Alumni Magazine April 1973 Whitworth University
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Whitworth Digital Commons Whitworth University Whitworth Alumni Magazine University Archives 1973 Alumni Magazine April 1973 Whitworth University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.whitworth.edu/alumnimagazine Recommended Citation Whitworth University , "Alumni Magazine April 1973" Whitworth University (1973). Whitworth Alumni Magazine. Paper 317. https://digitalcommons.whitworth.edu/alumnimagazine/317 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. 41 - NO.2, APRIL, 1973 Edward B. Lindaman - President David K. Winter - Vice President & Academic Dean David L. Erb - Director, Student Development R. Donald Weber - Director, College Development Neil L. Clemons - Editor "A LIFE STYLE WORTH SHARING" "The climate of caring for students' real needs and his role. "I enjoy college-age students, and like to relate helping them move confidently toward life goal. is to them as a whole person," he says, but adds, "This rooted in a highly competent faculty who view personal tends to be true of all the faculty we attract." relationship with students as integral to - not separate The secret of being a successful teacher? from - teaching." (Excerpt from a Whitworth brochure.) Thoughtful for a moment before he answers, he replies, "You [est hope that in spite of having 30 or 40 in a Personal relationship ... highly competent faculty ... class, the student can get to know you as a person rather key words to explain why Whitworth College, in its 83- than a teacher or a lecturer." years, has won a reputation as a college for the individual. Dixon doesn't stand behind a podium or desk when "Jt's the one-to-one contact," Dr. Harry M. Dixon, he's teaching in a classroom. Slim in his dark suit and Professor of Business and Economics, will tell you. gold turtle-neck shirt, he moves around in front of the Dr. Dixon, a tall slender man with warm brown eyes class, writing at the chalkboard, addressing one student and a slow, easy grin, is an outstanding example of Whit- then another. worth's "highly competent faculty." "I don't want them to think of me as Dr. Dixon," he A member of the Whitworth family for the past 13 says, his dark eyes serious. "I'm in teaching because God years, Harry Dixon has several times received the yearly has given me a life style that is worth sharing. I want the student vote as the faculty member most influential in students to know my life style; but equally important, I their lives. want to get to know theirs, too." "Harry Dixon embodies the master teacher we are Knowing the student outside of the clccsroom helps, trying to encourage at Whitworth," says Dr. David K. he feels. Winter, Vice President and Academic Dean. "He is a "That's the great pact of Whitworth College." he says, person who expresses genuine affection and interest in "you get to know students you don't even have in class." our students. In a sense he identifies with students before Harry feels strongly that every student should have at he even communicates his academic discipline to them," least one faculty member he can relate to concerninq Harry shrugs off the suggestion of being unusual in their various activities on campus. For this reason he is "A Lifestyle Worth Sharing" very active in the life of the Whitworth College commu- He paused. "Harry would be discussing a subject you'd nity - working on various committees and council assign- hardly expect to excite the students. But there they'd be, ments, attending Sunday evening worship services on all wrapped up in what he was saying ... and they'd campus, meeting with students after hours in his home. hang around after class to question him further. I think "Students have a deep respect for Harry because of it sometimes even surprised Harry!" his personal relationship with them," says Dr. Clarence How does he hold class interest7 J. Simpson, Professor of English. "And that contact "I just try to make the subject come alive," Dixon ex- doesn't stop with graduation, either. His home is a way- plains. "For example, in a current money and banking station for people passing through. Some have problems class, we are spending about a third of our course time they want to talk over; others just want to talk,with him out in the financial community learning the business because they love him." first hand." He also brings the community into the classroom: busi- ness men whose experience and knowledge take the stu- dent into the heart of the enterprise, far beyond the pages of the textbook. "I try to emphasize the things they need to know be- yond any grade achievement," he says. "The aim is to give them a sense of five years from now, give them " knowledge that makes them meaningful as an intelligent voter ... help them in planning for a future." Dr. Dixon feels strongly about internships. "The most important academic experience we offer in crystalizing the students' vocational choice is the January term internship," he says. During the four years Whitworth has provided the January term opportunity for students, some 50 business and economic majors have filled on-the-job internships. "We've placed them from the Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, Illinois, to Aloha Airlines in Hone- lulu," he states. "That month-long internship is really tre- mendous in helping them decide whether or not they have selected the right vocation." An example of what Dr. Simpson referred to occurred What other components go into forming the com- recently. During an afternoon session, the door of Dixon's pleted picture of a master teacher? classroom opened and in walked a former student, David Dixon is a graduate of the University of Illinois. He Nelson (class of '71]. received his B.A. in Industrial Engineering in 1940. Nelson, now working on his doctorate in Economics at Following graduation he entered a Management the University of Oregon, was in town only briefly, but Trainee Program for RCA at Camden, N.J., later applied took time to stop by for a visit with Dixon. for and received a fellowship grant to MIT, where he The warmth of feeling between the student and his completed a two-year industrial economic program. former professor was very evident as the two shook hands Following a stint in the U.S. Navy he returned to the and Dixon interrupted his class to introduce Nelson to Universi.ty of Illinois where he received his Ph.D. in the group. economics. "A tremendous guy," Nelson related leter. "I was Married almost 29 years, Harry and his wife, Marjorie, planning to major in chemistry when) took my first class have three grown children - Dwight, 23, Mimi, 20, and in economics. But because of Dr. Dixon's concern for me Mark, 19. personally, his counseling and advice, I realized my real Dixon is almost as involved in the community as he is interest lay in this field." on the campus. "Sometimes it happens the other way, too," Dixon He has beer: very active on the Spokane Drug Coor- cautioned with a smile. "Occasionally you have to advise dination Council for the past two years. Last year he them against taking your discipline as their me]or." served as chairman of the program. He is a trustee and More serious, he continued. "Vocational guidance IS secretary on the board of the Circle Bar J Boys Ranch, one of the most important things we can offer the student. and is an active ruling elder in the Whitworth Community But the only way you can be effective is by getting to Church. know them ... share their insights ... ask questions that In the years before coming to Whitworth, Dixon worked help them sort out their interests and capabilities." for a period of time in the Office of Price Stabilization Soft-spoken - not the dynamic speaker you might in Seattle, and for eight years at Boeing. expect a master teacher to be - Dixon none-the-less But teaching and counseling are his real interests. holds the interest of the students in his class without "Whatever I would choose to do, it would have to be effort. in the education business," he says, " ... somehow 1 just "Perhaps the answer is in his low-key approach," Dr. gravitate toward teaching." Simpson says. "Whatever it is, I've seen it happen many A fitting comment for Dr. Harry M. Dixon: master times during the Core 150 classes we've teamed up on teacher. to teach." Donna Odean 2 APRIL 1973 ! WHITWORTH TODAY New Faeility Canstrueted Student Development Center Readied Thanks to the "minor miracles" of modern construc- ment office, residence hall office, minority student af- tion, the transformation of an aged and unsightly World fairs office, and the central student development office. War II barracks building into Whitworth's Student De- Erb is confident that the new facility will resolve some velopment Center is about to be completed. The $60,000 of the problems attendant to the existing arrangement. renovation brings the numerous offices and functions Some of the advantages of the new arrangement, in his of the Student Development Department under one eyes, will be providing adequate office space, afford- roof, giving the college the kind of facility which Dr. ing privacy for counseling and interviews and coordina- David L. Erb. student development director, regards as tion of interrelated services and staff. essential to provide the complete services which students The former print shop and journalism building was deserve.