Thursday, December 16, 2021

Students, registration for the winter series of Whitties Helping Whitties networking events is now open and available online. Registration and attendance is free.

Whitties Helping Whitties is a series of events targeted at creating a professional Whitman community in key locations where we know Whitties reside and work. This series, Whitman will be hosting events in South Seattle, North Seattle, Portland and the Bay Area the week of January 9–12.

Share your story, learn about professions you didn’t know exist, connect with young alumni who can help you transition to a new city after graduation, talk with recruiters, parents, or alums about internships or early careers in their organizations and meet other Whitties working in a city you may want to explore for the summer.

During this event, you can learn from alumni about the industries including: arts, business, consulting, education, social services, environmental, energy, government, law, engineering, technology, health, research, marketing and more!

To claim your spot, register by Thursday, Jan. 6. Space is limited, so register soon! Your safety is our priority—we ask that all attendees be fully vaccinated and provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival at this event. We will also be following all local procedures and mandates.

Announcements

Colleague and myWhitman Maintenance Happening This Sunday

To avoid disruption close to the 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, grade submission deadline, Whitman College Technology Services will be performing system updates for Colleague and myWhitman from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19, instead of the standard 5–7 a.m. Wednesday maintenance window. During this time frame, please expect that myWhitman and Colleague will not be accessible.

Last Chance for OP Equipment Rental Deals

The OP Rental Shop is getting ready to close for break and wants to make sure you have everything you need for your winter adventures! Stop by to check out sales prices on everything in stock and purchase gear and gifts including camping equipment, bike locks and lights and much more. You can also take advantage of special deals on ski and snowshoe rentals: pick up today or tomorrow and return by Jan. 5 for three-day-rental prices of return by Jan. 18 and pay just the five-day-rental rate! The OP Rental Shop is open from 12–5:30 p.m. today and tomorrow, will be closed Dec. 18 through Jan. 3., and will reopen Jan. 4.

Noteworthy

Creative Research Collaboration by Armstrong and Students

Associate Professor of Psychology Tom Armstrong and collaborators at University of Cambridge and University of Bristol published the article “MouseView.js: Reliable and valid attention tracking in web-based experiments using a cursor-directed aperture.” In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Armstrong and team developed an online alternative to eye tracking and conducted research demonstrating its validity and reliability. The following members of the PEEP lab at Whitman College collected data and/or helped with production and cinematography of the MouseView.js official infomercial: seniors Jessica Bowlus, Grace Hammarlund and Devi Payne, juniors Nisha Gharti Magar, Nomonde Nyathi, Sam Patterson, Devi Payne and Julia Schillings, and recent graduates Zoe Brown, Ananda Gupta and Daniel Leong. The infomercial also features MouseView.js collaborators, including Assistant Professor of Psychology Chanel Meyers. The research project was supported by the Whitman Technology Experimentation Fund and by funds from the Laura and Carl Peterson Chair of Social Sciences endowment, which were generously donated by Professor of Psychology Melissa Clearfield. 

Pahlke Published on Parenting and Race

Associate Professor of Psychology Erin Pahlke recently co-authored an article published in Perspectives on Psychological Science focused around the current debate in psychology about whether researchers should encourage White parents to discuss race with their children. 

Rolfe to Chair Chamber of Commerce Board

Director for Career Development Kim Rolfe will be moving into the volunteer role of Board of Directors, Chair for the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce in the coming year. Rolfe says, "I am so impressed by the way Chamber staff has worked creatively to help the local business community throughout the pandemic. I appreciate that Whitman has a great relationship with an organization making such a positive impact in our community and I'm looking forward to continuing this connection in the coming year."

McCracken Named NWC Women’s Basketball SAOW

Senior Kaylie McCracken has been named the Northwest Conference's Women's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week for the first time this season. McCracken led the second-ranked Blues to a pair of home-opening wins this weekend against Walla Walla University and Colorado College at the Kim Evanger Raney Memorial Classic. She was named the Classic's Most Valuable Player and nearly had two double doubles on the weekend. She recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds versus Walla Walla U and 11 points and nine rebounds the next day against Colorado College.

COVID-19 fatigue is real, and as we close out 2021 with the pandemic still impacting so many aspects of our daily lives, it's important to acknowledge the toll this takes on us. An article for Vanderbilt University Medical Center shares six tips for dealing with pandemic fatigue:

• Self care is not optional.
• Setting attainable well-being goals and implementing that plan is critical.
• Plan and use your breaks and paid time off to recharge.
• Take a vacation from news and social media.
• Seek diversions that are healing.
• Create some predictable routines.

As you consider how you will spend your time this winter break, plan some time for thinking through what you need in order to return to Whitman refreshed, restored and ready to take on a new semester.

“Whitman Today” is produced by the Office of Communications and is emailed Monday through Friday to Whitman College staff, faculty and students. All times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time. 

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