Vol. 15, No. 10 - Nov. 2, 2010

Truman was recently acknowledged as a top producer of U.S. Fulbright students for 2010-2011 in “The Chronicle of Higher Education.”

The University ranked second nationally among master’s institutions, with a total of four Fulbright students. Truman tied with six other institutions across the U.S. and finished one behind the University of Portland, which featured five Fulbright students.

Of Truman’s 11 Fulbright applicants, six were offered the award; however, two recipients ultimately declined.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. A current objective of the program is to encourage participants to find innovative solutions to global issues such as climate change and pandemics.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 300,000 participants — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.  

The Fulbright competition is administered at Truman through Maria Di Stefano, associate provost and dean of graduate studies. For more information about the program or the application process, visit http://gradstudies.truman.edu/fellowships/fulbright.asp or http://www.iie.org/Fulbright.

The complete Fulbright rankings for 2010-2011 can be found at http://chronicle.com/article/Table-Top-Producers-of-US/125073/.

Patrick Barney, a senior chemistry major from Kansas City, Mo., spent the summer at Kansas State University researching a technique for the early detection of cancer.

Barney discovered this opportunity through David McCurdy, professor of chemistry, with whom he has done research work since his sophomore year. A Kansas State University alum, McCurdy recommended Barney to Dr. Christopher Culbertson of the school’s chemistry department.

Culbertson has a history of working with Truman students, including five past graduates.

Barney worked alongside graduate students for 10 weeks in Culbertson’s lab developing the cancer-detecting technique.

“Dr. Culbertson’s lab uses devices that can analyze one cell at a time, and the hope is to incorporate that technique into blood screenings in clinics that can be used to detect for cancerous cells in the body,” Barney said.

Although the experience was slightly intimidating at first, Barney soon came into his own in the lab.

“I got very comfortable with it and in the end I was just doing my own thing, so it was perfect. Dr. Culbertson was just a great mentor,” Barney said.

Barney’s work this summer will be put towards a paper with Culbertson that will be submitted to the American Chemical Society. He will also travel with Culbertson to an ACS conference in Anaheim, Calif., in the spring.

“This feels phenomenal,” Barney said. “To be a co-author, I mean, just a handful of undergraduates get that experience.”

Barney is considering going into pathology, the study of disease. He has been offered a position on Culbertson’s research team if he chooses to attend graduate school at Kansas State University. Currently, his top choices are Oregon State or the University of Montana.

Bringing back an expanded knowledge of laboratory instruments and techniques to his last year of Truman has been beneficial for Barney.

“I feel like I’ve gained so much knowledge from that 10 weeks of non-stop working in the laboratory,” Barney said.

Barney encourages other science students to discover the research opportunities they can pursue as undergraduates.

“Here at Truman, you can ask any of the professors who always have research opportunities and research hours. You can even get paid to get involved,” Barney said. “If you want summer research, again just ask professors to network or you can go online to the National Science Foundation website and look up programs.”

Barney serves as the president of Bulldog Biodiesel and a member of the chemistry honor fraternity Alpha Chi Sigma and the American Chemical Society.

The Theatre Department will present “John of England” at 8 p.m. Nov. 10-13 in the James G. Severns Theatre.

Tickets are free and can be obtained by calling 785.4515 or visiting the Ophelia Parrish box office.

“John of England” is a fusion of William Shakespeare’s “The Life and Death of King John” and “The Troublesome Reign of King John” by an anonymous playwright.

The show features John, the weak son of King Henry II and brother of the late King Richard the Lionheart. The plot covers conflicts between the royal family, John’s dispute with the Catholic Church and the resulting war between France and England.

The cascading events result in the murder of a young prince and the ultimate death of John, poisoned by a monk.

The play contains a substantial amount of action, including six battle sequences with broadswords.

“John of England” is directed by David Charles Goyette, assistant professor of theatre and senior Roxxy Leiser, with original musical composition by Charles Gran.

Sarah Weinhold, a senior mathematics and accounting major from St. Joseph, Mo., was recently selected by the Partnership for Public Service as a Federal Service Student Ambassador for the 2010-11 academic year.

The ambassadors program enlists students to promote public service on college and university campuses nationwide. Forty-seven students representing 40 schools were selected this year from more than 150 applicants.

As an ambassador, Weinhold will serve as an on-campus resource for federal job and internship information, providing “insider” tips on where to find and how to land coveted federal jobs. Responsibilities range from conducting presentations and workshops to collaborating with campus career services representatives.

To be eligible for the program, students had to complete a federal government internship. This year’s ambassadors had internships at agencies ranging from the Peace Corps to the CIA to Department of the Treasury.

The program is part of the Partnership’s “Call to Serve” initiative, which seeks to inspire a new generation to serve.

More than 720 campuses and 75 federal agencies have joined the “Call to Serve” network, carrying an important message to students about government service: it’s not just making a living; it’s making the difference.

The Student Union Reservation Office (SUB 2000) will accept reservation requests for Spring 2011 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 8-11. All requests must be submitted in writing on a reservation form, available at http://studentunion.truman.edu/lottery. No early forms will be accepted. There will not be electronic confirmations for these requests. Confirmations will be mailed to organization mail boxes by Dec. 10. Contact the SUB Reservation Office at 785.4186 or union@truman.edu with questions.

The United States Department of State has announced the competition for the 2011 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program for overseas intensive summer language institutes in 13 critical need foreign languages. CLS institutes provide fully-funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured 7-10 week cultural enrichment experiences for U.S. citizen undergraduate and graduate students. While no service requirement is attached to the awards, participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period, applying their critical language skills in their future professional careers. Students of all disciplines are encouraged to apply for the scholarships by Nov. 15. To access the online application or for more information, visit http://clscholarship.org or e-mail cls@caorc.org.

The Center for International Education has applications for the Summer 2011 Foundation Study Abroad Scholarships. Ten $1,500 scholarships will be awarded based on financial need, statement of purpose and academic achievement. Applications are due in the Center for International Education office, located in Kirk Building 114, by 12 p.m. Jan. 28, 2011. Scholarship recipients will be notified in February.

Activity: 3 on 3 Basketball
League: Mens/Womens
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 2
Captains’ Meeting: Oct. 27
Play Begins: Nov. 8
 
Activity: Texas Hold’em Poker
League: Open
Division: Open
Deadline: Nov. 9
Captains’ Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 14
 
Activity: Bench Press
League: Mens/Womens
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Dec. 6
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Dec. 8
 
Activity: College Bowl Mania
League: Open
Division: Open
Deadline: Finals Week
Captains’ Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Finals Week
 
Activity: Wrap-Up Meeting
League: Open
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: NA
Captains’ Meeting: Dec. 8
Play Begins: NA
 
Activity: Basketball
League: Mens/Womens/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Jan. 18
Captains’ Meeting: Jan. 19
Play Begins: Jan. 24
 
Activity: Wiffleball**
League: Mens/Womens
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 18
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Jan. 22-23
 
Activity: Badminton-Singles
League: Mens/Womens
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 25
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Jan. 29 & Feb. 5
 
Activity: Badminton-Doubles
League: Mens/Womens/Co-Rec
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 25
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Jan. 29 & Feb. 5
 
Activity: Super Bowl Pickem
League: Open
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 21
Captains’ Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Feb. 6
 
Activity: Raquetball-Singles***
League: Mens/Womens
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Feb. 15
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Feb. 19-20
 
Activity: BAGGO
League: Mens/Womens/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Feb. 22
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Feb. 27
 
Activity: Volleyball
League: Mens/Womens/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Mar. 1
Captains’ Meeting: Mar. 2
Play Begins: Mar. 14
 
Activity: Outdoor Soccer
League: Mens/Womens/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Mar. 1
Captains’ Meeting: Mar. 2
Play Begins: Mar. 14
 
Activity: NCAA March Madness BB
League: Open
Division: Open
Deadline: Mar. 14
Captains’ Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Mar. 15
 
Activity: Closest to the Pin
League: Mens/Womens
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Mar. 29
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 3
 
Activity: Swim Meet
League: Mens/Womens/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Apr. 5
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 7
 
Activity: Ultimate Frisbee
League: Co-Rec
Division: Open
Deadline: Apr. 12
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 16-17
 
Activity: Punt Pass & Kick
League: Mens/Womens
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Apr. 19
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 20
 
Activity: Track Meet
League: Mens/Womens/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Apr. 19
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 21
 
Activity: T-shirt Design Contest
League: Mens/Womens
Division: Open
Deadline: Apr. 29
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: NA
 
All information, rules and registration requirements are online at http://recreation.truman.edu/intramuralrec.asp or contact the Intramural Office at 785.4467. Captains’ Meetings will take place at 4:30 p.m. in the SRC Conference Room.
**New Sport
***All racquetball matches will be played at the A.T. Still Thompson Campus Center.

Taner Edis, associate professor of physics, spoke about science and pseudoscience in the Muslim world at “Skeptics in the Pub” in St. Louis, Oct. 22.

Huping Ling, professor of history, has been invited to give the public lecture “Burning Questions in Asian American Studies” as a Rosenberg Institute Visiting Scholar at Suffolk University in Boston, Mass., Nov. 5. Ling also gave the public lecture “Rise of China as Reflected in American Popular Images of Chinese Americans,” sponsored by the Dr. Y. S. Tsiang Professorship in Chinese Studies, Center for International Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Oct. 4.

The Candidates Forum will be re-broadcast on the City's Channel 3 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Nov. 1 and 7 a.m. Nov. 2. The forum took place Oct. 29 and was filmed by News 36.

Truman in Washington information meetings will take place at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 and 6 p.m. Nov. 8 in Violette Hall 1010. Find out how to apply for internships in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact djohnson@truman.edu.

Humans vs. Zombies will begin Nov. 3. To play, students must attend an orientation session from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 1 or 7-9 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room C, where they can learn the rules and sign a waiver. Visit http://truman.hvzsource.com to register.

The Physics Colloquium will feature student summer research at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 3 in Magruder Hall 1000. Presentations will include: “High resolution Kelvin probe force microscopy with shielded probes” by Kevin Satzinger; “The Destruction of Biofilms Using Ultrasound Treatment” by Benjamin Rusk; “High Resolution SPR Microscopy Based Microarray” by Even Mirts; and “Reaction Front Pinning by Moving Vortices” by Chad Williamson.

A pre-order for Purple Friday shirts will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 4-5 at a table in the Student Union Building. Shirts cost $5.

The Mathbio Colloquium will take place at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 4 in Magruder Hall 2050. Anton Weisstein, associate professor of biology, will speak.

Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry will speak about the “Baked Goods Not Bank Bailouts” project at 8 p.m. Nov. 4 in Magruder Hall 2001. There will be a short film, a question and answer session and bread baked in a solar oven. This event is sponsored by the Peace Fellows, Students for Social Change, ECO, TIA and the President’s Sustainability Action Committee.

The second annual Disability Awareness Day conference will take place Nov. 5 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Student Union Building. The event will feature speakers Dennis Adkins, an inspiring motivational spokesman, and Josh Houchins, a professional sports announcer affiliated with WGEM and ESPN. Breakout sessions will address employment, housing, healthy living and recreational/learning activities.  

The Biology Seminar Series will continue at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 5 in Magruder Hall 1000. Anton Weisstein, associate professor of biology, will present “Unveiling the Past: New Analyses for Inferring Evolutionary and Demographic Histories from Current Patterns of Genetic Variation.”

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) will meet at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the University Club House, located at 516 E. Patterson. Contact Marc Becker at marc@truman.edu or call 785.6036 for more information.

K-Life will host a dodgeball tournament from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 6. Contact sam4125@truman.edu for more information.

The 21st Annual Undergraduate Philosophy and Religion Conference is scheduled for 9 a.m-6 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A. Fourteen students from nine colleges and universities will present papers. A free lunch buffet will be provided at 12 p.m. The featured luncheon speaker will be Philip Robbins of the Philosophy Department at the University of Missouri.

SUEDE will put on a Soul Food Supper from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Missouri Hall Chariton Room, featuring fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, greens, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, brownies, banana pudding, lemonade and iced tea. Tickets are $5 in advance by e-mailing TSUSUEDE@gmail.com or $7 at the door.

HLTH 150 students will be collecting non-perishable food donations for the Salvation Army from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 8-12 at tables in the Student Union Building.

The Truman Brass Choir will perform a program of heroic music along with the Cantoria Singers, tenor Thomas Hueber and others at 8 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Ophelia Parrish Concert Hall. Included will be a special performance of the Hymn to the Fallen from the film “Saving Private Ryan,” along with other heroic and contemplative selections for brass, voices and percussion.

A faculty forum entitled “Overconfident CEOs-Can you trust the numbers?” will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 in Magruder Hall 1000.

The Stargazers Astronomy Club will host an Observatory Open House from 7-10 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Truman Observatory at the University Farm.

World Diversity Night will take place from 5:30-9 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room C. Multiple cultural organizations will come together for food, performances and a Bollywood movie screening, all to celebrate a night of unity through diversity. The event is sponsored by Student Senate.

Safe Zone Training for faculty and staff will take place at 1 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A. The goal of this program is to educate members of the Truman community about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) issues. Visit http://hr.truman.edu/register to sign up for the training.

SSAS will host Asia Fest at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room C. The event will feature informational booths, snacks, bubble tea and games.

Grupo Latinoamericano Dance Company will perform at 5 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Student Union Building HUB. The event is co-sponsored by Sigma Lambda Gamma, the Multicultural Affairs Center and Student Senate.

Minor Detail will perform at 9 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Student Union Building Down Under.

Alpha Phi Omega will host “Pie-a-President” from 2-4 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Student Union Building. Donate money to see a student organization president get pied in the face.

Tau Lambda Sigma will sponsor a trivia night at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 in Magruder Hall 2001. Cost to participate is $2 per person, with half of all proceeds going to the winner’s charity of choice and the rest going to the American Cancer Society.