Trinkets of Walter Hall

By Martha Calus-McLain '03 | Director of Alumni Relations

When I was a student at Pacific I came across an archival photo of Walter Hall. I believe it was taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s. I remember being delighted at how the interior of the room had remained exactly the same from 1959 to 1999.

Of course the nature of college life changed quite a bit in those 40 years – for one thing my next-door neighbors were Russ and Gabe and the neighbors across the hall were Todd and Stuart. I think the women of Walter Hall 1959 might have found this a tad shocking.

Recently our friends in Facilities unearthed a treasure trove from the history of Walter. Apparently there’s some work being done involving the removal of furniture. This resulted in a whole pile of interesting items including:

• 20 assorted photographs
• 9 photographs of high school sweethearts complete with handwritten inscriptions
• 2 postcards (one Katherine sent to Spencer Rockwell ’00 while she was visiting Japan)
• A sticker for Powell’s City of Books
• A 1985 sticker for Coors Light beer wolf
• A letter to Kurt from his Gram
• A 1983 receipt from Fred Meyer – a loaf of bread cost $1.12
• 2 coupons for Ponds Beauty Cream
• A 1974 Tri-Met Route Map
• A 1987 Boxer Football schedule
• A syllabus from Marsh Lee’s spring 1981 Western Civilization class
• A ticket to the 21^st Annual Luau
• Not one, but two of Margaret Swanson’s meal cards (fall 1967and spring 1969)
• A Pacific University phone card

Also: William Hopper, Necole Landry, Max Montano, Martha Leinweber – we found your student ID cards! We also found a Hawaii state ID card for Starr Muramaru, a Forest Grove Library card for Cherie Cockram and a health plan card for Jennifer Harrington.

All of this makes me curious to hear stories of life in Walter Hall (and all the dorms).

Did you ever lose anything you wish could be found?

Did you bring photos of your hometown or your high school friend and pin them up?

Were you at the 1981 Luau or did you follow the Boxer Rebellion in 1987?

Did you live in Walter Hall when it was women only or McCormick when it was men only?

Do you think any of the items above are yours and would you like them back?

As always, please keep it touch! Send us your stories and don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance.

Martha Calus-McLain '03 is the Director of Alumni Relations at Pacific University. She can be reached at martha@pacificu.edu or 503-352-2764. 

Food and Thought

By Shane Henry Kwiatkowski '11

Kwiatkowski '11

Apple, Sausage and Brie Layer with Rosemary, Cinnamon, Sage and Garlic

Halloween 2011, Washington DC

Ingredients

1lb ground pork sausage

4 apples (tart variety)

1 onion

3 cloves of garlic

1 wheel brie cheese

large sprig fresh rosemary, or 3 tbsp. dried leaves

2 tbsp. powdered cinnamon

10 or so fresh sage leaves (fresh is better)

olive oil and/or butter

salt and pepper

1

Start by browning pork in pan with a little oil, salt and pepper over medium heat. You’re aiming to brown your meat a little crisp. If you’re not sure what kind of brown, imagine the rich brown wood of the tables and chairs at the Library of Congress twinged in cinnamon, or like dark hazel eyes.

2

As the meat browns, dice one apple and the onion together, minding the apple seeds; they’re bitter like October DC wind. Mix the apple and onion in a bowl with some olive oil and butter and half of each of the spices. The sage might smell bitter when you first tear the leaves, but it will mellow. Some things must have heat applied to remove bitterness, the gentle warmth of convection, conduction and intention stripping away whatever acrid thing may be held within. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

3

When the meat has crisped, toss the apple-onion mixture into the pan. Add a little oil or butter if any sticking occurs, though this will be unlikely. You will smell the warm fragrance of the spice and herbs as an offering to the Fall air. The sage will consecrate and invite life; the rosemary for memory; the cinnamon ushers in joy. Perfect for the souls of Samhain. I contemplate the dead as Kelly and Kenzie busy themselves cleaning the table, stringing lights, and readying maple cookies in the shapes of tender, small leaves. I toss the mixture so nothing will stick.

4

Cut the rest of the apples into slices 1/8-1/4” thick, and the brie into wedges. When the mixture is done crisping, remove pan from heat; drain pan of excess fat, leaving a little bit. Put a layer in of sausage then apples and brie in your casserole dish. When I baked mine I laid the slices of apple around the edge of the dish, the moon’s life of full and wane emblazoned in apple flesh on top in honor of passing days and those who have passed.

5

When finished layering, put aside the dish and take the garlic cloves, mash them out of their papery skins. Then put the pan back over low heat and place the garlic and the rest of the spices inside, swirling in a little butter and olive oil. When heated and fragrant, pour over the layer.

6

Cover and bake for 25min. Remove cover and bake for around 10min until the apples and brie are golden-brown and bubbly, respectively. Take out and take to table. Garnish with more sage leaves, cinnamon and rosemary if desired.

Earlier that day at the Holocaust Memorial, I had seen the name “Kwiatkowski” on a board displaying names of Polish lost during WWII, dioramas of great ovens, and thousands of shoes. I do not know how those lost souls spent their Halloweens, but I hope that they were as grateful for theirs as I’m for mine: lights in wine bottles casting soft glows, the radiant smells of warm food, the buzzing of wine, and a prayer to family, whoever or wherever they may be. We drink and eat to the night, and for what life gives and takes.

Kwiatkowski '11 majored in Creative Writing and Anthropology. He aspires to write, act, and travel the world to learn about its people of all kinds, its workings and its magic. Hobbies include thinking about the connectedness of things, cooking, singing and talking with people about nearly anything. Animism is his go-to philosophy, and seeks to honor the spirit of the world through creation and much-too-much laughter. He currently lives in Vancouver, Wash.

Four Years Fly By

Brynteson '08

By Meredith Brynteson '08

It is crazy to believe that my career as a student at Pacific University was completed almost four years ago. 

May 2012 marked the moment the I’ve been a staff person as long as I was a student. 

During these years, I have seen so many different facets of Pacific. Some of my most vivid memories include crying during new student orientation, meeting some of my closest friends and connecting with professors that I still see around campus.

One thing that I was not aware of during my time as a student was just how much alumni of Pacific University care about this place. As alumni we care about sports teams making it to the playoffs and student research that is being conducted. We also care about the experience that each student has while they are here. 

When I meet up with college friends, we always find ourselves reliving the memories we created in Forest Grove. One of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had as an alumna has been my ability to actively influence the student experience today. While I was a student I received a variety of scholarships that allowed me to have such an incredible experience. Now, I make a monthly donation to Pacific to help current students have the same memorable time that I did.

A classmate stopped by my office the other day and we got to talking about writing our history theses. We reminisced about long hours in the library and the feeling once we’d presented at Senior Projects Day. Although, at the time, those were some anxiety filled memories, they are fond ones thinking about them almost four years later. 

It’s easy to forget how many people helped me along the way to graduation. Parents, professors, siblings, significant others were all there for us. One group not often remembered are those alumni supporters. Each alumnus that donated to Pacific during my time helped me get to graduation and to where I am today. So thank you to those alumni who helped me become who I am today and here’s to the next generation of Pacific University alumni!

Brynteson '08 is the Assistant Director of Annual Giving at Pacific University. She graduated from Pacific with a degree in history and a minor in political science. Brynteson then earned a masters degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University in 2010. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, working out and French bulldogs.