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Students Arrive from Around the World as Earlham College Starts Its 160th Year For Immediate Release:
RICHMOND, Ind. — A revamped residence hall, a new sports facility and exciting new international programs are just a few of the exciting changes at Earlham College as it begins its 160th academic year. The liberal arts college begun in 1847 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is known for its rigorous academics and far-ranging international programs. For the 2007-08 academic year, the College again draws on a tradition of increasing the international flavor of the campus with 173 international students from 68 countries expected to arrive in eastern Indiana to begin classes this month, according to Associate Director of International Programs Kelley Lawson-Khalidi. Incoming first-year students from Nepal, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Macedonia are among the 28 countries represented by Earlham's incoming first-year population which will add to the distinctive diverse mix of cultures to be found thriving on the Earlham campus. New this year is the Global Associates Program (GAP), designed to help with the integration of international and U.S. students. Earlham invited all domestic incoming first-year students to apply to the program and has accepted 26 students to participate in this year's pilot program. According to Lawson-Khalidi, the students will take part in a cross-cultural orientation, have the option of living with an international roommate, and will be invited to participate in all international student programming. While schools across the country have struggled with international enrollment in recent years, Earlham has seen a significant increase over the last decade. A full 12 percent of the incoming Class of 2011 is comprised of international students. Applications to attend the selective school rose approximately four percent over last year, according to admissions officials. More than 1,800 applications were received and the College expects 308 first-year students to arrive for Orientation on Aug. 17. The College also expects to be fully enrolled, says President Douglas C. Bennett. Full enrollment at Earlham is approximately 1,200 students. Nearing Retirement Age, Residence Hall Made New Again Some of those students will be housed in the newly refurbished Olvey-Andis Residence Hall. The hall, opened in 1949, was taken out of service and given an extensive renovation during the last year. Improvements to the coed multi-class building included the installation of an elevator, a temperature control system, common areas on each floor and Ethernet access in each room. "It's a very nice facelift," said Lisa Ortiz, assistant director of residence life. "We've had quite a positive response to the building and we're pleased that we've been able to enhance the communal aspects of the building." One of those positive responses about Olvey-Andis, known on campus as "O-A," came from Leomar Bautista, a junior biochemistry major who has already settled into his room in the refurbished hall. "I would definitely say that the location and the new interior make it enjoyable. It's an ideal place to live." While the major portion of the renovation is concluded at O-A, construction fences near The Heart at the center of campus will continue to be a part of the Earlham landscape while the College completes a planned multi-year residence hall upgrade. Renovation of Barrett Hall, which will be closed for this academic year, already has begun. A two-year renovation of Earlham Hall is expected to begin in 2008. New Home For Quaker Football The Heart is not the only area of Earlham's campus that is seeing upgraded facilities this year. At a special ceremony during Homecoming Weekend in October, the College will dedicate Darrell M. Beane Stadium, the new home of Quakers football. The new stadium complex surrounding M.O. Ross Field features a 1,600-seat grandstand, a modern, fully-wired 40-person press box, and a 6,500 square foot football facility featuring locker, training and coaches' rooms, a concession stand and public restrooms. Beane, a 1955 Earlham graduate and four-year varsity football letterman who served for many years as the College's dean of admissions and as administrative assistant to President Landrum Bolling, was an ardent supporter of all Earlham athletic programs, especially football. He died in 2004. Longtime Quakers fans will need to reorient themselves upon entering the new stadium complex; the new home grandstand, offering new views of the campus, is now located on the south side of the field where visitor seating had been. 
Provost and "Voice of the Quakers" Nelson Bingham continues as the public address announcer for football games at the new Darrell M. Beane Stadium. One thing that will not change, however, will be the familiar tones of the Quakers' home field announcer, Earlham Provost and Professor of Psychology Nelson Bingham. Bingham, who is believed to be the highest-ranking college official in the nation who also serves as his institution's sports public address announcer, has been behind the microphone at Earlham home games for more than 25 years. He says that the new press box is "a dream come true." "Beyond the added comfort," he says, "I am excited about the message that the new facilities sends to players and fans — Earlham values football as a form of recreation, but even more as a way of developing group skills and personal character." "Go Quake!" he adds enthusiastically. Earlham's first home game of the season is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007. — EC — Contact:
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Earlham's
Class of 2011 arrives on Friday, Aug.
17. Among the tasks on the first day is moving into the residence
halls.
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Earlham
College · 801 National Road West · Richmond,
Indiana 47374-4095 |