The
PIONEER
Another successful year for IM sports
ISSUE 11 | April 23, 2015 | Whitman news since 1896 | Vol. CXXXII
Present, future ASWC leaders prepare for 2015–16 transition
by KYLE FLANNERY Staff Reporter
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hile it’s nearly impossible to cross Ankeny in the spring without hearing the raucous sounds of an intramural football game or the buzz of a Frisbee, it is easy to forget how much work goes into making IM sports happen year in and year out. An entirely student-run entity, the IM Committee, along with team captains, ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. That is a tall order, especially when coordinating and scheduling a multitude of sports and teams. The IM League is also about continually improving the state of IM sports, keeping participation high and adding to the array of sports available here at Whitman. Notable changes in IM sports over the past two years have been the addition of a ping-pong league and an online scheduling program called IMLeagues that has streamlined the formation of teams and game scheduling all across the country. Both changes have been whopping successes. One of the IM coordinators, senior Julianna Wetmore, spoke to how important IMLeagues has been in revolutionizing IM here at Whitman. “When I first started we weren’t using IMLeagues,” she said. “Brian Choe ‘14 researched IMLeagues and brought it to Whitman in 2014, which has been the best thing to happen to IM Sports.” Alongside dodgeball, putt-putt golf used to be an option as a second semester winter sport. However, the local company Sweet Putt recently closed down, leaving a dearth of sports during the winter. The IM Committee decided to replace it with ping-pong, and initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Twentyfive two-person teams participated this year. By using the residence halls (which possess sufficient equipment) as arenas for competition, it was a quick and easy addition to the IM League’s repertoire — essentially a no-brainer. The goal of the IM Committee is to identify ways to keep improving everything about IM, but what makes its members want to adopt such a leadership position? Senior Zane MacPhee explained his motivation. “I had such a positive experience my first year-and-a-half at Whitman, winning a couple of blue shirts. I wanted to be a part of it on the other side,” he said. see IM SPORTS, page 5
Jack Percival ‘16 (above) will lead ASWC next year as president. He was previously a first-year senator, the vice president and is currently the faculty liason. Photo by Kelly
by CHRISTY CARLEY Staff Reporter
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s the 2015–2016 school year approaches, ASWC’s elected Executive Council plans new ways to address student concerns and seeks to increase student involvement in college decision-making processes. With President George Bridges stepping down, ASWC hopes to work with incoming President Kathleen Murray to revisit several policies in the new school year. ASWC president-elect junior Jack Percival looks forward to setting up monthly meetings with Murray in order to discuss issues concerning the student body. He anticipates that with the end of the Now Is the Time Campaign, Whitman’s comprehensive fundraising effort, Murray will have the opportunity to focus more heavily on a new strategic plan for the college. The plan will involve changes to Whitman’s admission policies and finances as well as efforts to increase diversity. “Next year is an incredible opportunity for ASWC to establish that very direct relationship with
the highest levels of the administration and make sure that a precedent of student involvement in big decisions is set,” said Percival. Other members of the Executive Council include the vice president-elect, sophomore Arthur Shemitz, the finance chair, junior Anya Tudisco and the nominations chair, first-year Annamarie McCorvie. The goals of the newly elected council members include advancing the long-term effort to increase student input in the tenure process, working toward a test-optional admissions policy and establishing ways to improve communication between ASWC, the student body and the administration. ASWC has pursued the issue of student input in the tenure process since a well-liked Spanish professor was denied tenure in the spring of 2012. In response, a resolution was passed in an attempt to both increase student input and put a student on the Personnel Committee, but it lacked faculty support. Current president senior Tatiana Kaehler said that increased student input in tenure was one of the goals she ran on before being elected. The issue of tenure has
carried over to Percival’s platform for the upcoming year. Another resolution regarding tenure was passed this year, but it didn’t obtain a faculty sponsor and therefore could not be discussed at a faculty meeting.
important things that ASWC leaders can do is get younger generations of students involved in initiatives that will take time to enact.” In addition to the issue of tenure, other long-term issues include a move towards a more equitable admissions pol“Next year is an incredible opportunity for ASWC to establish icy by becoming test optional. Both Percival and Shemitz adthat very direct relationship vocated for test-optional admissions with the highest levels of the on their platforms. Whether or not administration and make sure Whitman goes test optional in the that a precedent of student future will ultimately be an instituinvolvement in big decisions is tional decision made by future Presiset.” dent Murray and Dean of Admission Jack Percival ‘16 and Financial Aid Tony Cabasco. ASWC President-elect According to Kaehler, a resolution written by Shemitz last fall “The motion would be to has proved effective in pressuramend the faculty code,” said ing the administration to move toPercival. “And only a facul- ward a decision. Shemitz hopes ty member can make a mo- that continued action by ASWC tion to amend the faculty code.” will maintain such pressure. Kaehler believes that is“The power that ASWC sues that take longer to achieve has in this context is to launch are often more important. a conversation and to dissem“One of the weaknesses of inate this information broadASWC is that we have so much lead- ly within the administration and ership turnover and that students are say this is something that’s realonly on campus for four years,” said ly important to us as students,” said Kaehler. “I think one of the most see ASWC, page 2
Sheehan showcases senior art theses by HANNAH BARTMAN Staff Reporter
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(From left to right) Eddy Vazquez, Tess LeNoir, Ruth Hwang, Natalie Shaw, Marissa Burt, Jesus Chaparro, Audrey Kelly, Mariah Matthews, Mahon Yoder, Kelsey Lund, Veronica Miller, Madison Webster and Maddison Coons reenact Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “Last Supper” as an advertisement for their thesis exhibition opening tomorrow. Photo by Coons
s another academic year comes to a close, seniors throughout all disciplines have worked hard to provide a capstone to their Whitman experience in the form of a thesis. All 14 senior art majors have a unique task in that they must create a whole series of work that will be open to the public in the Sheehan gallery for the remainder of the year, opening at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24. Inevitably it’s close to impossible to discuss the complexities and artistic vision shown by each of the works in the show, but it is fair to assume that the pieces shown are a representation of each artist’s navigation through their education as an artist up to this point. “I think that one of the things I like about this show and this group a lot is that when I look at it, I don’t see any of the faculty’s hand in this, I see all of their hands,” said Professor of Art Charles Timm-Ballard. Natalie Shaw is one senior art major who describes her mixed media paintings as “constructed landscapes that draw references from romantic landscape art, renaissance painting and early medieval religious art.” “This is the first time I’ve done something that I don’t feel like I’m really done with,” said Shaw. “I feel like I could make more paintings like this, and this is the first time I’ve felt like that with a series of works.”
Sheehan Gallery Lecture by visiting artist Kris Grey at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24. Reception to follow at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Olin Hall 130 Hours: Mondays–Fridays, 12–5 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays, 12–4 p.m. Shaw describes the evolution into her current style as a kind of natural process in which she let her innate interest in certain images take importance above her initial construction of meaning. This flow from content to idea is something that she thinks both senior seminar professors, Assistant Professor of Art Rick Martinez and TimmBallard, stressed for their students. “When this semester started I wanted to focus on making things that I liked. So I thought of things that I liked and that was old paintings, gold things, and gods and religious figures, and I put all those things together to see what came out of it,” said Shaw. “It was probably the best place for me to start because I was able to define my direction pretty early on in the semester.” see SENIOR THESES, page 4
News
A&E
Feature
Opinion
Social Media
Are we being watched? Whitman security discusses the uses of cameras on- and off-campus.
The Renaissance Faire attracts many merchants, dancers and singers. Read about the family blacksmith business that has been coming for the past five years.
Seattle-based and former Whitmanstudent band Chastity Belt returns to their campus roots on May 12. They recently released their second album to rave reviews.
Guest columnist Emma Thompson argues that the two-year suspension of the debate program has removed an important forum for challenging prejudice.
Keep updated on the last month of the semester by liking The Pioneer’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/whitmanpioneer or follow us on Twitter @whitmanpio
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