Vol. 22 No. 20 - February 5, 2018

Laura McHugh, a Truman alumna, McNair Scholar and author, will read her work at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 in Baldwin Hall Little Theater as a part of the Clayton B. Ofstad Reading Series.

McHugh lives in Columbia, Mo., with her husband and children. Her debut novel, “The Weight of Blood,” won both the 2015 International Thriller Writers award and a Silver Falchion award for best first novel. It was also nominated for a Barry award, an Alex award and a Good Reads Choice award. “The Weight of Blood” was named one of the best books of the year by Book Page, the Kansas City Star and the Sunday Times. Her most recent novel, “Arrowood,” is an Indie Next pick and a Library Reads pick.

Sponsored by the Department of English and Linguistics, this event is free and open to the public.

Due to the generosity and vision of Odessa Ofstad in creating the Clayton B. Ofstad Endowed Chair in English and Linguistics, the Department of English and Linguistics is able to offer a range of intensive seminars, masterclasses and workshops in creative writing, English and linguistics led by guest writers and scholars. Along with these classes, the Clayton B. Ofstad Reading Series, which features these guests, has become a centerpiece of departmental and campus culture.

After receiving feedback from recruiters, students and faculty from the fall Career and Grad School Expo, the Career Center has modified the schedule for the spring.

The dates for Career Week are Feb. 26-March 2. Monday, the Career Center will sponsor Expo Bootcamp, a workshop that will teach students about networking, professional dress and resumes. Tuesday, the Career Center will host the Etiquette Dinner and SCORE Mock Interviews.

The Career and Grad School week will now feature two different expos, one on Wednesday devoted to graduate school programs and the other on Thursday for career and internship opportunities featuring employers from for-profit, non-profit and government agencies. The week will conclude with Interview Day on Friday.

The complete schedule of events can be found here. Comments, questions or concerns can be directed to Brandi Wriedt at bkeller@truman.edu or Victoria Soncasie at ucc4@truman.edu.

The 35th annual Truman Piano Festival will be Feb. 16-17 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

The festival will feature guest artist Robert Carney. He will perform a solo recital at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 that features the work of Bach, Bonds, Copland, Menotti, Prokofiev and Liszt. He will conduct a master class at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 17 featuring Truman piano majors. Both events are free and open to the public.

Carney is an active soloist and chamber musician and has performed solo recitals in Europe and several U.S. states. He has degrees from the University of North Texas and Louisiana State University and has studied at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado.

An associate professor of music and chair of the music department at Southwest Baptist University, Carney teaches applied and classroom piano, piano pedagogy, piano literature, chamber music and music appreciation. His students have been prize winners in state, regional and international competitions. His research focuses on web-based instruction for facilitating independent learning, and he has presented his research in Europe, Canada and the United States.

In the summers, Carney teaches in the advanced piano program at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. Active in many professional associations, he is currently president-elect of the Missouri Music Teachers Association.


Robert Carney

Scott Johnson, author of “Translating Maya Hieroglyphs,” will present a Clayton B. Ofstad lecture entitled “Egos and Epigraphy: Deciphering Maya Hieroglyphs” at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 in Baldwin Hall Little Theater.

The talk will include the perspective of dozens of scholars, priests and characters in the history of the decipherment of Maya hieroglyphics. The story starts shortly after European colonization of Yucatan, Mexico, travels through Berlin at the end of World War II and culminates during the Cold War when scholars attacked each other’s ideologies instead of assessing the merits of their ideas. Today, Maya hieroglyphics are a complex writing system that is still not fully understood.

The talk, which is free and open to the public, will conclude with the discussion of debated controversies in the field.

Johnson is an archeologist with broad interests including experimental archeology, writing systems, ethnoarchaeology, linguistics and field methods. Since receiving his Ph.D. from Tulane in 2012, he has continued to do fieldwork in the Yucatan, directing the Emal Archaeological Project for several years, and has taught courses at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the director of the non-profit Low Technology Institute, which seeks to revive and adapt ancient technologies to solve problems today.

Due to the generosity and vision of Odessa Ofstad in creating the Clayton B. Ofstad Endowed Chair in English and Linguistics, the Department of English and Linguistics is able to offer a range of intensive seminars, masterclasses and workshops in creative writing, English and linguistics led by guest writers and scholars. Along with these classes, the Clayton B. Ofstad Reading Series, which features these guests, has become a centerpiece of departmental and campus culture.

German radio personality, actor and theater director Jürgen Kuttner will present his celebrated video-clip performance, “I Wanna Be Americano: A German Crisis of Identity,” at 5 p.m. Feb. 13 in Baldwin Hall Little Theater.

Kuttner came into national prominence in the 1990s as a radio host in Berlin and Bradenburg. He is known for his work in theater, most notably for his monthly video-clip evenings at the Berlin Volksbühne Theater during which he offers critical commentary on video-clips in a rapid-fire Berlin accent.

In addition to his solo performances, Kuttner has collaborated with theater director Tom Kühnel on several recent productions at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, which include adaptations of the work of Bertolt Brecht, Ayn Rand and Valerie Solanas.

Kuttner has a doctorate in cultural studies from Humboldt University Berlin. He is also the father of television host and author Sarah Kuttner, with whom he co-hosted a radio show called “Kuttner and Kuttner.”

Kuttner is visiting Truman as part of his tour of the United States sponsored by Dickinson College. His visit to Truman is sponsored by the Department of Classical and Modern Languages.

 

Internationally renowned percussion artists Arx Duo will present a concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 5 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

Seeking to expand the genre of percussion chamber music through performing and creative collaboration, Arx Duo has been blazing a trail in the realm of contemporary music since its inception at the Yale School of Music in 2014. Since then, the duo has performed and given educational clinics across three continents.

Arx Duo has worked closely with composers such as Alejandro Vinao, James Wood and Ted Hearne. Always seeking opportunities to bring percussion to a wide variety of audiences, the group has given concerts, workshops and master classes at universities and conservatories in the United States, Europe and Asia. The duo has served as artists in residence at Michigan State University and Lake George Music Festival and currently are faculty at the Young Artist Summer Program at Curtis Summerfest.

Prior to the concert, Arx Duo will present a performance master class at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

The concert is sponsored by FAC, Truman Percussion Society, Vic Firth, Inc. and Pearl/Adams Corp. For additional information, contact Michael Bump.

Truman’s forensic union (speech and debate team) attended the 20th annual Gorlok Gala, hosted by Webster University in St. Louis, Jan. 26-28, and had a strong slate of elimination participants in both debate and speech events.
 
In individual events speech, first-year Audrey Baker and sophomore Austin Sopko placed fifth in duo interpretation. Sopko also reached finals in poetry interpretation and persuasive speaking, placing sixth and fifth respectively.
 
In Lincoln-Douglas debate, first-year Eric Martin placed second in the novice division, earning his national qualification. Sophomore Caleb Daniels reached the octafinal round of the junior varsity division, which also earns a national qualification. In the open division of LD, first-year Maguire Radosevic and juniors Tyler Behymer and Johnathan Christy each reached the octafinal round as well. Behymer and Christy each earned speaker awards, with Behymer placing forth speaker and Christy eighth speaker. Senior Kelsey Barnes also earned a speaker award, placing 13th.
 
Up next, the team will be competing on home turf at Truman, Feb. 16-17, for the Missouri Association of Forensic Activities Championship Tournament.
 
Participation in the forensics program is open to any Truman student in good standing, regardless of prior speech and debate experience. For more information on how to get involved, visit forensics.truman.edu or contact Christopher Outzen, director of individual events, or Craig Hennigan, assistant director of forensics.

For more than 100 years, Greek organizations have been a part of University history. Many Greek organizations on campus started off as educational fraternities. Social fraternities were not recognized prior to 1914. Several of the current fraternities and sororities began as local organizations before being reorganized to their current affiliations.
 
Truman boasts 22 Greek organizations on campus. Approximately 18 percent of women and 22 percent of men are active in the Greek community. Greeks can be seen around campus participating in philanthropy, homecoming and Greek week events. Today, Greek Life at Truman is known for its four values of scholarship, leadership, integrity and commitment.

The Writing Center will be hosting workshops to help students reduce and manage writing-related anxiety and stress. The Better Writing Workshops will take place once a week and are free. The workshops will be low intensity and consist of small groups of five to seven people. Interested students can email write@truman.edu. A schedule will be made based on the number of workshop groups that are needed.

3 p.m.
Feb. 13
Student Union Building Georgian Rooms
President Sue Thomas will give a State of the University address, which will focus on the state budget recommendation for next year. A webcast of the remarks will be made available shortly after.

 
The James and Margaret Mudd Teacher Recognition Scholarship at Truman provides graduating students with the opportunity to honor an outstanding high school teacher who made a transforming impact in their life.

Click here to nominate a teacher. A selection committee will review nominations and determine a winner. The chosen teacher will be invited to participate in spring commencement and will be recognized formally during the commencement program. To further honor the selected teacher, a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to an incoming Truman student from the selected teacher’s high school. Nominations are due by Feb. 13.
 
The James and Margaret Mudd Teacher Recognition Scholarship is made possible through generous gifts to the Truman State University Foundation.

Phi Beta Lambda, the career prep organization, has started its open recruitment process. The chapter is looking to train new leaders of its re-branded association. Recruitment is open to all majors. A list of interest events follows.

Networking with a Twist
6 p.m.
Feb. 5
Violette Hall 1148

Pizza and Team-Building
6 p.m.
Feb. 6
Violette Hall 1416

Chips, Dips and Service
6 p.m.
Feb. 8
Violette Hall 1416

Phi Beta Lambda welcomes students to attend any two chapter meetings a semester. The meetings will occur at 6 p.m. Feb. 12, Feb. 26, March 22, April 9 and April 23 in Violette Hall 1146. There will also be a workshop on resumes and cover letters Feb. 12 to help students prepare for career week. PBL offers more than 50 competitive events. Details can be found at fbla-pbl.org/pbl/competitive-events. The deadline for competition dues is Feb. 12. For more information, email Taylor and Monica at pbltruman@gmail.com.

Student Allie Hult and alumna Lydia Pearson will read their book “Sangro Tinta” at 5 p.m. Feb. 7 in Baldwin Hall 114.

“Sangro Tinta” is a publication of Spanish and English poetry exploring themes including existentialism, heartbreak and the art of writing itself. Hult and Pearson will answer questions and sign books. The event is free.

Ajamu Baraka
“The Human Rights Challenge to War and the New McCarthyism”
7 p.m.
Feb. 7
Student Union Building Down Under
Sponsored by Students for a Democratic Society

Baraka, a human rights activist and 2016 Green Party vice-presidential candidate, will deliver a speech on the challenge to human rights posed by the prevailing political environment of “new McCarthyism” in the United States. He will answer questions from the audience after his speech. For more information, contact trumanstatesds@gmail.com.

Truman is hosting its annual Honor Band Day Feb. 10.

High school students from Missouri and several other states will visit campus and participate in a day-long musical experience that will culminate in a combined performance with Truman’s Wind Symphony I.

The day will conclude with two concerts in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall: a Wind Symphony II performance at 1 p.m. and the evening showcase concert, featuring Wind Symphony I and the Truman Honor Band, at 7 p.m. The evening showcase will feature songs from “Wicked” and “West Side Story” and performances by Eric Dickson, trumpet, and Jay Bulen, trombone. The concerts are free and open to the public.

Nominations are open for the Leadership Recognition Program. The awards honor the accomplishments of outstanding organizations and organizational members, advisers and faculty. Nominations can be submitted online at wp-internal.truman.edu/csi/leadership until 5 p.m. Feb. 28. Questions can be directed to Ray Stewart or Bhavana Yerragunta at csilrp@gmail.com.

“Climate Change and the Global Refugee Crisis”
Christine Harker, Department of English and Linguistics
7 p.m.
Feb. 15
Baldwin Hall Little Theater

Presentation abstract: The immediate cost of climate change in the coin of human suffering is unmistakable: from heat stroke and starvation in the wake of record-breaking global temperatures and droughts to drownings in flash floods and ever-more energetic tsunamis, the line of direct causality is clear. However, the effects of global warming are not limited to simple, first-order cause-effect relationships. What is not widely recognized is the hand of climate change in our world’s increasingly unstable geopolitics, or the degree to which these chains of indirect causality can extend over time. Failed crops in one growing season can displace whole populations, destabilize countries, fuel resistance movements and drive international politics in the years to follow. This presentation will explore the central role of climate change in the global refugee crisis.

More information can be found by following the event on Facebook.

The College Republicans will sponsor a presentation by conservative author, filmmaker and speaker Dinesh D’Souza at 7 p.m. March 6 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. In his presentation, “The Big Lie,” D’Souza will tackle and debunk the myth that Republicans and conservatives are linked to fascism. It will be followed by a question and answer session with members of the audience. For more information on this event, contact the College Republicans at collegerepublicans@truman.edu.

The Tillman Scholars fellowship program is open to military veterans and spouses pursuing a full-time bachelor’s, master’s or professional degree at a U.S.-based accredited institution.

The Pat Tillman Foundation unites and empowers remarkable military veterans and spouses as the next generation of private and public-sector leaders committed to service beyond self. The fellowship program supports Tillman Scholars with academic scholarship, a national network and professional development opportunities in all fields. The scholarship covers educational expenses including tuition and fees, books and living expenses. In 2018, Tillman scholars can expect to receive an $11,000 annual scholarship as well as a $1,000 stipend for professional development opportunities.

Applications are open until 11:59 p.m. March 1. An overview of the program can be found here. To fill out an application or receive more information about the program, click here.