Vol. 10 No. 26 - April 4, 2006

President Barbara Dixon, Vice President for Academic Affairs Garry Gordon, and Vice President for University Advancement Mark Gambaiana presented three faculty with the $10,000 Walker and Doris Allen Fellowship March 27. Jon Beck, associate professor of computer science; Huping Ling, professor of history; and Jeffrey Romine, professor of accounting; each received a 2006 Fellowship.

The presentation of the Fellowship was done in front of each faculty member's class, surprising the faculty member and their students.

Alumni Walker and Doris Allen established the Fellowship five years ago with one of the largest outright gifts ever made to the Truman State University Foundation. The $10,000 Walker and Doris Allen Fellowship recognize outstanding faculty members who have greatly contributed to the success of the University and its students.

Gov. Matt Blunt established Graduate Education Week, to take place April 2-9, in a proclamation signed on March 17.

Blunt's proclamation highlights the importance of graduate education and the impact it has in our state, including teachers with advanced degrees, skilled researchers, the ability to attract new businesses and the overall economic impact of a graduate education.

Current master's programs at Truman include accountancy, biology, communication disorders, education (MAE), English and music. Each of these programs at Truman is highly selective in its admission standards, and provides a high quality graduate educational experience.
Several Truman alumni who continued with their postgraduates studies at Truman have received statewide recognition.

Andy Gensler, a 1999 MAE graduate, won the National Educator award from the Milken Family Foundation. This award was referenced in the proclamation.

Jesse Bohlmeyer, a communication disorders graduate student, was named the 2006 Outstanding Graduate Student in Missouri by the Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Stephanie Bertel, a 2004 Master of Arts graduate, received the award in 2005.

Alaina Denney, an English graduate student, has been awarded the 2006 Robert J. Greef award presented by the Missouri Association of Teachers of English. The award is presented annually to a student completing an English education program in recognition of strengths in academic performance, leadership and character.

Michael Van Bebber, a music graduate student, was one of three composers selected from an international call for scores by the Virginia chapter of the College Band Directors National Association.

Margaret (Peggy) Zahner, a 2002 MA and MAE graduate, has been named "Teacher of the Year" in the St. Louis Parkway School District.

The accountancy program has been ranked among the top five schools in the nation for successful completion of the CPA exam in the first sitting for the past few years.  In one notable year, Truman graduates earned the top three scores on the May 2002 Missouri CPA exam.

Truman's eight-year streak of national elimination-round competition in debate was maintained by 12 members of the Truman Forensic Union at the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) National Championships held March 24-27 at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore.
Two hundred and sixty-three teams, from 91 colleges and universities, began the competition, which culminated in a national title awarded to the University of Puget Sound. The field included representatives from a majority of states, the People's Republic of China and Slovakia.

Truman's team of Meghana Kunkala, a senior biology major from Chino, Calif., and Dylan Rothermel, a sophomore economics major from Homewood, Ill., reached the octafinal, or "Sweet 16," round of the tournament before losing to a team from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., the defending National Champions. The team out-lasted representatives of several regional and national powers, including the University of Missouri-Columbia, Drury University, the University of Wyoming, the United States Air Force Academy and Creighton University.

Additionally, the team of Christopher Girouard, a sophomore political science and Spanish double major from Chesterfield, Mo., and Jason Mo, a sophomore chemistry major from Chesterfield, Mo., reached the triple-octafinals, which is the second in a series of seven elimination rounds arrayed in a single-elimination bracket similar to the NCAA basketball tournament. Roughly the top third of the national tournament field survives to the single-elimination phase.

In season-long sweepstakes, Truman placed eighth nationally. The season-long sweepstakes system attempts to rank programs nationally based on their performance for the duration of the competitive year. It looks at a program's best four teams at a given tournament, and more specifically at their performance during four preliminary and two elimination debates. These scores are then compared with the 256 other nationally-ranked debate programs to determine relative strength.

"This is the seventh consecutive year that Truman has ranked in the top ten of at least one of the three accepted mechanisms for ranking parliamentary debate programs nationally," Kevin Minch, director of forensics, said. "At various times we have won the national team championship, or placed in the top 10 of programs at the national championships or in season-long standings. I am always satisfied when we can maintain this standing in at least one aspect of our program."

Additional teams contributing to the team's overall standing at the national tournament were:
Trevor Alexander, a senior economics and English double major from Gladstone, Mo., and Christopher Dove, a sophomore biology and sociology/anthropology double major from Chesterfield, Mo.; Sara Archer, a junior 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.; Kevin Haynie, a freshman political science major from Bridgeton, Mo., and Todd Turner, a freshman communication major from Chesterfield, Mo.; Elizabeth Hobbs, a senior biology major from Newton, Mo., and Keith Schnakenberg, a junior political science and communication double major from Buffalo, Mo.

For most Truman competitors, this marks the conclusion of the competitive season. The squad will wrap-up its competitive season April 20-22 with the Interstate Oratorical Competition in Pensacola, Fla.

The Northeast Missouri Academic Challenge, held on March 25, was Truman’s Academic Competition Organization (ACO)’s first high school quiz bowl tournament. It was targeted toward schools from northeast Missouri as part of ACO’s effort to promote academic competition in the area. The tournament’s goal is to provide teams with a final opportunity to hone their skills just before district tournaments begin in Missouri.

The teams were divided into two pools based on school size. In the larger-school Purple Division, Kirksville won the championship. In the smaller-school White Division, Scotland County came away with top honors. Other schools competing in the tournament included Schuyler R-1, Hannibal, Fort Zumwalt West, Elsberry, Brookfield, Westran, Knox County, Canton, North Shelby, Marion County and La Plata.

The event was hosted by the Academic Competition Organization, with Truman students and faculty serving as readers, scorekeepers and timekeepers.

The Academic Competition Organization would like to thank the following members of the Truman community for assisting in making the first Northeast Missouri Academic Challenge a success: Kathryn Brammall, associate professor of history and managing editor of the “18th Century Journal;” James Guffey, professor of mathematics; Randy Hagerty, professor of political science; John Allen, a senior biology major from Chesterfield, Mo.; Jordan Bergsten, a junior psychology major from Independence, Mo.; Jon Deering, a sophomore history and pre-secondary education double major from Montgomery City, Mo.; Kendal Geno, a freshman biology major from Brookfield, Mo.; Tim Gerhart, a junior history and pre-secondary education double major from Belleville, Ill.; Robert Kelchen, a senior business administration and economics double major from Hiram, Ga.; Emily Kiddoo, a sophomore political science major from Memphis, Mo.; Becca Hoelting, a junior psychology major from Webster Groves, Mo.; Stacey Hollerauer, a senior communication major from Williamsville, Ill.; Brian Jansen, a sophomore history major from Quincy, Ill.; Becca Maddox, a junior from Macon, Mo.; Sarah Maddox, a senior English and pre-secondary education major from Macon, Mo.; and Will Tollerton, a senior history major from Laclede, Mo.

A group of future businessmen and women traveled to Jefferson City, Mo., for the 47th Annual Missouri Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference March 24-25.

Members of Truman's Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity chapter received numerous awards for their work in different areas of business such as economics and information management.

This year’s conference, themed "Unlock Your Potential," featured competitive events for individuals and teams, leadership training and the election of officers for next year.

Kyle Gifford, a senior computer science major from Columbia, Mo., served as state vice president for the 2005-2006 academic year, and Andrew Greiner, a junior economics and pre-business administration double major from Des Moines, Iowa, served as state reporter for the 2005-2006 academic year. Students elected Daniel Leatherman, a freshman pre-accounting major from Chillicothe, Mo., to the position of state reporter for the 2006-2007 academic year, and Alicia Stewart, a freshman pre-secondary education major from Clinton, Mo., was appointed the state parliamentarian for the 2006-2007 academic year by receiving the highest score on the Parliamentary Procedures exam.

The keynote speaker for the event was Andrew McCrea, whose radio program, “The American Countryside,” has won four Oscars. His address was titled "Why Successful People Act Like 5-Year-Olds."

Truman received the Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit at the conference. Gifford received the distinction of first place in "Who's Who in PBL." The chapter was recognized for their March of Dimes project and received first place in the largest local chapter membership.

Individual students earning first place awards included Leatherman for accounting principles, Andrea Cluck, a sophomore English major from Bernie, Mo., for business communication; Gifford for C++ programming and telecommunications; Amy Rowden, a junior economics and pre-business administration double major from Dixon, Mo., for economic concepts; Heidi Blackburn, a senior business administration major from Columbus, Neb., for human resource management and international business; Erin Lueker, a sophomore history major from Buffalo, Mo., for job interview and public speaking; Katie Bross, a senior accounting major from Palmyra, Mo., for local chapter annual business report with Bross; Stewart for parliamentary procedure and state parliamentary team, Stella Costello, a freshman pre-accounting major from Grayslake, Ill., for parliamentary procedure; Lisa Hoffman, a freshman pre-business administration major from Jefferson City, Mo., for parliamentary procedure; and Molly Smith, a freshman pre-business administration major from Newton, Iowa, for parliamentary procedure and state parliamentary team.

Second place awards went to Sabrina Sandeen, a senior accounting major from St. Louis, for accounting for professionals; Robin Martz, a freshman pre-accounting major from Holts Summit, Mo., for computer applications; and Costello and Kayla Riekena, a freshman pre-business administration major from Chillicothe, Mo., for multimedia presentation (team).

Third place awards went to Jessica Tipp, a senior business administration and psychology double major from Florissant, Mo., for marketing concepts; and Patricia Garrett, a junior accounting major from Memphis, Mo., for sports management and marketing. Naoki Iijima, a senior business administration and accounting double major from Japan, earned a fourth place award for human resource management. Fifth place awards went to Martz for business communication, Riekena for economic concepts, and Bross for management concepts.

This year, 13 Truman students are eligible to represent the University at the National Leadership Conference to take place June 24-27 in Nashville, Tenn. These students are Blackburn, Bross, Cluck, Costello, Gifford, Leatherman, Lueker, Martz, Riekena, Rowden, Sandeen, Smith and Stewart.
Phi Beta Lambda is an education association of postsecondary student members preparing for careers in business. There are more than 10,000 active members in the United States.

All currently enrolled Truman students who have filed the 2006-2007 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should watch their e-mail for important Financial Aid messages to be arriving soon.

This year, students will receive their 2006-2007 Financial Aid Award Notices via their Truman e-mail accounts. Scholarship renewal information will also be communicated this way.

Students will be referred to the Truman Financial Aid Office’s Web site at http://financialaid.truman.edu/forms.stm for any required forms.

Since paper award letters and forms will no longer be sent to students’ home addresses, students should share this information as needed by forwarding e-mail to parents and printing award information from their TruView accounts.

A ceremony to name the main performing facility in Ophelia Parrish in honor of retired Truman State University faculty member James G. Severns will take place at 5 p.m., April 8, in Ophelia Parrish. The public is invited to attend.

Severns began his career at Truman in 1959 and served as professor of dramatics, director of the College Players (later known as the University Players) and chairperson of the theatre department for 32 years. He directed and produced two to three plays a year with University students and worked with the Traveler’s Community Theatre in Kirksville. Severns also co-founded and served as general manager of The Ice House Theater in Hannibal, Mo. While at Truman, Severns received a Fullbright Award to study in the People’s Republic of China.
He retired from the University in 1991 and was granted the title of professor emeritus of dramatics. He and his wife, Patricia (Harris ’66) reside in Chicago.

The James G. Severns Theatre, newly constructed in 2000, features a maximum seating capacity of 243 seats and is host to numerous plays and performances. The facility includes 132 permanent seats on the main level, 46 permanent seats on the balcony level, and 65 flexible seats.

Truman’s Office of Advancement, guided by the James G. Severns Theatre Committee, is well under way with a $300,000 campaign to attain naming rights to the facility as per Foundation policy.

Resources from the project will be directed to an endowment, and annual earnings will be used for equipment, technology enhancement, refurbishment, and ongoing maintenance of the theatre.

The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series presents Rhonda Vincent and The Rage

7:30 p.m.
April 4
Baldwin Auditorium

A limited number of tickets are available for students, faculty and staff. Seating is general admission. Admission is free for students, faculty and staff with their University ID. Students may pick up tickets at the Student Activities Board Office, in the SUB Governors Room. Faculty and staff may pick up tickets at the Center for Student Involvement, lower level of the SUB.

Call the Public Relations Office at 785.4016 for more information.

Generous Helpings Hunger Relief Initiative

Now-May 12

Sodexho is assisting in raising additional funds by purchasing specified manufacturer food and supply products. One hundred percent of the additional funding earned will be distributed to the Sodexho Foundation to support hunger programs.

Every day, Sodexho will Show Case a particular item that will use these featured products from a participating manufacturer. Using more of these products will increase the amount of money donated to hunger relief in North America.

Sodexho will also be sponsoring a Local Canned Food Drive

Donate meals or dining dollars or bring in nonperishable food items April 3-6.

Sign up at the Cashier Station or bring food items to one of the dining halls, Mainstreet Market, or the C-Store.

All dining dollars, meals and food donated during this time will go to the Kirksville Local Food Bank.

“The U.S. Army’s Transformational Imperative”
presented by Lt. Col. Steve Konecny, dean of military science

7-9 p.m.
April 6
VH 1000

Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at 785.4391 for more information.

Do you know or have a great faculty academic adviser? Would you like to honor him or her? If so, nominate an outstanding full time, faculty academic adviser for the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award.

To nominate a faculty member, complete the online nomination form at http://rcp.truman.edu/lee/LeeNomination.htm.

Faculty receiving the Lee Advising Award will be recognized at August Commencement.

Nominations are due by 8 a.m., April 24.

For more information, contact Marty Eisenberg at martye@truman.edu.

Truman is the nation’s No. 4 best value in the public sector according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based education services company features the school on its “Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges” ranking list and profiles the school in the 2007 edition of its book, “America’s Best Value Colleges” (Random House / Princeton Review). A list of the schools profiled in the book can be found at Web site http://www.PrincetonReview.com.

Human Resources, in cooperation with UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company and the Benefits Advisory Committee, will be sponsoring the first

Faculty and Staff Health and Wellness Fair
April 14
Student Union Building

The following seminars will be offered:
Improving Fitness
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Conference Room

Interpreting Wellness Screening Results
10:30-11 a.m.
Conference Room

Senior Living
11 a.m.-noon
Alumni Room

Healthy Cooking
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Alumni Room

Weight Management
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Alumni Room

Please R.S.V.P. to attend any or all of the sessions online at http://hr.truman.edu/register/. Spots are limited.

In addition, several organizations from Kirksville and the surrounding area will be present as partners to provide information about the services they offer. Those scheduled to attend include: Elderlink, Air Evac Lifeteam, Putnam County Hospital, Integrative Wellness Institute, Tiffany In-home Services, and the Northeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging. These partners will be presenting from
9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Activities Room.

For more information, contact Human Resources at 785.7480, 785.4031 or hrstaff@truman.edu.

Marijke Breuning, associate professor of political science, presented two single-authored papers titled “Progress as Promised? What Donors Promise and What Aid Can(not) Deliver” and “Gender, Foreign Policy, and Development Cooperation” and one co-authored (with John Ishiyama, professor of political science) paper titled “How International Studies Major Programs Market Themselves: A Survey of 60 Primarily Undergraduate Institutions in the Midwest” at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association (ISA) held March 22-25, in San Diego. She was appointed to a three-year term commencing in March 2006 as a member of the Workshop Grants Committee of the International Studies Association.

Huping Ling, professor of history, was featured in an article titled “Ping Piao Meiguo: A Prominent Historian Huping Ling,” by Nenger Jin. The article appeared in The World Journal, the largest Chinese language daily newspaper in North America, on Jan. 15.

The DEPThS group will meet at 8 p.m., April 4, in BH 249. DEPThS is a student-led open discussion group about spirituality. E-mail depths.tsu@gmail.com for more information.

The Center for Teaching and Learning Weekly Lunch Series will take place 12:30-1:30 p.m., April 5, in the SUB Spanish Room. Call 785.4391 for more information.

“Should You Really be a Lawyer?” discussion will take place from 4:30-5:15 p.m., April 5 and April 12, in VH 1146. Martin Jayne and Paul Parker, Truman pre-law advisers, will discuss legal education and legal careers with all interested students. Contact Parker at 785.4505 for more information.

Andrew Melnyk will speak about "Is Physicalism Refuted by Human Mentality?" during the Physics Colloquium from 5:30-6:30 p.m., April 5, in MG 1096. This is free and open to the public. Contact Taner Edis at 4583 for more information.

International hall host positions are now available for the 2006-2007 school year. To be eligible for this position, applicants must live on campus and have a vehicle. If interested, contact Kara Burns, international hall host coordinator, at 665.0468 or KaraLynn@truman.edu by April 7.

Alan Journet, professor of biology at Southeast Missouri State University, will speak at 11:30 a.m., April 7, in the SUB Spanish Room. His presentation will be titled “Crouching Cassowary, Hidden Cheetah” and will be about his trips to Australia and to Kruger Park in Africa. Contact Jim Turner at 785.4348 for more information.

The Child Development Center and the Division of Education present “A Report on Public Preschool Initiatives Nationwide” by Kathy Thornburg, past president of NAEYC and national leader in early childhood education policy, at noon, April 7, in the SUB Activities Room.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) will meet at 4:30 p.m., April 7, at the University Club. Contact Marc Becker at 785.6036 for more information.

The Student Activities Board (SAB) will be showing “Memoirs of a Geisha” at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., April 7, in VH 1000. No tickets are needed. Call 785.4722 for details.

The Society of Dance Arts (TSODA) presents “Dance Fusion 2006: Body Language” at 7 p.m., April 7 and April 8, in Baldwin Auditorium. Admission is free; donations are welcome. Guest performers will include the University Swingers, Baptist Student Union Praise and Worship Dance Team, Showgirls, High Street Dancers, Unique Ensemble Praise Dancers, Ceilidh Dancers and International Club. Contact Ashley Morris at 573.619.5154 for more information.

The Special Olympics Northeast Area Track and Field Games will take place from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., April 8, at Stokes Stadium. Admission is free. Volunteers to be buddies to athletes from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and other aspects of the games with less of a time committment are needed as well. Contact Julie Wynn, student director of the Student Council for Exceptional Children, at 627.6035 or scec@truman.edu to get more information or to volunteer.

The Board of Governors will meet at 12:30 p.m., April 8, in the SUB Conference Room.

The Rotaract Club will present the fourth film of its International Film Series, “Bride and Prejudice,” from 6:30-9:30 p.m., April 8, in VH 1000. Contact Brynn Weimer at 665.3452 or bew935@truman.edu for more information.

College Republicans will sponsor “American Power: The Bush Administration’s War on Terror,” a presentation by Rich Lowry, nationally syndicated columnist and editor of National Review magazine, at 7 p.m., April 11, in Baldwin Auditorium. For more information, contact Will Tollerton at 785.7116 or wjt073@truman.edu.

All art submissions for the first ever ARTSEnvironmental Gallery Show, sponsored by the Environmental Campus Organization (ECO) and the Kirksville Arts Association, are due by April 12. The show will take place April 19-May 4. For more information, contact Cassie Phillips at cassiephillips@care2.com.

The English Graduate Organization will present its third annual conference with this year’s theme focusing on the creative art of writing from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., April 12 and April 13, location to be determined. Presentations can include anything from fictional and non-fictional narratives to writing about artistic creations such as fiber projects and music. Contact Tom Useted at tuseted@truman.edu for more information.

The Truman State University Music Department will present a jazz combo concert at 7 p.m., April 12, in the OP Performance Hall. Contact Tim AuBuchon at 785.4412 for more information.

Phi Sigma Pi Honor Fraternity is sponsoring a presentation by Rick Shenkman titled “American Myths Revealed” at 7 p.m., April 12, in Baldwin Auditorium. For more information, contact Emmie Combes at eac900@truman.edu.

The Annual Service Recognition Banquet will take place at 6:30 p.m., April 27, in the SUB Georgian Room. Tickets are available in the Human Resources Office in MC 106 for $10 each.

This year the Kirksville Heart Walk (approximately 2.5 miles) will be in honor of former Truman State University football coach and Truman alumnus, John Ware. Anyone can participate in this event on April 29. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m. If you have an interest in participating or being part of a team, contact Jack Schrader at schrader@truman.edu or 785.4171.

Faculty, staff and students who know an international student who deserves to be recognized for his or her hard work and enthusiasm can nominate that person to become the next International Student of the Month. Applications are available at http://iso.truman.edu under the Current Students tab. Applications may be submitted at any time. Contact Kara Burns at 665.0468 for more information.