Summer College 2007

Whitman College Campus, Walla Walla, Washington
June 10-15, 2007

Join Whitman College Alumni, Parents, and Friends for a fascinating study of the fire in our lives. The week will include: • studying the role of fire in pan religious thought and practice • controlled fires and ecosystem restoration • fire management • and the sun -- the ultimate fire. Rachel Smith '03 will talk about her study of wildfire suppression in Australia, New Zealand, African and Costa Rica during her post-Whitman Watson fellowship. Rachel is a graduate of the US Forest Service's Smokejumper Basic Training. See how our current faculty tackles this topic from the liberal arts perspective.

You are invited to the Whitman College campus for a week of intellectual challenge, lively discussion and entertaining experiences during Summer College 2007, June 10 to 15, 2007 on the Whitman College campus. Our Summer College offers a glance into the Whitman experience of today with instruction by professors and alumni, a field trip excursion and social events all in the beautiful campus setting beginning with an informal dinner Sunday evening and ends with lunch Friday. Participants attend the morning sessions as a group and then select an option for the afternoon sessions. The morning lecture sessions are held in the Kimball Theater, Hunter Conservatory. Afternoon session locations vary. On Thursday, the group will participate in an all day field trip with lunch provided.

Schedule Subject to Change.

The Agenda: The week begins with a reception Sunday evening, June 10, in Prentiss Hall and concludes lunchtime Friday, June 15.

Here is a sampling of the morning lectures for the week:

Burn it and They Will Come. Associate professor of biology Delbert Hutchison will talk about how regularly burning of Ozark oak-hickory forests have totally rejuvenated the communities in the region. Fire in Antiquity. Ruth Russo, Associate professor of chemistry, will dazzle the audience with fire demonstrations and highlight the differences between the way that ancients and moderns look at combustion. Flaming Salvation, Burning Damnation: Fire in the World Religions. Associate professor of religion and Asian studies Jonathan Walters will explore the wide-ranging roles played by fire-imagery and fire-related practices in a variety of Western and non-Western religious traditions. Hotspots: Global Wildland Fire Issues. Rachel Smith ’03 reports on her post-graduation Watson Fellowship which investigated wildfire polices in both first world and developing nations, observing first hand how societies are impacted by wildland fire. Burning the King in Effigy: The Roots of American Nationalism in the British Colonies. Professor of history and the Robert Allen Skotheim Chair, David F. Schmitz will lecture on the actions and efforts of local citizens that led to the American Revolution. Sun: The Ultimate Fire. From the core to the corona, this mass of helium and hydrogen is an energy wonder that has captivated the ages. Associate professor of astronomy and Garrett Fellow Ulysses J. Sofia will offer the science behind the myths with some spectacular images of the Sun. Field Trip. Spend a day in Columbia County visiting the site of two local wildfires and the restoration efforts. Mary Gibson, USFS, will take our group into the hills to show the after effects of fire.

Afternoon sessions Participants select one of the following:

Cooking with Fire. Participate in cooking demonstrations ( and tasting!) and learn how a college prepares meals for 1400 students daily. Students will have lunch with a chef at a local restaurant. Fire into Art. Associate professor of art and ceramicist Charles Timm-Ballard will introduce the class to ceramics. Light my Fire. Ed Dixon, associate professor of music will take a look into fire imagery in music and the strong emotions it conveys. Whitman 101. See what it takes to make a great college run from the professionals that make Whitman happen.

Registration information for Summer College 2007: $595.00 full registration (entire week) Regular registration includes all class activities, all meals through lunch on Friday, welcome reception, field trip and overnight accommodations in Prentiss Hall. $40.00 additional for optional Friday night in Prentiss, June 15 Participants who want to stay until Saturday may do so for an additional $40, which includes lodging and breakfast. $425 full program, day student (no housing) Day student registration includes all class activities, field trip, and all meals except breakfasts. $180 for lectures only The "Lectures Only" option includes Sunday reception, morning sessions, and field trip to view the Columbia County burn.

$100 per person deposit will reserve your space. Regular registration is inclusive of all events, meals and lodging in Prentiss Hall through lunch Friday. Participants who want to stay until Saturday may do so for an additional $40, which includes lodging and breakfast. Day student registration, without lodging, includes all activities and meals except breakfast. The "Lectures Only" option includes morning sessions, field trip and Sunday reception. Balance is due June 1. No refunds after June 1. Please note on your form if you have special needs with diet or room accommodations To register: Two ways to register --- Register online or use our PDF form (print, complete, mail) (pdf version. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this page. You can download a free copy from Adobe.) However, If you prefer, you may call the number listed below and register by phone with a credit card. Mail to: Whitman College Alumni Association, 219 Marcus St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. Any questions call 1-800-835-9448, ext. 1, (509) 527-5167 or email hoglund@whitman.edu. Participants will receive a confirmation letter in early June.
Register for Summer College