Vol. 23 No. 27 - April 1, 2019
Features
Library to Add VIP Section Next Year
Thanks to a generous donation from an alumna, Pickler Memorial Library will feature a VIP section starting next fall.
Planned features of the VIP section include sound-proof study rooms, personal tutors on staff, Starbucks table service, free massages and puppies to play with at all times the library is open. The additional resources come at no cost to the University and are being made possible by the financial support of alumna Avril Tonto.
“I understand the dedication it takes to be successful academically, and I just thought this would be a nice way to reward those students who have put in the effort to reach the top,” she said. “Plus, I’m obscenely wealthy thanks to the education I received at Truman, so this is my way of giving back.”
Tonto made her fortune in the tech industry as the developer of SnackerTracker, a service app that allows users to get food from any restaurant delivered to their door in 30 minutes or less. Students with VIP access to the library will also be included in a pilot version of SnackerTracker this fall. They will be able to get delivery from every local eatery, in addition to favorites from any chain restaurant in the continental U.S. When pressed about how that would be feasible logistically, Tonto declined to provide details, but speculation is the company uses patented wormhole technology which allows for easy travel over long distances.
“It’s a trade secret, so I can’t get into specifics, but that component of the app is what allowed us to sell it for $4.1 billion last year,” she said. “Let’s just say I learned a lot in my quantum mechanics class at Truman.”
A lottery to select students to receive a month-long pass to enter the VIP lounge will take place the first of each month. However, in April the lottery will take place on the second as to avoid any student feeling pranked by an April Fools’ announcement.William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award Honors Faculty
Students, deans, department chairs and faculty can submit nominations to honor outstanding full-time faculty advisors.
The William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award pays tribute to excellent faculty advisors and demonstrates how important academic advising is at Truman. In addition to campus-wide recognition at the Strategic Planning and Assessment workshop in August, the awardee receives a $1,000 grant to be used for enhancement of student advising.
The nomination deadline for the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award is 5 p.m. April 5. To submit a nomination, complete the online form.Children’s Literature Festival Set for April 5
The Truman State University Children’s Literature Festival will take place from 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. April 5 in the Student Union Building for more than 1,700 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students.
Visiting authors and illustrators include Elana K. Arnold, Tracey Baptiste, Jerry Craft, Janet Fox, Donna Gephart, Tae Keller, Hena Khan, Geoff Rodkey, Wendy Shang, Don Tate and Christine Taylor-Butler.
Students will participate in 30-minute sessions with the guest authors and illustrators. All children attending must be pre-registered. University faculty, staff, students and other interested adults are welcome at any of the sessions. Contact Daisy Rearick or call 660.785.4048 to register.
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.
The Children’s Literature Festival was an annual event for 21 years. Due to severe budget cuts, the festival was discontinued in 2004. A Children’s Literature Festival Fund was started in 2007 in an effort to revive the event, and the festival returned in 2009. For more information about the fund, contact the Office of Advancement at 660.785.4133 or visit truman.edu/giving.
The festival is sponsored by Pickler Memorial Library with financial support from the Freeman Foundation, Follett Higher Education Group, Truman State University Bookstore and the Truman State University Foundation. Additional information may be obtained from Sharon Hackney at 660.785.7366 as well as the Children’s Literature Festival webpage.
The authors’ books are available at the Truman State University Bookstore.Applications Open for Second Annual TEDx Conference
Student Government is seeking speakers, hosts and committee members for the second annual TEDx Conference this fall.
Speaker applicants who are accepted will be filmed and featured on the TEDx website reaching thousands of people and giving speakers an international platform. Committee members will have the opportunity to help select speakers, create advertisements and program the conference.
Committee member applications are due April 20. Speaker and host applications are due April 27. Further questions can be directed to Shania Montúfar, committee chair. Applications can be found here.
TED is a non-profit organization that sponsors independent conferences all over the world. These conferences strive to spread new ideas through short, powerful talks that can cover a wide range of topics. TEDxTrumanStateUniversity, sponsored by Student Government, will consider students, faculty and staff and community members for the speaker and host positions. Current students are preferred for the TEDx planning committee. Students Government hopes to showcase presentations which encourage the audience to approach a topic from a unique or unconventional perspective.Theatre Department Presents “Love & Information”
Truman’s Theatre Department will perform “Love & Information” at 8 p.m. April 10-13 in the James G. Severns Theatre.
“Love & Information” is a kaleidoscopic whirl of fast-moving, short scenes that all have to do with the way people receive, communicate, omit, seek or hide information in service of the notion of love. Instead of a single narrative, the play’s 78 scenes present more than 100 characters and raise a number of questions that linger in the air, such as: how does the brain process information? How do machines and devices used to share information affect the ways people love? How does the brain create meaning out of information? How is memory constructed in the brain? Is memory reliable? How does memory construct our identities?
The play debuted at the Royal Court Theatre in London but has since made its way to the United States, being called “ingenious,” “thought-churning,” and “deeply poignant.” The “Guardian” stated, “This is an exhilarating theatrical Kaleidoscope…What is extraordinary about Churchill is her capacity as a dramatist to go on reinventing the wheel.”
Some of the scenes deal with serious subject matter such as violence, torture, animal experimentation, infidelity, mental illness, bullying and PTSD.
The cast will be making guest appearances on campus at the event “Paint Your Love & Information” where paint will be available for students to splatter on a canvas in a collaborative art piece. This event will occur from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. April 1 on the quad.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at the box office beginning April 1 or by calling 660.785.4515. For more information contact Nicole Dunseith.Meet Jenna Fischer During Fundraising Event
Prior to her presentation for the Holman Family Distinguished Series, Jenna Fischer will participate in a fundraising event to benefit the Theatre Department.
Fischer will be the featured guest at a limited-ticket event from 6-8 p.m. April 4 in Kirk Memorial. Tickets are $100 per person. All attendees will receive a commemorative photo from the event and an autographed copy of her book “The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide.” Proceeds from this event will support theatre students at Truman.
Tickets are open to anyone and must be purchased in advance by contacting the Advancement Office at 660.785.4133 or 800.452.6678. The event will include heavy appetizers along with hosted wine and beer. Recommended attire is business dress.
Since graduating from the University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre in 1995, Fischer’s career includes more than 50 credits as an actor and producer. She is best known for her role as Pam on the hit NBC comedy “The Office,” and she currently stars on the ABC series “Splitting Up Together.” Among the feature films in her body of work are roles in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” “Blades of Glory” and director Clint Eastwood’s 2018 picture, “The 15:17 to Paris.” After completing “The Office,” she starred in the off-Broadway production of Neil LaBute’s play “Reasons to be Happy.”
The following evening, Fischer will speak at 7:30 p.m. April 5 in Pershing Arena. A limited number of tickets for that speech are still available online. Fischer’s presentation is free thanks to the generous support of the Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series, created in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman by their children to honor their parents’ long association with Truman. It is funded through an endowment with the Truman State University Foundation.
Announcements
Annual Fund Internship Available
The Office of Advancement is accepting applications for the fall 2019 annual fund internship.
The intern will gain experience working on the fundraising side of a non-profit organization within Truman, specifically the Truman Foundation. Responsibilities will be divided between three main focus areas: Tel-Alumni coordinator, Office of Advancement projects and office hours with a focus on development projects such as Tag Day and the Student Alumni Association.
Qualified applicants will be a business or communication major with a minimum of 2.75 GPA. The intern will work 15 hours a week for approximately 11 weeks and receive class credit commensurate with their time in the office. A supplementary stipend is also included.
For a complete job description, visit TruPositions or click here. Deadline for applications is April 26. Please contact Dylan Phillips for further questions.Enroll for Summer Classes
While summer vacation provides the opportunity for students to enjoy some “down time,” it also allows them to earn credits toward their degree. Summer classes are flexible with schedules, offering 10-week, eight-week or five-week sessions.
Classes can be taken both online and on campus. Online classes allow students to study from the comfort of their home while taking courses to boost their GPA for scholarship reinstatement. On-campus classes provide plenty of opportunities for students to get face-to-face interactions with professors and experience Kirksville recreation during the summer. Both allow students to add coursework to a major or minor without delaying graduation, while saving time and money.
For more information about summer classes visit summer.truman.edu.
Learn to Market Study Abroad Experiences
The Career Center is partnering with the Study Abroad Office to host a workshop on marketing study abroad experiences from 6-7 p.m. April 1 in Violette Hall 1430. The workshop will teach students to effectively market their study abroad experience to graduate schools and future employers. For more information, contact the Center for International Education Abroad at ciea@truman.edu or 660.785.7466 or contact the Career Center at careers@truman.edu or 660.785.4353.
Speaker to Present on the Importance of Bees
Interdisciplinary studies will sponsor Bridget Mendel Lee who will give a reading of her work at 6 p.m. April 1 in Baldwin Hall 114. Lee will also present on “Pollinator Diversity for Ecological Health” at 10:30 a.m. April 2 in Baldwin Hall 305.
Lee is a mother, writer and beekeeper. Her work has appeared in “DUSIE,” “Noo Journal Beekeeper’s Quarterly” and “Nous Zot Press.” She is a recipient of the University of Minnesota Book Arts Fellowship, a Block Arts Fellowship and a Minnesota Emerging Writers Grant. As the program manager at the UMN Bee Lab’s Bee Squad, Lee manages the insects, teaches classes for beekeepers and manages interdisciplinary, pollinator-focused programs. She also teaches creative writing classes at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
National Public Health Week
Psi Chi Symposium Lets Students Examine Grad Programs Virtually
The psychology honors society will host a virtual symposium starting at 6 p.m. April 2 in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium. Six schools will be represented in this virtual visit to discuss programs in social work, social psychology, clinical psychology and school psychology. Each school will have roughly 15 minutes to talk with attendees. This event is free and open to the public. Students interested in psychology and social work are encouraged to attend. For more information contact Grant Wallace.Informational Meeting to Discuss Scholarship Opportunities
An informational session will discuss the scholarship criteria and application process for graduate and undergraduate students from 4:30-6 p.m. April 3 in Violette Hall 1010.
The application process is very rigorous and highly competitive and many deadlines occur in the fall semester. Listed below are the major national fellowships.
Graduate Students:
Fulbright Grants: Research grants and teaching assistantships for a year abroad.
Rhodes Scholarship: Grants for two years of study at Oxford University.
Marshall Scholarship: Awards for two years of study in any British university.
Mitchell Scholarship: One year of graduate study or research in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Awards for an advance degree or second bachelor’s degree at the University of Cambridge.
Undergraduate Students:
Goldwater Scholarship: Up to $7,500 annually for tuition, fees, books and room and board for science and mathematics majors.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship: For senior year and post-graduate study leasing to a career in public service.
Udall Scholarship: For students interested in careers related to environmental issues or for Native American and Alaskans interested in careers related to health care and tribal public policy.
Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellowship: For students interested in international affairs to work as research assistants to the endowment’s senior associates in Washington, D.C., for a full year.
Boren Scholarship: To study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests.Wellness Site Resource: Spirit Page
Spiritual Wellness is a personal matter involving values and beliefs that provide a purpose in our lives. The Spirit Wellness page lists resources for students to get involved with religious organizations as well as the University observatory. Organizations include Campus Christian Fellowship, Baptist Student Union, Catholic Newman Center, Momentum Ministry and the Lutheran Student Fellowship.
CIS Hiring Scholarship Workers
The Center for International Students is hiring scholarship workers for the fall and spring semesters in the 2019-20 academic year. Teams that are hiring include: student support, admissions, media, academic success mentors, cultural integration leaders, CHAT partners and international ambassadors. The media team is looking for photographers, graphic designers and writers. Applications are available here.
Center for Academic Excellence Now Hiring Tutors
Tutors assists students with the academic content in particular courses, help students with study skills and provide a student perspective on learning and school success. No prior tutoring experience is required. On-the-job training is provided during the fall semester through the course INDV 150 The Master Tutor (1 credit).
Applicants must be eligible for scholarship work or work study, averaging four hours per week. The greatest demand is for math, sciences and economics but students of all majors are encouraged to apply. The Center for Academic Excellence is looking for students with an interest in developing their interpersonal communication skills and who want to help others succeed.
Students can find the application online at excellence.truman.edu under the “Apply to be a Tutor” section. For more information contact Marcy Graham.
Summer Jobs Available Through Institute for Academic Outreach
The application period for the Institute for Academic Outreach positions is now open.
The summer positions are available for:
Videographer: Joseph Baldwin Academy
Preceptor: ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy
Night Monitor: ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy
Preceptor: Taiwan at Truman
Night Monitor: Taiwan at Truman
Preferred applicants for ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy are currently students majoring in a health-related field.
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.
Preceptors are expected to be supportive of the University goals, responsible, enjoy working with high-ability teenage students and be high-energy individuals.
In order to apply for a preceptor position, students must:
1) currently be a full-time student at Truman
2) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of application
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.
Job applications can be submitted through the job application form.
Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser
Habitat for Humanity will host a bake sale from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 1-2,4-5 in Violette Hall. Two cookies can be bought for $1. Funds collected will be used to build a house. For more information, contact Megan Nesbitt.
Public Health Fair to Occur April 3
Sigma Delta Pi Hosts Cultural Events
Noche de Poesía y Música
7 p.m.
April 3
Del and Normal Robison Planetarium
"La Diversidad Cultural de Ecuador"
7:30 p.m.
April 9
Magruder Hall 2090
Noche de Salsa!
4 p.m.
April 12
Baptist Student Union
For more information about these events contact Caroline Costello.
Commencement Seeks Student Speaker
Student Government is seeking a student speaker for the 2019 commencement ceremony. Students who are graduating in May and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply. Applications can be found at senate.truman.edu/applications. All application material must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. April 5. Questions can be addressed to Katie Alexander at kga5644@truman.edu.
ITS Provides Universal Design for Learning Workshop
The learning technologies team from Truman’s ITS will be hosting a Universal Design for Learning workshop from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 3 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. The workshop is intended for improving the effectiveness of teaching and learning in face-to-face and online education and will discuss how to identify diverse learning needs in the classroom and how to apply the UDL framework into the curriculum. For more information contact Pearl Xie.Seminars to Educate on Healthy Eating
Health science students will sponsor the following events regarding eating.Healthy Eating in the Dorms
7-8 p.m.
April 3
Ryle Hall Main Lounge
Meal Planning with Free Mason Jar Meals
7-8 p.m.
April 10
Ryle Hall Main Lounge.
Live Cup Stacking at the REC
Elijah Farrales is building one of his last cup stacking creations from 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 5 in the Student Recreation Center. The destruction of his creation will occur closer to 7:30 p.m.
Talent Show to Feature Best Buddies
Truman’s Best Buddies is hosting a talent show from 6-8 p.m. April 9 in the Student Union Building Down Under. Best Buddies is an organization on campus that promotes friendships and diversity by pairing Truman students with people in the Kirksville community who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. The talent show will include acts from bands, dance organizations, improv groups, choirs and members of Best Buddies. Admission is $3. For more information contact Savanna Ott at trumanbestbuddies@gmail.com.I-Club and CSI to Celebrate Holi
The Holi festival will be celebrated from 12-3 p.m. April 14 at Red Barn Park. One ticket will cost $3 and $12 for a group of 5. Tickets will be sold at the Student Union Building from 12-4 p.m April 9-11.
Proposals Being Accepted for Research Grants and Travel Scholarship
The Office of Student Research is accepting applications for Conference Travel Scholarships and Grants-in-Aid of Scholarship and Research.
Students presenting results from their research or creative scholarship in upcoming conferences from July-December are able to request scholarship aid to cover up to $500. The scholarship will aid in covering the costs for conference registration, lodging and travel expenses. Students must have completed or are currently involved in a faculty-mentor research experience.
Grants of up to $750 can be requested from students who are conducting research and creative scholarship in the summer. Grants can cover student stipends, supplies and travel to conduct research.
Complete guidelines for the Conference Travel Scholarship and the GIASR applications can be found at the Office of Student Research website. Applications for funding opportunities are due by 11:59 p.m. April 15.
Questions can be directed to osr@truman.edu.Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability Committee Searches for New Chair
Truman’s Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability Committee will accept applications for a new chair until April 26. Students who are interested can fill out an application here.
This committee was created when the student body voted to implement the Environmental Sustainability Fee in the spring of 2015 with the purpose of improving sustainability on campus. For more information about the Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability click here or email Kyle Weber.
Special Olympics Now Accepting Volunteers
The Council for Special Olympics is looking for volunteers to help with Special Olympics track event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 27 at Stokes Stadium. For more information or to sign up to be a volunteer, click here. Questions can be directed to tsu.ssec@gmail.com.
Film Festival Accepting Submissions
Submissions for Truman’s first ever film festival are due April 1.
Submitted materials must be 10 minutes or less. Accepted films will be eligible for juried awards as well as The Vincent Price Audience Choice Award accompanied by a $500 prize. Students can submit films here. Entry fees cost $10. Late submissions will be accepted until April 14 with a $15 fee.
The film festival will take place April 27 in the Baldwin Little Theatre. Following the festival there will be a free reception at Take Root Cafe. Victoria Price, daughter of Vincent Price, as well as Chad Kennerk, Dereck Daschke, Tiana Williams, Tom Stockma and Allison Coffelt will serve as judges for the festival.
This is the first year which Truman will host a film festival on campus. Dedicated students have been working under the direction of Jocelyn Cullity to help celebrate undergraduate film making. The film festival seeks to connect, inspire and provide exposure to undergraduate filmmakers from the state of Missouri.
Notables
Notables
Barry Poyner, professor of communication, has been named parliamentarian for the Iowa State Teachers Association. Poyner served in this capacity at their annual conference in Des Moines, March 29-30. In addition, he now serves as parliamentarian for the Indiana State Teachers Association, National Education Association and National Communication Association.
Fred Shaffer, professor of psychology, received the Distinguished Scientist Award at this year’s Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback in Denver. Shaffer was the keynote speaker.
Truman graduates continue to lead in chemistry Ph.D. degrees earned. A review of data compiled by the National Science Foundation shows that recent Truman graduates went on to earn more chemistry doctorates than undergraduates from any other institution in Missouri. Truman also ranked second for Masters colleges and universities, while ranking 33rd for all institutions of higher education.
Classics majors and faculty represented Truman at the National Classics Honor Society held at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. Emily Camden was elected as the national vice president and she will be in charge of outreach and new chapter development. Joe Slama and Austin Redding presented their capstone papers and were two of only four undergraduates nationally selected for this honor. Slama’s paper was accepted for the Eta Sigma Phi panel at the Society for Classical Studies meeting in January 2020. Adam Schmitz won second place in Koine Greek in national translations contests. Truman’s certamen team made it to the semi-finals and Truman was selected to host the 2021 Eta Sigma Phi Convention.
Christina Slipke, Austin Redding, Joe Slama, Emily Camden, Amy Norgard and Bridget Thomas
Scholarship Opportunities
Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship
The Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation will offer the Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship, named in honor of Allan Walker Purdy.
Purdy was born in 1914 on a farm near Macon and was the first in his family to attend a four-year college. He worked in the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture before becoming the campus’s first director of scholarships and student financial aid.
The scholarship is designed to provide merit-based scholarships to emerging leaders who are outstanding students and who have a need for additional resources for higher education. The scholarship amount can vary based on an applicant’s circumstances. The general range will be $1,000-$5,000 based on expected family contribution (EFC), unmet need and other factors.
Applicants must be a Missouri resident, typically a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA, a U.S. Citizen, attending a Missouri public four-year university or the State Technical College of Missouri, and be a sophomore, junior or senior in college. Deadline to apply is June 15, 2019. Applications should be submitted online through Scholarship Central at moslf.org. To access more information about this scholarship, click here, or contact the Financial Aid Office at 660.785.4130.Scholarship Opportunities for Graduate and Undergraduate Students
The application process is very rigorous and highly competitive and many deadlines occur in the fall semester. Listed below are the major national fellowships.
Graduate Students:
Fulbright Grants: Research grants and teaching assistantships for a year abroad.
Rhodes Scholarship: Grants for two years of study at Oxford University.
Marshall Scholarship: Awards for two years of study in any British university.
Mitchell Scholarship: One year of graduate study or research in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Awards for an advance degree or second bachelor’s degree at the University of Cambridge.
Undergraduate Students:
Goldwater Scholarship: Up to $7,500 annually for tuition, fees, books and room and board for science and mathematics majors.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship: For senior year and post-graduate study leasing to a career in public service.
Udall Scholarship: For students interested in careers related to environmental issues or for Native American and Alaskans interested in careers related to health care and tribal public policy.
Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellowship: For students interested in international affairs to work as research assistants to the endowment’s senior associates in Washington, D.C., for a full year.
Boren Scholarship: To study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests.