The QC, Vol. 88, No. 26 • May 9, 2002

              The Voice Of Whittier College Since 1914
May 9,2002
er Campus
http://web.whittier.edu/qc
MARIO NEAVEZ/ QC PHOTO EDITOR
Men's lacrosse is movin' on
up in the N.C.A.A. playoffs
Two Whittier College lacrosse players embrace each other after the Poet
team scores a goal. Whittier defeated Eastern Connecticut State University 19-8 in the first game of the The N.C.A.A. Division III play-offs, held on
the football field on Wednesday, May 8. First time for the Whittier team to
make it to playoffs, it was also the first appearance of a California lacrosse
team in the N.C.A.A. play-offs. For a full story, see page 16.
Seniors bid last aloha
at President's barbecue
STUDENT LIFE
by Rose Ochoa
QC Asst. News Editor
In a symbolic rite of passage, seniors
walked through the archway of the President's
mansion at the Senior Luau held on Wednesday, May 8. The annual barbecue, sponsored
by the President's Office, allowed the graduating class, administration and faculty to reunite,
revisiting the same environment that they enjoyed (theoretically) four years ago during the
President's freshman reception.
The 250 guests were greeted with leis,
name tags and the variegated talent of a band
whose tastes ranged from Kenny-G-esque
tunes to Van Morrison's "Brown-eyed Girl."
"I think that the seniors really look forward to this event because it is really a milestone and it also acts as a bookend of sorts to
the President's freshman reception," President Katherine Haley Will said.
However, despite the delicious array of
fruits, pinapple coconut rice, roast pig and a
magnificent tropical fish ice sculpture, this
bookend opens up a host of new uncertainties
for some.
"I think there's still a bit of nervousness
going on here," senior Alisha Santana said.
"Freshman year it was not knowing what to
expect for college life. Now it's not knowing
the future, grad school, work or anything else.
Now you have to be an adult. It's just as
exciting as freshman year, though, just a little
different," she said.
But instead of the ambience provided by
the anxiety-ridden first-year students, too often clinging to their new best friends, this
year's Senior Luau involved more schmoozing as people seemed more like family than
potential kindred spirits.
Senior Jennifer Estabrook felt much more
comfortable the second time around. "It's really nice to come to this.... Now you pretty
much know everyone and it's an awesome
environment. The beer made it all fun," she
said.
Cheryl Swift recognized
for teaching excellence
AWARDS
by Amber Hollingsworth
QC Co-Campus Life Editor
"A teacher's job is to move a student out of
a rut and get him thinking about things. If you
take a student and don't stir him up one way or
another, you're not doing your job," said a
former Professor of History Harry W. Ner-
hood in 1986.
In 2002, 16 years later, Nerhood's words
still resonate at Whittier College, as professors
continue to "do their job." And on Monday,
May 6, one professor in particular received the
recognition she deserved with the Nerhood
Excellence in Teaching Award — Associate
Professor of Biology Cheryl Swift.
Recognized by students and faculty as a
professor who demands diligence and hard
work, is dedicated to asking why, is committed
to providing excellent education to students,
and is responsible for taking hundreds of students into the field, Swift accepted the 2002
Nerhood Award with tears in her eyes.
"I appreciate my colleagues and all I've
learned from them, but I'm not sure [teaching]
is something you ever get right. I feel like I
have a long wtiy to go before I am the kind of
teacher I want to be," said Swift.
Along with teacher recognition, the ceremony honored students who have achieved
academic excellence as well.
Sophomore Kaitlyn McDonald received
the Robert M. Treser Sophomore Leadership
Award as a pre-med student who wants to
work as a missionary in Africa. She is a
chemistry major, the vice president of the
Palmer Society, an R.A. in Johnson, as well
as a volunteer at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital.
Associate Professor of Theater and Com-
ELIZABETH BOHR/QC ASST. PHOIO tUI I UK
Dean of Faculty David Muller presents the Nerhood Excellence in
Teaching Award to Professor of Biology Cheryl Swift on Monday, May 6 at
the Ruth B. Shannon Center.
munication Arts Brian Reed announced the
seniors who made the dean's list as well as
the interdepartmental awards. Dean of Students Dave Leonard awarded the Student
Service and Leadership Awards to students
who have "gone above and beyond and
made significant contributions to student
life."
Other Academic Achievement rec.£.<<-
tions went to those involved with the Rhodes,
Marshall, and William Gates Scholarships,
as well as announcements for the Newsom
Awards, Freshman Writing prize and Scholarly Writing prize [seepage 8 for list].
On the faculty front, the Key to the
College Awards went to Director of Food
Services Lori Flashner, the Library staff,
and Whittier College Operator Dorothy Det-
tor. Late Director of Athletics Dave Jacobs
was honored with the Richard B. Harvey
Award, and the Marilyn Veich Award went
to Professor of Economics Steve Overturf.
Faculty Masters selected
CAMPUS
by Christina Gutierrez
QC Assoc. News Editor
Two new faces, along
with one returning one, will
grace Whittier's faculty master houses next fall. The new
faculty masters for the 2002-
2003 school year will be Associate Professor of English
Language and Literature
Tony Barnstone who will live
in the now-vacant Johnson
House, and Associate Professor of Spanish Doreen
O'Connor-Gomez who will
move into Hartley House.
Professor of Biology Dave
Bourgaize will continue in
Garrett House for another
year.
A unique feature of the
Whittier College campus, the
faculty masters program allows students to meet with
their professors and guest
speakers in an informal environment to discuss interesting and relevant topics to campus life.
With the program under
review next year, the participants plan to work closely together to plan exciting programs that will extend learning outside of the classroom.
As Bourgaize explains, the
three professors plan to "be
very responsive to the results
of the review" and continue to
provide programs that allow
students and professors to
meet outside of a classroom
setting and to extend what they
have learned in class to the
real world and real-life situations.
O'Connor-Gomez said
that what motivated her to
apply for the position is her
desire to help students see
that what they are learning in
their classes actually "makes
a difference" outside of the
four walls of a classroom. In
See MASTERS, page 4
ISSUE 26 • VOLUME 88
You speak
A bag of letters to the
editor came in the mail.
Don't miss the last voices
of this school year.
Opinions, Pages 2 & 3
Spring Sing
The talent of students and staff is
showcased in annual show.
Campus Life, Page 7
Up From Dust
Senior Robin Judd will lay
4,000 eggs on the floor of
Wardman Gym on Sunday.
A&E, Page 10
First playoffs for the Poets
LAX is the best. Told ya so. They
win. They even win in the playoffs.     „
Sports, Page 14