Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: January 2003

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

I like January a lot. It's start-over month. The calendar pats us on the back and tells us it's a new day, time for a fresh start. A couple of weeks ago, the world lost a person who believed that we can have January 365 days a year. Dr. Lewis Smedes, a professor at Fuller Seminary and a hero of mine, died after a fall. Lew's specialty was teaching people how to forgive. He was fond of saying that when we forgive, we set free two prisoners -- the person we forgive and ourselves. He didn't trivialize the hard work of forgiveness. For Lew, forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting or erasing; it means starting over. It means January. It means we won't let people's sins against us destroy our relationships. Sounds familiar. Teaching college students to combine high moral character with forgiving spirits is a challenge. There aren't too many role models out there. But it's worth trying. January in a relationship is even better than January in a new year. I hope all of you friends of Whitworth have a great 2003, and maybe a few Januarys.

Academics

Whoever believes that our students tuck themselves behind the "pine-cone curtain," peeking out at the world only when forced, doesn't know Whitworth. This past semester, more than 30 courses included community involvement. Here are four examples:

• Ron Turner (Computer Science) and nearly 50 of his students have been helping the Spokane Transit Authority think through how it can make service reductions in light of significantly declining revenues and a recent voters' defeat that would have given the agency $23 million in support. The students met with Jim Plaster, STA's director of finance and administration, to present their research and recommendations. These Whitworth students are also looking at the special needs of STA's riders -- such as those who have limited incomes and who work late at night -- and are making innovative recommendations involving social-service agencies and the Spokane Housing Authority.
• As temperatures dropped this fall, Whitworth marketing students put their business skills into action and held a drive in which they collected 189 coats for Spokane-area residents in need of protection from winter's chill. Thirty-four students in Associate Professor of Economics and Business Brad Sago's class planned, developed, and marketed the coat-drive project, which resulted in a generous response from the Whitworth community. The Spokane YWCA distributed the coats in early December.
• Brad Norleen, a senior business major, did a case study of a defense-industry manufacturer as a part of Craig Hinnenkamp's business-ethics course. The paper was published in an Air Force magazine, and Brad ended up with a job as an auditor for the USAF.
• In late autumn, 29 students participated in eight-hour shadowing experiences at local business sites, as the Herbert Jones Foundation Grant Program for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Studies completed a very successful inaugural semester. In October, the program offered a campus- and business-wide community kickoff event with more than 80 participants.

Our alums are also making a difference in the community. Yesterday on our local NBC affiliate, Q6, I saw the bright smile of Mike Jones, '99, who won the Q6 Teacher of the Month Award. Mike, a former Mac Man if I remember correctly, was fully clothed and duly humble in accepting the award in front of cheering students at Riverside H.S., where he is the band director.

Whitworthians are lifting their voices in our community. Last week Bonnie and I went to the Spokane Opera Gala that featured Jessica Bowers, '95, as well as a daring solo from Jonelyn Langenstein, '03, and a duet from seniors Tyson Jenson and Matt Lodge. Also, Jonelyn won the district audition of the New York Metropolitan Opera and was named the most talented young singer at the audition. She received a cash award and will advance to the regional audition in March.

The Spokane and Seattle communities heard many Whitworth voices perform exquisitely again this year at our annual Christmas concerts. Debbie Hansen directed a program that drew as many raves as I've ever heard for this beloved annual event. We're thankful for the 124 students and all the faculty and staff who participated.

Academic involvement in the community goes beyond Spokane --- way beyond. Amy Lee, a student in our Master of International Management program, landed a highly competitive internship at the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. Amy will complete her degree this spring by working from January through May in the Hong Kong Chamber's international business development division. She hopes the internship will lead to a full-time position with an international firm in Asia.

Jan Term offers opportunities for many students to touch the world community. This year, students will be studying a scientific worldview in Hawaii; Western civilization from Rome to London; the arts in Rome and San Francisco; the Protestant Reformation in Germany and Switzerland; African art in Kenya (with Nicholas Sironka, a Fulbright Scholar who taught here for a year); prejudice across America, and many other international and domestic study tours. Many graduates point to Jan Term studies as being pivotal in their educational lives.

Jim Waller (Psychology) has been appointed to the prestigious Lindaman Chair, named in honor of former Whitworth president Ed Lindaman. This three-year appointment will give Jim the time and resources to do more of the research and writing that have earned him a burgeoning national reputation in the area of Holocaust studies and the psychology of evil. Jim also has the gym-rat reputation of having gone 4.5 years without passing up a three-point shot, no matter how many people were guarding him, and no matter how open I was while screaming for him to pass me the ball so that I could shoot and the world would be right.

Enrollment

Early Action freshman applications for fall are up 31 percent over last year. This rise is consistent with the enthusiasm for Whitworth that our admissions folks encountered during their fall travels. I just wish we could figure out how to serve more students at a lower cost. Limited space has capped our enrollment, and it has become so expensive to provide a top-quality education. More beds, classrooms and dollars would do the trick.

Campus Close-Up on Feb. 16-17 will give high-school seniors and parents a special look at Whitworth's academic programs, student life and campus activities. Students will spend a night in the residence halls, attend classes, and learn about campus life from Whitworth students. During the parent program, faculty, staff, and students will be available to answer all questions, including those your children would be horrified if they knew you were asking. If you have questions or if you'd like more information, contact Debbie Harvey in our Admissions Office at dharvey@whitworth.edu or (800) 533-4668.

Ugh. We have a housing crunch this semester. We often scramble for space in the fall, but this is the first time we've gotten squeezed in the spring. We apologize to those students who can't get housing on campus. Those considering application to Whitworth for this fall should be timely about responding to housing information when it comes, as it is on a first-come, first-served basis.

In late January, we will be mailing the federal form 1098-T to verify full- and part-time enrollment. This form is used to support Hope or Lifetime Learning Tax Credits eligibility. Please consult your tax advisor or go to the IRS website www.irs.gov for more information on available educational tax credits.

Student Life

Student life in Jan Term is always great. We don't program a ton, as the call of the ski slopes is strong. Also, the compressed course offerings are such that students have pretty heavy academic demands. This month features basketball, swimming, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day activities, and two wonderful art exhibits: One will celebrate Art Professor Emeritus Pauline Haas' 80th birthday and the other will feature Spokesman-Review photographers' works that relate to our theme, "Who is My Neighbor?"

Resources

Thanks so much to those of you who made contributions in December. Because '02 gifts are still trickling in, we don't have a final number, but we are very grateful to you. Our ability to support students with financial aid relies heavily on your generosity. Without a huge endowment, it's challenging to put Whitworth within financial reach for many of our students. So thanks very much for your support.

I made reference above to our need for the classroom space that Weyerhaeuser Hall will provide. We're chipping away at the final $1.2 million that will allow us to start digging in April. I just got off the phone with a great Whitworth friend who has pledged $100,000 and wishes to remain anonymous (not to me, of course; although I would have loved to have heard him try to disguise his voice with some phony accent or falsetto). We have really benefited from many gifts at a smaller scale than this. It's been especially fun to see folks make contributions for named seats for $1,000. If you would like to name a seat you can contact Nancy Rau (Institutional Advancement) at nrau@whitworth.edu or (800) 532-4668 or go to our website, http://www.whitworth.edu/Administration/InstitutionalAdvancement/Index.asp. Thanks.

In this volatile equities climate, fixed income looks awfully good. This year, several of our donors chose to close out the year by establishing a charitable gift annuity with The Whitworth Foundation. For folks over 65, there are some great benefits to making a planned gift to Whitworth. Joe Dinnison, our new director of gift planning, would love to talk with you about your estate plans. You can reach Joe at jdinnison@whitworth.edu or (509) 777-4363.

Athletics

Whitworth has had an impressive presence in the national rankings this year. Sports Information Director Steve Flegel reports that of our 10 teams that have competed so far, six have been ranked nationally at some point (women's cross-country, football, men's soccer, volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball). If there were national rankings for swimming, a seventh (men's swimming) would certainly be ranked.

Conference play begins tonight for the men's basketball team, which is ranked 14th in the nation with a 9-0 record. The start is Whitworth's best ever. Three times in the past, the Pirates started 6-0. The national ranking is also Whitworth's first as a member of NCAA Div. III. The Pirate men lead the Northwest Conference in several categories, including scoring average (85.5), points against average (66.6), rebounding margin (+8.4), and assists per game (19.5).

The women's basketball team is ranked 21st in the latest Div. III poll. The Pirates are 6-3 heading into NWC play, which also begins tonight. Two of those losses came against Gonzaga and Lewis-Clark State. Tiffany Speer and Chrissy Oneal have combined to average 27.3 points and 13.6 rebounds per game, and Sarah Shogren has been awesome, as well. This team really gets after it.

The swim teams are going through their annual "If you don't drown, it will help you" killer training period to get ready for the remainder of the season. The men finished second at the University of Washington Husky Invitational in early December. Kevin Wang took special pleasure watching the Div. I swimmers since he was already done, taking first in the 400 Individual Medley.

He finished true to form. Scott Biglin capped an outstanding Whitworth football career by being selected as one of the quarterbacks for the Aztec Bowl. Performing in a manner all of us have come to expect, he directed an 87-yard drive in the final minutes to lead the U.S. team to a 15-9 win over Mexico. His 11-yard touchdown pass was the game-winner. Scott passed for 50 and ran for 24 of the 87 yards on the winning drive. Playing two quarters, he completed eight of 11 passes for 81 yards and one touchdown.

Alumni

We have quite a few events coming up. I'll list as many as space permits, then add more next month:

• Alumni, parents and friends will gather in Portland Jan. 25 as the Bucs take on Lewis and Clark at 6 and 8 p.m. A between-game reception will be held near courtside.
• Whitworth Theatre will be touring in Oregon and Washington this month. The production, Mirror, Mirror: The Body Image Show, was written and developed by Whitworth students. Here are the dates, times and locations (in Washington unless otherwise noted): Jan. 23, 7 p.m., Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Marysville; Jan. 24, 7 p.m., North Creek Presbyterian Church in Mill Creek; Jan. 26, 9 a.m., Bethany Presbyterian Church in Seattle and 7 p.m., Inglewood Presbyterian Church in Bothell; Jan. 28, 7 p.m., Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church in Hillsboro, Ore.; Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m., Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor; Jan. 30, 7 p.m., Adventure of Faith Presbyterian Church in Port Orchard.
• I'll be in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Feb. 2, and I'd love to see you at a dessert reception in the parlor of National Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. Postcards with additional details are in the mail.
• On the same day, at the other end of the country, Jim Edwards (Religion) will be in Santa Ana, Calif. Following Jim's 5 p.m. lecture at Trinity Presbyterian Church, alumni, parents and friends are invited to a brief dessert reception. Pastor Alan Landes (father of Stacey Landes, '03) is pleased to host this event for members of the Southern California Whitworth community.
• Communications Professor Ron Pyle will host a Core 650 program Sunday afternoon, Feb. 9, at First Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Ron will discuss interpersonal communication and relationships. Brochures are in the mail and online registrations are now being accepted at www.whitworth.edu/calendars/alumnicalendar.htm.
• Feb. 7-13, the college will celebrate Heritage Week, which includes the Founder's Day Convocation on Tuesday morning, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m., and a panel discussion on Women in Ministry in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that evening in the chapel.

We hope you can make the 28th annual Institute of Ministry on July 14-18. The theme will be "Spiritual Renewal in Pastoral Ministry." This summer's speakers include Eugene Peterson, Craig Barnes and Marva Dawn. I'll give you more information about the institute in coming months.

Closing Thoughts

On Jan. 1, 2000, our 17-year-old daughter resolved to go through the year without eating any fast foods or French fries, slow or fast. She made it. I resolved not to whine. I made it too, until later that day when I was whining about what a lame resolution I'd made. Last Sunday I heard Keith Beebe (Religion) preach a sermon in which he explained how God's covenant with Abram took into consideration the fact that we are lousy at keeping resolutions. But God, fortunately, has a perfect record. As we enter a year that is filled with uncertainty, the Whitworth community rests in God's perfect record of faithfulness. And we thank you for being agents of God's care.