Monday, January 8, 2024

Whitman faculty and staff members are encouraged to participate in “The Search for Safety: Building a Resilient Learning Community”—a two-part Community Learning Days workshop that seeks to foster a more resilient and supportive educational community. Please register in advance.

Thursday, Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. to Noon: Understanding the Brain’s Quest for Safety and Its Impacts on Learning
The first session focuses on the brain’s inherent search for safety and how this primal quest is intricately linked to the prevalence of trauma and conflict in our lives. A blend of theoretical knowledge and real-world examples will enable participants to understand the neuroscience behind behaviors often seen on campus.

Friday, Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to Noon: Applying Science to Drive Behavior and Build Resilience
The second session focuses on practical applications. Participants will leave this session with actionable strategies and a deeper understanding of how to use neuroscience to increase learning and cultivate resilience.

This event will be facilitated by Community Resilience Initiative, a local organization that works to enhance understanding and responsiveness to trauma. 

Baker Ferguson Professor of Politics and Leadership Emeritus Timothy Kaufman-Osborn recently published an essay titled “Who Rules Virginia’s Public Universities?” Using Virginia to illustrate his argument, Kaufman-Osborn suggests that the radical right is adopting a new strategy in its effort to dismantle public higher education. Turning away from tactics derived from the so-called “culture wars,” legislatures are now seeking to transform universities into administrative agencies akin to the Department of Motor Vehicles. To the extent that this strategy is successful, it will have the effect of transforming faculty members into clerks whose foremost duty is to do the state’s bidding.

As a reminder, a pumper truck will be cleaning the dry wells around campus today and tomorrow (if the second day is needed). Please note that while the work can be noisy, it should generally take less than 30 minutes at any given location. Questions? Contact Facilities Services.

A new session of Whitman’s employee wellness program Movement That Matters (MTM) begins today. This program offers five different classes each week during the noon hour: Pilates, MELT, Strength & Stretch, SWAT and Yoga. For a nominal $25 enrollment fee per semester (the college pays the rest) participants can participate in as many or as few classes as they like. Register prior to attending your first class. Subscribe to the MTM Google Calendar to track any changes to the schedule. Questions? Email cumminll@whitman.edu.

Human Resources invites all Whitman employees to participate in the Blue Zones Project Community Wellbeing Assessment and take the Real Age Test before Monday, Feb. 5. If you do not already have one, you will need to create a free ShareCare account. The questions will be related to your health and lifestyle habits. Once you have completed the assessment (should take 15 minutes or less), fill out this online form confirming your completion. Human Resources will randomly select three Whitman employee participants to receive a gift card to a local restaurant or coffee shop. 

Last week, Professor of Biology Kate Jackson and lab students Kayla Hinnen ’24 (right) and Ollie Safford ’25 (left) attended the 2024 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting where they presented posters of their research using diceCT imaging techniques to study snake cranial anatomy. See more photos on Instagram: @whitman.today. #teamsnake

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Pilates

Sherwood Athletic Center

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: MELT

Sherwood Athletic Center

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Stretch & Strength

Sherwood Athletic Center

9 a.m. to Noon

Community Learning Days with Community Resilience Initiative

Hall of Science, Brattain Auditorium

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: SWAT

Sherwood Athletic Center

9 a.m. to Noon

Community Learning Days with Community Resilience Initiative

Hall of Science, Brattain Auditorium

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Yoga

Sherwood Athletic Center

6 p.m.

Whitman Swimming vs. Pacific Lutheran University

Harvey Pool

6 p.m.

Whitman Women’s Basketball at Linfield University

Away

8 p.m.

Whitman Men’s Basketball at Linfield University

Away

1 p.m.

Whitman Swimming vs. University of Puget Sound

Harvey Pool

4 p.m.

Whitman Women’s Basketball at George Fox University

Away

6 p.m.

Whitman Men’s Basketball at George Fox University

Away

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.

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