Life at PUC

Dark-suited bigwigs filled the elegant interior of the recently completed Pacific Union College presidential residence. University presidents, a publishing press president and conference presidents mingled with pastors and education leaders in a luncheon preceding their constituency meeting. The tone was chatty and conservative, accompanied by a grey mist that obscured the expansive view from giant bay windows. Seated among this large group of church and education leaders was an acclaimed local vintner—feeling a little out of place among a group that has a long history of avid teetotalism. Randy Dunn, owner of Howell Mountain’s Dunn Vineyards, came by special invitation to be honored for yet another paradox: a vintner giving up winery rights to save trees. John Collins, PUC’s vice president for financial administration, shared with the group a number of amusing stories about Randy Dunn, a successful yet down-to-earth local who is both a business associate and a personal friend of Collins. Several years ago, Collins explained, the college sold a 64-acre parcel of land. When Dunn purchased the property, everyone envisioned the trees being cleared and vineyards popping up. But Randy and his wife Lori had other plans. Giving up vineyard and winery rights to the property, they...

Stress, senioritis and spring fever characterize the third academic quarter. Fortunately, PUC’s wind ensemble and jazz band made a point of contributing an infectious dose of swing and jollity to the mix this spring. May brought a Symphonic Wind Ensemble concert featuring “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas” (complete with accompanying visuals), a stunning “Rhapsody in Blue” starring Kristen La Madrid on piano, and “Carnival of Venice” with Alex Caceres on trumpet. Then, despite looming finals, the Jazz Band’s June concert attracted a vociferously appreciative audience to Paulin Hall. The relatively young band has quickly become highly popular—and rightly so. With an easy-going atmosphere, big band tunes that keep listeners feeling amazingly cheery long after the concert’s over, and awe-inspiringly talented musicians, the Jazz Band is something no one wants to miss. The superb contributions of guest saxophonist Guido Fazio added yet another layer of appeal to the band’s June 5 concert. An acclaimed San Francisco musician, Fazio is an old classmate of band director Kenneth Narducci and is also the current saxophone teacher of Darren Wheeler, PUC student and Jazz Band saxophonist. As always, the crowd demanded “one more!” at the end of the concert—and were rewarded with one last foot-tapping...

In a highly entertaining colloquy program, an astonished Aubyn Fulton was declared 2005 Educator of the Year. His gleeful wife and children escorted him to the platform amid an uproar of applause, where he received congratulations and quite a bit of good-natured “roasting” from assorted friends, family members, students and colleagues. The all-school colloquy program included a slide show that gave a condensed history of Fulton’s life, including his college afro and his obsession with the Lakers. Fulton’s sister, senior psychology majors, and members of the psychology and social work department were among those who chimed in with commentary on Fulton’s wardrobe (including the ever-askew tie), his spelling skills, and his campaign to avoid being educator of the year. A PUC faculty member since 1988, and also an alumnus, Fulton has had plenty of time to make his mark at the college. When the audience could catch their breath between laughing at the comic jabs made at Fulton’s lecture mannerisms and perpetual white tennis shoes, they received a very clear message about Fulton’s high academic expectations, his activism, his influence on students’ lives, and many other characteristics that make him a beloved and respected figure on campus. Scott Fillmore, one...

Despite a dismal day of mud and pouring rain, Fiddler on the Roof opened with a full house, a superb performance and a standing ovation. PUC’s Napa Valley Musical Theatre performed two shows in Yountville’s Lincoln Theater on Sunday, May 8. Three more performances will follow on May 14 and 15. Judy Park of the public relations office came back with the “Matchmaker” song stuck in her head. Previously unfamiliar with Fiddler, she found the play to be highly satisfactory. “The songs were really catchy,” she said, “and there was a lot of humor. My favorite parts were the group scenes—they were really well choreographed.” Student Nina Hansen was blown away by the acting and singing skills of the faculty members in the cast. Having a live orchestra, she added, made the performance even more superb. Community members (who made up the majority of the crowd) had such comments as “wonderful!” and even “flawlessly done.” With performances stretching several hours long, the cast and crew are tired; but they’re rewarded by the positive response of the audiences. We salute their hard work and excellent performance!...

Rasmussen Art Gallery is never so full as on the opening night of the annual Student Art Show—and this year was no exception. The foyer and lobby were packed to capacity with student artists and their friends, family, teachers, and whoever else happened to show up. Between heads and shoulders, one could catch glimpses of an impressive array of artworks in many different media, including ceramics, photography, painting, drawing and print-making. Prizes in each of the categories went to student artists....

With a grand combination of college students, the Patriot Act, and harp music, PUC’s chapter of Amnesty International (a human rights advocacy group) hosted the April 13 all-school colloquy program. The group brought to the platform Lawrence Swam, executive director of Interfaith Freedom Foundation, Ameena Jandali of Islamic Network Groups, and a tremendously well-received harp performance by a chapter officer. Assistant chapter coordinator Sean Metherell opened the program with a description of Amnesty International, emphasizing that it promotes the “impartial protection of human rights.” PUC’s chapter has been meeting for several years now, and their primary means of involvement is through writing letters for specific human rights issues. Currently the group is focusing on Sudan and also on the Patriot Act. Swam spoke briefly about Interfaith Freedom Foundation and associated issues before introducing Jandali, who discussed the Patriot Act and issues regarding treatment of Muslims—specifically “Islamophobia.” Jandali’s presentation was clear and articulate, and she spoke not only from a well-informed, analytic point of view but also from her own personal experiences. A question-and-answer session with Jandali was scheduled to follow the colloquy program, and a panel discussion on the Patriot Act was set for that evening, with four faculty members...

The men grow out their beards; villagers dance in the halls of Paulin; and on the grass by the tennis courts stands Tevye, giving his opening speech to Angwin. The Fiddler on the Roof has come to the hilltop, and a dedicated cast and crew fill the air with their lines, songs, dances and theatrical enthusiasm as they throw themselves into the Napa Valley Musical Theatre production that will be the first musical produced in the newly remodeled Lincoln Theatre. If you wander into Paulin Hall some evening, you’re likely to encounter a lot of actors (there are over 41 in the musical, all PUC students, faculty or staff) and crew (the artistic and administrative team consists of over 20 people, including professionals from Napa and San Francisco). They may be doing Japanese warm-up exercises, or discussing what’s not working in a particular scene, or dancing around in the halls for lack of any other available space. Some of the actors are no surprise—students who have consistently been front-and-center in PUC’s drama and music. “But,” says Mei Ann Teo, our English department Resident Artist and Fiddler’s director, “look at the majors of these students: graphic design, nursing, business, chemistry...the list...

Brass gleamed all across the stage, an epidemic of foot tapping spread through the crowd, and waves of appreciative noise frequently erupted after solo sections. In their first official full-length concert, the PUC Jazz Band filled the well-populated auditorium with great tunes and enthusiastic responses. An engaging mix of works, including “Georgia on my Mind,” Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday,” and a peppy arrangement of “Just a Closer Walk,” kept the concert varied and enlivening. Though informal jazz bands have been meeting and playing at PUC for some time, this is the first year the band is offered as a credit class. At the end of fall quarter, the jazz band played a well-received set after the PUC Wind Ensemble concert. But their March 12 concert was, you might say, their first truly solo flight. A jazz concert is all about having fun—both onstage and in the audience. And there’s no question: the PUC jazz band concert was just plain fun....

With cold, wet days suddenly exchanged for the vibrant spring sun, all the many-legged and many-eyed critters stir and emerge from their winter homes. Likewise, students swarm out of dorm rooms and study carrels and spatter the campus with bright voices and short-sleeved shirts (and an influx of doe-eyed couples). The tennis courts are well populated in the evenings, and a stream of students flows around the track. Outdoor picnic tables have suddenly become popular again, and attempts at studying for looming finals are moved outside, with backpacks and textbooks spread on the thick green grass. Meanwhile, construction has energetically resumed on the prayer chapel, adding the sounds of tractors and shovels to the general hubbub. Trees blossom with all the preposterous elegance of old-time belles. Students drive up from St. Helena with their windows down. There’s no denying it: it’s spring in Angwin....

If you had been walking through the Napa Valley Adventist Retirement Estates last week, you might have encountered a strange mix of college students and white-haired folk all in the depths of a very exciting activity: filling out tax returns. A number of years ago, business administration professor Henry Kopitzke started a service learning opportunity with his “Taxation for Individuals” students. They trooped down to the Retirement Estates in Yountville and helped the residents with their tax returns. The next year, Kopitzke was contacted by Veterans Services, and he added the Yountville Veterans Home to his project. Kopitzke’s students are given the option of doing either an all-day tax return lab for the retirees or writing a short paper. Every single student has chosen the lab. “I’ve had some students who were real cynics about it beforehand,” says Kopitzke. “But when they’re done, they’re completely changed!” It’s a very personal project, he explains, because the students are meeting these individuals and then sitting down with them and going through the filing process. In the end, they hand their “client” a completed return. Koptizke says, “I tell my students, ‘these people are going to sign the return you do for them...