Vol. 24 No. 10 - October 21, 2019

Renowned autism spokesperson and professor of animal science, Temple Grandin will speak Dec. 6 in Baldwin Auditorium.

Grandin is one of the most accomplished and well-known adults with autism in the world. Her life was brought to screen in the HBO full-length film, “Temple Grandin,” starring Claire Danes. She has been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, featured on NPR and has a 2010 TED lecture titled “The World Needs ALL Kinds of Minds.” She has also been featured on the BBC special “The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow,” ABC’s “Primetime Live,” NBC’s “The Today Show” and more.

Grandin developed her talents into a successful career as a livestock-handling equipment designer and is one of few in the world. She has authored multiple books including her bestselling book on autism, “The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger’s.” Grandin is considered a philosophical leader in both the animal welfare and autism advocacy movements.

As one of the first individuals on the autism spectrum to publicly share insights from her personal experiences, Grandin will be presenting on her life, how she got to where she is today and educating about autism. She will also be the keynote speaker for the Livestock Symposium, taking place Dec. 7.

Grandin’s visit is sponsored by NMBA, a local corporate and social event planning business, with additional support from Truman, the Missouri Livestock Symposium and Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites. Those interested in hearing her speak can visit eventbrite.com to purchase a ticket for $99, which includes lunch. For more information contact Donna Brown at 660.341.9993. The Missouri Livestock Symposium website will also have event details.

Bharat Ratra will present “The Accelerating Expanding Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy and Einstein’s Cosmological Constant” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium.

Ratra is a distinguished professor of physics at Kansas State University and works in the areas of cosmology and astroparticle physics. He researches the structure and evolution of the universe. Two of his current principal interests include developing models for the large-scale matter and radiation distributions in the universe and testing these models by comparing predictions to observational data.

In 1988, Ratra and astronomer Jim Peebles proposed the first dynamical dark energy model. Dark energy is the leading candidate for the mechanism that is responsible for causing the cosmological expansion to accelerate.

During his presentation, Ratra will describe the astronomical data which persuades cosmologists that dark energy and dark matter are the main components of the energy budget of the universe at the present time. He will review how these observations have led to the development of a quantitative “standard” model of cosmology that describes the evolution of the universe from an early epoch of inflation to the complex hierarchy of structure seen today. He will also discuss the basic physics and history of ideas on which this model is based.

This event is hosted by the Physics Department and is free to the public.

A faculty-led study abroad trip in May and June 2020 will explore the culture of Ireland while studying public relations and journalism through an international experience.

The three-week trip will be led by Don Krause, professor of communication. The group will stay in Dublin and Belfast. Sites planned for the trip include Kilkenny Castle, a cliff walk from Greystones to Bray, the Book of Kells and Giant’s Causeway. Students will also go on a political tour in Belfast to learn about “The Troubles.”

Throughout their time abroad, students will look at communication-related topics including public relations, journalism and photography from an Irish perspective. The trip is open to all majors, and students will earn three credits.

To learn more about the trip, visit studyabroad.truman.edu/programs/faculty-led/commireland or contact Krause.

The Office of Student Research is accepting applications for Conference Travel Scholarship and Grants-in-Aid of Scholarship and Research (GIASR).

Students presenting the results of their research or creative scholarship in upcoming conferences from January to June 2020 are able to request scholarship aid to cover up to $500. The scholarships will aid in costs for conference registration, lodging and travel expenses. Students must have completed or be currently involved in a faculty-mentored research experience and plan on presenting at the conference.

GIASR applications are available for research and creative scholarship conducted in Spring 2020. Grant applications can request up to $750 and can cover student stipends, supplies and travel to conduct research. A GIASR writing proposal will take place from 3:30-5 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A.

Complete guidelines for the Conference Travel Scholarship and GIASR applications can be found at the Office of Student Research website. Applications for both funding opportunities are due at 11:59 p.m. Nov. 13. Further questions can be sent to osr@truman.edu.

The Del and Norma Planetarium will host 27 laser shows from Oct. 26-Nov. 2.

Attendees should be advised the laser shows involve loud music and bright, flashing lights. Shows are not conducive to those with epilepsy or sensitivity to loud noises and flashing light. Shows will last 30-45 minutes.

Laser Queen
6 p.m.
Oct. 26

Electro Pop
8 p.m.
Oct. 26

Laser Zeppelin
9 p.m.
Oct. 26

Electro Pop
7p.m.
Oct. 28

Fright Light
8 p.m.
Oct. 28

Laser Metallica
9 p.m.
Oct. 28

Laser X
7 p.m.
Oct. 29

Laser Beatles
8 p.m.
Oct. 29

Electro Pop
9 p.m.
Oct. 29

Laser Rock
6 p.m.
Oct. 30

Hypnotica
7 p.m.
Oct. 30

Fright Light
8 p.m.
Oct. 30

Laser Vinyl
9 p.m.
Oct. 30

Fright Light
4 p.m.
Oct. 31

Laser Queen
6 p.m.
Oct. 31

Pink Floyd
7 p.m.
Oct. 31

Fright Light
8 p.m.
Oct. 31

Fright Light II
9 p.m.
Oct. 31

Fright Light II
4 p.m.
Nov. 1

Laser Country
6 p.m.
Nov. 1

Laser Vinyl
7 p.m.
Nov. 1

Laser Retro
8 p.m.
Nov. 1

Laser Queen
9 p.m.
Nov. 1

Laser U2
4 p.m.
Nov. 2

Laser X
6 p.m.
Nov. 2

Laser Zeppelin
8 p.m.
Nov. 2

Laser Beatles
9 p.m.
Nov. 2

Sarah Muir, Emmy Nixon, Katie Holtmeyer, Grace Fodor and Rowen Conry

The Missouri Folklore Society conducted its annual meeting in Marshall, Mo., Oct. 10-12, organized by president Barbara Price, professor of English and linguistics.

Presentations by current Truman undergraduate students included “Outlaws, Oilmen, and Oral Myth: How They All Came Together through Frank Phillips’ Woolaroc” by Grade Fodor, English; “Tall Tales of Too Talls” by Sarah Muir, English; and “Rediscovering Charles Galloway” The Life and Music of a St. Louis Organist” by Noah Rogers, music.

Recent Truman alumni Rachel Spillars and Rowen Conry made appearances as well. Spillars, a current UMKC law student, presented “I Fought the Law and the Law was Confused: Intersections between Folklore and the Court.” Conry, now an annual fund officer for Truman, presented “The Boy Who Cried Yelp: Negative Restaurant Reviews as the Archetypal Cautionary Tale.”

Andrea Davis, instructor of German and French, presented “The German Indian in Karl May’s Frontier Novels.”

English graduate students Emmy Nixon and Katie Holtmeyer chaired sessions along with emeriti Betsy and Neal Delmonico. Classics graduate Joe Salma (’19) was elected to the Board of Directors.


Noah Rogers

The second annual TEDxTrumanStateUniversity Conference is less than a month away.

The conference will take place Nov. 10 in the Student Union Building Georgian rooms. The first session will run from 1-2:45 p.m., and the second session will run from 3-4:45 p.m. Each session will feature three talks, activities related to the presentations, an interactive Q&A period with the speakers and light refreshments. The theme this year is “Relativity.” Speakers have been selected across a wide variety of disciplines and departments ranging from chemistry to sociology.

Ticket reservations for both sessions are free of charge and can be made in the Student Government Office on the bottom floor of the Student Union Building from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 21-25. Digital reservations will be available online in limited quantities from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1. Per TED rules, only 100 tickets are available per session, so it is highly encouraged attendees reserve their tickets as soon as possible.

TEDxTrumanStateUniversity is officially licensed under TED, an internationally recognized organization that reaches millions of viewers each year. TEDx conferences are independently organized, community-based events designed to spark discussion, showcase diverse perspectives and foster learning. Follow @TEDxTrumanStateUniversity on Facebook and Instagram for speaker announcements, behind the scenes updates about the conference, giveaways and ticketing updates.

The Health and Exercise Department will host events Oct. 21-25 for Sleep Awareness Week. Event dates and times include:

Sleep Presentation with Brenda Higgins
7-8 p.m.
Oct. 21
Student Union Building Georgian Room C

Zumba on the Quad
2:30-3 p.m.
Oct. 22
Quad

Sleep Hygiene Workshop Day
7-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 22
Student Union Building Georgian Room C
Includes decorating your own sleep mask, creating overnight oats, sleep trivia and the chance to earn prizes

Mindful Meditation Session
6-7 p.m.
Oct. 23
Ryle Hall

“Sleep Under the Stars” Movie Night
7-8 p.m.
Oct. 24
Del and Norma Robison Planetarium
Learn tips and tricks to getting the best night’s sleep

“The Science Behind Sleep” Movie Night
8 p.m.
Oct. 25
Student Union Building 3204

The Student Run Business Initiative will host a fundraiser event to support local pet rescue organization, Field of Dreams, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 21 on the quad. Students can play with dogs and puppies for $2 and get a polaroid photo with them for $3 total. All proceeds from this event will go to Field of Dreams. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled or cancelled.

The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series continues Nov. 1 with a tribute to American singer, actor and political activist Paul Robeson.

Robeson graduated as valedictorian from Rutgers University in 1919. He received a law degree from Columbia University and passed the New York State Bar in 1922. He was the first African-American lawyer hired by a New York law firm.

The son of a preacher, Robeson dreamed of a colorblind society. He spoke out against the Holocaust, visited the Warsaw ghetto in Poland, co-founded the Organization for African Unity with W.E.B. Dubois and pushed for the liberation of Africa.

Actor, singer and comedian Stogie Kenyatta will perform “The World is My Home: The Life of Paul Robeson” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium. In this performance, Kenyatta will bring his unique interpretation to the stage, where he majestically captures the essence of Robeson through an entertaining, laugh-out-loud, music-filled show. Portraying 14 characters, he chronologically takes the audience through the life of history’s first black renaissance man and one of America’s most complex and brilliant citizens.

Tickets for this performance are $10 and can be purchased now at the Truman cashiers window in McClain Hall or online at lyceum.truman.edu.

FBI Senior Special Agent Jeremy Kocher and two specialists from St. Louis and Kirksville will speak on terrorism in the U.S. at 1 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room C. They will discuss the threat posed by domestic and international terrorism groups in the U.S. and factors that contribute to it, including the internet, social media and homegrown violent extremists.

Students can talk with program faculty to learn more about their options and program admissions. Programs to be at the fair include: accountancy, athletic training, communication disorders, English, music, leadership and education. All students are welcome to learn about these programs.

This event is part of Truman Graduate Education Week, Oct. 21-25. Contact Brandy Schneider or Bethany Gibson for more information.

Union and Involvement Services will accept Spring 2020 event and meeting reservation requests Oct. 22 through 12 p.m. Oct. 25.

The office will only accept paper requests. Confirmations will be emailed to campus offices and student organizations during finals week and will not be delivered to organization mailboxes. Any submissions received after 12 p.m. Oct. 25 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis once lottery requests have been processed.

All lottery information and forms can be found here. Contact the Union and Involvement Services Office at union@truman.edu or 660.785.4222 for more information.

Students for a Democratic Society and the FAC will sponsor Alex Tackett, president of the SRA for “The Left & Firearms” at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 in Magruder Hall 2001. For more information, contact trumanstateds@gmail.com.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion will host their annual diversity retreat from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. Participants will examine and discuss intersectionality and the impact of privilege and oppression through a series of interactive activities, experiences and critical dialogue. Lunch will be provided. RSVP by Oct. 23. For more information, visit diversity.truman.edu/retreat.

Delta Sigma Pi is sponsoring the annual Monster Dash 5k at 10 a.m. Oct. 26. The race begins in the parking lot at the corner of Franklin and Patterson streets. Pre-registration begins Oct. 21-25. All proceeds will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The cost of entry for the 5k is $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the event. The cost of entry for the costume contest is $2 in advance and $3 on the day of the event. Sign up during tabling Oct. 23-25 in Violette Hall or by emailing VPCommunityService.IotaNu.DSP@gmail.com.

Minor Detail, Truman’s all women a cappella group, will host the 2019 A Capella Fest at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 in Baldwin Auditorium. Admission is free. This year, six groups will be performing from Truman and other Missouri schools. Performances include:

Mizzou’s Naturelles (all women)
Truman’s TruMen (all men)
Truman’s Sweet Nothings (co-ed)
Truman’s Minor Detail (all women)
Saint Louis University’s Bare Naked Statues (all men)
Saint Louis University’s Decadence (co-ed)

The Critical Language Scholarship Program is an intensive, fully funded opportunity for American college and university students to learn one of 15 languages deemed essential by the U.S. government. The Study Abroad Office will sponsor a Critical Language Scholarship Program info session from 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in Baldwin Hall 114.

Sigma Alpha will host their annual haunted corn maze Oct. 31 through Nov. 3. Admission is $5 or $3 with a student ID. Dates and times include:

Oct. 31
7-11 p.m.

Nov. 1
8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Nov. 2
8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Nov. 3 (Kids Day)
1-3 p.m.
This is a free event for children. There will be a cake walk, pumpkin bowling, duck pond and corn hole.

For more information, visit the Facebook event for the haunted corn maze or for the kids day.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion will host Safe Zone Training from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Nov. 1 and 3-5 p.m. Nov. 21 in the Student Union Building Room 3000. Participants will learn current terminology and simple ways to create a welcoming campus environment. Training sessions are for people to learn more about LGBTQ issues and, specifically, LGBTQ issues regarding students at Truman. Trainings are open to all wanting to become a Safe Zone ally. RSVP here. For more information, contact Brad Turnbull at bturnbull@truman.edu.

International Education Week, Nov. 3-9, 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:

Night Market
5-7 p.m.
Nov. 3
Student Union Building Down Under
Admission is $5 and will feature food cooked by campus cultural clubs.

Game Night
6-8 p.m.
Nov. 4
Baptist Student Union

International Tea and Coffee
5-6:30 p.m.
Nov. 5
Student Union Building Hub

Careers Around the World
7-8 p.m.
Nov. 7
Baldwin Hall Room 114

Language Crash Course
7-8 p.m.
Nov. 8
Violette Hall 1400s

International Idol
7 p.m.
Nov. 9
Baldwin Hall Auditorium
Students can see a variety of performances from different international students, and judges will award a prize for the top performance.

Author and personal finance expert, Erin Lowry (also known as “Broke Millennial”) will be on campus at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room to talk all things money. She will explore topics such as how to make yourself save, budgeting, and investing. Lowry will help students unearth their emotional relationship with money and discover how that impacts decisions. This is event is being made possible by FAC and the School of Business, with co-sponsors including Delta Sigma Pi, Alpha Sigma Alpha and Alpha Phi Omega.

Women’s soccer player Chance Douglass earned the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honor after she scored a pair of goals and added an assist to lead the team to a pair of wins. Douglass had the game winning goal in Truman’s 2-1 win over Drury, Oct. 11. She had the assist on the opening goal in Truman’s 4-0 win over Southwest Baptist, Oct. 13. Later in the second half, Douglass was able to slide the ball past the opponent’s goalkeeper for the insurance tally. This is her first GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honor, and she joins goalkeeper Beth Hopwood as the second player to earn a conference weekly award this season.

Jessica Colpoys, assistant professor of agricultural science, received research funding through the Morris Animal Foundation for a project evaluating if a collar-mounted monitor is a valid tool for measuring activity in dogs. This research is potentially useful for owners and veterinarians to help gauge ongoing pet health concerns.

The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) recognized four Truman students and staff members for going above and beyond in September through the Of-The-Month (OTM) awards program. Student Richard Bowles was awarded Executive Board Member of the Month. An anonymous artist was nominated as Spotlight of the Month. This artist was recognized for leaving inspirational messages around West Campus Suites. Stephanie Russell was recognized as Institution Faculty/Staff of the Month and Ally Halloway was awarded Residence Life Professional of the Month. The recipients of these awards are forwarded on to regional and national affiliates for potential additional recognition. Troy Shaffer, who won August Spotlight of the Month, went on to receive the August Regional of the Month award.