Whittier College Poet Commons The Rock Archives and Special Collections Fall 2007 The Rock, Fall 2007 (vol. 78, no. 2) Whittier College Follow this and additional works at: https://poetcommons.whittier.edu/rock WHITTIER COLLEGE MAGAZINE >> MODEL CITIZENS: THE MUN PROGRA FALL 2007 >> OUTSTANDING GRADUATES 8 2007 Whether it's been 50 years or five, or something in-between.. the time to come home is now. Whittier Weekend 2007 highlights include: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 Poet College. Return to the Whittier President's State of the College! Walk with the President. Take an classroom for a quick lesson in political Town Hall. Find out what's new and early morning campus stroll and share science or education and child develop- what's on the horizon for your alma mater. your ideas with President Herzberger. ment. (No tests will be given!) Alumni House Dedication Golden Anniversary Brunch. Bonfire & Pep Rally. Join generations Ceremony. Help usher in a new era Graduates gathered from 1956 and before of Poets for a pre-Homecoming tradition, of alumni-centered programming as welcome their latest club inductees, the complete with roaring blaze, cheers, and Johnson House is reinvented. Class of 1957. the crowning of Mr. and Ms. Whittier 2007. Homecoming Football Game: Poets 36th Annual Tardeada. This traditional Salsa Dancing. End the night under v. Staggs. All gloves are off as Whittier fiesta of food, music, and dance concludes the stars, learning to salsa with students takes on the team from Claremont-Mudd- the weekend's marathon of events. and faculty at Garrett House. Scripps. Our advantage? Ray Dezember '53 will serve as honorary Poet coach. Reunion Class Receptions & Dinners. Reunite with your fellow classmates to catch-up and to reminisce about your days on the Poet campus. Fall 2007 Volume 78, Number 2 FEATURES Public Service, Public Policy 24 Beyond the office of U.S. President, Whittier College has a proud history of olumni heading into public service, working to create and reform national public policy. Model Citizens 30 For more than 35 years, Whittier's Model United Nations program has educated students in the intricacies of international affairs, helping to develop their skills of negotiation and diplomacy. Outstanding Grads 36 Meet five of Whittier's newest alumni, outstanding representatives of the Class of 2007 in several disciplines, nominated by their faculty. DEPARTMENTS From the Editor 2 President's Corner 3 Campus News Around the Rock 4 Society Pages 12 Faculty Files 14 Sports 18 Alumni News Developing Whittier 40 Alumni Association President's Letter 41 Poet to Poet 46 Senior Moments 52 ABOUT THE COVER: A cornerstone of Whittier College's Quaker heritage, character, and educational program is service to the community—whether exercised in individual volunteerism, social work and education, political office or military commitment, or, as featured in this issue, in pursuit of public policy. 1 Mki FROM THE EDITOR THEROCK THE MAGAZINE OF WHITTIER COLLEG FRIENDS: Over the past few issues, I have received notes, e-mails, and passing comments on the lines that Dana A. S. Rakoczy appear at the bottom of most pages in the magazine—little-known Whittier College stories, histori- cal points, and "fun facts." I'm told that in some cases, this is some of the most interesting reading Marnie McLeod Santoyo in the publication, a critique I humbly-and-with-humor accept. However, in good conscience, I can't Gregg Rossen take any credit. The overwhelming majority of these gems are literally lifted from the work of Charles Nedra Lindsey "Chuck" Elliot'67, who authored the historical tome Whittier College: The first century on the Poet campus, published in 1986 for Whither's centennial. Because of Chuck's efforts, these interesting and colorful scraps of WC history are preserved in an amazing literary quilt. As someone who's not only StephthiChd 10 read this book cover-to-cover, but has shamelessly borrowed bits from it to serve this magazine, Erica Amico '10 I highly encourage you to thumb through a copy next time you're on campus. Just stop by my office; Jessica Santoyo '08 I have my copy at the ready, though it's looking a bit dog-eared by now. Ch Ii. :townmg Dana A.S. koczy, Editor Howard Cooke '51 Marleena Coulston '03 Paul Gallaher '07 LETTERS: Perhaps you were absent or asleep in your Hansen Hunt '08 grammar class when that word was defined. Matthew Jung '08 The presence of the Poet Revolutionary Mike Kennett Party (PRP), the College Democrats, and now —EARL ODY '49 Sudeshna Majumdar '07 re-establishment of the Republican Club as The Quaker Campus the Nixon Republican Club disturbs me as, I want to congratulate you concerning the by definition, all are vested interest groups Spring 2007 issue of The Rock. It is bright, Questions? and quite possibly will generate polarizing interesting, and informative copy, and I Sharon D. Herzberger Concerns? Love it? positions in campus life. Often collective think it continues to represent the college Hate it? Then Let action promotes discord. In my day, if I may, very well indeed. us know. E-mail Elizabeth Power Robison Whither's "clubs" were the Societies. We [email protected] —EUGENE S. MILLS, also had a Geology Club and a Religion Club. Letters are subject WHITTIER COLLEGE PRESIDENT EMERITUS THE ROCK, Fall 2007 No political positions were on the agenda. to publication in Volume 78, Number 1 a future issue of I agree with the author [Vince McLeod, 00- I usually just quickly thumb through, but Copyright © 2007 Whittier College The Rock. "Conservatively Speaking," The Rock, Spring this time I read much of the issue. The 2007] regarding American politics taking a various political articles were very good ... I'm THE ROCK is published by Whittier College turn for the worse, but Whither need not a very conservative type guy and was a bit have student organizations based on the afraid the Kissinger report was going to be Our mailing address is: beliefs of the major political parties, nor left-slanting and mean-spirited. It wasn't. THE ROCK even the collective interests of the PRP. I even felt OK with the faculty-student Office of Communications Whittier College stance, as it did place that era's politics —ZANE DE ARAKAL '51 13406 Philadelphia St. "in context." I also liked the sections about P.O. Box 634 10, Using the word "famous" in reference to campus spiritual life, the thorough inform- Whittier, CA 90608 Nixon ["Richard M. Nixon Fellowship Program ation about sports, and the light shone Phone (562) 907-4277 Successfully Underway," The Rock, Spring 2007] upon society life. Fax (562) 907-4927 either represents your blind loyalty to the —TOM NOBLE'67, E-mail: [email protected] Republican Party, or your ignorance of history. PROUD WILLIAM PENN! A more appropriate word would be "infamous." 2 PRESIDENT'S CORNER ALUMNI, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS: A MINI-REVOLUTION is This year, faced once again with on the National Survey of Student underway across America, this request, many college and univer- Engagement (NSSE). As a measure of the with many college presi- sity presidents rebelled and many others environment for learning on campus and dents feeling as I do and vowed to educate aspiring students and a predictor of how much a student will saying "enough is enough." their families about valid means of judg- grow intellectually and personally during Americans love rankings. ing the quality and value of the colleges the college years. the NSSE has no peer. We are constantly creating and universities they explore. I willingly share Whittier's own results and recreating lists of the On this issue, I have started my own with all inquirers. top 10 football and basket- mini-campaign. I point every college- Of course, since Whittier College scores ball teams, the top 100 communities in bound student toward three particular highly on the NSSE (in fact, our seniors' which to live, the top songs of the year, benchmarks, which, as a parent of recent ratings place us near the top of three of and even the top 10 worst-named college college graduates and as a college presi- the five major factors), and since our class mascots (am I the only one who doesn't dent, I have found to be quite revealing sizes are small (a healthy 13-to- 1), our diver- mind the Poets always being named to of an institution's quality and value. sity enviable (42 percent of students are this list?(. Creating and debating such lists First. I advise prospective students to people of color, as are almost one-third of is fun, and gives relatives and friends visit each campus of interest and find at the faculty), and our faculty and academic something to argue about when they get least five seniors, to ask if they can identify culture supportive, I might be accused of together. However, in most cases it would three-to-five faculty members who know some bias in advocating these measures. be folly to base important decisions on them well enough to write a personalized, But watch carefully for news about higher such rankings. in-depth letter of recommendation for a education over the next year. You will see Unfortunately, college and university job or for graduate or professional school. authorities other than me recommending presidents have been guilty of lending A high number of "yes" answers usually such indices and, at the same time, dismiss- credibility year-after-year to one of the indicates that classes are small, the faculty ing the rankings and lists designed to sell most invalid, superficial, but widely read care, and the academic culture supports magazines rather than educate the public.