Spring, 2000 Study still intense for Short Term Planning got him in feature films An Englishman is All-American Editor’s Notes . Rod Bussey, ’63, Publisher Ed Ford, Fd ’54, Cx’58, Interim Editor Jackie Collier Ballinger, ’80, Managing Editor Shelley Boone Rhodus, ’85, Class Notes Editor The Berea Alumnus is published quarterly for Berea College alumni and friends by the Berea College Public Relations Department, CPO 2216, Berea, Ky. 40404. Periodical Postage paid at Berea, Ky. and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Fukushima Keido (right), head of the Tofuku Temple in Kyoto, Japan, prepares a Japanese ink THE BEREA ALUMNUS, c/o Berea College painting banner at the recent Japan Semester Focus 2000 program sponsored by the Alumni Association, CPO 2203, Berea, Ky. International Center. 40404. Phone (859) 985-3104. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF Bringing the world to Berea—one of the major goals of the College’s Rod Bussey, ’63, Vice President for Alumni International Center—became a reality with the beginning of the Spring Term. Relations and Development Jackie Collier Ballinger, ’80, Executive Japanese arts, culture and history are included in an in-depth program that Director of Alumni Relations began in January and continues through May. Some of the highlights concerning Mary Labus, ’78, Associate Director the focus on Japan and its impact on the campus community are in Julie Shelley Boone Rhodus, ’85, Associate Director Melanie Conley Turner, ’94, Office Manager Sowell’s story that begins on page 8. Norma Proctor Kennedy, ’80, Secretary Motion picture actors have explored a variety of avenues in their quests to ALUMNI EXECUTIVE COUNCIL build film careers. Berea’s Muse Watson, Cx’71, devised a five-year plan that has resulted in roles in more than 20 major motion pictures. See page 11 and Alumni Association Officers: learn why the Louisiana native credits the late Paul Power, ’58, former Helena Jacobs Mink, ’51, President Rebecca Hollen Lewis, ’70, President-Elect Dramatics Lab director, for his career. David Hincks, ’82, Past President Stuart Moran, the College’s newest All-American, points out that friends Rod Bussey, ’63, Vice President for Alumni in his native England are proud of his accomplishments in cross country, but Relations and Development Jackie Collier Ballinger, ’80, Executive really don’t understand how an Englishman can be all american. The cultural Director puzzle notwithstanding, Moran believes his best running may be yet to come. Council Members: A profile on this outstanding athlete begins on page 16. Mary Labus, ’78, Associate Director Are you familiar with the Melungeons? Bill Fields, Cx’77, and S.J. Arthur, Shelley Boone Rhodus, ’85, Associate Director ’72, have become specialists concerning this multi-racial, multi-ethnic people, Dr. Larry D. Shinn, President Virgil Burnside, ’74; Tom Hutchens, ’67; Roy who first were documented in Appalachia late in the 18th century. Beginning Walters Jr., ’58 (2000); Paul Nestor, ’42; on page 21, Margaret Merrick explains how these alums are helping instill Virginia Ferrill Piland, ’43; Sara Zook, ’91 pride in an ancestry that nearly was forgotten. (2001); Danny Due, ’94; Tana Brown McCraw, ’81; Dr. Willie Parker, ’86 (2002); Willie Hill This issue also contains an article by Elizabeth Watts, ’99, who tells how III, ’90; Ernest Graham, ’49; Milinda Byrd Broomcrafts’ quality work has resulted in a continuing contract with one of the Compton, ’62 (2003); Vicki E. Allums, ’78, Melissa Jennings, ’95; Tracy E. Thompson, nation’s largest suppliers of broomcorn. You’ll also learn about some new ’80 (2004) Berea trustees, a Berea coach who now has won 25 coach-of-the year awards and plans for Summer Reunion 2000. The June 9-11 reunion will honor Alumni Trustees: Dr. James Burton, ’58 (2000); Jerry Cox, ’65 Harvey and Doris Hinkle Musser, two ’55 graduates, who’ll receive the (2001); Jewerette “J.J.” Johnson, ’77 (2003); Distinguished Alumnus Award. William H. Johnstone, ’74 (2004) — Berea College Alumni Association — Berea College Public Relations 2 Sp r i n g 2 0 0 0 (ISSN 0005-8874) Website:www.berea.edu COVER: Students in Dr. Megan Hoffman’s Short Term class, “This is Your Brain,” check encephalograph activity being conducted on Cassondra Covington, a sophomore from Birmingham, Ala. Others (clockwise, from top) are Misty Brackeen, senior, Mussel Shoals, Ala.; Aladdin Al-Haddad, freshman, Syria; Trombonist Rudge Arnold (left photo), a Martha Brewer, freshman, Lewisburg, Ohio; senior from Pulaski, Va., practices with the Tracey Owensby, sophomore, Elizabethtown, College’s Jazz Ensemble just prior to the 24- Ky.; Bryan Temes, sophomore, Williamstown, member group’s Short Term Tour. The Ky., and Dr. Hoffman, biology faculty. Ensemble performed in Kentucky and Tennessee. 8 Japan comes to campus More than 25 programs set through May as Center begins cultural immersion experience. 11 It started with a truck Muse Watson devised a five-year plan to act in motion pictures. It worked. 16 The best may be yet to come Berea All-American seeks a new goal in the marathon at NAIA nationals. 18 Short Term A special time for learning 20 Areputation that’s valued Broomcraft’s emphasis on quality has resulted in continuing contracts with a world supplier of broomcorn. 21 The Mulungeon heritage Alums key players in move to instill pride in ancestry nearly forgotten. 2 Editor’s Notes 4 News Around Campus 24 About Berea People 34 ACloser Look The Millennium Collection: Craft items from the 1900s resurface Photo Credits: Cover, “This is Your Brain” p. 18, by Dale Dombrowski; Trombonist p. 3, by Julie Sowell; Basketball, swimmings pgs. 4-5, Watson pgs. 13-14, Moran pgs. 16-back cover, Johnson p. 17 by Robert McGraw, ’03; Watson/boy p. 14, by Kennett Payne, ’00; Phonathon p. 6, chess p. 18, by Kim Alsip, ’02; Japanese activities pgs. 2-9, Watson pgs. 11-12, Madrigal, dance pgs. 18-19, by Sarah Stockton, ’02; Language Lab p. 10, broomcorn p. 20, by Jason Slusher, ’02; Dance p. 19, Melungeon pgs. 21-22-23, by Leah Stanton, ’00; Radiation p. 19, by Dr. Smith T. Powell. Spring 2000 Volume 70, Number 4 3 NewsNews around around Campus Campus News around Campus News around Campus New positions as co-manager of retail food Building and a renovation of the operations, minority affairs coordina- structure’s second floor where the tor and human resources manager. Students for Appalachia (SFA) offices Laird, Blade elected The former Berea basketball star are currently located. In addition, a Board approves served on the Alumni Association’s connector between Trades and Bruce Alumni Council from 1988-1993 and will be constructed and a new elevator renovations projects received the Oustanding Young for the buildings will be installed. Alumnus Award in 1983. Active in The connector will facilitate The College’s Board of Trustees community service, Blade has served collaboration between the CELTS has elected two new members and on the Com-monwealth of Kentucky project and Berea’s Appalachian approved two renovation projects for Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, Center. campus buildings. the board of di-rectors of the Both reno- The new trustees are the Rev. Bridgehaven Mental Health Canon Lucinda Rawlings Laird, rector Organization, and other organizations. of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Kettering, the third structure to be Service recognizes Louisville, and Vance Blade, assistant renovated as part of a six-year residence distribution manager for The Kroger 80 mid-year grads hall rejuvenation program, will have Company’s Louisville Division. Both Eighty Berea College seniors all infrastructure systems upgraded and will assume six-year terms, Laird begin- participated in the recognition service a new data communications capabilities ning in May and Blade in October. for mid-year graduates on Dec. 12. added. An eight-10 member student Approval also was given for a Candidates recognized were crew will work with project contractors $2.6- million renovation for Kettering expected to complete degree require- for the length of the project. A Women’s Residence Hall and a $2.1- ments at the end of December, 1999 student crew also was used with the million project for the Center on or January, 2000. recent Danforth Hall renovation. Excellence in Learning Through Dr. John Wallhauser, Distinguished The Trades-Bruce project will Service (CELTS) in the Trades and Professor of General Studies and create space for Berea’s new CELTS Bruce buildings. Work on Kettering Henry Mixter Penniman Professor of project. It involves mechanical and will begin at the conclusion of the Philosophy and Bible, gave the main electrical upgrades for the Trades Spring Term while address at the event. renovation activities will begin imme- diately for the Trades-Bruce project. Seabury action and activity The election and renovation Some of the key activities at the Seabury approvals resulted at the Board’s Feb. Center during January included basketball, 26 meeting. swimming and swimming classes. In men’s Rev. Canon Laird served as rector of St. Mark’s Church in Teaneck, N.J. and held several other positions in the Diocese of Newark before assuming her present post. She is a member of the national church’s Standing Com- mission on Ecumenical Relations and holds a B.A. from Barnard College and a Master of Divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary. basketball (left) Scott Moore (24), Gary Burns and Tad Brewer (5) go after a loose She has been an ordained priest in the ball during a victory over Bethel (Tenn.) Episcopal Church since 1982. College. The Mountaineers finished the Blade, a native of Eminence, Ky., season with an 18-12 record. Marsha Reeve will serve as an alumni trustee. He is (above), a sophomore from Bridgman, a 1982 graduate of Berea with a degree Mich., teaches a youngster how to swim at the Gunkler Natatorium under the watchful in business administration and has been eye of his mother.