Whittier College Poet Commons The Rock Archives and Special Collections Fall 2008 The Rock, 2008 Fall (vol. 79, no. 1) Whittier College Follow this and additional works at: https://poetcommons.whittier.edu/rock PURPLE GOLD GO GREEN WHITTIER COLLEGE MAGAZINE CINEMA MEETS ACADEMIA: PROFS ON FILM FALL 2008 Reconnect, Reminisce, Reunion. If it's been a short time since your Whittier College graduation, or if it's been a long time but feels like just yesterday, then it's time to come home to the Poet campus. Whittier Weekend 2008 will take place October 17-19. This year's planned events include Friday, October 17 - the Purple & Gold Athletic Hall of Fame Induction, Poet Sunday, October 19, 2008 College classes with Joe Price, Rich Cheatham '68, Greg Woirol and Charles Lame, the Clift Bookstore Dedication, a special discussion "Election 2008: Whittier Perspectives on the Political Process," Reunion Class luncheons, a Class of 1993 Frisbee Throw, the Homecoming Pep Rally, and the Grand Opening Celebration of the new Campus Center. AND THAT'S JUST THE FIRST 24 HOURS. Please join us for this very special weekend and remember just how much fun it was to be a part of not just any college, but Whittier College. .A FUL.I. SCHEDULE OF EVI. LOCr:ED ON 47 TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT, or for any questions about Whittier Weekend 2008, please Homecoming Reunion contact the Office of Alumni Relations, 562.907.4222 or [email protected]. whittier.edu/alumni 00 liii WHITTIER. COLLEGE Fall 2008 Volume 79, Number 1 FEATURES Purple & Gold Go Green 26 The national trend is made manifest on the Whittier College campus, driven by student interest and administrative commitment, and played out in practical, curricular, and sometimes surprising ways. Profs on Film 32 Professors Bourgaize, Geirola, and Morris head to the movies to offer an academic critique of three, diverse late spring releases—"Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," "Under the Some Moon," and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Work Force 36 As the Class of 2008 moves beyond campus classrooms and into the work world, these five grads exemplify just how professionally prepared Whittier students can be. DEPARTMENTS From the Editor 2 President's Corner 3 Campus News Around the Rock 4 Society Pages 16 FacuLty Files 18 Sports 20 Alumni News Developing Whittier 40 Alumni Association President's Letter 44 Poet to Poet 50 Senior Moments 56 FSC Mixed Sources NO ABOUT THE COVER: Newly hired recycling manager Tyler Moselle '10 plans to "green up" campus by creating—and executing— a few, simple ideas. Photo by Steven Burns. This issue is printed on stock certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). 1 FROM THE EDITOR THE 11 11 THE MAGAZINE OF WHITTIER COLLEGE FRIENDS: Dana A. S. Rakoczy In our last issue (Spring '08), we asked that you share your own personal memories of campus coffee Ana Lilia Barraza house The Spot. Below is a sampling of the responses received—ironically, but perhaps not terribly surprising, many respondents were former employees, whose intimate knowledge of the iconic Lime Twig Letters to the 10, hangout proved most interesting! We also received a number of "favorite dish" reports... NOTES Editor are found 'S on page 54. Keep those stories coming, and keep The Spot's history alive! Gustavo Geirola David Bourgaize Ch-ers, Sean Morris Ana Lilia Barraza EDITOR Dana &.S..Aakoczy, Editor Erica Amico '10 Steven Addezio '09 Thanks to The Spot for helping make that MEMORIES OF THE SPOT Steven Burns - memory and the start of a lasting friendship. Erin Clancy '07 —CYDNEY (QUIJADA) SHUBIN '86 Kris Dobbyn '68 Thomas Elliot '11 Joshua Isaacs '94 In 1962, The Spot was the favorite hangout Mike Kennett between classes. It gave so many class- Tony Leon mates a chance to get caught up on the Laurence Martinez P'l 1 latest, and gave me an opportunity to eat Magaly Perez '09 10- I worked at The Spot during the first my all-time favorite lunch: a patty melt on Dave Peeters semester of 1942, before going into the toasted rye with grilled onions and a Coke. Glenn Piner service. At that time, it was a smaller version I became addicted to the sandwich, and 46 The Quaker Campus Debbie Shimizu '76 of the one you have pictured, and it was years later it is still my favorite sandwich Daniel Strauss '09 located adjacent to the Campus Inn. It on any menu. had a smaller counter and just a few tables Loved seeing the picture of The Spot Sharon D. I-Ierzberger and chairs. In the evening after it closed, on page two of the Spring 2008 issue. I cleaned the floors and counters and filled Thanks for the memories. the Coke machine. By the way, this would —DIANE (CALHOUN) make The Spot at least 66 years old, a little MENIUS-COSTLEY '62 older than you remember! THE ROCK, Fall 2008 Volume 79, Number 1 Questions? —BILL MCCLARY '48 Copyright © 2008 Whittier College Concerns? Love it? 10 It's possible that I'm the oldest Spot waitress, Hate it? Then Let having been employed in 1949-50. I graduated THE ROCK is published by us know. E-mail I had just met my Metaphonian pledge class Whittier College in winter of 1950 to teach school in Heritage [email protected] in early 1984. I didn't know any of these girls, Park. Somehow, I had two Whittier jobs my last Our mailing address is: Letters are subject so I invited one of them, Sandy (Tarmann) semester (and only semester as a senior—I THE ROCK to publication in Cron '87, to The Spot for lunch. As we were Office of Communications graduated in 3 1/2 years). Job #1, I was a a future issue of quietly waiting for our food, Sandy was play- Whittier College The Rock. student dorm mother at Newlin (there were two 13406 Philadelphia St. ing with a ketchup packet. It popped and Large dorms) for freshmen ladies/girls. It had P.O. Box 634 squirted ketchup in my hair. I turned and Whittier, CA 90608 previously been a boys' dorm. Job #2, I worked said "I don't even know you, and you've just briefly at the newly opened Spot. Phone (562) 907-4277 squirted me with ketchup!" We started to Fax (562) 907-4927 Laugh, which broke the ice, and we have been Continued on page 54 E-mail: [email protected] friends ever since. 2 PRESIDENT'S CORNER ALUMNI, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS: I LIKE THE OUTDOOR footprint and in deliberations about how we serve a bountiful plate of meat LIFE. Riding a bike to reduce it, we will expose students to or a healthy, environmentally sound along the shores of sunny countless teachable moments. They will amount?), whether to provide trays (do Southern California and learn facts, sure: how much energy we we make It easy to carry all selections hiking the trails in the consume through lighting, producing at once, knowing that ease encourages hills above Whittier are my fliers, and getting to and from campus; waste?), and what to do with all of the idea of a great day. And how geo-thermal systems and wind- waste produced (how much space and when I am out and about, power work; and why food production time can we devote to composting?). I especially like vistas, may be the single largest contributor to Running a cafeteria is no longer just magnificent views of mountains in the our footprint. Even more important than about being service-oriented, prepar- distance or the far side of a lake. Vistas learning facts will be learning how to ing delicious and nutritious foods, and make me smile. analyze data and explore solutions to the working within an allowable budget; it is Vistas also make me think. Drive from challenges we encounter, how to balance about having an impact on our environ- Los Angeles to Palm Springs and your competing interests and needs, and how ment with each decision, compromising first view of the desert will be windmills to deliberate. Students will get hands-on among conflicting goals, and educating dotting the landscape. Ride south from experience thinking globally and acting a clientele about outcomes related to the Seal Beach to Huntington Beach and you locally and will learn lessons about choices they make. It is a complex enter- will view oil drilling platforms in the dis- problem-solving that will serve them prise and both momentous and fun when tance. Visit the Grand Canyon in summer well in their careers and community life. you consider the world our students will and admire the view of a rock formation Perhaps most important, students will inherit and create. 50 miles away; then read the sign that learn that the future is not some inimu- I was standing on a hill in northern reminds viewers that in cleaner, purer table, impenetrable abstraction, but an Vermont last week, overlooking Lake times we could see 100 miles. entity that they can and must take part Champlain and admiring the views of Last year I signed the American in commanding and shaping. the mountains. As wind swept my face, College and University Presidents Climate In this issue of The Rock you will I remembered the argument between Commitment. Signing it meant that I was find examples of avenues—inside and those who want to place wind turbines committing Whittier to evaluate the role outside the classroom—through which off shorelines and those who want to we play in harming our environment and our students will become informed preserve pristine vistas.