Friday, September 12, 2025

Whitman’s CARE Team—or Coordination Assessment Response Education Team—is an interdisciplinary, cross-campus group of staff members who meet regularly to discuss issues relating to the academic, emotional and physical health and safety of our students and campus community. 

The CARE Team combines information about academic, emotional and physical health to create a more accurate picture of how a student is doing, with a goal of providing support to facilitate success.

The CARE Team is a resource for any member of the Whitman community, including faculty, staff, students, parents or community members, to share their concerns.

Signs that a student is in need of additional support may include:

If you don’t feel comfortable talking to a student directly about what may be happening in their life, contact the CARE Team by emailing care@whitman.edu or by filling out the Community Request for Assistance form (which includes an anonymous reporting option). 

Reid Campus Center is open this morning and until further notice.  We will assess the temperature in the building this afternoon and will let you know if we need to close it again.

Reid Market will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then will close until Monday. Cleveland Espresso will extend its normal hours and will be open until midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Thank you for your patience as we wait for the part needed to fix the air conditioning unit in the building.

Whitman’s Alumni Association has awarded the 2025 Pete Reid Award  for Young Alumni to Devyani Isabel Gupta ’15. After graduating from Whitman with degrees in Psychology and Spanish, Gupta studied Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College. Today, she works as Head Winemaker at Valdemar Estates. The Pete Reid Award for Young Alumni is given to a graduate from the past 10 years whose youthful exuberance is demonstrated toward their career, community and Whitman College as exemplified by Pete Reid ’49 in his service to the college. 

The Interest House Community (IHC) and the Whitman Events Board will sponsor the annual IHC Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 13, from noon–3 p.m. on Boyer Avenue, between Maxey Hall and the interest house neighborhood. This fun event is open to the entire Whitman community and is a great opportunity to learn more about all of the unique interest houses. Boyer Avenue will be closed from Otis Street to Merriam Street to make room for bouncy obstacle courses, a dunk tank, music, food and more. (Flyer attached.)

Staff are invited to open drop in office hours with the Staff Advisory Council (SAC) on Monday, Sept. 15, from 4–5 p.m. in Jewett Café. Come learn more about how SAC advocates for staff and share your ideas, questions or concerns. If you are unable to attend but have topics of interest or questions for SAC, please email sac@whitman.edu or fill out this anonymous form.

Whitman students are invited to participate in a suicide prevention training program provided by Welty Health and Counseling Center staff. The QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) model has been proven to decrease suicide risk in communities like ours. Participants will be certified as a QPR Gatekeeper, valid for one year. The training will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 4–6 p.m. in Maxey 104. Space is limited, so please RSVP in advance! Questions? Email QPR@whitman.edu. (Flyer attached.)

Penrose Library is excited to share the Penrose Library Social Story with the campus community. This PDF document with pictures and descriptions of the library’s physical spaces and resources serves as a pre-visit guide for Penrose Library. Traditionally created for people who are neurodivergent, social stories aid any patron who would like to know what to expect before their visit. Please feel free to share as a resource for your classes, offices and residence halls. Feedback on the Penrose Library Social Story can be provided using this form.

Wednesday’s Whitman on Main event was a collaboration between Whitman College and the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation and received the support of 28 downtown businesses. If you attended the event, please consider filling out this anonymous feedback form to inform organizers as they consider future event ideas. See more photos on Instagram.

1–2 p.m.

Friday Prayer

Cordiner Hall, Foyer

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Outdoor Program Day Trip: Climbing

Umatilla National Forest, Spring Mountain

Noon–3 p.m.

Interest House Community Block Party

Boyer Avenue (Between Otis and Merriam)

Noon–4 p.m.

Slip 'N Slide

Field by Cleveland Commons

1–2:30 p.m.

Introductory Meeting: Robotics Club

Hall of Science, Room 146

9–11 a.m.

Open Garden

Organic Garden

11 a.m.

Whitman Women’s Soccer vs. Carroll College

James Hayner Field

4–5 p.m.

The Coloring Cascade

Penrose Library, Room 313 (“The Fishbowl”)

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

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.

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