Gonzaga’s New President: Companion of Jesuits, Servant of the Mission

Story by Marny Lombard
Photos by Jennifer Raudebaugh

“I feel truly blessed to be part of Gonzaga – a place that has afforded me so much opportunity to participate in its life and growth,”
– President Thayne McCulloh

The announcement in July of Thayne McCulloh, D. Phil., as Gonzaga’s 26th president comes at a time of great optimism and promise across campus. Record numbers of enrolled students and faithful alumni continue to demonstrate their belief in, and support of, Gonzaga. The University continues to build upon its fundamental values: the widespread manifestation of its Jesuit, Catholic and humanistic mission; the fostering of a rigorous and contemporary educational experience; and a deep commitment to the development of women and men who are committed to serving others and the promotion of justice – supported and nurtured in the context
of the University’s warm sense of community.

At the same time, the announcement that the Board of Trustees had appointed a layperson to lead the institution was significant in its precedent-setting nature, yet was positively received throughout the Gonzaga community. McCulloh attributes much of this to shared participation in important experiences across time; much to the generosity and support of the Jesuits whom he has known over the years; and a career-long commitment to fostering the mission of Gonzaga.

“As with so many alumni and colleagues, my relationship with Gonzaga is made up of thousands of experiences, from my time as a student in Dooley and an R.A. in ‘CM’ (St. Catherine-St. Monica Hall), to Search Retreats, to working with colleagues on complex administrative projects,” McCulloh said. “Every step of the way, the experiences have involved both Jesuits and lay colleagues with whom I have become very close.” And while the numerous positions held by McCulloh over time are well-known, less visible are the many projects of which
he has been a part – projects which give confidence to members of the Gonzaga community that the values he holds are in common with theirs.

“While some may be aware of Thayne’s work in financial aid, relatively few know that he instituted the first formal department of disability resources for students, or worked on our first new student housing since the 1960s,” said Sue Weitz, vice president for student life. As a psychology faculty member, Dr. McCulloh taught a variety of courses in psychology and also developed research opportunities for students and a course in cross-cultural psychology.

An overwhelming majority of Gonzaga faculty and staff see McCulloh as one of Gonzaga’s blessings. His commitment to collaboration, his integrity, his focus on students and his willingness to provide tangible support for academics have earned the respect and appreciation of the campus community. The Trustees, the Jesuit community, the faculty and staff share widespread agreement that the University has in Dr. McCulloh the best leader for today and Gonzaga’s future. “The Gonzaga Jesuits are firmly confident in Dr. McCulloh’s leadership ability to accomplish the highly challenging tasks of keeping the University on an even keel and of meeting the needs of its unchanging mission,” said Father Kevin Waters, S.J., presiding officer of the Board of Members.

“In every way, Thayne McCulloh is the personification of what it is to truly be ‘Jesuit’ in the academic world. I look at this as a continuation or an acceleration of leadership,” said John Luger, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

As well, faculty cite widespread reasons for optimism about the University’s future. Gonzaga’s teaching culture; the rising caliber of incoming students; impressive young faculty hires; and the impassioned sense of the Jesuit educational mission across campus – all are mentioned positively by faculty. Faculty and staff express their confidence in the leadership exercised by the president; in Dr. Patricia O’Connell Killen, recently named academic vice president; and in Dr. Earl Martin, who holds the new position of executive vice president. Some faculty express hope for stronger adherence to Catholic teachings and for major academic and faith initiatives.

But, along with the sense that Gonzaga is moving toward a new level, there flows a current of seriousness and caution. The suspension of bylaws requiring a Jesuit president was not enacted lightly. Fr. Tim Clancy, S.J., who serves on the Board of Members and the Trustees, explains:

“I would be disappointed if nobody was concerned about a potential weakening of our Jesuit mission in  moving to a lay president. As a Jesuit myself I am very conscious of all those Jesuits who have devoted their apostolic lives to Gonzaga over the past 123 years. I would hate to see us drift away from our religious mission. I suspect we will need to be more explicit and deliberate about things we have gotten used to taking for granted with a Jesuit at the helm. What makes Thayne such a great choice for this transition is that he knows and values both the vision and ethos of Jesuit higher education as well if not better than most university Jesuits.”

Without dismissing such concerns, there are others who point to McCulloh’s direct involvement with campus liturgical celebrations, his ongoing collaboration with the Jesuit Community, and his participation in the Jesuits’ preparations for General Congregation 35 as examples of his active focus on the centrality of Jesuit identity in the work. As a sign of the Jesuits’ affirmation, McCulloh formally received the apostolic mission to serve as president from Jesuit Provincial Pat Lee, S.J., at the Mass of the Holy Spirit in September 2009.

In June 2006 the Oregon Province sponsored the historic Congregation of Lay Companions. Dr. McCulloh was chosen as one of two lay companions to respond to the provincial’s address during the opening session of the event and was also one of the primary writers of the documents that were produced as a result of this gathering. “Thayne’s remarks reflected his deep commitment and profound understanding of the Jesuit mission, as well as his strong desire to work as a companion to Jesuits,” said Cindy Reopelle, provincial assistant for Jesuit and lay collaboration. “Thayne McCulloh truly exemplifies the qualities of a deeply committed lay companion who works diligently to promote Jesuit-lay collaboration in the apostolic work of Jesuit education.”

Spokane’s former Bishop William Skylstad also affirms McCulloh’s commitment to the Jesuit, Catholic mission of Gonzaga. “He has already served GU as interim president with distinction. His keen intellect, his spirit of service, his sense of Church, and his spirituality come together as a wonderful gift to Gonzaga University and its very important role in our Church and the larger Spokane community.”

Gonzaga is the eighth of 28 U.S. Jesuit universities and colleges to name a lay president. Georgetown University was the first in 2001. Five Jesuit presidents have announced their resignations in 2010 alone, and several institutions have made clear their intention
to open the search to lay candidates.

Jesuit-Lay collaboration is nothing new for the University. In the 1950s, Gonzaga hired its first tenure-track lay faculty – two of those pioneers, professors emeriti Tom Rukavina and Franz Schneider (who taught McCulloh as an undergraduate), are still living. In 1968, the first lay-Jesuit Board of Trustees allowed the addition of varied expertise to Gonzaga’s policy-making body. In 2001, biology Professor Robert Prusch became the first lay dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 2002, Gonzaga named Stephen Freedman as its first regularly appointed, lay academic vice president.

Educating lay faculty and staff about the Jesuit mission is an ongoing endeavor, currently overseen by interim Vice President for Mission Father Steve Hess, S.J. Dr. Marc Manganaro, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, began participating in the national Ignatian Colleagues Program at John Carroll University this summer, the third GU administrator to do so. This 18-month program helps lay administrators to incorporate Jesuit spirituality into their work.

“Knowing that there are going to be more and more lay leaders in Jesuit universities, we could become a model for how to do this right,” said Trustee Emeritus Tom Tilford, former director of the University’s Hogan Program for Entrepreneurial Leadership. “We’re early to this process. We have a president who is exceptionally grounded in what it means to be a Jesuit, Catholic institution. So we have both a caution and an opportunity. If we are going to continue to have Jesuit, Catholic universities, all the constituencies need to address these issues head on.”

Luger frames the question of the institution’s future this way: “How do we create the University of 20 years out? We start with where we are today, and that comes back around to the blessing we have today – to the combination of these two realities: the gifts of a lay leader who was raised and formed by Gonzaga, and the challenge of being an authentically Jesuit university today and in the future.”

The Class of 2013 made a tremendous impact last year at Gonzaga. The largest class ever admitted, these 1,239 freshmen flung themselves into the University and all that the campus offers. This ‘by-the-numbers’ class portrait offers a glimpse into their energy and desire to learn.

SNAPSHOT

Approximately 92 percent of the Class of 2013 returns this fall as energetic, imaginative and brilliant sophomores. Here’s a snapshot of how this class performed in 2009-10:

• 1,203 received some form of financial aid.
• 505 took the introductory Pathways course.
• 3,402 total freshman signups for intramural sports.
• 586 live in Washington – that’s 47 percent of the class.
• 375 attended one of six sessions of the Freshman Retreat.
• 650 welcomed their families to Fall Family Weekend 2009.
• 115 joined mentoring programs such as Campus Kids.
• 297 participated in academic service learning.
• 30% described themselves as politically liberal; 39% as moderate and 31% conservative.
• 850 sessions with tutors at the Writing Center were filled by freshmen. That’s twice the use by all other levels of students. “And it includes freshmen from across the curriculum, not just with 100-level courses in the English Department,” said John Eliason, associate professor of English and director of composition.
• 133 lived in Coughlin Hall, Gonzaga’s newest residence hall.
• 327 ate breakfast at the COG on an average day. Twice as many ate lunch.
• $156,110 was spent on pizzas delivered by Papa John’s and Domino’s.
• 59 & 121 applied to Knights and Setons. Each program admits 30 students.
• 165 & 237 made the Dean or President’s List in spring semester.

SNEAK PEAK AT THE CLASS OF 2014

By design, Gonzaga’s current freshman class is fewer in numbers than last fall’s entering class, with approximately 1,120 students as the semester began. The Class of 2014 comes on board with impressive stats:

• 3.73 cumulative GPA – the highest in Gonzaga’s history.
• 1202 SAT scores: 594 critical reading, 608 math.
• 18.6% students of color.
• 53.7% female 46.3% male.
• 46% Washington residents.

Kristen (’09) and Scott Mulhern are decorated with handfuls of dye and colored water thrown during Holi, the Festival of Colors. In India this festival ushers in spring. Photo by Scott Mulhern.

By MARNY LOMBARD

Kristen Junge Mulhern graduated from Gonzaga’s nursing program in December 2009. A month later, having passed her boards to become a registered nurse, she flew to India.

Her first days were overwhelming: the gaudy colors, the henna designs she had inked onto her feet, the sounds of the Telugu and Hindi languages, trash lying everywhere in the slums, with trash fires set daily. Even eating a meal is done differently – with the fingertips of your
right hand.

Gonzaga’s nursing program developed its undergraduate nursing degree in 2005. The program recently received its 10-year accreditation and now enrolls 220 undergraduate students and 300 students in four graduate tracks. In the last five years, 99 percent of Gonzaga’s nurse practitioner graduates have passed their national certification exams.

Families in Hyderabad’s slums lack education, health care and sufficient food. Plumbing is rare. Opportunity Foundation India, a small non-profit started by a couple from Coeur d’Alene, runs Maggi School for grades one through five and three pre-primary schools. The goal is to raise families up into India’s middle class. For nine months, Kristen and her husband, Scott, volunteered for Opportunity Foundation as school advisors. Together, they managed finances, established curriculum, worked with local leaders, organized events and programs, built a playground and sometimes taught classes. Scott, an Eastern Washington University graduate, upgraded the schools’ record-keeping systems and worked to increase the organization’s marketability.

Kristen, who became the school nurse, was charged with performing head-to-toe health assessments of her students. She also taught basic health-care concepts to parents – how to provide first-aid, for instance, or how to know when your child needs to see a doctor.

FOUR DAYS LATER, MELTED PLASTIC
Some days, the unexpected took over – like the morning a nursery teacher brought 4-year-old Divya to Kristen. With no parent or sibling watching, the little girl had been playing with a plastic ball. The ball bounced into a trash fire, and she grabbed it, melting plastic all over her thumb and forefinger. Four days later, when Kristen first saw Divya, the plastic still was burned into her skin.

“It made me sick to my stomach to think of how this little girl’s situation could go from bad to worse.” Kristen was relieved to find no sign of infection. “The tissue was nice and pink, but I had to do a lot of scrubbing to get down to it. I think the burn had damaged some nerves because Divya experienced no pain while I scrubbed. I kept asking her ‘Nopee?’ (the word for ‘pain’ in Telugu) and she would just smile and shake her head. It made me want to cry, it looked so painful.”

With twice daily cleanings and dressing changes, the burn healed. For weeks, Kristen worked with Divya to keep a full range of motion in her thumb. Finally, only a scar remained. Divya left Kristen’s care with a completely functional right hand.

SCHOOL MEALS, GROWING CHILDREN
In India, Kristen absorbed what would be years of experience in another setting. She completed the health exams on nearly 175 children. The majority are underweight. But these children receive lunch every day and are noticeably bigger than the other slum children. She grappled with how to reach an older teacher-cum-doctor whose treatment of students was sometimes dangerous. (He favored injections for almost all situations – even headaches – and when he gave antibiotics, only provided a few days’ worth.)

MENTORS SHE COULD COUNT ON
A thousand times, Kristen thought of her nursing education at Gonzaga – particularly her professors who mentored their student with logistical help, advice and supplies from the moment they learned of her plan to go to India.

“I was nervous about going to a third world country as a new nurse and turned to my professors for guidance and support,” she said. “Their response was so much more than I ever expected.”

Before her graduation, she spent a day in graduate-level nurse practitioner classes, she learned how to suture an incision and how to deliver a baby or recognize when childbirth was going badly. Her professors gave her pediatric nursing books, helped her to acquire first aid supplies, and advised her on how to organize the health assessments and community health survey. In India, Kristen received help via e-mail from her professors – even when it came to how to approach the older teacher.

She credits Gonzaga’s nursing program with teaching her to be a reflective practitioner. “Every day I encountered something new and tried to take the time at the end of the day to look back and see what was done well and what I could have done differently.”

PRECEPTS OF JESUIT EDUCATION
Development of the whole person and building relationship are also cornerstones for this young nurse. In Gabbilalapet and Shanthi Nagar, the two slum communities where Kristen and Scott worked, she learned to start by asking questions and getting to know people. Kristen reminded herself often that she comes from a culture with different ways of thinking. “Throughout, Scott and I tried to set the example for change that we want to see.” She ticks off the simplest practices: washing their hands before eating, putting garbage in a trash can, not on the floor. Or taking a tablet, instead of an injection, for a headache.

“As a nurse, you can’t just go in and tell people what they are doing wrong and give them your solution of how to fix it,” Kristen said. “I have been humbled by this knowledge time and again. Change doesn’t happen unless you have the other side believing in the cause.”

Liane Nye graduated this summer from Gonzaga's Family Nurse Practitioner Program

Liane Nye specializes in pediatric cardiology. She cares for infants and children as they leave open-heart surgery, stabilizing their breathing, blood pressure, heart and kidney function. “Sometimes there are more wires and monitors on a baby than there is baby,” she says. In Sacred Heart Medical Center’s pediatric intensive care unit, Nye helps shaky parents through those first days and nights.

Canadian by birth, Nye is an accomplished professional. In 2007, she earned the Sacred Heart Award of Nursing Excellence. But she noticed a restlessness. She wanted more; friends and colleagues encouraged her to seek more. She wanted, in a word, to incorporate magis into her life.

She enrolled in Gonzaga’s Family Nurse Practitioner Program, one of four GU graduate nursing programs. Gonzaga’s graduate nursing students take their classes on-line. This allows early- or mid-career students to remain at work in their home towns – San Diego to Montana. On-line discussion boards allow for the give-and-take and critical thinking fostered in on-campus classes. Twice each semester, the nurse practitioner students come to campus for teaching, mentoring and exams.

Nye graduated in August. Her career now evolves from delivering care to planning care, from following a doctor’s orders to practicing in collaboration with doctors. Her new practice rests on a foundation of relationships with her young patients, their families – and even the Spokane community.

For a community health class, Nye researched and prepared a proposal on helmet use for Mount Spokane Ski Area. “One of my biggest pet peeves,” she says, “is seeing young patients come into the emergency room with head trauma that could have been prevented by a $100 piece of equipment.”

At Gonzaga, Nye learned to bring the Jesuit commitments of magis, social justice and cura personalis into her professional life.

“There have been so many learning experiences: those related to pathophysiology – the study of how disease changes body function – and pharmacology. However, I think the one tremendous insight I have learned is that I have the honor of being part of a patient’s journey. I was present when a 72-year-old mother was told she was dying of metastatic liver cancer, after a previous bout of breast cancer. She and her daughter absorbed the news. Although they were not the least bit surprised, they did get teary and hugged.

“Then they turned to their nurse practitioner and discussed hospice and home care options. What struck me was the intimacy of the situation. As nurse practitioners,” Nye said, “we are not only providing care, but we also care about our patients.”

Students, a child from Zambezi and a momentarily stern-looking Josh Armstrong walk together.

Photos by Josh Armstrong, Lauren Mills, Nolan Grady and Mark Bodamer

This summer Gonzaga students spilled into Africa, the largest classroom imaginable. Fifty-nine students, 10 faculty and staff, and a handful of Gonzaga-in-Zambia alumni spent several weeks in Zambia, the southern nation with the shape of a butterfly.

Students learned by living in community – a core Gonzaga value. They sang and danced as they moved concrete blocks. They rode an oxcart, taught English and computer skills, and gingerly crossed the longest man-made bridge in Africa.

Josh Armstrong, director of the Comprehensive Leadership Program, found his students integrating leadership skills and service learning more fully than ever. Armstrong dreams of expanding Gonzaga’s program in Zambezi.

At Chimfunshi, an unusual chimpanzee refuge, students earned biology and psychology credits and hope to publish their research. Students also learned from Mary Jeannot, director of Gonzaga’s English Language Center, who taught the women and children.

For students’ blogs go to GonzagaInZambezi.com and GonzagaInChimfunshi.com.

The summer also brought two firsts: a new School of Education program to teach Zambian teachers, and a reconnaissance trip by a team from Gonzaga’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

SWIMMING IN MILK

By Josh Armstrong, Director, Comprehensive Leadership Program

The Gonzaga-in-Zambezi curriculum provides an opportunity for students to develop leadership skills and immerse themselves in another culture. Students return home with a deeper understanding of culturally aware leadership, a greater sense of self-awareness, and a passion for service-learning. Essential to this learning is student involvement in community development projects. The essence of the program, however, is rooted in accompaniment: While in Zambezi, students generate opportunities to become mutually indebted to the community and to develop meaningful relationships, so that they can operate at eye-level within this community. We spend time each evening reflecting on leadership articles and making meaning from the day.

The student blog (www.gonzagaInZambezi.com) has been an unexpected outcome. We read each blog posting and comments at the breakfast table. It is our community mailbag. This experience, to the depth of reflection and insight that goes into the writing, and the touching response from family, friends and Zambezi alumni has become an important aspect of the program.

In my farewell speech to the Zambezi parish, I spoke about the pride we held in the projects that we sponsored this summer. But more than that, I spoke about the lessons that we learned. During his visit from Zambezi to Gonzaga in February, Father Dominic Sandu told our Gonzaga students that we were “swimming in milk.” He meant that we live with abundance and many of us weren’t seeing the responsibility that comes with that privilege. I spoke about how we had been challenged in our swimming in milk and would return to the United States to make sense of this challenge.

Growth for Gonzaga-in-Zambezi will not come with more students visiting this town each year. We are nearing the capacity of our teams at about 30 each summer – two groups of about 15 students. Instead this growth will come from deepening our relationships with the community, discovering new ventures with interdisciplinary faculty from around Gonzaga’s campus, and dreaming about longer-term connections with Zambezi. Each year brings us closer to this vision and dream.

SEEING GOD IN THEIR FACES

By Mark Bodamer, associate professor, Psychology

This summer, three researchers from other institutions joined our Gonzaga team of students and faculty at Chimfunshi, providing our students extra opportunities to discuss methodology, to collect daily data and aid in preliminary analysis. This was a highly successful addition to students’ research experience.

While the daily chance to observe the chimpanzees and to learn about the amazing biological diversity of this protected ecosystem are wonderful, students usually reported in nightly reflections that the most moving piece of their experience was the opportunity to get to know the local people.

Chimfunshi staff families met students regularly for fun and games in the dambo (flood plane): soccer, tickle and chase, singing and sharing time. Here occurred the interactions that truly allowed us to see God
in the face of others.

Staff wives also braided students’ hair and this provided another opportunity to be in community with people who know very little or no English. For the first time, thanks to Associate Professor Mary Jeannot we were able to offer English classes to staff wives almost on a daily basis. Jeannot loves what she does and her style and passion is contagious for everyone in the room. Not only did the women respond, but so did GU students, who kept up the daily class after Mary left. By far, this year’s students made the greatest efforts to learn Bemba, the local language. It was uplifting to see GU students and Chimfunshi staff teaching each other. You could see the excitement – God – in the faces of everyone as they got to know each other.

TO LEARN TO TEACH, HELP OTHERS TEACH

By Autumn Jones (‘10)

Six students from GU’s School of Education and two faculty helped to educate Zambian teachers this summer.  Professors at the Charles Lwanga College of Education “wanted two things from us,” said Deborah Booth, associate professor. “One, to learn how to be more Jesuit; and two, to improve their teaching. I knew we could do what they wanted.”

Raymond Reyes, Gonzaga’s associate academic vice president, provided instruction on the Ignatian mission. Booth focused on teaching methods. The Gonzaga students teamed with their Zambian peers to create a literacy tutoring program.

“I was most proud of our students,” said Booth. “There were 10 to 20 African children on our porch constantly wanting to read, play and talk with our students. They played soccer, taught all kinds of recess games, showed how to make friendship bracelets – all on their ‘free time’ when they were done teaching. They modeled the kind of teachers we want them to be and they did so at their will.” The Gonzaga group created a library with donated materials. So impressed was the national minister of education, he dedicated it as the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Resource Library.

“We planted the seeds. We went with good faith, good hearts and a desire to help,” said Booth. “And we’re excited to go back,” she said with a smile.

SLOW DOWN

By Claire Anderson (‘12)

I was surprised by the pure graciousness within the heart of Zambia. While the American lifestyle can be fast-paced and concentrated on efficiency, the Zambian culture showed the importance of forming relationships. Their traditional welcoming consisted of bending at the knees to show respect in addition to a handshake with subsequent clapping, and it was common courtesy to ask how the other person was feeling or where they were traveling. Memories of those long greetings in the middle of sandy roads have helped me to slow down when life becomes unnecessarily hectic.

The biggest surprise was the people’s eagerness to offer gifts. I recall one of the young girls, Wendy, placing her small hand in my palm to leave a pair of flowery gold earrings, or Timas presenting an unripe guava after his little legs ran toward me. As our group traveled to villages around Zambezi, we were stunned by the food they gave us. One of the communities we visited for just 10 minutes. This village had about 15 mud huts with thatched roofs. Illiteracy rates were high among the adults, the elder was suffering from a recent stroke, and the children were beginning agricultural work instead of attending school. Despite the adverse conditions, they brought us bamboo mats so we could sit and bowls of shelled peanuts. We did not bring any resources to these people; our only form of communication was through simple phrases in their language. I learned a valuable lesson about selflessness.

RECONNAISSANCE

By Jillian Cadwell, Assistant Professor, Engineering

After a month evaluating engineering opportunities at two long-standing Zambia sites, I can envision an engineering faculty member in either location teaching a three-credit course on water quality, supply and treatment; energy generation; or building infrastructure.

Our engineering team conducted community surveys, recorded GPS points and took water quality and solar energy measurements at each of the sites. The water quality data in particular has given us a regional snapshot of water-related issues and needs in these communities.

One day in Chimfunshi, the engineering team took water samples and measured the flow-rate in a tributary of the Kafue River. Children who had joined us (they were going to fetch drinking water directly from the stream) helped me to measure the stream cross-section and velocities. As I stepped toward the deepest area of the channel, I tripped and fell. Laughter ensued from the children.

Photos by Jennifer Raudebaugh and Rajah Bose

Photo credit: Jennifer Raudebaugh

For eight short days after commencement, members of BBT (Big Bing Theory), Gonzaga’s a cappella group toured the west. Three cars caravanned to the members’ hometowns and nearby cities in Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. Catherine Van (’12) agreed to document the journey.

Day 1:  Pasco, WA
The tour begins. We were so anxious to start—will the crowds like us? How long will the car rides be? Will we want to kill each other by the end of tour? Fourteen singers, three cars, countless number of bags, and an immeasurable amount of emotions and energy—sounds like recipe for disaster, but not for BBT. We were more than ready to take on Pasco, Washington; Reno, Nevada; San Francisco, California; and Corvallis, Oregon. The excitement started building at DeSmet Circle, where we all met with our tightly packed bags in hand and smiles on every face as we slowly reunited after a night of graduation fun. Once we filled every inch of space with sound equipment, merchandise, personal belongings, and our bodies, we were ready to face Pasco.

So what do you need on a road trip? Snacks are essential ESSENTIAL and we’re not talking healthy food like carrots, but rather BBQ flavored chips, candy, popcorn, and hot dogs. Heart attack, here we come! A mix of tunes is also needed to keep up the morale and keep the driver awake. As we were driving, we broke the number one rule of road trips—there must be at least one other person awake to keep the driver from falling asleep.  Whoops. Good thing the drive was only three hours long.

Because BBT loves eating so much, we decided to do something unusual this year—a group weigh-in. We wanted to see how much weight we’d collectively gain (or lose) during tour. So BBT as a whole will begin tour weighing 2341 lbs. We still have several more families to spoil us with food…they are merciless.  It was great to finally eat a home-cooked meal after a year of Cog…goodies. After stuffing ourselves with chicken, salad, asparagus, mashed potatoes, and the most amazing pie we had ever tasted, we crashed. We went to bed around 11.  Our moms would’ve been proud. We needed to get well rested for our 12-hour drive tomorrow to Reno, Nevada. Here we come!

Day 2: Driving to Reno, NV
Embrace yourself for the 11-hour drive. That’s what each of us was saying to ourselves at least. Most of us were dreading the drive through the glamorous, flat desert lands of east Oregon and Idaho…but arriving in Sparks, Nev., was worth the long trip for the three Nevadans in the group. We ran into a couple of bumps before the drive began—we didn’t have directions.  We had to rely on Aryn’s GPS system that she’s never used before.  After about 20 minutes of fumbling with buttons, she got it to work and we were on our way to the biggest little city in the world—Reno, Nev.

In an 11-hour car ride, you need something to keep you entertained, especially when the scenery is less than eye pleasing. Aryn’s car, the car I was in, played every car game known to man including Grandma’s Trunk, spelling words, and Hot Seat. None of which lasted longer than 20 minutes each.  But through those games we learned new things about each other and bonded. Some of us tried to sleep to kill some time, while others read books or listened to music. We made a couple of pit stops here and there to get gas and snacks, but after 8 hours we were all hungry for a real meal.

After a few hours of digesting the delicious meal, we sprawled out on the living room with our Aerobeds and sleeping bags just talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

Day 3: Sparks, NV
Three concerts awaited us today. Let’s hope our voices can handle it. BBT got to sing at the place where Alexa, Danielle, and I fell in love with music and performing. We were very excited for everyone to meet Mr. Lorentzen (Rentz), our old choir director, and experience Reed High School as we remembered it. We had two concerts in the afternoon there.

Our first concert was one of the best performances of the year.  The energy was high, the crowd was welcoming, and we had so much fun! “The Medley” and “Uptown Girl” were crowd favorites. It was just so surreal performing on that stage that the three of us have known too well with another singing group.  It was pretty sweet.

The audience at the second concert was tripled and people were spilling in from the hallways. We were feeding off of their high energy and enthusiasm. We felt like rock starts! All the girls were swooning over Joey; it was adorable.

We frantically rushed out of Reed, satisfied with our performance and sales, to my house for some authentic Chinese cuisine. After our nice lunch break we had to drive 1.5 hours to Susanville, Calif., to sing at Sam’s hometown.

Day 4: Lake Tahoe and Lafayette, CA
After singing 30 songs the day before, we were ready to just relax and hang out and more importantly, let our voices rest.  BBT went down to Lake Tahoe, one of Nevada and California’s most prized treasure. We spent a good two hours at the beach, throwing rocks and picnicking. It was a gorgeous sight.

It was refreshing to drive by luscious green trees and hills on our way to Lafayette. The 3-hour car ride was cakewalk. Once we arrived at Joey’s house, he took us to the Buddhist Monastery on top of a hill. It was probably a good idea for us to get some exercise, anyway. The view on top was amazing, so peaceful.  I can understand why the monks pray up there.

We experienced the most epic moment of BBT history today.  Joey took us up to Grizzly Peak where we saw the best view of the Bay area. Whoa. The view was absolutely breathtaking. We wanted to leave our mark. Suddenly, we all burst into “Circle of Life.” Colin’s opening cry echoed throughout the city. The feeling was indescribable. Some of us were close to tears. We were on top of the world singing one of our most epic songs.  This is something none of us will forget. It was then when we realized we only had a few more days left with each other so we needed to make them count.

We experienced the glories of nature today. Indescribable– incredible and unforgettable.

Day 5: Lafayette and San Francisco, CA
The day at the Bay. We were really excited to go to S.F. today!  It was one of those three-performances days, so we needed to preserve our energy and voices. We began the day by performing for Joey’s high school at Acalanes. The stage was enormous and the high schoolers seemed to have liked us enough. It’s still really neat performing for so many different crowds every day—spreading Gonzaga and BBT love.

We had to rush out of the school, unfortunately, so we could make it in time for our gig at Joey’s sister’s middle school.  Roosevelt Middle School is for children in low-income communities. The students seemed to have a great time. They were very inquisitive about our school and a cappella singing.  It’s times like this when we are reminded of why we sing and perform in the first place—to spread joy and BBT love.

Afterward, we had a few hours to spend at Fisherman’s Wharf.  The first thing we did was find food. You can’t leave the wharf without feasting on clam chowder, fish ‘n’ chips and crab cakes.

We then found our way to Pier 39, tourist-central. We slyly stood in the middle of where all the action was taking place and performed “Circle of Life.” People slowly began to congregate around us, including the police…luckily they let us finish our song before shoeing us away. BBT can be rebellious. The audience was very receptive. We could tell by the smiles on their faces that their day just got better.

Two epic BBT moments in a row. Awesome! As we walked outside the Pier, we saw another a cappella group performing.  Colin and Alexa knew the song and ran up to sing with them.  There was no animosity, but we couldn’t resist a little competition. Sing-off…sing off! But time was not on our side, and unfortunately due to rush hour traffic and a hefty parking garage ticket price, we had to leave.

Our last performance of the day was at Joey’s girlfriend’s house in Lafayette. Her house was probably the biggest and most amazing house we had ever seen –  on top of a hill, with an incredible view. We sang for friends and family and then helped celebrate Joey’s 21st birthday.  Happy Birthday, Joey! We love you!

Another great day.

Day 6: Corvallis, OR
Today was yet another day of long driving—6 hours to Corvallis, Ore., home of Ian. It was another day of car games and snacking. Unfortunately for me, I had some weird infection in the right side of my gums so my jaw swelled up like a golf ball. Perfect timing…not. Luckily, I had good company, naps, ice, and ibuprofen to distract me from the pain.

After we arrived at Ian’s house, we showered, ate and got ready to go the meadow. Last year we played an awesome game of Ultimate Frisbee. This year, we were going to go stargazing.

When it was around 11 p.m., we ventured out to the meadow with blankets, a guitar, and a cooler full of refreshments. Upon arrival, Ian and Nick began playing some tunes ranging from Old Crow Medicine Show, to Tenacious D, to O Brother Where Art Thou on the guitar as we sang along. We snuggled up to each other and enjoyed the night. It was nice to sit and do nothing except enjoy one another and some simple acoustic beats.

Day 7: Corvallis, OR to Pasco, WA
We started the day early and hit up downtown Corvallis to do some shopping. It’s a BBT tradition to exchange gifts among each section. The sopranos buy for the basses, basses buy for the altos, altos buy for the tenors and the tenors buy for the sopranos. The gifts are meant to be silly and basically little inside jokes we have with each other. We had forgotten it was Sunday so most of the stores weren’t even open. Ugh! We had to improvise and went to Rite-Aide and Goodwill instead.

Our concert today was in Ian’s living room. We even had a couple of opening groups perform before us to set the mood—The Unmentionables, which featured Ian’s younger sister Heidi, and The Aviators. It was great to see how much energy they had; it was clear they love a cappella music as much as we do.

We had to leave right after our concert to make it back to Pasco, Wash., before midnight. This was the most enjoyable car ride because the scenery was like something you’d see on Planet Earth—gorgeous and green!

The people in Nick’s car wanted to cross the Bridge of Gods so his car strayed from our caravan — Probably not the best idea.  Nick was driving the freeway in the dark, and out of nowhere a deer runs right in front of his car! It wasn’t good news for the deer…(RIP Daisy, we later named her). The saddest part was that she was pregnant! Thankfully, no person was hurt, just a little shaken up. Nick was calm and handled it very well; unfortunately, the car’s grill and headlights were smashed. It didn’t help that there was an odor of dead deer and burned fur and blood. Nick’s dad rescued them from the freeway and everyone returned to Nick’s house unscathed…physically anyway. But still how traumatic!

Day 8: Pasco Back to Spokane on Our Final Day of Tour
It’s so surreal to think that our tour is ending…what’s worse is the idea that we might not get to see some of the members again.  Depressing. We kept our spirits up for the first two concerts for the day at elementary schools in Pasco and Spokane. The kids were adorable and so enthusiastic! It was an absolute treat to perform for them.

It was so weird to be back in Spokane. It felt like we just left for tour. The week FLEW by, and none of us could believe it. We were literally in a different city every night, well almost. Life on the road was fun, but exhausting. We were happy to be back in Spokane for our final concert at Ionic Burritos. Before the concert, we gathered at Aryn’s house to do the BBT traditional placemat signing. At the beginning of the year retreat, each member receives a personal placemat at dinner labeled with their special nicknames. At the end of the year, each of us signs every member’s placemat sort of like a yearbook. It’s a time for us to recollect all our memories and feelings and turn them into words.

Our last concert was…emotional to say the least. It probably wasn’t the greatest sounding as half of us were sobbing, but it certainly was the most heartfelt. The seniors got to sing all their solos and favorite songs one last time with BBT. While we sang, we reminisced about all the good times we’ve had this year—the good, the bad, the fun, the sad. By the time Cheyenne sang the last song of the year, “Won’t Back Down,” most of us were complete messes. That song especially, meant a lot to Rebecca, Aryn, Colin, Sam, and me because it was the first song we had ever learned in BBT. It was very emotional, which made it really difficult to get through the song. Hand-in-hand we got through it together (I can’t help being corny here) and then we embraced each other.

After the concert, we headed to Aryn’s for one final night with BBT. Words can’t even begin to describe the feelings circulating that night. Lots of tears, love, celebration and hope. All good things must come to an end, so we must remember not to cry because it’s over, but smile because it happened. Boy, are we glad it happened. This was one of the most memorable tours, not to mention year, I have ever experienced. I love you all!

The torch has been passed to Colin and Rebecca to lead the group next year. We’re all very excited for what the new year brings!

Goodbyes sound so permanent…let’s just say goodnight instead.  BBT love.

[Editor’s Note: To find out more about BBT, visit http://www.bigbingtheory.com.]

He never forgot the question: “Lorenzo, we would like for you to think about becoming a Jesuit. What do you think about that?” But for Lorenzo Herman, the decision didn’t come overnight. At the time, he answered with a simple, “How is it possible for a non-Catholic to become a Jesuit?” In 2007, 14 years after this initial question, Herman would enter the Society.

Herman was at Gonzaga in the spring of 2009 for his long experiment — an assignment all Jesuit novices undertake. He volunteered with University Ministry and was a part-time student.

In high school Herman participated in his first retreat, Kairos, through the invitation of the campus ministry coordinator. “It was my first intimate encounter with Jesus and it was the first time that I had cried as an adolescent with my peers,” he said. “My Kairos leader opened my eyes to new ways to pray. The following year I became a Kairos leader.” He jumped into other retreat programs and leadership positions with campus ministry. And he wasn’t Roman Catholic… yet.

“When I was a senior, the Jesuits invited me over to their home for dinner to discuss Jesuit vocations. I did not understand what vocation meant but I felt it was important since they asked me to come to their home,” he said. “Being the typical 18 year old, I thought something was wrong with me if they asked me to consider being celibate for the rest of my life.” The following year, while studying at Spring Hill College, Herman became Catholic.

Years later, he still couldn’t get the question out of his mind. “I was not sure if I was fantasizing about being a Jesuit to escape the world or if it was truly an invitation from God,” he said. He began meeting with a spiritual director and discerned the question for nearly six years. In the interim, he lived and worked in the Pacific Northwest, California, Europe and Southwest Asia.

When he finally applied, consolation filled his heart. “I did not feel like I was giving up on something that I was so attached to. I knew at that moment that I would not look back on the decision and say I made a mistake,” he said. “It was truly a free act in good conscience.”
Upon completion of his two-year novitiate, Herman professed his First Vows before Fr. Provincial Patrick Lee, S.J., at St. Ignatius Parish in Portland. “The Society of Jesus is hard to describe in a few words. It is everything that I have imagined and never imagined. One cannot describe what a Jesuit is because the Society is truly diverse. We come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and hairstyles!” he said. “The one thing that we all share is the love of the crucified Christ who changed the world.”

“I believe God has brought me here. Every day I recommit myself to the vows that I have taken,” he said. “We ask God to take everything from us to do God’s will and only ask for God’s love and grace. I have a lot of work to do. Pray for me.”

By Fr. Patrick Hartin

This summer I was in Johannesburg, South Africa, the city of my birth, for a month prior to the commencement of the FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament. It was such a privilege to connect once again with my origins. It reminded me of what I treasured about living in Africa, apart from the ever present deep blue sky, sun and wild animals in their natural environment. Let me share with you some thoughts on what Africa can teach us and why Gonzaga students should consider traveling to Africa.

While there are many reasons to go to Africa, in my mind, one reason stands out above all others: to discover what it means to be human.

In Africa, we refer to this as Ubuntu. Ubuntu is the recognition that we are only people because of other people. Ubuntu is the discovery that no one exists on their own; we are all interconnected.

Here are examples of Ubuntu from my recent visit to South Africa:

Community: Returning to Africa after living in our individualistic society of North America, I was reminded what a treasure it is to be a part of a society where community is at the heart of life. You are connected with everyone in a relationship of some form or another: Brother, Sister, Mama. Everyone is concerned about one another. I discover my humanity in my relationship with others. On one occasion while giving Joyce, a nurse who cared for my 92-year-old mother, a ride to the bus stop, we stopped twice to give a ride to two other women walking on the side of the road. How can you pass someone by if you have room to give them a ride? Joyce told me she was happy to care for my Mom because my mother had helped her when she had been struggling through a divorce. My Mom had cared for her, and now it was her turn to care for my mother. This is Ubuntu.

The joy of life: While there is so much poverty in South Africa, people find happiness in the simple things of life. Despite the wrinkles and lines on people’s faces, they still demonstrate a tremendous joy and happiness with life. I stopped at the side of the road where a group of eight men were busy crafting replicas of animals for sale to tourists. All they had was some wire and different colored beads. Using their bare hands and a pair of pliers, they were crafting “the big five” — elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo. I spent an hour with them. Despite the hot sun, they worked together under the shade of a tree completely engaged with each other and with what they were doing. They were innovative. They never complained about their situation or the difficulties of their work. They clearly enjoyed what they were doing because they were doing it together.

Religion: If you want to truly understand religion, go to Africa. Religion is at the pulsating heart of life. It is not confined to the perimeters of life. Christianity is not an individual religion but a community experience. If you have ever been to a Catholic Mass in Africa, you know what it means “to celebrate Mass.” The singing, the dancing, the exuberance is contagious. You are all one with each other and with God in your worship. My humanity is celebrated in my connectedness with others and with God. No wonder Christianity is thriving in Africa. Africa truly is the future of Christianity.

Next, I want to share a turning point from my young adult life. This episode shaped my thinking about how the people of Africa will reach their potential:

In South Africa I was opposed to the Apartheid “system and structures” and as such considered myself a “white liberal” who was totally opposed to any form of racism. However, I had a “Wow” moment when I got to know about Steve Bantu Biko and read his writings. He was a young student leader (the same age as myself) who championed what he termed “Black Consciousness.” For him, the greatest enemies for the advancement and freedom of Blacks were “white liberals” with a paternalistic condescension who think they know what is best for Blacks: “I am against the superior-inferior white-black stratification that makes the white a perpetual teacher and the black a perpetual pupil (and a poor one at that),” wrote Biko. Biko believed Blacks had to take a pride in themselves and attain freedom for themselves without the help of “paternalistic white liberals” (like myself).

On Sept. 6, 1977, Biko was arrested by the Security Forces. Six days later he was dead, murdered at the young age of 30 while in police custody. This horrific event was devastating for me and totally transformed my life and my way of thinking. Instead of speaking up for others and telling them what I think they needed, I came to realize that Steve Biko was right: Blacks must be empowered to do it themselves. My role was simply to encourage and support when my help was needed.

(If you want to know more about Steve Biko, watch the movie “Cry Freedom” with Denzel Washington as Steve Biko). Biko’s vision and message still challenge South Africa today and dare I say the United States as well.

As Gonzaga students travel to Zambia to teach and to work in partnership with the people, my wish is that they too might hear Biko’s message and understand the power of their coming alongside to encourage and support.

[Fr. Patrick Hartin, a New Testament scholar, came to the United States in 1992 on an eight-month sabbatical at the Claremont Colleges to work with an international team on the reconstruction of the Greek text of the “Sayings of Gospel Q.” After a short return to South Africa, he returned to Claremont to continue his research and serve as their Catholic chaplain. He began teaching at Gonzaga in 1995 and became a U.S. citizen in 2006.]

By Fr. Patrick Baraza

Just having read the blog from the students and faculty who spent a few weeks in Zambia, I was so very impressed with their fascination for the country and their love of the people they met. Everyone mentioned how this trip to Zambia has changed their lives.

Why go to Africa? It’s a long trip, costs a lot of money, removes one from easily obtaining a summer job and is spent in a hot dusty place with little creature comforts. I teach classes in African Catholicism and I have never ceased to be amazed at the intense curiosity my students have for Africa. I believe GU students are so very interested in culture; they want to know how other cultures can speak to them.

Today the world is a smaller place due to technology. Traveling to distant places is common, and the Internet can bring other worlds into one’s home. Many college students have already traveled to Europe by the time they are 18. Europe, being the ancestral home of most Americans, is not really “foreign.” The cities are older, the buildings more elaborate in most cases, the language may be different, but really…Europeans and Americans are cut from the same cloth.

Africa is a different story entirely.

Spending a summer abroad in Africa takes a student out of his/her comfort zone. The environment is totally different – from the color of one’s skin, to living conditions, the food, and the way of life. Time takes on a different meaning. African people live in the moment. Women must get water, collect firewood, build a fire to cook their food, cultivate the land; men tend their cows and goats. Outside of large cities, homes are very simple; generally there is no running water or electricity. African lives revolve, not around a clock, but events that revolve around the rising and setting of the sun. They have little in the way of food or personal possessions, but they willingly share what they have.

African people live communal lives; that is, they are not a family in the American sense. In Africa, people are tied by extended families, clans and tribes. If parents die, the children are immediately absorbed into a relative’s family. Adoptions are rarely heard of. In America, many children live hundreds if not thousands of miles from their parents, siblings or grandparents. Unheard of in Africa!

Many people think of Africa as an exotic place full of wild animals and where people herding cows wear brightly colored clothing. While this is true, this is not just what Africa is about. Students who travel to Africa will find poverty, dust and mud, a lack of educational facilities (never mind flushing toilets in most places). They also will discover the wonderful warmth of the people, the children with heart-melting smiles, and the opportunity to make a change — not only in their own lives, but in the lives of others.

Students will have the opportunity to challenge themselves physically and mentally, forgetting about cell phones, texting, iPods, and even clean clothes. In exchange, they will have the opportunity of a lifetime. They will return with new outlook and a concern for others. These students will more readily carry out the GU mission; and as they seek to fulfill their own life’s aspirations, they will actively support the aspirations of others by a generous sharing of their gifts.

The students I have taught know I am a storyteller. In order to summarize, here is a story: The teacher asks her third graders, “How many points has a compass?” A small boy raises his hand and says, “Five.” The teacher asks him to name them. Using his fingers he says, “North, South, East, West,” and pointing to the floor says, “And where I am.”

One’s comfort zone is where “I am.” Traveling away from home, family and friends teaches sacrifice, self confidence, love and appreciation for the lives and cultures of others. What a rewarding and lifelong gift.

[Fr. Patrick Wanakuta Baraza is a Roman Catholic priest who was born in western Kenya. He was raised by Roman Catholic parents and a Muslim grandfather, all the while including traditional African religious ways as part of his life. Fr. Baraza was ordained in Kenya and spent eight years among the nomadic pastoralist Pokot people. After these difficult years, he came to America where he attended the Graduate Theological Union and the University of California at Berkeley where he received his S.T.L and doctoral degree in Islamic Studies. Fr. Baraza teaches Islam and African Catholicism at Gonzaga.]