Monday, November 25, 2024

Feature by: Zoe Perkins ’25

Photo: Last year’s cast members (from left) Lita Bacus ’25 as Janet, Quinn Miller ’24 as Frank-N-Furter and Cade Gordon ’25 as Brad. Photography by Asya Johnson ’26, Whitman Wire, Nov. 2, 2023.

Three decades after its first screening at Whitman, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is still a campus favorite—with each new generation adding their take on the cult classic. In a recent article for Whitman Stories, Zoe Perkins ’25 digs through old issues of student newspapers and interviews current student and alum participants to explore the enthusiasm for this longstanding tradition.

Read the full story.

 

Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Rachel Wilson co-authored an article on the benefits of establishing bats (Chiroptera) as a novel animal model for biomedical research. The paper highlights how bats could inform various aspects of human aging such as hearing, fragility, neurodegeneration and immunology. Wilson’s section focuses on reproduction and how bats could help reveal physiological mechanisms associated with abnormal uterine bleeding and menopause. The article, “Bats as instructive animal models for studying longevity and aging” is published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences and coincides with additional efforts to encourage the National Institute of Health to open an avenue for grant funding for bat research.

The Development & Alumni Relations (DEVAR) team has gone live with Slate as its new customer relationship management software. The cool kids in Admission are already using Slate, and DEVAR is eager to join in the fun! We’re expecting Slate to deliver illuminating data, more efficient processes, fewer headaches and more success in raising funds and engaging alumni and families. Special thanks to Director of Advancement Services Becky Kennedy, Database and Systems Analyst Marco Garza, the Advancement Services team and WCTS for their leadership in this good outcome!

Beginning with this issue, Whitman Today is moving to a twice-weekly (Monday and Thursday) publication to accommodate temporary scheduling changes in Whitman Communications. This change will remain in effect through January, so please plan accordingly; items for publication Monday are due by noon Friday, and submissions for Thursday’s edition must be in by noon Wednesday.

Abby Juhasz, Director for Community Engagement, represents Whitman in a workgroup to assess institutional support for community engagement on our campus and across the Northwest 5 Consortium. The workgroup invites faculty and staff with an interest in higher education community engagement to complete this survey as part of a larger needs assessment to inform institutional leaders. The results will contribute to a comprehensive proposal for tailored support for this important work.

The survey consists of eight primary questions and should require no more than ten minutes of your time. Please complete the survey by Friday, Dec. 20.

The open enrollment period for Whitman College employee benefits closes on Monday, Dec. 2. If you plan to make any changes to your benefits or want to enroll or re-enroll in a flexible spending account, please contact Human Resources (hr@whitman.edu; 509-527-5173) for the appropriate forms.

You can make this holiday season special by providing presents for a Walla Walla family in need. You and your friends, office, sports team, or any group can get matched with a family and pick out presents and gift cards to bring some warmth to a local family’s holiday celebration. Email communityprojects@whitman.edu for more information. (Flyer attached.)

As part of their senior capstone experience, Class of 2025 Art majors and faculty traveled to New York City last week. By visiting galleries and museums in a globally-significant center for art, students are able to position their endeavors within a cultural and historic framework.

Noon–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Pilates

Sherwood Athletic Center

3:30–7:30 p.m.

BMAC Food Distribution

BMAC Warehouse (meet in Reid Campus Center lobby)

Noon–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: MELT

Sherwood Athletic Center

Noon–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Strength & Stretch

Sherwood Athletic Center

Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

Produced by the Office of Communications, Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.

All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon for the following day’s newsletter. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman’s social media unless otherwise specified.

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