Colorado College Bulletin

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HOME PAGE features a series of brief articles on recent happenings at Colorado College. This issue includes stories on a new professorship endowment, the late Dick Taber, the tour choir, alumni abroad, new Greek lodges, and Helen Stevenson Meyner '50 

'84 Grad Honors One of CC's Finest With $1 Million Professorship Endowment

There has never been any doubt about Bill Hochman's contribution to Colorado College. A professor for 45 years, Hochman was fond of saying how lucky he was to have been what Theodore Roosevelt once called "one of those little men who teach history in college."

Thousands of students enrolled in Hochman's classes over the years, discussing those eternal questions at the heart of liberal education -- questions of taste and judgment, of values and standards, truth and error, war and peace. "There are no highs comparable to the surge college teachers know when they enter a classroom," says Hochman. "And I give thanks every day that this is the place where I was privileged to live my life as a teacher."

Phil Swan '84 couldn't agree more.

One of CC's newest trustee, Swan has established an endowed professorship to honor his favorite teacher. His $1 million gift is intended for a faculty member in the history department.

"I feel speechless now, as I was speechless when that bolt out-of-the-blue phone call came from Phil a few weeks ago," says Hochman. "To say I am honored is a miserably inadequate understatement."

As Hochman's advisee, Swan ate lasagna at Bill and Nancy's home when he first enrolled at CC. The stimulating dinner conversation must have ignited Swan's desire to spend as much time as possible in Hochman's classroom; he enrolled in every principal course his mentor taught in Palmer Hall.

"Phil came to my classes strongly positioned," says Hochman. "As I am a knee jerk, bleeding heart, Franklin Delano Roosevelt liberal Democrat, and he comes from a conservative family, we always had lots to talk about."

Swan agrees, adding that "memories of those magic moments in Hochman's classroom still induce a tingle up my spine."

He's particularly fond of a two-block course he took his sophomore year, Early 20th Century U.S. History. "On those stressful days in the office, I occasionally fantasize about where else I'd like to be. And that classroom is the place."

With this gift, Swan becomes the college’s youngest seven-figure donor, a fact not lost on Phil.

"My wife, Tricia, and I believe in fully committing ourselves to those things about which we feel most passionate," Swan says.  "This gift is our way of expressing our thanks to a great man and to a belief that a liberal arts education at Colorado College is worth perpetuating."

Swan and his wife live in San Marino, Calif., where Phil is senior vice president at Capital Guardian Trust Company in Los Angeles.

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Dick Taber's Lessons Will Live On Forever

By Kara Knox Taber '85

Dick TaberI first met Dick Taber in the summer of 1987, shortly after his son, Mike, and I began dating.   He and his wife, Mary, had just returned from a two week camping and fishing expedition.  They invited me over for a fish fry the following week and I apprehensively accepted.  I was not much of a fish eater.  I sat down at the table the evening of the feast, amazed and surprised to see a whole fish, with scales, fins, and an eye staring into my own.   Little did Dick know I watched his attack on the trout before him so I could follow his example.  

Though I never set foot in a chemistry classroom at Colorado College, nor did I know Dick during his athletic directorship, I became another of his students.  He unknowingly taught me much about himself and life.  

Some of his lessons were subtle.  I did not know I had learned them until months, sometime years, later.  He taught me about courage through the stories of his dealings with his first wife’s many illnesses, my direct contact with him during her final sickness and death, and his willingness to risk loving again when he married for the second time. 

I learned about persistence and hope when the family went sailing at Pueblo Reservoir.  “Just a little longer.  I know some wind will come up,” he's say every few minutes.   Four hours later -- still waiting for some wind -- it was time to return home.  Dick was out on the boat the next weekend, sailing in a glorious wind.

I learned that learning is a lifelong process.  After many years as a chemistry professor, Dick became athletics director at Colorado College.  He spent his first weekend on the job reading books on management.  One Sunday evening he declared to his family he now knew how to tackle the new position, “Surround yourself with competent people and you’ll look good.”

He showed me pride in the time he took constructing his HO gauge train town.  He named the cars after family members -- those sons and grandchildren he loved to brag about. 

Dick is no longer around to teach me about life.  His lessons, though, still live on in those who loved him.  I remember his competitiveness when I watch his grandson play soccer or hockey.  I remember persistence when his granddaughter refuses to give up an idea until it becomes her reality.  I remember the old adage “you’re never too old to learn” when his son comes up with a new way of teaching his students.  I feel his love in the hugs, words, actions of his family. 

I thank him for his teachings.   

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Tour Choir Reunites for April Show

By Cindy Piller '68 

Those returning for what was billed as possibly the last CC Tour Choir Reunion had, at some time during their college years, logged time in rehearsals at least three days a week from September to April.  They had spent spring breaks on cross-country road trips singing in illustrious concert halls and countless churches.  And they did all this under the direction of conductor, retired professor Donald P. Jenkins. 

More than 90 people, including family and friends of the 250 who once sang in the 55-member auditioned choirs from 1961-1970, trekked to CC for a late April reunion and concert organized by former tour manager John Chalik '67 and secretary Janet Smith Sims '66. 

Three days and six rehearsals after arriving, the group performed in Packard Hall. At the post-concert banquet celebration, Chalik announced CC Tour Choir members had, in about three weeks, raised more than $110,000 for a college endowment fund in Jenkins' name and honor.

Those performing at the fourth Tour Choir reunion concert members did not quite "glitter" like their gold nugget counterparts were described as doing in a 1965 review published in The New York Times.  After 30-plus years, though, all we needed was one more rehearsal, and, hopefully, one more reunion to prove we can.

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Keeping Tabs on Our Alumni Abroad

By Lora Louise Broady '83

Question:  Who can be found living on all seven continents (even Antarctica on occasion) and in 79 countries outside the United States?

Answer:  Colorado College International Alumni!

Since “Tiger trails” can now be found all around the planet, the National Alumni Council (NAC) is reaching out to international alumni.  We recognize that they also want to stay in touch with fellow alumni, keep updated on campus events, and share their common experiences with one another. 

Thea Keamy '86, who has served in several posts abroad, chairs an ad-hoc committee that also includes Ed Goldstein '79, current president of the NAC, Lora Louis Broady '83, and Sophia Malkasian '98 of Tutt Alumni Office.

This committee hopes to communicate frequently with CC international alumni, support international international efforts to plan regional events, increase campus and alumni awareness of CC's global nature, and solicit involvement of international alumni in other alumni committee activities, including admissions, career networking and development.  

An online survey was sent (with a "snail-mail" copy to those without email) to more than 800 international alumni earlier this year.

Armed with this new survey information, the International Alumni Committee will identify and recruit leaders in regions where there is a larger concentration of alumni (such as London and Calgary) to begin planning alumni events.  The group will also work with the Alumni Office to coordinate events around professor and/or student visits abroad. 

A Sampling of Survey Findings:

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Greeks Dig New Digs

Photo by Sean Cayton '94, click here to see more picturesSorority and fraternity members say the sense of community and camaraderie will skyrocket now that Greek lodges have been reopened on the east campus student organization quad.

The sororities elected to furnish an apartment for a resident director in their lodge; the fraternities chose to house up to six members in theirs.  The individual house corporation for each chapter has signed a long-term lease agreement with CC.

Greek membership has remained at about 15 percent through the 1990s, mirroring national figures. At CC, fraternities average 38 members and sororities average 62.

See more on campus construction

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A History of Dedication

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the graduation date of one of the college’s most distinguished alumna -- Helen Stevenson Meyner ’50.  Elected to the first of two terms in the U.S. Congress in 1975, she was the first Colorado College graduate to achieve national elective office.

Helen Stevenson Meyner '50Mrs. Meyner, who passed away in November of 1997, bequeathed $100,000 to CC.  Because of her lifelong devotion to service, international relations, and women’s issues, her gift will be used to renovate Palmer Hall, the building in which she spent so many hours as a history major.

After the renovation, a plaque with her name will be displayed at Palmer.  A special tribute to Mrs. Meyner was made at Homecoming’s 50th Reunion of the class of 1950.

The cousin of Adlai Stevenson, Mrs. Meyner had an abiding interest in public service.  After graduating from Colorado College, she was a field worker in Korea and lectured extensively on her experiences there after her return.  She worked at the United Nations, then for TWA, promoting world travel.  While campaigning in her cousin’s presidential race, she met her future husband, Gov. Robert B. Meyner of New Jersey.   

Mrs. Meyner, who served as a Colorado College trustee, received an honorary degree in 1973, when she also delivered the commencement address.

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