1996 GEOLOGY NEWSLETTER

EDITOR'S NOTE

Dear Alums:

	Wow!  We're really on a roll - three newsletters in three years and again
it's because of you.  We received a number of responses and an even greater
number of contributions to the Weissenborn Scholarship Fund than in 1994.
I think you're some of the most wonderful people in the world.

	It was nice to see so many of you at the 101st meeting of the Northwest
Mining Association in Spokane.  Also saw some of our alumni at the Rocky
Mountain GSA meeting in Bozeman.  A number of alumni also show up for the
monthly meetings of the AIME in Spokane.  The EWU Geology Club/SME Student
Chapter has been active this past year and some of our students usually
attend the AIME monthly meeting.

	Just when we thought the Science Building remodel was complete, they're
back again!  This time, they're remodeling the large lecture hall with all
of the latest gadgets and gee-whiz whistles, bells, etc.  Actually, we lost
several seats in the remodel and the maximum number of students will be 88.
As soon as they get the lights all working and everything else tuned up,
it's going to be a super place to teach Geology 100.

	Well, please continue to update us on your latest triumphs, moves,
additions, and so on - everyone is interested in knowing about their
friends and fellow alumni.  And continue to remember the Weissenborn if you
have an extra dollar or two.

	Ernie Gilmour, Editor

CHAIR'S MESSAGE

	The big departmental news is the loss of three of our faculty this year.
Dr. James Snook retired in June after 28 distinguished years of teaching.
I visited Jim and his lovely wife Janet in their beautiful lakeside home,
and he is doing very well.  They are spending a lot of time in the  Puget
Sound area.  In mid-summer, Dr. Russell Boggs resigned his position and is
pursuing his dream of a bed and breakfast here in Cheney.  The department
was very fortunate in that Jan Fay and Ray Tekverk, a husband and wife
mineralogy team living in Coeur d'Alene, took over the mineralogy/petrology
series for us this year.  They are putting great energy into their teaching
and have made significant contributions in curating the mineral and rock
collections.  Dr. Felix Mutschler retired at the end of 1995, after 26
years of excellent teaching and a couple of terms as chair.  The Geology
Club put on a banquet in his honor in mid-October, and it was well-attended
and enjoyed by all.  Due to budget constraints, only the mineralogy
position will be filled.  As of the time I am writing this, a number of
highly qualified candidates have applied for the position, and I am
confident that we will hire an excellent mineralogist.

	In more general news, the number of declared majors is up slightly from
last year, a trend I hope will continue.  Graduate enrollments remain
fairly constant.  We have faced another round of budget cuts, but are
managing to maintain our program without any reduction in quality.

	The most important purpose of this newsletter is to maintain our contact
with alumni.  We are always interested to hear from you and encourage you
to drop by any time you are in the area.

	Linda McCollum, Chair