Southwestern Spring 2008 by Southwestern University

Spring 2008

Sarofim School of Fine Arts Dedicated to the Arts: Fayez S. Sarofim A Renovation Revealed

The Politics of Language Pakistan: An Inside View What You Need to Understand Appreciating the Imperfection of Language

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

mandy Solin director of creative Services

Spring 2008

katy Boose editorial coordinator Antonio Banda Graphic designer magazine @ southwestern.edu

Features 12 | Pakistan: An inside View For Farhana Ali ’96, international policy is no desk job. 18 | dedicated to the Arts Fayez S. Sarofim’s support of the arts sparked a renovation. 20 | School of Fine Arts: A Renovation Revealed The impressive work of student photographers. 25 | what you need to understand A humorous look at why pundits and personalities love to assume that things are beyond our grasp. 26 | A career Set in Stone Davis Cornell ’99 has taken art from passion to profit.

Ann Tyrrell Cochran ’72 John egan Laura Gabriel ‘08 Justin Gould ’98 davi Johnson

elisabeth Piedmontmarton mary Gordon Spence Jeff Sutton ‘05 kalie Trueper ‘08

PhoToGRAPheRS Lucas Adams emily k. Black ’10 Amanda Figueroa ’10 casey Grier ‘08 Andrew Loehman

Jennifer B. martin ’08 claire mcAdams ’10 Sarah m. Reesor ’09 Nick Simonite ’07

ALumni & PARenT ReLATionS alumni @ southwestern.edu Georgianne Hewett ’90 Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations JoAnn Lucero Associate director of Alumni Relations megan Radison Associate director of Alumni and Parent Relations Amanda Randall Assistant director of Alumni Relations uniVeRSiTy ReLATionS cindy Locke Associate Vice President for university Relations ellen davis director of communications

On the cover Jennifer B. Martin ’08 photographed the newly renovated Sarofim School of Fine Arts as part of her coursework in Mary Hale Visser’s Spring 2008 Digital Photography class. See pg. 20 for more student photography from this course.

conTRiBuToRS

SoUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY’S CoRE PURPoSE Fostering a liberal arts community whose values and actions encourage contributions toward the well-being of humanity. SoUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY’S CoRE VALUES Cultivating academic excellence. Promoting lifelong learning and a passion for intellectual and personal growth. Fostering diverse perspectives. Being true to one’s self and others. Respecting the worth and dignity of persons. Encouraging activism in the pursuit of justice and the common good. Southwestern University’s recruiting of students, awarding of financial aid, and operation of programs and facilities are without regard to sex, race, color, religion, age, physical handicap, national or ethnic origin, or any other impermissible factor. The University’s commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

John Kotarski ’92 director of web development and communication chieF AdminiSTRATiVe oFFiceRS Jake B. Schrum ’68 President Richard L. Anderson, Vice President for Fiscal Affairs Gerald Brody, Vice President for Student Life James w. hunt, Provost and dean of the Faculty J. Eric McKinney ‘72, interim university chaplain c. Richard mckelvey, Vice President for institutional Advancement Thomas J. Oliver ’89 Vice President for enrollment Services Francie Schroeder, executive Assistant to the President Ronald L. Swain, Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Planning and Assessment Telephone: (512) 863-6511

Southwestern magazine is printed on galerie Art Cover and Text, which is made from 30 percent postconsumer fiber. It is printed by The Whitley Printing Company in Austin, which is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Southwestern magazine is published three times annually by the office of institutional Advancement. Bulk rate postage paid at Austin, Texas.

PReSidenT’S meSSAGe

Making Sense of the World Around Us

Shortly after Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, I had the opportunity to speak with one of our recent graduates who had met Bhutto when she came to Southwestern in 2005 to give our Shilling Lecture. He told me how much meeting her had helped him better understand the recent developments in Pakistan, and what an impact her death was having on him. Comments such as this reinforce for me the value of the education we provide at Southwestern. In addition to bringing world figures such as Benazir Bhutto to campus so students can meet them in person, we have professors such as Bob Snyder (profiled in this issue), who give our students the knowledge to make sense of today’s complicated world. And in turn, our graduates go on to careers in which they help others make sense of the world. Farhana Mahmood Ali, a 1996 graduate who now works as an analyst for the Rand Corporation, is just one of these. You can also read a fascinating profile of her in this magazine. In this issue, we also address the subject of communication— an appropriate topic in this election year. These days, real communication often gets lost with the growing popularity of instant messaging, text messaging and other formats made possible by modern technology. Many of these new forms of communication do not value the nuances of genuine conversations. You don’t get to see the reaction on someone’s face. And what you are trying to say might easily be misunderstood.

Another strength of Southwestern is that we teach students to communicate. One of the things I have tried to stress during my tenure as president here is developing a culture of “considerate conversations,” in which we do not merely hear what another person says—we truly listen. When we practice considerate conversations, we do not just consider another person’s viewpoint, we truly appreciate it. Considerate conversations are at the heart of two of our core values—Respecting the worth and dignity of persons and Fostering diverse perspectives. Yes, we still have occasional “e-mail wars.” But we also have students taking on the challenge of communication in very meaningful ways. For example, two years ago Natalie Goodnow ’07 directed a humorous, but thought-provoking theatre project about e-mail wars. Last year, some of our students wrote and produced a Theatre for Social Justice Project that addressed the issue of racism among high school students. And this spring, seniors Andrew Mayo and Martin Stanberry put on a two-day conference designed to foster dialogue about the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Communication is about putting yourself in other people’s shoes. My late father was a master at conversation. He believed he could learn something from people with whom he strongly disagreed. If we REALLY communicated with each other, we might have fewer conflicts in the world today.

Jake B. Schrum ’68 President, Southwestern University

cALendAR

May 2 5–9 14

May 10

commencement

Last day of classes

Final Examinations

Summer Term I In session from May 14–June 5th.

Memorial Day

June 9

Summer Term II In session from June 9–30.

on cAmPuS

In January, Southwestern hosted a delegation of 12 higher education administrators from Iraq. The group was visiting the United States to learn more about its higher education system. Their visit to Southwestern included a campus tour and meetings with administrators such as Provost Jim Hunt (back row, left).

Southwestern Magazine

on cAmPuS

Several oak trees and crape myrtles located behind the Cullen Building were moved in February to make room for the new Wilhelmina Cullen AMANDA FIgUERoA ‘10

Admission Center. The trees were relocated near the observatory and the Lord Center. Construction on the new admission center started this spring.

Southwestern Participates in New georgetown-Based Biotechnology Center Central Texas is rapidly emerging as a home to companies focusing on biotechnology and the life sciences, and Southwestern will have the chance to capitalize on this, thanks to the opening of a new biotechnology center in Georgetown. The University is among the founding partners of the Texas Life Sciences Commercialization Center (TLCC), which was formed to help companies that have commercially viable biotechnology products take them to the next step. “The center provides administrative support so companies can concentrate on product development,” explains TLCC President Russ Peterman. Support services include business consulting, accounting, legal services, and advice on securing venture capital and other funding sources. Four companies have moved into the center, which is located in a commercial park south of downtown Georgetown. One of the companies, Orthopeutics, has developed a process to inject tissue to repair disc problems in the spine. This process could replace surgery and cut the cost of treating back problems by a factor of 10. Another company, Quantum Logic Devices, has developed a device that can analyze biological reactions at the molecular level. This technology could revolutionize drug discovery and medical diagnosis. The third company, Radix Biosolutions, develops custom assay products for customers in industries such as agriculture and pharmaceutical research. The fourth company, Deaton Engineering, is an engineering firm with expertise in medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and other industries. “The synergies created by the co-location of these companies is phenomenal,” Peterman says. “If successful, the TLCC has the potential to revolutionize healthcare in the United States.”

Southwestern has provided in-kind support to the new center. Other partners on the project include the City of Georgetown and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce. A conference marking the official opening of the center was held at Southwestern late last year. The new center will provide internships for students who are interested in careers in medicine as well as those who want to learn about technology commercialization. For more information on the TLCC, visit www.texaslifesciences.com.

Southwestern Joins Colleges Nationwide in Climate Change Teach-in Southwestern joined more than 1,500 colleges and universities nationwide in a Jan. 31 “teach-in” about global warming. The project, called “Focus The Nation,” was designed to give students the tools needed to meet the challenge of global warming. Faculty members at participating universities were asked to incorporate global warming into their lectures the day of the event. At Southwestern, faculty members found creative ways to work the topic into classes ranging from statistics to theatre lighting design. In statistics classes, for example, Professors John Chapman and Tara Saenz talked about “good” and “bad” statistics relating to global warming. In his lighting design course, Theater Professor John Ore told students about the use of energy-saving LED lights. Southwestern also hosted a forum at which Georgetown Assistant City Manager Tom Yantis discussed a variety of environmental initiatives that are happening in the city of Georgetown. Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

on cAmPuS

Catherine Meeks, a community leader from Macon, georgia, visited Southwestern in February as part of the University’s “National Conversation” series. During her three-day visit, she met with a variety of students, faculty members and community representatives who have an interest in civic engagement. She is shown here signing one of her books at the Black History Month Dinner sponsored by E.B.o.N.Y.

Left to Right : LUCAS ADAMS

Verizon grant to Fund Domestic Violence Summer Intern Program Southwestern has received a $66,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to fund a summer intern program that will enable students to work with survivors of domestic violence. This summer, 10 students will work for agencies committed to addressing the epidemic of domestic violence. The students will help answer domestic violence emergency hotlines, provide care to children living at domestic violence shelters, work with law enforcement officials to provide support to survivors, teach English as a second language to survivors, assist agencies with grant writing efforts, and help with public awareness campaigns such as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Agencies that students will work with include the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center in Georgetown, LifeSteps in Georgetown and Round Rock, services to At-Risk Runaway Youth (STARRY) in Round Rock, Hope Alliance Crisis Center in Round Rock, and SafePlace in Austin. The agencies will provide training, guidance and mentoring to the students to help them develop an understanding of their organizations as well as the issue of domestic violence itself. Suzy Pukys, coordinator of civic engagement at Southwestern, says the program will benefit both students and the participating agencies. “Community partners will receive much-needed volunteer help for 10 weeks over the summer—when volunteer help traditionally dwindles—and students will gain insight and work experience around a pressing social problem,” she says. Pukys says domestic violence consistently emerges as an issue that concerns Southwestern students, and is one they want to invest time and energy in. However, most students need to make money over the summer and cannot afford to work without pay. The Verizon grant will solve this problem by enabling Southwestern to provide on-campus apartment housing for the students, along with a living stipend. 6

Southwestern Magazine

Students who participate in the program will present reports on their experience at Southwestern’s annual Civic Engagement Symposium in spring 2009. Two students will be chosen to give their presentations at the 20th Annual National Service-Learning Conference in April 2009. “We hope this project will serve as a model that we can make available to other colleges and universities nationwide,” Pukys says. “We also hope it will help raise awareness about a key issue in our community that is often underestimated, misunderstood or ignored.”

Southwestern to Launch Center for Hispanic Studies Southwestern has received $263,318 in government funds that will be used to launch a new Center for Hispanic Studies. The center will be run in partnership with the National Hispanic Institute, which is based in Maxwell, Texas (www.nhi-net.org/). Southwestern graduate Ernesto Nieto ’64 is the director of that institute, which has conducted leadership programs for Hispanic youth nationwide since 1979. One of the goals of the new center will be to conduct research on the effectiveness of programs that are designed to prepare Hispanic youth for college, including those run by NHI. “This grant will open doors to conducting much-needed research on the impact of community intervention strategies,” Nieto says. Research on the effectiveness of such programs is important because of the growing Hispanic population in Texas and nationwide. Unless this segment of the population is encouraged to attend college, the proportion of educated citizens will fall dramatically, which could have serious economic and social consequences. Staff members from NHI will conduct the research, as well as faculty members from Southwestern and other institutions. The fi ndings will be made available to educators and policymakers nationwide.

THINKINg AHEAD Construction on the new Charles and Elizabeth Prothro Center for Lifelong Learning will begin this summer. Southwestern held the official groundbreaking for the building in January when fundraising for the $11 million project was completed as part of Thinking Ahead: The Southwestern Campaign.

Creation of the new center fits in with one of the goals of Southwestern’s Strategic Plan for 2010, which calls for the creation of new institutes and centers. The Center for Hispanic Studies is the first center for which the university has received funding. Provost Jim Hunt says he is excited about the potential for doing research on college-bound Hispanic students, and in working to attract more Hispanic students to higher education. “Given our location, Hispanic students will continue to be a large part of our population,” Hunt says. “We need to understand the issues related to these students.”

Southwestern Honored for Community Service Southwestern was one of only three colleges and universities in Texas named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for 2007. The honor roll program, which was launched in 2006, recognizes colleges and universities nationwide that support innovative and effective community service and service-learning programs. In the first year of the program, Southwestern was named to the Honor Roll along with 15 other colleges and universities in Texas. For 2007, it made the Honor Roll with Distinction, along with just two other schools in Texas—Dallas Baptist University and The University of Texas at Arlington. Criteria for the Honor Roll with Distinction included scope and innovativeness of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses. During the 2006–07 academic year, about 50 percent of Southwestern students participated in some form of community service—significantly higher than the national rate of 30 percent reported by the Corporation for National and Community Service. These students contributed an estimated 18,000 hours of service to the community.

“I think the most persuasive section of our application was the narratives we submitted that gave living examples of student, faculty and staff civic engagement, community-based learning and activism,” says Suzy Pukys, coordinator of civic engagement. For more information on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, visit www.nationalservice.gov.

2008 Festival of the Arts to Focus on Mendelssohn Southwestern faculty, students and alumni will play a key role as Georgetown hosts its fourth annual Festival of the Arts June 5–8. This year’s event will focus on the life and works of Felix Mendelssohn. The festival’s opening event on June 5, which features a performance by two of America’s premier string quartets, will be held in the newly renovated Alma Thomas Theater. The following evening, June 6, choral and organ music written by Mendelssohn especially for English worship will be performed in Lois Perkins Chapel. Bishop Joe Wilson ’59 will be liturgist and Kenny Sheppard, professor of music, will conduct the Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble. On Saturday afternoon, June 7, Southwestern’s faculty piano trio (Eri Lee Lam, violin; Hai Zheng, cello; and Kiyoshi Tamagawa, piano) will perform chamber music of Mendelssohn. The festival ends Sunday afternoon, June 8, with a performance of Mendelssohn’s St. Paul Oratorio featuring soloists with Chorus Austin and the San Gabriel Chorale conducted by Kenny Sheppard. The music will be sung in a version newly edited by Michael Cooper, professor of music at Southwestern. Cooper will be among the scholars giving presentations at the festival, along with Professor emeritus Ellsworth Peterson ’55, who also serves as artistic director of the Festival. For the complete schedule of festival activities, visit www.georgetowntexassymphony.org.

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

Andrew Loehman

faculty news

Astronomy Professor Participating in Project to Help Learn More About Early History of the Universe A Southwester n astronomy professor is participating in a project that could add to our knowledge about the early history of the universe. The project involves the study of “intergalactic medium”—clouds of gas that are located between the galaxies in the universe. Because these clouds contain primordial material from the beginning of the universe, studying them can provide important clues about the early history of the universe, including galaxy formation. But it is not easy to study the intergalactic medium. Although the clouds may be hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of light years across, they are of such low density that they cannot be observed directly. The only way to “see” them is to study how light from more distant galaxies is absorbed as it passes through them. The absorption is revealed in the spectrum, or “light signature,” of the more distant galaxy. By studying spectra, astronomers can deduce information about the physical properties of clouds, such as density, thickness, temperature, composition and motion. “Studying these clouds requires sophisticated computer models of how light interacts with the gas in intergalactic space,” says Mark Bottorff, associate professor of physics. Bottorff is working on a project to develop these sophisticated computer models. The project is funded by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI), which is operated for NASA and headquartered at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The institute oversees all programming related to the Hubble Space Telescope. The principal researcher on the project is Gary Ferland at the University of Kentucky, who is one of the nation’s most respected astrophysicists. Bottorff did postdoctoral research with Ferland after completing his Ph.D. in physics at the University of Kentucky. 8

Southwestern Magazine

Ferland developed a computer program known as “Cloudy” that models the behavior of radiation passing through clouds of gas in space. The code for Cloudy is more than a quarter of a million lines long. Astronomers around the world use Cloudy to do their research. In addition to helping with the study of intergalactic medium, Bottorff notes that Cloudy is also used in other areas of astronomy such as the study of nebulas and quasars. Bottorff, who has been building computer models for more than 20 years, has a $14,500 grant from STSI to create models that will help validate the Cloudy code. “This will give astronomers more confidence that the code is in working order,” he says. His work will model how the clouds are exposed to radiation from the Big Bang (the birth of the universe), as well as more nearby galaxies and energetic quasars. Until now, he explains, models of the clouds have been very simple because computers haven’t been fast enough to calculate more realistic models. “With every simplification, you are less certain that the model is an accurate description of reality,” Bottorff says. “Now computers are fast enough that more sophisticated models can be built to carry out these calculations.” For example, he says, models can now be created in 2-D and 3-D instead of just 1-D. “This is a great thing for Southwestern because it allows us to be doing astronomy on the cutting edge of astrophysics,” Bottorff says. Kevin O’Neil, a junior majoring in physics and business, has been helping Bottorff with his research. O’Neil, who plans to pursue graduate studies in either physics or mechanical engineering, says he has “thoroughly enjoyed” his work on the project. “This experience highlights the benefits provided to students who attend small schools with dedicated and engaging faculty,” O’Neil says. “Dr. Bottorff has provided me with an outstanding learning opportunity.”

student news

Andrew Loehman

A Southwestern biology professor received international attention this spring for research he conducted along with two of his former students. Max Taub, associate professor of biology, Brian Miller ’07 and Holly Allen ’06, did a “meta-analysis” of previous research that had been done on the effect of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide on the protein concentrations in barley, rice, wheat, soybean and potato. Their study found that the crops had significantly lower protein concentrations when grown in atmospheres containing elevated levels of carbon dioxide. Potatoes showed a nearly 14 percent decrease in protein, while the grain crops of barley, rice and wheat showed reductions of 15.3 percent, 9.9 percent and 9.8 percent respectively. The protein decrease in soybeans was much lower, at 1.4 percent. “This is just one more example of the impact global changes could have on us,” Taub says. He notes that the impact will be felt the most in poorer countries, where people rely more on plant products for protein. Taub estimates that 40 percent of human dietary protein worldwide comes from these so-called C3 grains and root crops, both of which show decreased protein concentration at higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The study grew out of a question posed by Allen in one of Taub’s Global Change Biology classes. For the study, Allen and Miller helped Taub analyze more than 200 experiments that had been previously conducted by other researchers. Their research was published in the March issue of Global Change Biology. After the study was published online, Taub received numerous requests for interviews from reporters around the world.

Taub is currently studying the impact of increased CO2 concentrations on the mineral composition of foods. Elements such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc are also important for a healthy diet.

Morehouse Exchange Student Promotes Diversity Southwestern is hosting its first exchange student this spring as part of an “Engaged Diversity” project the University is participating in along with Dillard University in New Orleans, HustonTillotson University in Austin, Morehouse College in Atlanta and Rhodes College in Memphis. Jeremy Battle is a senior from Morehouse College who is majoring in political science and hopes to pursue a career in public policy. Battle says his experiences growing up in Brighton, Alabama, led him to believe in the importance and power of diversity. Brighton, near Birmingham, is home to 3,640 residents, 89 percent of whom are African-American. He did not experience much diversity in high school until the summer after his junior year, when he attended a four-week college preparatory program at Stanford University. “I loved it,” Battle says of his experience at Stanford. “Getting out and seeing what the rest of the world looked like was everything I dreamed about as a kid.” Battle performed so well at the Stanford program that faculty members there urged him to continue his education at the university. He was accepted at Stanford and spent his first two years there before transferring to Morehouse, which is the only all-male historically Black institution of higher learning in America. Battle decided to spend his last semester at Southwestern in part because of the different experience it would offer him, but also because it would enable him to be closer to his wife, who is a student at The University of Texas School of Law. Battle says he has enjoyed meeting the faculty and students at Southwestern. “I have been quite wowed by the hospitality and incredible welcoming spirit that people have here,” he says. Battle has already given back to the Southwestern community. He performed a powerful vocal solo at the Martin Luther King Community Dinner in January and is forming a contemporary gospel choir for students, faculty and staff members. continued on following page Amanda Figueroa ‘10

Biology Professor Receives International Attention for Research Paper

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

STudenT newS continued from previous page And, he is building connections between Southwestern and Morehouse by doing an independent study project that involves political science, sociology and economics faculty members from the two schools. “I want to share with the Southwestern community who I am in every way,” Battle says. “By doing so, I believe I will accomplish the mission of the Engaged Diversity project. I am very glad to have had this opportunity to top off my undergraduate career.” Battle is the first student to take advantage of the student exchange component of the Engaged Diversity project, which is sponsored by the Mellon Foundation. In addition to his academic studies, Battle is working as a program specialist at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission this semester. His position involves helping the commission implement a new long-term care program for Medicaid recipients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Battle plans to begin working full-time for the commission this summer before pursuing graduate studies in public policy. He hopes to attend graduate school at either Princeton or Harvard. Last summer, he participated in a program designed to prepare students for graduate work at Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

Southwestern Student Receives National Internship Award Caitlin Cooper, a junior majoring in communication studies, was selected to receive the 2008 Academic Internship Student Achievement Award from the Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA). She received the award at the 2008 CEIA Annual Conference held March 9–11 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Cooper received the award for work she did as an intern with Austin-based National Instruments in the summer of 2007. She worked in the Direct Marketing department, where

she took it upon herself to expand and maintain the direct marketing intranet site that improved communication between the company’s corporate headquarters and its global offices. During her internship, Cooper was assisted by Emily Taylor ’07, who now works for National Instruments. CEIA assists colleges and universities that offer cooperative education and internship programs, and more than 700 members of the organization were eligible to nominate their internship students for the award. This was the second time in three years that a Southwestern student has received the Academic Internship Student Achievement Award. Melinda Smothermon Helsley ’06 received the award in 2006 for her work as an intern with the U.S. State Department.

Southwestern Student Volunteers in greece Many Southwestern students volunteer in the Georgetown area, but one Southwestern student found herself helping people in Greece last fall. Senior Aine McVey went to Greece for the College Year in Athens, which is a study abroad program focused on the history and civilization of Greece. Just before she arrived in Athens, more than 3,000 separate wildfires had ravaged the country, killing 68 people and leaving 4,000 homeless. The fires spared Athens, but regions just six miles outside of the city were burnt. “The air was really smoky the whole time I was there,” McVey says. McVey was one of four students from the College Year in Athens program who volunteered to participate in volunteer relief efforts organized by a Greek organization called Ecumenica. The students delivered relief packages to some villages on the Peloponnesus peninsula that were hardest-hit by the fires. “Most of the villagers seemed surprised that American students studying abroad would want to help them,” McVey says. “I’m glad I had the opportunity to help.”

Seniors Martin Stanberry (left) and Andrew Mayo (right) used a King Creativity Fund grant to host a conference on campus this spring titled “Building Bridges: Discussing the Realities of an Israeli-Palestinian Peace.” Speakers at the conference included Ibtisam Barakat, a Palestinian who grew up in Ramallah, West Bank; and Mark Braverman, a Jewish American who has devoted himself to working for peace between the State of Israel and the Palestinian people. Bob Snyder, a political science professor at Southwestern (not pictured), also spoke at the conference.

Southwestern Magazine

athletics

Women’s Basketball Reaches SCAC Tournament as West #4 Seed The Southwestern women’s basketball team closed out the regular season with a 12–13 overall record and a 6–9 mark in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play. The Pirates posted a 9–6 record in games played at home in the Robertson Center. SU dropped its first game at the conference tournament to defending national champion and eventual SCAC champion DePauw University.

Coin Flip Ends Men’s Basketball Season

Baclawski to Take Reigns of SU Women’s Soccer

The SU men’s basketball team closed out its season with a 6–9 record in the SCAC and an overall record of 11–14. The Pirates tied with Austin College for the fourth seed from the West Division and were even on every tiebreaker, resulting in a coin flip being the deciding factor. The flip went Austin’s way so the Pirates missed out on the conference tournament this season. SU continued its strong play at home, going 8–4 in the Robertson Center and brought the program’s home record for the last nine seasons to 71–35.

After a thorough national search, Southwestern University has hired Jene’ Baclawski to become the third head women’s soccer coach in program history beginning on April 14. “I’m extremely excited to be a part of such a prestigious academic institution as Southwestern. The Athletic Department and women’s soccer program prides itself on success. I look forward to building on last year’s success and getting the opportunity to coach a great group of young ladies. I’m excited about the reputation of the school academically as well as the facilities and the conference Southwestern is a part of. I am honored to be joining the Southwestern family,” Baclawski said. Baclawski comes to the Pirates after serving the last two years as the assistant women’s soccer coach and coordinator of the Athlete Tutor Program at Emory University. She brings experience working at a nationally renowned university with a strong academic background which will suit her well at Southwestern. A Texas native, Baclawski comes to SU with a knowledge of the state. That knowledge, along with her dynamic personality, will be a major asset in recruiting. She replaces Jack Flatau, who resigned after two seasons at the helm of the program.

Swimming Closes Out Season with Strong SCAC Championship Performance The Southwestern men’s and women’s swimming teams recently completed their 2007–2008 season at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship that was cohosted by the Pirates in Southlake, Texas. The SU women’s team posted its highest-ever point total, reaching 409.5 for the multi-day meet. The women placed fifth overall, the highest finish since 2003 when they took fourth. The Pirates have placed sixth in each of the last four years. On the men’s side, the Pirates placed eighth with 175 points. This was a major improvement for the men who totaled seven points at the 2007 SCAC Championship meet. The men’s team that had three on its roster last season boasted a roster of eight this year.

For Pirate Athletics news, scores and schedules, visit www.southwesternpirates.com.

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

“To understand what’s happening on the ground, you have to be there. You have to talk to people . . . To do good, solid research is not just sitting behind a desk looking at the Internet.” –Farhana Ali ’96 During regular journeys to the frequently unstable nation of Pakistan, Farhana Ali ’96 must be on guard at all times. Whether she is in Karachi, a city frequently rocked by terrorist violence, or in Peshawar, where a hand grenade can be purchased for less than $1 at a weapons bazaar, Ali travels with a driver who’s familiar with the area and bonds with Pakistanis who know the local terrain better than she does. Sometimes—a gathering at the U.S. Embassy, an upscale party at a home—it’s perfectly fine for her to put on an American-style business suit in the heavily Muslim nation. In other circumstances, donning that suit in Pakistan could jeopardize her life. When she wants to blend into the local culture, she’ll wear a traditional Pakistani outfit known as a salwar kameez—a long-sleeve tunic and baggy 12

Southwestern Magazine

pants—in muted colors. She’ll cover her head with a scarf. She’ll go without nail polish or lipstick. “You don’t want to show that you have money. You don’t want to show that you’re from America, that you have American products,” Ali explains. “You don’t want to stand out as an attractive person. You just want to be kind of bland.” Ali’s job is anything but bland, however. As an associate international policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit think tank based in Arlington, Virginia, Ali shares her expertise on terrorism, international politics and Muslim issues with policymakers, military strategists, security experts and others. In particular, Ali examines the ideology and motivations of terrorists, including female suicide bombers; security cooperation of Pakistan; and the Arab-Muslim world. Ali is fluent in six languages: English, French, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and elementary Arabic. She has published several research papers on female suicide bombers and other topics, and she has been quoted by the BBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and other media outlets. She has written commentaries for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Christian Science Monitor, among other publications.

Pakistan: An InsideView Farhana Mahmood Ali ’96 has risen to the top of America’s think-tank ranks by John Egan

Today, Ali is one of the few Muslim women working in the think-tank world. During the course of a workday, Ali may confer with a government official in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, teach a class on Al-Qaeda at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., or speak about the Islamic religion to officers at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. In recent months, Ali’s knowledge of Pakistan has taken on greater significance, following the December 2007 assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, head of the Pakistan People’s Party. Politically volatile Pakistan, located in South Asia, is one of the key U.S. allies in the war on terror. To deepen her expertise about Pakistan—a country that is about twice the size of California and is home to more than 164 million people—Ali visits her native land for two to three weeks at a time, every two or three months. The 34-year-old Ali was born in Pakistan, but was raised in Texas after her family immigrated to the United States. “To understand what’s happening on the ground, you have to be there. You have to talk to people. You have to understand the political climate. It’s the only way to understand what I call

‘the man on the street,’” she says. “To do good, solid research is not just sitting behind a desk looking at the Internet.” So far, Ali hasn’t been a behind-the-desk career woman. After majoring in political science at Southwestern and earning a master’s degree in security policy studies from The George Washington University in 1998, Ali spent five years as a counterterrorism analyst for the U.S. government. In those pre-9/11 days, she was the first Muslim-American woman hired by the federal government as a counterterrorism analyst. Leaving the federal government for RAND in 2005 freed Ali to undertake more in-depth research, travel more frequently and interact professionally with a broader range of people. Ali interacted twice with Bhutto. The first time was in 2005, when the politician visited Southwestern University for the Roy and Margaret Shilling Lecture Series. Ali remembers Bhutto as being impressive and articulate. At the same time, Ali says, she witnessed Bhutto’s lack of understanding of Islamic issues. When a female Southwestern student asked Bhutto about the history of women in Islam, the politician didn’t know how to respond, according to Ali. Bhutto turned to Ali at dinner and said: “You answer this.” Ali informed the Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

student that Islamic women have been progressive for centuries. For instance, Ali told the student that Prophet Muhammad’s first wife, Khadija al-Kubra, proposed marriage to him 1,400 years ago. “I didn’t know that,” Bhutto acknowledged. Ali was surprised at Bhutto’s reaction, since the tale is a familiar component of Islamic teachings. Just a few months before Bhutto’s assassination, Ali and her mother, Nargis Mahmood—who campaigned for Benazir’s father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in his successful 1977 bid for prime minister—met with the politician in Washington, D.C. Ali recalls Bhutto as charismatic, well-spoken, well-educated and

Stephen Cohen, Benazir Bhutto and Farhana Ali.

courageous. Ali says she admired Bhutto for rising to power in Pakistan in 1988 to become the first female leader of a Muslim nation, and for persevering despite numerous threats against her life. Bhutto was killed last year following a rally in Rawalpindi, where she was campaigning to regain the prime minister’s post. “She understood the Western mindset. She knew how to woo the American audience,” Ali says. “Because of that, we lost sight of some of her weaknesses.” Among Bhutto’s weaknesses, Ali cites the ineffective leadership during her two stints as Pakistan’s prime minister in the 1980s and ’90s, the splintered nature of the Bhutto-led Pakistan People’s Party and the corruption scandals that dogged Bhutto until her death. Ali says she was stunned and dismayed by Bhutto’s assassination. “I certainly was not a fan of Benazir Bhutto, but be that as it may, she did not deserve to be killed in that way,” Ali concedes. “Benazir Bhutto’s loss was a human tragedy but also a political tragedy for Pakistan—a political tragedy because it left this political vacuum in Pakistan . . . and what we’re faced with today.” U.S. officials, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistani people had expected Bhutto to win the election for prime minister. So when Bhutto was assassinated, her death created an enormous political void; Bhutto’s party and the opposition parties were left in disarray. “Pakistan has weathered many political storms,” Ali says. “This one might be the low point in Pakistan’s political history.” 14

Southwestern Magazine

Despite the current political storm, Ali says, Pakistanis are friendly toward individual Americans, but not America in general. Anti-U.S. sentiment is escalating in Pakistan, she says, as many people there believe their country is wrongly helping fight the war against terrorism on America’s behalf and that their president, Musharraf, is a puppet of the U.S. government. However, most Pakistanis warmly embrace Americans, she says. Ali says several American friends enjoy living there, never fearing for their lives and consistently being treated well. This kinder, gentler side of Pakistan typically is neglected by the news media, she says. During her time in the world’s sixth-largest country, Ali has cultivated strong relationships with scores of people— people she turns to for reliable information and people she trusts to help protect her so she can return home safely to her husband, Syed Wasim Ali, a software engineering director who’s originally from Karachi; their 7-year-old son; and their 5-year-old daughter. While in Pakistan, Ali doesn’t carry a gun for protection, although she has pondered it for those times when she’s in sketchy areas. To ensure she’s got an “exit strategy,” she makes a habit of meeting people in public places. “You just have to watch your back,” she says. She rigidly adheres to the watch-your-back philosophy in Karachi, an overcrowded city with an estimated 16 million residents and horrible traffic. She describes sections of Pakistan’s largest city as being like the Wild West. “I can understand how terrorists can hide in a city like Karachi,” Ali says. According to Ali, Karachi exhibits a split personality: “filthy rich” residents and skyscrapers on one side, impoverished people and slums on the other. Ali was in Karachi when American journalist Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by a militant group in 2002. Ali says she was alarmed by Pearl’s brutal slaying. Some people thought Pearl took extreme risks by trusting local Pakistanis he didn’t know very well to guide him through the dark alleys of Karachi, she says. “I was not fearful,” Ali recalls. “After all, I don’t look like Daniel Pearl. I can always hide my face beneath the veil.” Ali wasn’t in Karachi when two other notable tragedies occurred: the 2002 attack on the Sheraton hotel by a suicide bomber and the hit two years later on the U.S. consulate, again by a suicide bomber. “It’s a city where anything can happen, unfortunately,” Ali says. It seems that almost anything can happen in Ali’s line of work, too. In her career and her life, Ali views every challenge as an opportunity—her gender, her immigrant background, her Muslim heritage, her minority status, her Arab looks. Although she already has attained prominence in the think-tank ranks, Ali is determined to keep growing as a policy analyst. “I feel that I have so much more to achieve,” Ali says. “I feel that this is just the tip of the iceberg.” John Egan is a freelance writer and editor in Austin, Texas, and former editor and managing editor of the Austin Business Journal. John grew up in Olathe, Kansas, and graduated from the University of Kansas. He has called Austin home since 1999.

Southwestern University recognizes the life of Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan, assassinated on the campaign trail in Rawalpindi, Punjab, on December 27, 2007.

Southwestern hosted Prime Minister Bhutto on March 10, 2005, as the Roy and Margaret Shilling Lecturer. Two political science majors, Sarah Jessup ’07 and Kevin Livesay ’06 joined Bhutto on stage for a question-and-answer session. Following is an excerpt. Jessup: My first question to you is what do you think your greatest accomplishment is as prime minister and what legacy do you wish to leave behind, especially with the corruption charges against you? Bhutto: I believe my greatest contribution was to demonstrate that Muslim people could elect a woman as chief executive of a country. Pakistan was the first Muslim country to elect a woman prime minister, breaking the myth that Muslims considered women second-class citizens, fit only to live behind the four walls of their home. My election as prime minister was a catalyst to women everywhere, but especially to Muslim women. And I come across so many of them who said that they went up to their fathers and said, “If Benazir Bhutto can be prime minister of Pakistan, why can’t I work? Why can’t I leave my home?”

So in that sense they had an example to point to. There were many opponents that I faced. When you take over the elements of the order, and my government was a democratic government, an open government, and for all those who had trained the majority, who had learned to be fanatics, who believed that Pakistan and the Muslim world’s identity linked an interpretation of religion rather than on secular notions, for them I was a threat. And to destabilize my government they hurled all kinds of charges against me, but I never ran away from the charges. I faced each and every one of them. I fought them. I never gave up.

“It was a real privilege to share the stage with [Bhutto] and discuss something we both felt so strongly about.” –Sarah Jessup ’07 Jessup on her reaction to Bhutto’s assassination: “I remember how excited I was at having the chance to meet her. She was extremely gracious and incredibly intelligent. It was a real privilege to share the stage with her and discuss something we both felt so strongly about. I think her death is a real tragedy for Pakistan. The incredible results of the recent election in Pakistan show how widely respected she was and illustrates the desire for change from the people there.” Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

What Is It? “Doing better what Southwestern does best...” –Professor David Gaines, Director of Paideia In Paideia , groups of 10 students each meet with their own professor for 6 semesters. Paideia integrates cross-disciplinary perspectives: 24 Southwestern faculty members from 20 different disciplines currently serve as Paideia Professors, mentoring 240 Paideia Scholars. Paideia links academic coursework to experiences outside of the classroom. Every Paideia Scholar participates in civic engagement activities and has an enhanced research or artistic experience with a faculty member. Two hundred students have studied abroad in 40 countries.

For example, this year Professor Daniel Castro’s Paideia cohort joined with Southwestern’s Physical Plant and Department of Information Technology Services to deliver refurbished SU computers to Honduras. This is just one of the reasons Southwestern has earned Carnegie Foundation’s Community Engagement Classification and been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for 2007.

SO, if you’re still wondering what Paideia is: ®

“It is what

you make it!”

–Sarah Gould, Class of 2010, member of Professor Maria Cuevas’ Paideia cohort ®

Southwestern Magazine

eVeRy GiFT mATTeRS

The Priddy Challenge for Paideia : 速

Your gift can tip the balance!

HOW DOES IT WORK? Southwestern will receive $1 from The Robert & Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust for every $3 received in gifts to Paideia , thus increasing your gift by 33 percent. 速

WHY YOUR GIFT MATTERS: Gifts to Paideia support students and faculty, enhancing the educational experience for the entire campus community. For example, this past March, fellow seniors and Paideia Scholars, Andrew Mayo and Martin Stanberry, organized a conference titled Building Bridges: Discussing the Realities of an Israeli-Palestinian Peace. Mark Braverman, noted author Ibtisam Barakat, and Robert Snyder, professor of political science at Southwestern, offered insight into the religious, ethnic, political and economic factors impacting the conflict in the Middle East and ultimately, how knowledgeable citizens can influence global change. With your financial support, we can continue to push the limits of a liberal arts curriculum and provide an unrivaled educational experience for all of our students. 速

速

WHEN DOES THE CHALLENGE END? June 30, 2009

THE MoMENTUM IS BUILDINg

$6.6 million in new gifts

And bring an additional $3 MILLIoN

with nearly $2.4 million given to date

will TIP THE BALANCE

from the Priddy Charitable Trust

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

ANDREW LoEHMAN

Dedicated to the Arts Southwestern celebrates the renovation of the Fine Arts Center and the philanthropy of Fayez S. Sarofim

On March 7, Southwestern celebrated the recent renovation of the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center and the presentation of the President’s Philanthropy Award to Fayez S. Sarofim. Sarofim’s son, Christopher, attended the celebration and accepted the award on his father’s behalf. The President’s Philanthropy Award was established to recognize an individual, family or organization whose contributions have transformed Southwestern University, its students and its faculty. Previous recipients of the award include the Cullen family of Houston, The Brown Foundation Inc., and Red and Charline McCombs of San Antonio. Fayez S. Sarofim’s tradition of service to Southwestern began in 1968, when his Houston-based investment firm, Fayez Sarofim & Company, began managing portions of Southwestern’s endowment. Over the years, Sarofim has made more than $15 million in donations, giving Southwestern its first fine arts gallery, additional music studios and classrooms, muchneeded studios for painting and drawing, and most recently, funding the multi-million dollar renovation Casey grier ’08

Below Left to Right: nick SimoniTe ’07

Southwestern Magazine

to the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. In honor of his support of the arts, Southwestern renamed its school of fine arts in 1999. In addition, Southwestern has established the Fayez Sarofim Passion for the Arts Award, to be given annually to a graduating senior who exhibits a passion for the arts in their life or work, regardless of major. This year’s recipient was Senior Allison Kuo ’08, who is completing a major in studio arts with a minor in art history. In addition to supporting the arts, Sarofim has made regular contributions to Southwestern’s annual fund (now called The Southwestern Fund), which supports priority needs on campus such as scholarships, faculty development, library resources, and technology improvements. “Few persons in Southwestern’s storied history have had the impact Fayez Sarofim has had,” says President Jake B. Schrum ’68. “Through his management of much of Southwestern’s endowment as well as his philanthropy, he has played a major part in Southwestern’s transformation from a good regional liberal arts college to a peer of many of the best national liberal arts colleges in America.” Sarah M. Reesor ’09

Casey grier ’08

Fiddler on the Roof Musical delights sold-out crowd

The many new features of the renovated Alma Thomas Theater were on display in March as Southwestern staged a performance of the timeless musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” New rigging allowed heavy sets to be dropped down from the ceiling, and the orchestra was able to perform for the first time in a real orchestra pit. Students began working on the set, costumes, lighting and props for the performance in mid-January. Some of the backdrops for the set were two stories high, and were built and painted by approximately 20 students working nearly around the clock in the final weeks before the show. Students performed to a packed house all four nights of the production. They also performed the opening song from the musical, “Tradition,” at the March 7 dedication ceremony for the new theater. Welcoming audiences, faculty, staff and students back into the Alma Thomas Theater, Paul Gaffney, dean of The Sarofim School of Fine Arts said, “It’s good to be home.”

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

Right: Claire McAdams ’10

Sarah M. Reesor ’09

A Renovation Revealed Emily K. Black ’10

Course: Introduction to Digital Photography, Spring 2008 Professor: Mary Hale Visser Assignment: Research the philosophy behind the Bauhaus movement and apply those principles to the structure of the photographic image, revealing the form and purpose of the new additions to the Sarofim School of Fine Arts.

Sarah M. Reesor ’09

Renovations to the 720-seat Alma Thomas Theater included the addition of state-of-the-art lighting, sound and stage equipment. Carrying the weight of a performance, the new counter weight system (right) uses steel pipes, weights, pulleys, aircraft cables and ropes to raise and lower scenery and other stage equipment. An orchestra pit has been added, a new sound shell for orchestra and choral concerts was installed, and the audience seating area (left, bottom) was completely replaced. The Walzel Lobby (left, center) now provides a gathering place for audiences; new storage and work space improve production capabilities. The entire building has been made accessible for students and patrons with limited mobility.

Southwestern Magazine

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

faculty

David Olson Communication Studies

To people who know David Olson, an assistant professor of communication studies at Southwestern, a profession in teaching comes as no surprise. Even as a child, he valued education. “I walked a mile to and from school in minus 30 degrees,” he says. Born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Olson’s family moved to a community outside Detroit, where he attended high school. After high school, he enrolled at Grand Valley State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in English and theatre. He then received three master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. Olson enrolled in the performance studies doctoral program at The University of Texas, but decided it was not for him. He soon found himself as a speech writer for the Texas Natural Resources Commission. “This was challenging,” Olson says. “I was trying to highlight the personalities of my clients through speech, but I did not know them.” He found that the use of narrative in his speeches was crucial. “I began to ask my clients about their own interests and passions.” Using their background, Olson could better develop the speech and include not only that they were passionate about an issue, but why. Today, Olson uses the same technique to teach public speaking to students at Southwestern. “What really engages people is a story that goes along with what you are talking about,” he says. Olson began teaching part-time at Southwestern in 1992 after a short stint writing speeches for the Texas Senate. He

Southwestern Magazine

now works full-time at the University. In addition to teaching two sections of public speaking, he is an academic advisor for 35 students and directs the Communication Studies Internship Program. Olson says he enjoys helping students gain confidence as public speakers. “Some students come in to the semester terrified to get up at the podium, and they leave able to rattle off a five-minute speech about words drawn out of a hat,” he says. “Watching them grow is incredibly rewarding.” Olson also enjoys directing the internship program. “I worked for a short time as a career counselor at a junior college, and I am always thinking about the future of my students,” he says. This semester, Olson is managing 20 student interns as they work in different communication-related fields on and off campus. In his spare time, Olson enjoys reading fiction and history books. The bookcases that line the walls of his office are nods to that. Currently, Olson is juggling five books. “I read multiple books at once because I tend to dream about the books I read,” he says. “I must be strategic.” Olson says he appreciates the opportunity to teach at Southwestern. “Southwestern students are different,” he says. “In a big school, as a professor, you may spend five minutes with a student. Southwestern students are much more demanding. They want my time, and I want theirs. Through our mutual demands, we form relationships. They get to know me and I get to know them, and that is terrifically gratifying.” –Kalie Trueper ’08

nick simonite ’07

Bob Snyder

Political Science

While the war on terrorism rages, Bob Snyder is keeping a close eye on Pakistan, which has been shaken by the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the ensuing political upheaval. As Snyder views it, Pakistan sits at the epicenter of international terrorism, with terrorist masterminds Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri suspected of hiding somewhere in that country. “I think Pakistan is a very troubling country,” Snyder says. “One of the big reasons why the United States needs to be so concerned is that Pakistan has a nuclear arsenal. The United States has to worry about whether this nuclear arsenal is secure.” For Snyder, a professor of political science at Southwestern, tracking the goings-on in Pakistan is all in a day’s work. Since joining the Southwestern faculty in 1992, Snyder has gravitated toward teaching and researching subjects like the Cold War, international conflict, Islamic extremism and terrorism. Snyder recalls that Bhutto devoted much of her 2005 speech at Southwestern to terrorism and democracy. By contrast, during a private dinner that Snyder attended, Bhutto focused on the plight of Pakistan’s poor. In both settings, Bhutto came across as personable, smart and articulate, Snyder says. Another contrast: the facets of Bhutto’s political life. On the one hand, she represented democracy and Islamic modernism, Snyder says. On the other hand, her administration was stained by corruption, he says, and her political ascension was built on family aristocracy.

“There was a certain limitation to the kind of democracy that she was prepared to support,” Snyder says. He was shocked but not terribly surprised by the assassination of Bhutto, as she had been a longtime target of enemies. Sadly, it was likely that Bhutto would be assassinated, he says. Obviously, the slaying of Bhutto was a significant topic of conversation in Snyder’s political science classes. In the classroom, Snyder seeks to mix lectures and discussions, history and current events. He frequently plays devil’s advocate to spark debate. “Sometimes, my classes don’t end on time because we’re still talking about different issues,” Snyder says. Political issues did not dominate dinner-table discussion at Snyder’s childhood home in suburban Philadelphia, although he has been interested in history and international politics since elementary school. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from McDaniel College in Maryland, Snyder went on to earn a master’s degree in international relations at the University of Pennsylvania and a doctoral degree in political science at the University of Michigan. Despite his in-depth study of politics, Snyder says he has never been too politically active. He votes in elections, but he has never campaigned for a political candidate. Snyder says he is not interested in being a big-time political player. He would rather stay on the sidelines as an observer. So, would Snyder ever be tempted to run for public office? “Absolutely not,” he says. “No desire whatsoever.” –John Egan

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

What

Receive Income for Life with a Charitable Gift Annuity

hankful for the financial help that allowed him to attend Southwestern, Dr. Seng K. Ooi ’60 and spouse Helen Ooi have set up a charitable gift annuity with the University in addition to an outright gift. The charitable gift annuity is one of the most popular types of life income gifts to Southwestern. In return for a gift of money, securities or real estate, the University agrees to pay the donor a fixed income for life. The donor can make a meaningful contribution to Southwestern while also enhancing his or her economic security. Call the Office of Gift and Estate Planning for a complimentary copy of our booklet, 12 Ways a Charitable Gift Annuity May Benefit You. If you turn 65 before June 2009 and have named Southwestern in your will or trust, your gift may be counted in Thinking Ahead: The Southwestern Campaign. To receive more information on estate planning or to notify Southwestern of your charitable gift intentions, contact Robyn Burchfiel ’89, Director of Gift and Estate Planning, at robyn.burchfiel@ southwestern.edu or 800.960.6363.

Southwestern Magazine

You

If only they would understand. I’m talking about experts who are called upon daily to enlighten us. From professors to pundits, snake charmers to surgeons—ask them a question, and chances are they reply, “What you need to understand…” In the olden days (which I figure is any time before 2000) when news interviewers asked questions, experts answered them outright. Here’s the way it might have gone on National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” before the turn of the century: BOB EDWARDS: Tell us how you started writing songs, Mr. Nelson. WILLIE NELSON: Well, Bob, I sat down in a chair, picked up a pencil and started scribbling on the back of a ketchup-soaked napkin. If you listen to “Morning Edition” these days, you’re likely to hear this scenario: RENEE MONTAGNE: Doctor Healer, tell us about the breakthrough medical procedure that helps millions of arthritis suffers. DR. HEALER: First, Renee, what you need to understand is that the hip bone’s connected to the thigh bone; the thigh bone’s connected to the knee bone…

Hear Mary Gordon Spence explain “What You Need to Understand” at: www.southwestern.edu/magazine/

Need to Understand ... by Mary Gordon Spence

©iStockphoto.com/Oksana Grivina

It’s not only the so-called experts who have perpetuated WYNTU. (I made up that name myself—it’s pronounced WIN-tu.) WYNTU occurs in everyday conversations as people try to convince their friends and colleagues to think as they do. NOTE: For generations, teenagers have proclaimed that their parents don’t understand them. It’s actually helpful that today’s parents know about WYNTU.

3. A whole lot of people, especially those with slightly elevated opinions of themselves, use WYNTU because they think the rest of us are just too dumb to understand straightforward answers. Since there could be a few folks who are skeptical about my research, I went the extra mile to ensure its validity: I interviewed my neighbor, John Kelso, an Austin AmericanStatesman (alleged) humor columnist.

TEENAGER: Mother, I’ve already explained why I drove your new BMW to practice without permission. You just don’t understand me.

MGS: Mr. Kelso, why do people, when asked a question, begin their answers with “what you need to understand?”

MOTHER: What you need to understand, Alyssa, is that you’re grounded for 10 years.

JOHN KELSO: Those people just want to make themselves sound educated.

I’ve been researching the WYNTU phenomenon, and although it’s less-than-scientific, I’m standing by my results: • “What you need to understand” appears a jillion times more often in speech than in writing. Thank goodness most newspaper and magazine editors—and English teachers— keep a red pen handy. • There are three basic explanations for WYNTU. 1. Some people use WYNTU because they’ve heard it so much it’s become a habit—a bad habit. 2. Lots of people use WYNTU because they believe the more they explain things, the more others will agree with their point of few.

(And then Kelso added the most plausible explanation of all.) “What you need to understand is that this is a bunch of [expletive deleted]” I couldn’t have said it better myself. Mary Gordon Spence writes columns for The Austin American-Statesman and regularly broadcasts on KUT, Austin’s public radio station. Mary Gordon (that’s her double first name) grew up in a small Central Texas town and is known for her storytelling, ukulele playing, wit and wisdom.

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

A Career Set In Stone Davis Cornell ’99 and the business of art

Southwestern Magazine

“Pigeonholed,” 78 x 38 x 10 in., Indiana limestone, 2007 PHIL HoLLENBECK

Davis Cornell ’99 considered several career paths, including film, engineering and art. He ended up earning a bachelor’s degree in studio art with an emphasis in sculpture and has since made art his career. Cornell credits Mary Hale Visser, professor of art, with having “a major impact” on his choice of art as a career and for pushing him toward excellence in craftsmanship. These days, Davis applies the knowledge he acquired at Southwestern to his craft; he’s a sculptor with his own business in Dallas, La Scimmia Studios. His sculptures— mostly limestone pieces—are in homes and public displays throughout the Southwest. In December, Cornell received the prestigious Dan Pogue Gold Medal Award for a limestone carving, “Pigeonholed,” shown at a major sculpture exhibit in Marble Falls, Texas. After an apprenticeship with Dallas stone sculptor Harold F. Clayton, Cornell trained in Pietrasanta, Italy, where Michelangelo went in search of the perfect stone. The following year, Cornell returned to Texas to be an architectural stone carver, again working with Clayton. Today, Cornell rents studio space from Clayton. Cornell launched La Scimmia Studios in 2005. “The hours are nice,” he says. “I can really get busy when I’m inspired.” But Cornell tries to limit himself to eight or nine hours of work each day. “This is really more fun than work for me, so I sometimes work at least one day over the weekend as well,” he says. Despite the fun, being a self-employed artist does present obstacles. Balancing creative matters with business matters can be tricky, Cornell says, as putting your mind to finances saps energy from your art. “I try to cram any business activities, like clerical work, into about three days each month, so I can stay focused on the art,” Cornell says. In promotional materials for his business, Cornell explains the artistic side of his one-of-a-kind sculptures: “I’ve been influenced by great architects and engineers and also by nature and its beauty, spending time observing my natural environment. I envision forms in thought and bring them to life, concentrating on the aesthetic qualities of the medium and the form itself.” At La Scimmia Studios, you’ll find Cornell developing commissioned pieces from limestone, as well as marble, wood and metal. “I certainly don’t feel restricted to any type of material—whatever grabs me—although stone has got a pretty good hold on me,” Cornell says. “I really enjoy the permanence of it, creating art that fights with the stone being so rigid and cold and immobile.” On the low end, one of Cornell’s works costs about $5,000. On the high end, a piece can carry a price tag of $20,000 and up. From design to stone-ordering to carving, a project consumes at least three months. “The stone is cheap,” Cornell says, “but the labor’s not.” –John Egan

Davis Cornell at work on “Abstract Bottle,” Italian Statuario Kevin Marple

“Visitor’s Center Relief,” 3 x 3 x 1 ft., antique Lueder’s limestone, 2003, Gary Blockley

Cornell received the prestigious Dan Pogue Gold Medal Award for a limestone carving, “Pigeonholed.” Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

Dear Southwestern University Alumni, In the past year, more than 300 alumni volunteers devoted their valuable personal time to work on programs that strengthen The Association of Southwestern University Alumni and advance Southwestern’s mission. Their service, whether on a board or a committee, planning events, raising money, serving on a panel or helping to recruit students, demonstrates that alumni care deeply about their alma mater. The 2001 Alumni Self-Study Commission’s report indicated that this was the case, and now that the University has responded to many of the Commission’s recommendations and created more ways for alumni to be meaningfully involved, it is clear that alumni can and will play an important role in shaping the future of Southwestern University. There are many opportunities for alumni to get involved and support both the association and Southwestern University. If you would like to be involved, please let us know by visiting www.southwestern.edu/volunteer/ and completing an interest form. One easy, but very important way that all of us can serve Southwestern is to refer young men and women who are exceptional students and citizens to the Southwestern University Office of Admission. The recruitment climate for the best students is competitive and the admission staff is always interested in learning about potential students for whom the University may be a good fit. How can you recognize a student who may be a good fit? In the first-year class that enrolled Fall 2007, half ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Eighty-two percent graduated in the top quarter of their class. Southwestern’s average SAT and ACT scores continue to be well above the national average. And, most students who enroll at Southwestern have taken honors and AP classes during their high school career. If you know of a prospective student, please refer her or him to the Office of Admission for follow-up. Referrals may be made online by visiting www.southwestern.edu/alumnireferral. Thank you for your continued support of our association’s efforts to connect alumni with one another and the University for the benefit of all.

Ann Tyrrell Cochran ’72 President, The Association of Southwestern University Alumni

Southwestern Magazine

get Involved! Become an Alumni Volunteer T h i s J a nu a r y, 6 6 Southwestern alumni a t t e n d e d Volu nt e e r Leadership Weekend 2008. There, they learned about the many ways alumni can get involved as volunteers, including class reunion planning, local association development, prospective student recruiting and managing class fundraising efforts. As volunteers, alumni contribute an essential service to Southwestern students, parents and alumni as they support and embody the lifelong Southwestern Experience. If you would like to connect with your alma mater and continue your Southwestern experience as a volunteer, visit www.southwestern.edu/volunteer/ and fill out the online interest form to let us know what volunteer activities interest you!

ALumni newS Pictured from left to right: Kenda Jameson Evans ’92, The Association Nominations and Awards Chair, Ann Tyrrell Cochran ’72, The Association President, and Georgianne Hewett ’90, associate vice president for alumni and parent relations.

Today, McKee is studying to become a physician assistant at Stony Brook University. While working to affect sweeping change through policy has been rewarding, what she finds most fulfi lling are the day-to-day interactions with people. When others express surprise at her choice to make this major professional shift, she responds that when one is equipped with general background knowledge and the ability to think critically, “the world is your oyster . . . you can pick up and re-educate yourself and change the direction of your career, or your personal life, whenever the opportunity presents itself to you, or you can create that opportunity for yourself.” Reflecting on her life’s trajectory, McKee does not think in terms of life before and after entering the health field. Rather, she sees her experience as taking place on a continuum that began even before she graduated. “Southwestern really helped me know that all of these different currents of knowledge and experiences are all part of who we are. It’s a real blessing to be able to explore them all when you’re at Southwestern.”

Local Associations Update

Putting Theory into Practice: Amy McKee ’96 Amy McKee ’96 was always intrigued by the interplay of theory and practice. As a political science and sociology/anthropology major, she studied cultural patterns with Gwen Kennedy Neville, professor emeritus of sociology and anthropology, and social movements with Eric Selbin, professor of political science and University Scholar, who became her mentor. Outside the classroom, she pursued her passion for social justice through the Gender Awareness Center and Destination: Service. By the time she graduated, McKee knew she wanted to work in a “helpful” profession. Selbin recalls, “Amy could have done anything . . . but she wanted to make sure she didn’t end up in an ivory tower. She wanted to affect people’s lives.” In the 12 years since graduation, McKee worked as a social worker and researcher with Worldwide Ministries in Nicaragua, earned a master’s degree in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University, promoted human rights policy issues as a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. State Department, volunteered as a patient advocate at The George Washington University Hospital and served on the Darfur Atrocities Investigation Team in Chad, all the time seeking to learn how the threads of culture and political policy run through the everyday lives of individuals.

The Association of Southwestern University Alumni envisions that the Southwestern Experience can continue for alumni no matter where they live. Therefore, The Association supports alumni who want to organize local associations for the purpose of connecting Southwestern alumni with one another and the University. This spring, The Association of Southwestern University Alumni welcomes two new local associations: The Colorado Association and The Kansas-Missouri Association (official title to be announced). If you are interested in bringing a local association to your area, please contact alumni@ southwestern.edu. Each local association sponsors between two and eight events a year, including Road Scholars events, Days of Service, Candlelight Services and happy hours. Keep up to date on the upcoming events that these groups are planning, view photos from past events and find officer contact information by visiting www.sugrads.org and clicking on “Local Associations.” Find out what’s happening in your area! • The Bay Area Association • The Big Apple Association • The Colorado Association • The Dallas Association • The Fort Worth Area Association • The greater Austin Association • The greater georgetown Association

• The Houston Association • The Kansas-Missouri Association • The Los Angeles Area Association • The Metropolitan Phoenix Association • The San Antonio Area Association • The Washington, D.C. Association Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

nin r a le ng ding! o l life xpan s ’ tion are e a i c sso unities A The pport o

arts • education • religion • recreation • arts • education • religion • recreation • arts • education • religion • recreation • arts • education • religion • recreation • arts • education • religion • recreation

The Athenaeum Hotel at Chautauqua Institution Welcomes Southwestern University Nestled on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State, this picturesque community known as Chautauqua Institution evokes the friendliness and charm of a bygone era. Chautauqua offers an astonishing array of summertime programs that make this National Historic Landmark a world-renowned center for lifelong educational, recreational, artistic and religious pursuits. The historic Athenaeum Hotel at Chautauqua Institution welcomes the alumni, faculty, staff and students from Southwestern University and will offer special group rates for the entire 2008 Summer Lecture Series. WEEK 1: June 23–27 Sport in America

WEEK 4: July 14–18 The Ethical Frontiers of Science

WEEK 2: June 30–4 Restoring Legitimacy to our Election System WEEK 3: July 7–11 Roger Rosenblatt and Friends: On Writing

WEEK 5: July 21–25 American Foreign Policy: Leadership and Dialogue WEEK 6: July 28–August 1 Healing the Globe

WEEK 7: August 4–8 Faith in Public Life WEEK 8: August 11–15 What’s For Dinner? Food and Politics in the 21st Century WEEK 9: August 18–22 Darwin and Linnaeus: Their Impact on Our View of the Natural World

Special Group Rates for Southwestern University: • Double Occupancy: $262 per person, per day (all-inclusive) • Single Occupancy: $298 per person, per day (all-inclusive) * All quoted rates include overnight accommodations at the Athenaeum Hotel, all meals, service charges, gratuities and daily gate ticket. (Additional fee for opera and theater). Rates are applicable for selected rooms and upon availability.

Lectures Concerts Symphonies

Call 800.821.1881 for reservations • Limited Availability – Book Early Dining room dress code: Business casual - no jeans, t-shirts or shorts at dinner Breakfast/lunch dress code: Resort casual Southwestern University Group Discount ID: SWU

For more information visit www.athenaeum-hotel.com and www.ciweb.org for a complete schedule of events.

Southwestern Magazine

class notes

1933

Rev. Bruno C. Schmidt, Austin, former Southwestern faculty member (1944–1946), celebrated his 97th birthday with family and fellow alumni Ruth Schmidt Dyar ’59, John C. Schmidt ’61, Laura Merrill ’84 and Gregory Dyar ’88.

1950

Rev. Harold Reynolds, Tulsa, Okla., retired in 1991 from the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church.

1957

Dr. Charles A. Rogers, San Antonio, retired from teaching theology in 1985, after 20 years as a professor at the Duke Divinity School and the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University. Now, after retiring from 20 years as a chaplain for the Methodist Healthcare System, he spends his time writing and traveling. He has been married for 10 years to Laura C. Rogers and has two children, Melinda Rogers ’90 and Christopher Rogers.

1960

Dr. Harold “Ron” Gollberg, Asheville, N.C., retired after 40 years as a psychiatrist and spends his time teaching and taking lifelong learning courses in genealogy, the Civil War and science.

1964

Dr. John Brockman, Beeville, retired as president of Coastal Bend College.

1966

Peggy Nixon Kennedy, Lubbock, works at Formby Prison Unit in Plainview as a counselor in the school.

J. David Price, Fort Worth, was selected as one of the state’s top 15 college professors by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, which named him a 2007 Piper Professor. He has taught for 35 years, 30 of them at Tarrant County College, where he won the Chancellor’s Award for Exemplary Teaching in 1989 and the Teaching Excellence Award of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges in 2002.

1968

Linda Cooper Holm, Texas City, retired from Texas City ISD after 34 years of teaching English and thanatology and serving as a senior counselor. She now works for Texas First Bank group as a travel coordinator for the Texas Travelers Program. Sarah Walthall Norris, Corpus Christi, serves as an elder and youth sponsor at Parkway Presbyterian Church. She and her husband of 40 years, Dr. Walter Beale Norris ’69, own Norris Farms and Pelican Bay Realty. They have three grown children, Mack, Dan (Tracie) and Sarah, and one grandchild, McKenna Jane.

1969

Dr. Walter Beale Norris, Corpus Christi [see 1968].

1970

Susan Tipton Kennedy, Deer Park, retired from teaching at Deer Park High School and San Jacinto College Central. She now does freelance database programming for the GI Department at Baylor College of Medicine. Visit www.kennedydatasolutions. net to view a PowerPoint of her work.

1971

Dr. Carol Pirrung Simpson, Lewisville, is in the final year of law school at Southern Methodist University after taking semiretirement from her faculty position at the University of North Texas. She will graduate from law school together with her son.

1973

Ruth Taylor Armstrong, Portland, Ore., made a major career change and now practices as a registered nurse at Vibra Specialty Hospital.

Beth Riley Thames, Spring, serves as coordinator of the Texas Bluebonnet Award after retiring from 34 years as a teacher and librarian for Aldine ISD. Her husband, John Thames ’74, also taught for 35 years and is now retired. They are enjoying granddaughter Samantha, daughter of Dr. Scott ’98 and Katie Thames Chirhart ’99.

1974

John Thames, Spring [see 1973].

Marriages Megan Browning to Ray Altman, both ’05, Oct. 13, 2007, living in New York, N.Y. Karen Harton to Alan Suderman, both ’01, Dec. 22, 2007, living in Juneau, Alaska. Melissa Crenshaw to Chet Lofgren, both ’00, Mar. 17, 2007, living in Sandpoint, Idaho. Ashley Norris to Salvador Richie, both ’06, Nov. 25, 2006, living in Oak Point. Stefanie Pennington ’02 to Steven Albright, Dec. 1, 2007, living in Houston. Ellie Portwood ’03 to Josiah McVicar, Oct. 20, 2007, living in Houston.

Births To Timothy and Erica Layton Andersen ’02, Hampton, Va., son Oliver Camden Andersen, Dec. 11, 2007. To Steve and Robyn Greb Burchfiel ’89, Austin, daughter Adeline Elise Burchfiel, Feb. 7, 2008. To Ryan and Carey Childers Clagett ’99, Trophy Club, son Owen Beale Clagett, Nov. 17, 2007. To Matthew and Sara Alvis Daly ’95, Spring, son Aidan Matthew Daly, Aug. 1, 2007. To Angie and Donny Edwards ’01, Colorado Springs, Colo., daughter Leah Nicole Edwards, Jan. 21, 2008. To Bert and Melissa Hall Foster ’97, Georgetown, twins, daughter Allison Marie Foster and son Braden Lee Foster, Sept. 26, 2007. To Amy and Matthew Gelotti ’00, Katy, daughter Tatum Gelotti, Nov. 28, 2007. To Joel and Jennifer Argabright Greenbaum ’93, Rockville, Md., son Max Greenbaum, June 24, 2007. To Dr. J. Scott ’91 and Heather Treter Hanson ’92, Mansfield, son Hayden Richard Hanson, Feb. 23, 2007. To Roy and Dr. Allison Watts Hinkamper ’98, High Ridge, Mo., daughter Ana Clare Hinkamper, Oct. 24, 2007. To Drs. Kyle and Shannon Webb Kaneaster, both ’98, Edmond, Okla., son Evan Luke Kaneaster, July 8, 2007. To Rick and Lauren Rathbun Koenig ’99, Houston, daughter Elise Koenig, Nov. 19, 2007. To Jeff and Grace McCoubrey-Mitchell Lindgren ’01, Georgetown, son Garrett Reid Lindgren, June 17, 2007.

Southwestern Magazine

1975

William W. Meadows, Fort Worth, was elected vice chairman of the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) board of directors. He is a former Fort Worth mayor pro tem and city councilman, active in numerous public service activities—including the Texas Water Development Board, the board of directors for Streams and Valleys Inc. and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. He is a trustee of the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation, chairs the Endowment Fund of the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge and is a director for the Southwestern Exposition and Stock Show. W. Rex Voland, Pflugerville, works for Three Ring Service, Inc., Austin’s premier entertainment company. He also serves as the director of “Qualima,” the vocal ensemble of the Austin Eckankar Center.

1976

Dr. Janet Flanagan Soller, Washington, D.C., invites friends to call or visit.

1977

Diane Henry Miller, Hockley, works as a librarian at Magnolia High School. She has two children, Jake and Jaclyn.

Dan Worley, Arlington, has worked 26 years as a social worker with the Fort Worth Public Health Department. He is active in several community coalitions, including the Tarrant County Fatherhood Coalition, the Tarrant County Infant Mortality Task Force and the Senior Advocacy Coalition. He is a field instructor for the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Arlington and is an active member of St. Barnabas United Methodist Church in Arlington. He has been married to Karen for 30 years and their daughter, Allison, is a senior at Southwestern University.

1978

Susan Robertson Agee, Wimberley, practices commercial litigation with a Houston law firm. She and her husband, David, have two children, Daniel and Emily. Kay Webb Mayfield, Islamabad, Pakistan, serves as counselor for public affairs at the U.S. Embassy.

1979

Dustin James, Sugar Land [see 1982]. Debbie Hayes Moffitt, Lake Jackson, is

proud of her son, Josh, who graduated from Stanford University, and her daughter, Mikki, who is a sophomore at Southwestern. Her husband, Mike Moffitt ’79, works in real estate development, construction and appraisal. Shirley Tatum, Stillwater, Okla., works with information services/outreach course management in the office of the registrar at Oklahoma State University. She has two children and one grandson.

1980

Tim Crouch, Denton, is a partner in The Crouch Group, Inc., an advertising agency and promotional products company, and serves as vice chair of the board of directors for North Texas Public Broadcasting. Bretna Smith Hackert, Austin, received the Cathy Lester IT Excellence Memorial Award from The University of Texas at Austin (www.utexas.edu/people/cll/index.html). She has worked in Information Technology there for more than 20 years, developing and maintaining financial software. Another SU graduate, David Mok ’87, is in her group.

1981

Therese Hampton Luna, Houston, serves as program manager for The WorkSource.

1982

Theresa Buzbee James, Sugar Land, works as a Licensed Professional Counselor for Harris County, completing intake assessments of individuals seeking psychiatric services. She has been married for 31 years to Dr. Dustin James ’79 and they have three grown children, Jeffrey James ’04, Evan, a graduate of Rice University, and Hanna, a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Rev. Richard Luna, Tyler, serves as senior associate pastor at Pollard United Methodist Church after receiving a master’s degree in theological studies from Perkins School of Theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling from The University of Texas at Tyler. He has been married to Lylé Dodgen since 1984.

1983

Dr. Scott Thumma, West Hartford, Conn., co-authored a book titled Beyond Megachurch Myths, published by Jossey-Bass.

1984

Jean T. Janssen, Houston, serves as chair of the human resources committee on the board of directors of the San Jacinto Girl Scout Council, the second largest Girl Scout Council in the United States. She is president of The Houston Association of Southwestern University Alumni.

1985

Rev. John Baldwin, Plano, is in his third year at Perkins School of Theology working on a master’s of divinity, in his 19th year at Custer Road United Methodist Church “working on hiding from the Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC),” and in his 16th year as husband to Julie and dad to Cameron “working on not screwing things up.”

1986

Brian Kinkade, Pearland, serves as Web designer/developer for Baylor College of Medicine after working for a Web company in New York City.

1987

Dr. Lisa Auanger, Hampton, Va., is in her sixth year of teaching high school Latin to public school students. She also teaches archaeology to gifted elementary and middle school students at the William and Mary Center for Gifted Education. At age 40, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but completed chemotherapy and radiation treatments more than a year ago. Rev. John Hill, Boerne, serves as director of Laity Lodge Family Camps in Kerrville. He was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1998 and has held positions in Harlingen, San Antonio and Melbourne, Australia. He and his wife, Dr. Holly Baker Hill, have two children, Haddie and Emory.

Pattie Meade Holecek, Klein, serves as assistant principal of McDougle Elementary School. Her four high school students keep her busy. David Mok, Austin [see 1980]. Dr. Kathleen Patrick, Charlbury, U.K., home schools her four children, Lauren, Marcus, Antonia and Josiah, and continues to write. She and her husband, Dr. Robert Leese, have been married for 16 years.

1989

Dr. Sharon Lundgren, Houston, was pleased to discover a Southwestern alumna, Emily Duncan ’05, serving as her son Noah’s first grade teacher.

April Hampton Perez, Cedar Park, left her position as senior director of development for Southwestern University to become the director of gift planning at The University of Texas at Austin. Her university colleagues and the alumni with whom she worked wish to express gratitude for her 12 years of service to Southwestern. Dr. Sarah Pressly-James, Grayslake, Illinois., serves as director of youth ministry at the United Protestant Church of Grayslake. She and her husband, Craig, have one son, Sam.

1990

Abigail Candish Chiesa, Sugar Grove, Illinois., joined the law firm of Alschuler, Simantz & Hem, where she focuses on estate planning and administration, real estate and corporate transactional law. She is a 1993 graduate of The George Washington University Law School.

Robert Towle, Sparta, N.J., was promoted to vice president for global operations at Travelport, Inc., where he manages a shared services team, including a 300-person finance operation in Gurgaon, India.

1991

Dr. Vanessa Davis, Austin, serves as program director in the academic affairs and excellence division at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Lisa Dreishmire, Dallas, was elected president of the Dallas chapter board of the ACLU of Texas, for which she also serves as general counsel and a board member. Dr. Karen Schulze, Houston, works as a research scientist with Baylor College of Medicine’s Bellen Lab.

1992

Dr. Jeff Cookston, San Francisco, Calif., was awarded tenure and promotion at San Francisco State University as an associate professor of psychology with a specialty in developmental psychology. He is married to Robin Dutton-Cookston ’95, a freelance writer.

Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, Washington, D.C., serves as senior pastor of Capitol Hill United Methodist Church. She presented the memorial service message at the 2007 Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference and recently completed a three-year seminar, “Pastors as Theologians,” funded by the Lilly Foundation. At the invitation of the Honorable Vic Snyder, D-AR, she served as guest chaplain in the U.S. House of Representatives, where

Births ctd. To David and April Deike Mawson ’99, Kyle, daughter Annie Grace Mawson, Nov. 20, 2006. To Dennis and Sara Lucero Moore, both ’95, Pflugerville, son Reed Collin Moore, Nov. 5, 2007. To Christopher ’92 and Eileen Pentony Morris ’93, Schaumburg, Ill., son Paul Martin Morris, Dec. 12, 2007. To Leslie and Laura Michulka Penney, both ’89, Dallas, son Ian Howard Penney, Jan. 17, 2008. To Greg and Whitney Griffin Randolph ’03, Lewisville, twin sons Cade Andrew Randolph and Cole Griffin Randolph, Nov. 16, 2007. To Jimmy and Ariel Poole Romell ’98, Austin, daughter Callen Cameron Romell, Aug. 14, 2007. To Melissa and Scott Smith ’94, Manhattan, Ill., son Ethan Scott Smith, Nov. 3, 2007. To Tava and Craig Stanford ’82, San Francisco, Calif., twins, son Canter Kazunori Stanford and daughter Lucille Louise Stanford, Nov. 21, 2007. To Timothy and Mallie Moss Steele ’90, Fulton, Mo., daughter Ainsley Jane Moss Steele, July 5, 2006. To Drs. Shannon Winnubst and Jennifer Ann Suchland ’96, Austin, daughter Micah Simone SuchlandWinnubst, Dec. 14, 2007. To Adam and Stephanie Miller Umpleby ’00, Albuquerque, N.M., daughter Abigail Joy Umpleby, Dec. 14, 2007. To Justin and Gladice Go Wallraven ’98, Plano, son Ethan Robert Wallraven, Oct. 31, 2007.

In Memoriam Kathryn Acree Allison ’34, Dallas, Nov. 5, 2007 Mary Yeager Avery ’51, San Antonio, Nov. 20, 2007 Dr. Dor W. Brown ’40, Fredericksburg, Feb. 9, 2008 Karen Rogers Chancellor ’84, Bois D’Arc, Mo., Jan. 24, 2008 Billie Ruth “Sandy” Tyson Dabney ’47, Dallas, Jan. 22, 2008 Norman G. Fletcher ’47, Campbell, Calif., Jan. 30, 2008 Dr. Eb C. Girvin, Georgetown, Dec. 31, 2007 Hilma Rogers Green ’35, Dallas, Sept, 9, 2007 Herschel Ben Hamric Jr. ’48, Lampasas, Nov. 26, 2007 Aleida Lambert Haney ’57, Bay City, Dec. 2, 2007 Mildred McKenzie Hedges ’36, Dallas, Dec. 9, 2007 Charles E. Ingram ’40, Georgetown, Jan. 15, 2008 William “Bill” Lane ’49, Kerrville, Dec. 1, 2007 Nan Kennedy Lawler ’60, Harlingen, Jan. 7, 2008 Mary Lee Cannan Marshall ’48, Bastrop, Jan. 29, 2008 Tommy Miles ’47, Georgetown, Nov. 30, 2007 Gene Moore ’59, Deer Park, Nov. 30, 2007 Jo Ann Long Morse ’57, San Antonio, Jan. 11, 2008 Betty Walker Nunnelly ’48, Beaumont, Feb. 4, 2008 Donald W. Randall ’64, Lafayette, La., Jan. 30, 2008 Traylor D. Sells Jr. ’51, Corpus Christi, Dec. 2, 2007 Dr. J. Charles Shelley ’50, Burleson, Feb., 8, 2008 Nancy Williams Shine ’57, Tyler, Sept. 13, 2007 34

Southwestern Magazine

1992 ctd. she opened the House session with prayer and met many legislators, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and had the opportunity to greet the Dalai Lama. Husband Anthony and parents Glen and Carmen Matheny Gaines ’64 followed the event on C-Span. Craig Garrett, Frontenac, Kan., works as a CNC programmer for Superior Industries International Inc. and plays in the metal band Killer Strangelet. M. Shannon Sims, Mission, is owner and principal designer for Fineline Creative, a full-service graphic design firm. He launched a second business, PraiseLab, a church-focused graphic design and consulting business. He and his wife, Jennifer, recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary. They have two sons, Sam and Kyle. Margaret Edges Weaver, Hobbs, N.M., serves as coordinator of technical services for the Pannell Library and Information Resource Center at New Mexico Junior College, and trainer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant-funded program, “Government Information in the 21st Century: Training Librarians to be Government Information Specialists.” She presented two programs during the sixth annual meeting of the South Central Unicorn Users Group: “Selective Deselection from your Collection: Using the CREW Method for Weeding” and “Government Information in the 21st Century: Consumer Information Module.”

1993

Jennifer Argabright Greenbaum, Rockville, Md., works as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP with a focus on securities litigation, SEC enforcement actions and internal investigations. She has two sons, Joshua and Max. Madeline Dunkum Townsend, Houston, enjoys her dual roles as stay-at-home mom and part-time accountant. She and her husband, Chad, have two daughters, Ashley and Lauren. Matthew Wheelis, Marietta, Ga., is a senior product manager for Autodesk, Inc.

1994

Charles Koutras, San Antonio, serves as a civilian attorney for the U.S. Army, based in San Antonio. He travels the circuit of U.S. embassies throughout Latin America to provide legal support to the military personnel stationed there. His other job, as a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve, requires providing similar support at military bases in Europe and the Middle East.

Scott Smith, Manhattan, Ill., earned his Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) license and works as a therapist with the Chicago Christian Counseling Center. He serves as project director at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., for a federal campus suicide prevention grant awarded to colleges and universities including the University of North Texas and The University of Texas-Pan American. Sheana Dempsey Suek, Minneapolis, Minn., works as communications manager for the Financial Planning Department at Ameriprise Financial. She and her husband, John, have two children, Joe and Stella.

1995

Mollie O’Hara Butler, Austin, works as a fundraising consultant with Bacon, Lee and Associates. She is married to Stephen Butler ’96, a shareholder at Graves, Dougherty, Hearon and Moody. Robin Dutton-Cookston, San Francisco, Calif. [see 1992]. Rev. Pamela Drawe Dykehouse, Waco, serves as associate pastor for Woodway First United Methodist Church. Dr. Dannette Smith Johnson, Clinton, Miss., works as an associate professor of rheumatology at The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. Dr. David Johnson, Clinton, Miss., works as a research biologist for the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Miss.

1996

Stephen Butler, Austin [see 1995].

Kami Hercules-Guinn, Houston, works for The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center as a senior academic coordinator in the trainee and alumni affairs office. Dr. Misty R. Karin-D’Arcy, Lafayette, La., earned a doctorate in cognitive science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, by completing a dissertation titled “An Investigation of the Reproduction of Object-based Spatial Relations by Chimpanzees and Children.”

1997

Jason Byrd, Washington, D.C., was promoted to associate director for quality alliances at the American College of Cardiology. For the last two years, he has helped lead and develop an international campaign called D2B: An

Alliance for Quality, to reduce treatment times and improve the care given to certain heart attack patients in more than 950 hospitals. For more information, visit www.d2balliance.org.

serving senior citizens through the arts. Their first production, a short musical called “Class,” is touring senior centers and retirement homes in New York City.

Eliette Cohen, Austin, is a pediatric physical therapist and owner of KidTherapy, a comprehensive rehabilitation center for children in south Austin.

Dr. Mark Davis, Phoenix, Ariz., practices general dentistry.

Alicia Kerr, Houston, teaches and coaches in Alief ISD while pursuing a doctorate in curriculum and instruction at Texas A&M University. Elizabeth Guillory Medina, Manor, serves as assistant dean of Greek Life and Intercultural Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

1998

Christopher Bratton, Leander, and his wife, Stephanie Smith Bratton ’99, have been married for six years. They have two children, Scott and Sean. Dr. Michael Gagliardo, Jacksonville Beach, Fla., completed his doctorate and works as an assistant professor at Jacksonville University.

Arthur Hastings, Austin, was certified as an Orthopaedic Certified Specialist (OCS) and completed his residency and fellowship with the Manual Therapy Institute. He is recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT) and works in an orthopaedic outpatient clinic. Dr. Allison Watts Hinkamper, High Ridge, Mo., works in human resources in St. Louis. She and her husband have two daughters, Ana Clare and Mia. Michael Jeffers, Austin, is pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Janet Lopez, Denver, Colo., serves as deputy director of Governor Bill Ritter Jr.’s P-20 Council, which helps educational experts from across the state of Colorado craft policy recommendations.

1999

Taryn Deaton, Alexandria, Va., serves as the donor development manager for the National Capital Area Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Fara Ferguson, Lisbon, Portugal, was promoted to marketing manager with Daymon Worldwide, where she works on marketing and promotional activities for the private label products of Jeronimo Martins retailers. Bridget Fuchser Meyer, Humble, became a Certified Treasury Professional and works as an independent consultant for the Association for Financial Professionals. She has three children with her husband, Steve. Dr. Jennifer Shanor Robinson, Richmond, Va., works part-time at a private pediatric practice. She and her husband, Dr. Brad Robinson, have two young children, Luke and Claire. Eileen Bamberger Youens, Durham, N.C., works as an assistant professor of public law and government at the University of North Carolina’s School of Government. Her husband, Dr. Kenny Youens ’99, serves as chief resident of pathology at Duke University Medical Center.

2000

Chrystal Hall Doyle, Richmond, Va., moved to Richmond, where her husband, Jim, works as general manager for Media General.

Beth Felker, Waltham, Mass., works for Tenacity Inc. as a project manager for a Ford-funded youth obesity prevention collaborative. She moved to Boston to pursue a master’s degree in sustainable international development at Brandeis University, but she relates, “I didn’t bargain on the amazing man I met during orientation. Since he now is pursuing his Ph.D., this warm, sunny-skies gal has invested in warm running gear!”

Doralisa Alvarado, New Braunfels, teaches kindergarten at Freiheit Elementary after six years teaching for Comal ISD. Her poem, “The Fork in the Road,” now published, won first prize in the annual poetry contest for the New Braunfels Art League.

Matt Gelotti, Katy, works for Aon Risk Services in Houston. He and his wife, Amy, have two daughters, Siena and Tatum.

Robin Benson, Astoria, N.Y., serves as the artistic director and founder of Living Classics Theater (www.livingclassicstheater.org), a non-profit theater company dedicated to

Niall McGinty, Chicago, Ill., performed in the Chicago premiere of “Dolly West’s Kitchen” at Timeline Theatre. The production ran Jan. 22–Mar. 22, 2008.

Sarah Lewis, Austin, is pursuing a master of public administration degree.

In Memoriam ctd.

Richard “Dick” Slocomb ’48, Fair Oaks Ranch, Dec. 25, 2007 Hon. Joseph T. Sneed III ’41, San Francisco, Calif., Feb. 9, 2008 Rev. Robert C. Sneed ’46, Houston, Aug. 15, 2007 Malcorine Wardlaw Stasney ’29, Ballinger, Dec. 26, 2007 Kathrine Browning Stokes ’35, Houston, Sept. 19, 2007 Hon. Ralph R. Wallace III ’80, Livingston, Feb. 1, 2008 Dr. Howard C. Wilkinson ’39, Durham, N.C., Dec. 26, 2007 Mildred Durst Woods ’39, Tulsa, Okla., Jan. 13, 2008 Richard Woods Jr. ’63, Katy, Dec. 11, 2007

2000 ctd.

Amanda Moore, Dallas, works as an account executive in the corporate account sales division at Freeman, the U.S. leader in trade shows (www.freemanco.com).

Stephanie Miller Umpleby, Albuquerque, N.M., serves on the New Mexico Alignment Team working on reconciling high school standards to college and work-ready requirements through the American Diploma Project.

2001

Zack Beaty, Santiago, Chile, teaches with his wife at Nido de Aguilas International School.

Jeri Turk Bonnell, Taylor, serves as the gifted and talented facilitator for Georgetown ISD. Elizabeth Bonnette, Brooklyn, N.Y., teaches at Columbia University while pursuing a doctoral degree. Dr. Carla Marienfeld, New Haven, Conn., is doing a residency in psychiatry at Yale College of Medicine after receiving her M.D. with honors from Baylor College of Medicine. Previously, she worked in a biochemistry lab researching liver diseases.

2002

Ashlea Rives Frank, Seattle, Wash., works as an ecological research scientist for an environmental consulting firm. Her husband, Jay Frank ’02, is a human factors engineer for Boeing. Stephanie Quimby, Houston, is a law student at the University of Houston. Isaac Smith, Austin, was awarded a master of physics degree from the University of Missouri after studying for a year in Stuttgart, Germany. Erin Nau Carlile, Columbus, Ohio, works as a public relations manager for a small marketing agency. She and her husband, Glyn Carlile, recently adopted a 5-year-old spaniel mix named Mr. Bounds. Lucas Groning Thoning, Austin, teaches physics and chemistry at Bowie High School. He is married to Rebekah Thedford Thoning ’02, who teaches special education and coaches volleyball at Bedichek Middle School.

Jimmy Wright, Midland [see 2005]. 36

Southwestern Magazine

2003

Nicole Diaz Brown, Austin, is pursuing a master’s degree in educational administration at Texas State University while working as a third grade bilingual teacher in Manor. Her husband, Robert Brown ’03, serves as the lead developer for Hotlink, a technology and marketing firm in Round Rock.

Yesenia Garcia, New York, N.Y., completed her master of fine arts in acting from The University of Texas at Austin. She starred in a short independent film, “The Ticket,” which has been screened at film festivals across the country. Her bilingual multimedia solo show, “Recuerdos de Maricruz,” will be performed at Dixon Place in New York City. She is represented by Don Buchwald & Associates and Abrams Artists Agency. Marc Harrison, Spicewood, serves as sales director for Class Adventure Travels (www.cat-travel.com/about_us.asp#marc). Dr. Stephanie Jenkinson, Denver, Colo., works as a resident physician in internal medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Ellie Portwood McVicar, Houston, practices oil and gas law after graduating from South Texas College of Law in 2006. Blayne Naylor, Tyler, works as a nurse in the Level 1 trauma center of the East Texas Medical Center after earning a bachelor of science in nursing from The University of Texas at Tyler. Dr. Janel Owens, Martinez, Calif., completed her Ph.D. and now works at the Forensic Science Center at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Whitney Griffin Randolph, Lewisville, works as an investment banking officer in the oil and gas group of Union Bank of California, which provides financing to both public and private companies for the exploration and production of petroleum and natural gas.

2004

Kris Radusch, Henderson, Nev., works in Las Vegas in food and beverage management at The Bellagio, a AAA Five Diamond resort, after earning a master of science in hotel and restaurant management from the Conrad N. Hilton College at the University of Houston.

Lizette Torres, Mission, serves as head volleyball coach for Sharyland High School. Marcela Velazquez, McAllen, serves as a third grade teacher for Hidalgo ISD.

2005

Emily Duncan, Houston [see 1989].

Susan Fisher, Austin, works as an audit associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She graduated with a master’s degree in professional accounting from The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business and is working toward obtaining her CPA license. Melanie Kurtz, Friendswood, works as a human resources representative for Lyondell Chemical Company. Allen Landon, Houston, is a brewer for Saint Arnold, Texas’ oldest craft brewery. Tours are offered Saturdays at 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.saintarnold.com. Coty Marie Maypole, Rosharon, earned a master of public health in industrial hygiene and air environment from The University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston. Krista Fithian Mery, Richmond, and her husband, Nathan Mery ’05 work for M-I SWACO, an oil and gas service company. Krista works in marketing communications and Nathan works in technical services. Laura Wheeler Wright, Midland, works for Hewitt Associates as a communications consultant and her husband, Jimmy Wright ’02, is a landman for Energen Corporation.

2006

Kelsie Alstead, Houston, attends the Texas Heart Institute School of Perfusion Technology.

Valerie Borhauer, La Verne, Calif., works as a US-2 Missionary for the United Methodist Church at a non-public school located on the campus of a residential treatment center for teenage girls. Josh Bruner, Bronx, N.Y., works as a group service leader for City Year, an AmeriCorps-sponsored non-profit that has 17 domestic sites and one in South Africa. He states, “This program is perfect for Southwestern students who want to spend a year after college engaged and giving back. It is a very inspiring

program and a fabulous opportunity.” For more information, visit www.cityyear.org. Katherine Collins, Austin, works as a juvenile probation officer/court officer for Williamson County Juvenile Services while pursuing a master’s degree in professional counseling from St. Edwards University.

E ngaging Finds: Books, music and media picks.

Christina Griffin, Houston, is pursuing an international law degree at the University of Houston Law Center. Josephine Thinwa, San Antonio, is a student in the M.D./Ph.D. Dual Degree Program at The University of Texas Health Science Center. Jessica DeFilippo Warren, Austin, is pursuing a master’s degree in health psychology at Texas State University. Matthew Zielsdorf, Austin, is serving his second year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

2007 Mary-Luisa Berges, New Orleans, La., serves as a teacher with Teach for America. Natalie Goodnow, Austin, works with Theatre Action Project, acting in a bilingual, interactive performance, “The Heroes/Los Heroes,” that teaches conflict resolution to children from kindergarten through 2nd grade. She also teaches theatre, puppetry and mask making in the after-school program at Wooten Elementary. Nick Simonite, Waco, works as a staff photographer for the Waco Tribune-Herald. Jaclyn Suffel, Memphis, Tenn., teaches ninth grade English and theatre arts and coaches volleyball through Teach for America. She is also working toward a master’s degree in teaching at the University of Memphis. Helen Brakebill Sutton, Austin, serves as Ballet Austin’s patron services coordinator.

Elisabeth Piedmont-Marton, Associate Professor of English Most Americans probably go through long stretches of their busy lives without giving a moment’s thought to the role of poetry in our culture and democracy. They assume that if poetry still has any breath remaining in its hoary body, it must be rasping away tethered to an oxygen tank in a musty corner of academia. Robert Pinsky disagrees. And he does so not only in his own copious and stunning corpus of poetry, but most persuasively and eloquently in a small book about poems and poetry, Democracy, Culture and the Voice of Poetry (2002). As much as Pinsky honors and encourages the individual’s bodily and intimate experience of poetry, he also makes, in Democracy, Culture and the Voice of Poetry, what seems at first blush a contradictory claim: that poetry may offer ways to inspect characteristic dramas of our national life. In this volume of compelling essays, originally delivered at Princeton University as the Tanner Lectures, Pinsky makes the case for poetry’s voice in American public life. Making the link between the individual bodily experience of poetry and poetry’s voice in the larger world, Pinsky explains: Poetry as breath penetrates to where the body recognizes the stirring of meaning. Poetry mediates, on a particular and immensely valuable level, between the inner consciousness of the individual reader and the outer world of other people. Poetry engages and preserves memory, and offers a remedy to the isolation and alienation of modernity and mass culture. The ways of knowing that poetry opens up to us, Pinsky argues, offer a third way between the sterility of a pure rationality on the one hand, and the seductions of magic and simple belief on the other. It gives us the means to have less faith in reason and more reason in faith: To trust knowledge even when we don’t quite get it, and to believe in pursuing it anyway. As Pinsky concludes toward the end of the book: The turns of verse, between justified and ragged, the regular and the unique, the spoken and the implied, the private and the social, profoundly embody not a moral, but a cultural quest for life between a barren isolation on one side and an enveloping mass on the other. That quest is the action of poetry’s voice. This review originally ran on the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center Web site. Read more reviews at www.southwestern.edu/ library/reviews/what-reading.html. Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

the last word

Appreciating [ ] Language the imperfection of

Scholars across disciplines are paying increasing attention to language, discussing such phenomena as the “linguistic turn” and the “social construction of reality.” At the heart of these inquiries is a fundamental recognition that the power of language to shape social life is paralleled by its resistance to human control. Academics aren’t the only ones who recognize that language is slippery. Most of us have blamed a misunderstanding on the ambiguity of words, or are familiar with the experience of finding it impossible to find just the right words to impart exactly what one means to say.

We are told that to “say what we mean, and mean what we say” is a maxim of good communication, but more often than not, a stubborn gap between our meaning and our saying persists. Because of this breach of words and intention, parts of our messages are lost in translation while at the same time we somehow end up saying far more than we ever intended. The slipperiness of language has led some scholars to question the conventional understanding that we are in control of our own language. Philosopher Daniel Dennett suggests that it is actually words that “do things with us,” rather than we who do things with words. The great communication theorist Kenneth Burke expressed a similar sentiment when he questioned the instrumentality of language, “Do we simply use words, or do they not also use us?” Perhaps words have their own motives that subvert our constant (and futile) attempts to pin them down for our own purposes. This obstinate imprecision of language poses unique challenges to the functioning of a liberal arts institution. Our worlds are shot through with language—it is the stuff of which all of our classes, our tests, our books and our meetings are made. It is akin to a biological medium, the atmosphere in which professors, students and staff alike carry out the activities and daily routines that together make up that hallowed abstraction, our “institution.” At a very general level, to speak of the “politics of language” is to recognize that language and meaning are always caught up in processes that at least partially escape our control. C.S. Lewis has written that the nature of language makes it impossible for us to communicate “the very essence of our lives, all day and every day”; we can only grope and gesture toward our desired meaning with our crude assembly of “hints, 38

Southwestern Magazine

similes, metaphors and the use of those emotions which are pointers to it.” The gaps, chasms and fissures that rupture our communication (which means literally to impart, to share, or to make common) are not mere accidents but intrinsic to language. We experience these gaps in very practical ways— for example, as a professor, I am sometimes consternated by my students’ apparent failure to share my own excitement about the subject matter, and I recognize situations where a student is frustrated with my seeming inability to grasp the intended message of their essay or assignment. Faced with this recalcitrance of language, I believe there are two possible responses. The first is to make every attempt to close the gaps, fill the chasms and suture the fractures—to do everything in our power to put language firmly under our control, to tame its excesses by making it exact, precise and wholly unambiguous. I am concerned that attempts to render language technical in this fashion ultimately amplify the negative consequences of misunderstanding by holding communicative activity to an impossible standard. The alternative to judging language against an illusory perfection is a simple one, and has been expressed in a variety of forms for centuries: acceptance entwined with forgiveness. John Durham Peters, a professor of communication at the University of Iowa, puts it this way, “Nor are the gaps between sender and receiver always chasms to be bridged; they are sometimes vistas to be appreciated or distances to be respected.” Abandoning the dream of perfect communication means giving up attempts to make the other see things in precisely the same way that we do, and accepting what Peters calls the “radical otherness of selves.” It means recognizing that we perhaps never completely “mean what we say and say what we mean,” and even if somehow we believe we have found the exact words to match our intentions, there is no guarantee that our meanings will not slip when we try to share our message with others. –Davi Johnson, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies

Board of Trustees Merriman Morton ’63, Austin, Chair Helen E. Black McAllister ’49, San Antonio, Co-Vice Chair Larry J. Haynes ’72, Coppell, Co-Vice Chair R. Griffin Lord, Belton, Secretary-Treasurer Martin Aleman Jr. ’68, Austin Ana T. Baida ’06, College Station Mitch Barnett ’07, Austin Douglas M. Benold ’44, Georgetown Ben R. Chamness*, Fort Worth Ann Tyrrell Cochran ’72*, Houston Bobby Smith Cohn, Houston W. Mark Craig, Dallas Roy H. Cullen, Houston John S. Curry ’70, Pampa Ted J. Dotts Jr., Lubbock Robert W. Dupuy ’69, Dallas Thomas A. Forbes ’71, Austin James W. Foster ’72, Houston Jack Garey, Georgetown Roberto L. Gómez ’69, Mission Robert H. Graham, Houston Kay Granger, Fort Worth Ronald D. Henderson, Dallas Janice Riggle Huie*, Houston Robert W. Karr ’71, Essex, Conn. W. Joseph King ’93, Fort Worth Bart C. Koontz ’78, San Antonio J. Michael Lowry, San Antonio Joel N. Martinez*, San Antonio Red McCombs ’49, San Antonio Michael McKee, Hurst J. Eric McKinney ’72, Georgetown Charles R. Millikan ’68, Pearland James W. Moore, Dallas Barbara Prats Neely ’77, Fort Worth Ernesto Nieto ’64, Maxwell Alfred L. Norris*, Plano Steven A. Raben ’63, Houston Robert T. Rork ’62, San Antonio Jake B. Schrum ’68*, Georgetown Robert C. Scott, San Antonio Peter A. Sessions ’78, Dallas Donald W. Underwood ’70, Plano James V. Walzel, Houston D. Max Whitfield*, Albuquerque, N.M. Robert D. Wunsch, Austin *Ex-Officio

Spring 2008 www.southwestern.edu

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