Showing posts with label OBU. Show all posts

I will admit that this one has had me struggling for a number of years and when I read an article where one of my well-respected mentors used the word this way, I began to doubt whether I really did understand the meaning.

Let me state here that I am no Latin scholar, and we are dealing with Latin words (or at least words with Latin roots--and the roots ought to be showing by now) so I can still be corrected. However, I did take the trouble to look it up in my daughter's desk dictionary before starting the rant.

When someone graduates from an institution, he (note the gender here) becomes an alumnus. If he happens to be a she, her distinctive becomes alumna.

A group of these distinguished persons becomes alumni (used for all men or a mix of men and women), unless of course the entire group is female. In the case of a female gender-specific group of graduates, we will refer to them as alumnae.

That's simple, isn't it? Well, not so fast. The modern proclivity to abbreviate everything has people referring to me as an alum of Oklahoma Baptist University (I am, by the way, an alumnus of that wonderful institution). But, and I did look it up, alum is an aluminum-based compound often used in medicine to stop bleeding.

The disheartening thing about this is that people who are alumni keep referring to themselves with this incorrect designation.

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that my good friend from college days succumbed to some major medical issues on Christmas Eve. Don had a genuine spirit of humility about him. In his demeanor you could tell that he was one of those friends. You know the kind, they know nothing but love and kindness. It's really interesting that when he graduated the year before me from OBU, I knew we wouldn't see that much of each other. He was scheduled to wed his college fiancee, and move on to seminary in Kansas City. I had another semester to drudge through in undergrad work and was off to Southwestern in Ft. Worth.

When I talked to Don's wife via e-exchange after learning of his death, she reminded me of something--"Do you remember that song you wrote for us when we got married?" As a matter of fact I didn't and then she mentioned it, and I did.Interestingly, I was going through some old writing, thinking about Don, and found the rough draft of the lyric and a copy of the rough melody still in my possession. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to honor my buddy, Don, and his wife (and son) one more time by sharing this poem (no critics please, but if you'd like to comment an encouraging word to the family, I'll be sure they get it). Below you'll find a scan of the rough copy of the original music (and it's really rough).

It's not very long until your graduation day
You'll soon be getting married and moving far away.
Please just remember to keep God in your plans
And then go together walking hand in hand.
Go together in life's tortures
Go together in life's joys
Go together, go together just like good ol' girls and boys.
Go together in the sunshine tho' life sometimes brings you rain
Go together in your happiness and even in your pain.

Then you'll know you're succeeding when your children praise the Lord.
You'll know God has blest you and your smiles they'll afford.
Just remember what I told you when things seem to get rough,
"Go together with each other and your Father up above."
Go together over mountains
Go together 'cross the sea
Go together, go together 'cause that's how it's meant to be.
Go together when you're crying and also when you smile
Go together, go together, go together all the while.

Go Together

I just received word via email that Oklahoma Baptist University has called its 15th president. I would like to be one of the first to welcome Dr. David Whitlock to OBU family. Whitlock will be moving from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO to assume responsibilities at OBU.

Again, Welcome, Dr. Whitlock. May God bless your work at my Alma Mater.

You can read the announcement here.