Mary Washington College Today, 2001 (Summer)

44 Pages·2001·6.5 MB·English

by  University of Mary Washington

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SUMMER
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"This is truly one ofthe great moments in the life ofthis College," PresidentWilliam M. Anderson Jr. said
as he welcomed several hundred guests to Dodd Auditorium on April 20 for the James Farmer Memorial
unveiling. Featured speaker was civil rights leaderAndrewYoung, who was on campus as Mary Washing-
ton's firstvisiting professor in human rights. Young, former U.N. ambassador and past mayor ofAtlanta,
MWC
highlighted events from James Farmer's life that demonstrated the former professor's commitment
to using nonviolent methods to advance huma—n rights causes. Young also told stories to recall sacrifices
Farmer made for the civil rights movement sacrifices which, at times, could have cost him his life.
But through it all, Young said, Farmer never became angry, and he never gave up his commitment
to nonviolent action, continued on the inside back cover
Above: The sculpture is situated
acrossfrom Trinkle Hall.
Left: Former U.N. Ambassador
Andrew Young addressed a
diverse and enthusiastic crowd.
L
TODAY
MaryWashington college
SUMMER 2001 VOL. 25, NO. 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Rosemary Ingham 2
MWC
Professor Shines 4
Distinguished Graduate in Residence 5
MWC: Publicly Funded? 6
The Leidecker Center for Asian Studies 8
Fredericksburg Forum 10
The End of an Era 12
On Campus 13
Alumni News 22
Class Notes 27
Editor: Paulette S. Watson
Editorial Assistant: Debra A. Garrett
Editorial Staff: Antoinette R. Parker, Patti MacGregor
Student Staff: R. Megan Headley '04
Editorial Board/Advisers: Jack Bales. William B. CrawleyJr., Ronald E. Singleton, Cynthia L. Snyder 75,
Elizabeth Muirheid Sudduth '69, Paulette S. Watson
Class Notes Editor: Betsey-Ellen Hansen '62
Online Editor: Antoinette R. Parker
Cover Photo: From left to right. Sculptor Richard Stravitz; former U.N. Ambassador and civil rights leader Andrew Young; James
Farmer's granddaughter, Abigale Gonzalez; and Dr. Farmer's daughters, Tami Farmer-Gonzalez and Abbey Farmer. Photo by Lou
Cordero.
Photo Credits: Inside front/back covers, Lx)u Cordero and Fred Watkins; pp. 2-3, Lou Cordero; p. 4, quilt photo by Paul Margolies,
StuU photo by Antoinette R. Parker; p. 5, Lou Cordero; p. 6, Fred Watkins; p. 7, top photo by Barry Fitzgerald, others by Lou Cordero;
p. 8, Paulette S. Watson; p. 9, Fred Watkins; pp. 10-11, Barry Fitzgerald; p. 12, Joe Anion; p. 13, left photo byJohn Paraskevas, 77?^ Free
Lance-Star, others by Fred Watkins; p. 14, Lou Cordero; p. 15, Fred Watkins, Belmont photo courtesy the Fredericksburg Visitor
Center; p. 16, Dan Fitzpatrick; p. 17, Lou Cordero; p. 18, top photo by Belinda I. Collins, bottom photo by Barron Claiborne; p. 19,
Lou Cordero; p. 21, left photo by Cory R. Kegerise '01, right photo by Lou Cordero; p. 22, left photo from The Battlefield, 1946,
Kershaw Studios, right photo courtesy ofthe subject; p. 23 top photo by E H. Brinck; p. 24, top photo courtesy ofthe subject, bottom
photo by Bill Buttram; p. 26, Lou Cordero; p. 38, Lou Cordero; p. 39, top photo courtesyAnna S. Hoye, bottom photo, courtesy of Mary
Washington College Galleries.
Design: Dan Michael, Michael Designs, Richmond, Va.
Printer: Carter Printing Company, Richmond, Va.; Paula C. Barnes, account manager.
Mary Washington College Today is published for the alumni, friends, faculty and staff of Mary Washington College three times a year,
with issues in fall, winter and summer. Mail letters and address changes to Mary Washington College Today, MaryWashington College,
1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401-5358. Mary Washington College Today welcomes your comments.
MaryWashington College Alumni Association Board ofDirectors 2000-01 Patricia BranstetterRevere '63, President; Kathleen
:
Shepherd Mehfoud '70, President-elect; Jean Polk Hanky '69, Vice President for Alumni Fund; Jane L. Hope '95, Vice President for
Chapters; Patricia Goodall Strawderman '74, Vice President for Classes; Judith Henley Beck '68, Vice President for Finance; Maureen
Murphy McCart '68. Vice President for Reunion Weekend; C. ScottAllen '95; Frances LiebenowArmstrong "36; Cherry SarffEverett '61;
Lois Saunier Hornsby '48; Regina Kim '01; Timothy F Landis '93; Kimberly MyWcko '01; Monecia Helton Naggs '81; Lynda Richardson '81;
Cedric B. Rucker '81; Myronee Simpson '97; Rita Morgan Stone '52;Joseph Nicholas, Faculty Representative; William M. Anderson
Jr., President, MWC; Ronald E. Singleton, Senior Vice President forAdvancement and College Relations, MWC; Cynthia L. Snyder '75,
Director ofAlumni Relations, MWC; Deborah Jardin, Assistant Director ofAlumni Relations, MWC.
Mary Washington College Today is printed with non-state funds.
Visit Mary Washington College Today online: http://departments.mwc.edu/publ/www/pubs/Today. Office of College Relations
[phone]; Office of Publications [phone]; Office ofAdmissions [phone]; Office ofAlumni Relations [phone].
mari
aBY HELENmM. HOUSLEY
She is the retiring director ofcostum-
ing and design in the Department of
At age 10 she recorded her life's Theatre and Dance and has taught count-
goals in a book ofmemories: 1) to less students the rudiments of stitching,
write a book thatwould sit on a li- draping, and building costumes for the
brary shelffor other little girls like department's plays. Even more students
herselfto read, and 2) to ride aTriple will remember Rosemary as the professor
Crovm winner.Technically, Rosemary who first piqued their interest in theatre
Ingham has accomplished neither of through her Intro to Theatre course and
those goals. She has authored four its regular field trips to professional pro-
booksthatprobably do sitin libraries, ductions in the Washington, D.C., and
but it is not likely that little girls Richmond areas.
choose to read them. However, to It is not easy to categorize Rosemary's
this day, she has notjg^ ridden that accomplishments. Nor does she invite
Triple Crown winner! pigeonholing into any of the numerous
A
montage ofimages and sounds careers she has occupied to date: nursing
occurs when you mention Rosemary student, educator, costume designer, sec-
to anyone: a quilted picture hanging retary, director, wife, mother, scholar, caused a child ofthe Shenandoah Valley
on awall; a trilling laugh echoing author, businesswoman, playwright, to become one ofthis country's most re-
down a hallway; deft fingers hand- grandmother. As she says, "1 have never spected professional costume designers.
sewing silken fabric; an earnestvoice thought of myself as any one thing be- How exactly does one get from being
discussing a play, a book, a televised cause I a—lways wanted to be more than the granddaughter of a female tailor in
political debate; ahand drawing free- just that I didn't want to limit myself Staunton, Va., to being a founding mem-
form designs on a computer pad; a to only one role or occupation." ber of the Long WharfTheatre in New
silhouetted figure conferring with Nor is it simple trying to pinpoint the Haven, Conn.? How does one start out
a student; a home-cooked mealwel- pivotal events in Rosemary's life. Having as a scholarship student at a boarding
coming one after rehearsal. Tliese gleaned bits and pieces of her life's story school in southwestern Virginia to being
sights, sounds, and smells only over our six-year friendship, I had still a guest lecturer at the Hong KongThea-
scratch the surface ofthe woman never heard all the particulars. More to tre Academy? And how does one go from
called Rosemary Ingham. the point, I had not yet learned what a nursing school drop-out to author of
the leading textbooks on costume design
and construction?
By rather circuitous routes, it seems.
She always wanted to be a writer. And
she didn't really care what she wrote
about. So when she fell in love with and
1*^•^!7«P8^p~"5«g^
married Robert Ingham (who passed on
in 1992), an aspiring playwright, actor
and director, it was only natural that she
would eventually write about the thea-
tre. As she herself states, "If Bob had
been a dentist, I would have written
WM
*" '"IIP'" ' '^ books about dental hygiene."
Although writing was her passion, she
-ai"^' could always "draw pretty well." This
^^: skill, combined with her sewing back-
ground, naturally brought her to the
Rosemary demonstrates to students Mark
WrightandJenn Miller the intricacies of
building a bustle.
school as a special student in plajrvmting and design. Both par-
T%*, ents shared in raising their three sons, Richard, Jim andTed.
ml i^ For Rosemary, formal education in theatre gave wayto the ex—cit-
ing world offounding a professional theatre in New Haven
msm the LongWharfTheatre, one ofthe firstregional theatres in the
country. Rosemary served as the fledgling theatre's resident
costume designer for three years.
Herjourney continued with classes in literature and criticism
at Grinnell College, where Bob taughtforthreeyears, summers
as the resident costumer atThe CourtTheatre in Beloit, Wis.,
employment as the costume design supervisor atthe University
itera-
;:•;..';; atthe Milwaukee RepertoryTlieatre. Somewhere during allthis
''''\^^. activity she took time out to have herfourth son, Stephen.
'; The last 20years have found Rosemary as an assistantpro-
^^\ I fessor oftheatre atSouthern Methodist University; a free-lance
costume designerand technician atthe Utah Shakespeare Festi-
val, Arena Stage, TTieatreVirginia,The Kennedy Center andthe
Dallas Lyric Opera, among others; a master's student at St.
John's College; ownerand manager ofClothworks, afabric store
Rosemary and Theatre Department Chair in Charlottesville; co-author (with Liz Covey) ofthree seminal
Gregg Stall review costume designs from the works on costuming: Vie Costume Technician's Handbook (1980), Tifeg Costume
MWC
1995 production ofCloud 9. Designer's Handbook (1982), and The Pattern DevelopmentHandbook (1988);
and sole author ofFrom Page to Stage: How Theatre DesignersMake Connections
Between Scripts andImages (1998). She came to MaryWashington as a designer
in 1983, turned adjunct in 1984, and became full time in 1989.
The listoftheatrical artistswith whom she hasworked overthe years reads
like averitablewho'swho inAmerican theatre. Herfriends, acquaintances, and
colleagues in the professional and educational theatre world are so numerous
MWC
that theatre department chair Gregg Stulljokes that accompanying
Rosemary to a theatre conference is an experience unto itself: "You drop her
offin the lobby at the beginning ofthe conference and you don't get to talkto
her again until she surfaces at the end: ifyou catch a gUmpse ofher dur—ing
breaks, she is surrounded byformer students, fiiends, and adoringfans she
knows absolutely everybody!"
While she has attained notable status in the theatricalworld, Rosemaryher-
selfwould probably count her sons as her greatest achievement. Although
scattered—across the U.S., they call and visit regularly to discuss theirwork,
families and the latest election scandal. The quality that allowed herto raise
Costume construction students Amy FnOie fourgrounded individuals in an often hectic world offrequent moves, late night
(foreground). Jennifer Moss (left), and Kristin rehearsals, and occasi—onal separations is the same quality that endears Rose-
Cantwell (right), admire the accomplishment mary to her students she is anurturer. She challenges one to excel, to ex-
ofa finishedproject. plore, to take risks, all the while solidly supporting the individual, no matter
the outcome. When asked what she would miss most a—bout MWC, she replied,
world ofcostumes. In those early years, "Always having contactwith an incoming generation friends don'tkeep
as Bob rehearsed on the stage of the all- those connections with the music, the fashion, the frends. Ifs the students who
male University ofVirginia, Rosemary have kept me rooted in the present."
stitched costumes behind the scenes, Afinal image: In December, 8-year-old granddaughter Emmy was asked
altering those already made and creating whatgame or activity she wanted to have ather birthday party, which was
from scratch others for which she had celebrated this year at Gram's house. Without hesitation, Emmy held up a
only the crudest drawings. This practice Klutz book ofinstructions for children's activities and announced: "I want to
led her to designing her own costumes. mummify Barbie." Rosemaryjoined in the preparations, helping Emmy's par-
She learned the craft and the art as she ents, son Jim and daughter-in-law Leslie, gatherthe requisite materials (begin-
went along. In the late 1950s, there were ningwith newBarbie dolls), and spentthe afternoon beaming at grandchildren
few costume-design programs or degrees Rosie, Nathan and Emmywhile they all anointed, herbalized, and wrapped the
available, and Rosemary's education in Barbies in layers oftissue paper and drafting tape, and applied appropriate
theatre came from observing the process decorations. Son Steve was pressed into service as the builder ofsarcophagi,
firsthand, talking with Bob, and working and nowthe m—ummified Barbies andtheir sarcophagireston the piano awaiting
as a secretary for the director ofVirginia's entombment a project no doubt somewhere in Rosemary's future alongwith
Bureau of Speech and Drama. By the free-lance design assignments and the novel she is currently writing.
time Bob received his B.A. in history, Retirementfrom MaryWashington College will not slow Rosemary Ingham
Rosemary was well-versed in theatre down. Look for her name in theatre programs across the country and on the
and drama. New York Times best-seller list. Personally, I wiU be watching for her astride
Rosemary's odyssey next took her to the winner at the next running ofthe Kentucky Derby!
the Yale Drama School. Bob began work
MFA
on an in playwriting and, a year Helen M. Housley, seniorlecturer in theatre, receivedherPh.D. from the
MWC
later, Rosemaryjoined him at the drama University ofMaryland, College Park. She has been at since 1995.
BYANTOINETTE PARKER
R.
M
gff —sing all sorts ofitems ofmanaged all ofthe stuffthat
jM Mm ^ P^'*" °^ ^^^^ brown happened on the East Coast
g^r .^M slippers, photos of smil- while the San Francisco staff
jFmm ing, young faces—, golden managed everything up until
Wlj^ ffl^wedding rings memo- the time the quilt was packed
H^^ ^P^ries and personalities are onto trucks and came here
thoughtfully captured and stitched onto for the display."
plush 12-feet-byT2-feet panels. In December 2000, 12 pan-
These pieces of the AIDS Memorial els ofthe quiltwere displayed
Quilt were created to tell people stories at MWC, in Lee Hall Ballroom.
that hard numbers could not relay. As It was the largest showing ofthe quilt in College history. "You don't have
two-time director of the NAMES Pro- to see a lot ofit for it to make sense to you," Stull says.
ject display ofthe entire quilt, which is Today, he explains, the quilt is primarily used as an outreach and pre-
comprised of more than 40,000 panels, vention tool.
Gregg Stull, chair ofthe Department of "It is displayed not only in colleges, but also in high schools and
Tlieatre and Dance, has played a signifi- middle schools and community centers and churches because people
cant role with this international project. understand and hopefully can make a difference in their own lives to
With prior arts management and stop HIV, which continues to be a completely preventable disease."
theater experience, Stull has been in- A 1982 graduate of MWC, Stull has done arts consulting all over
volved with the NAMES Project Founda- the world, with a focus on strategic planning. He also sat on an ad-
tion, the group that sponsors the AIDS visory team at the beginning of the Clinton administration, helping
Quilt Memorial Project, since the late to draft an arts policy document relating to the National Endow-
'80s. He has directed two display—s ofthe ment for the Arts.
entire quilt in Washington, D.C., once Stull continues to work as a consultant for the NAMES Pro-
in 1992, when the quilt was roughly ject Foundation. Workingwith the quilt has been a "monumental
20,000 panels-large, and again in 1996, experience" and a "privilege," he says.
when the number ofpanels had doubled. "I think it is one ofthe most important arts objects and one
To prepare for the displaying of the ofthe most important arts experiences of my lifetime," he
quilt, Stull spent about 18 months work- says. "I feel really honored ^ ^.,.»»,^
ing with the quilt's professional staff, to be able to do this work."
located in San Francisco, and the East
Coast staff, which is in Washington, D.C. Antoinette R. Parker is
In 1992, the event was on the grounds assistant director ofpub
of the Washington Monument; in 1996, lications at MWC.
the national mall was the place for the
display. Since both sites were federal
property, Stull, as director ofthe events,
was in charge ofthe permitting process.
He also helped plan the logistics of dis-
playing the panels, which was no easy
task.
In 1996, he says, there were 22,000
four-hour volunteer shifts to fill; people
came from all over the world to help.
The quilt was laid out according to a
pre-planned design, so that spectators
could find the panels they had stitched
and decorated. Pieces ofthe quilt were
placed on the ground, using a grid made
of landscaping fabric, and the grid
formed awalkwaybetween the panels.
Stull is modest about his participation
with the project. "There were a lot of
people involved, and I was just one of
many," he says. "The quilt itselfis pri-
marily housed in San Francisco and is
moved out here for the display, so I sort
Lynn
Bragg
le
BY CYNTHIA SNYDER 75
L.
Lynn Munroe Bragg 76, a current member and past chair
ofthe U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), returned
to campus for two days in late March amid junior ring week
pranks, gorgeous spring weather one day and a torrential
downpour the next. These elements proved to be distractions
but not obstacles as Ms. Bragg addressed classes, toured
campus, and met with students and faculty as this year's
Distinguished Graduate in Residence.
The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan commission
that provides trade expertise to Congress as well as to the
executive branch of the federal government. Ms. Bragg, a
Republican, was appointed by President Clinton to a term on
the commission beginning in 1994 and ending in June 2002.
The appointment involved a nomination from the president as
well as a confirmation hearing and approval by the Senate.
She served as vice chair ofthe commission from August 1996
throughJune 16, 1998, and as chairfromJune 17, 1998 through Institute, a trade association representing the investor-owned
June 16, 2000. The vice chair and chair ofthe commission are electric utility industry. In this senior management capacity,
also presidential appointments. she advised member companies on legislative matters relat-
Ms. Bragg received a B.A. in English with final honors ing to fossil fuels and industry structure issues.
MWC
from in 1976. She earned a master's degree in public Addressing classes including environmental geology, ad-
relations/communications from Boston University and began vanced macroeconomics, communications, and magazine
her career in the corporate affairs department ofthe Potomac writing, Ms. Bragg fielded a broad range of questions from
Electric Power Company (PEPCO), in Washington, D.C. She students. "Do we use trade agreements as leverage with other
served on the staff of former Sen. Malcolm Wallop, R-Wyo., countries?" asked a student in environmental geology. "What
from 1981 to 1991, beginning as legislative assistant and ulti- is the status of duties on lumber imported from Canada?"
mately moving up to legislative director. Her responsibilities asked another. In a Foundations of Communications class,
included speechwriting as well as work on energy, tax, and several students asked about her experience as a speech-
trade issues. Prior to her appointment to the USITC, she writer: "Are writing skills and speaking skills two separate
served as director ofgovernment affairs at the Edison Electric sets ofabilities?" "How high stress is speechwriting?" "When
you write a speech for a politician, how much is your own
writing and how much is what he or she wants to say?" "How
do you handle differences between your personal views and
those of the speaker?"
Ms. Bragg emphasized to the students that her liberal arts
background has stood her in good stead throughout her
career, enabling her to see the forest as well as the trees, a
strength she finds especially valuable in her current role. She
MWC
also repeatedly credited with prepaiing her well for the
variety of positions and responsibilities she has assumed.
The Alumni Association established the Distinguished
Graduate in Residence program to recognize the achievements
of outstanding alumni and provide an opportunity for current
students and faculty to interact with these accomplished
graduates.
Cynthia L. Snyder '75 is director ofalumni relations.
Fun
BY DONNA HARTER RAAB lege mascot in September 1986. port programs, as well as to some insti-
Implementation began shortly after. tutional overhead expenses. Richard V.
MWC
Is thatyourfinal answer^ Prior to that, various sports Hurley, MWC's executive vice president
teams had informally been nick- and chief financial officer, says the rest
It's alwa—ys fun to watch game shows on named the Blue Tide. of the College budget comes from tui-
ttehleevainssiwoenrs.eSsopmeceitailmlyesw,hethnouygohu,ktnhoewobal-l 3(c) In 1772, George Washington pur- tion, and from fees that students pay for
room and board and incidentals. "The
vious answer isn't always the correct one. cFrheadseerdicakshbouursge. Hfoerchiasmemottohveisritihner fact that we get state support is a good
Following are a few trivia questions to prior to his inauguration as the first thing," says Hurley, "in that it keeps the
tCeosltleygoeu.r knowledge ofMary Washington pFrreesdiedrenitc.ksMbaurryg Winas1h7i89n.gton died in citoswtouofldedbuecaitfiwoen dhoawdn,tocsoumpppaorretdCtoollwehgaet
operations on just tuition."
4(c) Restrictions on male students were During the past few years, vaMriWouCs
1. Whatyear was MaryWashington officially removed in Febmary 1970. publications have, in fact, listed as
College originally founded? Twenty-two male students were a "best buy" for college-bound students.
^ enrolled during the 1970-71 school According to the 2001 edition of Time/
1888 ©1908 year. Today, male students repre- The Princeton Review: The Best College
©1998 ®1789 sent approximately 31 percent of For You, "Mary Washington College pro-
student enrollment. vides ma—ny ofthe amenities ofthe private
2. What is the MWC official mascot? 5(d) The state provides only 37 percent psrcohofoelsssorss—malalt calavsesreys,afcfaorridnagbalnedpreiacgee.r"
©bear of MWC's total budget. The 2001 Fiske Guide to Colleges says,
©eagle lHseagull "With a first-rate liberal arts education
in an intimate environment, Mary Wash-
3. Where did George Washington To tell the truth ington College is a smart choice for any-
visit his mother during her final Ifyou didn't know how much funding one seeking the most bang for theirbuck."
Mary Washington College receives from These statements are true, and they
years?
the state, you're not alone. Jeffrey W. serve as great endorsements for the
©Philadelphia ©Richmond Rountree, vice president for college de- College to ultimately attract the most
velopment, says there may be a slight qualified students. However, the same
©Fredericksburg©Washington D.C.
misconception that the state completely funding that helps keep prices afford-
4. Whatyear did MWC officially be- supports MWC. "I frequently visit with able also restricts operations and limits
come co-ed, thus admitting both alumni and business leaders both locally improvements.
and around the country," says Rountree. Hurley explains, "We do not currently
male and female students?
"All are interested to know how Mary receive discretionary funds from the
mever Washington College is doing, and they state, as all public funds are restricted
©1970 ©1998 love to hear about future plans. When I and must be directed to areas as speci-
sometimes mention that we need to pro- fied. Sometimes there may be other areas
5. HisoswupmpuorcthedofbMyWstCa'tesftuontdasl?budget cpdrouoerjseenc'mttos,npreIoyavimfdoerofvftoaerrnitoahuastsk.efWduhnwdehsnyorIthecexeprslttaaaiitnne tttohhaegtepanorewereamrtoerofemdocirrsiectriceiatnli,coonb.muteWwteoecfdouounldndottthrhoysaeve
©100% ©76% that the state funds only 37 percent ofthe other areas, but we are restricted from
total budget for MWC, most people are
©52%
surprised; some are actually shocked."
President William M. Anderson Jr.
points out that while most people know
Mary Washington College is a public in-
Answers:
stitution and, as such, receives assistance
from the Commonwealth ofVirginia, few
1(b) Mary Washington College was realize these funds are restricted in their
founded in 1908, but at the time it use and help support only basic opera-
was called the State Nonnal and In- tions of the College. "Private investment
Women
dustrial School for at Fred- and donations from alumni, corporations,
ericksburg. The term "and Indus- foundations and other friends are essen-
trial"was removed in 1914. In 1924, it tial to attain the high levels of excellence
became simply the State Teachers in teaching and service for which we are
College at Fredericksburg. The justly renowned," he says.
name was officially changed to
Mary Washington College in 1938. Theprice is right
MWC
2(c) The Board ofVisitors voted to ap- State funds at are generally
prove the eagle as the official Col- directed to teaching and academic sup-
6
doing so. In 1998, the General Assembly
and the governor placed a freeze on tui-
tion costs. As operating expenses con-
tinue to rise across the campus, our ability
to raise additional revenue is limited.
This presents a real challenge, to say
the least."
Lifelines needed
This is where the Mary Washington
College Foundation comes in. Ronald E.
Singleton, senior vice president for ad-
vancement and college relations, says
the Foundation—manages three separate
types of funds endowment. Annual
Fund and capital projects.
Funds designated for endowment are
generally donated in the form ofhonorary
or memorial scholarships, or to support
a specific academic program at the Col-
lege. "Over the past years, private gifts
have enabled us to establish a
sizable endowment, which now Richmond to increase our funding. How-
totals nearly $27 million. The ever, our current 37 percent funding level
College manages this endowment from the state, and the existing freeze on
student tuition, means that we are more
continually," says Dr. Singleton,
dependent than ever on the generosity
"and most of the earnings are
of alumni, parents, corporations, founda-
used to fund scholarships as
tions and other friends. All of our sup-
designated by the donors. Last
porters are dedicated to our continued
year, the College awarded just
commitment to advance academic quality
under $1 million from the endow-
and student opportunity at Mary Washing-
menMtWiCn the form of scholarships ton College. I want them to know their
to students."
gifts are being put to good use, and their
Annual Fund donations are
help is deeply appreciated."
received from multiple sources
In summary, the "final answer" to
including phonathon, mailed-in
Mary Washington College funding ques-
pledge cards, reunion challenges,
of the payment method, these funds are tions is that every dollar counts. Whether
corporate matching gift programs, and fac- restricted and are designated specifically it comes from the Commonwealth of
ulty and staff payroll deductions. Dr. toward the building and furnishing of a Virginia or from an anonymous donor,
Singleton says the majority ofgifts specific capital project which in this every dollar goes toward educating a new
made to the Annual Fund are unrestricted case, is the new Alumni..E. xecutive generation and enabling students of all
and help supplement the College and Center." ages to participate in the game of life!
Foundation operating budgets. "These
include programs to attract and retain Solving thepuzzle Donna HarterRaab is publications coordi-
faculty members, academic department nator in the Ojfice ofCollegeAdvancement.
special needs, alumni programs and pub- Despite the game show analogies
lications, and other essential operating throughout this article, the task of man-
expenses ofthe College. Most prominent aging the complexities ofvarious mone-
of these in recent years is the Arrington tary funds and their accompanying spec-
Scholarship, which provides full tuition ifications and restrictions is serious
MWC
and fees for students who are chil- business at Mary Washington College.
MWC
dren of employees," says Singleton. It involves intricate planning to utilize
"Unrestricted funds are vital to the Col- funds from all available sources,
lege because they help fill some of the including state and private
gaps in other funding sources, including monies, in a way that is both
monies received from the state." beneficial and efficient.
Capital building projects are also sup- At the same time. Dr.
ported by private donations to the Foun- Anderson says it's impor-
dation. The current campaign to fund tant to keep an eye on the
the new Alumni Executive Center is a bigger picture and remem-
perfect example. Rountree, who is coor- ber the goal. "We are ex-
dinating the AEC campaign, says indi- tremely fortunate to receive
viduals and corporations utilize various monetary assistance from
methods to make their gifts. "We are the Commonwealth ofVir-
able to receive outright gifts of money, ginia to support our academic
pledges for funds to be paid within five endeavors at MWC," he says.
years, gifts of stock and various charita- "I continually lobby members
ble trusts," says Rountree. "Regardless of the General Assembly in
The
Leidecker
Center
For Asian
Studies
BY DAVID AMBUEL & MEHDI AMINRAZAVT
K.
MWC
One of the first things we learned upon joining the
faculty in 1992 was the legacy of Professor Kurt F. Leidecker.
A
teacher, scholar, world traveler, advocate of cross-cultural In a 1988photo, Dr. Kurt Leideckerstood in front offiis fireplace in
understanding, and popularizer ofAsian philosophies in gen- Tliornley House.
eral and Buddhism in particular, Leidecker was a German im-
MWC
migrant who made the Department of Philosophy, later In his many years of service to Mary Washington College,
to become Classics, Philosophy, and Religion, his home. Dr. Leidecker not only taught Asian philosophy and religion,
Unfortunately not destined to meet the master, since he but worked to develop Asian studies in general, was friend and
passed on shortly before wejoined the faculty, we nevertheless mentor to foreign students, and advised and set up a program
quickly came to feel well acquainted with Professor Leidecker. for pre-foreign service students. Now, even a decade after his
Aside from his reputation that survived through the stories of passing. Dr. Leidecker's personal touch extends to far comers:
colleagues, Leidecker, dedicated to the College, had left his as a 1999-2000 Fulbright scholar in Thailand, David Ambuel by
estate to Mary Washington. We both assisted in the cataloging chance metTemduang Chaturachinda (Kovindha), a 1964 MWC
ofhis books, papers, and collection ofAsian art. As specialists graduate, who fondly remembers Dr. Leidecker's kindness and
in areas ofAsian studies, our admiration for Leidecker grew as who continued to correspond with him until his death.
we became more familiar with his lifetime efforts to promote So, knowing Kurt Leidecker's story, we were excited for
Asian intellectual thought, culture and spirituality. the opportunity to develop and expand Professor
Born in Germany in 1902, Kurt Leidecker im- f'^- Leidecker's original vision. This occurred in 1998,
migrated to the United States at the age of 18 to when President William M. Anderson Jr. and
attend Oberlin College. He began as a botany the Board ofVisitors, decided, in accordance
major but soon switched to philosophy with the with Professor Leidecker's will, to establish
We
intention of concentrating on Indian philosophy. a Chair in Asian studies. were appointed
His first attraction to Asia had grown out of to be co-holders of the Chair, and we be-
childhood conversations with his grandfather. gan working immediately to make plans.
His interests now well-defined, he continued Among the first actions was to propose the
with graduate studies at the University of creation of a center called The Leidecker
Chicago, where he studied philosophy and Center forAsian Studies to coordinate and
Sanskrit, writing his Ph.D. dissertation on the support interdisciplinary study ofAsia, pro-
Bhagavad Gita, in which he related the Gitas mote academic and cultural exchange, and
philosophical concepts to ideas of the 19th- increase awareness ofAsia and its place in
century German philosopher Hegel. the world. The Center was officially estab-
Leidecker came to Mary Washington lished in the spring of 1999. From a base in
College in 1948. His activities have given Professor Leidecker's former Department of
Mary Washington the little-known distinction Classics, Philosophy, and Religion, faculty
ofbeing one ofthe first institutions ofhigher education in the members across campus with interest and expertise in Asian
United States to offer philosophy courses in Asian thought. studies were contacted and meetings were held to define and
He brought to the College a love for and knowledge ofAsia plan for implementing the mission of the Center. Now, in its
that were enhanced by two leaves-of-absence: in 1951-52, when second year of existence, the Center has already organized
he was a Fulbright research scholar in India, and again in and sponsored many events, among them the following:
1956-57, which Dr. Leidecker spent in Thailand as a cultural
attache with the United States Infonnation Service. During his 'fL' "Tibetan Buddhism," lecture by Lama Kalsang
time in Bangkok, Leidecker was also associated with Maha- Gyaltsen, spiritual director of Sakya Phuntsok Ling
chulalongkorn Rajavidyalai, the university where Buddhist Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies and Meditation,
monks receive training. March 22, 1999