the university of 1 TULmagazineSa no. 9 vol. “Rub Your Eyes #3” by Steadman Upham (acrylic gel on canvas) Special edition The Arts at TU the university of TULmagazineSa no.1 features departments 10 ■ Arts Unite President’s Perspective 2 vol.9 In the next few months, watch for your copy of By Nathan Halverson Composing. Acting. Painting. Sculpting. Film Scoring. Writing. Designing. “The Power of Giving.” See what your gift — of TU students in the fine and performing arts learn the interdisciplinary skills 3 Campus News $25, $50, $100, $1,000, or more — can mean to necessary for success in their fields. ■ maintaining the student experience and quality 20 The President as Artist 8 News from the U At the end of the day, TU President Steadman Upham creates modern art, of education at TU. while First Lady Peggy Upham hammers out exquisite silver jewelry. c o n t e n t s 26 ■ Classical is Bach 39 Athletics We hope you will take a minute to visit with the By Jane Zemel student who will be calling soon in order to hear Classical music returns to Green Country — introducing KWTU. 40 Partners in Education the latest news from TU, and learn first-hand 28 ■ TU and Tulsa: An Artistic Heritage about the impact of one gift. By Deanna Harris TU's long love affair with the City of Tulsa is evident in the University’s 42 Alumni News historic contributions to Tulsa’s cultural arts. 32 ■ Behind the Backstage at the Ballet 44 Class Notes Before the curtain rises at the Tulsa Ballet, TU alumni work to ensure the legacy of dance is secure in Tulsa for future generations. 34 ■ Writers in Residence 47 In Memoriam Grace Mojtabai and Yevgeny Yevtushenko, TU's writers-in-residence, each created pieces for this special edition of TU’s Magazine. 38 ■ Left, Right, Left, Right, Brain? 48 Calendar By Nathan Halverson Is it true that artistic ability is hardwired to one globe of the brain? Can 49 Book End engineers jam? Are librarians thespians at heart? You might be surprised at the answers from TU assistant psychology professor Dennis Combs. SPECIAL EDITION: THE ARTS AT TU “My TU scholarship was my ‘foot in the door’ to the world. It’s up to me to help the next person get his or her foot in that door.” — Mary Ellen Bridwell, BA ’79 p.14 Make your tax-deductible gift to the Alumni Annual Fund for Excellence online at www.utulsa.edu/alumni, or call Kerry Willmann, (918) 631-3514 today! p. 17 p. 20 p. 49 University News The President’s Perspective The University of Tulsa Magazine Peggy and I have had many wonderful experiences over the past few months as we have made the transi- Volume 9, Number 1 New Trustees Elected at tion to The University of Tulsa. We would like to The University of Tulsa news thank personally all of the people who have made our The University of Tulsa Magazine Katherine Coyle, Gloria Grimes move more comfortable and have worked so hard on ISSN 1544-5763 is published by McFarland and James Wilburn were our behalf in the transition. Peggy and I knew that The The University of Tulsa, 600 South College Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma elected May 12, 2004, as new mem- University of Tulsa was a very special place when we 74104-3189. Publication dates may bers of the board of trustees at The vary according to the University’s accepted the opportunity to come to TU nine months University of Tulsa. calendar, events and scheduling. campus ago. We now know exactly what “special” means, and Elected as ex-officio members are humbled by the generosity and graciousness of the POSTMASTER: Send change of address to The University of Tulsa were TU president Steadman Tulsans we have met. Magazine, Office of Development, Upham and Ryan Rex, president At the Opening of School Convocation, I noted The University of Tulsa, 600 South College Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma of the TU Alumni Association. that The University of Tulsa is at a crucial point in 74104-3189. In addition, Fulton Collins was its history. Good and committed leadership, a sound re-elected as board chairman, and vision, and enduring support from trustees, alumni, and UNIVERSITY RELATIONS ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT Ross Swimmer and Duane Wilson friends have been brought together with dedicated and Barbara Sorochty returned to the board after a one- outstanding teaching by the faculty and a caring EXECUTIVE EDITOR year sabbatical. commitment to the welfare of students by all who work Deanna J. Harris Members are elected to three- at TU. CREATIVE DIRECTOR year terms. Coyle, a graduate of the This constellation of remarkable institutional attri- Leslie Cairns, MA ’99 TU College of Law, is an attorney butes did not arise by accident. No, the fusion of these PHOTOGRAPHER Another Case for Campus J. Walton Beazley with the Conner & Winters law elements is the product of much planning and hard Real estate developer and the resurgence of The University firm in Tulsa. She is president of the work over the past decade and more. The fruits of this collective labor have brought CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Stephanie Farris Rolf Olsen philanthropist Michael D. Case, of Tulsa’s football program,” said Green Country Juvenile Diabetes together an extremely talented and able group of students who add the final and most Doug Fishback Don Tomkalski Amy Frieberger Jane Zemel whose generosity funded TU’s Case. “While Pat and I didn’t Research Foundation and is on important ingredient to TU’s vital institutional “mix.” Nathan Halverson Case Tennis Center, has provided a graduate from The University of the advisory board of Family and TU is well on its way to becoming one of the country’s truly great universities, but CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS significant gift for the construction Tulsa, TU has become my adopted Children’s Services. She is a past more work remains to be done. We must continue to improve the quality, selectivity, Scott Blankenship, student Carrie Martin of the Case Athletic Complex to be alma mater, and I have enjoyed president of the board of trustees of and diversity of the student body. We must expand funded research in ways that con- located in the North End Zone of helping the University when the Holland Hall. tinue to involve undergraduates. We must add selectively to the graduate degree offer- Sandy Willmann, Director, Alumni Relations Skelly Stadium. The 30,000-square- need arises, especially when I feel McFarland is a broker with the ings at the University. We must continue to attend to the physical needs of the campus, Janis Zink, Vice President, Institutional Advancement foot complex will be built at a cost the project is beneficial to the City Walter & Associates real estate firm including constructing new buildings that support our growing programs of teaching Steadman Upham, President of $7 to 8 million, and it begins of Tulsa.” in Tulsa. She has chaired TU’s Tulsa and research. And we must raise money to endow faculty positions and student fellow- The University of Tulsa does not discriminate on phase one of the renovation of Construction of the facility Undergraduate Research Challenge ships to ensure that we are able to recruit and retain the very best and brightest teach- the basis of personal status or group characteristics including but not limited to the classes protected Skelly Stadium. began at the close of the 2004 foot- Advisory Committee and has served ers and students in the years to come. under federal and state law in its programs, ser- vices, aids, or benefits. Inquiries regarding imple- The Case Athletic Complex ball season with the demolition of on the boards of the YWCA, Arts Each of these tasks will require the commitment of our campus community and the mentation of this policy may be addressed to the Office of Legal Compliance, 600 South College will house football coaches’ offices, the North End Zone. Completion and Humanities Council, Junior entire TU family. Each will pose unique challenges as we move forward. Given what Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-3189, (918) 631-2423. Requests for accommodation of dis- meeting rooms, game day suites, is expected by Fall 2006. League of Tulsa and Philbrook TU has already achieved, it may be easy for some to say, “Why should we make the abilities may be addressed to the University’s 504 Coordinator, Dr. Jane Corso, (918) 631-2315. To academic support center for all stu- Museum of Art. She is a deacon and extra, perhaps even extraordinary effort needed to attain these goals?” It is at this point, ensure availability of an interpreter, five to seven days notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended dent-athletes, football locker room elder with First Presbyterian Church. I believe, that we meet our most significant challenge of all in taking the next step for all other accommodations. Economics Professor and equipment room, athletic train- Wilburn, who has a communi- toward excellence. As management specialist Jim Collins has recently observed, “The Receives Award ing room, video production suite, cations degree from TU, is presi- real enemy of great is good.” CONTACT US: Lettermen’s Club suite, ticket office TU Economics Professor dent and chief executive officer of There is no question that TU is a very good university. But the question we all (918) 631-2309 and a Golden Hurricane apparel William Dugger received the Winnercomm, a television and inter- must ask and answer now is whether The University of Tulsa can be truly great. I E-MAIL: and souvenir shop. Association for Evolutionary active media production company in believe that TU can make the leap to greatness in the years ahead.