Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: October 2008

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

Wow! What a September. "McCain names GOP's first woman vice presidential candidate...." "The biggest bank failure in history...."  "$770 billion bailout offers only hope to divert economic calamity."  Every day, news stories seemed to begin with "Never in the history of the United States...." It was so wild that a presidential election breaking new ground in race and gender got bumped to Page 2. Academically, this is great stuff. Students debate the issues. They make their points like seasoned authorities. Bless them for that. But what does it all mean?  What does it mean for their families, for their present and future children, for poor people, for national security, for world economies, for developing nations?  How do students take on these questions without derailing their hope? How do they keep from getting overwhelmed without getting desensitized? How do they fight for their ideals without drowning in idealism?  And how do we set an example that unites optimism and realism? I think we'll serve our students well if somehow we can allow these crises to humble us, to bend us toward those in need, to center us on solutions, and to trust in the God of all creation. Last Sunday I noticed a little more fervency when I prayed, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done...." Students will never forget this September. We consider it a great privilege to come alongside of them as they look for meaning and direction in these momentous days.

Academics

While dealing with national issues, our students rub shoulders with the entire world. This fall we welcomed 42 new international students, from Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, India, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. We also have 25 students traveling in the Britain and Ireland Study Program along with four Whitworth faculty members (who rotate assignments throughout the program). Another 28 Whitworth students are studying individually in Australia, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Uganda and the United Kingdom. The world comes to our students, and our students plunge into the world.

This month, Whitworth Theatre proudly presents Marc Blitzstein's ground-breaking 1937 musical, The Cradle Will Rock. Set in fictional Steeltown, U.S.A., on the night of a labor union rally, The Cradle Will Rock is bitingly satirical, touching and funny. The play draws on a variety of musical styles in an exposé of hypocrisy and oppression that remains relevant and entertaining 70 years after its premiere. The play runs Oct. 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18.

"Old Bones in a New Vernacular," the premiere exhibit in the Ernst F. Lied Center for the Visual Arts, should not be missed. We are in the process of publishing a book showcasing significant pieces in Whitworth's permanent art collection. Most of them are also part of the opening exhibit. The book will be given to donors to the art building and will be available for viewing by prospective art students, patrons and gallery visitors.

Marking the transition from the former fine-arts building to the new visual-arts center, Whitworth held an art dig. "Exhume: A Twenty-Year Installation, 1988-2008," by Thomas O'Day, took place this week. Twenty years ago, O'Day buried 30 artworks outside Whitworth's fine-arts building. On Oct. 2, O'Day unearthed the pieces. He plans to reassemble them over the winter for a spring exhibit in the Oliver Gallery at Whitworth; the exhibit will run Feb. 17-April 3.

Our Speakers & Artists Series features a wide range of thinkers. Our guests include:

• Michele E. Storms, executive director of the William H. Gates Public Service Law Program for the University of Washington Law School, who gave our Constitution Day lecture, "What Does it Take to Guarantee Access to Justice for All?" 
  (Listen to Storms' lecture )
• Former U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt, who recently launched a foundation that offers civic education and leadership training to college students in eastern Washington; he lectured on citizenship in the 21st century. The Nethercutt Fellowship Program offers selected students life-changing opportunities in Washington, D.C. (Listen to Nethercutt's lecture )
• Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed, who presented a lecture on Washington election reform as part of a student initiative to encourage voter registration and participation in the November election. 
  (Listen to Reed's lecture )
• Pastor Greg Boyd and Professor Keith Wyma (Philosophy), who will discuss open theism vs. divine foreknowledge Oct. 22. Later that evening, Boyd will discuss his bestselling book Myth of a Christian Nation.
• Professor Doug Geivett of Biola University, who will present the Faith, Philosophy and Film Lecture Oct. 29.
• John Horack, of NASA, who will deliver the Science & Society Lecture on Oct. 30.

A complete list of speakers and arts events is located at www.whitworth.edu/speakers&artists.

Professor Scott Miller (Music) premiered Songs of Soul Mates, a new composition for tenor, English horn, and piano by composer Christopher Stanichar, in July at the International Double Reed Society Convention in Salt Lake City.

Peace-studies student Katie Petitt, '10, helped generate a generous grant for an association of homeless shelters based on her work with Whitworth and Gonzaga students who put on the Spokane Community Dinner. Diverse groups including business leaders, students, the mayor and people staying at a homeless shelter joined together for dinner and dialogue that focused on their common hopes for Spokane. The grant will allow the association to host five similar events in Spokane over the next year, as well as dinners throughout Washington state.

Whitworth students donated more than 2,500 hours of community service Sept. 23. In the latest chapter of a tradition begun by Whitworth students more than a century ago, Community-Building Day brought together an estimated 800 students, faculty and staff who rolled up their sleeves to support Spokane. Also, in keeping with our commitment to support sustainable practices, student volunteers helped harvest wheat at a new sustainable farm on the Whitworth campus.

Student Life

In addition to countless other activities and events, intramural sports are under way with 43 teams signing up for competition in Frisbee and basketball, and for weekend volleyball tournaments. Coffee isn't the only way students keep their hearts pumping. We now are right in the middle of Homecoming Week, which includes residence-hall competitions that will surely dishonor the family names of all who participate.

This Sunday we present "15 for Freshmen." This program provides first-year students  with 15 tips for staying healthy using the seven categories of the wellness wheel: spiritual, intellectual, social, physical, emotional, multicultural and occupational. Several Whitworth faculty and staff have been invited to offer advice in these areas. New students have so many things flying at them.  Sometimes health disciplines get lost.

From ASWU President Obe Quarless: The reality of school is settling in. By this time, freshmen are anxiously awaiting their first trip home to visit their families, or they've already made that trip. In the past few weeks, summer has made one last attempt to stick around with higher temperatures and clear, sunny skies. Students are taking advantage of it before winter arrives and gets comfortable. All in all, students are finding their grooves on campus -- learning what works for them and what does not. Now is the time to buckle down and do what we came here to do.

Resources

Betty Verbrugge and her son, Gary, recently announced they will be giving Whitworth 605 acres of land in the picturesque Scotia Valley in southern Pend Oreille County. They also established an endowment fund for Whitworth, to be used for maintenance of the property and the future construction of a small field station for environmental studies and research. Whitworth science faculty and students have already visited the property to conduct research on native plants and water quality in the Little Spokane River. The property is simply idyllic. Academic V.P. Michael Le Roy, '89, expressed all of our hopes by quoting Henry David Thoreau's Walden: "...nature challenges one to ‘live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life... and to learn what [the woods have] to teach.'" We expect the Verbrugge land to teach our students great things.

It has been a great first quarter for The Whitworth Fund. Thank you so much. It's hard for us not to be worried about gift support in this economic climate. So we are more thankful than ever for the continued great support of alumni, parents and friends.

Athletics

Whitworth football is 2-1 after a dramatic 41-35 win at Chapman University. I was among more than 200 Whitworth family, friends and alums clutching our hearts before the Pirates rallied from a 35-27 fourth quarter deficit to win. Junior running back Adam Anderson accounted for 324 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in the victory. He leads the Northwest Conference and ranks second in NCAA Division III in all-purpose yards. With starting quarterback Kory Kemp sidelined by injury, our Homecoming game against the nationally ranked Willamette Bearcats will be a battle.

The Pirate volleyball team is 8-8 overall and 1-3 in conference. While the NWC record doesn't yet reflect where Coach Steve Rupe wants the team to be, the women are  showing improvement. Freshman setters Jordon Hoffnagle and Bree Riddle share time directing the Pirate attack.

Men's soccer is 7-1-1 overall and 3-1 in the NWC after a great 3-2 win over Pacific Lutheran last weekend. Caleb Barnhill leads the team and the conference in goals scored with seven this season, including the match-winner against the Lutes. The Pirates are currently ranked No. 20 in the NSCAA Division III Coaches Poll.

Women's soccer is 5-2-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the NWC. Whitney Ramsey, Penelope Crowe and Emily Rohde each have three goals this season for the Pirates, who are ranked No. 15 in the latest NSCAA DIII Coaches Poll.

The Pirate cross-country teams are also making a name for themselves. The Whitworth women are ranked No. 20 after an impressive win over Willamette. The Pirate men are on the cusp of the top 25 and are currently third in the west region.

Women's tennis advanced seven of its eight players to the round of 16 in the Wilson/ITA Fall Regional at Willamette, and sophomore Rachel Burns and freshman Mya Towne made the semifinals.

The Pirate golf teams are off to a good start. The men's and women's teams will compete at the important NWC Fall Classic later this month. The men will play at Canyon Lakes, in Kennewick, and the women at Juniper, in Redmond, Ore.

Alumni

For the first time, one of our guest artists at the annual jazz concert is a former Whitworth student. He also happens to be the son of Whitworth Jazz Ensemble Director Dan Keberle. Trombonist Ryan Keberle and saxophonist Erica vonKleist will join the band for a night of hot jazz, beginning at 8 p.m. And alumni, parents and friends are invited to meet the artists and enjoy dessert prior to the event, at 6:45 p.m. in the HUB. Register online at www.whitworth.edu/alumnievents.

I'm pleased to announce that we have a new alumni director -- because we also have a new capital campaign director. We appointed Tad Wisenor, '89, who has served as director of alumni & parent relations/annual giving since 1995, to the position of campaign director, starting "as soon as we get through Homecoming." Tad served alumni superbly, and we expect the same level of excellence from him in his new position. We are also delighted that Aaron McMurray, '95, has accepted the position of director of alumni & parent relations/annual giving and special gifts. Aaron, who will begin in mid-October, served Young Life, Inland NW,  from 1997-2007 -- as regional director since 2002. Most recently, Aaron has served as systems support manager for DAA Northwest, a great area auto dealer. Aaron and his wife, Darcy, have three children. He holds a master of arts in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University, and he will soon complete his Ph.D. in leadership studies at Gonzaga.

Join Pirate football fans for halftime refreshments on Oct. 25 in Atherton, Calif., as Whitworth takes on the Menlo Oaks. No reservations are necessary; just find us near the visitors' stands. Kickoff is at 11:30 a.m.

On Nov. 1, prior to our 1 p.m. start against PLU in Puyallup, Whitworthians will gather at 11 a.m. for lunch at The Ram. All the details are in the mail, and you can register on the alumni site.

Miscellaneous

Thanks to all of you who receive Of Mind & Heart electronically. This saves us some green (as in money) and helps us be more green (as in easier on the earth). If you want to receive the electronic version, just go to www.whitworth.edu/mind&heart. The online version of M&H also has links to additional resources you may find helpful and interesting.

Closing Thoughts

This week I was reminded of a September 50 years past. I had the chance to enjoy a day reminiscing with my three siblings and their spouses. Since all of them have spent a good part of their adult lives in overseas missions, our times together have been few but treasured. As the eight of us watched the White Sox eke into postseason play, I thought of September 1958, when my sister came down with an angry case of the flu. Showing immense sympathy, I embraced her. I even kissed her -- tough for an 8-year-old. It worked. The World Series flu. No school. I camped in front of the TV, mom brought the bucket, and I was sick with a smile. At the very time I was busy exploiting my sister's illness, the Whitworth campus was celebrating a new batch of freshmen. Here's what it included: 832 fulltime students, a $565 annual tuition bill, $576 for room and board, and 512 beds on campus. Amazing. Whitworth has changed. Life seemed so different back then. But life wasn't necessarily better. Look at faces in this whole presidential election process that we would not have seen in 1958. We at Whitworth have a woman governor, two women U.S. senators, a woman U.S. congressional representative, a woman mayor and a woman faculty president. There is much we miss about the good old days, but there is so much that is good about the days we are in. For us at Whitworth, you, our friends, constitute a wonderful part of God's goodness. Thanks.