Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: March 1999

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

I have my head in the clouds again. The good news is that one of my United Airlines friends made a last-minute move and slid me from coach to first class. The bad news is the guy snoring next to me is making more noise than a jackhammer. I'd flip him over onto his stomach, but his back might not bend in that direction. I'm on my way to Cleveland, a fine city not at all deserving of the tag "the mistake by the lake," where the presidents of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities (headed by Whitworthian Duncan Ferguson) are meeting at the College of Wooster. College presidents are an interesting breed. We turn into bragging machines in each other's presence. Sometimes I'm tempted to lead with, "I already know that your school is better than my school, that you're a better president than I am, and that your dad could whip my dad, so let's talk about the weather." They probably feel the same way about me. Well, speaking of bragging, buckle your seat belts, because I have a full load of it for you in this month's letter. I hope this Mind and Heart finds you doing well. It has been great to see all of you alumni lately. To those of you in Portland, I got lost in Raleigh Hills and went back to the hotel. Alas.

Academics

This year's Simpson-Duvall Lecturer, author and Pollock Professor of Humanities at the University of Washington Charles Johnson, brought a penetrating, articulate and wonderfully researched understanding of Martin Luther King, Jr., to a full chapel in February. Although I had a date with our 15-year-old that conflicted with the lecture, I did attend Johnson's fascinating question-and-answer session with students and faculty. We talked mostly about the research behind his latest book, Dreamer, a historical novel on the last two years of King's life. Johnson is also the author of the national award-winning Middle Passage.

Political Science Professor Julia Stronks reports that a new "civil society internship" is providing rich opportunities for our students to learn first-hand how democracy functions. We currently have groups of students working with Spokane Mayor John Talbott; the World Relief Organization, which is doing refugee resettlement and government advocacy work; the international trade division of the Chamber of Commerce; the Spokane Public Defender's Office; and the new Center for Justice, which advocates on behalf of those with limited access to the legal system. Julia says she's amazed at the quality of the projects that our students have been assigned, and she's equally pleased at the ways in which the Spokane community is getting to know Whitworth students.

In the '90s, Whitworth College jazz and the Chicago Bulls (my hometown team) have absolutely dominated their respective fields, and Whitworth's musicians just keep on winning. Recently, the Dan Keberle-directed jazz ensemble, competing against some much larger university programs, won first place for the third year in a row at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Also taking first-place honors were the Whitworth Jazz Choir, directed by John Walk; the Whitworth Jazz Combo; Ryan ("Good Genes") Keberle, solo trombone; Kevin Woods, solo trumpet; Bryan Swenland, best jazz band drummer; and Eric Gruber, best jazz band bassist. Congratulations to a great group of students under excellent direction. It makes us feel good to have the pros confirm what we've believed for quite awhile: Whitworth has one of the finest music programs in the West.

If you would like to hear Whitworth jazz in person, why not join the ensemble on tour this fall? The jazz band has been invited to play at the inaugural Shanghai Jazz Festival from October 5-14. Director Dan Keberle has opened the trip to anyone who would like to accompany the band and spend 10 days in Shanghai and Beijing. Call the Music Department (509-777-3280) for more information.

Don't forget our spring theatre production, J. M. Synge's Playboy of the Western World, directed by Marilyn Langbehn and featuring the popular musical group The Celtic Nots. This Irish comedy, about a self-professed father-killer and the unexpected return of his "victim," should continue Whitworth's string of great theatre productions. Check "Dates to Remember" for details.

Enrollment

March 1 was a good day for both Whitworth College and the Robinson family. That's Whitworth's application deadline, which means that qualified students applying thereafter are admitted only on a space-available basis. And it doesn't look like we're going to have too much space. After lagging a bit early on, our applications are up over 10 percent and deposits are up 53 percent compared to last year. One applicant tried to strengthen his case by claiming that he has no genetic link to his father. Evidently it worked, because this fall he will be joining his very pleased sister, a Whitworth junior, and Bonnie and I will be proud to have our son studying at Whitworth College.

Next weekend, approximately 60 high school seniors from Seattle and 25 from Portland are flying over to Whitworth for an intensive 24-hour look at the college. For the most part, these are admitted students who have not visited Whitworth and are in the throes of making the college decision. It gives us pause to think that lifelong friendships could be initiated during this excursion.

The Financial Aid Office is gearing up for its busiest time of the year. It's their version of "March Madness." They will process more than 1,000 awards for admitted, incoming freshmen considering attending Whitworth this fall. Awards for continuing students will be done in May. Just a reminder: Continuing students need to submit their FAFSA application or renewal to the federal processor by May 1.

Student Life

Career Services is in the middle of Whitworth's annual Career Week. The culmination of this week is a career expo at which more than 80 employers look at students for all kinds of positions. This event is co-sponsored by the five four-year institutions in Eastern Washington, and the week includes an etiquette dinner, wardrobe and fashion tips, a résumé-writing contest, and a special course for male students on how to hoist their pants up into the waist region of their torsos. Diane Thomas does a great job of running Career Services.

The most treasured student activity in March is undoubtedly Spring Break, but many other things are going on as well: Jubilation's Spring Dance Concert featuring hip-hop, jazz, liturgical and ballet styles, to name a few; the International Banquet and entertainment sponsored by the International Club; an ASWC Coffee House featuring Whitworth talent and headlined by mind-reader Craig Karges (who claims he can levitate a table with one hand - no doubt just after he's consumed a jelly donut); the Montana Transport Co., a modern dance group; a three-day ski trip to Canada; the STOP Theatre Troupe, featuring '98 Whitworth alum Kate Hancock (whom we miss this year); and the application and selection of 85 percent of our student leaders.

Resources

We are very grateful to those of you who have joined our Adopt-a-Scholar program.You can't imagine what a difference your $1,500 makes in a student's financial well-being. We still have far more students than scholarships, so if you'd like to adopt a student for the 1999-2000 school year, please call Whitworth Fund Director Dolly Jackson at 509-777-4447. We also want to thank those of you whose generosity continues to keep the Whitworth Fund on target. These gifts are crucial in meeting our operating costs through sources other than tuition. In that regard, I should report that our budget is on target again this year, in no small part because of your faithful support.

The new HUB is fabulous, and I love the food. At home I refer to our dining commons as "Chez HUB." By the way, if any of you did not get a chance to immortalize your name for all of human history on one of the hallowed HUB walls, we're giving you one last chance. A donation of $100, $500 or $1,000 gets you an inscription on one of the remaining blank bricks. Call Whitworth Fund Assistant Director Rachelle Kert at 509-777-4769 or e-mail her at rkert@whitworth.edu to obtain an order form.

Athletics

I'm still on the road, where it's tough to get sports updates, so I've asked Terry Mitchell to tell you what's up with the Bucs.

Our fine swimmers are still competing, with four men (Brent Rice, Brian Rice, Ben Swinehart and Alan Waller) and one woman (Alison Eckenroad) representing Whitworth at nationals. The Bucs were awesome at the NWC championship event; Erin Kay was named "Swimmer of the Meet" for the women and Brent Rice received the same award for the men. Our great head coach, Tom Dodd, was named 1998-99 NWC Coach of the Year for both men's and women's teams - something no one else has been able to do since 1991.

Men's hoops had to say goodbye to some great Buc players, all of whom will be graduating this spring: Greg Jones, Julian Nakanishi, Tyler Jordan, Phil Reube l and Doug Schultz have given their all, and their efforts have helped to keep the Bucs at or near the top of the NWC. After the guys endured a tough losing streak early in the season, Head Coach Warren Friedrichs' team came storming back to finish third in the conference this year. Now, Warren says, it's time to "reload" for another run at the NWC title.

The women's basketball team will lose just one player to graduation, but she will be sorely missed. Katie Werner, whose leadership, enthusiasm and sense of humor have been as important to her teammates as her excellent play, will become an alum in May. The women had a fine season, pulling down a fourth-place NWC finish (with a 13-5 record; tough league!) and posting a victory over the Lutes from PLU, who'd have been undefeated in conference if they'd stayed away from the Bucs.

Tennis (women's and men's), baseball and softball have just gotten under way as this month's Mind and Heart goes out. We'll bring you up to date next month on how all our spring teams are doing. If you'd like to attend some of our spring athletics events (our athletes would love to see you there), please call 509-777-3224 for schedule information.

Miscellaneous

In response to questions from some of you, I decided to report on what we're doing to immunize ourselves against the Y2K bug. Through the Y2K task force chaired by Director of Administrative Computing Jackie Miller, our faculty and staff have been evaluating potential problem areas. I should begin by saying that no one seems to know for certain whether we're looking at a blip or an apocalypse, but below are some of the precautions we're taking:

• We'll start Jan Term classes on Monday, Jan. 10 next year, making up the time by adding 30 minutes of class time each day. This delay will give us a little more margin in case we need it on campus, and it will also give our faculty who are leading off-campus and study-abroad programs time to make any adjustments after Jan. 1.
• This spring, contractors will install a generator for our main water well, assuring us of an uninterrupted supply of water to the campus. We have also been following the preparations suggested by Avista, our source of electrical power, and we believe that we are prepared to handle a major power disruption through their system.
• During Christmas Break we tested all campus systems and learned where we need to make some changes; overall, it looks as if we're in pretty good shape.
• We have sent out Y2K compliance questionnaires to all the vendors upon whom we depend. Our judgment is that at this point we're doing well with what we can control.

Director of Human Resources Alice Kellar and her staff have been working diligently and skillfully on a comprehensive study of the college's wage and salary administration program. An excellent database and framework have emerged that will allow us to make decisions about our compensation systems and to set a foundation for future directions. Too often, colleges have paid more attention to their capital resources than to their human resources. Our general goals for compensation are to be fair; to be competitive; and to be open. We want Whitworth to be Christian in its employment practices and a great place to work for all.

Philip Yancey has agreed to speak at Commencement and Baccalaureate this year. Some of you have probably read books and articles by this wonderfully fresh thinker, who is also one of my favorite writers. It will be great to have him on campus.

Dates to Remember

Closing Thoughts

Well, I made it to Ohio. Now I'm enjoying snow and frigid, blustery weather. We college presidents know how to schedule a meeting. It's probably crowded in all the sunny, hot places. Later this week, Bonnie and I will be joining the Boppells (Karlyn and our excellent board chair, Chuck) for a couple days' pause. Chuck is taking a short breath between CEO jobs, first at La Salsa and now at Sizzler. Bonnie and I will also have a little time alone this week. This is our 25th year of marriage, and I'm hoping to get her to sign up for another 25 or so. As we take this respite, I will be thanking God for a wonderful partner and a great place to live our lives. Thanks to all of you for the ways you have enriched Whitworth College and its many sons and daughters. I hope you are finding Christ's peace in abundance during this Lenten season.