Vol. 13, No. 8 - Oct. 14, 2008

The University Department of Music, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha Iota and The Mostly Live Composers Society will host the 2008 Truman State New Music Festival, Oct. 30-31.

This year, the festival will feature guest composer Mark Koval, winner of the international 2008 Truman State-MACRO Composition Competition. Koval has received Emmy nominations for his musical scores for the animated children’s series “Bobby’s World” and “The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest.” His music can also be heard on “Batman: The Animated Series” and in the motion picture “Love Bites.”



Koval will speak to music classes, work with student composers in a master class and rehearse with Truman musicians.

Two concerts will be presented during the festival, each including performances of new music by Koval, as well as by Truman faculty, graduate students and other contemporary composers.

Koval’s composition “Sound(s) and Fury” will be premiered by the Truman Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Sam McClure, associate professor of music, during the first concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The work was specifically commissioned for the occasion by the University’s chapters of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Sigma Alpha Iota. In addition to the premiere, a variety of new instrumental and choral music will be presented by Truman musicians, including Cantoria, the Chamber Choir and Wind Symphony.
The Performance Hall will also be the site of the second concert from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Chamber music by Truman composers, as well as music by Koval, will be performed.

Both concerts are free and open to the public and will feature discussions by Koval.

For more information about the festival, contact Warren Gooch, professor of music, at wgooch@truman.edu or 785.4429. Further information about Koval is available at http://www.markkoval.com.

Baldwin Auditorium will be the site of a general election debate between 9th Congressional District candidates Judy Baker and Blaine Luetkemeyer on Oct. 28.

Baker, a Democrat, and Luetkemeyer, a Republican, are vying for Kenny Hulshof’s congressional seat. Hulshof is running for governor against Jay Nixon. In July, Baker and Luetkemeyer participated in University-sponsored debates during the primary season.

Bob Priddy, from Missouri Net, will serve as the moderator for the debate.  KTVO will be taping the debate and airing it at 1 p.m. Nov. 1. It will also be aired on KRCG in Jefferson City/Columbia, Mo., at 12 p.m. Nov. 1, and on KHQA in Hannibal, Mo., at 11 a.m. Nov. 1.

Constituents with questions or topics they would like to see addressed during the debate can e-mail them to debate08@truman.edu until Oct. 26.

The  event is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 5:45 p.m. and close at 6:45 p.m. The event will start at 7 p.m. Seating will be done on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information contact Jay Self, assistant professor of communication, at 785.6044.

Musician Ben Folds will be the first of two major events sponsored by the Student Activities Board this semester and will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 18 in Pershing Arena.

A platinum-selling artist with his previous group The Ben Folds Five, he recently released his third solo album “Way to Normal.”

Tickets are $7 for students and $20 for general admission. General admission tickets can be purchased online at http://sab.truman.edu/store/ and will be available for pick-up at the SAB office in the Student Union Building two business days after ordering.

In November, the SAB will also present “An Evening with Stephen Lynch.”

During his career, the comedian has been featured on “Comedy Central Presents” and played the star role in the Broadway Musical “The Wedding Singer.”

Lynch will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 in Baldwin Auditorium. Tickets will be $5 for students and $15 for general admission.   

Students who enjoy running and want to participate in a marathon or half-marathon will now have an opportunity to train for one while receiving academic credit.

In the spring semester, the course ES 375, Section 02, Independent Study: Marathon Training will be offered for the first time. The purpose of the two-credit-hour course is to help students develop the strength and endurance to participate in a long-distance running event, and to foster an understanding of the importance of goal setting and the psychological aspects of competing in an endurance event.

Multiple aspects of long-distance running will be addressed, including; training principles, the history of the marathon, physiology, injury prevention, sports nutrition, environmental adaptations, the level of preparation necessary to successfully complete a marathon, goal setting and evaluation performance.

The class will provide a unique opportunity to apply these principles in the actual running or walking of a marathon or half-marathon event for students who wish to participate. Completing the full or half-marathon does not determine the course grade. Questions can be directed to Jana Arabas at jlarabas@truman.edu or Janet Gooch at jquinzer@truman.edu.

Many Truman students often have the same question once they arrive on campus. “What is there to do in Kirksville, and how do I find out?” That is why the University has added a “Kirksville” link on TruView.

TruView is a student’s one-stop campus portal, providing access to class schedules, grades, open courses, registration information and more. Students can also use TruView to check their e-mail and see University announcements.

Online versions of the Truman Today are also readily available through TruView, and students can quickly access the University Master Calendar to see what events are happening on campus.

With the addition of the Kirksville link, TruView is now every student’s source for things to do in the ‘Ville.

Links to sites such as Kirksville Rocks, the Kirksville Arts Association, Downtown Cinema 8 and the Parks and Recreation Department, among others, will allow students to stay informed and always have something to do in Kirksville.

Students from the Staged Readings, Performing Literature class will present the comedy “West Moon Street” at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Magruder Hall Planetarium.

In the play, adapted from an Oscar Wilde short story, a young nobleman from Oxford learns that he is destined to commit a murder and believes it is his duty to get it over with before his upcoming marriage. Since his education hasn’t provided him with the required skills, he flounders in comic style through a series of mishaps as he tries to choose his victim.

Staged reading is a new course created under the theatre department’s Advanced Studies and Projects. It is intended to improve student’s work in a performance style that is being used more frequently. Upcoming staged reading performances include the dark comedy “Chamber Music” on Nov. 14 and “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” a comedy by Steve Martin, on Dec. 3. All performances will be in the planetarium and admission is free.

Members of the Truman community are encouraged to attend the  “Meet the Candidates Forum” on Oct. 21 at the Kirksville Shrine Club. The forum, sponsored by the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce, will feature candidates for the two contested County Commissioner offices and the Sheriff’s office, as well as the candidates in the District 2 State Representative race.

Candidates will be available to meet members of the public from 5:30-6:30 p.m. A question and answer session, moderated by representatives of the local media, will take place from 6:30-7:45 p.m.  

TruNews staff will be on hand to tape the forum so those community members who were not able to attend will have the option of viewing it on the City of Kirksville’s cable channel 3 at the following times: Noon and 7 p.m. Nov. 1; Noon and 7 p.m. Nov. 2; 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Nov. 3.  Truman students living on campus will have the option of viewing it on the University’s cable channel 36 at a later date.

After the seventh week of Truman’s United Way campaign, the faculty staff and students have contributed more than $47,000, which means Truman has met 84 percent of its goal.

For questions regarding the University’s campaign, or to get a replacement pledge form, contact Co-Chairs Brad Chambers from the Office of Advancement at bchamber@truman.edu, or Debra Kerby, professor of accounting, at dkerby@truman.edu.

Activity: Table Tennis
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Oct. 27
Captain's Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 1

Activity: Basketball Pentatholon
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 3
Captain's Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 10

Activity: Texas Hold'em
Division: Open
Deadline: Nov. 3
Captain's Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 10

Activity: 3 on 3
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 10
Captain's Meeting: Nov. 13
Play Begins: Nov. 17

Activity: Pickle Ball
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 10
Captain's Meeting: Nov. 13
Play Begins: Nov. 17

All information, rules and registration requirements are online at http://recreation.truman.edu/intramuralrec.asp, or contact the Intramural Office at 785.4467.

Taner Edis, associate professor of physics, presented a public talk entitled “Where Does Intelligent Design Stand Today?” The event took place at the Columbia Public Library Oct. 4, and was co-sponsored by the Show-Me Science Alliance.

Marc Rice, associate professor of musicology, had his article “Frompin’ in the Great Plains: Listening and Dancing to the Jazz Orchestras of Alphonso Trent” accepted for publication in the forthcoming anthology “African Americans in the Great Plains” by the University of Nebraska Press.

The Hispanic American Leadership Organization (H.A.L.O.) presents “Made in L.A.” as a part of Hispanic Heritage Month at 6 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Student Union Building 3203. This video follows the incredible efforts of factory workers as they strive to oppose exploitation in sweatshops in the United States.

The School of Business will be hosting an open house from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Violette Hall upstairs commons. The open house is for all students who are interested in learning more about a major in accounting or business administration or a minor in business. Refreshments will be available. For more information, contact Marilyn Romine, business academic adviser, at 785.4268 or mromine@truman.edu.

The Folklore Colloquium presents speaker Derek Daschke, associate professor of philosophy and religion, who will give a presentation titled “Illness as Folk Theodicy: How Religious Worldviews Explain Disease, Dysfunction, and Affliction” at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 15 in Ophelia Parrish 2113.

The Truman Men’s Basketball team is selling basketball shorts, sweatpants, polos, long sleeve shirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets in preparation for the 2008-2009 season. Call 785.4272 or stop by Tim Deidrick’s office in Pershing Building 202A for an order form or any other questions. All clothing orders are due Oct. 15.

The Student Peace Alliance is sponsoring Conflict Resolution Day Oct. 16. They will be hosting a number of events, including Community Art on the Quad from 12-2 p.m., where students can work together to create art with a theme of peace. Mock Mediation will take place from 2:30-3 p.m. and Peer Mediation Workshop from 3-5 p.m. in the Student Union Building Down Under. Both workshops are built to teach the necessary skills to help friends, roommates or group members resolve conflict peacefully and constructively.

Truman’s new Chief Information Officer, Donna Liss, will be presenting at the IT Services first TechBreak of the semester at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in Violette Hall 1200. Join her to learn about the results of last spring’s IT Services Student, Staff and Faculty surveys. Liss will not only be presenting the results, but will also be discussing how she and the IT Services team plan to address the issues and opportunities found in the survey responses. The IT Services team will host informative sessions every third Thursday. TechBreak information and archives can be found at http://ids.truman.edu/techbreak/.

Up ‘til Dawn will host an All Team Meeting from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Georgian Room of the Student Union Building. The All Team Meeting is an opportunity for students to join the Letter Writing Campaign to ask friends and family members for donations to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.

The General Honors committee and the Office of the Provost invites interested, prospective and current General Honors students and faculty advisers to an information reception at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Alumni Room of the Student Union Building. General Honors in Arts and Science is awarded to graduating students who complete five approved courses including at least one from each of the four areas of humanities, social science, mathematics and natural science with a GPA of at least 3.5 in these five courses and an overall GPA of at least 3.5. For more information and details on the program, please visit the General Honors in Arts and Science website at http://honors.truman.edu.

The Stargazers Astronomy Club will host an Observatory Open House at the University Farm from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 16.

Students may pick up applications for the 2008-2009 “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Award” in the Dean of Student Affairs Office, Student Union Building 3100. To qualify, students should be active in campus and community activities, have a 2.75 cumulative GPA and be a senior eligible for graduation in December, May or August of the 2008-2009 academic year. Completed student applications need to be returned to the Student Affairs Office by Oct. 17. For more information visit http://saffairs.truman.edu or call 785.4111.

Alpha Phi Omega is sponsoring the Little Event beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 19. Members of Alpha Phi Omega will help with odd jobs needed throughout the community, such as cleaning, raking leaves and cleaning gutters for both students and campus organizations. Please submit any possible job ideas to Theresa Perkins at tap657@truman.edu and include the job details and location.

Farmers Insurance will host an informational meeting for students interested in an internship or career opportunities at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room 2105. This event is open to all majors and free pizza and cookies will be provided.

CML and Classics Club will host a Classics Quiz Bowl competition where students will match wits on all Classical topics at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 in Baldwin Hall 303.

The Center for Teaching and Learning presents Dereck Daschke, associate professor of philosophy and religion, and Mark Appold, associate professor of philosophy and religion, as speakers for the next Global Issues Colloquium, “Teaching About Terrorism,” at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 in Magruder Hall 2001. Daschke and Appold will share their impressions and reflections from attending the 2008 Summer Workshop on Teaching Terrorism held annually at the University of Oklahoma. They will discuss terrorism research, trustworthy resources and how this subject can intersect with coursework in many disciplines.