Worth Repeating - Summer 2007 Wartburg Magazine - Wartburg College

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Worth Repeating

From left: Erin Wright ’07, Seth Williams ’08 of Largo, Fla., and James McDowell ’07 deliver the message during the Martin Luther King Day chapel service.

May God bless you
with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships so that you will live deep in your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people and the Earth so that you will work for justice, equity and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer so you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy. May God bless you with the foolishness to think you can make a difference in the world, so you will do the things which others say cannot be done.

–Erin Wright ’07 of Mount Vernon, Iowa, read this Jan. 15 at Martin Luther King Jr. Day chapel service, from a prayer by Keith Anderson, academic dean at Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle, Wash.

It seems the future
is regularly painted in the bleakest of ways; naysayers lament that things aren’t like they used to be, and (say), “What ever happened to the good old days?” Have you ever heard anyone say something like, “What’s the matter with this younger generation?” or “These are tomorrow’s leaders; heaven help us!” Well, I truly believe each and every one of us gets to choose how we treat people, how we respond to challenges and what type of impact we are going to have on our world. Some people always look at the glass as half-empty. Well, I’m sorry, but choosing to be a realist and pragmatist can be tempered with looking at challenges as opportunities; even with all these challenges, the glass is still half full. You see, I’m actually very excited about our future. Take a look at the characteristics of tomorrow’s leaders.

– Dr. Kevin Fiene, chair of the education department, speaking at December Commencement

I love math.
I love doing math. I love teaching math. I love hard problems with elegant solutions. I love problems that are easy to state but hard to solve. I love the variety of different ways to understand the same concept. ... Because as a math teacher, if I’m not passionate about math, who will be?

- Dr. Brian Birgen, recipient of the 2007 Chellevold Excellence in Teaching Award, speaking April 3 at the Excellence in Scholarship and Teaching Convocation

If you wake up
in a red room with no windows or doors, don’t panic; you’re in my heart. In our hearts, let us store up room for the poor, homeless, jobless. In our hearts, let us send a notice of eviction to past judgments, past fears and past bias that try to stop us from loving. Know that the power of our voices can redirect easy truth—shift and shape the world you want it to be.

– From an original piece by James McDowell ’07 of Coral Springs, Fla., which he performed Jan. 15 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day chapel service

Being in Iowa
at this time does raise some questions. No, I’m not running for president—yet.

– Veteran White House journalist Helen Thomas in her opening remarks at convocation, March 20

Helen Thomas signed a copy of her book, Watchdogs of Democracy for Dawn Woods ’09, a member of the college’s maintenance staff.

Have you ever
thought about why people give to Wartburg? It’s not about need. Everyone has needs. It’s not about obligation, either. Obligation comes from the head, not the heart. People give when they believe in you. They see where you are going and want to help you get there. Genuine giving is all about fulfilling dreams. Money is just a tool to make them happen.

– James Waterbury, vice president for institutional advancement, Allen Health Systems-Waterloo, Iowa, speaking on behalf of the McElroy Trust at the Distinguished Professors Endowed Chairs Convocation, Oct. 24

I believe
in giving out your roses while they’re alive. You have to expand your horizons; live your life—don’t rehearse it.

– Playwright David Barr III, speaking at Convocation Feb. 20

During my
college years, I was touted as “Wartburg’s No. 1 fan.” I dressed up completely in orange and black, painted my face—the whole works! During my senior year, we played the University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team at the UNI-Dome. At halftime, the mascot for UNI invited me to play one-on-one in front of the biggest crowd Wartburg had played for! He won 4-3, but I did bury a 3-pointer at the top of the key that brought our fans to their feet. That is one memory I’ll never forget!

– Erik Russell ’90 of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Honorary degree recipient the Rev. Dr. Frederick Reese of Selma, Ala., left, chatted with Walter Reed Jr. ’76 of Des Moines, Iowa, at a luncheon following the Feb. 20 convocation.

My favorite Wartburg memory is being in the Wartburg Choir and taking the tour to Ireland and England in 1976. Dr. Jim Fritschel ’51, the choir director, was sent to the dungeon for eating too much food during a medieval banquet in Killarney Castle. He had to sing his way out. There were no more dungeons after all choir members kissed the Blarney Stone for good luck.

– Dr. Gundars “Gundy” Kaupins ’79 of Boise, Idaho

Attitude
determines your altitude.

– The Rev. Dr. Frederick Reese in a speech accepting an honorary doctorate degree bestowed by the college Feb. 20

When (Wartburg) said they were going to raise $90 million, I said, ‘The only thing they are going to raise is the window blinds at the laughing company.’ I was $90 million wrong.

– Former English professor K.D. Briner ’61, speaking Jan. 30 after receiving the 2007 Graven Award