Vol. 21 No. 7 - October 3, 2016

The University will celebrate National Truman Spirit Day, Oct. 7. Student, alumni, faculty, staff and friends are encouraged to wear purple or other Truman gear to show their support for the school.

For those on campus, Spike will be making the rounds and taking photos with all of his friends. There will also be a photo booth set up inside the Student Union Building HUB from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with free caramel popcorn.

As part of this year’s festivities, the “Bulldogs Biggest Fans” photo contest on Facebook offers a chance to win a Homecoming VIP package that includes: four tickets to the Bulldog Forever Tailgate; four tickets to the game; four Truman T-shirts, Bulldog Forever koozies and sunglasses; and one hotel room for Oct. 21-22.   

Step 1: Take a picture displaying Truman spirit in celebration of National Truman Spirit Day.

Step 2: Send photos to bulldogforever2@truman.edu by 11:59 p.m. during National Truman Spirit Day, Oct. 7.

Step 3: All pictures will be uploaded to an album titled, “Bulldogs Biggest Fans” published by the Truman State University Alumni Facebook page. Voting will take place from Oct. 10 to Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. The picture with the most “likes” and “shares” will win.

Participants can send in as many submissions as they want. For more information, visit truman.edu/alumni-donors/events/national-spirit-days.

Nursing students who participated in a study abroad trip to the Philippines will present on their experiences to the public at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room.

For the 2016 summer semester, 12 nursing students traveled to the Philippines with professors Steve and Kit Hadwiger to gain clinical experience and develop culturally competent care skills.

The students spent three weeks at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila and West Visayas State University Medical Center in Iloilo City. While in Manila, the students gained clinical experience assisting in the delivery of a newborn and providing care in various units of the students’ choosing. These included surgery, neonatal intensive care unit, postpartum unit, emergency department, pediatric intensive care unit and burn unit.

At Iloilo City, the Truman students paired up with nursing students from West Visayas State University to provide care both at the medical center and in the community. Clinical experiences in Iloilo City included home visits with an indigenous population of the Philippines, a social hygiene clinic, a leprosarium and hospital rotations in the medical, pediatric and surgical wards.

A video will be screened showing some of the highlights of their trip. Refreshments will be provided.

The For·Words series will continue at 4 p.m. Oct. 7 in the Del & Norma Robison Planetarium with a reading by 2014 Flan O’Brien Award for Innovative Fiction winner Andrew Bynom from his book, “The Executioner’s Race.”

Using his experiences from living and working in Istanbul, Turkey, for many years, Bynom’s “The Executioner’s Race” begins with a female calligrapher who is condemned to death in fourteenth-century Ottoman Istanbul for blasphemy when she turns holy prayers into images of faces and animals. Her only chance at life is win a race against a Bostanci, one of the sultan’s guards and executioners. Hans Christian Andersen tries to discover the outcome of the race seven years later with the help of a dubious florist.

The For·Words series is sponsored by the Department of English and Linguistics. For more information about Bynom, For·Words events and additional events happening in the School of Arts and Letters, go to facebook.com/trumansal.

The Theatre Department is hosting auditions for the Fall Directors’ Showcase at 5 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Black Box Theatre in Ophelia Parrish 2302.

Eight new directors from the play direction class will be at the casting. Actors should prepare 60 seconds of material that shows how they move and talk. Examples include: reciting a list of their best jokes, doing a dramatic reading of a Drake song, performing a monologue, doing yoga while reciting your roommate’s annoying morning routine, etc. Interested actors should do something that will grab the directors’ attention and make them remember the actor’s performance.

On each night of the final performances, the directing class presents a different set of one act plays written by some of the best playwrights from around the country. The following plays will be divided between the two nights:

"Poof!"
By: Lynn Nottage
Directed By: Marissa Butler
When a housewife comes to the end of her rope with her abusive husband, she doesn't expect him to spontaneously combust. Now she has a pile of ashes on the floor, and a life to reclaim.

"Words, Words, Words"
By: David Ives
Directed By: Kitty Corum
Three monkeys try their hands at writing Hamlet as part of an experiment.

"The Dungeons and The Dragons"
By: Kyle John Schmidt
Directed By: Lexi Diaz
Four friends go on a glittery fabulous role playing adventure involving magical goats and hot pockets.

"Flop Cop"
By: Laura Cunningham
Directed By: Mitchell Flottman
When a concerned cop learns that there’s a wild monologuing playwright on the loose he has no choice but to confront him.

"Farris Wheel"
By: Mary Miller
Directed By: Kristin Hafen
Strangers get to know each other while stuck on a Ferris wheel.

"The Budapest String Quartet"
By: Jon Jory
Directed By: Natalie Hansen
Four college friends discover the stress that come with backpacking Europe together.

"Canker Sores and Other Distractions"
By: Christopher Durang
Directed By: Nicholas Huber
A divorced couple meets up at a restaurant for dinner for old times’ sake.

"The Fifteen Minute Hamlet"
By: Tom Stoppard
Directed By: Keaton Richey
A whirlwind tour of the greatest moments of Hamlet done in thirteen minutes…and done again in two.

The Truman Public Relations Office is now accepting applications for the full-time spring 2017 internship position.

The public relations intern will help with the production of the University’s online newsletter, the Truman Today, and biannual alumni magazine, the Truman Review. The intern will also assist in planning special events throughout the semester, writing press releases and fulfilling other office tasks.

Applicants should have a strong background in writing and editing. Communication majors are encouraged to apply, with special consideration given to candidates with knowledge of Associated Press Style.

To apply, send a resume, an advising transcript, two writing samples and contact information for two on-campus references to the Public Relations Office, McClain Hall 202, no later than Nov. 4. For questions about the internship, contact Travis Miles at tmiles@truman.edu.

Truman State University Foundation scholarship applications for students in the spring 2017 semester are now available. Applications are online and are due by midnight, Nov. 3. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Student Finances, Foundation Scholarship Application. Complete the personal information page and then follow the two-step process to select scholarships for which to apply. Applications can be revised at any time prior to midnight, Nov. 3. This application period is for Foundation scholarships that have not yet been awarded for 2016-17. Applications for the majority of Foundation scholarships will be available in February for the 2017-18 academic year.

Interim president Sue Thomas will host Coffee with the President at 3 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Student Union Conference Room. The discussion will focus on high-impact experiences that ensure students are more fully engaged in their learning and discover their personal and professional purpose. Joining the president will be Dana Vazzana, professor of mathematics, who is part of the “Create a Centralized System of Support for High Impact Experiences” Next Steps Team.

In preparation for National Truman Spirit Day, the Public Relations Office is selling spirit bands for $2 a piece. Spirit bands can be worn more than a dozen different ways, including as a bandana, a scarf, a bracelet, headbands and more. Drop by and pick up a spirit band before Spirit Day, Oct. 7. The Public Relations Office is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. In McClain Hall 202 and accepts cash or check.

The University is looking for an engaging personality to act as Truman’s official mascot. Requirements for the Spike role include interacting with small groups as well as crowds; willingness and the time to be be in character on the weekends and after hours; and the ability to withstand the heat of wearing the Spike costume.     

Those who are interested in trying out to be Spike should submit the following to pr@truman.edu by Oct. 11:

• a letter addressing why they want to be Spike and why they think they would suit the role 
  
• resume
• contact information for two references

A committee will review submissions, and interviews for the new Spike will take place Oct. 17-18.

5:30 p.m.
Oct. 5
Magruder 2001

Students are invited to ask questions about the interdisciplinary mathematical biology minor with program faculty. Questions to be addressed include which classes count towards the minor and what students can do with it. Pizza will be provided. The event is sponsored by Truman’s mathematical biology interdisciplinary minor program. For more information, contact professor Pam Ryan.

The new financial literacy program will host focus groups to hear from students about their financial needs and what the program can do to help them achieve financial wellness at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 in Violette Hall 2351.

There will also be focus groups to hear from faculty and staff about their experiences with student financial stress and student loans at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Oct. 5.

The program aims to help Truman students to become more financially secure through workshops, education and events. Free pizza and beverages will be provided, and the discussion should last around 30 minutes. Interested students, faculty and staff can click here to sign up.

Mathematics professor Mike Adams will discuss game theory, used in economics, biology, military conflict and even in games such as poker, in a faculty forum at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 in Magruder Hall 2001.

In applications of game theory, it is generally assumed that the players will gravitate towards playing some Nash equilibrium, a choice of strategies for all players with the property that no single player can improve their payoff by changing their strategy. Which Nash equilibrium is played becomes problematic when there is more than one; more so when different players have different preferences over the set of equilibria.

The forum is free and open to the public.

The Celebration of Service, Service-learning and Civic Engagement Event, co-sponsored by the Academic Professional Development Center, the SERVE Center and the Civic Engagement Committee, will highlight projects conducted across campus in a poster presentation format.

Faculty, staff and students who are interested in showcasing their service-learning or civic engagement are welcome to apply. Submissions can include course projects, organization service, faculty research projects and more. The event focuses on topics such as environmental health-based service, course fundraising efforts, ecology-based service-learning and service in student organizations.

Posters must be standard poster board, 36 by 48 inches, and must contain: project title; names of participants or organizations; methods for how the service-learning project was conducted; a reflection component on how participants were included in the project; and a description of lessons learned while conducting the project.

Refreshments will be provided. The celebration takes place at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A.

Those interested in participating should email Alicia Wodika with a brief project description by Oct. 7.

To celebrate Graduate Education Month, Truman’s eight graduate programs will be hosting public events throughout October. Additional details and information for each event can be found at truman.edu/majors-programs/graduate-studies/graduate-education-month.

Local Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Services staff are presenting a demonstration on campus soil health. The NRCS staff will be on campus from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Oct. 7. The demonstration will take place by the south end of the Mall on the stairs between the Student Union Building and Magruder Hall, next to the planetarium.

Circle K, an international service organization with a focus on assisting children, is hosting their annual rummage sale as a fundraiser to help the organization put on different service events. The sale takes place from 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 8 in the parking lot across from DPS and next to Centennial Hall.

The Career Center will host an informative presentation at 5 p.m. Oct. 6 in Violette Hall 1146 on how students can effectively market their study abroad experience to graduate schools and future employers.

For more information, contact the Center for International Education Abroad at ciea@truman.edu or 660.785.7466 or contact the Career Center at careers@truman.edu or 660.785.4353.

During the month of October, the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium will feature a series of themed laser light shows set to music by artists including the Beatles, Pink Floyd and U2, among others.
 
In conjunction with the Kirksville Tourism Office, the planetarium, located in Magruder Hall, will feature daily laser shows from Oct. 8-22. Utilizing a catalogue of 19 different laser shows, the planetarium will host 32 viewings during the 15-day period. Complete descriptions of each show and their individual screening times can be found below. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at planetarium.truman.edu/shop. Any remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
 
In addition to the laser shows, the planetarium hosts regular program most weekends during the academic year. The complete schedule of events can be found at planetarium.truman.edu.
 
Laser Show Schedule

Oct. 8
2 p.m.
Double Feature
“Search for the Edge of the Universe”
Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”
 
Oct. 8
4 p.m.
Double Feature
“New Horizons”
Laser Vinyl
 
Oct. 9
2 p.m.
Laser Beatles
 
Oct. 9
4 p.m.
Laser Pop
 
Oct. 10
5:30 p.m.
Laser Country
 
Oct. 10
7:30 p.m.
Hypnotica
 
Oct. 11
5:30 p.m.
Laseropolis
 
Oct. 11
7:30 p.m.
Laser Beatles
 
Oct. 12
5:30 p.m.
Laser Magic
 
Oct. 12
7:30 p.m.
Laser X
 
Oct. 13
5:30 p.m.
LaserMania
 
Oct. 13
7:30 p.m.
Laser U2

Oct. 14
5:30 p.m.
iPop
 
Oct. 14
7:30 p.m.
Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”
 
Oct. 15
2 p.m.
Double Feature
“From Earth to the Universe”
Legends of the Night Sky – Perseus and Andromeda
 
Oct. 15
4 p.m.
Double Feature
“Wonders of the Universe”
Paradigm Shifts
 
Oct. 16
2 p.m.
Laser X
 
Oct. 16
4 p.m.
LaseRetro
 
Oct. 17
5:30 p.m.
Laser Vinyl
 
Oct. 17
7:30 p.m.
Laser Country
 
Oct. 18
5:30 p.m.
Laser Magic
 
Oct. 18
7:30 p.m.
Hypnotica
 
Oct. 19
5:30 p.m.
Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”
 
Oct. 19
7:30 p.m.
Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”
 
Oct. 20
5:30 p.m.
Laser Pop
 
Oct. 20
7:30 p.m.
Laser Country
 
Oct. 21
7 p.m.
Fright Night
 
Oct. 21
9 p.m.
Laser Beatles
 
Oct. 22
2 p.m.
Double Feature
“Seven Wonders”
Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”
 
Oct. 22
4 p.m.
Double Feature
“Ice Worlds”
Laser Beatles
 
Oct. 22
7 p.m.
Legends of the Night Sky – Orion
 
Oct. 22
9 p.m.
Fright Night II
 
 
Laser Show Descriptions

Fright Light
Looking for a unique way to send chills up your spine? Do you have the courage to sit through the most terrifying laser experience ever? Are you brave enough to witness vampires seducing their prey and demons haunting the unsuspecting? Or perhaps you will keep your eyes closed and only sneak a peek at fun renditions like “Purple People Eater” or “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
Showtime
7 p.m. Oct. 21
 
Fright Light II
Are you brave enough to witness the undead nibbling brains or an unexpected encounter with little green men? Or perhaps you will keep your eyes closed and only sneak a peek at ghoulish renditions of “Thriller” or “Feed My Frankenstein.”
Showtime
9 p.m. Oct. 22
 
Hypnotica
Techno music and lasers go together perfectly, and that is the mix that is Hypnotica. This program offers a mixture of techno and ambient electronic music taken directly from the late-night rave scene. Reflecting influences from hip-hop, soul and pop, this dance-based program with a rock-band feel will shake your entire body with pulsing beats, incredible imagery and dazzling laser light effects.
Showtimes
7:30 p.m. Oct. 10
7:30 p.m. Oct. 18
 
iPop
New music from today’s pop charts mixed with a classic from Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. iPop features sizzling stars, both past and present, in brilliant laser light.
Showtime
2 p.m. Oct. 14
 
Laser Beatles
Featuring the music of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band of all time, Laser Beatles will take you back to a different time in history to re-experience and remember the evolution of this musical phenomenon. The “Fab Four’s” best-spanning six years becomes the background for dazzling laser-art. All ages and backgrounds will appreciate this fantasy tribute of music and light to the Beatles and how they helped define a generation.
Showtimes
2 p.m. Oct. 9
4 p.m. Oct. 11
9 p.m. Oct. 21
4 p.m. Oct. 22 (two-for-one double feature; preceded by a screening of “Ice Worlds”)
 
Laser Country
Set to the all-American sounds of modern and classical country songs, this laser show will appeal to all generations. From Garth Brooks and Shania Twain to Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline, this show promises to be a boot-scootin’ good time.
Showtimes
2 p.m. Oct. 10
7:30 p.m. Oct. 17
7:30 p.m. Oct. 20
 
Laser Magic
This program offers a magical mix of music, from those you love to those you have forgotten, all presented in concert with stunning laser images. This musical compilation is fun for the entire family and includes artists like Joan Jett, The B-52’s, Will Smith and many more.
Showtimes
5:30 p.m. Oct. 12
5:30 p.m. Oct. 18
 
Laser Pop
The hottest pop artists and the latest laser art come together in a sensational, eye-popping laser show that will have your heart thumping and your feet tapping. Laser Pop features sizzling stars, both past and present, in brilliant laser light.
Showtimes
4 p.m. Oct. 9
2 p.m. Oct. 20
 
Laser U2
This show features U2’s timeless classic and modern hits, showcasing one of the greatest bands of the last three decades. This musical concert is set against a backdrop of the latest laser art. Your eyes and ears will be your guides into an immerse journey through this band’s rise and success.
Showtime
4 p.m. Oct. 13
 
Laser Vinyl
This presentation captures the pure intent of the laser show experience. Accompanying a fantastic musical concert representing the best of classic rock is some of the most beautiful and stunning laser art ever produced. Reminisce, tap your feet and enjoy a truly fantastic audio-visual event that will rock your body, mind and soul.
Showtimes
4 p.m. Oct. 8 (two-for-one double feature; preceded by a screening of “New Horizons”)
5:30 p.m. Oct. 17
 
Laser X
The top alternative songs of the ’90s helped usher in a major cultural shift, as serious-minded, image-free bands blew hair metal and pop off the airwaves almost overnight. Many of these bands have gone on to become the new ruling class of rock ‘n’ roll in the years and decades that followed.
Showtimes
7:30 p.m. Oct. 12
2 p.m. Oct. 16
 
LaseRetro
Do you tear up when you hear “Thanks, Mean Joe?” Do you wonder “Where’s the beef?” Do you think Max Headroom is the greatest political commentator of all time? Then this is the laser show for you. Astonishing laser art is coupled with upbeat rock and pop songs from one of the most exciting periods in mainstream music: the ’80s.
Showtime
4 p.m. Oct. 16
 
LaserMania
Surveying soft rock, pop, adult contemporary and easy listening music, this fun, family laser concert is a beautiful artistic interpretation for all ages. Featuring music from five decades, hearts, eyes and ears will enjoy the dazzling colors and laser art set to a collection of musical delights in an immersive visual environment.
Showtime
5:30 p.m. Oct. 13
 
Laseropolis
Ancient towers hide the symbols that will transport you to new experiences of sight and sounds. Should you survive the journey through the four space-time pillars, a portal will be opened into a previously unseen and unheard dimension. Laseropolis is an eclectic mix of musical themes surveying pop, rock, alternative and oldies.
Showtime
5:30 p.m. Oct. 11
 
Legends of the Night Sky: Orion
This performance takes a lighthearted and imaginative look at the myths and stories associated with the constellation Orion, the great hunter of the winter sky. The show brings the mythological Orion to life in a fun-filled, animated adventure. Accompanied by narrators Aesop the owl and Socrates the mouse, we follow Orion’s adventures as he grows to manhood, battles mythical beasts, foils the plot of an evil king and wins the heart of Artemis, the beautiful moon-goddess. By the end of the story, we learn how the constellation Orion was placed in the sky, forever turning overhead throughout the seasons.
Showtime
7 p.m. Oct. 22
 
Legends of the Night Sky: Perseus and Andromeda
This presentation teaches children and adults the Greek story about the stars by engaging the audience with a wonderful story filled with humorous and exciting characters.
Showtime
2 p.m. Oct. 15
(two-for-one double feature; preceded by a screening of “From Earth to the Universe”)
 
Paradigm Shifts
Since the dawn of time we have sought to understand the nature of the universe. Before the advent of tools with which to study the earth and sky our ancestors personified the heavens and forces of nature with their gods and goddesses. Take a journey through time and space on which you will be greeted by constellations, sail across a starry night sky and experience the wonders of our universe told through story and laser light.
Showtime
4 p.m. Oct. 15
(two-for-one double feature; preceded by a screening of “Wonders of the Universe”)
 
Pink Floyd, “Dark Side of the Moon”
Based on Pink Floyd’s 1973 album of humanitarian, political and philosophical empathy, “Dark Side of the Moon” is one of the most startling and bizarre laser light shows of all time. Considered by many critics to be the album that brought the commercial breakthrough to Pink Floyd, “Dark Side of the Moon” offers a mixture of psychedelic, rock and jazz sounds. Its sonic backdrops and atmospheric soundscapes combined with a unique assortment of sound effects yield an emotional resonance. When accompanied by a diverse and unusual display of laser art, the overall feel is a dramatic and haunting atmosphere.
Showtimes
2 p.m. Oct. 8 (two-for-one double feature; preceded by a screening of “Search for the Edge of the Universe”)
5:30 p.m. Oct. 19
2 p.m. Oct. 22 (two-for-one double feature; preceded by a screening of “Seven Wonders”)
 
Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”
“The Wall” is truly the mother of all laser-light shows and a cult favorite throughout the world. Considered to be one of the best classic rock albums of all time, “The Wall” is best considered as a continual story rather than a collection of individual songs. It tells the tale of a rock star named Pink and his downward spiral into madness. To the listener, and indeed many critics, “The Wall” is a gripping and spellbinding musical journey – beautiful, haunting, powerful and thought provoking. It is a timeless classic, and one of Pink Floyd’s best, becoming the group’s second best seller behind “Dark Side of the Moon.” Now coupled with spectacular and mesmerizing laser art, Pink Floyd’s classic 1979 epic about personal struggle takes on a unique look, weaving its story in one of the most-popular laser shows ever produced.
Showtimes
7:30 p.m. Oct. 14
7:30 p.m. Oct. 20

Students interested in teaching languages are invited to join LinguaProfs, Truman’s pre-professional organization for pre-MAE, MAE and ESL teachers. LinguaProfs provides members with opportunities for professional development such as presenting in the CML Language Festival, tutoring and sponsoring the Second Language Acquisition Colloquium. For more information, contact professors Timothy Farley or Stacy Davis.

The Institute for American Universities invites Truman faculty to apply for its Resident Fellows Program, which allows visiting professors on sabbatical leave to tap into IAU’s existing resources, such as faculty, classroom space, housing, library and archives.

The fellows program is available in Aix-en-Provence, France, and will be available in Barcelona, Spain, for the 2018-19 academic year. Interested faculty should complete the IAU Resident Fellows Application. The spring semester deadline is Nov. 10. For questions about the Resident Fellows Program, contact the Center for International Education Abroad.

Clara Miller-Broomfield, senior romance language major, is one of two Truman students who will be attending the first ever World Congress on Undergraduate Research Nov. 13-15 at Qatar University in Doha, Qatar. Conference themes include technology, sustainability, the global and the local, war and peace in the 21st century and global health. Broomfield’s paper, which addresses the latter theme from an interdisciplinary and historical perspective, explores the implications of intercultural exchange for the modern context. Her research has been made possible by grants from the Office of Student Research and supported by the School of Arts and Letters and the Department of Classical and Modern Languages. More information on WorldCur can be found at cur.org/world_congress.

“Hot Topics in the Tech World”
Presented by MasterCard
4 p.m.
Oct. 5
Violette Hall 1212
*hosted by ACM

“Diverse Career Options with MasterCard”
6 p.m.
Oct. 5
Student Union Building 3202

Aldi Dinner
6 p.m.
Oct. 10
Student Union Building Georgian Room A
*register on #HireTruman by Oct. 6

Aldi On-Campus Interviews
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oct. 11
Student Union Building
*must attend the dinner on Oct. 10
*register on #HireTruman by Oct. 6

Edward Jones On-Campus Interviews
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Oct. 17
Student Union Building

MasterCard On-Campus Interviews
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oct. 20
Student Union Building
*apply on #HireTruman by Oct. 13

“How to get your book published”
Samantha Fidler-Newby
1 p.m.
Oct. 21
Student Union Building 3202

Truman State University Foundation scholarship applications for students in the spring 2017 semester are now available. Applications are online and are due by midnight, Nov. 3. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Student Finances, Foundation Scholarship Application. Complete the personal information page and then follow the two-step process to select scholarships for which to apply. Applications can be revised at any time prior to midnight, Nov. 3. This application period is for Foundation scholarships that have not yet been awarded for 2016-17. Applications for the majority of Foundation scholarships will be available in February for the 2017-18 academic year.