From the Chair (50 credit) plans in Philosophy and our Religious Studies Specialization. I’m pleased to report that our justification for the continuation of our programs—for now—has been accepted. This year has demonstrated the value of maintaining all our programs as our majors and minors have nearly matched our peak number in 2007, a number achieved only once since our department began in the mid-1960s! On behalf of my colleagues, I also would like to Dear Students, Alumni and Friends, extend the warmest welcome to the two newest As we bid goodbye to another academic year, members of our department, Dr. Michael this issue of The Good Life: A Newsletter of the Goerger and Mrs. Lori Hauser. Dr. Goerger Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies served this year as our Visiting Assistant will feature the accomplishments of our current Professor of Philosophy, having recently students, 2012 graduates, alumni, faculty and completed his Ph.D. from the University of staff. We’ll also look back on key events from California-Riverside. After an extensive this spring, offer updates about our summer and national search for an Assistant Professor of fall course offerings and take you back in time Philosophy, specializing in Ethics and Ancient … to exotic locations in India and China. Philosophy, Dr. Goerger was unanimously selected for this position and will take up his As department chair I’ll acknowledge that this new post in September. year has offered its challenges. In particular, our department responded to the charge of the CWU I also would like to welcome Lori Hauser as our Academic Planning Task Force to justify the new full-time secretary senior. Lori joins us continuation of our large (60 credit) and small from the CWU Paramedics program and will be IN THIS ISSUE: Honors│Graduates│Distinguished Alumna 2012│Alumni Notes│Faculty & Staff Updates│A Journey with Prof. Heimbeck│2012 Courses & Events│From the Archives instrumental in updating our office and assisting efforts in taking us on a journey to India and faculty, students and me as we continue to grow China with Dr. Heimbeck and for her assistance in our programs. in bringing this newsletter to fruition! Congratulations are extended to Dr. Jeffrey In the photos that enrich these pages and the Dippmann and Dr. Heidi M. Szpek, who have spotlight photo featured in From the Archives, been promoted to full professors; and to Dr. our students and alumni may find themselves! Matthew Altman, who has been awarded tenure We’d love to hear from you, about — The Good with promotion to associate professor. Life. In our last issue, we explored the history of our Take care, department in “Floating the River”: A Heidi M. Szpek, Ph.D. Conversation with Professor Emeritus Webster Department Chair Hood and 2003 Alumna Niki Abraham- Cavender. In this issue, you’ll be inspired to study the religions of India and China in “Around the World in 100 Days”: A Journey with Professor Emeritus Raeburne Heimbeck. In this Issue Prof. Heimbeck shares his knowledge about Asian religions, interspersed with his travel From the Chair 1 adventures and anecdotes. Department Honors 3 Dr. Heimbeck’s article not only highlights the Our Graduates 4 inspiration that studying religion on the road has had on his life but also comes at a most Distinguished Alumna 2012 6 propitious moment. Dr. Heimbeck and his Alumni Notes 7 wife, Professor Emeritus Cynthia Krieble (CWU Art), have established the Department of Faculty & Staff Updates 8 Philosophy & Religious Studies Founding “Around the World in 100 Days”: A Journey with Faculty Scholarship. This scholarship will Professor Emeritus Raeburne Heimbeck assist students pursuing a religious studies By Niki Abraham-Cavender 13 specialization with a focus on the religions and Summer 2012 Courses 21 philosophies of China and Japan. For more information contact the CWU Foundation, 509- Fall 2012 Courses 22 963-2760. On behalf of our students, I extend Spring 2012 Events 23 my appreciation to Dr. Heimbeck and Prof. Krieble for their generosity. From the Archives 26 Once again, I offer special thanks to Niki Abraham-Cavender, Class of 2003, for her 2 Department Honors CAH Alumni Banquet, Faculty and Student Recognition Night At the CWU College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) Banquet on May 17th, Dr. Matthew Altman received the CAH Outstanding Faculty Service Award 2012. We thank him for his exceptional efforts as Director of the Douglas Honors College and for coaching our Ethics teams. Dr. Altman also received a Summer Scholarship/Creativity Grant Award to complete his co-authored book, Freud and German Philosophy: Freedom, History, and the Modern Subject. Jessica M. Erickson, Class of 2003, Religious Studies specialization, J.D. Seattle University 2010, was recognized as our department's Distinguished Alumna. Michael ‘Mac’ Brown was recognized as the CAH Outstanding Student of the Year for his academic accomplishments, departmental and community contributions (see Mac's story in our Winter 2012 Newsletter). Judy Miller (English major) received the Raymond A. Smith Award for Achievement in Scholarship for her paper "The Vanishing World of the Indian Jew," researched in Dr. Szpek's Jewish Literature in Translation course. SOURCE 2012 On Thursday, May 17, 2012, four of our students presented their research at SOURCE (Symposium on University Research and Creative Expression). Ruby Lynn Thompson presented her research paper, “The Juxtaposition of Divine and Physical Love.” This research was prepared in conjunction with Dr. Cynthia Coe’s Philosophy of Love course in the Winter 2012 term. Ruby Lynn Thompson’a research was recognized with a SOURCE Best Presentation Award. Jennifer Arledge delivered a presentation, “Satire in Genesis,” which was followed by Andrea Byrnes’s presentation “Children of the Holocaust: Faith.” Both presentations derive from students’ Senior Thesis research, directed by Dr. Heidi M. Szpek. David Hoffman’s presentation “Music is the Voice”, was also based on senior thesis research, which was directed by Dr. Matthew Altman. The Good Life 3 Our Graduates Michael ‘Mac’ Brown, philosophy major and Autonomous Individual,” under the direction of College of Arts & Humanities Outstanding Dr. Coe. Student of the Year 2012, wrote his thesis, “The Turing Test Tested,” under the direction of Dr. Michael Gause, Philosophy major, wrote his Bartlett. After graduation, Mac will attend thesis, “Moral Autonomy: The Ethical Link Seattle University’s School of Law. Between Kant and Sartre,” under the direction of Dr. Coe. Ashley Brumett, philosophy major, wrote her thesis, “Morality and Digital Dread: A Joseph Keeney, Dean’s Scholar 2012 and Nietzschean Take on Technophobia,” under the Honors Convocation Student Speaker 2012, direction of Dr. Coe. wrote his thesis about creationism, science, and the teaching of science in school under the Eric Bogenschneider, religious studies direction of Dr. Bartlett. Joe will be graduating specialization, wrote his thesis, “Understanding in June with degrees in philosophy, Emptiness,” under the direction of Dr. anthropology, and geography along with a GIS Dippmann. Two days after graduation, Eric and (geographical information systems) certificate his wife will be moving back to his hometown from the geography department. Joe is also of Millington, Tennessee. While Eric’s wife currently completing his thesis for the Science continues her career in education (and both look Honors Research Program. After fieldwork this for immediate employment), Eric—the “mystic” summer in the Arctic, Joe will begin graduate among our RELS students, with 16 years of school at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, study and practice in mysticism—will decide from which he has received funding to study whether to pursue graduate studies. archaeology. Joe aims to earn a Ph.D. in archaeology. Eric writes: “If I do decide to continue my studies in religion, I'll most likely go further into Caleb Kim, philosophy major, wrote his thesis, Buddhism. It has been my experience that the “Faith and Reason: A Conjunction toward Buddhist concept of emptiness holds a Belief,” under the direction of Dr. Dippmann. paramount importance, as will be noted in my Caleb’s plans for next year include serving as a thesis, ‘Understanding Emptiness.’ So Junior High pastor at a church in western eventually, once I have taken a much overdue Washington, attending graduate school at a break from college and academics, I may indeed seminary there, and establishing a college pursue a master’s degree in Buddhism, but it ministry in Tacoma. remains to be seen.” Ross Lofstrom, philosophy major, wrote his thesis, “Macro Teleology,” under the direction Michael Christianson, philosophy major, wrote of Dr. Coe. As for after graduation plans–Ross his thesis, “Ethics and Law in Physician Aid in writes “that is still a mystery.” His initial focus Dying,” under the direction of Dr. Altman. is to travel for a few years. Ross has also been applying for teaching jobs in Japan. Alejandra Espinoza, philosophy major, wrote her thesis, “Education is Power: The Powerful Weston Morrow, philosophy major, wrote his Tool for Chicana/Mexican Women to Escape thesis, “Me, Myself and My Avatar: An Being a Subordinate and Becoming An Examination of Self-Extension in Video Games,” under the direction of Dr. Bartlett. 4 Wes will continue to work as an outdoor Christian Torimino, Dean’s Scholar 2012, and programmer for CWU’s Outdoor Pursuits and philosophy major, wrote his thesis, “The Ironic Rental Office while applying to graduate Attitude and the Underground: A Nietzschean schools in English Literature. Wes’s main goal, Quest for Free Will,” under the direction of Dr. however, is to obtain a job in travel or outdoor Coe. Christian plans to spend this summer writing. studying for and taking the LSAT while working here in Ellensburg—hopefully at a law Michael Mortellaro, religious studies firm. He’ll be applying to law schools in fall or specialization, wrote his thesis, “Daoism and winter.