Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: October 2000

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

I'm glad it's October. September was way out of control, but it was also awfully good. All of us - especially students - caromed through a frenetic month, pretty much living life over the top. On one occasion I observed a freshman (who's a great guy, I should add) staggering around at a soccer match with a pained look on his face. When I queried about his general well-being, he grunted sounds that I interpreted as "no sleep." I next spotted him, parallel with the earth, perpendicular to the sideline (and at exactly the same altitude), asleep unto drooling and serenely oblivious to all life on this planet. Let me be quick to say that we don't advocate sleep-deprivation, but there isn't really any such thing as a well-rested freshman. Having said that, I hope you parents out there won't worry too much. October is the time when most students find a rhythm. At the end of this month their fatigue will be the product of hard academic work. They'll enter fall break feeling a sense of satisfaction, but quite ready for a rest and for your support. And speaking of that support, thanks to those of you who send encouraging notes and e-mails. Your thoughtful expressions arrive as unexpected enhancements to the joy we experience seeing our students grow in mind and heart.

Academics

Every time I start listing faculty publications, I end up bouncing the palm of my hand off my forehead when someone tells me whom I left out. Many of our faculty publish regularly, so my reports in this newsletter are seldom complete. But here are a few new publications that might interest you:

• Jerry Sittser (Religion) has another great book out: The Will of God as a Way of Life (Zondervan) just hit the bookstores. I find the way Jerry explains God as our sovereign, not our marionette, to be both helpful and biblical.
• If you're interested in the current debate on science and faith, you'll want to read Science and Christianity: Four Views (Intervarsity). This book includes sections by Steve Meyer (Philosophy) and Jean Pond, who previously taught in our Biology Department and for Core 350.
• Jim Waller (Psychology) has received national attention for his Jan Term study tour that looks at prejudice in our country. His latest book, describing his own and his students' experiences, is titled Prejudice Across America (University Press of Mississippi), and was mentioned in a recent issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education.
• In a more specialized vein, Lyle Cochran (Mathematics) has given us his Technology Resource Manual, which accompanies the 10th edition of a major mathematics textbook by George B. Thomas, Jr. I mention this book not because I expect it to replace whatever's at the top of your Christmas list, but because it represents a huge infusion of teaching technology across disciplines.

Our science faculty members have spent the past months putting much energy into finding ways to do more individualized research with their students. In addition to visiting select campuses to see how their peers are mentoring students, they've worked with a consultant to think through ways of enriching our students' research opportunities. They are now finishing up their plan, which will be a great boost in preparing our students for careers or for graduate school.

As many of you know, the Simpson-Duvall Lectureship honors two of Whitworth's professorial legends, Clarence Simpson and R. Fenton Duvall. Both of these grand exemplars of mind and heart continue to use their abundant intellects in the service of others. This year's lectureship brings us critically acclaimed writers Robert Wrigley and Kim Barnes, who will read from their works and talk about their writing. I hear from our English professors that although Wrigley and Barnes do not write in the same genre, their works are driven by a Western voice that challenges some of the longtime assumptions and myths about the West.

Congratulations to Director Rich Strauch and the Whitworth Wind Ensemble on being selected to perform at the 2001 Music Educators All-Northwest Music Conference. They are one of only two university-level wind ensembles selected from the six Northwest states to perform. This is the second consecutive selection for our wind ensemble.

Under the aegis of the U.S. Department of Education Title VIB Grant, Pathways to the New Europe, Tom Pitzer (Whitworth Graduate School of International Management) is in The Netherlands visiting Maastricht University and University of Nejmegen. Last semester our students benefited greatly from web-linked classes taught by John Falvey, MIM faculty member, and Janjaap Semeijns of Maastricht's faculty. The purpose of Tom's trip is to discuss enhancing Whitworth's course curricula by including sections on the European Union.

Service has always been central to Whitworth's understanding of what it means to be a Christian and a world citizen. But service has also grown in its importance as a learning tool. Under the leadership of Linda Hunt (English) and Kathy Storm (Student Life), service-learning is pervading our curriculum. To that end, we've assembled a wonderful advisory board of community leaders to ensure that our students' service-learning activities really make a difference. Thanks to all who are helping us in this important pedagogy.

For the first time, Whitworth's award-winning choir will present a Christmas concert in Portland. This year's schedule has the choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1624 NE Hancock Street, Portland, on Friday, Dec. 1; at Chapel Hill Presbyterian in Gig Harbor on Saturday, Dec. 2; and at First Presbyterian in Seattle on Sunday, Dec. 3. We'll send details in the weeks ahead.

Remarkably, two 1999-2000 Whitworth women's athletics teams ended up ranked first academically among the nation's more than 300 NCAA Division III schools. The team GPAs in basketball and track were 3.683 and 3.616, respectively. Kudos to our fine student-athletes, whose mind-power is rivaled only by their heart-power. And kudos to coaches Helen Higgs and Toby Schwarz for putting academics first.

Enrollment

I'm sitting on an airplane (shocking, heh?), looking at registration numbers I downloaded when I got up this morning. They're looking impressive, especially the freshman and retention data. But too often we use numbers to impress more than to express. Isn't it interesting that we liberal arts colleges brag about how our students aren't just numbers, then seem to go nuts about how good our numbers look? So here are a few excerpts from recent e-mails I've received that go beyond numbers:

• From a parent: "We're happy to report that our daughter has jumped into college life with both feet, has continued to make friends and even loves all the work that comes with her classes! She has thanked us for sending her to Whitworth.."
• From a student: "Anyhow, it is great to be back at the most wonderful college on earth. How are things for you? What's on your plate now?"
• From another parent: "I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all that the Whitworth community gives to the students (and parents!). On top of all that, no one could ask for a more beautiful campus!"
• From a 2000 alum: "I am so very glad for each freshman who gets the privilege of experiencing such a place. Tell the faculty that I thank them, because we follow what we see, and I saw such grace and such honesty in them."

The early-action admission deadline is Nov. 30. Our non-binding Early Action Admission Program is for students who consider Whitworth a top choice. Students can apply conventionally, or online at www.whitworth.edu. Accepted early-action students have priority in registration and residence hall selection. This is definitely worth doing for students who really want to attend Whitworth.

We welcome two new admissions counselors, Pono Lopez, '00, and Toriano Towns. These are two great young men who love the Whitworth mission. Pono (from Hawaii) and Tori (from California) will bolster our efforts to present Whitworth to students from diverse backgrounds.

Student Life

Inspired by a Riverside State Park ranger's fine talk, one Whitworth student cried, "Let's go kill some trees!" Eco-terrorism? Not exactly. It was all part of a grand Community Building Day. Roughly 300 students and staff descended on the park to complete 800 hours of community service (that worked out to the equivalent of an $11,920 donation). By the way, my group thinned out a forest-fire area so densely packed with Ponderosa pine saplings that most were destined for certain demise (hence, the battle cry). So we executed a series of strategic tree funerals and actually saved some trees.

October is a fun month on campus. We began with the Athletics Department's annual Pirate Night auction. On that same night, many faculty, students and staff participated in "Light the Night," a charity walk in downtown Spokane for leukemia research. The Weekend, a spiritual retreat for students, ran Friday and Saturday, and Saturday night Christian singer Bebo Norman performed in Cowles Auditorium. On Sunday, ASWC sponsored a trip to the Spokane Opera House to see Stomp. This is Homecoming Week, with "Countdown to the '40s" as its theme. Festivities include a '40s fashion show, a movie night featuring Swing Kids, a dorm-decorating contest, a bonfire, and the Black Student Union's Gospel Explosion. The week concludes with Saturday's football game, the selection of the Homecoming court, and a dance in "Chez Marriott" with the Whitworth Jazz Band headlining.

October concludes with Parents' Weekend and the Theatre Department's production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Besides the theatre production, parents can visit mini-colleges presented by Whitworth faculty and staff, a tailgate luncheon, Pirate football and volleyball, Sunday worship at which I'll pinch-hit for Dean of the Chapel Terry McGonigal (who's doing great and getting his last round of chemotherapy in a few days), and a Sunday brunch. Whew!

Resources

Too often we think of money and buildings when we refer to resources. Clearly, some of Whitworth's most valuable resources are the dedicated and talented trustees who will be on campus this month. Led by board chair Chuck Boppell, this group provides Whitworth great support and direction while sharing their friendship and advice with me.

Through the magic of technology, we've replaced standing in line with clicking. "WhitNet" is a new program that allows students to check their accounts, register, and add or drop classes online. Instead of wondering if a class is full, a student can check online from her residence hall or his home in Hawaii to see how many seats are available. If you don't have a home in Hawaii, this is a good excuse to buy one; then you can go there and check out your class schedule online.

One night last week I visited our Phonathon callers. You were putting smiles on a lot of faces in that room. You're great to chat with them and support our work. In their first eight nights of calling, they received alumni donations of more than $55,000. Thanks! Incidentally, I was chiding sophomore Jon Eels for putting up "goose eggs" all night when one of you got him off the hook with a big pledge. He thanks you.

Thanks, President's Club members, for joining us at our Seattle and Spokane recognition dinners. Thanks also to Forrest Baird (Philosophy) for his superb presentation on "Computerized Kant: Technology in Teaching Liberal Arts." Those of you who contribute at the $1,000-per-year (President's Club) level form the backbone of The Whitworth Fund. I can't begin to express your importance to Whitworth and its students.

Athletics

The football team has reached the midpoint of the season at 2-2. The Bucs pushed defending national champion Pacific Lutheran to the limit before losing 34-28, then won for the first time ever at Simon Fraser, defeating the Clan 30-29 on a Scott-Biglin-to-Duane-Tawney touchdown pass with two seconds to play. Defensive captain Sky Blake leads the Northwest Conference in tackles, while offensive captain Bob Adsero guides an offensive line that has opened up holes for a slew of Pirate runners and kept the Pirate quarterbacks well protected.

The volleyball team is currently in third place in the NWC with a record of 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference. Kristen Turner sets a new career high in kills almost every week, including the 21 she made to lead the Pirates over PLU on Saturday. Gretchen Smith has also played very well, leading the team in digs.

The soccer teams have entered the thick of conference play. I watched the men's team (5-3-2, 1-2-2) play 6th-ranked and undefeated Linfield to a 3-3 draw on Sunday. Junior Brian Hein scored twice to lead the Pirates. The women's team (3-4-2, 1-3-1) is led by sophomore Dalyce Young, who tops the NWC in assists.

The cross-country teams continue to impress. The men's and women's teams both won at the George Fox Bear Fete (my mom used to holler something about not going outside in my bear fete) Invitational. At the national preview meet last Saturday, Whitworth gave the nation a hint of what will happen at the NCAA Div. III championships (which we are hosting). The meet, held at Wandermere Golf Club, went very well and impressed visiting teams from around the country.

Alumni

Join us Nov. 11 at 6:45 for dessert and an exciting concert with guest artist Byron Stripling and the Whitworth Jazz Band. Enjoy dessert, music, and words from Director Dan Keberle. Contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations (800-532-4668, 509-777-3799, atomson@whitworth.edu) for cost and details.

Closing Thoughts

It's early Monday as I wrap up this letter. Being home this weekend was a treat. A warm October sun ignited the bright colors, painting the maples and oaks that spend most of the year deferring to the campus pines. If there's something better than Indian summer on the Whitworth campus, I want in on it. Later this morning I will address 125 high school seniors visiting the campus. I always struggle with how to advise them. Their tendency is to see Whitworth the noun, especially on a beautiful day like today. But what sears into the minds and hearts of our students is really Whitworth the adjective - the Whitworth culture, the Whitworth challenge, the Whitworth compassion, the Whitworth mission.... Maybe I'll just say that. Thanks to you for helping make Whitworth more than a noun. Your support sustains us. On Friday I spoke with a parent from Colorado who told me that later today she and a group of her friends will gather to pray for Whitworth. What an encouragement it is to know that behind all of the gifts and words of encouragement we receive, these moms are praying for Whitworth. And I know that they are not the only ones. Thanks.