Best Face Forward
2006: A Basketball Odyssey
How long has it been since you last visited the Oglethorpe home-
Oglethorpe celebrated 90 Years of Basketball on campus as students
page? Do you know about our city, our community and our
participated in Homecoming Weekend February 10-12. The Athletic
challenge? If not, check out www.oglethorpe.edu. A new home-
Department and the Alumni Office hosted a weekend of activities,
page was launched in early February, aimed at prospective
bringing together over 200 former teammates, cheerleaders, coaches
students, to highlight Oglethorpe’s key messages and tell the story
and athletics fans of all ages to celebrate the long tradition of
of the people that make Oglethorpe unique. The rest of the site is
Oglethorpe athletics and to cheer on current Stormy Petrel athletes.
also being updated, so check back often and see what you can learn
The weekend included activities for children, an alumni basketball
about Oglethorpe.
game, dinner, champagne brunch and over 53 basketball alumni
OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY | THE CARILLON
OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY | THE CARILLON
news & events Students in Stephen Herschler's Comparative Politics course sipped their way through the cultures of China and Japan.
were honored with a commemorative basketball pin during half-time of the men’s game versus the Southwestern Pirates on Sunday, February 12. In addition, the #33 jersey of Russ Churchwell ’05 was
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retired. Churchwell played on the Oglethorpe’s men’s basketball team for four years (2000-2005), and he finished his career as the all-time leading scorer and all-time leading rebounder in the history of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Basketball has been an integral part of the Oglethorpe community since December 15, 1916. On that day the Stormy Petrels suited up to play the Decatur Athletic Club in the university’s first basketball game. Since then, Oglethorpe’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have won countless conference, regional and national titles.
Jay Lutz, with Karen Head ’98, celebrating his honor by the French government.
Fit To a Tea Oglethorpe students are often encouraged to go beyond textbooks for
Chevalier Lutz
many courses – reading an extra book for a project, visiting an art
Dr. Jay Lutz received the Ordre des Palmes Académiques from the
museum for a cultural experience or meeting with Atlanta’s leaders
French government on Monday, February 27, in the Oglethorpe
for added insight. But for his Comparative Politics of China and
University Museum of Art. Lutz, Frances I. Eeeraerts ‘76 Professor of
Japan course, Stephen Herschler enhanced readings with a sampling
Foreign Language and chair of the foreign language department, has
of international teas.
landscape or environment, what it reminds you of, seasons, how it
Campus events, students and faculty have also gained a lot more
makes you feel. Students were also required to keep a tea journal,
attention from the media since the fall. Two Delta Sigma Phi charity
to be typed up and submitted at the end of the semester as part
fundraisers (10/21/05, 4/6/06) and the Petrels of Fire tradition
of their class participation grade.
(2/13/06) were photographed for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Alternative Spring Break trip taken by 26 Oglethorpe students
“I want to reach the students through their mind but often we are
and staff gained local media coverage on the front page of The
most impacted through our senses. This exercise will have an
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (3/18/06) and was picked up by the U.S.
impact in a way that words and ideas do not. Perhaps they will
Newswire (3/9/06). The Core Curriculum (9/6/05) and our admission
use this process to help the other ideas stick,” Herschler said.
materials (4/2/06) were both featured in separate articles in The Washington Post. An Oglethorpe student is included on a print and
been with the university since 1988. Herschler, assistant professor of politics, introduced a different tea to The Palmes Académiques was created by Napoleon in 1808 to
his students each week: basic black, green, gun powder, pu-erh,
reward devotion and accomplishment in teaching. Dianne Josse,
lapsang soochong, sencha, bancha, longjing, bi luo chun and oolong.
Cultural Attachée for the French Consulate, presented the award to
“My idea is to open up the space in the classroom, to take the
Lutz “for service rendered to the French culture” through his
academic edge off and to help open the students’ minds about the
teaching. Dr. Lutz received the award in the rank of Chevalier and
differences in China and Japan. To use the variations of teas does a
was congratulated by the United States Ambassador to France.
similar thing in an immediate way,” Herschler said.
“Oglethorpe is honored to have Dr. Lutz receive this distinction,” said
A majority of his students had no experience with tea other than
Oglethorpe President Larry Schall. “He is the anchor of our foreign
sweet tea, and in this lesson there was no sugar allowed. After
language program and has helped facilitate study abroad opportunities
tasting the tea of the week, students discussed their reactions using
for countless Oglethorpe students and their international counter-
language to effectively communicate how each tea was different. He
parts. As a teacher and scholar, he has inspired several generations
prompted the students by asking them to think about tea with
of students to immerse themselves in French language and culture.”
language commonly reserved for fine wine: personality, mood,
billboard ad for the Brand Atlanta Campaign.
OU in the News Since the fall of 2005 Oglethorpe has appeared in the press
Both exhibitions in the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art have
quite a bit. First, the Hurricane Katrina relief work done by the
been featured in local newspapers, magazines and websites. A story
Oglethorpe University community throughout September and
about the current exhibition Portals to Shangri-La: Masterpieces
October drew a lot of attention. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
from Buddhist Mongolia aired on Washington Post Radio (1/27/06),
covered our efforts (9/5/05, 9/17/05, 9/23/05) and the university
and the museum was named the “Best Kept Museum Secret” by
was featured on all three local television stations. The Oglethorpe
Atlanta Magazine in the December issue.
volunteers were also highlighted in the Mansfield, Louisiana, newspaper (9/15/05) and on the cover of The Southern Aviator
If you are interested in obtaining a copy of any of these press clips,
magazine (10/05). Local media, Atlanta INtown (11/05) and
please contact Elizabeth Pittman at 404.364.8868 or
Neighbor Newspapers (9/23/05) also ran photos and articles
epittman@oglethorpe.edu.
about the relief efforts.