Vol. 25 No. 13 - November 9, 2020

When Truman conducts graduation ceremonies Nov. 21, a familiar face will give the commencement address. Two-time alumnus Dr. Jeremy Mapp will be the featured speaker. He is currently the assistant principal at Keysor Elementary School in Kirkwood, Mo.

Mapp earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 2010, followed by a Master of Arts in Elementary Education degree in 2012. He started his career with six years of service as an elementary school teacher in the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District located in St. Louis County.

From 2014-2018, Mapp and his wife and Rachel (Richardson) Mapp (’10), served as house parents at Joe’s Place, a nationally acclaimed program through the MRH School District that provides homeless teenage boys in the area a supportive environment while encouraging a positive future. They lived on site, managed the property and oversaw the well-being of as many as six teenage boys living at the house.

Since July 2018, Mapp has served in his current role as assistant principal at Keysor Elementary School. He earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership from Maryville University in 2019.

Truman will conduct an in-person commencement ceremony Nov. 21 for students scheduled to graduate at the conclusion of the fall semester. Due to restrictions on large gatherings, no guests will be in attendance, only the graduates and a small delegation of University representatives on the stage. To safely accommodate the graduating class while social distancing, there will be two ceremonies in Pershing Arena. The first will take place at 10 a.m. for all Bachelor of Science candidates. After the venue is sanitized, a second ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. for all candidates receiving a master’s degree or a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The event will air live on YouTube so family and friends can watch in real time.

The Art Department will present the Fall 2020 Senior Branding Show: Branding Unmasked, via Instagram, starting Nov. 13.

Design students in ART 421 have worked hard this semester creating branding materials for companies selling masks like Old Navy, Anthropologie, Victoria’s Secret, Aeropostale, Swim Spot and more.   

With masks becoming a part of everyday life, companies must figure out how to brand their masks and encourage customers to purchase their products. Branding communicates a company’s value proposition and brand promise, attracting and retaining loyal customers. A brand consists of both visual and strategic elements. Students have designed new and exciting ways to encourage the public to wear masks, and a sample of their work can be seen on Instagram @TSUBranding starting Nov. 13. More information is also available at tsubranding.wixsite.com/tsubranding.

Art senior capstone presentations will take place next semester, and more information will be coming soon.

Truman will celebrate the eighth annual Tag Day, Nov. 11.

The goal of Tag Day is to show appreciation to donors who have given back to the University, as well as to raise awareness of how they impact day-to-day life at Truman. Hundreds of items will be marked with special purple tags highlighting the fact those items were made possible by a gift.

Donors have a measurable impact in tangible ways, including the Sandra K. Giachino Reavey Sesquicentennial Plaza and fountain, Red Barn Pavilion and the Robison Planetarium. As well as tangible items, donors also provide support through scholarships and student learning experiences.

The campus community is invited to join in and recognize Truman donors and the wonderful gifts they have given to the University.

A team of Truman students was named as one of nine regional winners of Deloitte FanTAXtic, a student tax case study competition, and will advance to the national competition in January.

Fifty-four teams representing 39 colleges and universities participated in the virtual event, Oct. 30. Truman’s team was composed of senior Erynn Glaesemann, junior Mitchell Heberer and sophomores Lany Borella and Laura Haarmann, all from the School of Business.

The team demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively to solve a complex business case simulation and was also recognized for the quality of their overall presentation to a panel of virtual judges. In January, the Truman team will compete for nearly $50,000 in individual scholarships and institutional awards at the Deloitte FanTAXtic national competition.

Sponsored by Deloitte Tax LLP and supported by the Deloitte Foundation, Deloitte FanTAXtic is designed to educate and prepare the next generation of tax talent for a career in business and tax. The interactive program includes case simulation, role playing and presentations which provide students with insights and perspectives on challenges facing the profession today, future trends that may impact it tomorrow and the overall changing business tax marketplace. Deloitte Tax LLP professionals participate in the event and offer the students support and guidance throughout the competition.  

Truman’s team was supported by Stacey Kaden, associate professor of accounting, and Deloitte professionals Andrea Wodka and Kelly James.

Members of 1978-79 men’s basketball conference championship and Hall of Fame team are providing $50,000 as a matching gift challenge to support the men’s basketball program.

The matching gift challenge runs through Nov. 27 and is designed to help generate much needed support for operations, recruitment and scholarships for the program. All one-time gifts to men’s basketball made by the end of the challenge will be matched one to one. For example, a gift of $500 would earn a match of $500, and the program gets $1,000 in total.
 
As an added incentive for young alumni, all gifts made by Nov. 27 from basketball alumni who graduated in 2010 or after will be matched two to one. A gift of $100 would earn a match of $200, and the program would receive $300.
 
To encourage sustained giving, all recurring gifts (e.g. monthly, quarterly, annually) set up by the deadline will be matched as outlined above and an additional $500 will be awarded from the match money. Matching funds will apply to the entire pledged amount for up to five years.

One-time and recurring gifts can be made at truman.edu/support-mens-basketball. Checks, made payable to Truman State University Foundation with “Men’s Basketball” in the memo line, can be sent to: Truman State University, Advancement Office, 100 E. Normal Ave., Kirksville, MO 63501-4221. For pledges of $1,000 or more not set up through the recurring gift option above, contact Charles Hunsaker, executive director for university advancement, at hunsaker@truman.edu.

In lieu of in-person Homecoming activities this year, the Alumni Association hosted several virtual events to keep alumni, friends and students connected.

The association conducted its first virtual trivia night Oct. 29 with a total of 14 teams joining in on the fun. Alumni Kyle Hill (’07) and Alison Mayer (’05) served as the quizmaster and host for the evening.
 
All entry fees supported the Truman State University Foundation. Half of the entry fees went directly to the Investing in Students Fund, which provides emergency student relief for Truman students. The winning team had the opportunity to select the Foundation fund of their choice to receive the other half of the entry fees.

The winner of the inaugural Truman Virtual Trivia night was The Monopoly Gang, and they designated their support to the Truman Fund for Excellence, an undesignated fund that provides resources to the areas of greatest need on campus.

The Truman Police Department is once again teaming up with Truman Food Bank to allow students, faculty and staff to pay up to two unpaid parking tickets with non-perishable food donations instead of cash this holiday season.

During the week of Nov. 16-20, the Truman Police Department will be accepting canned goods and other non-perishable food items in lieu of monetary payments for up to two parking tickets, at the rate of one item for every $5 in fines owed.

All items collected will be donated to the Truman Food Bank, a group that provides food assistance for students in need.

City of Kirksville parking tickets, handicap parking tickets and fire lane violations do not qualify.

This is only valid Nov. 16-20 for currently unpaid parking tickets received during this academic school year. When coming to take advantage of this opportunity, bring a Truman ID, along with non-perishable food items, to the Truman Police Department in the General Services Building at the corner of Franklin and Patterson streets.

Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group committee members Nancy Daley-Moore and Christine Harker recently discussed Truman case numbers for the week of Nov. 3. While Truman cases declined, the number of active cases in the county is on the rise. Daley-Moore and Harker explained why everyone should be thoughtful about where they may go in the community and how they should weigh the risks of exposure when venturing off campus. They also encouraged faculty members to be considerate of students in quarantine, which may alter their ability to complete assignments and take notes for lectures. A recording of their conversation is available here.

Students with fall 2020 Truman Service Scholarships who become sick or are required to quarantine should contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@truman.edu if they are unable to complete all 58 service hours before they return home for the semester. The email should include an explanation of the student’s unique situation. Due to ever-changing conditions related to COVID-19, flexibility will be given to those with extenuating circumstances.

The Office of Student Research is accepting applications for Grants-in-Aid of Scholarship and Research (GIASR) as well as Conference Travel Scholarships.

GIASR applications are for research and creative scholarship conducted in spring 2021. Grant applications may request up to $750 and can cover student stipends, supplies and travel to conduct research.
 
Conference Travel Scholarships are for students presenting the results of their research or creative scholarship at a conference between January and June 2021. Students must have completed or be currently involved in a faculty-mentored research experience and plan on presenting at the conference. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the spring 2021 Conference Travel Scholarship will only cover student registration to attend a virtual conference.
 
Complete guidelines for the GIASR and Conference Travel Scholarship applications can be found at the Office of Student Research website. Applications for both opportunities are due by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 11. Questions can be directed to osr@truman.edu.

The first Truman Faculty Forum of the 2020-2021 school year will take place online at 7 p.m. Nov. 12.   

Sara Orel, professor of art and art history, will present “Archaeology in Egypt: Quarries and a Monastery at the Gebel el-Haridi.” The forum will be conducted via Zoom. All are welcome to attend.

The Gebel el-Haridi, an area of cliffs on the east bank of the Nile just north of modern Akhmim, was the focus of three seasons of survey sponsored by the Egypt Exploration Society and partially funded by Truman in the 1990s. This paper, the result in part of research conducted during a sabbatical year, discusses the Ptolemaic and Roman quarries at the site, as well as an enigmatic building constructed in front of one of these quarries, which fits the elements of an early Christian monastic settlement.

The Faculty Forum was created in 2003 to give faculty the opportunity to present their research and creative work to the Truman community, and to enhance the importance of scholarship and creativity in the culture of the institution. In the spirit of the liberal arts and sciences, the forum is a showcase of Truman faculty’s many creative and intellectual pursuits. The forum offers a variety of formats – public lectures, classroom-style symposia, performances and gallery exhibitions – to best suit different fields of study, as well as different individuals.

The Communication Disorders Graduate Program will host a virtual open house from 9-10 a.m. Nov. 13. Participants can join for a live Q&A session with faculty and current graduate students. More information and pre-recorded sessions are available at truman.edu/majors-programs/cmds-open-house. Email Connie Ikerd at chelton@truman.edu to RSVP and to receive a Zoom link.

The Truman Compost Project will accept bagged leaves and grass clippings from the public this fall. Material must be in a paper yard bag or, if brought in a plastic bag or other container, the person must dump the leaves and take the plastic bag with them. Brush and tree branches cannot be accepted. Leaves may be dropped off at the University Farm Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. through Nov. 14.

The Compost Project also has limited quantities of finished compost available for sale. Bulk compost is priced at $45/cubic yard, loaded onto your truck or trailer at the University Farm. Delivery is also available in the Kirksville area. Contact compostproject@truman.edu for more information. Learn more about the Compost Project at compost.truman.edu or on Facebook or Instagram, @TrumanCompostProject.

The THEA 48: Advanced Study in Theatre Production and Performance class will present “Antigone” by Sophocles at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18.

To continue to create safe spaces for members of the Truman and Kirksville communities to experience theatre productions, the play will be streamed online.

In this modern retelling of the classic Greek tragedy, Antigone, a young political activist striving for what she feels is just, faces off against Creon, an aging politician who is desperate to maintain his position of power and make the right choice.

This production contains discussion of war, gore, death and suicide, and includes war and battlefield sound effects. It is intended for audiences 13 and older.
 
Tickets are free, and a link to the performance can be accessed here.

The Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability Committee is looking for new members for the 2020-2021 proposal cycle. The committee is responsible for seeking and approving proposals from the Truman community for the sake of advancing sustainability on campus. Anyone interested in applying to be on the committee should fill out this form by midnight, Nov. 20. For more information, email Liam Connolly at wmc7667@truman.edu.

Applications are now being received for summer internships at the following locations in Missouri:
 

• Independence: Harry Truman Presidential Library (full-time, 9 credits)
• Kansas City: National World War I Museum (part-time, 3 credits)
• Kirksville: Judicial Archives Project (part-time, 3 credits)
• St. Joseph: St. Joseph Museums (part-time, 3 credits)
• St. Louis: Field House Museum (part-time, 3 credits), Missouri History Museum (part-time, 3 credits), Mercantile Library (part-time, 3 credits)
• Springfield: MSU Special Collections and Archive (part-time, 3 credits)

The summer internships are open to all Truman students, but they are especially relevant for those considering careers in archives, museums, teaching, and law.
 
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until all positions are filled.
 
To find out what the internships entail and how to apply, direct enquiries to: Jason McDonald, Baldwin Hall 226, 660.785.7575, jasonmcd@truman.edu.

The Show-Me Gaming Series will take place Nov. 30-Dec. 30 and is open to any student at a college or university in Missouri registered on IMLeagues with their school email.

Games include:

• FIFA 21
• League of Legends
• Madden 21
• MLB the Show 20
• NBA 2K21
• NHL 21
• Rainbow Six Siege
• Rocket League

Participants can register here. The Discord to communicate about game times can be found here. Questions can be directed to MOIRSAGAMING@gmail.com.

Academic Buildings
7 a.m.-6 p.m.


Pickler Memorial Library    
Nov. 30-Dec. 3
8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Dec. 4    
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 5-6
Closed

Dec. 7-10
8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Dec. 11
8 a.m.-5 p.m.


Student Recreation Center        
Nov. 30-Dec. 4
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Dec. 5-6
Closed    

Dec. 7-11
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

        
Student Union Building            
Nov. 30-Dec 4
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 5-6
Closed

Dec. 7-11
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

    
Dining Service Options
Nov. 29
Closed

Nov. 30-Dec. 4     
Ryle Hall Only
    Breakfast 8-9 a.m.
    Lunch 12-1 p.m.
    Dinner 5-6 p.m.
Dobson Convenience Store 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 5-6    
Ryle Hall Only    
    Breakfast 8-9 a.m.
    Lunch 12-1 p.m.
    Dinner 5-6 p.m.
Dobson Convenience Store 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dec. 7-11    
Ryle Hall Only    
    Breakfast 8-9 a.m.
    Lunch 12-1 p.m.
    Dinner 5-6 p.m.
Dobson Convenience Store 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday, Dec 12    
Ryle Hall Only    
    Breakfast 8-9 a.m.
    Lunch 12-1 p.m.
    Dinner Closed
Dobson Convenience Store 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

While many conferences have been canceled due to COVID-19, the 2021 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) will take place virtually, April 12-14. Students from all fields are welcome to submit an abstract for this conference. Abstract guidelines can be viewed here. While submitting an abstract, enter the Office of Student Research information into the field of the undergraduate research coordinator. Students can apply for the Conference Travel Scholarship to cover conference registration costs; however, an abstract accepted to NCUR does not guarantee a Conference Travel Scholarship. Anyone interested in submitting an abstract should use the NCUR portal by Dec. 1.

Junior and senior students could win up to $250 from Truman, and $10,000 nationally, through the Robert L. Gould Scholastic Award competition.

SS&C, a financial technology company, sponsors the annual Robert L. Gould Scholastic Award to recognize outstanding university students who produce academic papers on topics related to investment management strategies, theories and trends. The prompt for this year’s award is:

The human response to the COVID-19 global pandemic has been extraordinary in as much as it has required from our society and what it has revealed of us as people. This response has accelerated the acceptance of digital engagement. How do you see financial services companies engaging with their clients in the short-term post-COVID world and going forward over the next five years? Specifically: how do you see financial service companies using digital capabilities to engage and connect with their customers; and what implications and changes in engagement models or emerging digital capabilities of today will be assumed as standard across financial services in 2025?

In addition to the national award, the University will offer cash prizes to the top three papers from Truman students. Locally, first place will earn $250, second place will receive $150 and third place will get $100. All three will be submitted to the SS&C for the national competition.

Paper submissions should be directed to Chuck Boughton, instructor in business administration, at boughton@truman.edu by Jan. 17. Submissions should be in Word format only. Local awards will be announced after the Jan. 31 submission to the Gould judges.

Questions about the competition can be directed to Boughton.