Whittier College Poet Commons The Rock Archives and Special Collections Spring 2007 The Rock, Spring 2007 (vol. 78, no. 1) Whittier College Follow this and additional works at: https://poetcommons.whittier.edu/rock WHITTIER COLLEGE MAGAZINE >> KISSINGER IN CONTEXT >> WHITTIER WEEKEND 2006 SPRING 2007 Journey to Ireland July 4, 2007 $4,095 (does not include airfare) Catch the splendor and magic of the Irish landscape as you take a 10-night journey through the regions of ENNIS AND KILKENNY, including day trips to the breathtaking CLIFFS OF MOHER, a jaunt across the Irish Sea to the ARAN ISLAND OF INISHMORE, and a visit to the WATERFORD CRYSTAL CENTER and the IRISH NATIONAL HERITAGE PARK, among others. Throughout, you'll become well-acquainted with native Irish culture, from local cuisine to haunting Celtic melodies to its warm and spirited people. Emerald Isle & Yangtze River Headline Poet Travels 2 007 Adventures in China September 19 - October 1, 2007 $2,745 - $3,345 (does not include airfare) If your tastes run more to the exotic, however, join us for an adventure in the majestic and mysterious land of China, with visits to some of its most famous landmarks and cities. Beginning in BEIJING, you'll tour the famous IMPERIAL AND SUMMER PALACES, see the GREAT WALL and attend a performance of traditional PEKING OPERA. You'll then move on to HISTORIC XI'AN to see the imposing TERRA COTTA WARRIORS; board the M.V. Yangtze President for a multi-day excursion down the scenic YANGTZE RIVER, stopping along the way at FENGDU, BADONG, AND YICHANG; and finish up your journey in dynamic and lively SHANGHAI. Included in both trips are lodging in first-class accommodations, all meals, planned, guided excursions, and optional educational programming. To make a reservation, or for more information, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations, 562.907.4222 or [email protected]. Spring 2007 FEATURES Volume 78, Number 1 Sacred Spaces 26 Once very much a faith-based institution, Whittier College is now faced with an increasing need to provide spiritually themed programming—at the request of students. Kissinger In Context 30 Amid bath cheers and jeers, farmer United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger visits the Poets to help raise funds for the Richard Nixon Fellowship Program, spawning a flurry of academic programming and intellectual debate. Whittier Weekend 2006 34 A pictorial spread recounts the gatherings, events, and all-around good times enjoyed by returning Poets and their families, with a special nod to Whittier's 35th Tardeada. DEPARTMENTS From the Editor 2 President's Corner 3 Campus News Around the Rock 4 Society Pages 14 Faculty Files .16 Sports 20 Alumni News Developing Whittier 38 Alumni Association President's Letter 39 Poet to Poet 44 Senior Moments 56 ABOUT THE COVER: With late afternoon sun streaming through Memorial Chapel's stained glass windowpanes, a student is cast in silhouette, caught in a moment of quiet reflection. Photo by Paul Gallaher '07. 1 THE FROM THE EDITOR K THE MAGAZINE OF WHITTIER COLLEGE FRIENDS: In the wake of the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, I am reminded of how vital is the need for good communication between the College and its various members. Through The Rock, we have a fantastic opportunity to create dialogue about events taking place on our campus and in the much SENIOR WRITER TES wider world. However, in a rapidly changing environment, a demand for more immediate routes of communication has become equally critical. As we witnessed only weeks ago, many of the dispatches POET TO POET NO about what was occurring at Virginia Tech emerged via electronic sources—student and journalist 'S Stephanie Chavez '10 "blogs," online networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, e-mail and text messaging, Erica Amico '10 Internet news channels, and streaming audio and video—all of which was readily available in "real time." Certainly underscored in this instance, the more cumbersome printed journal is no EDITOR longer the optimal—or even practical—method for timely news delivery. While Whittier is in no way planning to abolish our print publications, we do recognize the need for alternative methods of news and information delivery, as well as the need for additional Questions? means to connect with our alumni, students, and families at any time of the day or night. To that Es '96 Concerns? Love it? end, we are working both to fully revise our Whittier College website and to establish our first Judith Kidder Browning Hate it? Then let online alumni community; both projects are set to unveil in fall of 2007. I sincerely hope you Rich Cheatham'68 us know. E-mail will consider utilizing both as additional sources of news about Whittier College and your fellow Steve Davidson'69 [email protected] Poets, and above all, to stay fully connected with your—or your child's—a/ma mater. Paul Gallaher '07 u Letters are subject Please enjoy this issue of The Rock, and in particular the feature story, "Sacred Spaces," Mike Kennett to publication in which now seems oddly relevant. Along with you, I will pray we never see another campus tragedy Dennis McGonagle'93 a future issue of of this proportion in our lifetimes. Vincent McLeod, IV '07 The Rock. Barny Peake Endi Poskovic The Quaker Campus Nicholas "E.Z." Street'56 Sharon D. Herzberger LETTERS: VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT I had to write to express my pure Many kudos are due to the editorial I just received the FALL 2006 izabeth Power Robison joy at reading the "Gradu-tainment" staff based on the contents of the issue of The Rock and it is the article in the Fall '06 edition of The fall issue of the Whittier College best issue yet! Tread it cover to Rock, as spoken by Darryl Walker '62 magazine. It is the best "ROCK" cover and enjoyed every minute. THE ROCK, Spring 2007 at the 103rd Commencement. What I have ever read ... with parts I especially enjoyed the profiles Volume 77, Number 2 an attention-grabbing speech that being read more than once! The of the international students and Copyright 2007 Whittier College must've been to hear in person. international spectrum of students the article by Fred Bergerson, one The Rock is published by The article was most enjoyable, is something that makes me very of my favorite persons at Whittier. Whittier College even in the shortened version. His proud of our college. I love Whittier College and miss it Our mailing address is: comments were humorous, inspiring, very much since moving 400 miles THE ROCK —RUPERT RIDGEWAY '51 engaging; what else can I say? I've away; I lived in Whittier for 40 Office of Communications AND MARILYN (KEISER) Whittier College torn the page out and am keeping it years. Your magazine is bringing RIDGEWAY '53 13406 Philadelphia St. to read again.., and perhaps again. it all back to me. Thank you. P.O. Box 634, Whittier, CA 90608 —KARIN NORDSTROM —BARBARA WILLCOCKSON Phone (562) 907-4277 Fax (562) 907-4927 STANTON '55 NU1TALL '93 E-mail: [email protected] 2 PRESIDENT'S CORNER ALUMNI, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS: THE SUMMER I became have grown a lithe too large for that. But the steering instead to what they may consider Whittier's 14th president, Society of Friends who founded Whittier left provable, verifiable knowledge. Others feel I attended a workshop an indelible mark. Our curriculum is infused that they lack the expertise to handle on the presidency at with opportunities for students to learn difficult emotional conversations that might Harvard University with through service and to build respect for arise. Whatever their motivation, these 40 other newly named peoples of all cultures, all counthes, and all faculty lose opportunities to satisfy students' presidents. One of our creeds. When meetings begin with a period yearning for such discussions and to broaden sessions revolved around the notion that of silence, we are reminded of the need to students' understanding in the context of we are 'never not the president;" we center ourselves, to listen for the inner voices an academic discipline. would at all times represent our colleges that guide us to live a better life, and to pre- In the meantime, students use their and universities and should behave pare for listening to and grappling with the own initiative to create opportunities for accordingly. Experienced presidents regaled sometimes dissonant voices of others. When spiritual, ethical, and religious exploration. and frightened us with stories of running the faculty passes glowing candles to new On our campus, they establish relevant into students, parents, and alumni in places students at our Convocation's "light of learn- student clubs, organize prayer meetings, where we might least expect to find them. ing" ceremony, we symbolically illuminate a sponsor community service workshops, host We came away vowing always to be path through which each student will grow interfaith dinners, and engage in endless properly attired, properly coiffed, and both as a scholar and as a person. conversations in the residence halls. When properly well-spoken. Although Whittier students appreciate Dean of Students Jeanne Ortiz announced In the months since I attended that these qualities of their education, most do a time for the Chapel to open solely for seminar, I often have thought back to that not care, in a religious sense, that they are quiet reflection, there was an outpouring of signal moment, but for an entirely different derived from our Quaker roots. And, while interest from students eager to use that space reason. lb me, "never not being president" many students at Whittier are devoutly for spiritual journeys.