Vol. 12 No. 12 - Nov. 13, 2007

Ruckus Network, Inc., the provider of a multimedia network that supplies free and legal music downloads specifically for college students, recently announced that its Ruckus® service is now available at Truman State University. Throughout the year, Truman State University’s undergraduate and graduate students can access the Ruckus service anytime – on or off campus – to enjoy the full-featured music service.

Members of the Truman community can access the first, college-only service that blends social networking features with a massive and continuously expanding library of free, legal and safe music downloads. Ruckus has already proven successful at more than 173 colleges and universities across the country, including Brown University, Duke University, Georgia Tech, Indiana University, North Carolina State, Princeton University, University of California-Berkeley, the University of Denver, Penn State University and the University of Pennsylvania.

With Ruckus, students can legally download and share music, create playlists, send personal media recommendations to friends and neighbors, browse classmates’ profiles and media libraries, and meet new friends. Students can also build their personal music libraries from Ruckus’ collection of more than 3 million high-fidelity, virus-free songs. Ruckus eliminates copyright infringement through its licensing agreements with all of the major international record labels, as well as thousands of independent labels and artists. Faculty and staff can also take advantage of the partnership for a low monthly fee.

Truman State University students can begin using the service immediately by visiting http://www.Ruckus.com, clicking on “Join Ruckus” and entering a truman.edu e-mail address. The registration process only takes a few minutes.

For more information, please visit the Ruckus corporate site at http://www.RuckusNetwork.com or their service at http://www.Ruckus.com.

The Minnesota Ballet performance of “The Nutcracker” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in Baldwin Auditorium.

The Minnesota Ballet, based in Duluth, Minn., is a professional dance company of 14 dynamic artists that tours nationally.

Local young dancers will fill roles in the story of a young girl, Marie, and the nutcracker she received as a gift from her Uncle Drosselmeyer, a retired sea captain, during a holiday party. While Marie is fast asleep following a holiday party, a magic spell begins. Giant mice appear, and the toys (including the nutcracker) come to life. The nutcracker and the mice fight a battle and, with the help of Marie, the nutcracker wins and turns into a handsome prince.

Marie and the Nutcracker Prince then meet the Sugar Plum Fairy. They are honored with a performance by the sweets and flowers, embellished by the Dew Drop Fairy. Finally, the entire court joins in the final tribute to Marie.

Seating is general admission. Admission is free for students, faculty and staff with their University ID. Students may pick up their tickets beginning Nov. 27 at the Student Activities Board Office, third floor of the Student Union Building. Faculty and staff may pick up tickets beginning Nov. 27 at the Center for Student Involvement, third floor of the Student Union Building. (Please note as of Nov. 28 all tickets are sold out for this performance.)

The University requests that all patrons be seated five minutes prior to the performance. The University reserves the right to fill all seats, reserved and general admission, five minutes before the time of performance stated on the ticket.

Contact the Public Relations Office at 785.4016 for more information.

Marc Adams, founder of HeartStrong, Inc., will speak on “Restorative Therapy and Faith-based Bullying at Religious Educational Institutions Uncovered” at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Student Union Building Activities Room.

Adams is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and Silver Pen Award recipient for his autobiography, “The Preacher’s Son.” His work includes chronicles of his life growing up gay as the son of a fundamentalist Baptist minister in rural Pennsylvania where he endured a childhood of physical, emotional and spiritual abuse. It culminates with his coming to terms with being gay and his coming out to his fundamentalist Baptist Christian family.

Adams will share some of his life’s story, talk about his latest book, “(lost)Found,” as well as HeartStrong, Inc.

HeartStrong, Inc., is a nonprofit educational organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students of religious schools, colleges and universities. HeartStrong has provided hope and help to GLBT students who have endured faith-based bullying in religious schools around the world since 1996.

The Women’s Resource Center and PRSIM are sponsoring this event. Contact Amber Jones at amj558@truman.edu for more information.

Undergraduate Council (UGC) created the Commission on Undergraduate Curriculum in May 2006. In October 2006, members were selected and since that time, commission members have been working on Phase I of their charge.

The commission has just completed the draft of the first phase of their report and is now seeking feedback from members of the University community. This feedback will be used to revise and finalize the Phase I report which will then be submitted to the faculty for a vote.

The legislation creating the commission can be accessed under “Projects and Subcommittees” at the UGC Web site http://ugc.truman.edu/projects/commission/Commission_on_Curriculum_Bill.pdf.

There are two opportunities this week for the campus to engage with commission members and to provide feedback. Please try to attend one of the two meetings.

The forums will take place from 1:30-3 p.m. Nov. 15 in Violette Hall 1000 and from 2:30-4 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Student Union Building Conference Room.

This is the end of the Pi Kappa Phi Accessibilities Week Journey of Hope project. Students rode 4,000 miles in five days, 24 hours a day, to raise awareness of accessibility for the disabled. Pi Kappa Phi members thank those of the University community for their generous contributions in this project. And a special thank you to The Thompson Campus Center and Dan Martin, and the Catholic Newman Center. Pi Kappa Phi’s Semester of Books Give Away is still going on with all of the proceeds going to Push America, Pi Kappa Phi’s national philanthropy.

The Career Center recently hosted 100 employers for the Fall Career Expo on Oct. 10. Four students received door prizes provided by several of the companies who attended Expo.

Career Center staff members held a drawing of door prizes brought to Expo and the winners included: Daniel Hillen, a freshman from St. Louis, received $50 gift certificate to Applebee’s provided by Buckeye International; Ginger Daugherty, a senior biology major from St. Clair, Mo., received $50 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble provided by West Liberty Foods; Brandon Hall, a junior agricultural science major from Vermont, Ill., received gift card to Ribbon Delicious Gift Catalog provided by Hampton Gardens of St. Louis; and Twink Pham, a senior nursing major from Kansas City, Mo., received a gift card to Ribbon Delicious Gift Catalog provided by Hampton Gardens of St. Louis.

Several companies who attend Expo bring door prizes which the Career Center gives out at various programs, presentations and events throughout the year including the Career Center spring event held in May. Special thanks to the companies who provided the gifts and congratulations to our student winners. The Career Center thanks students for attending Career Expo. The next Expo will take place Feb. 27.

Student Recreation Center
Nov. 19 • 6:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
Nov. 20 • 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Nov. 21-24 • Closed
Nov. 25 • 4-7 p.m.

Michael Bump, associate professor of music, served as host to the opening day of the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Oct. 31-Nov. 3, at the Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio. The theme Bump created was titled, “Paukenzeit: Celebrating the Solo Timpanist.” During the daylong event, artists/performers and music scholars from all across the world presented works which are either historically significant to the solo/chamber repertoire for timpani, or were world premiere performances. In addition to organizing and hosting the event, Bump also performed two works at the conference. The first, a world premiere of Missouri-composer Raymond Helble’s “Night Music,” a work commissioned by Bump earlier this year, as well as a showcase performance of Bump’s own composition, “Studie II: Epthyic,” for solo timpanist and percussion quartet. More than 7,000 percussionists were in attendance at this year’s Percussive Arts Society International Convention.

John Ishiyama, professor of political science and director of the McNair Program, was elected on Nov. 1, for a two-year term (2007-09) to serve on the National Executive Council of the American Political Science Association (APSA). The 15-member Executive Council is the primary policy making body for the APSA, and Ishiyama is one of eight members who were elected in a national election this year, with 56.5 percent of the vote.

At the annual meeting of the International Studies Association (ISA), Midwest region, held Nov. 2-4 in St. Louis, Alyssa Mayer, a senior political science major from Kirksville, Mo., and John Ishiyama, professor of political science, presented their paper “Does Judicial Activism Impact Democratic Consolidation?”; Anna Pechenina, a junior political science major from Kirksville, Mo., and Ishiyama presented their paper, “Explaining Escalation from Ethnic Conflict to Genocide;” John J. Quinn, associate professor of political science, presented his paper, “When You Can’t Find the Perfect Match: Using the Accumulated Most-Simular Design in African Case Studies;” Marijke Breuning, associate professor of political science, and Ishiyama presented their paper “The Politics of Intercountry Adoption: Explaining Variation in the Legal Requirements of Sub-Saharan African Countries,” and Ishiyama presented his paper, “Political Party Development in Semi-Authoritarian States: The Case of Central Asia.” In addition, Quinn, Jeffrey W. Justice, assistant professor of political science, Ishiyama, and Breuning each served as chair and discussant for a panel session. Lastly, Ishiyama concluded his term as president of the ISA, Midwest region for 2006-2007.

Six members of the Truman community participated in the Missouri Folklore Society Conference in Jefferson City on Nov. 8-10. Adam Davis, associate dean of the college of arts and sciences, presented his research on a new folkloric motif in a paper titled, “Limited Access: A Unified Structural Motif and its Context Dependent Meanings.” Betsy Delmonico, professor of English, presented research on “Three Islamic Heroines.” Meredith Heist and Andrew Warner, both GTRAs in English, collaborated on a presentation about the folkloric dimensions of celebrity death humor, specifically the YouTube coverage of the deaths of Anna Nicole Smith and Steve Erwin. Mike Bono, a junior English major and folklore minor from St. Louis, presented his analysis of slam poetry in “Slammer’s Delight.” Bono’s work won him the Missouri Folklore Society’s very first annual Dolf and Becky Schroeder Scholarship for Undergraduate Research. The award was presented at the conference’s banquet on Nov. 9. Two other Truman students, Tara Schneider, a senior English major from St. Louis, and Aaron Roberts, a sophomore English major from St. Louis, also attended.

Staff Council’s University and Community Relations Committee is sponsoring “Head to Toe: Keeping Local Kids Warm” drive through Nov. 16 at various locations on campus. People may donate hats, gloves or mittens, scarves and boots and place them in a box located in the Student Union Building, Career Center reception area, Pickler Memorial Library circulation desk, Physical Plant office, Barnett Hall lobby, McClain Hall lobby, McClain Hall 101 and McClain Hall 214. The items will be placed with local children in need of warm clothing for the winter. Contact Kristin Flannigan at kristinf@truman.edu for more information.

The Truman Bookstore will be having a Champion fleece sale until Nov. 25. The sale is 25 percent off all Champion fleeces. The Truman Bookstore is open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 785.4211 for more information.

A van driving class is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Public Safety Building. Class size is limited. People need to reserve a space in advance. Call 785.4177 or e-mail joycemul@truman.edu.

An informational meeting about the Missouri-London summer program will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 in McClain Hall 210. The study abroad courses in the Missouri-London Summer Program will take place from June 10-July 4. The courses available are ECON: 308 Economics of the European Union and ENG: 347 British Victorian Literature. Contact Mustafa Sawani at msawani@truman.edu or 785.4659 or Linda Seidel at lseidel@truman.edu for more information.

The next Weekly Lunch Series session will be at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. This session examines how to mentor undergraduate research. Janice Clark Young, assistant professor in health and exercise sciences; Steven Reschly, associate professor of history; and Hena Ahmad, associate professor of English; will lead the discussion. They are faculty mentors whose students received Undergraduate Research Stipends from Truman in the summer of 2007. The Center for Teaching & Learning sponsors this event. Contact Linda Davenport at ctl@truman.edu or 785.4391 for more information.

There will be a Physics Colloquium titled “Explorations of the Fourth State of Matter” at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in Magruder Hall 1000. Frederick N. Skiff, professor of physics at the University of Iowa, will be speaking. Refreshments will be provided at 4:20 p.m.

The International Film Festival presents “Coeurs” from France and Italy in 2006. It will be shown at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Downtown Cinema 8. To learn more about the festival and the films, log on to http://rcp.truman.edu/internationalfilm.htm.

Free tobacco cessation classes will take place from 8-9 p.m. Nov. 14, 28 and Dec. 5 in Pershing Building 301. There will be free patches, gum, quit classes and physician consultations. Any student, staff or faculty member are welcome. Please contact the Student Health Center at 785.4182 to sign up today.

Frederick N. Skiff, professor of physics at the University of Iowa, will discuss “The Place of Intelligent Design in Science” from 7:30-9 p.m. Nov. 14 in Magruder Hall 2001. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Taner Edis at 785.4583.

The Biology Seminar Series will take place from 12:30-1:20 p.m. Nov. 16 in Magruder Hall 2001. R. Scott Hawley of the University of Kansas will be speaking on “The Molecular Genetics of Meiosis.” Refreshments will be served at 12:20 p.m. outside of Magruder Hall 2001. The Biology Department and Beta Beta Beta are sponsors for this event.

IT Services would like to invite faculty, staff and students to TechBreak at 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building Room 320 each Friday. This weekly series is an opportunity to share information about new and existing IT Service offerings. Additional details and the topic schedule can be found at http://its.truman.edu/techbreak.

Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association in collaboration with Quincy Community Theatre presents several events. “Melting Pot or Exploding Kettle? The Forgotten History of American Immigration” will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Quincy Junior High School Morrison Theatre, 100 S. 14th Street, Quincy, Ill. “American Immigration in Comparative Perspective will take place at 1:15 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Quincy Junior High School Morrison Theatre.  “American Journey-Concert Comments” will take place at 2:20 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Quincy Junior High School Morrison Theatre. “The American Journey Family Concert” will take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Quincy Junior High School Morrison Theatre. Truman is participating in the Quincy Symphony College Ticketing Plan. These events are free and open to the public.

The Percussion Ensemble “Fall Sampler” concert will take place at 8 p.m. Nov. 19 in Baldwin Auditorium. It features the Truman Concert Percussion Ensembles I & II and the Statesmen Marching Percussion Ensemble, assisted by graduate students Adam Groh and Dan Harbaugh. Admission is free.

The Recycling Center and drop-off containers will be closed Nov. 21-25 due to the holiday break.

The STEP Workshop - Summer Research will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. Nov. 27 in Magruder Hall 1099. This is a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience informational meeteing. Students will be able to learn why they would want to seek out a research experience, what opportunities are available on campus, and how to crafte a competitive application for a program. The meeting will focus on the STEP program's Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program, but the advice will be applicable to other programs. Contact Jennifer Thompson at step@truman.edu for more information.

All students are welcome to attend the Career Center’s etiquette dinner from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Career Center. Students will learn proper dinner etiquette that is extremely useful for job interviews, business opportunities and life. Professional attire is required. Please register at the Career Center by 5 p.m. Nov. 26. Upon registration, Students must pay $12, cash or check, when they register.

“Dormez, je le veux,” a French play, will be performed at 8 p.m. Nov. 28 and 29 in the Student Union Building Down Under. Admission is free. Truman French students will present this performance. Contact Patrick Lobert at plobert@truman.edu or 785.4062 for more information.

The Third Annual Madrigal Dinner will take place Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Jackson Stables. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults and $17 for students. Tickets can be purchased online at http://music.truman.edu/madrigal or call 785.4428. Visa, Mastercard and Discover are accepted. Chamber Choir is an auditioned choir composed of students from across campus. This year, it is being directed by graduate students Nicole Robertson and Tim Rebers. This will be the third annual Madrigal Dinner. The evening includes the Truman Chamber Choir dressing up as Renaissance royalty and peasants to host an evening of food, festivities, entertainment and music. The event lasts about two hours and includes an authentic meal accompanied by a masque, or short play and a concert.