Search results

Result Limit

Sort

Display

(1 - 20 of 6,866)

Pages

Title: Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10
Date: 1936-07-10
Description: Volume number incorrectly printed as XXXIV
Digital Collection: Western Front Historical Collection
Type of resource: text
Object custodian: Special Collections
Related Collection: Western Front Historical Collection
Local Identifier: wfhc_1936_0710
Text preview (might not show all results): 1936_0710 ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 1 ---------- VOL. XXXIV—NO. 37 WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Friday, July 10, 1936 Normalite By A. B. Hic
Show more1936_0710 ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 1 ---------- VOL. XXXIV—NO. 37 WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Friday, July 10, 1936 Normalite By A. B. Hicks On my summer tour of books and recreation I pause at Victoria, the old English city of North America. Princess Louise stands there beckoning with her many flags to help complete the beautiful boat-flecked harbor of Victoria. Reaching down to the wharf the grandeur of Victoria greets you. The gang-plank carries one into full view of the harbor stadium. (Wouldn't I like to be there on evenings when the chorus and bands meet for their concerts over the water!!!) To the right are the parliament buildings •with their, flower-lined lawns, statutes arid fountain: The murals of Captain Cook and other early pioneers decorate the walls of the large corridor. It was after 11:00, so to get to"the senate room before noon meant that I must,go at once. On reaching the senate room which was completely carpeted with huge blue plush rugs, we, host of Arntzen followers, were reminded of the familiar phrase, "left and right wingers'. And did -you have a chance to see the relics of the good ship "Beaver", one of the first on the Pacific coast, and the many other things of interest in the archives of the parliament building? • * » c * I, too, would like a couple of days to see the museum' exhibits. First time I can catch a ferry I shall head directly for those Butchart gardens. "Heavenly" is the way most people have described them for me. Well, my partner and I covered miles in that last hour and then waved farewell with only half our plans realized. Thanks to the recreational committee and to our reliable weather prophet, we had a jolly fine time. • * • * * Two-hundred-eighty-three people of the U. S., motorists, gathered for "The Great Round-up of the Skies" last July Fourth. Do you realize that is an average of six people per state? Washington won a notable record in this regard as we motored safely through the day without a fatality. * » » » « One World War veteran should be given a big hand for the precedent established. I understand that he sent his bonus to the commission for International Peace. It is a proven fact that advertising pays. No doubt the peace commission can use'the price of a great number of bonuses to picture the values of world peace, and if this man's few dollars is.the instrument that will prevent an early break in family ties, I'm sure that he will feel well repaid. * • • * * * I would tell you how to do those tricks of magic of the recent assembly but you have those already figured out? Five dollars to the man who can tell where those eggs and the rabbit went. "What My American Citizenship Means to Me" was the title of the declamation with which Miss Sylvia Karjalainen of Aberdeen, Wash., won the Elks* oratorical contest last week, in a straightforward way she. told of the experiences of herself and her family in Soviet Russia, and /urged others to cling to American freedom. The Aberdeen World., went on to say that Miss Karjalainen was winning something of fame for herself. Her speech was published ifc newspapers throughout the northwest and many people had sent her lettelfc of congratulation, among them Governor Clarence D. Martin. Normal Alpine Enthusiasts To Visit Mountains Hikers' Destinations Lake Ann and Chain Lakes; Austin Pass Headquarters Normal hike enthusiasts will leave the knoll at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning bound for an outing at Heather meadows, Mount Baker. Some will drive up in private cars while others will ride in a bus chartered for the occasion. Those going are asked to bring lunch and a cup. Low heel shoes and ordinary hiking clothes will serve for the trip. High top boots with calks or corks will not be necessary. The trip will cost $1.50. Hikers will make their headquarters "for the day at Austin pass. Prom there, those interested will hike to Chain lakes and to Lake Ann. Miss Elizabeth Hopper, of the Normal appointment bureau, will lead the hike to Chain lakes. The hike to Chain lakes is about 6 miles long and the trail goes around Mount Herman. Lake Ann is located on an arm of Mount Shuksan and the territory around it is said to offer good opportunity for those who desire to take pictures. Lake Ann is the usual starting point for hikes up Mount Shuksan. -6 Freshmen Girls Given Hints In Self Starter Bond Reviews Recent Oregon NEA Meeting Considers Panel Discussion Education, Democracy Most Noteworthy on T oday's Youth Upheld Convention, as Whole, Opposed to "Set Mold" Methods Relations Glub Opens Meeting With Greetings Ten Day Conference Is Attended By Seven Representatives From Normal What to wear and when to wear it are two of the many questions answered for freshman girls in the new Self Starter. Giving the low-down on school life, the book is designed to help entering women adapt themselves quickly to the college program, Katheryn Hatch and Beverly Holiday have edited the 1935-36 edition. Several linoleum cuts were contributed by Jean Hatch, while Bob White, Lucille Lee, Helen Hos-tetter, Helen Boothe. and Carol Hughes assisted with the writing. It was printed by R. D. Wilson, school printer. Greetings from Dean Florence E. Johnson, and Mary Jane Moergeli, president of the Women's League, open the book. Besides explaining school and house rules; a section is devoted to the problem of finances. Traditional social functions such as mixers and informais are also ex plained. — o Pratt Institute Students Presented Puppet Show "The Witches' Enchantment", a puppet show, was given Wednesday afternoon and evening at the Guild Playhouse, by Midgie Eaton and her"brother, Johnnie, graduates of the Pratt Institute of New York city. The play was written and the stage settings and costumes were designed by Miss Eaton. Nine puppets were used. She impersonated five voices and her brother, six. A glimpse into the strange fairyland of FoOzeleum, with the "Ali-gator Bird", really an enchanted Duchess, was the theme of the show. . In reviewing the past NEA convention, Dr. E, A. Bond, Belling-ham Normal's official delegate, considered the panel discussion on education and democracy the most noteworthy. This meeting was opened by Commissioner of Education Dr. Studebaker. Speaking on the necessity for academic freedom Dr. Studebaker stated: "Schools should be free to study any system of government and its working. To withhold facts is not education." Youth Unchanged On attitudes of students, President Bruce Baxter of Willamette university gave an address, mentioning in particular the desirable qualities in young people. With this in mind Mr. Baxter read a passage from an NEA report Of 1904 lamenting the lack of desirable traits of young people in that day. Smilingly, President Baxter said: "Prom this group you came and left tb.e impression that the youth were not superior to those of today." Perfection Bather Than Expansion Stressing the fact that American education is entering a phase of perfecting itself rather than of spending its energies Upon expansion, the convention drew comment from the . Portland Oregonian. "This conservative paper", Dr. Bond says, "disbelieves in the value of the loyalty oaths now on the statute books of 19 states, as they are an example of what legislation might do to the educational system". The main thought brought from the Portland meeting was departure from the present day movement toward gagging teachers and casting pupils into set molds. ^o— One Act Play Will Be Given By Dramatists 'The Valiant* to Be Presented By Former Outstanding . Actors "•'•1 Several of the girls of Beverly hall spent the week-end at their homes, among whom were: Dorothy Harwell, Monroe; Helen Gaddis, Sedro-Woolley; Miriam Sisson, Mount Vernon; Grace Emmans, and Helen Neely, Everett; Helen Ferry, man, Mount Vernon; and Gyneth White, Shelton. Speeches Are Given By Normal Teachers •-.At NEA Conference Faculty delegates to the NEA 'convention held in Portland, Ore., last week were: Florence Johnson, dean of women; Leona Sundquist and Ruth Piatt of the Science department; Dr. E. A. Bond of the Mathematics department; Irene Elliott, and Elsie Wendling of the Training school; Lucy Kangley of the English department; Hazel Plympton, of the Art department; Ruth Weythman of the Physical Education department; Nora Cummins of the Social Science depart^ ment; and Herbert C. Ruckmick of the Industrial Arts department. Among the addresses given was one by Miss Kangley who spoke on June 29 in the First Christian church at the National Council of Teachers of English. She chose as her subject, "An Approach to Poetry Appreciation." Dr. Bond represented the Normal at the convention and spoke on the subject of "Present Trends in the Teaching of Arithemetic." "Arithmetic is a coherent, unified science rather than a multiplicity of details. The thread of unity that runs through the whole science should' be recognised at every- step. This is best done by relating facts to experiences," stated Dr. Bond. By Elmer Lindquist With greetings by many dignitaries, the Pacific Northwest Institute of International Relations opened their Id-day conference Monday morning at Reed college, Portland, Oregon. The greetings were rendered by Mr. Estes Snedecor, chairman of 'the institute; Pres. Decter Keeger of Reed College; Mr. Lester Thomas, representative of the mayor of Portland; Anfred Powers, Dean of University of Oregon; and Dr. Lawer-ence. Wilson, representative of the Congregational Council for Social Action. Anderson Gives keynote Speech In the keynote address of the Institute, Dr. Elam J. Anderson of and methods of the Institute. Linfield college, explained the aims Round table discision group groups were organized in the afternoon. The subjects to be discussed are: American security and world organization, problems of Latin America, the collective system and the enforcement of peace, the far East relations, the problems of population, raw materials and markets, national politics and international relations, peace from a spiritual point of view. A Bellingham Normal student is represented in each of the discussion groups. One round table is to be held at a different time from the others because it is felt that it is of a special significance to everyone. It is the discussion of Methods in Popular Education and Peace Action. . o •* , Music Club Sponsors Home Coming Recital Young Bellingham musicians home for vacation after teaching and studying in New York, Chicago, and Seattle for a year, will give a joint recital Tuesday, July 14, at the Garden Street Methodist church. The talented musicians appearing on the program are: Suzanne Cissna, Jean Phillips, pianists; Hortense Yule, soprano; Herman Ivarson, baritone; and Chaun-cey Griffith, organist. The Scholarship Ways and Means committee of the Bellingham Woman's Music club are sponsoring the musical event. '; A silver offering which will be taken during the intermission will be used - for the [scholarship which is ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 2 ---------- WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, BELLINGHAM. WASHINGTON Established 1899 «^^ Published every Friday except during the month of September by the Associated Students, Washington State Normal School, Bellingham. Entered in the Postoffice at Bellingham, Washington, as second class matter by virtue of the act of March 3, 1879. • , •• Printed by the Miller Sutherlen Printing Company, Bellingham National Bank Building, Bellingham. Subscription rate by mail, $3.00 per year, in advance. Advertising rates on application. Address all communications, other than news items, to the Business Manager of the Northwest Viking, Bellingham, Wash. Telephone 3180. Editor HARRY KLUGE Managing Editor .MARY JOHNSTON Business Manager : .WARREN TOMS News Editor Phyllis Robinson Feature Editor ~ -Bob White Society Editor .._ —Prances Pelegren Sport Editors —.Ralph Dever, Elmer Lindquist Copy editor ~ - -Beverly Holiday Special Writers: Pat Wade, Joan Hoppe, Glen Gres-eth, Helen Shipley, Margaret Thon, Oscar Svarlien, Dorothy Williams, Rose Cassidy, Nancy Smith, . Helen Booth, Louise McBurney, Beverly Holiday, Marion Peterson. Military Training or Not Probably the most significant occurence in today's news was an article issued by the American Institute of Public Opinion concerning the Civilian conservation Corps. This bureau conducted a nation-wide poll with the purpose of discerning the public's attitude toward the CCC, Franklin D. Roosevelt's pet New Deal project. The startling* factor in the compilation, directed by Dr. George Gallup of New York City, was not the fact that a majority of voters wished to continue the CCC but rather that an overwhelming part of the voters favored the addition of military training to the men's duties. The actual figures are shown below: Yes No Women -74% 26% Farmers 77 23 Reliefers 78 22 Young People 68 32 College Students 59 41 These results are a revelation to many people who have imagined that the pacifists were firmly entrenched in. our American governmentt It might be well for whose who favor military training in the CCC camps to think further than the • fact that 250,000 men would be added to the standing army. If such an addition of military instruction is carried out, no longer will we be able to scoff at Hitler's militaristic policy or look askance at Mussolini's antagonistic course. It would destroy any benefit derived from the consultations with diplomatic heads of other nations concerning disarmament plans. It would signify our intention of keeping pace with . Germany and Italy and setting the pace for Great Britain, France, and Japan. And most important, it would lower the whole standard upon which our democratic government is based. Can this be the opinion of the people at large? o OUR SOCIAL STUDY GROUP SOMETHING NEW? And friends were glad to call around You greeted with a smile, And friends were glad to call around To stay with me awhile. But lately life has taken on An aspect queer and strange And everybody wonders what Has brought about the change For, I mumble and I mutter As I stroll upon the street And erstwhile friends pass quickly by If we by chance should meet. My eyes are dull and vacant and My mind is in a fog. My voice resembles very much The croaking of a frog. I know you all are wondering Just how this came about, I'll tell you all the secret, But please don't let it out. For really I'm as happy As a baby with the croup, For I'm getting educated in Our Social Study Group. Track, football, and baseball teams have driven their respective ways to either glorious victory or inglorious defeat, many times depending upon the number of the much-needed supporters present in the time-worn stands pictured here— Only too often has that number been not numerous enough to mention. But not only for athletic events has this structure been made use of— Tis said that several times a certain Eveready about school has been focused upon those who chose its idyllic haunts in preference to Sehome or Sunset Heights. Those to his own choosing, so what? Point of View By Harlan Jones In which we attempt to coerce the perogatives of Dante's Inferno as brick-bats to thrust down the craw of the public mind to help masticate some of the illy digested figments of Utopia and Messiahs which ever return to haunt the folk that have too little sand in their Intellectual gizzards. You tell 'em. Being on the spot as you remember, this column is muttering in its heard trying desperately at the last moment to coin a slogan that will save the world for democracy. However, since "Point of View" is much too immersed in water much too deep to have time to aspire for political office this fall, we shall try to be terse. Having dwelt on the third dimen~- sion of human nature, the political idealism of the Football-cast and the PWA scrubs, and this man Ka-gawa, we should like to take a slant at Co-operation. The Bellingham Egg Co-op just makes it tough for the widow with the hen house on the shores of Lake Carnegie. Her Rhode Island Reds hardly have room to cluck on the open market. Good in Bellingham? Yes. Partly a good thing. In Denmark the country villages can paint their roof-trees with the money their producers' co-ops have paid them. Japan, with the help of Kakawa's hundred popular books on co-operatives, which attach themselves to the public mind much as did Tolstoy's, whom he studied. Such as "Grains of Wheat". They have consumer stores. Each member buying his food, or his $1.85 work suit having one vote. Not so in an American corporation for here, where the controlling money lies, so does the vote. Each member there, has a speaking part, but getting back at the end of the month a proportion of what amount he buys. Do you recognize the Grange gas and oil setup? of American democracy. Why not fill the gap of bankruptcy and lack of purchasing power with co-operative stores, and so give the "Civil Liberties League" a break politically? There are very strange bedfellows in this election. —Selected Musing You have probably heard about the consumer of tooth paste who thought the manufacturers put too much moisture in dentifrices. To prove his idea he went into manufacturing and really did produce a tooth paste without any excess moisture in it. But a pair of plyers was needed to get the paste out. We don't know if he is, as yet, convinced that manufacturers of dentifrices make tooth paste moist for a better reason than deception. But we of the teaching profession believe that we had better instill a little more humor into our intellectual students so that future generations can make use of them without getting a sledge hammer to uncover the prodigy's mind. Book Shelf POETRY OF TODAY, by Rosa M. R. Mikels and Grace Shoup; Charles Scribner's Sons. Reviewed by Glen O. Greseth. This is the ariswer to the desire of thousands of poetry lovers to have a pocket-sized anthology of contemporary verse. The selections in "Poetry of Today" are admirably chosen to bring out the adventuring spirit of modern poetry. There are poems'about "excavations, cabbages, tea, skyscrapers, automobiles, and Saturday-night crowds in large cities, blossoms; rivers, sunsets, mountains, and sea-themes that have always appealed to poets; and the age-old problem of love and life." There are poems for all the moods of a sentimentalist on a fishing trip. If he sits buried in retrospection, he will find expression in "Birches" by Robert Frost or the light-hearted reminiscences expressed in "Little Boy Blue" by Eugene Field. If he seeks expression for the beauty of nature let him read "May is Building her House" by Richard Le Gal-lienne or ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 3 ---------- WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, BELLINGHAM. WASHINGTON Racqueteers To Play Off Games Bodminton and Archery Players Support Favorite Sports Enthusiastically "The tennis tournament schedule has been posted, stated to Miss Luell Weed of the Women's Physical Education department. "The second round matches to be played Monday are between Dohalda Grant and Inez Sjognen; Mary Morrow and May Dillon. One first round match has yet to be played off to determine the other players in the second round". Looking It Over Those eight lanky University of Washington oarsmen and their skipper, Bob Moch, deserve all the credit and publicity they are receiving. It is perhaps the finest crew Washington has ever produced; certainly their cox appears to be the best little admiral. And that's saying a lot, for Washington's crews are known wherever college oars sweep the water. We'll be wishing them all the breaks, and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed for them while they are in Berlin. Archery Popular The enthusiasm expressed by the large number signing up for Archery, Thursday, at 4:00 o'cock has pleased Miss Ruth Weythman of the Physical Education department. Badminton Added Of the Wednesday afternoon sports at 4:00, Miss Weed related, *There was a small but enthusiastic group out for volley ball. No one turned out for baseball. However", Miss Weed continued, "another sport, badminton, was played upon the demand of a group." All bad-} minton enthusiasts are welcome it they furnisft their own birds. They can be bought at the Co-op". According to Miss Weythman of the same department badminton as a sport has increased in popularity at a tremendous rate in the last eight years. Eight years ago there were no teams, at the Normal but now there is a class devoted to teaching the rules and techniques of the game. One of those voices that you heard over CBS last Sunday afternoon had more than a passing interest in the outcome of the crew race. It was none other than Royal Brougham, sports editor for the Seattle PI, making a national name for himself as a radio announcer for the Columbia system. After all, (what is more fitting than that a | sports writer from our own state should announce the victory of a Washington crew? They say that when Washington began to put on the power they gained the space of a man with each stroke of the oars. Your sports editor does not want anyone to fail in his studies, yet he cannot help noting an observed human phenomenon. The day is Wednesday, the time 4:30 in the afternoon, the sky is clear, the weather is not too hot. A much used room in the library is filled to overflowing with Normal school students reading books and taking down notes. Yet near that library are playing fields where softball, volleyball, tennis, and numerous other sports could be enjoyed by those people who are so studiously trying to remember what someone else has written. With such a fine recreational program why study so hard? Of course, everyone knows by now who won the Wimbledon in tennis. But.it is not too late to give Helen Jacobs another big hand for winning that championship. It's a tough, hard grind, all the way to the top. Lappenbusch Plans Invasion Of University Basketball Gym; Return Bout on Local Floor With the WAA Of her badminton class Miss Weed told, "Some fast playing may be seen any morning at 9:00 o'clock in the gym. The class is in the midst of an interesting round robin tournament". Badminton was introduced from India to England around 1873, thence to Canada and the United States. Howdy, WAAers—Art you still WAAing? Do you get your cold shower every morning? Do you Walk five miles every day? (Musi keep that figure down.) Do you eat fresh fruit or vegetables and drink milk each meal? Do you avoid candy between meals? Do you get some other exercise besides Walking? TRY Our Combination BREAKFAST 30c LUNCH 30c-35c Special Steak Dinner 50c MODEL CAFE We Never Close 1324 Commercial Why do I ask all these questions? Well, after all, it isnt every month that a great orchestra leader and composer like I sham Jones graces Bellingham with his presence. Isnt that a good reason to-look and feel right ? What.' You re not going? You say you cant go on all these hikes and trips and expect to have money or for your boy friends to have enough ('scuse me, 1 thought WAAers didn't have boy friends) for a dance as expensive as that. I dont blame you too much, as these hikes and trips are keeping me badly bent, too. But isnt a dance exercise? Well, fight it out for yourself. If you ever run out of anything to do, all you athletes, let me tell you of a sport that will fascinate you. Once you get yourself involved you won't be able to give up until 'you absolutely have to announce yourself as licked, and one of Ted Shane's cockeyed crossword puzzles in Liberty surely can do it. Or are you one of those master minds no puzzle can lick? Anyway who cares? When a person has to talk about crossword puzzles on a sport page he had better quit, so I am. School Golf Team Accepts Challenge It will be a first come first place, in the tryouts for the golf team to play the University of Washington team, according to a statement from Coach Chuck Lappenbusch this week. The team will consist of six men. All golfers are urged to report to the coach as soon as possible so that the tryouts can take place right away. The ladder system will be used to pick the six best men to represent the school. "The first man to report will have his name placed at the top of the ladder" said Coach Lappenbusch. "A man can challenge either of the two men directly above him". o Jon High Defeats Carnival Mat-Men Hammett's Hams, Tomco's Tomcats Lead Intramural Basketball First Series Keppler Leads Scoring All Members Kitten Team Score; Second Series Started Jon High, 190-pound junior of WSNS, matched his grappling skill with the carnival mat-men Wednesday night to win two and break even on the third of three consecutive matches. After answering the usual challenge and agreeing to pay his own doctor bill, High entered the *ing for seven minutes of catch as catch can with polished Billy Newman This match resulted in a draw. The two men drew another crowd and did it over again. High won this one with a series of body slams. Then he was pitted against George Kelly, a 200-pounder, but downed Kelley too in less than six ininutes of the scheduled eight minute handicap. o — Outstanding basketball players chosen from the four intramural teams will invade Husky territory, Tuesday, July 14, to play the University of Washington varsity team, according to an announce* ment by Coach Lappenbusch. A squad of 6 to 11 men will make the trip. The U of W team will play a return game here in the little gym* Tuesday, July 21, at 4 p. m. Standing of Teams • W L Pet. Hammett's Hams 2 1 .667 Tomco's Tomcats ...:..2 1 .667 Keppler's Kittens 1 2 .333 StutzSs Bearcats 1 2 .333 Stutz's Bearcats 1 2 .333 Bearcats Win Stut's Bearcats upset the applecart Monday afternoon when, from the cellar position in the league, they defeated the formerly unbeaten Hammett's Hams by a score of 24 to 30. Stutz' own 12 point score helped materially to put his team ahead of Hammett's in the tally. Prender for the Hams with his 8 points was chief threat against the Bearcats. Summary Bearcats—24 Hams—20 Let Us Do Your Work We Call and Deliver C A S C A D E Laundry and Cleaners 205 Prospect Phones 66, 120 When It's Your Move Let's Make it "Our Move" M0DEL3SS PHONE 70 Puppetry Play Slated For Training School |S. K. Scheldrup, D. C. Palmer Graduate CHIROPRACTOR I Phone 878 210 Kulshan Bldg. X-RAY "The Magicians and the Dragon," a puppet show, will be presented in the training school assembly next Friday by members of the puppetry class. The assembly will be at 9:00. Mr. Robert Kindschy will direct the play and also take the leading part. Members of the class will assist in the presentation. WELL, THAT'S OVER! About the greatest danger we encountered this Fourth was the danger of catching pneumonia. Perhaps it's just as well to remember during summer, as well as winter, that DARIGOLD PASTEURIZED MILK fortifies you against cold and disease! Whatcom County Dairymen's Assn. PHONE 314 SANDISON "Photos That Please" Official Klipsun PHOTOGRAPHER STAGES ••***•» Seattle, Everett, Mount Vernon— 7:30, 8:30,10:30 a. m., 12:30, 1;30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30. 5:30 (6;30 Sundays and Holidays), 7:30 and 9:30 p. m. North Coast Lines Depot—Magnolia and State Phone 5004 Bullard .P. Digerness 2 iTulin 10 P. .......Prender 8 Alpaugh 2 C... ...McDonald 2 Stutz 12 _..G „....:........Hall 2 Osibov .....G .Wilder 2 Sub .Lovos Sub. Hammett 4 Referee—George. Tomcats vs. Kittens Tomco's team of wild Tomcats roamed from third place in the league to second by silencing Keppler's Kittens in the second game on Monday afternoon. The score was 22 to 18. Hager, on the Tomcat team, and Keppler, on the Kitten team, tied for high point man in the game with scores of 9 each. Every man on the Kitten team made at least one basket, either from the field or from the foul line. Summary Tomcats—22 Kittens—18 Compliments of CYR BROTHERS DAIRY PRODUCTS CO. Established 1889 Pacific Laundry Phones 126 and 127 Dwelley 6 ...~.F. Tulin 2 Reeves 3 -F-— .Witherow 1 Hager 9. C .Keppler 9 Belcher G „..Zylstra 2 Tomco 4. G. George 2 Sub.... .Osibov 2 Individual Standings In the total individual scores for the first series of league games | Keppler leads the field with 24 points, only one point ahead of Frender with his 23. Stutz is parked in third place with a 20. The top scorers are: Keppler 24 Frender .23 Stutz 20 Hager .. .-.17 Tulto ... :.16 Hammett 14 Digerness 9 Reeves 9 Tomco .7 Dwelley .6 Hall ..j* Bo chn.ak' * 110 EAST HOLLLY Summer Clearance Sale Fancy Men's Clothes at Bargain Prices ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 4 ---------- WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. BELLINCHAM. WASHINGTON Introducing-- MARIE de GALLIER, master manager . . . former Board member . . . popular, efficient WAA prexy . . . named one of 'big ten' in 1935 Klipsun . . . has spent the ast year teaching in the lower grade at Shelton . . . looking forward to a promising opportunity as cadet instructor in the Seattle teaching system . . . forsook the Dorm this quarter to batch with Aggie Martin in their cabin in the cottonwood. • • • * BARNEY CHICHESTER, former NWV editor as well as business manager . . . dramatically prominent during previous attendance at Normal . . . played in "The Poor Nut," "Craig's Wife," "Sun Up" and others : . . taught in Seattle last year . . . if fond papa to a strapping six-month (or) so old son . .. recently sold a play . . . is called by NWV printer "a darn fine fellow." * * • • EDITH McLACHLAN—ex-teacher of rural student.teacher at the Victor school for seven years—a rural-ite herself for the last three years, teaching in the Westsound school on Orcas island—living on the home farm with her husband and small son—son now in the fifth grade of the Normal Training school—enjoys the rural life—nevertheless still has eyes for new worlds to conquer. New Catalog Is Distributed Fisher Points Out New Features Of Interest in Pamphlet for 1936-37 Grade Children Reveal Interest Bushell Trio Offers Musical Selections A musical program featuring the Bushell trio was given in assembly this morning. The trio consists of Arthur Thai, well-known local violinist, and Edith R. Strange and Donald Bushell, members of the Normal school music faculty, who gave an arrangement of selections chosen for their pleasing melodies. Among the outstanding numbers were the last three movements of the Arensky melody, and sentimental sketches by Mason. Daniel Gregory Mason, according to Mr. Bushell, is famous for his writings on music as well as for his compositions. Barbara Kennedy of Beverly Hall has accepted a position as camp councillor for the Girl Scout Camp at Lost Lake, Elma. She left- Thursday to take up her new duties which will last throughout the summer camping season. Announcing the arrival of the new catalogue which has just come from the printers, President C. H. Fisher described some of the new features which will add to the interest and information of the book. Under the head of general education there is a paragraph on courses for nurses. "Beginning with the au-for nurses. "Beginning with the au-pursue a course in nursing will be required by the State Department of licenses to have one year of college work before they will be allowed in an accredited school for nurses. Courses in anatomy, physiology, bacteriology, hygiene, and nursing education totaling 23 quarter hour credits will be required. The State Normal school at Bell-ingham has been authorized to offer this work and will enroll students beginning in the autumn of 1936, according to the catalogue. "There is also a revision of courses for teacher librarians that brings these courses up to date, according to the standard set by the American Library association", Fisher commented. o Isham Jones to Play Under Curtis Auspices At State Armory Today Isham Jones and his orchestra, famous on the screen and known to all radio listeners, will be at the State Armory tonight. This appearance is sponsored by Jay Curtis, local orchestra leader, who has brought many famous dance bands to Bellingham the past few years. Jones and his boys have played in such leading hotels as the Ambassador in Atlantic City and the Ritz- Carlton in the famous New- Jersey shore resort. "I'll See You in My Dreams", "It Had to Be You", "Spain", "Indiana Moon", "If You Were Only Mine", "I Can't Believe It's True", and "Let's Try Again" are some of the popular tunes Isham Jones has composed. In addition, the recordings of this orchestra are extremely popular. InM agic Lore Audience Mystified by Oranges, Bunnies Drawn, Apparently, From the Air Older Students Skeptical Second Grader Believes Jones Member of Troupe "Are those oranges real?" "Was that a magic bunny?" were some of the questions of the primary training school children after they visited the Friday morning assembly at which Paul Fleming entertained with magic. The first grade child who received an orange from Mr. Fleming felt it, turned it over, and Wouldn't believe it was real until it was opened and the real juice came out. The children in the kindergarten were proud of their representative who was an assistant to Mr. Fleming, but they couldn't imagine how the rabbit was concealed in the little boy's sweater. After a discussion of magic in the second grade, the children put the following statement in their newspaper, "The magician's hands moved so much faster than we could see, so it seemed it was magic really". Another second grade child asked if Harlan Jones were one of the magician's troupe. Third, fourth, and fifth graders expressed curiosity about the magic, but one fifth grade girl said, "I don't believe a bit of it. It really isn't magic". The upper grades took balcony seats from which they could see much of the wiring and use of properties. o Local Normal Student Northwest Indian Queen Librarian Gets Testing Bulletin New Publication Aids Students; Plans for Examinations Are Given "Standard Testing and Remedial Work", a new bulletin compiled by Miss Jeannette Donaldson, supervisor, upper grades and junior high school of the State Department of Instruction, has been received by "Miss Mabel Zoe Wilson, librarian. It is Miss Wilson's opinion that this bulletin offers much worthwhile material for the teacher, and that Miss Donaldson should be praised for her organization. A standard testing plan, a remedial program, and information on the new plan for state examinations in the elementary schools are all considered in this bulletin. Some of the more specific items included are: "The General Principles and Points of View"; "The Necessity of Pupil Guidance"; '"The Favorable Outcomes of the Standard Testing Plan'; "Acceleration and Retardation"; "The Elementary Library and the Remedial Program"; and "Pro cedures Helpful in Reducing Pupil Failures". Miss Donaldson also gives reading references and aids for professional use. Copies of this bulletin can be obtained from the State Department of Instruction, Olympia, Wash. ectidiis At Downs Stop-Look-Listen A FOUNTAIN PEN THAT WE WILL FILL WITH WATER No Mixing of Ink No Carrying of Ink Bottles No Running Out of Ink in a Tight Place Just Fill With Water See Them At the Mary Iyall, a former student of the Bellingham State Normal school, won the "tribal crown" in Seattle Sunday. She was chosen "queen" "over the young Indians of the Pacific Northwest by the North-westerns. Miss Iyall will reign as their "queen" until the salmon run begins in 1937. Miss Iyall is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Iyall, who reside on the Yakima reservation at Top-penish. She is a graduate of the Salem high school, Oregon. This fall Miss Iyall plans to re-enter the Normal school. Mrs. Carl Rich and Miss LaVeta Smart drove to Seattle for the holidays. Mrs. Rich is an assistant to Mrs. Lovegren. Margaret Green attended the Sedro-Woolley rodeo over the Fourth of July. * # *t * * Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Moser (Violet Waech) spent this.week in Bellingham and visited members of the faculty and friends. Both Mr. and Mrs. Waech - are former Normal students. * * * * * John Kerr, a former Normal student, was a guest of Chauncey Griffith, also an alumnus of the Normal. NU-WAY Shoe Rebulders Howard Holstine Across from Postoffice 107 W. Magnolia Try the HERALD Beauty Shop For an A P P O I N T M E N T CALL 146 308 Herald Bldg. The Finest SUNDAE in Town Frozen Fudge 15c Try Smalley's Soda Fountain for a Real Treat The Smalley Drug Co. Prescription Druggists Commercial and Magnolia Dorothy Wellman St. James Weds At First Christian Church / On Sunday Weddings, week-ends, election of officers, and conventions characterized this week's activities. * * « * • Within the First Christian church on Sunday evening was the marriage of Dorothy E. Wellman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Wellman, and Mr. George St. James, of this city. In the presence of a few friends, Rev. Earl Hanson Fife, the pastor, read the service. . The attendants were Elaine Oltman and Ralph Henderson. Both Mr. and Mrs. St. James are .graduates of Whatcom high school and they have attended the Normal. Mr. St. James has also been a student at Washington State college. * --* -* * gt;* Another wedding took place within the home of the bride's parents at Wiser Lake on Saturday evening. Miss Ebba Erickson and Mr. George Wetzel were married by Rev. A. D. Johnson, of Ferndale. Mrs. Wetzel is a graduate of the Normal. * « * * * Officers of Downs hall for the summer quarter are: Winifred Claypoole, president; Rosetha Newman, social secretary; and Millie Gerdis, reporter. » » * » * Clarys Allison, Elsie Johnson, and Dorothy Christensen of Downs hall attended the NEA convention in Portland, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Bertha Herold spent the week-end visiting in Auburn. » * * * * Mrs. Grace Krous, formerly of the Music department of this school, visited in Bellingham on" Monday and Tuesday. * * * * * Miss Bessie Williams was the week-end guest of her parents at their home in Renton. MCA .presents 'UUfl, pERSQN AND HIS ^ ORCHESTRA A Jay Curtis Presentation at the Bellingham Armory FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1936 Gents 86c, Tax 14—Total $1.00 Ladies, 38c, Tax 2—Total 40c MEL McKEE and his 9-Piece Orchestra Every Saturday Night Pioneer Park Best Sound System North,of Portland ENTERTAINERS FERNDALE the CO-OP L SEA FOODS YOU LIKE TO EAT At Prices You Like To Pay Bornstein's FISH * OYSTER CO. Located in the Home Market See the New Line of SILK HOSE At HIGHLAND CREAMERY 015 Blgh St. DEVELOPING PRINTING VENLARGING/ JoBhinVJ^PPPPP
Show less
Transcript text preview (might not show all results): 1936_0710 ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 1 ---------- VOL. XXXIV—NO. 37 WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Friday, July 10, 1936 Normalite By A. B. Hic
Show more1936_0710 ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 1 ---------- VOL. XXXIV—NO. 37 WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON Friday, July 10, 1936 Normalite By A. B. Hicks On my summer tour of books and recreation I pause at Victoria, the old English city of North America. Princess Louise stands there beckoning with her many flags to help complete the beautiful boat-flecked harbor of Victoria. Reaching down to the wharf the grandeur of Victoria greets you. The gang-plank carries one into full view of the harbor stadium. (Wouldn't I like to be there on evenings when the chorus and bands meet for their concerts over the water!!!) To the right are the parliament buildings •with their, flower-lined lawns, statutes arid fountain: The murals of Captain Cook and other early pioneers decorate the walls of the large corridor. It was after 11:00, so to get to"the senate room before noon meant that I must,go at once. On reaching the senate room which was completely carpeted with huge blue plush rugs, we, host of Arntzen followers, were reminded of the familiar phrase, "left and right wingers'. And did -you have a chance to see the relics of the good ship "Beaver", one of the first on the Pacific coast, and the many other things of interest in the archives of the parliament building? • * » c * I, too, would like a couple of days to see the museum' exhibits. First time I can catch a ferry I shall head directly for those Butchart gardens. "Heavenly" is the way most people have described them for me. Well, my partner and I covered miles in that last hour and then waved farewell with only half our plans realized. Thanks to the recreational committee and to our reliable weather prophet, we had a jolly fine time. • * • * * Two-hundred-eighty-three people of the U. S., motorists, gathered for "The Great Round-up of the Skies" last July Fourth. Do you realize that is an average of six people per state? Washington won a notable record in this regard as we motored safely through the day without a fatality. * » » » « One World War veteran should be given a big hand for the precedent established. I understand that he sent his bonus to the commission for International Peace. It is a proven fact that advertising pays. No doubt the peace commission can use'the price of a great number of bonuses to picture the values of world peace, and if this man's few dollars is.the instrument that will prevent an early break in family ties, I'm sure that he will feel well repaid. * • • * * * I would tell you how to do those tricks of magic of the recent assembly but you have those already figured out? Five dollars to the man who can tell where those eggs and the rabbit went. "What My American Citizenship Means to Me" was the title of the declamation with which Miss Sylvia Karjalainen of Aberdeen, Wash., won the Elks* oratorical contest last week, in a straightforward way she. told of the experiences of herself and her family in Soviet Russia, and /urged others to cling to American freedom. The Aberdeen World., went on to say that Miss Karjalainen was winning something of fame for herself. Her speech was published ifc newspapers throughout the northwest and many people had sent her lettelfc of congratulation, among them Governor Clarence D. Martin. Normal Alpine Enthusiasts To Visit Mountains Hikers' Destinations Lake Ann and Chain Lakes; Austin Pass Headquarters Normal hike enthusiasts will leave the knoll at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning bound for an outing at Heather meadows, Mount Baker. Some will drive up in private cars while others will ride in a bus chartered for the occasion. Those going are asked to bring lunch and a cup. Low heel shoes and ordinary hiking clothes will serve for the trip. High top boots with calks or corks will not be necessary. The trip will cost $1.50. Hikers will make their headquarters "for the day at Austin pass. Prom there, those interested will hike to Chain lakes and to Lake Ann. Miss Elizabeth Hopper, of the Normal appointment bureau, will lead the hike to Chain lakes. The hike to Chain lakes is about 6 miles long and the trail goes around Mount Herman. Lake Ann is located on an arm of Mount Shuksan and the territory around it is said to offer good opportunity for those who desire to take pictures. Lake Ann is the usual starting point for hikes up Mount Shuksan. -6 Freshmen Girls Given Hints In Self Starter Bond Reviews Recent Oregon NEA Meeting Considers Panel Discussion Education, Democracy Most Noteworthy on T oday's Youth Upheld Convention, as Whole, Opposed to "Set Mold" Methods Relations Glub Opens Meeting With Greetings Ten Day Conference Is Attended By Seven Representatives From Normal What to wear and when to wear it are two of the many questions answered for freshman girls in the new Self Starter. Giving the low-down on school life, the book is designed to help entering women adapt themselves quickly to the college program, Katheryn Hatch and Beverly Holiday have edited the 1935-36 edition. Several linoleum cuts were contributed by Jean Hatch, while Bob White, Lucille Lee, Helen Hos-tetter, Helen Boothe. and Carol Hughes assisted with the writing. It was printed by R. D. Wilson, school printer. Greetings from Dean Florence E. Johnson, and Mary Jane Moergeli, president of the Women's League, open the book. Besides explaining school and house rules; a section is devoted to the problem of finances. Traditional social functions such as mixers and informais are also ex plained. — o Pratt Institute Students Presented Puppet Show "The Witches' Enchantment", a puppet show, was given Wednesday afternoon and evening at the Guild Playhouse, by Midgie Eaton and her"brother, Johnnie, graduates of the Pratt Institute of New York city. The play was written and the stage settings and costumes were designed by Miss Eaton. Nine puppets were used. She impersonated five voices and her brother, six. A glimpse into the strange fairyland of FoOzeleum, with the "Ali-gator Bird", really an enchanted Duchess, was the theme of the show. . In reviewing the past NEA convention, Dr. E, A. Bond, Belling-ham Normal's official delegate, considered the panel discussion on education and democracy the most noteworthy. This meeting was opened by Commissioner of Education Dr. Studebaker. Speaking on the necessity for academic freedom Dr. Studebaker stated: "Schools should be free to study any system of government and its working. To withhold facts is not education." Youth Unchanged On attitudes of students, President Bruce Baxter of Willamette university gave an address, mentioning in particular the desirable qualities in young people. With this in mind Mr. Baxter read a passage from an NEA report Of 1904 lamenting the lack of desirable traits of young people in that day. Smilingly, President Baxter said: "Prom this group you came and left tb.e impression that the youth were not superior to those of today." Perfection Bather Than Expansion Stressing the fact that American education is entering a phase of perfecting itself rather than of spending its energies Upon expansion, the convention drew comment from the . Portland Oregonian. "This conservative paper", Dr. Bond says, "disbelieves in the value of the loyalty oaths now on the statute books of 19 states, as they are an example of what legislation might do to the educational system". The main thought brought from the Portland meeting was departure from the present day movement toward gagging teachers and casting pupils into set molds. ^o— One Act Play Will Be Given By Dramatists 'The Valiant* to Be Presented By Former Outstanding . Actors "•'•1 Several of the girls of Beverly hall spent the week-end at their homes, among whom were: Dorothy Harwell, Monroe; Helen Gaddis, Sedro-Woolley; Miriam Sisson, Mount Vernon; Grace Emmans, and Helen Neely, Everett; Helen Ferry, man, Mount Vernon; and Gyneth White, Shelton. Speeches Are Given By Normal Teachers •-.At NEA Conference Faculty delegates to the NEA 'convention held in Portland, Ore., last week were: Florence Johnson, dean of women; Leona Sundquist and Ruth Piatt of the Science department; Dr. E. A. Bond of the Mathematics department; Irene Elliott, and Elsie Wendling of the Training school; Lucy Kangley of the English department; Hazel Plympton, of the Art department; Ruth Weythman of the Physical Education department; Nora Cummins of the Social Science depart^ ment; and Herbert C. Ruckmick of the Industrial Arts department. Among the addresses given was one by Miss Kangley who spoke on June 29 in the First Christian church at the National Council of Teachers of English. She chose as her subject, "An Approach to Poetry Appreciation." Dr. Bond represented the Normal at the convention and spoke on the subject of "Present Trends in the Teaching of Arithemetic." "Arithmetic is a coherent, unified science rather than a multiplicity of details. The thread of unity that runs through the whole science should' be recognised at every- step. This is best done by relating facts to experiences," stated Dr. Bond. By Elmer Lindquist With greetings by many dignitaries, the Pacific Northwest Institute of International Relations opened their Id-day conference Monday morning at Reed college, Portland, Oregon. The greetings were rendered by Mr. Estes Snedecor, chairman of 'the institute; Pres. Decter Keeger of Reed College; Mr. Lester Thomas, representative of the mayor of Portland; Anfred Powers, Dean of University of Oregon; and Dr. Lawer-ence. Wilson, representative of the Congregational Council for Social Action. Anderson Gives keynote Speech In the keynote address of the Institute, Dr. Elam J. Anderson of and methods of the Institute. Linfield college, explained the aims Round table discision group groups were organized in the afternoon. The subjects to be discussed are: American security and world organization, problems of Latin America, the collective system and the enforcement of peace, the far East relations, the problems of population, raw materials and markets, national politics and international relations, peace from a spiritual point of view. A Bellingham Normal student is represented in each of the discussion groups. One round table is to be held at a different time from the others because it is felt that it is of a special significance to everyone. It is the discussion of Methods in Popular Education and Peace Action. . o •* , Music Club Sponsors Home Coming Recital Young Bellingham musicians home for vacation after teaching and studying in New York, Chicago, and Seattle for a year, will give a joint recital Tuesday, July 14, at the Garden Street Methodist church. The talented musicians appearing on the program are: Suzanne Cissna, Jean Phillips, pianists; Hortense Yule, soprano; Herman Ivarson, baritone; and Chaun-cey Griffith, organist. The Scholarship Ways and Means committee of the Bellingham Woman's Music club are sponsoring the musical event. '; A silver offering which will be taken during the intermission will be used - for the [scholarship which is ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 2 ---------- WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, BELLINGHAM. WASHINGTON Established 1899 «^^ Published every Friday except during the month of September by the Associated Students, Washington State Normal School, Bellingham. Entered in the Postoffice at Bellingham, Washington, as second class matter by virtue of the act of March 3, 1879. • , •• Printed by the Miller Sutherlen Printing Company, Bellingham National Bank Building, Bellingham. Subscription rate by mail, $3.00 per year, in advance. Advertising rates on application. Address all communications, other than news items, to the Business Manager of the Northwest Viking, Bellingham, Wash. Telephone 3180. Editor HARRY KLUGE Managing Editor .MARY JOHNSTON Business Manager : .WARREN TOMS News Editor Phyllis Robinson Feature Editor ~ -Bob White Society Editor .._ —Prances Pelegren Sport Editors —.Ralph Dever, Elmer Lindquist Copy editor ~ - -Beverly Holiday Special Writers: Pat Wade, Joan Hoppe, Glen Gres-eth, Helen Shipley, Margaret Thon, Oscar Svarlien, Dorothy Williams, Rose Cassidy, Nancy Smith, . Helen Booth, Louise McBurney, Beverly Holiday, Marion Peterson. Military Training or Not Probably the most significant occurence in today's news was an article issued by the American Institute of Public Opinion concerning the Civilian conservation Corps. This bureau conducted a nation-wide poll with the purpose of discerning the public's attitude toward the CCC, Franklin D. Roosevelt's pet New Deal project. The startling* factor in the compilation, directed by Dr. George Gallup of New York City, was not the fact that a majority of voters wished to continue the CCC but rather that an overwhelming part of the voters favored the addition of military training to the men's duties. The actual figures are shown below: Yes No Women -74% 26% Farmers 77 23 Reliefers 78 22 Young People 68 32 College Students 59 41 These results are a revelation to many people who have imagined that the pacifists were firmly entrenched in. our American governmentt It might be well for whose who favor military training in the CCC camps to think further than the • fact that 250,000 men would be added to the standing army. If such an addition of military instruction is carried out, no longer will we be able to scoff at Hitler's militaristic policy or look askance at Mussolini's antagonistic course. It would destroy any benefit derived from the consultations with diplomatic heads of other nations concerning disarmament plans. It would signify our intention of keeping pace with . Germany and Italy and setting the pace for Great Britain, France, and Japan. And most important, it would lower the whole standard upon which our democratic government is based. Can this be the opinion of the people at large? o OUR SOCIAL STUDY GROUP SOMETHING NEW? And friends were glad to call around You greeted with a smile, And friends were glad to call around To stay with me awhile. But lately life has taken on An aspect queer and strange And everybody wonders what Has brought about the change For, I mumble and I mutter As I stroll upon the street And erstwhile friends pass quickly by If we by chance should meet. My eyes are dull and vacant and My mind is in a fog. My voice resembles very much The croaking of a frog. I know you all are wondering Just how this came about, I'll tell you all the secret, But please don't let it out. For really I'm as happy As a baby with the croup, For I'm getting educated in Our Social Study Group. Track, football, and baseball teams have driven their respective ways to either glorious victory or inglorious defeat, many times depending upon the number of the much-needed supporters present in the time-worn stands pictured here— Only too often has that number been not numerous enough to mention. But not only for athletic events has this structure been made use of— Tis said that several times a certain Eveready about school has been focused upon those who chose its idyllic haunts in preference to Sehome or Sunset Heights. Those to his own choosing, so what? Point of View By Harlan Jones In which we attempt to coerce the perogatives of Dante's Inferno as brick-bats to thrust down the craw of the public mind to help masticate some of the illy digested figments of Utopia and Messiahs which ever return to haunt the folk that have too little sand in their Intellectual gizzards. You tell 'em. Being on the spot as you remember, this column is muttering in its heard trying desperately at the last moment to coin a slogan that will save the world for democracy. However, since "Point of View" is much too immersed in water much too deep to have time to aspire for political office this fall, we shall try to be terse. Having dwelt on the third dimen~- sion of human nature, the political idealism of the Football-cast and the PWA scrubs, and this man Ka-gawa, we should like to take a slant at Co-operation. The Bellingham Egg Co-op just makes it tough for the widow with the hen house on the shores of Lake Carnegie. Her Rhode Island Reds hardly have room to cluck on the open market. Good in Bellingham? Yes. Partly a good thing. In Denmark the country villages can paint their roof-trees with the money their producers' co-ops have paid them. Japan, with the help of Kakawa's hundred popular books on co-operatives, which attach themselves to the public mind much as did Tolstoy's, whom he studied. Such as "Grains of Wheat". They have consumer stores. Each member buying his food, or his $1.85 work suit having one vote. Not so in an American corporation for here, where the controlling money lies, so does the vote. Each member there, has a speaking part, but getting back at the end of the month a proportion of what amount he buys. Do you recognize the Grange gas and oil setup? of American democracy. Why not fill the gap of bankruptcy and lack of purchasing power with co-operative stores, and so give the "Civil Liberties League" a break politically? There are very strange bedfellows in this election. —Selected Musing You have probably heard about the consumer of tooth paste who thought the manufacturers put too much moisture in dentifrices. To prove his idea he went into manufacturing and really did produce a tooth paste without any excess moisture in it. But a pair of plyers was needed to get the paste out. We don't know if he is, as yet, convinced that manufacturers of dentifrices make tooth paste moist for a better reason than deception. But we of the teaching profession believe that we had better instill a little more humor into our intellectual students so that future generations can make use of them without getting a sledge hammer to uncover the prodigy's mind. Book Shelf POETRY OF TODAY, by Rosa M. R. Mikels and Grace Shoup; Charles Scribner's Sons. Reviewed by Glen O. Greseth. This is the ariswer to the desire of thousands of poetry lovers to have a pocket-sized anthology of contemporary verse. The selections in "Poetry of Today" are admirably chosen to bring out the adventuring spirit of modern poetry. There are poems'about "excavations, cabbages, tea, skyscrapers, automobiles, and Saturday-night crowds in large cities, blossoms; rivers, sunsets, mountains, and sea-themes that have always appealed to poets; and the age-old problem of love and life." There are poems for all the moods of a sentimentalist on a fishing trip. If he sits buried in retrospection, he will find expression in "Birches" by Robert Frost or the light-hearted reminiscences expressed in "Little Boy Blue" by Eugene Field. If he seeks expression for the beauty of nature let him read "May is Building her House" by Richard Le Gal-lienne or ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 3 ---------- WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, BELLINGHAM. WASHINGTON Racqueteers To Play Off Games Bodminton and Archery Players Support Favorite Sports Enthusiastically "The tennis tournament schedule has been posted, stated to Miss Luell Weed of the Women's Physical Education department. "The second round matches to be played Monday are between Dohalda Grant and Inez Sjognen; Mary Morrow and May Dillon. One first round match has yet to be played off to determine the other players in the second round". Looking It Over Those eight lanky University of Washington oarsmen and their skipper, Bob Moch, deserve all the credit and publicity they are receiving. It is perhaps the finest crew Washington has ever produced; certainly their cox appears to be the best little admiral. And that's saying a lot, for Washington's crews are known wherever college oars sweep the water. We'll be wishing them all the breaks, and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed for them while they are in Berlin. Archery Popular The enthusiasm expressed by the large number signing up for Archery, Thursday, at 4:00 o'cock has pleased Miss Ruth Weythman of the Physical Education department. Badminton Added Of the Wednesday afternoon sports at 4:00, Miss Weed related, *There was a small but enthusiastic group out for volley ball. No one turned out for baseball. However", Miss Weed continued, "another sport, badminton, was played upon the demand of a group." All bad-} minton enthusiasts are welcome it they furnisft their own birds. They can be bought at the Co-op". According to Miss Weythman of the same department badminton as a sport has increased in popularity at a tremendous rate in the last eight years. Eight years ago there were no teams, at the Normal but now there is a class devoted to teaching the rules and techniques of the game. One of those voices that you heard over CBS last Sunday afternoon had more than a passing interest in the outcome of the crew race. It was none other than Royal Brougham, sports editor for the Seattle PI, making a national name for himself as a radio announcer for the Columbia system. After all, (what is more fitting than that a | sports writer from our own state should announce the victory of a Washington crew? They say that when Washington began to put on the power they gained the space of a man with each stroke of the oars. Your sports editor does not want anyone to fail in his studies, yet he cannot help noting an observed human phenomenon. The day is Wednesday, the time 4:30 in the afternoon, the sky is clear, the weather is not too hot. A much used room in the library is filled to overflowing with Normal school students reading books and taking down notes. Yet near that library are playing fields where softball, volleyball, tennis, and numerous other sports could be enjoyed by those people who are so studiously trying to remember what someone else has written. With such a fine recreational program why study so hard? Of course, everyone knows by now who won the Wimbledon in tennis. But.it is not too late to give Helen Jacobs another big hand for winning that championship. It's a tough, hard grind, all the way to the top. Lappenbusch Plans Invasion Of University Basketball Gym; Return Bout on Local Floor With the WAA Of her badminton class Miss Weed told, "Some fast playing may be seen any morning at 9:00 o'clock in the gym. The class is in the midst of an interesting round robin tournament". Badminton was introduced from India to England around 1873, thence to Canada and the United States. Howdy, WAAers—Art you still WAAing? Do you get your cold shower every morning? Do you Walk five miles every day? (Musi keep that figure down.) Do you eat fresh fruit or vegetables and drink milk each meal? Do you avoid candy between meals? Do you get some other exercise besides Walking? TRY Our Combination BREAKFAST 30c LUNCH 30c-35c Special Steak Dinner 50c MODEL CAFE We Never Close 1324 Commercial Why do I ask all these questions? Well, after all, it isnt every month that a great orchestra leader and composer like I sham Jones graces Bellingham with his presence. Isnt that a good reason to-look and feel right ? What.' You re not going? You say you cant go on all these hikes and trips and expect to have money or for your boy friends to have enough ('scuse me, 1 thought WAAers didn't have boy friends) for a dance as expensive as that. I dont blame you too much, as these hikes and trips are keeping me badly bent, too. But isnt a dance exercise? Well, fight it out for yourself. If you ever run out of anything to do, all you athletes, let me tell you of a sport that will fascinate you. Once you get yourself involved you won't be able to give up until 'you absolutely have to announce yourself as licked, and one of Ted Shane's cockeyed crossword puzzles in Liberty surely can do it. Or are you one of those master minds no puzzle can lick? Anyway who cares? When a person has to talk about crossword puzzles on a sport page he had better quit, so I am. School Golf Team Accepts Challenge It will be a first come first place, in the tryouts for the golf team to play the University of Washington team, according to a statement from Coach Chuck Lappenbusch this week. The team will consist of six men. All golfers are urged to report to the coach as soon as possible so that the tryouts can take place right away. The ladder system will be used to pick the six best men to represent the school. "The first man to report will have his name placed at the top of the ladder" said Coach Lappenbusch. "A man can challenge either of the two men directly above him". o Jon High Defeats Carnival Mat-Men Hammett's Hams, Tomco's Tomcats Lead Intramural Basketball First Series Keppler Leads Scoring All Members Kitten Team Score; Second Series Started Jon High, 190-pound junior of WSNS, matched his grappling skill with the carnival mat-men Wednesday night to win two and break even on the third of three consecutive matches. After answering the usual challenge and agreeing to pay his own doctor bill, High entered the *ing for seven minutes of catch as catch can with polished Billy Newman This match resulted in a draw. The two men drew another crowd and did it over again. High won this one with a series of body slams. Then he was pitted against George Kelly, a 200-pounder, but downed Kelley too in less than six ininutes of the scheduled eight minute handicap. o — Outstanding basketball players chosen from the four intramural teams will invade Husky territory, Tuesday, July 14, to play the University of Washington varsity team, according to an announce* ment by Coach Lappenbusch. A squad of 6 to 11 men will make the trip. The U of W team will play a return game here in the little gym* Tuesday, July 21, at 4 p. m. Standing of Teams • W L Pet. Hammett's Hams 2 1 .667 Tomco's Tomcats ...:..2 1 .667 Keppler's Kittens 1 2 .333 StutzSs Bearcats 1 2 .333 Stutz's Bearcats 1 2 .333 Bearcats Win Stut's Bearcats upset the applecart Monday afternoon when, from the cellar position in the league, they defeated the formerly unbeaten Hammett's Hams by a score of 24 to 30. Stutz' own 12 point score helped materially to put his team ahead of Hammett's in the tally. Prender for the Hams with his 8 points was chief threat against the Bearcats. Summary Bearcats—24 Hams—20 Let Us Do Your Work We Call and Deliver C A S C A D E Laundry and Cleaners 205 Prospect Phones 66, 120 When It's Your Move Let's Make it "Our Move" M0DEL3SS PHONE 70 Puppetry Play Slated For Training School |S. K. Scheldrup, D. C. Palmer Graduate CHIROPRACTOR I Phone 878 210 Kulshan Bldg. X-RAY "The Magicians and the Dragon," a puppet show, will be presented in the training school assembly next Friday by members of the puppetry class. The assembly will be at 9:00. Mr. Robert Kindschy will direct the play and also take the leading part. Members of the class will assist in the presentation. WELL, THAT'S OVER! About the greatest danger we encountered this Fourth was the danger of catching pneumonia. Perhaps it's just as well to remember during summer, as well as winter, that DARIGOLD PASTEURIZED MILK fortifies you against cold and disease! Whatcom County Dairymen's Assn. PHONE 314 SANDISON "Photos That Please" Official Klipsun PHOTOGRAPHER STAGES ••***•» Seattle, Everett, Mount Vernon— 7:30, 8:30,10:30 a. m., 12:30, 1;30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30. 5:30 (6;30 Sundays and Holidays), 7:30 and 9:30 p. m. North Coast Lines Depot—Magnolia and State Phone 5004 Bullard .P. Digerness 2 iTulin 10 P. .......Prender 8 Alpaugh 2 C... ...McDonald 2 Stutz 12 _..G „....:........Hall 2 Osibov .....G .Wilder 2 Sub .Lovos Sub. Hammett 4 Referee—George. Tomcats vs. Kittens Tomco's team of wild Tomcats roamed from third place in the league to second by silencing Keppler's Kittens in the second game on Monday afternoon. The score was 22 to 18. Hager, on the Tomcat team, and Keppler, on the Kitten team, tied for high point man in the game with scores of 9 each. Every man on the Kitten team made at least one basket, either from the field or from the foul line. Summary Tomcats—22 Kittens—18 Compliments of CYR BROTHERS DAIRY PRODUCTS CO. Established 1889 Pacific Laundry Phones 126 and 127 Dwelley 6 ...~.F. Tulin 2 Reeves 3 -F-— .Witherow 1 Hager 9. C .Keppler 9 Belcher G „..Zylstra 2 Tomco 4. G. George 2 Sub.... .Osibov 2 Individual Standings In the total individual scores for the first series of league games | Keppler leads the field with 24 points, only one point ahead of Frender with his 23. Stutz is parked in third place with a 20. The top scorers are: Keppler 24 Frender .23 Stutz 20 Hager .. .-.17 Tulto ... :.16 Hammett 14 Digerness 9 Reeves 9 Tomco .7 Dwelley .6 Hall ..j* Bo chn.ak' * 110 EAST HOLLLY Summer Clearance Sale Fancy Men's Clothes at Bargain Prices ---------- Northwest Viking - 1936 July 10 - Page 4 ---------- WASHINGTON STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. BELLINCHAM. WASHINGTON Introducing-- MARIE de GALLIER, master manager . . . former Board member . . . popular, efficient WAA prexy . . . named one of 'big ten' in 1935 Klipsun . . . has spent the ast year teaching in the lower grade at Shelton . . . looking forward to a promising opportunity as cadet instructor in the Seattle teaching system . . . forsook the Dorm this quarter to batch with Aggie Martin in their cabin in the cottonwood. • • • * BARNEY CHICHESTER, former NWV editor as well as business manager . . . dramatically prominent during previous attendance at Normal . . . played in "The Poor Nut," "Craig's Wife," "Sun Up" and others : . . taught in Seattle last year . . . if fond papa to a strapping six-month (or) so old son . .. recently sold a play . . . is called by NWV printer "a darn fine fellow." * * • • EDITH McLACHLAN—ex-teacher of rural student.teacher at the Victor school for seven years—a rural-ite herself for the last three years, teaching in the Westsound school on Orcas island—living on the home farm with her husband and small son—son now in the fifth grade of the Normal Training school—enjoys the rural life—nevertheless still has eyes for new worlds to conquer. New Catalog Is Distributed Fisher Points Out New Features Of Interest in Pamphlet for 1936-37 Grade Children Reveal Interest Bushell Trio Offers Musical Selections A musical program featuring the Bushell trio was given in assembly this morning. The trio consists of Arthur Thai, well-known local violinist, and Edith R. Strange and Donald Bushell, members of the Normal school music faculty, who gave an arrangement of selections chosen for their pleasing melodies. Among the outstanding numbers were the last three movements of the Arensky melody, and sentimental sketches by Mason. Daniel Gregory Mason, according to Mr. Bushell, is famous for his writings on music as well as for his compositions. Barbara Kennedy of Beverly Hall has accepted a position as camp councillor for the Girl Scout Camp at Lost Lake, Elma. She left- Thursday to take up her new duties which will last throughout the summer camping season. Announcing the arrival of the new catalogue which has just come from the printers, President C. H. Fisher described some of the new features which will add to the interest and information of the book. Under the head of general education there is a paragraph on courses for nurses. "Beginning with the au-for nurses. "Beginning with the au-pursue a course in nursing will be required by the State Department of licenses to have one year of college work before they will be allowed in an accredited school for nurses. Courses in anatomy, physiology, bacteriology, hygiene, and nursing education totaling 23 quarter hour credits will be required. The State Normal school at Bell-ingham has been authorized to offer this work and will enroll students beginning in the autumn of 1936, according to the catalogue. "There is also a revision of courses for teacher librarians that brings these courses up to date, according to the standard set by the American Library association", Fisher commented. o Isham Jones to Play Under Curtis Auspices At State Armory Today Isham Jones and his orchestra, famous on the screen and known to all radio listeners, will be at the State Armory tonight. This appearance is sponsored by Jay Curtis, local orchestra leader, who has brought many famous dance bands to Bellingham the past few years. Jones and his boys have played in such leading hotels as the Ambassador in Atlantic City and the Ritz- Carlton in the famous New- Jersey shore resort. "I'll See You in My Dreams", "It Had to Be You", "Spain", "Indiana Moon", "If You Were Only Mine", "I Can't Believe It's True", and "Let's Try Again" are some of the popular tunes Isham Jones has composed. In addition, the recordings of this orchestra are extremely popular. InM agic Lore Audience Mystified by Oranges, Bunnies Drawn, Apparently, From the Air Older Students Skeptical Second Grader Believes Jones Member of Troupe "Are those oranges real?" "Was that a magic bunny?" were some of the questions of the primary training school children after they visited the Friday morning assembly at which Paul Fleming entertained with magic. The first grade child who received an orange from Mr. Fleming felt it, turned it over, and Wouldn't believe it was real until it was opened and the real juice came out. The children in the kindergarten were proud of their representative who was an assistant to Mr. Fleming, but they couldn't imagine how the rabbit was concealed in the little boy's sweater. After a discussion of magic in the second grade, the children put the following statement in their newspaper, "The magician's hands moved so much faster than we could see, so it seemed it was magic really". Another second grade child asked if Harlan Jones were one of the magician's troupe. Third, fourth, and fifth graders expressed curiosity about the magic, but one fifth grade girl said, "I don't believe a bit of it. It really isn't magic". The upper grades took balcony seats from which they could see much of the wiring and use of properties. o Local Normal Student Northwest Indian Queen Librarian Gets Testing Bulletin New Publication Aids Students; Plans for Examinations Are Given "Standard Testing and Remedial Work", a new bulletin compiled by Miss Jeannette Donaldson, supervisor, upper grades and junior high school of the State Department of Instruction, has been received by "Miss Mabel Zoe Wilson, librarian. It is Miss Wilson's opinion that this bulletin offers much worthwhile material for the teacher, and that Miss Donaldson should be praised for her organization. A standard testing plan, a remedial program, and information on the new plan for state examinations in the elementary schools are all considered in this bulletin. Some of the more specific items included are: "The General Principles and Points of View"; "The Necessity of Pupil Guidance"; '"The Favorable Outcomes of the Standard Testing Plan'; "Acceleration and Retardation"; "The Elementary Library and the Remedial Program"; and "Pro cedures Helpful in Reducing Pupil Failures". Miss Donaldson also gives reading references and aids for professional use. Copies of this bulletin can be obtained from the State Department of Instruction, Olympia, Wash. ectidiis At Downs Stop-Look-Listen A FOUNTAIN PEN THAT WE WILL FILL WITH WATER No Mixing of Ink No Carrying of Ink Bottles No Running Out of Ink in a Tight Place Just Fill With Water See Them At the Mary Iyall, a former student of the Bellingham State Normal school, won the "tribal crown" in Seattle Sunday. She was chosen "queen" "over the young Indians of the Pacific Northwest by the North-westerns. Miss Iyall will reign as their "queen" until the salmon run begins in 1937. Miss Iyall is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Iyall, who reside on the Yakima reservation at Top-penish. She is a graduate of the Salem high school, Oregon. This fall Miss Iyall plans to re-enter the Normal school. Mrs. Carl Rich and Miss LaVeta Smart drove to Seattle for the holidays. Mrs. Rich is an assistant to Mrs. Lovegren. Margaret Green attended the Sedro-Woolley rodeo over the Fourth of July. * # *t * * Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Moser (Violet Waech) spent this.week in Bellingham and visited members of the faculty and friends. Both Mr. and Mrs. Waech - are former Normal students. * * * * * John Kerr, a former Normal student, was a guest of Chauncey Griffith, also an alumnus of the Normal. NU-WAY Shoe Rebulders Howard Holstine Across from Postoffice 107 W. Magnolia Try the HERALD Beauty Shop For an A P P O I N T M E N T CALL 146 308 Herald Bldg. The Finest SUNDAE in Town Frozen Fudge 15c Try Smalley's Soda Fountain for a Real Treat The Smalley Drug Co. Prescription Druggists Commercial and Magnolia Dorothy Wellman St. James Weds At First Christian Church / On Sunday Weddings, week-ends, election of officers, and conventions characterized this week's activities. * * « * • Within the First Christian church on Sunday evening was the marriage of Dorothy E. Wellman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Wellman, and Mr. George St. James, of this city. In the presence of a few friends, Rev. Earl Hanson Fife, the pastor, read the service. . The attendants were Elaine Oltman and Ralph Henderson. Both Mr. and Mrs. St. James are .graduates of Whatcom high school and they have attended the Normal. Mr. St. James has also been a student at Washington State college. * --* -* * gt;* Another wedding took place within the home of the bride's parents at Wiser Lake on Saturday evening. Miss Ebba Erickson and Mr. George Wetzel were married by Rev. A. D. Johnson, of Ferndale. Mrs. Wetzel is a graduate of the Normal. * « * * * Officers of Downs hall for the summer quarter are: Winifred Claypoole, president; Rosetha Newman, social secretary; and Millie Gerdis, reporter. » » * » * Clarys Allison, Elsie Johnson, and Dorothy Christensen of Downs hall attended the NEA convention in Portland, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Bertha Herold spent the week-end visiting in Auburn. » * * * * Mrs. Grace Krous, formerly of the Music department of this school, visited in Bellingham on" Monday and Tuesday. * * * * * Miss Bessie Williams was the week-end guest of her parents at their home in Renton. MCA .presents 'UUfl, pERSQN AND HIS ^ ORCHESTRA A Jay Curtis Presentation at the Bellingham Armory FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1936 Gents 86c, Tax 14—Total $1.00 Ladies, 38c, Tax 2—Total 40c MEL McKEE and his 9-Piece Orchestra Every Saturday Night Pioneer Park Best Sound System North,of Portland ENTERTAINERS FERNDALE the CO-OP L SEA FOODS YOU LIKE TO EAT At Prices You Like To Pay Bornstein's FISH * OYSTER CO. Located in the Home Market See the New Line of SILK HOSE At HIGHLAND CREAMERY 015 Blgh St. DEVELOPING PRINTING VENLARGING/ JoBhinVJ^PPPPP
Show less

Title: Peter Elich interview--April 11, 2003
Description: Peter J. Elich, WWU faculty member, 1961-1999; Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of the University. In addition to department chair he was a long time Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Digital Collection: Special Collections Oral History Program
Type of resource: text
Object custodian: Special Collections
Related Collection: Special Collections Oral History Program
Local Identifier: SCOHP_ElichPeter_20030411
Text preview (might not show all results): Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections Oral History Program Peter Elich ATTENTION: © Copyright Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. "Fair use" cr
Show moreWestern Washington University Libraries Special Collections Oral History Program Peter Elich ATTENTION: © Copyright Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. "Fair use" criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. The following materials can be used for educational and other noncommercial purposes without the written permission of Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. These materials are not to be used for resale or commercial purposes without written authorization from Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. All materials cited must be attributed to Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. This interview was conducted with Dr. Peter Elich, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at his office in Miller Hall on April 11, 2003. The interviewer is Steve Inge. SI: Today is April 11, 2003. We‟re talking with Dr. Peter Elich, Professor Emeritus…not quite. PE: Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus. SI: Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, congratulations! And former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Western. The interviewer is Steve Inge. For the record, this is a second effort at this interview, first having been fouled up by operator error. So Pete, thank you for your patience. Could you tell us how it is that you came to be at Western? PE: I completed my undergraduate work at the University of Washington. I came to Bellingham and began teaching in the public schools, first at Whatcom Junior High School, which is now Whatcom Middle School. I taught a variety of courses. I had no room of my own. I walked around carrying history maps one time and materials for the science lab the next time. I spent two years at Whatcom, then went on to Bellingham High School, where I taught and coached football for a couple of years. During that time I was going to school at Western, working on a masters degree in school psychology and working graveyard shift at the paper mill. I had three kids at that time and a $3,600 a year teaching salary, so a little extra income was much appreciated! About the time I completed my master‟s degree, I was also not doing well as a football coach. Maurice Freehill, who was a professor of mine here at Western at that time, asked me one day if I would be interested in going on to graduate school. I hadn‟t thought about going on to get a PhD. He suggested I go down and talk to some people he knew at the University of Oregon. He thought they had a good program in the area of educational psychology where you could do most of your work in the department of psychology, since I already had a lot background in education. So my wife and I went down, spent a couple of days, and by the end of that time we were enrolled. That next fall we went down and spent two and a half years at the University of Oregon finishing a PhD. By the time I got out in ‟61, there were a lot of jobs available. I‟d done some research at Oregon, but was primarily interested in going to a school that emphasized undergraduate education and teaching. A position was available at Western. I made a phone call to Chuck Harwood, who was the chair of the department of psychology, and sent him a letter. I got a call back from him indicating I was hired. I didn‟t need to come for an interview because people knew me pretty well, since I‟d been doing work in the department. I had a lot of family in the area, so I came back to Western, for a starting salary of $6,000 -- a significant improvement. I taught a variety of courses, almost everything in the department except animal behavior. I was pleased with the opportunity to come to Western (then Western Washington College of Education), because of its strong reputation as a quality undergraduate school. We had a small lab with four rats, and that was about it, in Old Main. A few years later we added some armadillos. Carol Diers was interested in studying armadillos because they have identical offspring so you can tease out the effect of environment upon learning. She almost burned down the building I recall one time, when she had a heat lamp above the baby armadillos and it caught the straw on fire in the middle of the night! 1 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SI: In Old Main? PE: Yes, fourth floor of Old Main. Jim Jarrett had just become president the year before I came. He came from the University of Chicago, Great Books tradition, and started a shift almost immediately from exclusive teacher training emphasis, to a broader, multidisciplinary, departmentalized approach. There was a lot of difference of opinion on the faculty about this change. There were two groups, one that was going along with Jarrett to emphasize more the liberal arts and sciences focus. Prominent among those were Herb Taylor, Henry Adams, Don Blood. And then there was a group that was trying to hang on to the exclusive teacher training focus because we had a very strong reputation as a teacher training institution, particularly at the elementary level, but also to some extent at the secondary level. We had a national reputation of being one of the better teacher training institutions in the country, and people didn‟t want to lose that by moving in another direction. I taught at Western in the department of psychology until about 1971. I worked with Tom Billings in setting up one of the first Upward Bound programs in the country. Billings went on to become the national director of the Upward Bound Program. During the latter years of the „60s, I spent a lot of time traveling around the country – literally, the Pacific Islands, Alaska, and Pacific Northwest, helping set up Upward Bound programs and doing evaluations of those programs. In about ‟68, ‟69, I was involved in trying to set up a programmed learning workshop during the summer. That was a hot new thing at the time based on the theories of B. F. Skinner. We looked around the country to find where the activity was going on. Xerox was big in program instruction at that time, and they had a person who I wanted to bring but he couldn‟t come, so they suggested another fellow, Bill Laidlaw. Bill came out and spent that summer and liked it so well here that he took a leave and stayed an entire year. Then he went back to New York and got involved in the New York State Higher Education System. He was hired by the City University of New York to be the dean of developing Hostos Community College, which was in the South Bronx. Because I‟d had some involvement in working with American Indian kids, and Hispanic educational issues, he called me and asked me if I was interested in coming back. I went back and spent two and a half years in New York helping to get that program going. I headed up the social and behavioral science area, selecting faculty and developing curriculum. It was a very, very interesting experience. Bill later came back and became the President of Whatcom Community College, and unfortunately was stricken by cancer a few years into his tenure there. He was a very close friend of mine, and a very great loss, not only to his friends and family, but to the community and to the community college. Soon after I came back, Meryl Meyer, who was the chairman of the psychology department, took a position at University of Florida, and I was selected as the chair of the department. I served as chair of the department for fifteen years. We had as many as thirty two faculty at one time, principally because we had a very heavy proportion of the teacher education program. We taught measurement, learning and child and adolescent development for all students planning to become teachers. Then in about ‟83, the dean‟s position became open in Arts and Sciences. Jim Davis stepped down, and I was appointed interim dean. I was the successful candidate and became dean of the College, where I served until my retirement at the end of fall quarter, 1999. One particularly noteworthy experience during the time that I was department chair, Bill McDonald suffered a mild heart attack. He was the dean of men at that time, and I was asked if I would stand in for him until he recovered, which would be a couple of months. So I spent half a day over here chairing the department, and half a day over there at the dean of men‟s office. It was during the time there was the Vietnam issue, and things got pretty hot around here. There was a mass demonstration one day on Red Square with the Weathermen here with big dogs and side arms, and it had the potential for getting pretty nasty. Jerry Flora was president at that time. Flora and his inner circle of 2 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED people, sometimes they called them “the six pack.” I don‟t remember all six, but it was at least Alan Ross and Herb Taylor and I think Jim Hitchman, who was the dean of students at that time. Sam was probably there; Sam Kelly was always part of that group, and whoever else might have been there at that time. The president of the Faculty Senate perhaps, whoever that was. They were up in Flora‟s office, and I was sort of the runner between, communicating messages between them and the students. I would go out and hear what the students had to say, and then I‟d run upstairs and tell them what the students had to say, and then they‟d tell me what I was supposed to tell the students and I would run back down and tell the students. Then I‟d hear more from the students, and I‟d run back up and tell them. I must have made that trip six or eight times during that day. During one of these times, I was standing on the edge of the pond there, and the students were getting understandably a little frustrated with not having direct access to the President, but to somebody they didn‟t even recognize as having any authority at all, which was true! And somebody hollered out, “Throw the fucker in the pond!” They started moving toward me. Fortunately for me, there was a circle of football players, I later learned, who warded them off and ushered me to a safe entry back up the stairs and told me that I when I came back down they would take care of me. This potentially violent situation was calmed by a group of faculty, organized and led by Professor Mike Mischaikow from the economics department who broke the students into small groups, where faculty would listen to what they had to say and reassure them that they would bring their concerns to the attention of university officials. Let‟s see, what else…Well I think that the transition of the presidents I‟ve had the opportunity to work with maybe warrants a comment. I mentioned Jarrett to begin with. I got to know Jarrett reasonable well because I was in the psychology department where some of his closer advisors were, people like Don Blood, Henry Adams and Carol Diers. I socialized somewhat with Jarrett and that group, so I got to know him reasonable well. I had a high regard for his intellectual capability and his direction. I think that period of time probably represents one of the most significant periods in the history of the University, that shift from exclusively teacher education to Western Washington State College and then eventually to Western Washington University. And then following Jarrett I think we have Harvey Bunke, who didn‟t stay long, but I thought Bunke was a very good president. He actually encouraged me to look into academic administration. He called me over one day and asked me if I was interested in going to an administrative workshop at the University of Minnesota. So I went to that for three or four days and learned about how you shuffle paper and that kind stuff. But he was encouraging. And then I think we had Flora following that, yes. And Jerry was a very popular president at the beginning of his tenure because he was a very well-known faculty member, an outstanding faculty member, an excellent teacher and campus leader and well-liked by people. I had the opportunity to work closely with Jerry Flora as well. It was during that time (1969) we had enabling legislation from the legislature to grant a PhD. They didn‟t give us any money, but they gave us the enabling legislation. I wrote a proposal for a PhD program in school psychology with some people in education and we had the appropriate visitations from people who could evaluate the program and so on and it came out pretty well. So Flora and Alan Ross, who was dean of the graduate school at that time, and I traveled around to visit each of the members of the council, I think it was the Council of Post-Secondary Education, the group that was essentially responsible for making recommendations to the legislature and to the governor regarding higher education issues. And we visited each of them in their own communities, took the person to dinner, and lobbied them on behalf of our proposal. Flora meanwhile had been lobbying the presidents of the other four year institutions. When we went to the meeting where the vote was to be taken, it appeared as though we had a narrow majority voting in favor of us. Just after the debate and just before the vote, the President of the University of Washington, called for a brief recess, and called the presidents of Central and Eastern over and when the vote came, the presidents of Central and Eastern voted against us. And Flora was quite sure that they would vote in favor. As I recall, they said that they were informed by the President of the University of Washington that their chances of ever being named a university would be markedly reduced if they supported our effort to have a PhD program. They were, as we, interested in becoming a university at that time. That was another issue before us. So we lost the opportunity. We could have gone ahead with the program, but we lost the opportunity for any funding. In retrospect, I think it is a good thing that we did not pursue a doctorate program because of our undergraduate program. We are principally an undergraduate institution, that‟s our main strength. When you have a doctorate program, you tend to put a lot of your main resources, your strongest resources, into that program. 3 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SI: At that time, the institution was some what of an even balance still between teacher education and arts and sciences, and many of the other colleges had yet to emerge, so it was a logical position at that time. PE: Right, right, yes, that‟s right. I think it was about in that time when the cluster college concept began? I think Paul Woodring was one of the people who was influential in that movement; the idea that we would develop a variety of small cluster colleges with different kinds of emphases. They would be relatively small, and some faculty would live in with students, so that you would have kind of the Oxford environment. By the time the first of those was developed, Fairhaven, the glamour of that approach sort of wore off and nobody wanted to live in! Students didn‟t even want to live there! But Fairhaven was developed and endures today. I think it offers an excellent educational opportunity for some students who need the more flexible environment that they have in Fairhaven. Huxley was also developed following that same concept and endures today as one of the relatively few remaining environmental studies programs. A lot of them were developed, and a lot of them fell by the wayside. Also the College of Ethnic Studies was developed. I think the recommendation by the dean of the College of Ethnic Studies, Jesse Hiroaka, to close the College of Ethnic Studies, was probably as unique among deans‟ actions in the history of higher education. But Jesse had the foresight to see that isolating minority students was not what you were trying to accomplish. What you wanted to do is to have broad cultural integration in the campus, rather than to isolate the minority students from the majority population, so Ethnic Studies was closed. PE: Paul Olscamp followed Flora. I was on the search committee for Olscamp as well. He provided strong academic leadership. I think that that combination of Olscamp and Talbot, in terms of the internal management of the university, was one of the strongest periods in our history. Talbot, in my judgement, was an excellent provost. He was strongly supported by Jim Albers, who was this person that you interacted with on financial matters. I remember going frequently to Albers‟ office, where you had to go for additional sections of this, that, and the other thing. It was like going to a loan shark without any collateral. But you usually got what you needed, but not always what you wanted. Olscamp pretty well let Talbot run the show inside. I‟m sure they conferred about directions and things of that sort. I took the proposal for the PhD program to Olscamp a few months after he was here and reviewed it for him briefly. What he already knew, I‟m sure, was that we had the enabling legislation. The Counsel on PostSecondary Education voted against our doing it, so we had no resources coming, but I asked him if he wanted to do anything further with it and he, decided that we should not pursue that at this time. PE: Following Olscamp we had Bob Ross. I was rather fond of Bob Ross, as a personal friend as well as a president. He was a marked contrast to Olscamp. Olscamp was much more of a strong academician in orientation. I think much more of – I don‟t want to call him “elitist” – but much more focused upon quality undergraduate education, focusing upon relatively few programs. Don‟t expand too far, but make sure you have very good study in-depth, and attract the very strongest students you possibly can to those programs. Ross was very much of a populist. His approach was that we should offer a wide variety of programs appropriate for a regional comprehensive university. If a student came to Western for a quarter that would probably enrich their lives, even if they didn‟t go on to school beyond that point. We went through the frequent drill of developing a strategic plan during that time. I remember we developed a variety of objectives. We‟d have list of a dozen or so and people said, “Well what about this?” and Ross said “We‟ll add that!” We added it, and we ended up with, I don‟t know, forty, fifty objectives, which gave him license to do anything he wanted to. He could make this decision, and say, “Well this fits items six, seven, eight, nine, ten…” whatever. Backing up, somewhere during that period of time, and I don‟t recall exactly the year, we went through a serious budget reduction. It was prior to Ross. It may have been during either Olscamp or maybe even Flora‟s tenure. We had a big Reduction in Force at the University. We had the Mischaikow Committee, and I was a member of the Mischaikow Committee. I think we met all summer long and we had to reduce by a hundred and twenty some positions in the University, which we were able to do largely by attrition. Some departments even took reduced salaries for a period of time to save some people. We came out of that. But that represents, I think, a very important period in the University‟s history. Comparing Central and Western which were very similar prior to that, more similar than they are now, Western took the position that we‟re going to retain essentially the structure that we have. Trying to maintain strong academic departments, and we‟ll take the cuts and not change the structure. Central took 4 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED the position that we‟re going to try to save everybody, and we‟re going to do this by farming out programs in the Seattle area, in the Yakima area, doing a lot of extended education, taking a lot of people offline, and let them work, on the money that can be generated from offline courses. So they sort of diluted their programs to some extent by spreading out and doing a lot of things at a lot of different places; adding a lot of programs. Western retained our basic structure. I think that was a very important decision on the part of Western, which enabled us to retain that strong academic focus and not try to be everything to everybody, but to focus upon the basic liberal arts and a few selected professional applied colleges and programs, that depended upon the philosophy and the content, and methodology of liberal arts and sciences as a basis. We had Education, and Business and Economics, and Huxley, and Fairhaven, and Fine and Performing Arts, which spun off from that but are all closely tied to the liberal arts and sciences, whereas Central became much more diffused. Going back to Ross now which is a later period, Ross‟ presidency was, I think, marked by, in addition to his approach to developing programs and the populist kind of approach; he was also a very strong representative of the University to the community and to the legislature. I‟ve been told by people from other institutions that he became one of the principal spokespersons for higher education before the legislature and legislative groups. He was very effective in representing higher education; very effective in representing the University to the community. He could talk to almost any kind of group, from the farmers out in the county, to fishermen on the docks, to the business people and education people as well, and I think provided in his own way, strong leadership, although many faculty did not like the more populist approach that he took. He unfortunately, as everybody knows, was killed along with Jeanene DeLille, Don Cole and the pilot of the plane in that tragic accident. I might have been on that plane, I had been with them on the same plane a couple of days earlier at another meeting, and I might have been on that plane as well except that Jeanene DeLille had found a fundraising training activity for deans in Washington D.C. All the deans were in Washington D.C. on the day the plane went down. We hustled back as soon as we learned they were missing. But we found out en route, as we could call each time we had to stop, that they had found the plane and there were no survivors. A great loss of three people who provided strong leadership to the university. Ken Mortimer was next. Mortimer had some clear ideas about what the university should be. He wanted to strengthen the basic liberal arts and sciences orientation, offer a very high quality education. I remember his saying on many occasions that he thought Western was already, and should be further recognized and further developed as, a quality liberal arts and science based institution as an alternative to the more expensive private institutions in the state; the Whitmans, and the PLUs and places of that sort. And he saw us in that light, and that was consistent, I think, with the faculty notion of what the University should be as well. And he supported increasing diversity of the student body. He also tried to strengthen the bonds with the community, and really got the Foundation moving, although the Foundation really began with Olscamp, and Ross moved it along a bit, it really took a significant step forward with Mortimer. I remember Mortimer calling the deans in one day and saying “We have to put a couple, three, four hundred thousand dollars into the Foundation if we want to make it go…if we really wanted to move. He outlined for us what he saw the advantages might be. But informing us that that was money that might otherwise go to us, we were in a reasonably good budget period at that time and after some discussion we unanimously supported putting that money into the Foundation, which enabled him to hire a new director and staff. The Foundation really moved from that point on. He put a lot of energy behind it, and the payoff in the long haul is going to be very strong as a result of that. Then of course the most recent president is Karen Morse, who has continued to work very hard to develop the Foundation, and had done an excellent job in continuing to raise resources for the University, from private, corporate and philanthropic donors as well as from the legislature. I think she has served the University well in her representation to the legislature and worked very hard in providing leadership to the University. I haven‟t agreed with some of her decisions, but that‟s to be expected, you‟re not going to agree with everything that other people do. I can‟t fault her for hard work and her sincere effort. She‟s an extremely nice person and I‟ve been fond of both her and her husband Joe, who unfortunately suffered a tragic stroke a few years ago. SI: I have a couple of people that I would like you to comment on, some of whom we have talked about… PE: Oh yes. 5 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SI: Chuck Harwood, who hired you to come in here, and then Chuck goes on to be the first Dean of Fairhaven, and dies tragically later. Could you talk a little bit about Chuck? His notions about education and what he was doing in Fairhaven? Even in psychology? PE: Chuck, I think, provided very strong leadership for the department of psychology. It grew rather significantly during the time that he was here. Not only in numbers of students and faculty, but also in terms of the quality of the program, the kind of people he hired. We had some excellent faculty that came on at that time. He was an extremely nice person to work with. He was a very friendly guy, and an excellent scholar and excellent teacher in his own right. I had some classes with him while I was doing a master's program here. I was actually a bit surprised when he took the Fairhaven job, but I think he provided the kind of leadership they needed there as well. His ability to work with any variety of people, and Fairhaven certainly had its variety of folks. My wife and I and family became close friends -- they had children about the same age as ours. We were in New York at the time that he was overcome by carbon monoxide on his boat. His wife Vonda survived, but was ill. Anyway, I thought Chuck was a very important person in the history of the University, and certainly a valued colleague and valued friend of mine. Another person who fits into that category, who I actually knew for a much longer period of time, was Sam Kelly. Sam and I began teaching, let‟s see now, he was at Bellingham High when I came to Bellingham High in 1956, and we taught there and got to know each other quite well. We were working on master‟s degrees at the same time at Western. He went to the University of Chicago and got a degree in higher education. I went to the University of Oregon. Then we both returned to Western. Sam was in education for a while then went over to Old Main, I never could quite figure out what his job was, but he did a lot of things. He had a few titles; one was director of the Center for Higher Education. He was also then the graduate dean, and I think for a while he was also the dean of research as well. But I think most importantly, he was a very valued advisor to the senior administration. He was a wise man, a very quick wit, and a very intelligent person -- he provided very effective council to the presidents and provosts and to me. I didn‟t mention this before, but I think it was between Bob Ross and Karen Morse; we had Al Froderberg as interim president of the University for a while. He was serving as the interim provost at the time of the tragedy and so he was moved into the presidency. And then later Larry DeLorme served as the interim president following Mortimer and during the search that resulted in hiring President Morse. Talbot left the provost position in 1983[?], he didn‟t work too well with Ross; they were of different styles, put it that way. Ross, the “good old boy” from the south, and his style was the “good old boy” approach. And Talbot with the Australian background, and had been working with Olscamp, and had a little different style. So they parted company. But I had high regard for Talbot and I relied upon Talbot and on Sam Kelly for council throughout my tenure as dean. A word or two about Froderberg; Froderberg was an outstanding department chair in the department of mathematics. I worked closely with him in my early years as dean and valued his contribution greatly. Ross was trying to select somebody to represent the university at the legislature. He called Sam and me in one day and he had a person in mind. He said he was inclined to hire this faculty member and both of us said “Oh God, no!” This person would not be the person you‟d want to send. “Well all right, who in the hell are we gonna select?” So I suggested that he talk to Al, even though I was reluctant to have Al assume that position. But I thought Al and he would get along well. Their personal styles, kind of casual in their approach, if you will, a sort of down home kind of approach. I thought Al had a respect for the faculty and would represent the faculty position strongly. He‟d been the President of the Senate and so on. So they struck it off right away. He put Al in that position, and Al represented us in the legislature for a number of years. A great loss to the academic side of the house, but a great plus I think to the University in general in terms of his representation at the legislature. Another person I should mention is Larry DeLorme, who was chair of the department of history, with whom I worked closely. I think probably among all the chairs the two that stood out in those early years especially, were Froderberg and DeLorme; very strong, and helped to shape some of the policies for the college which then really influenced some of the policies for the University as well. Then Larry went on to become the Provost, and I worked closely with him obviously in my role as dean. Then, unfortunately, he had a long period of illness and strong 6 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED medication, and his overall performance declined, not as a function of any lack of ability or intent on his part, but I think just as a function of the illness and the medication that he was taking during that time. I think he had all the potential to continue to be a very strong academic leader for the University. Unfortunately he was not able to carry out his career as I‟m sure he was capable of doing. SI: During your time as dean was Joe Hashisaki still chair in mathematics, or had he passed away? PE: No, I think Hashisaki had left the chair before that. SI: Well Joe later dies. PE: Yes, Joe did. But I think first Al was chair at the time I became dean, I‟m quite sure. SI: Because Hashisaki had been hired by Jarrett to initially build that math department. PE: And he did a fine job. That was a very strong department. He did an excellent job, just as Don Easterbrook did a fine job in building an extremely strong department of geology. I think that approach that Jarrett used of going out and trying to bring in some of the top people he could possibly bring in as chairs, then give them some leeway to make decisions in hiring faculty and things of that sort. It was a very good approach. I had the opportunity to be involved in hiring some of the excellent chairs from outside; Rick Emerson for one, Ken Hoover, Jay Teachman. They‟re people who provide very strong leadership for their departments, and I‟m sure there are others who I am overlooking at this point that are equally strong. SI: One program that emerged in that time and sort of got lost was the nursing program. PE: Yes. SI: Did that begin during your time and then subsequently end during your time as well? PE: It was in the initial stages when I became dean. It was a program that was designed for people who already had RNs to get the baccalaureate degree part of their program if they had their RNs from the community colleges. For a variety of reasons it just didn‟t work very well. We could not maintain the enrollment in the program. I think it may be partly leadership, partly because the program was maybe a bit too rigorous or not flexible enough for people who were working as nurses. At any rate, it was a program that I was later instrumental in phasing out. Similarly the apparel design/fashion marketing program, that was a Seattle-based program, we developed that when Rosalie King came to head up the department. She was hired by Jim Davis just before I became dean. She headed the home economics program and she was instrumental in adding the apparel design/fashion marketing program in Seattle. Actually not doing too badly for its purpose, but not a good program for Western; not to have a program stuck out there like that. The students really didn‟t have any attachment to the University. SI: Is this a bit of an expression of the Bob Ross populist approach? PE: I think it is. I think that‟s a good illustration. And I think some of the students who had AA degrees from community colleges came there and took their upper division program in Seattle and many of them never set foot on Western‟s campus. There is actually another person who I didn‟t mention, Les Karlovitz, who was the provost for a brief time. Les was ill when he came here and didn‟t last very long. He died of cancer. I thought he had the potential to be a very strong provost. Sharp mind, brilliant guy, but he was agonized from the time he came. He‟d have those Saturday meetings with the deans, and God, he‟d come up, and he couldn‟t even wear regular clothes, he‟d come up in a sweat suit. He‟d walk around in pain from conducting a meeting, tenure promotion cases and things of that sort. I felt so sorry for him. SI: But not opposed to working you on Saturday! 7 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PE: But not opposed to working Saturday, yes. He was a hard driver, yes. He was a hard driver. I‟m not sure if I would have lasted as dean if he‟d stayed on as provost. His staying on and my leaving as dean might have been good for the University, I don‟t know! I probably stayed on two or three years longer than I should have. Well anyway, what I‟m doing now is, I had a post-retirement agreement when I left, essentially the same agreement that I had negotiated with forty or fifty faculty when I was dean, for people who had been here for a long time. Teach one quarter a year, you give up your tenure of course, and you don‟t have any benefits, but you teach one quarter a year for three years. And I had that arrangement. Then I had the opportunity to teach a fourth year at a markedly reduced salary, which I did this last year. Just got my teaching evaluations back and they‟re quite good, I‟m very proud of them. A little better than they were last year. I‟ve told the chair that if he needs somebody next winter, I‟d be available again, but don‟t take that as a request to teach, merely an indication of my availability. And if you‟ve got other people who want to teach and need to teach more than I do, hire them first. SI: One other person, Herb Taylor. PE: Herb Taylor, yes. Herb Taylor‟s a real legend at the University as one of the original “wiz kids,” you know, high IQ, Mensa, charismatic personality, dynamic lecturer. I used to occasionally sit in on his lectures just for the entertainment quality. Also I think he was extremely well-read and well-informed and knew a lot about his subject of anthropology. And was a strong leader in the University. As I mentioned earlier, he was one of the people who quickly supported Jarrett‟s efforts to change the nature of the University. He went on to become the dean for research, and did a lot to develop the research activity. Under Taylor‟s direction, that‟s probably when the emphasis upon research at the University really began to blossom. Not to make us a research institution, but to encourage faculty research. And I worked with him and had one of the first grants, actually the largest grant the university had ever gotten for research - $45, 000 - back in the „60s. Taylor was inclined also to call you at odd hours. I remember he called me Thanksgiving morning and said, “I‟m in my office, I‟ve been going your proposal for the grant,” or something, “and there are some significant changes that need to made. I want you up here right now.” And I said, “I‟m preparing dinner for my family!” “Well get up here, it won‟t take too long.” It was Thanksgiving morning. He wanted to talk really, mainly, and chatted a bit. He said, “I think you should maybe change this paragraph a little bit, put this part first and that part second.” A few things of that sort, nothing of any significance, you know. I think he wanted to let you know he was on top of things. I think if anybody had classes from him, they remember Herb Taylor. As well as people like Keith Murray. We have had many great teachers at Western. SI: Maybe if you would editorialize just slightly, but in the Ross period and then his death, and the death of Don Cole, and Jeanene DeLille, was in certain respects a watershed just because of the loss…I don‟t know if you could comment upon what that may have done, if anything, to the institution, but it might be an interesting insight? PE: Don Cole, whose loss I think, to the University, was much greater than most people realized. Cole worked very quietly in his role as vice president for business affairs; but did an extremely effective job in managing the financial resources of the University, with principle focus upon supporting the academic programs. It seemed as though Don could always find at the end of the biennium, a few dollars for the president to have to support this, that, and the other academic program. I think he probably represents one of the stronger people in that position in the University‟s experience. I came to value him very greatly. I think one of the things that happened following the tragic accident was that…we had a period of time, we‟ve talked about the Kelly/Froderberg/DeLorme people involved in … sort of the, I wouldn‟t call it confusion, but there wasn‟t much happening at that time -- people were sort of holding the fort until we got more permanent administration in place. I don‟t see that that had any really strongly negative effect upon the University in the long run because we had strong leadership following that when Mortimer came. But it was a period of time when we were just sort of treading water, I think. Not to in any way discredit the people who were in those positions, they did a good job of doing what they were doing, but they weren‟t there to provide leadership at that time. They were there to keep things running smoothly until we could get new leadership on board of a more permanent nature. 8 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SI: At that time, at least I have heard, I have no idea if it‟s true; Ross had, for example, a notion of a College of Engineering Technology, which did not fully develop because he was gone. But that was kind of a Bob Ross project that he kind of liked to move along in its own subtle ways. PE: That‟s right. That was certainly something which I think he was pushing forward. I recall one particular incident. I didn‟t mention Paul Ford, who was a Provost for a while under Ross, as well. We had a lot of provosts, and some of those I‟ve even forgot. I recall one day the Deans were in a meeting in Paul Ford‟s office. Paul announced that Bob Ross was advertising, (we had a position open for the chair of that department) for a director of the Division of Engineering Technology. And I said, “We don‟t have a Division of Engineering Technology, we have a department, and we don‟t need a director, we need a chair. And if you‟re going to create a division like that, that‟s normally something which would go through at least the faculty, Academic Coordinating Commission, Planning Council, things of that sort.” “Well,” he said, “here, take this,” he again showed me the announcement. “He‟s down in his office.” Well I got up, took this down to his [President Ross‟s] office, and asked if I could see him, and went in and shut the door. Ross was a guy you could argue with in private, but you never took it outside the room. You could cuss at him, and he‟d cuss at you, and sometimes you gained a point and sometimes you lost. So anyway, I said “God dammit, you can‟t do this.” [Ross], “What do you mean I can‟t do this?” [Elich], “You can‟t just go creating divisions and hiring directors. This is a department in the college I‟m administering.” “Well, what do you want me to do?” he said. [Elich], “What I want you to do is change that to what it‟s supposed to be, to a chair of a department.” [Ross] “Give me that piece of paper!” And he reached out and got a pencil and wetted it his tongue. And he crossed out “director”, and he wrote in “chair,” and he crossed out “division” and wrote in “department.” He says, “There, does that make you happy?” I said, “You‟re not going to change anything, are you?” “No, I‟m not.” He was encouraging us, during a period when the budget was reasonably good, for the Deans to squirrel away some money for a rainy day. So we were in a pretty good budget situation at that time. That was another function of Sam Kelly. Sam Kelly somehow, could take end of biennium money and hide it somewhere for two or three days then give it back to you. I think he usually took ten percent off the top or something too. So we had $250,000-$300,000 that we were saving as a reserve, that‟s what we called it. One day we got a notice that all these reserves were being recaptured centrally. I went over to see Ross and I said, “What are you doing? You told us to reserve this money, and now you just take it away!” And he said, “Well I need it.” I said, “Well we need it too! That‟s my money!” He says, “Listen, it‟s all my money!” That‟s his style. SI: He didn‟t hide it! Now he‟s being the good guy, bringing it back! PE: That was just his approach. “Hey, listen now, it‟s all my money.” 9 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED I was very happy to have stayed at Western during nearly all of my career. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching and had the great pleasure and honor of being selected as Western‟s, “Outstanding Teacher Award” for „65-‟66, by the Associated Students of Western Washington State College. I treasure that, as well as the recognition from the Faculty Senate upon my retiring as dean, and being named Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus. But I thoroughly enjoyed teaching and I thoroughly enjoyed my contact with my colleagues, thoroughly enjoyed the position as dean, particularly the opportunity to work with department chairs and individual faculty to help them build stronger departments and hire stronger faculty. I think I was greatly influenced by an early workshop I went to for the National Council of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, a dean‟s workshop; Bernard Kelly was retiring as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Dakota, where he‟d been the dean for twenty years or so, and he announced that he could really sum this up very easily. He said, “You want to select the very best department chairman you possibly can. And then provide them all the support that you possibly can in hiring and developing the strongest faculty that you can. And your job is to facilitate the chair‟s job in building a strong department, in hiring strong faculty and supporting those faculty. Providing them the things they need in order to exercise their capabilities and talents.” And I always remembered that, and that‟s the way I tried to manage my affairs as dean, as a facilitator rather than a director. When big issues came up, I would call the department chairs together to get their collective wisdom because it was certainly stronger and much more effective than my individual position. I think that my greatest satisfaction came in working with the department chairs and faculty to help them develop as teacher-scholars, and help develop strong departments. I gained a lot of satisfaction in seeing departments develop and faculty and staff develop. I couldn‟t always do everything they wanted, but I always kept the role of the faculty central. The relationship between the faculty and the student is the principle area of focus for the university. END OF TAPE 10 Peter Elich Edited Oral History Transcript – April 11, 2003 Campus History Collection © Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Show less

Title: WWU Board of Trustees Meeting Records 2012 April
Date: 2012-04
Description: WWU Board of Trustees meeting records for April 2012
Digital Collection: Board of Trustees of WWU Meeting Minutes
Type of resource: text
Object custodian: University Archives
Related Collection: Western Washington University Board of Trustees Records
Local Identifier: wwuarc_bot_201204

Title: WWU Board of Trustees Meeting Records 2012 August
Date: 2012-08
Description: WWU Board of Trustees meeting records for August 2012
Digital Collection: Board of Trustees of WWU Meeting Minutes
Type of resource: text
Object custodian: University Archives
Related Collection: Western Washington University Board of Trustees Records
Local Identifier: wwuarc_bot_201208

Title: WWU Board of Trustees Meeting Records 2018 November
Date: 2018-11
Description: WWU Board of Trustees Meeting Records November 2018
Digital Collection: Board of Trustees of WWU Meeting Minutes
Type of resource: text
Object custodian: University Archives
Related Collection: Western Washington University Board of Trustees Records
Local Identifier: wwuarc_bot_201811

Title: WWU Board of Trustees Meeting Records 2016 May
Date: 2016-05
Description: WWU Board of Trustees Meeting Records May 2016
Digital Collection: Board of Trustees of WWU Meeting Minutes
Type of resource: text
Object custodian: University Archives
Related Collection: Western Washington University Board of Trustees Records
Local Identifier: wwuarc_bot_201605

Title: WWU Board minutes 1917 March
Date: 1917-03
Description: WWU Board of Trustees minutes 1917 March
Digital Collection: Board of Trustees of WWU Meeting Minutes
Type of resource: text
Object custodian: University Archives
Related Collection: Western Washington University Board of Trustees Records
Local Identifier: wwuarc_bot_191703
Text preview (might not show all results): 1917-03 WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917 Volume 05 - Page 207 1917-03-13 The Board of Trustees met at their offices in the Norma
Show more1917-03 WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917 Volume 05 - Page 207 1917-03-13 The Board of Trustees met at their offices in the Normal School at 8 p.m. Present: Trustees Barlow, Olsen, and Smith, the President and the Secretary. The minutes of January 10th were read and approved. MISS HELEN VAIL: The President was authorized to continue the services of Miss Helen Vail as assistant in the Hand Work department if it is found that her services are needed. STUDENT COUNCIL: The President outlined a plan for the organization of a Student Council to cooperate with the President and faculty, in establishing a standard of conduct and maintaining a wholesome discipline among students of the school. The proposed plan was given the sanction of the Board. (It is as appears on page opposite) SUGGESTION OF BRANCH SUMMER SCHOOL: A communication was read from Superintendent Edgar Reed of Centralia, inquiring how the Board would consider a suggestion for this school to operate a branch summer school at that city. The decision of the Board was that the project would hardly be feasible. FORECAST AS TO LIBRARY AND TRAINING SCHOOL: The President suggested that if it should be deemed desirable, the main floor of the training school wing of the building might be altered to accommodate the library. This could be accomplished by the removal of partitions, and the installation of pillars as needed. This would make the present quarters of the library available for class rooms. The President also outlined a possible plan concerning which he had been conferring with the city superintendent of Bellingham, for the solution of the training school problem. The proposal referred to contemplating as arrangement whereby the training school in the Normal building would be restricted to four rooms to be used for a model school; practice teaching for the main part to be given in the various city schools, under direction of Normal supervisors, and in cooperation with the city teachers. The plan was regarded with favor by the Board. The President was authorized to investigate further as to its feasibility. ACTION OF THE LEGISLATURE: The President reported that he had been present at the capital several days during the legislative session just ended. He mentioned the difficulties which the proposed appropiations for higher educational institutions had encountered. As finally passed, the Bellingham Normal School received a millage apportionment of .152, to go into effect in 1918. WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917 Volume 05 - Page 208 1917-03-13 From the general fund $15,000 was appropriated for purchase of land. From the Bellingham Normal School fund: Salaries and wages - $205,000.00. Supplies, material and service - 45,000.00. Capital Outlay - 20,000.00. $33,128.00 of this sum was appropriated from the Normal Current fund, the balance from the Bellingham Normal School fund. BILLS ALLOWED: The payment of bills was approved as represented by vouchers as follows: State Vouchers - No. 301 to No. 326 inc. Revolving Fund Checks - No. 923 to No. 959 inc. Voucher Checks - No. 3661 to No. 3769 inc. The meeting was then adjourned. ##
Show less
Transcript text preview (might not show all results): 1917-03 WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917 Volume 05 - Page 207 1917-03-13 The Board of Trustees met at their offices in the Norma
Show more1917-03 WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917 Volume 05 - Page 207 1917-03-13 The Board of Trustees met at their offices in the Normal School at 8 p.m. Present: Trustees Barlow, Olsen, and Smith, the President and the Secretary. The minutes of January 10th were read and approved. MISS HELEN VAIL: The President was authorized to continue the services of Miss Helen Vail as assistant in the Hand Work department if it is found that her services are needed. STUDENT COUNCIL: The President outlined a plan for the organization of a Student Council to cooperate with the President and faculty, in establishing a standard of conduct and maintaining a wholesome discipline among students of the school. The proposed plan was given the sanction of the Board. (It is as appears on page opposite) SUGGESTION OF BRANCH SUMMER SCHOOL: A communication was read from Superintendent Edgar Reed of Centralia, inquiring how the Board would consider a suggestion for this school to operate a branch summer school at that city. The decision of the Board was that the project would hardly be feasible. FORECAST AS TO LIBRARY AND TRAINING SCHOOL: The President suggested that if it should be deemed desirable, the main floor of the training school wing of the building might be altered to accommodate the library. This could be accomplished by the removal of partitions, and the installation of pillars as needed. This would make the present quarters of the library available for class rooms. The President also outlined a possible plan concerning which he had been conferring with the city superintendent of Bellingham, for the solution of the training school problem. The proposal referred to contemplating as arrangement whereby the training school in the Normal building would be restricted to four rooms to be used for a model school; practice teaching for the main part to be given in the various city schools, under direction of Normal supervisors, and in cooperation with the city teachers. The plan was regarded with favor by the Board. The President was authorized to investigate further as to its feasibility. ACTION OF THE LEGISLATURE: The President reported that he had been present at the capital several days during the legislative session just ended. He mentioned the difficulties which the proposed appropiations for higher educational institutions had encountered. As finally passed, the Bellingham Normal School received a millage apportionment of .152, to go into effect in 1918. WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for March 1917 Volume 05 - Page 208 1917-03-13 From the general fund $15,000 was appropriated for purchase of land. From the Bellingham Normal School fund: Salaries and wages - $205,000.00. Supplies, material and service - 45,000.00. Capital Outlay - 20,000.00. $33,128.00 of this sum was appropriated from the Normal Current fund, the balance from the Bellingham Normal School fund. BILLS ALLOWED: The payment of bills was approved as represented by vouchers as follows: State Vouchers - No. 301 to No. 326 inc. Revolving Fund Checks - No. 923 to No. 959 inc. Voucher Checks - No. 3661 to No. 3769 inc. The meeting was then adjourned. ##
Show less

Title: WWU Board minutes 1937 October
Date: 1937-10
Description: WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for October 1937.
Digital Collection: Board of Trustees of WWU Meeting Minutes
Type of resource: text
Object custodian: University Archives
Related Collection: Western Washington University Board of Trustees Records
Local Identifier: WWUARC_BOT_193710
Text preview (might not show all results): 1937-10 ----------xxxxx---------- Board of Trustees Minutes - October 1937 ----------xxxxx---------- 311 MINUT~ S OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 20, 1937. The regular meeting
Show more1937-10 ----------xxxxx---------- Board of Trustees Minutes - October 1937 ----------xxxxx---------- 311 MINUT~ S OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 20, 1937. The regular meeting of the Board or Trustees was held at the College on Wednesday October 20, 1937, at 4 P.~. Those present ~ ere ~ r. W. ~. Kirk~~ trick, Chairman, ~ r. Verne Branigin, Secretary, ~ r. steve Saunders, and President C. H. Fisher. The minutes 0:- the previous meeting were read and approved. PEmAISSION GPiliNTED TO USE FUEL OIL Mr. Olaf L. Olsen, Director of the Department of Finance, Budget, and Buslness, grunted permission to use fuel oil for a heating plant in the Emergency Hospital. This permission was granted b~ cause the use of fuel oil will enable us to effect a saving substantially more than five per cent over the use of heat from the power plant. This permission enables 115 to use an independent heating plant rather than extending the steam line from the Dower plant to the hos~ ital. BIDS SUBMITTED FOE HEATING SYSTEM IN EMEhGENCY HO::; PITAL Bids were called for the heating system in the Emergency Hosnital consistini, of a hot viater plant and an oil burner. The following bids were received: Tegenfeldt- Farquharson Inc., $ 1225.00 A ΓÇó . J. Blythe Plwnbing and Heatin,; Co., 1200.00 F. M. Haskell Plumbing and Heating Co. 1163.80 Upon motion it was agreed trmt the award be made to the lowest bieder, the F. M. Hasl( ell Plwnbing Cind Heati1g Company, and th ┬╖ J. t a contract be entered into with this firm. ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED FOR ATHLETIC FIELD In accordance with our request Governor Martin authorized an adQitional expenditure 01 eighteen hundred (~ 1800.00) dollars, or ~ s much thereof ~ s may be necessary, for the completion of the new athletic field. PltESIDENT AUTHORIZED TO EMPLOY A. HEFEHENCE LIBEARIAN The President reported tInt according to a careful ? stimate that has been made of our appropriation for salaries anc. wages . funds are available for an adc. itionrrl instructor. I" hile an additional instructor coulci. be used in one of several departments, the most urgent need for help seems to be i~ the library. UDon , notion it was agreed that steps shoula be taken to employ a reference librarian. This will fill a position th~ lt was left vacant dw'Ll1. g the depression. REWEST FOR FUND~; FOR HEATING PLANT, AND SCIENCE EQUIPMENT ' Jpon motion it ':. ciS agreed that GoverClor MartiCl should be Elsked to approve an expenditure of fifteen hundred ($ 1500.00) dollars for 3. heating plant in the hospital; and five thOllsand ($ 5000.00) dollH. rs for equipment in the science laboratories. BILLS \,' ERE AUDITED AND ALLOWED AS FOLLOrS Voucher checks No. 27034 27154 Local Voucher checks No. 12655 12707 Edens Hall Voucher checks No. 554 630 Associated Students Voucher checks No. 161 191 State Ad. journment Verne Branisin, Secretary
Show less

Title: Kwame Alexander interview
Date: 2015-10-21
Description: Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, New York Times bestselling author of 21 books, and recipient of the 2015 Newbery Medal for his novel, The Crossover.
Digital Collection: PoetryCHaT Oral History Collection
Type of resource: text
Object custodian: Special Collections
Related Collection: PoetryCHaT Collection
Local Identifier: AlexanderKwame_20151021
Text preview (might not show all results): Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections PoetryCHaT Kwame Alexander ATTENTION: © Copyright Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. "Fair use" criteria
Show moreWestern Washington University Libraries Special Collections PoetryCHaT Kwame Alexander ATTENTION: © Copyright Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. "Fair use" criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. The following materials can be used for educational and other noncommercial purposes without the written permission of Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. These materials are not to be used for resale or commercial purposes without written authorization from Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. All materials cited must be attributed to Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections. This interview was conducted with Kwame Alexander on October 21, 2015, in the Special Collections Conference Room, Western Libraries in Bellingham, Washington. The interviewers are Nancy Johnson and Sylvia Tag. ST: So we are here with Kwame Alexander, who is in Bellingham for several days for the Compass 2 Campus program, as well as lunch with Western students and high school students, and this evening is giving a community presentation. NJ: Sponsored by PoetryCHaT. KA: Welcome to Fresh Air, with Nancy and Sylvia, and Kwame Alexander. ST: If only I was as smart as Terry Gross. NJ: Yeah, really. ST: So, in the tradition that we’re trying to start with these oral histories, we’re hoping that you can talk freely, and we’ll see where it goes. And just kind of a free flow conversation opportunity for you to kind of riff on your own thought process, writing process, what you -NJ: History as a writer. ST: -- some of the insights you have about your own books, interactions, intersections. So we could start out with just some of this. We were just looking at some of the titles, and I was just noticing, myself, some of the interplay between the books. NJ: Are you even aware that you do that? Kwame Alexander Edited Transcript – October 21, 2015 Children & Teen Poetry Collection (PoetryCHaT) 1 ©Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections KA: Yes, I’m certainly aware that the poems speak to each other and the books connect with each other. Some of it is intentional. Some of it is like when you get into this sort of rhythm, into this zone of the writing, it just -- it happens, you know. It’s sort of the writerly destiny of it all just takes over, and that’s really exciting. I don’t know how to sort of -- If I could bottle that, it would be wonderful. But I think most of it comes from BIC - Butt In Chair. Like the more you just sit down, and you’re writing, and you’re just living this writerly life, as Langston Hughes’s Jesse B. Semple character used to say, “Everything is connected.” And so the connections sort of find themselves. And it’s kind of cool, it’s exciting, especially when readers like yourself are able to pick up on that. The titles I think are really important to me. I remember my first play that I wrote. It was back in college, and it was a play called Self-Discovery 101: You Gotta Have It. And so, I was at Virginia Tech, and there weren’t a whole lot of black students there, and I really wanted to write a play to talk about what it means to be a black student on a predominantly white campus. And I stayed up all night. I’d never written a play before. I’d read plays, I’d acted in a few plays. I acted in a play on Broadway when I was 13. So at some point, I thought I was going to be an actor. But I was familiar with the theater enough to think that I could write a play. And so I stayed up all night and wrote a play, a two-act play. I remember calling my father about 7:00 in the morning and saying, I wrote a play last night. And I remember him being really excited and telling me, asking me, “What are you going to do with it?” I said, “I’m going to produce the play.” And so I started reading and researching how do you produce a play. And of course you need a director, you need a cast, you need a venue. And so naturally I didn’t have a whole lot of resources at my disposal, so I said, Well, I’ll direct it. I wrote it, I’ll direct it. I’ll get my friends who are in the theater department to act in it, and that was my cast. And then of course I had to find a venue. Well as it turns out, I had received a letter inviting me to a student leadership conference at the College of William and Mary, and that was taking place in about four months. And I said, How cool would that be? They’ve got to have entertainment there, so why not my play as the entertainment? And I’m a sophomore in college, and I remember calling up the director at the College of William and Mary of the student leadership conference and saying, “My name is Kwame Alexander. I’m a playwright at Virginia Tech, and I’d like to offer my play as your entertainment for your student leadership conference.” The sort of the audacity to do something like this is something I was raised with, that level of confidence, to think that the world is at your disposal. And something my father always tells me is that you have to behave and act like you belong in the room. If you don’t believe that you belong in the room, then people are going to notice and you’re not going to be sort of embraced, and there are going to be some opportunities that you’re going to miss. And so I’ve always believed that I belonged in the room, even times when I probably didn’t. But, Dr. Carol Hardy was her name, and she said, “Tell me more about this play.” I said, “It’s about student leadership.” I had all the buzz words. “It’s about black students and how they can, you know, sort of reach their destinies” -- And she said, “Well how much are you charging?” I hadn’t thought that far. I said the biggest number I could come up with. I’m a sophomore, I didn’t have any money, any food in the fridge. “What would be a good amount?” “A thousand dollars.” “Hmm, well, that’s too much.” “Can you do it for $500?” “Yes.” Kwame Alexander Edited Transcript – October 21, 2015 Children & Teen Poetry Collection (PoetryCHaT) 2 ©Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections I talked to some friends and so I knew -- I’d written a play, so I knew the number of actors it was going to require, and it was nine. And here I was getting paid $500 for a play that was going to take place three hours, four -- five hours away from my school, and I had to get everyone there, and I had to pay everyone, got to have a place to stay. So I said, “Well, I can do $500, yes, but we’ll need hotel rooms.” She said, “I can give you two rooms.” I said, “Done. And, we’ll need to attend the conference for free.” This conference cost 300 to 400 bucks. And I’d been invited but none of the cast members, I knew, would have been invited. So she agreed to all that. I got my cast together, started rehearsing. The play happened on a Friday night, the opening night of the student leadership conference. It was the main attraction. And I’m 17 years old, I’m thinking, Okay, this is cool. I’m going be a theater minor. My minor was theater. And, the auditorium was 800 people filled. I mean it was exhilarating and it was like, Wow! It was Broadway to me. Like I knew I had arrived (laughter). And we -- the play happened. It went off exactly as we had rehearsed it. It couldn’t have been any better. That is not to say that it was very good, because I only knew so much about the theater. But within the constraints of what I thought was good, it was excellent, at the time. Standing ovation. And of course the students, who were my peers, didn’t know any better either. Standing ovation, the teachers, the professors. The administrator was like, Whoa, what just happened? So, me thinking on my feet, which is another thing that I’ve sort of been groomed to always do. When we were kids we’d be in a grocery store. My father didn’t cook until very later in life, but he shopped. So my sisters and I would be in the grocery store at the checkout line, and he would not let the cashier take an item and ring it up until we could tell him the cost, with the sale and the double coupons. Unless we could tell him what the price was, he wouldn’t let it go through. And this happened for every item. So you had to be able to think very quickly on your feet. And so I remember saying to myself, We’re about to do a question-and-answer. We can do a Q-and-A. And part of it was my ego, like wanting to savor the spotlight. And the standing ovation, and then I said, “Okay, we’re about to have a Q-and-A.” And the actors sat down on stage, and I stood up, and we started taking questions, and it was amazing, the energy in that room. And the whole time I’m answering questions, I’m thinking this is my life. This is what I want to do. I knew it in that moment. I wasn’t able to articulate that it was going to be some combination of writing and presenting, but that’s what I had just done. So I said, this energy, this spirit, this feeling right now, this is what I want to do in my life. And I just got paid $500. It’s a wrap. And so, the Q-and-A goes on for an hour, and it’s 10 o’clock, and people are -- you know, at these kind of conferences for students, Friday night is time to party. So kids, nobody’s like trying to get out of there to go party. They’re staying around asking questions. So one kid asked a question, she’s from Rutgers, and she says, “Kwame, have you thought about taking this play on tour?” And I, come on, I was barely in the room. I barely made it into the room. But my answer was, “Yes, we are doing a tour.” So as she’s saying that, thoughts are going through my head, How can this happen, how can this happen? And so I say, “Well, after everything’s over, tomorrow…” because I knew that my father, who was a book publisher, had a -- Another thing that I’d been able to negotiate was for my father to have a booth, and so he would sell books. So I said, “At booth number Kwame Alexander Edited Transcript – October 21, 2015 Children & Teen Poetry Collection (PoetryCHaT) 3 ©Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections so-and-so, I’ll be giving out information on our tour.” So everybody’s like, Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I did something I probably shouldn’t have done. I said, the tour, “It costs $1000 for us to come to your school.” I should have never given the price out in front of 800 people, even though I was sort of married to it. But they clapped again. It was over. And we did an 8-city tour to Rutgers and Fisk and NYU... And it was sort of the first time that I was able to sort of understand that writing is, for me, is more than pen to paper. It has to be writing with sort of the goal of being able to share your words with the world in some profound way, and you now have the capacity to do it. So you don’t have to just write and it ends up in a drawer or under a mattress. You’re going to share your works with the world, and the degree to which you do that is only limited by your vision and your dreams. So you start -- we started with me talking about titles, and of course we ended in another place, in terms of this first experience where I knew I wanted to be a writer and live this writerly life, in all of its different aspects and capacities. But the title for that play was really not that good. I had borrowed it from a Spike Lee movie called She’s Gotta Have It, and so I said, Self-Discovery 101, You Gotta Have It. It seemed pretty cool. I guess the kids liked it. But from that point forward, my titles got progressively better, and so the next couple of titles...there was a title called Ebony Images, another play that I wrote, which was still okay, probably bad. But titles became very important to me. I really wanted titles that A reflected the subject matter of the book, but B, that sort of had a little bit of edgy and coolness to it, and so the titles got a little bit better over the years. I remember a really good friend of mine, my best friend, who was an actor in that first play. He’s always ribbing me about my titles. He’s like, Dude, you don’t know how to come up with titles. That used to be a really sore spot for me. We used to argue about that. And I think, you know, now he’s like a huge fan of my titles. So I think he really inspired me to sort of work on those titles. And so, when you think about - there was a play -- After Ebony Images, there was a play called 8 Minutes Till 9, which was bad, like what does that mean? The play was about a Muslim and a Christian who were twin brothers, and who were trying to figure out how to live in the same space when they had these sort of different, distinctly different, views on religion and the world and spirituality, and their mother. And so their mother -- And they hadn’t spoken in a while -- and their mother was in the hospital on her deathbed, and she died at 8 minutes till 9. Not a very good title. And then my first book of poems, Just Us: Poems and Counterpoems. What are counterpoems? I have no idea. And I think probably -- And then Tough Love: The Life and Death of Tupac Shakur. That’s kind of cliché. I think probably the transition into like really coming up with a title that was concise and represented the book and still had an edginess was the book Crush, and that was 10 years, 10-15 years into my writing. But I think that sort of when I hit my stride, if I can say that, Crush: Love Poems for Teenagers, I felt like it was really simple, it represented what the book was about. It had sort of an edginess to it. Just the word “crush” in and of itself has some energy. And from there I felt like it was on, with the titles. NJ: I am curious as you were just talking about that play, the 10 minutes to 9? KA: 8 Minutes Till 9. Kwame Alexander Edited Transcript – October 21, 2015 Children & Teen Poetry Collection (PoetryCHaT) 4 ©Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections NJ: 8 Minutes Till 9, thank you. It really impressed me -KA: Yes, it’s just, it’s a horrible title. KA: Yes, 25 minutes past 11. NJ: Yes. And (The) Crossover, and twins, mother on a deathbed... Do you find you come back? And what do you come back to in different maybe iterations? KA: Wow. So that’s great, because we’re talking about the books talking to each other. And here’s this play that I wrote that has this direct link to this novel that I wrote, which was 20 years later. And so the thing I didn’t tell you about 8 Minutes Till 9 is that -- this was my third sort of, my third attempt at producing theater, okay. So after that first play had just wild success, as a 17 year-old, of course, I can do this. I can do this now. I will become a theater impresario. And so part of this whole idea of finding your rhythm and saying yes is that there are going to be failures. And I think that, the thing is, you got to be willing to deal with the failures. Like you’ve got to be willing to let those happen, embrace them, and learn from them. And that way you’re able to sort of find what’s possible. And so with 8 Minutes Till 9, it was my third attempt, I felt like I was in a rhythm, and it was now time for me to actually go to Broadway, like literally. NJ: Oh my gosh. KA: And so I found a theater in my home town, in Norfolk, Virginia. It’s called the Norfolk Center Theater, I believe, and I had 800 students in the first play, because the students had been registered for the conference from all around the country, so they were -- that was my audience. I didn’t have to market, just had to show up and do my piece. Well now I had to market to the Norfolk Center Theater, and I remember getting my scholarship money from school, I was now a junior, and I had leftover money. And I decided I’m going to use this money to produce my play. The theater sat 2,000 people. I’m going to do this. Everybody’s going to love this play. And there were 5 people in the audience. And I remember feeling like, or feeling a number of things. Two of the people were my parents. And I remember feeling like it was the end of the world, like it’s a wrap. I mean, just thinking about it right now makes me just want to, wow, it was devastating, because I had done everything I thought that I knew, everything that I thought I had to do in order to bring people out. And certainly a theater with 2,000 people in there and there are 5 people in the audience, there’s no way to sort of think positively about that, especially as a 19 year old, who thinks he wants to be a writer/director/producer. And so I was devastated. ST: So as part of the consequence of having the tremendous confidence and self-assuredness, when it doesn’t happen, it sounds like there’s some extremes going on. I mean, that’s a challenging way to move through the world I imagine. KA: Well again, it’s no way around that. You can’t, I don’t care how much confidence you have, you can’t rationalize there being 5 people in a theater of 2,000, in front of the people you care the most about, and the actors who you promised that this is going to be. And it was just, like you really just felt like you wanted to be in your mother’s arms. You wanted to just be away from the world. And it was Kwame Alexander Edited Transcript – October 21, 2015 Children & Teen Poetry Collection (PoetryCHaT) 5 ©Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections the lowest -- it’s one of the lowest points in my writing career. And then the other thing happened, because you can’t take away confidence, 19 years of confidence being instilled in you by your parents and being reinforced daily. That doesn’t just end because you’re devastated. It takes a hit. It doesn’t go down though. And so we did the play. We did the entire play. And it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Of course I’m only 19, so how many hard things have I done? But when you start looking at the future, in terms of my writing career, it definitely laid a foundation for how I would move through the world, how I would deal with the nos, because that was the biggest no. It’s probably one of the top three biggest nos I’ve ever faced in terms of the rejection that I felt. But we did the play. We did the play. I don’t know how that 2 ½ hours -- I don’t remember how I made it through that 2 ½ hours, but it’s not, you know, we did. And when it was over and I got home, yes, I felt a whole lot better because I was out of that space, and I was able to look back on it, and I knew that I would never be in that position again. I would never be in that position again. I mean, I gave up my scholarship money for this, to produce this. I didn’t, obviously, I didn’t market it and promote it well. And so, yes, yes, yes. And so, to go back to your question and the idea when we look at The Crossover and we have similar sort of themes, in terms of twins, rivalry, parent, parental illness. I kind of I guess when I think back on it, I guess I feel like I never -- that story never got told. And so maybe I needed to be able to close that chapter in some way, and this was sort of a coming full circle. I don’t know, I’m speculating, but I think our subconscious acts in ways that we don’t necessarily know. So when you bring it up, maybe that had something to do with it. I needed to have some closure, because I always felt like it was a great idea. So I needed to circle back and deal with some of that. But oh, I get chills when I think about that theater. It was the hardest thing. But again I mean, we can’t have the yeses without the nos. You can’t have the mountains without the valleys. You just you can’t. The world doesn’t work like that. So, yes, 8 Minutes Till 9. NJ: Music. It’s everywhere, in your work. KA: Yes, the music. I told my parents that I don’t remember music being in our house. I don’t remember you all listening to music. You know, I remember gospel music because my father was a Baptist minister, and so I remember church, and I remember my father didn’t listen to secular music. So he never, I don’t have that recollection of him listening to music outside of church. I remember him trying to sing in the pulpit and sounding horrible. I remember that. I remember my mother humming songs and singing songs around the house, If you want to be happy for the rest of your life... I remember her singing, How much is the doggy in the window? I remember her singing songs like that around the house. I remember that a lot. So I remember those two things. And I remember, certainly, my sisters and I loving Michael Jackson and sort of going through our phases. And then I remember falling asleep at night listening to the oldies but goodies, every night. I had a little alarm clock radio, and so I’d fall asleep, Breaking up is hard to do. Now I know, I know that it’s true. Don’t say that this is the end. Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again. I beg... So I used to listen to these songs. Yes, I guess there was music in my house. There was a lot of music. I used to listen to those songs every night, loved the stories, loved the stories. Kwame Alexander Edited Transcript – October 21, 2015 Children & Teen Poetry Collection (PoetryCHaT) 6 ©Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections But you know, the music in the books, I think, comes from a couple different places. Obviously it comes from that. But it comes from, I love writing while listening to music. The writing, it centers, it calms me, it inspires me, so I love listening to music, especially instrumental jazz music. The music has to be instrumental. I can’t have words when I’m writing. So I think the biggest thing in terms of why the music is so much a part of my life now, and therefore a part of my writing life, I was a sophomore in college and I’d come home, and again, the only music I ever heard my father embrace was gospel music, and I came home -- and this is a man who didn’t, he never said I loved you. I didn’t hear that. Like you knew he did, but you didn’t ever hear it. He wasn’t very emotive. But he was emotive when he fussed. But you didn’t really get the warm and fuzzy, Oh come here, son, give me a hug. That never happened, ever! So I remember coming home sophomore year and being in our attic. My grandmother used to say that I was a meddler. “Why is that boy always meddling in my stuff?” He’s in my closets and then, “What are you, Ed, come down!” She used to call me by my first name, Edward. “Edward, come downstairs and stop meddling up there.” I loved going in drawers and finding things and being under beds, and there was always little things that you could find, and it was just so cool to me to discover all these wonderful things that you knew had stories, had these sort of backgrounds, these histories...medals in your grandfather’s drawer, and fur coats, oh and fur hats. Oh, my favorite thing was papers, anything that was paper, because papers had things written on them. And whatever was written on them, you knew was going to be something that you didn’t know before. And so you got this sort of peek into these people’s lives who were your family. My grandmother used to say, “Why is he meddling?” And this is both of my grandmothers. My mother’s mother and my father’s mother, I did the same thing. My mother’s mother had an attic where her mother had lived, so it was a whole apartment up there. Oh my goodness! I found watches, encyclopedias, you know, can I say bras? I mean, I found everything, and it was all so exciting! And so, I come home sophomore year and I do what I always do. I’m in our attic, because growing up I’d never discovered everything that was in the attic, so it was always cool to go up there. So maybe I was up there looking for something from my high school days. Everything was in boxes. And I find two crates of records, and I started looking at the records, and the records are like Ella Fitzgerald, Live in Berlin; Duke Ellington; Ornette Coleman; Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain. And I’m like what is this? And I look at the top of each record, and in stencil, which is what these guys in the Air Force used to use to identify their records, it said, Property of The Big Al. And I’m like, That’s my dad. My dad’s nickname in the Air Force was The Big Al. My dad has a record, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” What is my dad doing with Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith? What is he doing with these? And then it hit me, My dad was a huge jazz fan. Anybody who loves jazz has to be okay. That’s when I sort of fell in love with my dad. That was the moment. I took those records back to college. I took them all back to college, bought a record player, and began to just fall in love with jazz music. And it has informed and influenced my writing ever since. And I guess in some way, it’s sort of me, reestablishing or reconnecting with my dad in a really profound way. ST: I don’t know if you could hear your dad while you were giving your Newberry speech, because you were up there, but -KA: I’ve been told. Kwame Alexander Edited Transcript – October 21, 2015 Children & Teen Poetry Collection (PoetryCHaT) 7 ©Western Washington University Libraries Special Collections ST: Oh you have. I loved it! It was -KA: It was church. ST: It was church, and it was -- it was church. He was so loving and so supportive and exhilarating about what was happening. KA: Yes, I think for them, for my mom and dad, the whole, you know, awards, the Newberry Medal in particular, it was -- it was validating for them in some way. Because when I got the call on February 2, at 7:16 a.m., I called him. He was the first person I called. And his response was, “We did it.” Which I was like, Dude, we didn’t do anything. But of course we did. Like I wouldn’t have been getting that call had he not done all that stuff that they did. And my father and I -- again, he wasn’t very emotive, so we didn’t -- We talked every couple months. We had conversations every now and then. It was cool. And as he’d gotten older, we talked a little bit more. But beginning February 2, we talked an hour a day, which is -- I mean, there are some days where I just, I can’t, I can’t do it tonight, Dad. I’ll have to call you tomorrow. But we ta

MABEL: Multimedia Archives Based Electronic Library

Search results

Refine

Date

Type of content

Genre/form

Related Collection

Object custodian

Topics

Place Names

Name (as subject)

Name (as creator)

Pages