Mind & Heart Newsletter: November 2013
An update from Whitworth University President Beck A. Taylor
It would be easy for Whitworth students to think that changing the world is something that happens after graduation. After all, there are plenty of time-consuming, self-absorbing responsibilities to navigate as a student – classes, exams, athletics, work. That's why I'm consistently amazed at the ways our students dive into opportunities to be of use to others through ministry and service. It's one of the things I love most about this cohort. Perhaps it's because they've grown up being connected to the world through the Internet and social media. Our students today have always been exposed to the needs around them and across the globe in ways other generations haven't. Three years ago, when we were crafting the Whitworth 2021 vision, I met with a group of students over coffee to discuss our goals for service-learning – curricular and co-curricular activities that allow students to use their newfound skills to serve organizations and people in need. I boldly voiced a goal of wanting at least 75 percent of our students to have meaningful service-learning experiences while at Whitworth. I remember the confused look on some of the students' faces after I stopped talking. My immediate thought was that they were wondering how in the world three-quarters of them could fit yet another requirement into their busy lives. Finally, after an awkward silence, a student responded, clearly speaking for all of the others. He said, "Why wouldn't we want 100 percent of Whitworth's students to have those experiences?" The group went on to explain to me, the president, that living faithfully into Whitworth's mission requires students to see others as more important than themselves. And what better way to demonstrate that virtue than to roll up their sleeves and get to work? Our 2021 goal for service-learning is 100 percent, because that's where our students expect it to be. Once again, they lead the way.
Academics
Thom Caraway (English) was recently named Spokane's first poet laureate. Thom is the author of A Visitor's Guide to North Dakota: Poems. He has won the Thomas McGrath Prize for Poetry twice and is editor-in-chief of Rock & Sling, a literary journal based at Whitworth.
Claudia Dumitrescu (School of Business) co-authored and presented an article on consumers' attitudes and behavior toward nutritionally poor products and their implications for childhood obesity at the Association for Consumer Research North American Conference, in Chicago.
Keith Beebe (Theology) is the author of The McCulloch Examinations of the Cambuslang Revival (1742): Conversion Narratives from the Scottish Evangelical Awakening – A Critical Edition, published jointly by the Scottish History Society and Boydell & Brewer Publishers. Keith is currently preparing to deliver a paper, "George Whitefield in Scotland: Of Friends, Foes and the Evangelical Divide," at the George Whitefield at 300 Conference, which will take place next June at Oxford University.
Tony Clark (History) gave the keynote address, "Unbroken Jade: Matteo Ricci's Advice for Study Abroad," at the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors 2013 annual meeting. He also delivered the closing talk, "Teaching about Catholicism and Religious History in China," at the U.S. Catholic China Bureau's conference.
Kathryn Lee (Political Science) is the author of "'Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth?' The Evangelical Left and Justice," in Contemporary Justice Review 16, no. 3 (2013).
John Yoder (Political Science) wrote a guest opinion piece published in The Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2021755761_johnyoderopedsyria05xml.html.
Our prolific Gordon Jackson (Communication Studies) recently published You've Made Your Bed, Now Go Bounce on It: 800 Quotations about Children, Their Parents and Others Who Care About Them. Some of the proceeds will go to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery in Spokane, a charity that Gordon and Sue Jackson (International Education Center) have supported with their time, energy, and financial resources for many years.
Congratulations to our "new" School of Business (formerly the School of Global Commerce & Management) for selecting a name that fits easily on a business card.
The forensics team began its season with a win at the Lewis & Clark College tournament. The team took first in debate sweepstakes out of 46 schools from 13 states and defeated regional and national rivals including Boise State, Gonzaga, University of Colorado, University of Oregon, and University of Mississippi.
Kathryn Picanco (School of Education) was honored recently with the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted for her work with WAETAG, the education service districts in the state, and the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in developing and facilitating training opportunities for school personnel as the state moves to include gifted education within basic education.
The Arts
The Bryan Oliver Gallery in the Lied Center for the Visual Arts presents Poetics & Public Projection: Layered History – Redrawn Memory, the work of animator and media artist Rose Bond, from Nov. 12-Feb. 7. The opening reception will take place Nov. 12 from 5-6 p.m. in the Lied Center, followed by the artist's lecture at 6 p.m. in Lied Room 102. Bond, who has been honored by the American Film Institute, the Princess Grace Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, has created large-scale, site-specific installations for a number of locations around the world.
Stage II Shorts are coming up Dec. 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. These performances showcase the work of our directing students and performers from across campus. Admission is free!
The Whitworth Wind Symphony will present Tonal Recall on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 3 p.m. in Cowles Auditorium. The concert will feature music by Vaughan Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Paul Hindemith, and others. General admission is $5.
On Oct. 20, Whitworth presented its 17th annual Women Composers, The Untapped Source concert, featuring piano faculty Ivana Cojbasic, Cynthia Munson, Judith Schoepflin and Rachelle Ventura.
Congratulations to Natasha Black, '15, who won this year's MusicFest Northwest Young Artist Award for piano. As the winner, Natasha performed the first movement of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto with the Spokane Symphony at the Young Artist Concert. This is the highest honor given at MusicFest Northwest, the largest music competition in the Northwest.
Our choir, women's choir, men's chorus, chamber singers, instrumentalists and narrators are preparing for Whitworth's Christmas Festival Concerts, which will feature more than 120 student performers. Performances will take place at First Pres Seattle (Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 8, 2 p.m.) and at Spokane's Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox (Dec. 14, 8 p.m.; Dec. 15, 3 p.m.). General admission is $18; admission for students and seniors 62-plus is $15, through http://www.whitworth.edu/musictickets/ or http://www.ticketswest.com/, 800.325.7328.
Student Life
Homecoming kicked off the month with the theme Pirates of the Caribbean. Dorms competed against each other in "beach" games and making pirate flags as well as with a pirate-wear fashion show (eyepatches optional). Students danced the night away at The Service Station the Friday before the football game, and Saturday night they were treated to a concert by Noah Gunderson. October ended with the annual Warren Hall Monster Mash and Mac Hall Haunted House – and, of course, ASWU showed Hocus Pocus and handed out free candy to all.
Our newly opened U-Rec is a hit! Approximately 18,000 students, faculty/staff and their dependents have scanned their cards at the electronic turnstiles since the building opened in September. The U-Rec also employs more than 50 students and is planning activities for this year that include faculty/staff family hours, community-wide incentive programs, outdoor recreation trips, group fitness instruction, and climbing-wall competitions. Drop by to tour this great new facility!
Alumni & Parents
Celebrate the Portland alumni & parent chapter launch Nov. 15. Whitworth alumni, family and friends in the Portland area are invited to our chapter launch from 6:30-9 p.m. at Ringlers Pub. Enjoy appetizers, connect with Whitworthians, hear an update on the university from Forrest Baird (Philosophy), and meet Dale Hammond, ’98 (Alumni & Parent Relations). Advance registration is $5; tickets are $8 at the door. Register online, or contact Danika Heatherly, ’10, at 509.777.4761 or dheatherly@whitworth.edu.
Join your alumni & parent chapter today. Whitworth alumni and parents are invited to gather in areas across the West to socialize, stay connected with Whitworth, develop professional networks and share the Whitworth story with prospective students. Join a chapter in Portland, Seattle or Los Angeles by visiting www.whitworth.edu/chapter, or inquire about helping launch a chapter in your area by contacting Danika Heatherly at the phone/e-mail address above.
Parents and families, order forms for our annual Final-Exam Survival Kits will arrive soon. Students love getting goodies from their loved ones, and the office of alumni & parent relations is taking orders for Finals Week treats until Nov. 18. The cost is $25 for a fresh-fruit bag and $20 for a snack kit. To order online, visit www.whitworth.edu/finalexamkit. Kits will be delivered Dec. 5.
C.S. Lewis Experience Core 650 trip spaces are still available. Experience Belfast, Ireland, and additional sites in England next June with Forrest Baird (Philosophy) and his son, Soren, ’07. All of the details of this incredible tour are available at www.whitworth.edu/lewis2014.
Admissions
Our Nov. 30 early action (non-binding) application deadline is just around the corner. Students who are admitted through this program can submit their enrollment deposit (www.whitworth.edu/apply) to get priority status for housing selection and class registration. Deposits are fully refundable through May 1, so it's a no-lose proposition. Our regular application deadline is March 1.
If you're on Twitter and want to stay up on news of interest to prospective students, follow @gotowhitworth. One of our great master-in-teaching students, Kyle Darbonne, is our main tweeter. Prospective freshmen also are encouraged to join the Whitworth Class of '18 Facebook group; it's a great way to connect with other "prospectives" as well as with current students.
Resources
As we get close to Thanksgiving, it’s easy to be grateful. And as the leaves change color and create their special fall beauty, I think of how thankful I am for this university. Many of you support Whitworth because you’re thankful for its mission and impact. And we appreciate the support you provide to keep Whitworth strong. Each November we attach an envelope to this newsletter (for those of you who receive it in the mail) in the hope that you’ll contribute to The Whitworth Fund, which supports student aid and other institutional needs. Thanks for considering this gift, which will be much-appreciated and well-used.
As we enter the holidays, we also kick off a year-end campaign especially for Whitworth graduates and parents. If we receive gifts from 2,021 alumni by Dec. 20, two of our terrific trustees have promised to provide an additional match of $50,000. Your participation is just one way in which you can show how much you appreciate the unique education Whitworth has given you or your student; participation allows Whitworth to offer that education to current and future students. You can use the attached envelope, or visit our website and give online at www.whitworth.edu/give. Thanks so much!
Sports
Pirate Night 2013 at the Spokane Convention Center was a huge success. Nearly 300 attendees heard Whitworth football alum Steve Wilson, '77, speak about his experiences as an NFL official. Former hoopster Camille Booker, '04, coordinated the verbal auction. We'll have final totals next time.
The football team halted a losing skid with a 33-14 win at Puget Sound. DE Aaron Cochran, '14, is having a stellar final year; he currently leads the Northwest Conference in tackles for loss.
The volleyball team has made a habit of extended matches this season. Eleven of the team's 24 matches have gone the maximum of five sets, and the Bucs are currently 13-11 overall and 7-5 within the NWC. Jalana White, '14, leads the NWC in total kills and ranks second in kills per set.
Men's soccer is looking good. The Pirates have won five straight matches to improve to 10-3-2 overall and 7-2-1 in the NWC. Whitworth has outscored its opponents 15-2 during the five-game winning streak. Sam Selisch, '14, leads the squad with eight goals this year.
Women's soccer (6-7-4) has been bitten hard by the injury bug. The Pirates have been down to 14 healthy players (from a roster of 26) for the last half of the season. Jami Hegg, '14, provides leadership on the defensive line and has scored three goals.
Both the men's and women's golf teams finished fourth at the NWC Fall Classic. Oliver Rudnicki, '16, finished eighth in the men's individual standings. Michal Schuster, '17, finished 10th in the women's standings.
I had the privilege of watching the cross country teams host the 2013 NWC Championships at Downriver Golf Course last weekend. Amanda Blankenship, '16, led a trio of Pirates who posted top-10 finishes in the women's 6k run. The women finished second and the men finished sixth, led by Taylor Steele, '15, who was 15th in the 8K. Willamette won both the men's and women's titles.
Closing Thoughts
I recently read Jeremy Affeldt's book, To Stir A Movement: Life, Justice, and Major League Baseball. Affeldt is a Spokane native and a two-time World Series champion relief pitcher with the San Francisco Giants. He also founded a nonprofit called Generation Alive, whose mission, among other things, is to feed the hungry around the world. In the closing chapter of his book, Affeldt dreams of a day when his organization might host an event at which one million meals are packed to feed people in need. Perhaps it was our students' voices still ringing in my ears (see intro) that caused me to think, "Whitworth can do this!" I called Affeldt and asked him if I could see whether Whitworth's student government was interested in attempting something this huge. He was thrilled. I was even more thrilled when Whitworth's student body proclaimed the million-meal challenge as something they want to accomplish in May 2014. This project will require literally hundreds of volunteers and hours of planning, not to mention raising $250,000. With our students' commitment, Affeldt's dream is becoming a reality. Whitworth students are changing the world...right before our eyes.
