Wednesday, April 23, 2025
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Spring Holy Days & Religious Observances
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Feature by: Adam Kirtley, Interfaith Chaplain
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With Whitman’s rich religious diversity, there are lots of opportunities to experience some of the important (and often very fun) spring holy day religious observances taking place on our campus.
Last week, close to 100 students gathered for the Passover Seder hosted by Kehillat Shalom (pictured). The Seder is a symbolic meal that invites Jews to remember their own story of liberation. And this weekend, Christians on campus and all over the world celebrated Easter, the holiest of days in the Christian calendar.
Just as Judaism and Christianity are not monolithic in the ways they’re expressed and practiced, Buddhism too has many different versions and traditions. Nichiren Buddhism, centered on the equality and great potential of all people, is considered to be among the most diverse Buddhist communities in the world. This version of Mahayana Buddhism is characterized by chanting, sacred text study and empowering oneself. Several members of the Whitman community and friends in the surrounding area who are practitioners of this particular expression of Buddhism are hosting an Intro to Nichiren Buddhism Session on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m. in the All Faiths Room. All are welcome to join for information, snacks and community.
Perhaps the most exuberant and colorful religious tradition that takes place on our campus is the Hindu festival of Holi—celebrated as the festival of colors, love, equality and spring. Hosted by the South Asian Student Association, Whitman’s Holi event will take place on Saturday, May 3, at noon on Stanton Field. They’ll provide all of the color, the water toys, the white t-shirts, the food and the music. You bring your inner child and desire to blow off a little steam. All are welcome!
Also of note, this Thursday is Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. Some may recall that back in January, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life hosted a Holocaust Remembrance Day luncheon. There’s not been a mix-up in the calendar! In fact, there are two Holocaust Remembrance Days. The Jan. 27 date was established by the United Nations and marks the date on which the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945. Yom HaShoah is observed as Israel’s day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.
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At the beginning of this academic year, the Office of Communications made some updates to the structure of our moderated listservs and published updated listserv moderation guidelines to provide more clarity about how moderation decisions are made. We invite feedback from Whitman students, faculty and staff on these changes through this anonymous survey, which will close on Friday, May 2.
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Sex Week Events Happening Today
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Sex Week continues with two events for students scheduled today. LGBTQIA+ Student Services will host a “Queer Love, Healthy Vibes” workshop on Wednesday, April 23, from 4:30–6 p.m. in Reid Campus Center, Room G02. Attendees will learn how to practice consent, communicate their needs, handle conflict, and build supportive and celebratory personal connections. (Flyer attached.)
A “Sex Ed Lotería” event will also be held on Wednesday, April 23, at 6 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center coffeehouse. (Sex Week flyer attached.)
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‘Nordic Nightingales’ Concert Tonight
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The Music Department presents “Nordic Nightingales: Songs by Swedish and Norwegian Women” on Wednesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. at Chism Recital Hall in the Hall of Music. As part of the Pickett Performing Scholar Series, the program will include underperformed music by 12 women, including Elfrida Andrée, Laura Netzel and Agathe Backer Grøndahl. Performers include soprano Laura Loge, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Jonathan Spatola-Knoll and Senior Lecturer of Music Amy Dodds. (Flyer attached.)
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Annual Duck Scavenger Hunt This Week
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The annual duck scavenger continues! Whitman Events Board is hiding rubber ducks all across campus each morning this week. If you find a duck, bring it to the Student Activities Office (Reid 202) to be entered for a prize! (Flyer attached.)
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ASWC Election Campaigning Ends Friday
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The Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) are holding general elections for 2025–2026. Candidates for elected positions will continue to campaign through Friday, April 25. Positions include the ASWC President and chairs of the following committees: Student Development; Communications; Nominations and Appointments; Finance; Sustainability; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. More information about ASWC and the election schedule is available at goaswc.org. Voting will take place this weekend.
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Last Tuesday, the Whitman community celebrated the scholarship, critical thinking and creativity of Whitman students at the 27th annual Whitman Undergraduate Conference. An online photo essay explores this event, from the 80+ presentations to the 50+ posters on display to the creative interludes between session blocks.
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Reid Campus Center, Room 207
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Reid Campus Center, Room G02
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Reid Campus Center, Coffeehouse
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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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 on the business day prior to publication. 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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