Whitman Today
 

Monday, August 21, 2023

Our Place in Walla Walla:
The Fair

Feature by: Noah Leavitt, College Liaison for Community Affairs

A fair scene after dark, with rides and attractions illuminated by neon lights.

We’re fortunate: our place is endlessly fascinating.

Pásx̣apa—the place of the balsamroot sunflowers—has been the home of the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Umatilla peoples since time immemorial and continues to be their homelands to this day as a result of the Treaty of 1855 which was negotiated very close to campus.

The Walla Walla Valley, home of Whitman College, is complex, traditional, innovative, surprising, and lovely. It’s a place that’s proud of what we have and also aware that we need to be looking ahead to guide our future. 

Whitman students nearly always find their experiences beyond campus to be informative, meaningful and memorable. They’re frequently amazed at what they are able to learn when they venture just a few blocks past Reid. Last week, in a great interview with the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Nat Lange ’24 reflected on his college-funded summer internship with our city government:

“It opened my eyes that there’s more happening in this community than Whitman (College), there’s more happening in this community than Main Street … It feels good to be a part of that. I didn’t feel as a part of that until I started working with the city, really immersing myself in what’s happening here.”

Students, this new column is designed to help grow your understanding of our place throughout your four years—allowing you to identify and pursue numerous ways “into” the Valley. (Whitman maintains hundreds of meaningful collaborative relationships with local organizations, businesses, governments, nearly all of which students can tap into.)

To accomplish this goal, every other week I will explore a part of the Walla Walla Valley—this may be an event, an initiative, a neighborhood, maybe even a community leader. We live in a place that is diverse in so many, often invisible, ways, whether we’re talking about bioregions or economic sectors or political ideologies or demographic backgrounds. 

For this inaugural column, let’s consider the Walla Walla County Fair, taking place from Wednesday August 30 through Sunday September 3, about a mile and a half from campus.

Read more.

Poor Air Quality Alert

Due to wildfires, the air quality this morning continues to be “Very Unhealthy,” but conditions are predicted to improve today and tomorrow and be “Good” by Wednesday. In the meantime, stay indoors if possible, and wear a high-quality mask if you need to spend time outdoors (N95/KN95/KF94 are recommended for smoke particulates). 

  • Masks are available at Reid Campus Center (open until 8 p.m. tonight) and the Welty Health Center (open until 5 p.m.)
  • Athletic team practice is suspended until the air quality improves.
  • If you are in a sensitive group and need to work from home to protect your health, please contact your supervisor to make arrangements.
  • If your work requires you to be outside (Grounds, Maintenance, Custodial) please use extra caution: wear a mask, pace yourself, avoid strenuous activities, take frequent indoor breaks and work in pairs when possible.

Announcements

Stationery Portal Open Through August 29

The twice-yearly opportunity to get bulk pricing on Whitman-branded stationery is here! Place your orders while the online portal is open between now and Tuesday, August 29. Estimated delivery is October 16. As a reminder, your portal login information is not the same as your Whitman login. Questions? Contact Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Communications Andrea Volz at 509-527-5160 or volza@whitman.edu.

 

Whitman Wire Hiring for All Staff Positions

The Whitman Wire student-run newspaper is currently hiring for all staff positions. Any students with an interest in writing, photography, illustration, copy editing, distribution, social media, podcasting or design are invited to apply by Wednesday, August 30. Please email completed applications and any questions to Rachel Husband, Publisher, and Kasey Moulton, Editor-in-Chief, at wire@whitman.edu.

 

Nancy Tavelli Retirement Celebration Update

Nancy Tavelli worked in and led Residence Life and Housing for more than 45 years at Whitman College. She provided the vision and structure for thousands of Whitman students to make lifelong friendships and become independent, thoughtful, empathetic adults. Help celebrate her accomplishments in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom on Tuesday, September 26 at 3:30 p.m. (updated date and location).

Photo Finish

Black and white photograph of people in horse-drawn wagons congregating in front of the grandstand at the fairgrounds.

Photo (Whitman College and Northwest Archives, Walla Walla Photograph Collection): “Grandstand at Fairgrounds, September 30, 1892” provides a glimpse into the Walla Walla fairground’s past, with an image from more than 130 years ago.

Happening This Week

 

Monday

9 a.m.

International Student Orientation: Morning Session

Olin Hall 138

2 p.m.

International Student Orientation: Afternoon Session

Olin Hall 138

5 p.m.

International Student Orientation: Evening Session

Olin Hall 138

Tuesday

9 a.m.

International Student Orientation: Morning Session

Olin Hall 138

1 p.m.

International Student Orientation: Afternoon Session

Olin Hall 138

6 p.m.

International Student Orientation: Evening Session

Olin Hall 138

Wednesday (Opening Day)

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New Student Check-In

Reid Campus Center

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Residence Hall Move-In (Group 1)

Residence Halls

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residence Hall Move-In (Group 2)

Residence Halls

Noon, 12:30, and 1 p.m.

Orientation: Campus Tours

Reid Campus Center

Noon

Orientation: Shopping Shuttle

Reid Campus Center

1–2 p.m.

International Student Support Group

Counseling Center 125

2:30 p.m.

Orientation: Meet Your Opening Week Leader (OWL) Group

Ankeny Field

3:30 p.m.

Welcome Our New Class

Sherwood Center

4 p.m.

New Student & Family Welcome

Cordiner Hall

5:15 p.m.

Orientation: Class of 2027 Group Photo

Cordiner Hall, South Lawn

5:45–6:45 p.m.

Orientation: Dinner

Cleveland Commons

7 p.m.

Opening Week Keynote: Darryl Bellamy

Cordiner Hall

8:30 p.m.

Orientation: All Hall Meetings

Residence Hall Lounges

Thursday

7:30–9:30 a.m.

Orientation: Breakfast

Cleveland Commons

9 a.m.

Orientation: Academic Workshop - Group 1

Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall

9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

Orientation: Pre-Major Advising Appointments

Various Locations

9:50 a.m.

Orientation: Wellness @ Whitman Workshop - Group 1

Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall

10:40 a.m.

Orientation: Academic Workshop - Group 2

Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall

11:30 a.m.

Orientation: Wellness @ Whitman Workshop - Group 2

Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall

12:10–2 p.m.

Orientation: Lunch

Cleveland Commons

2 p.m.

Orientation: OWL Group Meet-up 2

Ankeny Field

2:45 p.m.

Orientation: Home in Pásx̣apa

Cordiner Hall

5:45–6:50 p.m.

Orientation: First Section Dinner

Cleveland Commons

7 p.m.

Expert Talk: Beer Goggles to Blackouts - The Science of Alcohol & Cannabis Use

Cordiner Hall

8:30 p.m.

Orientation: Section Meetings

Residence Hall Sections

Friday

7:30–9:30 a.m.

Orientation: Breakfast

Cleveland Commons

9 a.m.

Orientation: How to Find a Campus Job

Maxey Auditorium

10:30 a.m.

Orientation: Consent Awareness, Bystander Intervention & Health Relationships

Cordiner Hall

Noon to 1 p.m.

Orientation: Lunch

Cleveland Commons

Noon to 6 p.m.

Orientation: OWL Extended Activities

Various Locations

5:30 p.m.

Whitman Men’s Soccer vs Blue Mountain Community College

Athletic Fields

6–6:50 p.m.

Orientation: Dinner

Cleveland Commons

7 p.m.

Orientation: Title IX & Security in the Residence Halls

Jewett Lounge and Lyman Lounge

8–11 p.m.

Orientation: Night @ Reid

Reid Campus Center

Saturday

10:30–11:50 a.m.

Orientation: Brunch

Cleveland Commons

11 a.m.

Whitman Women’s Soccer vs Alumnae

Athletic Fields

Noon

Orientation: DEIA Workshop (for Students Living in Jewett & Prentiss)

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

Noon

Orientation: Gender & Sexuality

Anderson Lounge and Lyman Lounge

1 p.m.

Whitman Men’s Soccer vs Alumni

Athletic Fields

2 p.m.

Orientation: OWL Group Meet-up 3

Ankeny Field

3 p.m.

Orientation: DEIA Workshop (for Students Living in Anderson & Lyman)

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

3 p.m.

Whitman Women’s Volleyball vs Alumnae

Sherwood Athletic Center

5–6:50 p.m.

Orientation: Dinner

Cleveland Commons

8–11 p.m.

Orientation: Glow-Up Courtyard Dance

Courtyard Between Anderson and Prentiss

Sunday

9 a.m.

Orientation: Dining @ Whitman Tour

Cleveland Commons

10:30–11:50 a.m.

Orientation: Brunch

Cleveland Commons

Noon

Orientation: OWL Group Meet-up 4

Ankeny Field

1 p.m.

Orientation: Gender & Sexuality

Jewett Lounge and Prentiss Lounge

3–4:50 p.m.

Orientation: Identity & Belonging Scavenger Hunt

Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room

5 p.m.

Orientation: Night @ The Fields

Athletic Fields (Shuttle from Reid Campus Center)

5 p.m.

Whitman Women’s Soccer vs Walla Walla Community College

Athletic Fields

7–9 p.m.

Returning Students Pool Party

Veterans Memorial Pool

7 p.m.

Orientation: Title IX & Security in the Residence Halls

Prentiss Lounge and Anderson Lounge

8:30 p.m.

Outdoor Movie: “Guardians of the Galaxy”

Reid Campus Center, Side Yard

Whitman Events Calendar

Would you like to share an event 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 of 125 words or less are due by 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.

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