fall 2007

How women’s colleges will survive the future.

also inside: Annual Report of Donors 2 BRENAU WINDOW F A L L 2 0 0 7 s ’ t n e d i s e r p C Small World; BigTent is, usually the opposite is the case in these insti ships that no subject is taboo, no point of view st of intellectual colleagues so comfortable in our re Those of us involved with small liberal arts insti often harbor a conceit that we are part of an intim tant things. point of view and talking openly and candidly about in a forum conducive to exploring ideas from every curiosity, testing principles, pushing ideas to the The Burkee-Walz campaign also sets up a great para digm for what “the university” ought to be about: i ferent ideas on critical issues for the nation. the while expounding on, examining and proposing ve remained steadfast in their friendship until their both courted the woman Lincoln eventually married, ous, divisive politics of their day, and despite th harkens to the days of Lincoln and Douglas. Despite rancorous politics we’ve all endured in recent year That approach swings refreshingly away from the div Commission approves, they’ll divvy up contributions yard signs and speaking engagements. If the Federal best friends. Their campaigns share the same headqu But, wait. There is more. Political Science Profes Jeffery Walz and History Professor James Burkee are differ; and they’re running against one another. on campus for arguing passionately over issues wher gentlemen are from different political parties; the makes this story more compelling is the fact that t unearth the names Zell Miller and Newt Gingrich. Wh Young Harris College or the University of West Geor On the surface, that may not seem to be a big deal We need look no farther than former faculty members cause they’re running for Congress. small liberal arts college made national news be- Ferry must be very proud. Two professors at the oncordia University, Wisconsin President Patrick

E G A S S E M tutions for a eir having ir limits – all iled. Truth deaths – all lation- y’re known hese ate cadre s and ntellectual possible impor- Election rancor- literally gia to e they as well. isive, arters, tutions the two from sor ry dif-ry at . - Debate need not only divide. It can heal, too. Let of this unique new opportunity. sidering the practical, educational and philosophic nents of that study must be thorough, open discussi be completed until early 2008. Critically, two majo we have only commissioned a feasibility study that other entrepreneurial health care program. At this university should consider launching a medical scho our community will engage in discourse over whether Likewise, this fall many Brenau stakeholders and ot university art gallery – and talking about their tr these extremely polarizing subjects in a neutral se designed to do nothing more than get people thinkin for political or religious debate, but through art rorism and abortion. Both present themselves not in raise people’s hackles by our mere mention of the w This fall term presents us with opportunities to p into practice. We will immediately encounter two to and intelligence. with peoplesfrom theoppositesideofglobewithease sity mustprepare themtocommunicateanddobusiness morphing andinstantlycommunicatingworld.The univer- Future Brenau alumnimusthave totalaccesstothisever- ideas.must engagewithopenmindsandboldlyarticulated world thatgrows smallereachday, aworldthosestudents expressive peoplewithopenmindsleadourstudentsintoa sibility toensure thatintellectuallyactiveandcompetent, ing intellectuallystale. More importantly, we have arespon- intellectually testourprinciplesandbeliefs–orriskbecom- examine issuesfrom possiblepointofviewand,yes, every openly andhonestlyengageoneanotheroverboldideas, We can’t letthathappenatBrenau. I’m notsuggesting that we abandongoodmannersandtaste, butwe must freedom on even the largest campuses. epidemic of political correctness that threatens ac variety of reasons - from plain old politeness to t [email protected] Ph.D. Schrader, Ed exhibits he creeping ue feelings. tting – in a ademic al aspects point, r compo- will not hers in ons con- ords: ter- pics that ol or forums g about the ’s talk. ut this 2 BRENAU WINDOW FALL 2007 the national trends of declining enrollments of other single-gender i single-gender other of enrollments declining of trends national the as nurturing, safe havens for young women, many institutions are ‘re-in are institutions many women, young for havens safe nurturing, as many of which are ‘going coed’ or shutting down altogether. Once marketed marketed altogether. Once down shutting or ‘going are coed’ which of many Women’s College enrollments increased 50 percent in four years, count years, four in 50 percent increased Women’s enrollments College themselves to deal with real-world imperatives. imperatives. real-world with to deal themselves SINGLE-GENDER SINGLE-GENDER EDUCATION EDUCATION BRENAU? SUCCESS SUCCESS SPOIL SPOIL WILL WILL AT by David Morrison by David nstitutions, nstitutions, venting’ venting’

er to er

BRENAU WINDOW WINDOW BRENAU 3 2007 FALL irst irst irst irst irst 4 Sarah Fulcher,Sarah Salem Australia. around a 2,700 run mile third to person complete woman and only the University Brenau Wallace,Roslyn research. cancer Award for Achievement Scientiic receive to woman Rachel Carson, Chatham Carson, Rachel in 1961. book, her through consciousness public awakened who environmentalist Mawr Bryn Conley, K. Frances U. in the S., neurosurgery professor of tenured full woman to become a BRENAU WINDOW FALL 2007 Women’s College Randolph-Macon Pearl S.Buck, in literature. Prize woman to win the Nobel Silent Spring Silent

Enrollment Enrollment W universities survive byproviding educationstu universities survive Just asacompany mustselltheprod ucts itmakes tostay inbusiness, collegesand all-male liberal institutionsremain. arts It’s thesameformen’s colleges, too. Onlyfour issues thatcompelheart-wrenching decisions. dog women’s colleges in 2007: tough inancial for the changeover masked the realities that still in thepoliticsofday, that“visible” reason “went coed.” Although rooted atleastpartially The trend beganinthe1960swheninsti tutions like all-male Yale andall-female Vassar the nation.” concerned aboutthistrend we’re seeingacross “It irritates just…agghhh!... me,” Ray says.the usuallyunruflable “Iamreally year-old institutionadmitted about100males. them. It isnowRandolphCollege, andthe115- for business. Ray’s almamaterwas notamong cation institutionsintheUnited Statesopened choices. This fall,only58all-female higheredu Shepicked Randolph-Macon inLynch burg, Va., from more than300Women’s College academic affairs. “Iwanted tobeoneofthem.” Brenau University provost and vice president of cleverest womenwent,”the smartest, says the (in 10,000s) (in College College Trends 10 20 30 40 50 0 97 92 96 94 97 92 97 2002 1997 1992 1987 1984 1976 1972 1967 source: U.S.CensusBureau lege. “That was where all to goawomen’s col high school,shewanted to leave her Tulsa, Okla., hen Helen Ray madeplans oe men women ------tion. Not onlyisthere theallure oflarger coed Keeping that commitment won’t be an easy job. First, there’s stillplenty ofcompeti “It isthecore ofBrenau University.” Women’s College,” “So faraswe are able, we are committed says President Ed Schrader. to long-termgrowth, strength andvitality ofthe Residence halls are at near capacity. lege lifethey’d neverencountered: roommates. some women’s collegestudentstoafactofcol in fouryears. The all-time highintroduced 2007-08 academicyear, a50percent increase lege braced forcloseto930studentsthe enrollments afewyears ago, theWomen’s Brenau Col Women’s College, however, hears no such warning knell. After some low-point in a ive-year period. slightly to 84,977 for a net decrease of 9 percent for whichdataisavailable, enrollments rose two academicyears later. By 2005,thelastyear fall of 2001 but dropped 13 percent to 81,208 leges intheUnited Statestotaled93,430 inthe Statistics, totalenrollments forallwomen’s col According totheNational Center forEducation numbers andthat’s themajorproblem. enroll andgraduate inconsistent,adequate gender institutions it means students have to and board revenues topay thebills. For single- they soheavily rely ontuition,feesandroom ofprivate institutionsbecause true particularly dents andparents are willingtopay for. That is - - - - students butremains largelypopulatedbywomen. Brenau nursingfacility.Senior nursingstudentsinthenew Technically partoftheWomen’s College, thenursingprogram isopentomale The secondpotential problem issome children’s literature andscreen writing. lead to the addition of MFA degree programs in a successful summer writer’s conference that summer “bootcamp” forhighschoolgirlsand program forolderwomentoinishdegrees, a nurturing.” The schoolalsocreated aspecial tion ofyoung women“whodidn’t feeltheyneed tion thatdidn’t make alotofsensetogenera institu relied onnostalgicimagesofanurturing Briar President Elisabeth Muhlenfeld, because it The old recruitment campaign failed, says Sweet irst-year enrollments 40 percent in three years. Girls” campaignthat’s credited withboostingits expensive, ironic, pink-tinted isfor “Think Sweet BriarCollege, forexample, played against the“pink isforgirls” stereotype inits radical, initiatives. sometimesacademically students inhigh-cost, venting themselves and aggressively recruiting Briar College andHollins University are rein magazine, schools like Baldwin,Sweet Mary the samebreath with.According to institutions Brenau aspires to be mentioned in Mawr institutions didnot,includingBryn and went coed,otherprestigious “Seven Sisters” tions inall-female institutions. Although, Vassar annually, butthere are alsomany attractive op numbers ofwomeninthestudentbodyincrease institutions like Georgia Tech andEmory, where Newsweek -

- - - tions. With sometimes unexpected opportunities, enough moneytopay oftheirchildren’s educa- example, they’re also notevensockingaway progeny ofthephilanthropic notonlyfallshort of Americans, are dyingoff. Their statistical ents, regarded asthemostgenerous generation gether. Babyboomers’ parents andgrandpar- Some traditional resources upalto- are drying Finally, there’s theissueofhowsociety will inancehighereducationinthefuture. tended consequenceoflimitingtheirchoices. more competitivethat,inasense, hastheunin making quality higher education for women higher education, there is a downside: it’s also that existedintheiraccesstoandacceptance Although thatfactpretty muchestab lishes thatwomenhave overcome theprejudice than 300,000. receiving degrees willoutnumbermenby more men andbythe2013-14academicyear, women awarded intheUnited Stateswillbegivento only 42percent ofallbaccalaureate degrees percent in1960. predict thatby2009 Experts grees intheUnited States, compared toonly35 women received 58percent ofallbachelor’s de- men incollegegraduation rates. In 2004, women. Since1982,womenhave outpaced all collegeanduniversity applicantstoday are education ingeneral. Closeto60percent of unsettling demographic trends inhigher - -

Larry Griffeths irst irst irst irst irst

for Womenfor University Mississippi Bush, Vredenburgh Dorothy Party. National Democratic of the secretary woman Georgian Court Georgian Christinziano, Martha engineering. nuclear in manager woman Harris, Peace Harris, Morehead Kerr Mary South. in the judge female St. Elizabeth of College Wilmot, Louise Admiral Rear U. S.Navy. in the woman ranking highest and base naval a command to woman Mount Holyoke Chao, L. Elaine of Labor, 2001. Secretary in U.cabinet S.history, apresident’s to appointed woman American Asian

BRENAU WINDOW WINDOW BRENAU 5 2007 FALL irst irst irst irst irst 6 Nancy Pelosi, Trinity D. Trinity Pelosi, C. Nancy U.S.the Government. of history in the woman highest-ranking the her making Representatives of House of the Speaker elected be to woman Salem Cambell, Elizabeth Pfohl (in D.station C.) in 1961. woman founder of a PBS Charlotte Fox, Hollins Charlotte tallest peaks. climb three of the world’s to woman American Wellesley Madeleine Albright, U. in 1997. S., appointed of StateSecretary in the named be to woman BRENAU WINDOW FALL 2007 Maryland of Dame (retired), College of Notre Elizabeth P. Hoisington, General Brigadier U.the S.Army. of general woman philanthropic as men. women remain less inancially able to be as of their gains in education, she points out that Inwhat amountstoanacademic, “Duh!” spite gender studiesdirector Heather Casey utters their alma maters than males. To that, Brenau’s – statistically speaking – are less apt to i Still,even withthewell-documented support nancial dilemma for women’s colleges, females the Women’s College.” lines, we strongly maintain our commitment to itdoesseemthatwe are blurring the “While lege programs like nursing, danceandtheater. a little bit” torecruiting menintoWomen’s Col doorhasalwaysencroachment. “The beenopen to fallvictimthe“slippery slope” ofmale gender institution” early, rather thanwaiting “radical from departure beingsolelyasingle- alternatives forstaying open,Brenau made its Provost Helen that,unlike Ray asserts other women’s institutionsrecently toelect other way around. Evening andWeekend College rather thanthe lege studentstotake classesonlineandinthe the emphasiswillbetogetmore Women’s Col calls it “compartmentalized diversity,” and says studies onaroughly four-year cycle, Schrader keep studentslowingthrough undergraduate divisional boundaries may be imminent to Although somegendercrossing oftraditional ing the “logical target” of 3,000 across all units. students altogetherthisyear, itisfastapproach in the Women’s Brenau, hesays, College. isrelatively closetoits And at about 2,700 ideal playing weight ofabout1,000 students “it mightbeamuchdifferent story.” that diversiied revenue source,” says Schrader, percent in the current academic year. “Without components, both of which grew about 10 thriving Evening andWeekend andOnline because theuniversity haswell-established, Economically, Brenau’s business plan ensures somesanctity oftheWomen’s College Could those“new revenue sources” mean “more men?” need newrevenue sources. higher educationinstitutionslike Brenau will - - - - organization’s decision making from forming tion of gender perspective in all aspects of an “gender mainstreaming,” seamlessintegra Women’s collegegraduates, says Brenau’s Casey, societalroles willplay important in Women inBusiness.” of the of women in Congress and nearly 20 percent she explained, yet they constitute 20 percent 30 years were graduates ofwomen’s colleges, attended aU.S. collegeoruniversity inthepast of inluence.” Only 2 percent of all women who their graduates are overrepresented in positions educate atiny percentage ofwomenstudents, be activeagentswithinit.Although thecolleges from theworldbutaboutencouraging themto en’s collegesare notaboutseparating women recently inanessay inthe Holyoke President Joanne V. Creighton wrote sonal andsystemic barriers tosuccess,” Mount encounter itandtodistinguishbetween per more abletoseegender-repression whenthey like Brenau. “[Women’s college]graduates are compelling arguments tojustify institutions That deicit of women in American leadership roles becomes one of the most “Somebody elsestillcontrols thecheck book,” says Casey. in state legislatures around the nation. women hold only about 25 percent of the seats representation innationallegislativebodiesand 69th out of 187 countries in terms of women’s ible political leaders. The United States ranks Nancy Pelosi, are two ofthenation’s mostvis U.S. ClintonandHouse Speaker Sen.Hillary ates, Democratic Presidential candidateand House. Forget thattwo women’s collegegradu of senatorsand16percent ofmembersthe college and university presidencies; 14 percent seats at Fortune 500 companies; 21 percent of of CEOpositionsand14.7 percent ofboard corner ofice jobs. Women ill only 2 percent in corporate managerial positions tracking to statistics show that women lag way behind men place isabout30percent lessthanmales. Other U.S. Labor Department data indicates payaverage forfemalesinthework take-home Fortune magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Boston Globe . “Wom continued onpage14 ------irst irst irst irst irst 8 Bryn Mawr Bryn Balch, Green Emily Nobel(1946). Peace Prize woman to receive the Spelman Marian Wright Edelman, of Mississippi. state the woman theto barpass in American African Scott Agnes Ila Burdett, Georgia. Scholar, Rhodes female source: womenscolleges.org April Glaspie, Mills Glaspie, April East. Middle in theForeign Service withpost the U. S. reporting diplomatic akey hold to woman BRENAU WINDOW FALL 2007 Wesleyan Biekert, Earla Hong lu Kong virus. the to identify scientist pleted her own degree in music at the Women’s much. Her mother, LaurieBritt Long, justcom to enroll intheWomen’s College –butnotby Brenau, isthesecondgeneration inherfamily Sophomore masscommunicationsmajor Brittany Ga.,thecurrent LongofDuluth, Miss “We knowallourleadersare goingtobegirls.” going to get a lot of attention.” And, he adds, ly undertheradar ataschoollike this. You are direct contact with adults every day. You can’t knowsyour name.’everybody Ourstudentshave “The “The enrollment atabout100ensures whathecalls 60-member student body and plans to cap Tim Daniel, says theAcademy’s smallclasses, to become.” Hissuccessor, newHeadmaster be themselvesandbecomewhotheywant College. “At Brenau,” hesays, “they cansimply issues like studentretention intheWomen’s as specialassistanttoSchrader consultingon who continuesteachingEnglishwhileserving ment for everyone,” says the soft-spoken Booth, cases, why theydidnot.“It’s not an environ environment in thesingle-gender and,insome dotal informationaboutwhy studentsthrived man focusgroup ofanec collectingallsorts Academy, Frank ofone- asasort Boothserved campus? For 24years asheadmasteratBrenau But what’s the real bottom line? What’s in it for Brenau students while they’re on education. on single-gender enter thehighereducationpipelinealready sold thousands of other high school graduates will enroll intheuniversity, itisasafebetthatsoon percent ofall-girl Brenau Academy graduates in 1995; there are 262 this year. Since about 20 school districts had single-gender operations similar programs around thenation.Three U.S. schools thisfallwas widelyapplaudedaswere lanta’s public plantoopensomesingle-gender schools throughout thenation.The city ofAt to establish more single-gender K-12 public school inancing, there’s afast-growing trend Following eased government restrictions Brenau alsomay have riddenoutthe on storm only to catch a sweet ride on a new wave. hygiene products are available in rest rooms. corporate strategies tomakingsure feminine Cheers phenomenon – the place ‘where phenomenon–theplace‘where - - - - Alpha DeltaPi, license andanactiveextracurricular lifewith has a4.0 average, grade-point aprivate pilot’s For therecord, Brittany hasaboyfriend – a junior at the Air Force Academy. She also can’t beatthat.” amazing education in a small class setting. You deal withthatincollege. Brenau’s nice. It’s an driving me crazy, and I decided I didn’t want to my senioryear rolled around, boys inclasswere school forme?Ewww. No way. Butbythetime Brittany confesses to thinking, “An all-girls the coedhighschoolertoGainesvilleclasses, daughter reached dragging highschool,started who delayed hercollegeeducationuntil College in2005.WhenthesinglemomLaurie, what theywant tobe.” college thatempowers young womentobe “We are notawomen’s collegethat pretends mendonotexist,” hesays. “We’re a from inishingschools.” tive thatthey’re perceived tobenotfarremoved extremely liberal whileothersare soconserva he says. institutions]are “Some [single-gender tive and liberal views of students and faculty, “centrist” positioningembraces bothconserva Tech andtheUniversity ofGeorgia, Brenau’s and proximity tocoedinstitutionslike Georgia ment thatencourages coedactivitiesoncampus tion institution.In additiontoanopenenviron few malepresidents ofawomen’s highereduca Brenau Women’s College evidences all of these traits, andmore, says Schrader, oneofthe ship skills. and farmore todevelopleader opportunities better-developed quantitativeanalysis skills, bers, more integrative learningexperiences, success, farmore interaction withfaculty mem college experience, greater fortheir support that theyhave greater satisfactionwiththeir that studentsfrom women’s collegesreported colleges, inastudypublishedJuly. It learned students, including students at 26 women’s The Indiana University Center forPost Research moresecondary surveyed than 42,000 campus initiatives. The Alchemist and other and other

------F A L L 2 0 0 7 B R E N A U W I N D O W 13 n. au? is 1974 hit, hit, 1974 is – Maria Behan Maria –

. Tell us a bit bit a us Tell . , and just had a baby baby a had just and , , Calif., Milks reports reports Milks Calif., , novel s in his early years on the job job the on years early his in s ere a lot higher than my my than higher lot a ere TV2’s fashion dos-and-don’ts dos-and-don’ts fashion TV2’s e producers. It was crazy: They They crazy: was It producers. e ar pajamas. That’s what we we what That’s pajamas. ar ngs. She and husband, Todd Todd husband, and She ngs. of Georgia. Why the switch? the Why Georgia. of to wear pajamas, but we’d we’d but pajamas, wear to ther great thing about an all- an about thing great ther rld. But my experience at Bre- at experience my But rld. Not a high point in my career. my in point high a Not tainable boy or another, Brenau Brenau another, or boy tainable cking wise since her school days. days. school her since wise cking e all-female institution for the the for institution all-female e a booksy girl at a redneck high high redneck a at girl booksy a th. th. hool? against males: I married one. one. married I males: against ls. But an all-girl school changes changes school all-girl an But ls. he cliques. In co-ed high schools, schools, high co-ed In cliques. he they’d begin working; mean- working; begin they’d So Little Time Little So as bright and hilarious, even back back even hilarious, and bright as ilks might have an interesting interesting an have might ilks her first comedy showcase—fill- comedy first her nd bizarre smells. smells. bizarre nd ng in a predominantly female female predominantly a in ng r correction, editing and sound sound and editing correction, r ucceed: You have to learn to work work to learn to have You ucceed: ike Ellen DeGeneres, Drew Carey Carey Drew DeGeneres, Ellen ike worked out pretty well for you? for well pretty out worked und myself shamed by 15-year- by shamed myself und arbie cell phones. They insisted on on insisted They phones. cell arbie e stage. Since then, she moved moved she then, Since stage. e ening.” Since we’re focusing on on focusing we’re Since ening.” nly one who seems well-rested is is well-rested seems who one nly rry bombs going down the toilet at at toilet the down going bombs rry one here who doesn’t have a job. job. a have doesn’t who here one hour a day, since you’re not not you’re since day, a hour ows and movies (including Milos Milos (including movies and ows and I understood the importance of of importance the understood I and ege in high school. high in ege ), published a novel called called novel a published ), , are big fans of the late Mr. Jennings. In fact, h fact, In Jennings. Mr. late the of fans big are , . Did you apply sartorial lessons picked up at Bren at up picked lessons sartorial apply you Did . Man on the Moon the on Man , was their wedding song. From her home in Pasadena in home her From song. wedding their was , Deal or No Deal No or Deal Not a Good Look Good a Not If I had, I would have been advising everyone to we to everyone advising been have would I had, I If Well, after a while, you have to go into a co-ed wo co-ed a into go to have you while, a after Well, It was a great experience. The academic standards w standards academic The experience. great a was It t of out taken be to relief tremendous a it found I I transferred in as a sophomore. Before that, I was I that, Before sophomore. a as in transferred I Yes. I didn’t develop any bad habits until college. college. until habits bad any develop didn’t I Yes. They were 15-year-old girls, and they were executiv were they and girls, 15-year-old were They Not really. Instead of forever pining over one unat one over pining forever of Instead really. Not

rimping for the opposite sex. sex. opposite the for rimping Q: Let’s talk about a more recent gig, working on M on working gig, recent more a about talk Let’s Q: show A: A: were tethered to their poor assistant by hot pink B pink hot by assistant poor their to tethered were before rooms dressing their to renovations $60,000 fo I nothing. to next making were writers we while, apartment. my than bigger rooms dressing with olds did when I was at school there. We weren’t supposed weren’t We there. school at was I when did ano of me reminds That pants. sweat were they claim an about saves It up. dress don’t you school: girls p about that. about it’s all about impressing the boys—and the mean gir mean the boys—and the impressing about all it’s wi bathroom a share you people shun can’t You that. previous school. Basically, I started going to coll to going started I Basically, school. previous school, which is just as much fun as it sounds. Che sounds. it as fun much as just is which school, thing. of kind that hour, lunch Comedian, actor and writer Jodie Milks has been cra been has Milks Jodie writer and actor Comedian, recall Booth Frank Headmaster Academy Brenau Former w She favorites. my of “one became quickly she that th abandoned Milks 1989, in graduating After then.” did she where Georgia, of University coeducational th take to panicked too was who friend a for in ing l greats stand-up with worked has and California to sh TV various in acted also She’s Butler. Brett and film Forman’s Q: How’d you like Brenau? like you How’d Q: A: sc all-girl an to going about think you did What Q: A: boys? miss you Didn’t Q: A: education single-gender say you’d all, in all So Q: A: University the college, co-ed a at up wound You Q: A: worki yourself found again you life, in on Later Q: sit-com, twins’ Olsen the for writing environment, boy named Waylon, after country singer Waylon Jenni Waylon singer country after Waylon, named boy colo of charge in manager production post a Miller, TV’s for Amanda o “the and continues, pace hectic family’s the that only the he’s since unfortunate, is which baby, the ev this that discuss to him with down sitting We’re M thought we issue, this in education single-gender subject. the on take Brenau? at up wind you How’d Q: A: helped me focus on school. Not that I have anything have I that Not school. on focus me helped nau really helped. I was already living in a dorm, dorm, a in living already was I helped. really nau s you how that’s mean, I people. with along getting a habits eating strange have who people with out it Jody Milks cracks the code of single-gender educatio single-gender of code the cracks Milks Jody Please. ”

You have to learn to to learn to have You and bizarre smells. bizarre and “ have strange eating habits habits eating strange have work it out with people who who people with out it work Take the boys. boys. the Take

20 BRENAU WINDOW FALL 2007 Sara Diosdado MCATs, the taxing medical school admissions test th Gainesville toEmoryUniversity inAtlantafourdaysaweektostudy forthe assistant, beingmother ofa3-year-old, andthissummertravelingfrom full-time job at a Northeast Georgia Medical Center

juggles being a pre-med student with working virtua clinic, serving as a teaching at she plans to take this fall. lly a

Tom Askew reversed. Diosdado saidshetookabreakreversed. Diosdado By thenherparents hadsplit, siblings scattered andfamilyfortunes inished bytimeshewas 19. Pierce College, atwo-year program she’d program apre-med at people andstarted passion foranimalswitha changes inherlife, shereplaced her 16, however, bydramatic fueledinpart she graduated from highschoolatage self abuddingveterinarian.By thetime other animalsaround, shefanciedher- adolescent days, withlotsofhorsesand let any ofthatgotowaste. In herpre- of privilege, shewas determinednotto state. Unlike many stereotypical children householdinWashingtonin awell-to-do always been.Shegrew uptheifthchild it, that’s pretty muchtheway she’s concedesshemightbea Diosdado bit ofaworkaholic.But,assheexplains students.deserving Schrage andhiswife, Sherri, tohelp science, setupbyBrenau Trustee Lorry liam E.Schrage Endowed Scholarshipin was recipient oftheAugusta andWil- maintainsa3.73 Diosdado grade point average atBrenau andlastyear She’ll make ainedoctor.” load inthespring. She’s gotagoodmind. I thinkshecarried an18-hourcourse everything. She’s anexcellent student; America. “Idon’t knowhowshedoes of theMedical StudentsAssociationof president-elect oftheBrenau chapter unabashed admiration fortheTA and “It’s like shewalks onwater,”biology Professor RandyMay with says stressful existence, itdoesn’t show. says withoutmissingabeat.If hersisa bucks,” the25-year-old Brenau student T leisure. atStar- “Drive-through be whattheheckshedoesfor he logicalquestionseemsto Helping her help others. “Brenau hasbeenanabsolute blessing,” shesays. “I’vebeenableto be a helped herdoit. scholarship andotheraidprograms have her undergraduate studies. The Schrage decidedtoinish months old,Diosdado did notgetthejob, when Faith was six ployees attheuniversity. Although she take advantage oftuitionbreaks forem- Brenau’s childcare facility –hopingto Gainesville area. Sheappliedforajobat says she’d Diosdado neverheard of Brenau untilsherelocated tothe something newreally pushesme.” use inmy job, I’m there. Butscopingout narrow-minded. If itissomethingIcan I’d“Otherwise neverdoit.I’m kindof requirement,”that inearts shesays. the university has think it’s goodthat class, like dance. ‘I in anelectivearts she plannedtoenroll academic programs, into broader-based curriculum thatencourages students ics. And becauseofBrenau’s liberal arts left tocompleteherminorinmathemat- First, hastoinishunder Diosdado graduate work.Shehasafewcourses commitment. long-term service medical educationinexchange fora and wanted theAir Force topay forher stuck withherplanstobecomeadoctor but encouraged hertorenew it–if she let heroutofenlistmentcontract, with herdaughter, Faith. The Air Force date rolled around, shewas pregnant ish hereducation.Wheninduction room techandtosetasidemoneyin Air Force togettraining asanoperating to North Carolina andenlistedinthe But shesubsequentlymarried, moved to attend aBibleschoolinOklahoma. “I daughter, I’d liveatthehospital.” of people. If it were not for my find my comfort in taking care - - trying. The failure isin givingup.” backbone todoit.There’s nofailure in with careers. You’ve justgottohave the women have hadchildren andgoneon going tomaimmy life?’Iknowother my daughterwas born,” “When she says, “Iasked myself, ‘is[having achild] and accomplishments? Soisthere apillyou cantake to help you imitateDiosdado’s drive She willmake anexcellent physician.” aboutpatientcare.signiicant suggestions medicine andknowledge. Shemakes very person” he says. “She is passionate about hard worker andanexcellent people “She avery isextremely smart, shrift. theshort Diosdado said hisirstimpression probably gave workinginhisclinic,he after shestarted professional, hard-working nurse.” But irst mether, “she measavery struck Georgia Medical Center, says whenhe Antonio Rios, aninternistatNortheast Diosdado’s Brenau professors are not the onlyonesimpressed withher. Dr. courses intheeasiestway.” she issogood.Sheteachesthehardest ought tobeteachingatHarvard because fessor, Carolyn Giberson.Ijoke thatshe pro- [Louise] Bauck,andmy chemistry been phenomenal–Dr. May andDr. The professors I’veencountered have opportunity foranawesome education. mother, workfulltimeandstillhave an – DavidMorrison

21 BRENAU WINDOW WINDOW BRENAU 2007 FALL LaQ beats rap for positive messages.

About 3 a.m. one morning Mary LaCue Booker woke suddenly. vision on the road. With a vision in her head, she spit out words, rapping and She began rapping ive rhyming. She didn’t know it, but that tripping moment put her years ago on a regular basis and on track to change her life and quite possibly to change the tested lyrics on her now 17-year- lives of potentially troubled – and troublesome – youngsters. old son, Justin, and her students. The product of her vision came out like this: I want ya to With positive reviews, she tried live I don’t want ya to die ~ And I’m gonna tell you exactly why them out on a producer. That led ~ Cause every day statistics get high ~ Some from drinkin some to development of her irst single, “School Rules.” Currently from livin a lie she’s performing at schools all over Georgia, from the rap and The 1995 Brenau University Women’s College graduate, hip-hop Mecca, Atlanta, to the more conservative hallways a psychology major, taught science in the DeKalb County, of suburbia. Her most recent single, “D.U.I.,” was written for Ga., school system for eight years. She currently teaches at the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program in Kennesaw, Ga., Renaissance Middle School south of Atlanta. Becoming a under the aegis of the Cobb County State Court. She’s gaining rapper was not in the career plans for the Millen, Ga., native. traction and attention in the big-time entertainment world, But with rap and hip-hop well established as the lingua hobnobbing with celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Dick Gregory franca of the younger set, Booker saw the cadence, rhythmic and John Singleton, putting together a full album and harbor- art form as a means of communicating with kids, re-enforc- ing hopes to go national. In September she appeared at a ing positive behavior among those who needed it most, par- Wichita, Kan., fair. And you can read more about her at www. ticularly middle school-aged children. Having studied dance lacue.com. and theater even before her days at Brenau, and dabbling in “Never in my wildest dreams did I think my face would acting school in Los Angeles, Booker says she’s always had a be on the cover of a CD in a music store,” she says. “I irst touch of the entertainer in her. She and ive men from Cen- want to be a positive role model for youth. I want to teach tral Africa currently perform as FungAfrica, a dance group them not to give up on their dreams, to persevere, and to that appears regularly in churches and schools. So, adopting pass the test of time.” the very rap-like moniker “LaQ,” Booker took her late-night – Linda Pittman If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it could be Patty. Disney Company ©The Walt In more than 30 years as screen actor, lege that started her unusual career path. Patricia Parris Shibley, WC ’72, has por- “The irst was that I never had a sister, so I trayed characters ranging from Mae West thought it’d be fun to go to a girl’s school. to Daisy Duck. And I was right: people liked and were Shibley’s resume grows more impres- proud of each other.” sive when you factor in some of her other The second reason, she confesses, roles – the Greek goddess Hera, Winnie was a bit less lofty: avoiding math. “At the the Pooh’s bouncy sidekick Kanga, Chris- time I enrolled, you could take science topher Robin’s mom, Fievel’s Aunt Sophie, instead of math. I jumped at that chance, the Flintstones’ bizarre neighbor Oblivia since God left a hole where my math brain Frankenstone and a couple of stray Smurfs. should be.” She also had some bits in box ofice and Brenau didn’t just help hone her skills TV hits like Wolfen, Look Who’s Talking as an actress and mimic, it gave Patty her Now and Knots Landing. Yet she has done irst Hollywood contact. She met one of all these big and little-screen roles without TV’s best-known on-screen personalities being on the screen. from the 1950s into the ’70s – Brenau Known professionally as Patty Parris, Academy alumna Amanda Blake, who the 1972 Brenau graduate is one of those appeared in TV’s longest running series, behind-the-scenes Hollywood mainstays Gunsmoke, as the sultry saloon keeper Miss – the voice actor. Once dominated by Kitty. Shibley so impressed the star that insider superstars like Mel Blanc of Bugs Blake encouraged her to consider an acting Bunny and Daffy Duck fame and members career. Once Patty graduated, she headed of the Screen Actors Guild who worked to Hollywood, where one of her irst stops under fake names, voice acting now has was the Gunsmoke set. Oscar winners ighting it out to read the “There was great camaraderie on part of a rat, a toy cowboy or a sloth. the set,” Patty says, “and it showed.” That Shibley doesn’t hide where she found helped irm up her career choice. her voice. Or voices. Her trademark as an She and her husband, Bill, live in actress—her uncanny knack for accents Long Beach, Calif. She’s focused now on and impersonation—emerged during her launching her son, Brenau Women’s College years when she’d Patrick, into college, introduce her show on the school radio with some radio work station with her ever-expanding repertoire thrown in. Patty plans of expressive intonations. She’d also got to start working more hooked acting while majoring in drama, once he leaves home. English and secondary education, and “I’ve had a directing and performing in plays like My wonderful career,” she Fair Lady and The Children’s Hour. says, “and I’m looking “There were two compelling reasons forward to more.” I chose Brenau,” she says fondly of the col- – Maria Behan