Wilson College Magazine Spring 2016

Me

BEAUTIFUL

Molly McElroy ‘17 creates campaign of hope and support

The International Experience | A Student's Quest to Serve A Quintessential Vermonter in the Statehouse | The Legacy of Selma volume 89 | SPRING 2016 | number 1

THE WILSON FUND “Thank you to our generous donors for the impact that you make on our lives and for helping us create a Wilson experience that will always be with us.”

Katelyn Wingerd ’16

Orrtanna, Pa.

Major: Elementary education and Spanish Student Teaching: Franklin Township Elementary School, Orrtanna, Pa. » Class president, junior and senior year » Curran Scholar » Four-year athlete » NEAC Scholar-Athlete » Habitat for Humanity » Spanish Club » Agape Christian Fellowship

DIFFERENCE MAKERS wilson.edu/makeagift

volume 89 | SPRING 2016 | number 1

FEATURES

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10 Culture Exchange

By Cathy Mentzer International students come to Wilson seeking an American experience, but they also bring new perspectives to the classroom.

AROUND THE GREEN 28 Eyes Opened Wilson students experience a soulsearching visit to Selma, Ala., during a January-Term course.

30 Seizing Opportunities 18 Beautiful Me For the past four years on campus,

By Coleen Dee Berry Katelyn Wingerd ’16 has been making Molly McElroy ’17 found the courage a difference. to face her demons. From her personal struggles with anorexia, she continues to 32 Opening Serve A touch of creativity was needed build a support network to help others. to start Wilson’s first season of 24 Of the People men’s volleyball.

By Lori L. Ferguson Vermont State Sen. Jane Kitchel ’67 ALUMNAE/I applies her brand of civic engagement, 34 Alumnae Association hard work and common sense in AAWC President’s Letter; AAWC slate the Statehouse. and ballot; AAWC award-winners.

38 Class Notes 61 In Memoriam

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DEPARTMENTS 02 Letter from the Editor 03 Wilson News Learning Campus receives AmeriCorps/VISTA grant; Board of Trustees approves seventh graduate program; commencement speaker announced; art exhibit spotlights impact of plastic pollution; Wilson seniors present research at Pennsylvania Academy of Science; Fulton Farm introduces two new farmers; library receives award from chamber of commerce.

08 Alumnae/i News Jill Roberts ’88 appointed founding executive director of Healthy Rowhouse Project; literary shelf; alumnae/i events.

09 Hidden History

By Karlee Johnston Disney illustrators helped instruct World War II pilots.

64 Last Word Morgan Shadle ’14 and Patty Hall ’18 meet with an iconic civil rights protestor in Selma—who challenges them with a call to justice.

ON THE COVER Molly McElroy ’17 brings her Beautiful Me campaign to campus.

STAFF

WILSON MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Coleen Dee Berry, Managing Editor Mary F. Cramer ’91, Alumnae Association President Amy Ensley, Director of the Hankey Center Marybeth Famulare, Director of Alumnae/i Relations Lisbeth Sheppard Luka ’69, Alumnae Association Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations and College Editor Camilla Rawleigh, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Jeremy Shepherd, Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Communications Brian Speer, Vice President for Marketing and Communications Kendra Tidd, Graphic Designer Courtney D. Wolfe ’12, Class Notes Coordinator Judy Kreutz Young ’63, Alumnae Association Wilson Magazine is published quarterly by the Office of Marketing and Communications and the Alumnae Association of Wilson College.

Send address changes to: Wilson College Alumnae/i Relations, 1015 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, Pa. 17201-1279, 717-262-2010 or mag@wilson.edu.

Opinions expressed are those of the contributors or the editor and do not represent the official positions of Wilson College or the Alumnae Association of Wilson College.

CONTACT US: Wilson Magazine mag@wilson.edu 717-262-2607 www.wilson.edu/magazine Alumnae Association aawc@wilson.edu 717-262-2010 www.wilson.edu/aawc Office of Alumnae/i Relations alumnae@wilson.edu 717-262-2010 www.wilson.edu/alumnae

— letter from the —

editor

PHOTO BY JAMES BUTTS

Brian Speer Executive Editor Coleen Dee Berry Managing Editor Kendra Tidd Design Cathy Mentzer College Editor Courtney D. Wolfe ’12 Class Notes Coordinator Contributing Writers Coleen Dee Berry, James Butts, Debbie Chestnut, Lori L. Ferguson, Karlee Johnston, Cathy Mentzer, Jeremy Shepherd Contributing Photographers James Butts, Flip Chalfont, Fred Field, Daniel Glazier ‘18, Matthew Lester, Cathy Mentzer, Bob Stoler, Toby Talbot, Kendra Tidd Cover Photo by: Matthew Lester

Extraordinary: 1.) beyond what is usual, regular or established; 2.) exceptional in character, extent, degree; noteworthy, remarkable.

Wilson students are extraordinary. They go above and beyond, they exhibit exceptional character and they accomplish the remarkable. Their accomplishments embody the precepts of the College’s Honor Principle: demonstrate concern for others, respect and appreciate differences, and become models of personal integrity.

You’re about to meet some of these extraordinary students in the pages of this magazine.

There is Molly McElroy ’17, who has drawn strength from her very personal battle to forge a network that supports others in their times of need. There is Katelyn Wingerd ’16—Curran scholar, student-athlete and senior class president—whose driving ambition is to make a difference by serving her community. There’s the legion of international students attending Wilson every year, who help broaden the College’s worldview and break down cultural barriers.

There are the five Wilson students who took a soul-searching trip to Selma, Ala., for a January-Term course about Martin Luther King Jr. Don’t miss the Last Word, written by graduate student Morgan Shadle ’14 and Patty Hall ’18 about the lessons they carried home from that trip.

Extraordinary students make for singular alumnae/i, and Jane Kitchel ’67 is a prime example. Learn about the Vermont state senator and appropriations committee chair who has spent a lifetime striving to find the best way to serve the residents of her state.

Alumnae/i will have the chance to catch up on more remarkable stories when Reunion Weekend takes place on June 3-5. The theme this year is “Many Paths, One Spirit.” Inside, you’ll find the slate of nominees for the Alumnae Association board, along with other information about the upcoming weekend.

Last spring, this magazine carried the “More Than a Classroom” feature about the Learning Campus, an after-school tutoring program for migrant children run by Wilson student volunteers. The program has just received an important grant from the Pennsylvania Campus Compact that will help support and sustain it. Read this story and more in the news section.

Extraordinary students help create an exceptional campus. Read on for their stories—and enjoy!

Coleen Dee Berry Managing Editor

You can read Wilson Magazine online at:

www.wilson.edu/wilsonmag Class notes are not published online for privacy reasons.

If you would like to receive a PDF of the class notes, please email Wilson Magazine at mag@wilson.edu.

PHOTOS BY JAMES BUTTS

WILSON NEWS

Wilson students volunteering with the migrant tutoring program on campus.

WILSON RECEIVES VISTA GRANT FOR

MIGRANT EDUCATION TUTORING PROGRAM F

or the past six years, Wilson’s Learning Campus volunteer program, in partnership with the Lincoln Intermediate Unit, has provided after-school tutoring for children of migrant farmworkers in the Chambersburg area. Through a recent AmeriCorps/VISTA grant, the program will gain a full-time coordinator beginning this fall.

Wilson College is one of 20 colleges in the state to receive the AmeriCorps/VISTA grant through the Pennsylvania Campus Compact (PACC). The ultimate aim of PACC’s AmeriCorps/VISTA grant program is to address pressing community needs, while fostering higher education institutions as agents of community change. The program is also designed to develop AmeriCorps/ VISTA members as future leaders in the public service arena.

The grant will be used to further develop Wilson’s Learning Campus by providing an AmeriCorps/VISTA worker who will be solely dedicated to coordinating the program. The goal is to create a sustainable Learning Campus tutoring program within a three-year time frame.

Over the past six years, the program has evolved to the point where it needs a formal structure, increased direction of student volunteers and an educational curriculum that employs Pennsylvania core standards, according to Vice President for Student Development Mary Beth Williams, who oversees the Learning Campus along with Lynn Newman, Wilson’s education division chair, and Eric Mandell, LIU student support specialist.

“We are very excited that we have received this opportunity from PACC, and I’m hoping that with someone solely dedicated to the Learning Campus program, our efforts will continue to be both

successful and sustainable,” Williams said. “We want the program to empower the children of migrant workers in Franklin County and encourage them to unlock their full academic potential.”

During the six years the tutoring program has been on the Wilson campus, student volunteers have been largely responsible for coordinating much of the day-to-day activities and schedules. But in order for the Learning Campus program to grow, Williams said it became apparent full-time help was needed. “Our student volunteer leaders have done their best for the program, but they are only in charge for a semester or two,” she said. “We need continuity.”

Under the current partnership, LIU is responsible for working with the families of the elementary school-age children who come to campus, and Wilson provides the tutoring part of the program.

The children being tutored are not the only beneficiaries of the program. Many of the students who volunteer for the program are education majors, and the program provides additional opportunities for these students in the form of experiential learning.

The VISTA coordinator will be provided with both housing and a meal plan from Wilson, and will receive a stipend from PACC. Williams said she is hopeful the VISTA coordinator will be on campus by June or July and will be at work in time for the fall semester. The VISTA coordinator, who will act as a liaison between the College and LIU, will seek to identify further community engagement opportunities within the migrant and seasonal farmworker community for Wilson students.

—Coleen Dee Berry

spring 2016 03

WILSON NEWS AUTHOR A'LELIA BUNDLES TO ADDRESS

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Author and journalist A’Lelia Bundles, great-great-granddaughter and biographer of African-American icon Madam C.J. Walker, will address the senior class at the College’s 146th annual commencement ceremony to be held Sunday, May 15.

A former ABC News producer and chair of the National Archives Foundation, Bundles currently is at work on her fourth book, The Joy Goddess of Harlem: The Life and Times of A’Lelia Walker, a biography of her great-grandmother. Her previous books about her great-great-grandmother, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker, Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur and Madam Walker Theater Center: An Indianapolis Treasure, have received a number of awards, including the New York Times’ Notable Book award and the Letitia Woods Brown Book Prize.

Bundles had a 30-year career as an executive and producer in network television news, most recently as director of talent development for ABC News in Washington, D.C. and New York. She was deputy bureau chief of ABC News in Washington from 1996 to 1999, after 20 years as a network television producer with ABC and NBC News. From 1989 until 1996 she was a producer with ABC’s “World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.”

Bundles is a vice chair of the Columbia University Board of Trustees. She also serves as president and chair of the board of the

National Archives Foundation, the nonprofit partner that provides funds and support for the exhibitions, programs and educational materials of the National Archives. She is also a sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship, philanthropy, financial literacy, women’s history and African-American history.

In 2003, she created the “100 Books, 100 Women” campaign to expand the library at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in New York. She also spearheaded the national campaign that led to the 1998 U. S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage stamp of Madam Walker.

Bundles graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and Radcliffe College, and received a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and an honorary doctorate from Indiana University. —Cathy Mentzer

FULTON CENTER NEWS The Fulton Farm welcomed not one—but two—new farm managers for the upcoming season, as Brian Kearney and Ashley See began farm duties in February.

Kearney worked for two seasons as an intern at Fulton Farm and See previously was the field and greenhouse manager for Potomac Vegetable Farms in Purcellville, Va. Kearney will be in charge of field production and See will manage the farm’s markets, sales and community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.

“With Brian's working knowledge of our program and Ashley's extensive experience in CSA management, this team is a perfect fit for Wilson,” said Chris Mayer, director of the Fulton Center for Sustainable Living.

Fresh produce and herbs can be purchased from the farm by visiting the Fulton Farm stand at the North Square Farmer’s Market in downtown Chambersburg, open every Saturday from May 21 to Oct. 15. The on-campus farm stand will reopen in August.

New Fulton farmers Brian Kearney (left) and Ashley See.

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Mayer said the Fulton center plans to begin a year-long farm apprentice program for the full season, designed to support the next generation of farmers. The center will continue to offer 12-week summer internships in sustainable farming, environmental education, public horticulture and community outreach. —CDB

BOARD APPROVES MS IN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM At its February meeting, the Board of Trustees approved Wilson’s seventh graduate program, a Master of Science in Management. The program, which is being offered online only, was launched in late March.

The goal of the new M.S. in management is to produce graduates who will be successful managers of diverse organizations, especially in the areas of Lean Six Sigma, project and program management, accounting, supply chain management and logistics. Lean Six Sigma incorporates two business management models: Lean, developed by Toyota, improves service speed or lead time by eliminating the waste in any process, and Six Sigma, developed by Motorola, improves the quality of products and services by eliminating variability. Working together, Lean and Six Sigma improve the speed and quality of any process in any industry.

The College will offer two courses per nine-week term, with five terms offered per year. A student taking the full load of courses could complete the degree in as little as

14 months, according to business faculty. Graduates of the program will have the knowledge and skills to advance their operations in management and efficiency, which is in high demand among business, government, industry, the military and other employers.

The program is being delivered through a dynamic videoconferencing technology called ZOOM that allows for realtime interaction between students and faculty. Students can speak to one another, engage with the instructor and share examples of their work. According to business faculty, the use of ZOOM technology differentiates Wilson’s program from other institutions.

The M.S. in management joins six other master’s programs now offered by the College in humanities, fine arts, nursing, education, accounting and healthcare management for sustainability. —CM

ART EXHIBITION RAISES AWARENESS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

PHOTO BY CATHY MENTZER

The troubling global impact of plastic pollution on the world’s oceans is eloquently illustrated through artist and educator Alejandro Durán’s photography and installation project, Washed Up: Transforming a Trashed Landscape, which opened March 22 in the Sue Davison Cooley ’44 Art Gallery.

The first exhibition in the new gallery located in the John Stewart Memorial Library’s Lenfest Learning Commons, Washed Up features some of Durán’s photographs of Sian Ka’an, a tropical nature reserve in Mexico, where the natural world intersects with trash carried there from around the globe by ocean currents. Actual trash gathered on the Sian Ka’an beach is also part of the exhibition, which will run through May 27.

About 50 people attended an artist’s talk at the exhibition launch, during which Durán showed a short film about the Washed Up project and talked about his work, which is ongoing.

Durán, who lives and works in Brooklyn, was born in Mexico and has been returning there for most of his life. In 2010 while visiting Sian Ka’an—a UNESCO World Heritage site with more than 20 pre-Columbian archaeological sites, a vast array of flora and fauna and the world’s second-largest coastal barrier reef—Durán noticed the plastic waste that was washing up on the beach. “It was shocking,” he said.

Durán has identified refuse from 50 nations on six continents that has washed ashore at Sian Ka’an. To raise awareness of the issue, Durán began artfully arranging the debris into the natural landscape, creating color-based, site-specific sculptures, which he then photographs.

“Conflating the hand of man and nature, at times I distribute the objects the way the waves would; at other times, the plastic takes on the shape of algae, roots, rivers, or fruit, reflecting the infiltration of plastics into the natural environment,” Durán says on his website, www.alejandroduran.com.

The Cooley gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays. —CM

spring 2016 05

SENIORS PRESENT RESEARCH AT PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Three Wilson seniors presented the results of their research at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, held April 1 to 3 at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa. Chemistry and biology major Amadea Clement’s research was entitled An Analysis of Histamine Intolerance and its Correlation to Diet and Daily Activity. The study focused on daily diet, stress, exercise and sleep patterns of residential college students over a two-week period, and how those factors impacted their histamine levels. Clement was assisted in her project by Professor of Chemistry Deborah Austin, Professor of Biology Dana Harriger and Assistant Professor of Biology Christine Proctor.

Chemistry major Lindsey Sutton’s research was entitled Temperature Dependence of Viscosity and Polarity of Phosphonium-Based Ionic Liquids. Ionic liquids are considered “green” substances, mainly due to their low volatility, low combustibility and recyclability. Sutton’s research measured the effect that temperature and added solvents had on the liquid’s viscosity. She was assisted in her project by Austin and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Rebecca Smith.

Biology major Ghada Tafesh’s research was entitled The Relationship Between Oral Anticoagulant Apixaban and Fish Oil Supplementation in a Stroke-Prone Animal Model. Her study investigated the interaction of the blood thinner, apixaban, with the commonly used dietary supplement of fish oil (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) to determine the likelihood of a potential drug interaction. Tafesh was assisted in her project by Smith and Associate Professor of Biology Brad Engle.

Wilson seniors at PAS, front row, from left: Amadea Clement, Ghada Tafesh and Lindsey Sutton. Faculty, from left: Brad Engle, associate professor of biology; Deborah Austin, professor of chemistry; Christine Proctor, assistant professor of biology; Rebecca Smith, assistant professor of chemistry, and Dana Harriger, professor of biology.

The students began their projects in the spring of their junior year by writing a research proposal based on a specific question. During the fall semester, they completed the lab work and collected data.

This past semester, they focused on data analysis, writing a thesis and preparing to communicate their results at PAS. The students will share their research on campus during Student Research Day on April 29. —CDB

REIMAGINED JOHN STEWART MEMORIAL LIBRARY

RECEIVES AWARD FROM CHAMBER

PHOTO BY THE GREATER CHAMBERSBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce presented Wilson College with a 2015 Property Improvement Award for the John Stewart Memorial Library project. The College won in the category for rehabilitation projects costing more than $500,000.

The annual awards are designed to recognize excellence in design and construction for chamber members’ projects. Projects are judged on design and use of space, degree of difficulty, workmanship and quality of construction, effect on the community and overall economic impact on the community.

President Barbara K. Mistick accepts the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Property Improvement Award for the John Stewart Memorial Library project.

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The $12.2 million project renovated the existing 91-year-old library and added a state-of-the-art learning commons to the building. “The renovation is a marriage of both historical beauty and modern design, with the functionality to serve as the center of Wilson College’s campus,” said Pam Anderson, a member of the chamber’s awards committee.

The library was rededicated last October and was fully opened to public use in January. —CDB

WILSON NEWS NEWS

IN BRIEF

NEW HANKEY EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS TRAILBLAZERS More than 50 Wilson alumnae are spotlighted in “Trailblazers and Innovators: Portraits of Educated Women,” the new exhibit at the Hankey Center.

The exhibit explores the lives of graduates from the years 1875-1975 who made notable contributions in their fields.

“The purpose of the exhibit is to recognize the accomplishments of Wilson’s alumnae in various fields during a time when it took great fortitude to gain an education, as well as succeed in some fields which were dominated by men,” said Amy Ensley, Hankey Center director. The free exhibit will run through the year and is open to the public.

WILSON PLANS CAMPUS FOOD BANK Thanks to an anonymous donor, Wilson’s Office of Student Development received a $3,300 grant to open a campus food bank. The food bank will serve students who stay on campus over breaks or during the summer (such as international or Single Parent Scholar students), Adult Degree Program students who live off campus or traditional students who may not be able to afford a complete meal plan, according to Mary Beth Williams, vice president for student development.

WORK ON ACADEMIC QUAD, NEW ENTRANCE UNDERWAY Construction of a new academic quad on campus—bounded by Warfield Hall and the John Stewart Memorial Library on one side and the Brooks Science Center and Lortz Hall on the other—began in March. The project

by R. S. Mowery & Sons will transform the former parking lot into green space and should be finished by mid-May, according to Brian Ecker, vice president for finance and administration.

The quad project is running concurrent with Wilson’s Streetscape and Pedestrian Safety Initiative. The $495,000 project will replace curbs and sidewalks along the entire U.S. 11 perimeter of the College, which totals roughly 3,000 feet from Sharpe House to South Penn Hall Drive.

Streetscape project construction by contractor Doug Lamb Construction Inc. of Elizabethtown, Pa., began March 7 and is expected to be completed this summer. The project will permanently close the current entrance to campus at Norland Hall, located along a curve on Philadelphia Avenue (U.S. 11) that has caused safety concerns.

The Park Avenue entrance will become the new main campus entry and the college loop road will be expanded to a two-way thoroughfare through campus. —CDB

A fall semester opening is planned for the food bank. Food drives will be held to help stock the shelves with items students can easily prepare, Williams said.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

STABLER FOUNDATION AWARDS COLLEGE $530,000

Wilson will add women's volleyball to its intercollegiate athletics program and the team will begin intercollegiate competition in fall of the 2016-17 academic year, according to Lori Frey, director of athletics.

The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation has awarded a $530,000 grant to fund scholarships for Wilson students with financial need through the Stabler Scholarship Endowment. The endowment has provided scholarships for students since the program began in 2009 at Wilson. The foundation has provided more than $3.45 million for the Stabler scholarships program since its inception.

Students are selected for scholarships based on financial need, academic achievement and service to the community.

ADDED AS TEAM SPORT “We are excited about the addition of women's volleyball to our department and the opportunity to enhance our athletics programs,” said Frey.

“This addition will better position the College as we continue pursuing competitive excellence in our mission to teach life lessons through sport.”

Adding women's volleyball was a natural progression following the inaugural year of men's volleyball, Frey said. Current student interest in volleyball was evident, with a club program formed this spring.

The team will be part of the NCAA Division III and North Eastern Athletic Conference, and the search for the women’s volleyball head coach is underway.

spring 2016 07

ALUMNAE/I NEWS JILL ROBERTS ’88 APPOINTED

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HEALTHY ROWHOUSE PROJECT

W

ilson Trustee Jill Roberts ’88 has been appointed founding executive director of the Healthy Rowhouse Project in Philadelphia.

The Healthy Rowhouse Project was created to help Philadelphia’s poorest residents by keeping them from becoming homeless, displaced or sick, and to revive Philadelphia’s struggling neighborhoods—one house at a time.

“Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods. By making the houses in our neighborhoods stronger and the residents in those houses stronger and healthier, we strengthen our city,” Roberts said. “We have an amazing opportunity here to improve conditions in those homes, and to allow adults and children to succeed, rather than just to survive.”

Prior to her appointment, Roberts had spent 15 years at Project HOME, 11 of them as community development project manager. Project HOME is a Philadelphia nonprofit organization empowering individuals to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

Roberts has served as a board member of Philadelphia’s Mill Creek Urban Farm; as president, vice president and board member of the Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia; and was a founding member of the Access to Rowing and Paddling Committee. She also plays defense for the Philadelphia Freeze Women’s Ice Hockey Club and serves as the club’s treasurer. Roberts earned a bachelor’s in business and economics from Wilson and has served on the Board of Trustees since May 2011.

Sarasota, Fla. – Jan. 23, 2016 Hosted by the Sarasota Club

From left: Camilla Rawleigh, Wilson vice president for institutional advancement; Sarah Walker Risher ’63; Julia Solleveld Osborne ’64; Damaris Swartz Weidner ’55; Peggy Kauffman Hyde ’64; Karen Stentz Grace ’67; Patricia Roberts Cohen ’50; Jane Preston Rose ’64; Joan Hoover Hellwege ’56; Valerie T. Oakley ’64; Ann Vanderhoff Watral ’50; and Dorothea Holberton Brown ’62.

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Bonita Springs, Fla. – Feb. 4, 2016 Hosted by Diana Burger McClay '57 Front row, from left: Wilson President Barbara K. Mistick, Wilson Trustee Robin J. Bernstein, Margaret E. Ward ’65 and Jeanne Dunning Tyrer ’50. Back row, from left: Richard Young, Judy Kreutz Young ’63, Christine Heroy Muddell ’63, Shirley Funk Mason ’64, Laurie Chiarell Lehmann ’76, Diana Burger McClay ’57, Camilla Rawleigh, Wilson vice president for institutional advancement and Bruce Muddell.

ALUMNAE/I

LITERARY SHELF The reimagined John Stewart Memorial Library has a new addition—a section that will be known as the Alumnae/i Literary Shelf, where readers and researchers can find publications authored by Wilson alumnae/i through the years.

The offerings include works of fiction and nonfiction, poetry and academic writings. Readers can find titles such as A History of Philosophy in America by Murray Murphey and Elizabeth Flower ’35, The Asian Pacific: Political and Economic Development in a Global Context by Vera Simone and Anne Thompson Feraru ’47 and Diego Rivera: Science and Creativity in the Detroit Murals by Dorothy McMeekin ’53.

The shelf also carries copies of the collected poems of Alice McKenzie Swaim ’32 and fiction such as the young adult novel In the Time of Trouble by Charlotte Weaver Gelzer ’72.

The collection is located on the first floor of the original library. Titles for the shelf will be rotated periodically.

The Alumnae/i Literary Shelf is just one place to find written works by Wilson alumnae/i. The C. Elizabeth Boyd Archives in the Hankey Center will continue to house writings, books and publications by both faculty and alumnae/i, said Hankey Director Amy Ensley.

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history

WINTER DRAWS ON: MEET THE SPANDULES

By Karlee Johnston

he C. Elizabeth Boyd ’33 Archives at the Hankey Center includes the extensive collection of Elizabeth McGeorge Sullivan ’38, who was one of 1,074 women—and Wilson College’s only alumnae—to volunteer with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program during World War II. A recent project to scan and photograph the various artifacts in the Sullivan collection uncovered something unique. In a folder marked “Flight Manuals and Training Books” resides a small, blue and white booklet with very distinctive illustrations, entitled Winter Draws On: Meet the Spandules.

This booklet was one of the many instructional aids that Walt Disney Productions released in conjunction with the Safety Education Division Flight Control Command during World War II. Published in 1943, the booklet was distributed to pilots of the Army Air Forces to warn of the dangers of flying during cold weather and the importance of keeping the plane’s carburetor free of ice.

Walt Disney Productions created a number of wartime instructional materials during World War II, all with a similar goal: to disseminate important information in a fun, appealing and memorable manner. For Winter Draws On, Disney illustrators created the Spandules, creatures resembling horn-helmeted Viking ghosts, to give life to the wintertime hazards faced by pilots.

So, who were the Spandules? The booklet introduces these mysterious creatures as fun-loving, mischievous characters that inhabit the airspace above 30,000 feet and venture to the ground during the cold months to play pranks on pilots who “look sound asleep or a little thick between the ears.” As long as the pilots were diligent

and followed the tips offered in the 28-page manual, the Spandules’ disruptions were manageable.

The booklet also informed readers that the Spandules were a close relative of Gremlins, another brand of mythical imps inclined to cause mechanical troubles in aircrafts. The Gremlins had been

PHOTOS BY KENDRA TIDD

T

Top: The WASP mascot, Fifinella, can be seen at the bottom of the songbook. Left: The Disney WWII instruction booklet features the creatures called Spandules.

causing problems for the English Royal Air Force for years when one of their airmen, Roald Dahl, decided to make their presence known to the world by writing a children’s book, The Gremlins, which detailed their misadventures.

Dahl’s book reached the hands of Walt Disney in 1942 and talks of an animated short film featuring the Gremlins began. Disney even created female Gremlins called Fifinellas in anticipation of the film. However, due to copyright disputes, the film never came to be. But out of this collaboration with Dahl, Disney was inspired to bring the dangers of cold weather hazards to life with the cartoon illustrations of the Spandules—and illustrators also provided the WASPs with their mascot, Fifinella, the flying female Gremlin.

Karlee Johnston, a Shippensburg University applied-history graduate student, interned this fall at the Hankey Center.

spring 2016 09

International students get a taste of American life at Wilson and offer a different perspective in return

by Cathy Mentzer

A

few days before Wilson’s spring semester began on Jan. 25, three new international students from Indonesia, Panama and Uzbekistan were taking part in orientation, but the impending Blizzard of 2016 was the main thing on their minds.

“I’m very excited,” said 19-year-old Alvin Kurnia Sandy of Indonesia. “Snow is the thing I wanted to see the most before coming to America.” Like him, 21-year-old Leydianis Gonzalez of Panama had never seen snow. “Really, it has been my dream to throw snowballs,” she said.

Within 24 hours, the students were enjoying more snow—about 30 inches of it—than they ever dreamed. “I felt like I went into my fridge back in Indonesia,” laughed Sandy, who said he and the other new students had a snowball fight, made snow angels and walked all over campus during the snowstorm. “But I loved it.”

These priceless moments are part of the international student experience at Wilson. While students come here to get an education, many also arrive with the goal of absorbing the American culture and way of life. The exchange that ensues enhances the entire Wilson community.

PHOTO BY DANIEL GLAZIER ‘18

“It’s so powerful and so important for us to have a diverse community,” said Elissa Heil, vice president for academic affairs, herself a product of study abroad, which she participated in both in high school and college. “That’s how we break down barriers.

That’s how we break down prejudices. That can be uncomfortable, but it’s also exhilarating.”

Nihed Kassab, a senior from Tunisia attending Wilson through a one-year, U.S. State Department program called the Global

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Culture

EXCHANGE

Undergraduate Exchange (UGRAD) Program, is trying to soak up as much U.S. culture as she can. She sees the experience as an opportunity to build bridges between the youth of her country and their U.S. counterparts.

“What I see (of Americans), I see in media,” Kassab said. “What we hear of people here back home is not what we see here. My program is meant to see what people really are. (Americans) are really very welcoming and generous. Amazing people.”

Assistant Professor of Spanish Wendell Smith said that the wider cultural perspective that international students bring into the classroom is invaluable. “They may want to contribute and talk about things that are not in the standard frame of reference that my other students are used to talking about in class,” Smith said.

“The international students that I’ve had have been some of the most successful students. The students we’re getting seem to be academically top-notch.”

After leaving Wilson, many international students go on to prestigious graduate programs in the U.S. or abroad, and forge impressive careers in fields such as medicine and research. One example: Jing Luan ’12, of China, worked as a researcher at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia after graduation and is now enrolled in a M.D.-Ph.D. program at the University of Pennsylvania. She hopes to work in genetic regulation research.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL GLAZIER ‘18

Smith also finds that international students often model good behavior in terms of study habits and, in the case of his classes, demonstrating the possibility of becoming fluent in another language, “which I think is a good example for our American students.”

At left: On campus during the 2016 blizzard, Alvin Kurnia Sandy revels in the first snowfall he's ever seen. Top, from left, Wilson students Leydianis Gonzalez, Esther Miller ’18, Sandy, Naeun Noh and Daniel Glazier ’18 enjoy the January snowstorm. Bottom: Nihed Kassab, left, taking part in a community poverty simulation.

spring 2016 11

I never imagined I’d be this close to friends and people who don’t speak my native language, people who don’t completely understand my culture. We’re like siblings.

It’s been definitely a blessing—all of it.”

–Ghada Tafesh ’16

How and why they come Many international students come to Wilson for a one-year study abroad program—such as those from Korea’s Seoul Women’s University—or for a one-semester exchange like Sandy and Gonzalez. “Typically, they’re a pretty motivated group of people,” said Heil.

Wilson’s location, size and liberal arts curriculum are attractive to international students, according to Paul Miller, director of international student and scholar services. “Any number of students will tell me they want to be on the East Coast. They don’t necessarily want to be in a city, but they want to be near New York City and Washington, D.C., so they’ll look at a map.” International students also find their way to Wilson through word of mouth and college and athletics recruiting efforts.

Last fall, 34 students, from 16 countries and the Palestinian Territories, were officially enrolled in Wilson’s international student scholars program—the most in Miller’s 10 years with the College. After transfers, graduations and the arrival of several new students, the number for spring semester is 33—up from 19 students in 2010-11, according to Miller. He said 17 of the 33 are four-year students.

NIHED KASSAB

“We’ve got some real rock stars,” said Vice President for Student Development Mary Beth Williams. “They do really well when they’re here and they do really well when they graduate.”

When Wilson Dean of Students Mary Beth Williams emailed a last-ditch appeal at 11 o’clock on a Saturday night, asking for student volunteers to help clean up after a women’s support group fundraising event, "The first person I heard from was Nihed," she said.

She was referring to Nihed Kassab, native of Tunisia who is spending a year at Wilson through a U.S. Department of State program. In her short time at Wilson, Kassab has charmed virtually all she's come into contact with—both on and off the campus—with her warmth and openness.

"I can't say enough good things about her," said Assistant Professor of Sociology Julie Raulli.

As part of Raulli's “Food, Culture and Society” course, Kassab organized a group of other mostly international students to pick apples through a local gleaning project to help provide food for those in need.

When she meets someone, Kassab has a routine to help them remember how to pronounce her first name. She points to her knee and then her head—"Nihed, as in knee, head," she says

Assistant Director of Admissions Michael Eaton, the College’s international admissions counselor, uses a variety of means— including websites, recruitment services, partnerships and social media—to connect with students, many of whom find Wilson through the Internet. Eaton traveled to the Middle East in spring 2015 with the U.S. Educational Group, and is scheduled to visit four cities in Canada this spring.

In other efforts to broaden its international reach, the College established ties last summer with the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in China through FriendlyPA, an economic development initiative aimed at cultivating ties with educational institutions abroad.

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From left: International students Halil Abdumuminov, Leydianis Gonzalez and Alvin Kurnia Sandy at a Hershey Bears hockey game.

Athletics recruiting is playing an increasing role in attracting international students. Head men’s soccer coach Caleb Davis put together a diverse group of students last fall for the inaugural men’s soccer team. Of the 18 players, seven were from foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Ghana, Gambia and Australia. “They’re their own family,” Davis said. “They all act like brothers. They all pick on one another. I think that makes them feel comfortable here.”

Arriving on campus After students are admitted, Miller and the Office of Student Development contact students to provide them with information about life at Wilson and help them coordinate travel. When the students arrive in the U.S., student development officials make arrangements to meet them at the airport and drive them to campus, where “I’m here to greet them,” said Miller, adding that that kind of personal attention differentiates Wilson from many other institutions.

PHOTO BY DANIEL GLAZIER ‘18

That's just one example of Kassab's resourcefulness and adaptability. The 22-year-old senior at Tunis Business School majoring in finance and information technology has, as they say, "her head on straight," which is an expression she would love. "I’m collecting idiomatic expressions like 'everything but the kitchen sink,'" she said, smiling. "Also, ‘jump the gun.’ What does that mean? Does the gun jump?"

helpfully, explaining later that when she discovered Americans had trouble pronouncing her name, she drew upon advice of a teacher at her college in Tunisia. "We had an American professor and he always said if you want people to remember you, make a trick."

Although some volunteer work is required through her scholarship program, "I volunteered for more than that because I really enjoy it," said Kassab. "I like the fact that when you do volunteer work, you don’t see the differences. People are more open-minded. They’re happy to receive anyone."

Making the most of the opportunity to see the United States, Kassab traveled all over the country during Christmas break. She was photographed by the San Francisco Chronicle just before the Super

Looking to the future, Vice President for Enrollment Mary Ann Naso says international student recruitment will be “very important” to the College. “We’re looking at decreasing demographics (among U.S. college-bound students) so we need to find the means to replace them,” she said.

International students have a positive effect that the College, including the global studies department, wants to see grow and develop further, according to Smith. “I would say our main goal is to internationalize the campus, in the sense of having what’s going on in the wider world be more on the consciousness, in the mind, of Wilson undergraduates across the board,” he said.

“And that takes a long-term cultural change. Right now, the best thing we have to accomplish that is the international students. They’re in a sense the beachhead for internationalizing the campus.”

Bowl, taking a selfie in front of the famed “Painted Ladies” Victorian houses.

Kassab, who is Muslim, wears the traditional hajib and has encountered a few curious looks in the surrounding community, but she says she has not had any negative experiences. "In Tunisia, there’s no law that says you have to wear it. I wear my hijab, my sister does not. It’s my choice.

It’s more than covering the hair. It’s faith.

It’s identity," she said, pausing before adding, "I have to pray five times per day.

It’s just like I have to eat. I have to pray.

Religion for me is a big part of my life."

When she returns to Tunisia, Kassab plans to continue her studies, hoping to get a master's degree and doctorate.

She wants to teach at a university and hopes to introduce the American style of teaching there. "If I had the chance to come to the U.S. again, that would be a great opportunity."

Miller briefs the students on important safety information, including what to do if they become ill, how to navigate the U.S. healthcare system and how 911 works. Once the new students are settled in, Miller leads a two-day orientation program to familiarize them with the campus. Orientation also includes the two things Miller says students are most concerned with: making banking arrangements and obtaining a cell phone and plan. The College even takes students shopping to make sure they have the appropriate clothing for the local climate. “Another major issue that we talk about is our immigration regulations—what they can and cannot do,” Miller said.

Most international students say the orientation is essential and that it provides time to get to know and bond with other internationals. “It was really helpful,” said Naeun Noh, a South Korean student from Seoul Women’s University.

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Noh said students also learn about cultural differences, such as the importance at Wilson of regularly checking email. Classroom culture is stressed, including time management. “That’s a major orientation topic—time,” Miller said. “Americans live by the clock. Many countries don’t.”

PHOTO BY CATHY MENTZER

After orientation, Miller takes the students on a two-day trip to the nation’s capital, where they explore Congress, the White House and other sites such as the Smithsonian Institution and Holocaust Museum. Miller gives them assignments and sends them on their way around the city. “Invariably, students will come back to me and say, ‘Now I know that I’m in the United States—I stood in front of the White House,” said Miller. “They love taking their picture in front of the White House.”

“It was one of my loveliest days,” Kassab said of the experience.

PHOTO BY BOB STOLER

As the students begin their first semester here, they go through a period of adjustment that can be challenging for some. Common issues include grappling with the English language, being far from family and adjusting to American food.

Top: from left, Amadea Clement ’16, Dasia Edwards ’18 and Ghada Tafesh ’16 during a forum on religious expression.

Bottom: International student director Paul Miller, far right, introduces students at the 2015 Muhibbah Dinner. At right: International students harvest apples with a local produce gleaning project.

Ask six different people to describe Bassil Andijani and you might get six different adjectives. Competitive, playful, intense, devout, studious and outgoing are all apt descriptions of the 22-year-old Saudi Arabian in his second year at Wilson.

“He’s got a great personality and he gets along extremely well with the other guys on the team,” said head men’s soccer coach Caleb Davis. “He’s a competitor.

He’s also a very good listener. You can tell that he wants to learn.”

Sandy, who attends the State Islamic University of Lampung, had never been away from home before coming here in January. “The first month was the hardest part of my exchange experience,” said Sandy, who uses Skype to talk to his parents. Despite the early adjustments to the food and language, “I love and enjoy it here,” he said.

Ghada Tafesh ’16, who is in her fourth year at Wilson on an AMIDEAST scholarship, recalls having a little trouble adjusting her first year, mainly with being homesick. But now, “I blend in pretty well.”

dad said, 'Your government has scholarships to study abroad, why don’t you try it?' I thought it would be a good experience to travel abroad and at the same time, get a degree."

Andijani, whose native language is Arabic, entered an intensive English-as-a-Sec-

He admits he knew little about Wilson, other than that it offered a health sciences major—which he enrolled in. He didn't even know he would be among the first class of men to be permitted to live on campus as part of the traditional undergraduate program. He has adapted well and said he plans to stay at Wilson through graduation.

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PHOTO BY DANIEL GLAZIER ‘18

Davis also describes Andijani as “a ham” with an irrepressible spirit. “You can’t ever tell if Bassil’s having a bad day. Just always a positive attitude all of the time.”

Andijani spent a year studying business at King Abdulaziz University—the second-largest university in Saudi Arabia—in his hometown of Jeddah. "I didn't like what I was studying," Andijani said. "My

ond-Language program at Temple University in Philadelphia. After a year, when he began looking at colleges to enroll in, Andijani discovered Wilson while browsing the American schools approved by his scholarship agency, the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission. "(Wilson has) a small campus, not a lot of students—which I prefer. So I decided to come here."

For Andijani, who is Muslim, the dorms and dining hall presented some challenges. "We pray five times a day. It’s difficult

Tafesh sometimes prepares food from her homeland in the residence hall. “They love it,” she said of her American friends.

“They even speak some Arabic words.”

“I never imagined I’d be this close to friends and people who don’t speak my native language, people who don’t completely understand my culture,” Tafesh said of her Wilson friends.

“We’re like siblings. It’s been definitely a blessing—all of it.”

A lot of international students are unaccustomed to actively participating in class, which is a requirement at Wilson. “In many countries, you sit and listen. You don’t dare talk to the professor,” Miller said. “Here you’re expected to question the professor. You’re expected to speak up. And that’s very difficult for many of our students to learn.”

The College has a fairly large group of Muslim students and for them, the religion’s restrictions on eating pork and the requirement to consume halal food—which is similar to kosher food in the Jewish faith—can be problematic. “In the dining hall, most of the time they serve bacon products or pork products, which I don’t eat at all,” said Bassil Andijani ’18, a second-year student from Saudi Arabia who moved off campus this semester.

Yet, “so much of our critical thinking is based on that exchange,” Heil said. “(International students) really appreciate the opportunity to work so closely with faculty—an opportunity they wouldn’t have in their home universities.”

Experiencing the American way of life

Like many of Wilson's international students, Andijani likes Wilson's small classes and the intimacy of a relatively small school. “I don’t like big universities," he said. "(Here) the professors can interact with you more than they do in bigger colleges. You get to know everybody on campus."

In class, "I try to give the best I can. I have to put more effort since I don’t speak the language.

(With) most of the biology terms, I have to memorize both the English terms and the Arabic terms.

It’s challenging to me, which I like."

After graduation, Andijani is considering continuing his education to become a physical therapist or orthopedist.

BASSIL ANDIJANI

to pray in a smaller room because we have to face in specific directions," said Andijani, who moved into an off-campus apartment for the spring 2016 semester. In addition, he is supposed to follow dietary restrictions, which is virtually impossible in the dining hall.

Most international students say they feel welcome and accepted at Wilson. Sometimes, however, cultural and language differences can be barriers to friendships. “One of the principal goals of many international students when they come to the United States is to develop American friends,” Miller said.

The outgoing Andijani’s involvement in soccer has helped him forge close friendships with team members. “Soccer has its own language,” he said. “No one cares where you come from. You just play.”

Just as the internationals come to experience the American way of life and make friends here, their American counterparts can learn a lot from the international student presence on campus, according to Daniel Glazier ’18. “Personally, I find cultural differences and varying cultures interesting,” said Glazier, who is a work-study student in Miller’s office. “They can bring a different cultural perspective to a class.”

Glazier recalled a course where one classmate was from China and one from Japan. Through discussion, other students learned about historical conflicts between those two countries that most were unaware of, he said.

spring 2016 15

PHOTO BY DANIEL GLAZIER ‘18

Her best friend is an American student she was paired with through the NeXXt Scholars program, Lindsey Sutton ’16. “We come in one package,” Tafesh said.

At a recent town hall meeting on religious expression hosted by Williams, the current U.S. political climate’s impact on the College’s Muslim students was a topic of discussion, with Muslim and non-Muslim students sharing their feelings on an uncomfortable subject. “I feel safer here than being outside,” Tafesh said. “My friends here know me as a person, not as a Muslim or a person wearing a scarf.”

Andijani and Kassab say the tenor of the Republican presidential campaign bothers them, but they understand—due to their experiences at Wilson—that not all Americans are anti-Muslim. “Personally, I think that religion is the last thing I would look at as far as who I would be friends with,” said Andijani.

Wilson provides two key programs that help international students feel at home and learn about American culture: the Friendly Families program (see sidebar) and the international student organization, the Muhibbah Club, which stages a popular annual, multicultural dinner with performances by international students, some of whom perform songs or dances—often in costume—that reflect their culture.

GHADA TAFESH

Sutton said she appreciates her international peers for a variety of reasons, including the way her own worldview has broadened. “I get to learn about a whole new culture and I get to learn a different way to think,” said Sutton, who lives with two international students. “They bring in new ideas, new thoughts and different experiences. I think it’s really important that we have international students. ”

If you meet Ghada Tafesh ’16, don’t confuse Pakistan with Palestine. The mistake happens so often that Tafesh’s best friend, Lindsey Sutton ’16, now intervenes before the faux pas occurs. “The first thing she says when I’m introduced to people is, ‘She’s not from Pakistan,’” laughed Tafesh, who is completing her fourth and final year at Wilson through a scholarship from the nonprofit organization AMIDEAST. Tafesh, 21, is active in student life. She was president of the Wilson College Government Association last year, is a resident assistant in Davison Hall this year, has been a tour guide for the admissions office for nearly three years, and is a math and English tutor, PLEN (Public Leadership Education Network) ambassador and her class historian.

Majoring in biology and English literature, Tafesh came to Wilson after spending her senior year in high school in Maryland through an exchange program. Her initial experience at Wilson wasn’t without a learning curve. “A lot of it was cultural, I think,” said Tafesh. Early on, she noticed that unlike at home, her professors here

Through Friendly Family and experiences off-campus with friends’ families and connections, students learn about American culture in ways that they might not otherwise. Kassab spent a week with a Jewish family over Christmas break, who she asked to take her to their synagogue, and another week with a Christian family, who took her to church. “That was amazing.

What I discovered about Judaism and Christianity and Islam is, they’re very similar,” said Kassab.

“This experience is really changing a lot in me,” Kassab continued. “It’s really opening my mind more.”

“If I had a chance to go back and do it over, I would not hesitate in attending Wilson College,” said Nikola Grafnetterova ’10, a graduate from the Czech Republic now in a doctoral program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi while working full time there as scholastic coordinator for student-athletes. “It was a life-changing experience.” W

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PHOTO BY FRED FIELD

After graduation, many of Wilson’s international students maintain close ties with classmates, faculty, staff and Friendly Families, which speaks volumes about their experiences.

Bassil Andijani attacks the ball during a soccer match.

That changed early on in her freshman year. Hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where her family lives, escalated during her first semester. “I was going through a hard time. I couldn’t sleep, just knowing that my parents’ names could be anywhere in the news, or my siblings or my friends,” Tafesh said. “That was the first time I actually got a sense of how caring the Wilson community is.”

Tafesh, who had kept relatively quiet about what was happening, was drawn out by her First-Year Seminar instructor.

After she talked about it, Tafesh began hearing from classmates who until then had been casual acquaintances. “They texted me, they contacted me on Facebook. Chaplain Rosie (Magee) reached

PHOTO BY JAMES BUTTS

“expect you to communicate,” she said. “I had a hard time communicating. I just assumed that it’s not necessary.”

just after the spring semester ended that year. “I’ve been really fortunate and lucky,” she said. “The school, the family, AMIDEAST … they’ve all been really supportive and kind.”

Tafesh has embraced her Wilson experience as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I’m a very extroverted person so I’m all over the place, trying new things every year, getting involved in things I never thought I’d be involved in,” said Tafesh. “I reach out to my professors; I talk to students from all different groups. It’s definitely a life-changing experience in every aspect you can think of, in terms of the religion, the culture, the perspective on the world.”

out to me,” Tafesh said. “(Faculty members), they were like, if you need time, I understand this. I realized I’m not just here by myself. I’m not here on my own.

And that’s where I felt like I belong here.”

Also during her first year, Tafesh experienced a serious health issue when acute pain led to the discovery that she had a congenital heart condition—a double-chambered right ventricle—that required surgery. With a lot of support from her Maryland host family from high school, AMIDEAST, the College community and her Wilson Friendly Family, Tafesh had the surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital

After graduation in May, Tafesh is contemplating graduate school offers from two British universities but is holding out for Oxford, where she has applied for a master’s program in English. She wants to return to Gaza and teach English at a university.

It’s winter, a week before finals, and the only thing you long for is a trip home. You can’t wait to be greeted by your family, with the scent of a homecooked meal filling the air. Now imagine that your home is 6,900 miles away and you have no way to get there. This is a reality many of Wilson’s international students face.

PHOTO BY DANIEL GLAZIER ‘18

FRIENDLY FAMILIES Offer Touch of Home is the comfort that comes from knowing locals, not from college, while so far from home,” says Ciara Teague, a student from Ireland. “They are wonderful people.”

Friendly Families form new friendships, learn about the student’s culture and sometimes receive an invitation to be hosted in the student’s home From left, Wilson students Jahniya Wesley and But all is not lost for these homesick abroad. “I like to learn about other Nana Ama Ohene-Manu with Betty Jane Weller international students, thanks to Wil- Lee '57 at a Friendly Families dinner. cultures and I like to share our culture son’s Friendly Families program. For with other people. It just broadens decades, Friendly Families have offered a way for international your perspective. The world is a much bigger place now for me,” students to connect with a local “family” and give them a home said Pat Keffer, a Friendly Family participant. away from home. With standing invitations for warm welcomes, However, the Friendly Families program is in a tenuous posifamily activities and even holiday dinners and weekend excurtion, as there is a 20% turnover rate for host families every year, sions, Friendly Families act as ambassadors for Wilson. said Miller. Not every international student is lucky enough to “Friendly Families play a critical role by inviting the student be paired up with a host family. Miller is always looking for new to participate in normal day-to-day behavior in order to gain families to participate and enrich the lives of both the hosts and an understanding of what American culture is all about,” said the students. If you would like to participate, please contact Paul Miller, Wilson’s international student and scholar services Paul Miller at paul.miller@wilson.edu. director. “The best thing about the Friendly Families program —James Butts

spring 2016 17

Molly McElroy ’17 transforms her struggle with anorexia into a campaign of hope and support

by Coleen Dee Berry

18 wilson magazine

stepped on stage in front of more than 300 of her classmates at The Catholic

School of Baltimore and painstakingly described her ongoing battle with anorexia.

She did not know how her classmates would react. “It was terrifying,” McElroy ’17

said. “I hadn’t really told people. Even my sister—she’s my best friend—when I told her, I had to turn out all the lights in the room and then text her what was wrong with me.

I was so embarrassed. It was so hard to talk about it.”

But McElroy knew that in order to conquer her eating disorder, she had to bring

it out into the open. “I had to tell my story, but I was afraid of what would happen afterwards,” she said.

spring 2016 19

PHOTO BY MATTHEW LESTER

Me F

or a high school senior, it was an act of unflinching courage. Molly McElroy

Her high school classmates did not fail her. “The majority of the students at the assembly were moved to tears by the end of her talk,” recalled Sharon Johnson, principal of The Catholic School, who was a teacher at the school at the time of the assembly. “It was extraordinarily courageous for Molly to get up

After speaking at her high school assembly, McElroy made contact with the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and began mentoring other high school students who had disorders. She created a Beautiful Me Facebook page and spoke to other groups, including Girl Scouts and other schools.

When she enrolled at Wilson, one of her first priorities was to find a way to bring Beautiful Me to campus.

PHOTO BY KENDRA TIDD

“I met Molly on orientation day when I sat down to lunch with her and her dad.

The first thing her dad said was, ‘Oh good, I’m glad you met Molly because she will be talking with you about her project,’” said Cindy Shoemaker, Wilson’s director of counseling. “I was very happy to encourage her and support Beautiful Me. Peer education is very powerful. It’s something that Wilson has embraced. It’s very empowering, especially when it’s someone who has lived it and wants to share the experience.”

Above: Molly McElroy and Tyler Smallcomb ‘18 at her Beautiful Me table in Lenfest Commons.

Right, from top: Erin Adams, far right, instructs a group of Wilson students at a Zumba class; detail of “Like a Tree My Body Is” display.

on that stage and reveal something that personal and painful about herself.”

McElroy received a huge outpouring of support from her fellow students.

“About 20 of them afterwards told me how much the talk had helped them.

It was so empowering for me, I knew I could not stop,” McElroy said. Her Beautiful Me campaign unfolded from there.

Beautiful Me is a support network and awareness campaign that stresses the positive side of body image, not just eating disorders. “Discover your greatest self and understand that you are beautiful in your own way,” Beautiful Me’s website states.

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T

The statistics are sobering. Nationwide, eating disorders affect 20 million women and 10 million men, according to NEDA. The 2014 National Survey of Counseling Centers found that 21.3 percent of college counseling center directors had reported an increase in students with eating disorders over the previous five years. A 2013 study by NEDA showed eating disorders increasing on college campuses: In 1995, 23 percent of women and 8 percent of male students reported eating disorders, and in 2008 those figures had increased to 32 percent of women and 10 percent of men.

Eating disorders range from anorexia (taking extreme measures to avoid eating) and bulimia (eating, then purging through vomiting or laxatives) to binge eating (periods of uncontrolled excessive eating). Another form of eating disorder is a constant preoccupation with exercise.

vivor and Harrisburg Area Community College coordinator of student life and multicultural affairs, who uses improv workshops to speak about eating disorders. “Campaigns like Molly's Beautiful Me are crucial,” Shaw said. “They often intercept girls at critical turning points and offer real hope in really dark periods.”

There has also been an increase in what is termed “disordered eating” by college students, according to the NEDA. An individual with disordered eating is often engaged in some of the same behavior as those with eating disorders, but at a lesser frequency or lower level of severity. Research by NEDA suggests that more than 50 percent of the overall national population has, at one time, demonstrated problematic or disordered relationships with food, body and exercise.

Shoemaker said she sees more evidence of disordered eating on campus than full-blown eating disorders.

“The students come here and there’s no longer any parental control over food. They can have as much pizza and ice cream as they want,” she said.

“So many get the dreaded freshman 15 (gaining 15 pounds the first year at college) and then they’re trying everything to lose it.”

Eating disorders are complicated to identify because most victims are good at hiding their symptoms and are in denial that they have a problem.

National Institute of Mental Health statistics show that almost 80 percent of students with eating disorders do not seek help. “Often it will be the friend group around the student who will come to us and say they are concerned about their friend’s behavior,” Shoemaker said.

“I think, for every case of someone with an eating disorder that I know about on campus, there’s probably about another four students who are struggling with one and not saying anything,” said Wilson Director of Residence Life Sherri Sadowski.

So when McElroy said she wanted to use Beautiful Me to raise awareness and foster support on campus, Wilson’s counseling and student development staff members embraced the idea. “At a larger school, they may have brushed Molly’s idea off, saying that we have our own program, we don’t need yours, but here we encourage that type of involvement,” said Leah Rockwell, campus counselor. “And Molly and her program certainly have reached many people on campus.”

For the past three years at the end of February, McElroy—with the help of other students who support her Beautiful Me campaign—has organized a week’s worth of events both to promote positive body image and to increase awareness about eating disorders. One of the fixtures of Beautiful Me week is the “Like a Tree My Body Is” display in Lenfest lobby. Students are encouraged to take a paper leaf, write one positive word about their appearance on it and then pin the leaf to the large cutout tree on display.

Last year, the week featured a talk

by Sara Shaw, an eating disorder sur-

This year, the week was themed “Let Your Light Shine” and students made luminaries, which were lit on the campus green after the final Beautiful Me event on Sunday, Feb. 28. Another highlight was an evening Zumba class, which featured a talk by instructor Erin Adams about her personal eating disorder challenges.

McElroy’s outreach is not limited to the February week of events. During the spring semester, she helped form

PHOTO BY MATTHEW LESTER

PHOTO BY JAMES BUTTS

Shaw praises McElroy’s dedication.

“I was so happy to see her initiative, and it's refreshing to see someone like her in college. Wilson is lucky to have her. I think the impact she's making is phenomenal.”

Foot Steps, a campus club designed to offer a support network for those coping with mental health issues, including eating disorders. She led a Beautiful Me team that participated in a fundraising walk-a-thon in Baltimore in the fall, and she volunteers for Chambersburg’s Women In Need program. And every

spring 2016 21

PHOTO BY MATTHEW LESTER

year, McElroy returns to her high school in Baltimore to speak to students.

“I think that programs like Beautiful Me help people to understand what eating disorders are and that they really do exist,” McElroy said. “I want to let others know that they are not alone and there are others who are struggling too.”

Beautiful Me volunteer Lily Rembold ’17 said she became close friends with McElroy during their freshman year.

“Hearing Molly’s story and being her friend through part of her recovery has really given me a passion for helping others who struggle with eating disorders and self-image,” Rembold said. “The most important thing I have learned is that recovery is a never-ending process. It takes time and hard work and a lot of energy. That's why people who are struggling need a really good support system, and that's what Beautiful Me is here to do.”

M

McElroy’s problems started when her older sister—and best friend—Maggie left for college at the start of Molly’s sophomore year in high school.

McElroy admits she took up with group of friends, including a boyfriend, “who were hurtful and bad influences.” She began to experience physical stomach pains that kept her from eating. She was convinced something was wrong with her, but all the tests showed there

22 wilson magazine

was nothing wrong—except she was rapidly losing weight and not eating.

ical and negative,” McElroy said. “He had to go.”

Pat McElroy, Molly’s mother, has a background in counseling, but said even she did not realize the full impact a sibling leaving for college can have on those remaining behind. She and her husband, Tom, despaired as they watched their daughter become more withdrawn and grapple with eating issues. “As a mom, I desperately wanted to fix this for Molly and it was very hard realizing that I wasn’t the one who could fix things,” she said.

McElroy credits her love of horses and riding with helping her get a handle on her disorder. One of her doctors suggested she was becoming too underweight to ride safely. “That pushed me to decide that I wanted to recover, that I loved riding too much to let ED take that away,” she said.

When a doctor first confronted her with a diagnosis of anorexia, “‘I was very, very angry with him,” McElroy said. “I was like, ‘No, this is not why I’m not

C

Her parents encouraged McElroy to network for support. Pat McElroy said she finally told her daughter, “If you want to deal with your problem and get better, you have to build something to help other people who are suffering just like you are.” She helped Molly arrange the talk before her high school

ampaigns like Molly's Beautiful Me are crucial. They often intercept girls at critical turning points and offer real hope in really dark periods.”

– Sara Shaw, eating disorder speaker eating. There HAS to be something wrong because my stomach hurts so much.’ I didn’t understand that I was mentally causing my pain.”

A therapist helped her realize she did indeed have an eating disorder.

She gave her disorder a name—ED. Her therapist encouraged her to treat the disorder like a person, and realize that she had to “break up” with this person.

“ED was like a bad boyfriend, always trying to tell me what to do, being crit-

assembly, and Pat McElroy also spoke about being a parent and facing her daughter’s problem. “I actually found out more about her and how she felt during that talk than I had known before,” she said.

Pat McElroy continues to support her daughter’s Beautiful Me effort, recently helping her to create a webpage. “I know that Molly is probably going to have to struggle with this issue for the rest of her life, but by helping others,

she is helping herself stay on track,” McElroy said. “Her dad and I have always told Molly, ‘God put you on this earth for a purpose—that you’re here to help make a difference’ and that she is doing that through Beautiful Me.” McElroy has made a difference on Wilson’s campus. One of her Beautiful Me volunteers, Emma Miller ’17, said she became involved in the group because she has undergone some of the same challenges McElroy faced.

Miller was a cross country runner who led Wilson’s team to the NEAC championships her freshman year. But she also was obsessed with being thinner and fitter. “I became worried about everything I ate and didn't see food as fuel for my body. I saw it as something necessary that I would then need to burn off,” Miller said. She tried every diet and “had issues” with binge eating disorder.

But through the support of McElroy and Beautiful Me, she was able to get her eating dysfunction under control.

the newly created Foot Steps club, which McElroy said will carry on her efforts to raise awareness of eating disorders and offer victims support.

McElroy’s dedication has impressed not only her peers, but the entire Wilson community. “Her willingness to put her own story out there makes her very vulnerable, but it also empowers others to share their own vulnerabilities,” said Rockwell. “Molly’s very committed and dedicated to getting her message out. She doesn’t get paid for this; she doesn’t get credit. It’s certainly an act of service—and it sets a powerful example for the other students.” W

Below: Molly McElroy and Malachai, one of Wilson's school horses. At left, McElroy talks before lighting luminaries during the last event of Beautiful Me week.

“I now chase progression and not perfection,” Miller said. “Loving myself and working towards being stronger has carried over into my relationships with others. I have become a better sister, daughter, friend, and have the capacity to care for someone else.

“I'd be lying if I said there are no struggles remaining,” Miller continued.

“There are always struggles. But when the mind is cared for above all else, the power those struggles hold over you is weakened. Beautiful Me reminds me of that and empowers others to do the same.”

The program will also continue at Wilson after McElroy graduates through

PHOTO BY FLIP CHALFONT

Beautiful Me will continue after college, McElroy said. She chose Wilson because she wanted to major in equine-facilitated therapeutics, and she sees herself merging the two.

“My dream for Beautiful Me would be to open a small company where women can come to have group sessions and ride horses and learn how to love themselves.”

State Sen. Jane Kitchel '67 in the Senate chambers of the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier, Vt.

24 wilson magazine

the “quintessential vermonter,” state sen. jane kitchel ’67 leads a life of service to her fellow citizens

by Lori L. Ferguson | Photos by Toby Talbot

A

s a 2004 Vermont state senatorial candidate, Jane Kitchel ’67 faced formidable odds. She was a Democrat vying for an office that her party had not held since 1912. And she was a woman, running in a very Republican region of the state against two male incumbents—a move, Kitchel wryly observed, that is generally not recommended. But she was heavily recruited and believed she could make a difference, so Kitchel went for it.

Not only did she succeed, she was the top vote getter, as she has been in every election since. “I worked really hard to win that race,” Kitchel said, “but my feeling is, ‘If you take it on, you’d better step up.’ As my mother always said, ‘Take what you do seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously.’”

Kitchel has always taken her role as public servant seriously, and over the past 49 years has leveraged every opportunity to deliver for her constituents. Currently in her sixth term, she is among the most knowledgeable politicians in the state and, as chair of the Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful. She’s had a hand in many critical pieces of legislation and garners respect across party lines. “Jane is funny, articulate, reasoned and practical,” said state Sen. Richard Westman, a Republican from Lamoille County. “She has government experience and a practical nature that allows her to be one of the most effective members of the Legislature. I feel extremely lucky to have her as a state Senate colleague.

“She’s also one best bakers I know,” he added. “Everyone in the building looks forward to her cakes!”

Kitchel brushes off the praise with characteristic modesty. “I like to work through others and give credit where credit is due,” she said. “And I never ask anyone to work harder than I’m willing to work myself. People notice these things.”

One of 10 children, Kitchel was raised on a large dairy farm in the Caledonia County town of Danville, in the area commonly known

as the Northeast Kingdom. In addition to managing the family farm, her parents, Harold and Catherine McDonald Beattie, served as guardians for people with developmental disabilities and mental health issues. Her mother also served a term in the Legislature in the mid-1960s.

“Throughout my childhood, I was exposed to values of civic engagement and community involvement,” Kitchel recalled.

“That’s the breadth of experience I had as a child. We were constantly exposed to people from all walks of life—their stories, needs, trials and tribulations. I remember having dinners with U.S. Sen. Ralph Flanders (R.-Vt.), who was a family friend. As kids, we just took it for granted.”

It seemed a foregone conclusion that Kitchel and her siblings would continue the family legacy of giving back to the community. Today Kitchel is joined at the statehouse by her younger sister, Catherine “Kitty” Toll, who serves as a Democratic state representative for the Caledonia-Washington district.

Kitchel wasted little time in getting involved in the business of her state. After graduating from Wilson College in 1967, she took an entry-level position in what was then Vermont’s Department of Social Welfare, and over the next 35 years, worked her way to the top, retiring in 2002 as Secretary of the Agency of Human Services.

After stepping down, Kitchel toyed with the idea of leaving the public sector. “I thought I could do some of the things that I

explained. As the chair of the Appropriations Committee, Kitchel is in constant demand for meetings. She serves on the state’s Transportation Committee, as well.

Regular committee work begins at 9 a.m., so Kitchel books meetings early in the morning, as well as during lunch and afternoon breaks. “We have no staff to assist us and we have no offices, so much of my work, such as correspondence, emails and reading, has to be done at home on weekends,” she said.

The work is taxing, yet Kitchel clearly revels in the challenges.

“For me, this is a demanding and rewarding job, since policy priorities all have to be translated into how fiscal resources are allocated. I’ve been very fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time, and I’ve been recruited to take on the right jobs,” she said.

Yet a cursory review of Kitchel’s accomplishments belies such humility. During her tenure in the Agency of Human Services, she played an instrumental role in establishing Dr. Dynasaur, a publicly funded healthcare program created in 1989 to ensure universal health insurance coverage for all Vermont children.

She was a key player in the creation of Vermont 2-1-1, a general resource number that provides state residents with information on hundreds of important community resources, from emergency food and shelter to senior services and legal assistance.

And she was on the frontlines of Vermont’s first-in-the-nation statewide overhaul of the public welfare system during the Clinton era.

You can’t be a committee of one. You need to engage people, respect their thinking and value their perspectives. No matter the task at hand, you don’t need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You can’t.

You must form partnerships and work collaboratively. It’s the only way.”

—state sen. jane kitchel ’67 hadn’t been able to do while working full time,” she said. Soon, however, she was encouraged to run for a state Senate seat and, after much deliberation, she decided to take on the challenge.

“I thought to myself, ‘What if I don’t do it? Will I look back with regret?’—and I also asked myself, ‘What if I don’t win?’ But I’ve always believed that if you only undertake things where you are guaranteed success, you won’t try much, so I decided to give it a go.”

After her election success, Kitchel threw herself back into the legislative maelstrom that has come to define her life, a press of meetings and committee work that frequently spills over into the weekend, a time when senatorial duties are interspersed with household chores. “Every day is pretty much scheduled from the time I enter the statehouse to when I leave,” she

26 wilson magazine

“Jane is one of the most capable people I’ve ever met,” said former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. “She was the architect of our universal healthcare program. She’s a real treasure, and we’re lucky to have her.”

Kitchel is proud of what she's accomplished for her state, but concedes that advocating for change hasn't always been easy.

“When we were working through the welfare overhaul, I was accused of leading an economic assault on the most economically oppressed women in the state,” she said. “It was difficult, but I believed creating alternatives to welfare dependence through education, training opportunities and other human capital investments for single women was worth the battle.” Wilson embraces these same values, she noted, in the College’s Single Parent Scholar program.

and the value of money,” she said. “They realize the importance of community responsibility and have a deep-seated respect for sense of place and self.

“I grew up on a farm that’s been in the McDonald family since the 1830s,” she continued. “My mother continued the tradition and operated the farm for nearly 50 years.” Now it is Kitchel’s nephew who leads the farming enterprise. “The land is part of your soul,” she said.

When it came time to go to college, Kitchel cast her gaze farther afield. “I wanted to get outside of the New England region for a while and meet new people, and I was also interested in attending a women’s college,” she recalled. A family friend suggested she consider Wilson College, a school known for its commitment to intellectual rigor. Kitchel liked what she found.

“I was also fortunate to be the recipient of some generous scholarships from Wilson, which—coming from a large farm family—helped considerably.”

Above: State Sen. Jane Kitchel '67 at work during a legislative session. At right: Kitchel discusses state business with Secretary of the Senate John Bloomer Jr.

Throughout it all, Kitchel remains committed to listening and building bridges. “I always ask for other’s opinions. You can’t be a committee of one. You need to engage people, respect their thinking and value their perspectives. No matter the task at hand, you don’t need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You can’t. You must form partnerships and work collaboratively. It’s the only way.”

Among those with whom Kitchel has collaborated over the years is Democratic 2016 presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. “Bernie has a great ability to connect on a personal level and he nurtures relationships,” she said. “His history in Vermont is one of trying to improve the lives of ordinary people wherever possible.”

Sanders is equally complimentary. “State Sen. Jane Kitchel is respected around the state, not just because she is the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, but because she puts the needs of ordinary Vermonters above all else,” he said. “Her vast experience in state government—having served as Secretary for Human Services—is grounded by a hard-working family farm life. Jane has always been someone my staff and I could count on to discuss health, education and other important issues facing Vermont and in particular, the Northeast Kingdom.”

Kitchel is also a tireless community volunteer, serving a host of leadership roles for institutions such as the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, Danville Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Food Bank, Northeastern Vermont Area Health Education Center and Danville Congregational Church.

Kitchel majored in history at Wilson and credits the liberal arts education she received there for contributing to her success.

“The values I encountered there, including the honor principle, were solid and the exposure to the larger world was invaluable. I learned to read with a critical eye, analyze a situation thoughtfully and write.”

Kitchel has leveraged those lessons to great advantage over the course of her career, and she shows little sign of slowing down.

She’s currently focused on securing data that the Legislature can use to evaluate return on investment for the services and programs they support. “We need to make sure that our public investments serve us well,” she said.

“I’ve been blessed with good health and I’m always working to keep things in perspective,” Kitchel said. “I look back at my career and think, ‘I was there at some interesting and pivotal times relating to social policy.’ Our legacy defines us and the next generation.

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished on behalf of the people of Vermont.” W

Dean once described Kitchel as “the quintessential Vermonter,” a moniker she gladly accepts. “Vermonters believe in hard work

spring 2016 27

EYES OPENED A lesson in racism—past and present—for Wilson students during a trip to Selma

By Coleen Dee Berry

E

ven more so than the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge, one city street in Selma, Ala., came to symbolize the legacy of racism to a group of Wilson College students.

Associate Professor of Religion David True led five students on a January-Term travel seminar tracing the footsteps of Martin Luther King Jr. The trip focused on Selma, where images of “Bloody Sunday”—a brutal clash between club-wielding police and peaceful civil rights marchers on the Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965— were captured on television and horrified American viewers.

But it was Broad Street in Selma that evoked a more present outrage for the Wilson students. Members of the nonprofit

where the poverty line was drawn; it was right there on that street,” said Charles Meck ’18. “On the black side, buildings were falling in on themselves. There were burnt-out buildings just crumbling. On the white side, the landscaping was exquisite and houses were beautiful.”

“Before I went down there, I didn’t really realize how prevalent racism is in our society,” said Cassandra Watkins ’17. “And it’s not just down South. You come back here and you start noticing things that you never noticed before—if someone uses a term or makes a joke, you really pick up on it a lot more.”

The trip’s focus was King’s impact on events that unfolded in Selma and other

What struck me most was this one street, Broad Street, which divided the town racially … That divide is still there today.

— Patty Hall ’18 Something New Foundation, which helped sponsor Wilson’s trip, took the group on a city tour. “What struck me most was this one street, Broad Street, which divided the town racially between the poor black side and the affluent white side,” said Patty Hall ’18. “That divide is still there today. Just being able to see that, not just read it in a book, but to actually drive down the street and see it, was very powerful.”

areas of the South during the civil rights movement, True said. After the Bloody Sunday attack on protestors, King organized a symbolic march across the Pettus Bridge and then led more than 3,000 protestors in a historic Selma-to-Montgomery march to highlight voting rights abuses.

The students were told that black residents once were required to obtain a permit to cross the street to the white side of town. Even though segregation that egregious is now in the past, Broad Street laid bare the glaring racial divide that still exists today, the students said.

The trip offered students the opportunity to visit churches where King spoke and to understand the role religion played in King’s activism, True said. “I think it was really valuable, going to the churches and attending worship services there. It helped me to understand how the black church was really a political and cultural force that helped propel the civil rights movement,” Hall said.

“It was such a stark difference between white and black, you could clearly see

The students took a course in non-violent protest training and met with James

28 wilson magazine

Webb, who was a teenager when he participated in the historic Selma marches. As a volunteer service component, the group worked with Something New to help tutor pupils at a local elementary school. They also visited Birmingham and Montgomery, Ala., and spent time in Atlanta, Ga., at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights—where they experienced the museum’s lunch counter simulation.

The simulation is designed to immerse visitors in the real-life experience of young, black college students who attempted to sit at a segregated lunch counter. “You sit on a stool, put your hands on the counter and shut your eyes. You can hear everyone yelling at you, really loud and nasty, and your stool bangs around like people are hitting or kicking you. I don’t know how the people who actually did this were able to employ the methods of non-violence,” Hall said. “Because you just want to cry,” added Watkins. “I had to keep telling myself it wasn’t real.”

True, who grew up in Birmingham, said he was inspired by King, whom he described as a beacon for justice. “In some small way, this course and this trip was my offering to MLK and my attempt to pay homage to the civil rights movement,” True said. He noted that several of the students had never been taught the details of the Selma protests.

“We have to be on guard against cultural amnesia,” he said. “The antidote to that is getting the students out into the field and getting them immersed in the experience.”

All five of his students said the trip changed their perceptions. “Just because the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts were passed (in the 1960s) doesn't mean underlying issues went away,” said Marissa Rankin ’19. “Racism still exists, and it has been difficult adjusting back to my 'former life' of not knowing. I went on this trip and it opened my eyes.” W

AROUND THE GREEN

Top: The Edmund Pettus Bridge, scene of the “Bloody Sunday” Selma march. Bottom: At the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, from left: Wilson Associate Professor of Philosophy John Elia, Cassandra Watkins ‘17, Morgan Shadle ‘14, Marissa Rankin ‘19, Patty Hall ‘18, Something New organizer Jarah Botello and Charles Meck ‘18.

spring 2016 29

SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES Katelyn Wingerd ‘16 found her purpose in making a difference

By Debbie Chestnut

G

et involved and make a difference.

This has been Katelyn Wingerd’s mantra since she arrived at Wilson, and regardless of the role—Curran Scholar, student-athlete, class president or dedicated volunteer—she has exceled.

Wingerd ’16 has made the most of her time at Wilson by being open to new experiences. “Don’t be afraid to try something new,” she said. “Trust yourself and trust others. Spread your wings and try something you never thought you would do.

Take advantage of each opportunity.”

where she works with Heather Tschop, who taught Wingerd in first grade when she was growing up in Orrtanna.

age. Wingerd called the experience “amazing—the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever done.”

Teaching is Wingerd’s passion. It began when she worked as a classroom aide in high school and as a nursery school intern at the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring. During her first year at Wilson, she acted as a student coordinator for the Col-

“I had always wanted to study abroad, but I was looking to do more than that,” she said. “I wanted to serve abroad.”

I honestly know of no better person to be working with our young children. She'll be making a difference from the ground up.

Dean of Students Mary Beth Williams recalls being impressed with Wingerd early on. “She’s the first Wilson student I ever met,” Williams said. “She was on the search committee that brought me here. I was looking for a place where I could work with some amazing students, and when I met her I thought, ‘I’ve found the right place.’”

lege’s migrant tutoring program in partnership with the Lincoln Intermediate Unit.

An early childhood education and Spanish major, Wingerd spent this spring semester as a student teacher for a first-grade class at Franklin Township Elementary School in the Gettysburg Area School District,

As a junior in 2015, Wingerd participated in a nine-week study-service program in San José, Costa Rica, taking two classes at La Universidad Latina and volunteering at Hospicio de Huérfanos children’s orphan-

30 wilson magazine

Wilson education professor Lynn Newman said Wingerd has the potential

—Mary Beth Williams, Dean of Students to be an outstanding educator. “She can think about her own teaching plus the needs of her students, and that allows her to envision the entire teaching experience,” said Newman, who serves as Wingerd’s academic adviser and student teaching supervisor.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW LESTER

PHOTO BY JAMES BUTTS

AROUND THE GREEN

PHOTO BY FRED FIELD

From left: In her role as a student teacher, Katelyn Wingerd ‘16 reads to first-grade students at Franklin Township Elementary School; on the cross country team (Wingerd in center of photo) and, as senior class president, Wingerd addresses the crowd at the 2015 rededication of the John Stewart Memorial Library.

Williams agrees. “She could probably do anything in the world that she wanted to do, but she wants to work with young children,” said Williams. “I honestly know of no better person to be working with our children. She’ll be making a difference from the ground up.”

During her four years at Wilson, Wingerd played softball, ran cross country, performed more than 260 hours of community service as a volunteer with the Curran Scholarship Program, and joined the Spanish Club, Habitat for Humanity Club and Agape. As senior class president, she welcomed visitors at the rededication of the John Stewart Memorial Library last October.

She is a veteran of three Habitat for Humanity Alternative Spring Break trips, serving as student organizer of last year’s trip to the communities of Athens and Logan, Ohio. “Katelyn was instrumental in making the trip a success,” said Christine Mayer, director of Wilson’s Fulton Center for Sustainable Living and one of the advisers for the 2015 trip. “There’s a lot of behind-the-scene work … and Katelyn

really worked well with the group there to iron out all of the concerns.”

Wingerd said her Habitat for Humanity experiences have helped her learn new skills and make new friends, and provided a lifetime of memories, in addition to the chance to serve. “At the end of the day, you know you are making a difference for a family—that’s the most important part,” she said.

Mayer said it’s that kind of attitude that gives Wingerd a promising future. “Katelyn is always smiling and she is always happy,” Mayer said. “She is just an amazing spirit. Her presence on campus will be missed when she graduates.”

Wingerd’s spirit also shines on the athletic field. Wingerd twice received the annual Phoenix Award from her fellow student-athletes, which “acknowledges an athlete who has ignited the fire for his/her team; an athlete who was the spark, the support, the motivation for his/her team.”

“I love sports because I love the teamwork that’s involved,” Wingerd said.

Softball coach Brett Cline called Wingerd, a four-year starting catcher, a leader on the playing field. “Katelyn is a player a coach dreams about,” he said. “And when it's over, when we walk off the field for the last time, our hearts will crumble. We are very proud that she was part of our Wilson softball family. Katelyn will forever be what few can claim—a true student-athlete.”

Her years at Wilson have given her confidence, Wingerd said. “I feel prepared. I’ve learned a lot of new skills and met so many wonderful people.”

She said she intends to spend a few years teaching at the elementary school level and then possibly attending graduate school. But Wingerd is sure teaching is for her because it gives her more opportunities to make a difference. “It’s a way to impact kids from a young age, to build skills that extend far beyond academics,” she said. W

spring 2016 31

OPENING

SERVE

Men‘s Volleyball Embarks on Inaugural Season

By Jeremy Shepherd

W

ilson’s Men’s Volleyball Head Coach Jason Barshinger has met the challenges of building a team from the ground up with determination and creativity.

With one exception, all team members are first-year students. The lone upper-classman is junior Jessie Thrush ’17, one of three female players on the team (the others are Hannah Quarry ’19 and Carrie Whitman ’19).

Although all of the team members had played volleyball before, none had competed on an organized team before coming to Wilson.

“Our first year is about developing players and setting an attitude that we will work hard every single time on the court,” Barshinger said. “When you look at this group, it’s quite an impressive showing of talents coming together. Everyone is working to better themselves and those around them—and we’re getting better every game.”

The addition of men’s athletics teams on campus came as part of the Wilson Today plan approved by the Board of Trustees in early 2013, which extended coeducation to the residential undergraduate program.

The Phoenix men’s volleyball team started its inaugural season in 2016 as part of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC).

Since there wasn't a women’s volleyball team on campus, NCAA rules allowed women to compete on the men’s team. “We have three women on the team who work extremely hard,” Barshinger said. “We are fortunate to have them. I fully expect contributions from all three of them this year.”

32 wilson magazine

Whitman said she was initially disappointed that Wilson did not have a women’s volleyball team, but jumped at the opportunity to join the men’s team. “Having the coed team is a great experience, in my opinion,” she said. “Being able to play has helped me gain new friendships that I probably never would have had if it wasn't for the team being coed.”

The opportunity to play on a college team has made her a better player, Whitman said. “It's nice for us three women on the team to be able to play what we love and to be able to prove ourselves as athletes as well.”

The three women are an integral part of the team. “I honestly think it’s great that there are women on this team. I love that they get to compete at a college level and prove that they can hang with these 6'5” guys who hit the ball straight down,” said Evan Hoke ’19, whose twin, Aaron Hoke ’19, also plays for the team. “They bring a lot of joy and laughter to the team and I don't think the energy would be the same without the women on the team this year. They're just really inspirational.”

Putting together the volleyball program with less than a full year of recruiting created some challenges for the first-year program, according to Barshinger, who also serves as an admissions counselor. “With this first year, we have a talented group of recruited athletes who are side-by-side with players who have never played organized volleyball,” he said. “The mix of experience levels is a tough task to take on, but we have an excellent group that is working

hard together and, each day, seeing the results of their hard work.”

Before heading up the Wilson program, Barshinger coached at both the high school and college levels. During his time at Central Pennsylvania College, he created and established the inaugural men and women's volleyball programs. “This will be the second program that I started from scratch,” Barshinger said of his Wilson head coaching position.

The team undertook an ambitious 20-game schedule, which included 16 conference games, and—something new to Wilson teams—crossover events. In order to allow for all of the NEAC teams to play each other, the conference selects institutions to host crossover events, which are two-day competitions where teams from the north division play teams from the south division in one location. Wilson hosted a crossover the first weekend of March and won its first set in a Feb. 27 home match vs. Bard College.

Barshinger is optimistic about the rest of the season. “Our offense is very creative for a first-year program,” he said. “Defensively, we're understanding reads very well and I feel passing is one of our strengths.

If we do the little things with technique and are constantly ready, we'll keep a very clean court.” W Editor's note: At press time, plans were announced to form a women's volleyball team this fall (see page 7).

PHOTO BY BOB STOLER

AROUND THE GREEN

Men's Volleyball Head Coach Jason Barshinger goes over the game plan with his squad before a match with Hilbert College.

PHOENIX SPORTS WRAP Wilson College athletics wrapped up the winter season for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, while the inaugural men’s volleyball season began in February. Softball and men’s golf also started their spring seasons as the magazine went to press.

The MEN'S BASKETBALL team finished the season strong, winning two of its last three games—including a thrilling victory in which the team scored 100 points for the first time, winning 100-92 over Penn State Abington. In that game, Keion Adams ’18 led the Phoenix with 24 points and 13 rebounds for his Wilson record 13th double-double of the season. The men’s basketball team ended the season with a 6-17 record.

Two first-year players led the WOMEN’S BASKETBALL team on the court this season. Jordyn Day ’19 led in scoring with an average of 15.7 points per game, while Lindsey Purvis ’19 was second in scoring with an average of 12.6 points per game and led

the team with 6.8 rebounds per game. The women’s basketball team ended the season with a 2-21 record.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL opened its inaugural season and held its first home match on Feb. 27 vs. Bard College. While the team lost the match by a score of 3-1, it marked the first time the team won a set during a match. The following weekend, the team played host to a NEAC (North Eastern Athletic Conference) crossover tournament. Nine matches were played on campus over a twoday period and featured five visiting colleges.

The WOMEN’S SOFTBALL team started the season with trips to North Carolina and Virginia. Kayla Sullenberger ’17 had an outstanding performance in a doubleheader sweep of Mary Baldwin College, as she pitched a complete-game shutout in a 6-0 victory. Sullenberger also helped herself at the plate during the wins, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and four RBIs in each game.

spring 2016 33

ASSOCIATION NEWS Spring has arrived!

Another academic year has come and is almost gone. On May 15, we will welcome new members to the Alumnae Association. Remember how exciting it was when you graduated? Then everyone goes off in their own direction.

One way you can stay in touch—Reunion Weekend.

The theme for Reunion Weekend this year is “Many Paths, One Spirit.” We come from different places, different careers, different walks of life. However, we all have one alma mater.

We hope you plan to join us on June 3-5 for Reunion Weekend 2016. All are welcome. The schedule can be found in the winter edition of Wilson Magazine and online at www.wilson.edu/reunion16.

Friday morning we will tour the Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church and its grounds. There will be multiple panel discussions on Friday afternoon, including panels on Life Transitions and Women in the Arts. Join us for the Picnic on the Green, a family-friendly event, followed by ghost stories told by Athena Varounis ’76 and Michael Albert ’11. On Saturday, the president of the College and president of the Alumnae Association will give their annual reports. Saturday afternoon highlights include our annual award presentations and reception. The reimagined John Stewart Memorial Library and the Hankey Center will be open all weekend.

On another note, there has been increased collaboration with the career development office this year. We have been fostering relationships between students and alums. Make sure we have your career information so that we can make the right connections. Giving to the internship gift program is also a way to participate in this worthwhile cause.

All of the efforts and work performed by alumnae/i this past year are much appreciated. It is through our great volunteers that so much is accomplished. Thank you for your time, talent and treasure.

Mary F. Cramer ’91 President , Alumnae Association of Wilson College Marybeth Famulare Director of Alumnae/i Relations

34 wilson magazine

REUNION AWARD

WINNERS ANNOUNCED The Alumnae Association Board of Directors has announced the 2016 AAWC award recipients, who will be honored at Reunion Weekend: • Distinguished Alumna Award—Pamela Francis Kiehl ’66.

• Distinguished Adult Degree Program Alumna/us Award— Christine S. Mayer ’07.

• Outstanding Young Alumna Award—Zhe Qian ’96.

• Tift College Award: Jane Hilleman Wingerd ’51, Loretta Hunt Marion ’61, Priscilla A. Guild ’66 and Cathie Sunderland Jenkins ’71.

• Faculty Award—Paula C. Kellinger.

In addition, the AAWC board has announced that the recipient of the Legacy Scholarship Award will be Abby Burkhart ’16, daughter of Angela Gable Burkhart ’78.

Please join us in honoring these recipients during the awards presentation on Saturday, June 4, during Reunion Weekend.

If you would like to nominate a classmate for a future award, please send an email to alumnae@wilson.edu.

SUPPORT

AAWC

Show your support of the Alumnae Association by contributing to these efforts: • The Round Robin Raffle will be held on Reunion Weekend to raise funds for the association’s operating budget. Tickets can be purchased for $2 each or $10 for seven. Prizes will be drawn the evening of Saturday, June 4.

• The association is also currently accepting donations for the raffle. For more information how to donate, contact Kendal Hopkins ’80 at aawc@wilson.edu.

• Give to the AAWC Silver Lining Fund. The fund is designed to provide students with immediate cash to get them through a crisis. Please make your donations payable to AAWC with Silver Lining Fund in the memo line. Mail to AAWC, 1015 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, Pa. 17201.

CAREER CONNECTIONS Do you want to lend a hand to help Wilson students pursue their chosen careers? Linda Boeckman, Wilson's director of career development, welcomes all alumnae/i who want to contribute time, information and expertise to her office.

To assist Wilson students as they move into their next step in life, there are many ways alumnae/i can join the team: • Allow a student to serve as intern or job-shadow you.

• Give a campus presentation.

• Help with mock interviews.

• Refer employers to the career office.

• Send job openings to the career office.

• Provide information to our students about areas where they might be thinking about moving.

• Sponsor or assist in finding funds for the internship gift program.

• Sponsor or assist in finding funds for career events on campus such as etiquette dinners.

Boeckman is also available to provide career guidance for alumnae/i as well. She can be reached at 717-262-2006, or linda.boeckman@wilson.edu.

FLAT PHOENIX SIGHTINGS Joan Hoover Hellwege ‘56, husband Conrad and Flat Phoenix at a banana plantation on the island of St. Lucia, in the Lesser Antilles. Flat Phoenix remarked it’s a lot hotter here than in Chambersburg!

Do you have a Flat Phoenix adventure you'd like to share?

You can send your photo and caption in for posting on the Wilson website. Email your photo to alumnae@ wilson.edu. Visit www.wilson.edu/alumn to print your Flat Phoenix and to see more photos!

2016 TOURS AND TRAVEL Summer is right around the corner and it’s time to think vacation! The Alumnae Association of Wilson College Tours and Travel Committee is offering the following trips: JUNE 20-27—COASTAL MAINE AND NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA Two nights in Bar Harbor, Maine; three nights on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada; and two nights in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick.

Please contact AHI Travel at www.wilson.ahitravel. com or call 800-323-7373.

JULY 15-22—DISCOVER SOUTHEAST ALASKA Seven nights on the Admiralty Dream. Enjoy Sitka, Hidden Falls, Glacier Bay, Point Adolphus, Juneau and Baranof Island, with an optional pre-tour in Denali National Park. Note: This ship has a 66-guest maximum. For more information, call Orbridge at 866-639-0079 or visit wilson.orbridge.com.

AUG. 10-18—OXFORD, THE COTSWOLDS AND THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE Includes a visit to Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle and the village of Bampton, a private lunch at Blenheim Palace and a meeting with Lord

Charles Spencer-Churchill. Please contact Gohagan at www.gohagantravel.com or call 800-922-3088.

SEPTEMBER 8-16—ITALIAN LAKES AND VENICE Three nights in Venice, four nights in Cernobbia on Lake Como, Bellagio, Maggiore and Verona. Please contact Gohagan at www. gohagantravel.com or call 800-922-3088.

Whenever you travel with Go Next, AHI Travel or Orbridge, be sure to mention you are a Wilson graduate. Your mention will prompt Lake Como, Italy the companies to make a donation to the Alumnae Association. Visit Go Next at www.gonext.com, AHI Travel at ahitravel.com and Orbridge at orbridge.com. This offer includes any trip, regardless of whether it is sponsored by Wilson.

For more information on AAWC-sponsored trips, please go to www.wilson.edu/alumnae-tours-and-travel. The Alumnae Association appreciates your support. Bon voyage!

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION BOARD NOMINEES Alumnae/i can vote by mail or online at www.wilson.edu/2016slate. Online voting will close on June 1, before Reunion Weekend. Members can vote in person during the annual Alumnae Association General Meeting from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, in Brooks Auditorium.

VICE PRESIDENT: Sue Ann Morin Cook ’81 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and later earned a Master of Business Administration from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H. Over the years, she has held management positions in marketing, sales, customer support and operations in a variety of industries.

Cook lives in Newbury, N.H., and recently retired from her corporate career. She is now working in a low-stress, fun job at the Mount Sunapee Ski Resort.

In her own words: “I have enjoyed my three years as treasurer of the AAWC and I am ready and willing to take on a new role in support of the vision and goals of both the association and the College.”

TREASURER: Karen McMullen Freeman ’76 received a Master of Business Administration from Ohio State University (OSU) after graduating from Wilson. She has worked for a number of companies including Owens-Illinois, Bristol-Myers Squib, the Toledo Hospital and United Way of Greater Toledo, and has held positions in business analysis, strategic planning, market research and finance. For the last 10 years, Freeman has been the finance director for Rossford, Ohio. Rossford recently received an AAA debt rating from Standard & Poor’s, and Freeman has been recognized six times by the Ohio Auditor of State for excellence in financial reporting and accountable government. She has been a board member of the OSU Alumni Club of Wood County for six years and the organization’s treasurer for five years.

In her own words: “I would like to use my experience in finance and accounting to help the Alumnae Association, and I hope that my

36 wilson magazine

six years of experience with the OSU alumni club will allow me to contribute ideas that will help to cement relationships between Wilson College and alumnae/i.”

ALUMNAE TRUSTEE: Sarah Weikert Wilson ’10 of Chambersburg earned a bachelor’s degree in art history and received the Margaret Strode Haines Award and the Wilson College Fine Arts prize. She earned her master’s degree in American studies at Penn State University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in American studies from Penn State. She is the former program coordinator of the Council for The Arts (CFTA) in Chambersburg, where she worked with the council’s board as coordinator and interim director. She served as interim archivist at Wilson’s C. Elizabeth Boyd ’33 Archives and as archivist at the Hershey Community Archives.

In her own words: “I am thrilled about the possibility of serving as an alumnae trustee because it is one more way I can dedicate myself to the betterment of the College.

Wilson is not only my alma mater, but as a resident of Chambersburg, I recognize the College as a fixture in the community. I look forward to working toward the College’s greater goals.”

DIRECTORS: Patricia Westervelt Bennett ’68 graduated with a bachelor’s in English and went on to earn a master’s degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. She has taught American media history as an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac and has worked as a reporter, columnist and editor in the New England newspaper and magazine markets. She is a past member of the Con-

necticut Society of Professional Journalists and the American Journalism Historians Association. She currently serves as alumnae trustee on the Wilson Board of Trustees and volunteers as a teacher at the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children.

In her own words: “I want to continue to serve because I owe Wilson. Obviously, there is no quantifiable ‘repayment in kind’ for all I received from this college, but a woman’s got to try. I want to see the College continue to claim and re-examine its role in women’s— and now men’s—higher education. There’s more to do. It would be an honor and privilege to continue that effort for Wilson.”

Judith Coen Grove ’74 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and went on to work as a fiscal technician at the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget in Harrisburg from 1977 to 2011. She currently works part time as a customer service associate for Wegmans Food Markets. She is the current chair of the AAWC Nominating Committee, has previously been a member of the AAWC Board from 1986 to 1988 and served as chair of the Leadership Conference Committee in 1987.

In her own words: “As a board member, I have enjoyed meeting alumnae/i outside of my graduation class, and also found it rewarding to help shape AAWC board policy. I’m enthusiastic about being a part of a vibrant and exciting time at Wilson. I feel that Wilson needs all of us who have something to contribute—our time, our expertise, or our financial assistance—to do so.

Janelle S. Wills ’14 is currently studying for her doctorate in veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, after receiving her bachelor’s degree in biology from Wilson.

She has interned at the Audubon Nature Institute Zoo in New Orleans and at the Wills Family Farm in Dysart, Pa. She was

MAIL-IN BALLOT FORM a resident assistant at Wilson and served as president and secretary for the Wilson College Government Association. She was vice president of her class and a member of the Phoenix softball and soccer teams.

In her own words: “I wish to serve on the Alumnae Association board to act as a liaison between alumnae/i and administration, as well as support students during their time at Wilson College. I hope to add a fresh new perspective to the board, while maintaining the history and traditions that many alumnae/i hold dear. I hope to strengthen new graduates’ involvement with the new changes at the College.”

Katelyn E. Wingerd ’16 will graduate in May with degrees in early childhood education and Spanish. While at Wilson, she has served as senior class president, Spanish Club president and Wilson College Habitat for Humanity treasurer. She is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Wilson College Softball Team Council. She is a Curran Scholar and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and Wilson College Scholars Program. She is a recipient of the Lucy Bremmer Global Citizenship Award, Margaret Strode Haines Award, Josef Michael Kellinger German Award and the Helga Rist Award.

In her own words: “As a member of the Alumnae Board, I look forward to working with alumnae/i to support our graduates and current students.

I would like to serve to enhance opportunities for interaction among all members of the Wilson community and to look for ways to support our College and its longstanding traditions. During my term of service, I hope to build connections and strengthen relationships.”

Carol W. Zehosky ’12 and ’15 graduated with associate and bachelor’s degrees in communications. She is currently retired, but has worked as an office manager for Catholic Campus Ministry in Shippensburg, Pa.; as auditor for Southampton, Pa.; and as a customer service teller for Orrstown Bank in Shippensburg.

She volunteers as a coordinator for Wilson College and the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) and is a member of the Franklin County Club of Wilson College.

In her own words: “I believe that alumnae are representatives of the success of their school’s mission and goals. During my time of service, I would like to work with my fellow alumnae/i, this college, its students and the Wilson community to advance the goals of the College, support and mentor students and foster the professional and personal development of this community.”

NOMINATING: Mary L. McGough ’10 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education and is currently teaching kindergarten at Guilford Hills Elementary School in the Chambersburg Area School District. She also worked for the Lincoln Intermediate Unit in New Oxford, Pa., as an interpreter and teaching assistant. She has served as the committee chair for Partners in Education and as the health benefits chair for the Chambersburg Area Education Association.

In her own words: “I want to help keep Wilson College in the forefront of educational opportunities for this community. I would like to see our local chapters grow and provide more support for the current students at Wilson.”

TEAR OFF AND MAIL TO: Wilson College Alumnae Association of Wilson College 1015 Philadelphia Ave. Chambersburg, Pa. 17201-1279

NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION BOARD SLATE 2016-2019 VICE PRESIDENT Sue Ann Morin Cook ‘81 TREASURER Karen McMullen Freeman ‘76 ALUMNAE TRUSTEE Sarah Weikert Wilson ‘10 DIRECTORS Patricia Westervelt Bennett ‘68 Judith Coen Grove ‘74 Janelle S. Wills ‘14 Katelyn E. Wingerd ‘16 Carol W. Zehosky ‘12 & ‘15 NOMINATING REPRESENTATIVE Mary L. McGough ‘10

D VOTE FOR D VOTE AGAINST

_________________________________________ Name/Class Year

_________________________________________ Date

Vote online at www.wilson.edu/2016slate before June 1.

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word

The Call of Justice

By Morgan Shadle '14 and Patty Hall '18

W

e took our seats in a circle around a large living room in Selma, Ala., along with our Something New hosts and our professors, and then looked expectantly at a little, quiet man in bib overalls. We were all excited and a little jittery. While this wasn’t our first time seeing Jimmy Webb, it was our first time talking with him. We had all watched Webb in the PBS documentary, “Eyes On the Prize,” as the young teenager who stood steady while policemen surrounded his group of protesters in Selma— and here he was now, sitting down to talk with us as part of our January-Term course, “The Religion of Martin Luther King Jr.” Having the opportunity to speak with Webb, a living legend, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We showered him with questions about his upbringing, Selma, the civil rights movement and King. After answering each question in detail, he would then give us a look to show he was ready for the next question.

Meeting Jimmy Webb in Selma. Front row: Patty Hall ‘18, graduate student Morgan Shadle ‘14, Jimmy Webb, Marissa Rankin ‘19 and Cassandra Watkins ‘17. Back row: Associate Professor of Religion David True, Associate Professor of Philosophy John Elia and Charles Meck ‘18.

One of us asked Webb if he ever grew discouraged that our country is still dealing with racism some 50 years after the Selma march. He answered that because slavery existed here in America for centuries, its damage was going to take quite some time to repair. For that reason, he said he was not discouraged and still has hope for a better future. He stated this with such conviction that his words served to strengthen us for any encounters that lay ahead. In the face of injustices that we were sure to witness, he told us, “the least you could do is to get angry.” If we get angry about the injustices that we see, that will lead us to do something about it.

After returning from our trip, Webb’s words have stayed with us. Our hosts, at the non-profit community group, Something New, warned us at the beginning of the trip that the week we spent in Selma would change us—and we have found this to be true. It’s like our old lives do not “fit” anymore, as if our lives before the trip are clothes that we have outgrown. Now we wear our anger about the injustices taking place in our country and our hometowns, but we haven’t yet figured out the “do something about it” part.

These first few weeks back home have been frustrating, in part because we are not sure what to do about our anger with the way things are, and in part because returning home has put us into isolation. Having a community to work through issues and to support each other was vital during the civil rights movement, as well as in today’s Selma with the Something New organization. Even within our class, being together provided a support system and a place to find encouragement and strength.

Though at times we now feel discouraged and alone, it is important to look around and see that there are others like us fighting for what is right, whether they are classmates or coworkers or some amazing people in Alabama. So while we work to find how to respond to the call of justice, we’re glad to have other “angry” people beside us. All of us hope to make the future just a little bit better.

64 wilson magazine

Many Paths

one spirit REUNION 2016—JUNE 3-5 Registration closes May 6

For her name is Alma Mater, And we’ll ever stand as one, Firmly pledged to love and honor, Till the sands of life are run.

Bertha Peifer, Class of 1921 Virginia Mayer Zacharias, Class of 1920

www.wilson.edu/reunion Contact the Office of Alumnae/i Relations at 717-262-2010 or alumnae@wilson.edu

1015 Philadelphia Ave. Chambersburg, PA 17201-1279

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Greencastle, PA Permit No. 10

PHOTO BY DANIEL GLAZIER ‘18

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Wilson's international students gather at a Friendly Families dinner in the campus dining hall. Read more about their American experience on page 10.