present a collaborative installation that explores the creation and destruction of language and the effect context has in the interpretation of words.

Enrollment

The 2008-09 FAFSA website is now available for students to renew their need-based financial aid. Families can file the electronic pre-filled FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Deadline for students wanting financial aid for 2008-09 is May 1. For students who wish to apply for summer work-study, the deadline is March 1. Students planning to attend summer school should contact the Whitworth Financial Aid Office (509.777.3215/800.533.4668/www.whitworth.edu/financialaid) as soon as possible to discuss their plans. Students who receive only academic scholarships do not need to file the FAFSA.

In late January, we will be mailing Federal Form 1098-T to verify full- and part-time enrollment. This form is used to support eligibility for the Hope or lifetime-learning tax credit. Please consult your tax advisor or go to the IRS website, www.irs.gov, for more information on available educational tax credits. You can also use the Worksheet for Reporting Scholarships/Grants on Federal 2007 Tax Return, found on the financial aid office's Forms webpage at www.whitworth.edu/financialaid/forms, to determine if any of the aid you or your child received in 2007 is taxable.

Student Life

The modular rhythm of Jan Term, plus relentless snowfall at nine nearby ski resorts, promises a very enjoyable month to students studying on campus. Sometimes we think today's multi-tasking student functions as a small city's worth of simultaneous activity. While one hand writes, the other hand text-messages, the eyes study a computer screen, and the mouth sings a song that is different than the one the ears monitor on the iPod. But not every student has a server for a brain. Some students just love immersing themselves in a single activity or subject. Students often report Jan Term as an opportunity to go deep. So this is going to be a really good month, especially for the taskers who aren't particularly multi.

If it is more blessed to give than to receive, imagine how blessed it is both to give and to receive. Some of our students are about to find out. Whitworth was chosen as one of five institutions nationwide to participate in a student-run philanthropy program. Administered by the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund and Campus Compact, the "Students4Giving" program will educate students in the process of grant evaluation and philanthropic funding. The program will provide $15,000 in donor-advised funds for a student-run philanthropy project aimed at recommending grants to nonprofit organizations serving Spokane's West Central neighborhood. It will be administered through our existing Bonner Leaders Program.

ASWU president Scott Donnell reports, "Christmas was a much-needed break after a tough semester.... Now we're back for Jan Term (well, most of us are). If we're not traveling to distant lands to learn about apartheid in Africa or to study Michelangelo's David, we are back at Whitworth taking a class -- and skiing, or doing Pilates or some other activity course. This is a great time to relax with friends and to focus in on one specific area of study. I'll be a Jan Term monk at Tall Timber, studying Christian spirituality. I'd tell you about it, but media contact is not allowed."

Resources

Thanks to all of you who made a calendar-year-end gift. You are great. I make it a practice of looking at every entry in the gift reports. Some of your names I have seen so often over 15 years that I know where you live, even though we haven't met. I often see the names of young alumni, many of which make me smile. In December's list, the name of my dentist from 30 years ago appeared. When I was a poor grad-school student, he financed my teeth. Different names provoke different thoughts, but I am always filled with gratitude. Whitworth's caring and productive faculty, its high-achieving students and its beautiful campus have given it a reputation as one of the finest schools in the Northwest. But if in the next few years we receive gifts that enable the construction of expanded science and performing-arts facilities, we will secure our place as one of the top faith-based small universities in the country. Your generosity has made us believe that our dreams are possible. Thank you!

We received an extraordinarily generous gift of $150,000 from the Funding Initiative for Spiritual Health Foundation. The person who funds this foundation has a remarkable commitment to serve God with her resources. She has formed a triumvirate of women to evaluate projects and administer grants. The woman who runs the foundation is a very gifted Presbyterian minister whom Bonnie and I have long admired. The Whitworth grant will be used to help support Act Six scholars, activities of the Whitworth Center for Service-Learning, and the East Africa initiative. We are so grateful!

Our oldest friend and donor, Louis Livingston, recently passed away -- at age 107! Lou established his first planned gift with The Whitworth Foundation in 1979. His generous spirit and never-ending sense of humor blessed us all, and his legacy will have a significant impact on building the library endowment. Lou was legendary in the Spokane community and is a wonderful role model for a life well lived. Imagine: Lou could have fought in World War I.

Thanks in part to the extension of the Pension Protection Act, we had three donors establish new endowments that will use their IRA funds. Two of these endowments (one at $25,000 and one at $100,000) were established to support science research; the third ($50,000) is for scholarships for international students or theology majors.

Athletics

The women's basketball team completed its non-conference schedule with a 5-4 record. Sophomore Natalie Orrell is the Pirates' leading scorer, averaging 13.6 points per game. Junior Tiffany Corigliano is the leading rebounder, and last year's leading scorer, Alida Bower, is coming off an injury to provide offense and leadership. The Bucs finished out 2007 with a split in Montana, falling at Montana Tech before winning at Great Falls.

In men's basketball, Whitworth is 6-2 heading into the 2008 Northwest Conference schedule. The Pirates went to Staten Island, N.Y., at the end of December and defeated Richard Stockton College (N.J.) before falling to Bridgewater State (Mass.) in the championship of the CSI Tournament of Heroes. Freshman David Riley averages 15.5 points per game, and senior Ryan Symes contributes 15.3 ppg.

The swim teams are training in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and will soon compete in a meet hosted by California Lutheran University. During the trip, the team averages between 12,000 and 16,000 exhausting yards per day. Coach Steve Schadt, '96, uses this trip to build a muscular and cardiovascular foundation for the pre-conference tapering period when his swimmers rebuild their strength. My college athletics career was built on the philosophy of "If tapering is ever good, it's always good." I pretty much tapered my way to the end of the bench, but when I got into the game my superior resting paid off.

Last month I reported that Sean Bushéy was selected as the NWC Coach of the Yearfor both men's and women's soccer. (It's rare that anyone receives COTY recognition for both men's and women's teams.) We just learned that he has also been named the 2007 West Region Women's Soccer Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Congratulations, Sean!

Alumni

Alumni can enjoy free home Pirate basketball from Jan. 11 to Feb. 2. On Jan. 26, we will hold our annual Alumni Night at the Fieldhouse (free admission, snacks, and door prizes); the Bucs will take on George Fox University at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Other home games (Jan. 11, 12 and 27, and Feb. 1 and 2) are also free to alumni and their families. Start times and matchups are available at www.whitworth.edu/athletics.

Miscellaneous

Feb. 5-16 is Heritage "Week," which features our annual celebration of Founder's Day during Spring Convocation. That's a long week. There are too many events to list here, but the complete schedule is available at www.whitworth.edu/heritageweek. One highlight will be the awarding of honorary degrees to Bob Mitchell (former president of Young Life and former vice president of World Vision) and Darrell Guder (former Whitworth academic dean and current dean of Princeton Theological Seminary). Both are great churchmen and gifted speakers who will present public talks during their time on campus. They are also great friends of Whitworth and personal friends to so many of us.

Closing Thoughts

Without question, 2008 will go down as a pivotal year in the world, in our nation and our region, and at Whitworth. The international activities and image of the United States will turn on the presidential elections. College campuses will whirl with opinions. Political science students will find themselves in a national laboratory. Student campaign workers will make "doorbell" a verb. Uncertainty about the economy, oil and the dollar will contribute to the stock market's volatility, at just about the time the first wave of baby boomers hits the retirement beach. It could be wild. On the Whitworth front, this year we will make big decisions about our next strategic plan. What path should we take to strengthen and advance our mission? How aggressive should we be? It's all kind of crazy, and we could sure use a clear word from God. Yesterday I walked across the street to attend the funeral of dear Betty Stratton, '49, saint Betty Stratton, strong Betty Stratton. I learned that in her final days, Psalm 25 grew in her heart: Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are of old. That's our prayer. God's grace and the company of friends who stand with us will provide our best and only hope for enabling Whitworth to reach new heights in serving our students.