Carillon magazine Vol. 9 No. 1, Winter 2012 by Oglethorpe University

VOL. 9 | NO. 1 | winter 2012 our History

pride

harmony

origin teamwork

wonder

behavior creativity

expression

service

honor

communication transformation

ethics

The art of critical thinking Liberal arts in the 21st century

outside in | 6

Inside out | 14

leaps and bounds | 22

alumniSPRING updates 2011 | | 31 CARILLON

contents

editor Renee vary Writer CHLOEY MAYO ’10 contributors RICHARD BAKARE ’03 Foss Baker ’12 J. Todd Bennett LINDSEY CARROLL AUSTIN GILLIS ’01 JODIE SEXTON GOFF ’01 BARBARA BESSMER HENRY ’85 MARIYA MARVAKOVA ’12 DR. BRIAN PATTERSON LINDA SANDERS SCARBOROUGH ’65 ERIC TACK DR. DENISE VON HERRMANN KELLY HOLLAND VRTIS ’97 HOYT YOUNG 2 CARILLON | winter 2012

photographers Barbara Bessmer Henry ‘85 MARIYA MARVAKOVA ’12 CHLOEY MAYO ’10 ONE MOMENT MORE PHOTOGRAPHY Cover photo Jay Thomas design em2

Carillon is published twice a year for alumni, friends, and family of Oglethorpe University. Oglethorpe, founded in 1835, is a private, liberal arts college.

Photo Above Physics professors Dr. John Cramer (pictured with Dylan Klein ’14) and Dr. Michael Rulison hosted the Society of Physics Students annual Telescope Night atop the Weltner Library roof. Billed as “a great opportunity to learn more about our place within the cosmos,” students enjoyed hot chocolate and a guided tour of the stars.

Speak Out We’d love your feedback on this issue as well as what you might like to see in upcoming Carillons. E-mail: rvary@oglethorpe.edu or call 404-364-8868.

President Schall gathers with students in the Traer residence hall courtyard for one of his Fireside Chats.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER By Lawrence M. Schall

The New Campus Center A Sneak Peek This summer I began my seventh year at Oglethorpe. In some ways, it feels like we have just gotten started with the important work we have to do. In other ways, it’s hard for me to remember being anywhere else. I continue to love the work I do and remain as passionate as ever about our mission and the critical role we play in educating the next generation of global citizens. Steve Jobs passed away this fall, and upon his retirement just a few weeks before his death, he spoke about the value of liberal arts. “I think part of what made the Macintosh great was that the people working on it, musicians and poets and artists and zoologists and historians, also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world. It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough— it’s technology married with the liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our hearts sing.” Bet you didn’t know Jobs was a Stormy Petrel at heart. I would argue that the ability to solve any problem, technological or otherwise, begins with understanding how to learn, to think and to reason, to communicate, and to be adaptive. Jobs made the case for the liberal arts. Our students and graduates make that case every day, and in the issue that follows, you will have a glimpse of an Oglethorpe education in action. The campus is teeming with activity this academic year. You will hear from Denise von Herrmann, our new Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, later in this magazine. Under her leadership, our faculty continue to imagine and re-imagine what a superlative education in the 21st century looks like. In a conversation with our Parent’s Leadership Council this past fall, we talked about the

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importance of inspiration and how Oglethorpe’s faculty and staff seek to inspire their sons and daughters. I certainly believe that among the many important things we do here, the goal of inspiring each and every student would be at the top of my list. Our new Center for Experiential Learning, which opened this fall, is a perfect example of that goal in action. Through the work of the Center and our faculty, every student at Oglethorpe will have the opportunity to complete a work experience in his or her chosen field of interest.

in the issue that follows, you will have a glimpse of an Oglethorpe education in action. The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) celebrated its fifth anniversary in October. The CCE is another source of inspiration for many of our students. Oglethorpe is a founding member of our new athletic conference, the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). Conference play for the SAA will begin in the fall of 2012, when Oglethorpe brings on line its 16th intercollegiate sports team, women’s lacrosse. You can read more about the rationale for this change inside. And speaking of inspiration, we are working toward a new campus center for Oglethorpe, sited where Emerson Student Center now sits. See the opposite page for a first glimpse at some amazing plans for the new building that have personally inspired me.

Oglethorpe’s new campus center is one step closer to reality thanks to an unprecedented gift from the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation in Atlanta. Their grant of $5 million in December is the largest single gift in our 177-year history. The gift was a major step forward in achieving the $15 million required to break ground.

room of campus, the open and modern facility will provide flexible, multipurpose spaces to meet, study, and play, including a dining hall, coffee shop, bookstore, campus life offices, and outdoor patios. The building will also be home to the Center for Civic Engagement and the new Center for Experiential Learning.

The new campus center will replace the existing Emerson Student Center, which was built in 1968. With architecture that is both modern and classic, walls of granite and glass will provide a seamless visual connection to the surrounding environment and campus quad. Designed to be the living

The university is deep in the process of fundraising and planning, hoping to possibly break ground on the center later this year. Stay tuned for more details.

As always, we would love to have you come visit us on campus or join me in one of the many alumni events we hold around the country. Please come back and come back often.

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outside in

Helping Students

thrive

in a 21st-Century World

Dr. von Herrmann chats with President Schall and later is charmed by Petey the Stormy Petrel.

Meet Dr. Denise von Herrmann Oglethorpe University recently welcomed Dr. Denise von Herrmann as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, following a nationwide search. She assumed her new position in July 2011. Most recently, Dr. von Herrmann was the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Southern Mississippi.

As a new Provost, I face a myriad of challenges and exciting opportunities at Oglethorpe. From setting schedules and academic

“After an exhaustive national search, Dr. von Herrmann was the search committee’s unanimous first choice to join Oglethorpe University’s vibrant community,” said Norman P. Findley, chair of the Oglethorpe University Board of Trustees and a Provost Search Committee member. “Her expertise will be integral in continuing and expanding Oglethorpe’s strong liberal arts and sciences academic program.”

policies to handling budgets and hiring, each day brings opportunities to hone my administrative skills.

Dr. von Herrmann earned her PhD in Political Science at the University of Alabama and is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College and Jacksonville State University. She has researched, written, and presented extensively about the politics of the gaming industry. Dr. von Herrmann continued to teach political science throughout her 14 years at the University of Southern Mississippi. In coming to Oglethorpe, Dr. von Herrmann has returned to her hometown of Atlanta. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Oglethorpe family — everyone is incredibly dedicated and engaged,” said Dr. von Herrmann. “The university’s historic mission, its beautiful setting, and its plans and goals for the future made this an opportunity that was not to be missed.”

(Re)Defining Success at Oglethorpe By Dr. Denise von Herrmann The challenge that holds my attention—the one that I wake up every morning trying to solve— is how to help Oglethorpe students not only succeed but thrive. We need to have the right programs, offer the right courses, and supply the right support systems needed by students in today’s “wired” society. Even a decision as seemingly innocuous as setting the academic calendar for next year can have profound impacts on student success.

in their scholarship, but unlike some of those counterparts, OU faculty eagerly share their scholarly work with students every day in their classrooms. This presents an extraordinary opportunity for students to learn in a mentoring environment that often extends well beyond the classroom. But this strength also presents challenges, such as small class sizes and somewhat limited opportunities for electives and specialty courses.

At Oglethorpe, we are blessed with an incredibly gifted and experienced faculty. Many of our faculty rival colleagues at big research universities

We know an Oglethorpe education prepares graduates well; our outstanding alumni provide the best evidence of our success. Yet we also

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know that some students do not succeed here. Our goal is to find ways to make it possible for every student who meets our rigorous admission standards and is willing to work hard to achieve their goal of earning their OU degree. Together with our faculty, I am beginning a process of academic strategic planning to intentionally revise and update our programs to ensure that Oglethorpe continues to meet students’ need for a liberal arts and sciences education that helps them to succeed in a 21st-century world.

Oglethorpe University has a rich history as a leader in liberal arts education. Since its founding, and more specifically since the inception of the Core Curriculum program in 1945, Oglethorpe has continually strived to help students recognize their potential for success and to achieve OU’s motto to “Make a Life. Make a Living. Make a Difference.” With that in mind, this summer Provost Denise von Herrmann sought to create intentional programs to support student academic success for the 21st century. From that has come the creation of the newest department at the university, the Academic Success Center (ASC). The ASC is a one-stop shop for any OU student’s academic needs. Whether a student feels like he is not living up to his own academic potential or simply needs a fresh set of eyes on a Core paper, the Academic Success Center offers a wide range of services to fit those needs.

By Eric Tack

The ASC officially opened this semester on the bottom floor of the Philip Weltner Library. Designed with the modern student’s needs in mind, the center offers a variety of tutoring formats, academic advising for undeclared students, personalized academic coaching, support for students with disabilities, and a variety of workshops and assessments to help students define success at OU. With the formation of the center, Oglethorpe stands out from its peers as one of the few small private liberal arts universities to offer all of these services and is unique in bringing them together in one place. The Academic Success Center represents the university’s commitment to all of our students that they can find success at Oglethorpe, and we are devoting the staffing and resources to help make that happen.

Eric Tack is the director of the Academic Success Center. Eric comes from Georgia Tech, where he served as the Assistant Director of Success Programs and brings a background in academic success programming, at-risk student support services, and first- and second-year experience programming. He received his master’s degree from James Madison University in Counseling Psychology (2006) and a Bachelor of Science and Arts in Political Science and Public Relations from the University of Florida (2004).

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outside in

In a Class by Itself Oglethorpe may be known for its Core curriculum and unique academic partnerships, but take a look at each semester’s course schedule and you may be surprised— and possibly curious—about some of the classes offered. Here are a few of the courses that encourage Oglethorpe students to think critically…creatively. Shakespeare in Performance Just about everyone has taken a class that delves into the literary glory of Shakespeare. Few, however, can say that they’ve studied and performed his works under the backdrop of Shakespeare’s original Globe Theatre. Offered in the summer, students spend a portion of their class time on campus and another 10 days in residency at the University of Oxford in England.

Liberal Arts in the 21st Century:

War, Peace, and Security By Chloey Mayo ’10 For years, academics and world leaders have strived to understand the origins of war, the causes of peace, and the sources of future conflict. In his “War, Peace, and Security” class, Dr. John Orme invites students to explore just this, by examining the motives and calculations of past statesmen involved in warfare. He says that investigating historical conflict and resolution is beneficial to helping a student understand how the world works, no matter what career lies ahead of him. “This is really a theoretical course,” explained Dr. Orme. “It is important to know the answers to questions like, ‘Why do states go to war? Why peace?’ [War stems from] a desire for security, which breeds a competition for power. In this class, we are trying to understand those in power.” The concept of warring nations is certainly nothing new in the 21st century, but the ways in which we war certainly are. Last summer, in an effort to better understand terrorist ideologies and how democratic states combat them, Dr. Orme travelled to Israel as an Academic Fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. The 10-day fellowship program, taught in conjunction with Tel Aviv University, exposed university professors to the latest trends in terrorists’ operations. While in Israel, Orme and his colleagues engaged in discussions with

8 CARILLON | winter 2012

top diplomats, military, and intelligence officials from around the world, including Ambassador Dore Gold, Israel’s former Ambassador to the UN. They also visited military bases, border zones, and imprisoned terrorists for an up-front view of Israel’s counterterrorism methods. “The main purpose [of the field excursions] was for Westerners to have some appreciation for what Israel is going through,” remarked Dr. Orme. “I was most impressed by Israel as a people, and especially those who were being recruited into service…I specifically recall [at a security fence east of Jerusalem] the face of an Israeli commander. We did not speak to him, but his nonverbal communication spoke to how great a responsibility he has.” He says that having participated in the seminar has certainly benefited classroom discussion, recently sparking conversation about nuclear proliferation, why states want nuclear weapons, and the differing conclusions about Qaddafi’s fall that those in the Middle East might make versus Americans and Europeans. “Most of [my students] are not going to end up being practitioners,” said Dr. Orme. “But it prepares them as citizens in the world...if they do end up in a position of power, they’d use it responsibly.”

Just Food? Cultural Rhetoric & Politics of Consumption As yummy as it sounds, this class goes beyond surface rhetoric, introducing students to the multidisciplinary field of critical food studies. Students also engage in field research and cultural-rhetorical analyses of media and public discourses around the production, distribution, and consumption of food. Politics of Hip-Hop In this unique lecture course, Dr. Kendra King leads an analysis on the influence of Hip-Hop in modern-day American politics. Students also examine links between class discussions and Core curriculum topics, reading everything from the lyrics of Hip-Hop legends Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five to political economist John Smith. Directing for Film & Digital Cinema In this course, Professor David Patterson guides students in exploring both theory and technique of directing the dramatic scene for film and television. Students have the opportunity to work with professional equipment, shooting short vignettes and class productions as a group. Altruism: Do Unto Others—True or False? This fall, Economics Professor Peter Kower and Biology Professor Karen Schmeichel double-teamed the topic of altruism, leading first-year honors students in a discussion regarding the biological, psychological, and institutional factors that produce giving behavior. Fresh Focus: Sports, Ethics, and the World As part of Oglethorpe’s one-credit “Fresh Focus” program, this course allows freshmen the opportunity to examine the idea of sport as a metaphor for life, while taking into consideration the consequences of the “win at all costs” approach to sport. After they understand the theory behind sports and ethics, students then put their knowledge to practical use as they coach a group of elementary school soccer players.

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Outside In

Outside in

During an OU Passport orientation during the summer, incoming freshmen and first-year students competed in a scavenger hunt. The winners, pictured here, won copies of What the Dog Saw—required reading for the entire class.

This year, as the class of 2015 prepared for its first semester as college students, the undergrads had more in common than just their freshman status. All first-year students shared a cross-major reading of Malcolm Gladwell’s What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures as part of a new common reading program at Oglethorpe.

“Several colleges and universities have established common reading programs over the years,” explained Kendra Hunter, director of student leadership and activities. “By introducing this program at Oglethorpe, Campus Life wanted to incorporate an academic component to New Student Orientation that would create a common experience for new students to begin the development of community among them as well as help prepare them for the academic and intellectual experiences they will have.” Far from the ordinary textbook, What the Dog Saw is a compilation of 19 features written by the Canadian journalist, all of which were first published in the New Yorker magazine. In this collection, Gladwell explores the “back story” of society’s everyday stories, and makes an effort to find a larger meaning in them. The book is divided into three parts which examine: “minor geniuses” (those who find ways to do ordinary things in extraordinary ways); the theories or ways of organizing experience (such as the controversial program found in some big U.S. cities designed to tackle the problem of homelessness by giving the chronically homeless their own apartments, while less severe cases stay on the streets); and lastly, the assumptions and predictions we make about people (“How do we know whether someone is bad, or smart, or capable of doing something really well?”). “Good writing does not succeed or fail on the strength of its ability to persuade,” says Gladwell in the book’s preface. “It succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you, to make you think, to give you a glimpse into someone else’s head.” Indeed, Gladwell’s book was selected with the input of first-year instructors for its direct connection to first-year curriculum and its potential to encourage debate and real-life application.

By Chloey Mayo ’10

10 10 CARILLON CARILLON || winter SPRING 2011 2012

“What the Dog Saw is composed of essays and themes which appeal to a variety of students and can be connected to multiple disciplines,” said Hunter. “Resulting discussions ranged from their thoughts about the book to having a ‘pitching’ contest in which students took an ordinary object and pitched new and unusual uses for it. Currently, we are looking into visiting a homeless shelter and then discussing or debating the ideas from one of the essays, ‘Million Dollar Murray.’” Throughout the year, students and faculty have found other ways to incorporate the book’s theme, turning what started as a summer reading assignment into a year-long intellectual discussion about the importance of perspective. Hunter said that three freshman classes took a trip to Dialog in the Dark, an exhibition that forces guests to “see” through the eyes of the visually impaired, using a series of darkened galleries created to replicate everyday experiences. “During that trip students gained a different perspective on everyday life with a visual impairment, encouraging them to be open to ideas and viewpoints other than their own,” explained Hunter. Not surprisingly, others at OU have found ways to adapt the book as well. The OU Theatre department has plans to modify it for the stage. To be created and performed by students, the play will be presented exclusively at Oglethorpe by special permission of the author on April 12-14, 2012. “What the Dog Saw encourages its readers to think counter-intuitively and to question experiences and the assumptions they make,” said Hunter. “This is exactly what we want our students to do; critical thinking is such a large part of their education and individual development.”

What the Dog Saw encourages its readers to think counterintuitively and to question experiences and their assumptions.

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outside in

Oglethorpe has been designed in such a way that questioning your self is unavoidable. Just look at the first year of Core. Narratives of Self? What else could that be other than an examination of your being and values? Just when you think you figured out the problems from that course, you have Human Nature and the Social Order. Another puzzle for your self that you must answer: what values do you hold, where do you stand in society, and what do you want from society? After this, you’re thrown another curveball, being forced to reexamine these practices and decisions in Historical Perspectives.

Do What Oglethorpe is Forcing You to Do By Foss Baker ’12

My dad often used the phrase “college teaches you how to learn.” I don’t know where he got it from, or if it was his own invention. All I know is that it made no sense in high school. I would question it because it essentially made college useless. Every high school kid knows how to learn, right? No, absolutely not. All of them think they do; I was no different. I came to Oglethorpe thinking I had it all figured out: career, dreams, and how to reach both of them. I was going to be a hugely successful sports/entertainment attorney. I was going to make tons and tons of money. I was going to have it all. From Oglethorpe, I learned none of that was what I wanted. I don’t care about money that much, I don’t care about having a hugely successful name that strikes fear in the hearts of sports franchises and movie producers. I just want to learn.

All of this, hopefully, allows you to look at yourself and question the pit of your beliefs. Maybe you have to find new ones, maybe the ones you held before Oglethorpe are reinforced; either way, you’re a better person for it. You have gained a system of beliefs that you hold concretely, and there are very few things more comforting than knowing you stand for beliefs that have been stripped down to their very core, and you found them agreeable. Perhaps this type of examination of Oglethorpe only exists in the mind of a philosophy major. Perhaps I examined this the way I did because of the professors that I have. Dr. Belcher showed me that your beliefs are basically worthless if you don’t know why you stand for them. Dr. Carton taught me that nobody is the same, and there are so many different internal processes that make up a person that understanding them all is impossible. From Dr. Smith I learned everybody does things their own way. We don’t know why some things are done the way they are, but the fact that they are done in such a way might tell us more about that person or those people than if they had done it the “normal” way. Numerous other professors here taught me other things, but these are the ones I hold in the highest regard. The most important thing to notice about the things I learned is that none of them are classes. I didn’t take a “reasons why your beliefs might be wrong class” or a class on “things that people did in history that we

don’t understand” because they don’t exist. Sometimes, the most important thing to learn from a class isn’t the subject of the class at all. This takes some work, but the work and payoff will be well worth it. Your experience will undoubtedly be different. You will have different classes, different professors, and different friends. This difference will make you examine things in your own way, and that leads to a different experience for everybody. This means Oglethorpe has done its job. In hindsight, I want to leave the readers of this with a few suggestions. First, don’t live your life thinking you know what you want because that is what your parents want for you, or because you saw it on TV. If you really want to be this idea you have in your head, no amount of reexamining will change your mind. If you end up changing your mind, it means you’re growing, learning. Have an open mind, it will do wonders for you. Second, take Oglethorpe for what it is. The classes can be frustrating and, believe me, I hate Petrel Points* as much as the next guy, but I love Oglethorpe. The community, professors, faculty, and students will always hold a special place in my heart. If you come here expecting perks of a large university, don’t expect to be satisfied. Take the small school atmosphere and embrace it. Develop relationships with your professors; and gain close friends; you won’t regret it. The third suggestion is to just listen to people. You can’t learn if you don’t. Listen to professors; they are wildly intelligent and are here only because of the students. They honestly have your best interests at heart. If they suggest you think about something or reexamine something, do it. They care and know best. And above all else, just learn. *All first-year students are required to accrue a total of 12 Petrel Points during their first academic year by participating in three areas of campus life: arts, education and ideas; civic engagement; and campus

By Dr. Brian Patterson

I was very excited to join Oglethorpe and have a chance to reintroduce computer science courses to our curriculum. My main goal is to help develop and implement a computer science minor (with a major being a longer-term goal). Such a minor program existed in the past but ceased. Computer science courses were offered again to current students beginning in spring 2011. Other faculty and I have the opportunity to shape a computer science minor that is unique to Oglethorpe. In pursuing this goal, one relevant question is: how does computer science fit into the liberal arts at Oglethorpe? After all, the word “computer” is in the name of my discipline so it seems reasonable to think of the class being about learning the keystrokes to perform an operation in Excel or how to fix a specific piece of computing hardware. However, addressing computer science in that way is like addressing astronomy as “telescope science,” or molecular biology as “microscope science.” All three disciplines use tools in an essential way, but all three also include the use of multiple paradigms to solve problems, drawing upon reasoning, logic, analysis, hypothesis testing, and formal problem-solving methodologies. As a combination of mathematical theory, experimentation similar to what is used in the sciences, and design methods from engineering, computer science carves out its own niche. It is much less about the tools used than most people realize. In fact, holding some computer science classes in a computer lab is sometimes counterproductive—the students may be tempted to surf the Internet for noncurricular reasons more than we use the computers to write programs!

leadership and citizenship. Reprinted with permission from the Stormy Petrel (Dec. 1, 2011 edition).

Senior Foss Baker is the news editor of the Stormy Petrel student newspaper. A native of Atlanta, he is graduating in May with an individually planned major in Human Nature. He is planning to attend law school in the fall, hopefully at Georgia State University. 12 CARILLON | winter 2012

Computer Science as a Science Not a Computer

One definition of a liberal arts environment is an environment that focuses on developing a whole person, to prepare them for a life—not just a job— after college. It’s very difficult to live and work in a world like ours without using or at least encountering computerized devices. Thus, knowing the

principles behind them is useful. Much like how the sciences joined the liberal arts when they became more relevant in a scientific society, it’s time to include computer science in our view of a liberal arts experience. Computer science is fortunate relative to other disciplines in that, after taking a single course in introductory programming, the student is already more valuable to a potential employer. It is not usually because the student learned the exact programming language we teach at OU (Java) or that the employer needs somebody to do what we learned in the class. It is because the student has been introduced to how to work with a computer and utilize techniques of computer science in a variety of new situations.

A professional computer programmer spends less than half of his or her day actually writing programs on a computer—the rest is spent thinking and discussing ideas with others. Most managers realize that a professional computer programmer spends less than half of his or her day actually writing programs on a computer— the rest is spent thinking and discussing ideas with others. A class in computer science and a liberal arts education to back that up is invaluable for this planning and discussion. On this topic, I highly recommend “Computer Science and the Liberal Arts: A Philosophical Examination,” by Walker and Keleman (at Grinnell and Swarthmore, respectively) at http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/~walker/cs-liberalarts.pdf. I look forward to integrating computer science into the existing exciting areas of study available at OU as I help develop a computer science minor.

Dr. Brian Patterson, assistant professor of computer science & mathematics, joined the OU faculty in fall 2011. He received his BA from Carleton College and his MS and PhD from Iowa State University. His teaching and research interests include artificial intelligence, computation and complexity, graph theory, machine learning, probability, and statistics.

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inside out

How Oglethorpe students engage with Atlanta & the world By Mariya Marvakova ’12

Oglethorpe University and the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, located just miles from campus, recently inked a partnership to formalize and expand their decadelong relationship.

Since 2007, Oglethorpe University faculty, staff, and students have volunteered, conducted research, and interned at the preserve. OU faculty members, including biology professor Dr. Charles Baube, have been active in Blue Heron’s programs and day-to-day operation since 2001. Dr. Baube currently serves as vice president and treasurer of the preserve’s Board of Directors.

A Natural Partnership By Mariya Marvakova ’12

“These projects have included monitoring and examining control methods for invasive species, monitoring water quality, accessing stream flow and erosion, accessing beaver habitat, and many others,” said Dr. Baube. “We’ve also had interns working on projects such as the establishment of a native plant survey and formalization/ professionalizing of our accounting system.”

“The [informal] partnership started as a spin-off of a water quality event I was coordinating with various city groups we called “The River Rendezvous,” explained Dr. Baube. Oglethorpe hosted the annual event, which ran from 1999 to 2005 and was facilitated by numerous student volunteers.

Blue Heron is not only an educational partner, but also a partner in Oglethorpe’s community service initiatives. Most recently, during last fall’s Parents Weekend, volunteers created multiple nature trails, formed dams in a stream to change the direction of water flow, and photographed species to help classify them. One of Dr. Baube’s classes helped to plan the volunteer projects.

Oglethorpe’s presence at Blue Heron includes service learning classes and Urban Ecology Program site visits led by Dr. Baube and fellow biology professor Dr. Roarke Donnelly. The classes are designed to help students gain experience in planning, execution, and presentation of science research while helping solve real community problems.

The positive effects of OU’s volunteer efforts underscored that the time was right for Oglethorpe and Blue Heron to expand and deepen their association. The first step of the partnership was designating the preserve as “an Oglethorpe University Urban Field Station,” which formalizes Blue Heron’s commitment to be the site for Oglethorpe’s research, volunteerism,

Dr. Roarke Donnelly, professor of biology, leads a class at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve.

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teaching, and learning in a way consistent with Oglethorpe’s mission and commitment to community involvement. Future plans include designating an OU faculty member as the program director for OU’s activities at Blue Heron, and developing more opportunities for OU students to volunteer, engage, and learn onsite. “We now have an OU work-study student working two to three days a week at [Blue Heron] helping coordinate all programs, not just those involving OU,” said Dr. Baube. And there are also plans to expand that hands-on “experiential learning” beyond the sciences to include work-study and internship opportunities in marketing, the arts, accounting, and education.

Experiential Learning Oglethorpe is committed to helping students realize the relevance of their education for work and life through the integration of classroom and experiential learning, which may include volunteering, service learning, career planning, internships, and study abroad. These intensive, life-changing experiences married with our unique Core curriculum will become one of the distinctions of an Oglethorpe education. The university is currently implementing a number of strategies to strengthen experiential learning options. One such strategy is the construction of a new campus center, which will bring all of these services together in one location.

Career Planning & Internships With a well-established and successful program for civic engagement in place, efforts have now turned to deepening relationships with Atlanta’s for-profit, nonprofit, and social enterprises to develop more opportunities for our students. The university recently welcomed Dr. Robin Brandt as Director of Experiential Learning, a newly created position. Dr. Brandt has been working to significantly increase the participation rate of students in internships, which currently stands at about 30%. Within four years, the university hopes to see at least 60% of students in internships. An OU student steering committee has been established to help support and advise in these efforts.

“Internships can be a beneficial experience for students of any major,” said Dr. Brandt. “They help formulate career goals, provide valuable work experience, and enhance marketable skills. Some students even earn academic credit.” Dr. Brandt believes that contacts made through internships help students to establish a professional network and often open doors to full-time employment. Ryan Nix ’09 agrees. While at OU, Ryan interned with the TEW Galleries, Marshall Wood Gallery, and the Carter Center. Now she is the program assistant for educational programs at the Carter Center. According to Nix, OU students have a reputation for being professional, well prepared, and always eager to learn. Students are also encouraged to use the resources available through the Career Center, including professional resumé assistance and mock interviews. OU students can also take advantage of opportunities to meet face-to-face with potential employers during on-campus career fairs. The fall Nonprofit Career Fair brought more than 35 potential nonprofit employers to campus. Another career fair is scheduled for the spring, and throughout the year students can look forward to guest speakers and panel discussions with professionals from various fields.

(top & bottom) OU students network with potential employers during the fall Nonprofit Career Fair. (mid) In preparation for interviews, OU students learn from experts about dressing professionally during Dress for Success, a Career Services-sponsored event.

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inside out our History

inside out

Building Campus Community

promote an inclusive campus environment, strengthen existing campus traditions, and celebrate cultural differences. We also plan to improve the quality of our communication with students to increase awareness of campus events and cocurricular activities, all with the goal of fostering stronger community within the student body.

The office of Campus Life, led by Dean of Students and Vice President for Campus Life Michelle Hall, has welcomed three new staff members this academic year. Here, in their own words, they describe their plans and goals for improving and building campus community.

connection for students in a residential community, the university benefits by having involved students who know they matter and are more able to thrive academically and socially.

Danny Glassmann director of residence life “Here in Residence Life we work to build a strong sense of community, morale, and team spirit. We want to help students connect to their academics, each other, the campus community, and the broader world through living and learning in the residence halls. By building a strong

“I try to act as students’ biggest fan and staffs’ greatest cheerleader. This means I take into account all of the unique individuals that make up the community and help them build strong relationships to develop a caring and supportive community spirit. My personal philosophy is that showing care and altruism toward students helps them feel welcome and important. I believe the more students feel noticed, the more involved and successful they will become.

“Some programmatic initiatives we are exploring include student mentoring, technology assistants, and living/ learning communities. All of these plans and initiatives are dependent upon the inclusion of everyone—from residents to the administration. Real, meaningful change only happens when students, faculty, and staff come together and create change collectively. It is important to me that everyone has a seat at the table and participates in the important and challenging work of improving the campus environment. Mutually empowering students to be challenged by their environments, while offering a fair amount of support, is not only educational, but important in their growth, development, and success.”

Kendra Hunter director of student leadership and activities “I attended a small university and have worked in large institutions. I value the opportunity we have as a small school to build a strong sense of community and understand the role campus life plays in providing necessary support services. To

that end, it’s important that we constantly talk to our students and listen for ways to provide the support systems they need to be successful, and then work with faculty and staff to provide those services.

“I am also working to provide comprehensive and intentional leadership opportunities for OU students. This effort began in the fall with an SGA Leadership and Planning Retreat and we are currently developing an Emerging Leaders Program for first-year students. These leadership opportunities will not only benefit the students personally but also help student organizations to be more effective.”

“One of our goals is to improve the quality of our programming, from orientation to night and weekend programming. Through our programming, we aim to educate and

“Our plans for residence life focus on improving several areas, including facilities management, administrative processes, emergency on-call procedures for students and professional staff, student conduct, and marketing our programs to the campus community.

Bre Berris assistant director of residence life & Greek affairs “In Greek Affairs we aim for all students to be involved in various aspects of Oglethorpe’s life and thus contribute to the impact Greek life has on campus. Greek membership provides opportunities to develop valuable leadership skills, pursue academic excellence, serve OU and Atlanta’s communities, and make lasting

friendships. This year we are adding a new sorority and a new fraternity. Our goal is to provide students with as many opportunities as possible to find their place and fit within a Greek organization and the OU community. “Our efforts will also focus on the development of our risk management policies and programming. We will continue to collaborate with Greek members, advisors, and alumni to

accomplish individual chapters’ goals as well as the initiatives of the entire Greek community. This will promote unity within the Greek community and enhance campus life. “My passion is student affairs and working to make a difference in the lives of the students. I look forward to working WITH our students to further strengthen our Greek community.”

(top) Kendra Hunter (far right) with students on the quad during OU Passport, an orientation event for incoming students. (bottom) This year the annual Battle of Bloody Marsh tug-of-war contest that pits students versus faculty and staff had high stakes. The students were victorious and Bre Berris was among those who suffered the consequences. 16 CARILLON | winter 2012

winter 2012 | CARILLON 17

class notes inside out

inside out

Oglethorpe may not be ready for the red carpet just yet, but it certainly has star potential. During the past several years, OU has served as the backdrop for some of Hollywood’s most promising movies—and it’s been the set for a number of small screen gems, too. Back in September, the crew from the 2013 thriller “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” took over Oglethorpe’s Anderson field and covered the scoreboard with black and orange—Princeton University’s colors. They were shooting a baseball scene for the film, which stars A-listers Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schreiber, and Kate Hudson. Just a few weeks later, Oglethorpe’s Philip Weltner Library welcomed the live audience of WSB-TV’s “The Clark Howard Show,” in which the money-saving guru talked college finances with a room full of Stormy Petrels. OU has made appearances in a number of other TV spots this year, including a fall tailgating scene for a Belk department store commercial, an ad for Moe’s Southwestern Grill, and even a scene from Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne.”

In August, Dina Marto ’05, who’s featured on page 25, returned to campus with an artist from her music group to shoot a Roman gladiatorthemed music video at Hermance Stadium. So what makes OU so attractive to filmmakers? Its characteristic collegiate towers and granite, to be sure, but according to Special Events Manager Sharon Moskowitz ’82, OU’s Atlanta location likely has just as much to do with its star power as its stunning good looks. “Obviously, our architecture lends itself to films trying to capture an Ivy League atmosphere,” said Sharon. “But we’re also situated near the city, and that makes it more affordable for filmmakers who would otherwise have to travel much farther out to find a campus that looks similar to ours.”

Like so many others, those in film are of course looking to get the biggest bang for their buck— and it seems Atlanta is the perfect place for affordable filming. Over the past three years, the city has become a hot-spot for the film industry, and with major studios like EUE/Screen Gems and Tyler Perry Studios taking up residence, it’s no wonder Atlanta is often dubbed the “Hollywood of the South.” Production companies are attracted to Georgia’s recent industry-targeted tax credits that allow any production spending $500,000 or more a tax credit of up to 30 percent from the state. In just two-and-a-half years, the film industry has already brought over $2 billion to the local economy.

Oglethorpe in lights (left) Dina Marto ‘05 filmed a music video in Hermance Stadium during summer 2011. (See article on page 25.) (right) Shahina Butler ’02, who works in Oglethorpe’s development office, had stars in her eyes after meeting actor Ian Somerhalder of “The Vampire Diaries.” (below) The Cartoon Network readies the quad for a commercial shoot.

The presidents of the original eight colleges and universities joining to form the new athletic conference celebrate the decision.

Oglethorpe Set to Join Southern Athletic Association Next Season By Hoyt Young

By Chloey Mayo ’10

In June 2011, Oglethorpe University and seven other Division III southeastern colleges formed a new athletic conference to begin play in the 2012-2013 season. The new conference is called the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). Spanning six states, the SAA includes Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama, Centre College in Kentucky, Hendrix College in Arkansas, Millsaps College in Mississippi, Oglethorpe University and Berry College in Georgia, and Rhodes College and Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee. In December, the SAA announced the addition of the University of Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis as affiliate football members of the conference. The affiliate membership begins in the fall of 2015 and includes all the rights and privileges provided to other football-participating institutions in the SAA.

18 CARILLON | winter 2012

The Southern Athletic Association is committed to fostering athletic competition and cooperation among academically selective, residential liberal arts colleges located in the southeastern region of the United States. The geographic focus will result in reduced travel time and fewer missed classes, while still allowing for a strong conference of like-minded institutions, all of which integrate competitive athletics into the whole of students’ educational experience. In January 2012, Oglethorpe athletics director Jay Gardiner was named the new commissioner of the Southern Athletic Association. The league is gearing up for competition beginning fall 2012. Gardiner had previously served as interim commissioner since the announcement of the SAA’s formation. OU President Schall is currently serving as convener of the conference’s Presidential Council, and Centre’s athletic director, Brian Chafin, is serving as convener of the Athletics Director Council through this 2011-2012 academic year.

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common ground

Days of Service 3

service Counts In 2011, Oglethorpe University was named to The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the fifth year in a row, designating OU as a national leader in volunteerism. Hand-in-hand with academic programs, experiential learning and service opportunities continue to be an important part of the Oglethorpe education.

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1 2

1 During Orientation Day of Service, the incoming class volunteered at seven nonprofits around Atlanta, including at nearby Silver Lake, where they helped to prepare for the community’s 100th anniversary celebration. 2 The Oglethorpe Women’s basketball team formed the Silver Petrels Program with nearby Sunrise Senior Assisted Living community to nurture friendships and teamwork. Activities include bingo and campus visits for basketball games. 3 During a training camp trip to south Georgia, the Oglethorpe Men’s basketball team hosted a basketball clinic at a local Boys and Girls Club. 4 Located behind Emerson Student Center, the Oglethorpe University-Brookhaven Community Garden is tended by volunteers and produces more than 100 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables every year to benefit a local community food pantry. 5 During Parents Weekend, the Atlanta Day of Service involved 90 Oglethorpe volunteers, including parents and family members (our greatest number yet!), who worked at five area nonprofits. Pictured here are volunteers at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, where the volunteers created multiple nature trails and formed dams in a stream to change the direction of water flow. (See article about the preserve on page 14.) 6 Incoming freshmen and volunteers sort and prepare medical supplies at the nonprofit MedShare during the Orientation Day of Service. 7 Erica Blake ’13 launched a successful school supply drive to benefit PATH Academy, a 5th8th grade charter school located adjacent to Oglethorpe’s campus.

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leaps and bounds

leaps and bounds Rebecca Sipper ’99 graduated from Oglethorpe with a degree in art and psychology. She then went on to study ceramics and printmaking in Atlanta and Chicago. While in Chicago, Rebecca started a handmade crafts business, which she continued after she moved to Savannah, Ga. Rebecca now designs custom and original handbags and fabric designs, sold under her Retrofied label (retro bags for a modern world!), and her ceramics appear in numerous stores and art shows. She works on all her products out of her home in Savannah, a location that offered deep family connections and complemented her affinity for the natural beauty of wildlife and vegetation.

Retrofied Rebecca By Richard Bakare ’03

What started as a hobby has quickly become a full-time business thanks to the success of her Etsy.com online shop. Rebecca credits her sister for pushing her to start selling her creations online. Most of the Retrofied line is available on Etsy but can also be purchased at stores in Savannah, as well as from stores in North Carolina, California, and in Japan and Canada. Her focus now is growing her independent company. Stylistically, Rebecca loves to celebrate and incorporate migratory birds and animals from Georgia’s salt marsh region in her pieces. She looks to Sydney Lanier poetry and the natural beauty of the surrounding Savannah landscape as inspirations. Rebecca has drawn inspiration from Oglethorpe’s Chi Omega owl into one of her pieces, but is still working on incorporating Oglethorpe’s beloved Petrel into a creation.

Richard Bakare ’03 is a software analyst in the telecommunications industry and a member of the Alumni Board. At OU, Richard majored in English, played soccer, and ran track. He is now pursuing the challenge of training to complete an IronMan race. Richard remains in the Atlanta area and is engaged to Angela Huynh ’03.

Jerry Portwood ’99: Outright Success By Jodie Sexton Goff ’02

“When given a chance, take the risk. I would rather regret something I risked doing than regretting something I failed to do.” This life philosophy has led Jerry Portwood ’99 into a blossoming journalism career, most recently as managing editor of OUT magazine. Prior to making his way to Oglethorpe, Jerry’s family lived throughout the U.S. and around the world as a result of his father’s Air Force service. The first in his family to attend college, Jerry put himself through OU entirely on his own. He dove right in and was an incredibly active student at Oglethorpe with the theatre, the Stormy Petrel newspaper, student government, University Singers, internships, and more. He graduated from OU with an English major and minors in theatre and French. Following graduation, he spent two years working for OU’s admission office and completed his third minor, in writing, while also freelancing for various newspapers and websites. In 2001, Jerry was hired as a listings editor at Creative Loafing, which he describes as “the bottom rung job,” but he also began writing about any topic assigned to him: “food, theatre, film—you name it.” While there, Jerry met his domestic partner of nearly 10 years, Patricio del Real, an architecture professor. When Patricio was offered a teaching position in Barcelona, Jerry went with him. In Spain, Jerry worked on his personal writing, including short stories and a novel, and a few

By Jodie Sexton Goff ’01 of the stories were published. After two years, the couple moved to New York City. Then a rare opportunity came Jerry’s way. New York Press needed an editor immediately and Jerry was hired as the managing editor/ arts editor and just two years later became editor-in-chief. Just last summer he moved on to become managing editor of OUT magazine.

“It’s already been an amazing opportunity… I’ve had some incredible experiences, meeting and interviewing some of my heroes and people I’ve studied and admired for years,” said Jerry. “I have always had an obsession for magazines and believe that they are capable of being great vehicles for storytelling and a beautiful, useful way of shaping a lifestyle.” Jerry credits OU with helping to develop his confidence and giving him the freedom to explore all the facets of his “creative and intellectual self.” He learned how to be an analytical thinker by utilizing the pragmatic and intellectual mix offered by the professors. But, as Jerry admits, “I’ve also been damn lucky.”

You may not have heard of him yet, but comedian Josh Harris is coming your way—and fast. Josh has already appeared on several nationally televised comedy shows, hurting millions of stomachs with his work on NBC’s “Stand Up For Diversity” and TV One’s “Who’s Got Jokes.” Locally, Josh rips the stage at some of Atlanta’s best-known comedy clubs, including regular performances at Uptown Comedy Club and the Punchline. Hailed as “one to watch on the national scene” by Atlanta’s Creative Loafing, Josh’s style of humor is one not confined to a certain demographic or crowd, but hits hard from all angles. “I want to create jokes…stuff that I can say in front of a room full of different types of people—black, white, old, young, whatever— and everybody laughs.” I sat down with Josh to see what’s in that funny head of his. How’d you get started with comedy? Were you nervous at first? I didn’t do my first show until I was 21 years old. It was at the Punchline, and a friend of my dad’s [TV producer Art Harris] told me about it. So I told them that I wanted to do it…When I got there and looked out and saw all of those people I was like, “Forget that! I’m not going on stage in front of 200 people!”…About halfway through the show, all I hear is, “We’ve got a special treat for you guys tonight—give it up for Josh Harris!” I never would have had the courage to do it on my own, but I ended up doing very well. The crowd was generous, and I did well enough to make me want to do it again. Recently you hosted and coproduced “Comics for the Cure” here in Atlanta. How did it go? It went fantastic! We had comedians who have been on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, Bill Bellamy’s “Who’s Got Jokes,” and MARTA. Seriously though, we did have some great people on board—even staff writers for Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne,” another comedian who was in the World Series of Comedy. The show ran for two nights…at Jerry Farber’s Side Door. Both nights had a real good turnout.

Besides standup, what other ventures have you been spending your time on? Big things! I’ve been teaching a stand-up comedy class at yourACT Acting Studio in Decatur. My upcoming class is sold out and being documented by a filmmaker who will [also] be an honorary student. I’ve also been working with some great filmmakers on my comedy sketches, which will be released on my upcoming website funnyjosh.com. I’ve also been signed by The People Store, a respected acting agency based out of Atlanta, and I’m writing and acting with Sketchworks, Atlanta’s premiere sketch comedy group. What do you think you’d do for a living if you hadn’t pursued comedy? I’d be a musician. I used to play the piano and the drums. Yeah, I’d definitely play music. It’s the one thing besides comedy that I’m really passionate about. Comedy, though, is what I want to do with my life. At first, I was just on stages making people laugh, but now people come up to me and tell me that they’re fans. This is definitely what I want to do.

Meet Funny Man Josh Harris ’10 By Chloey Mayo ’10

Jodie Sexton Goff ’01 is a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and a member of the Alumni Board. At OU, Jodie majored in business and minored in music. She continues to perform as a vocal soloist in Charlotte, N.C., where she lives with her husband Todd and two young daughters. Both Jodie’s parents Bob Sexton ’64 and Jane Connor Sexton ’65, as well as her sister-in-law Ashley Everhart Sexton ’92, are OU graduates. 22 CARILLON | winter 2012

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leaps and bounds

When Vince graduated from Oglethorpe with his bachelor’s in economics with a minor in art, he was offered a well-paying job in the banking industry. But something told him it wasn’t the right path. It hasn’t been an easy road, but after 12 years, Vince has found himself right where he wants to be—on stage, in film, and helping others to do the same. Vince began acting at age nine in the local community theater. “I was a theatre rat,” confessed Vince. Not long after his first community theatre show, he hit the professional stage for the first time at the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville. It was here that Vince says, “I got my first taste of how real bread-and-butter actors live.” Surprisingly, during high school and most of his time at Oglethorpe, Vince was not active in the theatre. He didn’t think it was practical for a career. Then while doing a small part for friend’s film class, “the bug bit me again. I knew what I wanted to do with my life.”

Making the Impractical Practical Vince Pisani ’00 By Jodie Sexton Goff ’01

It’s hard to believe that Vince Pisani ’00—an actor, acting teacher at Atlanta’s Creative Studios, freelance casting assistant, and inhouse casting director for Houghton Talent—almost took a desk job!

Following graduation, Vince kept a basic day job at the YMCA and continued to make a living as a personal trainer—all while pursuing acting. The summer after he graduated from OU, he auditioned for two roles in an independent film and in a local theater production of “12 Angry Men.” While only trying to get his foot in the door of the acting scene, he was pleasantly surprised to book both productions. Since then, Vince has appeared on “Army Wives,” “Teen Wolf,” and “The Game,” and has started to expand his work into New York City. He also finds time to serve as the managing director for The Renaissance Project, a community theatre located in the Atlanta area. “I’m the owner and CEO of my own one-man business,” said Vince. “Acting is a difficult craft to learn, and it involves a strong knowledge of self, and a need for empathy towards others.” He strongly believes that Oglethorpe and its professors helped foster these qualities and helped shaped the artist and person he is today. “The best advice I can give is what my father always told me: ‘Follow your dreams. The day your work becomes just a job is the day you should quit.’”

Millions of miles traveled. Years away from home. Countless stories from the road. This is the life of Chris Fulton ’79 over the past 30 years. A sound engineer, Chris has traveled the world with the likes of such musical legends as U2, Michael Jackson, Bette Midler, Fleetwood Mac, Barbara Streisand, .38 Special, and Gloria Estefan. As a teenager growing up in Connecticut, Chris dreamed of a career in showbiz. He supported his high school’s A/V department and Drama Club, building sets and working lights. At Oglethorpe, he was encouraged by Dr. Vicky Weiss, retired English professor and head of the OU Drama department, to become involved with on-campus productions and expand his knowledge of stage and sound. His writing job with The Stormy Petrel gave him a chance to cover concerts and become familiar with Atlanta venues. Chris accepted odd jobs around the Atlanta clubs, thankful to at least have a foot in the door of the business. His fortunes turned in 1979, when he was hired by a sound rental company in Cherokee Plaza (located behind the now-defunct Great Southeast Music Hall,

where he worked for a short period of time). It was there that he snagged his first gig touring with an up-and-coming bar band from Athens—known as R.E.M. “I stayed with R.E.M. for over two years, and went to a lot of places around the world for the first time,” Chris notes. “I would end up going back to a lot of those same cities over the years with different tours.” In 1987, Chris was hired by his current employer, Clair Global, supplier of the sound systems and crews for most major concert tours and numerous other events that require huge sound systems. These may include anything from the Pope’s recent mass at Yankee Stadium, to inaugural events in Washington, D.C., awards shows, and a few Olympic games, to name a few. “A lot of the time we only see the insides of arenas and football stadiums and work 22 hours a day,” Chris says about being a sound engineer. “Occasionally we get to see and do some pretty interesting things. This last U2 tour went all the way around the world. It was an incredible amount of gear—a logistical challenge to say the least, but the passport is

It’s a State of Mind Dina Marto ’05 By Kelly Holland Vrtis ’97 At just 19, OU undergrad Dina Marto opened her own entertainment public relations firm with a friend. The agency, 6 Degree Relations, landed notable clients such as rapper Too Short, abstract painter Anthony Liggins, and radio personality Ryan Cameron. They also planned and executed events for T-Mobile, SonyBMG and Macy’s. That was the beginning of what has become a very successful career in the music industry—and she’s just getting started. “Music has always been my passion,” notes Dina. “It is the universal language that transcends all cultures and connects all people.” Growing up, Dina dreamed of being a singer/songwriter and played violin while in middle school. At Oglethorpe, she worked to break into the local music scene, to no avail. “I decided to take an alternate route from the creative side to the business side. I worked assistant jobs at Ludacris’ label DTP and T.I.’s label Grand Hustle.” After launching 6 Degree Relations, the agency was contracted by Oglethorpe’s Programming Board (on which Dina also served while a student) to secure talent such as CeeLo Green, T.I., 112, and others for Stomp the Lawn concerts. Upon graduation, Dina was handpicked and hired directly by then chairman of Island Def Jam and music mogul Antonio “L.A.” Reid to work with the late Shakir Stewart, former executive vice president. She worked for six years in the Atlanta A&R (artists and repertoire) division at Def Jam. This is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent

Chris Fulton ’79 A Sound life By Kelly Holland Vrtis ’97 now pretty full, and we got some pretty cool pictures.” While he is extremely grateful for the opportunity to see so many places and be part of the team that delivers music to fans around the world, Chris quickly points out that his favorite place to travel is home, a log cabin on 25 acres in the woods near Franklin, N.C., where he enjoys spending time doing as little as possible.

scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label. In January 2011, Dina launched Twelve Music Group with her business partner, Simon G. “Our goal is to work with exceptional talent and develop quality music,” says Dina. “On the artist development side, I would like us to become an influential, independent label that is known for nurturing talent and thinking outside of the box. On the publishing side, I would like for us to build a catalog of music that lasts for lifetimes.” Twelve Music Group’s first artist is electric violinist Ken Ford, who released an album in August 2011 called “State Of Mind”—a fusion of contemporary jazz, R&B, and hip-hop. “The first single, ‘State Of Mind,’ is a dynamic and energetic song that needed a video that would reflect that theme,” says Dina. “We teamed up with Cricket Mathews at Rebel Star Media, who developed a unique and creative video treatment in which Ken would be fighting gladiator-style with his violin as a weapon. We needed a location similar to Rome’s Coliseum, and Oglethorpe’s Hermance Stadium was a perfect fit! I was happy to be able to connect with my past and bring it full circle.” (Watch the video at www.mystateofmind.tv.) “I think music’s greatest impact on society is that one song or the lyrics can start a movement, spark an idea, or even provide healing,” says Dina. “I also think music can assist society through change. The beautiful thing about classic music or a hit song is that it never gets old, it is always relatable, and it can still give you goose bumps when you hear it.” For more information about Twelve Music Group or musician Ken Ford, visit twelvemusicgroup.com or kenford.net.

Kelly Holland Vrtis ’97 lives in Dallas, Tex., where she is the marketing communications manager for The Container Store. She currently chairs the Alumni Communications Committee of the Alumni Board. 24 CARILLON | winter 2012

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leaps and bounds

Barb Shadomy ’87 A Living By Design By Jodie Sexton Goff ’01

Barb Shadomy ’87 came to Oglethorpe from Richmond, Va., focused on earning her bachelor’s with a double major in accounting and economics. After graduating she went on to complete her master’s in business administration at Georgia State University. Barb spent several years in the financial services consulting industry prior to leaving her job to move to London. But, although her life was full of wonderful, daily cultural experiences, she eventually decided that she wanted a new challenge. Barb decided to enroll at the Inchbald School of Design, a small school that is the oldest of its kind in England, where she studied interior and garden design. While researching a garden design project online, Barb stumbled on a real estate listing for Stonehurst Place, a historic bed and breakfast in midtown Atlanta, just one mile from where she previously lived. Her challenge had presented itself. Barb’s newly purchased investment and business venture also became her first professional design job—the historic and eco-friendly renovation of Stonehurst Place. “I just decorated Stonehurst Place in my own style,” Barb recalls. “I like to mix the old with the new, from the overall aesthetics to the actual pieces used, and tried to imagine how guests would use the space, making sure everything they need is available to them.” Barb tries to appeal to guests looking for a casually elegant and sophisticated escape. “I pulled from our travel experiences at luxury retreats around the world. I incorporated a number of pieces from our personal art collection including original Warhols… Design training in Europe opened my eyes to different styles and trends, from architecture and design to ethnic perspectives.”

Stonehurst also boasts the largest residential solar thermal installation on the East Coast and an extensive rainwater harvesting and purification system. Barb works with the City of Atlanta’s Office of Sustainability on their eco-initiatives and model legislation for rainwater harvesting and purification. She hopes her innovative B&B will be off the city’s water grid in 2012. Since tackling this challenge, Barb and her partner have moved from London to Germany. From their home in Frankfurt, Barb utilizes Skype and cameras in Stonehurst’s public rooms to continue to run the day-to-day operations of Stonehurst, now one of the top accommodations in Atlanta. Stonehurst has been hailed as a “hidden gem” by online travel giant TripAdvisor, named among the top eight “Best Urban Inns” by BedandBreakfast.com, and awarded the 2011 Champion Award by the Professional Association of Innkeepers International. The renovation will be featured in the upcoming book Green Matters for Everyday Living by Jill Westfall. “I tried to bring the best of my travels home to rest. It’s a wonderful privilege that I get to share with others.”

An episode of HGTV’s show “Ground Breakers” followed every stage of Stonehurst Place’s landscape rejuvenation project, showcasing how green maintenance technologies were incorporated into the transformation.

Oglethorpe alumna Donna Chieves ’64 has called many different places “home”—from the gray stone of Oglethorpe, to the picturesque rivers of India, to the hills of Appalachia, to the plains of Alabama. At every stop, Donna has expressed herself artistically, as a painter and as a dancer.

An Artist’s Path By Austin Gillis ’01

26 CARILLON | winter 2012

Donna was creative from a very early age. She began painting at age eight, and was a member of the Atlanta Ballet while still a student at North Fulton High School. She brought her artistic spirit with her to Oglethorpe. During her junior year, Donna spent time abroad, studying oil painting in Paris while attending the Sorbonne. It was the desire to spend more time abroad that led her to apply to become a Fulbright Scholar. At the urging of then-Oglethorpe professor Martin Abbott, Donna applied for the Fulbright—and got it. Through that prestigious program, she traveled to India and spent a year living and studying near the Ganges River in the city of Patna. While in India, Donna studied both painting and dance in the classical Indian dance style

of Bharata Natyam. She excelled in this dance form, twice performing for the governor of the Indian state of Bihar. She even had the opportunity to dance for the future prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi.

“Oglethorpe doesn’t just hand out degrees, it helps students develop as people.” As a painter, Donna studied in the medium of watercolor. Because Donna’s teacher was a man, Indian custom prevented Donna and her teacher from working in the same room. Far from stifling Donna, however, this custom created an opportunity. Unable to work indoors, she began to paint outdoors using natural light, learning the impressionistic style of En Plein Air painting. After graduating from Oglethorpe with degrees in biology and chemistry, Donna spent several years working for The Coca-Cola Company. She then moved with her husband to the mountain town of Clayton, Ga. There, Donna continued her creative journey, opening a school

where she taught dance. Later, she moved to Alabama, where she has resided for the last 20 years. In Alabama, Donna has worked as a professional painter. She is very active in En Plein Air painting, organizing meetings for the Alabama Plein Air Artists. Her work can be seen in galleries all over Alabama, including the Arceneaux Art Gallery in Birmingham. Donna believes that Oglethorpe played a very important role in her life. She extolled the fact that “Oglethorpe doesn’t just hand out degrees, it helps students develop as people.” Looking back on her studies at Oglethorpe and abroad, she believes “no knowledge is ever wasted.” Austin Gillis ’01 was president of his junior and senior classes at OU and a member of Delta Sigma Phi. He is now an attorney with Green & Sapp LLP in Atlanta and is an OU Alumni Board member.

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leaps and bounds

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” -- Unknown

sweet memories

Tom Douglas '75: The House That Built Him

By Chloey Mayo ’10

Every year on October 8th, Susan Soper ’69 celebrates her father’s birthday with 100 Hershey’s chocolate bars. No, she doesn’t eat them all. Instead, she shares them with random people

By Barbara Bessmer Henry ’85

(and some regulars) with whom she crosses paths on that day—a fun and fitting way to remember her late father, whose favorite candy was the classic milk chocolate bar.

Susan is first to share, though, how coming to terms with her father’s unexpected death got off to a hurried and rocky start. Faced with the challenge of writing an accurate and fitting obituary for him, Susan realized that she was unprepared to condense her father’s years and personality into just a few paragraphs, especially during her initial time of grief. She recalled that years before, when her grandmother passed away, how much more simple it was to tie up loose ends, as her grandmother had left detailed instructions about how to handle her affairs. “I could feel her hand guiding me through this process,” commented Susan. “She made it very easy for me…it was a tremendous gift.” Susan’s experiences led her to write ObitKit, a workbook that allows people to leave both practical and personal information about themselves in the event of their passing.

Susan describes it as “a guide to celebrating your life,” and a tool that helps writers and non-writers alike create their own written legacy. There’s room in the ObitKit for the “good to know” stuff, like computer passwords and insurance information, but there’s even more space for the personal— things like favorite interests, childhood memories, how you see yourself, and most importantly—how you’d like to be remembered.

providing explanations and real-life examples along the way. Filling out the ObitKit has prompted many readers and their families to engage in conversations they’d likely never have had otherwise. Through workshops and reader testimonials, Susan has learned that people are actually completing the book as a family activity—learning more about those closest to them, reflecting on their lives, and welcoming different perspectives to their own legacies.

“ObitKit is meant to be a positive, inspirational guide for those you love, to give them (and yourself) the gift of peace…,” said Susan. “I do think as the baby boomers— known for eternal youth, wanting to be in control and party until the bitter end—age, they want to make a more celebratory statement about their life, loves, and accomplishments than you can traditionally do in a funeral service out of the Prayer Book.”

It is said that those who plan for every eventuality continue to live on. And in ObitKit, she reminds her readers that it’s okay to find a fun and spirited way to celebrate a life— even with a simple Hershey’s bar.

More than an instructional book, ObitKit reads like an old friend, guiding the reader step by step in a fill-in-the-blank format, Learn more about Susan and ObitKit at www.obitkit.com.

28 CARILLON | winter 2012

“We tend to remember dates of death and the sorrow resurfaces, but it’s likely that everyone who dies leaves a favorite something that can be turned into a ritual remembrance with a smile. It does keep their spirit and sense of fun—or devotion—alive.”

Tom Douglas ’75 grew up in Atlanta with childhood memories of his father playing piano and ukulele for the family in the evenings. He took piano lessons as a child, but ironically did not stick with the lessons for long. As an Oglethorpe student studying business administration, he fondly remembers his fraternity days and playing Beatles and Elton John songs endlessly on the old upright piano in the SAE house with his SAE brother Gary Jansen ’74 and on the baby grand piano in Lupton Auditorium. His first try at songwriting and publishing came at age 27 when he and two friends tried their hands at the music business in Nashville. When success did not come their way, Tom returned to a sales career to support his family. He moved to Dallas and for 13 years was a successful commercial real estate salesman. About seven years into this career, he returned to songwriting, joining the Dallas Songwriters Association and playing in local clubs. As success remained elusive, Tom said, “For years I tried for commercial success and finally said ‘forget it. I’ve got a job and family. I’ll never be a commercial songwriter.” Ironically, as he was on the verge of giving up, Tom wrote “Little Rock,” which became a No. 1 hit for Collin Raye and was nominated for Country Music Association Song of the Year in 1994.

Three years later, he and his family moved back to Nashville, and many of his songs since have become top country hits. Other No. 1 hits include “The Gift” with Jim Brickman and “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” recorded by Tim McGraw. His songs are favorites of Tim and Martina McBride, who have had several top five releases of Tom’s songs. Most recently, in 2010, Miranda Lambert recorded another No. 1 hit, “The House That Built Me,” co-written with Allen Shamblin. This song was honored with the CMA Song of the Year Award, the Academy of Country Music Song and Single of the Year, and a Grammy Award nomination. Tom describes himself as a “songwriter/singer” because his focus is always on the song first. His songs tell stories of real life that resonate with people from all walks of life. He recently issued a DVD titled “Songs and Short Stories,” which can be previewed on musiccitynetworks.com. He says his philosophy is simple: “To inspire and encourage our culture…to cling to the hope of love… to love and be loved... to keep trying. Each day that I get to write another song and be involved in the creative process, well, that is a great day.”

winter 2012 | CARILLON 29

alumni

Welcome, new Oglethorpe Trustees! This past year the Oglethorpe University Board of Trustees welcomed seven new members:

1 John Cleveland (“Cleve”) Hill ’01, Alumni Board President, is the managing partner of Bettis, Hill, and Vann, LLC. He has focused his practice in the areas of estate planning, including wills, trusts, special needs planning, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, probate and estate administration, conservatorships and guardianships, and small business entity formation. Prior to becoming the Alumni Board President, Cleve served as the board’s vice president for advancement and on the Board of Trustees, where he chaired the board’s Campus Life Committee in 2008-2009. 2 Larry Johnson is a retired executive from IBM and currently serves on the board of the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. He is also on the Advisory Board of Clark Atlanta University and is involved with 100 Black Men, among other organizations. Larry received his bachelor’s from California State University. 3 Penny McIntyre is group president of office products for Newell Rubbermaid, which accounts for about $2 billion of the company’s approximately $6 billion revenue. She has almost 30 years of global consumer packaged goods experience, including jobs at S.C. Johnson and The CocaCola Company. She has worked around the world—in the U.S., Canada, and Tokyo (for S.C. Johnson) and in Moscow, Johannesburg, and London (for Coca-Cola). Prior to joining Atlanta-based Newell Rubbermaid, she was senior vice president — non-carbonated and new beverages at The Coca-Cola Company.

30 CARILLON | winter SPRING 2011 2012

4 Tammy Pearson ’86 is vice president, corporate legal, and assistant general counsel for Chick-Fil-A, Inc. She served as a member of the Oglethorpe University President’s Advisory Council (PAC) from 2004 to 2010, and was the Chair of the PAC from 2008 to 2010. She has served as an Advisory Trustee for the past year. 5 Chris Rylands ’01, OU’s young alumni representative, is an associate with Bryan Cave LLP in Atlanta, which specializes in employee benefits and executive compensation issues. He has served on Oglethorpe’s Weltner Awards Committee, the Awards and Recognition Committee of the Alumni Board in 2010-2011, and the Young Alumni Club Planning Committee, and participated on the JEO Scholarship interview team for the past four years.

Robert Andrew (“Andy”) Milford ’99 (not pictured) founded Dorian Software Creations, Inc., a leading developer of network security software utilities for Microsoft-based networks worldwide. He founded Dorian Software from his dorm room while a student at Oglethorpe. Andy served as President and CEO of the company until it was purchased by Ipswich in January 2010.

Dr. Isaac (Yitzhak) Melamed (not pictured) is a current member, board member, and major supporter of the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. A graduate of European University, Dr. Melamed completed his residency in pediatrics at Columbia University in New York and served as medical director of the ADD/ADHD program for Whitfield County in Georgia. In August 2001, Dr. Melamed opened Kids Start Pediatrics in Lithia Springs, Ga.

Hosted by Dr. Bill Brightman

Literary Tour of New York

By Barbara Bessmer Henry ’85

Professor Emeritus of English Dr. Bill Brightman joined Oglethorpe alumni in October for a fall literary tour of New York City’s famed Greenwich Village. Generations of authors and artists have lived in the West Village, earning it a reputation as a magnet for bohemians and intellectuals. The tour showcased literary highlights of the city, including spots that inspired 19th-century authors and contemporary sites that in turn inspired works of fiction. The tour began at the famous White Horse Tavern, where poet Dylan Thomas wrote some of his last poems and short stories. The many pubs in the area often provided a gathering spot for authors’ discussions. The next stop was the house where controversial poet Edna St. Vincent Millay lived and worked in the 1920s, which later became the home of Cary Grant, and then John Barrymore. Many other authors and artists also spent time in the Village, including Henry James, Edgar Allan Poe, Jackson Pollack, and e.e. cummings. The group enjoyed a lively conversation about the modern city as a generator of thoughts and ideas. Later that evening, the group joined other New York-area alumni for a reception in lower Manhattan.

Dr. Bill Brightman (left) and OU alumni enjoy a spirited tour of notable New York literary spots, led by a local guide (third from left).

winter 2012 | CARILLON 31

alumni

Dear Friends, Artistic genius Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” In this edition of the Carillon we highlight members of our Oglethorpe family who, in a very real sense, have found a way to conquer that problem. In their varied careers these alumni add color, thought, sound, and emotions to our lives. I think you will agree that Oglethorpe University is a place where creativity of thought is encouraged and nurtured. Students are encouraged to think in new ways and foster their interests. They have tremendous opportunities to study in a world-class city. Oglethorpe desires that students in every discipline step outside of their comfort zone to examine issues from a different perspective, to dare to dream, and to look beyond what has been deemed impossible. The world’s problems cannot be solved in the dark, and the liberal arts education that one receives at Oglethorpe prepares us to shine the light of knowledge on those issues in thought-provoking, creative ways. As alumni of this institution, we have a high duty and responsibility to ensure that the young men and women coming behind us continue to have the types of facilities, faculty, and opportunities that nurture creative thought. Fulfilling this duty requires that we get behind and

support the initiatives of the university. In the not too distant future, we’ll begin to see a new student center—a facility that will truly become the “living room” of our campus. That project and others will require the support of all alumni. We need your involvement financially and personally. While last year’s Annual Fund giving was at its highest level ever, I submit to you that there is work yet to be done. I encourage each of you to consider what your Oglethorpe experience means to you. Let that be your guide for giving. Find new ways to give—in honor of your roommate or your parents or your favorite professors, or give online monthly. Consider volunteering for one of our Alumni Board committees. Mentor a student in your field of study or career path. Take a faculty member to lunch. Whatever you do, it will be appreciated and welcomed.

The Young Alumni Oglethorpe Circle recognizes graduates of the last 10 years who set a standard for their peers through their involvement and philanthropic support of their alma mater. As Circle members, these young alumni are provided unique opportunities to network, socialize, and build relationships with other university leaders, including trustees, alumni, and business and community leaders. Find out more about how you can be a part of the Young Alumni Oglethorpe Circle at oglethorpe.edu/YAOC.

With all my best,

John Cleveland “Cleve” Hill ’01 President, Oglethorpe University Alumni Association Member, Board of Trustees

Panelists were former Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President and OU Trustee Jack Guynn ’05(H), Trustee Dr. Bill Shropshire, retired Calloway Professor of Economics, and Dr. Bruce Hetherington, professor of economics. The panel was expertly moderated by Carol Lanier Larner ’87, assistant vice president and assistant treasurer at Cox Enterprises. Carol asked the panelists tough questions: Is our country in an economically solvable situation? Are there enough fiscal or monetary “levers” left to pull for Washington to achieve a balanced budget, while leading to an improved economic outlook? A lively discussion ensued and all agreed that the debt ceiling topic could have been an all-day session.

Calling All Oglethorpe Artists! Are you a working artist or do you just enjoy art as a hobby? During Alumni Weekend (April 26-29, 2012), the Alumni Relations Office and the OU Art Department will host an Alumni Art Exhibit in the Great Hall of Hearst to showcase our many talented alumni. To learn more or to express interest in showcasing your talent, please contact Barbara Henry ’85, alumni relations director, at bhenry@oglethorpe.edu or 404-364-8443.

32 CARILLON | winter 2012

next generation of alumni leaders.

Oglethorpe’s brightest days are ahead, and we each have a part to play in its success. Join me. It’s going to be a great journey.

More than 60 alumni and guests of the university gathered in October at the Buckhead Club in Atlanta for “Eggs & OU.” The program included a networking breakfast and the chance to hear from a distinguished panel about the Debt Ceiling Crisis aftermath and the state of the world economy.

EGGS & OU

Be a part of Oglethorpe’s

Mark DeLong ’03, Alex Johnson ’07 and Marilyn Corbin ’10, members of the Young Alumni Oglethorpe Circle committee, enjoyed networking with other Oglethorpe Circle members at the President’s Dinner on October 27. Front row (l-r): Tammy Pearson ’86, Nancy Juneau, Marilyn Corbin ’10. Back row (l-r): Mark DeLong ’03, Brian Sass ’84, Alex Johnson ’07.

Soaring to New Heights The Class of 1961 achieved the highest class participation for the 2010-11 Annual Fund campaign: 38%. Members of the Reunion Host Committee will accept the Annual Fund Class Participation Award on behalf of their class on April 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Annual Alumni Awards Banquet at the WestinPerimeter North. The Annual Fund Class Participation Award recognizes an individual class’s excellence and achievement in Oglethorpe’s Annual Fund (based on class standing at the end of the fiscal year). Alumni Board President Cleve Hill ’01 is pictured with Stuart Levenson ’67, who accepted the 2009-2010 award in 2011 on behalf of his class.

2011 GENEROUS:

THE 2011 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

Thank you to our donors who gave to Oglethorpe University between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. The entire Oglethorpe community is grateful for these generous contributions. To see the complete list of Annual Fund donors, visit the OU website at www.oglethorpe.edu (keyword: Honor Roll). Gifts to the Oglethorpe Annual Fund, the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, the Oglethorpe Women’s Network, the Oglethorpe University athletic program, and other special funds are listed in the appropriate giving societies.

WINTER 2012 | CARILLON 33

our classHistory notes

class notes

Class Notes Golden Petrels

1940s Florence Richardson James ’48 is a retired bridal consultant from Rich’s in Atlanta. She has four children, and now lives in St. Louis, Mo., where she married her college boyfriend in 2002. Florence spends the winters at the beach to avoid the cold and snow. She still plays bridge as often as she can, just as she used to play between classes at Oglethorpe. Her favorite Oglethorpe memories are the people, including faculty like Mrs. Eva Brown and Dr. Sewell. She also enjoyed the good baseball team and the dances.

1950s S. Bleecker Totten ’51 married Bebe in 1955 and had one child. Bleecker received his JD from Fordham University Law School. He joined CB Richard Ellis, Inc. in 1980 and has more than 40 years’ experience in commercial and industrial real estate. His expertise includes site acquisition, negotiating architectural and construction contracts, and buying and selling land and buildings. He is a member of his company’s strategic vision group. Prior to joining CB Richard Ellis, he served as vice president of real estate with McGraw-Hill and worked as in-house patent counsel for Union Carbide Corporation. He has written numerous articles and lectured extensively. He remembers

34 CARILLON | winter 2012

Oglethorpe as a small college where faculty and students were a solid group and everyone knew and cared about each other. Sheldon “Shelly” Godkin ’52 received his master of communication in 1963, a master in Air Command at Staff College in 1966, and a master in military operations at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1971. He was ranked Colonel in the USAF for 31 years as a fighter pilot, public affairs officer, and AF ROTC commander. Following his retirement in 1983, Godkin established and managed the University Club at Colorado State University. As a result of his long association with CSU, he was named an honorary alumnus, and awarded the Special Meritorious Service Award and the Community Partner Award for his dedication to CSU’s AFROTC program. He married Aloma Jean in 1957 and they have three children. Sheldon’s favorite Oglethorpe memories are practicing and playing basketball in the basement gym of Lupton Hall and playing tennis. Howell Breedlove ’57 is a retired chairman of Keystone Profiles. He graduated from Emory University with a BBA in 1959. He married his wife Ann in 1957 and they had six children. He founded J&L Structural, Inc., a steel manufacturer in 1987. He sold the business in 1995 and retired in 2000. Since then he has been an “angel” investor for Stars-Op Medicine Device Com-

panies and active in the YMCA of Pittsburgh, National Museum of Wildlife, and John Medical Center Foundation. He summers in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and winters in Jupiter, Fla. He is an active philanthropist. Howell’s favorite Oglethorpe memory is receiving four academic scholarships which permitted him to “escape” the farm and achieve an excellent educational and social experience.

1960s Edloe “Penny” Jones ’61 is a retired attorney from the Boy Scouts of America. He earned his JD at Woodrow Wilson Law School in 1976. He married Mary Jo in 1967 and they have one daughter. His hobbies include golf and exercising. Penny has volunteered as president of Western Atlanta Rotary Club, chairman of the board of Southern Christian Hospice, United Way Campaign volunteer, and at the Atlanta Area Council Boy Scouts of America. His fondest Oglethorpe memories are the American Humanics Program and classes with Professors Brown, Colburn, Bilancio, Abbott, Cohen, Goslin, Daugert, and Cressy. Belle Turner Lynch ’61 graduated magna cum laude and earned the Sally Hull Weltner Award for Scholarship. She was elected to the OU Board of Trustees in 1983, served as

board chair, and has been active on numerous committees and in leadership positions. She established the Milner Professorship in Education and has supported numerous campus efforts. In 1992, Lynch received the Talmage Award, which honors an individual’s contributions to the university and in the professional world. Belle received an honorary Oglethorpe degree in 2010. She is a founding member and president of the Atlanta Alzheimer’s Association, a trustee of the Atlanta Preservation Center, and volunteers with the Milner Award, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the love of reading in children. Silas L. Moore ’61 served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 19591965. He married his wife Ann in 1967 and they have two children. After graduation he flew off during the summer of 1961 and drove a Volkswagen Beetle around Europe. He joined a tour group entering the Soviet Union, where he sported a homemade Goldwater button in Red Square. Once home, he began a career in journalism, writing, and editing for newspapers and business magazines, and later managed media relations for the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. Silas started the board’s Victim Services Office and retired as its director in 2001. Among his favorite Oglethorpe memories are writing for the Stormy Petrel and performing with the Oglethorpe Players.

1 James “Tony” Paredes ’61 earned his master’s and PhD in anthropology from the University of New Mexico. He married his wife Alleen in 2003 and has three children. Tony was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow predoctoral research fellow (196162); president of the Southern Anthropologist Society (198889), the Society for Applied Anthropology (1993-95), and the Association of Senior Anthropologists (2008-10); professor of anthropology at Florida State University (1969-1999); on the American Anthropological Association executive board (199395); and a regional ethnographer for the National Park Service (1998-2006). He is currently professor emeritus at FSU and is the author and editor of numerous publications. His fondest Oglethorpe memories are Rat Week, Players productions, and formal dances. Shelia Ross ’61 is employed by the Bay Village Board of Education in Ohio. She married in 1962 and has two children. She was widowed in 1996. Shelia’s favorite Oglethorpe memories are the great students and teachers. 1 Joseph Soldati ’61 received

his master’s in English at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1968, and his PhD in English at Washington State University, Pullman, in 1972. He served in U.S. Army Intelligence in Vietnam from 1962 to 1964. He has numerous awards and recognitions including Teacher of the Year, Western Oregon

University (1993-94); Fulbright Fellow, Lecturer in American Literature and Civilization, National University of Cote d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa (1980-90); and, Fulbright Fellowship, Lecturer in Literature, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt (1982-84). He has written and been featured in many books, including On Account of Darkness, Apocalypse Clam, and Making My Name.

1980s 2 Sherry Rosen ’85 was selected as a Paralegal Superstar for December 2011 by Paralegal Gateway, the world’s largest online resource for paralegals. Sherry has been a litigation paralegal for more than 20 years and is currently a senior litigation paralegal at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP, in Atlanta, Ga.

Hope Waldman Targoff ’86 recently co-authored a textbook about effective teaching practices, titled Demonstrating the New Florida Educator Accomplished Practices: A Practical Guide for Becoming an Effective Educator. The book is used for prospective teachers, current teachers, mentors, and administrators as a resource and guide to understand and perform the state standards. Mauricio Amaya ’87 was promoted to laboratory manager and fermentation manager for his company Genesis Biosci-

ences, a global leader in custom fermentation, microbial product formulation, and antimicrobial product development. As laboratory manager, Mauricio will oversee all aspects of Genesis’ laboratory, including overall microbiological quality control for production and fermentation, chemical quality control, research and product development, and customer technical support. Mauricio was previously chief chemist at Genesis.

1990s 3 Beth Eckard Concepción ’90 earned a Doctor of Philosophy in mass communications at the University of South Carolina. She successfully defended her dissertation, titled “How Journalists Perceive Internal and External Influence: A Qualitative Assessment of Local Television Reporters’ Ethical Decisionmaking,” on June 14, 2011. Concepción is a writing professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga.

Derek Hambrick ’97 is now a writer by profession, not just by inclination. He is the senior writer for Tribe Inc., an Atlantabased corporate culture company working with national and global clients to build internal brands and employee engagement. 4 Aimee Thrasher Hansen ’98 is pleased to announce the birth of her son, Atticus Calder. He was born on March 27, 2011,

5 and weighed 9 lbs., 12 oz. and measured 21 in.

2000 5 Misty Hood Whitlock ’00 and Kyle Whitlock were married on October 23, 2010, at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Decatur, Ga. Alumni Dave Pass ’98 and Heidi Blackwell ’99 attended. The couple honeymooned in Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Loyalty Island, and the Isle of Pines. They now reside in Smyrna, Ga. Fellow alums will recognize the background of the wedding portrait shown here.

2002 Joy Evans Gilbert ’02 completed her Pediatric Residency on June 30, 2010, at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, Ga. After working for a year as a general pediatrician in Savannah, she has relocated back to Atlanta and is working at Conyers Pediatrics. She’s glad to be back!

Winter 2012 | CARILLON 35

class notes

our class History notes

1972

Alumnus Tells the Multicultural Story of Stone Mountain According to Dr. Paul Hudson ’72, an adjunct history lecturer at OU, “everyone has a Stone Mountain story.” For more than a year he visited museums, interviewed people, and hiked the Stone Mountain trails to research his book, Atlanta’s Stone Mountain: A Multicultural History, released in 2011. The volume details the history behind Georgia’s famed granite mass, taking the reader back 300 million years, before early Native Americans settled the area. Dr. Hudson and his co-author, Lora Pond Mirza (pictured), then take an in-depth look at the importance of Stone Mountain to the Creek-Muscogee peoples, how emancipation transpired in the Stone Mountain area during the Civil War, the struggles of the Confederate Memorial carving, and the unique natural habitat of the mountain. (How can trees and yellow daisies

grow in granite?) The New Georgia Encyclopedia has called the book “a major contribution to Atlanta and Georgia history.” Dr. Hudson found the process to be rewarding, specifically the “collaborative research and writing…structuring the book around the concept of multiculturalism, securing compelling images— more than 150, including some off iPhones (from an Oglethorpe alumni couple), from archives (the Library of Congress and Metropolitan Museum of Art), and a vintage Civil War map (from Thornwell Jacobs’s granddaughter)—and making it all complement an engaging but scholarly narrative.”

12 11 Emily Lawson ’03 recently

accepted a position as a nurse midwife with the University of Texas Medical Branch in Houston, Tex. She is enjoying working with women and “catching babies” in her hometown.

Dr. Hudson has spent years gathering information and writing articles about Atlanta’s local history, including his own alma mater.

Oglethorpe Athletics Department Proudly Retires the Jersey of #5 Todd Ward ’11

2011

Todd Ward ’11, a star on the basketball court for the Stormy Petrels for four seasons, received the honor of having his jersey retired in a pregame ceremony during the homecoming game in February 2012. Ward, a forward from New Milford, Conn., put together an electrifying career for Oglethorpe, amassing 1,416 career points (fourth most in OU history) and 860 career rebounds (third most in OU history and a SCAC record) on his way to four postseason Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) honors. He was named league Newcomer of the Year after his freshman campaign and was selected to the All-SCAC 1st Team in each successive season. He also became the first Division III player to be named 1st-Team All-State three times. “Todd is one of the greatest athletes the SCAC has ever seen,” said Oglethorpe head men’s basketball coach Philip Ponder. “But he didn’t just rely on his athleticism. He played hard every time he set foot on the court. His intensity and tenacity is what allowed him to accomplish the things that he did. He was not only our best player, but also our hardest worker, day in and day out.” Todd Ward ’11, pictured with Coach Ponder, receives his honorary plaque after becoming just the 26th player in Oglethorpe’s 95-year basketball history to amass 1,000 points during his career.

36 CARILLON | winter 2012

7 2002 6 Emily Gudat Trimble ’02 and

Ian Trimble ’05 are excited to announce the birth of daughter Claire Emily Trimble on May 5, 2011. She weighed 6 lbs, 15 oz. and measured 19 in. 7 Sallie Kaltreider Namey

’02 and Thomas Namey ’02 welcomed their new son, Arthur Abbott Namey, on May 16, 2011. He weighed 8 lbs., 9 oz.

2003 8 Melinda Vegso Blonshine ’03

and Christian Blonshine ’01 are excited to announce the birth of their second son, Carson Paul, on July 27, 2011. He weighed 8 lbs., 2 oz. and measured 21

in. He was welcomed by his big brother, Tyler, who was 3 in June. 9 Robert Noble Fink III ’03 and Rhiannon Noelle Fink ’02 proudly welcomed their first child, Noble, formally Robert Noble Fink IV, on March 17, 2011. He weighed 9 lbs., 12 oz. and measured 21.5 in. He is a big, happy boy and such a blessing! The Fink family lives in Atlanta, just down the street from Oglethorpe.

Nobles Green II ’03 works at Nucleus Medical Media, which won several honors at the 17th Annual Communicator Awards, the leading international awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals. Nobles’ animation, “Myringotomy,” earned a Gold Award of Excellence in Video and a Silver Award of Distinction in Video.

11 The Awards are sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative, and marketing firms. “Myringotomy” also earned an Award of Merit during the 2011 Association of Medical Illustrators Conference. 10 Cathy Iconis ’03 received

CPA Practice Advisor’s “40 under 40” Award, which identifies and honors young leaders who are helping to positively shape the accounting and tax profession. Cathy has won this award two years in a row. Cathy founded Iconis Group, LLC in 2010, with the goal of helping small business owners better understand the financial side of their companies.

Heather Van Kampen ’03 is currently deployed as a counterimprovised explosive device (IED or “roadside bomb”) analyst with the Department of Defense in Nimroz Province, Afghanistan in support of the 8th Marines. 12 Rachel Ratliff ’03 married James Wasilewski of Richmond, Va., on October 24, 2010, in an outdoor ceremony and reception at Jasmine Plantation near Richmond. Rachel is a recruiter for the School of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University, the largest school in Virginia, and is a manager at The Wine Loft. James also is employed at VCU in the Development Office for the Massey Cancer Center. James is founder and director of West End Comedy, an improvisational comedy troupe. The couple is expecting their first child in February.

winter 2012 | CARILLON 37

class notes

16 2003

13 Jaime Wojdowski ’03 recently accepted a position with the D.C. Office of Human Rights as an Attorney Investigator/Equal Opportunity Specialist, where she investigates discrimination claims. Previously, she clerked for the Senior Judges’ Chambers at the D.C. Superior Court and researched nominees to the federal appellate courts as a Fellow at the Alliance for Justice. Jaime graduated magna cum laude from the Georgia State University College of Law in 2007. Jaime (right) is pictured with her fiancée, Kirsty Stevens, originally from Brisbane, Australia.

2004 14 Stephanie Singh Chap-

again ’04 and Sunil Chapagain welcomed their second child, Kiran, on January 11, 2011. She has a smile that lights up a room and loves playing with her big sister, Ava. Stephanie and Sunil feel very blessed to have such wonderful daughters.

38 CARILLON | winter 2012

15 Tony Greene ’04 was hired

as Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Greene has been an official on the collegiate level for 23 years, beginning his career as an official in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Currently he officiates in the SEC, Big East, ACC, Conference USA, Big 12, Sun Belt, Southern Conference, Atlantic Sun, and the Ohio Valley Conference. Greene has also been an NCAA tournament official since 1996, officiating in six Final Fours and four NCAA Regional Finals.

2005 16 Carlissa Carson ’05 recently

completed her eight-year service obligation to the U.S. Army Reserve. She served two years as an enlisted soldier and, after completing ROTC at Georgia Tech, served four years as a Military Intelligence Officer and two years as a Judge Advocate. Carlissa now serves in the U.S. Air Force (Air National Guard) JAG Corps. She is a Captain and serves as the Deputy Staff

Judge Advocate of the 117th Air Refueling Wing. Carlissa serves full-time as an attorney in the Business Liability Group at Freeman, Mathis, & Gary, located at the Cobb County Galleria in Smyrna, Ga. She is also the new, proud owner of a 2,100-square-feet-siding-lightblue-mortgages-due Craftsman house in the Atkins Park area of Virginia Highlands in Atlanta.

2006 17 Nelson Davis ’06 and Alyson

Adkisson Davis ’04 are excited to announce the birth of their first son, Lucas Andrew Davis, on August 20, 2011. He weighed 6 lbs., 8 oz. and measured 20 in.

19 Sarah Carter ’06 graduated

from American University’s School of International Service in August 2011 with a Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Through the course of her studies, Sarah focused on peace building and interned for PASSOP, a grassroots NGO in Cape Town, South Africa which provides legal guidance and humanitarian support to refugees. Sarah also volunteered with the Carter Center in January 2011, serving as a short-term election observer for the South Sudanese Referendum on Independence.

21 Kyle E. Luedtke ’07 graduated in May 2011 with a Pharm.D. from Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Atlanta. In June she began her clinical pharmacy residency at University of Virginia Medical Center. Kyle’s co-authored research “Duloxetine in the Treatment of Chronic Pain Due to Fibromyalgia and Diabetic Neuropathy” was recently published in the Journal of Pain Research. While at OU, Kyle served as class president during her junior and senior years.

2008 22 Jess Graner ’08 co-authored the article “Sexual Orientation Change Efforts: Are we advocating enough for our LGBT youth?” published in the summer 2011 newsletter of the Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender

2007

Issues in Counseling, a division of the American Counseling Association.

2009 23 Katherine Boone ’09 is obtaining her Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. The program is structured to focus both on practical and theoretical aspects of Cultural Heritage and Museology. The program has afforded her an array of opportunities, such as attending UNESCO conferences in Paris and touring museum and heritage sites in England. In April, Katherine completed an internship in Norwich at “Country and Eastern,” where she produced a management plan, in addition to putting on an exhibition. Since her internship she has been focusing more

intently on her dissertation and plans to eventually pursue her PhD. Chelcie Rowell ’09 is working in the Master of Science in Information Science program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Chelcie worked for two years as the Writing Associates Program intern at Swarthmore College, working one-on-one with students.

2010 Radford Bunker ’10 was selected in 2011 to head Transition House Inc., a nonprofit corporation that provides 78 transitional housing beds for veterans undergoing treatment at the metro Atlanta area VA Hospital and clinics. In July, he handed off leadership at Transition House to attend law school at the Mercer University School of Law.

2011 Christina “Dawn” Poteet ’11 started her graduate studies at Auburn University this fall. She is pursuing her Master’s in Education, Rehabilitation Counseling. 24 John Burke ’11 released his

first solo piano album “Synesthesia” in October 2011. A music minor at Oglethorpe, John composed and performed all the tracks on the album. He calls George Winston and his father, David Burke, “great sources of inspiration” for this project. Find more information at www.johnburkemusic.com and look for a special feature about John on the OU Blog at www.oglethorpeblog.org.

IN MEMORIAM

20 Stacey Chavis ’07 completed 18 Whit Yelton ’06 completed his MBA from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia in July 2011. As part of his studies, Whit traveled to China for two weeks to complete coursework in Global Management Strategy. He continues to work with Shaw Industries as an Operational Accounting Manager within the synthetic turf division, Shaw Sportexe.

the PathBuilders Percepta professional development program for women in March 2011. She also was elected in March to serve as the Political Action Committee chair-elect for the Junior League of Atlanta for 2011-2012. Stacey was elected as the director of membership for the League of Women Voters Georgia Board of Directors at the League of Women Voters Georgia Biennial Convention in Carrollton, Ga.

Eleanor Ivy Lake ’39 July 7, 2011 Louise M. Allison ‘40 October 7, 2011 Jane Adams Horne ’44 April 13, 2011 Dr. Jay McDuffie ’44 April 20, 2011 Margaret Bell Bloodworth ’52 April 13, 2011 Joseph T. Overton ‘52 October 12, 2011

A. Corry Arensbach ‘54 October 12, 2011 Theodore Dwight “Ted” Bayley Jr. ’58 July 6, 2011 Elizabeth Mahan Garrison ’59 July 7, 2011 Barbara Powell Sykes ‘59 October 11, 2011 Gladys Baldwin Wallace ’61 January 2011 Daniel L. Cowart ’64 February 2011

Ronald Leland Davenport ’69 August 28, 2011

Samuel Wolff ’78 July 13, 2011

Bobby E. Kerlin ’69 August 31, 2011

Joan M. Tiernan ’82 May 15, 2011

Jan Batchelor Collins Maher ’69 August 1, 2011

Tamara L. Brandon ’96 August 24, 2011

Curtis Kelly ‘72 September 24, 2011

Johnnie Lowry, friend of OU January 23, 2011

Toni Weihrauch Doss ’76 July 27, 2011

Carl Hodges, former faculty July 7, 2011

Lori Arnold Pullan ’77 June 11, 2011

Submit your class note via ePetrel: www.alumni.oglethorpe.edu

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y in Action Faculty in Action Faculty in Action Faculty in Act Dr. Cassandra Copeland, associate professor of economics, co-authored “The History and Potential of Trade between Cuba and the U.S.,” Journal of Business and Economics, in 2011. An article by Dr. John Cramer, professor of physics, called “Adler’s Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God,” was included in the Center for the Study of Great Ideas’ book celebrating the work of Mortimer J. Adler. How to Prove There is a God is a collection of 10 essays on Adler’s proofs for the existence of God. Dr. Cramer’s is described as an “eloquent argument that the trend of modern cosmology supports Adler’s position.”

Dr. Bruce Hetherington, professor of economics, and Dr. Peter Kower, associate professor of economics, authored the paper, “Technological Diffusion and the Union Blockade,” which was published in Explorations in Economic History and nominated for the annual award of “best paper.”

Dr. Joseph Knippenberg, professor of politics, has a new three-year appointment to the Council of Scholars, American Academy for Liberal

Education. He is also a member of the Board of Scholars, Georgia Family Council and was a judge for “We the People” Finals, sponsored by the Georgia Humanities Council in Atlanta. He’s presented at conferences, including “Staging the Thirty Years War: Jesuit Drama and the Politics of the Catholic League 1610-1640” at Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (ACMRS), Tempe, Ariz., in February 2011 (accepted for publication in the conference proceedings). Dr. Knippenberg also has authored numerous papers and publications, including “Tocquevillian Reflections on Liberal Education and Civic Engagement,” in Robert Anderson, et al, eds. Who Are We? Old, New, and Timeless Answers from Core Texts (University Press of America, 2011); Review of Bryan T. McGraw, “Faith in Politics,” in Journal of Markets and Morality XIV (Spring, 2011); and, “Liberal Arts and the Tocquevillian Counterculture,” Conference on Alexis de Tocqueville, Mercer University, Macon, Ga., April 7, 2011. Associate Professor of Art Alan Loehle’s work has been selected for inclusion in the forthcoming book 100 Southern Artists from Schiffer Publishing. The book will feature his paintings

ReCalculating History: Two OU Economists Challenge Seminal Studies By Chloey Mayo ’10

At the beginning of the blockade, most boats were sailboats made of wood. By the end of the blockade, investors had realized that purpose-built iron steamers were quieter, stealthier, and less likely to have been captured, hence the quick diffusion of these ships.

40 CARILLON | winter 2012

completed during and in response to his Guggenheim Fellowship and will be distributed in 2012 through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Dr. John Orme, professor of politics, was selected for and participated in a fellowship program by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy during summer 2011. Participants flew to Israel to hear lectures and presentations on Israel’s struggle against terrorism and to observe Israel’s security personnel training for and performing their jobs. (See article on page 8.) He also was profiled in an August 2011 edition of Atlanta’s Creative Loafing article spotlighting 10 professors at local colleges. Dr. Michael Rulison, professor of physics, was recently named by the College Board as the Chair of the Advanced Placement Test Development Committee.

Dr. William Bradford Smith, professor of history, took four students to present papers at the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies fall conference. Two of these students later presented at a Medieval and Renaissance conference at UT Knoxville.

Dr. Brad Stone published a book chapter, “Robert Nisbet and the Conservative Intellectual Tradition” in The Dilemmas of American Conservatism, and an article, “The Current Evidence for Hayek’s Cultural Group Selection Theory,” in Libertarian Papers.

oral, head and neck cancer screening for reducing tobacco consumption,” (Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery); “A randomizedcontrol study of instructional approaches for struggling adult readers,” (Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness); “Differences in temporal variables between voice therapy completers and dropouts,” (Journal of Voice); and, “The relationships between phonological processing skills and word and nonword reading skills by children with mild intellectual disabilities” (Research in Developmental Disabilities).

Assistant Professor of Accounting Tory Vornholt earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University (June 2011) and received grants from the Georgia Society of CPAs for Professional Awareness (2010, 2011).

Dr. Justin Wise, assistant professor of psycholDr. Seema Shrikhande, associate professor of communication and rhetoric studies, served as a judge again for the Short Story Competition conducted by the Writing Center at Grady High School in Atlanta.

ogy, co-authored several published articles, including: “Exploring the syntactic skills of struggling adult readers,” (Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal); “Language Development,” (Encyclopedia of Human Behavior [2nd Edition]); “The Impact of a community-based

For nearly a decade, Oglethorpe economics professors Dr. Bruce Hetherington and Dr. Peter Kower have investigated the profitability of blockade running during the Civil War—the smuggling of cotton and contraband through Union barriers at Confederate ports. Last April, after publishing their paper, “Technological Diffusion and the Union Blockade,” the economics duo celebrated their nomination for Outstanding Paper, which was printed in Explorations in Economic History, one of the top economic history journals. In this second paper in a series of three, Hetherington and Kower overturn a nearly 20-year-old notion that British firms were largely unsuccessful in turning a significant profit in the blockade-running business, especially as the blockade intensified. A Civil War enthusiast who keeps an original Abraham Lincoln campaign button in his office, Hetherington says he’s always had an interest in the Civil War and originally began exploring the economics of the Union blockade back in 1991. He found that the common belief among economic historians was that blockade runners were not nearly as profitable

as wartime seamen once reported. By revisiting historical sources found in seminal works, Hetherington discovered that the opposite was true and the high number of private firms who invested in technologically advanced steamboats spoke to the immense profitability of blockade running. “As I conducted my research, I realized that a lot of the published findings were inconsistent with historical evidence available to us,” said Hetherington. “Empirically, we’ve shown the strong link between new ideas and profit,” agreed Kower, whose main interest was the speed with which investors adopted the new, purpose-built ships. “Statistics show that innovation [like those used to build purpose-built steamships] provides incentive— in this case, profit.” Dr. Kower’s macroeconomics classes aided in the research, re-examining the historical record accounting for the profitability of blockade running and recalculating the returns of some of the war’s most well-known runners.

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Think about it! Daniel Suddes ’10 offers a film criticism site, “where magic, inspiration, and the occasional garbage dares to dwell.” thecornercritic.wordpress.com Jennifer Hofstetter ’06 wrote about her experiences as a runner and her journey to a marathon in Atlanta Miles (atlantamiles. blogspot.com). She pulls double duty with her second blog (jenhofstetter.tumblr.com) that documents her work as a freelance photographer in Atlanta. Kim Leung Williams ’03 shares her “extraordinarily ordinary suburbanite life” in Ramblings of Everyday Nothingness. kimberlina13.blogspot.com

parting shot A number of alumni regularly share their thoughts, opinions, and creativity online through their own personal, self-published blogs.

Joel Black ’06 offers readers his website and design insight on his company’s blog. www.blackbeardesign.com/blo

Chris Rylands ’01 contributes benefits and compensation advice on his firm’s blog. www.BenefitsBryanCave.com

Attorney and Georgia representative Dar’shun Kendrick ’04 gives words of wisdom in all categories on her blog. kendricklaw.wordpress.com Kira Marie Carr Burr ’06 tells the stories behind her photographs. blog.kira-mariephotography.com

Derek D. Hambrick ’97 writes a blog called Heavy Mental and says that “as a writer, particularly as a full-time freelancer such as myself, I consider my blog a vital part of my business, serving as a bit of a writing smorgasbord open to current and potential clients.” derekhambrick.wordpress.com

Laura Miller ’09 chronicles everyday life in “The Year of Things – A 25th year in the making.” www.theyearofthings.wordpress.com

Robert D. Martin ’60, MD, FAPM pens varied opinion essays and short stories, some of which have been published. www.alumni.oglethorpe.edu/alumniblogs

Oglethorpe celebrates 50 years of soccer with best season in history The team set a school record by winning 12 straight games during the campaign en route to posting the 17-3-0 overall record, an all-time program best. The Petrels also posted their best SCAC record in history at 8-1 overall. The squad’s success earned the school’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament as well as a first-time spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings.

Leah Hughes ’88 is “poet then writer.” www.poetthenwriter.blogspot.com

“The Sacred Round: Mandalas by the Patients of Carl Jung,” an exhibition of 40 mandalas created by patients of Swiss psychoanalyst C.G. Jung, will be showcased at the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art this spring. This first-ever exhibition is courtesy of the C.G. Jung Institute in Kusnacht, Switzerland. The Sacred Round features multiple works created by five patients during the course of their treatment between 1926 and 1945, offering rare insight into the patients’ creative analytical process and the symbolism within their mandalas. Among the exhibited works is a handmade book containing one patient’s dream descriptions and drawings, hailed as the feminine version of The Red Book, Jung’s famous manuscript only recently made available. Mandalas, meaning “circles” or “holy circles” in Sanskrit, were used during therapy to express both the conscious and

“Jung realized through his own paintings that balance is possible when one gets out of the opposites and focuses in the middle,” explained exhibit curator Vicente de Moura, archivist at the C.G. Jung Institute. “Intuitively Jung drew mandalas, which led him to a center. Later he observed that the symbol had a similar meaning for his patients.” “Since I first visited the Jung Institute in Switzerland, I have worked to bring these mandalas to Oglethorpe University and Atlanta,” said OUMA Director Lloyd Nick. “This is an exceptional opportunity to view symbolic and historic art that has been secured in the institute’s archives for decades.”

The Museum, in partnership with the C.G. Jung Society of Atlanta, will offer a series of lectures through spring 2012 in conjunction with the exhibition. Visit museum.oglethorpe.edu for more information or call 404-364-8555.

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unconscious. The use of mandalas in therapy was a result of Jung’s own self-experimentation with mandalas between 1913 and 1917, documented in The Red Book.

1 The Oglethorpe men’s soccer team netted a historic season in 2011, capturing their first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship by topping Centre 1-0. 2 The Oglethorpe soccer program celebrated 50 years of competition in 2011, making it one of the oldest soccer programs in the state. 3 Senior center back Mark Lavery was named to the First Team of the NSCAA/Continental Tire 2011 NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer AllAmerica Team. Lavery is the first Stormy Petrel in school history to receive a First Team All-America designation in men’s soccer. He was also named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. 4 Oglethorpe head men’s soccer coach Jon Akin collected Coach of the Year honors from the SCAC during the 2011 men’s soccer post-season awards.

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Non-Proﬁt Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Atlanta, GA 30319 PERMIT No. 523

4484 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30319 www.oglethorpe.edu

4484 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta, Georgia 30319 www.oglethorpe.edu

Say “I do” at OU. Looking for the perfect setting for a fairytale wedding?

Blast from the Past

The annual Masquerade Ball of 1950 was held in October, and students who attended were to dress in costume. The fall of 1950 saw several other student celebrations, one of which was the Boar’s Head Fat-Man Thin-Man basketball game on November 16. All participants and attendees were charged a admission feeinclude: and were encouraged to dress in burlesque Oglethorpe’stwenty-ﬁve wedding &cent reception venues fashion, as it was the theme for the game. See more of Oglethorpe from the • Al fresco on the quad • Weltner Library 1950s on page 24. • OU Museum of Art • Great Hall of Hearst

Come back to a special place for your special day.

For more information, contact Special Events at 404-364-8467.