Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Thanks to generous financial support from the Whitman College administration to increase staffing, Penrose Library is expanding its hours this semester:

 

Monday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to  1 a.m.

 

Library staff continue to be committed to student learning and are delighted to be able to provide these additional hours. Please note the library's schedule may change in future semesters based upon student and faculty usage data and staffing availability.

 

Also, library staff are committed to doing our part to keep the Whitman community safe and healthy. Please remember:

• N95, KN95, or KF94 face masks must be worn at all times in the building, including all of the study rooms. Please refer to the Spring 2022 COVID-19 Protocols for more information.
• No food is permitted within the library. If you bring a water bottle, please lower your mask to take a sip and then replace it immediately.

Library staff are grateful for your cooperation, courtesy and kindness during this stressful time.

 

Happy Retirement

The following staff retired from Whitman College in December 2021 and January 2022:

• Lyda DeFoor, registered nurse, 10 years

   

• Nancy Mitchell, director of Alumni Relations, 36 years

   

• Keith Raether, director of Fellowships and Grants, 15 years

We are thankful for their many years of service at Whitman and wish them the best in retirement.

This spring, the Classics Department at Whitman College will host an intercollegiate production of Euripides’ Medea as part of a weekend symposium discussing race, ethnicity and immigration. The play will be rehearsed online and performed in person on April 23, 2022, with an original musical score and a singing chorus.

Whether you want to be onstage or help out behind the scenes, there is a place for everyone in this production. We are currently seeking actors, singers, artistic designers, costumers, make-up artists, stage managers, assistant producers, panel speakers, etc. Please note: No previous theater experience is required. For more information on any of these roles, send an email to consera@whitman.edu.

I Am Not My Thoughts: Somatic Techniques for Anxiety and Depression

Feeling stuck in your head? Wanting to connect and feel grounded in your body? I Am Not My Thoughts: Somatic Techniques for Anxiety and Depression is a group counseling program for students to learn coping mechanisms that relax the nervous system, increase bodily and emotional awareness, and to creatively engage in a safe and non-judgmental space. Participants will improve their overall well-being and ability to manage stress through breathing exercises, body scans, self-touch, visualization and easeful movement explorations. No experience is required and open to all abilities. Participants will meet on Saturdays from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Dance Studio at 16 Boyer Ave. Please fill out the online registration and accommodation requests in advance.

 

Safer Than Words: An Expressive Arts Therapy Group

The expressive arts are “embodied” experiences. They are helpful in identifying and repairing the body’s responses to stress, trauma, loss, and overwhelming emotions. In this group, students will move between visual art, music, dance/movement, drama, and expressive writing to honor their capacity for resilience and personal strength. The expressive arts are effective for individuals who represent a wide array of diversities and differences. You do not have to leap gracefully or paint masterfully to benefit from this approach to therapy. Anticipate a welcoming and non-judgmental space to express what cannot be said in words. This group will meet on Saturdays from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Dance Studio at 16 Boyer Ave. Please fill out the online registration and accommodation requests in advance. 

Positive COVID-19 cases in our campus community are noted in Whitman Today in compliance with state regulations. We also update the data in our COVID-19 Dashboard every Monday.

 

In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that in the past 24 hours, four people with Whitman access were confirmed positive for COVID-19. These people are now in isolation in accordance with our campus and CDC guidelines. Though the likelihood of transmission is low due to our campus COVID-19 protocols, it is possible that others may have been exposed to COVID-19. There is nothing you need to do at this time aside from following our campus COVID-19 protocols. Anyone identified through the contact tracing process as a close contact (within 6 ft. for at least 15 minutes over 24 hours) will be personally notified. 

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. 

 

Submissions are welcome! If you have a professional or personal accomplishment 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 for submissions is noon for the following day's newsletter, though submissions may be held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. By submitting to Whitman Today you also authorize use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.

 

Previous issues of Whitman Today are archived on our website.