Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: Summer 2009
An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson
I hope your summer has been great. Ours has. Our family of four couples and a baby vacationed in Italy and Prague. We'll show you the pictures, or you can go directly to www.nothingcouldboreusmore.com. It took Asher, the baby, about 20 minutes to turn us into Pavlov's dogs. Smile – get food. Smile – get picked up. Smile – get new underwear, again. Smile – get entertained watching a grownup act like an idiot. He smiled the whole trip. We did not smile, however, on a day away from the baby at the Terezin concentration camp, outside of Prague. It was very hard to hold back the tears. Our emotions spiked as we stood in the place where humanity crushed humanity, where victims were sustained by heroic acts of faith and resolve, where the ghosts of unspeakable evil still linger. It feels melodramatic to claim this experience as inspiration for Whitworth's mission, but I have thought about it often since our visit. Our community unites around the noble mission to "honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity." But beyond nobility, I hope we grasp the urgency of this mission. So much of our world desperately needs hope and redemption. As we prepare for another year, I am praying that the urgency of our call will keep ringing in our ears. Thank you for your part in educating students to love and serve humanity.
Academics
One of the reasons I'm confident our students will reflect our mission is the way their professors engage tough social issues. For example, two of our political science faculty recently authored op-ed articles about significant world events. Julia Stronks' piece, which appeared on the syndicate PeaceVoice and was picked up by newspapers around the country, addressed the underlying issues in the New Haven firefighters' case that figured prominently in the conversation surrounding Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Patrick Van Inwegen analyzed the prospects of the mass post-election demonstrations in Iran to achieve political reform that hasn't been accomplished through decades of hard-line diplomacy, trade sanctions and military threats. Both op-eds can be accessed at www.whitworth.edu/news.
In response to growing demand from students and from the surrounding community, Whitworth in the Evening will begin offering courses this fall in Spokane's University District. Our first downtown offering is a bachelor's degree in organizational management, as well as general education courses that can be applied to the O.M. degree or to other degrees offered at our main campus. The courses will be structured in an evening/weekend format that caters to working adults. For more information, go to whitworth.edu/downtown.
Our faculty has been active in producing publications this summer:
- The Scottish History Society accepted for publication The McCulloch 'Examinations' of the Cambuslang Revival (1742): A Critical Edition, by Keith Beebe (Theology).
- Gordon Jackson (Communication Studies) has published his fifth book of quotations, The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful.
- The Conservative Resurgence and the Press: The Media's Role in the Rise of the
Right, by Jim McPherson (Communication Studies), is a national finalist for the Frank Luther Mott/Kappa Tau Alpha Research Awardfor the year's best book on journalism and mass communication. - Laurie Lamon, '78, (English) has published Without Wings, her second volume of poetry.
- I (yes, technically I am a faculty member) am republishing Leading People from the Middle: The Universal Mission of Heart and Mind. It should be out by November with iUniverse Press.
Last semester, Mike Ediger (Health Sciences) completed his doctor of health science degree from Nova Southeastern University. Congratulations, Dr. Ediger!
Faculty Research and Development Committee summer research fellows are conducting research in these diverse areas: Alan Mikkelson, '00 (Communication Studies): the reception of social support in individuals who have both full sibling and stepsibling relationships; Pamela Corpron Parker, '81 (English): British literary studies and women's literary history; Pete Tucker, '91 (Computer Science): a general-purpose stream-processing system for Whitworth; Kirk Westre (Kinesiology): teaching health and fitness using the model of servant-leadership.
Faculty Research and Development Committee summer development grants are supporting the following projects: Kerry Breno (Chemistry) is examining water-soluble catalysts central to the development of new green technologies. Scott Kolbo (Art) is creating artworks that continue his explorations of human nature and society, with a focus on life in Spokane's West Central neighborhood. Rich Schatz (Business & Economics) continues his research on economic development in Sarawak, focusing on the rapid growth of Indonesian migrant labor in the agricultural sector. Patrick Van Inwegen (Political Science) is participating in a field seminar in China, sponsored by the Asian Studies Development Program.
At the May Dean's Brunch, these faculty members were recognized by their peers for outstanding teaching: Academic Mentoring Award: Heather Rogers (Business & Economics); Collaborative Teaching Award: Keith Wyma (Philosophy); Dean's Junior Faculty Award: Patrick Van Inwegen (Political Science); Innovative Teaching Award: Brooke Kiener, '99 (Theatre); Contingent Faculty Award: John Hengesh (Economics & Business).
We received a $60,000 grant from the Herbert B. Jones Foundationfor support of the Business Plan Competition that also includes Gonzaga University. Rhosetta Rhodes, '99, (Service-Learning) received a grant from Washington Campus Compact for a dropout-prevention summit. Two students will use Gilman Scholarships to study abroad next fall: Rebecca Schofstoll in China and Pam Anderson in Chile. Four graduating seniors won awards at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association last spring: Amber Kraft, Christina Froese, Nicole Holland and Natalie Ervin won Psi Chi Regional Awards for their fine work.
Both faculty and students are involved in summer undergraduate research. Drew Budner (Chemistry) is working with Devin Merrill, '10, and Emilio Sulpizio, '11, developing Prussian blue modified electrochemical sensors to detect hydrogen peroxide. Susan Mabry (Computer Science) and Betty Williams (Education/Lindaman Chair) are working with Zachary Hunter, '11, and Amy Watts, '10, to develop computer software to aid physicians in the early diagnosis of autism and to continue development of a website to help parents assess treatment options found on the Internet. Sarah Johnson and Cameron Stroyan, both '10, are working with Deanna Ojennus (Chemistry) to identify post-translational modifications and important interactions involved in yeast vacuolar ATPase Assembly. Deanna is collaborating with Finn Pond (Biology), and Michael Harms, '11, and Josiah Ward, '10, to examine the structural characterization of R body proteins. Kamesh Sankaran (Physics) and students Marc Rollins, '12, and Evan Staley, '11, are researching confinement, acceleration and detachment of charged particles in magnetic nozzles for spacecraft propulsion, using a grant from the Washington Space Consortium funded by NASA; Richard Stevens (Physics) is working with Lucas Brower and Robert Aldridge, both '11, to relocate Whitworth's observatory from the Johnston Science Center to the Verbrugge property, north of Spokane, away from the light pollution of the city. Pete Tucker (Computer Science) is working with David Jackson, '11, and Andy Throgmorton, '10, to develop Whitstream, a data-stream management system.
Enrollment
Our fall '09 freshman class of 570 will be the largest entering class in Whitworth's history. It's a good thing we have a new residence hall. Because of this large class, we plan to admit fewer students for fall 2010. If you know high school seniors who are considering Whitworth, urge them to apply early. Many of our best students come to Whitworth through referrals from friends.
Student Life
Whitworth relies very heavily on its student leaders. We hire good students, train them well, give them significant responsibilities, and let them lead. During this year's Orientation Weekend, student leaders will introduce the incoming class to Whitworth traditions. I'm hoping this means I won't be cast as the kind of goofball I have portrayed (brilliantly, of course) for the past 16 orientations. We'll see.
Resources
We have closed the books on Fiscal Year 2008-09. We're very thankful that in the midst of global financial struggles, so many of you continued to include Whitworth in your giving. Our Whitworth Fund totals were lower than we'd budgeted, but we ended the year in the black by limiting spending in other areas. The number of alumni donors also dropped a bit this past year, but signs of life in the economy give us hope that all of you who support us so faithfully will regain your financial footing.
We've crossed the 10 percent mark in funds contributed for the new $30 million-plus biology/chemistry building. At 63,000 square feet, this is the largest and most expensive academic building ever undertaken for Whitworth students. We are encouraged that our original cost estimates have dropped by 20 percent, but we aren't exactly crossing the finish line. I think this is going to be a great year of support and that we will have a big hole in the ground next year at this time. If you're able to help make this important project a reality, please contact the advancement team at 800.532.4668 or development@whitworth.edu.
After 12 years of making extensive contributions to Whitworth's financial well-being, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Kristi Burns is sensing God's call to express her abundant gifts in a different kind of ministry, likely one in which she can be more directly involved in helping people grow in Christ. This is a big loss for Whitworth. More than anyone, Kristi has built the advancement program we have today. Fortunately, her warm influence on the Whitworth community will not be completely lost. She is married to faculty member Jack Burns, a popular and fun-loving professor of leadership studies, who will be less likely now to introduce himself as "Mr. Kristi Burns." Now that I think about it, I take that back; Jack will still claim he's Mr. Kristi.
Athletics
Whitworth's men's track and field teams swept the Team of the Year awards given by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The awards are based on the combination of cumulative team grade point average and national finish. The Pirates carried a team GPA of 3.327 through the spring. Whitworth finished third at the 2009 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships and sixth at the 2009 outdoor championships. In addition, the Whitworth women posted the second-highest team GPA in the country (3.641) in 2009.
Eight Whitworth baseball players are participating in summer developmental leagues. J.R. Jarrell, Mitch Nelson and Marlowe Peter are playing in the Boise Summer League; Ryan Reitmeier and Chris Bartenhagen are participating in the Arizona Collegiate League; and Andrew Durant, Tom Banta and Liam O'Brien are competing in the West Coast League.
Whitworth running back Adam Anderson has been named to the Preseason All-America Second Team by D3football.com. Adam led the nation last year in all-purpose yards and scored a record 25 touchdowns.
Whitworth was proud to host the swimming events of the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games this summer. Fifty swimmers were among about 600 veterans from around the world who competed. It was great to cheer on these extraordinary athletes to whom we owe such an enormous debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
Alumni
We continue to hear from alumni and friends who were touched by legendary Whitworth professors Clem Simpson and Fenton Duvall,both of whom passed away in the past year. These tributes are so warm and inspiring that we've developed a way to share them with the Whitworth community. Simply go to www.whitworth.edu/simpsonduvalland click on the "Share a Memory" button.
On Sept. 12, alumni, parents and friends in the L.A. area are welcome to join us as we watch the Pirates take on the La Verne Leopards in football. Light refreshments will be available at halftime. Kickoff is at 11:30 a.m.
Homecoming, Sept. 24-27, will be a wonderful weekend of celebration as alumni and donors get their first look at Whitworth's new East Residence Hall. All alumni are welcome to join in an ultimate Frisbee tournament that pits current students against alumni teams. We'll celebrate 10-year and 20-year class reunions, and we'll welcome members of the Class of 2004 and members of the early '60s men's tennis teams and the 1960 national champion baseball team for reunion gatherings. Up-to-date information on these and other Homecoming events is available online at www.whitworth.edu/homecoming.
All jazz alumni and fans are invited back to Spokane the weekend of Nov. 6-8 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble guest-artist concerts. Join us for a special performance by composer and alto saxophonist Lee Konitz at Spokane's Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, on Saturday, Nov. 7. See www.whitworth.edu/jazzreunion for info about additional activities that will take place throughout the weekend.
Save the date now, as Kathie Koopmans-Neir, '64, and her team have been working tirelessly to recruit for a mid-'60s reunion the weekend of June 25-27, 2010. The reunion will be held on campus, and if you're interested in singing in the reunion choir, please contact Peggy (Kim) Burrough, '64, at pkburrough@msn.com or 253.922.1642. More to come.
Thanks to current and former parents, alumni, current students and friends of Whitworth, we hit a record high of 25 Summer Send-Offsthis year hosting more than 420 guests, including incoming students and their families. It's great to be able to welcome students in their neck of the woods before the legendary welcome we give at Orientation Weekend.
Whitworth parents are invited to stay In the Loop through our eponymous quarterly online newsletter just for parents. To receive this newsletter, make sure that we have your updated e-mail address. You can send updates to parents@whitworth.edu.
Closing Thoughts
It usually happens suddenly. It hits all of us who work here. And it always involves students. We'll be sulking over the demise of summer when our adrenaline glands erupt. This year it happened at 10 a.m. on July 29. I was in the car. I thought about the Saturday when freshmen arrive. I smiled out loud, if you can do that. Maybe the rush hit me because the night before I ran into two sisters at the Denver airport who arrived on campus as freshmen in the early '90s. They are today what this year's freshmen will be in 2028, and they are flourishing. This is going to be a great year. In a month, we will be unable to conceal the joy of our calling as we welcome another new group of Whitworthians. Sweet.
