Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: December 2000

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

Howard Gage died in his sleep this past Saturday morning. All who knew Howard will understand that Whitworth College has just become a different place. Masterfully, Howard taught math, computer science and all that is good for 31 years. I'm not a good enough writer to capture Howard's brilliance, courage, joy, and tenacious love. Based on the messages that have been pouring in, I suspect there are several hundred alumni who are pretty sure that they were Howard's favorite student ever. I'm not sure what math concepts Howard would lean upon to explain how he managed to have several thousand favorite students and colleagues, but there's hardly anything I wouldn't give to hear him do that right now. If you never knew Howard, I'm sure you find these words exaggerated if not indulgent. But I offer them on behalf of all those who did know Howard, which is the same number of people whom he relentlessly and selflessly served. Howard's struggle with Parkinson's disease had him talking about retirement a little earlier than any of us wanted. But that's when we all planned to lavish Howard with praise and thanksgiving. I'm certain that way too many of us stockpiled our best accolades for that day. My only consolation is that he now stands face-to-face with his Savior, whom he loved even more than he loved all of us. Please keep Judy, Brian, Julie and the entire Gage family in your prayers.

Academics

Sometimes we think that only music, theater, and sports bring big, enthusiastic crowds to our campus. Not so. A few weeks ago Les Francis (Education), 100-plus volunteers and other members of the School of Education hosted our 17th annual Writing Rally, which drew more than 800 kids and scads of parents. Can you picture a pack of third graders screaming, "Two, four, six, eight; now it's time to conjugate!" Or how about a referee running down the aisle and whistling a fourth-grade girl for dangling a participle? Actually, neither of those things happened, but excitement ran high as young children experienced the rewards of expressing themselves well through the written word.

Professors Doug Sugano (English) and Jim Waller (Psychology) have, as a part of our Hewlett Foundation-funded project, established a community board to help us in our work on diversity. We are excited about the perspective represented on this board, which includes several particularly recognizable names, such as city council member Roberta Greene, Temple Beth Shalom rabbi Jack Izakson and media luminary Marianne Mishima.

Once again, the jazz ensemble's fall concert drew rave reviews from all who attended, including The Spokesman Review. Guest trumpeter/vocalist Byron Stripling dazzled the audience with magnificent work. His power, clarity and tone were stunning, plus I've never heard anyone who could instantly create a muted sound without a mute or the working end of a toilet plunger. Congratulations to conductor Dan Keberle and the Whitworth band, which has won first place at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival three times in the last four years. By the way, the Whitworth jazz program recently received a generous grant from the Principal Group to enable at-risk junior high and high school students to attend Stripling's jazz clinic and concert free of charge. Thanks, Principal!

Five Whitworth students were honored with cash prizes at the 2000 Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition held last month at Central Washington University. Winners in their respective divisions were Hayley Baudrau, Chris Teague, Matt Lodge, Sandra Agans and Bassione Van Soest (can you believe he's a tenor?). The competition included 150 singers representing nine colleges and universities in Washington and Idaho. Congratulations to all of our singers.

Dale Soden, director of the Weyerhaeuser Center for Christian Faith and Learning, reports that we've received another grant to help us work with regional church-related colleges on faith-learning integration. This grant, through a program at Rhodes College, will enable us to do some creative work with Seattle Pacific University, Pacific Lutheran University, Gonzaga University and possibly Seattle University.

Our English Department hosted Ceil Cleveland, '69, who is believed to have inspired the free-spirited lead character in the acclaimed novel and movie The Last Picture Show, as our 2000-2001 Ada Redmond Reader. Ceil, who recently retired from her position as vice president for university affairs at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, led a discussion of the film and her recent book, Whatever Happened to Jacy Farrow? A Memoir.

This year's Jan Term courses include a Reformation tour of Europe, the highly acclaimed Prejudice Across America tour, and courses on location in China, Alaska, Hawaii, Cuba, Germany, Italy, Mexico and South Africa. Roughly 250 students, in 15 groups, will be taking advantage of the opportunities our intensive Jan Term provides for off-campus learning. Jan Term also provides a chance for some upper-division students to engage in directed research off campus. We're pretty strict about what we sponsor, rejecting proposals such as one submitted by a sports med student to study "the deleterious kinesiological effects of a motion-free life in a warm climate for 3.5 weeks."

Last month nearly 30 students and faculty from our physics, biology, chemistry and computer science departments attended a conference in Tacoma sponsored by the Murdock Charitable Trust. Whitworth students and faculty posted 16 presentations at the conference.

Kudos to the Whitworth Choir, the women's choir and the other musicians involved in this year's Christmas Festival Concert, Wondrous Night. Choral director Bryan Priddy conducted exquisite music celebrating the birth of our Savior. Many thanks to all of the people who attended the programs in Portland, Gig Harbor, Seattle and Spokane. And thanks to the churches that hosted us in all four places. We are especially grateful to our very busy alumni and parent volunteer ticket sellers Terri Banasek, Karen Graham, Kara Billingsley and Dick Barney.

Thanks to Sun Microsystems for a $38,000 grant that will provide our advanced computer science students with eight high-end computers. Susan Mabry (Computer Science) secured the grant through an agreement to supervise our students in conducting some rather sophisticated research for Sun. This grant will provide a facility and hands-on research opportunities rarely found at liberal arts colleges. Susan and Kent Jones (also Computer Science) are conducting primary research in the exciting new field of "bioinformatics," which connects them to the leading technology experts and labs and provides amazing opportunities for our students. I am not alone in believing that Whitworth will soon be recognized as offering one of the finest liberal arts college computer science majors in the country. Generally, I don't like to utter such "big talk," but what has been quietly taking place with our 73 C.S. majors through Kent and Susan's leadership is really significant.

Enrollment

We've added up our early-admission applications and find they stand at the highest number in our history. So that's encouraging. March 1 is our application deadline.

As you might imagine, there was a lot of love going around at the Corporate Sponsor Luncheon and Scholarship Dinner. This is when we celebrate our generous scholarship donors and provide students the opportunity to meet their benefactors. Our students treasure the chance to say "Thank you." The Financial Aid Office staff is especially grateful for these donors who make a college education possible for many students.

Parents, renewal FAFSA applications will be sent out this month from the U.S. Department of Education to continuing students. Families can submit the renewal application after Jan. 1, 2001. PIN numbers will also be sent to students' home addresses. The PIN can be used for access to personal financial aid and loan information available from the Department of Education's website at www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/ and also as an electronic signature. Also, January begins the application cycle for most special-application scholarships for the 2001-2002 academic year. Scholarship announcements are posted on the financial aid bulletin board and also are sent to the faculty. Students are welcome to browse our bulletin board or go to the www.fastweb.com website, fill out the questionnaire and search for Whitworth-sponsored scholarships online.

Student Life

November activities cascaded overwhelmingly into the arrival of Thanksgiving Break. It was almost as if the entire student body cried "Uncle!" and the barrage of studies and activities was suspended while everybody curled up with a pillow and a drumstick. Now December is upon us, and students are pouring it on as we roll into finals. I write this in the midst of the traditional Christmas Week celebration and festivities. In fact, I write this a bit weary after reading the Christmas story to the students late last night, but it's a good tired I feel this week, participating in nine different student events. The student connections we administrators enjoy during these special seasons remind us of why we do what we do.

Resources

December is one of the few times in which I'm pretty bald about reminding readers that we rely deeply on the gifts of folks who believe in Whitworth. (December is not, however, alone as a time in which I'm pretty bald at the back end of my skull.) For those of you who give, and have given, to Whitworth, please accept our great appreciation. You are so important to the quality of the college and to making a Whitworth education accessible to students. We simply couldn't get along without you. Actually, you have made November a very good month for The Whitworth Fund. But we are facing massive utilities price increases that will put a huge strain on our budget. So I hope many people will join you in remembering Whitworth in their year-end giving. Thanks again.

The Scotford Fitness Center is open, and I test-drove it on opening day. It's fabulous. The machines are top shelf, and there are no dumb posters of 25-year-old muscleheads who smear hair remover all over their bodies. Thanks again to John and Judy Scotford for making this great facility possible. And thanks to them also for another very generous year-end gift that just arrived.

We had a fun celebration at our house with the Phonathon students who called so many of you this fall. Thanks for making their efforts so successful. Already, $93,941 has been received and another $95,668 has been pledged. Phonathorners' fall efforts focused on alumni. Parents and friends will have their turn to put smiles on the faces of these students when we gear up to call them in February.

Athletics

The Whitworth swim teams are on a tear. Both the men and women are undefeated (3-0) in dual meets. Both also won their divisions at the Northwest Invitational. Freshman Kevin Wang and junior Brent Rice have made provisional national qualifying marks, an impressive accomplishment so early in the season. Senior Erin Kay and sophomore Megan Lambuth are close to qualifying marks for the women. Although the toughest part of the season is yet to come, the team looked awfully good to me when I watched them against Whitman.

The men's basketball team won impressively over NAIA power Westmont in their season opener and beat Whitman last night in their first conference game. The Bucs feature several excellent newcomers this fall, including junior Gunner Olsen and freshman Bryan Depew. The team finished second at the Lewis-Clark State College Tournament, defeating previously unbeaten Western Baptist before falling by two points in the title game to the host Warriors. Sophomore guard Chase Williams was named to the all-tournament team.

The Pirate women opened conference play last night with a victory over Whitman, after losing three road games to higher-division opponents. Senior Jamie Wakefield is approaching the 1,000-point mark in her career. Head Coach Helen Higgs needs 11 wins this season to become the all-time winningest women's hoops coach in Whitworth history. She'll get it done. Fall sports brought lots of postseason honors to Whitworth athletes. I'll include a complete list in next month's issue.

Alumni

Next year's Homecoming has been set for Sept. 29. The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations is already planning a weekend full of events for ALL alumni, the likes of which has not been seen in many years. We hope you will mark your calendars now to celebrate with your classmates in 2001. And we promise to have more brownies in the alumni tent next year!

Join us for one of these upcoming alumni events:

• Jan. 13, Bay Area: English Professor Laura Bloxham will offer a Core 650 lecture and reception on Saturday afternoon at First Presbyterian Church in Burlingame.
• Jan. 27, Hawaii: Education Professor Gordon Watanabe will be featured at an evening Core 650 event at First Presbyterian Church, Honolulu.
• Feb. 3, Spokane: The annual Whitworth Alumni Night at the Fieldhouse will include basketball, ice cream, music and free admission for all alumni and their families. Games are against Pacific University at 5:45 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• February 17, Portland: Women's and men's basketball games at Lewis and Clark College will include a between-game reception for alumni, parents and friends. Games are at 5:45 and 8 p.m., and there will be an admission charge for games.

Closing Thoughts

Yesterday, after writing most of this newsletter, I went to a retirement party. Actually, it was Howard Gage's retirement party. All of us had so heartily anticipated it that it seemed to make sense to go ahead and hold it without him, right after the memorial service. The event was warm and festive. Somehow, I hope Howard had a window on it. One thing that impressed me was the number of folks who were thankful that they'd expressed their affection to Howard. When you think about it, advent is an odd season. We celebrate waiting and anticipation. God's people have always been waiting. The Israelites waited more than 200 years to get out of Egypt; then they waited 40 years to enter the promised land, then they did plenty of waiting during the Babylonian captivity while they waited for the Messiah. Jesus did come, but it wasn't long before he prophesied that he would return. And the waiting resumed. I've come to the conclusion that God places us in waiting so that we won't wait. In other words, waiting will always be with us and fails as an excuse to delay action, to capture the moment, to see Christ in the present. I was inspired yesterday by the testimony of the folks who decided not to wait until Howard's retirement to give him good words. And I'm reminded that the Christ for whom Israel longed, and the Christ for whom we wait again, is the Christ of right now. May his blessings be yours this holiday season. And thanks for all you do for Whitworth.