Inspire, Spring 2001

inspire The Cedarville Alumni Magazine Volume 11 Issue 3 Editor Faith Linn ’83 Managing Editor Roger Overturf ’75 Publication Coordinator Rachel Puckett ’00 Copy Editor Kara Steinman Proofreaders Charity Rizer Grahame ’98 Wendy Miller Orchard ’91 Graphic Designer Dan Clingan Writers Monica James Bowen ’92 Jeff Brock ‘84 Lucinda Congdon ’00 Paul Dixon ’94H Lew Gibbs Faith Linn ’83 Kim Longo Roger Overturf ‘75 Roscoe Smith ’82 Kara Steinman Emily Wiljamaa ’98 Cessna Catherine Winslow Photographers Scott Huck Alumni Contributors Alumni Relations 1-800-837-2566 937-766-7858 Director of Alumni Relations Faith Linn ’83 linnf@cedarville.edu Administrative Assistant Rachel Puckett ’00 puckettr@cedarville.edu Event Coordinator Lucinda Congdon ‘00 congdonl@cedarville.edu Event Coordinator Emily Wiljamaa ’98 wiljamaa@cedarville.edu Campus Phone Numbers Academic Services (transcripts) 937-766-7710 Admissions 1-800-233-2784 Annual Fund 1-800-766-1115 Athletic Office 937-766-7768 Bookstore 937-766-7894 Campus Activities 1-800-860-7625 Career Services 1-888-562-4811 CDR Radio 1-800-333-0601 Christian Ministries 1-888-465-7378 External Relations 1-877-233-2784 Financial Aid 1-800-444-2433 Gift Planning 1-800-766-1115 President’s Office 937-766-7900 Public Relations 937-766-7808 Student Services 937-766-7872 Summer School 937-766-7953 Yearbook Office 937-766-7990 Afterthoughts Schools of Engineering, Nursing & Science 937-766-3253 Health and Human Performance 937-766-3252 Humanities, Fine Arts & Bible 937-766-3234 Social Sciences & Prof. Studies 937-766-3235 Spinning the Wheel Sharon Franks Burgess ’76 had her half hour of network TV fame on December 28, 2000, when she appeared on the “Wheel of Fortune” game show. Sharon’s second place finish earned $8,450, although taxes will cut 20 percent from her check. Sharon has not yet spent her earnings. She explained, “The check cannot be mailed until 120 days after the air date, so it should arrive near the first of May. I’m just assuming that there may be some special need at that time, since the Lord’s timing is always perfect.” Because of her appearance on the show, Sharon has had many opportunities to talk to friends she hasn’t had contact with since high school. She thanks the Lord for using her “Wheel of Fortune” experience in such a positive way. On the Front Lines of the Homosexuality Debate Dr. Warren Throckmorton ’79 continues to challenge the prevalent views that sexual orientation cannot be changed and that the descriptor “Christian” is synonymous with “homophobic.” In October 2000 Warren traveled to Princeton Seminary to share his review of nine studies concerning “ex-gays” in his presentation “Sexual Orientation: Is Change Possible?” Warren is also leading a team of researchers who have submitted research on homophobia assessment to the Journal of Homosexuality . The team factor-analyzed the leading test of homophobia, called the Index of Homophobia, and found that the test is biased against Christians, because, according to Warren, the test actually surveys people’s beliefs in addition to their comfort level in working with or interacting with homosexuals. Further analysis performed by the team determined that being a Christian does not by definition make a person afraid of working with or having moderate social contact with homosexuals. Warren, who is director of college counseling and an