Thank�! You did it! Members of A Taste of Otterbein Cookbook Steering Committee: (seated left to right) Helen Hilt LeMay '47, Chairman Leslie Hanawalt McMullen '61, Judy Pohner Christian '61 (standing) Barbara Hannahs Gifford '76, Melissa Crohon '95, Lisa Chapman Allen '95, Janet Garver Hladik '97, Judy Cahill Masters. Not pictured: Caroyln Boda Bridgman '50, Rosa Rubino Bucco '50, Caroyln Swartz Royer '60, Ann Cherry Pryfogle '61. RQcipQ!: 8tQ in, ta!:ting i!: donQ, !:Qt-up i!: in ptogtQ!:!:, -------------------------and !:tornach!: 8tQ gtowling! LQt u� tQtnpt you with an offQt you can't tQgigt ... PtQ-ptoduction �pQcial Pticing f=it!:t Book: Regulatly $14, �pecial Pticing: $12 �ach additional book otdeted: Regulatly $12.50, S!p{wial Pticing: $10.50 Name --------------------Phone-------- Addt ru: !: ___ __________� t. __ Z i p___ e ma ii ______ Method of Payment: 0 Check O Vi!:a Ma!:tetcatd Catd #________ �xp. date__ �ignatute ____________ Total # of book!:_Total Otdet $___ $ futS!hipping: $4.95 Total $ Otdet___ _ J::ax yout ctedit catd otdet to 614-<?22-1905, ot mail thi!: fotm to Cookbook, 1-lowatd 1-lowm, One Ottetbein College, Wm:tetville, Ohio 420<?1 VOLUME 73 • NUMBER 1 • Winter, 2000 CONTENTS Life is a (Rock' n'Roll) Cabaret • page 16 Three alumni are happy to be acting and making music at the trendy, new Shadowbox Cabaret. OtterbeinRound Robins Still Flying High • page 15 Several round robin groups who met What Did You Do for Fun at at Otterbein are still keeping those let� Otterbein?• page 20 ters going, though some have been gone A "Through the Ages" story. How different from Otterbein for nearly 50 years. is the way students have fun today than from 5 0 years ago? Or is there a difference? �I •' President of the College • Brent DeVore H'86 Vice President for Institutional Advancement • Rick Dorman Director of Alumni Relations • Greg Johnson Executive Director of College Relations • Patricia Kessler Executive Director of Development • Jack Pietila '62 Editor/Designer • Roger Routson Coordinator of News Information • Jenny Hill The '99 Common Book Experience Photographer • Edward P. Syguda CommonBook author Alex Kotlowitz (page 6) and author Towers Magazine is produced in cooperation with the Alumni Coun­ Wil Haygood (page S)address the campus community about cil in the interest of Otterbein alumniand friends. Published by the Office racial issues. Mary B. Thomas, whose endowment enabled of College Relations, phone (614) 823-1600. Common Book, 92 Towers (USPS 413-720) is published quarterly by the Officeof Col­ the recently passed away at age (page 7). lege Relations of Otterbein College, 141 W. Park St., Westerville, Ohio 43081. Periodic postage paid at Westerville, Ohio 43081. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Towers, Department of Development, Howard House, Otterbein College, 131 W. Park St., Westerville, Ohio 43081. College News, page 2 Otterbein College is committed toproviding equal educational opportunities Classnotes, page 9 regardless of sex, race, creed, gender, sexualmientation, age, political affiliation, mmitalor parental status, veteran statlts, national origin or disabling condition in Sports, page 12 the admission of students, educational policies, financialaid and scholarships, "O" Club, page 14 housing, athletics, employment and other activities. Inquiries regarding compli­ ance may be directed tothe vice president for Academic Aff airs, chair of the Milestones, page 29 Queen Brooks Art­ AffinnativeAction Committee, or the director of Human Resources/Sexual Har­ Philanthropy, page 32 work for the Visually rassment investigation officer. Alumni Notes, page 34 Impaired • page 2 COLLEGE NEWS compiled by Jenny Hill ,Art Exhibit Features "Hands On" Experience ,,.•. What do bells, balloons and visually impaired. Brooks explained buttons have in common? They are that objects such as rope and feathers all part of "Hands On," an art exhibit were familiar to the children, while designed for the visually impaired by sharper objects such as nails would be artist Queen Brooks threatening. which was recently on display in Otterbein's Dunlap Gallery in the Battelle Fine Arts Center. "Hands On" is a collection of multi­ media works creat­ ed to give both sighted and visual- ly impaired peo­ ple a new art experience. "l want to give visually impaired indi­ viduals the joy and gratifica­ tion of being Timberland 1-{eetcl included, since most e �'.j Sle forms of art are not made to be Using the suggestions and touched," Brooks said. "I also want requests of the children, Brooks the sighted to be able to experience included wood, beads, leather, yarn art in a ne,v ,:vay." and seashells, among other things. At the artist's gallery talk on "Hands On" also uses vivid colors to Sept. 27, Brooks encouraged people appeal to visually impaired people to "view" her artwork in a new way. who are not blind. "I want everyone to touch the art," "The colors are very important she said. "That's why I made it and to the pieces," Brooks said. "One girl that is what it's there for." even said that she could feel the col­ "Hands On" was in the making ors, although she was blind. That for several years before the final was wonderful." exhibit was displayed. The idea for Brooks hopes that her exhibition the project was inspired seven years at Otterbein will inspire other artists ago by a blind man who asked Brooks and museums to create and display if he could touch one of her artworks art for the visually impaired. "So at an exhibition. "After he felt the many museums take art and hide it piece, he came back to me and sug- behind glass or 'do not touch' signs. gested that I create more artworks want museums to accommodate the that would give visually impaired population of people that need con­ individuals a chance to experience tact to experience art." art," Brooks said. "I want the exhibition to go to as Brooks worked with children at many venues as possible so that the Ohio School for the Blind for museums and artists across the coun­ eight months before creating "Hands try will take notice," Brooks said. On" to research what materials "But most importantly, I want to Mask of My Familiar would be friendly- to the touch of the reach the visually impaired." Otterbein Finds Strength in Numbers Freshman Class Exceeds 500-Largest Ever Otterbein College is experienc­ Entering freshman number 505 housed 856 students. At the start of ing a growth spurt, and not just in this year, which is the largest incom­ this school year, the residence halls its total enrollment. Otterbein has ing class in the history of Otterbein. were home to 921 students. seen many aspects of the College Thirteen percent of the students in Otterbein's graduate programs grow both in numbers and in the freshman class are of color and also show large increases for the strength for the 1999-2000 school four percent are international stu­ 1999-2000 school year. Graduate year. dents. enrollment totals 441, leaping 28 The total enrollment of 2,996 Otterbein also experienced percent over last year's enrollment students surpassed the College's record retention this year, with 93 of 346 graduate students. The Mas­ expectations for autumn quarter, percent of its upperclassmen return­ ter of Business Administration pro­ showing an eight percent increase ing. gram shows the most growth, with over last year's total enrollment of With the large increase in fresh­ 200 students enrolled, which is an 2,785. Full-time enrollment man enrollment and upperclassmen increase of 84 students since 1998. increased seven percent to a new retention, Otterbein has experienced The graduate education program high of 1,786, while part-time an increase in demand forhousing. enrollment increased by 14 for a enrollment experienced a nine per­ At the start of the 1998-99 school total of 12 7, and the graduate nurs­ cent increase to 1,210. year, Otterbein's residence halls ing program enrollment totaled 114. Otterbein Runs Strong in Nikiforow said. "The students really weekend before classes begin. One Columbus Marathon appreciated the opportunity." hundred and fifty students joined 12 Added John Buckles, associate faculty and staffmembers for a day of Otterbein sponsored eight relays professor of Communication, "People community service. teams and 26 runners on Nov. 13 for don't run against people. It's about The program, sponsored by the the 20th running of the Columbus individual goals. We don't care Community Service Learning Cen­ Marathon. where we finish in the rankings." ter, is part of an effort to get students Otterbein was represented by six students, seven administrators/staff involved in community service early Students Take the Plun e in their college careers. Otterbein members, five faculty members, and g New students entering Otterbein officialshope this early involvement five friends of the College, two alum­ College this fallhad the opportunity will encourage students to continue ni, and one parent. to "plunge" into the community with their volunteer work throughout President Brent DeVore, who a special service project on Sept. 1 l. their college years. ran on one of the relay teams, said, "I For the seventh year, Communi­ The program was initiated by thought it was a great experience. It ty Plunge was part of Otterbein's the sesquicentennial class of 1997 in brought together the students, facul­ New Student Weekend, held the the fall of 1993 and has been a part ty, and alumni. It's a wonderful com­ munity-building event. It was also an opportunity for me to spend some time with the students in a different way than usual." The goal was to enter 10 teams, according to Nancy Nikiforow, direc­ tor of grants. Enough runners were assembled to complete 10 teams, but a couple of last-minute cancellations forcedthe school to enter eight teams.