Longwood Magazine 2001 Vol 02 No 02 Summer Special

THATNIGHT-APRIL24,2001

INLIFETHEREAREMARKEREVENTSwherewewillalways rememberwherewewereandwhatweweredoing. At9:28p.m.onthatnight,Iwaswatchingthewrap-up of Dharma and Gregwhenthephonerang.ItwasKerry Mossier,acolleaguefromLongwoodCollege,wholiveson HighStreetacrossfromLancasterHall."Ruffner'sonfireIcanseetheflamesfrommyfrontporch."

AsIlefthome,theskyoverthetownhadanorange,ominous glow.Atfirst,Ithoughtthelocationwaswrong,butas IturnedontoThirdStreet,therewasnomistakingthatthe skywasaglowfromthefireatLongwood.AsIarrived,tall flamesleaptfromWestRuffnerandthesideofGraingerHall. Myfirstthoughtwas,maybewecansavetheRotunda,but withinminutesMainRuffnerandtheRotundawereengulfed.

Thenextfivehourspassedinablurofactionfueledby adrenaline.Sirens,explosions,commands,andthegaspsof onlookersfilledthenightairasLongwood'slandmark buildingsburnedandcrumbledtotheground.Mystaffand IsetupacommunicationscommandpostinthePRofficein Lancaster.PriorityOne:getthewordoutthatourstudents hadbeenevacuatedsafelywithnoinjuries.Wewereonline withourfirstwebpressreleaseby ro:30 p.m. 'andthealumni officebegansendinge-mailmessagestoouralumni.

AlothasbeensaidaboutthespiritofLongwood.Unlike bricksandmortar,thespiritlivesonlongaftertheflames havedied.ItisthatsamespiritthatIsawinmystaffoverthe pastmonth.Iamextremelyproudofthem.Here,intheir ownwords,aresomeoftheirthoughtsaboutthatnight.

DENNISSERCOMBE, EDITOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

"WhenIsawwhatwasleftofRuffner,Ithoughtitlookedlike thosephotosofRichmondattheendoftheCivilWar.Itwas stillsmolderingandlookedeerie,almostsurreal,evenmoreso sinceitwasovercastandraininglightlyIworkedinRuffner for14years,sothisreallyhitmepersonally."

KENT BOOTY, WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER, MEDIA SPECIALIST

"MyfirstthoughtswhenIgotthephonecallwere,'Rotunda onfire-that'scrazy.It'sprobablysomethingsmallandI'llbe homeinanhour.'AsIapproachedtownandsawallthe smoke,Ifeltsicktomystomach.IpickedupDaveHooper (PRwebspecialist)ontheway,andwenttowork.Itwasthe mostchaotic,nerve-wrackingeventI'veeverexperienced, butIfeltgreathonorinmycontribution.Knowingthat Longwoodsurvivedrwoothermajorfiresgivesmehope forthefuture."

COCHEYSE GILLIAM, CLASS OF 1998, OFFICE MANAGER

"Withinminutesofarrivingatwork,Ipostedthelatest informationaboutthefireontheLongwoodwebsite.Iwas surprisedtoreceivesomanywonderfulcommentswhenthis wasover.Parentswereverythankfulfortheinformationithelpedeasetheirminds.Eventhoughthefirewasamajor tragedy,itshowedusallsomethingthededicationof Longwood'sfaculty,staff,studentsandthesurrounding community.WitnessingthiseventremindedmewhyIchose toattendLongwoodCollegefiveyearsago."

DAVE HOOPER, CLASS OF 2000, WEB SPECIALIST

"FromthefirstIwasstruckbytheconvergenceofLongwood peopledoingalltheycouldtohelp.WhenIfirstwalkedupto HighStreetIheardMaryThorntonofARAMARKsay, 'they'regoingtoneedfood.'InCoyner,AlisonKendrickwas tryingtohandleallthephonecallscomingin.InLancaster, NancySheltonwasloadingacartwithirreplaceable LongwoodmemorabiliaincasethefirejumpedPineStreet"

JuDY McREYNOLDS, WRITER & MEDIA RELATIONS CooRDINATOR

"Iwassadtothinkofallthathistorygoingupinsmoke. Icouldpicturemyfavorite'LongwoodLadies'waitinginthe Rotundatomeettheirbeaus-ormyselfwindingthroughthe mazeofRuffner'shallways en route toPrintingServices. Watchingthetelevisedreportsinfollowingdays,oneimage standsout:BettyJoSimmonsneartearsspeakingso eloquentlyoftheloss.I,too,wasremindedofwhyIam associatedwithLongwood-thepeople."

DAVID WHALEY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS & VISUAL ART

Longwood College Public Relations Sta.Iffromfront, leftto right: JudyMReynolds, Dave Hooper, Cocheyse Gilliam, David Whaley, Dennis Sercombe, and KentBooty

BRIANBATES'92wasoneofthe175firefighters fromr3differentfirecompanieswhoresponded totheLongwoodfireofApril24-25.

THEGREATFIREOF2001

Pagesofphotographs,atimeline,alumnimemories,theartoflosing, firespast-allareplacedinperspective.

24HERORANDALLJOHNSON'orisinterviewed abouthisroleinfightingthefire.

26PHYLLISMABLEbidsfarewelltoLongwood.

30LONGWOODATHLETICSINTHENEWS StudentAthletesClaireReyesandColinDucharme

33 LONGWOODCOLLEGENEWS&ALUMNIEVENTS

40JESSICAPAYNE'oristhe2001AT&TScholarforVirginia.

INPRINT42RECENTPUBLICATIONSBYLONGWOODFACULTY,STAFF, STUDENTS&ALUMNI

YESTERDAY&TODAY43SILENTSENTINEL

fiT;;)-ONTHEWEB@www.lwc.edu/longwood

Torequestthismagazineinalternateformat (largeprint,braille,audio,etc.),pleasecontact theLongwoodLearningCenter,434.395.2391; TRS:711.

CoverPhotographofBrianBatesbyDennisSercombe.

ispublishedrwiceayearforthealumniandfriendsofLongwoodCollege bytheLongwoodCollegeFoundation,Inc.Allmaterials©LongwoodCollege. Allrightsreserved.Reproductioninpartorfullstrictlyprohibited.

Comments,letters,orcontributionscanbesenttotheOfficeofPublicRelations, LongwoodCollege,201HighStreet,Farmville,Virginia23909. Telephone434.395.2020,Fax434.395.2825.

AddresschangesshouldbesenttotheOfficeofAlumniAffairs, LongwoodCollege,201HighStreet,Farmville,Virginia23909. Telephone1.800.281.4677,Fax434.395.2825.

PUBLISHER EDITOR

CREATIVEDIRECTOR ASSOCIATEEDITORS

CONTRIBUTORS INTERNS

EDITORIALOFFICE

LongwoodCollegeFoundation,Inc.

DennisSercombe

DavidWhaley

KentBooty,JudyMcReynolds

BobbieBurton,Dr.JeniBurges,BillFiege'95, CocheyseGilliam'97,Dr.JamesJordan,GeorgeC.Lanum,III,'oo, GregProuty,NancyShelton'68,JustinTrawick'04

KevinR.Bopp'02,CelesteCard'02,BrianS.Jones'02

LongwoodCollege OfficeofPublicRelations

201HighStreet,Farmville,Virginia23909 telephone434.395.2020

telefax434.395.2825

emaildsercomb@longwood.lwc.edu

onthewebathttp://www.lwc.edu

EDITORIAL ADVISORYBOARD

LONGWOODCOLLEGE BOARDOFVISITORS

DennisSercombe,Chairman,DirectorofPublicRelations

KentBooty,PublicRelationsWriterandPhotographer

JenaBurges,AssistantProfessorofEnglish

BobbieBurton,VicePresidentoflnstiturionalAdvancement

DavidHooper'oo,WebSpecialist

JudyMcReynolds,PublicRelationsMediaCoordinatorandWriter

GregProuty,SportsInformationDirector

ChrisRegister,AssistantProfessorofAn

NancyShelton'68,DirectorofAlumniRelations

JamesVincent,AssistantProfessorofHistory

DavidWhaley,DirectorofPublicationsandVisualArt

PatriciaP.Cormier,President

SusanM.Harwood,RectoroftheBoardofVisitors

AudreyChandlerPowell,MS'84,PresidentoftheLongwoodCollegeFoundation,Inc.

SuzanWoltzDavis'68,PresidentoftheLongwoodCollegeAlumniAssociation

AnnGreenBaise'74,McLean,Virginia

JoanneSadlerButler,Alexandria,Virginia

JohannaB.Chase,Charlottesville,Virginia

MarkA.Crabtree,Martinsville,Virginia

SusanM.Harwood,Farmville,Virginia

JamesC.Hughes, McLean, Virginia

AnneMortonGregory'53,McLean,Virginia

DonaldJ.Rennie,Richmond,Virginia

VirginiaAndersonRussell'56, Richmond, Virginia

AliceCheatwoodStallard'59, Midlorhian, Virginia

SarahE.Terry,Farmville,Virginia

VoLUME2,No.2,SuMMER2001

DEARFRIENDS:

ACRISISCANDEFEATusORMAKEusSTRONGER,revealourweaknessesorhighlightourstrengths, pullafamilytogetherortearitapart.IassureyouthatthefireonchenightofApril24hasmade theLongwoodfamilystronger.

WhentheRotunda,EastandWestRuffnerandmostofGraingerHallweredestroyed, Longwoodlostmuchinthewayofhistory,tradition,facilitiesandpersonalproperty.However, morethan300studentswereevacuatedfromColonnadesresidencehalls,andnotonestudent wasinjured.Ourlossesarebricksandmortar.Longwoodhassufferednolossofspirit.

Areporteraskedmehow,otherthanexhaustion,chislossaffectedmeascollegepresident. Myanswerwas,andis,thatIamtheproudestpresidentinAmerica.Andverygraceful. Gratefultothe175firefightersfrom13localdepartmentswhobattledtheflamesallnight andintothenextday,someofwhomwereLongwoodandHampden-SydneyCollegestudents. GracefultoFarmvilleofficialsandthetownspeoplewhoofferedcotakeevacuatedstudents intotheirhomes.Toallthestudentswhotookinsomanyoftheirfriendschatocheroffers wereunnecessary.Tostudentswhobakedcookiesforfirefightersandtoallthecollegesand universitiesthroughouttheCommonwealthwhoofferedassistance.Toalumniandfriendsofche collegewhoaskedforaRotundaFundandhavesincecontributedmorethan$!75,000torebuilding.

Afterthefire,Milestonereunionswereheldasscheduled,andCommencement2001wasapoignant yetjoyfulcelebration.Longwood'sfutureisbright.Weareintheprocessofdesigningandrebuilding GraingerandtheRotundaandEastandWestRuffnerintheiroriginalstyleandgrandeur.Frenchand SouthRuffnerresidencehalls,whichsufferedminimaldamage,willbecompletelyreadyfor occupancychisfall.RenovationofMainTabbwillinclua.etheinstallationofanewroofandwill continuethroughthefallsemester.

Thisissueof Longwood magazineshowsthedevastationofthefire,butithighlightsthepersonal andevenheroicresponsesofstudents,faculty,staff,surroundingtownsandcounties,alumni andfriends.Itisatributetoastrongandcaringcommunity.

PATRICIA p CORMIER PRESIDENT

BRIANBATESsymbolizeschespiritofLongwoodCollege.

NoconlyisheagraduateofLongwood(Classof1992),butheisalso afacultymemberandvolunteerfirefighterfortheTogaFireDepartment inBuckinghamCounty.Brianwasoneofthe175firefighters from13differentfirecompanieswhorespondedcotheLongwoodfire ofApril24-25.Brianisalsoacountysupervisorandthedirectorofthe LongwoodCollegeAichaeologyFieldSchool(seestory,page37).

Hisinvolvementwithcollegeandcommunityaretheessence oftheLongwoodcitizen-leader.

ThePresidentialDistinguishedServiceAward

FortheirheroiceffortsduringthefireofApril24and25,thefollowingfire companieswereawardedthePresidentialDistinguishedServiceAward, thehighesthonorthatLongwoodCollegecanbestowuponanorganization: Appomattox Hampden-Sydney

Burkeville Meherrin

CharlotteCourtHousePamplin

Cumberland Prospect

DarlingtonHeightsRice

Dillwyn Toga

Farmville

The Great Fire of2001

The Blaze, TheAftermath & The Recovery -A Timeline

]UDYMcR.£YNOLDS

Assoc1ATEEDITOR

The Blaze

"FireinRuffner."LongwoodstudentPhilipShawmakes thecalltocampuspoliceat 9:22 p.m.onApril 24, 2001.

Withinminutes,Sgt.RogerSudsberryconfirmsflamesin thetopfloorofWestRuffner,thencallsforallavailablelocal firefightingunits.

SudsberryentersGraingerHallwhileOfficerRussellDove goesthroughColonnadesresidencehallscallingforthe evacuationofalloccupants.

AlarmsgooffinFrench,Tabb,SouthTabbandSouth Ruffner.ResidentAssistantsalongwithColonnades ResidenceEducationCoordinatorCaseyBlankenshipbang ondoorsandgetstudentsoutofthebuildingsthenaway fromthefireandacrossHighStreet.

After347studentsareevacuated,allroomsareinspected. StudentsareinstructedtocheckinatLancergymand encouragedtocallhome.StudentAffairssetsupmattresses inLancer,butsomanystudentshavefriendsrakingthemin thatnonestayovernightinthegym.Hourslater,Resident AssistantTriciaIveyrealizesshehassprainedherankle; otherwise,notonestudentisinjured.

CampusPoliceChiefCharlesLowearrivesatthesceneand, alongwithDoveandOfficerJohnThompson,goesintofirst floorSouthRuffnertobesuredisabledstudentsare evacuated.ThenthethreemovethroughtheColonnades, knockingoneverydoorandlockingroomsbehindthem.

Withinminutesofthecallfromthecollege,sevenareafire departmentshavebeendispatched.

FarmvilleFireChiefTimMcKayarrivesonthesceneand seesthatWestRuffnerislostandtheRotundaisburning. Heistoldthatallstudentshavebeenevacuatedbutsends firefighterstosearchthebuildings,athirdcheck.

Asincidentcommander,McKaymaintainscontactwith PresidentPatriciaCormierandExecutiveVicePresidentfor AdministrationandFinanceDaveHarnageaswellas FarmvillePoliceChiefStuartDunnavantfortrafficand crowdcontrolandTownManagerGeraldSpatesfor coordinatingtownequipmentandpersonnel.

Inall, 175 volunteersfrom II areadepartmentsfightthefire for 15 hoursusing 2.2 milliongallonsofwater.Firefighters andequipmentcomefromFarmville,Rice,Meherrin, Hampden-Sydney,Pamplin,Prospect,DarlingtonHeights, Appomattox,Cumberland,Dillwyn,andTogavolunteer firedepartmentswithBurkevilleandCharlotteCourtHouse heldinreserve.

Studentsbringfirefighterscookies;ARAMARKmakesthem breakfast.Localbusinesseshelpwithfood,fueland equipment.

ThousandsofpeoplevisittheLongwoodCoHegewebsite forimagesandnewsofthefireanditsafrermath.

Inall,175 volunteers fightthefire for15hours using 2.2 million gallonsofwater.

Noliveshavebeenlost; noseriousinjuriessuffered. ThereisnoRotunda, noWestRuffner,noEastRuffner. Thereareonlyremains.

Thetwistedrim oftheRotunda, restsontherubble ofRuffner.

The Aftermath

AtdaylightonWednesday,firefightersbattlehotspots, butthefireisundercontrol.

Noliveshavebeenlost;noseriousinjuriessuffered.

ThereisnoRotunda,noWestRuffner,noEastRuffner. Thereareonlyremains.AscenefromtheCivilWar burningofRichmond.

Twistedmetal,theremainsofaroof,jutsfromthethird floorofGrainger.

Butthewet-brickwallsofGraingerstandtothewest. FlameshavereachedtheatticoffourthfloorSouthRuffner andnofarther.TheBlackwell"smoker"anddininghall remaintothesouth.

Tothenorth,acrossHighStreet,onlookerssitonthecurb; somejuststare;someweep.

TVsatellitetruckslineHighStreetasreportersfrom Richmond,Lynchburg,RoanokeandCharlottesvillekeepup regional,stateandnationalcoverageofthefireandtheloss ofthe"heart"ofthecampus.

CollegesanduniversitiesthroughouttheCommonwealth callandofferassistance.

AtIIa.m.PresidentCormier,alongwithExecutiveVice PresidentDaveHarnage,addressesallstudents,faculty andstaffinJarmanAuditorium.Shesays,"OurRuffners aregone."

Explainingthatafireofthismagnitudeaffectsmanyother areasofthecampus,Dr.Cormierannouncesthatremaining classesandallexamsarecancelled.Semestergradeswillbe basedonworkalreadycompleted.Studentsareencouraged tocontacttheirprofessorsregardingexceptions.Students willberequiredtovacatetheirresidencehallroomsby Saturday,noon.Toprotectthehealthandsafetyofstudents housedintheColonnadesresidencehalls,theywillnotbe allowedbackintoSouthRuffner,Tabb,SouthTabbor FrenchbeforetheSaturdaymoveout.Facultywillnotsoon haveaccesstoanyitemsintheirofficesinGrainger.

Mr.Harnagesaystostudents,"Ifyouhaven'talreadydone so,CALLHOME."

IntheQ&Athatfollows,oneevacuatedstudentaskshow shecangetkeystogetintohercar;anotherstudentasks whereshecandonateclothesforthepeoplewhocannotget intotheirrooms.

PresidentCormierreassuresthoseassembled,"Ihavefaith inthestrengthandcharacterofthisinstitudon,andwewill recover.Thedamageissevere,butwewillovercomeit becauseitisbricksandmortar."Sheacknowledges firefighterswhoputtheirlivesontheline,physicalplantand securitystaffwhoworkedallnight,studentswhowenthome andbakedcookiesandbroughtthemtofirefighters,andthe citizensandemployeesofFarmvillewhowere"byoursides allthenight."Sheconcludes,"Notonestudentwasinjured, notonestudentdied.Thiscampusisacampusofcharacter andyoushoweditinallofyourglorylastnight.Ithankyou somuch."

AnexodusofstudentsbeginsandcontinuestoSaturday.

Campuspolice,reinforcedbyInformationandInstructional TechnologyServicesstaff,patroltheperimeterofthesite, 24hoursaday,everyday

Mournersleavepoemsandblueandwhiteflowersinthe securityfence.

NerworkaffiliatesfromNBC,CBS,andABCcovered thefire,alongwithCNN,MSNBC,theAssociatedPress, theWashingtonPostandmajornewspapersaccrossthe Commonwealth.

The Recovery

TheCommonwealthhiresINRECON,acompanyof recoveryspecialists.INRECONpullstogetherteamsfor clearingrefuse,dryingbuildingsandrecoveringanddrying propertyfromresidencehallsandoffices.

Almostimmediatelyalumni,friends,evenprospective students,ask"Howcanwehelp?Wherecanwedonate moneytorebuild?"andTheRotundaFundisestablishedfor donations(seepage38).

FacultydisplacedfromGraingersetuptemporaryofficesand workatassigninggrades.

PrintingServicesmakesarrangementswiththeUniversity ofVirginiatoreprint 5,000 CommencementPrograms destroyedinthefire.

OnMay1,thecollegeannounceschatVirginiaScacePolice havereleasedbuildingsaffectedbythefiretothesupervision andresponsibilityofthecollegeandhaveruledchatarsonis notsuspected.

OnMay3,studentsreturntoroomsinFrenchandSouth Tabbcoretrievetheirbelongings.Theyarriveatdesignated timesandareassistedbyResidenceEducationandHousing staffandprofessionalmovers.

OnMay5,alumnireturntoachangedcampusfor Milestonereunions(seepage14).

May7throughro,studentsreturnatdesignatedtimesto roomsinTabbandSouthRuffner.Someroomsarevirtually untouched;insomecases,floors,ceilingsandwallsare damaged.Highlyabsorbentmaterials,includingfurniture, mattressesandbedding,havebeenmovedtothetennis courtstodry.Anythingonthefloorhasbeenstackedon furniture.Duecodryingequipmentinthehallwaysand occupancylimitssecbytheScaceFireMarshal,eachstudent canbeaccompaniedbyonlyoneocherperson.Professional moverscarryboxesfromroomstooutsidethebuildings.

INRECONteamsenterGraingeroffices,loaditemsonro woodencaresthenpushtheseoutofthebuildingwhere facultyinhardhatsdecidewhattheywillcakehome,what theywillcrashandwhattheywillconsigntothe"drying room"secupbyINRECONinthebasementofBlackwell.

OnMay 12 thesunshines,andLongwoodCommencement 2001 proceedswithallthepompandceremonythecollege canmuster.Graduatingseniors,facultyandstaffwearsilver andblueribbons,providedbyBarnes&NobleCampus Bookstore,asremindersofthetraditionsofthepastandthe challengesofthefuture.Anotherreminderistheringingof cheLongwoodBell,firstinstalledinacupolaontheroofof SouthRuffnerHallin 1897, nowrestoredanddisplayedin thelibrary.Acrowdofapproximately 7,000 joinsthe celebrationofnewbeginnings.

Forsummer 2001, classesandconferencesarebeingheldas scheduled.Falladmissionsarerightontargetwith880new freshmenand 180 transferstudentsexpectedtoenroll for 2001-02.

Fromthefirstdayafterthefire,PresidentCormierhassaid, "TheRuffnersaregoingroberebuiltandtheywillberebuilt inthewayinwhichtheyweredesigned."

TheRuffnerscomplexhadbeenguttedforrestoration:oil andcanvaspaintingsfromtheinteriordomehadbeen removedforconservation;thestatuedubbedJoanieonthe Stony(seestorypage20)hadbeenrelocatedtothedining hall.Portraitsofcollegepresidents,bronzeplaquesandthe doorstothemainentrancewereremovedseveralmonths ago.Ofthefewartifactsremaining,theslatestepatthemain doorhasbeenlocatedintherubbleandremoved.

TheRotundaFundhasreceivedmorethan$I75,oooin donations;theGeneralAssemblyandGovernorhavesigned emergencymeasurestoexpediterebuilding.

TheLongwoodcommunityhasanewsenseofcommitment andanewappreciationoftheexcellence,professionalism andcaringamongitsown.Inafewyears,Longwoodwill haveanewRotunda,newRuffners,anewheart.lewillnot betheoriginal,butitwillbelikeLongwood-builtonmore thanrooyearsoftraditionandwellequippedforthefucurefi

EnglishProfessorOtisDouglas sortsthroughyearsofmemories andmementos.

CampusPoliceSergeantAndyRhodes holdstheflagpolefinialwhich survivedthefire.

DaveHarnage,ExecutiveVicePresident forAdministrationandFinance, locatesthefamousgraystep(lowerright) atthethresholdoftheRotunda.

AlumsReflecton theGreatFireof2001

BILLFIEGE'95"Itwas9:25p.m.ontheeveningofApril 24,andthefinalAmbassadormeetingofthesemesterwas startinginIOminutes.Themeeting,usuallyheldinthe basementofGrainger,wasattheAlumniHousebecauseit wouldbefollowedbyanicecreamsocial,celebratingthe endofthesemester.AsAmbassadorsweretricklingintothe house,astudentrushedintosaytheRotundawasonfire. TheearlycomersrushedoutontotheAlumniHouseporch andindisbelief,sawtheflamesshootinghighintothenight sky.As9:30arrivedandeveryonewaspresentonthefront lawnofthehouse,emotionsbegantocomeout.Therewere tearsandthoughtsofwhatcanwedo?Obviously,the meetingwascanceled,andthegroupmembersdisbursedto seehowtheymightofferassistance.

WalkingfromtheAlumniHouse,alongHighStreettothe Ruffnerarea,washeartwrenching.AsIdrewclosertothe scene,itwaspainfullyobviousthatthiswasnotafirethat wouldbeputoutwithafewsprinklesofwater.TheRuffner building(fromeasttowest)wascompletelyengulfedin flames,andIjusthopedthatthefirewouldnotgointo Graingeronthewest-sideorSouthRuffner,;rabb,and Frenchontheeastside.Itwasnow10p.m.andthe firefighterswereworkingdiligentlytokeeptheflamesfrom thoseareasandcontainthefireintheRuffners.

Itwasalittleafterthistime,whenIsawNancyShelton. IhadcalledNancy,theDirectorofAlumniRelationsand myboss,fromtheAlumniHouseandtoldheraboutthe situation.WethensawDennisSercombe,theDirectorof PublicRelations,andaskedhimwhatwemightbeableto dotohelp.AsthesignaturebuildingofLongwoodburned, werealizedweneededtocommunicatewithalumni.

Wewantedthemtohearthenewsfromusnotjustontheir televisionsetsorinthenewspapers.Also,alumnioutside ofVirginiawouldlikelynotseeanyinformationonthefire unlesswesentsomethingtothem.

Iwenttomyofficeandemailedtoallofthealumnifor whomwehavecorrectemailaddresses(5400atthetime)a statementthattheRuffnerBuildingwasonfireandthatwe wouldupdatethemassoonaspossible.Ialsostatedthat picturesandupdateswouldbepostedontheLongwoodweb siteatwww.lwc.eduastheybecameavailable.Sowedonot crashthesystem,e-mailsaredividedintofourgroups alphabeticallybye-mailaddressanddeliveredonegroupata time.Thefirste-mailwassentatn:npmandthelastat n:39pm.Inthenextthreedays,threemoreinformational updatesweresentviae-mail.

Wehavereceivedhundredsofe-mailsinreturn. Manyalumniwereconcernedaboutspecificitemsthatthey thoughtmighthavebeenlostinthefire.Artifactsmost inquiredaboutincludedtheJoanofArcstatue,Longwood Bell,"graystep,"sororityplaques,andtheKappaDelta bench.Alloftheseitemswererelocatedbeforerenovations beganandwerenotaffectedbythefire.Also,wereceived avastnumberofe-mailswithmemoriesfromthehistoric building,whichareincludedthroughoutthisissue.

At2:45a.m.,IleftthesceneandwentbacktotheAlumni Housetogetmycar.AsIwalked,Ireminiscedaboutallof thememoriesIhadintheRuffnerBuildingduringmydays asastudentandnowemployee.IlivedinTabbmyfreshman year,hadmanyinitiationsandmeetingsintheRotunda, andworkedoutofEastRuffnermyfirstthreeyearsasa speechinstructor.WhenIgottothehouseandstoodonthe porchonceagain,Icouldnotseetheflamesandrealized enormoustreesblockedtheviewoftheRuffnersand Grainger.Yet,justfive-and-half-hoursearlier,I_couldseethe fireclearasdayfromtheporchoftheAlumniHouse.Itis animageIwillrememberforever."

NANCY GREGORY MARTIN '66"Forthegenerations of"LongwoodLadies"whogatheredinsidetheRotundaat leasttwiceadaybeforemealstosingrivalsongsand'Among thegleamingcolumnsAgentlevoicecalls,'itishardto thinkofthesedestroyedbuildingsasjustbuildings.Forus,it wastheheartofahomewherewewerewatchedoverby facultymemberswhosatandtalkedwithusintheRotunda betweenclasses,aDeanofWomenwhowasnevertoobusy tojoinusforlunch,anda'NightyWatch'wholockedallthe doorsatnightanddroveustothetrainwhenitwasdark outside.Itwas,forallofus,an'ageofinnocence,'between MomandDadandthebigwideworldofVietnam,women's lib,husbands,careers,andbabies.Iwilltreasureasoneof life'sbestmomentsstandingwithhundredsofteasedand flippedhairedfriends,allofusdressedin'ladylikeattire,' surroundingtheRotunda'sthreefloorsofwhitebanisters, eachofusholdingcandlesandsinging,TUbehomefor Christmas'whilesnowswirledaroundthosebeautiful windowsandcolumnsbeyond.Averyspecial timeandplace..."

JAN IocOPINELLI '74"Thereareeightofuswhohave keptintouchfor30years.Wehavesomanyjoyous memoriesofouryearsatLongwoodCollegeandofthe Rotunda-RingFigure,RotundaSings,thehugeChristmas tree.Icanstillhearthesoundofthestepscreakingand thebigfrontdoorclosing."

JEN BLADEN '95"Iremembersittingoutfrontand staringatthatbeautifulbuildingwonderingwhyIwas homesickforCaliforniawhenVirginiawasaslovelyasthat IrememberthefirstphotosIsawofLongwoodand choosingitbasedonitshistoryandarchitecture."

JANIE EVANS '67"Irememberwatchingthefirst appearanceoftheBeatlesontheEdSullivanshow downstairsbelowthedininghall,andwegirlsallranbackto ourroomsjustscreaming.Ialsorememberstandinginthe Rotundaonaweekendnighttryingtofindaprivateplaceto kissmydateaseveryoneelseonadatewastryingtodothe samethingwhilewaitingforthemidnightcurfewtoarrive."

RHIANNA MATHIAS '00 "Isimplywantedtorelaymy genuinesenseoflossformyfellowalumni,thecurrent studentbody,andfuturestudentsofLongwoodCollege. Whatapricelesspieceofourhistorytolose...Oneofthe sundrythingsLongwoodinstilledinmeduringmyfour yearstherewasareverenceforitshistory.IfeelthatIcan speakformostofmypeersinsayingthatwetreasure Longwood'straditionandrelishitsrichness.Ifeellike

I'velostanolddearfriend.Ithinkofthatmarblestepright outsideofthefrontdoorsoftheRotunda,smoothlysunken byalonghistoryoffootsteps,andmyheartbreaks.Ithink ofDr.Jordan,hisresearch,storiesMyfamilygavemea printoftheRotundaforgraduationlastyear.Icanhonestly saythattheprintmeanssomuchmoretomenow ThatisthewayIwillalwaysremembertheRotunda."

JEANNE ROMEO '68"Mydaughter(Kristina)isone oftheseniorsgraduatingthisyear,andwehavebothspent sometime'mourning'forthelossoftheRotunda.Weboth havesomeverydearmemoriesofthecreakingboardfloors, theoldsmellsofanoldbuilding,andoneoftheslate thresholdwhichwasfound.Butwealsoknowthatthiswas justbrickandmortarandthatthetruespiritisstillthere andthegenerationsofstudentsyettocomewillcreateall newmemoriesforLongwood.WewillbethereonMay12 (graduationday)toshedatearforwhatwaslostandtolook aheadforwhatistocome."

CRYSTALWORLEY '83"TheRotundawasnotjusta building,itwasasymbolofaschoolandalotofthevalues thatareinstilledinyoungpeopleeveryday./

I was grading freshman essays at home when my daughter called from Longwood at about 9:40 that night, her voice shaking with anxiety.

"Mom, Grainger is burning."

Instantlymymind'seyesawmycomputermeltingintheheat andmybookscrumblingto ashes. Panic-stricken, I blurteda selfishquestion: "Willtheyletmeinmyoffice?"

Letmeexplainthatreaction. Formanyprofessors,ouroffices areattheheartofour professional lives;even ourclassroom workbeginswithpreparation intheoffice. Itiswherewekeep our teaching notes, research materials, publications in various stagesofpreparation, mementosandawards,committee reports, addresses,tests,assignmentsheets, syllabi, student projects,grades, academicregalia, professionalrecordsand letters,electronicarchives-and ourbooks,toomanybooks, accumulatedovertheyearsandannotatedoverthecourseof many readings.Thatnight, Ifranticallywonderedwhatitwould beliketo loseitallandstartover.

Asmyhusband,whoseofficewasalsoinGrainger,droveus thetwomilestocampus,theskyglowedlikeajack-a-lantern, andasuddenexplosionofsparksannouncedthecollapseofthe Rotunda. Weparkedthetruckandrushedtowardthefire, already feeling itsheaton ourfaceswhenweroundedthecornertwo blocksaway.Smokepoured out from Grainger'sa�ticaswater poured infromthefirefighters'hoses. EastRuffner'swalls began togiveway.We couldn'tevengetclosetothebuilding; rescuing anythingfromourofficeswasoutofthequestion.

Thenextday,akindofparalysissetinasGrainger'sformer occupantsgatheredacrossPine Streettostareatourstillsmolderinghomebase. Itwastimetogotowork,buttherewas no placetogo. Wewereofferedtemporaryaccesstocomputers elsewhereon campus, butalmosteverythingweneededtodo waslocked in ourbuilding.We strained tosee through the steamywindows,speculating abouttheconditionof ouroffices. Atrandom moments in mostconversationsoverthenextfew days, someone would rememberwherea particularitemwas andsaysomethinglike, "Oh, man, my[inscribed book/SACS file/gradesheets/daughter's drawing] wassitting [righton my desk/ontheshelf/in abriefcaseleftopenonthechair]. It'sprobablypulpbynow."

Fourdaysafterthefire, westartedgettinganswersasa professional recoveryteam began removingthecontents

ofthebuilding. Oneatatime, wewere usheredinsidethe makeshiftchain-linkfenceastheyhauled ourlives'workouton plywoodcarts.Theywaitedpatientlywhile,withasmuchdignity aswecouldmuster,eachofusinourturnexaminedwhatthe fire,smoke,andwaterhadleftbehind. Everythingsmelled likeastaletrashfire, and much ofitresembledfreshly-made papier-mache.

Seeing mysoggy,ink-blurredbooks,files,andpapers wheeled outofthebuildingonthosecartsfeltalot likewatching alovedonebeingwheeledoutoftheoperating roomona gurney. Difficultasthiswas,though,worse lossfacedthose whoseofficeswereonthetopfloor,wherefiredamage precluded recoveryofanythingatall. Therestofusatleast hadsomethingtostartwithaswesentourforlorn belongings tothedrying room.

Asdeeplyaswefelttheselosses,itwastheabsenceofourown familiarworkingspacesthathadquiteliterallychangedourlives overnight.Thecenterofgravitythathadanchoredouractivity wasnowgone. Withoutitweweregypsies,wanderingbetween home andcampusatmoreorless random intervals. Ifwe happenedtobumpintoafellow gypsy, wewould marvelathow much wemissedourdesks, ourclutter,ourroutines. Someone remarked,"Wedriveoverandwalkaroundthecampus becausewedon'tknowwhatelsetodo."

Ironyiseverywhereinadisasterlikethis. Mostofus,for example, hadconscientiouslybackedupourcomputerfilesandthen leftthe disks sitting where theywere destroyedalong withthecomputerstheywereintendedtobackup.Another example: allthepaperslyingoutonadesksoaked uptwicetheir weightinwaterandmeltedtomush,whilethepottedplantright nexttothemthrivedonthemoistureandbegantoblossom.

Athird ironywasoddlypoetic. Onthedayofthefire, I hadgone totheprintshoptopickuphandoutsthatwould bepartof freshmancompositionfinalexams.All750copiesweresittingon topofafilingcabinetinthedepartmentofficethatnight.They weresoaked,ofcourse, andbecametrash intheaftermath. I keep remembering,though,thatonthefirstpageofeach, ElizabethBishop'spoem"OneArt"observed,"Theartoflosing isn'thardtomaster."

Thefirecertainly provedit;welostouroffices, classrooms, and daily routineswith noeffortatall. Hardertomasteristheartof starting over.Thatiswhatwe'reworkingonno/

Jena Burges Assistant Professorof English

Re.union Classes Recall Fire of 1949

KENT BooTY ASSOCIATE EDITOR

HELENCONNELLYBUTTONwasasophomore livingonthirdfloorSouthTabb,thenknownasthe Annex,whenafirein1949destroyedtheadjacentWhite HouseHall.Whatsheremembersmostvividlyaretwoeggs.

"MyroommateandIhadboughtoneeggeachandwere goingtohavebreakfastthenextmorninginourroom, whichweweren'tsupposedtodo,"shesays."Wenevergot tocookthem,ofcourse.Whenwewentbackintotheroom severaldayslater,thetwoeggswerethereandwereonthe floor,buttheyweren'tbroken."

Sheandherroommate,MARYLEIGHMEREDITH ARMSTRONG,wereamongmembersoftheClassof1951 whorecalledthatfirewhentheyreturnedtocampusfor their50threuniontheweekendaftertherecentfire.Several alumnifromtheclassesof1952and1949wereintervieweda fewdayslater.

"Thenightbefore,Iremembereverybodykeptsaying 'Wesmellsomething,wesmellsomething,"'saysMrs. Button,aBlacksburgnativewho'slivedinRichmondfor39 years."Itsmelledlikeanironwasburning,o\maybelikehot wires.Thenextdaywasmybirthday,andmyparentscame downandbroughtmysummerclothes,whichuntilthefire Ihadplannedtopickupoverspringbreak.Formybirthdayrhinestoneswerealltheragethen-theygavemerhinestone earrings,arhinestonenecklaceandarhinestonebracelet,and allIhadforclotheswasthatandonesummerdress," shelaughed.

ThefireinWhiteHousebrokeoutatabout6a.m.Sunday, March6,1949,inasectionofthethirdflooroverthe auditorium.Thethree-story,ivy-coveredbuilding,builtin 1905,"collapsedattheheightofthespectacularblazeand wasonlyasmokingpileofrubble,"the RichmondTimesDispatch reportedthenextday.At10:30Saturdaynight, "acridfumes"hadbeenreportedbystudentsonthatfloor,

forcingtheremovalofsomeresidentstootherdormsand a"thoroughinspection"byanelectrician,whofound nothing,thepapersaid.WhiteHouse,nexttoEastRuffner, houseda750-seatauditoriumonthefirstflooranddorm roomsonthesecondandthirdfloors.Some46studentsand astaffmemberlosteverything,butnoonewashurt.Mostof theWhiteHouseresidentsweregonethatweekend,several alumssay.ThecompanionbuildingtoGrainger,providing symmetrytotheRuffnercomplex,WhiteHousewasnever rebuilt;anewauditorium,Jarman,wasalreadyintheworks. Afterward,TabbandtheColonnadewereextendedsothey connectedwithEastRuffner.

]EAN CUNNINGHAMWILSON' 51ofFarmville,who workedatLongwoodfor45years,waslivingonsecondfloor SouthTabb.

"IwasthestagemanagerforLady Windermere'sFan, which wasgoingtobeproducedthefollowingweekend,andthe stagecrewhadworkedintheauditoriumthatSaturdaynight untilabout2a.m.,"shesays."Irememberthatitwas terriblyhotintheauditorium.Therewasanoutsidebrick wallonthebackofthestage,and,asitturnedout,theheat wasreflectingoffthebricks.Thenightwatchmancame throughevery30minutes,walkinguponstageandchecking thewindows,whichwasunusual,soIassumehe'dbeen alertedtothepossibilityofafire."

Mrs.Wilsonworkedinthebusinessofficefor10years,then inthepersonnelofficeforthenext35years.Interestingly,she andtwocoworkershadeachbeenpersonallyaffectedbya Longwoodfireasastudent."Inthebusinessoffice,Iwasthe cashier,WinnieHinerwasthetreasurer,andFlorence Richardsonhandledpurchasing.Therewasafirein1912toa seriesofhousesusedasdormsinfrontofwhere Cunninghamisnow;WinnieHiner,whograduatedin1913, livedinoneofthosehouses.Florence,'26,livedinadorm overthedininghall,whichburnedin1923.AndIlivednext

Archivalphotograph ofther949fire byBerman Scott, Class ofI95I

roWhiteHouse,sotheycalledusthe'threefirebugs!'" InterviewswithMrs.Wilsonaboutthefirewereshownon allthreeRichmondTVstationstheeveningofthereunion.

l, VERABRYANTWILLIAMS'52ofGoodview,in BedfordCountynearSmithMountainLake,wasoneofthe fewstudentsinWhiteHousechatnight.

"IenteredLongwoodinmid-yearandhadbeenthere,I chink,onlyafewdays,"shesays."Justafewstudentswerein thedormchatnight,andIwasbymyselfinmyroom. Someone-aman,Ichink-randownthehallyelling'fire' justbeforeIheardthealarm.Ilosteverything,exceptfor acoat-probablyaraincoat-andabookandarowelItook withme,aswehadbeentaught.Iputacoatonovermy pajamasandwasabletoexitthebuildingwithoutthesmoke beingaproblem."

Severalalumsmentionedabookandarowel:studentsthen wereinstructed,incaseoffire,totakeabookandarowel

withchembeforeleavingtheirroom,whichsupposedly showed"presenceofmind."

"Icalledmyparents,whocameandrookmehome-Iwent homeinmypajamasandmycoat,"addedMrs.Williams, whotaughtforaboutIOyearsintheTidewaterareaandalso haslivedinRichmondandFlorida."Istayedhome(in Boykins)aboutaweek,thenlivedwithtwogirlsonthe secondflooroftheRotunda.TheRedCrosssuppliedus withasetofsheets,ablanketandtowels,andinthegym therewasabigsupplyofclothingandbeddingdonatedfrom peopleintown.FarmvilleBaptistChurchgaveusnice, leather-boundBibles.Istillhavemine,whichisdatedMarch 18,1949."AnotheroneinherroominWhiteHousechat nightwasNancyWalkerReams'52,aMarionnative who'slivedinCulpeperformanyyears.

"Ihadbeenplayingbridgethatnightwithfriendsinanother dormandwentbacktomyroomataboutla.m.,"saysMrs. Reams,whosemotheralsoattendedLongwoodin1918-19.

"WhatIrememberisthatastudent-literallybyherselftooktheJoanofArcstatuefromtheRotundaandmovedit outsidetothefrontyard.ShewassodeterminedthatJoanof Arcwouldn'tburnup."

CLAUDIABRADSHAWMILLERofRichmond,the onlymemberoftheClassof1951interviewedforthisstory whodidn'tattendthereunion,waslivinginWhiteHouse. "Iwasn'ttherethatweekend;Iwasvisitingmysisterat AverettCollege,"saysMrs.Miller,aRicenativewhotaught for31years,thelast21inChesterfieldCounty,beforeretiring in1995."IlosteverythingIhad.Ihadanironinthe window,anditfelloutduringthefire-thatwastheonly thingIsaved."

JACKIEJARDINEWALLofFarmvillewasafreshman livinginWhiteHouse.Shewasn'tatypicalstudent.Bornin IndiaofBritishparents,shewas22andhademigratedfrom England10yearsearlier,servedintheBritishNavyintheU.S. 16

andCanadaduringWorldWarII,andworkedinBaltimoreas abookkeeper-secretarybeforeenrollingatLongwood.

"IwaslivingwithMarySueEbeling,aspecialstudentfrom Lexington,andIhadgonehomewithherthatweekend," Mrs.Wallsays."Iheardaboutthefireontheradio.

EverythingIownedatthattimeburnedup.Wewereboth devastated.Ilostmymusiccollection-Ilikedclassicaland 'swing'music-andallofmyphotosfromIndia,andsome nicecloches.Ireallyhatedtoloseallmyphotosfromwhen IwasachildinIndia."

Mrs.WalltransferredthenextyeartotheUniversityof Richmond'sWesthamptonCollege,wheresheearneda psychologydegreein1952.Asculptor,shewasartdirector ofLongwood'scampusschool,laterservedasasadjunct memberofthearcfaculty,andhasbeeninvolvedwiththe LongwoodCenterfortheVisualArtsformanyyearsand currenclyheadsthemembershipcouncil.

JoyceAdamsStennettSI,recallstheI949fireassheisinterviewed byShannonRadfordofWTVT-I3(ABC)fromLynchburg.

JOYCEADAMSSTENNETT'51ofRockville,who livedonfirstfloorSouthTabb-"thefirstroomnextto theauditorium"-heldoneofthefirehoses."Iwasn't goingtowaitforthejanitortoopenthedoor,soIwalked throughtheauditorium,"shesays."AfterIleft,theytold ustogobackandgetanythingwewantedtosave,so Isavedlovelettersfrommysweetheart(husbandHarold), andalsoadollhe'dgivenme.Thefirehosecamein throughmywindow,andIhelpedholdit.Itcameright acrossthebeds.

"Ididn'tloseanypossessions,althoughthewoodaroundmy windowburned,"addedMrs.Stennett,wholikestojoke thatshetaughtelementaryschoolinHenricoCountyfor "825years"andworeherfreshmanbeanietothereunion. "Therewaswaterdamageandthefloorsbuckled.The amazingthingwastheresponseofthetown."

LILLIELANKFORDMIDDLETON'51,aGreensville CountynativewholivesinSummit,Mississippi,wasliving onthethirdfloorofwhatwasthencalledthePostOffice Annex,nowSouthRuffner.

"Ihadtogetallthegirlsoutside,"shesays."Itwasawful. Theylosteverything.Anditwassoconfusingafterward. Fortunately,alotofstudentshadleftfortheweekend.The (PostOffice)Annexwasevacuated,butitwasn'tdestroyed."

Shelearnedoftherecentfirewhiledrivingtothereunion withherhusband."WewerestayingatamotelinSalem, andmyhusband,whowaswatchingthenewsonTY,sJid 'Comehere.There'sbeenafireatLongwood.'"

MARYLEIGHMEREDITHARMSTRONG,wholives inAshland,recallswakinguptosmokeinherroomthat Sundaymorning."Ididn'ttakeabookoratowel,butIdid takemyglasses.Ialsotookmycoatandscarf,andIgota brownspotonmyscarf,whichwasgreen,fromwhereI breathedintoitasIwalkedoutside."

Sheworkedfor The·Rotundaallfouryears-hersenioryear, shewasco-editoralongwithJeanSmith-andisproudof thefactthatthefiredidn'taffectthepaper'spublication. "WegotthenextissueoutthefollowingWednesday,on time,"saysMrs.Armstrong,whogrewupinHanover CountyandFrontRoyalandlivedinNewJerseyfor30years

beforereturningtoVirginiain1989."Theeditor,Betty Spindler,hadarrangedforustousethephotothatwasin theRichmondpaper.Shesaid,'Wedesperatelyneedthat picture!'Theyhadmadeaplateanditwasboxedupandput onabusandgiventousintimeforthenextissue."

ThefronrpageoftheWednesday,March7,1949,issue containsa"MessageToStudents"fromPresidenrDabneyS. Lancasterandnoticesthat Lady Windermere'sFan and FoundersDay,alsoslatedforthenextweekend,hadbeen postponed.Thefirecausedmorethan$9,000indamageto equipmentownedbytheDramaticClub,includingthe entirelightingsystem,costumes,anda"largeamountof standardequipmentandstoredarticles,"accordingto onestory.

BERMANSCOTT'51ofChaseCity,thenamarried studenrlivinginanapartmentinFarmvillewhoworkedasa 'stringer'fortheRichmondnewspapers,tookadramatic photographofthefirethatappearedonthefrontpageofboth the Times-DispatchandtheNewsLeader, andalso The Rotunda. Scottwasaccompaniedatthereunionbyhiswife, RuthFlemingScott'46,whomhemetatLongwood.

"Iarrivedjustbeforedaylight,"saysScott,aretired administratorwiththeMecklenburgCountyschools."Asthe roofcollapsedwhentheflamesbrokethrough,Itookthe front-pagephotograph.Aftershootingonthescene,Iwent toFarmvilleAirport,wherethemanager,whowasafriendof mine,tookmeupintoaplanesoIcouldtakeaerialshots. TheRichmondnewspaperscalledandwantedthenegatives beforeI'devenhadtimetoprintthem.TwogentlemenonefromtheRichmondpapersandonefromAP-cameto Farmville,andinthemeantimeIhaddevelopedthefilm.I stillhavesomeofthesenegatives.Youwerepaidaccordingto howimportantthephotowasandwhereinthepaperit appeared.Forthefront-pagephoto,Iprobablygot$25,and $IOor$15forthesecond-pagephotos(threeinthe TimesDispatch thenextday)MaybeIgotatotalof$50." (see image on next page)

Aftera34-yearcareerwiththeMecklenburgCountyschoolshetaughtandlaterwasassistantprincipalatBluestoneHigh Schooland,forabout20years,administrativeassistantto thesuperintendent-Scottretiredin1985."Twoofmy granddaughters,MelissaN.Rickmanand

JenniferS.Blackwell,areLongwoodgraduates,andboth teach.Wegotrokeepitinthefamily,"helaughed.

VIRGINIAWESTBROOKGOGGIN'51ofBonAir, whosemotheralsoattendedLongwood,in1921-22,laughed whenaskedwhatsheremembersaboutthefire."Iremember MurielMcBridesittingonthehill(infrontofNorth Cunningham)watchingthefirewithherminkcoaton. Shedidn'twantittogetburned."

ContactedbytelephoneatherhomeinSuffolk, Ms.MURIELMcBRIDE'49,thenaseniorlivingin WestRuffner,confirmedthestory."Theytoldus'Takeyour mostvaluablepossessions,"'shesays.Askedwhatelseshe tookout,shesaid,"Me!"Didshetakeoutabookanda rowel?"No,Iputthatcoatonmybackandflewoutwith therestof'em."

Ms.McBride,whotaughtartinFranklinfor28yearsbefore retiringin1991,nolongerhastheminkcoat."Istoreditfor yearsatMiller&RhoadsinRichmond.Finally,IdecidedI wanteditback,butwhenIopenedthebox,itwasstiffasa board,soIthrewitout."

PEGGYBRYANTHILDRETH'51ofMechanicsville remembersthata"beautifulgrandconcertpianoonthe stage(ofWhiteHouse)wasdestroyed.Afterthefire, assemblieswereheldintheMethodistchurchacross thestreet."

DRFLORABALLOWEDEHART'52,aretired educationprofessorinAustin,Texas,livedinWhiteHouse buthadgonehomethatweekendtoBuckinghamCounty, IImilesaway.

"MyparentsandIwenttochurchthatmorningand someoneasked'Haveyouheard?'andIsaid'Heardwhat?,"' saysDr.deHart,whotaughtatLouisburgCollegeinNorth Carolinafor15yearsandthenatSt.Edward'sUniversityin Austinfornearly20years."Wedashedoverthereafterward, andwhatIremember-Iwasintears,andmyparentswere alsoupset-isOliveIler(longtimephysicaleducation professor)comingoverandbeingsokindandencouraging. She'dalwaysbeensobusinesslikeinclass,soIsawadifferent sidetoherthatday.IfeltluckythatIwashomeatthetime, becauseatleastIhadtheclothesonmyback.Whatissad aboutthisrecentfireisthatwhereIwenttoliveafterthe 1949fire,onthirdfloorRotundawithtwoothergirls, isgonenowtoo.�

AFIREIN1923DESTROYEDTHEDININGHALL,locatedon

thesiteofBlackwellDiningHall.

ThefireonSaturday,Nov.17,1923,''totallydestroyedthe diningroom,kitchen,pantries,storerooms,coldstorage, bakery,andtheservantsdiningroom,besidesdormitory accommodationsforahundredstudents,"PresidentJoseph L.Jarmanlaterwrote.Therewerenoinjuries.,Anewwing, containingBlackwell,wasbuiltonthesamelocation.

"One-thirdoftheFarmvilleStateNormalSchoollayina smolderingruin,"oneoftheRichmondnewspapers reported.Thefire,probablycausedbydefectivewiring,was "discoveredat4:15a.m.inthesouthwingoftheinvertedTshapedbuildingandforatimethreatenedtodestroythe entirestructure."

Thefire,accordingto TheRotunda, wasfirstdiscoveredin athird-floorroomoverthedininghall.Thetwostudentsin thatroomwere"awakenedbytheflamesandgavethealarm."

Blackwellwasbuiltin1920,accordingtostaterecords.Nancy Shelton('68),DirectorofAlumniRelations,believesthisdate referstothedininghallthatburned.Shefoundaphotointhe 1921yearbookoftheolddininghall,whichwasremarkably

similartoBlackwell.SouthTabb,knownfordecadesasthe Annex,wasbuiltto"replacethedormitoryspacelostinthe fire,"accordingtoLongwood College:A History.

"ThiswingonallthreefloorsleadstotheRotunda,andhad thefireoncereachedthispointtheentirebuildingwould havebeendoomed," TheRotunda said."Thearchwayon eachfloorisburned,theoilpaintinginthedomeofthe Rotundaisblackened,thebacksofthedining-roomdoors almostcharcoal."

FrenchBuilding-thencalledtheStudentBuildingand completedthenextfall-cameinhandyafterthefire.Its gymnasium(nowtheracquetballcourt)wasusedasadining hall,andtemporarydormroomsweresetup.Theentire studentbodywassenthomefortwoweeks.

PresidentJarmanwasattendingameetinginRichmond whenthefirebrokeout,andhehurriedbacktoFarmville accompaniedbyGovernorE.LeeTrinkle,whichprovided someunintendedcomicrelief.AsTrinklepointedoutwhen speakingatLongwoodin1934,theheadlineinoneofthe Richmondpapersannounced"FarmvilleNormalSchoolon Fire.YoungLadiesEscapeScantilyClad.GovernorTrinkle RushestotheScene.�

KENTBooTY

Oiice Upon A Time in the Rotunda

The Presence ofthe Past

DR.]AMESWILLIAMJORDAN

PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY, FOUNDER OF THE LONGWOODARCHAEOLOGY FIELD SCHOOL

In the Beginning

Farmvillewasabusclingplaceintheautumnof1839-the stagecoachfromWashington,D.C.,toHalifax,North Carolina,stoppedeighttimesamonthattheEagleHotelon MainStreet,bateauxdockeddailyatthetobaccowarehouses ontheAppomattoxRiver,therewerefourchurchesand eighttavernswithinthetownlimits,andthetowncouncil hadjustpetitionedthestarelegislaturetoallowarailroadto bebuiltfromPetersburgtoFarmvilletoDanville.In1839, thecitizensraisedmorethan$30,000tofinancethe constructionofa"seminarybuilding"andthecornerstone waslaid-soproudweretheythatthesubscribershada brassplaquebolredtothecornerstonewiththeinscription, "FarmvilleFemaleAcademy,builtbyjointstockcompany A.D.1839."Thisbuilding-thefirststructureofLongwood College-wasdedicatedatapublicceremonyonMay26, 1842,andwasdescribedbytheacademyprincipalJohnB. Tinsleyin1852as"spaciousandcomfortableandforbeauty ofsituationsurpassedbyfewinthecountry."

Tharoriginalbuildingstoodandserveduntilitsdestruction byfireonApril24and25,2001-weknewitasthehallway whichconnectedtheRotundatoWestRuffnerHall.

In1897,underthenortheastcornerofchisbuilding, workmenaccidentallyuncoveredthecornerstoneandplaque. Itwasdiscoveredthattheplaquehidasquareholeinthe cornerstoneandwithinthatholewasfoundacopyofthe NewTestament(whichfadedawayafterbeingexposedto theair),anewspaperwhichwasnotlegible,threesilver coins,andaMasonicemblem.Thecornerstoneplaque,now mountedinthepresident'soffice,remainsasoursolitary physicallinktothebirthofourCollegein1839.

Thestudentsintheearliestdayswereasproudoftheir campusaswearetoday.Hereisaletterdescribing"the CollegeBuilding,"19yearsafteritsdedication:

December25, I86I

My Dear Cousin:

Yourletterwas received in due time and Itake the liberty ofanswering some ofyour inquiries throughthe columns ofthe Laureola. Inregardto the location ofthe college-Itis in an elevated partofthetown, entirelyapartftomscenes ofexcitement. The CollegeBuilding is large, DiningRoom, Parlors, Chapel, and Recitation rooms spacious and complete in all theirappointments; the roomsforboarders, ofwhich you would know more particularly, are neat and comfortable, nicely, even prettilyfurnished, provided withfires, lights, and almost everything conducive to thehealthand happiness oftheiroccupants

Misfortunes

Bur,asseemstobethecasewithbothpeopleand institutions,misfortunemixeswithfortune.

Onlytwodecadesintoitslife,theFarmvilleFemale AcademywasthreatenedbytheCivilWar.Foryearsthe studentshadenjoyedregularoutingstoHighBridge,the world'stallestandlongestrailroadbridgelocatedjustfive milesfromthecampus.OnthemorningofApril6,1865, however,thespotwasthesceneofadeadlyaffair.

FromthedirectionofHighBridgethestudentscouldhear thefiringofartilleryandmusketry,andsoonnewsarrived thatGeneralRobertE.Lee'sarmywasinfullretreat.All classesweresuspendedthatday.

Thenextmorning,agreatbattlecouldbeheardragingat SailorsCreek.NearlyathirdofLee'sarmywasforcedto surrender.Therestretreatedintheonlydirectionthatwas possible,westwardthroughFarmvillefollowirigthecoldand muddybanksoftheAppomattoxRiver.

Allthateveningandnight,disorganizedelementsofthe ConfederateArmytraveledthroughFarmville.Letters survivingfromthetimeindicatethatmanyofthe80young womenattheCollegestoodatthesecondandthirdfloor windowsofthemainbuilding,wavingtotheConfederate troopsastheypassedbyonHighStreet.

Inthemiddleofthenight,the1stVirginiaCavalryrodeup HighStreet,firingbehindthematthefirstunitsofthe pursuingFederalforces.LeadMinieballsfellaroundthe frontoftheCollegebuilding.Someofthesebulletshave beenrecoveredbyarcheologystudentsinrecentyearsfrom beneathtreerootsontheRotundalawn.

Earlythenextmorning,tworegimentsofFederaltroops campedtotherearoftheCollege,wheretheGraham Buildingisnowlocated.Bottlesofvarioussortsandmetal itemserodingoutofthegroundfromtimetotimeattestto thelocationoftheencampment.

FromthoseFederalsoldiers,ataboutmidnightonApril9, 1865,theCollegestudentsandprofessorslearnedofGeneral Lee'ssurrenderatAppomattoxCourthouse.TheUnion ArmyofficerwhoreadtheOrderofSurrendersaid,"Now youarewithoutanarmy,andwithoutacountry,andwhatis more,withoutaschool."

The Depression

Classeswerebegunagaininthefallof1865,butonly35of the80previousyear'sgirlscouldreturntotheFarmville FemaleCollege,asitwasnownamed.Forthenextroyears, apost-wardepressiongrippedtheSouthandespecially Virginia.JohnC.PageofFarmvillewrotein1875:

"Theprospectwasnevermoregloomy,thanatpresent,in thisportionofVirginia-infact,notonefarmerinfifty

PicturedAbove:An onlookersurveys therubble of theLongwoodCollegeDining Halldestroyedin thefire ofI923

ispayingexpenses.Tobaccoislowerthanwaseverknown before.Consequencly,chisportionofVirginiaisinasad financialcondition."

ThestockholdersoftheFarmvilleFemaleCollegedecidedco selltheCollegeproperty,payoffalldebts,anddistributethe proceeds,ifanyremained,cothecreditors.Acnearlythelase minute,onApril7,1884,chepropertyofcheCollegewas deededcotheScaceofVirginia,andatthefirstmeetingof theBoardofTrusteestwodayslacer,Dr.WilliamHenry Ruffnerwaselectedcollegepresidencandprincipal.

TheschoolwascobecalledtheScaceFemaleNormalSchool andthusbecamechefirstscareinstitutionofhigher educationforwomeninVirginia.Dr.Ruffnerlacerwrote:

"Ontheopeningdace,October30,1884,allcharwehadwas aprincipal,anappropriation,aroughscheme,andanold academybuilding.Norateacher,norabook,norapieceof furnitureorapparatus,andmorethingstobedonethanany humanmindcouldforeseechebuildinghadcobe repairedandaddedco."

The Fires

UnderDr.Ruffner'sguidanceandleadership,andthenchat ofDr.JohnAtkinsonCunningham,the"Normal" blossomedintoaperiodofrobustgrowthandvigor.

Buildings,students,andteachersincreasedinnumber decadeafterdecade.Dr.JosephLeonardJarmanbecame presidentin1902,andtheninalmostcheexactmiddleofhis 44-yeartenure,inthewinterof1923,disasterstruck.

Dr.JarmanreportedcocheBoardofTrustees:

About5a.m.onNovember17,afirebrokeoutintheSouth WingimmediatelybehindtheRotundawhichtotally destroyedthediningroom,kitchen,pantries,storerooms, coldstorage,bakery,andtheservantsdiningroom,besides dormitoryaccommodationsforahundredstudents.

Theoriginofthefireisunknown.Itmaderapidheadway, buronaccounroftheexcellenrbehaviorofthestudentsand thesystemwithwhichthematterwasmanaged,every studentescapedunhurtandverylicclewasloseinthewayof clothing,etc.

TheFarmvilleFireCompanydidwonderfulwork; companiesfromLynchburgandCreweweretelegraphedfor butthefirewasunderconrrolbeforetheyarrived... Thepeopleofthetowndideverythingintheirpowerco assist;rhestudentswereinvitedtoprivatehomesfor breakfast;telegraphandtelephoneoperatorswereuntiringin theireffortscogeemessagesthroughforchem;theladies prepareddinnerfortheminoneofchechurches;chehotels ofthetownwereputattheirdisposal;cherailroadputon extracoaches,andthroughalltheexcitement,theconductof chestudentswasworthyofthehighestpraise.Byevening, theywereallontheirwayhome.

Thestudentsreturnedcocampuscheweekafter Thanksgivingandmadeupthemissedtwoweeksofclasses byremaininginFarmvilleduringtheChristmasholidaysonlyonChristmasDaywereclassescancelled.

Just26yearslacer,in1949,fireagainbroughtdestruction andneartragedycoLongwood.Duringthewinterand springof1949thecampuswascaughtupinagreatdebate concerningthenameoftheschool,whichhadbeensince 1924TheStateTeachersCollegeatFarmville.Threeweeks beforeLongwoodCollegewasrebornunderourpresent name,aterriblefirebrokeoutabout2a.m.Sunday, March6.Thefirewascalledthe"EaseWingFire"and destroyedabuildingidenticalcoourGraingerHall,which stoodinwhatisnowtheSunkenGardenandvisually balancedthefivebuildingsfacingHighStreet.

TheEaseWingfiredestroyedcheschoolauditoriumonche firstfloorandtheclothesandallthepossessionsofthe46 studentswholivedinroomsaboveit.TheFarmvilleRed Crosscaredfortheimmediateneedsofthestudents,and towncitizensraised$5,000incontributionsbyMarch7 coassistcheminreplacingtheirclothingandbooks.

Inamostfascinatingseriesofways,ourpatronsaintat Longwood,JoanofArc,hasbeeninvolvedinallourfires. Joanherselfwasexecutedbybeingburnedatthestakeon May30,1431,havingbeencapturedbytheEnglisharmy aftershehadledcheFrencharmytovictory.

Inthosedayswhenapersonwascobeburnedatchestake, normallyalasemercywouldbeshownbyallowingche

executionertopilealargequantityofgreenwoodaround thefeetofthecondemned.Thesmokefromtheburning ofthisgreenwoodwouldnormallycausequicksuffocation sothatdeathwouldoccurbeforetheflamestouchedthe skin.InthecaseofourJoanofArc,however,onlydrywood wasused.Astheflamesclimbedhigherandhigher,Joan couldbeheardcommendinghersoultoGodandcallingon herangelsandarchangelstobewithheratthislastmoment. Then,accordingtoaneyewitness,"atlastcametheword Jesussevenoreightrimesrepeated,followedbyamoment's pausebyalastloudcry,thensilencesaveforthecrackling oftheflames."

Accordingtothelegendsandtheoraltraditionswhichgrew upshortlyafterJoan'sexecution,anunusualthingnow happened.Theexecutionerorderedthattheembersbe pulledawayfromthebodywhentheflameshaddieddown sothateveryoneinthecrowdcouldseethatJeanned'Arc, theMaidofOrleans,thesorceress,wasdead.Whenthiswas done,itwasdiscoveredthatherhearthadnotbeenburned, muchtotheshockoftheexecutioner.Heorderedthata

greatquantityofoilandsulfurbepouredontothefireand thatalltheembers,andevenanewloadofdrywood,be placedaroundtheheartoncemore.Tharfireburnedallthe restofthatdayandthroughoutthenight.Thenextmorning inthedarknessbeforedawn,theashesandwhatever remainedofJoanofArcweregatheredupsecretlyina blanketandthrownintoariversothatnorelicofherlife wouldremain.

BothofourJoanofArcstatuesoncampushavebeenapart ofourfires.TheJoanofArcstatueintheRotunda,which waspresentedbytheseniorclassof1914,isareproduction ofthefamousonechiseledin1870bytheFrenchsculptor, Henri-Michel-AntoineChapuofParis.Hecalledit"Joanof ArcListeningtotheVoices."Today,theoriginalstandsin theMuseumofLuxembourginParis.WeinFarmvillerefer tothisfamousstatuemoreinformallyas"Joanieonthe Stony."OnthenightoftheSouthWingfirein1923, studentsmovedthisJoanoutoftheRotundaandacross HighStreettoprotectherfromtheflames.

Inthe1949EastWingFire,ourotherJoanstatueplayeda role.TheequestrianJoanstatueintheColonnadeswasgiven in1927bytheinternationallyrenownedsculptress,

AnnaHyattHuntington.TheoriginalofthisJoanstatuehad beencompletedforRiversideChurchinNewYorkCityjust theyearbefore,andthesculptress,uponhearingofthe admirationofthestudentsattheStateTeachersCollegeat Farmvilleforthiswork,determinedropresentthemwiththe firstreproduction.SinceitsunveilinginFarmvillebyMrs. HuntingtononApril27,1927,ithasbeenaffectionately called"JoanieonthePony."ThisJoanstatueoriginallysat nearertoFrenchBuildingintheColonnadesthanitdoes now,andyoucanstillseetheoriginallocationbyamark thereonthewalkwayleftfromthemarblebase.Onthe nightoftheEastWingFirein1949,JoanieonthePony, unabletobemovedfromherbase,wassoclosetothefire thatsheglowedredfromtheheatoftheblaze.

Afterallissaid,howinadequateareourwordsaloneto expressthemagicalbondweallfeeltoourRotunda,our JoanofArc,ourAlmaMater,andourCollege.Tharbond comesaliveinourmindsintheremembrancesofthespecial featuresofourRotunda-thewaythestairscreakedand gaveeversoslightlyunderyourfoorsreps,thethoughtevery rimeyouopenedtheRotundadoorofthemillionsupon millionsoffootsteps,likeyourown,thatworethethreshold stoneofstrongestslateintotheshapeofacradle.

Fewofuscouldrealizethefirstrimewesteppeduponthat thresholdstonethatwewerebeingtakencaptive-having onceenteredthatmysticalRotunda,thespiritandheartcan neverleave.WecannotleavetheRotunda,anditwillnever leaveus,becauseweareallitschildren�

Dr.James WilliamJordan, ProfessorofAnthropology andFounderoftheLongwoodArchaeologyFieldSchool, picturedherewiththeLongwoodCollege Bell.

a student in a class where it doesn't take long to calI the rolI

EDITOR'S NOTE: At presstime, RandallJohnson hadjust been hiredforthe newly created position of Environmental Health and SafetyOfficerat Longwood.

Randall Johnson, you area hero.

"No, I was one of many.

Iwasworkingona paperinmydorm when I heard thetone fortheFarmville Fire Departmentonmyvoice pager. Itbeeped then said, "Attention Farmville Company One Firefighters, needyoutorespondtoastructurefireatLongwoodCollege intheRotunda.

Igrabbedmyequipmentfromthebackofthetruckandwent totheengine[infrontofthe Rotunda.]TheytoldmetheChief wasontheway. I decidedthefirstthingwastogettothethird floorofGrainger.

Iwentwithtwoothersfromthetruckthatcame in. Oneofthem wasJeffNewton, afreshman. Iwentupthestairwellswitha hotelpackof150feetofhoseovermyshoulder. Mostbuildings havestandpipesforhookingupfirehose.

Iwasupthereabout20minutes,thenthedroppedceiling startedcomingdownandourairpackswererunninglow,sowe hadtocomedown.Wewentbacktotheengineandhadnew bottlesputon.

Fromthere Iwentupinthe laddertruck[atwo-person bucket connectedtoaladder]. From about70feetupwesprayedwater .. ontheroofofGrainger. wasup in the laddertruckforabout 30minutes.

ThentheChiefassigned metoTabb,toassistHampden-Sydney firefighterswithhookinguptoahydrantandtoorganizethe efforts inthatbuilding. Istayed rightinfrontofJoanieonthe Pony'tilearlyintothenextmorning."

Laterthatmorning,Jeffand IwentbackintoTabbtocheckfor flare-ups.Wefound Jeff'sroomonfirstfloorTabb, buthedidn't havehiskeytogethiswalletoranything.Thatwasfrustrating forhim.

"Whenthelastengineleft,aroundoneintheafternoon, I returned tomyroom,showeredandate. Bythattimetheenginewas already backatthecollegebecauseofflare-ups, so I reported backtothescene.

I spenttherestofthedaygoing backforflare-upsandcleaning equipmentatthestation.

Thatevening[Wednesday],mygirlfriendand Iwentouttoeatat Pino's. Iwaswearingafleecejacketwith the firestation emblem, and Iwasfallingasleepatthetable.

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.

It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." -ArthurAshe

Agentlemanwalkedoverandaskedif wasafirefighter. Isaid yesandhesaid, 'Don'tworryaboutyourbill. I'lltakecareofit.' sleptfrom1OWednesdayeveningtill6:37thenextmorning whenwewerecalledbacktoSouthRuffner[Minorflare-ups broughtbackfirefighterstwice more]."

Andwereyoueverafraid?

"Iwas afraid when went intothirdfloorGraingerand looked into Ruffner.That'sthefirsttime I'veeverbeenafraid.Itwasjust unbelievable. Itwasfrightening."

Basedonlaterestimatesbythestatefiremarshal!, Johnson's viewinto WestRuffnerwasalookintothecoreofafirethat exceeded2000degrees.

JohnsonwasamemberoftheFarmville VolunteerFire Departmentforhissophomore,juniorandsenioryearsat Longwood.Hewasalso acertifiedEmergencyMedical Technician. Lastyearherankedfourthinthenumberofcalls respondedtowithinhisdepartmenteventhough he wasaway threemonthsoftheyear. Electeda2ndLt.,Johnsonwasthe firstLongwoodstudenttoholdanoffice. Hewasnamedthe 1999FarmvilleFirefighterofthe Year. One weekbeforethe Longwoodfire, hecompletedFirefighter2certification. Twoand one-halfweeksafterthefire, RandallJohnsonreceiveda bachelorofsciencedegreeinbusinessadministrationat Longwoodcommencement.

InadditiontoJohnsonandNewton,Longwoodstudents WalterEnglishandChris Warneralsofoughtthefireas membersoftheFarmvilledepartment. Hampden-Sydney volunteerfirefightersincluded20HSCstudents.

Heroes, a!jf

Judy McReynolds Associate Editor

Judy McReynolds, Associate Editor

flUVl0�40�

Mable and Decosterco-editedthree books- Understanding Today'sStudents, PersonalEducationandCommunity Developmentin CollegeResidenceHalls, and StudentDevelopmentandEducation inCollegeResidenceHalls-studiedfor 20yearsbypersonsworking in student affairs. Their names belong in aWho'sWhoofhighereducation. Theyhelpedestablisha nationaltrend emphasizingtheentirecollege experienceasa learning environment, atrend inwhich residence hallswith learning plans replacedorms, inwhich learningaboutcommunityand service arealargepartoflearning aboutself.

David Decoster has retired and is living in Florida.

And Mable is our Phyllis. "Miss Mable"toalmost20yearsof Longwoodstudents.TheLongwoodCollegeVice Presidentfor StudentAffairs isherselfretiringafterspring semester2001 She plans to live in D.C. and promotesomeofthe national organizationswithwhich she has long affiliation.

Phyllis MableearneddegreesatCornell and Indiana universities thenworkedas assistantdirectorof housing foreducational programs atthe University of Floridafor 12 yearsand as dean of studentaffairs atVirginiaCommonwealth Universityfor 11 years. Alist ofhernational affiliations, awards, publications and consulting positions fills several pages. She hasservedas presidentoftheAmerican College PersonnelAssociation (ACPA) and won theACPAOutstanding Professional ServiceAward. She has been presidentofthe Council fortheAdvancementof Standards in Higher Education (GAS)from 1989to 2001 and plansto promote this organization in D.C. She received the Mel HardeeAwardforOutstanding Servicefromthe Southern AssociationforCollege StudentAffairs andthe ElizabethA. Greenleaf DistinguishedAlumnus/AlumnaAwardfrom Indiana University'sSchoolofEducation. Shehasdirected national and regionalsymposiumsand workshops onstudentdevelopment and on residence education for housing professionals, chaired thefinancial affairs committeefortheAmerican Personnel and GuidanceAssociation and served on the advisory board ofthe ERIC Counseling and Personnel Servicesclearinghouseand on the editorial boardsoftheSouthernCollege Personnel AssociationJournal andthe NationalAssociationofStudent PersonnelAdministratorsJournal.

Sheco-editedwith Charles C. Schroeder Realizing the EducationalPotentialofResidence Halls, published byJosseyBass in 1994. The book explains how residence halls can promotestudent learning and personal development by becoming more integral tothe overall educational college experience.

The image of LongwoodCollege, itsfacultyandstaffhave benefittedfromthe prestige and professional standingof Phyllis Mable,eventhoughMableherselfseldomcalled attentiontothem. Most Longwood students knowverylittleabout Miss Mable's nationalstanding. Buttheyknowtheyarelosingan advocate, someoneforwhom students are her business, heronly business, someonewho will stopthem on astreetcornerand ask"How's itgoing? HowdoyouviewyourLongwood experience?" andtake seriously their responses.Toshowjust how much studentscare,Alpha Phi Omega, acoedservice fraternity, declared April 2, 2001, as Phyllis MableAppreciation Day, completewith I-shirtsthat asked, "Haveyou hugged your Phyllis today?"Theunofficialcountfor hugswasover50.

Whydostudentshug her? "I honestlyhavean interest intheir welfareand opportunities,"saysMable. "I think students like tosharesomethingsaboutthemselves.Theyliketotalk informally-inthestudent union oron the streetorinthe dining hall. Italkto alotofstudents inthedining hall. I'velearned afew thingsfromthem."

Andthey've learned afewthingsfromher. PartofMable's legacy to Longwood ishelpingto"createastudentcommunity. Putting forththe efforttomakethis placefeel like acommunitywhere peoplecan belong. Wegetthestructures in placewherestudents can connectandthen itbecomes their responsibility,"shesays.

Preparing studentsfor life's responsibilities is not all coursework any more. Service learning and leadership programs, newdirectionsforsome institutions, are well developed at Longwood College, thanks in large measureto Phyllis Mable. Studentsfollow uphoursofcommunityservice volunteerwork with reflection on "whatdo I wantoutofthisandwhatdo I want outof my life?"

Asfor leadership programs, theyarecentraltothe mission ofthe collegesetwhen PresidentPatriciaCormierinitiatedthe FiveYearStrategicPlan: todevelopcitizenleadersforthecommon good. Forthe pastfouryears,StudentAffairs hassponsoredone Saturday in fall semesterasCitizenLeaderDaywhen all

studentsare invitedtojoin avisitingspeakerin evaluating what it meansto becitizen leaders.Aspring leadershipawardsprogram is one of Mable's favorites: "When we have250 parents and familythere and about 160studentscelebratingthe finethings thatstudents do."ThisyearPresidentCormierannouncedthe renaming ofthe top leadership award. Said Cormier,"I hereby declarethatfromtodayandforevermore the president's award is suitably named the Phyllis L. MableAward in honor of the bestVice PresidentforStudentAffairs in the United States ofAmerica."

Students. Mablesaysthey're"good souls." Dr. Tim Pierson says that Mable, more than any other professional he has worked with, is "centered on working forand about students." Pierson hasworkedwith Mable for nine yearsand upon herretirement becomesthevice presidentforstudentaffairsand dean ofstudents. Hesays, "I learned a lotfrom Phyllis. Youcan'tbe around somebodythat dedicated without being touched in manyways."

StudentAffairsstaff like Elsie Angus know well the Phyllis trademarks: her"distinctive laughthatcanbeheardfromone endofthefloortothe other,"thatshe has aphilosophyofearlyto-riseand a penchantformorning coffee, and that she will meet with a student early in the morningorlate in the evening, wheneverthestudent is available. Mablealsois known forher notesofencouragementandforrememberingotherpeople's birthdays, for delighting in taking people outto dinner andfor always demanding good service.

She broughtto Longwood an authentic personality, untiring dedication and nationally recognized professional accomplishment. She leaves having earned the kind oftribute paid byAmyBradley,classof '00, in arecentletter:"Youare caring, concerned, compassionate, passionate abouthigher education, and dedicatedtomakinga positivedifference in this crazyworld."Theletterends,"Youareloved."

Phyllisoftensaystostudents-"live, love, learn andleavea legacy."At Longwood, she hasfollowed her own good advice/

student athlete

Claire Reyes considered several colleges. Her high school hockey coach convinced her to consider Longwood. Shewantedto enterthe fieldof physicaltherapy, and, once she looked atthe college, she discoveredthe P.E. majorand exercisescience concentration would start heron thewayto hergoal.

Claire applied. Shewasoffered a hockeyscholarship by Nancy Joel, Longwood'sfield hockeycoach, and decidedtotakeit. She says,"Itjustkind ofclicked."Clairedeclaredher major in physical educationwith aconcentration in exercise science. She wasaccepted intotheLongwood Honorsprogramand carried the maximum of 18credit hoursforall butherfinal semester.

Field Hockeywasa majorpartof Claire's lifeat Longwood. In herjunioryearthe National Field HockeyCoachesAssociation (NFHCA)awarded her FirstTeam All-American. She alsowas captain ofthe Field Hockeyteam thatyearaswell as hersenior season. In herfinalseason,the teamwonthe Eastern College AthleticConference (ECAC) championship and Clairewas selected asthe2000-2001 Longwood FemaleAthlete ofthe Year."Agreatyearforourteam. Itwas avery good note to end my careeron."

Claire internedandvolunteeredduringhersummervacations from school.The summerbefore herjunioryearshe interned at the Cardiac Fitness CenteratVirginia Beach General Hospital as a part of herexercisescienceconcentration. While interning andvolunteering, Claire purposelyencountered manyage groups to help herdecide with whom shewantedtowork. Lastsummer shevolunteered atthe Children's Hospital

ofthe King's DaughtersinVirginiaBeach, where she decided she wantsto workwith children: "When I wasatthe children's hospitalthat'swhen I realizedthat'swhatIwantedto do." This experience ledClaireto specialize in children's physicaltherapy.

In addition tovolunteering and interning, Claire was a camp counseloratthe field hockey camp she once attended. She is amazed that some ofthe kids she counseled are now looking to herforadviceon colleges. She was giving backsome ofwhat she gained while attending this camp in heryouth.

Inthefallsemesterof hersenioryear, Claireaddedto herfull schedulefivehoursofvolunteerworkatSouthsideCommunity Hospital. Shefinallydecidedto slowdown during her last semester-taking 13 credit hours, volunteering atSteppingStonesdaycarecenter,andteachingaerobics. Shesays, "I haveto keep busy."

In MayClaire graduatedfrom Longwood, leaving her hockey career behind. Shesays, "I will miss it. It definitely keptme organized. Itwasthe coreof my lifefor 10years."Nextfall Claire will attend theMedicalCollegeofVirginia, workingtoward hergraduatedegree in physical therapy. MCVwill be a big change from life at Longwood, but Claire says, "I don'tthink it will take longtoadjust." She is a little"nervous. It will definitely bea newlevel."

Even though Claire isleavingherLongwoodfamily,she is certain she will beall right. "That's onething college hastaught me-openyourselftonewexperiences."

Celeste Card '02

© Jwtin Trawick '04

Col1n Ducharn1e

Nan1ed 2001 Verizon/NABC Division II Men's Basketball Player ofthe Year

LONGWOODCOLLEGEMEN'SBASKETBALLSTANDOUT COLINDUCHARMEWASNAMEDTHE2001

VERIZONINABCNCAADIVISIONIINATIONAL PLAYEROFTHEYEAR.Theconsensus1st-teamAll-America selectionwaschosenplayeroftheyearbyselectDivisionII membercoachesoftheNationalAssociationofBasketball Coaches(NABC)DucharmewashonoredinMinneapolis, Minn.duringtheDivisionIFinalFourMarch31-April2 wherehereceivedhisawardduringtheVerizon/NABC CollegeBasketballAwardsShowApril1.

DucharmewasrecognizedalongsideoftheDivisionIplayer oftheyear,Duke'sJasonWilliams;theDivisionIcoachof theyear,MichiganStace'sTomIzzo;theDivisionIdefensive playeroftheyear,Duke'sShaneBattier;andthePeteNewell Awardwinner,Stanford'sJasonCollins.Hepreviouslywas namedtheDAKTRONICS/CoSIDAand Division II BulletinmagazineNationalPlayeroftheYear,andhasbeen named1st-TeamAll-AmericabytheNABC,DAKTRONICS/ CoSIDA, DivisionIIBulletin, and BasketballTimes magazines.

Ducharmewasalsonamedthe2000-01Carolinas-Virginia AthleticsConference(CVAC)MaleAthleteoftheYearas votedbytheconferenceathleticdirectors.Thisprestigious awardispresentedannuallyinrecognitionofoutstanding athleticcontributionsandachievements.Hewasalsonamed theLongwoodCollegeMaleAthleteoftheYearfor2000-01.

Ducharme(6-9,250)postedadouble-doubleaverageof19.6 pointsandanational-best15.8reboundsthispastseasonfor Longwood,adding4.2blocks(2ndnationally)and3.2assists whileshooting60%fromthefieldand79%atthefree throwline.HeledtheLancerstoa23-8record,theschool's firstCVACTournamentChampionship,andintotheEast Regionalsemifinalswhileestablishing IO newschoolrecords.

DucharmewasnamedoneoftheTop IO playersintheBlu SummerLeagueJune28-July1,apremierEuropean showcaseeventforprofessionalandaspiringprofessional players.HewasalsonamedtheBSI.:sBestRebounder

GREGPROUTY, SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR

amongthe96playersparticipatinginTreviso,Italy. DucharmeplayedfourgamesinItalyandaveragedhisusual double-doubleof12.8points(51)and13.0rebounds(52), includingsingle-gamehighsof19pointsand18reboundsin separatecontests.Afteraslowstartingameone(nrebounds and4points),hebouncedbacktoaverage15.7pointsand 13.7reboundsduringhisfinalthreegames.

Ducharmehadtheonlytwotriple-doublesinLongwood historychispastseason:20points,21rebounds,andn blockedshotsatBelmontAbbey;and24points,18 rebounds,and IO assistsvs.WestChesterintheregionals. His2000-01seasonandcareer-bestincluded33points, 22rebounds(threetimes), II blockedshots,and IO assists. DucharmewasalsotheonlyDivisionIIplayerinvitedrothe 49thPorrsmouthInvitationalTournament(PIT)wherehe helpedhisteamtothePITChampionship.Hefinishedthe PITwithsolidthree-gametotalsof18points(6.oppg.), 22rebounds(7.3rpg.),4blocks,2assists,andIsteal.

ColinisthesonofRobertandCarolDucharmeof Richmond.HegraduatedfromtheUniversityofVirginiain May2000withanhonorsdegreeinphysicsandhasbeen doinggraduateworkatLongwoodinenvironmentalscience. DucharmewilllikelyplayintheItalianLeague'stopdivision (Al)nextseason.

Earl F. Gibbons Jr.

Brings International Experience to School ofBusiness and Economics

EarlF.GibbonsJr.,Ph.D.,willbedeanoftheLongwood SchoolofBusinessandEconomicsasofAugust13,2001. HecomescoLongwoodfromThunderbird,TheAmerican GraduateSchoolofInternationalManagement,inGlendale, Arizona.Thunderbirdisrecognizedasoneoftheleading graduateschoolsofbusinessincheworld.

DuringGibbons'tenureasassociatevicepresidentfor overseasprogramsatThunderbird,theprogramsdoubled enrollmentandrevenueandlaunchedapilotprogramin Japan.Gibbonshelpedsecurefundingforprogram expansioninFranceandhelpedlaunchsummerschoolsin PragueandFrankfurt/Oder.Asacademicdirecrorofvarious programs,hedesignedcurriculaandhiredfacultyandstaff inBosnia-Herzegovina,Sweden,Taiwan,PolandandRussia.

GibbonssaysheisimpressedwiththeLongwoodSchoolof BusinessMCSBaccreditation,hightechHinerBuilding, internshipprogramandthestrongsupportofCorporateand Alumniadvisoryboardmembers.Lookingtothefuture,he

hopestocontinueanemphasisontechnologyandto examineappropriatewaystoenterthegraduateeducation market.Headds,"ThenumberonemissionforcheSchool ofBusinessandEconomicsistomakeicmorevisible throughoutVirginiaandbeyond."Hefindstheenthusiasm ofthoseassociatedwiththeschool"contagious"andsays, "Together,wecandosomethingspecialherewiththeSchool ofBusinessandEconomics."

GibbonsearnedPh.D.andmaster'sdegreesattheUniversity ofPittsburghandabachelorofsciencedegreefromState UniversityofNewYork,Buffalo.Hereplacesasdean Dr.BerkwoodM.FarmerwhoisnowDeanoftheRajSoin CollegeofBusinessatWrightStateUniversity inDayton,Ohio.

Spotlight on Alumni

SANDRAJOHNSLUNDBERG'60,wasthewinner oftwoNationalChallengeClassAwardsattheAmerican RoseSocietyNationalShowsinHoustonandAclanta.

In2000,CAROLYNCOLEELLIOTT'66,receivedthe RadioShackNationalTeacherAwardforteachingexcellence inmathematics,science,andtechnology.Onlyrooteachers inthenationreceivedthisaward,whichincludeda$3,000 cashprize,anewcomputer,andfreeinternetaccessfora year.ElliottteachesatSouthIredellHighSchool inNorthCarolina.

BETSYMANSON'68,areadingspecialistatBonAir ElementarySchoolinChesterfield,wasnamedReading TeacheroftheYearbytheRichmondAreaReadingCouncil. BetsyhelpedtoestablishaPublishingCenter,which encouragesparentsandstudentstocreatetheirownbooks. ShealsodevelopedGrandFriends,atutorialprogramwith seniorcitizensfromtheSummerHillRetirementCenter.

LINDALONGRADOSEVICH '69 andDEBIMCQUEENEYFLYNN '77, teachat St.Mary'sHighSchoolinAnnapolis,Maryland.In2000, Lindareceivedtheschool'sExcellenceinEducationAward andDebireceivedtheawardin2001.

JEANIECOLLINKEYS'73,isanaward-winningartist whoselimitededitionprints,mini-prints,andmini-mini printsaresoldnationally.OprahWinfreyownsoneof Jeanie'soriginalwatercolors.Jeanie'sstudio,"Atelier," isinManassas.

GovernorGilmorehasnamedGRACESIMPSON'73MS, PoetLaureateofVirginia.

SUSANNFLETCHER-SMITH'77,isperforming inthenationaltourofAnnie Get Your Gun.

JANICEJONESCAMPBELL, '78, ofVermont,hada pencildrawingacceptedbytheMuscularDystrophy Association'sartcollection.Shehasalsowrittenabook, GoingfortheBig Cheese, inwhichthroughtheeyesofa paraplegicmouseshetellsoflivingwithmyastheniagravis.

KATHRYNWFEYMONTGOMERY '78,wasnamed oneofDelaware'sTopLawyersbyDelawareTodayShe specializesinfamilylaw.

PAMBESSLERPHILLIPS '79, beganKindermusikof Fairfaxin1995.TodayPamhas150familiesenrolledinthis earlychildhoodmusicandmovementprogram.Thebasic beliefofthisprogramisthateverychildismusical,every parentisthechild'smostimportantteacher,andthehomeis themostimportantplaceforlearningtotakerootandgrow. Herwebsiteishttp://www.kindermusikoffairfaz.com.

VIRGINIAWATKINSBICKLEY'80,currencly servesonthePiedmontVirginiaCommunity CollegeBoard.

STEVEHITCHINGS'84,recenclywaspromotedto GroupDirectorofTechnologyManagementofRyder Systems,Inc.,aleaderinlogisticsandtransportation managementsolutionsworldwide.Inhisnewposition, Stevewillberesponsiblefordirectingtheselection,testing, integrationandimplementationofapplicationsand technologiesinsupportofproductsthatprovidevalue toRyder'sclients.

STACYRENEEBATES' 97,isamediarelations consultantwithTrigonBlueCross/BlueShield.Oneofher taskshasbeentocreateagreaterlocalmediapresencefor Virginia'sFreeClinics.

CHRISTOPHERScorrGILBERT' 95,founded KarateForChristin1997whileastudentatRegent UniversitySchoolofLaw.Todayhehasover250students infiveschools.Hiswebsiteiswww.KarateForChrist.net.

The Longwood College Legislative Advocacy Network

LONGWOODISESTABLISHINGALEGISLATIVEADVOCACYNETWORK

togainsupportforpublichighereducationintheCommonwealthand specificallyforLongwood'slegislativeinitiatives.Thisgrassrootseffortwill becomposedofalumniandfriendswhosupporthighereducationandthe missionandvisionofLongwoodCollege.

Youcanhelpbreakthroughanattitudeofapathytowardhighereducation acrosstheCommonwealthbyparticipatingintheLegislativeAdvocacy Network.Becauselegislatorsdolistentotheirconstituents,yourcontacts canbeinvaluableinencouragingstrongersupportforLongwoodandits programs.

Ifyouwanttoparticipate,pleasecontacttheAlumniOfficeat r.800.281.4677,extension3,ore-maillcalumni.longwood.lwc.edu.

North To Alaska

Twenty-oneLongwoodalumniandguestscruisedAlaska'sInsidePassage aboardRoyalCarribean's'VisionoftheSeas'.LeavingfromVancouver onJune24,theshiptraveledthroughHubbardGlacierandMistyFjords NationalParkandstoppedinSkagway,Juneau,andKetchikanforinland excursionsandsightseeingbeforereturningtoVancouveronJulyr. Theabovepicturewastakenaboardtheshipduringformalnight.

Upcoming Alumni Events and Activities

Longwoodalumnieventsandactivitiescoming upthisfallinclude:Oktoberfest,Homecoming ReunionforClassesofthe1970s,Baltimore OriolesBaseball,GoldCupHorseRaces,and aNewYorkCityTrip,includingticketstothe LionKing.Inthespring,activitieswillconsist ofaD-DayMemorialTour,WineTour,Spring Weekend,andmuchmore.

Foracompletelistingofcurrenteventswith up-to-dateinformation,pleasecalltheAlumni Officeat1.800.281.4677extension3,e-mail lcalumni@longwood.lwc.edu,orvisitourweb siteatwww.lwc.edu/alumni.

Longwood Community Bags 40,000 Pounds ofSweet Potatoes to Feed the Hungry

About150Longwoodstudents,facultyandstaffrecentlybagged40,000pounds ofsweetpotatoesthatwereusedtofeedthehungry.

Thepotatoes,whichweredumpedMarch24froma40-foortrailerintothe parkinglotbehindJarman,werebaggedintoIO-poundbagsovertwo-and-a-half hours,thenhauledawaytotheF.A.C.E.S.FoodPantryinFarmville,Madeline's HouseinBlackstone(ashelterforabusedwomenandchildren),thePeninsula FoodBankinRichmond,LynchburgFoodBank,andfoodbanksinFairfaxand VirginiaBeach.

Longwood'seffort,knownasaPotatoDrop,wasdonethroughtheSociety ofSt.Andrew,ahungerministry,andwasoneofsixsuchpotatodropsaroundthe stateinMarchandApril.ChristopherNewportUniversityandVirginiaWesleyan Collegehostedpotatodropsafewweekslater.

MembersoftheLongwoodcommunitybaggedthepotatoes,truckedupfrom afarminNorthCarolina,intobagsmadeofnylonnettingmesh.Amongthose whobaggedwereamemberoftheBoardofVisitors,JoanneSadlerBuder,and VicePresidentforStudentAffairs,Dr.TimPierson.

Theevent,coordinatedbyEllenMasters('97)oftheG.I.V.E.office,wasthe kickoffroWeekinSolidaritywiththeHomeless,orWISHWeek,whichfeatured severalactivitiespromotingawarenessofandsensitivitytosocialissues,including hungerandhomelessness.

Number Please ...

Longwood Area Code Changes to 434

IncompliancewiththeFCCandtheVirginiaStateCorporationCommission, LongwoodCollegeisconvertingfromtheexistingareacode804toanewarea code434overthenextyear.Thissplitofareacode804isnecessarydueto increasedconsumerdemandandwillaffectLongwoodCollege,Farmvilleand somenearbyareas.Richmondwillretainthe804code.

Theintroductionofthe434areacodebeganwitha"permissive"dialingperiod onJuneI,2001.LongwoodCollegehasmadespecialarrangementswithSprintto haveaone-yeargraceperiodforfullimplementation.Callerscanuseeithertheold 804orthenew434areacoderoplacecallsbetweenthe804andthenew434 callingareasbydialingjustsevendigitsduringthistransitionperiod.

Mandatorydialingofthe434areacodewillbeginonJune1,2002.

Tolearnmoreabouttheareacodeconversion,pleasevisittheofficialwebsite oftheStateCorporationCommission: http://www.state.va.us/sec/news/434code.html

Longwood Publications Take Home Awards

SeveralLongwoodpublications, includingLongwoodmagazine,have garnerednationalawardsrecently.

Intheprintmediacategoryofthe 2001CommunicatorAwards,the Fall1999issueofLongwoodmagazine wontheCrystalAwardofExcellence (topaward)foreducationalmagazines, KentBootywonanAwardof DistinctionforFeatureWritingforhis articleintheSpring2000issueon Dr.CharlesRoss'sresearch,andJudy McReynoldsreceivedanHonorable MentionforFeatureWritingforher articleonJaneGoodallintheFall1999 issue. Also, the1999-2000President's ReportwonanAwardofDistinctionfor educationalannualreports.

TheCommunicatorAwardsis anationalawardsorganizationthat "recognizesoutstandingworkinthe communicationsfield,"accordingtothe organization."Entriesarejudgedby industryprofessionalswholookfor individualsandorganizationswhose workexceedsahighstandardof excellenceandservesasabenchmark fortheindustry."

IntheCASE2001Circleof ExcellenceAwards,alsoanational competition,bronzemedalawardswent totheCapitalCampaignViewbook (oneofonlyfourawardspresentedfrom among85entries),thenewAdmissions materials,consistingofthenew viewbook,searchpieceandrecruitment poster(u5entries;sevenawards),and thenewAdmissionssearchpiece(90 entries;sevenawards).Thesewerethe firstnationalCASEawardsever presentedtoLongwood.Winning entrieswerepostedontheCASE website.

Also inthe2001CASECircleof ExcellenceAwards,asilvermedalinthe Year-LongSpecialEventscategorywas awardedtothe"DuckEvents,"regional programsforalumniandfriendshosted byPresidentCormierandcoordinated bytheAlumnioffice.OnlyIOmedals wereawardedfromamong88entries.

BrianBatesescortsDr.PatriciaCormier totheArchaeologyFieldSchoolsite atStauntonRiverBattlefield StatePark.

Archaeology Field School Receives Grant to Continue Work at Staunton River Battlefield State Park

THELONGWOODARCHAEOLOGYFIELDSCHOOL

recentlyreceivedafive-year,$IO0,oooextensiontoits ongoinginvestigationofaLate-WoodlandAmerindiansite inCharlotteCounty.

Theextensionisfundedbyafederalgrantforwhichthe VirginiaDepartmentofConservationandRecreation(DCR) competedsuccessfullylastyear.Thesite,locatedatStaunton RiverBattlefieldStatePark,hasbeenstudiedbyBrianBates ('92),lecturerinanthropologyanddirectoroftheField School,sincebeingdiscoveredin1997.Theinvestigation-

ajointeffortbyLongwood,theDivisionofStateParks(of DCR),andtheArcheologicalSocietyofVirginia-has yieldedinformationondailylifealongthebanksofthe StauntonRiverfrom1000A.D.to1450A.D.(andwas featuredintheSpring2000issueofLongwoodmagazine)

"Theextensionwillprovideresearcherswithaunique opportunitytoexaminewhatlifewaslikeinthispartof

Virginiaforthepeoplewholivedtherejustpriorto Europeancontact,"Batessays.

Thesite,whichhecallsan"outdoorlaboratoryforour students,"isusedbytheArchaeologyFieldSchoolevery summer,andmembersoftheArcheologicalSocietyof Virginiahavevolunteeredontheproject.

"Severalthousandvisitors,includingschoolchildrenfromas farawayasRichmond,havetouredthesite,"hesays."It's opentothepublicwhileworkisinprogress.Weencourage teacherstobringtheirstudentstothedig."

Theresearchwasfundedoriginallythroughafederal IntermodalSurfaceTransportationEnhancementAct

(ISTEA)grant,thesametypeastherecentone.Lastyeara grantfromOldDominionElectricCooperativeprovided fundingforfieldworkandfordevelopinganinteractive educationalCD-ROM,targetedatmiddle-schoolchildrenfi

To learn more about the dig at the Staunton River Battlefield State Park, visit our online story at: http://www.lwc.edu/news/releases/dig.html

Analumnawhoisasuccessful entrepreneururgedgraduatesatMay Commencementtohaveconfidence, courageanddetermination.

"Youcandoanythingyouwantto do,youhavetomakethingshappen, andyoumustbelieveinyourselfeven whenthingsarereallyscary,"saidLady Virginia"Ginny"SturmTate('64), founderofLondon'smostsuccessful recruitmentconsultingfirm.LadyTate soldhercompany,TateAppointments, lastyearafter15years

Some629undergraduateand95 graduatedegreeswereawardedonly 18daysafterthedevastatingRuffner fire.Tocommemoratethatloss, graduates,facultyandstaffworeblue ribbonpinsprovidedbyBarnes& Noble,whichoperatesthebookstore. TheLongwoodbellwasrungthree times,signifyingLongwood'spast, presentandfuture.Ithadnotbeenrung sincePresidentPatriciaCormier's inaugurationinApril1997.

"Todayisnotaboutlossand destruction,"Dr.Cormiertold

724 Degrees Awarded at May Commencement

graduates."Todayisabout accomplishmentandchefirstdayofthe beginningofyournewlife."

LadyTate,whosaid"noother placecouldhavegivenmeabetterstart thanLongwoodCollege,"askedthe Classof2001"nottodwellontheloss ofourbelovedRotunda."

SaraRosanneBurritt,abiology majorfromStuartsDraftwithaperfect 4.0grade-pointaverage,receivedche SallyBarksdaleHargrettPrizefor AcademicExcellence.Shewillstudy molecularbiologyingraduateschoolat theUniversityofNorthCarolina,where shehasdoneresearchonthe transformationofDNAinyeastcells. ShewasamemberofWho'sWho AmongStudentsinAmerican UniversitiesandCollegesandbiology honorsocietyBeraBeraBeta,president oftheBaptiseStudentUnionherjunior year,andarecipientoftheWayneH. CfinnellBiologyScholarship.

DanaN.Daniels,aliberalstudies majorfromChesterfield,wontheDan DanielSeniorAwardforScholarship

andCitizenship.Shewillstudysports administrationingraduateschoolat VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity.She wasamemberofPhiKappaPhi nationalhonorsociety,AlphaLambda Deltafreshmanhonorsocietyandthe HonorsProgram,andshewasaHull ScholarandaLongwoodAmbassador.

Dr.GeoffreyOrth,professorof German,whoinJulybecamedirector oftheHonorsProgram,receivedthe MariaBristowStarkeAwardforFaculty Excellence;Dr.MichelleParry,assistant professorofphysics,theJuniorFaculty Award;andDr.JamesJordan,professor ofanthropology,theStudent-Faculty RecognitionAward,whichhealsowon in1985.

DelegateW.W."Ted"BennettJr. ofHalifax,whoissteppingdownwhen histermexpiresinDecember,was presentedwitharesolutionhonoring himas"oneoftheCommonwealthof Virginia'sforemostpublicservantsanda friendwhoseextraordinarycontributions toourcommunitywillberemembered forever."

RotundaFundReaches$176,058 byJuly1,2001,with1,057IndividualGifts

InresponsetoanoutpouringofsupportfollowingTheGreatFireof2001,theCollegecreatedTheRotundaFund. Thisfundwillbeusedtosatisfyimmediateneedsresultingfromthetragedy,toensurethattheRotundaisreconstructed toitspriorstateofgrandeur,andtosupporttheprogrammaticneedsoftheacademicdepartmentsdisplacedbythefire.

AlldonorstochisfundwillbelistedinaprominentlocationwithinthereconstructedRotunda.

Timesofcrisiscallforuniquegifts.Pleasecontinueyourtraditionalsupport whileconsideringaspecialgifttoTheRotundaFund.

C/OTheLongwoodCollegeFoundation 201HighStreet,Farmville,Virginia23909

800.281.4677extension3

www.lwc.edu

LongwoodLicensePlates ProvePopular

Thankyoutothosealumniand studentswhohaveorderedLongwood licenseplatesfromDMVYounotonly showyourprideinyouralmamater, butyoualsohelptoincreaseour scholarshipfunds.Eachtimeaperson ordersanewLongwoodplateorrenews anexistingone,theCollegereceivesa contributionfromtheStatetosupport studentscholarships.

IfyoudonothaveaLongwood licenseplate,youcanorderoneatany VirginiaDMVOffice.

Classof1942isHaving an80thBirthdayParty

TheClassof1942hasdecidedtohavea differenttypeofreunion-ajoint80th birthdaycelebrationinWilliamsburgon October3-5,2001.NancyDupuy

WilsonfromNorthCarolinaandthe planningcommitteehavedeveloped afullscheduleofactivitiesincludinga HappyHouranddinner,exercise session,memorialservice,andabig birthdayparty. e-mailaddresses...

DoyouhearfromLongwoodonlyvia snailmailorphone?Thenwedonot haveyoure-mailaddress.Doyouwant toknowaboutupcomingeventsand hearaboutpertinentLongwoodnews rightaway?Thenpleasesendusyour e-mailaddress.Wenowhave approximately6,000alumnie-mail addressesinourdatabase,butweknow moreofyouhaveaccesstoe-mail. Includeyoure-mailaddressinthe AlumniAssociation'sdatabasebycalling r.800.281.4677extension3,ore-mailing lcalumni@longwood.lwc.eduwithyour fullname,classyear,ande-mailaddress. Youmayalsoupdateyouraddress informationonthealumniwebsiteat www.lwc.edu(ClickonAlumni,then UpdatePersonalInformation).

Attention Alumni in the Classes of 1970-79 MarkYour Calendar for October 5 & 6, 2001.

LongwoodwillcelebratetheDecadeofthe70sReuniononOktoberfest,somake planstoreturntocampusforthisspecialreunion.TheeventswillbeginFriday nightandwillconcludearound8:30Saturdaynight.Youwillreceivedetailed informationinAugust.SincethereunionisonOktoberfestweekend,youshould makemotelreservationsimmediatelyifyouplantostayovernight.Youcan contacttheFarmvilleDaysInn(434.392.66n),ComfortInn(434.392.8163)or Super8(434.392.8196)ortheBurkevilleComfortInn(434.767.3750).

Foradditionalinformation,contact:

TheLongwoodCollegeAlumniAssociation

201HighStreet,Farmville,Virginia23909

800.281.4677extension3

www.lwc.edu

Longwood Student

Chosen as the 2001 AT&T Scholar

for Virginia

RECENTLONGWOODGRADUATEJESSICAPAYNE ISTHE2001AT&T SCHOLARFORVIRGINIA.

Asaresultofherselection,Jessica,apoliticalsciencemajor fromCharlottesville,attendedtheStennisCenter's Southern Women inPublicService: ComingTogethertoMakea DifferenceconferenceMay19-22inNewOrleans.AT&T sponsorscheannualconference,whichbringstogether womenleadersworkingatthefederal,scareandlocallevels andpaysforallofchescholar'sexpenses.

"Jessicaepitomizestheprogram,"saidWilmaMcCarey,the presidentofAT&TforVirginia."Herpeersandsuperiors speakhighlyofherleadershipabilities.Sheisarolemodel foryoungleadersandhasmadesignificantcontributionsco herschoolcommunity."

JessicawillenrollchisfallatBowlingGreenScaceUniversity inOhiowheresheplanscoearnamaster'sdegreeincollege studentpersonnel.Shewanescoearnadoctorateandpursue acareerinhighereducationadministration.Shewassenior classpresident,aresidentassistant,aninternforchedean ofstudents,andamemberofPhiKappaPhinational honorsocietyandMortarBoard.

Theconference,heldchisyearforchethirdrime,encourages andaidswomenalreadyinpublicservicecomoveupche leadershipladder,andicalsoseekscoattractmorewomenco publicservicecareers.Speakerschisyearincludedformer SecretaryofScaceMadelineAlbrightandformerAttorney GeneralJaneeReno/

Jessica Payne 'O1

RECENTPUBLICATIONSBYLONGWOODFACULTY,STAFF,STUDENTS&ALUMNI

MARCHINGTHROUGHCULPEPER

byVirginiaBeardMorton, Longwood alumna ('66)

OnecritichascalledthisnovelaboutCivilWaractioninCulpeperCounty"wonderfully researchedandvastlyentertaining."Morton,wholeadswalkingtoursofCivilWarsitesaround Culpeper,whereshe'slivedfor31years,wroteitto"helpthecommunitypromotetourismand preserveourbattlefields.IwantedtoeducatepeopleastowhattookplaceinCulpeperCounty, whichsawmoretroopmovementthananyotherplaceinAmerica."Mostofthemilitary charactersarereal,asarethemilitaryevents.Mortontaughtmathforfouryearsandlaterranan interiordesigncompanyfor15years. Published byEdgehillBooks, hardcover, 534 pages

WHENDAFFODILSRANFREE

byA.RobertaWiatt, Longwood alumna ('54)

Thisisa"fantasysetinMysticLand,wherethedaffodilsrananddancedinthesunshine alldaylong-untiltheirliveswerethreatenedbythecold,coldwindsofwinter,"saysWiatt, whoretiredin1994afterteachingphysicaleducationatGloucesterHighSchoolfor40years. Theillustrationsweredonebyhersister-in-law,JackieWiatt.Anativeandlifelongresident ofGloucester,Wiattalsoisacomposer,songwriterandpoet.Sheisworkingonanother children'sbook. Published by V &M. Graphics, hardcover, 28 pages

FROGGIEBABIES

bySuzanneB.Farrior, Longwood alumna ('66)

Farrior,aretiredartteacherinFayetteville,N.C.,wroteandillustratedthischildren'sbook, which"blendscollectiveelementsofentertainmentandeducation"and"unfoldsfantastically throughtheblissfuldaydreamofaparent'sprideandfaithinhischild'sfuture,"according tooneaccount.Farriortaught(mostlyontheelementarylevel)inNorthCarolinafor24years, andbeforethatinChesterfieldCountyforsevenyears,beforeretiringin1999."EversinceIwas seven,Idreamedofillustratingchildren'sbooks,"shesays."JustbeforeIretired,Ifellandbroke bothelbows,antlthat'swhenIbeganwritingpoetry."Shehasalreadywrittenandillustrated threeotherbooks. Published by Pentland Press, hardcover, 24 pages

THEJOURNEYHOME

bySherieRagsdaleKennedy, Longwoodalumna ('79), underthepseudonymMarigoldFields

This"inspirational"novel,herfirst,isabout"overcomingobstaclesinlifewithfaith anddetermination,"saysKennedy,ofChesterfield,whohastaughtEnglishatColonialHeights HighSchoolfor22years."It'saboutagrandmotherwhodecidestoreturntoapointinherlife whereshehastosettlesomethingthat'sbeenhauntingher,"shesays.Ittakesplacein ChesterfieldCounty,whereKennedygrewup,andsprangfromstoriessheheardfrom hergrandmotherandothers.Publishedby iUniverse.com, softcover, I04 pages

GROWINGUPONROUTE 66

byDr.MichaelLund, Professor ofEnglish

Thissemi-autobiographicalnovel,Dr.Lund'sfirstworkoffiction,was"craftedwithsympathy andcandor,"saysonecritic.It'sa"franklookatthecomingofagesexualanxiety"ofbabyboomersgrowingupinthelate1950sandearly'60sinasmallMissouritownalongthehighway (nowInterstate44)called'America'sMainStreet,'whichcutsthroughDr.Lund'shometown ofRolla,Missouri."Thattimeandplacearerememberedbythenovel'snarratorasideal,but closerscrutinyrepeatedly-andoftenhumorously-complicatesthisinnocentpicture," hesays.Thisispartofaseries;thesecondbook,Route 66 Kids,isdueoutchisfall.

Published by BeachHouse Books, softcover, 262 pages

CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF LONGWOOD

This special edition ofLongwoodmagazine not only tells the tragic story ofthe fire that swept through the Rotunda on April 24, it also celebrates the human spirit that provided us with the strength and vision to carry onwith respect for our past and hope 1 for the future.

That spiritwas symbolized at graduation with a small blue enamel ribbon, provided by the Barnes & Noble campus bookstore, which was given to all ofour graduates.

When Dr. Patricia Cormier was inaugurated as our 24th ... president in 1997, she stressed the importance ofconnections both within the college and with the community. Those connections were never more important than they were over the past few weeks. For connections depend upon peoplefaculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and our friends in Farmville and the surrounding communities. The outpouring ofsupport and love for Longwood has been overwhelming. Merewords could never express the depth ofour gratitude to everyone who has helped us through this crisis.

As you read this issue, remember thewords ofDr. Cormier on the morning after the fire - "We will rebuild. Longwood will rise once again from the ashes."