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Whitworth President William P. Robinson

Since arriving at Whitworth in 1993, I often have borrowed Jewish theologian Martin Buber's metaphor of the "narrow ridge" to describe the university's position in the higher education landscape.

The ridge offers matchless views and exhilarating challenges, but it is not heavily populated. Off to one side are many fine Christian institutions that have attempted to limit the influence of culture and secular scholarship on their campuses. On the other side are countless institutions, both secular and church-based, that deny any significant role for Christian faith in the pursuit of truth. American society needs the excellent institutions that flank Whitworth, but we believe passionately that our students, the Christian church and society at large need Whitworth to stay on the ridge.

Today, as much as at any time since Whitworth's founding in 1890, we must prepare our students to examine culture with robust Christian thought and to contribute in ways that "honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity."