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In this edition:
● A Word from the Principal
● Harlaxton Profile: Cliff Pettifor, faculty British Politics
● Classes Began January 12
● Thank You: Davena and George Day
● Join the University of Evansville community for
the "British Engagements" Program
● U●Envision Campaign Reaches Over $63 Million
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A Word from the Principal
"Intense." "Powerful." "Life Changing."
Three letters are on my desk this morning. Actually e-mails, they are, in this modern world. (Or as a student once wrote on a class essay, when I was teaching Freshman English, "in this modern world of today in which we live now. She needed only to add "currently, at this point in time" - redundancy being a virtue, often, for the young.)
Three e-mails, then, printed off a computer that dominates both desk and life:
One is from a former Stanford student, who was at Harlaxton during the years of "Stanford in Britain," just before UE took over the property in 1971. His message? "Some of us have more of a connection with Harlaxton than with Stanford, though we will always be grateful for our Stanford education. Somehow, Harlaxton had more of an impact on us."
The second is from a former Florida Southern student, from 1981. "I can remember our bus coming to the entrance and the only sounds in the bus being a gasp of amazement and awe. . . . I am forever grateful for the experience. . . . If I had it to do over again I would not change a thing. . . . Thank you for making all the dreams come true for a 21-year-old girl." Let's see, she would be 47 now. And she asks about coming back during the 2012 Olympics in London.
The third is from a college president, at one of America's fine liberal arts colleges, also a Partner College of Harlaxton, saying that their students who come to Harlaxton develop a greater identity with the place and people, with the program and experience at Harlaxton, than do their fine students attending Oxford and Cambridge.
The same words come up again and again: "Intense." "Powerful." "Life Changing."
And it is true, of course.
At Harlaxton, students are exploring, pushing boundaries, testing their inner qualities of strength and flexibility and independence, learning from books and surroundings and new places and new people. It truly is, as a Western Kentucky student phrased it, "education on steroids." Non-stop, power-packed, 24/7 education, of the whole person.
The University of Evansville, to her eternal credit, does many great things for many people. But none is better than what the University achieves through its Harlaxton College "where", as we whimsically say in a weekly news-note, "all the faculty are brilliant, all the students are above average, and the energy never stops."
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Harlaxton Profile: Cliff Pettifor, faculty British Politics
Background and Family: I was born in nearby Nottingham (in 1942) in the middle of WWII and remember many of the hardships of those years which would be unheard of by today's students. After (too) many years in business/industry I became a mature student in my late 30s, thanks to the unfailing support of my wife, Naida, (to whom I have been married for 43 years) and two children, Jo aged 41 and Rob, now 39. We have three grand-daughters aged 16, 13 and 12. If we had known grandchildren were so much fun, we'd have had them first.
I still live in a village near Nottingham about 22 miles from Harlaxton. The journey through the Vale of Belvoir is great; just long enough to get ready for teaching or to clear my head after teaching.
My History at Harlaxton College: My teaching at Harlaxton has been across various Social Sciences but now, in part-retirement, I just teach British Politics which was my first course there in 1982. The best part of it is that it's so different from the British university system and, as they say, 'a change is as good as a rest.' You don't have to be involved in much of the administration and committee work of the university. You do your main job then go. Also, you have a fresh group of students every 4 months, so you don't have to think up any new jokes!
Favourite Memories: My contacts as a life-long supporter of Notts County, the oldest league soccer club in the world, has enabled me to organise tours of the club, meetings with players, lunches, and watching a game, for groups of students, sometimes seventy strong. They are happy trips. If we could actually win occasionally, they would be even better.
I can't think of a favourite moment. There have been lots of good times. If you are interested, I do remember the worst memory. During my first semester there was the car crash on the drive when six students were killed, three of them from my class. I will never forget the awful atmosphere on that day and for many days after.
I do occasionally hear from former students from my class. A letter, or nowadays, an email starting "you might not remember me but . . . . " are always very much appreciated. It might take a few minutes but I can often recall the student after all this time, probably by prompting myself from my old class registers.
Hobbies/Good Habits: I am very fortunate to enjoy good health, maybe helped by the jogging that I continue to do in the belief that it does me some good. A bit of golf every now and again might help, too. I, boringly, often tell my class that very,very moderate drinking and not smoking is the best start they can give themselves. I never have, and never will make allowances for any
student who arrives in class 'hung over'.
Harlaxton, from what I see of it, is a happy place to work and to study. I'll carry on for quite a while.
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Classes Began January 12
Despite all that's going on in the world, enrollment remains strong at Harlaxton. Spring Semester 2009 began January 12, at Harlaxton College with 145 students in attendance. 173 students were in residence for fall semester 2008.
Here's a recipe for the first week of the term at Harlaxton...
- Take one elegant Manor House, made of golden stone, so beautiful it is ranked as one of the "100 Best Great Houses of England";
- Add 145 students (American), 30 faculty members and families (British and American), 50-plus staff (British), all united by a commitment to Learning: All Together ;
- Sprinkle in a weekend in London, experiencing the wonders of that great city of the world;
- Add a dash of glorious English countryside and a charming English village;
- Mix in with a Ceilidh, basketball and volleyball and "cricket," student elections, first lectures in "British Studies, getting acquainted with beautiful Harlaxton Manor, our home;
- Season with Opening Convocation, orientation, and Bistro parties;
- Heat in the British Studies Oven of Reading, at a blistering rate;
- Stir with relish;
The student body over both terms includes participants from the University of Evansville, Baker University (Kansas), Butler University (Indiana), Catawba College (North Carolina) Eastern Illinois University, Hannibal-LaGrange College (Missouri), Judson University (Illinois), Marian College (Indiana), Marian University (Wisconsin), Monmouth College (Illinois), Sage College (New York), Simpson College (Iowa), Texas Woman's University, University of Southern Indiana, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wesley College (Delaware), Western Kentucky University, and William Jewell College (Missouri).
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Thank You: Davena and George Day
The Harlaxton Society recognizes Davena and George Day for their long-term service. With Davena as president and George as vice-president, the Days led the Harlaxton Society Board of Directors for nine years. The Days have been involved with the Harlaxton Society since they both graduated from UE in 1995. Under their leadership the Harlaxton Society became the alumni association for Harlaxton College. They continued support for the scholarship funds that the society raises each year for University of Evansville students studying at Harlaxton and have initiated a campaign to endow that scholarship fund. In the fall of 2008 they turned over the reins to Kay Pechin '85 and Mary McCarthy '94. Both will continue on the Harlaxton Society board of directors, and Davena represents the Harlaxton Society on the University of Evansville's Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Davena and George Day celebrated their 10th Anniversary by going back to Harlaxton in the summer of 2008 for the first time since they were students during the spring of 1994. It was an amazing trip and Harlaxton continues to have the magic they felt all those years ago.
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Join the University of Evansville community for
the "British Engagements" Program
The University of Evansville is celebrating its long-term British connection with a semester-long British Engagements series. The program honors UE's strong relationship with England and Dr. William Ridgway's generous gift of Harlaxton Manor to the University. Throughout the spring, join the UE community for the theater, art, music, lectures and discussions of the British Engagements series. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit http://www.evansville.edu/news/newsarticle.cfm?articleId=1145.
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U●Envision Campaign Reaches Over $63 Million
The University has raised $63,846,829 toward the goal of $80 million in the U●Envision campaign. The campaign made possible the opening of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building and the newly completed Dr. William L. Ridgway University Center.
To learn more about the U●Envision 2010 Campaign, visit http://uenvision2010.evansville.edu.
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Harlaxton Alumni Trip, June 26 - July 3, 2009: Reservations now being accepted.
The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations offers you an opportunity to relive your Harlaxton Experience or to capture those memories for the first time. This exciting trip is open to all UE and Harlaxton alumni, their guests and other interested persons. It includes a seven-night stay at Harlaxton Manor, educational sessions, day trips to places of interest in the surrounding area and other special events. Find out more information and link to an online registration form from the Alumni Travel Programs page.
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Harlaxton Manor Architecture Panel Discussion to be held on UE Campus
All interested persons are invited to attend the panel discussion Harlaxton Manor: History, Symbol and Architecture on Monday, February 9 at 7 p.m. in Smythe Lecture Hall in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration building (adjoins the Union). This is a discussion of Harlaxton Manor, and particularly its connection to the revival of older styles during the romantic period, featuring UE faculty members Heidi Stroebel, Mark Valenzuela and James MacLeod.
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Make a Gift to Harlaxton College To ensure "The Harlaxton Experience" is possible for others who come along after you, please make a gift to Harlaxton College. To make an online gift, visit evansville.edu/give/index.cfm and select Harlaxton Society or Harlaxton College Annual Fund in the Gift Designation field. You may also call 812-488-2374. The Harlaxton Society fund supports scholarships for UE students at Harlaxton. The Harlaxton College Annual Fund is for the daily functioning and long-term care of the manor. |
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Harlaxton Society Board of Directors
The Harlaxton Society Board of Directors welcomed the following new members at the fall 2008 meeting: Steve Bugg '86 of Newburgh, Alexandra Leich of Evansville, Jill Pearon '90 of Potsdam, NY and Maria Gahan, a current student at UE. The next open nomination period for the board is summer 2009. If you are interested in serving, please contact alumni@evansville.edu.
Board Members:
Roger Beck '69
Steve Bugg '86
Brian Carroll
Michael Cullen, faculty
Davena Day '95
George Day '95
Jeff Deig '74
Marjorie Donovan
Isabella Fine
Maria Gahan, student
Barbara Graves H'80
Wallace Graves H'80
Jeff Knight '81
Alexandra Leich
Karen Magan '66
Mary McCarthy '94, vice-president
Alice Nugent
John Nugent '88
Jill Pearon '90
Kay Pechin '85, president
Mel Peterson H'91
Linda Phillips '78
William Ridgway H'91
John C. Schroeder H'00
John H. Schroeder H'82
Virginia Schroeder '92
Marjorie Smith
George Stanley
Chris Weaver '78
Steve Worthington '73
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Harlaxton Renovations
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About Harlaxton eConnections
For More Information about any item featured in this newsletter contact alumni@evansville.edu, 812 488-2586 or:
Office of Alumni and Parent Relations
1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, Indiana 47722.
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