Vol. 10 No. 18 - January 31, 2006

Plans to upgrade the current version of the Banner administrative system to Banner 7 are under way. The Banner Integration Team, IT Services staff, the Upgrade Review Team and staff from various campus offices are currently testing the new system in preparation for release to the campus. The upgrade to Banner 7 will directly affect administrative system users. During the initial phase of the upgrade, students and faculty who access Banner self-services (Web) via TruView will see little or no changes in presentation or functionality. More information regarding changes within TruView will be shared as it becomes available.

Significant changes from Banner 6 to Banner 7 include a change to a browser-based access to the administrative system, changes in forms and a common matching system. Administrative offices will no longer log into Banner via a desktop icon, rather they will log on through a URL. Many Banner forms have been changed to provide easier access and viewing of information formerly accessed via a Next Block function. As part of this change, tabs have replaced scroll bars in many forms to allow quick access to information. A common matching system is new in Banner 7 which provides searching mechanisms tailored to meet the needs of offices that create new person and non-person (e.g. vendor) records to minimize the number of duplicate records that might be created.

Tentative dates for the upgrade to Banner 7 would start at 5 p.m. Feb. 17 and continue through Feb. 20. Administrative users as well as self-service (Web) users, including staff, students and faculty, will not have access to Banner during the upgrade period. Announcements will be made via Truman Today and e-mails as soon as the upgrade dates are finalized.

Banner 7 overview and navigation sessions are being planned for administrative users who are not involved in upgrade testing. More information regarding these sessions will be forthcoming via e-mail announcement and Truman Today.

Upgrades to the Banner system are part of the maintenance agreement and services the University has contracted with SunGard SCT to provide. Upgrades generally provide enhanced services and address the ever-changing needs of the more than 1,500 institutions that have a business relationship with SunGard SCT.

Questions regarding the Banner 7 upgrade should be directed to Tammy Roberts at troberts@truman.edu.

A $5,000 gift commitment from 1972 alumna Ann Patterson and Gary Patterson of Wichita, Kan., has created a series designed to introduce and instill leadership qualities to Truman State University students.

The Student Leadership Development Series will bring together representatives of the University’s 200-plus student organizations for development and training. The Series will consist of a plenary session presented by a renowned leadership development speaker, and breakout sessions, moderated by student leaders, to allow students to learn from each other on relevant leadership topics. The conference will culminate with a luncheon.

Skills developed while on campus will assist student organizations in becoming more effective, and begin a process to help student leaders ignite the life-long leadership development process.

The inaugural conference is planned for the fall of 2006. Members of the Student Alumni Council, with assistance from the Student Life and Advancement Offices, will plan and coordinate the conference.

A 21-member contingent of the Truman Forensics Union ventured north Jan. 20-22 to Concordia University in Seward, Neb., for the “Sun and Sleet Swing,” a series of two separate tournaments hosted by Concordia University (aka “The Sleet”) and Azusa Pacific University (aka “The Sun”). Truman posted one of its most successful showings of the season, placing eight teams in elimination rounds of debate during the weekend, and capturing several individual and team honors.

Truman took second in debate sweepstakes at Concordia’s “Sleet Invitational,” while placing four parliamentary debate teams in elimination rounds. The team of Meghana Kunkala, a senior biology major from Chino, Calif., and Dylan Rothermel, a sophomore economics major from Homewood, Ill., reached the tournament’s final round, eliminating teams from the University of Missouri, the University of the Pacific and Drury University, before losing to Azusa Pacific on a 2-1 decision. Additionally, Elizabeth Hobbs, a senior biology major from Newton, Kan., and Keith Schnakenberg, a junior political science and communication double major from Buffalo, Mo., reached the semifinal round before dropping to the eventual champions from Azusa. Two additional teams rounded-out Truman’s elimination-round contingent, with the teams of Sara Archer, a sophomore pre-business administration and pre-accounting double major from Riverside, Mo., and Stefani Wittenauer, a junior communication and political science double major from Belleville, Ill., and Chris Dove, a freshman biology and sociology/anthropology double major from Chesterfield, Mo., and Trevor Alexander, a senior economics and English double major from Gladstone, Mo., reaching the octafinal (“sweet 16”) round.

In individual speaking events, Hobbs was tournament champion in quadrathon, which determines the best overall performance of individual students in speech events at a tournament. She also captured an impressive tournament championship in rhetorical criticism, second place in extemporaneous speaking and sixth place in persuasive speaking. Archer joined Hobbs in the final round of extemporaneous speaking with a third-place finish. Wittenauer finished second in informative speaking, while Casey Sharp, a freshman political science and communication double major from St. Joseph, Mo., took fourth in impromptu speaking.

Truman returned to competition on Jan. 22 to face a slightly expanded field of competitors. Truman took third in debate sweepstakes and again placed four teams in the top 16 of the tournament. Octafinalist teams included David “Ben” Holley, a senior political science and communication double major from Neosho, Mo., and Mariam Savabi, a sophomore health science major from Maryland Heights, Mo., Hobbs and Schnakenberg, Kunkala and Rothermel, and Alexander and Dove. Holley was ranked sixth speaker in the tournament, while Savabi placed 10th. Kristen Moore, a freshman political science and philosophy and religion double major from Creve Coeur, Mo., took third in after-dinner speaking, while Kristel Givogue, a freshman pre-business administration and English double major from O’Fallon, Mo., took sixth in persuasive speaking.

Truman’s John R. Kirk chapter of Blue Key National Honor Fraternity took home top honors at its national conference Jan. 20-22 at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C.

The chapter received numerous accolades, including the President’s Award, the top individual award given by Blue Key, which went to President Phil Campbell, a senior sociology/anthropology major from Florissant, Mo. The men also earned the Outstanding Chapter Award for being the top Blue Key chapter in the country.

Other distinctions conferred upon the 11 students who attended the conference included the Certificate of Merit for promotion of leadership, scholarship, and service excellence and the Marathon Award for traveling the furthest distance with the most delegates.

Blue Key is a national honor/service organization prided to the foundations of scholarship, character, leadership, and service.

The most recent graduation-rates data collected by the federal government and released by the NCAA last week show that student-athletes at Truman continue to lead the way. The 1998-99 entering class shows student-athletes graduating at a rate of 77 percent, 10 percentage points higher than the Truman student body rate, and the highest student-athlete rate among all MIAA institutions.

7 p.m.
Feb. 1
Violette Hall 1000

“A Rise of Capitalism in China”
by Hung-Gay Fung, the Dr. Y. S. Tsiang professor of Chinese studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis

Fung’s accomplishments:

• Publisher of more than 80 scholarly papers on China, financial issues, and international finance in refereed journals and several books on Chinese economy and international banking.

• Editor of journals China and World Economy and Chinese Economy.

• Organized several business conferences related to China in both St. Louis and Beijing, China.

• Conductor of executive training seminars on China for Mastercard International and the St. Louis School District Cooperative.

• Has given many lectures on China in local conferences in St. Louis.

• Active in the outreach of the St. Louis Chinese Community.
 
For more information, contact Huping Ling, professor of Asian history, at 785.4654 or hling@truman.edu.

Applications for the 2006 Homecoming committee are now available in the CSI Office.

Completed applications are due to the CSI Office by 4 p.m., Feb. 15.

Interviews will be scheduled for Feb. 21-22.

2006 Spring Semester Hours

8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Mondays-Thursdays

8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fridays

closed
Saturdays-Sundays

Call 785.4484 to make an appointment.

Begin planning now for the Spring Expo

1-5 p.m.
Feb. 28
Student Union Building

More than 75 companies from a variety of fields have signed up to attend.

Keep checking the Career Center Web site at http://career.truman.edu, and click on Career Expo to see the growing list of companies who plan on attending.

A wide variety of organizations will be on hand to visit students from all majors.

The Career Center staff will be giving tips during the next few weeks on how to prepare students for Expo.

For more information or assistance with planning for the Expo, stop by the Career Center or call 785.4353.

Graduation applications for undergraduates who want to graduate in August 2006 are due in the Registrar’s Office by Feb. 3.

Graduation applications for undergraduates who want to graduate in December 2006 are due in the Registrar’s Office by March 10. Applications and degree worksheets are available at http://registrar.truman.edu.

Nominations are now open for the 2006 Educator of the Year Award.

Students are encouraged to nominate a great professor for this annual award made by students to honor great educators at Truman.

Nomination forms are now available at the Student Senate Web site at http://senate.truman.edu. Nomination forms are due by Feb. 13.

The Women’s and Gender Studies Committee invites Gender and Empire Papers from members of the Truman and Kirksville communities.

Send abstracts to Linda Seidel, Division of Language and Literature, Truman State University or lseidel@truman.edu.
The abstract deadline is Jan. 31.

Daryl Fazio, assistant professor of art, has written a new play which will receive a public reading at 8 p.m., Feb. 3, in the Ophelia Parrish Black Box Theatre. Admission is free, and no tickets are required. The full-length dramatic play, titled “Split,” will be read by Truman faculty Becky Becker, associate professor of theatre, and Dana Smith, associate professor of theatre, students and staff. After the reading, audience members are encouraged to participate in a feedback session meant to help the playwright improve her script. “Split” takes place in the Mississippi Delta in 1969. The Supreme Court has put its foot down, and school integration is imminent. Sisters Nola and Nell exist in the midst of poverty, racism, and religious fundamentalism, believing through faith or cynicism that their fates are sealed. Until they discover another sister. And in a place where separation begets isolation, and hate is a way of life, difference turns out to be a saving grace. This play is Fazio’s third. Her first two, “Greyhounds” and “Georgia Out of My Mind,” were given productions at Truman. “Greyhounds” is also being produced Off-Broadway this February. Contact Fazio at 785.7728 or dfazio@truman.edu for more information.

Warren Gooch, professor of music, has had an original musical composition selected for performance at the 2006 Iowa Composers Forum/Grinnell Festival of New Music Feb. 17-18 at Grinnell College. “Romanza and Galop” for alto saxophone will be performed at the festival by Randall Smith, professor of music.

Bach Ha, a junior computer science and mathematics double major from Kirksville; Kensy Riley, a junior mathematics major from St. Joseph, Mo.; and Matthew Sealy, a junior mathematics and physics double major from Joliet, Ill.; presented research posters in the undergraduate research session of the 2006 national joint meeting of the Mathematical Association of America and American Mathematical Society in San Antonio, Texas, in January. Theirs were among 133 posters on display. Riley and Sealy presented work conducted during “The Next STEP” program’s 2005 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, and Ha presented work conducted last year with Susan Villarreal, senior biology major from Kansas City, Mo., as part of Truman’s “Research-focused Learning Communities in Mathematical Biology” program. At the end of the poster session, judges announced that Riley and Ha had each earned one of the session’s 36 poster awards. Each student designed and carried out their project with a faculty mentor. Riley worked with David Garth, associate professor of mathematics, Ha worked with Philip Ryan, associate professor of mathematics, and Laura Fielden, associate professor of biology, and Sealy worked with Pamela Ryan, associate professor of mathematics.

Jose Herrera, associate professor of biology, was recently awarded a Research Opportunity Award by the National Science Foundation to conduct work at the Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research Field Site near Socorro, N.M. This $24,000 grant will be conducted during his sabbatical at the University of New Mexico and help determine the microbial diversity found within two economically important forage grasses in desert environments and whether some of the microfungal members of these microbial communities can be transmitted vertically through seeds.

Thomas Trimborn, professor of music, and author of the recently published “Encounters with Lincoln: Images and Words,” will present a program titled “Lincoln and the Music of the Civil War: Contrast and Form” on Lincoln’s birthday, Feb. 12, at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site Visitors Center in Springfield, Ill.

SAB will be holding auditions for the Truman Live! talent show Jan. 31 in Baldwin Auditorium. Students can sign up in the SAB Office by Jan. 31 to try out. All talents are welcome, and groups of up to 10 people are allowed. The winning group or individual will receive a $100 ticketmaster.com gift card. Stop by or call the SAB Office at 785.4722 for more information.

Service sorority Alpha Sigma Gamma announces its “Service is a Girl’s Best Friend” Spring Rush events. There will be an Information Night from 7-9 p.m., Jan. 31, in the SUB Activities Room. A Service Night will be from 7-9 p.m., Feb. 1, in the SUB Alumni Room. There will be a Fellowship Night from 7-9 p.m., Feb. 2, in the SUB Activities Room. For more information, contact Emilee Simpson at 665.8191 or ecs807@truman.edu.

DEPThS is a new student organization dedicated to gaining personal spiritual knowledge through exposure and discussion, and to gain an open-minded perspective regarding spirituality. DEPThS meets weekly on a variety of spiritual topics each Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Baldwin Hall 249. People are welcome to attend the meeting and this week's topic (Jan. 31) is "Joseph Campbell: Unveiled."

Applications are now being accepted for The Next STEP’s 2006 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience. Applications can be found and completed online at http://step.truman.edu. The deadline for applications is Feb. 1. For more information or assistance, contact Jennifer Thompson at 785.7252 or step@truman.edu.

The Center for Teaching and Learning Weekly Lunch Series features Michael Seipel, associate professor of agriclture, and students from AGSC 491: Practicum in Agriculture II from 12:30-1:30 p.m., Feb. 1, in the SUB Spanish Room. Call 785.4391 for more information.

Phi Kappa Phi is accepting applications for the 2006-2007 Graduate Fellowship competition. Eligible students must be an active member of Phi Kappa Phi and have applied to enroll as a full-time student in a post-baccalaureate program of study. Selection will be based on the applicant’s promise of success in graduate or professional study as evidenced by academic achievement, study, leadership, service, letters of recommendation, acceptance in an approved graduate program, and a statement of goals. Nationwide, 60 Graduate Fellowships in the amount of $5,000 and 40 Awards of Excellence worth $2,000 will be awarded. Applications are due to the Truman chapter, care of Mike Ashcraft, Social Science Division, by Feb. 1. Application materials are available online at http://www.phikappaphi.org. Contact Wynne Wilbur at 785.4435 or wwilbur@truman.edu for more information.

The members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) are seeking faculty and staff volunteers to be incarcerated in a special cell in the SUB Down Under for approximately one hour on either Feb. 1 or Feb. 2 for their Jail Fund-raiser to raise money for their Annual Walk in April. All proceeds for the walk will go to the Missouri School for the Blind in St. Louis. For more information or to sign up, contact Ben Coate and Meredith Mertz at NSCSwalk@gmail.com.

The Pre-Law Club is having a meeting at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 2, in VH 1430. Students are invited to come meet the new officers and bring suggestions for new events. Contact Emily Null at ebn835@truman.edu for more information.

The Observatory will be open to the public, weather permitting, from 8-10 p.m., Feb. 2, at the University Farm. Go to http://observatory.truman.edu for more information.

The Illusion Danz Team will be hosting clinics from 3-6 p.m., Feb. 3, in the Student Recreation Center for their upcoming tryouts. Those who attend should bring extra shoes and a positive attitude. Contact Leslie Blanchard at 314.368.3582 or illusiontsu@yahoo.com for more information.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) will meet at 4:30 p.m., Feb. 3, at the University Club. Contact Marc Becker at 785.6036 for more information.

The Society for Sino-American Studies is sponsoring "Taste of Asia: a Chinese New Year Celebration" at 7 p.m., Feb. 3, in the SUB Down Under. There will be free food, music, and a lion dance. Contact Steven Chau at 785.5701 or steven.chau@mac.com for more information.

The Truman State University Communication Disorders (CMDS) Program will be hosting a Graduate Student Recruitment Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Feb. 4, in BT 128. All prospective students interested in pursuing a master’s degree in communication disorders from Truman are invited to attend. Information regarding the CMDS graduate program, the profession, employment opportunities, and funding for graduate school will be provided along with the opportunity to meet faculty, alumni and students of the program. Please R.S.V.P. to Program Director Janet L. Gooch at 785.4672 or jquinzer@truman.edu.

The Truman Athletic Department and the Truman Staff Council will sponsor Staff Appreciation Day on Feb. 4, in conjunction with the basketball games vs. Emporia State. Staff members and their family will receive free admission to the games by showing their IDs. Following their respective games, the teams, cheerleaders and Spike will be available for autographs and pictures. Staff members are reminded they must bring their own camera.

The Society for Sino-American Studies will be selling roses for Valentine’s Day from noon-3 p.m., Feb. 7-9, on the second floor of the SUB. Contact Steven Chau at 785.5701 or steven.chau@mac.com for more information.

The 2005 Educator of the Year Award Plaque Unveiling will take place at 4 p.m., Feb. 7, in Pickler Memorial Library. This is to honor last year’s recipient of the Educator of the Year award, Lynn Rose, associate professor of history. Refreshments will be available at a small reception following the unveiling at 4:30 p.m. in the SUB Conference Room. Contact Becky Hadley at 665.6190 or rlh936@truman.edu for more information.

The women of Cardinal Key are hosting a blood drive from 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Feb. 8-9, in the Student Union Building. Contact Jenny Steinhoff jjs903@truman.edu for more information.

Students can study in the Alps this summer in Chambéry, France. Students will be able to enjoy six credit hours of French, family stays, weekend excursions, and five days in Paris May 30-July 4. Applications are due Feb. 10. Contact Timothy Farley, professor of French, at 785.4520 or tfarley@truman.edu for more information.
 
The Women’s Resource Center presents the Vagina Monologues performance at 7 p.m., Feb. 10 and Feb. 11, in Baldwin Auditorium. Tickets are $2 each from Feb. 5-10 in the Student Union Building, and $5 at the door. Contact Dawn Runge at dar834@truman.edu for more information.

Memorial services for Travis Turco will take place at 6 p.m., Feb. 11, in the SUB Activities Room. Members of the Truman community who knew Turco and would like to contribute to a memory book being compiled for the family are invited to complete the form found at http://saffairs.truman.edu/Travis_Turco.pdf and bring the completed form to the Memorial Service. If you are unable to attend the Memorial Service but would like to contribute to the memory book, you may drop the completed form off at the Student Affairs Office in KB 112.

Cardinal Key invites all females of sophomore or junior standing (at least 60 Truman credit hours) with a Truman GPA of at least 3.25 to attend their “Make a Difference Tomorrow by Serving Today” Rush events: last name A-M from 1-2 p.m. and N-Z from 2:30-3:30 p.m., Feb. 12; last name A-M from 7-8:15 p.m. and N-Z from 8:30-9:45 p.m., Feb. 16; and 6-7:30 p.m, Feb. 19. All events are in the SUB Activities Room. For more details, contact Abbie Smith at aes245@truman.edu or visit http://cardinalkey.truman.edu.

Phi Sigma Pi will be having an information meeting at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Feb. 13, in the SUB Activities Room. Students with 15-75 Truman credit hours and a minimum of 3.0 GPA are eligible to join the national honor fraternity. Contact Jared Pruessner at jwp132@truman.edu for more information.

Windfall, the campus literary magazine, is now accepting submissions of art, photography, music, poetry, prose, drama and essays. Submissions may be turned into their office in KM 203B, their CSI mailbox or e-mailed to windfall@truman.edu. Submissions are due Feb. 14. See their Web site, http://windfall.truman.edu, or contact Christina Stroetker at 785.7663 for more details. 

Phi Kappa Phi is accepting applications for the 2006-2007 Study Abroad Grant competition. All Truman students are eligible to apply and should have a minimum of 56 credit hours and no more than 90 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.5. Winners will receive $1,000 for study abroad between May 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007. Deadline for applications (submitted to the Society Headquarters) is Feb. 15. Application materials may be obtained online at http://www.phikappaphi.org. For more information, contact Wynne Wilbur at 785.4435 or wwilbur@truman.edu.

Craig E. Nelson, National Carnegie Scholar and professor emeritus of biology at Indiana University, will deliver the 2006 Baldwin Lecture on “Maps for Understanding the Liberal Education” at 12:45 p.m., Feb. 15, in the SUB Georgian Room. Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at 785.4391 for more information.


Upward Bound, a college-preparatory program serving Northeast Missouri high school students, has open positions for on-campus summer employment. Teaching positions include: composition, literature, yearbook/journalism, chemistry/physics, Spanish, performance and dance. Non-teaching positions include: residential coordinator, residential mentors, night supervisor, photographer and college freshmen mentor. Information and materials can be found in KB 220 or at http://ub.truman.edu. Completed application packets are due Feb. 17.

The University Art Gallery presents the national juried competition of contemporary art until Feb. 24. Contact Aaron Fine at 785.5386 for more information.

The International Student Affairs Office is looking for local families to link up with the new international students. This is not a homestay program, but a chance for students and the families alike to learn about different cultures. Students and families enjoy participating together in normal activities such as shopping, sharing meals, and watching movies. Contact the International Student Affairs Office at 785.4215 for more information.

2005 Homecoming apparel is on sale: short or long sleeve T-shirts are $5, crew neck sweatshirts are $10 and hooded sweatshirts are $15. Homecoming apparel is available in the Center for Student Involvement. Call 785.4222 for additional information.