Wabash College - Class of 1991

When I was a rising senior, I spent a lonely summer on campus finishing the Wabash yearbook. To say campus was dead was an understatement. So, it's gratifying to see how the Wabash campus seems to bustle with various sports camps and workshops (like OLAB) during summers of late.

Wrestling Coach Brian Anderson had sought to maintain the strong reputation of Wabash wrestling at his summer camp, bringing in two Olympians each year to help give gold-medal instruction to campers. This year, Greco-Roman competitior Rulon Gardner and Freestyler Brandon Slay participated in this summer's Little Giant Wrestling Team Camp. (story1)(story2)

Classmate Chris Ervin, Crawfordsville High School Head Wrestling Coach and 2002 Wabash Hall of Fame Inductee, brought nine of his wrestlers to the camp.

Having high schoolers on campus during the summer does wonders for showing off our beautiful campus to those who may soon decide where to attend college. Having world-class instruction doesn't hurt either.

Photo: Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner "the Big Erv" discuss technique during this week's wrestling camp.

Indiana Solicitor General Tom Fisher can report the best Father's Day of all. The arrival of his new son, Daniel Paul Fisher (Wabash Class of 2030).

He was born at 1:10 p.m., Father's Day, Sunday June 15, 2008. He weighed in at 8 lbs., 11 oz. and is 20 1/4 " long. Tom reports, "Mother and baby doing fine. Dad remains a lost cause. A fine Fathers' Day indeed."

Thanks to class political correspondent Dave Stone, for reminding me that "In other political news, Randy Head won the Republican primary for State Senate in his district."

Randy dominated his other three opponents to win a State Senate seat in District 18, which covers the north central counties of Cass, Fulton, Kosciusco, Miami, Pulaski, and Wabash.

He'll face democrat Linda Klinck in the fall. Congratulations, Randy!

Here's his Web site.

Here are the results:

Indiana	District 18	109 / 109
Randall Head	GOP	5,622	52.29%
David Martin	GOP	1,137	10.57%
Phillip Messer	GOP	2,132	19.83%
Brian Thomas	GOP	1,861	17.31%

I couldn't resist adding a picture of Randy atop his campaign mascot!

ALSO: Incumbent Indiana State Senator Brent Waltz '96 cruised to win the republican nomination on Tuesday with 75% of the vote.

If it sounds like a new talkshow on CNN or Fox News, it probably should be. Last night, I was flipping channels here in Indy to catch the results of the Indiana Primary. On local CBS affiliate WISH-TV, there were two political analysts, one democrat, one republican...both Wabash men.

Sharing expert analysis were classmate and former Indiana legislator Luke Messer and former Indianapolis deputy mayor Steve Campbell '92. I have to say, both were really good, giving really inciteful, honest analysis as the precincts began reporting in. (Telegenic is the word.) And I'm not just saying that because they're good friends of mine!

Hey, you guys get a show, and I'll produce it!

I managed to download two clips, but I'm worried I'll get thrown in copyright jail if I post them on YouTube. I'll work on getting permission to show them. In the meantime, here are some stills.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 yesterday in the case of Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, upholding Indiana's Voter ID law. Wabash classmate Tom Fisher argued the case for the State in January and Wabash contemporary Todd Rokita was named as a defendant in the suit.

Writing the main opinion, Justice John Paul Stevens stated:

The law’s universally applicable requirements are eminently reasonable because the burden of acquiring, possessing, and showing a free photo identification is not a significant increase over the usual voting burdens, and the State’s stated interests are sufficient to sustain that minimal burden.

For more on the story, check out accounts by the Washington Post (free registration required), the New York Times, and NPR's All Things Considered.

Kip received this from Kurt Decker, who writes, "I was reading the newsletter and thought I would send a quick update. For the past 2 years I have been an investment advisor with Fifth Third Securities in my old hometown of Princeton. I have 2 daughters, Haley (11), Leah (9), and a future Wally - Jake (3). Oh yeah - I am recently single again. Almost 40 and on the market again! I'd love to hear from any of my Fiji pledge brothers. Thanks for all the work on the newsletter, I enjoy each one."

Sean Fahey writes, "Leslie and I had another baby on January 30th. A little girl. Kiernan Ann Fahey: 19 and a quarter inches, 7 pounds 3 ounces.

"That makes 3 under 3 with her brothers Liam (one) and Ayden (age two).

"She started sleeping through the night just in the last week and we are all adjusting well."

Sean is working as a business development manager for Quest Information Systems in Indy. (He promised a picture, which I'll add when I get it.)

Chris Cotton reports, " I sold my agency to a much larger one in early 2007. I'm still focused on employee benefits but now have much more office support. It's been a great decision. I am also still coaching DBs and Special Teams at my alma mater, Wawasee High School in Syracuse, IN. This will be 4th year as a full-time assistant and 7th overall. It's a great change of pace and I love working with the kids. My wife recently was appointed the Director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce.

Our honorary classmate and Professor of History Emeritus Jim Barnes delivered this Thursday's Chapel Talk titled "Twenty Years After." Echoing the book by Alexander Dumas that chronicles the later exploits of the Three Musketeers, Dr. Barnes challenged the students to take up new things, even 20 years after graduation. He talked about taking up the sport of cross-country skiiing in his 50s!

If you have a few minutes, listen to his great speech.

As you know, we didn't have Chapel, mandatory or otherwise. We did, for a time, have Thursday "It seems to me that..." talks. But this is one tradition that is great to bring back. Speakers have been passionate, personal, and provocative. Other Chapel Talks this semester have included the following:

• My former next door neighbor in Franklin, Trustee Ted Grossnickle '73 examined why alumni support Wabash in a speech entitled "What's the Difference" on Feb. 28. (podcast)
• The College's director of new media and Web editor Howard Hewitt spoke about "What Wabash Men Can Learn from the '60s" on Feb. 21. (podcast)
  
• Professor of Religion Dr. Stephen Webb '83 discussed the now infamous Duke Lacross case in a speech entitled "The Duke Disaster and the Crisis of Higher Education" on Feb. 14. (podcast)
• Steve Hoffman '85 reminsced about his Wabash days past and present in a speech he called "Yea, Rah, Wabash, Nice Game" on Feb. 7. (podcast)
• At the end of his heartfelt talk on Jan. 31, Dr. Bert Barreto "The Star Spangled Banner" dropped a bombshell to say that after 20 years he would be leaving Wabash to take a teaching job at DePauw! (podcast)
  

Well, I have to report that on April 3rd, the Sphinx Club has asked me to give the Chapel Talk. I have tentatively titled my talk "What I've Learned." I have the outline done, but I'm very open to suggestions. So I ask,

"If you had to address the current students at Wabash, what would you tell them?"

Let me know. I promise I'll be well prepared and represent our class well. Stay tuned.