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VOLUME 103, NUMBER 20 WWW.DAVIDSONIAN.COM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 Fond farewell: Epes will retire after illustrious career KATIE LOVETT history, Old Testament, New Testament, lab Staff Writer science, mathematics and foreign language. Requirements in the arts and social sciences Most Davidson students know Dr. did not exist. Hansford Epes as the college Registrar, the “The art department was in the “back up advisor” to email frantically about downstairs rooms of Phi Hall,” Epes WebTree. But thousands of alumni, faculty recalls. “That’s not a lot of space, especially and staff have known him as an integral compared to the wonderful facility we have member of the Davidson community since today.” 1957, when he arrived on campus for his In terms of campus layout, students freshman year of college. navigated the campus quite differently back While Davidson’s current physical then. The library occupied the Sloan Music landscape certainly differs from its 1957 Building, while the music building stood in counterpart, its core values and principles Cunningham Theatre Center’s current home. have remained intact. The visual arts shared several small houses, “I return to the trick I frequently use fondly known as “cardboard village,” which when I talk to parents,” Epes said. “What I were originally built for married students. will usually say is that the more interesting “Most of the time we have repurposed question is how Davidson has stayed buildings,” he said. “We recycle them a lot.” the same. That allows you to talk about One story that highlights this tradition is the some very, very good things that have not relocation of the library in the 1930s from changed. How has it changed? When I its previous home in the Carnegie Guest came as a freshman, you [Katie] would not House. have been here. Nobody of a different color “That’s why it’s the Carnegie Guest than you would have been here. About nine House,” Epes said. “Mr. Carnegie didn’t hundred of you would not have been here run around the country giving colleges since the student body was around 1,000.” guest houses, he ran around the country The curriculum offered in the early giving colleges libraries. The story is told 1960s also differed signifi cantly from the that books were moved from what’s now offerings students currently browse through the guest house to the previous library in each semester. As Epes puts it, “It wasn’t Sloan by just getting the whole student body the buffet.” Distribution requirements and faculty lined up across campus passing consisted of two semesters each of English, Dr. Hansford Epes, college Registrar and cherished community member, will leave David- British literature, European or American See REGISTRAR, page 4 son after being a part of the campus since 1957. Photo by Tripp Bartholomew Majoring in Job Thomas: cherished professor set to retire LYLA HALSTED history courses. Senior Staff Writer “When I fi rst came to Davidson, they were just starting to admit women. It was Job Thomas, Director of the South a much more regional college, and some Asian Studies Program, Professor of His- students had never seen a foreign profes- tory and Affi liated Professor of Art His- sor before. They even complimented me on tory is retiring at the end of this year. Dr. my good English,” he quipped. Thomas fi rst came to Davidson in 1972 While most students agree that Dr. as a visiting professor after receiving his Thomas is a very demanding instructor, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the there are quite a few students who feel a University of Madras in India. He returned very strong connection to him, includ- to Davidson after receiving his Ph.D. from ing Claire Ittner ’13. “There are a few of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor as us who like to say that we majored in Job a full-time professor. He has been teaching Thomas at Davidson,” Ittner said. “‘His- at Davidson ever since. tory’ or ‘South Asian Studies‘ or ‘Art His- Dr. Thomas has felt himself a part of tory’ are only more universitarily accept- the Davidson community from the begin- able covers.” ning of his career here. When asked about While many students attest that Dr. his reasons for choosing Davidson, he ex- Thomas is perhaps one of the most chal- plained that he knew many Davidson pro- lenging professors at Davidson, others in- fessors from their visits to India prior to sist that he is so inspiring that they scramble taking the position here. The fi rst course he to take all the classes he offers. Some go so Job Thomas, Director of the South Asian Studies Program, is retiring at the end of this taught at Davidson was on Asian art, but he year. Photo by Tripp Batholomew then went on to teach both art history and See HAPPY, page 2 Senior Anna van Erven gave The men’s golf team placed Beloved professor of Music her senior recital this week. ninth at SoCon Men’s Golf Raymond Sprague will be re- The talented harpist thrilled Championships; players tiring at the end of this year af- the audience with renditions Richard Fountain ’14 and ter a dazzling career at David- of various classics. Van Er- John Skeadas ’13 were named son. Sprague began teaching at ven, an English major, is All-SoCon team. Freshman Davidson some thirteen years also heavily involved in the tennis player Nicky Kunz was ago. The campus will surely be Women’s Leadership Con- named to the All-Southern sad to see him leave. ference Committee. Conference Freshman Team see ARTS, page 5 see SPORTS see NEWS, page 3 NEWS PAGE 2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 Happy Trails: Thomas will retire from Davidson Continued from page 1 taking his Islamic Art course, said “It’s re- send people to India who would be unable also responsible for creating and nurturing ally great to have a professor who is as pas- to go otherwise,” he said. As a result of Dr. Davidson’s study abroad program in Chen- far as to say they feel not just sadness, but sionate about teaching as Dr. Thomas. He Thomas’ efforts, he was able to take people nai, India. We will be very sorry to see him panic at the prospect of his departure. goes out of his way to make sure everyone to India for the summer all expenses paid. retire, and we’re delighted he will be stay- This fierce loyalty might stem from the understands the material.” Besides his talents as a travel agent, ing nearby and, at least on occasion, teach- fact that Dr. Thomas frequently invites stu- Dr. Thomas is always poised and cour- Dr. Ligo praises his colleague’s incredible ing a course now and then at the College.” dents to his home, where he singlehanded- teous, from his suits to the food he fre- knowledge. “Sometimes when we visited a Dr. Thomas will be on campus next year ly cooks multicourse meals that have been quently presses into the hands of students site which provided guides, Job would cor- to facilitate the Semester in India program known to rejuvenate burned out students. in his office. Kaitlin visited his office last rect the guide. Eventually the guide would and to teach Survey of Asian Art in the “I would point out that the unusual fi- week to tell him she felt too ill to attend step back and Job would give [the] tour. I spring. After that, he says he might teach delity Dr. Thomas inspires in his students class. “He said that that was fine, he want- always look forward to seeing him; I know in India. He will be finishing his book on is due precisely to the kind of love and at- ed me to rest and then sent me away with that when I do something interesting is go- Gandhi and will likely be teaching, either tention that is tangible at one of his dinner three oranges to make sure that I was get- ing to happen.” here or in India, for many years to come. parties,” Ittner said. ting the Vitamin C I needed to get better,” “The working conditions [at Davidson] “To me, Dr. Thomas is the quintessen- “When he found out that I was a veg- she said. are unbelievably good, and students are tial Davidson professor,” Ittner said. “Not etarian he prepared almost an entirely He loans rare books to students, and very methodical, particularly for an un- only will he remember your name and separate meal for me every time I was at sometimes even gives them away. “What dergraduate program,” Dr. Thomas said. “I (though sometimes you wish he wouldn’t) his house to make sure I had enough to eat I will cherish and miss about Dr. Thomas have faced some of my worst crises here, your strengths and weaknesses, he will there and to fill tupperware to take back next year is his wit and his depth of person- and it was this community that provided also remember the comment you made in with me to campus,” Kaitlin Walker ’12 al kindness, the enlightening conversations me with tremendous support. I used to class, and will send you, weeks later and said. “He really cares about his students.” from which I always left with a book, an think that you had to be in a society that after you yourself have forgotten about This love and attention seems to mani- article to look up, a story or yes, occasion- was thousands of years old and be sur- it, an article and a short note—’I’ve been fest itself in a different way in his office ally, some leftovers” Ittner said.

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