Monday, April 4, 2022

Two weeks from today, Ankeny Field will be transformed by the presence of a long tent, an architectural structure common to the Native American tribes of the Columbia Plateau. In the Walla Walla Sahaptin language, the Long Tent is known as kwalk ineet, and we are honored to welcome Don Sampson, the hereditary chief of the Walúulapam (“Walla Walla people”) and executive director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), who will lead the Long Tent opening ceremony on Monday, April 18 at 4:30 p.m.

 

Throughout the week the Long Tent is on campus, many dignitaries and elders from various local Plateau tribes, including the Cayuse, Colville, Nez Perce, Umatilla and Walla Walla, will share their expertise, wisdom and experience. We are also very pleased that Thomas Morning Owl, a recognized regional longhouse leader and cultural ceremonialist, will spend the week as our CTUIR elder-in-residence.

 

In addition to Whitman courses with special class time in the tent, public events will take place each day, and we encourage the entire Whitman community to explore the full schedule on the Long Tent webpage and plan to attend. 

 

Long Tent Programming Next Week

There are two Long Tent events taking place next week: 

• On Tuesday, April 12 Marjorie Waheneka will share reflections on growing up with elders and practicing traditional life ways (rescheduled from the original March 30 date). 
• Artist and WSU professor Michael Holloman will join us Thursday, April 14 for a candid discussion on Kay Nielsen’s 1957 painting, “The Whitman Legend,” a large-scale stylized painting that evokes a mythic expression of American exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny.

Staying Safe in a Campus Emergency
(AKA things we hope never happen but need to prepare for)

Beginning today and running every other week, we will be sharing important information about Whitman’s emergency operations plan. We hope you will review this information carefully so that you are prepared should an emergency arise.

 

Fire

In the unlikely event of a fire on campus, take the following steps:

• Dial 911 and provide the dispatcher with as much specific location information as possible.
• After calling 911, call Campus Security at 509-527-5777.
• Alert others in the area of the fire by yelling loudly. Pull the nearest alarm.
• Attempt to put out the fire only if it is very small. Use a fire extinguisher. Do not attempt to extinguish a grease fire or electrical fire with water.

Whitman will send out an emergency alert. If you are notified to evacuate: 

• Close all windows and doors as you leave. 
• If the area is full of smoke, stay low to the floor and exit as quickly as possible.
• Don’t use elevators.
• If trapped in the building, close off the area, stand near a window, and signal for help by hanging a piece of clothing or material out the window.
• Do not re-enter the building until notified it is safe to do so by emergency personnel.

The student representatives of Whitman's General Studies Committee will be hosting two focus sessions this week to solicit feedback on proposed revisions to the general studies program. The General Studies Committee is in the final stages of designing a new set of distribution requirements that better reflects the needs and interests of Whitman's students today. As this new proposal nears completion, students are invited to learn more about it and engage in discussion, so come be a part of this process and help shape the Whitman experience for students in years to come! 

 

Session Times 

Today (April 4) Zoom session, 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting https://whitman.zoom.us/j/93998381671

 

Tomorrow (April 5) 12 p.m.–1 p.m.

Reid Side Lawn (Reid G02 in case of rain)

Lunch session with pizza (available until it's gone!)

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

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