Virginia Wesleyan College

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What Now for the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom?

Dr. Paul Rasor, director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom at Virginia Wesleyan College, recently presented his inaugural address to students, faculty, staff and community members.

The address outlined Rasor's long-range vision for the Center, which focuses on three central themes: education, scholarship and engagement.

"Everything in my vision for the Center is grounded in the Center's own mission statement, and in the larger mission of Virginia Wesleyan College and the deeper values it stands for," Rasor said. "I believe in the work the Center is doing, and I believe in the Center's potential to make an even greater contribution to this college and to the surrounding community and to our democracy."

In terms of education, the vision is "to provide Virginia Wesleyan students with the foremost understanding of religious freedom of any undergraduate liberal arts college in America." Specific topics within this theme include an expanded religious freedom curriculum, greater coordination of Center programs with Virginia Wesleyan courses, a certificate in Religious Freedom Studies and an Interdisciplinary major in Religious Freedom Studies.

The vision for scholarship is "to support and produce the highest quality scholarship on issues related to religious freedom." Proposals to this end include continued involvement of faculty in Center programs, continued invitations for outside scholars to Center programs, expansion of Center library holdings and integration of them into the College library's online catalog, development of an annual named lecture series, creation of an endowed visiting scholar position and publishing of a scholarly journal in religious freedom.

Third, the engagement vision is "to become a beacon for religious tolerance and understanding." The implications of such a vision include the importance of understanding America's profound religious pluralism, the knowledge that religious tolerance and understanding are needed now more than ever, the realization that education and activities like interfaith dialogue, sharing stories and getting to know people of other religious faiths are critical and the continuation and building on the Center's excellent interfaith dialogue programs.

Rasor ended his address with the idea that religious freedom is ultimately about justice. "The principle of free exercise of religion is about the freedom to express your beliefs and practice your faiths and about voluntarily forming associations with others who share your beliefs," Rasor said. "And it is about recognizing the same freedom for others who have different beliefs and practices. This is an expression of justice."

Mansfield honored with Francis Asbury Award

Dr. Stephen Mansfield, vice president for Academic Affairs and Dean of Virginia Wesleyan College, was awarded the 2005 Francis Asbury Award for Fostering United Methodist Ministries in Higher Education.

The national award, given by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, The United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tenn., is a significant recognition of Mansfield's career-long commitment to United Methodist higher education. Awarded annually, it recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to fostering the church's ministries in higher education at the local, district or annual conference level of the church.

The name of the award is based on Bishop Asbury's admonition to the people called Methodist to erect a school in the vicinity of every church "to give the key of knowledge in a general way to your children, and those of the poor in the vicinity of your small towns and villages."

2005 - 06 Batten Professors

Honored for their excellence in teaching and scholarship, their contributions within the community and their passion for inspiring excellence in others, Virginia Wesleyan proudly recognizes a new class of Batten Professors.

David G. Garraty, Professor of Management/ Business/Economics, holds an M.A. in Economics with a specialization in Statistical Analysis from Temple University. A past president of the Virginia Association of Economists, he served as co-editor of the Virginia Economic Journal from its founding in 1996 through 1998. He has published "An Econometric Forecasting Model for Hampton Roads, Virginia" and "An Estimate and Analysis of Gross Regional Product for Hampton Roads, Virginia" through the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission as well as research on "The Economic Impact of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway" in the Virginia Economic Journal. Garraty constructed the Hampton Roads Economic Performance Index from 1991 - 2000, published it through a monthly newsletter and is currently reconstructing the index, which had been widely publicized by local print and broadcast media. He was the 1990 recipient of the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award.

Joyce Bernstein Howell, professor of Art History and curator of art exhibitions at Virginia Wesleyan College, holds a B.A., an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where she became a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Her publications on the painter Delacroix include studies of his theory and practice of color, his lithographic production and a forthcoming article, "Eug�ne Delacroix's review of Le Dessin sans ma�tre and the Modernized Discourse of Drawing," appearing in the British journal of linguistics and art history in 2005, Word & Image. She is actively involved with local art organizations such as Norfolk's d'Art Center and the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia in Virginia Beach, and is a member of the Education Committee of the Chrysler Museum of Art.

Lawrence D. Hultgren, professor of Philosophy and director of the PORTfolio Program, received his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. A former Associate Dean of the College, he has received the Sears-Roebuck Foundation Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award and the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award. He has been a Residential Fellow of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy, a Virginia Fellow in Bioethics and was twice selected as a member of an international delegation of philosophers to the People's Republic of China. He serves on various committees including the Bioethics Advisory Committee at the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters and the Institutional Review Board, the Conflict of Interest and the Institutional Animal Care and Use committees at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He is a frequent contributor to the journal Metapsychology.

Science Club awarded for Green Chemistry efforts

Virginia Wesleyan's Science Club was recognized by the Green Chemistry Institute of the American Chemical Society (ACS) as a Green Student Affiliates Chapter. ACS Chapters may be recognized as "green" by engaging in at least three green chemistry activities during the academic year. Wesleyan's Science Club hosted a speaker from GreenBlue, a company dedicated to the education of Green Chemistry. The speaker had lunch with chemistry students and faculty, conducted a round-table discussion and presented "Green Chemistry; Challenges and Opportunities." On Earth Day, the Science Club set up a booth with pamphlets and other information provided by the American Chemical Society as well as additional information and freebies to give away provided by the Green Chemistry Institute. The Club also set up a billboard in Blocker Hall to make students and faculty members aware of the twelve principles of green chemistry.

As a Green Chapter, the Club has been listed on the ACS Web site, in the In Chemistry magazine and mentioned at the national meeting in Washington in August 2005.

The Marlin Chronicle honored with a variety of awards

The Marlin Chronicle staff has again proved that it is at the top of its game among the ranks of other college and university newspapers.

Last spring, the American Scholastic Press Association presented its First Place Award to The Marlin Chronicle as well as an award for outstanding photograph. The Society of Professional Journalists also provided its 2004 Mark of Excellence Award in Region 2 Competition to The Marlin Chronicle for Third Place, Best Non-Daily Newspaper.

When the Virginia Press Association announced the results of its statewide 2004 College Journalism Competition, The Marlin Chronicle had 17 winners in 14 categories including headline writing, column writing, sports writing, editorial writing, spot news writing, feature story writing, picture story, photography and page design.

The National Society for Collegiate Journalists 2004 Competition announced four winners in sports features, staff editorials, features, spot news story and front-page layout. These awards were won under the leadership of editors-in-chief Julia Green, 2003-04 and Colleen O'Connell, 2004-05.

In addition, The National Society for Collegiate Journalists awarded the Virginia Wesleyan Chapter of SCJ with the 2004 Edward A. McDonald Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award. Also, Junior Chelsea Fry, The Marlin Chronicle co-features editor, won the Agnes White Scholarship Award 2005 from Virginia Press Women.

Employee Appreciation Dinner

Employees were honored for their benchmark anniversaries and commitment to Virginia Wesleyan at the annual Employee Appreciation Dinner.

Celebrating 10 years were Sandra Billy, Leslie Hines, Ben Dobrin, James Everette, Barbara Fried, Delicia Johnson, Terry Robertson and Linda Sykes. Celebrating 20 years were Diane Hotaling, Carol Johnson and Cheul Kang. Twenty-five year honorees were Michael Hall, John Lang, Ann Shappell, Renate Thurman, Sharon Wilson and Althia Woodson-Robinson.

Congratulations to the Class of 2005!

Virginia Wesleyan held its 36th annual commencement ceremony Saturday, May 14 with about 270 members of the graduating class of 2005.

Dr. Charles Kimball, professor of comparative religion in the Department of Religion and the Divinity School at Wake Forest University, addressed the class.

Dr. Tom Fanney '76, professor of mathematics, was posthumously awarded the 2005 Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award. Fanney died in February, but the award was accepted by his widow Anita and his father Bill.

Dr. Craig Wansink, Batten Professor of Religious Studies, was awarded the 2005 Frank H. and Jane P. Batten Distinguished Scholar Award.

And, for the first time, the signature of a Wesleyan alumnus graced the diplomas when Gary D. Bonnewell '79 signed the diplomas as Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

Science students take the lead in undergraduate research

 

Summer vacations proved exciting and educational for a variety of students in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics who teamed up with faculty members for undergraduate research projects. Projects ranged from researching biodiesel production and setting up equipment to measure mercury pollutions on campus to geological mapping in southwest Montana, restoring lakes in Florida and investigating different species of arachnids in Northern Trinidad.

Following their field work and actual research projects, students then spend time creating papers and posters for publication and presentation, allowing students the opportunity to be published and receive award and scholarship money.

Virginia Wesleyan junior Dan Proud received a $500 award for his project entitled "Comparative Study of the Morphology of the Harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) of Trinidad, W.I." at the Virginia Academy of Sciences Fall Undergraduate Research Competition. In addition to Proud's award, seniors Jessica Tibbetts received a $670 research grant from Beta Beta Beta, the national biological honor society and Rebecca Hunter received a $2500 Summer Undergraduate Research Scholarship from VFIC (Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges) to support her work and trip to Trinidad.

In the future, the results of the students' undergraduate research may even be used to improve the Virginia Wesleyan campus. Currently, students are testing plots of succulent plants that may be incorporated into green roofs on some of Virginia Wesleyan's buildings.

Virginia Wesleyan and Virginia Aquarium partner to purchase new research vessel

Virginia Wesleyan College and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center announced a unique partnership in April 2005 with the building of a new research vessel. This collaboration will allow Virginia Wesleyan students to be on the forefront of further research and conservation of Virginia's waters and the marine animals that make it their home.

The 42-foot research and education vessel will be used by a variety of faculty and students in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Team. The vessel will enhance Aquarium operations and activities including collections, stranding response, research, release of rehabilitated animals and educational programming. A variety of Virginia Wesleyan classes will use the research vessel for field trips including oceanography, marine biology, ecology, environmental chemistry and environmental geology. "What better classroom could you have than the Chesapeake Bay?" said Assistant Professor Ocean and Atmospheric Science Elizabeth Malcolm, Ph.D. "By joining these research efforts, our students can help to solve real problems, contributing to our knowledge of the ocean environment."

The Chesapeake Classic Boat will be custom-made by Glass Boat Works Inc. of Exmore, Va. Special features to support the needs of the research vessel include the following:

• Expansive deck space, rear controls and dive support for aquatic animal collecting.
• Tower, observation deck and full electronics to assist with marine mammal research.
• Galley, v-berth and chart table to allow for short-term live aboard operations in coastal waters within a 500-mile range.

The Adult Studies Program expands areas of study

Beginning last fall, the Adult Studies Program added History and the PIDM Major (Prescribed InterDivisional Major, Elementary Education) to its areas of study. The availability of the History major allows adult students to pursue on nights and weekends a degree in the exact same major available to traditional-aged students during the day. The new PIDM major is for students working toward teacher certification as elementary teachers for grades PreK- 6. The PIDM major contains prescribed course work in four areas - English, Mathematics, History and Science - as outlined by the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition, the program still offers Alternate Certification for Teachers to individuals that have already received a bachelor's degree and would like to obtain teacher licensure in Pre-K-6 or 6-12. If you or someone you know are in the area and interested in what the Adult Studies Program has to offer, please contact the Office at asp@vwc.edu or 757.455.3263.

Katrina Strikes and Virginia Wesleyan Responds

When Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, Virginia Wesleyan wasted no time responding to the tragedy. President Billy Greer immediately sent an invitation to students at affected colleges inviting them to attend Virginia Wesleyan for a tuition-free fall semester. Although there were many calls, no students decided to enroll at Wesleyan.

At the same time, the Community Service Office organized efforts for the College to serve as the collection point for contributions to the American Red Cross and coordinated efforts to assemble Health Kits and Clean-up Kits/Flood Buckets to be sent into affected areas through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). The Wesleyan community collected more than 1,416 items to make 177 kits, providing basic hygiene supplies for as many people. Additionally, cash contributions of $544 were collected and sent to the American Red Cross.

There are also plans being developed to coordinate student trips to the Gulf to assist in rebuilding efforts during Spring Break.

Students gain international experience through trips abroad

Some Virginia Wesleyan students are getting out and gaining a taste of international travel with service, academic, athletic and research trips abroad. In the 2004-05 academic year, more than 50 Wesleyan students traveled abroad to a variety of countries, including Germany, England, Spain, Australia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and more.

In early August, members of the women's soccer team ended their summer vacation with a trip to Europe where they competed against five professional and semiprofessional teams during the 11-day mix of competition and adventure in Holland, Belgium and Germany. This trip was the first out-of-thecountry venture for any Virginia Wesleyan team.

Winter Session courses also provided students with a chance to travel. Two examples are "Women of the Caribbean" in which students explore, assess, analyze and apply feminist theories as they relate to themselves and to the women of the Caribbean. Students traveled to the Caribbean islands for further research and study of the social, political and cultural similarities and differences among American and Caribbean women; and "Seminar in the History of European Cities: Berlin" as students studied on campus in preparation for a culminating trip to Berlin to investigate the historical developments of the cities through walking tours, visits to museums and key landmarks and musical performances.

Through the Office of Community Service, a group of students also traveled to the Dominican Republic during Spring Break to work at an orphanage. A similar trip is planned for Spring Break 2006.

Community Service is building, cooking and computing

The Office of Community Service is no doubt one of the busiest on campus. Recent initiatives have included building a Habitat for Humanity House, preparing hot after-school meals for area schoolchildren and bridging the technology gap with free computer training courses.

Higher Ed Build provides a new home for Tonya

Virginia Wesleyan in conjunction with college and university students from five area institutions recently dedicated a Habitat for Humanity house in Norfolk.

The coalition of students from Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Tidewater Community College and Virginia Wesleyan College broke ground on the house in October 2004 and had been planning the build since February 2003. The coalition, known as the Higher Education Build Partnership, represented more than 60,000 students in South Hampton Roads. After a long, trying journey with numerous setbacks, the students were finally able to hand over the house keys to homeowner Tonya Cook and her family in April 2005.

Tonya's house is the first joint effort of colleges and universities for the South Hampton Roads affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. Financial support came from a variety of community leaders and businesses. Virginia Wesleyan College has the only chartered chapter of Habitat in the region. Chartered in 1989, the chapter has built two houses (1998, 2001).

Chop. Slice. Mix. Voil�!

Cooking for Kids began as a pilot project during the summer of 2004 and has since become a regular occurrence on the Virginia Wesleyan campus. The objective? To create a sustainable program that prepares meals for Kid's Caf� programs - Foodbank programs that bring hot meals or nutritional snacks to needy children in organized summer and after-school programs.

Members of the Virginia Wesleyan community and chefs-intraining from Johnson & Wales University in Norfolk join forces with on-campus dining service professionals and the Kid's Caf� program of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia to prepare the meals on a weekly basis.

Meals are picked up and delivered to schools, clubs and community centers where after-school programs in low-income areas ensure a safe environment for students whose parents work.

During the 2004-05 academic year, the Foodbank's Kid's Caf� programs served more than 125,000 after-school meals. The meals prepared in Wesleyan's kitchen will feed between 300 and 600 kids every week.

Bridging the digital divide with Techriders

In its fourth year, Virginia Wesleyan TechRiders trained 147 people over 11 sessions at eight new sites, including two community centers and two sites which offered the sessions in both fall and spring. This past summer, the TechRiders also taught 68 additional people over four sessions. In total, the TechRider teams have taught 742 people at more than 45 sites since 2001! Led by students, the program shows no signs of slowing down.

Founded in the spring of 2000 by former Governor Mark Warner, TechRiders is a Virginiabased non-profit organization that offers all Virginians the opportunity to access and understand technology by providing free computer training to individuals throughout the state. The courses teach basic computer and Internet skills in effort to close the technology gap that seems to grow wider by the day with new inventions. The goal of TechRiders is to be the catalyst to a lifetime of technology use for those who participate in the course.