Winter 2008 | Volume 2, Issue 1
Denver Discusses a Spiky World
Denver-area SPU alumni, parents, friends, and prospective students attended a free book discussion and photography exhibit March 6, 2008, with Professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology Margaret Diddams. She has studied the effects of globalization in India and seen firsthand the promise and the perils of globalization as captured by Thomas Friedman's bestselling book The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century.
Diddams summarized Friedman's book and added her own views on how globalization can further God's Kingdom in a world that is not so much flat as "spiky." A graduate of Wheaton College and New York University, Diddams served as a senior manager at Microsoft and consulted with international corporations for 20 years. She has been at SPU since 1993.
The event at Denver Christian High School provided lively discussion of Friedman's book, plus assorted Indian delicacies and Chai tea were served. A photo exhibit by the Dalit Freedom Network presented captivating images of the Dalit people and their long journey to freedom.
Alumni should look for future SPU book discussion events at other cities around the country.
Falcons Play Sharp and Smart
 Thundering into the postseason, the Falcon women hoopsters remained undefeated overall and in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. They were ranked No. 2 in the nation with only Delta State University (Mississippi) standing in their way.
But peak play doesn't mean the books have to suffer. The average GPA of the 13 Falcon women basketball players for Autumn Quarter 2007 was an impressive 3.42. Not only that, but five of the players also earned a perfect 4.0!
West Regional Game Times and Ticket Information
Staying in Touch Launches Historical Quest
Carol King Schaper '63 wasn't only excited to attend her class reunion at the Seattle Pacific University Homecoming and Family Weekend celebration in January. The retired teacher was so inspired by the global outreach of student SPRINT team members that the week after Homecoming, she decided to research the beginnings of the University's short-term missions initiative. This summer, SPRINT will send nine student teams to locations such as Cameroon, China, India, and Ukraine.
Carol began her research by contacting Ernie Thayil '62, who first conceived of the idea. Having lived in India, he'd seen firsthand how new missionaries often experienced difficulties adjusting to changes in climate, food, and other challenges. SPU students considering missions service, he knew, could benefit from short-term investigative trips to observe missionaries in action and determine if they were truly cut out for missions.
"Operation Outreach" was born with a chapel offering that totaled about $500. The first student sent out, Deane Roloff '62, went to Mexico and later shared his experiences with the entire student body. The popular program grew and over the years hundreds of students have participated in what is now known as Seattle Pacific Reachout INTernational (SPRINT).
For information on today's broad SPU Global Involvement initiative including SPRINT, contact coordinator Peter Lim at peterlim@spu.edu.
Postscript: Carol caught up with Deane recently just as he was leaving to do street preaching in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
Couple Shows Church Youth the Future
 The future is Seattle Pacific University, at least that's what Ryan Brault '05 and Jamie Hudson Brault '04 of Eastern Washington's Tri-Cities area hope the teens in their church will conclude. In the fall, the Seattle Pacific alumni hopped in a 12-passenger van with 10 high school seniors from Cathedral of Joy in Richland, Washington, and drove to Seattle for an SPU visit.
The group stayed in Hill Hall for two days, toured the campus, made class visits, and met with staff from Undergraduate Admissions and Student Financial Services. As many as three or more of the church youth are now serious SPU applicants and, if accepted, will join the more than 20 other people from the church who have already attended or graduated from the University.
"We hoped to expand their thinking about what the college experience might be like," says Ryan, who notes that one female student with plans to attend another Seattle area college switched to SPU because of the positive visit. "We wanted them to see what possibilities are out there and how God might be able to use them to change the world."
Because there are few motivators more powerful than satisfied graduates, "sending" churches like Cathedral of Joy are a rich source of SPU applicants. The Braults have grown up at the Cathedral, a nondenominational church with close to 1,000 people in attendance.
Three Events Stir the Imagination
Music and the mind dominate three upcoming events of special interest to alumni:
Reconciled - A Gospel Symphony
 Reconciled - A Gospel Symphony features Seattle Pacific's acclaimed Gospel Choir and Wind Symphony in an unusual blend of musical genres. On Sunday, March 16, 4 p.m., Reconciled will be performed at Rolling Hills Community Church, 3550 S.W. Borland Road, Tualatin, Oregon. On Sunday, March 30, 5 p.m., Reconciled takes the stage at Seattle's First Presbyterian Church, 1013 Eight Avenue, Seattle, Washington.
Alumni, friends, and prospective students are also invited to a pre-concert reception at the Rolling Hills concert only. The reception begins at 2:30 p.m. and features SPU President and Mrs. Eaton, and the directors of Reconciled. RSVP by calling 800-921-3456 or emailing btaylor@spu.edu. See www.spu.edu/reconciled for more information. Special guest at the Seattle concert only is John Perkins, co-founder with SPU of the John Perkins Center for Reconciliation, Leadership Training, and Community Development.
SPU Concert Choir
The SPU Concert Choir performs Saturday, March 15 - the evening before Palm Sunday - at the stunning Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane, Washington. The concert for Holy Week, titled "Awake, My Heart," begins at 7:30 p.m. Located at 127 East 12th Avenue in Spokane, the cathedral is one of the few, finest, and largest examples of gothic architecture in the new world.
Alumni are also invited to a pre-concert reception at 6 p.m. downstairs in the cathedral's Great Hall. Meet the choir members and enjoy conversation and refreshments with other SPU alumni, students, prospective students, parents, and friends. RSVP to www.spu.edu/spokanealumni.
Brain Rules for Work, Home, and School
"Brain Rules for Work, Home, and School" is developmental molecular biologist John Medina's topic at Seattle's Town Hall, Thursday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. The acclaimed speaker and director of SPU's Brain Center for Applied Learning Research will discuss his new book, Brain Rules, and his revolutionary ideas for how to boost brain power. Tickets for the event at 1119 Eighth Avenue are $5 at the door. Learn more at www.townhallseattle.org.
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