Western ... e-Round the World
Volume II, No. 2
December 2002

The Sound of Music
Remember choir caroling through our Western dorms? Music was then and is now so important to the joy of this season. To hear Western voices again singing the beautiful "Western Blue," written by our very own Betty Vandersluis '51, visit our welcome page. Women's voices still fill Kumler Chapel at the annual holiday concert.

Western Women Of The Middle East
Since September 11, 2001, two of our most distinguished alumnae, Marcelle Wahba '69 and Maliha Zulfacar '70, find themselves in strategic roles that link the U.S. to that part of the world where so much attention is focused these days. Marcelle, an Egyptian-American and career diplomat, was appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates just over a year ago. Maliha is a native of Kabul, Afghanistan, and teaches now at California Polytechnic Institute. But she spent 23 years in Afghanistan and has both written and made films about her homeland, so finds herself much in demand as a lecturer and commentator.

A Musician, a Writer, a Poet (a Publisher) and an Artist
Western never lacked for artistic talent in the student body or on the faculty. And our artists are still busily creating. Debbie McDuffie '71 has produced a CD, Up in Smoke, featuring the Florida youth chorus she directs. Lesley Wischmann '73 has written a book, Frontier Diplomats, detailing the lives of fur trader Alexander Culbertson and his wife, Nanyist-Siksina, and their contribution to the history of the American West in the late 1800s. Leah Kennedy '66 has realized a longtime dream and collected 47 of her poems in Love With a Twist, published by her good friend and fellow Western alum, Martha Ley '65. Lennie Kesl, who taught art at Western from 1958 to 1965, has been honored with a major retrospective exhibition of his work, Obsession, mounted by the University of Florida.

Activity Indoors And Out
One bright blue October day, your director and editor took a walk down Western Drive and dropped in on a couple of Peabody classrooms. In one, a visitor from our "sister" Mills College was trying to interest WCP sophomores in spending a semester at their Institute for Civic Leadership. In the other, two WCP professors dressed in African garb were presenting an exhibit of textiles and African artifacts to students in their course on colonialism and neocolonialism. We thought we could still hear echoes coming from Ernst, which, earlier in the semester, had rung with the booming blank verse of Shakespeare and the higher-pitched patter of children’s theatre. On the way back to Patterson Place, we admired Miami’s new Child Development Center, where stained-glass window panels from Alumnae Hall now hang.

Reunion Highlights
How can a reunion be any more fun than the 2002 "Cruise to Western"? We’re working on it. Check out a few of the highlights planned for the 2003 celebration of 150 years of Western spirit! Please let us know if you intend to come ... look for the envelope tucked in your Bulletin and send in your Roll Call card now!

Thank You For Your Bequest to Western!
This is what we wish we had been able to say to Narka Nelson for her very generous bequest to Western. In appreciation and gratitude to her, we have established the Narka Nelson Circle to recognize and thank you who have included the WCAA in your bequest. Elizabeth Turner '07 did just that, and what a difference her gift made!

Western Alum on Miami Foundation Board
The WCAA has established many endowments to carry on the spirit of Western for generations to come. Several years ago, your Board of Trustees decided that these endowments should be invested in the Miami University Foundation. The Foundation is directed by a board of volunteers. This year, an alumna of Western College, Anne Adkins Weissenborn '61, has been asked by Miami to serve on the MUF Board.

Make a Gift ...
It’s the time for giving … and your Alumnae Association has a long list of needs! So, please give generously to the 2002 Annual Fund. Credit cards are accepted on this secure site. Thank you!

Gift Shop
You've made your list and checked it twice, but we're betting you still forgot someone someone who'd love a cozy sweatshirt, a good book, a unique holiday ornament … Why not drop in to the WCAA Gift Shop?

You Could Look It Up
1. Which school is not a "daughter of Mt. Holyoke"?
  a. Western College for Women
  b. Mills College, California
  c. Lake Erie College, Ohio
  d. Wellesley College, Massachusetts
  e. Huguenot Seminary and College, South Africa
  f. International Institute for Girls, Spain

2. Not one but two Western women currently sit on important Miami University boards. Can you name both? Can you name one?

3. True or false Narka Nelson, author of our official history, The Western College for Women, held degrees from Smith College and the University of California Berkeley, as well as two from Western.

Click here for answers.

Upcoming Events 
December 10: Dayton, OH club meeting 
February 19: Phoenix/Tucson, AZ club meeting 
February 22 (tentative): Maryland/Virginia/Washington D.C. 
March 24: Madame Butterfly, MU Performing Arts Series opera sponsored by the WCAA
April 5: Columbus, OH club meeting 
May 17: Indianapolis, IN club meeting 
June 20-22: Annual Western College Reunion on campus

Western e-Round the World is an occasional publication of the WCAA Catherine Bauer Cooper '60, Publications Editor.

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