The Whitman College Magazine Online
Gazette

From the President

A remarkable year for Whitman College has been capped so far by the February visit of Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney. He had a delightful dinner with the English department and read poetry to a packed Cordiner Hall audience of students and townspeople. I am pleased to share the following highlights as well:

Professor Craig Gunsul presided over the 10th annual One Act Play-writing contest at Harper Joy Theatre. Sixteen students wrote one act plays and the best three, judged by a faculty committee on the basis of writing, were performed to sold-out crowds. Spokane junior Tiffany Meyers' play, The Towers, won first prize, determined by audience vote. Seniors Matthew Deegan and Isaac Kamola wrote the runner-up plays.
Several professors have published new books this year: George Castile, To Show Heart: Native American Self-Determination and Federal Indian Policy, 1960-1975; Stephen Rubin, coauthor, Teachers That Sexually Abuse Students: An Administrative and Legal Guide; David Schmitz, Thank God They're on Our Side: the United States and Right-Wing Dictatorships, 1921-1965; and L. G. "Skip" Wade, Jr., Organic Chemistry, fourth edition.
Laura Minnick and Michael Smith, '65, have been appointed as director of alumni affairs, a job they will share; they are the first couple to "job-share" in Whitman's administration.
Whitman wins outstanding rankings in this year's Princeton Review Guide to Best Colleges. The review calls Whitman one of the top 20 best undergraduate education experiences in America! Whitman continues to move up the rankings at U.S. News, now listed as one of the top 36 best liberal arts colleges in the nation - the only college in the Northwest so recognized.
Whitman enjoyed its all-time best semester of fund raising this summer and fall. Over $6 million was raised. Over $2 million has been contributed or pledged to the Penrose Library Campaign by current and past members of the boards of trustees and overseers.
Whitman has raised more than $8.5 million for the Penrose Memorial Library expansion and overhaul. The William Gates Foundation recently donated $500,000 for the construction of the Center for Teaching and Learning in the Library. Class reunion gifts last year and this year have also been of great help in this campaign.
Whitman debaters continue to excel at regional and national debate tournaments - and the trophies are piling up at their new headquarters on floor three of the Hunter Conservatory.
Whitman skiers have once again won both the women's and men's Northwest ski championships.
The women's cross country team won major victories at regionals and Whitman's varsity men's and women's tennis teams are aiming at a Northwest conference victory this spring.
Early Decision applications to Whitman for the class of 2003 increased by 50 percent this winter, topping last year, which had been our best ever. Regular applications are up nearly 15 percent over last year, our previous best year. Whitman will have an entering class of about 380 or so, chosen from more than 2000 applicants. Overall enrollment next year will be about 1300.
We mourned the loss this year of professors Paul Dewey (art history) and Jan Mejer (sociology) and sophomore David Beegle.
Please join us this year at Spring Alumni Weekend, April 22-25, Commencement weekend, May 21-23, and Homecoming, September 24-26. Please know you are always welcome to visit here.