Vol. 23 No. 26 - March 25, 2019

The Truman State University Children’s Literature Festival will take place from 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. April 5 in the Student Union Building for more than 1,700 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students.    

Visiting authors and illustrators include Elana K. Arnold, Tracey Baptiste, Jerry Craft, Janet Fox, Donna Gephart, Tae Keller, Hena Khan, Geoff Rodkey, Wendy Shang, Don Tate and Christine Taylor-Butler.

Students will participate in 30-minute sessions with the guest authors and illustrators. All children attending must be pre-registered. University faculty, staff, students and other interested adults are welcome at any of the sessions. Contact Daisy Rearick or call 660.785.4048 to register.

Anyone interested is welcome to attend an informal meeting and book signing with the authors and illustrators from 3-4 p.m. in the Student Union Building Conference Room.

The festival will conclude with a dinner at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Building Georgian Room B. The dinner is limited to pre-registered adults and children accompanied by an adult. The cost of the dinner is $13. To register, contact Rearick or call 660.785.4048. At 6:45 p.m. Author Geoff Rodkey will give a presentation. Those interested in attending the dinner should register by March 29.

The Children’s Literature Festival was an annual event for 21 years. Due to severe budget cuts, the festival was discontinued in 2004. A Children’s Literature Festival Fund was started in 2007 in an effort to revive the event, and the festival returned in 2009. For more information about the fund, contact the Office of Advancement at 660.785.4133 or visit truman.edu/giving.

The festival is sponsored by Pickler Memorial Library with financial support from the Freeman Foundation, Follett Higher Education Group, Truman State University Bookstore and the Truman State University Foundation. Additional information may be obtained from Sharon Hackney at 660.785.7366 as well as the Children’s Literature Festival webpage.

The authors’ books are available at the Truman State University Bookstore.

Submissions for Truman’s first ever film festival are due April 1.

Submitted materials must be 10 minutes or less. Accepted films will be eligible for juried awards as well as The Vincent Price Audience Choice Award accompanied by a $500 prize. Students can submit films here. Entry fees cost $10. Late submissions will be accepted until April 14 with a $15 fee.

The film festival will take place April 27 in the Baldwin Little Theatre. Following the festival there will be a free reception at Take Root Cafe. Victoria Price, daughter of Vincent Price, as well as Chad Kennerk, Dereck Daschke, Tiana Williams, Tom Stockma and Allison Coffelt will serve as judges for the festival.

This is the first year which Truman will host a film festival on campus. Dedicated students have been working under the direction of Jocelyn Cullity to help celebrate undergraduate film making. The film festival seeks to connect, inspire and provide exposure to undergraduate filmmakers from the state of Missouri.

Truman students received two first-place awards in the 2019 Missouri Broadcast Educators Association media contest.

Judges with expertise in the broadcast and film areas received entries produced by students involved with TMN and students enrolled in coursework in communication.

Joey Laguessa, assistant manager of KTRM-FM, won a first-place air check award for his weekly radio show “Free Style Joey.” Tyler Acosta, KTRM-FM production director, received a first-place award for best radio station audio promotion announcement. Katherine Durant and Kevil Melter won second place in the same category.

In the short film category Aerin Johnson, executive producer of TMN-TV, Alex Bowles and Lindell Sconce received third place. The film was produced in the digital video production class taught by Mark Smith in 2018.

Truman students competed with nearly a dozen Missouri colleges and universities. The awards will be formally presented during ceremonies in Springfield in mid-April.

Truman’s Theatre Department will perform “Love & Information” at 8 p.m. April 10-13 in the James G. Severns Theatre.

“Love & Information” is a kaleidoscopic whirl of fast-moving, short scenes that all have to do with the way people receive, communicate, omit, seek or hide information in service of the notion of love. Instead of a single narrative, the play’s 78 scenes present more than 100 characters and raise a number of questions that linger in the air, such as: how does the brain process information? How do machines and devices used to share information affect the ways people love? How does the brain create meaning out of information? How is memory constructed in the brain? Is memory reliable? How does memory construct our identities?

The play debuted at the Royal Court Theatre in London but has since made its way to the United States, being called “ingenious,” “thought-churning,” and “deeply poignant.” The “Guardian” stated, “This is an exhilarating theatrical Kaleidoscope…What is extraordinary about Churchill is her capacity as a dramatist to go on reinventing the wheel.”

Some of the scenes deal with serious subject matter such as violence, torture, animal experimentation, infidelity, mental illness, bullying and PTSD.

The cast will be making guest appearances on campus at the event “Paint Your Love & Information” where paint will be available for students to splatter on a canvas in a collaborative art piece. This event will occur from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. April 1 on the quad.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at the box office beginning April 1 or by calling 660.785.4515. For more information contact Nicole Dunseith.

An informational session will discuss the scholarship criteria and application process for graduate and undergraduate students from 4:30-6 p.m. April 3 in Violette Hall 1010.

The application process is very rigorous and highly competitive and many deadlines occur in the fall semester. Listed below are the major national fellowships.

Graduate Students:

Fulbright Grants: Research grants and teaching assistantships for a year abroad.

Rhodes Scholarship: Grants for two years of study at Oxford University.

Marshall Scholarship: Awards for two years of study in any British university.

Mitchell Scholarship: One year of graduate study or research in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Awards for an advance degree or second bachelor’s degree at the University of Cambridge.

Undergraduate Students:

Goldwater Scholarship: Up to $7,500 annually for tuition, fees, books and room and board for science and mathematics majors.

Harry S. Truman Scholarship: For senior year and post-graduate study leasing to a career in public service.

Udall Scholarship: For students interested in careers related to environmental issues or for Native American and Alaskans interested in careers related to health care and tribal public policy.

Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellowship: For students interested in international affairs to work as research assistants to the endowment’s senior associates in Washington, D.C., for a full year.

Boren Scholarship: To study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests.

Prior to her presentation for the Holman Family Distinguished Series, Jenna Fischer will participate in a fundraising event to benefit the Theatre Department.

Fischer will be the featured guest at a limited-ticket event from 6-8 p.m. April 4 in Kirk Memorial. Tickets are $100 per person. All attendees will receive a commemorative photo from the event and an autographed copy of her book “The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide.” Proceeds from this event will support theatre students at Truman.

Tickets are open to anyone and must be purchased in advance by contacting the Advancement Office at 660.785.4133 or 800.452.6678. The event will include heavy appetizers along with hosted wine and beer. Recommended attire is business dress.

Since graduating from the University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre in 1995, Fischer’s career includes more than 50 credits as an actor and producer. She is best known for her role as Pam on the hit NBC comedy “The Office,” and she currently stars on the ABC series “Splitting Up Together.” Among the feature films in her body of work are roles in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” “Blades of Glory” and director Clint Eastwood’s 2018 picture, “The 15:17 to Paris.” After completing “The Office,” she starred in the off-Broadway production of Neil LaBute’s play “Reasons to be Happy.”

The following evening, Fischer will speak at 7:30 p.m. April 5 in Pershing Arena. A limited number of tickets for that speech are still available online. Fischer’s presentation is free thanks to the generous support of the Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series, created in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman by their children to honor their parents’ long association with Truman. It is funded through an endowment with the Truman State University Foundation.

The Wellness website includes a JED Campus tab which provides links to the project’s strategic plan, an executive summary of the program and a video of the recent town hall meeting.

The JED Campus project is an initiative designed to guide schools through a collaborative process of comprehensive systems and program and policy development with customized support to build upon existing student mental health, substance abuse and prevention efforts. The project at Truman was funded through the Homecoming philanthropy and a generous donor. It is a four-year commitment that began last year with an on-campus visit by JED professionals who met with various constituents of the University community. In addition, the Healthy Minds Survey was taken by more than 2,000 Truman students and a self-study was completed that included a review of various Truman policies and processes. Using all the data collected, a strategic plan was then developed with the goal to assist Truman to improve the campus mental health environment. 

The Center for International Students is hiring scholarship workers for the fall and spring semesters in the 2019-20 academic year. Teams that are hiring include: student support, admissions, media, academic success mentors, cultural integration leaders, CHAT partners and international ambassadors. The media team is looking for photographers, graphic designers and writers. Applications are available here.

Tutors assists students with the academic content in particular courses, help students with study skills and provide a student perspective on learning and school success. No prior tutoring experience is required. On-the-job training is provided during the fall semester through the course INDV 150 The Master Tutor (1 credit).

Applicants must be eligible for scholarship work or work study, averaging four hours per week. The greatest demand is for math, sciences and economics but students of all majors are encouraged to apply. The Center for Academic Excellence is looking for students with an interest in developing their interpersonal communication skills and who want to help others succeed.

Students can find the application online at excellence.truman.edu under the “Apply to be a Tutor” section. For more information contact Marcy Graham.

Students are able to submit nominations for an outstanding full-time faculty advisor for the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award. To nominate a faculty member, complete this form. Academic advisors are not eligible. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. April 5. Questions can be directed to Marianna Giovannini.

Students interested in health care can consider a career in athletic training, which encompasses injury evaluation, rehabilitation and treatment, as well as program administration. Athletic trainers work closely with medical professionals to provide overall care and treatment to a variety of physically active individuals.

To learn more about athletic training and the Truman Master of Athletic Training program, attend the spring informational meeting from 4:30-5:30 p.m. March 25 in Pershing Building 231. Find out about the program and application process.

Classes begin in July. For more information, or for interested students who cannot make the meeting, contact Brandy Schneider or visit truman.edu/mat. 

“That’s Not Love: Domestic Abuse Workshop”
6:30-8:30 p.m.
March 25
Violette Hall 1324.

Endometriosis Awareness
March 27
time and date for this event are TBD

For more information about the Women’s Resource Center visit wrc.truman.edu.

The month of March celebrates the contributions women have made throughout history in science, politics, law, sports, the arts, entertainment and many other fields.

Psi Chi will host a trivia night using practice questions from the GRE at 5:30 p.m. March 25 in Magruder 1000. Students can choose teams of four or will be provided a team at the event. The winning team will receive a small prize. Questions can be directed to Mikayla Cowen.

Condom Fashion Show
6-7 p.m.
March 25
Student Union Building Georgian Room C

Sexual Health Resource Fair
6-7 p.m.
March 27
Student Union Building Down Under

Admission is free. For more information contact Holly Smith.

Free

"La ropa tradicional de México"
7:30 p.m.
March 26
Magruder Hall 2090

Noche de Poesía y Música
7 p.m.
April 3
Del and Normal Robison Planetarium

"La Diversidad Cultural de Ecuador"
7:30 p.m.
April 9
Magruder Hall 2090

Noche de Salsa!
4 p.m.
April 12
Baptist Student Union

For more information about these events contact Caroline Costello.

John F. Tinker will present “Tinker at 50: Is Free Speech Still Free in 2019?” from 7-9 p.m. March 27 in the Baldwin Little Theatre. It has been 50 years since the historic Tinker v. Des Moines U.S. Supreme Court case which changed the laws of free speech. Tinker will discuss how free speech has changed since the court ruling. For more information contact Garron Daniels.

Grocery Shopping on a Budget
7-8 p.m.
March 27
Ryle Hall Main Lounge

Healthy Eating in the Dorms
7-8 p.m.
April 3
Ryle Hall Main Lounge

Meal Planning with Free Mason Jar Meals
7-8 p.m.
April 10
Ryle Hall Main Lounge.

The MAE Film Series will continue at 7 p.m. March 28 with a screening of “I Learn America” in Violette Hall 1010.

“I Learn America” tells the story of five teenagers from immigrant families and their journey of adapting to changing language and family dynamics while creating a future of their own in a new land. Following the screening of the film, there will be a discussion with a panel consisting of Kirksville High School students who come from immigrant families.

The School of Business will host English alumna Amanda Gioia as a Bentele/Mallinckrodt Executive in Residence, March 28-29.

As the vice president of information technology service management for Mastercard, Gioia is responsible for working across the company to make changes and updates to its network and products in support of business needs, and communicating these changes to key stakeholders. Prior to this role, Gioia was vice president and senior business leader for the worldwide communications team at Mastercard in St. Louis.

Gioia is board member of the St. Louis Area Foodbank and Autism Speaks, as well as a member of the advisory board for the School of Communications for Webster University and the President’s Advisory Council for Truman. She was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the Most Influential Women in Business in August 2012 and honored as Outstanding Alumna of the Year in 2013 by Webster University’s School of Communications.

In addition to her Bachelor of Arts in English from Truman, Gioia earned a Master of Arts in media communications from Webster University.

Gioia’s presentation, “Finding Your Passion… From Liberal Arts to Lifelong Learning,” is scheduled for 3 p.m. March 28 in Violette Hall 1000. It is free and open to the public. While on campus, Gioia will also speak to students in classes, small groups and individually.

The Student Activities Board special events committee presents “A Layered Discussion with The Onion” at 7 p.m. March 29 in the Baldwin Auditorium. Coley Wright and Devin Schiff, two of The Onion’s most eccentric writers, will present on topics of satire, the history of "The Onion" and journalism in today’s society. Admission is free. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

This week’s episode features Amy Eagan, head coach of the women’s basketball team at Truman. Eagan is a previous player and an alumna (’01) who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and then pursued a master's degree from Ashford. The Bulldogs have set an all-time record for wins this season.

TruTalk helps students get to know fellow students, faculty, staff, alumni and local community members. The podcast is hosted by Janes Dreamweaver, director of fitness and wellness. To listen to this week’s episode visit the TruTalk website.

Khan Queso will celebrate the release of their debut album at a music festival from 5-9 p.m. March 30 in the Student Union Building Down Under. The debut album is entitled “Khan You Hear Us Now?” Featured performers include True Men, Minor Details, Illusion Danz, The Society of Dance Arts, Sigma Alpha lota, Phi Mu Alpha, The Wobbly Goats and American Basswood. CDs will be sold at the event for $10. Admission is free and food will be provided.

The learning technologies team from Truman’s ITS will be hosting a Universal Design for Learning workshop from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 3 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. The workshop is intended for improving the effectiveness of teaching and learning in face-to-face and online education and will discuss how to identify diverse learning needs in the classroom and how to apply the UDL framework into the curriculum. For more information contact Pearl Xie.

Students presenting results from their research or creative scholarship in upcoming conferences from July-December are able to request scholarship aid to cover up to $500. The scholarship will aid in covering the costs for conference registration, lodging and travel expenses. Students must have completed or are currently involved in a faculty-mentor research experience.

Grants of up to $750 can be requested from students who are conducting research and creative scholarship in the summer. Grants can cover student stipends, supplies and travel to conduct research.

Complete guidelines for the Conference Travel Scholarship and the GIASR applications can be found at the Office of Student Research website. Applications for funding opportunities are due by 11:59 p.m. April 15.

Questions can be directed to osr@truman.edu.

The Council for Special Olympics is looking for volunteers to help with Special Olympics track event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 27 at Stokes Stadium. For more information or to sign up to be a volunteer, click here. Questions can be directed to tsu.ssec@gmail.com.

Joe Benevento, professor of English, published his 13th book, a poetry chapbook entitled “Playground,” with Unsolicited Press.

Christa Reisinger, set the new Truman softball record for hits in a career. As of March 18, Reisinger had a total of 278 career hits, moving her into first place in the program’s record book for career hits.

Students in the museum studies course participated in the exhibition “Join, Save, Buy: U.S. World War I Posters on the Home Front” hosted by the Missouri State Museum. Students assisted the curators of the museum with the development of the exhibition. The exhibit will be open until Aug. 3.