2007 Opening Days Speech

Sue was asked to give the 2007 Opening Days speech for the incoming freshman class. Here is the speech she gave that day.

"This is the most fulfilling day of the year for an admission officer. I'm excited and happy to welcome you all to the Willamette community on behalf of the Enrollment Division. Surprisingly, I have some of the same butterflies in my stomach that you have. You ask. "How will these next four years shape my life?" I wonder how each of you will change the shape of Willamette. I am second-guessing whether or not I have fully communicated the high expectations our faculty have for you; you question whether or not you are prepared to meet those expectations. You are nervous about meeting new people; I worry that my memory--or my eyesight--or both--will fail me and that I won't recognize all of you whom I have already met.

It was thirty-five years ago that my parents and I were sitting here for orientation speeches. Well, maybe we weren't actually sitting here since Sparks Center hadn't been built yet. The facilities have certainly been transformed since my arrival at Willamette. I envy you the Hatfield Library and Olin Science Center, the Montag Student Center and Kaneko Commons, the coffee in the Bistro and the food in Goudy, just to name a few of the things that make this campus and even better place to spend four years.

But the changes that will have the greatest impact on you are those that have accrued in our faculty and our student body. Our faculty has grown by 50% since I was first a student here and they teach over 400 more courses that were taught in my day. We are just two years into the scheduled addition of 25 new faculty positions. Just think of all the new courses that will be added for you over the next four years!

Although, our faculty continues to put teaching responsibilities first, they pursue their individual research interest to a much greater extent than their predecessors. This, in turn, infuses your classroom experiences with more depth and substance and give you many more opportunities to do your own research as an undergraduate.

It isn't just the facilities and faculty that have gotten better. By every measure, our students - you- are academically superior to me and my classmates. You are also more geographically, ethnically and socio-economically diverse. You are better traveled. You have already contributed more to your communities than I had and my peers at this stage in out lives.

Of course, not everything has changed in thirty-five years. My Parents found little to appreciate in the music that I preferred and I expect the same could be said of many of your parents, too. When I came to Willamette, many of my age group were fighting - and dying - in another country in a war that didn't have qualified support at home. Sadly, you cannot make the same claim today. My college years gave rise to the modern-day environmental movement, despite the skepticism of those like the-governor Ronald Regan who said,: "If you've seen one redwood tree, you've seen them all." Global warming - which is surely one of the most pressing environmental issues for your generation- is just the current iteration of a problem that my class knew well, too.

So, I tried to think of one piece of advice that I was given that would span the thirty-five year gap in our experiences. Unfortunately, the only thing that came to mind was, "Don't mix the dark clothes with the white ones." As advice for doing laundry, it's terrific. As advice for beginning your college experience, it is completely wrong. So my advice for you is to, "Go ahead and mix things up."

I want Hannah from Shorewood, Washington to meet Ezra from Puerto Rico. I want Joe from Chicago to find common ground with Cole from Dalles (that is Dalles, Oregon, not Texas). I want the math nerds to find beauty in a poem and the bookworms to realize the importance of macroeconomic theory. I want all of you who merely endured your high school history class to be captivated by classes from Professors Bill Duvall and Ellen Eisenberg.

I suspect you are familiar with the book, "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein. His poem, "Colors" perfectly describes the variety that you - the Class of 2010 - are bringing to the Willamette community. He wrote:

My skin is kind of sort of brownish
pinkish yellowish white.
My eyes are grayish blueish green,
But I'm told they look orange at night.
My hair is reddish blondish brown,
But it's silver when it's wet.
And all the colors I an inside
Have not been invented yet.

So take all those infinite colors that you are in mind, body and spirit and mix them up. If you end up with something that looks a little tie-dyed, that will be just one more thing your class and mine have in common.

Peace"


Susan J. Rauch
Interim VP for Enrollment
August 2007

Refrigerator Magnets

Sue had a huge collection of humorous, inspirational and irreverent refrigerator magnets. Here are two of my personal favorites:

"To Laugh often and much, to win the RESPECT of INTELLIGENT people and the Affection of children, to earn the appreciation of HONEST entities and endure the betrayal of false friends, to Appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch... to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!"

~Emerson~



"You say "Bitch", like it is a bad thing!"

~anonymous~

Missing Sue

I woke up yesterday morning and realized that it was exactly a year ago when I received the call from Sue telling me her cancer treatments were no longer working. I remember the pause in the conversation as I absorbed the information. I thought for a fleeting moment, "What can I say?" and then suddenly the comment that sprang from my mouth was "You know what I am going to miss the most, Sue?" She said "No, Shelley, what?" I said, "I am going to miss this, the ability to speak with you on the phone at anytime."

Still, when I hear something funny or want to discuss an idea, I often think "I need to call Sue!" It is a practice I have had for over 30 years now that will take sometime to fad.

Sue, please know that I am thinking of you, and still call upon you with my ideas and stories. The only difference is, I no longer have to pay long distance rates or for minutes. It is all free now.

Sue J. Rauch Distinguished Service Award- Willamette Athletics

On Monday, May 2 at the Willamette University Athletics Awards Ceremony, the 2011 Coaches Council announced the Sue J. Rauch Memorial Award, for Distinguished Service and Commitment to Willamette Athletics.

I was honored enough to introduce the award:

                                    January 15th, 2011 Willamette University lost one of it’s greatest friends when Sue Rauch lost her battle with Cancer.  Sue was a mentor to me, and has given me great perspective.  

I am proud to announce that in April 2011, the Willamette University Coaches Council established an administrative award in Sue’s name that will be given to the administrator of choice that best exemplifies the support and service that Sue provided to our department during her service.

Sue J. Rauch

Distinguished Service and Commitment to Willamette Athletics

“In memory of Sue Rauch, a dedicated member of the Willamette community, serving a vital role in the success of Bearcat Athletics. This award is given in honor of her ongoing support and commitment to the Athletic Department, its Coaches, and its Student-Athletes.”

I would like to thank the Coaches Council for establishing this award, and I thank Sue for providing endless insight, support, and friendship.

Glen Fowles


Assistant Head Coach, Colleague and Friend

Cassandra (Cassi) Herr - First Sue Rauch Scholarship Recipient

As many of you know, the Sue Rauch Scholarship fund was established on the occasion of Sue's 50th Birthday in 2003. The fund has been growing steadily over the years and met it's endowment goal in 2009 - 2010. Once a scholarship fund reaches this level, an award can be made the following year.

I am pleased to share with you the news about the first Sue Rauch Scholarship recipient.

Cassi Herr - Willamette '14

"Cassandra (Cassi) Herr, the first recipient of the Sue Rauch Scholarship, is just completing her freshman year at Willamette where she plans to major in music performance (flute).

She hails from Manitowoc, WI, where she was raised primarily by her father.  She will return there over the summer and work full-time at a greenhouse/flower shop.  She also plans to do a lot of biking, hiking and canoeing.

Cassi would not have been able to attend Willamette without substantial financial
assistance. The Sue Rauch Scholarship will help her to continue her studies at Willamette.

Cassi came to the Relay for Life to meet Sue's parents and friends who were walking
in honor of Sue.  She loved meeting everyone, "especially Sue's parents", and feels she has a better idea how beloved Sue was."

Many generous memorial gifts were received for the Sue Rauch Scholarship fund. These gifts have contributed to establishing an even stronger base of endowment for the scholarship. This is exciting news for students like Cassi who need a little extra help to make their dreams a reality.

In Dedication to Sue

The daffodils are in full bloom and the tulips are starting to make their appearance.  I was thinking of Sue this weekend as her birthday came and went, and I figured it was high time I submitted something to the blog.  Sue played an integral role in several chapters of my life.  The first chapter was as a junior in high school and a prospective student to Willamette.  I felt very special to have been asked to interview with WU - I was the only person I knew who was being asked to interview at a college or university.  I don't really remember the interview, all I know is that once it was over, I was sold on WU and could not wait to go.  As a senior, I visited the campus, staying overnight and attending classes.  I met with Sue again during this visit and my devotion to WU was solidified.  I don't remember interacting with Sue while I was a student at Willamette, but just before graduation I was talked into applying for an Admission Counselor position and was hired - my relationship with Sue was only just beginning.  

I spent two years in the Admission office - together with the travel and application reviews, there were a lot of laughs and pranks. I will never forget the fabulous treats that Louise would make or the "hairy-licker" that we used to seal envelopes.  At the time, my mom was really into making vests - especially themed vests to wear for every holiday. The office got a kick out of them, so my mom made all the women in the office vests for Christmas one year, and for Jim Sumner, the lone male, a tie.   When my mom came to visit, it was agreed that everyone would wear their vest to work (even though it was not Christmas) - and Sue even had Hank wear one to show his appreciation.  

Sue served as a mentor to me as I made the transition from a Willamette coed to Willamette professional.  She was also someone I enjoyed spending social time with.  I particularly enjoyed the day trips to the beach to let Hank run around in the surf - I remember her telling me how she would drive out to the beach even in bad weather, just to watch the waves pound on the shore. And I always enjoyed sharing a meal with her at Goudy (watching, amazed, as she did the NY Times crossword in pen) or a cup of coffee at the Bistro. 

As others have mentioned in their blog entries, Sue was such a loyal and devoted friend.  I decided during my second year in Admissions to apply to join the Peace Corps.  Near my birthday in April 2000, I found out that I had been accepted and would be moving to Tanzania in East Africa. For my birthday that year, Sue and my mom conspired to make me a cake and surprise me at work.  What a surprise it was!  Sue decorated it as she imagined the wilds of Africa must look like - calling me the "African Queen".  Thinking about it still brings a smile to my face.  She also let me live with her for a couple of weeks when I had no housing just before I left for Peace Corps.  While I was gone she would write me letters or send emails - always filling me in on the gossip back at Willamette.  Hank and I shared a birthday - he always sent me a birthday card while I was away.  After having been gone for a couple of years, I came home for a short visit and Sue threw a BBQ so I could see a lot of familiar faces all in one place - what a treat that was after so much time away!  

When I got engaged Sue expressed her excitement over the phone.  When I got married, she and Teresa Hudkins came to Reno to attend the event.  When I was expecting my first child, I got a call from Sue one day who wanted to see how the pregnancy was doing.  She said she had been at the doctor and could hear through the wall a fetal monitor being used on an expectant mother and said she thought of me.  When I was on maternity leave, and she was undergoing treatment for the cancer, she and I spoke on the phone a few times - I always found comfort in her voice so many miles away.

It saddens me that my daughter Grace never got to meet Sue. However, I am grateful that Grace got to attend the memorial service with my husband and I, meeting so many wonderful people who have been influential in my life and important to Sue. I do know that I will have a wonderful time sharing my memories of Sue with Grace as she grows older.

In dedication to Sue I have made a couple of decisions:
1. I will continue to take notes in a journal and not a pad of paper;
2. From now on I will take my birthday off from work;
3. I will hold a "Kiss the Summer Good-bye" party each fall; and
4. I will live life to the fullest - always remembering to laugh a lot and out loud.

Thank you Sue for your friendship, laughter, and memories. 
I miss you dearly, 


Tara Graham
Student, Colleague and Friend

My Dear High School Friend

Senior Photo - St Helena High School - 1971

 

Sue car hopped with me at A&W and we took many road trips in my VW. We loved to tease the road workers. She was my tassle twirling friend. We had a good time…the memories are wonderful.
 

Sue doing the Shimmy!

Once Sue and I were going to the beach for the day. We had to travel over St. Helena mountain, which was a winding road. We saw a sign it said "Road Work Ahead". Sue was always up for a good dare. I dared her to remove her shirt as we passed the construction workers in my car. Only in her bra, and well endowed she was, keep in mind this was 1970. The road worker was waving vehicles through and our turn came and the road worker put up the STOP sign. The worker's eyes got big, I was laughing so hard I cried, Sue was laughing and scrambling to put her shirt back on. He then waved us through with all the guys whistling and waving. We were always laughing. 


Ann Morrow Cortinas
A&W Co-worker, High School Friend and Partner-in-Crime