Vol. 23 No. 13 - Nov. 12, 2018

Truman will celebrate donations to the University Nov. 13 by tagging items across campus made possible by private gifts to the University.

The goal of Tag Day is not only to show appreciation to donors who have given back to the University, but also to raise awareness on campus of how they impact day-to-day life at Truman. Thousands of alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends of the University invest in Truman, to the benefit of the campus community. The University has more than 700 funds. Donors support a variety of causes across campus such as scholarships, athletics, fine arts and academic departments.
 
This year students can join in on the celebration by participating in a social media scavenger hunt. The first ten students who take five selfies with tagged items, using the hashtag #TrumanTagDay, and posting them to the Student Alumni Association Facebook page will be eligible to win a free t-shirt. The first five students who take 10 selfies with tagged items will be eligible to win a gift card to a local restaurant.

Student applications for the University Conduct Board will be accepted until 5 p.m. Nov. 14.

The University Conduct Board is made up of students, faculty and staff members that contribute to the campus community. Student members participate in citizenship programs, sit on an advisory board, hear cases of alleged misconduct for both students and organizations, and determine whether or not the behavior violated the University’s Conduct Code. If so, then they assign sanctions accordingly. Student members gain communication, writing and critical thinking skills by participating in educated discussion with other students, faculty and staff members on issues that affect campus.

The English, linguistics and creative writing will host their biannual Capstone Conference Nov. 29-30.
 
Fifty-one students from across all three disciplines will present 10- to 12-minute presentations.
 
Alumna Renee Eveland, J.D., has been invited to serve as the guest speaker. Eveland earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Truman in 1998. After working for Buchroeders Jewelers in Columbia, Mo., for four years, she attended law school at the University of Nebraska, where she earned her law degree with distinction in 2005. She has been employed at Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather L.L.P. in Lincoln, Neb., since 2016.
 
Eveland’s practice is focused on civil defense litigation and appellate advocacy. She has argued successfully before the Nebraska Supreme Court, the Nebraska Court of Appeals and the former Nebraska Workers’ Compensation appellate review panel. She received the first annual Nebraska Defense Counsel Association “Rising Star” award in 2011, presented to a Nebraska attorney practicing 10 years or fewer who has exhibited skill in defending businesses and individuals in civil matters with the highest degree of professionalism and ethics and who also has exhibited leadership, mentoring and community services outside the practice of law.
 
The Capstone Conference will take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 29 and 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms A and B.
 
Eveland is scheduled to present “Truth and Advocacy: What We Learned From the Justice Kavanaugh Hearings” at 12 p.m. Nov. 29 and “English Degrees at Work – Careers in Trial Law” at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 30.

Marco Romani will present “Humanities Outreach and Social Entrepreneurship” at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 in Ophelia Parrish 2210.

Romani is responsible for the management of the Paideia Institute, a non-profit educational organization focused on promoting study and appreciation of classical language. He will speak about the story of the inception and growth of the Paideia Institute as a social enterprise based on the classical humanities, with a particular focus on Paideia’s outreach activities.

Through the Aequora program, the Paideia Institute ambitiously aims at making literacy instruction through Latin accessible to more students in the United States. By exploring new avenues for literacy instruction based on active language teaching, he will highlight ways in which school-based outreach can keep the humanities relevant and thriving in a rapidly changing economy.

The Missouri Folklore Society conducted its annual meeting in Washington, Mo., Nov. 1-3, organized by English alumnae Meredith Heist Rau and Annie Fuller.

Presentations by current Truman undergraduates included “A Comparative Analysis Between Personal Political Narratives and Religious Conversion” by Christian Hatala, English; “Bonfire Legends as Told by Stan Westhoff” by Elizabeth Westhoff, English; and “Consumption and Appetite: A Look at Gender and Mortality in Myth” by Sophie Pressler, English. Each student is also completing the folklore minor.

Two current graduate students in English also spoke. Rowen Conry presented “Malls, Dead and Dying: An Autopsy of Mall Culture” and Sarah Muir presented “Kirksville Gothic.”

Recent Truman alumni Scott Campbell, Phillip Dryden and Austin Krueger made appearances as well.
 
Campbell, an English major, presented “An Identification of Socially-Constructed Luck Rituals in Magic the Gathering and their Transference.”

Dryden, a biology and English major, presented an application of ecological niche theory to geographic distribution of constituent structures in myth, “Brother May I Have Some Memes?”

Lastly, “Walt Disney and Marceline: The Story Behind the Original Main Street, USA” was presented by Krueger, an English major.

Dryden and Krueger completed the Folklore minor last spring. Alumnus Patrick McGlasson, a history major now studying law at the University of Illinois, appeared in a panel discussion on balladry scholarship.

Truman faculty presenters included Marc Rice, professor of music, who premiered his forthcoming book “Black Music in the Black Press: An Anthology of Essays from the Heartland.” Adam Davis, professor of English, presented in character on Sam Clemens’ creation of his stage persona, Mark Twain. Davis also appeared in a roundtable discussion of folklore pedagogy. Barbara Price, professor of English, organized a presentation of folk toys produced by Homer and Mary McCollum.

Next year’s meeting will take place in Marshall, Mo., Oct. 10-12, led by Price, the incoming Society president.

International Education Week continues through Nov. 15. The week is a nationally recognized event that serves as an opportunity to celebrate international students and study abroad opportunities. These experiences enrich education and make campus a more diverse and welcoming place. Events include:

Tabling in the Student Union Building
Nov. 12-15
The CIS, CIEA and CDI will be tabling in the Student Union Building all week, except for Nov. 15 when they will be in Violette Hall. There will be candy, games, trivia and a photo booth on various days.

International Spirit Day
Nov. 12
International Spirit Day is a day to celebrate your international side. Wear clothes from your culture or simply a T-shirt.

International Tea and Coffee
5-6:30 p.m.
Nov. 12
Student Union Building Hub
International Tea and Coffee will be the kick-off event for the week. Nicole Stelter, the international student advisor, will speak in addition to performances by TrueMen, the President’s Quartet and several talented international students. There will be teas and coffees from around the world available to taste.

Sodexo Around the Globe
Nov. 13-15
Mainstreet Market
Tres Habaneros in Mainstreet Market will be converted into an international food stand for three days. It will feature South Asian and Mediterranean cuisine as well as a sausage day. Students will be able to use meal swipes or dining dollars.

Indian Cuisine
Nov. 13
Yellow curry with beef, green curry with tofu, butter chicken, white rice, Aloo Tiki with curry sauce and naan bread will be served.

European Sausage Haus
Nov. 14
Kabob sampler, vegan sausage kabob, sauerkraut, grilled onions, braised cabbage, spaetzli, herb buttered potatoes and spinach dinner rolls will be served.

Greek Mediterranean
Nov. 15
Beef gyro, lamb gyro, vegetarian falafel, red onions, tomatoes, lettuce, tzatziki sauce, spanakopita and lemon basil kalamata couscous will be served.

International Trivia
7-9 p.m.
Nov. 13
Maxwell’s
Come out alone or with a team and be ready to have a ton of fun.

Dance Explosion
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14
Kirk Gym
Students can come learn and perform dances from various cultures around the world. This is a high-energy and very fun event that was well-loved last year.

Stories Under the Stars
6-8 p.m.
Nov. 15
International students will tell folk stories from their cultures while the sky in the planetarium moves to show the sky above their hometown. This event will be entertaining and informative.

Reminiscent of the popular movie “Night at the Museum,” great movie speeches will transcend the screen and come to life from 8-9 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitors Center.  

Students from select COMM 170 sections have organized an entertaining program schedule. Approximately 60 students are involved in the project sponsored by the Communication Club (NCASC) in honor of Communication Week at Truman. At any given point about half of the students will be in character. This will allow the other student performers to move around and observe student speeches as well.  

The museum is self-paced style and each student’s presentation is three to five minutes. Students will share brief insights about the characters, the rhetorical situation and will perform excerpts of the dialogue/speeches.

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. Additionally, any student interested in communication, regardless of major, year of study or grade point average, is welcome to join. Barry Poyner serves as the advisor to the organization, the only NCA student club in the state of Missouri.

This is the ninth time such an event has been organized at Truman. In the past, historic speeches, drawn from the Top 100 Speeches of the 20th Century have been performed.

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

New Bulldog Forever shirts are available for purchase. Short-sleeve shirts are $5.

We want to first say, “Thank You” to all those who have already donated to our cause. We are just over half way to our goal of $45,000 from the Truman State University community and would like to remind everyone that it is not too late to send in your pledge amounts. Over 99 percent of the funds given in Adair County will be distributed to the 13 organizations and 20 programs that are local in our communities. These organizations rely on all of us to help support financially to be able to provide their services. Many of us may have already been in need, or know someone that has been in need, where one of these organizations has helped us personally.
 
Remember, "United We Can Make A Difference."

Thank You,
From your Truman Co-Chairs

Tim Mills, IT Service Center Manager
Rusty Nelson, Professor of Art

The 2019 Study Abroad Foundation Scholarship applications are now open until Jan. 31.

The available scholarships are for students studying abroad through a Truman State University-sponsored program in 2019 or the spring of 2020. Click here to apply in TruView or log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Student Finances, Foundation Scholarship Application. Scholarships will be applied just prior to study abroad trip.

These scholarships are established by generous alumni and friends of Truman State University.

Open forums for four candidates for the Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Education will begin Nov. 13. Feedback forms and materials for the candidates can be found here.

Dr. Lance Ratcliff
Southeast Missouri Hospital College
11 a.m.
Nov. 13            
Violette Hall 1000

Dr. Guy Mills
Northwest Kansas Technical College
11 a.m.
Nov. 26            
Violette Hall 1000

Dr. Nicole Nickens
University of Central Missouri
11 a.m.
Nov. 28
Violette Hall 1000

Dr. Douglas Hochstetler
Pennsylvania State University, Lehigh Valley
11 a.m.
Nov. 30
Violette Hall 1000

Students interested in studying abroad in China can attend one of two informational meetings 6-7 p.m. Nov. 13 and 14 in Baldwin Hall 303.

The four-week study abroad program will take place at Soochow University with weekend excursions to Suzhou, Shanghai and a final six-day tour of Beijing in the summer of 2019. Students may earn up to six credit hours upon completion of the requirements of two courses. All courses will be taught by the faculty at Soochow University including a Chinese language course and Chinese cultural practicum.

Students will gain first-hand experience of Chinese culture including Chinese gardening, Tai chi, calligraphy, tea ceremony, papercutting and cuisine. In addition to culture, students will learn listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at an appropriate level.

“That Liberty Shall Not Perish” will be presented by Amanda Langendoerfer, associate dean of libraries for special collections and museums, and Jason McDonald, assistant professor of American history, from 7-8 p.m. Nov. 15 in Baldwin Hall 102. In commemoration of the World War I centenary, Langendoerfer and McDonald will recount the origin, preservation and historical significance of Truman’s extensive and impressive collection of propaganda posters.

The application period for summer academy positions is now open.
 
The Institute for Academic Outreach has summer positions available for:
 
·         Joseph Baldwin Academy
·         ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy
·         Taiwan at Truman
 
Each academy is in search of preceptors and a night monitor. Joseph Baldwin Academy is also in search of a videographer.
 
Taiwan at Truman is in search of only female preceptors, specifically those with an interest or experience in foreign language, linguistics, or ESL, as the academy will only have female Taiwanese students in Summer 2019.
 
In order to apply for a preceptor position, you must:
1) currently be a full-time student at Truman
2) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of application
 
Preceptors are expected to be supportive of the University goals, responsible, enjoy working with high-ability teenage students, and be high-energy individuals.
 
Applicants should prepare a letter of interest which should include the skills they possess that will assist them when working with high-ability teenage students, related work experiences, and why they are interested in the summer academy for which they apply. Applicants will also need to complete the online application, provide a current resume and list a reference.
 
Information about each available position and the online application is available at tiacademies.truman.edu/employment.

The Office of Student Research will be accepting Grants-In-Aid of Scholarship and Research (GIASR) applicants, as well as Conference Travel Scholarship applications, for spring 2019.

All disciplines are invited to participate. The purpose of the GIASR is to promote a culture of research and scholarship at Truman while providing flexibility to accommodate different research styles and requirements. Projects supported by this program should involve original ideas but may encompass a variety of activities including obtaining preliminary data or information, exploring new topics and continuing ongoing projects.

To be eligible for funding, students must be a currently enrolled, full-time as a Truman undergraduate or graduate student. Students must also have completed or be currently involved in a faculty-mentored research experience and plan on presenting at the conference.

GIASR applications may request up to $750 and can cover student stipends as well as supplies and travel to conduct the research. The travel scholarship will cover up to $500 of conference registration, lodging and travel expenses. Complete guidelines can be found at the Office of Student Research website.
 
All students who wish to be considered for spring 2019 funding should submit applications online by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 27.
 
Any questions about the Office of Student Research programs can be directed to osr@truman.edu.

The Center for International Education Abroad and the Career Center will host Kara Jo Levery, career ready coach, to present “How to Market your Study Abroad Experience” at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 28 in Violette Hall 1412. Levery will end her presentation with a Q&A session.

A visiting lecturer Jim Ralph, a professor at Middlebury College, will present “Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Most Relevant Civil Rights Campaign: The Chicago Freedom Movement Reconsidered” at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 in Baldwin Hall Little Theatre. Ralph has been studying the movement for more than 30 years. He is the author of “Northern Protest: Martin Luther King, Jr., Chicago, and the Civil Rights Activism in the North.”

The Department of Classical and Modern Language will host a poster exhibition of Special Topics in Chinese Culture from 12-1:15 p.m. Nov. 29 in the Student Union Building Down Under. Students with various cultural backgrounds will present their research projects about Chinese culture. A variety of topics ranging from traditional Chinese culture to modernization will be covered. Light refreshments will be served.

The University choirs, the brass choir and Kirksville High School choirs will come together to perform a joint concert, “A Very Happy Holiday,” at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

Each choir will perform solo pieces, combining at the end of the concert for a grand finale. Guests will have the chance to sing several holiday songs. Last year’s holiday concert filled quickly, so those interested in attending will have two opportunities to witness the performance.

Tickets are $5 each for adults and $3 for children and students until Nov. 27. They are available for purchase in downtown Kirksville at Edna Campbells and Beard’s Decorating Center starting Nov. 5. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the performances.

The next issue of the Truman Today will be available Nov. 26.

Curtis R. Blakely, associate professor of justice systems, completed work on a project for the United Nations to assess the conditions of prisons in France and Belgium. Blakely was selected for this project due to the worldwide acclaim afforded his recent co-authored book with his wife, Dr. Michelle Blakely, University of Wyoming, and for his efforts as managing editor of the International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences.

Jerrold Hirsch, professor emeritus of history, reviewed, Bruce M, Conforth, “African American Folksong and American Cultural Politics: The Lawrence Gellert Story” in the Journal of Folklore Research and Reviews.

Peter Ramberg, professor of history of science, organized a session on “Chemistry and the ‘Big Picture’ narratives in the History of Science” at the recent meeting of the History of Science Society in Seattle. At the session, he presented a paper on “Chemistry as part of ‘Grand Narratives’ in History of Science.” The paper noted the overall lack of inclusion of chemistry in history of science textbooks, suggested some reasons for this neglect and offered some ways in which the history of chemistry can enhance the understanding of the historical development of science.

Volleyball players Savvy Hughes, setter, and Ellie Kaat, outside hitter, were both named Second-Team All-GLVC as voted by the conference’s coaches and announced by the league office, Nov. 7. Hughes is a two-time Second-Team All-GLVC honoree, is third in school history for assists per set in a career (9.63) and fifth in total assists (3,430) despite playing just three seasons in the purple and white. Switching from the middle to the outside, Kaat led the 2018 squad in points (410), points per set (4.18), kills (365), kills per set (3.72) and attempts (1,021) as a true sophomore. Lastly, one athlete from each of the league’s 14 teams was named a James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award nominee and Hughes was chosen as Truman’s honoree for the second-straight season. The student-athletes chosen for that honor are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

Students and staff from Truman attended the MACURH Regional Leadership Conference in Rolla, Mo., Nov. 2-4. The conference is focused on allowing students to develop leadership skills and connect with other student leaders from around the Midwest. Members of Truman’s delegation were: Jordan Gregory, Gloria Farmer, Carrie Kucharski, Sammy Garrett, Pearl Elliott, Jake Elieff, Sam Edues, Taylor Branson, Cole Keiper, Erin Darr, Mary Smreker-Bruce and Megan Swingle. While at the conference members of the delegation were honored with the following awards: Most Spirited Delegation, 10 Ten Program (Garrett and Elieff), Three Year Service Pin (Darr, Garrett, Edeus and Carrie Kucharski), Returning Delegate Case Study Winner (Gregory, Garrett and Kucharski) and New Delegate Case Study Winner (Edeus and Farmer).

Seven Truman woodwind students recently competed at the Missouri Music Teachers Association Conference that took place in Columbia, Mo., Nov. 1-2.  Each performed three contrasting solos, which were evaluated by judges who provided written comments. Senior Donald Rabin, flute, was the only undergraduate to compete in the prestigious national competition (MTNA Young Artist) and received second place. In the statewide collegiate woodwind competition (MMTA), graduate student Alanna Benoit, clarinet, received runner up in the Graduate Division. Junior Anna Graves, clarinet, won the MMTA Upper Division competition, and senior Chris Ramey, saxophone, received runner up. In the MMTA Lower Division competition, sophomore Brianna Combs, clarinet, received runner up, while sophomores Holly Peters, clarinet, and Tori Tyler, clarinet, were awarded honorable mention.

Anna Graves (left), Alanna Benoit and Chris Ramey pictured with their awards.

The 2019 Study Abroad Foundation Scholarship applications are now open until Jan. 31.

The available scholarships are for students studying abroad through a Truman State University-sponsored program in 2019 or the spring of 2020. Click here to apply in TruView or log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Student Finances, Foundation Scholarship Application. Scholarships will be applied just prior to study abroad trip.

These scholarships are established by generous alumni and friends of Truman State University.