Sharing Gonzaga's "Spirit" for 25 Years

Spirit rose out of Charette, a campuswide conversation former Father President Robert Spitzer, S.J., directed to derive solutions to common problems.

One of those problems identified by faculty and staff was lack of communications between units on campus.

“We have no idea what’s going on,” was a common retort. “We are not being kept in the loop.”

So, Spirit faculty/staff monthly newsletter was established in September 1999. The first issue declares: “We believe it is the people of Gonzaga – all of us who work here – who give the university its unique spirit. In each issue we hope to recognize and celebrate faculty and staff who shape Gonzaga; also sharing information about programs, policies and plans affecting each of us who work here.”

That first issue included stories about Chemistry Professor Kay Nakamaye, Library Technician and Library Employee of the Year Connie Scarpelli, and a group of runners that included then Business Dean Bud Barnes, then Business Computer Technician Brett Hendricks and Education Associate Professor Deborah Nieding, who are still employed at GU today.

Spirit has reported on Ad Building Renovation, Ad Building name change to College Hall, and Secrets of the Ad Building as told by Campus Architect Mac McCandless.

Spirit introduced campus readers to G-Bay, an online flea market. We helped guide readers through BRRP (Budget Reduction and Reallocation Process), which was no easy task. Spirit celebrated surpassing major fundraising goals and construction on more than two dozen buildings during the past 25 years. We addressed tough dilemmas like the University’s response to the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic church, the need to diversify our student body, faculty and staff, and the reasons behind increased competition for students.

By informing its readers, Spirit made us all better ambassadors for the University.

Those who were around in 2000 might remember the convoluted box diagram of Momentum 2007, with lettered arrows and circled numbers amid a box-full of goals, which looked more like a brain teaser to some.

We eulogized dearly beloved members of our community, with particular reverence to our clerical friends who passed, like Sisters Laura Michels and Phyllis Taufen, and Fathers Tony Lehmann, Bernard Coughlin and Steve Kuder. And what about longtime Zag Harry Sladich?

But Spirit is not just about the more visible figures on campus. It’s about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Like the ITS and Library folks collecting gifts and handing them out to those less fortunate in the Logan neighborhood. Or the folks in Community Engagement planning Mission: Possible trips for students over spring break, one, in particular, to help those in New Orleans who lost so much during Hurricane Katrina. Or our grounds crew who made possible a top- 60 ranking on Conde Nest Magazine’s most beautiful campuses.

Each month Spirit is filled with stories, many of them suggested by members of the Spirit Advisory Council, people representing many walks of University life.

One of those original members in 1999 is recently retired Groundskeeper Matt Bafus, who always had good stories to tell.

“I still miss Matt from Plant. He had the dirt on all the dirt!,” says Shannon Zaranski, budget and personnel officer for the School of Health Sciences.

What other readers say

“Spirit is an inspiring reflection of the heart and soul of Gonzaga’s staff. Even if we don’t get the chance to work directly with every staff member, Spirit is a unifying way to remind us of who we are and why we are here,” says Director Rachelle Strawther, Center for Lifelong Learning.

“I’m grateful for the connections to my fellow colleagues that Spirit brings. I’ve gotten to know my fellow staff on a deeper level when Spirit covers them in a story. I read every issue!” says Kara McGinn, SharePoint Analyst.

“It is a great resource for staff and faculty to learn about the wonderful people that make up our Gonzaga Community, be informed of upcoming events and celebrate various accomplishments in a quick digestible format,” says Heather Gores, associate athletic director-programs/deputy Title IX coordinator.

Jacqueline McCormick, marketing and communications specialist in Arts & Sciences, says: “Working on the Spirit Advisory Council gave me a chance to think about all the unique ways Gonzaga shows up as a community. Spirit highlights all that is good about our collective project and reminds me why I like working here.”