Vol. 11 No. 12 - Nov. 14, 2006

Alumna Elizabeth Evans (’52, ’60) recently made a gift of $25,000 to establish the Craig V. Evans Memorial Debate Scholarship in memory of her late son, Craig Evans (’75).

Craig graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude, from Truman State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in law enforcement and corrections, and a minor in speech. He was a member of Blue Key, active in ROTC for four years and a member of the debate team. At the time of his death, Craig served as general counsel for the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Elizabeth Evans graduated from Truman State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, and a Master of Arts degree in elementary education. She retired from teaching at Truman in 1988, and was given the title of assistant professor emerita of education. Elizabeth had been an educator for 49 years, including 29 years of service to the Truman community.

The Craig V. Evans Memorial Debate Scholarship will be awarded to a member of the Forensic Union, Truman's intercollegiate debate and speech team, who has a grade point average of 3.75 or higher, and who is a student of integrity.

Contact the Office of Advancement at 785.4133, for more information on the Craig V. Evans Memorial Debate Scholarship, or to obtain information on establishing a scholarship at Truman.

The Truman Division of Fine Arts, along with the department of theatre, will present the second production of the 2006-2007 season, “Unity (1918)” at 8 p.m. Nov. 14-18 in the James G. Severns Theatre.

Recipient of the Canadian Governor General’s Award, “Unity (1918)” chronicles the events that take place in a small, isolated town in Canada during the 1918 influenza epidemic.

As fear of the dreaded flu begins to fill the town of Unity with paranoia, drastic steps are taken to keep the illness out. The town is quarantined, while trains are forbidden to stop and no one can enter the town. Mail from overseas, feared to be carrying the deadly virus, is gathered and burned. But when the disease descends on the town despite these precautions, the citizens begin to turn on each other as they attempt to find a scapegoat for the crisis.

The play has adult subject matter and strong language.

Admission to the play is free, but seating is limited, and it is recommended that those planning to attend reserve their seats by calling 785.4515 or stopping by the Box Office, located in front of the James G. Severns Theatre in the lobby of Ophelia Parrish.

Truman State University professor of biology Michael Kelrick has always been a proponent of giving college students hands-on learning experiences. Thanks to a $33,635.72 grant in 2004 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Management District, Truman students have had the opportunity to literally get their hands dirty in a pilot program to compost food waste generated in one of the University’s cafeterias.

The composting project began as an offshoot of a class taught by Kelrick that conducted environmental audits of various university practices. During the next three years, students worked with Kelrick to gather background information, coordinate with and consolidate the cooperation of relevant campus offices, demonstrate feasibility of the project, and write a grant proposal. Upon receiving the grant from the state, Kelrick and Dennis Markeson, director of Sodexho food services, launched the joint venture that helps Sodexho reduce their overhead costs for disposing of the waste and diverts materials from the solid waste stream. A concurrent goal is simply reducing the amount of food waste in the first place and creating a free source of compost for both Truman and the Kirksville communities. Working within the confines of the Ryle Hall cafeteria kitchen, composting project workers collect and measure all food wastes from the cafeteria, as well as all liquid wastes, excluding water.

The project engages two to three dozen Truman students each semester, as well as an intern. The project’s current intern, Sarah Martin, is a senior interdisciplinary studies and Spanish double major from Florissant, Mo. Martin works exclusively with the project throughout the academic year.

The first step in the composting process is the collection of all wasted food from the cafeteria. During the fall 2005 semester, student composters collected more than 10,000 pounds of food waste from the cafeteria, an average of 186 pounds per day. Nearly 500 gallons of discarded drinks (excluding water) were collected in that same semester. While the liquids are not composted, the data provides Sodexho with a sense of the costs of unconsumed beverages. The spring 2006 semester saw the project collect even more food waste, as more than seven tons of food waste were collected from the cafeteria.

The next step in the process is transporting the food waste to the University Farm, using a truck which was purchased with funds from the original grant. The waste is picked up and transported daily, to be dumped on a concrete mixing pad at the Farm. Horse stable bedding (fine wood chips and horse manure) from the Farm, as well as grass clippings, leaves or straw from the campus grounds are added to the food to increase the carbon:nitrogen ratio in the material to be composted; this promotes and favors the appropriate microbes who do the decomposition. Periodically, the accumulated “pre-compost” is mixed, using the Farm’s tractor and its front-end loader and transferred from the pad to build “the pile,” a teepee-shaped deposit roughly 10 feet in diameter and 6 to 7 feet tall. This configuration encourages the physical conditions conducive to effective decomposition and compost formation.

Throughout the process, workers continually collect data to ensure the decomposition process is running smoothly, and that the organisms responsible for the decomposition are thriving. Carbon dioxide levels within the compost are monitored, and steps are taken, if necessary, to remedy any problems that may arise in the decomposition process.

Once the compost has had time to adequately decompose, tests are run in campus labs to further monitor the process. After a period of four to five months of decomposition and curing, the compost is ready to be used by Truman to fertilize the University Farm grounds and campus gardens.

Throughout its brief history, participants in the composting project have held steady to a central goal of integrating the project within the University as a whole. For example, there have been ongoing efforts to elevate community awareness about reducing food waste and the merits of compost. Eventually, both Martin and Kelrick envision the composting project functioning in all University dining halls, while at the same time, working to “put themselves out of business” by inspiring more conscious cafeteria patrons to minimize their food wasting.

The project has taken on an even larger role this semester, with the closure of Missouri Hall for renovations. Consolidation of the University’s three major dining halls into just two this semester means the composting project now handles nearly twice as much food waste as it did in previous semesters.

According to Martin, this has not been a great burden on the project, as interest in the composting project has been very high, and the project currently has enough participants and resources to handle the extra workload, as well as to continue its mission of benefiting the environment and Truman through its composting efforts and money-saving capabilities, respectively.

The compost produced by the project has also created academic opportunities, as Truman students and faculty are using the compost for research projects and class laboratory exercises. The compost produced is free and available to both the Truman and Kirksville communities for pick-up at the University Farm.

If you are interested in learning more about Truman State University’s composting project or acquiring compost, please contact Michael Kelrick at mkelrick@truman.edu.

As of Nov. 8, Truman faculty, staff and students have met and exceeded Truman’s goal, set by the United Way board.

Contributions by Truman students, via the donation of meal blocks, commonly referred to as the Food Fast, allowed Truman’s campaign to reach and surpass its goal. At last count, the campaign has raised and/or pledged $56,180.86 to support the United Way of Adair County.

Campaign leaders thank everyone who contributed time and money. Through these efforts, the 13 area agencies will be able to provide much needed support to the community.

Students interested in obtaining a scholarship to study in a foreign country have a significant aid at their disposal with the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship.

The scholarship offers students an award ranging from $11,000-$26,000, depending on actual costs at their assigned study institution. The academic year scholarship covers transportation between the student’s home and study city, some educational supplies, academic fees, and reasonable housing and meals. Students chosen to receive the scholarship are asked to be an ambassador of goodwill by making presentations in their host and sponsoring communities.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must have completed at least two years of college-level coursework, or have equivalent professional experience prior to commencing their scholarship studies, be proficient in the language of their desired host country, and be a citizen of a country in which there is a Rotary Club.

There will be an informational meeting at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in West Campus Suites 100.

For more information, or to pick up an application, contact Marilyn Romine at 785.4268, Mark Hanley at 785.4098, or Matt Eichor at 785.4667. Information is also available at the Rotary International Web site at http://www.rotary.org. Applications are due to one of the above contact people by 5 p.m. Feb. 19, 2007 for planned international study between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009.

11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 15
on the Mall
Rain site: Student Union Building

Festivities will take place in honor of the nationally-celebrated America Recycles Day on Nov. 15.

Howard Worcester, Truman’s recycling coordinator, will have information and examples of what Truman recycles.

ECO will have a garbology display with garbage from the University community to help people determine what can and cannot be recycled.

Informational Table
2-6 p.m.
Nov. 14-16
Student Union Building

Rebecca Dunham Poetry Book Reading and Signing
7 p.m.
Nov. 14
Student Union Building Alumni Room

Faculty Luncheon:
The Value of the University Press
noon
Nov. 15
Student Union Building Alumni Room

TSUP 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, featuring guest speaker Richard Koffler
6:30 p.m.
Nov. 16
Student Union Building Lounge

The dinner is open to the public, and tickets are available at the Public Relations Office in McClain Hall 101 (785.4016) or Truman State University Press (785.7336) for $10 each. Tickets must be purchased by noon Nov. 11.

7 p.m.
Nov. 14  
Magruder Hall 2001

Truman’s Faculty Forum will present Brent Buckner, professor of biology, in a program titled “Genomics and Bioinformatics at Truman State University: Constructionalist Thinking From a Traditionally Reductionist Sub-Discipline.”

Buckner will describe the fundamental concepts of genomics and bioinformatics technologies. He will also highlight the maize genomic undergraduate research being conducted at Truman.

A reception will follow the presentation outside Magruder Hall 2001.

On loan from the Missouri State Archives, these maps portray the Missouri River exactly as the Corps of Discovery experienced it. The Geographic Resources Center at the University of Missouri created this unique map exhibit by combining nineteenth century land survey records with modern mapping technology. Other materials from Pickler Memorial Library and the Violette Museum are on display. The exhibit is available during the library’s scheduled hours until the end of December.

Truman will host a conference in honor of Women’s History Month, March 22-24, 2007.

Members of the Truman and Kirksville communities are invited to submit abstracts. Abstracts need to include a return address, phone number and e-mail address. The deadline to submit is Jan. 29, 2007.

Contact Linda Seidel at lseidel@truman.edu for more information, or to submit an abstract.

Students interested in the six-credit hour Discover China study abroad course are invited to attend this informational meeting. The course will run from May 7-28, 2007, and is open to all majors and levels.

The course is designed to fulfill requirements for history majors, Intercultural Interconnecting Perspective of the Liberal Studies Program and other relevant majors and minors upon approval. The course is sponsored by the Center for International Education.

Contact Huping Ling at hling@truman.edu or at 785.4654 for more information.

8:30 a.m.
Nov. 21 and 22
Depart from Public Safety Building

The Department of Public Safety will be providing a shuttle service for students on the above dates to the Amtrak station in LaPlata. The cost of the shuttle service is $5, and payment is due one week prior to departure. Reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis. The fee can be paid at the Public Safety Building.

The shuttle will pick students up in LaPlata at the train station for return to the Public Safety Building on Nov. 26 at a pending evening time.

Contact Joyce in the Department of Public Safety Office at 785.4177 for more information, or to make a reservation.

Pickler Memorial Library Hours
Nov. 21 - 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Nov. 22-25 - Closed
Nov. 26 - Resume regular hours

Student Recreation Center Hours
Nov. 21 - 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Nov. 22 - 25 - Closed
Nov. 26 - 4-7 p.m.

Truman Today will not be published next week due to the holiday.

Submissions for the Nov. 28 issue are due by Nov. 17.

Call 785.4243 or e-mail kbest@truman.edu for more information.

Students interested in rental information about off-campus housing for the 2007-2008 school year are reminded to check out the Student Affairs off-campus housing Web site at http://saffairs.truman.edu/rentals/index.htm.

Megan Arns, a senior percussion performance major from St. Charles, Mo., has been awarded the Thomas V. Siwe percussion scholarship to attend the annual Percussive Arts Society International Conference, Nov. 15-18 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. Arns was selected from an international pool of applicants, and will receive an all-expenses paid trip to attend the conference. While at the conference, she will be performing as part of the featured clinic/concert with the Santa Clara Vanguard, an elite drum corps ensemble from Santa Clara, Calif. Arns has served as a percussion section member and leader within the Santa Clara Vanguard for the past two years. Arns is a student of Michael Bump, associate professor of music.

Suanna Breed, retired assistant professor of art, has had two of her paintings accepted to the Springfield, Ill., Art Museum’s MOAK 2006 four-state regional show. Breed has been notified that she has won the Juror’s Award for one of the paintings, while the other painting has been purchased by the Museum for its permanent collection.

Warren Gooch, professor of music, has had an original musical work accepted for performance at the Region VI Society of Composers Conference. Gooch’s composition “Monodies,” for cello and piano, will be performed during the conference, which will take place Feb. 8-10, 2007, at the University of Central Missouri, in Warrensburg, Mo. Mira Frisch, assistant professor of music, will be performing the piece on cello, while Gooch will play the piano.

JoAnne Pounds, a music composition graduate student from Hawkins, Texas, has had an original musical work accepted for performance at the Region VI Society of Composers Conference. Pounds’ composition “The Old Truck of Anthony” for saxophone quartet, will be performed during the conference, which will take place Feb. 8-10, 2007, at the University of Central Missouri, in Warrensburg, Mo.

Antonio Scuderi, associate professor of Italian, has published “Performance and Text in the Italian Carolingian Tradition” in Oral Tradition (2006), Vol. 1 No. 21, pp. 68-89.

Jim Turner, associate professor of accounting, was honored by the Truman chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa, at its annual meeting Nov. 1. Turner was honored with a certificate of recognition for his leadership as he stepped down from the duties of secretary for Delta Chapter. He also received a donation in his name to the Truman foundation account for visiting scholars through the Phi Beta Kappa national program, first funded by former Truman President Charles McClain. Turner was the chapter’s founding secretary in 2001, and saw its growth through six years of successes. He was recently elected president of the chapter.

Truman’s chapter of Amnesty International hosted the Northeast Missouri region’s debate on Missouri Proposition 8, the raising of the State’s minimum wage, Nov. 4 in Violette Hall. Betty McLane-Iles, professor of French, and faculty adviser for Amnesty International, coordinated the event. Joseph Wotawa, a student campaigns/study officer with Amnesty International, presided over the lively discussion. Paul Parker, professor of political science, led the affirmative side, while Steve Smith, associate professor of business administration and economics, and Bruce Coggins, associate professor of economics, led the negative side. Lawrence Iles and Sherry Stacey also participated in the debate, and Roger Brown provided a taped contribution. The debate was tape recorded for academic use.

Modified Supplemental Retirement Plan Information for faculty and staff is available online at http://hr.truman.edu/benefits/msrp/.

Members of the University community can receive 25 percent off all Champion sweatshirts and sweatpants at the Truman Bookstore until Nov. 27. The Truman Bookstore is located on the lower level of the Student Union Building.

The women of the Society of the Prim Roses are hosting a Texas hold’em poker tournament from 6-10 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Student Union Building Lounge. There is a $10 buy-in, and all proceeds will go to Prevent Child Abuse Missouri. Contact Jessica Wolz at jlw154@truman.edu for more information.

Cardinal Key will have its fall interest meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Student Union Building Conference Room. All women who are passionate about service are invited to attend. For more information, e-mail cardinal_key@yahoo.com.

The Iota Tau chapter of Pi Delta Phi French honor society, is sponsoring a free magic show in French and English from 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. The magic show will feature Charlie Clarck. Contact Gregg Siewert at 785.4510 for more information.

Alpha Phi Omega will have its Fall Blood Drive from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 in the Student Union Building. Contact Phil Vance at pdv014@truman.edu for more information.

The Center for Teaching and Learning’s Weekly Lunch Series will continue for faculty and teaching staff from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. The topic of discussion will be the 20th anniversary of the Truman State University Press (TSUP).

Phi Kappa Phi will have its annual Fall Gathering at 8 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Student Union Building Conference Room. This year’s Fall Gathering is focused on providing Truman students with an opportunity to learn about three scholarship and grant opportunities that Phi Kappa Phi offers to promote academic excellence.

Twisting for Alzheimer’s, sponsored by Sigma Kappa social sorority and the Student Union, will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Nov. 15 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. A team consists of two people, and the cost to participate is $5 per team. Contact Sujit Chemburkar, Student Union director, at sujit@truman.edu or 785.4186 for more information.

Ekklesia, the campus ministry for the Churches of Christ, will have a booth by the Student Union Mall fountain from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 16, in recognition of the national Great American Smokeout. The theme of the event is “Trading Habits: GAS Version.” Hot chocolate and hot apple cider will be served to those who come by and pick up literature. Contact Dan Green at 627.5003 or e-mail dggreen67@sbcglobal.net for more information.

The Liberal Studies Roundtable will wrap up this semester with another look at the work of John Tagg at noon Nov. 16 in Pickler Memorial Library 205. Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at 785.4391 for more information.

The Society of Dance Arts (TSODA) will have a recital titled “Dance Fusion 2006: Hips Don’t Lie” at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 and 17 in Baldwin Auditorium. The recital will feature several guest groups, including the High Street Dancers, University Swingers, USMED, Showgirls and Illusion Danz Team. Admission to the performance is free. Contact Michelle Gaasch at mlg425@truman.edu for more information.

The Truman Biology Seminar Series will present “Evolution of Gene Regulation” from 12:30-1:20 p.m. Nov. 17 in Magruder Hall 2001. Justin Fay, assistant professor of genetics at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, will give the presentation. Stephanie Foré, associate professor of biology, will host. Refreshments will be served at 12:15 p.m.

The new faculty/emeriti faculty dinner will take place at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Student Union Building Lounge. Zac Burden, Missouri Hall director (on leave), will lead a campus memories tour at 4:30 p.m. David Nichols, professor emeritus of music, will facilitate the program on Truman State University history. New faculty and guests, as well as emeriti faculty and guests are invited. Free childcare will be provided. R.S.V.P. to ctl@truman.edu.

The Spanish Club will have its semiformal “So You Think You Can Dance?” at 10 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Student Union Building Conference Room. Cost is $2 per person, or 2 cans of food that will be donated to a local food pantry. Refreshments will be served. Contact Vincent DeMarco at vrd308@truman.edu for more information.

The Irondogs are hosting the 4th Annual Double Deuce Open and the 2006 Missouri State Championships Olympic lifting meet from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18 in Pershing Arena. Women will lift at 10:30 a.m., with light men to follow at 12:30 p.m. The event will conclude with the heavy men lifting competition at 2:30 p.m. Contact Lesley Lovesee at lal934@truman.edu for more information.

The Muslim Student Association is having a henna tattoo fund-raiser from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 18 in the Ryle Hall Main Lounge. Students are invited to experience the ancient art of henna tattooing. Contact Andrea Cluck at aec600@truman.edu for more information.

All north Missouri Eagle Scouts are invited to an Eagle Scout reception at 2 p.m. Nov. 18. Contact BSA District Commissioner Steve Allen at 627.7610 for location information and with any questions.

SCEC will be hosting a wheelchair basketball tournament at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 19 in the Student Recreation Center Multipurpose Room. Teams of three to five people may participate in the tournament. Cost to participate is $15 per team, or $5 individually. No prior wheelchair experience is necessary. Proceeds will benefit the Special Olympics. Contact Brooklyn Frericks at bmf126@truman.edu for more information.

Students can submit essays, news stories, reviews, comics and photos to The Monitor, the University’s alternative student newspaper, until Nov. 25 for the upcoming issue. Poetry submissions can be sent to aHugeManatee@gmail.com, while all other submissions should be sent to monitortrm@hotmail.com.

University Counseling Services (UCS) is sponsoring a Cancer Support Group for students struggling with cancer and those who have friends and/or family members with cancer. The group will meet from 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 27 in Pershing Building 231. Additional meetings will be on the fourth Monday of each month, January-April 2007. For more information, contact UCS at 785.4014 or visit http://ucs.truman.edu.

The Truman Jazz combo bands will have a performance at 7 p.m. Nov. 27 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

The next Global Issues Colloquium will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 in Magruder Hall 1000. Marc Rice, associate professor of music, will present "Arrest This Music! Music and Political Protest." An examination of protest music in the United States, South Africa and Brazil reveals the effectiveness of music to unify and motivate people and to convey a message to authority. Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at 785.4391 for more information.

The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) is now accepting applications for the 2007 Homecoming Committee, and for the SERVE Center, for the spring 2007 semester. Homecoming Committee applications are due to the CSI, lower level of the SUB, by 4 p.m. Nov. 29. Interviews will take place Dec. 1, 4 and 5. SERVE Center applications are due to the CSI by 4 p.m. Dec. 5. Interviews will take place Dec. 6 and 7. Contact Amy Currier, program adviser for the CSI, at acurrier@truman.edu for more information.

The University Observatory will have an open house from 8-10 p.m. Nov. 30, weather permitting. The University Observatory is located on the University Farm.

Truman’s chapter of the American Medial Student Association (AMSA) will offer practice tests of the MCAT, LSAT, GMAT and GRE at 10 a.m. Dec. 2 in Magruder Hall. The cost to take the practice tests is $5 for non-AMSA members and free for Truman AMSA members. Deadline to register is Nov. 30, and students may register by logging on to http://www.kaptest.com/testdrive or by calling 1.800.KAPTEST.

True Men will have its annual Christmas Concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in Baldwin Auditorium. Contact Graeme Allen at gha024@truman.edu for more information.