Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from LYRASIS IVIembers and Sloan Foundation http://www.archive.org/details/agnesscottalumna8283agne ^ '^ rS^h^feysj it REC-VLS.PAXOF^ Who will you become? The college experience means something different to each of us, but Agnes Scott alums seem to agree on the "one true thing" that defined our years at the college. That guiding principle is being incorporated into the experience of current students as well as being used to recruit new ones, by Barbara byrd GAINES '77 Barbara Byrd Gaines '77, president of the alumnae association, is manager- directory content for BellSoutfi Advertising and Publishing in Tucker, Ga. Her daughter, Bevin, is a 2005 graduate of the college. Wlun you arrived on campus your tnrst year whatever year it was did anyone ask you, "Who will vou become? Proiiably not But it was implied The ques- tion probably had not been articulated in just those words. Everyone faculty, administration and staff was here to help you answer that question. The college created the possibilities, asked you the question and set you on the path to where you are and to where you are going. Overwhelmingly, alumnae credit Agnes Scott with playing a major role in shaping you into the people you have become. This became evident recently as consultants interviewed alumnae, students and prospective students, searching for the "one true thing" that defines the Agnes Scott c.Npencncc You told them Agnes Scott was life- changing for you, a major factor in helping you become the person you are today and the one you are beconiing ^(lu will see these words or variations ot them frequently since it is being asked of students and prospective students. For students, "Who Will You Become?" describes a philosophy of educa- tion that is responsive to their dreams, talents, abilities and ambitions lor alumnae, this (luestmn calls us to consider the role Agnes Scott played in our lives It also calls us to consider the ways the college continues lo be involved in our lives, the ways we continue to be mlluenced and altected, shaped, if you will by Agnes Scott. Numerous ways lor us to be involved in the life of the college are available We can attend events Alumnae Weekend local chapter e\ enis, cultural and sporting events Family Weekend, if you have a daughter attend- ing the college,- and special lectures and readings. We can volunteer with the college, local alumnae chapters and the alumnae association. We can support the college through donations to the annual fund and I can t say enough about how important it is that alumnae give yearly to the college to help meet the needs and opportunities of each year. If you are looking for a way to connect with the college, contact your class president or call the alumnae office. The college keeps you posted on activities and developments through this magazine AIjim Ei'fiils, Scott c-iVni's and various mailings through- out the year. Most college events are open to alumnae. Each interaction with the college provides a new experience and a new way for us to become As akminae, you are the wonderful results, the radiant examples of the colleges efforts in your lourney. The professions and volunteer activities in which you are engaged and indeed the total wdiiien \'ou are and will be show .Agnes Scott was lite changing for vou. The college asks again Who will vou become^' ^PlOAjU^i^ /4*-K^ Editor's note: We are eager to hear ^ur stories. If you would like to share how Agnes Scott helped you become the person you are today, please contact Jennifer Bryan Owen at iowen@agnescott.edu or 404 4/1-6301, orwrite to me in care of the college. o Fall 2005 Volume 82, Number 1 -^^^ INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT [\i FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Mary Ackerly EDITOR Jennifer Bryon Owen SENIOR writer/editor Wendy Cromwell ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT janann Giles DESIGN Winnie Hulme Design Office Our Mission Agnes Scott College educates women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times. 2005 Agnes Scolt College Published for alumnae and fnends twice a year by the Office of Communications, Agnes Scott College, Rebekah Annex, 141 E. College Ave, Decatur, CA 30030. The content of the magazine reflects the opmions of the writers and not the viewpoint Change of address: Send address changes by mail to Office of Development, Agnes Scott College, 141 E College Ave , Decatur, CA 30030, by telephone, call 404 471-6472 or by e-mail to development^ agnesscott.edu E-mail: publication@agnesscott.edu Web site: www.agnesscott edu Cover: The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts/Corbis Agne^^StCffij: GAMBIA PHOTOS BY AMANDA FURNES5 "08 Features 10 In Her Own Words Women's colleges live up to their claim. Four alumnae show us how. BY DAWN SLOAN DOWNES '92 13 Preserve the Past, Create the Future On the drawing board are a major reno- vation and a new building, the prospect of which is stirring the memories and dreams of the Agnes Scott community. BY CELESTE PENNINGTON 18 All That Coke Stock Do colleges go better with Coke? This historical and current look at the rela- tionship between the college in Decatur and the soft drink giant in Atlanta shows just how well the two go together. BY LISA ASHMORE Departments 2 Reader's Voice 5 Arts & Letters Agnes Scott's Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright "rescues" a Broadway-bound musical. BY LINDA LENTZ HUBERT '62 8 Research Everyone complains about the traffic but an Agnes Scott professor is doing something about it. BY JENNIFER LUCAS 26 Who Will You Become? Students with goals and ambitions fulfill them at Agnes Scott. 28 World View An alumna's devotion to Indonesia leads her back following the tsunami. BY MELANIE S. BEST '79 Students discover how the plight of women in Gambia mirrors the struggles of their country. BY AMANDA FURNESS '08 Reader's Voice ^^ We can and should be leaders in the march toward greater justice, compassion and inclusion, both in the church and in the world. '' THE REV. ANNA PINCKNEY STRAIGHT '93 The Last Issue ANOTHER STRONG ISSUE! While I have no doubt ministry is the vocation for which God designed me, 1 do believe I arrived at it much sooner than I would have without the wise, kind and superior teaching of Martha Rees, Tma Pippin, John Carey and Patti Snyder. I was tremendously blessed while a student at Agnes Scott, most of all for being encouraged to keep the bar high for Christian communities we can and should be leaders in the march toward greater justice, com- passion and inclusion, both in the church and in the world. From what I can read, this belief is alive and well in the religious diversity and dia- logue of today's Agnes Scott. It is a wonderful gift to current and future students. What about the window pictured on your cover? That powerful window (a picture of which hangs on my office wall) was my companion for so many moments of meditation, prayer and worship. Where is it now? THE REV. ANNA PINCKNEY STRAIGHT '93 Pill e-mail I HAVE SPENT a most engaging evening reading, cover to cover, the latest ASC alumnae magazine. Though I subscribe to numerous national publica- tions of high repute, this issue of Agnes Scott The Magazine is certainly the most riveting received in some time. Every article was superior in content and gave pause for excessive brain work. Well done to one and all. Alums everywhere surely can take pride in the folks who are building upon a proud past and taking our alma mater toward ever higher ideals. Thank you. MARGE CROMER '65 ii f*'^^ the stage as well as find a way to overcome the Lion King stereotypes that plague any current stage rendering of Africa. Changes for New York The Atlanta solutions had not been entirely successful, Norman explained, and she shared a number of the changes she contemplated for New York. She described how an intensified focus on the novel's primary character, Celie and a corresponding diminishment in her sister Nettie's stage role would improve the coherence of the play and help to make convincing Celie's remark- able development in self-esteem. She delighted us with her reassurance that the hilarious "gossips," a recurring trio of carping women, not only were to persist but were to be given husbands. She mentioned the expanded role of Squeak, whose slight part in the Atlanta production had left her motivations murky. There were to be a number of cast changes, she explained. She spoke of new songs and revisions of old and, this time, Norman had been able to do more than tweak their lyrics. Norman also shared a substantial change made to promote clarity and focus. She planned for the opening scene to differ in time and place from that of the Atlanta production. At the Alliance, the play began with Celie's mother's fijneral and the introduction of her two grieving little girls, Celie and Nettie. The pained gospel music was compelling, but the performances of the children were not. The revised opening: a few short minutes into the show and a newborn baby cries. As her babe is taken from her, Celie lullabies a heart- wrenching song added since the premiere "Somebody Gonna Love You." That supernal pledge to her offspring links the opening and the close of the play, as well as the start and the completion of Celie's journey to selfhood and self love. By the time this musical ends, Celie, in the spirit of Walker's novel, commits to the belief that these lyrics apply not only to her children, but also to herself. As we listened to Norman's tape of this song, I realized I was far from alone in registering its emotional power and thematic significance. These plaintive and haunting notes contain the genesis of the joy of self-affirmation to come. We, as an early trial audience, felt included in the fictional struggles and triumphs of that poor abused black woman living decades ago in rural Georgia. A universal paradigm In the book she constructed for this production, Norman helps to "write a life" for which she reveals manifest sensitivity and sympathy,- but she also makes certain as Walker would surely wish that the life of this musical provides a universal paradigm for the inevitable battles for selfhood and self-approval waged by almost all human souls, even those who experience lives far more advantaged in every way than Walker's Celie The rousing July 4 finale offers the ^^ prospect of healing and wholeness for women and men, for black and white and perhaps even for the nation. Celie's independence is the primary reason for celebration, of course, but in her playbook, Norman underscores redemption for the chastened Mister as well, allowing him and his male counterparts back into the human fold at least provisionally. In the lyricism of The Color Purple, A New Musical, there is more hope than defeat, as much humor as pain a view we trust will be endorsed by sold-out performances, standing ovations and theatrical awards to follow with the Broadway production. Linda Lentz Hubert '62 is professor emerita of English at Agnes Scott. L THE COLOR PURPLE, A NEW MUSICAL Opening Night: December 1, 2005 Broadway Theatre 1681 Broadway New York, N.Y. Color Purp/e .*^' FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 7 Research Going Nowhere Fast Everyone complains about the traffic, but no one almost no one does anything about it. Driven by her frustration and curiosity, an Agnes Scott professor's research may yield solutions down the road, byjennifer lucas The cost for congestion is $573 per year for each Atlantan, The city also has three of the top 20worst bottle- necks in the United States. The average automobile commuter in the United States spends 53 minutes driving 30 miles roundtrip a day just going to work and back home again. That is a lost hour each day. Traffic congestion has increased nationwide, and American roads are congested for longer periods of time, which has increased travel times and will continue to increase travel times. Needless to say, commuting to and from work is frustrating and stressful for many people. In Atlanta, where I live, and in many other cities, commuting is posing a threat to quality of life. This issue has surpassed safety issues, and great numbers of people are moving back inside the Perimeter to avoid long commutes. Atlanta ranks fifth in the nation as the city with the great- est delays and 1 1th for the worst congested travel. The cost for congestion is $573 per year for each Atlantan. The city also has three of the top 20 worst bottlenecks in the United States This issue is a personal one for me. One Friday afternoon, I was delayed at work and did not leave until 3:30 p.m. I had hoped to leave earlier because Friday rush-hour traffic is the worst travel time during the week. My usual rule was that if I did not leave by 3 p.m. I would stay at work until 7 p.m. On this day I took my chances and suffered the consequences. I took my normal route home, a 28-mile trip. Just after getting onto the interstate, I saw that the vehicles up ahead were at a standstill. I quickly thought about trying to exit, but I was six lanes in and missed the exit. I drove up to the stopped vehicles and waited. In my first hour of waiting, a radio reporter announced that a tractor-trailer had jackknifed and spilled its contents. I began thinking about how much my commute was affecting me. Unlike most of my friends, I got up at 4:45 a.m. so that 1 could leave my house by 5: 1 5 a.m. I wanted to avoid the traffic, but I also wanted to be sure to get to work on time for my 9 a.m. course. If I tried to drive to Agnes Scott during rush hour, my nor- mal 45-minute trip could take two hours or more. In my second hour of waiting, I thought about my work-family research and how commut- ing especially affects dual-income couples who work in opposite parts of a city. In my third hour of waiting, I wondered who was doing research on commuting and what those people were finding. That day it took me almost four hours to get home. But it also gave me my current research project. The next day I conducted a literature search on commuting, and found articles about such things as road construction, vehicle safety and traffic flow, but I wanted to know about how people are affected by commuting. Most of what I found had been done in other countries and was 20 or more years old. I was surprised more researchers were not doing research on the psychological effects of commuting. This gave me a wonderfijl opportu- nity. Since beginning my research five years ago, others have begun investigating commuting, but much more research needs to be done. The following tips, many the results of my published research, can be used to lessen your commuter stress. AT WORK Participate in a fiextime program with var\'ing work start times. Through my research 1 found that commuters with flextime reported less driver stress and feelings of time urgency. Participate in a telecommuting program. You can avoid commuting altogether on the days you work from home. Participate in company vanpooling or carpooling. 8 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 #^Ai ^^^r^Bfnf ^^^F ^n Set up nontraditional work hours to avoid the heaviest traffic. If your employer doesn't offer these programs, it's worth it for you to raise the issue. AT HOME Find a predictable commute. My research revealed commuters with more predictable commutes experienced less driver stress. 1 also found less-predictable commutes nega- tively affected work productivity once at work. Live near mass transit and use it. Drive away from traffic to avoid congestion. 1 found commuters reporting greater conges- tion also reported greater driver stress. However, I did not find the commuters with longer-distance and time commutes to report greater driver stress, so congestion is a more important contributing factor for stress than length of commute. Move closer to work if you have a congested commute. If the above suggestions aren't feasible, you can try to cope by listening to music or to books on tape. Think about purchasing a vehicle with a comfortable environment. Less noise and vibra- tion, better back support and an air filtration system ease commuter stress. 1 continue to research commuting and hope to learn more about the effects of commuting so that 1 can develop better coping solutions. This year I decided to take on a much more ambitious research project. 1 am writing a grant to study both the physiological and psychological stress that can result from commuting. I became inter- ested in physiological stress after finding through my past research that commuters reporting high commute strain also reported more negative phys- ical symptoms and exhaustion. For the grant, I am proposing a model of the commute experience with physiological and psy- chological stress as the end result. I will assess stress using written questionnaires and salivary Cortisol, a stress hormone. Salivary Cortisol was selected because it is a reliable indicator of physi- ological stress and also because it can be extracted from saliva instead of blood or urine, it causes less stress for research participants. This is exciting research because salivary Cortisol will allow me to determine if stressful commutes actually cause physical damage to commuters' bodies. Following my own advice, I have significantly decreased my commute stress. 1 moved much closer to work, drive away from traffic creating a predictable commute and avoid the rush hour by going into work later. Jennifer Lucas, associate professor of psychology, joined the faculty in 1998. She holds a Ph.D. in industrial- organizational psychology from Kansas State University. author's note Wliile they were students, Kira Barden 'oo, lelena Crawford '03, IVlandy Gray Gewin '00, Tonia Miller '00 and Amber Raley '02 assisted in conducting my commuting research, and this experience helped all of them gain acceptance into graduate programs. FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 9 In Her Own Words: The Value of a Women s College Education These days, the value and feasibility of a women's college education generates hot debate, and some single-sex schools are admitting men or closing. Testimonies of Agnes Scott alumnae validate the college's clear mission of educating women. BY DAWN SLOAN DOWNES '92 Women make up more than half the students enrolled at America's coeducational institutions, and the growth in their numbers outstrips those of men Because of this, women may appear to have the same access to educational experiences and opportunities as men. Some educators and politicians question the value of a single-sex education, but they fail to note the fact that women who attend women's colleges are three times more likely to major in economics and one and one-half times more likely to earn degrees in math or science. When sui-veyed, women's college graduates report con- sistently greater overall satisfaction with their col- lege experience than do their coed counterparts. While women's college graduates represent only 2 percent of all female college graduates, they make up more than 20 percent of the women in Congress, 30 percent oi Business Week's "2004 50 Female Rising Stars of Corporate America ' and 20 percent of Black Enterprise Miulazine's "20 Most Powerful African-American Women." Women participate in philanthropic endeavors in significantly higher numbers after graduation and are twice as likely as graduates of coeduca- tional institutions to earn doctorate or medical degrees. Statistics and facts indicate a women's college education does give its recipients an edge in careers and life. But the "proof is in the pudding," as a look at four alumnae conHrms, Daum Sloiin Downes '92 is ii freelance ifriter in Tucker, Ga. 10 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 "Constantly surrounded by accomplished women who were my fellow studmts, alumnae, professors and college administrators, I could envision my future as one of them." DR. AMY HUTCHINSON '86 A View of the Future Dr Amy Hutchinson '86, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Emory University, had never considered attending a women's college. "I specifically threw away every brochure I received from women's colleges," she recalls. "I planned to go to a large university with the rest of my crowd until late in my senior year when a teacher suggested Agnes Scott might be a better fit for me." Hutchinson, whose job includes teaching and research as well as patient care, has also volunteered on a number of international medical missions, including a mission to Ecuador in April. As part of her clinical research, she recently undertook a study of childhood vision screening and began a project with a Georgia Institute of Technology engineer to develop an automated vision-screening system. Her first visit to Agnes Scott did it. "It only took that one brief experi- ence for me to realize that Agnes Scott was the kind of college I wanted to attend," Hutchinson says. "I remember coming away with a very favorable impression of the students because they seemed so confident and intelligent. I was also impressed with the dynamic in the classroom. As it turns out, the attributes that attracted me to Agnes Scott that weekend are the very ones that ultimately helped define who 1 am today." Hutchinson attributes her academic success at Agnes Scott and in medical school to the college's small class size and direct interaction with her professors. This led to "a certain confidence and self-assuredness that 1 prob- ably would not have gained if I had gone to a larger university," she says. JODIE ELIZABETH JEFFREY '80 Focus on Self Co-owner of Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing in Mountain Home, Ark., Jodie Elizabeth Jeffrey '80 manages 24 employees and runs a full-service market- ing agency that handles accounts for manufacturing, health-care and service businesses. Since 1984, Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing has won more than 40 national awards for creative services. A native of Lone Oak, Ky., a small town in the western part of the state, Jeffrey learned early in life about the societal expectations placed on young women. "In rural Western Kentucky in thel970s, women focusing on themselves and their intellectual growth was uncommon," says Jeffrey. "Attending Agnes Scott allowed me to do that in a lovely, safe environment. The courses and faculty enabled me to develop creatively and analytically. I not only gained from the course knowledge, but developed communication skills that still serve me well today." For Jeffrey, choosing a women's college was simple. "Going to college was about learning and stretching oneself mentally. Agnes Scott's focus has always been at least in my opinion primarily about learning. The coed schools I visited during my search for a college seemed to stress the social aspects of college as much or more than the opportunities for learning." Jeffrey says her Agnes Scott professors inspired a lifelong love of learn- ing that is a "never-ending and rewarding journey of its own. If you know how to learn, to use your mind and communicate, you can handle any job or career or opportunity you encounter the rest of your life." "It was wonderful to have jour years oj learning without the distraction of hoys in the classroom or competition for the professor's attention or pressure to look good in class." FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 11 "Bejore and after college there are ample opportunities to develop the skill of iporking with men. At a women's college, you are free to try something new and to succeed without the fear of upstaging some hoy who's interested in you." LETITIA "TISH" LOWE '69 Lifelong Learning Letitia "Tish" Lowe '69 experienced the growth of her self-esteem and confi- dence during her years at Agnes Scott. However, the former president of the World Bank's International Finance Corp. says the most important thing Agnes Scott gave her was a love of learning. Lowe has been the first woman in each position she's ever held, and in some cases, the first person in that job. "My professors at Agnes Scott pro- vided me with a sense that even if I didn't know about something, 1 could learn what I needed to learn to do it." Her career began when she became the first woman to work as a com- puter operator for IBM. A music major, she taught herself programming before taking anthropology classes at the University of Tennessee and ulti- mately creating her job as head of the Tennessee Valley Authority's cultural resources management program. At the age of 40, Lowe earned her MBA. from Yale University. Hoping to combine her environmental experience with an interest in international development, Lowe was told that such a job simply did not exist. Refusing to abandon her dream, Lowe secured a five-week contract with the International Finance Corp. as a public relations consultant for IPC's lone environmental specialist. Soon, she became a fijll-time employee and developed a program to train bankers in developing nations to evaluate loans for their environ- mental impact. Her program is now a standard for banks worldwide. "If I'm not learning something new, I'm not happy," says Lowe. "It was very freeing for me to attend Agnes Scott free of the social pressures of a coed environment and to be challenged to be better than 1 thought I could be " Retired from the IFC, she is studying drawing at the Angel Academy of Art, the world's foremost academy of classical art, in Florence, Italy. KAY LAWTHER KRILL '77 Confidence to Lead Fashion may not have been the first priority for Kay Lawther Krill '77 when she was a student at Agnes Scott, but the psychology major has learned a thing or two about the subject since graduating. Recently she added CEO to her role as president of Ann Taylor Stores Corp., where she manages one of the best-known and most successfijl brands in women's fashion. Krill joined Ann Taylor in 1 994 as merchandising vice president and in 1996 helped launch the company's new stand-alone Ann Taylor Loft division, a moderately priced brand extension, for which she is credited with building and nurturing since its inception. Promoted to president of the division in 200 1 , she turned the concept into one of the retail industry's fastest growing brands, delivered 19 consecutive quarters of positive sales and turned the store into Ann Taylor Corp.'s largest division. Since November 2004, she has overseen all three of the company's concepts Ann Taylor Stores, Ann Taylor Loft, Ann Taylor Factory Stores with more than 700 stores in 45 states, which produce more than $1 billion in annual sales. She also manages all aspects of marketing. "Agnes Scott definitely developed my leadership skills and my confi- dence. 1 was president of the athletic association and on the student council, and those two experiences were very important for my growth and exposure. Leadership is a journey, and confidence in leading a team, a company, or even a few key associates, further develops and is refined each year." "A single-sex education was crucial in creating and developing my thought process, my confidence and my leadership skills. " 12 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 On the drawing boards are two "beauties" a stunning new chapel and renovation and expansion of the beloved Anna I. Young Alumnae House. While both projects meet practical needs of the college, both also meet spiritual needs, by celeste pennington Preserve the Past, Create the Future FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 13 Anna I. Young Alumnae House: It's Time The Anna I.Young Alumnae House, named for a 1910 alumna of the college who served as a mathematics professor until her death In 1920, is the second oldest such building in the United States, and the oldest in the Southeast. After Mary Wallace Kirk '11 became president of the local alumnae association in 1919, she visited the alumnae offices in a number of other women's colleges. She discovered Vassar College had an alumnae house and decided Agnes Scott should have one, too. Kirk didn't waste time, donat- ing half of the needed $20,000 for design and construction for the house to be built in 1921. When authorized by the trustees, the resolution stated the "alumnae of the college are our best asset." The well-worn guest books of the Anna I. Young Alumnae House read like a who's who. With its high ceilings, congenial hearth and lovely garden, the Georgian-style home has hosted a range of guests from royalty to students' dates, as well as provided a home-away- from-home for the literary greats. As president, James R. McCain { 1923- 1951 ) sent fresh flowers for the enjoyment of Agnes Scott visitors, among them the poet from New England. "Robert Frost was tall and gaunt and very quiet," recalls Mamie Ratliff Finger '39, who kept the flowers fresh as she served him and other Alumnae House guests for two years after her graduation. Frost spoke few words to Finger, but he showed his appreciation with a beloved keep- sake, an autographed book of his poems. An elegant place to live "It was a very elegant place to live," allows Finger who stayed in a second-floor room of the house where she worked as both hostess and assistant editor of the alumnae association's publications, including the Qunrterly. She is certain that under- taking prepared her well for the stream of guests she has entertained during 62 years of marriage to a minister who became president of a Methodist college and later a bishop. Day students regularly enjoyed refreshment in the Alumnae House's downstairs tearoom. Trustees who didn't see eye-to-eye during board meetings have been known to iron out their dif- ferences while relaxing together in the living room. For decades, the alumnae association has used its lush and fragrant garden to fete new stu- dents in the fall and new graduates each spring. "It is a symbol of those who have gone beyond the campus," notes Lucia Howard Sizemore '65, former director of alumnae relations. "It is also a bridge for those coming to and going from campus." Thanks to a cohort of volunteers, the Alumnae House garden has been restored and maintained beautiRilly. Structurally, the house is in good shape, but the blush is off the rose when it comes to the house's outdated systems and interiors. Years ago, one avid gardener, Mary Ben Ei^win '25, described it by saying: "We look like fallen aristocracy. We've got to do something with the Alumnae House!" On occasion the house has been spruced up, yet in nearly 85 years, its plumbing and electric wiring remain virtually unchanged. Several guests still share one bath on the hall. Switch on a table lamp upstairs, and lights may flicker all over the house. "Plug in a hair dryer, and strange things happen. It will be wonderful for visitors, especially dignitaries and speakers, to stay in a lovely place, " muses trustee Jeanne Kaufmann Manning '72. Linda Grant Teasley '61 agrees. She has served on the board of trustees for six years and knows the house well. "Like staying in a dorm, the Alumnae House is a very companionable place, yet this renovation will help it lose that 1950 dorm feel. I am especially looking forward to it having a bathroom with each room and a shower that is in better shape." 14 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 Changes are under way Thanks to a gift from Erwin's friend and fellow Alumnae Garden volunteer Bella Wilson Lewis '34, plans for tfiese kinds of clianges are underway. When Lewis died in 1995, President Mary Brown Bullock '66 allocated $900,000 in undesignated funds from Lewis' estate as a lead gift for the $2.9 million project. No money will be diverted from academics or student life for this renovation and expansion. It will be funded by gifts from alumnae and other donors, and construction will not begin until all funds are in hand. In 2002, the college presented its ideas for the renovation and asked the architectural firm of Perkins + Will of Atlanta to make a proposal. The first question was: "Can you fit ail these functions into the existing house?" After careful consideration, the answer was no. The second question was: "If we restore the house to its original design, can we expand through an addition?" Perkins+Will did a building analysis and studied site constraints. Vance Cheatham, associ- ate principal and senior designer, says, "The house looks good standing alone. Our challenge was to design an addition that appears logically attached and does not compete." He presented four concepts, and the college chose a carriage house-style addition. As they approached the project, Cheatham and interior designer Marcia K. Knight '73 of Perkins-^Will were excited that Agnes Scott archives contained the original hand-drawn plans for the house. One rendering shows an interior with details including the molding profiles. "Williams Brothers [lumber company] is still in business," says Cheatham. "They did the molding and have kept their old profiles, so we can match them exactly!" Although changes are required to upgrade and make the house energy-efficient, Knight says, "Our historic preservation consultant said that the historic integrity of the house rates very high. The wooden floors are lovely. The fireplace in the living room is just exquisite. We want to maintain the building's stately and elegant character We believe that when we are done, people will say, 'This is what the Alumnae House should look like!"' Nancy Thomas Hill '56, trustee emerita from Richmond, always elected to stay in the house while a trustee. She vividly remembers, as a stu- dent, standing in the Alumnae House with her date, nervously waiting for her mother to descend the stairs and join them for an evening at the opera. "When I went back to work on Bold Aspirations, I was back in the Alumnae House. It had deteriorated considerably," says Hill, who is looking forward to staying in the renovated space. "Would the college put Sen. Hillary Clinton there now?" Hill smiles: "We joke and we laugh, but it is definitely time for a change." The renovation and addition will include: Restoration of the tearoom, seating up to 30. Three pairs of French doors at the bacl< of the house will open from the tearoom onto a terrace overlooking the Alumnae Garden. Tearoom parties can spill out into the garden. Each of the five guest rooms will have a separate bath. A VIP room on the second floor will have a sitting area, work space, bedroom, bath and storage. ADA accessibility includes an elevator making second-floor rooms accessible to all guests. A serpentine brick path will unify the Alumnae House and the garden. A carriage house addition. It will contain three offices and a large workroom for students and support staff. It is designed so the addition could be readily retro- fitted as two additional guest rooms in the future. FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 15 Julia Thompson Smith Chapel: Sacred Space By design, the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel will be a Christian chapel that welcomes people of all faiths. On the drawing board are a foyer, a separate space for prayer and Bible study, a sanctuary to seat a minimum of 100, space for the Brombaugh Opus 3id organ and a garden. A half-century ago, Agnes Scott students attended required chapel services in Gaines Chapel. But Anne Jones Sims '53 remembers their enterprising Christian Association president scouring the campus for a more intimate place for prayer. In an upper room in Murphey Candler, they rolled out a nice carpet remnant, added "found" chairs and "some hymnals that we thought would be better used there than in the pew backs of Gaines," admits Sims. "We could worship together in Maclean and Gaines. But these did not meet our need." Thatcher Chapel, located inside the old campus center, provided a place for worship and reflection, but that building was demolished to allow a building space for the Alston Campus Center Today, students meet in their residence halls for Bible study and for worship in The Amelia Davis Luchsinger Fireplace Lounge or in a second-floor room in Alston Campus Center "Even though it was pretty small and drafty, for a while the gazebo was enclosed and used as a prayer room," recalls Maiy Brown Bullock '66, past CA president. "There was always a search for the best place to have religious services." Soon that long search will be coming to a glorious end. Harmony with surroundings Before his death, Hal L. Smith, trustee emeritus, gave $2 million to the college toward a freestand- ing chapel so future generations will have a sacred place for spiritual reflection and expression. It will be named for his wife, Julia Thompson Smith '3 1 . The naming gift of $500,000 for the chapel gar- den was donated by trustee Jim Philips and his wife. Donna, in honor of his parents, Davison and Kay Philips '43. This year, the trustees selected a world-class architect of contemporary Gothic chapels, Maurice Jennings -i- David McKee Architects, to design a chapel to fit the landscape and provide a profoundly beautiful, light-filled space for worship. Their design philosophy upholds the principles of organic architecture espoused by Frank Lloyd Wright and Fay Jones. Jennings -i- McKee is the successor firm to that of the late Fay Jones, noted architect of Thorncrown in Eureka Springs, Ark. "It is like a beautiful gem," says former trustee Sally Skardon '70, past chair of the building and grounds committee, describing Thorncrown, which was featured in Southern Livin(j. "When we entered the chapel, it made our hearts soar. They design every aspect of the space. It is simply transforming." Jennings worked with Fay Jones and was the only partner in Fay Jones -i- Maurice Jennings Architects. Their designs for contemporary Gothic chapels are listed among the most signifi- cant buildings in the United States in the past 100 years. Their design principles focus on a harmony between the building and its natural surroundings, a close relationship of the individual elements of the building to each other, the honest expression of materials and generous use of natural light. Cue Pardue FJudson '68, vice president for student life and community relations and dean of students, is among administrators and alumnae who visited several chapels designed by this firm, including the Chapel of the Apostles at The Llniversity of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. "When you walk in, you have that sense of awe that you are in a sacred space, " says Hudson. By design, the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel will be a Christian chapel that welcomes people of all faiths. On the drawing board are a foyer, a separate space for prayer and Bible study, a 16 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 sanctuary to seat a minimum of 100, space for the Brombaugh Opus 3 1 d organ [one of only six of its kind] and a garden. The architects are planning to incorporate the Llorens stained glass window from the Thatcher Chapel. A place for reflection and quiet After considering eight locations, the college selected the former Snodgrass Amphitheatre and May Day Dell as the site, chosen for its beauty and its access along a thoroughfare between the new Science Center, Alston Campus Center and McCain Library. "Hal Smith was actually more interested in the location of the chapel than in the architects," says Bullock. "Hal Smith loved this site." Providing students with a stand-alone chapel makes sense to Paige McRight '68, former Julia Thompson Smith Chaplain. "In the midst of the busyness of college, this will be where students can take a breather and take stock, a place for reflection and quiet." Now and then, McRight performed funerals and memorial services in Gaines because Thatcher Chapel, seating 70, was Agnes Scott is one of the best expressions of that reality. Having a chapel is a visible reminder of what the college was founded on." Skardon agrees. "The college has focused on the academic with the construction of a library and science buildings, on the social with a student center, on the physical with its athletic field and tennis courts and we are excited about all of these things. The college was created to help shape the intellectual, ethical and spiritual values of the students. "Inscribed on the seal is II Peter 1 :5. Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue, knowledge.' It is a holistic approach to education. The chapel will be the spiritual center of the campus, affirming the importance of faith in our community of higher learning. Our students want and need this," continues Skardon. In hand is about $4.4 million of the estimated $6 million needed for chapel construction, the garden and an endowment for maintenance. Construction will begin after all funds have been raised. "Many alumnae will want to be involved," says TO LEARN MORE Examples of chapels designed byiennings + McKee Architects, includingthe Chapel of the Apostles at Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee (above), can be found at www.jenningsmckeearch. com. not big enough. "It will be very nice to have a place for students to gather together for special occasions, worship and celebration," says McRight. Bullock agrees. "Now, we will have a place for Bible study groups. This will be wonderful for lectures and recitals. Oh, and weddings! Now we will have a beautiful space for small weddings!" McRight is also interested in how the chapel will reflect "the commitment to faith undergirding all that the college is. Higher education is the oldest mission field of the Presbyterian church. Jane King Allen '59 of Young Harris, Ga. "You can go back and forth about brick and mortar, but this chapel will be a means to an opportunity." Celeste Pennington, a Georgia-based freelance writer, manages several publications. FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 17 AGNES SCOTT AND THE COCA-COLA COMPANY: All That Coke Stock" Mention Agnes Scott's endowment, and you'll frequently hear a response that includes "all that Coke stock." But there's more. BY LISA ASHMORE Bordering Agnes Scott College is a tree-lined street bearing the family name of Asa Candler, the druggist who started Coca-Cola's march from a regional fountain drink to one of the world's largest companies. In 1954, Agnes Scott trustee and alumna Frances Winship Walters' bequest of $4.5 million in Coke stock and other investments doubled what was then the college's endowment. "It is not exaggeration to say Walters' gift saved the college from the decline that shuttered many women's colleges during the '60s and '70s," says President Mary Brown Bullock '66. I Ifgiven today, Frances Winship Walters' $4.5 |j ' million bequest in Coke stock and other invest- '' ments would be worth r^ I $32.6 million. Connections multifaceted and interlaced between The Coca-Cola Company and Agnes Scott College go back to the late 1 800s. The two were conceived just years apart the formula in 1 886 and the college in 1 889. Foresight and luck played a part in both their successes. In the late 1890s, Letitia Pate married Joseph Whitehead, a Tennessee lawyer who obtained the rights to bottle Coca-Cola. Although Asa Candler was skeptical about bottling the successful fountain drink, doing so was crucial to the brand's success in going national, then global. When Whitehead died in 1906, his widow assumed the running of the company so well that Coca-Cola President Robert Winship Woodruff welcomed her to Coke's board of directors in 1934, one of the first women to hold that role in an American corporation. In 1923, Mrs. Whitehead married Col. Arthur Kelly Evans, a retired Canadian army officer. During her lifetime, Evans, an Agnes Scott trustee from 1949 tol953, gave the college Rinds to build the Letitia Pate Evans Hall and left $100,000 in her will to maintain it. The Woodruff Coca-Cola fortune became the source of the largest philanthropy in Atlanta, pro- viding millions annually to medicine, science, the arts, the poor, civic duty and colleges so much so that an Emory fight song included the lyriC: "So fill your cup. here's to the hick of the Cocii-Cohi School." How it all began While Agnes Scott may not be known as the "Coca-Cola " school, the relationship goes way back. Pinpointing how it all began is difficult, according to Charles F^. McTier, president of The Robert W Woodruff Foundation. He doesn't believe there was one person who influenced the connection, but rather many independent decisions to support the college that were made by those who came to know the college. AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 "Much of it was based around the college's strong set of Presbyterian roots," says McTier. "George Woodruff, a devout Presbyterian, was deeply interested in Agnes Scott, as were other members of his family." The college's academic strengths, then and now, were the major factor. "Agnes Scott has always been a strong school, and it has garnered much attention among Atlanta donors." For the first half of the century, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology did not admit women, and women in some of the prominent families of Atlanta attended Agnes Scott and influenced the giving of their families, says McTier. "Lettie Pate Evans appreciated the school for what it was giving women a superb education," notes McTier. Family ties Executives of The Coca-Cola Company have served on the college's board for decades. Those relationships and the company's dividend poli- cies and stock prices have been a major factor in what the college has become. George W. Woodruff, a businessman and engineer who was president of the world's largest manufacturer of cotton gins and cotton equipment for more than 30 years, served on the Agnes Scott board in various roles including vice chair and strategically, on the investment committee from 1939 to 1942 and again from 1947 to 1974, when he was named trustee emeritus. At his death in 1987, George Woodruff's estate bequest of $ 1 4 million during the Centennial Campaign became the largest single gift ever received by the college. A $ 1 million bequest of his wife, Irene Woodruff, was designated by the college for financial aid for Return-to-College students, and the program was renamed Irene K. Woodruff Scholars in her honor. The main quadrangle at Agnes Scott is named for this couple. This family's connections to the college were on both sides of the aisle: Irene's mother, Clara Belle Rushton King, attended Agnes Scott Institute from 1 892 to 1 894,- she was a lifelong friend of Frances Winship Walters, George W. and Robert W. Woodruff's maternal aunt. Family ties also form one connection Joe Gladden, retired Coca-Cola general counsel, has to the college. His wife, Sally Bynum Gladden '65, his mother, Frances Baker Gladden '38x, and his aunt, Betty Baker Prior '49, are alumnae. His grandfather, Woolford B. Baker, taught biology here during the 1920s. The Gladdens' gift to "Bold Aspirations: The Campaign for Agnes Scott College" was made in his honor, and the Science Center atrium was named for Baker. On the business level. Gladden led the college board of trustees from 1992 to 2002, a decade of incredible growth and prosperity funded largely through unprecedented Coke stock returns. At his retirement from Coke in 2001 , Gladden was one of six Coca-Cola executive committee members who steered the company through some of its strongest periods of growth, in July 1998, Coke common stock was trading at $85.75, and the Agnes Scott endowment market value had increased from $193.6 million in 1993 to $450 million in 1998, a remarkable sum for a college with less than 1 ,000 students. That put Agnes Scott in the top 1 8 percent of private college endowments. Other calculations made at that time placed the college fourth in the nation in endowment value per student. Since that time, the overall decline in the stock market, and the decline in Coke stock in particular, has affected the college's endowment. For comparison, the July 1 Coke common stock price this year was $42.2 1 , and the market value of the Agnes Scott endowment as of June 30 was $277 million. Endowment investments By the mid '90s, many colleges were questioning the wisdom of banking their endowments on the performance of a single stock. But late into that decade, returns of 30 percent or more were hard to pass up. Many schools with hefty portfolios of Coke stock figured it was worth the gamble to reap the reward. Since the 1954 bequest, the Agnes Scott endowment has been invested heavily in Coke, and in the past decade, that amount reached as high as 60 percent of the college's investments. This concentration was due to the fact that Walters' will specified her gift of Coke stock could not be sold solely for the purpose of asset diversi- fication, but it can be sold prudentially for the benefit of Agnes Scott. The college thus began selling a small portion of Coke stock in 1 996 to make the endowment payment to the annual operating budget, an authorized purpose. A recent example of such a purpose was the sale of Coke stock to help pay for the college's new $36.5 million science building. The same sort of careful stewardship influenced the board's recent decisions, says Christopher M. Little, board of trustees vice chair. Essentially, the college's endowment has been spread over a pool of about a dozen types of investments. For years, the college spent only interest and dividend income an unusually conservative position but moved in the 1990s toward today's policy of spending 4 percent to 6 percent of the endowment based on a rolling I2-quarter average market value. With a current spending level at 6 percent, 4 percent goes to the operating cost of the college and 2 percent to debt retirement. The Endowment asset allocation Historical 1996-2001 average Coca-Cola, 50% Large-cap core, 25% Fixed income, 25% Current 2004 Coca-Cola, 27% Large-cap core, 17% Fixed income, 11% Small-cap value, 9% Small-cap growth, 9% International value, 8% International growth, 8% Alternatives, 7% Real estate, 4% Cash, 1% TOTAL MARKET VALUE: $275 MILLION SOURCE: OFFICE OF BUSINESS AND FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE Connections multifaceted and interlaced between Tlie Coca-Cola Company and Agnes Scott College go back to the late i8oos. goal of the board of trustees is to reduce tlie amount of the endowment used annually for oper- ating expenses and debt payment to a maximum of 5 percent, a fairly common foundation average. Planning for diversification was begun about 10 years ago, and implementation began in 2002. "Before diversifying, the assets of the endow- ment were invested in stock of The Coca-Cola Company, stocks of very large 'core' companies and in bonds," says trustee William Coodhew, former chair of the finance and investment com- mittee. "Our eggs were in three baskets. We were exposed to the risk of these asset categories doing badly and had no opportunity to participate in the growth of other categories " The need to diversify Little says the recent change in allocation was not just in response to the U.S. stock market plunge that followed the record highs in the 1990s. "To me, 2001 was just further demonstration of the need to diversify," he says. "Because if you hit a volatile period and you're too concentrated in one particular part of not just the market, but of the investment field then you risk an unnatu- rally large decrease in the endowment. And in fact, we have seen a significant decrease in the Coke stock." "We now have investments in approximately 1 2 investment categories and expect to be in sev- eral more," says Coodhew. "For example, we have investments in large-cap value stocks, small-cap value, international growth, international value, real estate and hedge funds. And we still have major investments in bonds and in Coke." "Nothing is completely bullet-proof. There have been times when almost all types of invest- ments have done poorly, for several years," says Coodhew. "[But] our policy of limiting spending provides a great deal of protection." Agnes Scott has a long record of providing exceptional financial aid to attract bright and diverse classes. Such generous policies helped achieve the 1 ,000-student target set a decade ago and reached last year. A dividend of a larger student body is more tuition revenue, which means less reliance upon the endowment for annual expenses. "Because of the amount of financial aid Agnes Scott gives, the budget requires a significant con- tribution from the endowment every year, " says Little. "Without the endowment's past contribu- tions, it would be a very different school." The goal is to build upon what's been achieved so far to protect and grow the endow- ment^allowing the college to plan based on needs and wants, instead of financial expediency. "1 don't think that we can be satisfied with the size of the endowment or the work that we've done up until now," Little says. Coodhew agrees. "In the past five years, we've spent $ 1 20 million in new and expanded facilities. 1 think our physical plant is one of the best in this country, for our size, although we still have a ways to go in repairing and updating some of our older buildings." The building program came in $3 million under budget. But to help Rind it, the college created a $70 million bond issue, the largest ever at Agnes Scott. "We did some of the funding with bonds but none of it could have been done with- out our endowment," Coodhew says. The board's current goal, according to Little, is to add an additional $5 million per year to the endowment, which Bullock hopes is achievable. "Our endowment has been and continues to be an extremely valuable asset to the college, " says Bullock. "We have a very high bond rating for a college (a Moody's rating of Al and a Standard & Poor's rating of AA), and we never could have had a bond issue without the leverage of that endowment. No college should raid its endowment or its 'seed corn' some people say to pay for annual expenses," says Bullock. "You should have annual revenues from multiple sources, including a reasonable payout from the endowment. But if you raid your endowment, you're really threatening the future of the institu- tion you wake up and suddenly there's no endowment. Our board's foresight and leadership are making sure that doesn't happen here.' Percent of revenue from endowment 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97 99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 20 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 Agnes Scott, Coca-Cola and the People Agnes Scott's relationship with The Coca-Cola Company goes deeper than money. It's built on individuals families, alumnae who become employees and Coke executives with a personal stake in the college's success. h Clyde Tuggle J Clyde Tuggle is a senior vice president at The Coca-Cola Company and its director of worldwide public affairs and communi- cations and a college trustee. He follows Joe Gladden as a trustee of the college. Gladden, Coke's general counsel, now retired, served 10 years as the college's chair of the board. Having that sort of global business perspective has been invaluable to Agnes Scott's growth and direction, says President Mary Brown Bullock '66. "It's given us a board that is respected from the corporate sector, both here in Arianta and nationally that's very important," she says. "Also those trustees have brought a broader sense of marketing and a sense of trends in many different areas to the work of the board." Tuggle has been on the board for more than a year But when he was a teenager, Tuggle's mother, Nelle, enrolled here in 1 974. In 2005 Tuggle's wife, Phyllis, graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude, and set records as a cross-county run- ner. Both women attended Agnes Scott through a program first named Return-to-College and now Irene K. Woodruff Scholars designed for women who attend college later in life. So when Tuggle makes decisions affecting the college, he has two strong alums at home to consider. 'The Coca-Cola Company knows that there is an important place for women's higher education in this country," says Tuggle. "1 am proud to help represent the company in its support of Agnes Scott." The quality of a city's institutions and the education of the workforce is also a concern of any corporation. "Part of that puzzle of the success of the city is Agnes Scott. It plays a critical role," he says. "So if we, as a company, want Atlanta to succeed, then we need to make sure that institutions like Agnes Scott succeed." And who can measure the difference that an intellectually curious mother makes? "I grew up in a home where education was always extremely important," Tuggle says. "It was an inspiration for me to see a parent coming home in the evening, studying, writing papers and preparing for tests. It was a great example a great role model and an inspiration for what's truly important in life." In addition to his bache- lor's degree in German, Tuggle earned a master of divinity from Yale University. Tuggle praises two alumnae with whom he works now: Helen Nash '93 in communications and creative director Sarah Hunter "1 am a strong advocate of the liberal arts education being the perfect background to work at a company like Coca-Cola," he says. "The ability to read, to write, to research, to express thoughts and to engage in intellectual curiosity all of those are unique to the liberal arts experience . . . and those are the skills and capabili- ties that we look for at The Coca-Cola Company." This spring. The Coca-Cola Foundation awarded a $ I million grant toward the col- lege's international studies program, now named The Coca-Cola Global Awareness Program. There for the formal presentation was another of the college's ardent cheerleaders, Anne Register Jones '46, trustee emerita and wife of Boisfeuillet Jones, president emeritus of the Woodruff Foundation at his death in 200 1 . She was instrumental in the college obtaining the grant. Jones calls the award the fulfillment of a long- standing wish. Graduating soon after World War 11, her own study abroad was curtailed. "The most traveling I did in those days was from South Georgia to Decatur," she laughs. Agnes Scott has built a track record of send- ing its students abroad and not to the typical glamorous, western-European destinations. It's not unusual for almost half the graduating class to have studied outside the United States. "The world is getting smaller, and 1 think it is 'The Coca-Cola Company knows that there is an important place for women's higher education in this country." -CLYDE TUGGLE FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 21 increasingly important that we get to know people of other cultures in the hope there will be better understanding among us," Jones says. "Knowing [Coke's] global presence and the col- lege's desire to give students the opportunity to experience other cultures, the college approached The Coca-Cola Foundation for support," she says. "This support has been and will be of immeasura- ble importance." Jones is an articulate advocate for Agnes Scott and one more reason Coke had faith that financial support of the college was money well- spent. She also paved the way for the college to receive a $1 million grant in 2000 and a $1 .5 mil- lion grant in 2003 from The Goizueta Foundation. The first provides for two scholarships and the second for additional student scholarships, giving strong prefer- ence to qualified Latina students, and funds the directorship and programming for the college's Science Center for Women. Roberto C. Goizueta, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company, died in 1997. Five years ear- lier, he established The Goizueta Foundation to provide financial assistance to educa- tional and charitable institutions. In creating the foundation, he acknowledged his indebtedness to the United States and continued the commitment to philanthropic endeavors that has symbolized the leadership of The Coca-Cola Company for more than a century. Aweek after graduating, Vernita Bowden Lockhart '76 went to work for The Coca- Cola Company. It appears skipping vacation was smart next year will be her 30th with the company. "When you've got a job coming out of school, you (iifee it," she laughs. Lockhart was one of Agnes Scott's early African-American students, and the second African-American professional chemist Coke hired. She began as a bench chemist and has just completed a stint as interim director of the global analytical laboratories, overseeing about 70 employees mostly chemists to coordinate the work of Coca-Cola's trade sample labs world- wide in Atlanta, India, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, South Africa and China. She's visited all of them. Trade samples are bought from supermarkets, groceries and convenience stores by third-party shoppers for review at the labs. "We test the samples to determine the quality attributes of the product and the package, " Lockhart says. "We generate a product quality index, as well as a package quality index." All packages bottles, cans, cartons are scrutinized to determine the quality index. "They're graded on whether the containers are scratched or scuffed, whether the label is properly affixed, whether the printing is aligned or blurn,', and whether the top of the bottle the closure has the trademark or the phrase 'Bottled by The Coca-Cola Company.' If any required infor- mation is missing or there are characteristics the consumer would find unacceptable, this gets captured in the package quality index." In August, Lockhart became director of strategic initiatives for Coca-Cola. Although no longer involved with the labs, her experience there is valuable in her role as the quality representative on various innovation projects as well as on some customer quality projects. Reared in Atlanta in a single-parent family, Lockhart was the third of three children in college. 22 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 200$ Agnes Scott "was gen- erous," she says. Falling in love with the cam- pus clinched the deal. That year, she had one other African- American classmate, Dellphine Brown Howard '76; they've stayed in touch. "At the reunions, we like to say we have 100 percent participation." As a member of a minority group, her experience at Agnes Scott and later Coca- Cola was not perfect. But she feels both made sincere efforts. "Diversity at a college is very, very important," Lockhart says. "If you don't see people who look like you, you can't fully acclimate into the college environment. "There were people at Agnes Scott who didn't want us there, and you knew it," she says. "Particularly we felt it more when we were fresh- men and sophomores they tended to stay away from us 1 think that might have been their way of dealing with it. I think Agnes Scott was trying to make the change." Since that time, Agnes Scott has become known for its diversity U.S. News & World Report 2006 rankings place the college 15th among liberal arts colleges nationwide for diversity. Now when a major class event rolls around, Lockhart's there. Around Agnes Scott, the Delafield name creates images of the heavens and finan- cial campaigns. The new planetarium opened in 2000 is named for trustee JoAnn "Joie" Sawyer Delafield '58 and her husband, Dennis. But her major was chemistry, and that degree led her to The Coca-Cola Company straight out of college. In the '50s, the company decided to move its export labs to Atlanta from New York. "And in doing so they had to find some techni- cians and chemists to work," Delafield says. The lab had two men and three women chemists. "At one point we [the women] were all Agnes Scott graduates," she says. She attributes this to Coke having hired Frances Ginn Stark '53 earlier, which started the trend of hiring Scottie grads. The small lab had a long reach. Samples were sent and received from Egypt, India, England, China and South America pretty much any- where Coke had bottling facilities, and by that time it was served in 120 countries. "We tested their ability to do tests properly and accurately and also to send us samples of the material they were using to make the product and sometimes you got some pretty sloppy-look- ing things," says Delafield. "1 kick myself every once in a while because 1 had the most marvelous collection of Coca-Cola bottles in all languages." Coke's attention to protecting its brand and formula is legendary. The company had employ- ees surreptitiously order Coke at soda fountains and restaurants. "The sample snatchers they were a won- derhjl group," Delafield says. "They went out into the public and devised their own way of going up to a counter or at a table and ask for Coca-Cola. And some way they were able to get it into their containers and bring it back." If it tested as knock- off Coke, the owners got another visit. Agnes Scott was also smaller in Delafield's day her class had seven chemistry majors. "It was such a small group that I was able to get enough help when I needed it, and I just loved doing it. It meant that I was in a lab four or five days a week." Agnes Scott let her do what came naturally, and when she left, she felt prepared professionally. "I never had a feeling that when I left college and went to work for a large corporation that I was not selected for what I could give to that institution not that I was a woman, but that I had the skills to work in the research lab," she says. After cochairing a successful campaign yielding more than $70 million for the college, Delafield knows what Coca-Cola means to Adanta philanthropically. "All relationships are important," Delafield says. "Agnes Scott knows the importance of a relationship with that corporation, because that Coca-Cola stock took it a long, long way. It's going through some rough times now, but that's all right. It's been a wake-up call for us to feel that we cannot rely heavily on just one major stock." FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 23 'The first signifi- cant product that I was involved in was Tab. We started the diet drink revolution." VIRGINIA PHILIP '61 01^ COOPERATION Sarah Hunter '80 was a "nontraditional" theatre major when she came to Agnes Scott. A mother of two, her third child was born while Hunter was a student. But by the time she graduated, she already had a toehold in A-list entertainment, serving as a set gopher when Alan Alda's The Four Seasons filmed on campus. This January, she became a creative director/ producer with The Coca-Cola Company's Worldwide Public Affairs and Communications. In 2004, she staged an event on Coke's Atlanta campus where 3,000 people celebrated the arrival of the Olympic flame on its way to Athens. As Coke has been a major sponsor since the Games were revived in the '20s, a spectacle was called for. The flame arrived by plane, greeted by a host of dignitaries. Children's choirs sang and a glass "quilt" with images of Coke employee torch run- ners lit up Coke's campus. American Idol Diana DeGarmo sang 'The Star-Spangled Banner " And, when the 1996 Olympic Games were in Atlanta, Hunter choreographed a dinner held at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History for the International Olympic Committee. Making a lot of people work together toward a cohesive, successful series of events is some- thing she learned while president of Blackfriars at Agnes Scott. "1 produce meet- ings and videos that utilize all that theater stuff scenery, light- ing, acting, writing, audio, visual, multi- media," she says. Hunter was a Return-to-College stu- dent [now Woodruff Scholars] and a Dana Scholar who became an enthusiastic but unflappable profes- sional with experience in feature, industrial and corporate films and, later, events. She has worked for national and international agencies and also owned her own business. Coke hired her after seeing her agency work at its events and wanted her on the home team. So far this year, her working itinerary has included Brussels, Bangkok, Ghana, Mexico City and Buenos Aires. That's the result of her shift in emphasis from events to preparing Coke execu- tives and leaders to deal gracefully and effectively within and outside the corporation with employees, local government leaders and national press. "Because Coca-Cola is a global corporation, something that happens in Africa has the possibil- ity of affecting the corporation around the world, " Hunter says. Her job is not to produce spin but to create a culture that speaks well all the time, not just under media scrutiny. Back at home, she and husband, Rob. live in a loft within sight of the Coca-Cola campus. Now empty-nesters, they only have to plan around Agnes, their Scottish terrier, and her brother, Fergus, who work as therapy dogs. ONE-COMPANY PERSON In 35 years as a chemist, Virginia Philip '61 never needed a resume. "I've never applied for a job," she says. Coke called Agnes Scott looking for chemists. She stayed her entire career, retiring in 1996. In 1961, there were about 700 employees in Atlanta, and essentially one product Coke. Before she left, Philip had seen hundreds of launches and all sorts of twists in packaging. Her fondness for the company is in superla- tives; "1 loved every minute of the time I was there," she says. "1 liked my job. It was a wonder- ful company." Philip was hired because of the Agnes Scott grads who had worked there before her. 'They liked the first ones and kept coming back to get more," she says. Although hired as a bench chemist, Philip left soon for the research department. "The first significant product that I was involved in was Tab," she says. "We started the diet-drink revolution." Much of her career was spent in the worldwide division. Her experience included developing a new extraction process,- she's careful to say it was a team effort, but one she led. Later she traveled as far as japan to over- see the equipment and implementation required to duplicate it elsewhere. However, as Coke went into more countries, food laws became more stringent and varied. Her department was the clearinghouse for corporate approval of any new product launches or tweaks 24 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 Who's Who r: } Frances Winship Walters died on November 14, 1954 a watershed date in the history of Agnes Scott. By her will, Agnes Scott became the residuary legatee of her estate. Walters' bequest more than doubled the college's endowment. President James Ross McCain called Walters the second founder of Agnes Scott. Frances Winship was born in Atlanta in 1878, the youngest daughter of IVIr. and Mrs. Robert Winship. Her sister Emily married Ernest Wood ruff who bought The Coca-Cola Company from Asa Candler. Frances Winship attended Agnes Scott from 1892 to 1894. In 1900, she married George C. Walters, who died 14 years later. Walters made her first gift to Agnes Scott in 1920 when she contributed $1,000 to establish the George C. Walters Scholarship. In 1940, she gave $50,000 to create the Frances Winship Walters Foundation. She contributed twice toward the building of Hopkins Hall, provided the funds for the McCain entrance to the campus and in 1949 gave the money to build and equip the infirmary. In 1937, Walters was elected a trustee, and in 1947, the board named her its vice chair, a post she filled until her death. The memorial adopted by the trustees in 1954 reads, "She never waited to be asked for support, but always volunteered her generous donations." ^^^^^ Letitia Pate Whitehead ^^^^^^^ Evans was born in Bedford ^B^^^^P County, Va., in 1872. She ^B ^j^W married Joseph Brown ^^ Whitehead in 1895 and had two sons. The family moved to Atlanta after Whitehead and a friend secured exclusive rights to bottle and sell Coca- Cola throughout most of the United States. After her husband's death in 1906, Whitehead assumed control of his busi- ness interests. Whitehead, who later married Arthur Kelly Evans, became one of the first women to serve on the board of directors of a major American corporation when she was appointed in 1934 to the board of The Coca-Cola Company, a posi- tion she held for almost 20 years. She contributed to more than 130 different charities. Hospitals, colleges and universi- ties were recipients of her generosity, and she gave liberally to the church. Evans served as a trustee of Agnes Scott from 1949 until her death in 1953. In her will, she left Agnes Scott $100,000 to serve as an endowment for the dining hall, and later her foundation made a grant that made possible the air conditioning in the dining hall. ti ^'S fc George Washington Scott w ^J was the founder of Agnes Scott College, which he named for his mother. He was the father of Mary and Nellie and the friend of Milton Anthony Candler Sr. Mary Scott married Charles Murphey Candler. Nellie Scott married Milton Anthony Candler. Milton Anthony Candler Sr. was the older brother of Asa Candler, a member of the Georgia legislature and a U.S. representa- tive. He was the father of Milton Anthony Candler Jr. and Charles Murphey Candler. Asa Candler made most of his money selling Coca- Cola. He began his career as a drugstore owner and in 1891 had fully purchased the formula for Coca-Cola from its inventor for $2,300. From that, he created today's Coca-Cola Company. He became mayor of Atlanta in 1916 and sold The Coca-Cola Company in 1919 to a group of investors led by Ernest Woodruff. Robert Winship Woodruff, _y^^ sonof Ernest and Emily, A^^m was elected president of The Coca-Cola Company in 1923 and was essentially in control of the company until his death in 1985. In 1937, he incorporated the Trebor Foundation, which became the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation following his death. George W. Woodruff, also son of Ernest and Emily, was president and chairman of the board of the Continental Gin Company. His bequest of $14 million to the Centennial Campaign became the largest single gift ever received by the college. compiled by Jennifer Bryon Owen DI^INK IN BOTTLES ^^ COURTESY OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY made in any product worldwide. For instance, artificial sweetener cyciamate was banned in 1970, well after Americans iiad embraced diet soda. Coke researchers had to scramble to find replacements. And red coloring that was fine in Canada, for example, could be against food laws elsewhere. "My boss was the guy who had to sign off on it. And I was the guy who recommended to him whether or not he should do it," Philip says. "That was an interdisciplinary activity in that it wasn't just a technical approval," she says. "Marketing people, financial people, production people all had to get together and figure out how to do this. Believe it or not, there were more than 1 ,000 of those every year." Coke "was No. 1 the whole time I was there," she says, "it was the kind of place where people expected to work, and were expected to work, for their entire careers." In 2004, Philip curated the art show Gathering at the Dalton Gallery, which evolved from con- versations begun while serving on the college's art committee. Philip collects "self-taught, vernacu- lar, outsider" art. "Mine is mostly Southeastern African American. What I had in mind, I know people that collect and deal in this kind of art, and I'll go borrow some, hang it up on the wall and we'll have an art show," she says. "The next thing I knew they were saying I was going to curate an exhibit." Lisrt Aihmon, a freelance writer living in Alpharetta, Ga., is a former manager of news services at Agnes Scott. AGNES SCOTT TRUSTEES FROM THE SCOTT AND CANDLER FAMILIES George Washington Scott C. Murphey Candler George Bucher Scott Milton A. Candler James Julius Scott Bessie Scott Harman George Scott Candler Allie Candler Guy '13 Hansford Sams Jr. George Scott Candler Jr Betty Pope Scott Noble '44 James Wallace Daniel Clark E. Candler Louise Hill Reaves '54 James Phillips Noble Jr. FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 25 Who Will You Become? '^fe- rt 'if you're a woman with a dream, Agnes Scott is a great place to make it a reality." - casey mcintyre '07 1^. 'i '^' If you're a woman with a dream, Agnes Scott is a great place to make it a reality." So says Casey Mcintyre '07. "My passion is music. And my dream job is to be editor of a famous music maga- zine, sucfi as Rolling Stone or Spin Magazine." To reach that goal, she is combining majors in Enghsh/creative writing and music. Mcintyre finds Agnes Scott an ideal school for anyone interested in music. "When I had my audition for piano, the whole music department turned out and watched. They were so receptive, so interested. It was really exciting. "Atlanta is a great place for music. It attracts the best independent performers," she adds. "There are music venues and clubs that cover the entire spectrum of tastes." Mcintyre is vice president of Sigma Alpha lota, a service organization dedicated to improv- ing opportunities for women in music. This New Jersey resident wanted to go to a small, liberal arts college in the South, and she considered a number of them. But Mcintyre fell in love with Agnes Scott on her first visit. "There's a real sense of community that you don't find elsewhere," she says. "In my music classes. people are so excited to start different ensembles or provide accompaniment for someone else." She attributes the classes becoming discus- sion groups to the small class size. "You not only learn from the professors, but from your fellow students as well. They are all so smart. You have this feeling of connectedness in every class." Her favorite classes have been Virginia Woolf and Modernism, where she says she learned a lot from other students. "I also love Music Theory, a class with only five students. It's a difficult subject, but everyone helps each other. And my other favorite is Introduction to Nonfiction, which is a writing class that included getting a lot of feedback on my work from the professor and my peers. "Everyone 1 know at Agnes Scott is goal- oriented," says Mcintyre. "It's encouraging to be among women who have dreams." 26 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 "I think of Agnes Scott as a college without borders," - yevheniya krutko '07 I think of Agnes Scott as a college without borders," says international relations major Yevheniya "Jane" Krutko '07, who is also getting a minor in German. "Next semester, 1 will be studying in Germany. My particular interest is to study Germany's role in the European Union. I'm interested in how a state subordinates its sovereignty to the idea of a united Europe. Longterm, 1 hope Ukraine will become a member of the EU as well. "My favorite class so far is Gomparative Politics. I'm fascinated by the way countries are shaped by their individual political systems and how their relationships with other countries are defined by those systems," she says. Krutko was born in Russia. "We moved to Ukraine after my father was killed while serving in the Russian army. At 1 3, I was accepted at one of the most prestigious schools in Ukraine, where we were required to learn three foreign languages English, French and German. I speak fluent Ukrainian and Russian, and I plan to learn Polish. " Her goal is to get a Ph.D. in political science and return to Ukraine to teach and enter politics. Krutko's role model is the prime minister of Ukraine, Yuliya Tymoshenko, a key leader in the Orange Revolution that brought Viktor Yushchenko to power late in 2004. Recent events in Ukraine have only whetted Krutko's appetite for politics. "Agnes Scott teaches me to be a strong woman, like Tymoshenko, and to grab onto whatever is ahead. And the busy pace of my life here, with classes, clubs and the swim team, prepares me for the kind of work I'll have to do when I go out into the world." Krutko chose Agnes Scott out of 20 colleges to which she applied. "They have a great interna- tional relations program with excellent professors who are good at providing direction and guid- ance," she says. "All you have to do is study hard what they give you." An expert swimmer and captain of the Agnes Scott swim team, Krutko is a two-time winner at the NGAA Atlantic States Division III champion- ships. She holds a number of school records and was named Collegiate Women's Athletic Association player of the week and rookie athlete of the year. She is also a member of the student- athlete advisory committee. "The most important thing to me about Agnes Scott," says Krutko, "is just the spirit here that pushes you to do strong things." FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 17 World View Heading into Sk the Tsunami -^^teH^ w^ %l With a commitment to a country and a love for its people, Jan Bowman Dixon '60 chose to return to what had become a land Jan Bowman Dixon '60 (center) is working with Indonesian women to restore order following the tsunami. of devastation, by melanie s. best '79 | he earthquake and tsunami that upended life in Indonesia last December touched Jan Bowman Dixon '60 and her husband, Roger, personally, for they had lived and worked in the country much of their adult lives. They were living comfortably at their home in Bedford, Va., when the news came. "The first reports estimated 5,000 dead. But we knew it had to be tens of thousands, at least. Even that was an underestimate," says Dixon. Given her language fluency and acquaintance with Indonesian culture, Dixon felt compelled to join the massive rebuilding effort. A Christian group with which the Dixons had been affiliated welcomed her offer of aid, so on Jan. 28 Dixon found herself in northern Sumatra, surveying the devastation and figuring out where to begin. From 1965 until 1995, when the Dixons moved back to the United States, they were based on the island of Java, working with local churches to expand their outreach. This year, in Aceh, where the / \:^S^^^I tsunami's force hit hardest, /V^ ^^J^^H Dixon helped in assessing victims' needs for shelter and supplies. In the process, another urgent need emerged; long-term mental health support and job training for female survivors. 'Tor every woman in northern Sumatra, there are now three or four men," says Dixon. "The women had a much harder time fighting the water. They hadn't been taught to swim. They were the ones reaching out to save the children. Their physical weakness kept them from surviving." Girding for the social and economic conse- quences that will follow from this lopsided gender imbalance, those on the relief effort's front lines hatched a plan to establish a women's center in Meulaboh, one of Aceh's hardest hit cities. The counseling part of this project became the focus of Dixon's work. The seeds were planted Reared in Virginia and Tennessee, Dixon is not an obvious candidate for relocation to a distant tropical culture. But the compass seemed to have fixed eastward from the start, as a string of experi- ences during her college years primed her for a life abroad. Dixon became a Christian while a first-year student at Agnes Scott. The following summer she met her fijture husband. "Within a week, " she recalls, "I knew I wanted to mairy him." Roger intended to become an overseas mis- sionary, and his subsequent three-year Army tour of duty in Germany gave Dixon time to adjust to the idea. Meanwhile, she spent a month in Malaysia at the home of a college hMend and spiri- tual mentor, Mildred Ling Wu '59. The seeds of her attraction to Asia were planted. Following Roger's seminary training, they were dispatched by their sponsor, an interdenom- inational mission agency, to Singapore for lan- guage instmction and then on to Indonesia. With two young children in tow, they arrived in Jakarta amid immense social and political change. The capital was ramshackle, Dixon recalls, an ethnic hodgepodge. Great numbers of people lived alongside the canal system, using it for washing and bathing. After a few years there, the Dixons, now with a third child, moved inland to Bansduns, located in a former Dutch resort area. 28 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 While Java's cities hosted the country's eco- nomic boom, Dixon found her favorite aspects of Indonesia outside the urban centers. The dramatic landscape swells with volcanoes, some still rum- bling. Boundlessly fertile soil, thanks to centuries of ash deposits, and a six-month rainy season render the rural areas lush and verdant. Dixon loved the luscious fruits she could not get in the States. In the late 1980s, Dixon returned to the United States for three years to earn a master's in clinical psychology. This academic training, and the ensuing practical experience, paved the way for this year's Indonesian experience. "We're going to rebuild" Arriving one month after the earthquake and tsunami, Dixon joined a multinational army of relief workers. Meulaboh at that time hardly resembled a city. Vast expanses of rubble stretched in every direction, punctuated here and there by a building inexplicably left standing. In fields, Dixon saw abandoned cars, evidence of attempted escapes. Elsewhere, sofas and mattresses littered the ground. Bodies had been there, too, but had been removed. At night, Dixon slept on the floor of a guest house in Medan. By day, she and colleagues handed out food and kitchen utensils in Meulaboh and Banda Aceh and canvassed residents for their most pressing rebuilding needs. To have a well cleaned out was a common request. With the housing stock wiped out, people were living in "horrible, hot little tents," Dixon notes. "But every day they would come back to where their homes once stood and just sit amid the ruins." "We're going to rebuild," they insisted. As daunting as it seemed, rebuilding did get under way during these early months. Whole villages, not merely single houses, began to rise again, says Dixon, thanks to a communal effort instigated and financed by foreign relief workers. "Others would help one man build his house, then he would lend the next person his physical labor The Acehnese have a lot of pride." They're also very brave, Dixon observes, noting that the ground there in early 2005 still felt like jelly, shaking and rolling often. "! would sit and talk with people. One woman told me all about her losses and 1 said, 'Don't give up'. She replied, 'We would have killed ourselves if we'd given up.'" Coaxing people to talk about their tsunami experiences hanging in trees for hours awaiting rescue, having children ripped from their arms was part of the therapy Dixon found herself dispensing. This ad hoc crisis counseling evolved into a plan for a permanent counseling center Dixon and the project developer began scouting buildings that would make clients feel safe that is, buildings without gaping foundation cracks and clean of water marks. She helped find some- thing suitable the former office of a nearby gold mine and the United Nations and Samaritan's Purse committed funding for the first year of operations. In April, Dixon went back to Virginia for a few months while the facility was being refur- bished, and in July returned to Aceh to serve as an interim counselor while recruiting suitable Indonesian staff. Besides its counseling area, the center houses rows of sewing machines and a large kitchen. The tsunami destroyed a local garment factory, so it is hoped that producing new workers with sewing skills will help the city attract a new factory and at least create home industries. The center will also teach women how to prepare Western food, so they'll be qualified to cook for nongovernmental organizations. As for the social and emotional challenges women will be facing, Dixon expects the surplus of men will give most widows the chance to remarry. But it will also spur an exodus of widow- ers and single men from Aceh to urban areas, probably on Java, where females and jobs will be in greater supply. "1 don't know what these demographic shocks will do to the town," Dixon says with apprehen- sion. In the meantime, the counseling center can get local women active again and divert their minds from the traumas of the recent past. But, Dixon is certain of this phase of her career. "You can't stop trying to be usefiji. After all, what else is life for?" Melanie S. Best 'i9, a freelance journalist living in Hoboken, N.J., specializes in international business and culture. ABOUT INDONESIA Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between Indian and Pacific Oceans Geographic Coordinates: 5 00 S, 120 00 E Area comparison: Slightly less than three times the size of Texas Population: 241,973,879 Quly 2005 est.) Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch and local dialects, the most widely- spoken of which is Javanese Source: CIA World Factbook FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 29 ^^l ?\ 4V i Women, whose dresses are modeled after the Gambian flag, display a sense of national pride at President A.|.|.Yahyah Jammeh's birthday celebration in Kanali. ^0^^ For Better or \Norse Gambia's women, Agnes Scott students learn, remain loyal to their homeland in spite of the hardships they face, byamandafurness'os The aridity of the Gambian landscape can be deceiving when one first sets foot on this African soil. Amid the concrete compounds and barren trees peppering Gambia's countryside rests an underlying vibrancy, a remnant of hope and perseverance. This will to live manifests itself in the liveliness of that nation's people and in the occasional smattering of random wildflowers growing brilliantly in unexpected places. But the problems are many and real. Perhaps Gambia's women best illustrate the refusal of its nationals to submit willingly to the poverty and underdevelopment that reign here. Cloaked in boisterous clothing constructed from sheer lace, layers of thin cotton and intricate Mandinka designs, these women challenge the patriarchy that threatens to choke the life out of their daughters and themselves. Shortly after commencement, 15 Agnes Scott students departed on a two-week Global Connections trip to Gambia to learn first hand about the many issues jeopardizing the livelihood of Gambian women and girls. Violet Johnson, professor of history and department chair, and Elizabeth Hackett, associate professor of women's 30 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 studies and philosophy, led the group in exploring issues of gender in post-colonial Africa for several months in advance of the trip. But, all of them found the written word is often limited in what it can capture of a woman's pain and circumstance. Traveling to Gambia meant meeting these women face to face, which group members did upon their arrival. The Forum for African Women Educationalists-Gambia Ghapter played host to Agnes Scott's visit, and it was through them that Global Gonnections participants met female farmers, visited female students at Gambia Gollege and heard first person exactly how hard it can be to be a girl in Gambia. Moving toward self-sufficiency By far the smallest nation in Africa, Gambia is 95 percent Muslim. Resting on the continent's west- ern coast, it is surrounded on three sides by Senegal. Though tiny in stature, Gambia is a historical powerhouse whose geography bears several slave fortresses and the village of Juffure, believed to be the original home of Roots author Alex Haley's ancestor Kunta Kinte. Residing in Gambia are several tribes who can trace their beginnings to the ancient African kingdoms that as students in Johnson's history classes learned boasted organized political and social systems centuries before Europeans even knew Africa existed. Mandinka, Wolof, Fula and Jolla all have legacies as varied and as steeped in tradition as the continent itself. In Gambia, these groups coexist peacefully and even intermarry. Ethnic differences have become irrelevant in the face of collective memory and in the effort to achieve Gambian self-sufficiency, self-determina- tion and nationhood. Since claiming independence from Britain in 1965, the country has been moving toward these goals. Achieving them is difficult, especially when more than half of the population finds itself at a disadvantage. Women comprise 68 percent of the 75 per- cent of Gambian adults who cannot read or write, and there exists a serious shortage of teachers especially female ones whose presence the Forum reps believe could help raise retention rates among girls in the educational system. Many girls leave school after the eighth grade and get married around the age of 15. On average, they will birth six children. "I know that in Gambia, as in just about every other countiy in the world, women are more likely to be economically disadvantaged than men," says Yolanda Gurtis '06, an international relations major "1 noticed many examples of this, but two things in particular that come to mind are women beggars and women vendors. For the most part, I do not remember seeing a male beggar on the street. Most of the beggars I came across were women. I also noticed that women were more likely to simply ask 'a little something for me (or the baby)' than men were." In many cases, the men are not around to ask. A local vendor and the matriarch of the market known as Mother Teresa says men often "get the girls pregnant and then leave." In Kololi, Gambia's tourist area, this merchant has seen countless young girls lured into affairs with older locals, tourists and visiting businessmen. Poverty is their introduction into these relation- ships and often paves the way for a shift to out- right prostitution. "Many girls, starting sometimes at 10 years old, are kept out of school and sent into the streets by their mothers to peddle peanuts, cashews or mangoes because the family needs the money," Teresa says. This is where their troubles begin,- the girls have little parental supervision and comb the streets all day, looking for customers to purchase their wares. Eventually, they're approached by men who buy not just one mango, but an entire plate of them. Impressed by their customer's buy- ing power and by how fast the money comes, the girls strike up uneasy friendships. Perhaps they sense that the next time, a customer may try to stroke a leg or a breast as he buys mangos. More often than not, Teresa notes with sorrowful eyes, the relationship becomes a sexual one that reeks of unintentional prostitution. Gontracting FHIV and early pregnancy are two consequences of such dealings. For some girls, a pregnancy before marriage may mean ostracism by their Muslim families. The men in such cases often with one or two wives of their own abandon Gambian girls with their children, leav- ing them alone, afraid and embattled in a cyclical struggle that seems impossible to overcome. "When 1 went to shop in the markets, I noticed it would be much easier to bargain with women and to get lower prices from them," Curtis says. "I think that it is because women are more economically vulnerable than men, but that is only speculation. It could simply be that women are just more willing to compromise. At any rate, this was important because 1 know that many of the women vendors in the markets had children, although 1 am unsure of their marital status." ABOUT GAMBIA Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Senegal Geographic coordinates: 1328 N,i6 34W Area comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware Population: 1,593,256 Ouly 2005 est.) Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula and other indigenous languages Source: CIA World Factbook FALL 2005 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 31 MUSINGS ON GAMBIA Journeys have a way of reshaping our perspective. Here are some realizations I encountered during my stay in Gambia: The world does not begin and end with your place of birth. Sometimes strangers can be kinderthan those you call your friends. Women around the world struggle with similar hardships. What Africa lacks in development, it makes up for in the character of its people. Life truly is what you make it, regardless of material wealth. The past can never be undone, but the future can be what we want it to be. Professors are human beings, too. The poorer half of a nation Warding off early pregnancy is just one battle that the Forum faces in its campaign to educate Gambian women. Representatives have found that getting girls to finish school is difficult because their families are often not supportive, in part because they expect their daughters to marry early. In marrying, girls cease to be a financial factor for their parents, which could mean a slight improvement in quality of life for the rest of the family. But for women and girls, this strategy is ultimately disastrous,- undereducated, unskilled and ill informed, they continue to remain the poorer half of a nation that is already patriarchal in its social structure. The Forum is addressing these issues. Members which include female cabinet minis- ters, officials from the nation's department of education, teachers, volunteers and concerned mothers hold regular sit downs with parents and girls at regional schools, present workshops intended to encourage and inspire women and work with male government officials to 'sensitize' them to women's issues. Gradual gains are being made but change can be divisive. Affirmative-action practices at the collegiate level have been discarded because of complaints that such programs ignore the needs of boys, and there is a constant call for women activists to balance their calls for equality with the cross-gender partnerships necessary for national unity. Hackett was impressed with how female lead- ers in Gambia handle this balancing act. "A lot of the women we met were negotiating a difficult place because they're committed to Gambia, and yet many of them have had Western educations, they've been educated by the colonizer," she says. "Figuring out how to stay sane in that space and to GETTING READY FOR GAMBIA Participants in the Global Connections Program trip to Gambia spent spring semester 2005 preparing for their journey to Africa. History profes- sor Violet Johnson and women's studies associate professor Elizabeth Hackett met with 15 students on Friday afternoons to study Gambia's history, the quality of life of its women and to examine the remnants of colonialism that exist there. Students received two credit hours for their work in the class, which included readings, watching a film about Gambia, participating in discussions and writing a paper based on their experiences in Africa. have chosen not to abandon [Gambia], but to instead say 'I'm going to try to take what is useful from this and to use it in my country if I can,' is a whole layer I've never had to worry about. You've got these two sets of conflicting values that you've been taught. F4ow are you going to make it work? Are you just capitulating to the oppressor? Being a member of the privileged racial and economic group has its problems, but one of them isn't that you have a split personality." For the women of the Forum, the decision to fight for women's equal rights, education and con- sideration in their society is one that overrides the pull of Western culture. Persistent yet respectful of Gambia's norms, they march on in their efforts to remain connected to their nation, despite its faults. For better or worse, the Forum members remain faithful to the hope that at some point, their female children will enjoy the same opportu- nities Agnes Scott women do. Amanda Furness 'os, a Woodriijj Scholar and a recipient of the college's Karen Green Human Relations Award, participated in (fee Global Connections trip. Students dressed in African garb attend a celebration to honor President A.J.J. Yahyah Jammeh's birthday in his hometown of Kanali. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GAMBIA: www.visitthegambia.gm www.gambia.net www.gambia.gm www.gambiagateway. atspace.com 32 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE FALL 2005 AS ADVERTISED IN SUNDAY. OCTOBER 2. 2005 Women's Education THE UNFINISHED AGENDA "There are few subjects that match the social significance of women's education in the contemporary world " Amarcya Sen, Nobel Laureate in Economics."What's the Point of Women's Education," address at Women's Education Worldwide 2004: The Unfinished Agenda, conference at Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges, June 2, 2004 "Improvements in women's "People ask me today education have contributed is there still a role for the most by far to the total women's colleges and decline in child malnutrition: I answer immediately, and mothers with a secondary 'Absolutely. ' education have children What I hope we can do is with mortality rates nearly spread women's education 36 percent lower than across the world. It could mothers with only a primary be one of America's school education." greatest legacies." First Lady Laura Bush, remarks lo the Senator Hillary Clinton. status of Women on International Agnes Scott CoUege. Women's Day. March 8. 2002 May 14. 2005 Women s College Coalition: Promoting the Worlds Greatest Underused Natural Resource Agnes Scott College Decatur. Ceorg/o Alvemo College wwwjivemaedu Barnard College IV, baypach.edu St Joseph. MmnesoTa College of Saint Mary Columbia College Mills College OoWond, Colifornio Mount Holyoke Souih Hodky. Mojs College Mount Mary Co lege Mount Sc Mary Los Ange/es. Califor s College Peace College r.0 Saint Mary's College crlpps College mith College Bryn Mawr College of Rutgers University Regis College ^eet Sr.orX'rg.n,o rinity (Washington) Wellesley College www.wellesleyedu Wesleyan College Wilson College The Women^ College of the University of Denver Denver, Colorado www. womensc ol I ege.d u.edu >J'S COLLEGE COALITION WASHINGTON. 1 MENSCOLLEGES.ORG Agnes Scott College 141 E. College Ave. Decatur, CA 30030-3797 www.agnesscott.edu ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED nON^ NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO U.S. POSTAGE -I PAID j DECATUR, GA3004 PERMIT NO. 464 Experience a Global Connections trip to Gambia. See page 30. SPRING 200$ -<# > y I' irtT iwr ' aty Brown Bullock '66 esident "^ IMHfl II ilBI!i'"'cholo- gist, and for a scholar of post-colonial literature Each has added breadth, depth and excitement to our curriculum. President Bullock has participated in the hiring of more than half of the peimanent faculty. Her notable curricular initiatives include the recently added requirement that students take a second course in science or a science-related Held 8 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE and introduction of the 4/4 student course load and 3/2 faculty teacfiing load. Although faculty are working as hard as ever, the reduced teach- ing load has provided a welcome opportunity to focus energies. While teaching remains the faculty's priority, President Bullock has success- fully encouraged impressive achievements in the area of research. Even with the college's financial challenges, faculty salaries have increased over the past decade. For years, we aspired to reach the 80th percentile of salaries at four-year colleges, as reported to the American Association of University Professors. Only after President Bullock's arrival did salaries actually reach the 80th percentile with any regularity. Another successfully achieved presiden- tial goal was to make the college more global. The number of students studying abroad has increased, with 43 percent of the class of 2005 having had an international experience. The world has also come to Decatur through the contributions of international students, who con- stitute almost 1 1 percent of the class of 2006 and more than 7 percent of the entire student body. Building for the Future The most visible changes have been to the campus. A Master Plan identified construction projects needed to propel the college into the 2 1 St century, and President Bullock donned her hard hat. The first new building was a parking facility. Although this project initially distressed some neighbors, the college acknowledged their concerns and erected an attractive and unob- trusive parking facility. Extensive renovation of Evans Hall resulted in a larger, lighter and more attractive dining hall,- and the renovated kitchen and serving areas facilitated the preparation of tastier and more varied food. The renovated lower level of Evans became flexible, serviceable space. Construction crews demolished the old gymnasium/student center and part of the library to make way for the new hubs of social and intel- lectual life, Alston Campus Center and the reno- vated and expanded McCain Library. The wave of construction culminated with the new science facilities. The renovated and expanded Bradley Observatory contains the state- of-the-art Delafield Planetarium and a LIDAR lab. After years of thorough planning, construction commenced on the Science Center with President Bullock on a backhoe during the groundbreaking ceremony. The Science Center's opening in 2003 included the well-publicized unveiling of a ren- dering of Agnes Scott's DNA on the wall of the Woolford B. Baker Atrium. Students and faculty are delighted with the enhanced opportunities for teaching, research and learning at the Science Center and Bradley Observatory and Delafield Planetarium. Construction of the Science Center neces- sitated relocation of the tennis courts, and the new Byers Tennis Courts now occupy a perfect spot high above the athletic field. After renova- tion of Woodruff Quadrangle and landscaping of the entire campus, Agnes Scott has never looked better. Residents and visitors marvel at the beauty of the campus and, especially, the greenness of its grass. In transforming the campus. President Bullock consulted college constituencies, hired nationally known architects, and drew on her own commitment to and appreciation of quality. Money Matters Bold Aspirations: The Campaign for Agnes Scott College, launched in 2001, raised $70,652,390. President Bullock met with alumnae throughout the country, making the case for contributing to the present and future of Agnes Scott. Alumnae provided 60 percent of the contributions to the campaign, reflecting the participation of an impressive 66 percent of alumnae. The college's large endowment enjoyed healthy growth in the late 1990s, but this trend reversed in the new millennium. When the endowment lost 46 percent of its value between 1998 and 2003, the challenges were great. President Bullock has guided the college through four years of painful budget cuts with compassion and intelligence, and revenues from sources other than the endowment have increased significantly. A More Harmonious Tone Faculty who toasted President Bullock at our 10- year anniversary celebration emphasized dramatic improvement in campus "climate," "morale" and "tone" under her leadership. She has brought dignity, wisdom, insight, generosity, toughness, kindness and respect for scholarship to the presi- dency of Agnes Scott. When she speaks of aca- demic excellence, she understands it and means it. Her appreciation for all of the college's constitu- encies is genuine. Despite inevitable bumps in the road. President Bullock and her leadership team have fostered an environment where faculty can focus on teaching, scholarship and service,- where students can learn and grow,- and where staff can provide services vital to the college's success. As our president, Mary Brown Bullock has embodied the ideals set forth in our Mission: Agnes Scott College educates women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times. Katharine Kennedy is Charles A. Dana Professor of History. SPRING 2006 9 PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE BY MARY BROWN BULLOCK '66 WHAT DOES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE MEAN IN THE 2 1ST CENTURY? With the Atlanta Olympics just around the corner, it was hard to resist an Olympic metaphor in my inauguration speech I I years ago: "We are going for the gold!" And yes, I returned to Agnes Scott in part because, like all alumnae, I have a com- petitive streak. With its extraordinary historic, human, financial and geographic assets, Agnes Scott should be known as one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the country. The question was: how to do it? I knew from my student years that academic excellence was key to Agnes Scott's past, and I believed it was central to its future. But what does academic excellence mean in the 2r' century? To start with, it requires a somewhat larger institution. The decline of the student body from approximately 750 when I was a student to less than 600 when I returned made a huge difference in the campus climate. By 1995, Agnes Scott had become too small to support a first-rate institution. i came to realize, however, that size was not the only issue. The second but most important challenge was believing believing that Agnes Scott, a fine liberal arts college in Atlanta, had an important future and could define standards of academic excellence in educating women for our region and throughout the country. And so at my inauguration I called for us to "build, and grow, and change." During my first two years, the faculty, senior staff and I worked hard to produce a comprehen- sive strategic plan, calling for nearly everything including a major building program. The only time I remember being truly anxious as presi- dent was the night before the trustees reviewed the final plan. 1 knew it was a truly aggressive approach to transforming the college. I need not have feared; the trustees not only approved the plan, they enlisted. 1 cannot overestimate the importance of the Agnes Scott trustees during the past 10 years. More than half are alumnae from the 1940s to the 1980s, and they joined me in a sense of urgency, concurring that "our time is now." The first critical challenge was growing the student body, it was not just that Agnes Scott was smaller than in the 1960s, it was that the aver- age size of strong liberal arts colleges had grown to between 1 ,000 to 2,000 the size needed to maintain a large enough faculty and appropri- ate institutional resources. We are now hovering just over 1 ,000 "head-count" including students abroad. Woodruff Scholars, Year Five students and students in our post-baccalaureate and graduate programs. Our extraordinary growth is due to the work of many people, but Stephanie Balmer. dean of admission and associate vice president for enrollment, and Cue Hudson 68 vice president for student affairs and community relations and dean of students, deserve a huge vote of thanks. Thev believed. Looking ahead. Agnes Scott needs to stabilize that number at 1 ,000 fijll-time regular students in our under- graduate and graduate programs and then 10 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE continue growing. Our campus capacity is about 1 ,200, including sufficient residential space with our Avery Glenn Apartments. We have not sacrificed quality for our increased number of students. In fact, in fail 2006 we reduced the number of entering first-year stu- dents from approximately 250 to 230 in order to raise the SAT average approximately 40 points to 1220. Likewise, we raised the entrance standards for our Post-Bacclaureate Pre-Med Program by about 1 00 SAT points. While this resulted in a slight decline in overall enrollment this year, we are convinced raising the academic standards will increase enrollment in the years to come. Indeed, if there is one point driven home to me in my 10 years as president, it continues to be that academic quality matters, it matters to alum- nae, who want to be proud of their alma mater. It matters to students and their families who are making serious investments in their futures, it matters to faculty who are choosing an institu- tional home for perhaps a lifetime. And it matters to public perceptions. The academic institutions that are known for excel- lence, including women's colleges, will flourish in the future. According to our ranking in US News & World Report, Agnes Scott now is clearly recognized as the strongest women's college from California to Pennsylvania and one of the top six liberal arts colleges in the Southeast. When I talk about academic excellence, I am, of course, talking about faculty and the academic program. Upon returning to Agnes Scott, 1 found that the faculty had retained the high quality lib- eral arts curriculum I remembered, and they had also been innovative in weaving women's perspec- tives throughout the curriculum and in introduc- ing pioneering Language-Across-the-Curriculum, Global Awareness and experiential-learning pro- grams. In many disciplines, students are engaged in collaborative research projects with their pro- fessors. With an enviable student-faculty ratio of 1 0-1 , Agnes Scott still provides the personalized aS|(. I instruction for which - 4'M wirfi. s j( 1^35 always been known. Although we have increased significantly our support for faculty, including sabbatical and professional devel- opment support, a critical challenge for Agnes Scott in the future is to retain and support our profes- sors to raise our faculty salary level and to provide adequate resources for research and teaching excellence. The next campaign yes, get ready for the next campaign! will be about academic excellence. 1 estimate we will need at least $25 million in new endowment funds to stabilize and raise current faculty salaries to the level of top-ranked liberal arts colleges and an additional $10 million for five named faculty chairs. We will also need an investment in aca- demic facilities not necessarily new buildings, but the renovation of Dana Fine Arts Building and Buttrick and Presser Halls, as well as the reconfig- uration of Campbell Hall into a center for the fine arts, and our growing education programs. We are beginning to plan for this revitalized academic quadrangle. Eleven years ago, I wondered what it would be like to return to a women's institution. While I knew I had benefited from an all-women's college, my subsequent years had been in settings dominated by men. I have been pleasantly surprised. For starters, I have never been in a more supportive and less-factionalized environment. For another, 1 have learned so much from our faculty about women's studies the many different ways in which they integrate women's perspective into the classroom. But 1 have also learned a great deal from the staff who oversee our residential life and design our co-curriculur programs. A holistic approach to young women's lives now includes competitive varsity sports, strength training, physical and mental wellness programs and career guidance. This year our cross-country team won our conference tide for the second year in a row, and our basketball team made it to the finals. This year 1 00 percent of our students applying to medical school were accepted. Each of these accomplishments A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO YOUNG WOMEN'S LIVES NOW INCLUDES COMPETITIVE VARSITY SPORTS, STRENGTH TRAINING, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND CAREER GUIDANCE. SPRING 2006 1 1 EVEN AS WE BECOME MORE LOCAL, WE MUST BECOME MORE GLOBAL. speaks to the role of Agnes Scott today in provid- ing a high quality comprehensive program for young women today. I have come to appreciate the men of the fac- ulty and staff who are also dedicated to teaching and mentoring women. Like them, my husband George a wonderful partner in my presidency is an enthusiastic promoter of women in sports, women in music and women in science. I bridle when someone brings up the gender issue and says that Agnes Scott is not diverse. We may not have undergraduate boys, but we have lots of men, and we have many wonderful faculty and staff families who live in and around the college. We also have extraordinary socio-economic, ethnic, religious and political diversity. Like many other women's colleges, we are modeling a new kind of American community. Yes, we are still working at that challenge, which is also our nation's challenge, but 1 have become convinced that this four-year women-only interlude may create one of the most effective environments for learning to live and work in a diverse world. Where to from here? Agnes Scott will become both more local and more global. For some years, 1 have been talking about "a liberal arts college with the reach of a university." We don't compete with other col- leges: we compete with universities, the dominant educational model today. Our curriculum cannot expand indefinitely, but it can become enhanced by substantive ties to the universities and cultural institutions around us. New initiatives with Emory University include a five-year program in nurs- ing, a pre-doctoral humanities teaching program and the expansion of our foreign language capa- bilities. We signed a unique agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Agnes Scott last fall, providing a framework for student internships, faculty development and opportunities for CDC scholars in medi- cal anthropology, women's health and the social aspects of epidemiology to teach at Agnes Scott. Our fine arts departments are considering new ways in which we can link to Atlanta's flourish- ing cultural community. Atlanta also will present new opportunities for graduate programs and continuing education programs, but only if they complement and enhance our core undergraduate program. Even as we become more local, we must become more global. I am proud of the fact that more than 40 percent of our students study abroad, but that number and the number of our international students is threatened by our budget constraints. Agnes Scott's students must graduate with a global vision we really are talking about not just the world for women, but women for the world. While being innovative, Agnes Scott has a special responsibility to maintain its core values,- as 1 put it in my inauguration speech, being "more faithful to our founding values." These values include holding fast to the goal of "a liberal arts curriculum abreast of the finest in the country, " and they also include the conviction that knowl- edge, by itself, is not enough. Our motto from II Peter reads: "Add to your faith wisdom, and to wisdom, knowledge." At a time when faiths col- lide at home and abroad, this college believes a liberal arts education includes paying attention to the religious journeys of all our students. Our new chapel, designed to be a Christian chapel welcoming to people of all faiths, will include an inter-faith meditation room. It will provide a new setting for students to engage in conversations with those who share their faith traditions and those who embrace different faiths. It will provide a special place for all members of the Agnes Scott community to explore the purpose and meaning of their lives. It has been a privilege to serve as president of Agnes Scott College during these 1 I years. I have loved the challenge of institutional leader- ship, and 1 have loved representing Agnes Scott in educational settings around the countiy. Like the college, 1 have changed during these years and as a result of this extraordinars' experience 1 have especially enjoyed listening to the life-stories of many alumnae and watching the personal growth of our students. From all of you 1 have gamed the inspiration to close this chapter in my life and to embark upon new discoveries. As an alumna. I look forward to my continuing association with the college. And I have no doubt that under my suc- cessor, Agnes Scott will continue to be going for the gold! AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE 'S husband of the college's first alumna Resident, George Bullock charted new rritory, finding hi^wflBle in the college )ts of fai FRIEND George Bullock is a natural in his Agnes Scott ball cap. From the sidelines, he has taken in everything from student games to matches and meets. With pride, he wears the ASC logo. With his encyclo- pedic knowledge of sports and his interest in stu- dents, he's a well-cultivated Agnes Scott fan. "George can tell you who had the best time on cross country, each goalie's record, who's per- forming in tennis or basketball," notes one faculty member. "It is quite spectacular" Just as effortlessly during the past 1 1 years, Bullock seems to have slipped into his role as the college's first first husband. Wherever he finds himself, he's assimilating an extraordinary amount of information and personally making connec- tions for the college. When he's out on the road consulting about 50 percent of the time Bullock has set up appointments with alumnae in the area. of the Scotties "We haven't had any presidents' wives do that!" remarks an alumna. "He is quite a multi-faceted guy. He is a good conversationalist and has strong opinions," com- ments long-time friend Martha Thompson '66. "If you have an interest and ask what he knows about a topic, George will hold forth. He's well informed,- he has the facts. Ask his opinion and you will know where he stands." At home in Decatur, Bullock pursues wide- ranging interests on and around campus. He loves the performing arts. So several months out, he makes mental notes of student recitals. With no schedule conflicts, Bullock is there savoring the music and congratulating the artist. Team Trivia? "It's the toughest at Manuel's Tavern," says Linda Lael '66. Several alumnae have extended an open invitation for Bullock to sit at their table on Sunday nights. With his graduate school work in history from Stanford University, wide-ranging experience with Beltway politics SPRING 2O06 1 3 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Ashley Bullock, who holds an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College, Is pursuing a master's degree in human development at the University of Chicago. In between her educational ventures, she taught autistic children at the Lion Heart School in Atlanta, served as a research assistant with Emory's anthropology department and worked on organic farms in Hawaii. Graham Bullock is working on his Ph.D. in environmental science, policy and management with a National Science Foundation grant at the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated from Princeton University and has a master's degree from the |ohn F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. For several years he worked in China with the Nature Conservancy and is fluent in Chinese. and love of sports, Bullock is a first-pick tor their "never rowdy" but competitive circle. "He has an excellent brain and great recall," says Susan M. Thomas '66. "We sort of relax when George shows up." For fun, he emcees the trivia tournament at Black Cat each fall. Students respond to his acces- sibility and his ability to tune in to their interests. "When you meet him, you can't help but like him," says Mary Rae Phelps '02. "He has no airs." CONCERNS FOR STUDENT ENROLLMENT and Student attrition had loomed large at Agnes Scott before Mary Brown Bullock '66 arrived as president. As first spouse, Bullock found ways he could make a difference. For example, he decided to study the biographical sketches and learn all the names of first-year students from out of state. "That was about 125 students out of 250. It was not hard to get to know them," he says, "and then 1 would integrate into my thinking other stu- dents as we met." He is quick to say he does not know all of the students. "We have 1 ,000 students now. Some I've gotten to know pretty well." "1 am fairly certain every year George has approached me during orientation to tell me about students who may not be majors but ought to be in my program," remarks David Thompson, associate professor of theatre. "One example is Hollis Mutch ['06]. She is not a theatre major, but she is talented. He encouraged her, and she has been in several of our productions." The same is true for the athletes. Tennis player Mary Rae Phelps '02 was part of a stellar tennis team that didn't lose many matches. "Agnes Scott is such an academic place, most students are involved with their classes and probably didn't know what was happening, but the athletic department and George were excited. He was at every match. It definitely made my experience " Emily Rose '06 of Tampa, Fla., also benefited from that legacy. On her dorm wall hangs a photo of her with President Bullock. She remembers the Bullocks attended her first ASC orchestra concert in fall 2002. She played the harp, and afterward, they mentioned how nice it would be for her to play at an event in their house. This December when Rose and her mother were rolling the harp up to the President's House for a parry, Bullock was the first one out, offering to help. After the party, he wrapped up refreshments for Rose. "1 have been lucky,' she says. "Having these two people so involved with students makes it seem like what we are doing is more important." The Bullocks came to the college just as the board of trustees, faculty and staff were making a campus-wide effort to rebuild and strengthen relationships. "It was an extraordinary time, " recalls Joseph R. Gladden Jr., then trustee chair, "As we were looking for a permanent president, we were using the search process to draw the elements of the college community together. "From the board's and the college's perspec- tive, it couldn't have worked out better. Mary has done a spectacular job. George has our enormous respect. In particular, it has meant a lot to the students for a person in his position to care about them. 1 think they love him. "Under their leadership," concludes Gladden, "basically, the whole college has been reborn." EVEN THOUGH BULLOCK wasn't Under the same scrutiny as President Bullock, he arrived with strong credentials. A student of 20th-century American history, he had enough desire for hands-on knowledge of the federal govern- ment to work in Washington, D.G., for a year or two and stayed 25. Bullock served in the executive branch in the Office of Economic Opportunity. He has run two state government offices and, earlier, the office of Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska. More recently, he represented various companies "who need assistance in dealing with the federal bureaucracy." In 1991, he joined the Edison Electric Institute, an association of share- holder-owned electric companies, to am its state and local programs. According to Martha Thompson, who worked in Washington, DC., as the deputy assis- tant secretary in the U.S. Department of Treasury when the Bullocks lived on the Hill, their chil- dren have been most important to them. "George Bullock is very much the coach supportive, teaching them, urging them on. When Mary was traveling, he did their meals and got them to where they needed to go." During their Washington years, Bullock officially put on his coach's cap when he learned there was no organized baseball for their son, Graham, then 8. In the process, he started the 14 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE Capital City Little League. By the time Craham graduated from high school, the league was first- class, with 75 teams and 1,500 players. Daughter Ashley played baseball until she was 1 3. Later she played at Sidwell Friends School on the same Softball team with Chelsea Clinton. Just when Bullock had thoughts about reclaiming his roots with a move West, "along came Agnes Scott. One thing led to another. We processed it as a family," he explains. "Craham had just started Princeton, so he was set. Ashley was a freshman in high school. That was some consideration for us. "1 thought 1 could continue to do what 1 was doing in Decatur and get a better airport out of the deal!" Today, Bullock serves four clients. He rep- resents Georgia Power on a state level and the Southern Co. on a national level. He regularly attends meetings of such groups as the National Governors' Association, Southern Governors' Association, the Southern Legislative Conference, the National Association of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments and the Energy Council. He enjoys travel but admits, "1 pick and choose a little. I will go to Hawaii, San Francisco, Santa Fe or Alaska." AS THEY LOOK AHEAD, Bullock is Sorting through stacks of business files downstairs at their home. Among his ASC memorabilia is a nice crystal keepsake he received during an athletic banquet. It's inscribed to him, "As a friend of the Scotties for his endless support of our student athletes, 2000-2001." The Bullocks will maintain a residence in Decatur. "We're not moving lock, stock and bar- rel to Timbuktu," answers Bullock in response to student complaints. Yet their decision to leave has been received with mixed emotions throughout the campus and among alumnae. "You have to realize that China is huge right now. If you are a China scholar like Mary, and China is pulling out of the station, you've got to go," says Susan Thomas circumspectly. The difference will be felt even more sharply on campus. "When we found out, students were crying in the dorm," says Rose. "The underclass- men are so sad that the Bullocks won't be here to finish up. The seniors, well, we are glad that we are seniors. But seniors cry too. I do. "The Bullocks are a very good fit at Agnes Scott. As a student, you're more than a name here. You are treated as a whole person. That is true in the classroom. It extends all the way up to the Bullocks. Or, maybe it starts with them and trick- les down." Celeste Paininclton, a Georgia-based jreelaiice writer, manaijes several publications^ The board of trustees passed a resolution making George Bullock an honorary Agnes Scott alumnus. From Student to Mother of the President Mary "Mardia" Brown '43 laughs when she talks about one alumna calling her the "Queen Mother." However, she admits she will miss being the mother of the presi dent of Agnes Scott. "It gives you status," Brown notes. It was not a role she envisioned for herself when her father, a Presbyterian missionary in Korea, sent her to the "best girls' school in the South," where tuition was $1,000 a year. When she arrived on campus. Brown intended to drop her nickname "Mardia," an Americanized ver- sion of the Korean word for Mary. However, she had too many friends here who knew her as Mardia and refused to call her by anything else. Her name isn't the only thing that has remained the same through the years. While tuition has increased and the campus changed physically, Brown believes the personal contact with professors and "everyone feeling equal" continues from her student days until now. "I came from Korea and felt very small," says Brown. "But I was no different from everyone else here. The college continues to have the high standards we had and continues to be forward looking." She's proud of her daughter's work at the college, but, ever the mother, points out she is proud of all five of her children. "Mary left home when she was 13 to attend boarding school, and she's had to fend for herself," says Brown. "We're proud of what she has accomplished and appreciate all the help and support she's received along the way. "When she came, she had definite goals for the college," she continues. "I think most have been reached. It hasn't been easy, but she's enjoyed it." Brown points out that no matter how busy Bullock has been, she's always had time for her par- entsespecially taking her mother shopping and encouraging her father in his writing about China. Brown and her husband, George Thompson "Tommy" Brown, served as missionaries in Korea, where they had met as children of missionaries. After they returned to the states to live in Decatur, Tommy served as director of overseas work for the Presbyterian denomination and as a professor at Columbia Theological Seminary, a position from which he retired. For Brown, the most fun part of being mother of the president has been getting to attend all of the events and performances. "I'm going to miss it. It has just been wonderful for us," says Brown. "We're thankful we've been here." Jennifer Bryon Owen SPRING 2006 15 k ^"^5^ AS a child, Mary Brown Bullock '66 heard her missionary grandfather tell stories of fleeing the warlords of China during the early 20th century. Her father was born there, and later returned to Asia with his family, including then 8-year-old Mary. Her academic work would center on American medical and scientific efforts in China. And in this century, Bullock's son has worked in Asian eco-tourism. What has Bullock's connection to the world's oldest continuous civilization meant for Agnes Scott? During her tenure, a number of scholars with deep personal or academic ties to China joined the faculty, expanding study of the country Bullock has visited annually for more than 30 years (minus two years when her children were born). These faculty members work on widely varying planes ranging rom faith to economics. All are important in helping students understand a countiy increasingly in the news of 1.3 billion people, spread over 3.7 million square miles. BY LISA ASHMORE 16 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE A Fulbright in Hong Kong DENNIS McCann, Wallace M. Alston Professor of Bible and Religion, is in Hong Kong on a yearlong Fulbright Fellowship,- part of his time is spent teaching Chinese students business ethics. There, as in the U.S., neither business nor politics is consid- ered particularly governed by morals. "It's a problem everywhere," says McCann. "Here, there are some prob- lems that are specific to Chinese culture and the processes of modernization." The shift from the "moribund" political, moral and cultural systems of Communism to a market economy "has been just really corrosive of what's left of traditional val- ues, which were already seriously weak- ened by the Cultural Revolution. "It's not just that business is particu- larly immoral. All of life here is pretty dicey," he explains. "One of the biggest issues people are struggling with, using the code word for it, is 'rule of law.' In other words, in China the law is used as kind of an administrative tool for those with political power and influence for rewarding your friends and punishing your enemies. It does not have, at least in practice, the implication of impartiality, justice, etc." That's not to suggest Chinese are bad or fundamentally different from Americans," McCann says. "In some ways their personal moral standards are much higher. But once you get out of the circle of trust, primarily your family, things are a lot dicier, and particularly the relation- ship over centuries with the government is one of evasion. "The government is an overweening influence in the lives of people,- people fear it they try and stay as far away as possible. It means that they hide things. So you can imagine that tax collec- tion in China is a huge headache," says McCann. "If you think that fraud against the IRS is a problem in the United States, it's nothing compared to tax collection, or even tax assessment, in China. The judiciary is corrupt, the political system is corrupt. People who have money and influence buy their way out of practically everything." The perception that the Chinese government bans Christianity is untrue. "It's not as if religion or Christianity is suppressed in China," McCann says. "Any Sunday I'm in China and have the inclination to go to church, 1 go to church." 'The real issue in China, given the nature of the political system, is . . . freedom of assembly. There is no presupposi- tion in Chinese culture that we have some God- given right to organize our own activities. "Religion falls under that just as much as any other area of life," he continues. And while no one can say with cer- tainty what China wants for its new role in global politics, he believes the country is being portrayed as a fearsome, Soviet- style empire to justify current foreign policy and the U.S. defense budget. "China has almost no history of external aggression. That army, as large as it is, is basically for purposes of inter- nal control," says McCann. SPRING 2006 17 An Economic Game China's economy is the sixth largest in the world, and the third largest trading nation after the United States and Germany. But like most economies, it must be politically shrewd to keep lines of trade flourishing. "The world markets are important for China's economic development for providing both markets for its exports and imports needs," says Li Qi, assis- tant professor of economics. "For China to be successful in the long run, it needs to have good rela- tionship with its trading partners." A larger question is the relation- ship between developed and developing countries. "Globalization is a hard force to fight against," she says. "The biggest economic players need to realize that as much as each one needs to protect its own interest, simply curbing inter- national trade is not going to provide a recipe for growth," she said. U3 f OS I as t mm As for the concern over the Chinese government holding substantial U.S. debt via treasury bonds, Li said twin deficits (in trade and the U.S. budget) "no matter who is holding the bonds . . . pose a serious problem for the U.S. econ- omy and possibly the world economy." She addresses fears China could devalue the dollar. "Many may be concerned that in an effort to de-link Chinese yuan from the dollar, China ^08801 1 3.9? Fusing Music and More Jr OHN WlNZENBURC, assistant pro- I fessor of music, was in Beijing on a ' Fulbright Fellowship last year, but his sia experience also contains eight years there as a student. "1 was in China during the spring 1989 protests, including 10 days in Beijing in late May after martial law was declared ^H^^^^ ... hundreds of 17 ^^^^^^ thousands of r ^^^H^^B protesters were W -jgt /^^ out," he says. "I tt. ii I was in Shanghai fc|V "-^^^^^^ during the actual ^^^^^(^^^^^1 suppression ^H^IHi^^^^l In I witnessed pro- tests in four cities that spring. F^owever, while there were many signs of discon- tent in China that year, there was little to suggest such an outbreak before I left." in 1985, Winzenburg went to Thailand for independent study on war in Cambodia, an offshoot of the Vietnam War. An East Asian studies major, he also went to improve his Mandarin. F^e would spend a year in Xian, China, followed by three years in Tokyo and four in Taipei. At the time, his musi- cal experience consisted of singing Karaoke, later a scourge in American clubs and bars. "My experiences viewing and lis- tening to Chinese instruments that year, unbeknownst to me at the time, would give me an idea for my orchestral conducting thesis 1 5 years later," says Winzenburg. "My plan was to live in Asia indefinitely, with the hope of doing grad- uate school in the U.S. at some point. 1 expected to stay longer, but very sud- denly and unexpectedly decided while living in Taiwan to return to the U.S. to pursue music studies." His Fulbright centered on Chinese- Western fusion concertos, and he's seen crossover between the two cultures instrumentation and composition. "1 have seen a handhjl of concertos for Chinese solo instrument and Western orchestra composed by Western/ non- Chinese composers, and I believe that more will certainly be composed as the subgenre expands and people take greater interest in contemporan' Chinese music," says Winzenberg. Chinese instruments likely to be incorporated in the West include the erhu (two-stringed fiddle), the pipci (plucked lute\ and dizi (bamboo flute). The reed instrument, the suona and the zheng (zither^ could also appeal to composers here. In the world of pop culture the West is prominent. "So many urban Chinese are attuned to Western music today so much so that they are generally unable to distin- guish between older, non-Western-intlu- enced Chinese music and newer Chinese 18 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE may sell large quantities of the U.S. treasury bonds and this may cause the price to drop," says Qi. "I believe that the Chinese government can switch to the currency plan that links the yuan to a basket of currencies without involving large wholesale of U.S. treasury bonds. "Given the current foreign exchange portfolio held by China, a severe devalu- ation of the U.S. dollar won't help China either. [It] has shown the world that it can be a responsible player for regional and world economy. During the Asian financial crisis, when many East Asian countries devalued their currencies, China held the yuan's exchange rate and did not devalue the yuan to protect its exports. China suffered exports loss from this, but helped to maintain regional and world economic stability." Qi is native Chinese and taught at Columbia University before coming to Agnes Scott. Studying the economy of a coun- try with heavy regional influences, vast contrasts in standard of living, and in the process of shedding decades of state-owned enterprise is a challenge,- Qi believes the experimental theory that won Vernon Smith a Nobel Prize is "a powerful tool, a new method which has a lot of strength." In teaching experimental economics, she has students simulate influences that affect markets. "Then we talk about the results of their games, how they behaved and the economy implications," Qi said. "1 can set up games and study your behavior." Some of the games were inspired by China's emerging stock-market setups. The markets wanted foreign capital, but didn't want to lose control of their domestic industry. So they would seg- ment foreign and domestic investors, i.e., there are shares that only foreigners can buy, and reciprocally, ones that only domestic investors can buy. But they couldn't trade with each other. "That was changed a couple years ago, but it has been like this for 10 years and provides a good setup to test whether you are responding to some irrelevant information," she explains. "Suppose something happened in the U.S. that has nothing to do with this Chinese firm. But because your other stocks are plunging, the price is rolling down or whatever happens in your U.S. market, you have to re-evaluate how you think about your Chinese stock. Therefore, you maybe selling at lower prices than before or you may be buy- ing it at higher prices than before. If I'm a Chinese investor, nothing happened to the firm, but all of a sudden 1 see all of the foreign shares prices changing," she says. "I may be panicked, I may be thinking what happened? Maybe these foreigners know something 1 don't, when in fact it has nothing to do with you, it's something that happened in the U.S. ... But, then you see that the Chinese investors are likely to be influenced by what they see, which has no theoretical foundation based on all these classi- cal theories about how you should buy and sell stock. It could be the cause of a contagious effect, which is irrational, but happens." music, which is heav- ily Westernized," says Winzenburg. Beyond music, a lot changed since his student days. "My year in Xian was very differ- ent from the one in Beijing in many ways, given the rapid, dra- matic change that has taken place in China in the era of economic reforms, especially since they accelerated after Tiananmen. "Chinese resurgence is being played out in many areas of society," he says. The confluence of history, affluence, religion and politics affects music and culture there as it does anywhere. "China is plagued by enormous problems that could stall its develop- ment in terms of degree and pace," Winzenburg says. Any number of vari- ables could affect the outcome. "It is important for us to remember that we were speaking in the same terms about Japan just 1 5 years ago." Winzenburg's experiences show up directly and indirectly in the classroom. Last fall, the set of "Chinese Mountain Songs" performed by the Collegiate Chorale and Sotto Voce were by composer Chen Yi. The songs were among those Winzenburg studied while he was at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijng. "1 include a large Chinese component in my Global Awareness japan course this semester, since there is such a close con- nection between aspects of Chinese and Japanese civilizations," Winzenburg notes. "Specifically, many traditional instruments used in Japanese performing art forms we study came from China, some of which are the same ones that I've researched in my fusion concerto analysis." SPRING 2006 19 China in Perspective WHILE MOST COUNTRIES push patriotism, transnational his- tory emphasizes the exchange and migration of people, ideas or materi- als across borders. "Transnational historians often argue that nations are invented and attempt to provide an alternative to official, uncriti- cal national histories," says I ^^^3?''^ ^^9 assistant profes- sor of history and a native of Taiwan, "in the Chinese case, the split of China into different geographical entities the mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong in the 19th and 20th centuries blurred the 'national boundar- ies' and opened the door for the discus- sion of China as different competing 'national locals.' " Her specialty is early 20th-century Chinese intellectual history, but she also considers the much-older influences of Confucianism and the Dao important to understand the country's past. "China in the first quarter of the 20th century witnessed, simultaneously, politi- cal chaos and intellectual freedom. Many radical intellectual changes took place at that time, including Marxism," she says. The next few decades are crucial in the country's development. It is not so much in the certainty that China is becoming one of the world's superpow- ers, but the uncertainty about the ten- sions and challenges this rising power might create domestically and interna- tionally, she notes. While China's booming economy is dazzling, the future of China is by no means clear For example, is the new China still a red China? If it is, how can a red China encourage and foster a capital- ist society while holding on to an author- itarian socialist state?" she asks. Also, she wonders how the country will deal with the tremendous poverty and unem- ployment created in the countryside by concentrating economic development in the cities. Wu's research focuses on the Chinese idea of time in the late 19th and early 20th century, which is cyclical time as opposed to linear time. Cyclical time was challenged in the 1 9th century when Christianity reached the country. "In Chinese thought, a perfect order was in the past,- not the future," explains Wu. "When the Communists triumphed in 1 949, they said 'Time has begun.' They had to create something out of noth- ing. Communist China is very futuristic. Linear thinking is that the future will be better than the present. "Cyclical thinking is optimistic if it existed before, it can exist again," she continues. "Anxiety is more in modern China you don't know if it can exist." As she prepares to leave the college after more than a decade as president. Bullock plans to write a book titled: American Science and Medicine m China-, a Century of Rockefeller Philanthropy . She chairs the China Medical Board of New York, Inc.; its roots began in 1914 as a division of the Rockefeller Foundation. Bullock says to achieve meaningful work in China, American students must master the language. "It is important that we begin to offer the study of the Chmese language in order to have a real China studies program," she says. "Our relationship with China is emerging as the most important bilateral relationship of our times, and the growth of the Chinese economy is having a huge impact on the global economy, ' she said. "It is important that Agnes Scott students have an opportunity to study various dimensions of this country, and 1 am especially pleased that they will be able to learn about its history, culture, religion and economy here." Lisa Ashmore is senior uiriier/editor in the office o{ communications and edits Main Events. 20 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE CHI Four students from China tell why they chose Agnes Scott. BY KRISTEN RALPH 'o6 Why did you choose Agnes Scott? Jinmeng Li '07: My parents were leav- ing the country, and I was applying to schools late. One day, an ASC alum. Bunny Zygmont [Frances Folk '71 ], who also went to the high school 1 went to, came back to my high school to donate books. My teacher talked to her, and she recommended ASC. Nanmeng Yu '08: Agnes Scott has what 1 need as an international student. The small, comfortable environment is ideal for me to adjust to the American culture. Chunying Xie '08: Basically, I want to experience a different life, especially in education, from what 1 experienced in China and to open my mind by exposing myself to a culture and environment I've never been in. Weihua Li '09: 1 like women's schools, and I want to stay in the South. 1 like our campus a lot, for it is so pretty. In China, all the universities have many buildings, few trees. F-lere 1 can find many trees, grass, hills and even some small animals. I like all of them. The campus made me feel closer to the nature. How does your experience in the United States differ from China? J. Li: Discussions inside and outside the classroom have helped open my eyes and make me more open-minded. Yu: Although 1 am Chinese by citizen- ship, I have been living in Kenya for almost 1 years. I moved to Kenya with my parents. They now run a Chinese res- taurant there. I find it difficult to compare the three countries because I don't think 1 have spent enough time in each country to "know" it deeply. I enjoy exploring the nuances between Kenyan, Chinese and American culture. For example, the Asian manner of speech is more circumlocutory than those of American and Kenyans. Kenyans prefer to use more proverbs in their language. Xie: 1 don't think there are many differences. W. Li: Chinese universi- ties and American ones are totally different because of the different culture. For example, we do not have small classes, and the usual number of a class is more than 100. Thus, the pro- fessor can only recognize a few students in his or her class. Here, there are usually about 20 people in all, and I have many opportunities to talk to the professor. We do not have so many activities in China. One main reason is that we have too much homework. What was it lil^e when you arrived at ASC? J. Li: 1 was anxious and nervous, but the busy schedule during orientation kept me from missing home. Yu: Even though 1 had felt homesick, 1 enjoyed the warmth of the people at Agnes Scott. The international students' orientation program was helpful. 1 was surprised by the casual nature of the classroom the open discussions. It's an open exchange of ideas between the pro- fessor and his/her students. The students can joke around with the professor or argue about his or her point. Xie: People here are really nice, and this has meant a lot to me even now. What are your plans after graduation? J. Li: Work for a year and then go to graduate school in economics. 1 will eventually go back to China, but before that 1 want to gain work experience and get a graduate degree in the U.S. Yu: I'm still uncertain. I'm thinking of attending graduate school or medical school. 1 will always go back to China to visit, but do not plan to stay. 1 would very much like to live in Kenya. Xie: I'm not sure yet. 1 think I'll go back Nanmeng Yu'o8, a biochemistry major, is from Atlanta byway of Kenya and China; Jinmeng LI '07 Is an economics major and math minor from Beijing; Chunying Xie '08 Is a mathematics and economics major from Shanghai; and Weihua LI '09 Is also a mathematics and economics major from Shanghai. to China since it's fast developing and there are many opportunities. W. Li: I am sure I will go back to China, but not very soon. 1 plan to finish my study in America. After graduation, 1 will apply for a business graduate school or try to get a job for some time and apply for an M.B.A. After I finish my study, I want to stay in America for a few years to work in a company. 1 hope to learn the advanced technology in sci- ence and in management and take these thoughts to China. That is to say, 1 have to stay here for about 10 years or more, and finally 1 will go back because China is always my home. What advice would you give other inter- national students malting the transition? J. Li: Keep an open mind. Yu: Quickly get into the campus activi- ties,- being busy eases the transition. Xie: I'd like to have some advice on that. I've only been here for a little more than a year, and 1 still want to see how things turn out. W. Li: Be confident. Whatever the prob- lem is, you should be confident in your- self. Say, "1 can do it" Then, you will find the life is not so hard as you thought. Kristen Ralph '06, an English literature and creative writing major, is an intern in the ojjice of communications and editor of The Profile, Agnes Scott's independent student newspaper SPRING 2006 21 The Great Wall's OVERWHELMING GREATNESS BY ASHLEY CLARK '06 1 am a young, single-sex educated, African- American female from a small city in South Carolina who decided to study in Hong Kong, China, population 6,898,686, at the coeducational Hong Kong Baptist University with a student population of 6,551 . People were curious about my choice. Based on outward appearances, no one could see my connection with Asian culture. It was uring my last excursion to mainland China that 1 was recognized for all 1 represented and jt just for being black. r f^ M iV^t A SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR, 1 have learned to analyze and seek to understand as well as appreciate cultural differences. My hope in studying abroad was to enhance my intellectual ability from a global perspective and better com- municate with others on an international level, Asia is such a highly populated region that it is impossible to ignore the magnitude of its cultural significance. 1 have always had the impression the United States' superpower status is one that many regions of the world modeled except Asia. 1 believed this region was one that functioned autonomously regardless of what other countries were doing around them. From my perspective, China's message on global sta- tus wrought empowerment. This was why, as an American, 1 felt it imperative that I experience being the "foreigner." Prior to arriving in Hong Kong, I was told a trip to mainland China would be beneficial so I could experience a wider range of the dynamics of Chinese culture uninhibited by British tradi- tions as is Hong Kong. Based on excursions to Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines, 1 experi- enced the extreme diversity within Asian culture. This affirmed the need and my desire to tackle a popular city in mainland China. 1, along with some of my friends from Scandinavia, Australia and the United States, visited Beijing. Visiting mainland China was a completely different experience from Hong Kong. Hong Kong had become my home, and 1 was accus- tomed to its lifestyle. I found myself comparing life in mainland China to life in Hong Kong, rather than to the United States. There were so many people that my Hong Kong population seemed relatively small. In Beijing, the pollu- tion was so thick, it felt suffocating. My eyes watered, and a lump of saliva seemed permanently cemented in my throat. Yet, some things remained transparent: The Chinese are self-efficient and intuitive people. Never in my life had 1 seen the elderly trekking up hills carrying bundles on their backs or pushing carts that seemed to weigh as much as they with- out someone offering to help. Helping the elderly as a sign of kindness was rude by Asian standards. THE INTUITIVENESS I WITNESSED came from an elderly woman who was able to see beyond my surface. During our stay in Beijing, we climbed the Great Wall of China. 1 am not a hiker but felt this excursion would be one memory 1 would cherish. We took the non-tourist trail, a six-mile journey over treacherous terrain. I had never experienced such pain. My legs ached. 1 slipped so many times my legs shook. As the elderly woman walked with me actually ahead of me, which was quite embarrass- ing she saw me struggle. 1 quickly had to take a break. Although we had just started, I was out of breath. She sat with me and stared at me. She didn't speak much English, but she pointed at me and said, "You Cantonese." 1 looked up in amazement. "I'm sorry. What did you say?" She then says, "You nose. You Cantonese." I was speechless,- tears filled my eyes. Although 1 am African American by all appear- ances and identify as an African American, my great-grandfather was Chinese. My grandfather died prior to my birth so I've only heard great things about him. My grandmother had told me that while he was in the Navy, my grandfather had this same experience an elderly Chinese woman pointed at his nose and told him he was Cantonese. My emotions were indescribable. I was overwhelmed by the connection made with my deceased grandfather and my Asian lineage. The reminder of my grandfather's presence calmed my fears and motivated me to finish this course on the Great Wall. In my journal, 1 attribute my successful hike up the Great Wall to my grandfather. It was surprisingly cold that day, which was perfect because if it were hot like it was supposed to be, since it was May, it would have been a tortur- ous journey! It was so strange because as soon as we finished (it took us about five hours) the sun came out. Once we got to the last little temple thing, I cried and thought about my granddaddy who I know is so proud of me. I know he was by my side the whole time ... I could just feel it. He made the weather just right, he pushed me to finish it, and when the sun came out 1 know it was him smiling at me. I still get emotional thinking about that ... I just knew he was there with me. I did it for him, and that jour- ney over the Great Wall was worth me coming to China. It was just so beautiful and serene. 1 have never experienced beauty in that magnitude IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT that 1 felt my mission in Asia was fijlfilled. I felt complete. Being seen as something other than my obvi- ous appearance felt as if someone understood my soul and all I encompassed. 1 left feeling 1 was part of Asian diversity instead of being the foreigner. It was my homecoming and for that embrace 1 am extremely grateful. Ashley Clark 'o6, a native oj Charleston, S.C, plans to attend law school. Being seen as something otiier than my obvious appearance felt as If someone understood my soul and ail 1 encompassed. Ashley Clarl< 'o6 (center) is flanked by friends on her China trip. Clark is the 2oo6 recipient of a Freeman-Asia Scholarship and a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, both pres- tigious and competitive national scholarships for study abroad. SPRING 2oo6 23 Profiles A Long-Term Connection The call of China outweighs SARS, poverty, sparse living conditions and a host of other challenges for a young alum, by victoria f. stopp -oi I was over- whelmed by everything about China the poverty, the wealth, the toilets, the massive numbers of people, the attention we received as foreigners and the pervasive dirt and dust. When Eve Smith '01 embarked on a Global Awareness trip to China in 2000, she never imagined she would teach AIDS awareness and prevention to Chinese youth. Three years later, she returned to teach English at Hefei University of Technology and found herself also teaching an AIDS Awareness workshop modeled after one she'd attended at Agnes Scott. "It was scandalous because HIV/AIDS is con- sidered to be an outside virus in China, although that opinion is changing, it's still not comfort- able for teachers to talk about it in class because they have to talk about sex," says Smith. "I don't mind looking like a fool or promiscuous or what- ever if it's going to keep the students safe. I was impressed that they look the lecture seriously." THE GLOBAL AWARENESS TRIP inspired mixed feelings, and the idea of returning to teach was far from Smith's mind. "i was overwhelmed by everything about China the poverty, the wealth, the toilets, the massive numbers of people, the attention we received as foreigners and the pervasive dirt and dust," said Smith. "1 know that this last part isn't particularly romantic, but that was what 1 remem- ber most from my first visit how unclean every- thing was from a Western perspective. 1 thought it would take me 1 or so years to be able to come back for a visit." But her prediction was not accurate. "1 wanted to travel the world and be exposed to different cultures. I wanted to live among the people I was visiting. Teaching seemed the best way to do that, and 1 found a master's program in teaching English as a second language at Georgia State University." This program centered on completion of a master's degree broken into segments separated by Peace Corps service. In 2002, Smith's Peace Corps assignment took her back to China to teach. She lived in Yongchuan, a town in the southwest of the country with views of a pond, mountain and farmlands. "It was absolutely beautiful," says Smith. "It was laid back. There were old people sitting around chatting or playing Mahjong everywhere. I'd go for walks in the countryside on footpaths used by the farmers. They were always confused when they saw me because most of the time I was the only white person they had ever seen in real life. They were pleasant, though, and always greeted me." Panic over SARS prompted the Peace Corps to pull its members out of China. "SARS was trying for me, not because I was terrified of getting the virus, but because I think people were more terrified than they needed to be," says Smith. "I don't think the Peace Corps needed to evacuate. I certainly didn't feel at risk, and SARS never reached my town or any of the towns where PC volunteers were living. 1 understand it was about risk and the government did what they felt best, but 1 didn't think it was necessary." The pullout was not only controversial, but sudden. "I was having a typical day when I got the evacuation call telling me that 1 had roughly 1 8 hours to pack one suitcase of 70 pounds and get to Chengdu, a six-hour car ride away, " explains Smith. "I barely had time to say goodbye to any- one and left all things unfinished. That was hard, I had made good friends" THE NAGGING DESIRE FOR COMPLETION intluenced Smith's quick return, this time with her master's degree. She was the consulate's first choice for an English Language Fellow Program that nms in conjunction with the School for International Training and the State Department. Smith is in her third year as a junior English language fellow 24 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE studying a language takes a sense of humor and patience. at Anhui University in Hefei in central China. With approximately 200 students, she teaches extensive reading to juniors and spoken English to freshmen. Life in Hefei City, the capital of Anhui Province, is in constant motion. McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Holiday Inn command a Western presence. High rises impose shadows over the city, and five nightclubs have opened since Smith arrived in Hefei. While rapidly developing, Hefei is a far cry from the comforts of a bustling U.S. city. Smith lives in a teacher's room inside a student dorm, where heat is piped in four hours a day, and the water tem- perature peaks at slightly warm. "I'm living in a cement box, so I've learned to keep all the doors closed. If 1 don't, a cold breeze blows from my kitchen and bathroom. There's no real insulation in the walls." Smith doesn't complain about her living space. Its flaws are nothing like the poverty she's wit- nessed, and she describes the campus as beautiful. "I live on the campus, which is nice. We have tree-lined streets and a pond with five swans. The buildings are older and a bit rundown, but that adds to the excitement." Although Smith can converse in Chinese, the language barrier pops up. "Studying a language takes a sense of humor and patience," says Smith. "One evening after watching a Japanese film about a demon child in desperate search of a mother, my friend imitated signing the Catholic cross and asked its meaning. I answered, 'Father, Son, Ghost' while making the sign of the cross. I didn't know the word for "holy" and left it out. The room burst into laughter." Smith had said, "Father, Son, and Demon." SHE HAS FOUND HER NICHE in a country where it's hard to blend in if not of native origin. Smith has a large, multi-ethnic circle of friends and absorbs the beauty of China and its people, whether through buying handmade crafts, cooking with friends, enjoying $5 hour-long massages or pick- ing strawberries in the countryside. "Eventually 1 will leave China, but I'm not ready for that step. When it does come, I'm not sure I'll be able to classify it as a permanent move," says Smith. "1 see myself connected long term with China." Victoria F. Stopp 'oi, a former intern in the office of communications, recently earned a master of fine arts in creative nonfiction from Goucher College in Baltimore. SPRING 2006 25 Emfiles^ Compassionate Sisterhood Conceived in response to the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, the dynamic organization Women Transcending Boundaries, which brings together women of all faiths, ages, beliefs and backgrounds, continues to evolve under the leadership of an Agnes Scott alumna, by michelle Roberts matthews '91 STARTING A WOMEN'S INTERFAITH GROUP On the Women Transcending Boundaries Web site {www.wtb.org), co-founder Betsy Wiggins '82 offers the following tips for those outside the Syracuse, N.Y., area who might be interested in starting a similar group. 1. Set a vision for your group. 2. Get help in getting organized. 3. Host a meeting. 4. Keep the discussion moving. 5. Encourage participation. 6. Continue meeting. 7. Keep communicating. 8. Grow the group. 9. Stay focused. 10. Formalize your organization slowly. Betsy Wiggins '82 was in an adult forum in a Syracuse, N.Y., church shortly after the Sept. 1 1 attacks, when she heard another woman express her sadness at seeing a group of Muslim women who looked fearful while shop- ping. Following the attacks, Muslims had been threatened and harassed in her community. The woman telling the story said the moment passed as she did nothing, because she didn't know what to do to help these women. "It haunted me," Wiggins says. She became determined to find a way to reach out to other women of different faiths. Wiggins' husband, Jim, an ordained Methodist minister who serves as the executive director of the InterReligious Council of Central New York, suggested she call an imam, or Muslim prayer leader, for guidance. The imam introduced Wiggins to Danya Wellmon, who was part of the mosque's governing body. "She was wonderful," Wiggins says. They met over coffee at Wiggins' house and realized "we were just scratching the surface," Wiggins says. So, they each invited friends of various faiths, and 20 women met in Wiggins' living room. "Everyone brought food, and we all talked about common concerns and what we could do. Two weeks later, 1 had 40 women in my living room." "Betsy's Group," as it was originally known, became Women Transcending Boundaries. "We wanted something very broad and sort of pro- vocative," Wiggins says of the name. The organization has more than 400 women on its listserv. The women meet monthly at a neu- tral location in the diverse university community of Syracuse. Sometimes they have a speaker on a particular topic and sometimes a panel is assem- bled, but they always allow time for questions and answers and they always ensure the atmosphere is one of welcoming and acceptance. BUT THE GROUP DOESN'T LIMIT its activities tO meetings and discussion. Deciding early that they wanted to focus on the problem of illiteracy and the plight of children, the women have con- tributed to a number of outreach projects. They held two international dinners to raise money for Ibtida, a family-founded school in three rural Pakistani villages. The $ 1 3,000 contribution from Women Transcending Boundaries paid to con- struct a permanent building in one village, and a marker gives thanks to the far-away women who made it possible. The group's third international dinner, held in March, was a joint effort with Women for Women in Washington, D.C., to raise funds for micro- financing for women in Third World countries. With only word-of-mouth invitations, tickets sold out two weeks before the event, and more than $ 1 4,000 was raised for this cause and others they support. Wiggins explains micro-financing is "a pow- erful anti-poverty tool" in which organizations loan small amounts of money to poor women to allow them to start their own businesses. The women are so clever with the money," she says. "They have no property, but when they have their own money, it's veiy empowering. The rate of default on the loans is 3 percent because if anyone defaults in a village, no one else can get one. It's really exciting stuff, and something we wanted to do specifically for women.' The group has had its share of media atten- tion. With a feature in Oprah's "O " magazine 26 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE as well as coverage in The Neif York Times and on CNN International, Women Transcending Boundaries is becoming a go-to source for discus- sion on topics concerning women and religion. The paths Wiggins' life has followed seem to have led her directly to the founding of Women Transcending Boundaries: her time at Agnes Scott, where she majored in biology as a Return-to-College [now Woodruff Scholars Program] student with two small children "an incredible opportunity" that taught her "how to think and how to look at things through differ- ent perspectives," her professional experience as a meeting manager (she was featured in Agnes Scott's alumnae magazine when she worked for the then-fledgling Carter Center),- her marriage to Jim, who was chair of the religion department at Syracuse University,- and her fascination with the human brain and how it works. Wiggins obtained a master's degree in speech language pathology and works with adults recovering from strokes and brain injuries. IN ADDITION TO NURTURING her mind and spirit through her involvement with Women Transcending Boundaries, which is practically a full-time job in itself, Wiggins was nurtured physically by the friends she's made in the group when, in the second year after its formation, she had surgery for thyroid cancer. "1 had Muslim women cooking for me for two weeks, which delighted my husband," she jokes. The rare form of cancer doesn't respond to che- motherapy or radiation, and though she feels fine, she says there's some residual cancer that requires her to be vigilant about her health. As for her personal religious beliefs, Wiggins, who was brought up Presbyterian and turned 55 in February, says, 'The older 1 get, the less doctri- nal I get. I don't believe anyone has the truth, the way. All religions are valuable. Now that 1 know women who practice different faiths, I know they're just like me: Most are married, most have children, we care about the poor, we care about literacy. There's more that unites us than makes us different." The friendships Wiggins has made with the women she's met during the past five years are clearly invaluable to her. Co-founding Women Transcending Boundaries is "one of the most grati- fying things I've done in my life," she says. "It has changed the way 1 look at the community and the world. It's truly a privilege." Michelle Roberts Matthews '91 is a freelance ipriter in Mobile, Ala. Women Transcending Boundaries members celebrate with Molly King (center), wfio received the Post-Standard Achievement Award from their local newspaper. WTB members are (left to right) Janet Garman, president; Barbara Fought, publicity chair; King; Betsy Wiggins '82, WTB co-founder; Jeanette Powell, book club chair; and Danya Wellmon, WTB co-founder. TO LEARN MORE Visit Women Transcendin Boundaries Web site at www.wtb.org. ig I SPRING 2006 27 founder's DAY ADDRESS FEBRUARY 22, 2006 BY MARY BROWN BULLOCK '66 Ambitious Standard Guides College Throughout Its History 28 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE I IT IS THE ONE PRESIDENT I NEVER MET, AGNES SCOTT'S FIRST PRESIDENT, WHO IS MOST INTRIGUING TO ME. WHO WAS FRANK H. GAINES? t will not surprise you that I, as the seventh president of Agnes Scott, have been inspired by my predeces- sors. I salute President Ruth Schmidt, Agnes Scott's fifth and first female president. Her accomplishments include the first women's studies program, the first Global Awareness program and celebrating Agnes Scott's centennial President Schmidt provided the leadership that welcomed minority students to Agnes Scott, increasing their percentage from 6 percent to nearly 20 percent during her 12- year tenure. She also convinced the board of trustees to establish a defined endowment spending policy. It is the one president I never met, Agnes Scott's first president, who is most intriguing to me. Who was Frank H. Gaines? Why a girls' school? Why did he work so hard to take a fledg- ing school to the first rank of American colleges? George Washington Scott underwrote what became Agnes Scott Gollege because he was introduced to a compelling vision; a school of high standards for girls. The per- son with the vision was Frank F^. Gaines, 36-year-old newly arrived pastor of Decatur Presbyterian Church. The partnership between the two men an industrialist and a clergyman was critical to our beginnings and asted 14 years until Col. Scott's death in 1903. Educated in Tennessee and Virginia, Gaines would have been aware of the Virginia women's institutions Mary Baldwin College and Hollins Institute as well as the debates in the church press about the merits of women's education. A college was his goal, but you can tell from the early pictures that Decatur Female Seminary was a grade school, not even a high school. Decatur had only 1 ,500 people, and Georgia, unlike Virginia, had non-existent to abysmal schooling. Remember: This was the Deep South, just a short time after Reconstruction. Only two years later, 1891, the new school had a first-class building (Agnes Scott "Main" FHall) thanks to Col. Scott, a principal from Virginia's F^ollins Institute trained in math, Nannette Hopkins, and a statement of six prin- ciples written by Gaines that began with: "a liberal curriculum jully abreast of the best institutions in this cowtitry'This one little phrase sets an ambitious educational standard and is deeply imbedded in our culture. We are fortunate that those who founded Agnes Scott believed women should receive a classic education, equal to that of men, rather than the more prevailing domestic-oriented model.' At the helm of Agnes Scott for 34 years, our longest serving president, Gaines was almost totally preoccupied with raising funds and raising educational standards during the college's early years. For a quarter of a century the question was: can a school of Agnes Scott's high standards be sustained in the South? Significant capital gifts came from Col. Scott and others, but year in and year out the fledgling institution was in the red. Gaines yearly lamented to the board of trustees that he had not succeeded in recruiting enough qualified students. After Col. Scott's death in 1903, he turned to the broader Presbyterian Church community for support, first in Atlanta and then throughout the Southeast. Fortunately, Agnes Scott's aspirations came to the attention of Wallace Buttrick, head of the Rockefeller-funded General Education Board and the Carnegie Institution, the two most important national sources of education funding. At the time of his death in 1923, Gaines is credited with 22 build- ings, three endowment campaigns and raising the endowment to the level of $ 1 .5 million, not an inconsequential sum for those days. In spite of the dearth of qualified students, Gaines was determined to raise standards: first, to become a real college, second a college of the "first rank," and finally, a college with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. He could not have done this without the right faculty, and his first major ally in this pursuit of academic excellence was Howard Bell Arbuckle. Arbuckle was a chemist who had received his B.A. from Hampden-Sydney College and his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. With teaching experience at several colleges, he knew how to lead the institute toward recogni- tion by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Several legendary members of the faculty arrived during these years as they sought qualified Christian faculty: Louise McKinney in English and Lillian Smith, a classicist, Agnes Scott's first female Ph.D., with a degree from the University of Chicago. Nannette Hopkins also played an increasingly important role. Gaines and Arbuckle aimed high. As Gaines wrote: "We do not yet claim college because our entrance requirements in Latin, modern languages and math are not up to the grade of such colleges as Wellesley or Vassar," lamenting that Agnes Scott's student population of 161 was so far below that of Mt. Holyoke at 830 and Wellesley at ' Amy Thompson McCandless, The Pciit in tht Premit- Women s Hiijher Education iii the TwmUeth-Cmtury American South (Tuscaloosa, University o( Alabama Press, 1999), Chapter 1 . SPRING 2006 29 GAINES AND ARBUCKLE WERE NOT SATISFIED. IN 1908, THEY RAISED ENTRANCE STANDARDS AGAIN, ADDING, FOR EXAMPLE, FOUR ADDITIONAL BOOKS OF VIRGIL TO THE ALREADY STIFF LATIN ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS. 1 ,200." Agnes Scott became a four-year college in 1 906 and a year later was the first Georgia institu- tion to be accredited by SACS. But Gaines and Arbuckle were not satisfied. In 1908, they raised entrance standards again, add- ing, for example, four additional books of Virgil to the already stiff Latin entrance requirements. Predictably, the student population dropped to 146. Ever the optimist, Gaines writes to his board: "The number of students has been unquestionably reduced by our high entrance exams . . . .none- theless, the great need of the South is a college which will maintain high standards." Finally in 1912, Agnes Scott achieved national recognition as being in Group I of American institutions of higher learning. In 1913, Agnes Scott was the only college in the South approved by the U. S. Bureau of Education.'' In a comparative study of the early years of Spelman and Agnes Scott colleges, Johnetta Cross Brazzell writes of the impact of Agnes Scott at that time: Agnes Scott was not only a symbol but a catalyst for change in secondary education for southern [sic] white women. By stub- bornly insisting on adherence to its stringent entrance requirements, Agnes Scott sent a message to Georgia preparatory schools that they would have to redesign their curricula and raise their standards . . . .This challenge to excellence went beyond the secondary school system and affected other institutions of higher education in Georgia .... Agnes Scott set the pace for its higher education peers, it is significant that a woman's school took this bold lead.'' But the journey had almost been too much for President Gaines. In 191 1, in a confidential letter to the president of the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching, Gaines confessed to being worn out from "establishing a College from its inception and that too under trying condi- tions. Its ideal and standard had to be formed and then maintained. Public favor had to be won. . .. Recognition had to be secured in the educational world. The difficulty of keeping up a student body with our high standards under [difficult] educational conditions gave the President anxious and laborious summers .... My health is not bro- ken, but this long continued strain has produced an increasing weariness, fatigue, and nervousness, which warn me 1 am running a risk by continuing to carry this burden. ... All together I will have been at the head of Agnes Scott for 23 years, that Frank Caincs, "Report of the President," 1906-1907, Minutes ol the Board of Trustees, Agnes Scott Archives. ' Edward McNair, Itsl WcFor^t, (Agnes Scott College, 1983.) '' Johnetta Cross Brazzell, "Education as a Tool of Socialization: Agnes Scott Institute and Spelman Scniinai'y, 1 88 I -1 9 10," Unpublished paper, 1996. is during its entire history."' Gaines was denied the retire- ment pension he requested but was encouraged to take a vacation in Florida and, in fact, continued as president for 1 1 more years. Alerted to his stress, trustees hired J. C. Tart as treasurer in 1914, a position he held for 48 years. James Ross McCain was hired a year later as registrar, and upon the completion of his Ph.D. from Columbia University, was made vice-president. McCain was associ- ated with Agnes Scott for 50 years. Even Frank Gaines must have been especially gratified by the grand style in which Agnes Scott's quarto- centennial was celebrated in 1914. Representatives from America's lead- ing colleges and universities from Stanford to Amherst, from Chicago to Wellesley attended. And, somewhat amazingly, the speaker of honor, accompanied by Georgia Sen. FJoke Smith, was Thomas R. Marshall, vice president of the United States of America. This is truly an amazing story! We are both awed and proud of our fore- bears who persisted in their vision of "a school of high standards for girls " The most influential faculty member of the next decade was J.M.D. Armistead, chair of the English department, who had arrived in 1905. With a Ph.D. from Washington and Lee University and membership in Phi Beta Kappa, it was Armistead who led his colleagues toward the next milestone Phi Beta Kappa recognition. He taught everything from Anglo- Saxon and Middle English to the American novel and put his stamp on many college institutions. Adviser to Aurora, The Silhouette, and The Agonistic , Armistead also founded Gamma Tau Alpha, Agnes Scott's precursor to Phi Beta Kappa. Going for Phi Beta Kappa recognition was something like being ranked at the top of US News i,- World Report, except with real substantive academic criteria. Only institutions with stringent entrance and graduation requirements, including significant training in the classics, were invited to join. LInder Armistead's leadership, faculty members of Gamma Tau Alpha met regularly, taking stock of the entrance requirements and cuiricular stan- dards required for Phi Beta Kappa recognition. In looking at a catalog from 1916, i was amazed to find 1 5 pages devoted to exactly what kind of high school credit was required for Agnes Scott. " Gaines to Pritchett, no dale. 30 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE This photo from the archives shows some of those who helped set the college on its course toward high standards: (first row, left to right) Catherine Torrance, Greek and Latin; IVlary Frances Sweet, college physi- cian; person unidentified; Nannette Hopkins, dean; (second row, left to right) Lillian Smith, Greek and Latin; Alma Sydenstricker, Bible; Louise Lewis, art; Louise McKinney, English. The English requirements alone took three pages with specific texts in English and American litera- ture, drama and poetry. Armistead served as secretary to the faculty, and his carefully typed minutes of faculty meet- ings are preserved in the archives. Most meetings seemed to be about student issues. For example, in October 1917 the faculty rejected a student petition for a holiday to attend the Southeast Fair in Atlanta, noting that "the routine of the College work has been too recently established to make the break of it for a day because it would be hurtful to the best interests of the students generally." Again and again students were suspended (sometimes just for a few weeks) for spending the night off campus without notice, returning after midnight with a man, or rather startlingly dancing in a drug store. Since no men were involved in the later episode, punish- ment was reduced. Armistead was only one of a progressively stronger faculty. Some notable appointments include: Cleo Hearon, with a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago,- Emma May Laney, with a Ph.D. from Yale University, cred- ited in later years with bringing Robert Frost to Agnes Scott; and Mary Stuart McDougall, who was a nationally known biologist, with many research publications and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Samuel Gerry Stukes, professor of Bible and philosophy, had arrived in 1913 and was to remain on the faculty until 1957. By the early 1920s, the faculty and the educational culture that permeated the college well into the 1 950s and yes, to this day was firmly in place. With faculty standards as well as student standards, Gaines was persistent, always keeping in mind his third and fourth ideals, "thoroughly ipialijied and consecrated teachers" and "a high standard of scholarship." At his death, he received perhaps the highest praise from a faculty member: "He never intruded into the affairs of any department. . . . Once chosen, they [the faculty] were always free to do what seemed to be best to them." ** He himself regularly taught Bible, making sure that his second ideal, "the Bible as text-hook," was imple- mented. His course was in the Reformed human- istic tradition,' not dissimilar to how Bible has been taught through the decades at Agnes Scott. Sections on the Bible as Literature, the Bible as Archaelogy, the Bible as Poetry indicate Gaines took the concept of "text" seriously and sought to teach the Bible in context, not, as some today, as science or as infallible doctrine. Influenced by the institution he led, Gaines' educational perspective continued to evolve. In 1 894, early in his tenure, he gave "A sermon to young ladies" at Decatur Presbyterian Church with a text from II Chronicles 20:2 1 : "And that shall praise the beauty of holiness." Gaines began by defining holiness: a form of moral purity that beautifies character, life and justice. He then asked the young women present: "What can holi- ness do for you? Do you desire a beauty which will render you attractive in the home? Then there is no kind of beauty which can make you so attractive in the home as holiness." He goes on to praise the attributes of holiness as a "blessing to others, as unfading beauty, and receiving the joy of glorifying God." This sermon bespeaks much about Gaines' absolute commitment to women's education under Christian auspices. Although he aspired to the highest academic standards, this was not for its own sake, but as stated in the sixth clause of the Agnes Scott ideal "for the glory of God, the chief end of all. " And he saw women well-educated Christian women as possessing the moral good- ness that family and society required.' This also reflected Gaines' fifth ideal and the college's focus on character: all the influences of the College conducive to the formation and development of Christian character Today the importance of character building is well reflected in the concept of "living honorably" in our mission statement. We have broadened " Faculty memorial to President Gaines, April 14, 1923. " See Gaines 'The World's Debt to Calvinism," no date. * Frank Gaines, "Christian Education," Address before the Synod of Georgia, 1898. SPRING 2006 3 1 THE CONVICTION THAT THE LIVES OF OUR GRADU- ATES ARE NOT JUST ABOUT THEM- SELVES BUT ARE ABOUT HOW THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMON GOOD, AND THEREBY GLORIFY GOD, REMAINS. our commitment to "ensure that students, faculty and staff of many faiths and secular persuasions are full participants in the life of the college." The conviction that the lives of our graduates are not just about themselves but are about how they will contribute to the common good, and thereby glo- rify God, remains. Twenty years after this sermon, Gaines pub- lished several brochures that restated his commit- ment to women's education in more secular terms, bringing to his Southern audiences a message of urgency: this was the era of the suffragettes and progress toward the 19th Amendment. He repeatedly reminds the listener that women will have the power to vote and that they will change the world. In 1916, Gaines outlines the benefit to society of a college-educated woman: her intel- lect is strengthened; her vision is broadened, her will, poise and judgment are steadier. She has new ideals. And, she will enter the professions Gaines applauds the fact that educated women are becoming a new class of leaders and emphasizes their impact upon the child, upon the state, upon great sociological questions, upon world peace, and upon the evangelism of the world. ". . . women through her ablest leaders will have a voice, soft, tender, pleading, but clear, intelligent, and strong such as men have never heard before. And should she not have a voice? Who is so interested in peace as a woman?"'' ' Frank Games, 'The Revolution in the College Education ot ^X'oman and What It Means," Published by the Presbyterian Church, 1916- In 1 9 1 8, he links increasing a women's college's endowment to the societal crisis that will follow World War I, observing that educated women will have responsibility for war relief, building community in non-English speaking communities, enforcing social morality "(she will) hear responsibility for nations across the seas." Only those educated at a Christian women's college will have "adequate vision ... and poise . . . the power to be calm in storm, unafraid in danger." Gaines' concludes with the rousing words: 'There has never been a time in the history of the world when the highest grade college for women had such a mission."'" You cannot read these pamphlets without cheering him on. Described as "grave, modest, almost diffident,"" the Rev. Frank Gaines was becoming a proto-feministi By the end of his life he had become an ardent spokesman, not just for Agnes Scott, but for the empowerment and edu- cation of women throughout the country. President Gaines and Professor Armistead almost lived to see their dream of a Phi Beta Chapter come true. But both died unexpectedly in early April 1 923, just as Phi Beta Kappa national secretary Oscar M. Voorhees was making his first visit to Agnes Scott. These two men were deeply mourned. Mary Wallace Kirk wrote she envi- sioned her beloved Professor Armistead leaving her with the message: "Seek truth. Find her. Do '" Frank Games, 'The World War and Endowment of the Woman's College," 1918 " Faculty memorial. The Story of a Mother and Her Son BY SUSAN DOUGHERTY 'o6 I think of the founding of Agnes Scott College as a story about a mother and her son. Why did George Washington Scott name an institution for his mother, some 1 3 years after her death? It wasn't because she left him a huge inheritance,- she didn't leave him anything in her will. In 1816, at the age of 1 7, Agnes Irvine and her mother immigrated to America from County Down in Ireland, and settled among relatives in Alexandria, Pa. Five years later Agnes married a widower, John Scott who had five children,- she then had seven of her own. Two of her sons even- tually moved South and ended up fighting for the Confederacy during the Civil War,- another son remained in Pennsylvania and fought for the Union. Agnes Irvine Scott died at the age of 78 in Alexandria, Pa., in October 1 877, By 1 890, the year Decatur Female Seminary was renamed Agnes Scott Institute, only two of Agnes's children were still living: John Scott, a U. S. senator from Pennsylvania, and Col George Washington Scott of Decatur. In May 1890, George Washington Scott wrote to his brother John about his plans to buy the stock and buildings of the Decatur Female Seminary and re-name it Agnes Scott Institute. F^e writes: "In viewing my life over, one thing stands out prominent above all others and that is that I am indebted to mv Mother for all the good impulses of my heart and for all my hopes for the future. In thinking, then, of how 1 could best commemo- rate her memory in benefiting my people, 1 have con- cluded to establish at Decatur a school for girls.. .If I am spared and prosperity continues with me, it is ^ my desire to make it as good an institution of its kind as there is in the land " FJere was a man who loved his mother, who appreciated what she taught him and recognized how much he owed her. But what do we know- about her? One of my favorite sources of information about Agnes is J.M. Gemmill, a close friend and neighbor of Agnes Irvine Scott. He came to Decatur for the dedication of Agnes Scott F^all on Nov. 21, 1 89 1 , and upon his return home wrote to Col. Scott. "As 1 recall your mother in these past days, her characteris- tics were so marked, that I cannot forego the pleasure of briefly 32 AGNES SCOTT THE MAGAZINE iH^H President Frank H. Gaines and Dean Nannette Hopl