On behalf of Tokyo International University,
Nobuyasu Kurata, Chancellor
Tsugio Tajiri, President
Tsugio Tajiri, President
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A Message from Tokyo International University
We were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Mr. Hawkinson. Legacy lives in the lives one touches, and we wish to celebrate Mr. Hawkinson's many contributions to the Willamette community. His dedication has touched countless lives among students of the USA, Japan, and the world.
Bob Hawkinson, fellow Viking, fellow Intercultural Adventurer
Like everyone else, I was very saddened by the news about Bob. I have
been part of the Willamette/TIUA community since early 1989 and Bob is one
of the first people I remember meeting as I got to know the campus
community.
At that time, I could sense his energy and enthusiasm about "all things
Willamette." Later, I had occasion to work with Bob as he fulfilled the
role of Interim Dean of the CLA. I admired not only his enthusiasm but
also his wisdom and his willingness to always go the extra mile to see
that we all were able to do the right thing.
When President Pelton appointed Bob as Dean of Campus Life, I knew that it
was a perfect fit. Through his visionary work, Bob confirmed the wisdom
of President Pelton's decision. It was a pleasure working with Bob on the
development of Kaneko Commons and also on the multiple ways that we have
broadened and deepened our joint (WU & TIUA) co-curricular and residential
programming efforts.
Because of Bob's continuous support and ability to see the big picture, WU
and TIUA have been able to accomplish amazing things together that are the
envy of many other universities.
Bob was an innate "interculturalist." I was so pleased to have the
chance to visit TIU and Tokyo with him a number of years ago. After this
experience, Bob reinforced his interest in our collective exchange and I
know there are many former TIUA and TIU transfer students that fondly
remember their wonderful conversations with Professor Hawkinson.
To one of the few people that knew how to pronounce my name in the same
way my Grandmother did, and on behalf of TIUA...
Takk min venn (Thank you my friend),
Gunnar Gundersen
been part of the Willamette/TIUA community since early 1989 and Bob is one
of the first people I remember meeting as I got to know the campus
community.
At that time, I could sense his energy and enthusiasm about "all things
Willamette." Later, I had occasion to work with Bob as he fulfilled the
role of Interim Dean of the CLA. I admired not only his enthusiasm but
also his wisdom and his willingness to always go the extra mile to see
that we all were able to do the right thing.
When President Pelton appointed Bob as Dean of Campus Life, I knew that it
was a perfect fit. Through his visionary work, Bob confirmed the wisdom
of President Pelton's decision. It was a pleasure working with Bob on the
development of Kaneko Commons and also on the multiple ways that we have
broadened and deepened our joint (WU & TIUA) co-curricular and residential
programming efforts.
Because of Bob's continuous support and ability to see the big picture, WU
and TIUA have been able to accomplish amazing things together that are the
envy of many other universities.
Bob was an innate "interculturalist." I was so pleased to have the
chance to visit TIU and Tokyo with him a number of years ago. After this
experience, Bob reinforced his interest in our collective exchange and I
know there are many former TIUA and TIU transfer students that fondly
remember their wonderful conversations with Professor Hawkinson.
To one of the few people that knew how to pronounce my name in the same
way my Grandmother did, and on behalf of TIUA...
Takk min venn (Thank you my friend),
Gunnar Gundersen
I knew Bob Hawkinson for 27 years, going back to my time teaching English at Willamette and brainstorming with him about, then teaching in, the first World Views seminars. For several years we also team-taught a seminar on "Community and Authority," and after I moved on to the UO Honors College, he brought me back to Willamette to help him with the Kaneko Commons project, which was the culmination of his vision for community on a college campus. He wanted Kaneko to be a living and learning space that would be fun, democratic, intellectually stimulating, and integral to life at Willamette. I'm very happy that he could make that vision a reality. Bob and I shared a great deal--interests in education, politics, culture, travel, music, drama, art, family, friends, ideas, books, controversy--even a birthday that relegated us both to the status of flaky Aquarians. We had many many great conversations, and I was looking forward to talking with him about my coming trip to Ann Arbor this summer to team-teach with a political theorist at U Michigan--just as Bob and I had done at Willamette. Instead I got a call from David Rigsby. From reading this blog I see just how many people Bob inspired, led, collaborated with, and loved. It is some comfort to know that he will not be easily forgotten.
Sharon Schuman
Sharon Schuman
Birds of a Feather...
I saw Bob for the last time about a month ago, and I was totally unprepared for the text message I received last Sunday. In the days since Bob's passing, I've been fortunate to share memories with others who knew him and to jointly attempt to deduce exactly what those qualities were that made him so uniquely special - so Bob, so "The Hawk." As already mentioned here, it is clear that his sense of humor is at the top of the list. As others have mused, Bob had fun. Despite the sometimes less-than-ideal minutiae of his job, Bob showed up, everyday - and he brought a sense of sincere joy with him. There were few stresses that a trip to the Bistro couldn't fix, or at least assuage (a double americano - occasionally accompanied in the afternoons by the most recent cookie out of the oven). It seems this joie de vivre was the source of some of the qualities I will remember most about Bob: he unwaveringly supported his students, he didn't back down from a challenge, and he had a sense of academic adventure.
It's funny; I'm sure I interacted with Bob over the course of my work with WEB and an attempt to revive Glee, but I remember my first personal conversation with him taking place in my final year at Willamette. I had scheduled a meeting with Bob to discuss the possibility of bringing some potentially controversial speakers to campus; specifically, I wanted to host a discussion about feminism and the growing number of women in positions of power (in a business sense) in the adult entertainment industry - not only that, but I wanted his office to help me pay for it. While a lesser administrator would likely have tucked tail and run, Bob didn't bat an eye. As we discussed my proposal, our conversation meandered from the evolving waves of feminism to my own intellectual evolution, from the research proposal I was working on to his experiences growing up on the South Side and as a young campaign volunteer, from my experiences as a Politics major to the changing political climate of the student body over his tenure at Willamette (explained as an exemplary microcosm of broader national politics, of course). I believe that when I left Bob's office nearly an hour later, he had pledged somewhere around $500 in funding for my event. We discussed the potential for criticism from parents, alumni, and the Salem community and I felt assured that we would go down together if it came to that. As it turned out, the only real complaint Bob's office received was from a Portland-based adult film producer who was quite outraged that she had not been invited to be a panelist at the event; Bob took great pleasure in making me squirm and think "oh no," as he built up the story of this complaint from "a very concerned citizen" while I stood behind the Bistro counter preparing his afternoon americano. Bob was willing to go out on a limb for me in the name of academic and intellectual exploration, and I still appreciate that.
As many can attest, Bob's fearlessness in the face of a challenge was not limited to simply academic matters. Later in 2008, a group of us Politics seniors held an off-campus, end-of-the-year gathering for our departmental cohort and faculty. At some point in the evening, a challenge was posed to the faculty members present to prove their mettle in an activity involving red plastic cups at which college seniors tend to be quite skilled. I doubt many were unfamiliar with this particular activity, but the professor/student (even of the over-21 variety) dynamic complicated the matter. Not wanting to seem too eager (or, perhaps more accurately, unsure how to politely decline) our guests sequentially pawned our request off on colleague after colleague until finally it was pointed out, "Look, the Dean of Campus life is here; it's up to him." And so, we explained the rules to Hawk: it's a relay; the winning team is determined far more by skill, precision, and dexterity than stomach capacity or lining; everyone can use the beverage of their choice - no pressure (seeing as this was all in good fun, and we weren't freshman, after all); just one friendly round. Bob listened intently, nodding and thinking it over. His response? "Competition! I like it!" And so we lined up, seniors vis-a-vis our professors, along either side of a ping-pong table that had seen better days. I happened to be positioned directly across Bob, and after his team had been handily defeated, he pointed a finger at me across the table, incensed, and issued a challenge of his own: "I want a rematch, Michaelson - you and me! Mano a mano!" I assured him I would be game anytime. Sadly, that rematch will have to wait.
Of course, Bob and I had more serious interactions as well. We discussed my time at Willamette. He praised my choice of an advisor. We talked about my possible career path and he offered practical wisdom about grad school. In our interactions, I always felt a connection with Bob, but I realize that that was how he related with all students. While I never took a class from him, I was no less a student of his. Bob was a teacher in the truest sense of the word; he derived the greatest joy from sharing his passion for learning with others. It was apparent through conversations about my classes (as well as on this blog) that Bob was as attentive to, and proud of, his colleagues as he was his students. He saw us not simply as professors and students, but as a community of learners: growing, evolving, and discovering together. Compatriots on the journey, for Bob, we were all here to better understand the world and our place in it - and to hopefully find our passions and callings as he had so clearly found his.
As I think about Bob and his deep sense of community - mentor and friend to colleagues and students alike, able to engage in a juvenile activity with a group of 22-year-olds one minute, and to teach a class on political theory or discuss the future of the university over coffee with colleagues the next - I think of the generations of students, now spread across the globe, whose lives he has touched. And familiar words come to mind bearing a whole new meaning: Non nobis solum nati sumus. Not unto ourselves alone are we born. Bob gave freely of himself and his loss will be felt for years to come in our institution, in our department, in our hearts and minds, in our community. We'll miss you, Hawk.
Stacy Michaelson
Class of 2008
It's funny; I'm sure I interacted with Bob over the course of my work with WEB and an attempt to revive Glee, but I remember my first personal conversation with him taking place in my final year at Willamette. I had scheduled a meeting with Bob to discuss the possibility of bringing some potentially controversial speakers to campus; specifically, I wanted to host a discussion about feminism and the growing number of women in positions of power (in a business sense) in the adult entertainment industry - not only that, but I wanted his office to help me pay for it. While a lesser administrator would likely have tucked tail and run, Bob didn't bat an eye. As we discussed my proposal, our conversation meandered from the evolving waves of feminism to my own intellectual evolution, from the research proposal I was working on to his experiences growing up on the South Side and as a young campaign volunteer, from my experiences as a Politics major to the changing political climate of the student body over his tenure at Willamette (explained as an exemplary microcosm of broader national politics, of course). I believe that when I left Bob's office nearly an hour later, he had pledged somewhere around $500 in funding for my event. We discussed the potential for criticism from parents, alumni, and the Salem community and I felt assured that we would go down together if it came to that. As it turned out, the only real complaint Bob's office received was from a Portland-based adult film producer who was quite outraged that she had not been invited to be a panelist at the event; Bob took great pleasure in making me squirm and think "oh no," as he built up the story of this complaint from "a very concerned citizen" while I stood behind the Bistro counter preparing his afternoon americano. Bob was willing to go out on a limb for me in the name of academic and intellectual exploration, and I still appreciate that.
As many can attest, Bob's fearlessness in the face of a challenge was not limited to simply academic matters. Later in 2008, a group of us Politics seniors held an off-campus, end-of-the-year gathering for our departmental cohort and faculty. At some point in the evening, a challenge was posed to the faculty members present to prove their mettle in an activity involving red plastic cups at which college seniors tend to be quite skilled. I doubt many were unfamiliar with this particular activity, but the professor/student (even of the over-21 variety) dynamic complicated the matter. Not wanting to seem too eager (or, perhaps more accurately, unsure how to politely decline) our guests sequentially pawned our request off on colleague after colleague until finally it was pointed out, "Look, the Dean of Campus life is here; it's up to him." And so, we explained the rules to Hawk: it's a relay; the winning team is determined far more by skill, precision, and dexterity than stomach capacity or lining; everyone can use the beverage of their choice - no pressure (seeing as this was all in good fun, and we weren't freshman, after all); just one friendly round. Bob listened intently, nodding and thinking it over. His response? "Competition! I like it!" And so we lined up, seniors vis-a-vis our professors, along either side of a ping-pong table that had seen better days. I happened to be positioned directly across Bob, and after his team had been handily defeated, he pointed a finger at me across the table, incensed, and issued a challenge of his own: "I want a rematch, Michaelson - you and me! Mano a mano!" I assured him I would be game anytime. Sadly, that rematch will have to wait.
Of course, Bob and I had more serious interactions as well. We discussed my time at Willamette. He praised my choice of an advisor. We talked about my possible career path and he offered practical wisdom about grad school. In our interactions, I always felt a connection with Bob, but I realize that that was how he related with all students. While I never took a class from him, I was no less a student of his. Bob was a teacher in the truest sense of the word; he derived the greatest joy from sharing his passion for learning with others. It was apparent through conversations about my classes (as well as on this blog) that Bob was as attentive to, and proud of, his colleagues as he was his students. He saw us not simply as professors and students, but as a community of learners: growing, evolving, and discovering together. Compatriots on the journey, for Bob, we were all here to better understand the world and our place in it - and to hopefully find our passions and callings as he had so clearly found his.
As I think about Bob and his deep sense of community - mentor and friend to colleagues and students alike, able to engage in a juvenile activity with a group of 22-year-olds one minute, and to teach a class on political theory or discuss the future of the university over coffee with colleagues the next - I think of the generations of students, now spread across the globe, whose lives he has touched. And familiar words come to mind bearing a whole new meaning: Non nobis solum nati sumus. Not unto ourselves alone are we born. Bob gave freely of himself and his loss will be felt for years to come in our institution, in our department, in our hearts and minds, in our community. We'll miss you, Hawk.
Stacy Michaelson
Class of 2008
I knew Bob when I started working as a CM in Kaneko last year. At the time, I also took a politics class with him.. Bob loved to lecture and he had a lot of insight into not just political theory but a lot of history which made his lectures very exciting and educational to listen to.
I took other politics classes with him, being that it was my major. He was always the type of professor who asked how you were doing and tried to accommodate your personal needs with your academic commitment. There were times were he moved deadlines for students to accommodate life. He wasn't just a professor, he was a mentor, a friend and he had a lot of kindness and compassion for the people he was around.
I continued working with him this past year as a Kaneko Commons Reslife Intern. That position allowed me to continue working with him as a mentor and as my politics major adviser. I was very fortunate to have had him as my advisor. As a senior, I often sought his advice, opinion and help for cover letters, resumes, graduate programs, and sometimes even life advice. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have known him as not just a professor and a advisor but also as a person. We definitely shared many moments and a lot of laughter- I often would tease him about his addiction to coffee and he would tease me about my taste in Pepsi (not Coke). Sometimes, I would find him eating candy in the Kaneko Office and would have to remind him that he has diabetes.
The last time I saw him was last Tuesday and he looked a bit tired but not more than usual. We were also emailing back and forth about my post-graduate program in Chicago that he had been arranging and fundraising for me since February. He had put so much effort, time and commitment into making that happen for me because he wanted me to pursue my passion in social justice and activism work. The last email that he sent me was on Friday at 6:30pm, letting me know that fundraising for my post-grad program had been complete.
I'm sad that Bob has left us but at the same time I have nothing but good memories to remember him with. He was a kind man, a gentle friend, and an inspiring professor. He gave Willamette a lot and he definitely set the bar high as a professor, as a Dean and as a Kaneko Faculty Mentor. I am thankful and feel blessed to have gotten to know him over these past two years- because without him my WU experience would not have been the same.
Shahed Kadem
Class of 2011
I took other politics classes with him, being that it was my major. He was always the type of professor who asked how you were doing and tried to accommodate your personal needs with your academic commitment. There were times were he moved deadlines for students to accommodate life. He wasn't just a professor, he was a mentor, a friend and he had a lot of kindness and compassion for the people he was around.
I continued working with him this past year as a Kaneko Commons Reslife Intern. That position allowed me to continue working with him as a mentor and as my politics major adviser. I was very fortunate to have had him as my advisor. As a senior, I often sought his advice, opinion and help for cover letters, resumes, graduate programs, and sometimes even life advice. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have known him as not just a professor and a advisor but also as a person. We definitely shared many moments and a lot of laughter- I often would tease him about his addiction to coffee and he would tease me about my taste in Pepsi (not Coke). Sometimes, I would find him eating candy in the Kaneko Office and would have to remind him that he has diabetes.
The last time I saw him was last Tuesday and he looked a bit tired but not more than usual. We were also emailing back and forth about my post-graduate program in Chicago that he had been arranging and fundraising for me since February. He had put so much effort, time and commitment into making that happen for me because he wanted me to pursue my passion in social justice and activism work. The last email that he sent me was on Friday at 6:30pm, letting me know that fundraising for my post-grad program had been complete.
I'm sad that Bob has left us but at the same time I have nothing but good memories to remember him with. He was a kind man, a gentle friend, and an inspiring professor. He gave Willamette a lot and he definitely set the bar high as a professor, as a Dean and as a Kaneko Faculty Mentor. I am thankful and feel blessed to have gotten to know him over these past two years- because without him my WU experience would not have been the same.
Shahed Kadem
Class of 2011
Save the Date: on-campus gathering Alumni Weekend (Sept. 18th)
For those students, faculty and others unable to be present on short notice during our summer vacation, we will also celebrate Bob with a special on-campus gathering during the fall semester: the Sunday afternoon of Alumni Weekend (September 18) with details TBA.
Gathering to Remember Bob: Sunday, June 5th at 2pm at WU
We are planning an initial gathering to share our grief, our gratitude, and our stories (oh, the stories we have to tell!) in memory of our friend and colleague, teacher and mentor Bob Hawkinson. It will take place on Sunday, June 5 at 2:00 p.m. in Hudson Hall of the Rogers Music Center, with a reception to follow in the Rogers Rehearsal Hall. Several of Bob's family will be present, and folks who are in the area are especially invited.
Bob Hawkinson Remembrance
There's a hole in the firmament of American politics today. Bob Hawkinson – Americanist, Chicago pol, inveterate political gossip, and civic tour de force—has left us all wondering what now?
I can't remember when I first met Bob – I had not been on campus very long and neither had he—but was he a force in my life from what I will call the beginning. I was unfortunate enough to draw the short straw and miss out on Bob's Intro to American Politics Class, but I took everything I could after that. He introduced me to Locke and Rousseau and Mill. But knowing my particular proclivities, also to Thoreau and Emerson and Whitman. And to my great pleasure, we spent the sunny afternoons of my senior spring in his seminar room, working our way through Democracy in America.
I know I disappointed Bob. He was pushing me toward a graduate degree in political philosophy or American literature, some avenue to pursue what he called "the life of the mind." To his dismay, I chose the safe route – law school—but even so, he was in the cheering section for that, too.
This afternoon, here on my desk at Portland State University sits the same copy of Democracy in America—the one that I pored over and underlined in pink pen in the spring of 1988, and you know what? I still turn to it regularly. I still think about and write about and practice the art of association that amazed and inspired Tocqueville. And, I still read American poetry in the same breathless search for "poems of democracy."
I thought I would have another chance to gossip and laugh with Bob. I thought I would have another chance to speculate with him about the 2012 Republican primary or whether the sales tax would always be a dead letter in Oregon. But, as they say, you never know. Now that the long meandering conversation with Bob is over, I can say this: Bob Hawkinson taught me what it means to be an American, what it means to be a patriot. He taught me there is as much space for idealism and pride as there is for disappointment and outrage. He taught me to read and think and keep holding democracy's feet to the fire.
Wendy Willis
Class of 1988
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