SPRING 2011 Critical Thinking Tiger-style Disputes Without Drama Vampire Biology PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CONTENTS PETS AND VETS Board of Trustees Peter D. Miller, Chair 4 Thought Processes Philip A. Wilheit Sr., Vice Chair Brenau’s new critical thinking initiative pairs James Anthony Walters, Secretary Carole Ann Carter Daniel, WC ’68, Treasurer with a new minor, philosophy, as part of a grand sually in this column I try to deal somewhat Gale Johnson Allen, EWC ’91 strategy to solve a serious problem in today’s Melissa A. Blanchard, A ‘88 colleges and universities. dispassionately with aspects of Brenau’s vision Raymond H. Burch or some issue affecting the academic world or Roger Dailey Robin Smith Dudley, WC ’78 society. Today, however, it is not business as usual; I call this photo of Jackson, Edward and Bogey ‘my three sons.’ Kathryn (Kit) Dunlap, WC ’64 Elizabeth (Beth) Fisher, WC ‘67 Uit’s personal. Pets of assorted species and description have John B. Floyd 6 Balancing Act always been part of my life, which would not have been as full understand that they are signing up to be animal doctors and M. Douglas Ivester Danita Emma taught students at Brenau while she was and rich without the love and friendship we shared. (Aside: human psychologists? I have nothing against human caregiv- John W. Jacobs Jr. their undergraduate classmate. Now the classically trained Angela B. Johnston, EWC ’95, ’06 dancer runs a highly acclaimed summer program at Syracuse Thinking about pets past and present for me is like listening to ers – my daughter is a physician and my son is a dentist. It just Richard H. Leet, Ph.D. Ben E. Lilly University and encounters the “old school” through her work the “Red Rubber Ball” by The Cyrkle. It’s just the happiest song seems to me that a vet has all the responsibility of the human James E. Mathis Jr. in Bulgaria. and tune possible, a little better than “Walking on Sunshine” health care professional exacerbated by a patient who cannot Katherine (Kay) McMaster, WC ’87 James H. Moore by Katrina and the Waves.) There have been times when no speak at all and an owner who probably speaks too much. Betty Verson Norton, WC ’52 8 New Generation animal inhabited my home, but there has never been a time It is dificult to surpass the empathy and compassion of Gary L. Riley Brenau’s new intercollegiate swimming and Lawrence B. Schrage tennis coaches look young enough to be on when many animals did not reside in my heart. this proliic group of general practice vets in our communities. Erin McCabe Seng, EWC ’93 the teams themselves – and, indeed, can My children say that I emit cat and dog pheromones – es- But this past year I have seen the attending residents, senior Gail A. Smith, WC ’83 keep abreast of the younger athletes. Maybe Charles A. Smithgall III that’s why they win. pecially cat. To channel Will Rogers, I rarely met a cat I couldn’t research faculty and internationally known founders of specialty Sidney O. Smith Jr. pet. That ability, however, is not chemical; it is experience. Cats clinics – in the best animal research and teaching hospitals in Shay English Stafford, WC ‘69 Jane Patterson Suggs, WC ’74 always lived in or around my childhood home so I learned early the country – cry along with the grieving owner or try to explain Bob Swoszowski 10 Vampire Biology that the dog would rather walk on three legs than die on four. Stuart R. Virgin The real danger of falling asleep in Louise Bauck’s morning how to express love and compassion, which usually works even biology class is not that you’ll fall prey to some evil blood- with strange cats. With dogs I have the same feelings, but it The group includes fourth-year students who take on the cases Trustees Emeriti Alfred S. Austin sucker, but that you might miss something special. takes me a little more effort to communicate than a few words of speciic animals, spend countless hours with the animals Jane Wood Banks and communicate daily with owners. My hat is off to them all. Martha C. Edens, WC ’49 and chin scratches. June Cooke Hook, WC ’43 Today’s story, however, deals with neither cat nor dog, I admiringly and deeply appreciate their support for Jackson, Mary Helen Roop Hosch, WC ’35 although a dog is involved. In the past year my dog, Jackson, Sebastian, Little Bit, the unnamed cat I rescued after an automo- Henry S. Jennings Jr., M.D. 16 Blessed Are the Peacemakers Gwen Brown Mundy, Ph.D., WC ’49 The nationally known Brenau mediation and conlict my family and I traversed a troublesome path (from UGA to bile accident and many, many others. C.V. Nalley III resolution work is not exactly like that you see on TV Thomas H. Paris Jr. and in the movies, but it is helping rebuild the process Colorado State veterinary schools) during the diagnosis and Vets are good, good people. An especially rewarding part Barbara Stockton Perry, WC ’47 treatment of Jackson’s bone cancer. In my book, however, the of my job is that some of our best and brightest graduates choose Sarah Crosby Reeves, WC ’39 of how to settle disputes. Lessie Bailey Smithgall principal characters in the story are those unique, skillful, loving veterinary science as a career! Nell Wiegand humans who are almost equal to pets as worthy and valuable Here’s an idea: If you’ve never experienced the joy of President creatures – veterinarians. loving and living with a pet, it’s not too late. Whether it is a Edward L. Schrader, Ph.D. Not all vets possess the same level of intellectual or medi- dog, cat, turtle or ish, an animal friend will enrich your life. Editor 31 One for the Books David Morrison cal skills. Some relate better than others to both animal and Maybe you had pets in the past, but have sworn off because If the mark of a great mind is openness to Creative Director new things and curiosity about the world, owner. Sometimes, in spite of their best efforts, they cannot one brought baggage of unacceptable mischief or high main- Christie Gregory then AlJean Thompson, WC’49, has one help your pet “get better.” tenance levels or simply passed on leaving a huge hole in your Contributing Writers of the greatest. These medical professionals have the same level of exper- heart. When you think about those past pets, I’ll wager most of Candice Dyer, Karen Rosen tise, the same specialty areas, as physicians for humans. Often your memories are good ones. Photographers Tom Askew, Maryann Bates, Regina Fried, Rudi Kiefer, SPRING 2011 without recognition and sometimes without even the smallest For me, the love, loyalty, excitement and joy of living with Barry Williams expression of gratitude, they dedicate their lives to treating and a pet far outweigh the daily effort and sometimes bittersweet caring for a dificult and needy group of clients (owners) and pain. Find an animal to love and care for, and just do it! Just don’t bring it into the dorms! SPRING 2011 voiceless patients. They have one challenge doctors for humans rarely expe- WINDOW BRENAU Spring 2011, Volume 5, Issue 1 rience: patients who cannot tell you what is wrong, what hurts, Brenau Window (USPS 024-396) is published four times ON THE COVER: Photo of H.J. as The Thinker by Tom Askew what makes the pain better, and most important, when the doc- a year in March, June, September and December by the Brenau University Office of Communications and Publica- tor has tried enough, that it is time to let go. Ed Schrader, Ph.D. tions, 500 Washington St. SE, Gainesville, GA 30501. Vets also must deal with owners. Do veterinary students [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at Gainesville, Georgia, and additional mailing offices. Please keep, share or recycle. BRENAU WINDOW Brenau Window 2 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to , 3 500 Washington St. SE, Gainesville, GA 30501. The critical thinking process, by deinition, involves discipline.” A recent article in The Times of London called purposeful interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference philosophy the ultimate “transferable work skill.” and explanation of information and experience. There’s also That lies in the face of the wags who offer many a the “self-regulatory” element: In addition to questioning discouraging word for those who study philosophy. They assumptions, information, processes and conclusions from suggest that when you can’t get a job teaching philosophy in others, you learn to question your own as well. college, what good will knowing Aristotelian logic, Socratic Brenau’s QEP team applied dialogues and cultural relativism do you when you’re lip- some heavy-duty critical thinking ping burgers at McDonald’s? Well, for openers, according and planning to the development to The Times, you may not have to lip burgers. In the of the critical thinking program. United States, where the number of philosophy graduates That included testing the critical increased ive percent annually during the 1990s, few went thinking rubric that is now used in classes, meeting with on to become “philosophers.” But they still enjoyed a 98.9 faculty to design assignments to elicit critical thinking, percent employability rate, which is impressive by any bringing in outside experts to talk to faculty and students standard. Furthermore, the website payscale.com, which Brain empowerment: A topic of ‘utmost importance’ about critical thinking, and spending the fall term writing publishes the “‘Best Undergrad College Degrees by Salary,” the actual plan.