Thursday, January 26, 2023

Starting fall semester of 2023, students will be able to pursue several new areas of study to choose from, which we will highlight here in the coming weeks.

First up, is a new concentration in the study of Human-Centered Design (HCD), which encourages students to understand the deeper meaning of objects, systems and beyond, and how to evaluate people's interaction with the designed world.

“HCD threads together multiple disciplines at Whitman in order to wrestle with challenging puzzles in today's society, from climate change to accessibility and inclusivity in our digital and physical worlds,” says Michelle Janning, the Raymond and Elsie DeBurgh Chair of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology.

Faculty across divisions came together to create the new concentration in consultation with numerous Whitman alums working in the field of HCD for input on how best to provide this learning experience for students.

A concentration, which can be combined with any major at Whitman, includes courses across a wide range of subjects that overlap with major and minor offerings.

Read more.

Director for Community Engagement Abby Juhasz was recently invited to give a presentation to the Nonprofit Confluence, a network of nonprofit leaders in the Walla Walla Valley. The Confluence was interested to learn more about Whitman's community engagement work and about opportunities to involve Whitman students in their organizations.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to an open session with the second of two finalists interviewing for the role of Vice President of Finance and Administration. The event takes place at noon today in Maxey Auditorium.

This semester, the "Gods at the Movies: Religion in Bollywood Film" course (Religion 291) will host weekly Thursday night screenings, which are open to the entire Whitman community. First up is "Mughal-e-Azam" (1960), a lavish historical epic about forbidden love: screening at 7 p.m. tonight in the Kimball Theatre at Hunter Conservatory.

There will be two more opportunities this week for continued discussions about Whitman's strategic priorities. On Friday, Jan. 27, staff members are invited to Baker Center from 10–11 a.m. and faculty members are invited to Baker Center from noon–1 p.m. Sessions for students on each of the areas of focus will be announced in the coming weeks.

Penrose Library will celebrate Public Domain Day from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27. Learn about copyright protections and the works produced in 1927 (literature, music, historical documents) that are entering the public domain this year, making them freely available for anyone to use and enjoy. Ice cream will be served to celebrate the popular song "I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream" entering the public domain.

In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that since yesterday, nobody with Whitman access was confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Please continue to follow all our campus COVID-19 protocols to help prevent transmission. If you have any symptoms that may be COVID-19 or know that you may have been exposed to coronavirus, please be tested. Additional masks and rapid test kits are available in the front entryway at the Welty Student Health Center during normal operating hours. 

12 p.m.

Meet the Candidates for Vice President of Finance and Administration

Maxey Auditorium

12 p.m.

Read to Me #11 (Poetry)

Reid Campus Center

3 p.m.

Spirituali-TEA with the Interfaith Chaplain

Reid Campus Center Landing

4 p.m.

Information Session: Work Abroad

Olin Hall 129

7 p.m.

Bollywood Film: "Mughal-e-Azam"

Kimball Theatre, Hunter Conservatory

8 p.m.

La Soirée Cinéma

La Maison Interest House

Have an event you'd like to share with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

“Whitman Today” is produced by the Office of Communications and is emailed Monday through Friday to Whitman College staff, faculty and students.

All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other content to share with the Whitman community, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions should be 125 words or less. The deadline is noon for the following day's newsletter. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.

Previous issues of Whitman Today are archived on our website.

Find us on social media: @whitmancollege