V9.8 News From SU

V9.8 NEWS FROM SU

News from SU (Vol. 9 No. 8)
Aug. 16, 2007
An Electronic Newsletter for Southwestern Alumni

GET CONNECTED:
Register for the Online Alumni Directory. IT'S FREE! Update your own information and look up friends. Contact the Office of Alumni Relations for your personal registration number.

FEATURED STORIES:
President Schrum Interview to Air on the "Today" Show
William B. Jones Describes "Amazing" Response to his Book on the History of Southwestern
Update Your E-mail Address for a Chance to Win!

ALUMNI NEWS:
Have You Checked out Joe’s Blog?
Who Was Your Favorite Faculty Member?
Searching for Transfer Student Stories
Southwestern Athletics Golf Tournament Scheduled
Local Association Happenings
The Association President Plans for Two September Visits
Show your Southwestern Pride with an Alumni Pirate ID Card
Can We Pencil You In?
Look Who's Coming to Homecoming and Reunion Weekend
Homecoming Alumni Hospitality House
Arrr... You Celebrating a Class Reunion in 2007?
The Class of 1997 Seeks Photos for Reunion
Register Your Alumni Connection Group
Class Notes Spotlight

LIFELONG LEARNING:
Dallas Museum of Art: Ashes of Vesuvius Exhibit
Amy Tan Featured as the 2007 Writer’s Voice Speaker

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS:
Video Highlighting the Essence of the Southwestern Experience
Students Return for 2007-2008 Academic Year

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
President Schrum on the "Today" Show – Aug. 17
Houston Association Crepes Cooking Class – Aug. 25
Dallas Association Happy Hour – Aug. 29
Big Apple Association Happy Hour – Sept. 5
The Association President Visits Austin – Sept. 7
Alumni Council Meeting – Sept. 21-22
Dallas Association Happy Hour – Sept. 25
The Association President Visits Georgetown – Sept. 27
Writer's Voice Lecture – Oct. 23
Houston Association Shaolin Warriors Performance – Oct. 28
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend – Nov. 2-4
Athletics Golf Tournament in Houston – Nov. 17

FEATURED STORIES
President Schrum Interview to Air on the "Today" Show
An interview with President Jake B. Schrum ’68 is expected to air on NBC’s “Today” show this Friday, Aug. 17. President Schrum was interviewed for a piece about the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings, which are scheduled to be released to the public this Friday. The piece on the Today show should air between 7-9 a.m. across the country. In addition to President Schrum, it will include an interview with a representative from U.S. News & World Report and a family with a high school student who is searching for colleges. President Schrum was chosen to represent the group of college presidents who have signed a letter agreeing not to participate in the reputational portion of the U.S. News & World Report survey. This portion of the survey accounts for 25 percent of a college’s rankings. President Schrum and other university presidents who have boycotted this portion of the survey feel it is extremely problematic because it asks presidents to rank colleges they may have little information about. Presidents who signed the letter also have agreed not to use their U.S. News & World Report rankings in promotional materials published by their universities.

William B. Jones Describes "Amazing" Response to his Book on the History of Southwestern
September 2007 marks the one-year anniversary of the publication of To Survive and Excel: The Story of Southwestern University, 1840-2000. In this interview with Ellen Davis, director of communications, University Historian and Professor Emeritus William B. Jones discusses some of the response he has received since the book was published. Click here to read the interview. If you have not ordered your complimentary copy of To Survive and Excel, please visit www.southwestern.edu/thinkingahead/history.html.

Update Your E-mail Address for a Chance to Win!
Southwestern is holding a special drawing for alumni, parents and friends of the University. Visit www.sugrads.org and click on “Update Your Info.” All e-mail updates received by Friday, Aug. 31, will be entered in a special drawing. The randomly selected winner will have his/her choice of either a Pirate Bike or an Alumni Ring. Check out the September issue of the electronic newsletter News from SU for an announcement of the winner’s choice. Submit your information today!

ALUMNI NEWS
Have You Checked out Joe’s Blog?
As The Association of Southwestern University Alumni President Joe Seeber ’63 tours the country this year, he’s collecting stories about why Southwestern is special to alumni. Read other alumni stories and share yours. Perhaps you have a story about a favorite faculty member or a friendship that formed in the residence halls, or maybe you have a story that illustrates how the Southwestern Experience is actually lifelong. Check out Joe’s Blog!

Who Was Your Favorite Faculty Member?
As a part of 2007 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, "Arrr... You Connected?," The Association of Southwestern University Alumni would like to celebrate the faculty that garner student appreciation across the years. The Association is asking alumni to vote for their favorite faculty member. The five faculty members with the most votes will be celebrated during the "Faculty Fav Five Breakfast," scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Click here to vote for your favorite professor.

Searching for Transfer Student Stories
In an effort to continue collecting stories of Southwestern University alumni, The Association is particularly interested in learning more about transfer student experiences. If you transferred to Southwestern from another college or university, please share your story with us! Your story will then be published on Joe's Blog. Submit your story online. For more information, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 800-960-6363.

Southwestern Athletics Golf Tournament Scheduled
A Southwestern Athletics Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007, at 9 a.m. at the Wildcat Golf Club (12000 Almeda, Houston). The cost is $125 per player. Prizes and awards will be presented and sports memorabilia raffled at the event. Sponsorship opportunities are available to promote your business or simply to show your support. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Southwestern University Athletic Department. Online registration will be available in the coming weeks. For more information, contact Kent Huntsman, associate vice president for development, at huntsmak@southwestern.edu or 512-863-1482.

Local Association Happenings
Check out what local associations are doing across the country!

The Bay Area Association Officers Post Photos from Joe Seeber's July Visit
The Big Apple Association Holds September Happy Hour – Sept. 5
The Dallas Association Plans for Happy Hour at Stoneleigh P. – Aug. 29
The Greater Austin Association Invites Alumni to Trustee's Home – Sept. 7
The Greater Georgetown Association Plans for Wine Tasting – Sept. 27
The Houston Association Plans Several Events for the Fall
The San Antonio Area Association Asks Alumni for Their Opinions Through Online Survey

The Association President Plans for Two September Visits
Joe Seeber ’63, president of The Association of Southwestern University Alumni, is nearly complete with his 2007 27-city tour. To RSVP, contact alumni@southwestern.edu.

September 2007
Austin, Texas – Sept. 7 – Home of Kerry and Merriman Morton ’62
Georgetown, Texas – Sept. 27 – Southwestern University Julie Puett Howry Center

For information on Seeber's visits, check out The Association of Southwestern University Alumni Web site. See who Joe has met on his tour.

Can We Pencil You In?
Your friends want to see you at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, scheduled for Nov. 2-4, 2007. “Arrr… You Connected?” promises to be fun and packed with a collection of interesting activities. Help us build a "Look Who's Coming" list to promote attendance by completing the “Pencil Me In” form. Please note: You will still need to register for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend (including reunion parties) when you receive the formal invitation for "Arrr...You Connected?" in late August.

Look Who's Coming to Homecoming and Reunion Weekend
Look who's PLANNING to come! Click here to view a list of alumni who have completed the "Pencil Me In" form indicating that they plan to attend Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Join your classmates and friends on the "Look Who's Coming" list and let others know that you have marked your calendar! Submit your "Pencil Me In" form today! (Please note: Completing the "Pencil Me In" form does not register you for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Registration will take place later this month.)

Homecoming Alumni Hospitality House
Experience for yourself what everyone is taking about! For the second year, the Alumni Council is sponsoring an Alumni Hospitality House throughout Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Nov. 2-4, 2007. Located directly across the street from the Roy and Lillie Cullen ("Ad") Building, in the San Gabriel House Bed and Breakfast, the Hospitality House will be open from noon to midnight Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday so that you have a place to meet your old friends and make new ones. Further details will be provided in your Homecoming and Reunion Weekend invitation, due to be mailed later this month.

Arrr... You Celebrating a Class Reunion in 2007?
If you're searching for an excuse to gather friends together and it's been a while since you have visited Southwestern, Homecoming and Reunion Weekend (Nov. 2-4, 2007) is the perfect opportunity to catch up! Members from the following classes have been making preparations to bring everyone together for a memorable weekend. Visit the 2007 Reunion Web site to learn about details.

Be sure your reunion planning committee has your current contact information. Register to use the online alumni directory. It's FREE! Update your own information and find classmates and friends. Contact the Office of Alumni Relations to obtain your personal registration number.

Class of 1947 (60th Reunion)          Class of 1957 (50th Reunion)
Class of 1962 (45th Reunion)          Class of 1967 (40th Reunion)
Class of 1972 (35th Reunion)          Class of 1977 (30th Reunion)
Class of 1982 (25th Reunion)          Class of 1987 (20th Reunion)
Class of 1992 (15th Reunion)          Class of 1997 (10th Reunion)
Class of 2002 (5th Reunion)

The Class of 1997 Seeks Photos for Reunion
Ahoy, mateys! Plans for the 10-year reunion are going well and a good turnout is expected. The Reunion Planning Committee members need the help of its classmates and friends. They are on the hunt for photos taken during their years at Southwestern. If you have any pictures and are willing to share them with the committee, please scan and e-mail them to supirates1997@yahoo.com. Also, be sure to visit the Class of 1997 reunion Web site (click here) and add your name to the "Looks Who's Coming" list by filling out the "Pencil Me In" form.

Register Your Alumni Connection Group
Do you keep up with a group of Southwestern alumni with whom you share a common interest or would you like to form a group with a common purpose? If so, you can form an Alumni Connection Group! Alumni Connection Groups acknowledge groups of alumni (of at least 25 identifiable alumni members) who are associated through mutual interests and strengthened by their relationships with one another and Southwestern. When you affiliate your Alumni Connection Group with The Association of Southwestern University Alumni, there are many benefits, including representation on the Alumni Assembly. E-mail alumni@southwestern.edu for an affiliation form and more information.

Class Notes Spotlight
Have you heard?As a Pike, a community leader and a public servant, United States Congressman Pete Sessions ’78 has been selected by Pi Kappa Alpha as the 2007 Judge Elbert P. Tuttle Distinguished Achievement Award recipient. Click here to read more. See what your classmates are up to by visiting Class Notes online. While you are there, submit your own class note!

LIFELONG LEARNING
As stated in the University's Core Values and The Association's Mission, Southwestern encourages lifelong learning and a passion for intellectual and personal growth. Learn more about upcoming lifelong learning opportunities by visiting www.sugrads.org.

Dallas Museum of Art: Ashes of Vesuvius Exhibit
The Office of Alumni Relations encourages you to explore an exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. Thomas Howe, professor of art and art history and holder of the Herman Brown chair at Southwestern, serves as coordinator general of the Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation Project and co-curator of Ashes of Vesuvius, In Stabiano: Exploring the Ancient Seaside Villas of the Roman Elite. This special exhibition continues to tour the country and has made a stop at the Dallas Museum of Art (1717 North Harwood, Dallas). The Ashes of Vesuvius, In Stabiano: Exploring the Ancient Seaside Villas of the Roman Elite exhibit will be open through Oct. 7, with a stunning collection of archaeological objects from the ancient Roman site of Stabiae (modern Castellammare di Stabia). Many are aware that Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in A.D. 79 buried the famous town of Pompeii, Italy. But, few people know that it also buried Stabiae, a seaside enclave of the rich and famous about three miles away, at the foot of the Sorrento-Amalfi Coast. The exhibit tells the stories of four villas owned by wealthy Romans who spent the summer months in this town by the bay—Villa San Marco, Villa del Pastore, Villa Arianna and Villa Carmiano. Click here to learn more about the Ashes of Vesuvius exhibit.

Amy Tan Featured as the 2007 Writer’s Voice Speaker
Amy Tan, author of the 1989 bestseller The Joy Luck Club, will be the 2007 speaker for the Writer’s Voice series sponsored by the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library at Southwestern. The 2007 Writer’s Voice lecture has been set for Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. Tan has written several other novels since The Joy Luck Club, including The Kitchen God’s Wife (1991), The Hundred Secret Senses (1995), The Bonesetter’s Daughter (2001) and Saving Fish from Drowning (2005). Her first work of non-fiction, The Opposite of Fate, was published in 2003. Tan also has written two children’s books, The Moon Lady (1992) and The Chinese Siamese Cat (1994). More information about Tan's lecture will be provided in the September 2007 issue of News from SU.

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
Video Highlighting the Essence of the Southwestern Experience
This year during the Matriculation Convocation Ceremony, members of the Class of 2011 and their families will engage in watching a video that highlights Southwestern's history, traditions and campus life. Please feel free to watch this video from your computer and catch the essence of the Southwestern Experience.

Students Return for 2007-2008 Academic Year
It is that time of year again. New and returning students arrived on campus for the first day of classes, Aug. 27. Southwestern is excited to welcome 376 new and 26 transfer students to campus for 2007! Of the incoming class, 41 new students are alumni legacies.

This week, Southwestern is welcoming members of the Class of 2011 – a class that may be the largest in the university’s history.

One hundred and seventy-one students from the first-year class will be participating in 13 Living-Learning Communities this fall – an increase of 22 students from last year. This program has now become so popular that it has been expanded it to include the first floor of Brown-Cody residence hall. Students in Living-Learning Communities share rooms with other students in their First-Year Seminar Class. Topics of this year’s First-Year Seminars include everything from chocolate (“An Aesthetic, Historical and Scientific Journey into the Wonders of Chocolate”) to surfing (“Lessons to be Learned from the Search for the Perfect Wave”).

New this year for first-year students is a lecture series during the first week called “First Lectures.” In this series, Southwestern professors will give lectures on topics in their discipline or just topics they enjoy. Several lectures will be given by teams of faculty members. For example, faculty members who teach German, French, Chinese and Spanish will team up to give a lecture on “The Impact of Language in Our Globalized World.”

Southwestern University President Jake B. Schrum ’68 and his wife, Jane Woodman Schrum ’70, will welcome the new students at an ice cream social Monday, Aug. 20. The couple will give all the new students mesh grocery bags to use instead of plastic bags when they go shopping. The giveaway is part of Southwestern’s efforts to become a leader in sustainability.