Thirteen concussions were reported to the Dean of Students in Fall 2013, a sharp increase from previous years. Students and staff believe that higher numbers were reported last semester because of heightened awareness about the seriousness of concussions and their impact on the brain.
Residence Life brings an end to Camp Whitman, the period between the end of finals and graduation. Students must move out of residence halls by Thursday, May 22 this year, in order to prevent disruptive behavior.
In an effort to focus campus sustainability efforts and learn from peer institutions, Campus Sustainability Coordinator Tristan Sewell will travel with five Whitman students to the Washington Higher Education Sustainability Conference. Whitman is co-sponsoring the event, which will take place at Western Washington University.
Current Visiting Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies Annie Petersen was not hired for the new tenure track position in the department position and will leave after this academic year. The lack of student regard in the hiring process has produced issues between the administration and students.
In the 2011–2012 school year, over 27 percent of students used the Counseling Center resources compared to the national average where nine to 12 percent of students at small colleges sought counseling services.
Outrage at specific incidents of racism has evolved into demands for decisive action on campus, putting pressure on Whitman's administration to instigate change.
ASWC is working to alleviate pressure from an increase in club funding requests, as well as balance the student fee and lifecycle fund. While ASWC funding has remained relatively stable for the last five years, the recent budget crunch raises the question of whether this austerity is the beginning of a longer trend.
The America Reads America Counts program employs 30 Whitman students to work toward enhancing reading and math skills in classrooms throughout Walla Walla. While the nature of work varies, ARAC interns work primarily with students in small groups or one-on-one settings.
Every summer Whitman Direct Action (WDA) travels to Guatemala to research economic development and humanitarian aid, but this tradition may soon come to an end. Ambivalence from members of the ASWC Finance Committee left WDA questioning whether they can count on any support and wondering how to fund this year’s trip to Guatemala without it.
Active religious participation among Whitman students, and college students in general, appears to be small compared to that of the rest of the population. The small groups of students who do practice their religions, in whatever form, at times feel stigmatized, and thus religious discussion is further muted. Where is the room for religious freedom at Whitman?
