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The Spirit of Western College Continues Today from the WCAA Director

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The Spirit of Western College Continues Today from the WCAA Director Fall 2008 The Spirit of Western College Continues Today From the WCAA Director here were you 35 years ago? W I challenge you to take yourself back to that fall, the fall of 1973. Preparing to teach happily at the Aegean Institute on the is- land of Poros in Greece, said our loyal class rep from 1929, Frances Hall King. Judy K. Waldron, Director, WCAA Finishing the last year of high school and wondering about college was the priority of those who would eventually form the first class of the Western College Program. I was running to keep up with a 3-year-old while gaining inspiration from the student group I was directing … the student YWCA on the Miami campus … But, across the street and just down Western Drive, students and faculty were living with the knowledge that their beloved college would no longer exist as a separate institution at the end of the school year. What would their last Western year be like? Where would they go next year? How would they stay in touch with each other and with those who had graduated before? How would they keep the Western spirit alive? The Alumnae Association sought many ideas, presented them to the alumnae and, in June of 1974, became a separately incorporated association, dedicated to the mission of maintaining in close association the alumnae of the Western College and raising funds for scholarships and other educational programs that continue the heritage and tradition of The Western College. Thirty-five years later your Association is still doing just that, thanks to the dedication and loyalty of alumnae, former faculty and friends of Western College. This we will cele- brate, beginning at Reunion in June of 2009 and culminating at Reunion 2010. I challenge EACH of you to actively participate in this yearlong celebration to show that the Western spirit still lives in you! Vol. LXXXII, No.2 Fall 2008 Western College What’s on Your Mind? 4 Alumnae Association, Inc. Board of Trustees Dubai 11 — Women as Global Leaders 6 President Stevie Bentzen Snook ’69 New Trustees 11 1st Vice President/Treasurer Doris Ning Wong ’62 Class Notes: 1929-1977, Faculty 13 2nd Vice President Barbara Williamson Wentz ’68 Secretary Reunion 2008 29 Jocelyn Woodson-Reed ’74 Chair, Nominating Committee In Memoriam 47 Carol Stone Lehman ’67 Trustees Luci Bilsland Galloway ’59 Western Program 48 Rita Ellen Greene ’73 Susan Berryhill Hill ’63 Class Notes: 1979-2007 49 Eva Nortvedt Humbach ’63 Sally Derby Miller ’56 Marcia Randlett Oder ’64 Nota Bene 60 Shirley Small Osepchuk ’55 Sylvia Stanfield ’65 From the Archives 61 Anne Adkins Weissenborn ’61 Diane Wright ’86 Gift Shop 62 On the cover: Here are 10 of the self- Mission of the Association: proclaimed “Dubai 11” — Miami students who participated in Dubai’s Women as Global • to preserve and encourage communication Leaders 2008 conference. Front row (l to r): among and with alumnae, Jessica Plechaty, Tho Nguyen, Erica Wirtz, • to support education and human values Kirby Broadnax, Rachel Rudwall; back row: that continue the heritage and tradition Elise Seiwert, Ashley Adkins, Caitlin Leach, of The Western College. Carrie Almasi, Stephanie Sterling. Not pictured: Caitlin Fitzmaurice. Credits: Cover photo, MU News & Information Office; Back cover design, Debbie Baker Bulletin Staff Publications Committee Office Staff Editor Members Director Catherine Bauer Cooper ’60 Shirley Small Osepchuk ’55, Chair Judy Waldron Design/Technology Consultant Rita Greene ’73 Senior Program Assistant Milburn Cooper Susan Berryhill Hill ’63 Debbie Baker Sally Derby Miller ’56 Accounting Associate Sylvia Stanfield ’65 Kaye Wolke Doris Ning Wong ’62 Diane Wright ’86 Published in the spring and fall and copyrighted 2008 by the Western College Alumnae Association, Inc., 325 S. Patterson Ave., Oxford, OH 45056-2499; telephone: 513-529-4400; fax: 513-529-7400; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.muohio.edu/wcaa v Printed on recycled paper What’s on Your Mind? Please tell us! So many Westerners are doing interesting things and thinking interesting thoughts that we’d like to share them with our readership as a whole. Often we hear in the office of an alum or friend involved in a particu- larly exciting activity or significant project. Many times a bit of news in Class Notes cries out for expansion. Our hope is that this space in the Bulletin will give more readers a greater voice. David Christof, former First Year Adviser, Peabody which strengthened my body, and then experiencing Hall, shared this reflection with the WCP listserv. We Western, which certainly strengthened my heart. Water asked for (and received) his permis- and Western are life! sion to share it with the rest of the Western family. David grew up in P.S. My 2nd place in “Shore to Slimy Shore” cer- the Czech Republic and holds an tainly ranks high in my athletic achievements. :) M.S. from the State University in Prague. He’s a long-distance run- ner and during the summer of 2007 was one of 20 who ran around the Lyn Miller Neely ’73, speaking for her class, gave this David Christof world — crossing 16 countries and toast at the June 2008 Reunion: three continents in 100 days — to promote safe drinking water. Currently, he is an assis- mong the women of the world, we who attended tant director of residential life and area coordinator at AWestern College are part of a privileged few who Whittier College, a small liberal arts college in Whitti- have had the opportunity for an education. As I was er, California. getting ready to leave this place 35 years ago, I remember hearing a ear Western! I just finished a 5-miler here on West- charge to use the education I had ern, and as I ran through the quietness of the nightly D received in the service of others. student-less campus, I couldn’t but reflect on the past Judging by the stories I’ve been lis- year in Peabody. I am really glad I had the opportunity tening to here this weekend, we to experience a true community — Western. I have tru- have responded well to that charge. ly enjoyed the Western spirit both personally and pro- We are and have been mothers, fessionally. It was heart-warming to be part of some- teachers, physicians, diplomats, thing real, meaningful, and authentic. And the Western Lyn Neely managers, and much more. graduation? Well, I can’t deny that it brought tears to my eyes. I was humbled that I got to be part of it, al- We form a community of positive influence across though wishing that I had been in Peabody longer. this country and around the world. We each contribute strength to and draw strength from this community. My In a few weeks I will be moving to California for friend and classmate, Joan Campbell, and I represent my new job at Whittier College in the LA area. Visitors the class of 1973 in toasting this inspiring community are, of course, welcome, but I do ask for at least a 23- and affirming our membership in it. hour notice. Soon I will unsubscribe from this listserv, thus in the future please contact me on my personal e- mail: [email protected]. The students and administrators in WCP showed me what true community is. Undoubtedly I will bring the spirit of Western to California, and to all my future endeavors for that matter. It has certainly been one hell of a year for me — first circumnavigating the globe 4 The Bulletin Bobby Cox ’83 was one of three members of the 25- Western was the place that gave us a foundation for year class who attended the June 2008 Reunion, but he the rest of our lives and for each of us we took what we gave the banquet toast for all Western Program alums: needed from what was offered. We loved the Western we attended and we carry memories in both our heart n behalf of the WCP alumni, I want to express our and head of all we learned and experienced while we gratitude for the gracious reception we have had O were here. from the Western College Alumnae. We feel part of a long legacy and our contact with the But the best part of all, from my perspective, is that generations of Western alums has I have found in returning that who we were and what given a sense of history that far sur- we felt is still here. It is not the fact that the college was passes legends of Helen Peabody’s all women, or an independent small college or a small ghost. close-knit part of the larger university; it is the spirit that seems to engulf everyone who spends time on this Indeed, as we face the prospect campus. ... of our own beloved program under- going an uncertain transformation, Bobby Cox we hope to embrace the challenge with the same spirit as have those who faced the chal- lenge of the closing of the original Western College. Tim Matune graduated from the Western College Pro- And, as for you, we look forward to seeing the phoenix gram in ’81, has served on the Dean’s Alumni Advisory rise from the ashes and to play our role as alumni to Committee (DAAC), and returned in September with help shape a vibrant educational experience for future words of praise for MU President Hodge “for perceiv- students who manage to see the trees and the forest. ing and honoring the loyalty of the Western alumnae Long live the Western spirit! and alumni and thus preserving the connection with our school.” He continued with a challenge: e are here ..
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