Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: October 1999
An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson
I can't imagine a more beautiful autumn than the one Whitworth is enjoying right now. Since the start of classes, there have been hardly any exceptions to the pattern of warm, sunny days and cool nights. The campus has looked spectacular, with three notable exceptions. First, the absence of rain and the daily ultimate Frisbee matches have victimized grass in the center of the Loop. Second, Jack Frost finally claimed the flowers adorning the campus entrance. Third, a 40-foot inflatable gorilla moved into my front yard to herald a significant birthday of mine. It's comforting to know that the green grass and the flowers will return in the spring, but the monkey is gone for at least another 10 years, and has been returned to the edge of Interstate 90 with a stupid "Rent Me" sign tacked on its chest. All in all, we're off to a great start. We feel the presence of Christ the Good Shepherd keeping watch over each of us. I hope you too are feeling a warm sun on your souls.
Academics
"What are the moral dimensions of this decision?" Few would disagree that this question has been missing from much of late-20th-century decision-making. Later this month, Faculty Development Day will host Professor Deni Elliott, a nationally known expert on ethics, who will help our faculty consider how they can teach ethics across the curriculum. As our Writing Across the Curriculum program has helped students become strong writers, we want to equip them to become moral and ethical decision-makers.
One of our faculty's favorite gathering times is the monthly Faculty Scholarship Forum.These presentations allow faculty members the chance to share their scholarly activities with their colleagues and the campus community. Intellectual stimulation and rich fellowship fill the hour. Of course there is also food, compliments of Dave and Carol Myers. Dave is a Whitworth trustee and alum as well as a prolific scholar and professor of psychology at Hope College. Dave is committed to faculty scholarship, and by funding these lunches he puts his money where our mouths are. In this fall's first presentation, Education Professor Greg Fritzberg discussed his recently published book, In the Shadow of Excellence: Recovering a Vision of Educational Opportunity for All.
Physics Professor Richard Stevens had a smile on his face the other day. He received a grant from the International Society for Optical Engineering to buy a high-quality laser system. The equipment will be used in physics and chemistry courses and for student research.
I mentioned last year that we are doing a comprehensive review of our general education curriculum. Earlier this week the faculty approved overwhelmingly a new set of educational principles. Now a task force will take these principles and explore the ways in which they should shape our general education program. The members of this new task force will spend this academic year studying the top programs around the country, and then in 2000-2001 they'll work on the specific proposals to update and modify our own curriculum.
If you care at all about great jazz, spoil yourself. Tickets are now on sale for our annual fall jazz concert, coming up Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. in Cowles Auditorium. Performing with the award-winning Whitworth College Jazz Band (winner of the past three Lionel Hampton Jazz Festivals!) will be Yellowjackets saxophonist Bob Mintzer, an eleven-time Grammy award nominee. This guy swings hard. Don't miss this.
I hope we'll also see you at the Whitworth Wind Ensemble concert, "Dances with Desi," on Nov. 21. Director Rich Strauch promises hot Latin rhythms amid the ensemble's usual great blend of musical styles.
Senior vocal performance major Andrea Frey has been selected to sing at the Dale Moore Master Class Series at Boise State University this month. Moore, who is recognized as one of the best voice teachers in the United States, is currently on the faculty at the Eastman School in Rochester, New York. He is also the teacher of Heather Steckler, '96.
Kudos to Music Professor Michael Young, who was honored at the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers, held in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 25. Mike's work was selected for performance at the CFAMC's annual national meeting. His composition, Five Liturgical Portraits, was one of many entries from Christian composers around the nation. Two of the five sections were chosen: Crucifixion and Easter.
Student Life
Homecoming was great - lots of fun and lots of victories, as clear weather and enthusiastic students welcomed alumni back to campus. Wild, Wild West was the theme for the week, which began with a dinner and karaoke night (pure torture). Tuesday was Community Building Day, with more than 400 students going throughout Spokane working on various service sites (the local media covered one of the projects where our students worked). Wednesday night featured a movie and an old-West root beer saloon. Thursday was Dorm Decorating Night, with BJ winning the competition easily. They simulated a barn, which meant they didn't really have to change anything. On Friday night students held a bonfire, complete with s'mores. The week ended Saturday night with the big Homecoming Dance.
Parents, we look forward to having you on campus for Parents' Weekend. You'd be amazed at how excited your students are about having you visit. They glow when I ask them if you're coming. You'd also be amazed at how excited the local merchants are about having you visit. They love you. If you can't make it, don't worry. There's a lot of short-term adopting that goes on over the weekend. Odd as this may sound, I've found that students feel good if you visit, but they don't really feel bad if you don't. They understand. Maybe it's maturity. Nah.
Resources
Later this month we'll launch the public phase of a very significant comprehensive campaign. We've announced the specifics to our faculty and staff, and by the time you get this most of you will already have heard from us. The goal of this Faith in the Future Campaign is to strengthen our academic resources, and our goals include a new academic building. We'd be honored if you find you are able to support Whitworth in this venture. Also, it would be a huge help if you would let us know about folks who would be willing to support our mission, but who are currently unknown to us. I must say, people have a tendency to get poor in a hurry when they see me coming, so it would help if you put in a good word for us.
We've received several great gifts and pledges this fall, but we will report them in our campaign communications rather than here. One of the challenges of any special campaign is to protect the very important annual fund, which we call The Whitworth Fund. To that end, Assistant Director of The Whitworth Fund Rachelle Kert, '94, has hired 28 student Phonathoners who began on Sept. 19 and are now in their third week of calling. We are on target to achieve our $200,000 goal; so far you've pledged $67,000. Thank you! Student managers Brett Lau and Julia Colgan are doing a great job of leading these students, who love chatting with you about Whitworth. They have been excited to see more new donors involved with the college through our Phonathon trustee challenge grant. Any first-time gift made through the Phonathon will be matched dollar-for-dollar by an anonymous trustee (up to a total of $25,000). Thanks again for your support.
Early this morning, Calvin Hall was transformed into a heap of rubble. You've probably heard about the WSU'er who quipped that a tornado went through the UW campus and did millions of dollars of improvements. (Personally, I love the UW campus.) Well, there would be no joke value if the story were told about Calvin. But it's gone. People who believe in Whitworth are helping us raise the quality of our physical plant so that it will be worthy of our academics, and Calvin Hall has served many people well, but its departure is overdue. We have totally refurbished Alder Hall to house displaced faculty and staff for the time being.
Athletics
Homecoming was a big success. Our football team (3-1, 1-0 in conference), pounded UPS 45 to 12. Josh Parbon and Ivan Gustafson had an incredible game, with Josh completing 21 of 25 tosses for 384 yards, and Ivan gathering in three touchdown passes. Damian Putney had 157 yards rushing just two weeks after setting a Whitworth record with 303 yards on the ground against Simon Fraser. The defense continued its superb play, giving up only two significant drives and stopping the Loggers on the UPS three-yard line in the fourth quarter. The "thrill of victory" was definitely tempered by a severe ankle break suffered by senior lineman Harry Suzuki - a really good player, a really good person, and a really good leader.
In the next Homecoming game (if you don't count the Powder Puff football game, in which Red Dogs defeated Tatonka, 14-6), our volleyball team bested UPS, coming back from an opening game loss to defeat the Loggers 3-1. Sophomore Kristin Turner had seven kills in a loss to PLU on Friday, then came back and grabbed 10 more in the victory over UPS. The resurgent volleyball Bucs are now just two games out of the conference lead.
The men's soccer team has been on a tear. At 7-3-1, 3-1-1, standing third in conference, the Bucs are having a great year. Homecoming weekend was tough, as the men tied Willamette 0-0 on Saturday (with goalie Doug Lupton making nine saves during the contest) and lost to Linfield 1-0 in overtime on Sunday. Next up for the men: league-leading UPS and always-tough PLU.
The women are also having an excellent season with senior Jen Dunford - "one of the most dangerous players in the conference," according to Head Coach Sean Bushey - leading the way for the women. The Bucs (5-3-2, 3-1-1, 3rd in NWC) went 1-1 last weekend, losing 1-0 to NWC leader Willamette on Saturday and bouncing back 2-0 against Linfield on Sunday. Dunford had two assists in the win, and junior goalie Stacy Roberts earned her sixth shutout of the season.
The cross-country teams have improved enormously this year. They had Homecoming week off, but the week before, the men won the Whitman Invitational, led by Ben Robinson, Eric Brucker and Tod Goslin. And the women finished second, with great races being won by Annie Scott and Julia Lucas. Coach Toby Schwarz is very excited about this team.
Pirate Night was a big success, raising almost $30,000. Thanks to all the donors and buyers. Special thanks to Rick and Diane Thomas, who broke the bank for a dinner prepared by Bonnie and me and a small piano concert performed by Bonnie and not me. Thanks also to Head Swim Coach Tom Dodd, who swiped Assistant Football Coach Chris Casey's bid card to run the price up above $700 before Chris realized what was going on, gasped and lunged for his card.
Alumni
Alumni Director Tad Wisenor did an excellent job taking care of his own Class of '89 and the hundreds of other alumni who returned to campus for a weekend of reunions, athletics and beautiful weather. More than 70 alumni from Tad's class (as well as from the classes of '88 and '90) attended 10-year reunion festivities, coming from as far away as Toronto and Virginia.
On Friday, Oct. 28, the Alumni Office will sponsor a pre-play dessert at 6:45 p.m. before the Theatre Department presents Brighton Beach Memoirs, by Neil Simon, in the auditorium. The $10 price includes reserved seat tickets and a pre-play talk by director Rick Hornor, '70. The following Saturday night, alums can enjoy dessert before the fall jazz concert featuring guest artist Bob Mintzer. Tickets are $15 and include reserved seats. More information will be in the mail to local alumni, or call 509-777-3799 or 800-532-4668.
Attention, Southern Californians! On Saturday night, Oct. 23, we will be in Southern California for a pre-game supper before the Pirates play Azusa Pacific University at 6 p.m. More information will be arriving in your mailbox shortly; call the Alumni Office at 509-777-3799 or 800-532-4668 if you need additional information.
Faith in the Future Kickoff Events
Oct. 22 - 6 p.m. The HUB at Whitworth
Nov. 6 - 7 p.m. The Edgefield Inn, Portland, Ore.
Nov. 7 - 3 p.m. Bell Harbor, Pier 66, Seattle, Wash.
Nov. 13 - 2 p.m. The Lafayette Park Hotel, Lafayette, Calif.
(Note new time.)
Nov. 14 - 4 p.m. The Queen Mary, Long Beach, Calif.
www.whitworthfuture.com goes live Oct. 22! If you can't make one of the regional kickoff events, please log on to Whitworth's new Faith in the Future website. It will premiere in conjunction with the Spokane event and will allow you to get all of the details about this exciting campaign for Whitworth's future.
For some reason, it has taken me all afternoon and half of this evening to write this Mind and Heart. I'm just dry. As I was sitting here stumped I did, however, receive a great e-mail from a '94 grad who's now a fifth-grade teacher. So to close this issue, I decided to share these excerpts from e-mails I've received within the last week:
"My Whitworth experience has proven one of my most valuable assets over the last five years, and I have just come to realize some of the profound impact the people and ideals of that beloved institution have had on me." (That's from the one I just received.)
"The thing I like most about Whitworth, though, is its strong commitment to God. Whitworth openly declares its Godly identity, and that's what I appreciate." (From a member of the Class of 2003.)
"I hope we can continue all aspects of initiation so as not to become overly PC and wussy like the rest of society." (From a freshman responding to my concerns about initiation.)
"The things that I witnessed should not be a part of the Whitworth community. However, I strongly believe there should be initiation at Whitworth - a new, revised version of it." (From a student with a bit different perspective than the one above.)
"I just want to say that I am enjoying Whitworth more than I ever thought possible. I love it here and am glad I have most of four more years left to go. Thank you for the part that you play in making this such an awesome place." (That's from a student whose last sentence expresses exactly how we feel about each of you.)
Milestone
I am deeply saddened to report we've just learned that Washington State Patrol Trooper Jim Saunders, Class of '90, was murdered during a routine traffic stop in Pasco last week. Everyone remembers Jim as one of Whitworth's finest. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim's wife, Billie, who is expecting their second child, and to the couple's two-year-old daughter. This is hard to believe. God help us.
