Just got back from our annual Whitworth Alumni event in Princeton. Generally we hang out at Darrell Guder’s house (Guder used to be Dean at Whitworth) but tonight we went out to Charlie Browns to hang out with Whitworth President Bill Robinson. If you want to see last year’s picture, click here (although, I just noticed that I wore the same shirt tonight…oh well). Tonight we went around the circle and gave little updates as to what our future plans were. When it got to me, I said, “Well, I got engaged a little while ago…” and Bill looked at me and said, “I know. I checked the blog. [Laughter] Yah, I mean, I check the blog. Although…I do try to avoid that blog whenever possible.”So, really, he’s trying to avoid the blog. That’s okay. As long as he does check it occasionally.
Anyway, it was good to hear some news about Whitworth College and some of the exciting things that are happening there. Like I’ve said before, I have my beef with Whitworth College (and that could simply be because I was a Religion major - although, they changed the department name to Theology now, which is more fitting) - but it was a good place for me to be, and it is a place that I think would be a great place to work with young college students. And Bill continues to amaze me - he knows EVERYTHING and remembers every detail about every student at the college. That has to be one of the more impressive things about him - he does everything (and more) that most university presidents do, and yet, he still manages to have amazing relationships with the students, and he tries to exemplify the compassion and grace that he desires to see within the environment at the school. So, thanks for being a great college President Bill, and thanks, even though it’s probably painful at times, thanks for checking the blog.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m a fellow Whitworth grad and I have two conflicting thoughts on President Robinson:
1) He’s great. His first year there was my freshman year and I had a great conversation with him at B-J about Steve Alford - a childhood basketball hero of mine, who had been the coach at Robinson’s former college. And a week later I got copies of articles about Alford in campus mail - he not only remembered me, but he thought about me later in the midst of all his other stuff going on. That has always impressed me (and it’s a nicer story than just how good his sportsmanship was when I totally blocked his shot in intramural hoops).
BUT…
2) He’s a threat. Not only do I keep dealing with comments in “Heart and Mind” about wanting to stop Ultimate Frisbee in the loop (which would be TRAGIC), but my wife (also a Whitworth grad) always talks about how wonderful he is and frankly I’m getting tired of it!
Hmmm, that’s odd, I just noticed that I also wore the same shirt last year :-)
confession…I actually like checking out your blog. Also, thanks for the fuzzies; it’s not that my memory is that good, I just flat love Whitworth students. Also, is that a Mont Blanc pen in my pocket? Great to see you, Adam. BR
damn, the president of my college never checks my blog. hey david black, i want blog comments right now!! maybe he will read this and oblige
Have you read Tony Jones blog about his visit to Whitworth?