Shipmates - Randolph College

Shipmates
Professor Rick Barnes sets sail with
Desmond Tutu on Semester at Sea’s fall voyage
page 12
Voices from R-MWC
President Emeritus William F. Quillian, Jr. highlights
pivotal moments of presidency in new book
page 6
Randolph
6
A Publication of
Randolph College
Founded as Randolph-Macon
Woman’s College in 1891
John E. Klein
President
Randolph
is published three
times a year by the
18
Office of College Relations
Michael J. Quinn
Assistant Vice President of
College Relations and Marketing
Brenda Edson
Editor
Dave Blount
Keeley Cordingley Tuggle
Design
Barbara Harbison
Special Contributors
Jessie Thompson
Matthew Ashare
Rick Barnes
Kathleen Conti ’11
Keri Oberly of the Institute for
Shipboard Education/
Semester at Sea
Scot Overholser Photography
William F. Quillian, Jr.
The News & Advance
(Lynchburg)
Randolph College
Office of College Relations
2500 Rivermont Avenue
Lynchburg, Virginia 24503
(434) 947-8142
www.randolphcollege.edu/
magazine
We want to hear your story
ideas and comments!
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12
30
Randolph
Vol. 2 No. 2
Jay Conley
Linda Hoffman
FEATURES
Voices From R-MWC
President Emeritus William F. Quillian, Jr. releases
new book.
COVER: Sabbatical at Sea
Professor Rick Barnes brings lessons learned
during voyage back to Randolph.
6
12
Into the Woods
18
Natural Treasures
21
Ron Gettinger researches American beech tree nut
production cycles.
Three preservation properties provide unique outdoor classrooms.
From the President
1
Learning Latin
2
The Write Stuff
5
Major Makeovers
9
Laugh Tracking
10
New Spin on Golf
15
Pay It Forward
16
In Print
Beth Schwartz: An EasyGuide to APA Style
Howard Dean 27
28
New Faces
22
Taking Care of Business
Defending History
30
Gail Waller ’71, Trustee
Meet Randolph’s newest faculty, coaches, and trustees.
Kathleen Conti ’11 adds to public debate about
Stalin’s role in WWII.
17
Randolph Remembers December 14, 1960 32
Inside Back Cover
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From the President
F
ifty years ago this month, two Randolph-Macon Woman’s College
students made a decision that placed them at the forefront of the civil
rights movement in Lynchburg.
On the evening of December 14, 1960, Mary Edith Bentley Abu-Saba ’61
and Rebecca Mays Owen ’61 joined two Lynchburg College students and two
students from Virginia Theological Seminary and
College at a local drugstore lunch counter where
African Americans were not allowed to eat. They
wanted to convince the owner of Patterson’s Drug
Store to allow people of all races to patronize his
counter. They ended up in jail.
The decision of those six students, dubbed the
Patterson Six, prompted subsequent sit-ins from
classmates and divided people throughout the
city and the College. It was a troubled time, and
the students paid consequences for their actions.
Their decision to protest the mistreatment of
African Americans in Lynchburg did not, by itself,
bring momentous change to society. But it did
matter. Like so many graduates from the College
before and after them, they saw something wrong
and did something about it. Many did not agree
with their actions, but few doubted their courage,
their heart, and their strength.
Randolph College students, faculty, and staff participate in a reading of Martin
From its inception, this College has always Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
taught its students the power of the individual
to make a difference. That philosophy and mission still ring true today.
“From its inception, this
This fall, a group of faculty, staff, and students, led by sociology professor
Brad Bullock, gathered around the flagpole on front campus at lunchtime
College has always taught
to commemorate the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a
its students the power of
Dream” speech. Standing together in a circle, individuals of different races,
backgrounds, and religions repeated Dr. King’s profound words. That
the individual to make a
emotional reading did not change the world. But it did matter. Together,
our community stood for something it believed was right. Together, we
difference. That philosophy
made a proud statement.
Half a century ago, a group of students had the courage to stand up for
and mission still ring true
something they believed was important, thanks in part to the lessons and
today. ”
confidence instilled in them by the College. Our motto, vita abundantior, is not
limited to an individual’s ability to live the life more abundant. It also reminds
John E. Klein
us of our potential to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
President
John E. Klein
President
1
2
(Above, left to right) Rhiannon Knol ’11, James Potter, a local high school student enrolled in a Latin course at Randolph, Tierney Dickinson ’14, and
Gage Stuntz ’13 (opposite) work with students from the city’s Gifted Opportunities Center at R.S. Payne Elementary School.
Learning Latin
Randolph students volunteer to keep local program from being cut
S
ix Randolph College students are making sure
Latin stays alive and relevant for elementary school
students enrolled in the Gifted Opportunities (GO)
Center at R.S. Payne Elementary School in Lynchburg.
School officials originally thought they were going to
have to eliminate the language from the curriculum
after the school’s Latin teacher position was cut due to
budget tightening. The Randolph students volunteered
to fill the gap and spent each Friday afternoon this
fall teaching Latin to third through fifth graders. The
partnership will continue at least through the remainder
of the school year. The six students involved are Leanne
Hanson ’11, Rhiannon Knol ’11, Leah Campbell ’12,
Gage Stuntz ’13, Tierney Dickinson ’14, and James
Potter, a high school student taking Randolph’s Latin
class.
“It’s a unique opportunity,” said Leanne Hanson ’11,
a biology major who has studied Latin for eight years.
“I want the kids to love it when they come out of this.”
Hanson quickly learned that she was benefiting just as
much as the 25 children in her class. “I love it,” she said,
grinning. “I’m on cloud nine when I leave there. I am so
full of energy.”
That is not to say the experience has been easy.
Hanson and the other Randolph students are from
a variety of disciplines, and very few had experience
working with young children. With the help of their
classics professors, Susan Stevens and Amy Cohen, they
are learning to follow lesson plans while keeping full
classrooms of bright, young students engaged.
“They really have a commitment to this, and that’s
wonderful,” Stevens said. “It gives them a flavor of what
teaching might be like. That’s what I want them to get
out of it. Even if they don’t want to become a Latin
teacher, having the experience of teaching is exciting.”
The students are using Minimus, a Latin course
designed for small children that follows the adventures
of Minimus the mouse and a family who lived in
Vindolanda in A.D. 100.
The book has been fun for Rhiannon Knol ’11, a
classics major. In August, she visited Vindolanda when
she studied in England at Oxford’s Greek Paleography
summer school. She was able to see some of the places
mentioned in Minimus firsthand. “For some people, Latin
can be kind of remote and a dead language,” Knol stated.
But in this story, these are real people who spoke Latin,
and you can see what they might have said.”
Teachers at the GO Center are pleased the partnership
3
Leanne Hanson ’11 works with a young Latin student.
“It’s a unique opportunity. I want the kids
to love it when they come out of this. I love
it. I’m on cloud nine when I leave there. I
am so full of energy.”
4
Leanne Hanson ’11
has allowed them to continue exposing their students
to Latin. “We believe that this is a good introduction to
understanding the meaning of English words and is also
very helpful with vocabulary development,” said Lori
Smith, a third grade teacher. “We feel it is so important
at this age that our students be introduced to a foreign
language. Language acquisition is much easier at an early
age, and we believe the earlier the better.”
The elementary school students bring what they
have learned to their other classes. “We love it when our
students will point out the things that they have learned
in Latin during other subjects that we teach,” Smith said.
“Students will tell us, ‘Oh, that is from a Latin word,’
or ‘Hey, we talked about that in Latin!’ It is nice to see
them make that connection.”
Knol and the other Randolph students have been
impressed by their students. “I don’t think third graders
are given enough credit,” Knol said. “They are smart and
can pick things up quickly. I think it’s great that no one
is saying these kids aren’t smart enough to learn Latin.
Clearly they are.
“Studying languages is one of the most important
things you can do,” she added. “It’s the closest thing
to studying abroad at home. It makes you think, and
it makes you realize so many things about your own
language.”
One of the most difficult aspects for the Randolph
students was trying to teach at a level the younger
students could understand. “Getting into the mind of a
third grader has been hard. I’m used to talking to college
kids,” said Gage Stuntz ’13, a classics major. “But they
pick it up quickly. I really love the puzzle that Latin is,
and it’s nice to be able to share that with them.”
Cohen and Stevens saw the Randolph students
gain confidence and grow during their first semester
of teaching. “It’s a different way of learning for our
students,” Stevens said. “They are learning about
themselves, their field, and how they come across.
They learn presentation skills and Latin skills. There is
nothing like explaining things to someone else.”
The partnership between Randolph and R.S. Payne
Elementary School has been important to both
organizations, said Cohen, who has two children at the
GO Center. “This is a wonderful opportunity for
Randolph and our classics department to be good
citizens of the city,” Cohen said. “We all know the tough
economy has meant that people are having to do with
less. This is one area where our students could fulfill a
need in the community. It benefits both sides.”
The Write Stuff
The Jack, Randolph’s new online journal, showcases student writing
R
andolph College’s student
wr iting awards are some
of the most coveted awards on
campus, featuring a cash prize
and recognition for exceptional
academic writing.
Each year, the Writing Board,
consisting of a group of faculty
and staff, chooses student winners
for Best Short Paper, Best Long
Paper, and Best Senior Paper.
Bunny Goodjohn ’04, an English
professor and director of the writing
program, wanted something more
for students this year. “We needed
a vehicle that showcases the work
of our exceptional students and
promotes wr iting across the
curriculum at the same time,”
Goodjohn said.
So she created The Jack,
Randolph’s first online academic
journal. The journal, launched
this fall, provides a place to
showcase winners of the writing
awards. Named for Theodore H.
Jack, Randolph-Macon Woman’s
College’s fourth president, the
Web site includes information on
the students, their nominating
professors, and their winning
papers. Students who receive
excellent writing evaluations from
two or more professors are also
listed in The Jack.
“There is something strange
that happens when you see your
work move from a Word document
to a published page,” Goodjohn
said. “When you have something
tangible in the form of a journal or
a magazine, even one that is online,
it is human nature for people who
like to write to want to see their
work published.”
The online journal also
highlights Randolph’s writingintensive cur r iculum, which
Goodjohn believes gives students
an advantage when they enter
graduate school or the workplace.
“Students find themselves writing in
almost all their classes, irrespective
of discipline, and faculty hold
that writing to a high standard,”
Goodjohn said.
“Writing is power. If you have
a good grasp of language, and you
are able to transfer that to the page
or the screen, it puts you into a
really powerful position. You are
able to influence, to explain. Those
are two hugely important skills,
wherever you go.”
“Writing is power. If you
have a good grasp of
language, and you are
able to transfer that to the
page or the screen, it puts
you into a really powerful
position.”
Bunny Goodjohn
Assistant Professor of English
Director of the Writing Program
Read Randolph’s award-winning student writing at
randolphcollege.edu/jack
5
Voices From R-MWC
President Emeritus William F. Quillian, Jr. releases new book
T
“My wife became known for the
pies that she made. She always
made a chocolate chiffon pie,
and our children would serve the
students.”
William F. Quillian, Jr.
President Emeritus
Voices From R-MWC is available through:
Warwick House Publishing
720 Court Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504
Cost: $24.50 ($20 plus $3.50 shipping
and $1.00 tax)
(Above) William F. Quillian, Jr., the fifth president of the
College, and his wife, Margaret, in front of Main Hall
during his tenure as president
6
here was a time when pie was
an important student retention
tool for the College.
During William F. Quillian, Jr.’s
26-year tenure as the fifth president
of Randolph-Macon Woman’s
College, from 1952 to 1978, there
was a tendency for students to
attend R-MWC until the end of
their sophomore year and then
transfer to larger institutions.
“‘Sophomore slump’ was the
term,” said Quillian, who always
emphasized close interaction
between faculty and students. “By
the end of their second year, some
students were just ready to leave and
looking forward to the next year
somewhere else.” Quillian wanted
insight into why students were
leaving, so he and his wife, Margaret,
began inviting sophomores to their
home for dessert and discussion.
“My wife became known for the pies
that she made,” said Quillian. “She
always made a chocolate chiffon
pie, and our children would serve
the students.” Each group of 20
students would provide him with
a better understanding of how
students were feeling and a glimpse
of the challenges that lay ahead for
the next recruiting season.
Quillian’s interaction with
students and faculty was a feature
of his administration and led
to the development of hallmark
programs such as The World in
Britain program at the University
of Reading. “One thing that came
out was that it would be good to
have more international studies,”
he said. “We had a give and take
discussion on what we should do
in that area. Sweet Briar had a
program in France, so we decided
to try to establish the program in
England.”
Multi-cultural education,
retention, diversity, and issues
related to changes in student
attitudes and needs that Quillian
dealt with then are not unlike
those faced by the College today. In
his new book, Voices From R-MWC,
Quillian offers a collection of his
essays and memoirs, and historical
material from guest authors. The
book provides a unique glimpse
into the College’s history, how
it responded to changes behind
the Red Brick Wall and in the
community and society around it,
and how it evolved and improved.
Improvements at the College
resulted, in part, from fundraising
and development. The topic
features prominently in Quillian’s
book, perhaps because it was
in his DNA. “I always enjoyed
fundraising, and I knew we needed
to raise money,” said Quillian.
“My father was a college president,
and I watched him build a brand
new campus five miles away from
the existing campus.” During
Quillian’s tenure, the College
built the Physical Education and
Recreation (PER) Building, the
Houston Memorial Chapel, and
the Leggett Building and Thoresen
T h e a t re , a n d e x p a n d e d t h e
Lipscomb Library. “I enjoyed it,”
he said, “especially when something
good clicked.” Quillian also worked
to acquire support from a variety
7
of foundations, including Ford,
Kresge, and Dana.
At the same time philanthropy
helped the College build out
infrastr ucture, Amer ica was
undergoing sweeping social
changes. One such change was
the integration of the College.
Fo r Q u i l l i a n , re s o lv i n g t h e
potentially divisive issue began
with a discussion among students.
“Every Wednesday, there was a
required assembly. At one of them,
I raised the question, ‘Suppose this
college were to become integrated?’”
he recalled. “It shocked them.”
After he started the discussion,
students kept it alive. An essay in
his book titled, “The Integration
of a Southern College,” recalls
an editorial in the November 5,
1953 issue of the Sundial that
concluded: “Think about the issue—
it’s important for your future.”
Throughout the rest of that decade,
the discussion on the R-MWC
campus would mirror the debate in
the broader Lynchburg community,
culminating in December 1960
when two R andolph-Macon
Woman’s College students—Mary
Edith Bentley Abu-Saba ’61 and
Rebecca Mays Owen ’61—became
central figures in an anti-segregation
demonstration at a lunch counter
of a Lynchburg drugstore. The
Supreme Court’s 1954 ruling
requiring public institutions to
integrate exerted pressure on the
College from the outside at the
same time student social issues
were developing within. Quillian’s
“The Abolition of Sororities” is a
notable example. In the College’s
first decade, six national sororities
were established: Chi Omega, TriDelta, Zeta Tau Alpha, Kappa Delta,
Alpha Omega Pi, and Tri Sigma.
However, by the ’40s and ’50s, there
were questions about the value of
sororities on campus, especially
given the pressure students felt
to be selected for the “right”
sororities. “Many new students
felt deeply hurt by their failure to
make the sorority of their choice,”
Quillian wrote. “There were tearful
phone calls to parents reporting
these disappointments.” Student
referendums on keeping sororities
active passed by narrow margins.
The discussion continued until a
Board of Trustees vote on May 13,
1960 directed the administration to
eliminate sororities at the “earliest
date deemed practical.” As a result,
the 1960–61 academic year began
without sororities on campus.
T h i s p a s t M a y, d u r i n g
Commencement, Quillian stood at
the podium as Touch of Harmony,
the College’s a cappella group, sang
a rendition of “Minnie t he
Moocher.” Quillian responded by
singing the last verse, and as
delighted students, faculty, and
guests joined in the refrain, a
lighter moment from his presidency
came full circle. Years before,
Quillian had been approached by
faculty who were planning the first
faculty show. They asked him to do
something “out of character.” His
performance was “Minnie The
Moocher,” and when he sang at the
request of students at the following
Pumpkin Parade, a tradition was
born. “Every president since then
has blamed me for that!” he
laughed.
(Left, top to bottom) Images from a Presidency: William F. Quillian, Jr. performing, decorating a
holiday tree on front campus, conversing with Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner, meeting President
Richard Nixon, and greeting new faculty member William Coulter and his wife, Ann
8
Jane Campbell ’12 studies in the newly renovated reading area of Lipscomb Library.
Major Makeovers
Recent renovations to library, Main Hall lobby improve student spaces
L
ipscomb Library and Main
Hall lobby are now more
user-friendly and comfortable for
students, faculty, and staff thanks to
two recently completed renovation
projects.
The first phase of the renovation
to the fourth floor of Lipscomb
Library was designed to encourage
student collaboration as well as to
provide space for individual study.
Technology upgrades now
allow document sharing and laptop
computer access. In the traditional
reading area, new furniture and
lamps enhance the space.
Special care was taken to restore
architectural details in the room.
“The two rooms are the most
beautiful rooms in the library,
but they were painted a color that
didn’t accentuate their detail,” said
Ted Hostetler, the library’s director.
“Part of the renovation was to use
strong colors to bring out those
architectural details.”
This renovation was made
possible by an annuity fund
established by Florence Ridley
in honor of 19 women from the
Class of ’44 who forged a lasting
friendship.
The Parents Fund also helped
provide furnishings in the periodical
room. The result was an impressive
makeover that highlights the
architectural design while providing
students with state-of-the-art
technology.
“With the resources we had
from Miss Ridley, we did everything
we could to stretch those dollars
but also have a quality project for
improving the library,” said Chris
Burnley, vice president for finance
and administration. “It’s pretty
spectacular.”
A committee will meet soon
to discuss the next phase of the
renovation to the remainder of the
fourth floor.
Main Hall lobby was
also recently renovated after a
committee of alumnae, trustees, and
administrators met to plan and then
implement the first update since
1999. Four new sofas were added,
furniture was recovered, and the
walls were painted a warm yellow
with crisp white woodwork.
“ M a i n Ha l l l o b by i s a n
architectural gem and is now even
more enhanced by the new fresh
look from this recent renovation,”
said Frances Jones Giles ’65, who
served on the committee.
9
10
Laugh Tracking
Lianna Carrera ’07 finds life in comedy on the road
P
aula Wallace, associate dean of
the College, remembers the day
in 2007 when Lianna Carrera ’07
told her she wanted to be a standup comic. “I wasn’t surprised,”
Wallace said laughing. “Lianna
has always marched to a different
drummer. My biggest concern was
how to help her get there.”
For Carrera, whose focus was
political science, the dream meant
taking a risk and attending The
Second City Comedy Studies
Program in Chicago, Illinois.
Wallace worked with Carrera to
find a solution that allowed her to
take advantage of the opportunity
while still meeting graduation
requirements at Randolph. “I was
really nervous about it, but I also
knew I had the support I needed,”
said Carrera.
Since graduating, Carrera has
performed in dozens of states
across the United States and toured
in South Africa and Ireland. She
uses her life experiences as a basis
for her act. The gay daughter of a
retired Southern Baptist minister
and a deaf mother, Carrera has
learned to find humor in just about
every situation.
“I’m paying my dues right
now, and there are times on the
road when comedy is quite lonely,”
Carrera said from a hotel room in
San Francisco, California, as she
waited for a flight to Las Vegas.
“But it is hard to feel that way
long. I am so grateful for the phone
calls and notes of encouragement
I receive from our community. I
feel very fortunate to have such a
great support system even after
graduation.”
While it might seem odd for a
political science major to pursue
comedy, Carrera is appreciative of
the breadth of courses she took in
college. “I’m accidently prepared,”
she said. “I didn’t
think I would ever
be writing scripts
for television,
but the focus
on writing at
Randolph has
given me a leg up.
Even my dance
courses ended up
helping me with
my movements
and timing on
stage.”
Carrera is
d et e r m i n e d t o
follow her dream,
even if it means
h a rd wo rk a n d
sa c r i f i ce . “St at i sti ca l ly, t he
probability is that I’m going to fail
at this,” she said. “But it is almost
as if that is not an option for me.
There’s this spirit inside that pushes
me onward and inspires me to be
great. I believe that spirit is what we
mean by ‘living a life more abundant.’
I feel very much today like I did on
my first day of college. I have this
cautious excitement and a feeling
that this experience will change my
life.”
“I didn’t think I would
ever be writing scripts for
television, but the focus on
writing at Randolph has
given me a leg up.”
Lianna Carrera ’07
11
Sabbatical at Sea
Professor Rick Barnes brings lessons learned during voyage back to Randolph
T
Randolph professor Rick Barnes aboard Semester at Sea’s MV Explorer
12
he last time Rick Barnes spent any time on a ship was
during his honeymoon to the Bahamas 33 years ago.
So when he heard he would be spending more than 100
days this fall teaching aboard Semester at Sea’s 24,300-ton
floating university, the MV Explorer, the Randolph College
psychology professor was a little daunted.
“I packed lots of motion sickness medicine just in
case,” he joked. Barnes was among a select group chosen
as faculty members for Semester at Sea’s 2010 fall voyage.
During his sabbatical from Randolph, Barnes served
as the environmental psychology professor, teaching
environmental psychology and sustainable community
courses to students from around the globe.
Semester at Sea is a global study abroad program
sponsored by the University of Virginia that traces
its origins to 1963. Approximately 700 students
circumnavigate the globe aboard the floating campus
each fall and spring semester. More than 50,000 students
have studied and traveled to 60 countries through the
program.
The fall journey featured stops in 11 locations,
including Spain, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa,
Mauritius, India, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Japan,
and Hawaii. For Barnes, who has not traveled extensively
internationally, the opportunity was the adventure of a
lifetime—and a boost to what he can offer as a professor.
“I had the opportunity to see parts of the world that I
wouldn’t normally see,” he said. “This was a way to look
at sustainability issues in other countries and to bring
some of those examples and experiences back to my
classes in Lynchburg.”
Faculty on Semester at Sea voyages must learn to be
flexible and think outside of the box for their courses.
While at sea, students learn in a classroom setting, but the
bigger emphasis is the experiential learning opportunities
available at each stop. Barnes and his students studied
urban planning practices and urban ecology at each of the
ports they visited. In Spain, they visited a solar and wind
farm. “Seeing how Spain emphasizes renewable energy
gives me hope that the United States can do it someday,”
he said. “We can learn a lot from the way other countries
conserve their energy and resources, while enjoying a
good standard of living. However, it was disappointing
on several of the field trips to see how much of the
American consumer lifestyle is being adopted by other
countries. There was sprawl in Spain, and there are malls
in Morocco. And of course there also are American fast
food restaurants—just fewer of them.”
Barnes also toured an alternative energy facility in
South Africa, and in Hong Kong he led a seven-mile hike
around the city to look at urban green spaces. He even
completed a three-day, intensive yoga program in India.
He plans to use his experiences to add an international,
cross-cultural perspective to his classes. “We talk in
environmental psychology about place identification
and sense of place,” he said. “You really can’t have that by
watching a travelogue on television. You have to be there.
Being in South Africa and Hong Kong and all of these
other places has changed my perspective of the world. It
has given me greater insight into the incredible diversity
of ways that people create communities around the world.
Seeing wind farms in Spain, ancient cities in Morocco,
and talking with urban planners in Ghana helped me to
think about the challenges of global sustainability in a
much broader context.”
Some of his most memorable experiences were not
part of the planned curriculum but came from meeting
people on the ship and during the stops. Barnes was able
to have dinner with Angela Arigoni-Mesfioui ’01 and
her family while in Casablanca on the night the entire
country was celebrating the end of fasting for Ramadan.
Archbishop and Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu and
his wife, Leah, joined the Semester at Sea journey for the
entire voyage, and Barnes was able to meet them in person,
along with David Toscano, a Virginia state legislator from
13
Charlottesville, and numerous colleagues and students
from across the nation.
The opportunity to experience a Semester at Sea
voyage impacts faculty members almost as much as it does
students, according to Rosalyn W. Berne, vice president
and senior academic officer for the Institute for Shipboard
Education, the non-profit organization that runs the
program. “What happens on the ship is not just what
happens in the classroom,” she said. “It is truly a living,
learning community.”
One of the biggest adjustments for faculty members is
living with students and colleagues in a close environment.
“You are always teaching,” Berne said. “You are always
interactive. You have a strong community atmosphere,
and the learning is pretty intense.”
Spending a lot of time with students and colleagues
was not a problem for Barnes, who said the close
community on the ship reminded him of Randolph.
“Particularly at Randolph, faculty members have as much
interaction with students outside of the classroom as they
do inside the classroom,” he said. “In that way, being on
the ship was a lot like being in Lynchburg.”
Berne said faculty members return to their home
institutions energized. “Your teaching comes alive because
you have now seen firsthand some of what you have been
teaching,” she said.
Barnes agreed, adding that he is already considering
new courses. “You start thinking creatively about different
ways to teach a course. Actually being in these places and
seeing the ways other people and other cultures relate to
their surroundings and deal with environmental issues
is going to transform how I teach at Randolph.”
“You start thinking creatively about different
ways to teach a course. Actually being in
these places and seeing the ways other
people and other cultures relate to their
surroundings and deal with environmental
issues is going to transform how I teach at
Randolph.”
14
Rick Barnes
Professor of Psychology
(Left) Barnes is soaked with “fish guts” during his initiation on Neptune
Day as a “Royal Diamond Shellback” after crossing the equator at the
prime meridian.
(Above) Barnes tours a wind and solar energy facility in Spain.
Callie Jones ’13 tosses a disc at a target on Randolph College’s new disc golf course.
New Spin on Golf
Nine-hole disc golf course fits Randolph to a tee
“V
ery challenging but very
fun.” That ’s how Tory
Brown ’13 summed up a recent
outing on the new, nine-hole disc
golf course installed during the
summer on the back side of campus.
“My friends and I plan on visiting
the course a lot during the year,”
he said.
Disc golf, also known as Frisbee
golf, has become increasingly
popular since the Disc Golf
Association began manufacturing
the tees, discs, and baskets for the
game back in the 1970s. There are
reportedly more than 3,000 courses
throughout the country, many of
them on college campuses and in
public parks. Disc golf requires
individual players to throw discs
into baskets or at targets.
Randolph’s course begins near
the Houston Memorial Chapel and
winds around the Pines Cottage,
The Dell, and the athletic fields.
Discs are available for the campus
community to check out at the PER
Building.
“The new disc golf course is
awesome,” said Tina Hill, Randolph’s
athletic director. “Students, faculty,
and staff are enjoying some friendly
competition.”
Scott Ketcham, Randolph’s
men’s head lacrosse coach, and
Kevin Porterfield, associate athletic
director and women’s head soccer
coach, worked with the Buildings
& Grounds department and a local
disc golfer to design the course. “It’s
a great activity that gives you a good
workout,” Ketcham said.
The equipment for the course
was paid for through donations
to the College’s Parents Fund.
“We wanted to do something that
could be used by women and men,
by faculty, staff, and students,” said
Bill and Sally Kebler, the parents of
Madison Kebler ’10, co-chairs of the
2009–10 Parents Committee and
donors to the Parents Fund.
The course has quickly become
popular on campus with members
of the entire community. Mitch
Rodhe, director of the College’s
dining services, uses the course
frequently. “It is great exercise and
shows off the true beauty of our
campus,” he said.
15
Pay It Forward
16
Giving Back
Consistent support impacts current students
W
hen Jennifer Lee ’03 visits the College, she feels as if she is home. “I
still feel the way I felt the first time I stepped on campus, like every
little spot was made for me,” she said.
Lee is co-chair of the Ivy Society, which recognizes donors who make
financial contributions to Randolph for five or more consecutive years. She
tries to be creative in her gift giving, such as making donations in amounts
that reflect the year she graduated. “It’s just to have fun and make a habit
of it,” she said.
Consistent donors like Lee make a big impact on the College and its
students. “Every donor is important to Randolph College, whether they
give $1 million or $25,” said John E. Klein, president. “Jennifer is one of the
youngest members of our Ivy Society, and her commitment to the College
is much appreciated. Gifts from consistent donors help us
continue to provide the excellent educational experience our
students need.”
“The more I learn about things that are going
on at the College, the easier it is to get involved
and get others involved.”
Jennifer Lee ’03
Giving back comes naturally to Lee, who grew up in Clark County in
Northern Virginia. She returned home after graduation and works as a
preschool teacher at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. “My
parents set a strong example of being involved and volunteering,” said Lee,
who is the daughter of Barbara Pickeral Lee ’66. “Volunteerism is huge and
a big part of my community. It’s really important to me.”
The experiences Lee had at the College are important to who she is today.
A classics major, Lee also minored in American culture and theatre. In 2000,
she participated in the Greek Play production of Antigone. “I always come back
for the Greek Play, and a lot of my fond academic memories come from the
American Culture Program. I felt like that was where I was being challenged,
and my mind was really expanding at the time,” she said.
She has also served on the Alumnae Leadership Council and as an
assistant class agent and presents an annual book award from the College
at her high school. Lee feels proud to give to the College so a new generation
of students can benefit from opportunities similar to those she had. “The
more I learn about things that are going on at the College, the easier it is to
get involved and get others involved,” she said. “I think the spirit of giving
is kind of universal.”
in print
Style & Substance
Psychology professor Beth Schwartz and colleagues pen student-friendly guide to APA style
W
hen the American Psychology
Assocation (APA) released
the sixth edition of its publication
manual in 2009, psychologists and
students across the nation ordered
the book, which dictates the format
and writing style required of those
writing in the field of psychology, as
well as a number of other fields.
Beth Schwartz, Randolph’s
Thoresen Professor of Psychology
and assistant dean of the College,
like many in her field, was surprised
to find the manual included errors
on 80 of its pages. “It’s ironic
because this is the book that we
use as faculty to point out to
students how to avoid errors in
their papers,” she said.
The APA released a corrected
edition, but Schwartz and two
colleagues, R. Eric Landrum of
Boise State University and Regan
A. R. Gurung of the University
of Wisconsin-Green Bay, decided
it was the perfect time to write
a more student-friendly guide.
Understanding that timing was
of the essence, Schwartz and her
colleagues fast-tracked the book, An
EasyGuide to APA Style, completing
it in just six months for Sage
Publications. The timeline created a
frenzy of activity for Schwartz, who
was already working on another
book at the time, The Teaching of
Psychology: An Empirically Based
Guide to Picking, Choosing, & Using
Pedagogy. That book, ironically, will
be published by the APA.
“Eric, Regan, and I have all
taught research methods and how
to write in APA style,” Schwartz said.
“When we’re teaching
students to first learn
APA style, our goal is
to help them learn the
basics.” APA’s publication
manual is geared mainly
toward professionals and
includes information
students do not need
t o k n ow w h e n f i r s t
l e a r n i n g A PA s t y l e .
Schwar tz’s book was
specifically created as a
guide for students and
professors. Written in
a conversational tone,
the book is filled with
examples and includes
a unique visual table of
contents and a sample
paper that highlights
particular APA style and
format details. The book also
includes tips, commonly made
mistakes, a checklist for students to
use before turning in a paper, and
instructions for using Microsoft
Word 2007 for APA-style papers.
The goal, according to
Schwartz, was to help psychology
students by presenting an easy-tounderstand guide. “There really is
no resource out there similar to
this,” Schwartz said. “We think it
will be an easy-to-use book that will
be helpful to students who are just
learning this type of writing.”
“There really is no resource
out there similar to this. We
think it will be an easy-touse book that will be helpful
to students who are just
learning this type of writing.”
Beth Schwartz
The Catherine Ehrman Thoresen ’23
and William E. Thoresen
Chair in Social Sciences and
Assistant Dean of the College
17
18
Into the Woods
Ron Gettinger researches American beech tree nut production cycles
C
arefully working his way down the steep terrain, Ron
Gettinger stops abruptly as a Pileated Woodpecker
calls in the distance. After quizzing his students on
the sound, he continues moving among the beech and
other hardwood trees, checking his special beech nut
collectors. The students ask questions as they examine
different trees and look for signs of wildlife in the
area. In the wooded area of back campus that few see,
Gettinger is in his element. “I love being outdoors,” said
the Randolph College biology professor and assistant
dean of the College. “That’s really where all my training
is, in field ecology.”
For two years, Gettinger has taken advantage of
the woods that stretch between Randolph’s far soccer
“What I’m trying to see is whether the
beech nut production can be correlated
to weather events or if it can be attributed
to an independent cycle.…I’ve always
been fascinated with beech trees.”
Ron Gettinger
Professor of Biology
Assistant Dean of the College
(Left) Jonathon Bolton ’12 and Ron Gettinger examine a beech nut that
had fallen into a collector at Gettinger’s study site on campus.
field and the James River for his research on beech
trees. While the land is steep, it boasts a large American
beech population, making it a perfect location for his
study of the patterns of growth and nut production.
Gettinger also has study sites at Randolph’s three nature
preserves, which are located off campus. “What I’m
trying to see is whether the beech nut production can
be correlated to weather events or if it can be attributed
to an independent cycle,” he said.
Gettinger recently received Mednick Fellowship
funds from the Virginia Foundation for Independent
Colleges for his multi-year study. “I’ve always been
fascinated with beech trees,” said Gettinger, who earned
his undergraduate degree from Miami University
of Ohio, his master’s degree from Colorado State
University, and his doctorate from the University of
California.
While his training is in ecology, specifically animal
ecology, Gettinger also enjoys working with trees and
often jokes that beech trees are much less difficult to
band than birds. “They are the coolest trees in the world.
They are pretty, and it turns out their thin, smooth bark
makes working with the growth bands easier.”
Gettinger has tagged a total of 500 trees on his study
sites, including 400 on back campus. Each year during
the fall, Gettinger sets up “collectors,” fabric-covered
poles that catch the beech nuts when they fall out of
the trees. He then gathers the nuts and opens them to
determine the percentage with viable kernels, indicating
successful cross-pollination, and the percentage
damaged by insects and other seed predators.
Like many other nut-bearing trees, beech trees
produce crops that vary tremendously from year to year.
Sometimes a small crop can be attributed to a late frost,
which Gettinger speculates is the case this year. Those
crops, or the lack thereof, have an immediate impact on
the wildlife species that depend on them for food.
Gettinger’s research centers on the impact of the
trees’ production cycles. Long-term research on specific
populations of trees will allow Gettinger to address
a number of questions: What is the benefit of a large
crop of nuts if that just means that there are more nuts
available to predators? Is there a benefit to a smaller crop
19
in some years? Do trees invest more energy into growth
in years when they produce fewer nuts, thus enhancing
the potential for future nut production?
The research has prompted other projects, including
box turtle tracking and the study of chestnut oak
tree germination. Gettinger is also monitoring and
comparing the seasonal growth of the beech trees using
metal bands, called dendrometers, that wrap around
the trees.
“I’ve been interested for a long time in the whole idea
of masting behavior,” Gettinger said. “You don’t think
of trees as having a behavior, but they do, and many of
the trees in communities seem to produce their big nut
crops at the same time. I thought, what’s going on? Is
this some kind of evolved response that enhances the
reproductive potential of the trees?”
Part of his research includes studying whether the
new beech trees that are growing in his study sites are
formed from sexual reproduction or if they are clones of
the parent trees and grew from the roots. This difference
is important due to the number of disappearing or
shrinking forests. Fewer beech trees means less nut
production. Smaller nut productions means new growth
will depend increasingly on root sprouts. “It’s healthier
as a rule to have a diverse parentage among the trees,”
Gettinger said. “They are more susceptible to disease
otherwise.”
The large population of American beech trees on
Randolph’s property allows Gettinger to do his research
while sharing his love of science and the outdoors with
his students.
“The biology department has used the area for years
for ecology,” he said. “It is pretty unusual for a college
that is surrounded by residential areas as we are to have
any woodland at all. It’s nice for us. We don’t have to
load up the van and drive somewhere. We can just take
a 10-minute hike across the soccer fields. These are true
outdoor labs.”
Ron Gettinger (left) talks with Timothy Songer ’12 and Jonathon Bolton ’11 while visiting his beech tree study site behind Randolph’s main campus.
20
Natural
Treasures
Three preservation properties
provide unique outdoor classrooms
S
tands of hardwood on a 51-acre preservation tract
just south of the Lynchburg Regional Airport are a
visible reminder of what the area looked like before rapid
residential and commercial development.
“It’s becoming more and more like a little island
because other land is being developed all around it,” said
Ron Gettinger, a Randolph College biology professor.
The preservation site was established nearly 50 years ago
when Frank Flint, a biology professor for four decades
at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, helped to secure
the donation of the land. Flint, who died in 1992, was
known for his passion for conservation and saw the
need to protect natural habitats for future generations.
During his tenure, he helped bring two additional
donations of preservation properties to the College, and
Randolph students and professors are still benefiting
from that foresight.
Biodiversity—the mix of species that coexist
within a habitat—is a major area of study by biologists.
Randolph’s land off U.S. 29, as well as a 59-acre tract
in Elon, Virginia, and a 23-acre preserve in Campbell
County, Virginia, provide Randolph faculty and students
unique opportunities for research and study. Each site
features various hardwoods and unique traits.
“These kinds of properties are being lost in the area,”
said Doug Shedd, another Randolph biology professor.
“As Lynchburg grows and expands, this type of land is
being developed rapidly. Just from the point of habitat
protection, it is important. These plots represent the
type of forest that used to be there.”
Each property was donated with the provision that
it remain undeveloped.
“They are valuable properties from an ecological point
of view,” added Gettinger. “It’s significant that the College
has been entrusted with them. We can take the lead in their
preservation and benefit from them as well.”
(Above right) Professors Doug Shedd (left) and Ron Gettinger
at Randolph’s nature preserve site off U.S. 29
“These kinds of properties are being lost
in the area. As Lynchburg grows and
expands, this type of land is being developed
rapidly.”
Doug Shedd
The Catherine Ehrman Thoresen ’23 and
William E. Thoresen Professor of Biology
21
22
NewFaces…on the Faculty
Mace Archer
During the last decade, Mace Archer crisscrossed
the country performing as an actor and director. The
stage is still a focal point for him, but as Randolph
College’s newest assistant professor of theatre, he is
now able to establish roots.
“The main draw of Randolph to me is the intimate
size of the campus. Knowing that there is a close-knit
relationship between students and professors is a great
thing, particularly in theatre training,” Archer said.
Archer is one of nine new, full-time faculty members
hired this year, including four for new positions in
theatre, communication, business and economics, and
art. “By hiring nine new faculty, Randolph College is
taking a strong stand in support of the quality of its
academic program,” said Dennis Stevens, vice president
for academic affairs and dean of the College. “These
faculty members have brought new excitement to an
already strong faculty; they have energized students and
have shown that they want to make their own, unique
contribution to the future of the College.”
Archer earned his master of fine arts in directing
from Illinois State University. He was an assistant
professor of theatre at Montana State University before
co-founding and serving as artistic director for Venture
Theatre in Billings, Montana. He then traveled across the
country as a freelance actor and director. He also taught
classes in improvisation and classical acting.
At Randolph, Archer wants to help theatre students
polish their craft. One vehicle for that will be a No
Shame Theatre. This popular forum features original,
five-minute performances. “With No Shame, we want
an environment of creative energy and a community
of artists who make performing part of their weekly
lives,” said Archer. “It’s a wild and exciting event for
Randolph.”
Mark Harrison
Mark Harrison relies on his background working
in the petroleum industry to teach his students about
real-life business situations.
Before coming to Randolph as an associate professor
of business and economics, Harrison was a business
professor at Daniel Webster College in New Hampshire
and an online adjunct instructor at the University
of Maryland. He has also taught at Franklin Pierce
College in New Hampshire and at the University of
Texas in Austin, where he completed his M.S. and Ph.D.
(Above, left to right) Mace Archer, Chad Beck, and Mark Harrison
(Opposite) Leanne Zalewski
23
in economics. Prior to that, Harrison spent 10 years
working as an engineering and management consultant
for petroleum companies in Southeast Asia.
In 2009, he served as a Fulbright Scholar to
Indonesia, teaching economics and business courses at
the Bandung Institute of Technology in Bandung. “The
point of the Fulbright is to build international relations,
and I couldn’t have been treated better,” he said. “I really
enjoyed and felt comfortable living in a predominantly
Muslim society.”
He has been impressed with the Randolph students
he has met. “We have good students here,” said Harrison.
“I feel a lot of positive energy. I look around, and I see a
lot of good stuff going on.”
Zalewski earned her Ph.D. in art history from City
University of New York. She taught there and at the Pratt
Institute in New York and the Massachusetts College of
Art in Boston. She has also completed a fellowship at the
Center for the History of Art Collecting in America at
the Frick Art Reference Library and the Frick Collection
in New York.
“I have a unique background because I’ve worked
at an auction house and a commercial gallery, as well as
in academia,” she said. “I’ve touched on all the different
areas of the art world.”
While Zalewski is most interested in 19th-century
art history, “I love art, period,” she said. “I’m enthusiastic
about all of it, so I hope my enthusiasm is infectious.”
Leanne Zalewski
Chad Beck
Standing in a gallery of the Maier Museum of Art
at Randolph College, Leanne Zalewski clearly enjoys her
new job as an assistant professor of art. The College’s
art collection is a big part of why she came to Randolph,
and she plans to use the artwork in her classes.
Meet all of Randolph College’s new professors
www.randolphcollege.edu/magazine
Katrin Schenk
Caroline Mann
Kelley Deetz
Christopher Otwell
Assistant Professor
of Physics
Ainsworth Visiting
Professor of American
Culture
24
Visiting Assistant
Professor of Psychology
Assistant Professor
of Theatre, Designer/
Technical Director
Jeff Heinfeldt
Associate Professor of
Economics and Business
Chad Beck comes to Randolph as an assistant
professor of communication after spending three years
in the largest city in North America: Mexico City. Beck
received a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Abroad
Fellowship to conduct research in Mexico and taught
communications courses at Anáhuac University. He
also used the time to complete his dissertation on the
Mexican television industry. He earned his Ph.D. in
communication and culture from Indiana University.
Beck holds masters’ degrees in English and film
studies and in cinema and media studies. He has taught
at Indiana University, North Carolina State University,
and New York City Technical College. Beck’s academic
specialties include media industries, film, television, and
digital media. Within those subjects he incorporates
race and ethnicity, globalization, cultural identity, and
political economy.
At Randolph, Beck has been impressed with
the diversity of students on campus, including their
backgrounds and perspectives on a variety of issues.
“Students are really intellectually curious here,” Beck
said, a trait he hopes to encourage in his teaching. “My
style is much more interactive, participatory, rather
than the lecturer standing at the podium. I try to get
students more involved and give them the sense that
they have their own voice, that I’m not the only expert
in the room. We all debate together as a community in
my classroom.”
(Left to right) Julia Kim ’14, Jamie Campbell, and Shreya Sharma ’14 share a joke during practice.
New Faces…in Athletics
Jamie Campbell
The fall sports season marked
Jamie Campbell’s return to the Old
Dominion Athletic Conference
(ODAC), this time as the women’s and
men’s head tennis coach at Randolph
College. As an undergraduate at
Guilford College in Greensboro,
North Carolina, Campbell was the
top ranked women’s tennis player at the school for three
years and an All-ODAC team selection throughout her
undergraduate career.
For the past seven years, Campbell led the women’s
tennis team at the University of Texas at El Paso, a
Division I school. The program posted 48 wins from
2007–10, the most successful stretch in the school’s
history.
Campbell earned a B.S. in sport medicine at Guilford
and an M.S. in kinesiology at James Madison University
in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she was an assistant
tennis coach. She spent five years as the women’s head
tennis coach at Binghamton University in New York as
the school grew from Division III to Division I status.
Campbell will stress recruiting and training in her
new role with the WildCats. “I want to teach students
here to take what they think they can do to a much
higher level,” she said.
Caroline Cubbage
New Head Sof tball Coach
Caroline Cubbage is also no stranger
to the ODAC. She is a 2007 graduate
of Lynchburg College, where she
was a three-time Division III AllAmerican in softball.
“I love this conference, and
I’m very familiar with the region,”
Cubbage said, adding that her
knowledge of the area will help with recruiting efforts.
She was the head softball coach last year at Concordia
University in Nebraska, which finished the season with
a 24-18 record. Cubbage earned a bachelor’s degree
in sport management from Lynchburg College and a
master’s degree in sport administration from Ball State
University in Indiana.
Cubbage will lead a growing WildCat team that
ended last season with 21 victories and a second
consecutive trip to the ODAC tournament.
25
New Faces…on the Board of Trustees
Josiah Bunting III
Josiah Bunting
III currently serves
as president of the
Lehrman American
Studies Center at the
Intercollegiate Studies
Institute in Delaware
and The Harry
Frank Guggenheim
Foundation in New
York City.
A g raduate of
Virginia Military Institute and a Vietnam War veteran,
Bunting attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar
and Columbia University as a John Burgess Fellow. A
sought-after lecturer, Bunting holds honorary degrees
from several colleges. Bunting previously served as
president of Briarcliff College and Hampden-Sydney
College. He also was superintendent of Virginia Military
Institute for eight years during the school’s transition
to coeducation.
“I have always been impressed by the stature of
the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College graduates I
have known,” Bunting said. “The school’s academic
reputation has always been high, and I sense that is
continuing in its new iteration as Randolph College.
I am proud to serve the College in any way I can be
useful.”
An accomplished author, Bunting’s publications
include Ulysses S. Grant, which was part of Arthur
Schlesinger’s American Presidents series; All Loves Excelling,
a novel set at a boarding school; The Lionheads, which was
selected as one of the “Ten Best Novels of 1973” by Time
Magazine; and An Education for Our Time, which was a
main selection of the Conservative Book Club in 1998.
Bunting and his wife, Diana, have four children and
live in The Plains, Virginia.
Elizabeth Earle Kojaian ’84
Elizabeth Earle Kojaian ’84 is a longtime arts
enthusiast and volunteer fundraiser who lives in
Bloomf ield Hills,
Michigan, with her
husband, Michael, and
their three children.
“RandolphM a c o n Wo m a n ’ s
College was an open,
warm community
that built up your
confidence,” Kojaian
said. “It was an
atmosphere that
encouraged participation at any level. That is still true
today.”
Kojaian, a psychology major, is involved with a
variety of political and arts organizations, including the
Michigan Counsel of Arts and Cultural Affairs, the
Joffery Ballet, the National Republican Party, Detroit
Country Day School, and Lighthouse PATH, a Michigan
organization that helps women and children. “I am at
a stage in my life where I want to start really giving back,”
she added. “I want to bring awareness of what a treasure
Randolph College is.”
“I have always been impressed by the stature of the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College
graduates I have known. The school’s academic reputation has always been high, and I
sense that is continuing in its new iteration as Randolph College. I am proud to serve the
College in any way I can be useful.”
26
Josiah Bunting III
Trustee
Randolph College hosted Howard Dean, former Vermont governor, presidential candidate, and past chairman of the Democratic National Committee,
in October.
Howard Dean
Former governor of Vermont emphasizes the power of young voters
I
f you want to see the direction of
America’s future, Howard Dean
suggests you listen carefully to the
opinions and concerns of today’s
college students.
“If you’re sitting down with
18- and 20-year-olds, you’re learning
about where the country is going,”
said Dean, whose broad political
experience as a 2004 presidential
candidate, former governor of
Vermont, and past chairman of the
Democratic National Committee
was the basis for a public lecture
on the state of politics hosted by
Randolph College in October.
During his visit to campus,
Dean also met with Randolph
students to discuss the economy,
healthcare, and climate change. He
told them that young voters can
wield hefty voting power. “President
Obama was elected by people under
35. It was the first time in my life in
politics that more people under 35
voted than people over 65,” Dean
said. “It’s a very big generational
change.”
Dean’s presidential bid inspired
Patrick Glynn ’12 to study politics.
“Meeting Howard Dean was an
incredible experience,” he said. “While
he speaks largely as a Democrat, he
is not afraid to go against the party’s
normal platform and stand up for
what he believes is right. He has a
lot of faith in our generation, and I
agree that it will be our responsibility
to change American politics the way
we see fit.”
Dean recalled how some of his
young staffers saw the benefits of the
Internet as a campaign tool during
his presidential bid. It is an example,
he said, of a new generation using
technology and different problemsolving methods to create change.
“The extraordinary thing about
this generation of college students
is that what they want to do is find
common ground with others as
opposed to battling people over
the things that they can’t agree on,”
Dean said.
“They all have friends of
different races. They have friends
who are gay, friends of different
immigrant statuses and religions,
and they all take that in stride.
That’s the new America.”
27
28
Taking Care of Business
Joan Smith brings smile, love of people to Randolph’s campus
I
t is early on a crisp, fall morning,
and the main office of Buildings
& Grounds is bustling with life.
The phone rings incessantly, and
the handheld radio nearby goes off
as staff members check in to ask
questions or give reports. Other
staffers wander through the office,
picking up paperwork and keys.
Meanwhile, dozens of e-mails
fill the department’s work order
inbox.
In the middle of it all, Joan
Smith is smiling.
“I love this,” said Smith, the
office manager for Buildings &
Grounds. “I’m a people person,
and this job lets me help people
every day.”
Smith, who lives in Rustburg,
Virginia, has been with the College
since 1999. Her responsibilities
include everything from
coordinating all work order requests
from the campus community,
to managing the payroll for the
department, to supporting the five
supervisors in the office. Smith is
also a member of the Staff Advisory
Committee.
“Most people don’t ever meet
Joan, except over the phone,” said
Bobby Bennett, the department’s
director. “She’s not just the voice
behind the phone. She’s the smile.
And she’s the glue that holds
everything together.”
Smith’s days are filled with
constant activity as she manages the
custodial, repair, and landscaping
needs of Randolph’s campus
while maintaining relationships
with vendors and handling the
paperwork associated with the busy
office. “It’s challenging,” she said.
“But I like that. When students
or faculty or staff call and have a
problem, I like to be able to help
get it fixed.”
Smith is happiest taking care of
people, whether they are students
on Randolph’s campus or her own
family. Originally from Chatham,
Virginia, Smith moved to the
Lynchburg area with her husband,
Henry. Married for 40 years, the
couple raised three children.
An avid gardener, Smith enjoys
taking advantage of Randolph’s
campus during her lunch hour.
“It is nice to step outside and just
catch my breath. I love taking a
walk and watching the butterflies
and listening to the birds sing,” she
said. “This is a welcoming place. I
like being a part of that. You look up
at these beautiful buildings and at
our campus. It just gives you a peace
within yourself. Then you are ready
to go back in and do it again.”
Bennett said Smith’s positive
attitude has an impact campus wide.
“She’s the connection between
everyone in our department and the
rest of the campus,” he said. “Most
people would be surprised at just
how busy she is every day. Yet, she
maintains it, and she never seems to
have a bad day.”
“I love this. I’m a people person, and this job lets me help
people every day.”
Joan Smith
Buildings & Grounds Office Manager
29
Defending History
Kathleen Conti ’11 adds to public debate about Stalin’s role in WWII
be an
original
(Right) Kathleen Conti ’11 stands near the bust of
Stalin at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford,
Virginia. The bust was removed shortly after this
picture was taken.
(Above top) Kathleen Conti ’11 in front of St. Basil’s
Cathedral in Moscow, Russia
(Above) St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow
30
W
hen Kathleen Conti ’11
stepped to the microphone
in front of a crowd of more than
100 people, she knew that her
comments would not be popular.
A Randolph College global
studies and history major, Conti
was one of the youngest people
to speak this summer during an
open forum on the controversial
installation of a bust of Soviet
dictator Joseph Stalin at the
National D-Day Memorial in
Bedford, Virginia. The majority of
the crowd in attendance, including
many veterans, was vehemently
opposed to the bust because they
felt it honored a dictator who
committed atrocities against his
own people during World War II
and throughout his rule.
But Conti knew there was
another side to the story. “I heard
people saying things that were
incorrect,” said Conti, who spent
six months in Russia studying
the language during her junior
year. “If Stalin had not engaged
the German army on the eastern
front, there would not have been a
D-Day.” Conti was neither for nor
against the bust; she was just trying
to present a historically accurate
perspective. “The crowd was not
there to learn, they were there to
express their own viewpoint,” said
Gerry Sherayko, a professor of
history who attended the forum
with Conti. “Kathleen was poised,
eloquent, forceful, and correct.”
While the controversy was
brewing in Bedford, Conti was in
the midst of researching Stalin
as part of her Summer Research
project with Mari Ishibashi,
a Randolph political science
professor. During her trip to Russia,
Conti discovered an inscription in
the rotunda of Kurskaya Station
in Moscow that praised Stalin. The
marking led Conti to wonder why
a nation that had tried so hard to
expunge him from its collective
memory was highlighting him
in a new public project. She and
Ishibashi decided to study the
issue with their summer research
entitled “Memory as a Political
Strategy: The Politics of Stalin
Remembrance in Russia.” They
found that Russian presidents
Dmitri Medvedev and Vladimir
Putin had used selective references
to Stalin to bolster nationalism
in Russia—even while local
Communist party candidates
feared electoral backlash. In a
similar fashion, the speakers at
the Bedford forum that evening
selectively commented on Stalin’s
horrific deeds instead of his role
as a war-time ally of the United
States. It was a political issue that
became very real and very local.
Conti’s response that night
was born out of academic
responsibility. The Stalin bust was
removed in October, but she is
continuing the research for her
senior history honors project.
“The College fosters a sense that
you have an obligation to yourself,
the community, and the world,”
she said. “It’s great to be a scholar
and researcher, but you have to
share it with the public.”
31
Randolph College Remembers December 14, 1960
32
On December 14, 1960, four white
and two African American college
students—including Randolph-Macon
Woman’s College students Mary Edith
Bentley Abu-Saba ’61 and Rebecca Mays
Owen ’61—entered a Lynchburg drugstore
hoping to convince the owner to let them
have coffee together. The result—the city’s
first sit-in—landed the college students
in jail, prompted additional sit-ins from
classmates, and ignited a firestorm of
controversy throughout the city, all the
while teaching the Randolph-Macon
Woman’s College students involved a few
important lessons about life, social justice,
and courage.
This month marks the 50th anniversary
of that defining moment—a moment that
brought the civil rights movement to a
head in conservative Lynchburg and on
the campus of R-MWC.
Read “We Weren’t Out to Make
History,” first published in the fall Bulletin,
and view a multi-media presentation
of photos and news articles from
that period in Lynchburg’s history at
www.randolphcollege.edu/magazine.
(Top to bottom) Mary Edith Bentley Abu-Saba ’61
(middle) sits at the lunch counter at Patterson’s Drug
Store during a sit-in on December 14, 1960.
Inset: Patterson’s Drug Store in Lynchburg in 1960
Rebecca Mays Owen ’61 (left) Mary Edith Bentley
Abu-Saba ’61 (third from left) sit with members of
the Patterson Six in court.
Rebecca Mays Owen ’61 (second from left) and Mary
Edith Bentley Abu-Saba ’61 (third from left) pray with
other members of the Patterson Six before pleading
guilty and receiving a 30-day jail sentence in February
1961.
A student reacts outside the courthouse.
The Randolph College Board of Trustees
Gail Waller ’71 Developed Passion for
Constitutional Law During College Years
G
“My years at R-MWC were
really life changing for me
in ter ms of intellectual
development and political
consciousness.”
Gail Waller ’71
Trustee
ail Waller ’71 went to law school knowing that she wanted to work for
the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “It only took me 35 years,”
she laughed. “But it’s where my heart has always been.”
For almost six years, Waller has volunteered with the Roger Baldwin
Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois as senior staff counsel. What started as
three days a week has now grown to an almost full-time position. “If you are
doing something because you love what you do, it will take over a bit,” Waller
said. “I’ve decided at this point in my life I don’t mind.”
Waller’s work has centered on the ACLU’s institutionalized persons
project. While the project also works with people in juvenile detention
centers, jails, and prisons, Waller’s work focuses on providing assistance to
people with disabilities in Chicago. “It is a population with very little clout,”
she said. Waller and the ACLU have filed three class-action suits on behalf
of people with developmental, physical, and mental disabilities in the state
who have been required to live in institutional settings that are not the most
appropriate for their needs.
Civil liberties issues became a passion for Waller during high school. After
spending her childhood in a small town in Mississippi during desegregation,
Waller moved to Nashville, Tennessee, for the end of high school. “I didn’t
understand what was going on,” she said. “It was different when we moved,
and it sort of hit me that there were all of these ways of thinking that were
not what I grew up with, and they seemed to be important.”
During college, that passion was stoked by her professors and classmates.
She became involved in the anti-war movement and found a love for
constitutional law. “My years at R-MWC were really life changing for me in
terms of intellectual development and political consciousness,” she said. “I
remember my roommate’s father looking at me one time and saying I should
be a lawyer. That had never occurred to me. I told him he was right.”
After graduating from R-MWC a year early with a political science major,
Waller, who has been a member of the Board of Trustees at the College since
2006, earned her law degree from Georgetown University in 1974. She and
her husband, Tim Schwertfeger, whom she met in law school, married in 1975
and have a son, Andrew.
After law school, Waller practiced law for a small firm before accepting
a position as in-house counsel for Quaker Oats. There she handled mergers
and acquisitions for 10 years before taking a 20-year hiatus.
Today, she is back doing what she loves and helping an often overlooked
population in Chicago. “Our clients are very brave people,” Waller said. “It is
difficult for them to stand up and put themselves on the line. Institutional
living is institutional living, and it’s rarely the best place to be. We believe
they need a choice.”
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The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College presents
Nature Perfected: The Art of Botanical Illustration
January 23–April 17, 2011
Curated by Lydia Kirchner ’11
Opening Celebration
featuring a short lecture by the curator
followed by a reception
January 23, 2011 • 2 p.m.
Through an internship with the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College, biology major Lydia
Kirchner ’11 presents a collection of 19th-century botanical wallcharts and prints from the College’s
biology department. The prints, discovered rolled and covered in dust in the attic of Martin Science
Building, were used as teaching aids in science classrooms as early as 1945.