Whitman College Pioneer - Spring 2009 Issue 11 Feature Section

FEATURES

WHITMAN COLLEGE PIO NEER

FEATURES

APRIL 30, 2009 APRIL 30, 2009

WHITMAN COLLEGE PIO NEER

‘89, LOVE INTEREST

ERIC MA XON, ‘87,

TRISTRAM LUNDQUIST, ‘89, VICTIM

CONVICTED OF MURDER

EDITORS’ NOTE: What follows in this five-page features spread are some of the legends that have been floating around Whitman campus. We have heard these subjects discussed in low whispers from students who are unsure of the truth, and we wanted to set the record straight about some of the more prominent rumors.

= < 8 K L I <

SUZANNE MEURAT,

In the 1970s, Whitman professors ran a series of programs that brought students and inmates from the Washington State Penitentiary into close contact—maybe too close.

“The philosophy…was to increase the interaction between residents and free people,” said Professor of Physics, Emeritus Craig Gunsel, who initially became involved in the program after his wife encouraged him to volunteer.

Through what was called the “Social Therapy Program,” prisoners mixed with Whitman students in the Olin Hall faculty lounge, and even went home with them through the “Take a Lifer to Dinner” program. For the most part, these interactions took place without police supervision.

“When I look back on some of things we did with some of those guys, it’s shocking nothing happened. We were rolling with some real hard guys,” said Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures Emeritus Dale Cosper.

Cosper started the program in 1971, along with Lee Bowker and Paul Peterson, both professors at the time. Within two years Peterson and Bowker had left and Cosper was running the program. Gunsel took over in 1975.

The then warden and associate warden were also Whitman alumni and very supportive of the programs, allowing them to expand.

Through “Take a Lifer to Dinner” students

would “check out” a convicted murderer and bring him home for a meal, before returning him to prison. There were no guards present during these exchanges, and according to Cosper, “a couple of those guys escaped while they were at people’s houses for dinner.”

“Looking back on it, it seems kind of naïve, but before…these programs were progressive, an effort to provide something different,” said Cosper.

During their peak popularity, student participation in the programs reached between two and three hundred students.

“Whitman students are very, very bright but they are also naïve,” Gunsel said. “After they went out to the prison, they would come

back still very bright, but less naïve.”

In 1979, an inmate stabbed an officer, instigating a prison lockdown. During this time, prisoners were not allowed to leave their cells at all. According to Gunsel, this event dramatically altered the culture of the penitentiary.

Although shocking, the prison’s comparative laxity thirty years ago coincided with a record number of convicts earning Associate’s degrees—more, in fact, than in any other prison in the nation. The prison currently offers only GED courses and English as a Second Language.

“The hope was that if convicts were given the opportunity, they would take on responsibilities,” said Gunsel.

by Chelsea Bissell On May 18, 1987, Whitman student Tristram Lun-

cember…she started going out with ‘Tris’ sometime in

dquist, a sophomore, died of multiple gunshot wounds

January or February,” said Cleman in a May 20, 1987

to the chest from a .22 caliber hand gun. He was mur-

issue of the Union Bulletin.

BY

C J WISLER

dered by fellow Whitman student, senior Eric Maxon.

At about 1:30 p.m. on the day of the murder, Maxon

Prior to the murder, Lundquist and Maxon fought

came to Lyman where Lundquist lived and took the

over the affections of the same girl, sophomore Su-

victim to wheatfields eight miles Northeast of Walla

zanne Meuret.

Walla to “talk” over their differences regarding their

While Whitman may not be a large city

former president Thomas Cronin (who

ing] left alone by the law,” said junior David

Lundquist was murdered over a love-triangle.

mutual lady love. Maxon returned without Lundquist

school in a rough neighborhood or have the

served from 1993-2005) funded Walla Walla

Protter.

“It was a pretty standard love triangle. Suzanne had

and by 7:35 p.m., Lundquist was reported missing.

Hilton sisters as students, its rumor mill op-

Police Department (WWPD) patrol vehicles

erates overtime. From the playful story of

for campus use.

been dating Eric first and had just gotten tired of the relationship or somehow it had broken up,” said Whit-

According to Lawson, the romantic combination of Lundquist, Maxon and Meuret was dumbfounding.

15

by Shannon Buckham

!

14

Protter listed some examples, including Whitman students who scaled the Marcus

cidentally” pull out their Whitman I.D.s According to some students, Whitman is a major financial supporter of the police department.

a ghost in North Hall to more insidious ru-

Allegedly, Cronin “bought off” the police

Whitman with grappling hooks only to be

“I’ve heard that Whitman is the number

man alum, Brek Lawson. Lawson, who graduated in

“I guess part of the, well I don’t want to say humor

mors, the gossip is always titillating. One of

so that they would protect the campus but let

picked up by the college shortly after, stu-

one funder of the police force, buying them

1990, lived with both Lundquist and Meuret in Lyman

of it, but it was ironic that these three people were in-

the most controversial products of campus

students off easily in instances of underage

dents caught hot-boxing a car in the wheat

new cop cars each year,” said senior Matt

during the time of the relationship drama and ensuing

volved in a love triangle,” he said.

hearsay is that Whitman subsidizes police

drinking and partying.

fields and told by the officer to “have a safe

Cameron.

murder.

Matt Cleman, a fellow Lyman resident in 1987, also spoke of the affair.

“Suzanne and Eric broke up about November or De-

Lawson depicted the students involved as colorful characters.

cruisers to shield students from the law.

According to one version of this rumor,

“I don’t know if it is true, but it goes along

night,” and instances of students whose

with other stories of Whitman students [be-

speeding tickets are waived when they “ac-

FEATURES

WHITMAN COLLEGE PIO NEER

FEATURES

APRIL 30, 2009 APRIL 30, 2009

WHITMAN COLLEGE PIO NEER

‘89, LOVE INTEREST

ERIC MA XON, ‘87,

TRISTRAM LUNDQUIST, ‘89, VICTIM

CONVICTED OF MURDER

EDITORS’ NOTE: What follows in this five-page features spread are some of the legends that have been floating around Whitman campus. We have heard these subjects discussed in low whispers from students who are unsure of the truth, and we wanted to set the record straight about some of the more prominent rumors.

= < 8 K L I <

SUZANNE MEURAT,

In the 1970s, Whitman professors ran a series of programs that brought students and inmates from the Washington State Penitentiary into close contact—maybe too close.

“The philosophy…was to increase the interaction between residents and free people,” said Professor of Physics, Emeritus Craig Gunsel, who initially became involved in the program after his wife encouraged him to volunteer.

Through what was called the “Social Therapy Program,” prisoners mixed with Whitman students in the Olin Hall faculty lounge, and even went home with them through the “Take a Lifer to Dinner” program. For the most part, these interactions took place without police supervision.

“When I look back on some of things we did with some of those guys, it’s shocking nothing happened. We were rolling with some real hard guys,” said Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures Emeritus Dale Cosper.

Cosper started the program in 1971, along with Lee Bowker and Paul Peterson, both professors at the time. Within two years Peterson and Bowker had left and Cosper was running the program. Gunsel took over in 1975.

The then warden and associate warden were also Whitman alumni and very supportive of the programs, allowing them to expand.

Through “Take a Lifer to Dinner” students

would “check out” a convicted murderer and bring him home for a meal, before returning him to prison. There were no guards present during these exchanges, and according to Cosper, “a couple of those guys escaped while they were at people’s houses for dinner.”

“Looking back on it, it seems kind of naïve, but before…these programs were progressive, an effort to provide something different,” said Cosper.

During their peak popularity, student participation in the programs reached between two and three hundred students.

“Whitman students are very, very bright but they are also naïve,” Gunsel said. “After they went out to the prison, they would come

back still very bright, but less naïve.”

In 1979, an inmate stabbed an officer, instigating a prison lockdown. During this time, prisoners were not allowed to leave their cells at all. According to Gunsel, this event dramatically altered the culture of the penitentiary.

Although shocking, the prison’s comparative laxity thirty years ago coincided with a record number of convicts earning Associate’s degrees—more, in fact, than in any other prison in the nation. The prison currently offers only GED courses and English as a Second Language.

“The hope was that if convicts were given the opportunity, they would take on responsibilities,” said Gunsel.

by Chelsea Bissell On May 18, 1987, Whitman student Tristram Lun-

cember…she started going out with ‘Tris’ sometime in

dquist, a sophomore, died of multiple gunshot wounds

January or February,” said Cleman in a May 20, 1987

to the chest from a .22 caliber hand gun. He was mur-

issue of the Union Bulletin.

BY

C J WISLER

dered by fellow Whitman student, senior Eric Maxon.

At about 1:30 p.m. on the day of the murder, Maxon

Prior to the murder, Lundquist and Maxon fought

came to Lyman where Lundquist lived and took the

over the affections of the same girl, sophomore Su-

victim to wheatfields eight miles Northeast of Walla

zanne Meuret.

Walla to “talk” over their differences regarding their

While Whitman may not be a large city

former president Thomas Cronin (who

ing] left alone by the law,” said junior David

Lundquist was murdered over a love-triangle.

mutual lady love. Maxon returned without Lundquist

school in a rough neighborhood or have the

served from 1993-2005) funded Walla Walla

Protter.

“It was a pretty standard love triangle. Suzanne had

and by 7:35 p.m., Lundquist was reported missing.

Hilton sisters as students, its rumor mill op-

Police Department (WWPD) patrol vehicles

erates overtime. From the playful story of

for campus use.

been dating Eric first and had just gotten tired of the relationship or somehow it had broken up,” said Whit-

According to Lawson, the romantic combination of Lundquist, Maxon and Meuret was dumbfounding.

15

by Shannon Buckham

!

14

Protter listed some examples, including Whitman students who scaled the Marcus

cidentally” pull out their Whitman I.D.s According to some students, Whitman is a major financial supporter of the police department.

a ghost in North Hall to more insidious ru-

Allegedly, Cronin “bought off” the police

Whitman with grappling hooks only to be

“I’ve heard that Whitman is the number

man alum, Brek Lawson. Lawson, who graduated in

“I guess part of the, well I don’t want to say humor

mors, the gossip is always titillating. One of

so that they would protect the campus but let

picked up by the college shortly after, stu-

one funder of the police force, buying them

1990, lived with both Lundquist and Meuret in Lyman

of it, but it was ironic that these three people were in-

the most controversial products of campus

students off easily in instances of underage

dents caught hot-boxing a car in the wheat

new cop cars each year,” said senior Matt

during the time of the relationship drama and ensuing

volved in a love triangle,” he said.

hearsay is that Whitman subsidizes police

drinking and partying.

fields and told by the officer to “have a safe

Cameron.

murder.

Matt Cleman, a fellow Lyman resident in 1987, also spoke of the affair.

“Suzanne and Eric broke up about November or De-

Lawson depicted the students involved as colorful characters.

cruisers to shield students from the law.

According to one version of this rumor,

“I don’t know if it is true, but it goes along

night,” and instances of students whose

with other stories of Whitman students [be-

speeding tickets are waived when they “ac-

16

FEATURES

APRIL 30, 2009

w b y Gillian Fre

WHITMAN COLLEGE PIO NEER By protesting the Vietnam War draft, stu-

with, and the entire student congress had

dents in the late 60s were increasing their

voted for recruiters to be barred.”

own likelihood of being drafted. Despite

“I was very supportive of student activism. Sometimes students went a little

17

b y S ar a Le v y

According to De Grasse, the protest too far, but they were just young!” he

this threat, Whitman students continued to was not a “momentary eruption,” rather, it said. “The students in ‘68 were revo-

think

lutionary, they were a different type of something is wrong then they can go talk Between 1967 and 1970 “The Hershey ers chose a designated “leaker” to spread students. It was the years between ‘64 and to someone about it. At a school like CoDirective” put in place by General Lewis news of the protest before it occurred, and ‘72 that shaped Whitman into what it is lumbia it is a different story.”

Ultimately, in 1970 the Supreme Court Blaine Hershey said that the act of protest- 15 to 20 students volunteered to help block today.” make their opinions heard.

took a great deal of planning. The organiz-

ing could actually void a person’s educa-

the road. De Grasse also said that this was

tion deferment and put him or her at risk of not merely a “romantic effort.” Each parbeing drafted immediately. Because they

ticipant expected to be suspended and ar-

saw this as an impediment to free speech,

rested.

Edwards said that he isn’t sure how he

ruled that “The Hershey Directive” was

feels about the way the administration unconstitutional. President Richard Nixon then removed Hershey from the Selective handled this issue.

“I’ve often thought about the idea that Service but appointed him as presidential maybe the administration overreacted, but advisor and promoted him to a full four-

many Whitman students felt that military

“The plan was that we would be asked

recruiters should not be allowed to solicit

to leave, and all but two of us would leave.

I’m really not sure if anything else could

star General. At that time, Hershey was

on campus.

The two of us would be arrested and then have been done,” he said, during a phone

the only one to have received this rank

interview. “On the one hand, shouldn’t without ever having served in combat.

When Nixon came to visit the campus in nior Charles Lawrence, who now teaches tinue this for about a day, and then the military recruiters be allowed to recruit?

September 1971, Whitman activists flew at Seattle University, and junior Michael recruiters would get bored with it and go But on the other hand it was a very tense De Grasse, who is now a lawyer in Walla home,” said De Grasse. time. Hershey said that those who protest- the American Flag backwards to protest Walla, were arrested for blocking military However, the plan was destroyed when ed the draft would lose their draft defer- war and his actions as president.

Twenty-one years before Whitman’s first di- to student outcry.

AL

D

EN

She told the Walla Walla the Board of Trustees of having “developed an

versity symposium, the campus

Union-Bulletin in March of 1986 that the shanty

avarice and greed which is famous, but which

was embroiled in controversy

town symbolized how Whitman’s spending was

is actually better suited to a private business

antithetical to human rights.

than to a liberal arts education” and that “ob-

over

college

in

investments

companies apartheid-era

serving

“The shanty town is an expressive statement of

sessed with material security, they have loudly

South

condemnation of apartheid voiced through soli-

ignored the larger questions of purpose and

Africa. To protest darity with the South African blacks,” Pelo said. the spending,

Blacks living in racially segregated South Af-

c on s t r uc t e d

restricted their mobility. This system of apartheid

a shanty town lasted from 1948-1994. in front of Memo-

At that time, Whitman owned stock in more

vehicles from entering the Student Union

they found out that instead of just being

Building (which has since been replaced

taken to jail, slapped on the wrists and re-

by Maxey Hall).

leased, the protesters would be locked up

and it was. But it was a free speech effort

“We simply didn’t have the funds for ev-

as well,” said De Grasse in his address to eryone to get arrested,” De Grasse said. the class of ‘69, who had their reunion last

Tom Edwards, who was an Assistant

ment, and that is a violation of American

Lawrence, who also spoke at the reunion, sees the draft threat as a defining

Rights.”

Protests such as this one were going on all across the country, but according to Ed-

part of his college years.

“Without the draft, we would have had

wards not all of them were as nonviolent a very different experience at Whitman,” he said. as this one.

“In 1968, a professor from Berkeley came

He also has only one regret about the

weekend. “Just for protesting, you could be Professor of History here in ‘68 and also to visit, and he said that there’s no problem way students conducted the 1968 protest.

“We should have just had them arrest subjected to a draft, and this made many spoke at the reunion, said that he fully sup- here. There’s no graffiti, no violence. But everybody and not worried about the bail!” people afraid to protest. We thought this ported the student protests on campus dur- we just haven’t had any violence because wasn’t something the school should put up ing the 60s and 70s. it’s a small enough school that if students he said.

where near the quality institution it pretends

rica were not eligible to vote, and the government to be.”

two more would sit down. We would con-

“People viewed it as an anti-war protest, until they paid a $100 bail each.

greater human understanding…Whitman is no-

students

In the morning of April 15, 1968, se-

According to then Dean of Students Russel DeRemer, students had college approval to construct their symbolic shanty town. Although the

rial Building to dem- than a dozen companies conducting business in Union-Bulletin reported that around 50 students onstrate the poor living

South Africa, including IBM and Coca-Cola. showed up to help build, enthusiasm had fizzled

conditions of black South Af- These investments generated about $375,000 in ricans.

by the end of the week as students began leaving

revenue each year, and were worth a total of about for Spring Break.

In addition to creating a make- ten million dollars. shift slum, Whitman Stu-

AL

dents for Social Change

Despite a vote by students and faculty to re-

While the debate reached a tipping point during move funding, the Board of Trustees voted to re-

D EN

the week leading up to a Friday Board of Trustees

tain investments, limiting only those that would

planned theatre per- meeting to address concerns, critics had been urg-

directly benefit the South African government or

formances, cam- ing divestment for several months, and students pus

discus- had arranged a one-day boycott of class. College

sions and a candlelight vigil

to

raise

Whitman treasurer Pete Reid argued that continuing to invest was a better way to urge compa-

tion.

nies to “apply pressure where it could best be ap-

awareness of the is- are fiscally sound but morally bankrupt?” sue.

military.

spending had become a subject of extreme conten“Do we need educational institutions which

ZIPPARO

“At one point… Maxey was also the mayor of Walla While illegal, these activities persisted because the police Walla. He may have undertaken something like this,”

force “turned a blind eye,” according to Maxey.

Off-duty fire fighters and police officers are also al-

lowed to use Baker Ferguson Fitness Center for train-

Another part of the rumor is that current president Bridges said. “I do know that he is single-handedly re-

For all those conspiracy theorists that love a good

plied on the South African government to remove

George Bridges stopped subsidizing police cars be-

sponsible for shutting down the brothels in Walla Wal-

rumor depicting the “bad” side of Whitman, police

ing purposes.

“Though the college encourages faculty community

apartheid.”

cause he found it immoral.

la, partly to keep the Whitman men in line, but also at

payoffs make a fun story to retell, but lack any clear

service – just as it encourages community service in

evidence.

the student body – the college itself does not financial-

Ann Pelo, a rep- wrote Jack Riehl in an inflammatory letter to

A report adopted by the Board of Trustees fur-

resentative of the group, the editor, in which he also identified himself

ther stated, “There is not evidence to indicate that

untrue, adding that speculation about Whitman’s in-

as a Whitman alumnus and former member of

divestment is an effective strategy for improving

volvement in the community may have originated In: A Personal Story,” reflected on his time as mayor, in-

special investment advisory com- the administration. In the letter, which was

the admittedly reprehensible situation in South

because of another former president, Chester Maxey cluding his controversial crackdown on prostitution and the police department is “collaborative,” the WWPD said Bridges. “We do not have subsidized police cars

resigned a month prior from a mittee set up by the college in response

published in Februrary, Riehl also accused Africa.”

Bridges, however, called the rumor humorous but the request of the federal government.”

(president from 1948-1959).

Chester Maxey’s autobiography, “The World I Lived

Whitman’s Treasurer and Financial Officer Peter ly contribute to the police department,” Harvey said.

Harvey said that while Whitman’s relationship with

gambling, which until that time had been largely tolerated. receives no funding from the college.

“To the best of my knowledge… the answer is ‘no,’” from the Walla Walla Police Department.”

WHITMAN COLLEGE PIO NEER

FEATURES

APRIL 30, 2009

The state originally charged Maxon with first degree murder. But on January “Tristram was tall, dark hair, a beard—

14, 1988, Maxon pled guilty to a reduced

a thin little beard. He was a trench coat

charge of second degree murder.

type-of-guy.

A bit of an odd person…

Walla Superior Court Judge Yancey Reser

I think I recall him and some other guys

who presided over the case asserted that

hanging around and playing Dungeons and

because of difficulties with evidence in the

Dragons. It was big at that time and that

case, first degree murder would have been

was kind of his speed,” said Lawson.

difficult to peg.

Walla

Maxon, was alsoconsidered “odd” by

Controversy around the case thickened

those who knew him, but in a different

as Maxon’s parents were nearly arrested for

way.

contempt against the court. The day of the

“He was stockier, his hair was a light

murder, Maxon had placed phone calls to

brown, he was, hard to say specifically,

his parents. The elder Maxons initially re-

but overweight just 30 or 40 pounds,” said

fused to testify against their son or answer

Lawson. “He was not Tristram, Tristram

any questions regarding their conversations

was tall and thin.”

that day. Eventually, they were forced to

Considered an “imposing figure” by

testify about the conversations in court.

Lawson and accused of having an “intense

Although Maxon was determined to have

personality” by Cleman in the Union Bul-

had suffered certain mental incapabilities,

letin, Maxon had the potential to intimidate

Judge Reser denied Maxon’s suggestion

wiry Lundquist into a wheatfields expedi-

that his ineptitudes prevented him from a

tion.

lucid determination of right from wrong on

Furthermore, Maxon was athletic, into

the day of the murder.

body building, football and strength.

Maxon was sentenced to 13 days and

Someone who, according to Cleman, was

eight months in state prison, the longest

“really into” being the member of a frat.

possible sentence for second degree mur-

At the time of his death, Lundquist was

der.

just starting to get into drama. He was also

In spite of the drama surrounding the

a standout enthusiast of math, physics and

murder involving two Whitman students,

astronomy.

there were varied reactions to the event on

“He was simply an outstanding student,” said Phil Sakimoto, Visiting Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Physics.

But for all their differences, Maxon and

campus.

“I can only speak for Lyman people, I’m hearing them say it’s like a bad nightmare, a bad movie,” said Cleman.

Lundquist had the same fatal taste in wom-

But Lawson remembers the student reac-

en and the same competitive edge. Their ri-

tion as one of relative apathy for a murder.

valry was brewing on a couple of fronts.

“Not only did he and Eric like the same girl, but they had battles over the chess board,” said Lawson.

“They matched

wits.”

ALDEN

18

This deadly competition culminated in Maxon’s fateful decision to unleash his wrath against Lundquist with a .22 and his even more surprising decision to turn himself in half a day later.

Maxon went to Walla Walla police station at 5:30 am on May 19 and told officers that he was “in some trouble,” and led them to Lundquist’s body.

“It wasn’t a popular trio on campus… they were part of the loner crowd,” said Lawson.

He claims that had the trio been a more popular group on campus there would have been “more of a splash” over the murder.

On the day of his conviction, Maxon issued a statement to the press.

“I’m deeply sorry for what happened and I wish I had a chance to repay other than sitting in a prison cell,” he said.