57298_Cover_u5 12/1/08 7:40 PM Page 3 WINTER 2009 WHEATON The Mystery of Maya Blue What does the study of the Maya reveal about the ancient past? Inside: Alumni Research Findings • An Alumna’s Tales of SMP • The Promise Report 57298_Cover.qxd 11/19/08 12:30 PM Page 4 Wheaton College exists to help build the church and improve society worldwide by promoting the development of whole and effective Christians through excellence in programs of Christian higher education. This mission expresses our commitment to do all things “For Christ and His Kingdom.” VOLUME 12 ISSUE 1 22 WINTER 2009 ALUMNI NEWS DEPARTMENTS 36 A Word with Alumni 2 Letters From the Vice President for Advancement and 5 News Alumni Relations 12 Sports 37 Wheaton Alumni Association News Association news and events 31 The Promise Report An update on The Promise of Wheaton campaign 43 Alumni Class News 60 Authors Books by Wheaton’s faculty; thoughts from Cover photo: Anthropology Professor Dr. Dean E. Arnold ’64 published alumnus, Dr. Will Norton, Jr. ’63 searches for the clay that ancient Mayas combined with indigo to make a pigment called Maya Blue. For his contributions 62 Readings to his field of study and his 35 years of teaching at Wheaton, Excerpts from evangelism book by Dr. Rick Richardson Dr. Arnold received the Alumni Association’s Alumnus of the 64 Faculty Voice Year 2008 Award for Distinguished Service to Alma Mater. Dr. P. J. Hill tells us ways nations can prosper Read more on pages 22-23. Student Profile Photo by B. F. Bohor 65 A student learns to speak to his friend, a deaf student Inside photos: Michael Hudson ’89, pages 5-6, 10, 12, 33-39, 52, 63-65, back cover; reunion classes, pages 43-51. 66 Wheaton in the World Les Barker 33, 35, 56-57. Carlos Vergara, page 3. Dr. Sandra Joireman teaches in Ethiopia, and includes her family in the adventure Inside back cover: the Wheaton College Women’s Crew 501 College Avenue Team, by Michael Hudson ’89. 68 President’s Commentary Wheaton, Illinois 60187 57298_Cover_u3 11/25/08 7:17 AM Page 5 WHEATONcontents 24 28 FEATURES Wheaton View Major Changes 14 Every year, vivid but transient colors of 24 When these four alumni graduated from autumn envelop Wheaton’s campus. Wheaton, they never dreamed they’d be doing what they’re doing now. Life brings its surprises; read about what it brought them. Telling Numbers by Jennifer Grant ’89 16 A recent survey of Wheaton alumni provides stats you’ll want to know. by Danielle Kessler Worth the Trip 28 Here is a first-person account of an alumna’s experience spending the summer Shades of Grace between her sophomore and junior years in 22 Anthopology Professor Dr. Dean Arnold ’64 Mali, with Wheaton’s Student Missionary receives international acclaim for his scholarly Project (SMP). She left Africa with new research leading to discoveries related to knowledge and perspectives, and also with Maya Blue, a pigment of clay and indigo used a friendship that continues, now 20 years in Maya pottery, murals, and rituals. This later. SMP celebrates its 50th anniversary longtime Wheaton faculty member received this year, having sent more than 1,200 Wheaton’s Alumnus of the Year 2008 Award Wheaton students overseas to serve the for Distinguished Service to Alma Mater. Lord in many varied ways. by Jeremy Weber ’05 by Dawn Kotapish Noel ’92 57298_02-13.qxd 11/19/08 1:37 PM Page 2 letter from the editor fter seeing a photo of front campus in a recent Wheaton Editor Georgia I. Douglass ’70, M.A. ’94 magazine, Louise Crawford ’36 wrote a letter with a strong request: Managing Editor a“Please—don’t change Blanchard or the lovely lawn in front of it!” Jessica L. Allen Every year Blanchard Hall’s front lawn welcomes thousands of people News Editor Sarah Clark who live, work, and visit here. It compels even the neighbors to drop by. Editorial Consultant When Joshua, Ziel, and Diamond Smith go outside to play on the front Katherine Halberstadt Anderson ’90 lawn, it isn’t the front yard of their home on Union Street. They walk a half Design Consultants block to the College’s front lawn. Alice Isoz Chrismer ’70 Ellen Mardock It’s a grand playground—a special place to revel in the first warmth Chrismer + Mardock Communication of spring, climb trees that shade summer picnics, and find time to shuffle Class News Editor Donna Antoniuk through crisp, autumn leaves. Here, winter’s snow banks become Editorial Adviser forts, and snowmen, friends. And the seasons give proof of the passage Dr. R. Mark Dillon of time. Wheaton Alumni Association Louise will remember the huge elm trees that once towered over President the campus, but years ago they succumbed to Dutch elm disease. Matthew C. Hsieh ’93 Still, others stand: red and sugar maples, rare blue ashes, aged President-Elect Timothy A. Stoner ’82 gingkoes, larch and bald cypress, white pines, Norway spruce, and Executive Director white birches. Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch ’82 With more than six acres covered with Kentucky bluegrass and Professor Emeritus Leroy H. Pfund ’49 perennial rye, the lawn has room enough for students to throw a Frisbee Georgia I. Douglass Alumni Trustee Representatives or a football, to fly a kite, and to string up a nylon rope for slacklining. Matthew C. Hsieh ’93 ’70, M.A. ’94 Or, to take a break from studies and simply lie out on the grass, soak up Timothy A. Stoner ’82 Editor Robert D. Dye ’73 some sun, and dream. Wheaton College It is a classroom where professors teach. It is a practice room President for Conservatory students—to the delight of passersby. It is a place for Dr. Duane Litfin reading, study, prayer, and worship. Here, life-altering decisions have Provost Dr. Stanton L. Jones been and are being made. Senior Vice President Church youth groups, on campus for summer retreats, have been Dr. David E. Johnston ’65 known to play hide-and-seek on Blanchard’s front lawn. The person Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations who is “It” wanders the area, looking for those he can “tag out.” Dr. R. Mark Dillon Where do those who have hidden behind the trees run as they avoid “It”? Executive Assistant Where do they declare themselves to be safe? What do they touch to the President Marilee A. Melvin ’72 that becomes “home”? Wheaton is published autumn, winter, It is the cornerstone of Blanchard Hall, etched with Wheaton’s motto: spring, and special (catalog) by Wheaton College, 501 College Ave., For Christ and His Kingdom. Wheaton, IL 60187-5593, 630/752- Louise, do not be concerned. For almost 150 years Blanchard Tower 5779, and mailed free of charge to alumni and friends of Wheaton has stood as a sentry over its front lawn. Lord willing, it will continue College. Periodicals postage paid at Wheaton, IL (USPS 016326). to safeguard what He has wrought on this rise in the Illinois prairie. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187-5593. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors or the editors, and do not necessarily represent the official position of the College. © 2009 Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL www.wheaton.edu 2 WINTER 2009 57298_02-13.qxd 11/19/08 1:37 PM Page 3 dearWHEATON Community Considerations When believers follow the example of project regarding those men, plus other I have recently been mourning the loss Jesus, who came “not to be served but evangelicals through the centuries who of community that I experienced at to serve” (Matt. 20:20), their view of sought to salt and enlighten society with Wheaton. The amazing friends I met at the world changes, and they learn to both the gospel and practical Wheaton are now scattered here and serve. When we think “community,” we social/cultural reforms. there, and I feel that I have suffered make decisions based on the impact it has Then in 1960, Dr. Cairns’s small but a great loss. not just on us personally, but also our good book Saints in Society was While flipping through the recent family, the church, the locale, the nation, published. I have no proof but also no alumni magazine, I recognized a face in and the world—for generations to doubt that earlier he strongly influenced the picture of the reunion class of 1958. come. Carl Henry’s impactful Uneasy Conscience I looked more closely and realized that the Gary Fortney ’79 of Modern Fundamentalism. Thank God familiar face and the one next to it belong Phoenix, Arizona for cutting-edge professors at Wheaton to a couple at our church. I had no idea through the decades. that they were both Wheaton grads, albeit Wheaton Professors: Alex V. Wilson ’59 50 years ago. Where Would We Be Without Louisville, Kentucky And then it hit me. I may have lost the Them? community I had while at Wheaton, but the Various Christian leaders in the U.S. Editor’s note: Dr. Earle Cairns was loved extended Wheaton community is right recently unveiled “An Evangelical and respected by many of us. He passed where I am. Manifesto.” World magazine (May 3, 2008) away on May 28, 2008, at the age of 98. Cari Sue Palma ’01 describes it in detail. Three times that (See his obituary in Class News, page 51.) Gainesville, Florida article mentions William Wilberforce and his vast impact upon evangelicals. But most This year I celebrated my 50th birthday. I want to commend Drs.