Alma College Alumni Magazine News and Events for Winter 2011 Inside: 125 Defining Moments Save-the-date — Celebrating 125 years accents Winter 2011 editor Mike Silverthorn designers Beth Pellerito Aimee Bentley photographer Skip Traynor printing Millbrook Printing contributors Jeff Abernathy Ellen Doepke 125 years Susan Heimburger Jeff Leestma ’78 As the campus contemplates its direction for the 125 years is a very long time. alumni notes compiled by decades to come, I have been reflecting a great But those same founders would find in the Alma Dolly Van Fossan ’11 deal on the 125 years of Alma’s history. What of today the very same values that led them to would our founders think if they were to see the found our campus in the first place. They would board of trustees Alma of today? Candace Croucher Dugan, Chair see a much larger campus than they envisioned Ron R. Sexton ’68, Vice Chair I’m convinced they would be gratified to find in 1886, but they would find a residential, liberal Larry R. Andrus ’72, Secretary the essential values that led them to take up the arts college deeply familiar to them at the same Bruce T. Alton timber magnate Ammi Wright’s offer of 30 acres time. They would find a college that helps C. David Campbell ’75 of land in the middle of the Lower Peninsula — its students to prepare for lives of service and David K. Chapoton ’57 James C. Conboy Jr. fairly isolated country in those days! — are with engagement in community in myriad ways, a Gary W. Fenchuk ’68 us still. When a group of Presbyterian pastors college that continues to be concerned with the John C. Foster ’67 from across the state first gathered in Saginaw to “ethical integrity, aesthetic appreciation and Nancy E. Gallagher ’80 contemplate forming a college, they envisioned spiritual sensitivity of our students.” Glenn D. Granger ’83 Greg Hatcher ’83 a school “of high literary and scientific character, As we plan for the Alma of the next five, and furnishing excellent educational advantages in all Richard P. Heuschele ’59 the next 125, years, we will keep our core values Kevin R. Johnson departments, which shall be permeated with the first in mind. I hope that you will join us on David P. Larsen ’84 spirit of Christ.” They sought to form a college campus April 8 to celebrate our 125th anni- David F. Lau that would build a liberal arts model familiar to versary. And I want to hear from you about Donald A. Lindow each of them. John McCormack your hopes for Alma’s future. Please feel free to Thomas J. McDowell No doubt our founders would be shocked to see follow me on Facebook and let me know your James T. McIntyre ’69 the breadth and depth of curricular offerings, thoughts there, e-mail me at abernathyj@alma. Stephen F. Meyer ’80 and they wouldn’t know what to make of the edu, or simply come by my office the next time Roger L. Myers round-the-clock culture that has students up you are on campus. I look forward to hearing Antje Newhagen ’67 Marcia J. Nunn ’73 until the wee hours every night for study and from you! J. David Pierce fun alike. David T. Provost ’76 D. Michael Sherman ’74 Lynne Sherwood Jeff Abernathy President mission Alma College’s mission is to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations. features 4 Defining moments Defining moments in Alma College’s 125-year history run the gamut from a student boycott in 1919 to the selec- tion of the “Scots” nickname in 1931 to the debut of the Barlow Award in 1949 to the burning of Old Main in 1969. Check out all 125 defining moments in this celebration of Alma College’s Quasquicentennial. 20 Spider signals: Courtship or appetizer Faculty biologist Dave Clark studies the complexity of spider behavior using high-definition computer anima- tion to analyze how the physical environment affects spider communication. His research is funded by a major grant from the National Science Foundation. 22 Model UN: Developing the capacity to serve Alma College has won more outstanding delegation awards than any college or university in the 88-year history of the National Model United Nations Conference. “Model UN is like a marathon with a sprint at the end; it’s definitely high energy,” says Jessica Karbowski ’04. 25 Loving your enemies In her journey for forgiveness following the loss of her brother in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Lisa Gibson ’91 promotes humility, goodwill and service to others through her national organization, Peace and Prosperity Alliance. 26 Making a difference in Africa Taylor Gibson ’10 has explored her passion for social issues around the world, including living and working in a Sierra Leone hospital in the months following her graduation. Making a difference didn’t come without a cost: she became ill with malaria, a disease that many Africans experience everyday. 30 Alma expands varsity sports offerings Women’s and men’s lacrosse, wrestling and women’s bowling are the newest additions to Alma College’s varsity sport offerings, with competition beginning in spring 2012. Alma now offers 22 varsity sports — 11 each for the women and men. accents is published in October, February departments and June for alumni, parents, students and other 18 thistle & pipes friends of Alma College. Send comments to Mike Silverthorn, Accents editor, Alma College, 614 W. 24 great scots Superior St., Alma, MI 48801-1599, or e-mail: 28 highland games [email protected]. 32 tartan tidbits alumni.alma.edu/accents @ www.alma.edu 3 125 defining moments We celebrate the 125th anniversary of the found- ing of Alma College with this list of 125 defining moments in Alma history. These “defining moments” capture events and achievements that celebrate, illustrate and define the history, traditions, accom- plishments and core values of Alma College. The information on these pages comes from many sources, including Within Our Bounds: A Centennial History of Alma College, the Alma College Book of Lists, annual year- books, archived files and submissions by alumni. 4 accents Leadership profile Alma College’s founding fathers In 1885, the Presbyterian Synod of Michi- formed, and it included Wight, Wright, want a college of high literary and scien- gan appointed a committee to consider August F. Bruske, George F. Hunting and tific character, furnishing excellent educa- the establishment of a Presbyterian Col- Thomas F. Merrill. Many of these names tional advantages in all departments.” lege within the state and to secure funds are now legacies that live on within the While 96 students enrolled, the first year for its foundation. buildings on campus. did not go without difficulty. Faced with This committee included notable names The Board began the process of putting a $3,000 deficit, it would be one of many such as J. Ambrose Wight, who preached together the College’s first faculty in 1886. when expenses exceeded income. about the need for such a college, inspir- Hunting, who became Alma College’s first As a result, faculty took pay cuts, some- ing wealthy lumberman Alexander president, was a professor of moral and times returning the pay they had already Folsom to pledge $50,000 to the cause. mental science. pocketed, and Hunting was relieved of his With additional pledges, the commit- Other faculty members included Mary faculty duties in order to spend more time tee found Ammi W. Wright, an Alma C. Gelston, Theodore Nelson, Joseph W. fund raising. lumberman with several business interests Ewing, Charles A. Davis and Kendall P. Such sacrifices would go on to become a who was eager to promote religious Brooks, Sr. permanent reflection of Alma’s selfless causes. He offered two buildings to the It was determined that the College should character. They also were a mark of the College and about 30 acres of land. be based on the principle of a liberal arts bold leadership that founded the College. The first Board of Trustees was soon education, with the Board saying, “We — Ellen Doepke 1887 — No. 1: George F. Hunting Michigan Infantry during the Civil War. He An artillery veteran of the Civil War, was a tireless worker for Alma even before George F. Hunting, the College’s first he became president and was named to its president, spent two years as a mining book- first Board of Trustees. In 1894, he bought keeper in the Upper Peninsula and pastored the property on which the Smith Alumni the First Presbyterian Church in Kalama- House now resides. He served until 1912. zoo. He once edited the Alma “News” and 1893 — Frank Knox enrolls counted poetry amongst his hobbies. He Frank Knox, Alma’s most famous alumnus, served from 1887 to 1891. arrived on campus in 1893. To pay for his 1887 — Classes begin schooling, he waited tables, gardened and Ninety-six students enrolled in the fall of even painted cereal advertisements on barns 1887. The original campus consisted of two in Gratiot County. After Alma, his accom- buildings — a recitation hall and dormitory plishments were extraordinary: He fought — located on a small rise “overlooking [the alongside Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough village] and commanding a delightful view Riders, published the Chicago Daily News, the 1800s of fields and farms on every side.” campaigned for vice president in 1936, and 1885 — Alma’s founding served as Secretary of the Navy during 1888 — Zeta Sigma founded World War II under Franklin D.