Friday, February 10, 2023

Photo (McGhiever, via Wikimedia Commons): The Old Main building at Hamline University.

Late last year, news broke that an art historian and professor at Hamline University in Minnesota had been dismissed following a dispute involving displaying an image of a 14th-century painting depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a class on global art. (If you would like to learn more, see the Recommended Readings listed on the calendar event.)

Whitman College’s Academic Freedom and Due Process Committee will host a campus-wide conversation about this viral case from 4–5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14 in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom. All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend.

“When Academic Freedom, Religious Beliefs, and DEI Collide: The Case of Hamline University,” will introduce the principles of academic freedom and will be followed by a presentation by Lauren Osborne, Associate Professor of Religion, exploring how religion, race, precarity and academic freedom played crucial roles in this controversy. Psychology major Kainat Ansari '23 will respond to the presentation, followed by small group conversations among the attendees. Refreshments will be provided by the Office of the Provost and Dean of Faculty

Computer science and mathematics double major Fabian Gabriel ’25 and computer science major Val Hoxha ’25 recently attended the annual SpartaHack hackathon event hosted at Michigan State University. During a 24-hour window, their team developed an application to help homeless people in Lansing, Michigan, which received the “Most Ethical Hack” award sponsored by Deloitte.

Assistant Professor of Philosophy Wenqing Zhao recently spoke at two events. First, she co-organized and spoke at “Agency, Democracy, and Contemporary China: Workshop on Jiwei Ci’s Political Philosophy,” at the University of California, Berkeley. She also delivered a talk titled “From Conceptual Misalignment to Conceptual Engineering: A Case Study on Emotion from Early Chinese Philosophy” at a Portland State University Socratic Society colloquium. 

Today is the last day to respond to our short, five question survey about the Whitman Today newsletter. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

The Fouts Center for Visual Arts will host a Closing Celebration event for the 2023 Juried Art Salon, from 1–3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. Join the festivities to see the exhibit before it closes, enjoy some refreshments, and vote for this year's People's Choice Award.

Reminder to Students: Proposals to present at the 25th annual Whitman Undergraduate Conference are due Friday, Feb. 17. Carefully review the instructions for presenters before composing your abstracts. Faculty sponsors must also review and give final approval through the portal system by next week’s deadline. Email questions to Jess Hernandez, Director for Fellowships and Grants and chair of the Undergraduate Conference planning committee.

Whitman’s LGBTQIA+ Student Services will host Lavender Graduation to honor LGBTQIA+ graduating students on Wednesday, May 10 in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom. To learn more, visit the LGBTQIA+ Student Services table in Reid Campus Center from 12–2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 or email lgbtqia@whitman.edu.

In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that since yesterday, one person 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. 

11 a.m.

Whitman College Distance Track Spokane Indoor

Away Game

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Yoga

Sherwood Athletic Center, Multipurpose Gym

2:30 p.m.

Whitman College Baseball at Whittier College

Away Game

5 p.m.

Black Culture Game Night

Glover Alston Center (The GAC)

8 a.m.

Whitman College Distance Track Spokane Indoor

Away Game

8 a.m. to 5:30p.m.

ASWC Ski Bus to Bluewood

Bluewood Ski Resort

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Outdoor Program Trip: Beginning XC Ski

Umatilla National Forest

11 a.m.

Whitman College Baseball at Occidental College

Away Game

1–3 p.m.

Closing Celebration: Juried Student Art Salon

Fouts Center for Visual Arts

2:30 p.m.

Whitman College Baseball at Occidental College

Away Game

2:30–5 p.m.

BIPOC Outdoor Club/International Students Climbing

Sherwood Athletic Center, Climbing Center

4 p.m.

Whitman College Women’s Basketball at George Fox University

Away Game

5 p.m.

Whitman College Women’s Tennis at Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho)

Away Game

6 p.m.

Whitman College Men’s Basketball at George Fox University

Away Game

11 a.m.

Whitman College Baseball at Occidental College

Away Game

12:30–2:30 p.m.

Faculty/Staff Climbing

Sherwood Athletic Center, Climbing Wall

2–4 p.m.

Amor y Alfajores

Away Game

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