Juniata Magazine Fall Winter 2007-2008

2008·5.8 MB·English

by  Juniata College

JUNIAT4� NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
COLLEGE;_J;t PAID
JUNIATA COLLEGE
Office of College Advancement
1700 Moore Street
Huntingdon, PA 16652-2196
www.juniata.edu
Fall/Winter 2007-2008
RESIDENT'S MESSAGE IONTENTS
Juniata Magazine Table of
f
features
f
Dear Friends, Brick By Brick: Founders Hall Reborn
JUNIATA magazine
I was talking to a member of the Class of '87 at Homecoming and she remarked at John Wall The College is returning Founders Hall to its original mission as a classroom
how welcoming the campus appears today In her day, students spent most of their [email protected] and faculty building housing the history and English departments. By blending
Edit01; Director of Media Relations
time on the other side of Moore Street and often had to dodge cars driving down 18th Gabriel Welsch the venerable older structure with a new; expanded wing facing the quad,
Street through the center of campus. [email protected] rJuniata has finished the reformation of the heart of campus.
Assistant Vice President for Marheting
Pete Lefresne
Over a period of years, students, alumni and our dedicated employees have slowly [email protected] Cue Applause:]uniata Theatre POE is SRO (Standing Room Only)
transformed the center of campus. Some of the changes were major (you can't get Spo,ts Infmmation Director
Rosann Brown
more major than building two, soon to be three, new buildings), some were more Director of Flint Publications Josh Beckel '09 andJesse Parsons '08 did not arrive on campus as theatre
subtle. What isn't subtle is the reaction from both alumni and students. The alumni Angie Ciccarelli majors-primarily because the College didn't have a theatre POE. Now into
Publications Assistant
are universally pleased that Juniata retains the homey feel of the caring campus they its third year, there is, if not a cast of thousands, then a vibrant mix of students
John Hille
remember, yet has improved its facilities without removing its essential character-its Exeru(ive Vice Presidenr for Advancement willing to sample the educational and professional opportunities available to
and Marl?eting
'Juniataness" if you will. We can tell the students love the new look because they're those seeking center stage.
Bub Parker '91
voting their conscience-by enrolling. Di recto,· of Alumni Relations
The central quad no longer is the place Evelyn L. Pembrooke 12 Tale of Two Students: Replenishing]uniata's Researchers
The central quad no longer is the place you walk through to get to the gym or Ellis Alunmi Office Specialist
you walk through to get to the gym J.D. Cavrich
Joe Houck '08 and Cecelia Shertz '08 set foot in the von Liebig science center
Hall. With the addition of the science center, the new theatre complex and soon, Principal Photography
or Ellis Hall. With the addition of the a renovated Founders Hall, the central campus has become the academic heart of as freshmen and couldn't wait to get started in the lab. Older students and
faculty mentored their progress. Now; their skill and enthusiasm is rubbing off
Juniata. I vividly remember the anticipation and excitement that accompanied the
science center, the new theatre complex
on a new contingent of young scientists.
building and completion of each new project. Juniata Magazine is published two times a
and soon, a renovated Founders Hall, year by JuniaLa College, Department of
Advancement and Marketing and is
Just as we transformed the image of our College, I invite you to share in the Off the Shelves: Library Has Much More than Books
the central campus has become the distributed free of charge to alumni and 18
exhilaration as we go forward to Juniata'.s next challenge: to build the Scholarship friends ofJ uniata College. Postmaster and
others, please send change-of-address
academic heart of Juniata. Fund and our endowment in order to continue to make our top-notch education correspondence to: Alumni Relations, Dedicated students and others can find the fantastic or the funereal amid
1700 Moore St., Huntingdon, PA the treasures of the Special Collections inJuniata's Beeghly Library: Holdings
affordable and challenging. 16652-2196.
Juniata Magazine can accept no ranging from Amazing Stories science fiction to mystical religious tomes can
responsibility for unsolicited contributions
Warm regards, of artwork, photography, or articles. inspire, educate and entertain students and visitors.
Juniata College, as an educational
institution and employer, values equality
of opponunity and diversity. The College
�
is an independent, privately supported
Thomas R. Kepple Jr. co-educational institution committed to
providing a liberal ans education to d artments
qualified students regardless of sex, race,
color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ep
marital status, sexual orientation, or
disability. Its policies comply with
requirements of Title VIII of the Civil 22 Campus News 62 Sports
Rights Act of 1964, Title IV of the
Education Amendments of 1972, and all 30 Class Notes 64 360° Reconnecting with Juniata
other applicable federal, state, and local
statutes, regulations and guidelines.
56 Faculty Feature 18( Campus Conversations
58 Faculty/Staff Briefs
Cover photo by ].D. Cav1ich
Fall/Winter 2007-2008 I 1
,
---
...L ,._. u ~
Fall/Winter 2007-2008
RESIDENT'S MESSAGE IONTENTS
Juniata Magazine Table of
f
features
f
Dear Friends, Brick By Brick: Founders Hall Reborn
JUNIATA magazine
I was talking to a member of the Class of '87 at Homecoming and she remarked at John Wall The College is returning Founders Hall to its original mission as a classroom
how welcoming the campus appears today In her day, students spent most of their [email protected] and faculty building housing the history and English departments. By blending
Edit01; Director of Media Relations
time on the other side of Moore Street and often had to dodge cars driving down 18th Gabriel Welsch the venerable older structure with a new; expanded wing facing the quad,
Street through the center of campus. [email protected] rJuniata has finished the reformation of the heart of campus.
Assistant Vice President for Marheting
Pete Lefresne
Over a period of years, students, alumni and our dedicated employees have slowly [email protected] Cue Applause:]uniata Theatre POE is SRO (Standing Room Only)
transformed the center of campus. Some of the changes were major (you can't get Spo,ts Infmmation Director
Rosann Brown
more major than building two, soon to be three, new buildings), some were more Director of Flint Publications Josh Beckel '09 andJesse Parsons '08 did not arrive on campus as theatre
subtle. What isn't subtle is the reaction from both alumni and students. The alumni Angie Ciccarelli majors-primarily because the College didn't have a theatre POE. Now into
Publications Assistant
are universally pleased that Juniata retains the homey feel of the caring campus they its third year, there is, if not a cast of thousands, then a vibrant mix of students
John Hille
remember, yet has improved its facilities without removing its essential character-its Exeru(ive Vice Presidenr for Advancement willing to sample the educational and professional opportunities available to
and Marl?eting
'Juniataness" if you will. We can tell the students love the new look because they're those seeking center stage.
Bub Parker '91
voting their conscience-by enrolling. Di recto,· of Alumni Relations
The central quad no longer is the place Evelyn L. Pembrooke 12 Tale of Two Students: Replenishing]uniata's Researchers
The central quad no longer is the place you walk through to get to the gym or Ellis Alunmi Office Specialist
you walk through to get to the gym J.D. Cavrich
Joe Houck '08 and Cecelia Shertz '08 set foot in the von Liebig science center
Hall. With the addition of the science center, the new theatre complex and soon, Principal Photography
or Ellis Hall. With the addition of the a renovated Founders Hall, the central campus has become the academic heart of as freshmen and couldn't wait to get started in the lab. Older students and
faculty mentored their progress. Now; their skill and enthusiasm is rubbing off
Juniata. I vividly remember the anticipation and excitement that accompanied the
science center, the new theatre complex
on a new contingent of young scientists.
building and completion of each new project. Juniata Magazine is published two times a
and soon, a renovated Founders Hall, year by JuniaLa College, Department of
Advancement and Marketing and is
Just as we transformed the image of our College, I invite you to share in the Off the Shelves: Library Has Much More than Books
the central campus has become the distributed free of charge to alumni and 18
exhilaration as we go forward to Juniata'.s next challenge: to build the Scholarship friends ofJ uniata College. Postmaster and
others, please send change-of-address
academic heart of Juniata. Fund and our endowment in order to continue to make our top-notch education correspondence to: Alumni Relations, Dedicated students and others can find the fantastic or the funereal amid
1700 Moore St., Huntingdon, PA the treasures of the Special Collections inJuniata's Beeghly Library: Holdings
affordable and challenging. 16652-2196.
Juniata Magazine can accept no ranging from Amazing Stories science fiction to mystical religious tomes can
responsibility for unsolicited contributions
Warm regards, of artwork, photography, or articles. inspire, educate and entertain students and visitors.
Juniata College, as an educational
institution and employer, values equality
of opponunity and diversity. The College
�
is an independent, privately supported
Thomas R. Kepple Jr. co-educational institution committed to
providing a liberal ans education to d artments
qualified students regardless of sex, race,
color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ep
marital status, sexual orientation, or
disability. Its policies comply with
requirements of Title VIII of the Civil 22 Campus News 62 Sports
Rights Act of 1964, Title IV of the
Education Amendments of 1972, and all 30 Class Notes 64 360° Reconnecting with Juniata
other applicable federal, state, and local
statutes, regulations and guidelines.
56 Faculty Feature 18( Campus Conversations
58 Faculty/Staff Briefs
Cover photo by ].D. Cav1ich
Fall/Winter 2007-2008 I 1
Founders also was a dormitory-and in fact, as boys and girls once ' ' ...A ll of a sudden o young
lived on separate floors in its early years, may have been the country's
first co-ed residence hall. man came into Founders shouting
Of utmost importance to a college that venerates history and tradition,
'Has anyone seen Elizabeth
the new-look Founders will incorporate most of the original building.
The east-west wing of the building (including the tower and Moore
Wertz?' Well, the young man was
Street porch) will remain in place and receive a top-to-bottom
renovation. The existing north wing will be tom down and a
my father, Elizabeth Wertz was
transitional section, encased in glass (housing stairways, restrooms and
elevators), will lead to a slightly larger new wing.
my mother, and he had been sent
Betty Ann Cherry; who had an office in Founders and played in its
hallways as a child, describes herself as "maybe the last living link with by his father to ask if Elizabeth
memories or stories of Founders going back into the 1920s." What
better guide to describe the old and the new than a historian and Wertz could come to their house
former Founders resident whose father (Calvert Ellis, president
1943-1968) and grandfather (CC Ellis, president 1930-1943) trace for dinner. They were married six
connections to the College nearly to its founding?
years later. ' '
Four Stories
Founders Hall's Vivid History Recalls a Legacy of Learning
Today; if a visitor wanders up the spiral staircase to the central bell tower of Founders Hall their "I remember going into the womens rooms in the basement of Founders
journey is blocked by a forbidding door, safely locked. Adventurous souls who venture beyond when I was about 12 or 13 and watching all the girls get ready for
that point can learn little other than the archeology of dust, changing styles of student graffiti, dinner. All the waitresses for the dining hall lived in the basement
and the peel patterns of paint. The only audible sounds are the crunch of wood scraps because you could get to the kitchen in Oneida Hall from there. They
underfoot, the creak ofloose floorboards, punctuated by an occasional dust-induced sneeze. were all dressed in white, and they would serve these huge bowls of
That's about to change. Within a year or two, the halls of the upper floors will once again echo mashed potatoes, platters of meat and vegetables. I remember being in
with the sounds of lectures, conversation and the occasional party. a room with a student and she changed into her white uniform in what
seemed like an instant. I think I was transfixed by how fast she
Founders Hall has been with us since the 1870s, built by men who had faith in Church of the
changed her clothes!"
Brethren values and in the potential for a fledgling college to grow into its destiny as a shaping
influence for young minds. The new plan for the ground floor is essentially unchanged from the
old footprint. The floor will house the Colleges advancement staff.
The Colleges plan to revitalize and modernize Founders Hall is a crucial thread of memory that
The additions to this floor include new restrooms for men and
binds together not only alumni and current students but also the educational values that began
women and the new elevator. In addition, the mechanical and
the College and have remained undimmed for the 128 years of its existence. The College is
electrical nerve center of the new building is located on this floor.
returning 'The Building" to its original function as an administrative and classroom space.
-
2 l]uniata Magazine Fall/Winter 2007-2008 13
-
Founders also was a dormitory-and in fact, as boys and girls once ' ' ...A ll of a sudden o young
lived on separate floors in its early years, may have been the country's
first co-ed residence hall. man came into Founders shouting
Of utmost importance to a college that venerates history and tradition,
'Has anyone seen Elizabeth
the new-look Founders will incorporate most of the original building.
The east-west wing of the building (including the tower and Moore
Wertz?' Well, the young man was
Street porch) will remain in place and receive a top-to-bottom
renovation. The existing north wing will be tom down and a
my father, Elizabeth Wertz was
transitional section, encased in glass (housing stairways, restrooms and
elevators), will lead to a slightly larger new wing.
my mother, and he had been sent
Betty Ann Cherry; who had an office in Founders and played in its
hallways as a child, describes herself as "maybe the last living link with by his father to ask if Elizabeth
memories or stories of Founders going back into the 1920s." What
better guide to describe the old and the new than a historian and Wertz could come to their house
former Founders resident whose father (Calvert Ellis, president
1943-1968) and grandfather (CC Ellis, president 1930-1943) trace for dinner. They were married six
connections to the College nearly to its founding?
years later. ' '
Four Stories
Founders Hall's Vivid History Recalls a Legacy of Learning
Today; if a visitor wanders up the spiral staircase to the central bell tower of Founders Hall their "I remember going into the womens rooms in the basement of Founders
journey is blocked by a forbidding door, safely locked. Adventurous souls who venture beyond when I was about 12 or 13 and watching all the girls get ready for
that point can learn little other than the archeology of dust, changing styles of student graffiti, dinner. All the waitresses for the dining hall lived in the basement
and the peel patterns of paint. The only audible sounds are the crunch of wood scraps because you could get to the kitchen in Oneida Hall from there. They
underfoot, the creak ofloose floorboards, punctuated by an occasional dust-induced sneeze. were all dressed in white, and they would serve these huge bowls of
That's about to change. Within a year or two, the halls of the upper floors will once again echo mashed potatoes, platters of meat and vegetables. I remember being in
with the sounds of lectures, conversation and the occasional party. a room with a student and she changed into her white uniform in what
seemed like an instant. I think I was transfixed by how fast she
Founders Hall has been with us since the 1870s, built by men who had faith in Church of the
changed her clothes!"
Brethren values and in the potential for a fledgling college to grow into its destiny as a shaping
influence for young minds. The new plan for the ground floor is essentially unchanged from the
old footprint. The floor will house the Colleges advancement staff.
The Colleges plan to revitalize and modernize Founders Hall is a crucial thread of memory that
The additions to this floor include new restrooms for men and
binds together not only alumni and current students but also the educational values that began
women and the new elevator. In addition, the mechanical and
the College and have remained undimmed for the 128 years of its existence. The College is
electrical nerve center of the new building is located on this floor.
returning 'The Building" to its original function as an administrative and classroom space.
2 l]uniata Magazine Fall/Winter 2007-2008 13
Falling Down:
'' Founders was designed to face the town of Huntingdon,"
Founders Reborn
Most recent Juniata students have never says Tom Kepple, Juniata president. "The new wing will give
been in the upper floors of Founders
Hall, and lucky they are because the students a welcoming entrance from the heart of campus. ' '
third and fourth floors are preserved-in­
amber snapshots of old offices, peeling
paint, ancient posters for study abroad,
poetry readings and stacks of moldering President Tom Kepple sees the
Life magazines. renovation of Founders Hall as the
final project designed to focus student
The upper floors were abandoned in
life at the center of campus.
1980, when it was discovered that
the walls of the building were bowing
outward. The stress was causing large
cracks between the floors (big enough
to see down to the next level).
►To view floorplans and "The presidents office has never changed; president of finance and operations,
The stress happened because of renderings, to read how it has always been the presidents office. across the hall. The area where the
religion. Well, to be fair, it was because Founders will be a II green" One of my favorite stories about provost and dean of students currently
the College's Founders decreed that the
building, to check out the Founders is from my parents. When they reside will be dedicated to the
Founders chapel-now the registrar's
attended the College in the '20s the registrars office.
office-would have no pillars obscuring "chalkboard" (is your name
president, I.H. Brumbaugh at the time,
the sightlines for religious services. on it?), and more, visit www. The dean of students and accompanying
The local builder decided to create an met each student individually, and my
iuniata.edu/g ifts/Founders staff, as well as academic support
innovative truss system that actually mother was in line to meet the president
services' entire staff, will occupy offices
hung the floors from massive-beam in 1920. All of a sudden a young man
trusses atop the building. The system in the new north wing. The second floor
came into Founders shouting 'Has
worked fine for about eight decades also will have the north portico exit,
anyone seen Elizabeth Wertz?' Well, the
and then the repeated vibrations and which provides a new fac;:ade for the
young man was my fat her, Elizabeth
shifting associated with a busy college
building that faces the quad. "Founders
building took its toll. Wertz was my mother, and he had been
was designed to face the town of
sent by his father to ask if Elizabeth
The massive trusses, which used Huntingdon," says Tom Kepple, Juniata
Wertz could come to their house for
interlocking timbers and metal rods to
president. 'The new wing will give
stabilize the sturdy structure from above, dinner. They were married six years later.
students a welcoming entrance from the
are still visible through doors in the
"The second floor was the center of the heart of campus."
bell tower.
College, it was the administrative center
"The third floor was the English
and its doors led to the 'social room' in
department, but we all congregated there
the adjoining hall. My fath er did not like
because thats where Verna Homes office
my brother and me to hang around
was. She was secretary for the
campus, but one of my best memories is
humanities and everyone who drank
walking through Founders to hear
coffee was always there and we would
(English professor) Harold Binkl read
ey
have parties there. The mimeograph
'TI1e Christmas Carol' eve1y
machine was there, as was the only
holiday season."
typewriter on the top two floors."
Well, the President's office will no longer
Betty Ann will be returning to the third
Betty Ann visits her old office-to be a classroom be where it always has been. In its place
floor to visit her history colleagues, all
by next fall. Alumni, friends, foundations, and will be a Juniata History Room, flanked
with offices in the old wing of the
parents of students are contributingfunds to by the offices ofRob Yelnosky '85, vice
support the Founders restoration and return
students-and teaching-to the building.
Fall/Winter 2007-2008 I 5
Falling Down:
'' Founders was designed to face the town of Huntingdon,"
Founders Reborn
Most recent Juniata students have never says Tom Kepple, Juniata president. "The new wing will give
been in the upper floors of Founders
Hall, and lucky they are because the students a welcoming entrance from the heart of campus. ' '
third and fourth floors are preserved-in­
amber snapshots of old offices, peeling
paint, ancient posters for study abroad,
poetry readings and stacks of moldering President Tom Kepple sees the
Life magazines. renovation of Founders Hall as the
final project designed to focus student
The upper floors were abandoned in
life at the center of campus.
1980, when it was discovered that
the walls of the building were bowing
outward. The stress was causing large
cracks between the floors (big enough
to see down to the next level).
►To view floorplans and "The presidents office has never changed; president of finance and operations,
The stress happened because of renderings, to read how it has always been the presidents office. across the hall. The area where the
religion. Well, to be fair, it was because Founders will be a II green" One of my favorite stories about provost and dean of students currently
the College's Founders decreed that the
building, to check out the Founders is from my parents. When they reside will be dedicated to the
Founders chapel-now the registrar's
attended the College in the '20s the registrars office.
office-would have no pillars obscuring "chalkboard" (is your name
president, I.H. Brumbaugh at the time,
the sightlines for religious services. on it?), and more, visit www. The dean of students and accompanying
The local builder decided to create an met each student individually, and my
iuniata.edu/g ifts/Founders staff, as well as academic support
innovative truss system that actually mother was in line to meet the president
services' entire staff, will occupy offices
hung the floors from massive-beam in 1920. All of a sudden a young man
trusses atop the building. The system in the new north wing. The second floor
came into Founders shouting 'Has
worked fine for about eight decades also will have the north portico exit,
anyone seen Elizabeth Wertz?' Well, the
and then the repeated vibrations and which provides a new fac;:ade for the
young man was my fat her, Elizabeth
shifting associated with a busy college
building that faces the quad. "Founders
building took its toll. Wertz was my mother, and he had been
was designed to face the town of
sent by his father to ask if Elizabeth
The massive trusses, which used Huntingdon," says Tom Kepple, Juniata
Wertz could come to their house for
interlocking timbers and metal rods to
president. 'The new wing will give
stabilize the sturdy structure from above, dinner. They were married six years later.
students a welcoming entrance from the
are still visible through doors in the
"The second floor was the center of the heart of campus."
bell tower.
College, it was the administrative center
"The third floor was the English
and its doors led to the 'social room' in
department, but we all congregated there
the adjoining hall. My fath er did not like
because thats where Verna Homes office
my brother and me to hang around
was. She was secretary for the
campus, but one of my best memories is
humanities and everyone who drank
walking through Founders to hear
coffee was always there and we would
(English professor) Harold Binkl read
ey
have parties there. The mimeograph
'TI1e Christmas Carol' eve1y
machine was there, as was the only
holiday season."
typewriter on the top two floors."
Well, the President's office will no longer
Betty Ann will be returning to the third
Betty Ann visits her old office-to be a classroom be where it always has been. In its place
floor to visit her history colleagues, all
by next fall. Alumni, friends, foundations, and will be a Juniata History Room, flanked
with offices in the old wing of the
parents of students are contributingfunds to by the offices ofRob Yelnosky '85, vice
support the Founders restoration and return
students-and teaching-to the building.
Fall/Winter 2007-2008 I 5
-
A Great Start: Irene, John Dale Donate
$1 Million to Kick Off Founders Restoration
Irene Dale '58 and her husband, John, same space fosters collaboration and
'54, have donated $1 million as part I'm sure the same will happen here."
of a capital campaign to restore and
"It's a shame to use only part of the
expand Founders Hall.
building, because it has such history
"The restoration of our first and most and memories for alumni-all Juniata
revered campus building is a major students up until the 1970s had classes
part of our strategic vision to bring in Founders," says Irene Dale, who
the College's academic departments lived in a single room in Founders as a
back to the heart of the campus," says Juniata senior in 1958.
Thomas Kepple, president of Juniata.
To date, the Dales have contributed
"The Dales have lasting memories of
$4.2 million to create the College's
how well Founders served their needs as
Information Technology program
Juniata students and would like to see the
and have funded a science and
building continue to influence Juniatians
technology scholarship program for
as a classroom building."
entering students. They were significant
"When Irene and I were in school it was donors for the renovation of Dale
The lead gift for Founders Hall, a
the central building on campus and we'd Hall in Brumbaugh Academic Center.
$1 million donation by the Dales, was
like to see the College use the entire They also support several student
inspired by the fact that Irene Dale lived
building," says John Dale, whose first job scholarships. Their combined gifts of
in Founders as a senior in 1958.
after graduating was as a math instructor more than $6 million makes the couple
at Juniata. "We've seen firsthand in the second largest donor in the history
Brumbaugh Academic Center how of the College.
bringing different departments into the
building. In addition, a 30-seat addresses to the assembled student The fourth floor of the renovated
classroom will be added to the teaching body and faculty." Founders is not puzzling in its layout.
space on that floor. The English faculty will occupy the
"We all walked up four flights of stairs
offices in the older wing, which also
However, after more than a century; the many times a day to go to our offices and
contains a 30-seat classroom. In the new
presidents office will be moving. On the we always used the circular center
wing, there will be an office, two 30-seat
third floor of the new wing, the steps-don't ask me why. We were all in
classrooms and a small seminar room.
presidents and provosts office will flank pretty good shape from going up and
a central conference room provided for down those stairs! Fourth floor Founders Lets give Betty Ann the last word: ''I'm
with funds raised during the 2001 was exciting-everybody's door was open ve1y happy to see Founders coming back
Celebration of Juniata Women. In and we were always yelling back and to students. When it became only an
addition, the Office of Institutional forth to each other. One of my favorite administrative building it became a place
Research will move to the third floor. memories is that we would always have you didn't want to spend time hanging
An added feature is an outdoor portico a jigsaw puzzle laid out on a table and around. Now the architects have blended
where, President Kepple jokes, people could stop by and work on it. the old with the new-Founders has
'Jim and I will walk out and make They were always 1,000-piece puzzles." come full circle."
6 l]imiata Magazine
A Great Start: Irene, John Dale Donate
$1 Million to Kick Off Founders Restoration
Irene Dale '58 and her husband, John, same space fosters collaboration and
'54, have donated $1 million as part I'm sure the same will happen here."
of a capital campaign to restore and
"It's a shame to use only part of the
expand Founders Hall.
building, because it has such history
"The restoration of our first and most and memories for alumni-all Juniata
revered campus building is a major students up until the 1970s had classes
part of our strategic vision to bring in Founders," says Irene Dale, who
the College's academic departments lived in a single room in Founders as a
back to the heart of the campus," says Juniata senior in 1958.
Thomas Kepple, president of Juniata.
To date, the Dales have contributed
"The Dales have lasting memories of
$4.2 million to create the College's
how well Founders served their needs as
Information Technology program
Juniata students and would like to see the
and have funded a science and
building continue to influence Juniatians
technology scholarship program for
as a classroom building."
entering students. They were significant
"When Irene and I were in school it was donors for the renovation of Dale
The lead gift for Founders Hall, a
the central building on campus and we'd Hall in Brumbaugh Academic Center.
$1 million donation by the Dales, was
like to see the College use the entire They also support several student
inspired by the fact that Irene Dale lived
building," says John Dale, whose first job scholarships. Their combined gifts of
in Founders as a senior in 1958.
after graduating was as a math instructor more than $6 million makes the couple
at Juniata. "We've seen firsthand in the second largest donor in the history
Brumbaugh Academic Center how of the College.
bringing different departments into the
building. In addition, a 30-seat addresses to the assembled student The fourth floor of the renovated
classroom will be added to the teaching body and faculty." Founders is not puzzling in its layout.
space on that floor. The English faculty will occupy the
"We all walked up four flights of stairs
offices in the older wing, which also
However, after more than a century; the many times a day to go to our offices and
contains a 30-seat classroom. In the new
presidents office will be moving. On the we always used the circular center
wing, there will be an office, two 30-seat
third floor of the new wing, the steps-don't ask me why. We were all in
classrooms and a small seminar room.
presidents and provosts office will flank pretty good shape from going up and
a central conference room provided for down those stairs! Fourth floor Founders Lets give Betty Ann the last word: ''I'm
with funds raised during the 2001 was exciting-everybody's door was open ve1y happy to see Founders coming back
Celebration of Juniata Women. In and we were always yelling back and to students. When it became only an
addition, the Office of Institutional forth to each other. One of my favorite administrative building it became a place
Research will move to the third floor. memories is that we would always have you didn't want to spend time hanging
An added feature is an outdoor portico a jigsaw puzzle laid out on a table and around. Now the architects have blended
where, President Kepple jokes, people could stop by and work on it. the old with the new-Founders has
'Jim and I will walk out and make They were always 1,000-piece puzzles." come full circle."
6 l]imiata Magazine
Josh Beckel '09, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., is Theatre Company in Malvern, Pa., the juggle and dance on a trapeze, in
an emerging talent in the Juniata theatre
first Juniata-produced show to tour at a addition to more prosaic theatre skills,
program. Josh is the first student in the
professional theatre. But his pathway to says the reason students seek Juniata for
program to play a featured part in a play
the professional stage started last its theatre program is the sense of
that debuted at the College, and to go on
and play the same part in a prof essiona1 summer when Andy Belser, professor of community and adventure each
production. At right, Josh takes a break with theatre, agreed to combine the talents of production instills.
other members of the professional company, Juniatas students and faculty, the theatre
the People's Light Theatre Company. "We are always an ensemble creating the
professionals who comprise The Gravity
piece together," Beckel says. "When I
Project, and the Peoples Light company,
" ...y ou can't imagine came here I had never done
to take Crispin from "workshop to
experimental theatre, and it was scary at
professional production."
the confidence first, but then you see the beauty of
'The students are at the center of this," it-it challenges your expectations of
they're taking away Belser explains. "They are doing a what theatre can be."
six-week residency with the playwright
Actors cast in a Juniata production
from this." (Russell Davis) who works daily with
rarely just hit their marks and recite
the students to develop an aesthetic for
lines. Our Town this isn't. Students are
the play-you can't imagine the
expected to dance, to swing, to sing, to
confidence they're taking away
move, to groove and possibly to change
from this."
their idea of a theatrical experience or
Beckel, who has acted or worked in career. Juniata theatre also can be a
more than seven productions in his time collaborative experience designed to
at Juniata and as a result has learned to incorporate students at every phase of a
Josh Beckel '09 came to Juniata from Hollidaysburg, Pa., with a performing resume
that might have given even the most jaded casting agent pause. He found parts in
plays in community and regional theatre and spent more than 10 years learning tap,
ballet and modern dance moves at a regional dance studio.
But, he had chosen Juniata not for its theatre department, but for its first-rate
mathematics department. Once he set foot on campus, however, the numbers started
to add up: he could pursue both disciplines with equal passion.
Well on his way to earning a degree in performing arts and mathematics, Beckel is
one of nearly 30 Juniata students majoring in theatre, performing arts or arts
management. Enthusiasm for theatre and related disciplines is experiencing leaps in
popularity worthy of Rudolf Nureyev-numbers made all the more impressive
considering the performing arts and arts management POE s were approved just three
years ago, in 2005.
"I can share my excitement for the program with new students," says Beckel. "I don't The vision for Juniata's theatre program, to have students studying
in the liberal arts tradition while also receiving opportunities with
really think of myself as a leader, though-more like a guinea pig that can tell people
professional theatre organizations, has come to fruition under
about his experiences."
Andrew Belse1; professor of theatre. Here, he works with Josh
And he has more than enough experiences to share. As this magazine arrives in Beckel in rehearsals for the professional production of Ciispin.
homes he will have just ended his performing run in Crispin at the Peoples Light
8 I Juniata Magazine Fall/Winter 2007-2008 I 9