FALL 2020
Whitman Magazine
Feature Stories
Message from the President
In this issue of Whitman Magazine, we’re highlighting members of the Whitman community who are supporting each other and their communities during the current COVID-19 crisis. Whitties are too creative to let a global pandemic keep us from building community and doing important work.
Changing Course
Whitman College is famed for its challenging academics, deep community engagement and the way it uniquely empowers students to create their best life. Last spring, when COVID-19 forced the college to move to online learning, professors had to ask: How do we translate Whitman’s robust academic programming, community-building and close connections to a virtual format?
Whitman’s First-Ever Academic Theme Explores Race, Violence, and Health
This is the first academic theme that Whitman has taken on, and its development has been spearheaded by Shampa Biswas, Professor of Politics and Judge & Mrs. Timothy A. Paul Chair of Political Science. In May, when people across the country took to the streets to condemn police brutality and racism—in the wake of the death of George Floyd—Biswas knew that Whitman needed to be ready to do something when students returned in the fall.
On The Front Lines
In the spring of 2020, elaborate equipment, extra sterilization, and multiple layers of masks and gloves became the new normal for hospitals and health care workers around the globe as the novel coronavirus, commonly known as COVID-19, spread and surged. For Whitman alumni working in health care, each day brought new challenges.
On Boyer Avenue
What’s happening on campus—community and college news.
Doing the Work
As the nation grapples with social and racial unrest, Whitman College stands committed to providing an equitable and diverse learning and working environment for all. "Our community, like our nation, is imperfect. But we will continue to work to make it better," Murray said. The Whitman Inclusion Task Force's mission: Develop an action plan that would create meaningful and measurable improvements in the campus climate.
New First Year Seminars Build Intellectual Community
This fall, new students are exploring these questions and more while they sharpen their writing, reading and discussion skills in Whitman College's new First Year Seminars program. The program—which replaces the Encounters curriculum for first-year students—has been built by faculty over the past two years, with the goal of preparing students to make the most of a liberal arts education.
A Commencement Like No Other
It was a spring semester dramatically disrupted, which led to the college's first virtual send-off for graduates. Faculty, family and friends logged on and followed along for Whitman College's 134th Commencement on May 24, 2020.
Tell Us About It!
Whether you’re just starting your first job, embarking on a career change, or preparing to retire after a fulfilling life’s work, we want to help you share your news with your classmates.