Vol. 19 No. 28 - April 13, 2015

Ellie Cavuoti has always had a passion for taking care of others. As a child, her dolls were usually covered in Band-Aids, and whenever family members got sick, she was the first to be next to their bed. As she grew up, Cavuoti became fascinated by the science of the human body and how a person’s physiological mechanisms work. It soon became evident to her and her family that she was destined to be a nurse.

Cavuoti wanted to begin her nursing education as soon as possible. Truman was appealing because it accepts freshmen into the nursing program.

“Once I actually got into nursing and working with patients at the bedside, I knew I made the right choice,” she said.

The summer after her junior year, Cavuoti was offered a 13-week internship with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Through this opportunity she gained valuable experience working with pediatric oncology patients, and also had the chance to contribute to published research.

As an intern, she was responsible for preparing medications, conducting assessments and helping patients get ready for treatments and procedures, but she also spent a lot of time comforting and playing with the children. Some days the children were doing well and were very happy and playful, but that was not always the case.

“Obviously, working with pediatric oncology there are going to be some difficult outcomes,” Cavuoti said. “Those days, thankfully, are rare.”

While she worked, Cavuoti always tried to go above and beyond to cheer up her patients and improve their stay at St. Jude. This included creating games to help make taking vital signs fun, and helping a child who lost his ability to speak find the right toy.

It was from situations like this that Cavuoti realized the difference little things can make to help children or their parents feel better. This newfound perspective invigorated her so that when she returned to Truman she was driven to study harder than she ever thought possible.

“After working at St. Jude this summer, I felt rejuvenated and motivated to learn absolutely everything I could about nursing and how to better care for my patients,” she said.

That vigor and enthusiasm paid off for Cavuoti, as she was offered a full-time position at St. Jude after graduation. She credits her success during her internship to her positive attitude and strong work ethic. She always made it a point to have a smile on her face and help out other nurses wherever she could.  

“I was so blessed to have this opportunity to work with such amazing people at St. Jude,” she said.

Cavuoti is excited about graduation and moving back to Memphis to begin her career. She hopes to one-day return to school to become a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner.

Wherever life takes her, Cavuoti will always be thankful for Truman and her time as a Bulldog.

“I would not be the person I am today without this school,” she said. “I cannot imagine pursuing my college career anywhere else.”

Through its annual Greek Week, March 23-28, the Truman Greek community raised more than $20,000 for three philanthropic efforts.

The majority of the proceeds, $16,551, were donated to the Norhteast Missouri Inclusion Project. The project, led by members of the former NEMO Disability Community Group, is a grassroots campaign that strives to build a free, public playground filled with fun and accessible equipment where children, with or without disabilities, can play together. The playground will be built adjacent to the Adair County YMCA.

In addition, $4,000 was donated to the Greek Life Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports awarding scholarships to Greek leaders who exemplify the four pillars of Truman Greek Life.

The Greek community also showed support for its newest member by donating $300 to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). ANAD is the national philanthropy of Delta Phi Epsilon, a recent Panhellenic sorority added to Truman Greek Life.

Greek Week at Truman is the celebration and promotion of the Greek Life Pillars: scholarship, leadership, integrity and commitment. Greek Week is a time for Greeks to give back to their campus and community.

Phi Sigma Pi, Delta Sigma Pi and Phi Delta are working together to bring two “Be the Match” bone marrow donor registration drives to campus April 23.  The first will take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Student Union Building Down Under and the second will be later that evening from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in Centennial Hall.

The “Be the Match” registry connects potential donors with thousands of patients suffering from blood cancers, for whom a bone marrow transplant can mean life or death. Learn more about  “Be the Match” and what it means to join the registry here.

Through the “Be the Match” registry Truman students are making a real difference. Tori Holt, a junior nursing major, registered on campus in January 2014. By the fall, she found out that she was a match for a baby boy with a severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome. Holt completed her donation one year after she registered.

Dr. Charles J. McClain, president emeritus, passed away April 9, 2015 in Columbia, Mo. A celebration of his life is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 16 at the Missouri United Methodist Church located at 204 S. 9th Street in Columbia.

Hailed by many as a legend in higher education in the state of Missouri, McClain’s extraordinary vision and leadership as president of Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University), from 1970 to 1989, helped transform the school into Missouri’s only highly selective, public liberal arts and sciences university.

“Dr. McClain’s imprint on this University and community is unparalleled,” President Troy Paino said. “In short, Truman would not be what it is today without his vision and persistent leadership.”

While serving as president of the University, McClain established a value-added program to track the strengths and weaknesses of Truman students. As a result of his leadership, the University received national recognition for its academic excellence and assessment programs, including the G. Theodore Mitau Award for Innovation and Change in Higher Education, the highest award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The University was also ranked one of the five most innovative colleges and universities in the country in a U.S. News & World Report survey of college and university presidents.

Although his accomplishments related to Truman alone are impressive, what McClain achieved as an educator away from the University was just as remarkable.

His career began at the age of 16 when he accepted a teaching position in a one-room school near Sullivan, Mo. In 1963, he founded Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., where he served as president for seven years. McClain has also occupied various roles in education in the capacity of assistant professor, school superintendent, elementary school principal and elementary teacher, as well as assistant professor and assistant dean for the College of Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In 1989, McClain was selected by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to serve as Missouri’s commissioner of higher education, and he later worked as a consultant for the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. In 2003, McClain received the Des Lee Distinguished Professorship at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The following year, he was selected as a member of the Missouri Academy of Squires, an organization limited to 100 Missourians of achievement.

If that were not enough, in 2008, at the age of 77, McClain became the interim president of Fairmont State University in West Virginia.

McClain earned his undergraduate degree from Missouri State University in 1954 and his advanced degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

McClain is survived by his wife, Judge Ann Covington, who resides in in Columbia, Mo. In addition to Ann, he is survived by his two daughters and their husbands, Anita and Lewis Kinkeade and Melanie and Bruce Brown. He is also survived by his stepchildren Elizabeth and Paul and Paul’s wife, Megan. His four grandchildren and two step grandchildren also survive him: Gregory; Kate and her husband Chris; Bryan; Christopher; Ashley; and Devin. His three great grandchildren Genevieve Grace, Sophia Nicole, and Christian McClain were special delights to him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested for the Charles J. McClain Scholarship Fund at Truman.

With the coming of spring comes the possibility of serve weather. The University would like to remind everyone of the procedure to take when dangerous weather occurs. The first step is to understand the terms that help identify a tornado hazard.

A Tornado/Severe Weather Watch means that the conditions are right for dangerous weather to develop. This does not mean that it is imminent, but you should be aware of the weather for future updates.

While a Tornado/Severe Weather Warning means that it is imminent based on criteria set by the National Weather Service. When a warning is issued students should seek shelter immediately and monitor the weather closely.

If notified that a tornado is approaching, you should follow the steps outlined in Truman’s emergency procedures.

1. Move quickly to an interior hallway on the lowest level.
2. Stay away from windows.
3. Stay out of rooms below large roof sections such as gymnasiums, auditoriums or cafeterias.
4. Sit down or kneel on the floor against the wall with hands on your head.
5. Do not leave your building unless instructed to do so.
6. If outside, seek shelter in a nearby building or find a ditch or depression in which to hide and cover your head.

To receive local weather alerts, you can subscribe to Kirksville’s textcastor to receive severe weather alerts directly from the National Weather Service via text or email here or sign up to receive emergency notices through the University by logging on to the TruView. On the main page, under “Update and View My Personal Information,” click on “Emergency Text Messaging.”

Truman's emergency procedure should also be displayed in every classroom and office, if not, contact the Office of Public Safety at 660.785.4176.

To learn more about Truman’s severe weather or other emergency procedures, consult the Department of Public Safety’s emergency procedures and Tornado Safety Rules.

Centro Linguistico Conversa
Santa Ana, Costa Rica
Sixth Cycle: May 25-June 19
Seventh Cycle: June 22-July 17
Eighth Cycle: July 20-Aug. 14
Studying at Centro Linguistico Conversa allows students to strengthen their Spanish-language skills through its intensive International program. Classes are offered in four-week sessions and have up to four people. Students are placed with a host family or in an on-campus residence hall. The campus is located on a mountaintop with a scenic view of the rainforest, beaches and volcanoes.

Grint Centre for Education and Culture
Moscow, Russia
May 25-July 19
Students can receive personal attention in Russian-language courses while studying at Grint Centre in Russia. The classes are taught in small groups of four to six students. Students may also enroll in three credit hour courses. Weekly excursions include cultural visits to theaters, concerts and sports arenas. Students have the choice of living with a host family or in residence halls. A meal plan is also included.  

University of Limerick
Limerick, Ireland
May 27-June 15
Study abroad at one of Ireland’s top independent, internationally focused universities. The University of Limerick has made a national reputation for its excellent programs in business and engineering. It offers six options for English-speaking classes, each three credits. Classes include law in Ireland, creative writing, sociological perspective in Irish society and several others. Students will take weekend excursions and travel to historic sites within the city. While in Ireland students will be housed on-campus with a living area, kitchen and lounge. For more information, visit ccisabroad.org/program.

Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola
Cusco, Peru
May 29
Students can choose between a four-week and an eight-week study abroad in Cusco, Peru, through the school's Latin American Studies Programs. The academic program offers Spanish-language courses and English coursework including history of the Inca civilization, art and design in Cusco, architecture, photography, culture of Peru and others. Students have the option to live with a host family or in a nearby hotel. For more information, check out ccisabroad.org/program.


University of New York
Prague, Czech Republic
June 5-July 4 (three-credit course)
July 7-July 31 (one-credit course)
Study abroad at the center of Prague at the University of New York. UNYP offers more than 130 different courses, all taught in English, and popular courses include business administration, communication, economic relations, social science, finance and many more. With the metro and tram less than three minutes away from the University, students can travel to attractions nearby. Health insurance, pre-departure orientation, airport pickup, transportation pass and transcript fee are all included in the summer cost. The deadline to apply is April 15. For more information, visit ccisabroad.org/program.


Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales d’Angers
Angers, France
June 10-July 9
Students will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of the top graduate schools of management in France. In the first three weeks the students will take the following courses: European economics, European Union studies and culture and communication. During the second half of the program, students will take business and cultural visits to places including Loire Valley, Normandy, Paris and Brussels. In Angers, students will be housed in residence halls with individual rooms with a kitchen and bathroom. For Brussels and Paris, students stay in three-star comfortable hotels on a double-room basis. For more information, visit ccisabroad.org/program.

Edge Hill University
Ormskirk, England
June 15-July 13
Students can earn three credit hours while studying two of four modules at one of England’s top universities. Each module offers several excursions and one weekend trip to London. Edge Hill University will provide transportation to and from the airport and breakfast and lunch each weekday.

Maynooth University International Summer School
Maynooth, Republic of Ireland
July 5-Aug. 1
The national university of Ireland, studying at Maynooth University allows students to choose from 13 courses from eight different disciplines. Weekend and day trips are offered, with trips in the past including visiting Belfest, the Titanic Museum and the Peace Wall. Students can choose between living on campus or in apartments, and a full meal plan is included for weekdays

The Students for Middle East Peace will host a screening of “Wadjda” 5-7 p.m. April 13 in Violette Hall 1000.

“Wadjda” is the first full-length feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and its director, Haifaa Al-Mansour, is the first female Saudi filmmaker. The film’s trailer can be viewed here.

The event is free and open to all students.

7:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
Magruder Hall Cyber Cafe, Ophelia Parrish Lobby and Violette Hall Lobby

8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Studio Art Display
Atrium, South Wing of Ophelia Parrish

8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Annual Juried Student Exhibit
University Art Gallery

8-9:15 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Magruder, Ophelia Parrish and Violette Hall

9:15-9:30 a.m.
Break
Magruder Hall Cyber Cafe, Ophelia Parrish Lobby and Violette Hall Lobby

9:30-10:45 a.m.
Plenary Session: Jeffrey Osborn
Violette Hall 1000

11 a.m.-2:15 p.m
Concurrent Sessions
Magruder, Ophelia Parrish and Violette Hall

2:15-2:30 p.m.
Break
Magruder Hall Cyber Cafe, Ophelia Parrish Lobby and Violette Hall Lobby

2:30-3:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Magruder, Ophelia Parrish and Violette Hall

3:30-4:30 p.m.
Reception and Posters Display
Student Union Georgian Rooms

3:30-4:30 p.m.
Performance Art
Ophelia Parrish 2340

4:30-6 p.m.
Graduate Research Symposium
Violette Hall 1010

3-5 p.m.
French Capstone
Violette Hall 1320

To view a full list of presentations, visit the online program.

The Wellness Zone will sponsor an outdoor yoga class to take place 3-4 p.m. April 14 on the Quad.

Kelley Bauer, recreation center instructor, and will teach a class on Yin Yoga, a slow-paced style of yoga that holds poses for longer period times. Students wanting to participate are encouraged to bring a mat or towel.

For more information, contact Bonnie Kempker at bek1812@truman.edu.

Reminiscent of the popular movie "Night at the Museum," great speeches from 20th century history come to life from 7-8 p.m. April 14 at the Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitors Center.

Communication students will portray speakers in an entertaining program. Approximately 16 students are involved in the project organized by Barry Poyner, professor of communication, and sponsored by the Communication Club (NCASC). At any given point about half of the students will be in character and will share what was rhetorically splendid or lackluster in the speech at hand; this will allow the other student performers to move around and enjoy student speeches as well.

The public is invited to meander through the museum in self-paced style, realizing that each student presentation is about five minutes. Students will share brief insights about the speakers, the rhetorical situation and will perform excerpts of the speeches. Students from COMM 385 will portray speakers from the "Top 100 Great Speeches of the 20th Century," which can be found at americanrhetoric.com. Students from COMM 382 classes will portray great movie speeches.

This is the sixth time that such an event has been organized at Truman. The focus of the historical speeches will be Midwestern speeches in the last half of the 20th century, for example: Malcom X’s “Message to the Grassroots,” ranked No. 89; Adlai Stevenson’s “Presidential Nomination Acceptance Address,” ranked No. 54; Newton Minow’s “Television and the Public Interest,” ranked No. 67; and Anita Hill’s “Statement to Senate Judiciary Committee,” ranked No. 69.

In honor of communication week, cookies and punch will be served. Students are also invited to join the Communication Club. NCASC is committed to enriching the lives of undergraduate communication majors and minors by promoting the study and application of communication principles through educational and social functions. Poyner serves as an advisor to the organization, the only NCA Student Club in the state of Missouri.

Those attending are encouraged to vote for the best portrayal based on dress, delivery of quotes, understanding of speaker, rhetorical situation and rhetorical splendor. The event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Poyner at 660.785.4063.

Elections for student government representatives for the 2015-2016 academic year will be open to the student body April 14-16.

Public polling locations include:

Student Union Building Down Under
April 14
10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Student Union Building Georgian Room A
April 15
10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Student Union Building Alumni Room
April 16
10 a.m.-6  p.m.

Students can also cast their vote at vote.truman.edu.

The announcement party will take place at 7 p.m. April 16 in the Student Union Building Hub.  

For questions regarding elections, contact Jake Buxton at jwb6267@truman.edu.  

Student Government is a group of elected and appointed students who work to improve the environment on campus. For more information about the organization, visit senate.truman.edu. 

The Art Department and the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies present "Egypt's Valley of the Kings" by Dr. Aidan Dodson of the University of Bristol at 7 p.m. April 15 in Ophelia Parrish 2210.

The Theatre Department’s performance of “She Kills Monsters” will open at 8 p.m. April 15 in the James G. Severns Theatre.

This comedic romp, penned by acclaimed young playwright Qui Nguyen, explores the world of fantasy role-playing games. Nguyen’s play follows Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragon notebook, she stumbles into the imaginary world that was Tilly’s refuge. Agnes then begins her own journey of discovery in this action-packed adventure.

In “She Kills Monsters,” Nguyen creates a world laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and ’90s pop culture, while offering a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.

This production of “She Kills Monsters” is directed by David Charles Goyette, with assistance by Bailey Jones, a senior theatre major.

There will be four performances running April 15-18. All will begin at 8 p.m. in the James G Severns Theatre in Ophelia Parrish. Tickets will be $5 and will go on sale approximately a week before the performance.

For more information about this or other main stage productions, contact Goyette at dcgoyette@truman.edu or visit theatre.truman.edu.

Students who are interested in studying abroad are encouraged to come out and meet the Study Abroad Ambassadors, who will be sharing their experiences and some dirt pudding 12:30-2 p.m. April 16 on the Quad.

Geri Farrel, ISEP Austria.

Rae Greer. ISEP Spain.

Hannah Rogers, Edge Hill University, England.

Lars Winkelmolen, Deusto.

Truman will host almost 1,400 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students for the annual Children’s Literature Festival, 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. April 17 in the Student Union Building.     
                                    
Visiting authors and illustrators include John David Anderson, Claire Caterer, Jody Feldman, Helen Frost, Wendy Anderson Halperin, Jane Kurtz, Lisa McMann, Joanne Rocklin, Laurel Snyder, J.A. White and Allan Wolf.  

Students will participate in 30-minute sessions with the guest authors and illustrators. All children attending must be pre-registered.

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 (SUB 3000).  Refreshments will be served.

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

Pickler Memorial Library is sponsoring the festival with financial support from the Freeman Foundation, Follett High Education Group--Truman State University Bookstore and the Truman State University Foundation. Additional information may be obtained from Sharon Hackney 660.785.7366 and the Children’s Literature Festival webpage.

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

Free body composition assessments will be available from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. April 21 in the Student Recreation Center.  

Tests include measuring body fat percentage, blood pressure, waist circumference and body mass index. Students are able to sign up at the weight room desk. For more information, visit truman.edu/recreation/fitness-wellness-program.

Amber Johnson, professor of anthropology, has a new publication, with Truman alumni Jacob Freeman, Adolfo Gil and Gustavo Neme, in the newest issue of the Journal of Anthropological Anthropology, vol 38, pp. 52-58, titled “Hierarchical Method Using Ethnographic Data Sets to Guide Archaeological Research: Testing Models of Plant Intensification and Maize Use in Central Western Argentina.” This is a special issue honoring Lewis Binford’s contributions in archaeology.

Peter Ramberg, professor of history of science, is the guest editor for the April 2015 volume of the journal Annals of Science, Atomism and Organic Chemistry in Context: Essays in Honour of Alan J. Rocke. The issue contains six original research articles on the history of chemistry, including Ramberg’s own article “Chemical Research and Instruction in Zürich, 1833-1874.” The full table of contents is available online at tandfonline.com.

Applicants must be a junior or senior undergraduate or graduate student, studying in the field of interpretation (biology, environmental education, parks and recreation, wildlife management, history, etc.) to be considered for this scholarship. For more information, contact Cyndi Cogbill at cyndi.pawpawpatch@gmail.com. The deadline for application is July 15.