Wednesday, December 14, 2022

From Dr. John Johnson, vice president for diversity and inclusion:

 

Whitman College is part of the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA). This alliance was established in 2020 by DePauw University President Dr. Lori White and began with five colleges and a vision “to collaborate on antiracism work, campus climate research and virtual programming for administrators, faculty and staff members on how to better serve students of color and address systemic racism." Through coordination with USC’s Race and Equity Center, LACRELA has grown to include more than 70 institutions and actively works to assist higher education professionals in developing inclusive practices, policies and initiatives to advance racial equity.

 

As part of our membership with LACRELA, Whitman and several other LACRELA institutions participated in the National Assessment for Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC) in spring of 2021 and 2022. More information about Whitman’s NACCC participation and results is forthcoming, but we are able to compare our campus climate outcome data to LACRELA averages (25 institutions) and see how we measure up to a comparison group of five selected peer institutions.

 

Whitman’s engagement with LACRELA has also provided opportunities for several members of the Whitman community to participate in eConvenings—virtual seminars facilitated by subject matter experts on topics such as:

• Fostering and Sustaining Inclusive Classrooms for Students of Color
• Teaching the Truth About Slavery and America’s Racial History
• Strategically Hiring Faculty of Color

The next LACRELA eConvening is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, and will focus on Managing and Resolving Racial Tensions in the Workplace. Each LACRELA institution is allotted eight spots for each three-hour synchronous session. Please email diversity@whitman.edu if you would like to participate in the January session. Recordings of past sessions are also available upon request. Visit our LACRELA webpage for more information.

Noteworthy

Derivan Dockter '22 was named as a third-team selection to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region team in his final season with the Blues. During conference play, he played in 13 games for the Blues with 12 starts and logged two assists.

Associate Professor of Psychology Erin Pahlke was recently quoted in a Yahoo Life article, "Your kid made a sexist comment. Now what?" Pahlke cites experimental research that indicates children benefit from age-appropriate instruction regarding sexism.

Need a break? Take some time to breathe and consider attending "Finals Week Mindfulness" from 4:15-4:45 p.m. today in the All Faiths Room (Reid 110). Bring a blanket or yoga mat for guided meditation and relaxation techniques. Questions? Email Interfaith Chaplain Adam Kirtley.

Students are invited to submit up to three art pieces created in any Whitman art class during the 2022 calendar year for the 15th Annual Juried Student Art Salon. Selected works will be installed in the Fouts Center for Visual Arts in a show running January 17-February 11. 2023. Cash prizes will also be awarded. Submission forms, due by midnight on Thursday, Dec. 15, are available at several locations in Fouts (under the main stairway, in the hallway by the main office, or at Fouts 125). Questions? Email Kynde Kiefel, Andrew Somoskey or Tara Graves.

Daily COVID-19 Update

In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that since yesterday, no one 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. 

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 times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time. 

 

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.