Of Mind & Heart Newsletter: October 2009

An update from Whitworth University President Bill Robinson

As I crawled into bed last night, it struck me that I would wake up to World Communion Sunday. It is, no doubt, a tribute to my towering spirituality that I would end the day thinking about a sacrament rather than about the two soccer wins and a huge volleyball victory I witnessed a few hours earlier. Of course, if I were really spiritual I would now be preparing my heart for the Lord's Supper rather than toasting my thighs with this laptop. The relationship between communion and spirituality has a strange history. In 1987 I had a chance to see the small room where Luther and Zwingli debated the nature of communion. You can't stand in that historic spot without a few questions coming to mind. For example, why would Christendom spend more than 500 years divided to the point of violence over the definition of is? Major denominations have formed out of disagreements about what Jesus meant when he said,"This is my body."  Jesus made that statement not long before praying that his followers would be united. It's hard to imagine that our getting the right answer on communion would make God happier than our getting together around the cross. And that brings me to the Whitworth student culture. For certain, I hope we're preparing our students to be thinkers and defenders with deep convictions, but I also hope we are educating students for reconciliation. I hope that today, Whitworth alumni around the world will gather at Christ's table, rejoicing that across time and space his cross unites us. I hope they will hear the cries of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem because"they did not know the things that make for peace." And then I hope they will do the things that make for peace. I hope all of us who celebrate communion today will be faithful to our deep beliefs, but I also hope we will find deeper meaning in the cross that unites us than in the arguments that divide us.

Academics

This fall, 11 Whitworthians are beginning medical school. Our young alums preparing for careers in medicine often identify Mike Sardinia, '87, (Biology) and Karen Stevens (Chemistry) as extraordinarily helpful advisors in the whole pre-med process. Whitworth alumni are also finding success at the other end of the grad school experience in medicine-related fields. I just heard that Caleb Hug, '04, has completed his doctorate in computer science at MIT and is beginning research work in medical informatics at Microsoft Corporation.

We are taking a big step in achieving our vision of being a more culturally rich community with the appointment of Lawrence Burnley, Ph.D., as assistant vice president for intercultural relations. Larry currently serves as associate dean for multicultural programs and special assistant to the provost for diversity affairs at Messiah College (Penn.). When he begins at Whitworth on Jan. 1, he will bring 15 years of higher education and church experience with him. He will provide leadership in strategic planning, curriculum development and faculty training, and he will also serve on the faculty of the history department, teaching several courses per year.

October features an interesting lineup of campus speakers and events:

• On Oct. 4, Elias Abu Ghanima, vice-principal of Mar Elias High School in the Galilee region of Israel, addressed the possibilities of peace in the Middle East through the eyes of an Israeli-Palestinian Christian.
• On Oct. 7, social psychologist and researcher David Myers, '64, a professor of psychology at Hope College (Mich.), will address"A Friendly Letter to Skeptics and Atheists: Musings on Why God Is Good and Faith Isn't Evil." 
• On Oct.12, we'll welcome Rafael Coicue, coordinator of the human rights department of the Association of Indigenous Authorities of Northern Cauca, in Colombia, S.A., where he supports the work of indigenous communities that seek to establish security within the boundaries of their reservations. 
• On Oct. 21, Spokane's own Ryan Crocker presents"A New Foreign Policy? Lessons from Iraq." Crocker recently retired from a 30-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service that included appointments as U.S. ambassador to Iraq (2007-09), Pakistan (2004-07) and Afghanistan (2002-04). 
• Oct. 22:  Dean Michael Le Roy, '89, leads the fall Dean's Dialogue, a faculty panel discussion of American foreign policy in the Middle East. 
• Through Oct. 29, our Bryan Oliver Gallery will feature an exhibit, High Noon, comprising the works of Nickolus Meisel, an assistant professor of fine art at WSU. Meisel makes use of everyday materials in unexpected ways in his interactive pieces. 
  
  Lectures mentioned above begin at 7 p.m. in the Robinson Teaching Theatre, Weyerhaeuser Hall. 

Scott Kolbo (Art) has a show, Confounded, opening this week at Western Oregon University's Dan and Gail Cannon Gallery of Art.

Moses Pulei, '97, (Theology) successfully defended his dissertationat Fuller Seminary. Congratulations, Dr. Pulei!

Lee Konitz, a jazz saxophone legend and winner of the National Endowment for the Arts' 2009 Jazz Master Award, will perform with the award-winning Whitworth Jazz Ensemble at the Fox Theater in downtown Spokane on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through ticketswest.com and through the Fox Theater box office. Other great music coming up this month: Music Faculty Recital, 4 p.m. Oct. 18, in the music recital hall; Alexander Technique Workshop, Oct. 24 at 9 a.m., in the band room of the music building; and our annual Women Composers Concert, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m., in the music recital hall.

YouthWorship 2009, a workshop for high school students who help lead worship in their churches, will take place this coming weekend. Assistant  professor Ben Brody, '97, (Music), along with student leaders and recent alums, will lead the workshop.

The School of Global Commerce & Management recently hosted an MIM and MBA class reunion, welcoming students from a wide range of graduation years and destinations who gathered for a weekend of networking, good food and fun. Highlights included a lecture by MIM founder Dan Sanford, a leadership discussion led by Alumni Relations Director Aaron McMurray, '95, and an afternoon of swimming at the home of Rich Schatz (Business & Economics, SGCM).

In collaboration with the Whitworth Service-Learning Center and its director, Rhosetta Rhodes, MIM alum Todd Crossett's summer entrepreneurship class worked with representatives from Spokane's West Central community to develop ideas for economic development in their neighborhood. Student teams prepared development kits for the community that have, according to Rhosetta, become foundational to the neighborhood council's work.

The fall theatre production features a very special guest performer, Leonard Oakland (English), who joins the cast of The Illusion as Pridamant, a bitter old man desperate for news of his estranged son. Pridamant's search leads him to a magician's cave, where he witnesses scenes conjured from his son's life. But what begins as a swashbuckling, romantic fairy tale turns to heartbreak. Adapted by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tony Kushner, Pierre Corneille's 17th-century tale of loss and redemption explores the most real illusion of all – love. The play will be presented Oct. 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 8 p.m., and Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. Buy your tickets online at www.whitworth.edu/theatretickets or by phone at 509.777.3707.

Student Life

More than 800 Whitworth students, faculty and staff fanned out to nonprofit organizations across Spokane last week to offer our neighbors assistance on Community Building Day. CBD also marked the beginning of the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Whitworth Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement. Anniversary events will include a tour of service to explore the effects of the partnership between Whitworth and the West Central neighborhood, a teaching roundtable focused on community-based research, service-learning fairs, an urban plunge, a rally, and a celebration of service.

Parents' Weekend takes place Oct. 23-25. Participants will hear faculty presentations and attend Whitworth athletics events and the fall theatre production. Most important, they'll get to spend time with their sons and daughters! Parents can sign up online atwww.whitworth.edu/parentsweekend.

Resources

Whitworth Athletics Director Scott McQuilkin, '84, is putting his extensive leadership experience to work in a new role as acting vice president for institutional advancement. Scott will provide immediate and effective direction for Whitworth's ambitious fund-raising goals, particularly those related to the new biology/chemistry building. He already enjoys the confidence of our trustees and many major donors, and he knows and loves Whitworth, its mission and its people. Scott's appointment is for two years, but he will function as if the position is permanent; there will be nothing tentative in the way he goes about his work.

I mentioned I would be giving you a Whitworth Fund fact in each 2009-10 issue of M&H. You may not know that we sometimes use Whitworth Fund money to enhance learning atmospheres. For example, autumn is a great time for pumpkins. But 1975 is the only great time for pumpkin-colored carpets, which many of you alumni recall as a Dixon Hall trademark. In 2009, there are better trademarks (and carpet colors) than that. The Whitworth Fund allows us to beautify the campus in ways that attract and support students. So thanks for your continuing support of this fund that helps make Whitworth a beautiful place.

Athletics

As Scott McQuilkin, '84, moves across campus to take over responsibilities as acting V.P. for institutional advancement, Warren Friedrichs, one of Whitworth's longest-serving and most successful coaches, moves into the role of interim director of athletics. Scott and Warren are eminently qualified to continue to do a great job for Whitworth; they're both outstanding members of our community.

Our soccer teams continue to excel. The women are 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the Northwest Conference. They've been one of the best defensive teams in the league, with a 0.55 goals-against average and five shutouts in nine contests. Senior Krista Dietz and sophomore Callie Bergstrom are splitting time in goal. The men are 5-2-1 overall and 3-1 in conference. They have the chance to do what no NWC soccer team has done in nearly 20 years – win three straight conference championships. The last school to do it? Whitworth, in 1988, '89, and '90.

Cross country is running well and earning regional and national recognition and rankings. Dana Misterek and Tonya Turner have each won races for the women, and Nick Gallagher has battled through illness and injury to lead the men.

The football Bucs are 2-2. The Pirates managed to win two games without All-America running back Adam Anderson, who was injured early in the season. Tackle Brandon Martin has led a strong effort by the defense, and quarterback Andrew Durant is leading a rapidly improving group of young players.

After a rough start, volleyball pulled off an exciting conference victory, sweeping 19th-ranked UPS last weekend. Whitworth is now 4-11 overall and 1-4 in the NWC. Brynn DeLong, a junior transfer, has stepped up to play well in her first season as a Pirate.

The golf teams are off and swinging. Both the men and the women defeated North Idaho College during their season-opening match. And this week, the men held off a charge by defending NWC champ Linfield to claim the team title at the Whitworth Invitational. Both young squads have great potential.

The tennis teams will compete at the Pacific Northwest ITA fall tournaments this month. These  tournaments go a long way toward determining spring singles and doubles rankings. Michael Shelton leads the Pirate men, and Rachel Burns is the top seed at the women's tournament.

Alumni

The Class of 1967 has officially been added to the mid-60s reunion that will be held June 25-27, 2010. Kathie Koopmans-Neir (this year's Alumni Service to Whitworth Award-winner) and her team are working hard on a wonderful weekend schedule. If you're interested in singing in the reunion choir, please contact Peggy (Kim) Burrough, '64, at pkburrough@msn.com or 253.922.1642. And check out www.whitworth.edu/reunions for more information.

We hope to see you Oct. 17 at the annual dessert before The Illusion, Whitworth Theatre's fall production. Join director Diana Trotter for a conversation before the play. Register online  at www.whitworth.edu/alumnievents.

Whitworth heads to Tacoma on Oct. 17, when the Pirates take on the UPS Loggers. If you're in the area, join us for a reception prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff. More information can be found online atwww.whitworth.edu/alumnievents.

Our football team will play the Lewis & Clark Pioneers in Portland on Nov. 7. We'd love to have you join us for a reception prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff. More information will soon be available online atwww.whitworth.edu/alumnievents.

Homecoming Weekend was a great success. The classes of 1989, 1999 and 2004, along with the 1960 national champion baseball team, celebrated reunions, and the campus community marked the grand opening of East Residence Hall. Other highlights from the weekend included a lecture from Distinguished Alumni Award winner Ben Frank Moss III, '59, and a beautiful recital by Recent Alumni Award-winner Heather Steckler Parker, '96, and her husband, Derrick Parker. The Whitworth community gathered to celebrate our donors and to honor Ben and Heather, along with fellow Alumni Award-winners Ben Lindstrom, '63, and Kathie Koopmans Neir, '64, at the annual George F. Whitworth Honors Banquet.

Electronic parent surveys (the surveys, not the parents, are electronic) will reach you via e-mail soon. Please take the time to keep us updated! You can find the link under "Parents" at www.whitworth.edu.

Closing Thoughts

On Sept. 14 I informed the board of trustees and the campus that this will be my last year as Whitworth's president. You can't love a place more than I love Whitworth, but this is a good time for both Whitworth and me to make a change. Here's a link that includes some of the reasons I've reached this conclusion: www.whitworth.edu/presidentsoffice/messages/9_15_09.htm. Board Chair Walt Oliver, '67, has assembled a great search committee to find the next president. Because there's a ton to do between now and the end of this academic year, I have asked the campus community to set aside responses to my decision until May or June. At some point I'll reflect on my years in this job. For now, let me just say one thing to all of you who have cared faithfully for this great school. I will always think of Whitworth as my life's work – a calling in which I have considered every day an immense privilege.