V 7.10 NEWS FROM SU

News from SU (Vol. 7 No. 10)
November 16, 2005
An Electronic Newsletter for SU Alumni

FEATURED STORIES:
Cullen Family Receives 2005 President's Philanthropy Award
Official Alumni Ring Adopted
Alumni Receive "A Taste of Southwestern"

ALUMNI NEWS:
Will You Be Celebrating a Reunion in 2006?
Reconnect Classmates and Support SU's Annual Fund
Attention, Houston Alumni!
Purchase Your Homecoming Cookbook and Apron
Alumni Poll: Favorite Spot on Campus

LIFELONG LEARNING:
Prepare for 2006 Brown Symposium "GNP or Gross National Well-being?"
Surface: Wood-Fired Ceramics Exhibit Open
Road Scholar Presentation Scheduled for North Carolina
Become a Savvy Holiday Shopper

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS:
SU Continues to Respond to the Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma
Women's Volleyball Clinches Conference Title
Web Registration Debuts
On the Razzle - SU Theatre Production
Pirate Athletics Update
Who's Who from SU

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Surface: Wood-Fired Ceramics Exhibit – November 1–December 9
On the Razzle – November 18–December 4
SU Candlelight Service – December 1
Houston Candlelight Service – December 13
Reunion Planning and Class Agent Workshop – January 20–21, 2006
2006 Brown Symposium (XXVIII) – February 9–10, 2006
North Carolina Road Scholar Presentation – March 4, 2006

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FEATURED STORIES
Cullen Family Receives 2005 President's Philanthropy Award
The Cullen family of Houston was selected to receive the 2005 President's Philanthropy Award from Southwestern University. The award was presented at the President's Appreciation Dinner on November 5. Since the 1960s, the Cullen family has given more than $22 million to Southwestern. The tradition of philanthropy was started by legendary Houston oilman Hugh Roy Cullen and his wife, Lillie, and continues today through Roy H. Cullen, the grandson of Hugh Roy and Lillie Cullen. Read more about the Cullen Family's contributions to Southwestern University.

Official Alumni Ring Adopted
Southwestern University is pleased to introduce the official Alumni Ring. Southwestern adopted its popular signet ring bearing the University seal as the official ring to be worn by graduating seniors and alumni. Click here to learn how to order your Southwestern University Alumni Ring. Should you have any questions, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at 1-800-960-6363.

Alumni Receive "A Taste of Southwestern"
With more than 50 events over the course of Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, there was something for everyone! Thank you to all of the alumni volunteers who helped make each reunion special. Attendance at class reunions increased by 32.5% over last year. Between the Alumni Choir, the Homecoming parade, and SING!, everyone received "A Taste of Southwestern." A special thanks goes to Homecoming Alumni Chair Kim Crowder Goodfriend '93. The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations looks forward to seeing you next year! Mark your calendar for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2006, scheduled for November 3-5.


ALUMNI NEWS
Will You Be Celebrating a Reunion in 2006?
Reunion Planning Committees are already forming for 2006, and they need your help! The success of your reunion depends on you. If you're looking for a good excuse to gather old friends together, volunteer today! Save the date for Saturday, January 21, 2006 to attend the Reunion Planning Workshop. If you have any questions about Reunions scheduled for 2006, contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at 1-800-960-6363 or alumni@southwestern.edu.

Reconnect Classmates and Support SU's Annual Fund
The Office of Annual Giving wants YOU to serve as a Class Agent! Class Agents are primarily responsible for managing the fundraising efforts of their class by writing a yearly solicitation letter to encourage gifts from their classmates, setting class giving goals, and appropriately thanking classmates for gifts made. This volunteer position is an essential one that requires very little time. Volunteers from any class are welcomed, but especially from classes for which there are presently no Class Agents. View a list of current volunteers at http://www.southwestern.edu/development/class-agents.html. The success of our Annual Fund depends on our alumni volunteers. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at 1-800-960-6363 or gunnins@southwestern.edu.

Attention, Houston Alumni!
The Houston Association of Southwestern University Alumni would like to invite alumni, parents, and friends of Southwestern to "A Candlelight Service for the Season of Advent" on Tuesday, December 13 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 5501 Main Street, Houston. This traditional service is modeled after the Candlelight Service held each year on Southwestern's campus. The Service will begin at 7:00 p.m. A reception, hosted by the SU Alumni of St. Paul's Church, will follow the Service. Please bring an unwrapped children's gift for the holidays, to donate to the Emergency Aid Coalition in Houston. If you plan to attend, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at alumni@southwestern.edu or 1-800-960-6363.

Purchase Your Homecoming Cookbook and Apron
It's not too late! The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations is still selling "A Taste of Southwestern" cookbooks and aprons. Still looking for the perfect gift for your SU friends and family members? Purchase one of each! The Alumni Center will mail these Homecoming novelty items right to your house. Prices are $5 for each cookbook and $6 for each apron, tax included. Shipping and handling fees range from $2.50 to $3.50, depending on the quantity ordered. To place your order, call the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at 1-800-960-6363.

Alumni Poll: Favorite Spot on Campus
Alumni, tell us your favorite spot on campus! Does the Cullen Building bring back memories? Is there a remote location in the library that allows for the perfect study group? Did you sit under the same tree every day for lunch? Tell us your story! E-mail your favorite Southwestern location to radisonm@southwestern.edu.


LIFELONG LEARNING
Prepare for 2006 Brown Symposium "GNP or Gross National Well-being?"
The 2006 Brown Symposium (XXVIII) at Southwestern University presents the topic of “GNP or Gross National Well-being?” on February 9-10, 2006. The 2006 Brown Symposium will focus on the latest theoretical research and findings on well-being from economics, neuroscience, and psychology. This symposium's intent is to encourage us to go beyond measuring well-being indirectly in terms of dollars or total consumption and to look deeper and assess societal and individual happiness by focusing on and measuring quality of life. To prepare for this year's topic, Dr. A.J. Senchack, Professor of Economics and Business, recommends two books, Richard Layard's (2005) Happiness: Lessons from a New Science and Bruno Frey and Alois Stutzer's (2002) Happiness and Economics: How the Economy and Institutions Affect Well-Being. For other suggested readings, click here. Additional information on the 2006 Brown Symposium will be provided in a later issue of News from SU for Alumni.

Surface: Wood-Fired Ceramics Exhibit Open
Surface: Wood-Fired Ceramics presents works by Ted Adler, Jason Hess, Liz Lurie and Dan Murphy. This is an exhibition of wood-fired pottery that explores the variety of visual and tactile surface effects available to ceramic artists who use this ancient firing technique. The show runs through December 9 in the Fine Arts Gallery, located in The Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Allison Fannin at 512-863-1504.

Road Scholar Presentation Scheduled for North Carolina
Mark your calendars, North Carolina residents! On March 4, 2006, Hal Haskell, Professor and Chair of the Classics Area and Paideia Professor, will visit Durham, NC for a Road Scholar Presentation. Dr. Haskell will cover the topic, "Politics the Old Fashioned Way: Alexander the Great & Caesar Augustus." Additional details will follow in future editions of News from SU. Stay tuned!

Become a Savvy Holiday Shopper
Do you plan to shop in the next two months? As you prepare for your shopping adventures, visit the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) website. The FTC provides tips for shopping wisely and shopping online. Know your rights and become a savvy shopper this holiday season!


CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
SU Continues to Respond to the Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma
Since the devastation of this past hurricane season, Southwestern students, faculty, and staff have reached out to those in need in numerous ways. One effort, the Katrina Book Project, sponsored by Southwestern's A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library, has collected approximately 1000 children's books. This book drive will continue through the end of November, for a December distribution. If you would like to donate a book to the Katrina Book Project, please mail new or slightly used children's books to the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations (1001 E. University; Georgetown, TX 78626), and we will deliver your books to the Smith Library Center. Also, if you plan to attend the on-campus Candlelight Services, scheduled for December 1 at 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., please bring a book with you. All books collected at the door will be donated to the Katrina Book Project. Finally, please visit the SU Community Hurricane Message Board to read the needs and offers of SU alumni. If you would like to post a need and/or offer, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at 1-800-960-6363 or alumni@southwestern.edu.

Women's Volleyball Clinches Conference Title
This year was not just another year in the rich tradition of Southwestern volleyball, it was Southwestern's year. The Pirates not only captured their first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) title since 1997 (as well as advancing to the semi-finals of the NCAA South Regionals), but the '05 SU squad also produced a school record of 36 wins for the season. SCAC coaches selected SU senior Misti White as the Conference Player-of-the-Year. Second-year coach, Hannah Long was named the SCAC Coach-of-the-Year. Click here to read more this amazing team.

Web Registration Debuts
Do you remember registering for classes? The long lines? The stress? The agony of hearing that classes were closed? The process of arena-style registration ended in March 2005. This fall, students began registering on-line to complete their Spring 2006 pre-registration from their rooms, laptops, campus computer labs, or even abroad. For most students, the process was finished in minutes. Advantages of the new system are:

• advising is spread out over several weeks, allowing more time;
• students may monitor seatcounts of available seats as they approach their allotted registration time;
• each registration group has several days to make adjustments and search for alternatives before being pressured by the next group;
• if seats do disappear (and some of them will - this part hasn't changed), specific online searches may be used to identify open sections which meet the student's needs;
• an online waitlist capability is included, so academic departments can monitor demand;
• and, academic departments are able to monitor seat availability throughout the process making adjustments as necessary.

The tradition of colored registration cards, rushing across the gym, and pleading with faculty members is officially history.  

On the Razzle - SU Theatre Production
Romance, adventure, mistaken identity and hair-breadth escapes, two put-upon grocer's clerks cut loose and head for the bright lights of Vienna - On the Razzle. But they bump into their crazy boss, or his new mistress, or his slick new servant, or his beautiful young ward who's just eloped with her penniless suitor, or the rich aunt with the French maid who's taken a shine to the world's worst coachman... On The Razzle is filled with mistaken identities, malapropisms and Tom Stoppard’s trademark wordplay. Performances show from November 18 through December 4, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., in the Jesse and Mary Gibbs Jones Theater, Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. (The Theater will be closed during Thanksgiving Weekend.) To purchase tickets for On the Razzle, contact the Jones Theater Box Office at 512-863-1378, Monday to Friday from 1-5 p.m.

Pirate Athletics Update
Winter sports are right around the corner. The SU basketball season opens with a double-header against the University of Dallas on November 29. Support your Pirates! Register now for the most up-to-date SU Pirate Athletics news! To subscribe to the Athletic Department Listserve, e-mail Erin Shackelford, Sports Information Director.

Who's Who from SU
Each month the University highlights Southwestern's students, faculty, staff, and alumni who make unique and meaningful contributions to the University community or the communities in which they live. To read the profiles for this month, visit the Who's Who from SU web site.

• Sophomore Student – Brian Gingrich ’08
• Assistant Professor of Feminist Studies – Alison Kafer
• Head Swimming/Diving Coach – Steve Brandt
• Alumna – Joanne Chiang ’01

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Surface: Wood-Fired Ceramics Exhibit – November 1–December 9
On the Razzle – November 18–December 4
SU Candlelight Service – December 1
Houston Candlelight Service – December 13
Reunion Planning and Class Agent Workshop – January 20–21, 2006
2006 Brown Symposium (XXVIII) – February 9–10, 2006
North Carolina Road Scholar Presentation – March 4, 2006