Gary and Sherry Ross check out the Segways

The Washington University tailgate was great fun.  Carol and the Grunge caught up with Kyle and Carol Finley (parents of Chad ’08).  Carol and Kyle have the perfect tailgating RV and since we saw them last, they’ve added matching Segways.

Here are some other great friends and Wabash Superfans, Gary and Sherry Ross, checking out the Segways under the watchful eye of Kyle.

The Grunge rode as well but he’s a little embarrassed to point out that Kyle had Grunge’s speed set to “Turtle”!

Greg Castanias ’87

Greg Castanias ’87, Wabash’s alumni board president, gave a Chapel talk yesterday entitled “Free”.  It will be on the College’s You Tube feed soon, if not already.

Greg’s talk was on Tuition Free Day.  This day occurs about 1/3 of the way through the college’s year.  Symbolically, it recognizes that funding the college’s operation to this point has been the monies provided by Wabash students and their families.  Past this point the college relies on the generosity of the college’s alumni and friends to keep going.  In other words, we count on our alumni and friends for 2/3s of our funding.

Greg told the story of his own college search and how critical his Honor Scholarship was.  Without it, he was headed elsewhere.  With it, Wabash was possible.  A familiar story.  Grunge has been there.

He then challenged the students to pick up the mantel and carry it forward.  Keep Wabash strong.  Keep Wabash providing a high quality education for young men.  Keep Wabash free from outside influence.

Freedom isn’t free – no matter how you slice it.

For a few other Tuition Free Day photos, click here.

An Illustrated Campus Tour

Emeritus Professors David Phillips H’83 and John Zimmerman H’67 have authored an illustrated campus tour booklet.  You can get this document – complete with up to date and historic photos- at our Bookstore.  It’s a collector’s item in my book.

So, when you’re in the Bookstore picking up your Monon Bell tickets, better also grab a copy of the tour book.

Sneak Preview

Just remember, you saw it first here.  But don’t tell anyone.

How to apply to Wabash

More and more young men are applying to Wabash on-line.  They may be using the Wabash application (see the link via the picture above) or the Common Application.

Both work.

The question we get asked is how does an alumnus waive the application fee like the good, old days?

Simple.  All the applicant has to do is enter your name and class year as the referring alumnus.  Da Grunge and 1971.  That will take care of the fee.  Easy.  Straightforward.

Fall 2012

OK…I couldn’t let the view out our front door go by without a shot.

After the rains this past weekend, those remaining leaves are hanging on for dear life.  They’ll lose…we all know that.  But that’s OK.  We all go at some point anyway, right?

Great turnout at Washington University last Saturday.  At kickoff we had more fans than they did.  A shame, really.

Happy fall.  Hope to see several of you at the Wooster game Saturday.

Watch for it Thursday…this Thursday.  It’s a special day on campus.

Special Chapel speaker.  Special t-shirts.  Special color for the day.

Charlie Kolisek ’14 celebrates the interception

Charlie Kolisek was a force as a defensive end against Wittenberg.
Charlie Kolisek was a force as a tight end against Wittenberg.

Same Charlie – great game on both sides of the ball.  Interception.  Touchdown reception. Sack.  And more.  All he needed was a punt and a kick!

Charlie’s peformance placed him on the D3football.com Team of the Week.  Read the story by Brent Harris H’03 here.

Wabash vs. Wittenberg

Wabash and Wittenberg is big enough.  Home or away.  The biggest rivalry in the North Coast Athletic Conference in football – by a large measure.  (The Monon Bell game aside, of course.)  Witt used to be king of the hill.  That was before Jake Knott ’03 and his friends arrived on the scene.  Since then every game has been a slugfest.

Witt scheduled Wabash for their Homecoming.  They have done that before.  I am sure there are some good reasons…I just can’t think of any. Regardless, a great crowd, beautiful weather, and a great football game made it special in every way.

Even better, I didn’t lose the bet and don’t have to wear a Wittenberg sweatshirt to work this week!

Scott Himsel ’85

Scott Himsel ’85 is the guy with at least 2.67 full time jobs.  Full time partner in a law firm.  Full time college professor at Wabash.  .67 full time as the Pre-law advisor to an ever-growing list of guys who, frankly, want to grow up to be a…Scott Himsel.

Making a point.

Last Thursday, Scott used the Summer 2012 decision by the US Supreme Court on Obamacare as a teaching opportunity.  No, he disguised it a lot better than I just did.  Something like Chief Justice John Roberts – Traitor or Conservative Supporter.  Bottom line – liberal arts teaching opportunity for Scott.

Himsel is a bright guy who makes our young men think out of the box.  But his classes are even better than that – the nature of his courses is that he can “make” our guys support, in thought and word, positions they oppose in real life.

Makes them think.  Makes them question.  Makes them communicate.  Wabash perfect.  Liberal Arts perfect.

As with all Chapels, we sing our hearts out at the end.

From the hills of Maine…