fall 07 southern_final draft:southern magazine_text pages_draft 1 12/17/2007 2:07 PM Page 1 ’Southern A Publication for Alumni and Friends Fall 2007 Volume 33, Number 3 Voices of Our City ‘Southern alums are changing the world, starting right here in Birmingham,Alabama BSC Birmingham-Southern College fall 07 southern_final draft:southern magazine_text pages_draft 1 12/17/2007 2:07 PM Page 2 USPS 087-600 Dr. G. David Pollick, President Editor’s Note Carl F. Bailey, Chair, Board of Trustees ’Southern magazine is published three times a year It will make you smile in late spring, summer, and fall by the Office of Alumni Affairs and the Office of Communications by bill wagnon at Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama 35254. Non-profit postage paid at Birmingham, AL Permit No. 2575. The college has been the beneficiary over the past few months of some rather remarkable—and Postmaster: Send address changes to: Alumni innovative—gifts. There is no stronger endorsement of the good that is a Birmingham-Southern Affairs, Birmingham-Southern College, 900 education than when alumni, friends, foundations, and organizations choose to support the college Arkadelphia Road, Box 549003, Birmingham, AL in such meaningful ways. It will make you smile. 35254; telephone 205/226-4909; or access at There’s the new Admission Welcome Center—a remarkable facility. On one of my many recent www.bsc.edu/alumni. visits, I held the door open as a group from the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences was entering for a campus visit. You should have seen the glow in their eyes as they walked into Hulsey Editorial Offices: 15 Stockham Building Hall and one young female student remarked, “Is this really your welcome center? Wow!” I had to 900 Arkadelphia Road smile. Box 549004 I smiled the day that Dr. Peter and Derry Bunting came to campus for the cover photograph of Birmingham, AL 35254 this issue. It was obvious that just being on campus gave them such an energy—an energy not Phone: 205/226-4921 unnoticed by the students they met that day who were filled with gratitude as well as questions Fax: 205/226-4931 about the Buntings’ desire to integrate service into the learning experience. E-mail: [email protected] James T. Stephens, who never attended BSC, continues to give his time and resources in support of the liberal arts education he believes is so meaningful. I smiled as I interviewed this Editor: Bill Wagnon, Vice President compassionate man who saw a need and responded to it with a multi-million dollar gift to make a for Communications BSC education affordable to the deserving, but needy. Managing Editor: Pat Cole, The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham has recognized the college’s commitment to Communications Specialist protecting our environment and responded with a commitment to the Urban Environmental Studies major, and the Dixon Foundation has provided the funds to support six Hess Center Art Director: Tracy Thomas ’92, Fellows for each of the next three years as these students work to correct injustices in our society. Associate Director for Communications-- I’m still smiling. Publications And then there’s Regions Bank, a contribution you’ll read more about in our next issue. Earlier this fall, President David Pollick suggested contacting Regions about getting some of the “lifegreen” Contributing Writers: bikes the bank is using in its Sarah Barbee, Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations marketing campaign. It would, after Pat Cole, Communications Specialist all, he explained, make our campus Sara Doughton '04, Assistant Director of the even more environmentally friendly Bunting Center for Engaged Study and as students, faculty, and staff use them Community Action for sustainable transportation Brandon Gresham, Communications Specialist between campus facilities. On Carol Cook Hagood ’70, Communications December 5, Regions delivered 100 of Specialist the bikes to campus led by CEO Linda Hallmark, Communications Specialist Dowd Ritter, a BSC alumnus and Lisa Harrison, ’85 MPPM, Director of Alumni Affairs trustee, and several other BSC alumni Fred Sington, Director of Athletic Media Relations who work for the bank. Later that Bill Wagnon, Vice President for Communications day, Dr. Pollick would write … “the students are still smiling as they spin Photography: around campus. Give it a try. I defy Marc Bondarenko Matthew Mielke you not to smile.” When I returned to Billy Brown Dee Moore campus a few days later, having completely forgotten about the bikes while on a business trip, I Wynter Byrd Brandon Robbins Mallie Searcy went around a curve on Bruno Drive and saw a green bike in front of an academic building, then Pat Cole Fred Sington another beside the Norton Campus Center, another by a residence hall, and one outside Battle John Consoli Brandon Gresham Bill Wagnon Coliseum. He was right. I couldn’t help but smile. Carol Cook Hagood College Archives I apologize for all the smiling, but it’s sort of contagious. As is the support so many are showing Lisa Harrison Office of Athletic for our college. And I’m sure you’ll be smiling too as you read more on the pages that follow. Randy Lee Media Relations Submitted Photos www.bsc.edu Send news of alumni weddings, births, and Bill Wagnon deaths, and other ClassNotes material to Carol Vice President for Communications Cook Hagood at [email protected] or 205/226-4913. fall 07 southern_final draft:southern magazine_text pages_draft 1 12/17/2007 2:07 PM Page 1 Inside’Southern ’Southern magazine / Fall 2007 / Volume 33, Number 3 A Publication for Alumni and Friends BSC Features 18 Voices of Our City ‘Southern alums are changing the world, starting right here in Birmingham,Alabama Departments 2 Community News 8 Faculty News 12 Student News 44 Alumni Affairs 51 Philanthropy 58 Athletics 67 ClassNotes 81 ’Southern Voices On the Cover Dr. Peter Bunting ’66 and his wife, Derry Brice Bunting ’69, have always believed in giving back—whether to their community or to Birmingham-Southern—to help others. Now their hope is that their significant contribution to the college will help make the world a better place for all. Read more beginning on page 44. Photos by Brandon Gresham fall 2007 fall 07 southern_final draft:southern magazine_text pages_draft 1 12/17/2007 2:07 PM Page 2 COMMUNITY NEWS Admission Welcome Center Birmingham-Southern opens new ‘front door’ to campus by bill wagnon part of the recruiting process and making an enjoyable and welcoming first impression is so important. “We’ve already seen the benefits of the Admission Welcome Center among our future students. The reaction by visitors has been overwhelming.” Jeff Kallay, who is the “experience evangelist for TargetX, an interactive marketing firm for colleges and universities, visited Birmingham- Southern and the Admission Welcome Center in November. He travels the country helping colleges improve their campus experiences and tours. Kallay wrote in his online blog after his visit, “ … Birmingham- Southern’s Welcome Center is BSC’s new ‘front door,’ the Admission Welcome Center, opened its doors to visitors amazing. I tour 3-5 colleges and in September. universities a month and see my Birmingham-Southern has a new other amenities. Signs in a reserved share of admissions offices/visitor campus ‘front door’ as the parking area in the back of the centers. Birmingham-Southern Admission Welcome Center facility personally identify each day’s recently built the Welcome officially began hosting prospective visitors. Center/Admissions Office that rivals students and their families in A courtyard with knot garden (and should inspire) others. It is September. welcomes visitors who enter authentic to BSC and their audience. The $3.4 million, 9,800 square- between the two wings in the back It’s also spacious but intimate, filled foot facility is located just inside the of the building. First established in with natural light, has two large main entrance to campus and just England, knot gardens are a formal wings of offices and can be used by east of the Striplin Fitness and design of a variety of aromatic plants many departments on campus for Recreation Center. It is across the and culinary herbs. receptions and meetings. If you are street from the one-stop Student Construction was funded by driving through Birmingham, take Services Building, where prospective private donations. time to tour this amazing space.” students also can get questions Sheri Salmon, BSC’s dean of The building was funded through answered about financial aid. enrollment management, says the major donations from BSC trustees The new home for the Office of spacious facility is a much needed Billy Hulsey and James T. Stephens, Admission staff includes a great hall addition to the college’s student along with contributions from living room with a receptionist area, recruiting process. several other individuals, a video screening room on one end “We visited colleges similar to corporations, and organizations. of the hall and a covered porch on Birmingham-Southern all over the The great room in the front of the the other end, a kitchen, conference South, and each one had space facility was named Hulsey Hall to room, interview rooms for use by dedicated to welcoming prospective honor Hulsey and his wife, Millie. admission counselors and students and their parents to The spacious Hulsey Hall also is prospective students, and office campus,” notes Salmon. “The used for various campus special space for the admission staff, among campus visit is the most important events and receptions. 2/ ’southern fall 07 southern_final draft:southern magazine_text pages_draft 1 12/17/2007 2:07 PM Page 3 COMMUNITY NEWS Hulsey Hall in the new Admission Welcome Center serves as a “living room” for prospective students and their families, as well as an area for receptions and other special events.