Alumni Magazine May 1977 Whitworth University
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Whitworth Digital Commons Whitworth University Whitworth Alumni Magazine University Archives 1977 Alumni Magazine May 1977 Whitworth University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.whitworth.edu/alumnimagazine Recommended Citation Whitworth University , "Alumni Magazine May 1977" Whitworth University (1977). Whitworth Alumni Magazine. Paper 381. https://digitalcommons.whitworth.edu/alumnimagazine/381 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives at Whitworth University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Whitworth Alumni Magazine by an authorized administrator of Whitworth University. VOL. 45-NO. 3, MAY, 1977 Edward B. Lindaman-President Duncan S. Ferguson-V.P., Academic Affairs William D. Peterson-V.P., Student Life Joseph Black-V.P., College Developrrent Robert L. Hannigan-Admissions Director Ronald C. White-Chaplain Neil L. Clemons-Editor Member of the Independent Colleges of Washington . - '';-'i.. -: r; ... ~ "tf. :i Our Theme Is Jesus Christ What Difference Does It Make? By Linda Sharman on. His answer surprised them both a "1 think what is needed is more little. "Because I like this. It's what I'm diversity and more challenge to the In a darkened sanctuary here for." pine cone barrier." on Easter eve, a large group of Two talented second basemen vie "Nearly everyone wishes to compare students and faculty are gathered, for a starting spot on the baseball philosophies, and not simply be having experienced the panorama team. One makes it, and the other bolstered by like-minded people." of Christian history from the faithfully spends every workout Creation through the Crucifixion helping,him improve his skills. "There's freedom to work things in a student-planned week of drama, through your own way." dance, readings and worship. A pair of well-meaning freshmen take "1 feel very inhibited at Whitworth Quietly they repeat their baptism it upon themselves to shape up a friend trying to lead my own life in a style vows together and feel a oneness in the "spirit of Christian brotherhood" that doesn't necessarily correspond that transcends time and place. and leave the young student confused and to the 'Christian' norm." The luncheon crowd in the Nutrition miserable. Next day one of them returns "The Christian environment is '85 dining room consumes a meatless to apologize and admits that the beam was advantageous in that you can learn so meal, featuring such exotics as soybeans, in his own eye. Months later the recipient much from other people." lentils and alfalfa sprouts as their is still trying to sort it all out. discussion centers on world hunger. "Many times I have felt judged by In a visitors' locker room at a 'Christians'. " Willamelle Valley college, a "I never felt 'put down' because I was Whitworth sophomore who'll spend a new Christian." the game on the bench leads the "My friends and I view it as a joke." varsity basketball team in pre-game devotion. "It is personal caring that really The music faculty meeting is 45 counts at Whitworth-the feeling that minutes old and the agenda is still I'm not just a number. To me that's unaddressed. The time has been used to worth every penny that I pay to go explore ways of helping two graduating here 'cause you just won't find it music majors achieve their career goals. anywhere else." In Core 150 class, a professor Something else is equally clear. The interprets the thoughts of Soren theme is hard to ignore. In the class- Kierkegaard as freshmen students room and the dorm, the locker room wrestle with what the J udeo- and the rehearsal hall, in Compline, Christian tradition says about Forum, the Loop and faculty Jiving how one lives. rooms, the question of what jesus It's 1 a.m. in the dorm and a single These are all typical examples of how Christ means in one's life is raised in desk lamp illuminates the intense members of Whitworth community hundreds of ways. discussion of liberation theology among express our theme: jesus Christ. lilt's Your Choice" three junior women in pajamas. What difference does the "The theme is broad and vague" A senior resident advisor, Christian theme make on the junior Mike Bovee explains, "and disheartened by a recent policy Whitworth campus? Ask the that's a good thing. Each person is decision, puts his convictions on question in a score of places and one going to let it mean what he or she paper and reluctantly resigns over a fact emerges clearly. Nobody's wants it to mean. The school theme freedom of choice issue in residence neutral: says jesus is the son of God. It's your life. In the process he gives up a "There's opportunity for growth choice whether or not He's the Lord salary he sorely needs for graduation here, but you have to take the of your life." expenses. initiative." "Spiritual Iife on campus takes two An hour and a half after the meeting forms: seeking and expressing. ended, two students linger in the English "It's too easy to be comfortable at Activities and opportunities for each professor's living room, the talk too Whitworth. We need to grow." are available and students, stimulating and deep to break off. The "At times it seems superimposed, depending upon their own emphasis, professor's wife, anxious to return to but mostly it has a subtle, profound select what fits the current need. And family matters, beckons husband aside to effect." the need is always changing as each ask why he's allowing the students to stay student grows at a different pace. 2 ----------------- MAY 1977lfODAY-WHITWORTH COLLEGE "The programs planned by the Hammond also finds it "lucky to be Dr. Lew Archer takes the same chaplain's office were very important able to discuss my faith in relation approach to the teaching of to me as a freshman," recalled junior to contemporary issues" in a class literature. "I agree with Dr. Robert Gayle joyner, "But I don't use them called Liberation Theology. McAfee Brown who says that all much now. I guess I needed that That same class was a help to heroes in literature are patterned group support then, and now I'm sophomore Tom Schaaf. "I got upset after some facet of jesus Christ's life, more individually motivated. Now last year about some of the theological and so I teach literature from a it's the one-to-one relationships with opinions I was hearing. Now I see judeo-Christian viewpoint." friends and faculty members that that I was dogmatic. Through classes "You Sow Seeds" mean a lot to me." like Liberation Theology and Dr. For Bovee, however, the (Dale) Bruner's gospel of Mark, I've A common thread among all faculty Chaplain's office is equipped "to learned to be less dogmatic. I've is their concern for teaching by help me express my faith - the learned to go beyond differing example. Dr. Harry Dixon of the evangelical part of me - while the opinions and relate to people business department says," "Our Student Development department without worrying so much about most important teaching is our own has good tools for helping me work views." being. You don't lay things on things through when I have a Dr. Edwin Olson, Professor of people. You sow seeds. The students problem. I think both are really Geology, subscribes to the "whole have to work it through their own needed." is greater than the sum of the parts" system. We place heavy dependence Core 150: A Key theory. "If you took an average across on God to do something with the the entire faculty, I would hope you'd seed that's thrown out there. It Freshman Lisa Weed feels see all the Christian virtues. I think it doesn't matter if it happens right "things from Student Development is the faculty, plus a critical mass of away. It'll keep bugging them." seem rather insincere," but thinks students who understand the For those teaching in the Compline (Wednesday evening Christian faith, who give an extra performance-oriented fields of music contemplative worship service) is dimension to the life of the college, and athletics, one great contrast excellent. both for the Christian and the between a secular and Christian Despite the broad range of needs, non-Christian. " approach is in priorities. Band there is virtual unanimity on the With zeal left over from his director Dr. Richard Evans contrasts subject of Core 150, the required missionary days, Dr. Ron Frase the two possible goals: "You could freshman course on the judeo- teaches sociology in order to "try to simply go after having the best band Christian tradition. spell out what responsible or choir possible, by exploiting the Says Weed, "Core 150 is my discipleship is in the world in which individual performers, or you can favorite. It seems really dedicated to we live. Sociology helps us point up make each one's growth as a human the theme. It reaffirmed my faith and the vast discrepancies between what being your first goal. We take the made me more thankful." we say we believe and what we second approach, and that requires Kathrin Hammond agrees, actually do." lots more extra time in developing "Through the study of great Christian For political science professor relationships and fostering growth, and non-Christian thinkers, in Garland Haas, the Christian theme but that's why I'm at Whitworth. And classes like Core 150, I have the is integrated into his subject matter. as growth occurs, I think the musical opportunity to explore and deepen "Political theory has Biblical orgins, excellence comes as well." my faith intelligently." and the truths of the Bible are relevant The same kind of philosophy leads to the theory of sovereignty." head basketball coach Dave Manley to spend individual time every week with every player, and keep his home and refrigerator open to the team.