Vol. 12 No. 9 - Oct. 23, 2007

Homecoming 2007 will see several Truman alumni being honored at various events.

This year’s Alumna of the Year is Randa Rawlins, a 1979 Truman graduate. Rawlins is General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Shelter Insurance Companies in Columbia, Mo.

She was appointed to Truman’s Board of Governors in December 1997, reappointed in March 2002 and currently serves as chair of the Board. She is also a member of the Truman State University Foundation Board, the Capital Campaign Steering Committee, the John R. Kirk Society, and the President’s Circle. In addition, she serves as chair of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Council of Board Chairs.

Rawlins was a Pershing Scholar while attending Truman. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha and involved in Student Senate. She served as an intern in the Washington, D.C., office of Congressman Tom Coleman and in the Jefferson City office of State Rep. Harry Hill.

She received her juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. In 2003 the Law School presented her with the Citation of Merit, its most prestigious alumni award.

Rawlins is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the International Association of Defense Counsel, The American Board of Trial Advocates, Association of Corporate Counsel and the Women Lawyers Association of Mid-Missouri. She was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Missouri Supreme Court Civil Rules committee and is a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is also active in Missouri United Methodist Church in Columbia and recently returned from her third mission in Africa.

Jaime Geer (’00) is this year’s Young Alumna of the Year. Geer received a B.A. in business administration with concentrations in economics and communication from Truman in 2000. While at Truman, she was involved with the women’s golf team and was a four-year letter winner and a student assistant coach during her senior year. She qualified for three Division II National Championships. When not on the golf course, Geer was served on the Student Athletic Committee [Captains’ Roundtable] as its president and vice president as well as the business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi where she was President her senior year.

Upon graduating from Truman, Geer went to work for Famous Barr Department Stores (now Macy’s) in the Assistant Buyer Management Training Program. For three years, Geer was the assistant buyer for Women’s Accessories and subsequently Junior Shoes. Then, in 2003, she became manager of College Recruiting and enjoyed returning to the college scene, especially Truman where she was able to recruit her fellow Truman graduates.

In 2005, Geer left St. Louis for an adventure in Denver. Moving west without a job, her goal was to be employed “by the end of the year.” Not one month later, she began her career with RE/MAX International, serving as a Franchise Development Consultant for the RE/MAX St. Louis Region – a position that would find her back in Missouri two weeks every month. Now, more than two years later, Geer works for the RE/MAX California & Hawaii Region.

When not booking frequent flyer miles, Geer still enjoys many of the things she did in college including golf, volunteering for Junior Achievement, and serving the University on the Business School’s Advisory Board. Also important to Geer are volunteering for the adoptive services of Bethany Christian Services and leading the Toastmasters public speaking group within her company.

Tom Ballard (’69) and Major General John V. Cox (’52) will be awarded Distinguished Service Awards.

Ballard grew up in Ankeny, Iowa, and attended Truman from 1965 to 1969, graduating with a B.S. in the spring of 1969. While at Truman, he was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. Following graduation, Tom spent most of the next three years as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and served as an infantry officer with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam. He and his wife Susan met in Washington, D.C., while Tom was still in the Marines, and they were married in 1972. After the Marines, Tom decided on a career in the computer industry that included working for Honeywell, Loral/Rolm and Cordant Systems. He retired from Cordant Systems in 1997 as vice president, Command/Control/Intelligence Programs where he managed all contracts and engineering activities related to the contracts with the various U.S. Intelligence Agencies and other Department of Defense contracts. Susan also retired in 1997 after a 27-year career with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

Tom also served as a corporate officer with Cordant, a privately held company that provided complex computer systems to the Federal Government and was bought by a major U.S. defense contractor in 1996. In addition, Tom also served on the Intelligence Committee of the Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Association (AFCEA) from 1993 to 1997. While in the Washington, D.C., area, Tom and Susan resided in Falls Church, Va., and later in Great Falls, Va.

In 2001 Tom and Susan decided they needed a slower pace of life and moved to Iowa, and they currently reside about 15 miles northwest of Des Moines. Tom keeps busy managing farm land that he and Susan own in northwest Iowa, serving as a general partner in an Iowa-based Ethanol plant and a managing partner in a flight-training company where he is a commercial pilot and flight instructor. He also enjoys playing golf and is involved with several charitable organizations. Since 2005, he has served on the Truman State University Foundation Board. Tom says he is “addicted” to sailboat racing and races a sailboat based in Annapolis, Md., that he has an ownership interest in, and he travels to Annapolis regularly in the summer for races.  While living in Virginia, Tom raced competitively on the East Coast and is a two-time winner of Key West Race Week held in January at Key West, Fla.

“I consider myself very fortunate to have attended Truman State,” says Tom. “The friendships that I developed while in Kirksville remain even stronger today and are very important to me. The education and experiences gained here have provided me many opportunities over the years.  Kirksville is a great place to get a great education.”

Cox retired from the Marine Corps on July 1, 1985.

Cox was born on March 26, 1930, in Bevier, Mo. He attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University) earning a B.S. degree in business administration. He also holds a master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University.

He entered the Marine Corps via the Officer Candidate Program at Quantico, Va., and was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant in September 1952. After completing The Basic School, he reported for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1954.

Successive assignments were with all three active Marine Aircraft Wings and with the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing; service on the USS Lake Champlain; duty as an air and naval gunfire platoon commander; duty with Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF)-451, VMF-333, and VMA-324. He completed Communications Officer School, served as Communications Officer at MAG-15, El Toro, and later was Operations Officer of VMFA-513 at El Toro, Atsugi and DaNang (1962-1965).

He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1967, and after serving as an instructor at the Naval War College, he returned to Vietnam for a second tour of duty, serving as Commander Officer of VMFA-115 and as Executive Officer of MAG-13 at ChuLai.

Tours of duty in the 1970s include Executive Officer of MCAS, Kaneohe Bay, and duty on the staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific. After graduating from the National War College in 1974, General Cox reported for duty at Headquarters Marine Corps. He was promoted to brigadier general on Nov. 4, 1977. Duty as Assistant Wing Commander, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Commanding General, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, Assistant Chief of Staff at Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Studies at Headquarters Marine Corps, and Commanding General, MCAS El Toro/COMCABWEST, followed.

He was promoted to major general on April 9, 1981, with a date of rank of Aug. 1, 1978. He assumed command of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, Calif., in May 1981. In June 1982, he was assigned duty as the Director of Operations, J-3, for the Commander in Chief, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. He served in this capacity until July 1, 1985, when he retired from the Marine Corps.

His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit with Combat “V”; Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”; Air Medal with Numeral 19; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and gold star in lieu of a second award.

Dean Rosebery (‘41) and Amy (Ayres) (‘43) Rosebery are serving as Grand Marshals for Truman State University’s Homecoming 2007 parade.
 
Dean received his B.S.E. in biology from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University) in 1941 and then attended graduate school at Virginia Tech for one year. From 1942 to 1945 during World War II, Dean was a Naval lieutenant on a Destroyer Escort and spent most of the time in the North Atlantic. After returning to Virginia Tech, he received his Ph.D. in aquatic zoology. During 1950-53 he was the assistant chief of the Division of Fish for the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries. His position with Truman State University began in 1953, and in 1985, he retired as professor emeritus of biology and head emeritus of  the Division of Science. Aside from teaching the general education course “Man and the Scientific World” and serving as head of the Division of Science, he taught additional courses in biology. During many summers, he was the director of Institutes for the Teachers of Science with funding of about $900,000 from the National Science Foundation. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and served as president of the National Association of Academies of Science.

Amy graduated from Truman as valedictorian of her class in 1943 with a B.A. and B.S.E.  in English, and she received her M.A. degree from Columbia University in New York in 1949. She taught speech at the Kirksville Junior High School in 1945, and from 1946-48, she taught English at the Blacksburg Virginia High School. During her undergraduate days at Truman, she was active in Alpha Sigma Alpha, Cardinal Key, Alpha Phi Sigma, Pi Kappa Delta and a member of the Debate Team.

Dean and Amy are both active in University events, such as alumni activities, Lyceum programs, and the John R. Kirk Society. Dean also served as committee chairman to raise funds for the Kohlenberg Lyceum program and Magruder Hall, the University’s science facility.

Their immediate family consists of  son J. Frank Rosebery (’74) and his wife Wanda (Evans) (’74), and their children, Kristin (’02) and James Jr. (’05) with wife, Virginia; and their daughter Margaret McKinney (’76) and husband Robert (’75) and two children, Trey and Veronica. Dean and Amy celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this year.

Dwain Horn, a member of the Class of 1950, has been selected as the recipient of the 2007 President's Leadership Award. The award, which originated in 1998, cites select Truman alumni and friends for meritorious service through gifts of volunteerism, expertise and financial resources.

A business education graduate, Horn taught school for two years before beginning a business career that eventually spanned four decades. He served as an actuary in the retirement plans division at Bankers Life and Casualty Company in Des Moines, Iowa, for 17 years. Horn then joined Mutual of Omaha as manager of the retirement plans division and was later promoted to the position of executive vice president, retiring in 1995.

Horn currently serves on the Truman State University Foundation Board of Directors, and as chair of the Foundation's Investment Committee, his leadership and foresight in guiding the Foundation through a change in investment managers has resulted in increased performance, reduced costs and enhanced service. Today, the Foundation's assets exceed $26 million.

Horn also provided significant leadership through charitable giving, organizing the largest class reunion fund drive in Truman State University's history. The Class of 1950 fund-raising project generated nearly $140,000 in financial support to furnish the lobby of the Ophelia Parrish Building.

The father of three and the grandfather of eight, Horn and his wife, Vera, reside in Omaha, Neb., and spend their winters in Peoria, Ariz.

The Truman Athletics Hall of Fame will induct Aaron Royster (baseball), Jim Blacklock (football) and Mary Blandford (swimming) this October. Joining the three individuals, the 1946-47 Bulldog men’s basketball team and the 1982 softball team will be inducted as well.

The Truman Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at the Alumni & Friends Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room and will also be honored at halftime of the Bulldogs Homecoming game against Emporia State (Kan.).

Aaron Royster (1991-1994)
Royster played baseball for the Bulldogs from 1991-1994 and still holds many of the team’s offensive records. Royster averaged .370 for his career peaking with a .444 mark during his senior season in which he earned first-team all-MIAA honors for the third consecutive season. Also in 1994, Royster was named first-team all-Central region and was a GTE/CoSIDA Academic all-American.

Royster is still tops on the club with a .645 slugging percentage, 33 home runs, 122 runs batted in and 305 total bases.

Following his Truman career, Royster was drafted in the 35th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Royster spent six years in the minor leagues spending most of his time with the Double-A Reading Phillies from 1996-2001. In 1998, he led the Phillies in doubles with 27 and runs scored with 67. He is a two-time recipient of the Eugene Shirk award, given to players who go beyond the call of duty in their commitment to the community. He worked on a baseball and education program that reached kids in over 100 schools.

Royster had two stints at Triple-A Scranton before ending his minor league career with an injury. He hit .270 in 760 minor league games and had 746 hits, 140 doubles and 75 home runs. His 49 career home runs in Reading is third most in franchise history.

Jim Blacklock (1957-1960)
Blacklock was one of the anchors of the offensive line for the Bulldogs that won the 1960 MIAA championship. Blacklock was co-captain of the 60 squad with Dale “Paley” Mills, one of the greatest running backs in the nation. Blacklock’s offensive line helped Mills establish a career rushing record of 4,502 yards that stood for 36 years as both the school and conference record.

Blacklock earned first-team all-Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Association honors following the 1960 season. In 1966 he became the head football coach at St. Joe-Central where he went 24-14-1 in four seasons.  Blacklock coached seven years at North Callaway High School and had a record of 50-24-3.

His final coaching stop was in 1979 at Montgomery County High School. In 1987, the Wildcats were undefeated heading into the state semi-finals but were upset by Berkeley High School of St. Louis.  Blacklock retired following the 87 season with a career record of 132-74-4.

In 2006, Blacklock was inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Mary Blandford (1993-1996)
Blandford will be the first of many Truman women’s swimmers to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Blandford was a three-time national qualifier for the Bulldogs, earning trips to the national meet in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

As a freshman, Blandford broke four school records. She set a new mark in the 100 freestyle event with a time of 54.48 only to break the mark again two years later with a time of 53.12.  She also set a new mark in the 200 free with a time of 1:58.79 that had stood for eight years. Blandford would break the 200 free mark each year finishing with a time of 1:54.09.

The 200 would be the event that Blandford would help put Truman women’s swimming on the map. As a junior, she would finish sixth in the nation, which at the time was the highest finish for any Bulldog women’s swimmer, to earn all-American honors. In addition to the 200, Blandford finished 19th in the100 free and12th in both the 500 free and the 1,650 free.

In her senior year, Blandford moved up to fourth in the nation in the 200 free to repeat as an All-American. She also finished 11th in the 100 free and 13th in the 1,650 free as the Bulldogs won the Mideast Conference Championship and finished 15th in the nation.

When Blandford graduated from Truman, she left her name in the record book in seven locations. In addition to the 100 and 200 free events, Blandford held the 500 Free with a time of 5:06.86 and was a member of four relay team records, the 200 and 400 Medley teams, and the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relay squads.

Boyd King’s 1946-47 men’s basketball team and Mary Jo Murray’s 1982 Bulldog softball team will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.

The 1946-47 basketball team is the only team to win 30 games in a season. The Bulldogs won their first 19 games before falling by eight to then-Southwest Missouri State in early February. The Bulldogs rebounded to win the next 11 contests, including the MIAA championship.

Truman qualified for their first National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball tournament that was held in Kansas City. The Bulldogs defeated Delta State (Miss.) 76-58, Whittier College (Calif.) 51-49 before falling in the semi-finals 59-53 to Northern Arizona.

The team was led on the court by NBA Hall of Famer, Harry Gallatin, and was joined by other greats such as Earl Dodd and Robert Lewis.

The 1982 softball team was the first women’s squad to bring home an NCAA trophy in the first year the sport was sponsored by the association.  The Bulldogs were 22-15 during the regular season but earned a berth into the NCAA Division II regional event in Omaha, Neb.

At the regional, the Bulldogs defeated the host Mavericks 4-1 but had to win the second game 1-0 in 13 innings to earn the trip to Bridgeport, Conn. In the 13th inning, Joni Williams singled in Renae Waddill for the regional championship.

At the College World Series, where only the four championship teams advanced, the Bulldogs lost their first game to Sam Houston State (Texas) by a 1-0. In the elimination game, Truman held a 3-1 lead after four innings but watched as Sacred Heart (Conn.) stormed back with three in the fifth and two more in the sixth for the 6-3 victory.

Truman finished the season with a 24-17 record.

CUR is now accepting proposals for workshops, interactive sessions, and poster presentations for the 2008 CUR National Conference to take place June 21-24 at the College of Saint Benedict, in Saint Joseph, Minn.

The theme is “Frontiers and Challenges in Undergraduate Research.” A description of the theme, as well as sub themes are available by visiting the conference Web page at http://www.cur.org/conferences/CSB/CUR08NatConf.asp.

The deadline for submission for workshops and interactive sessions is Nov. 1. For poster presentations, the deadline is Feb. 1.

Summary of 2008 Conference
Academic investigation lives, by definition, on the frontiers of knowledge. New information and advances in technology change our research questions and methods; new theoretical perspectives challenge our assumptions; increased interdisciplinary collaboration brings us new partners and opens new avenues of study; and new political and pedagogical contexts demand that we offer expanded research opportunities to more of our students. And yet, with all that is new, we have many of the same old devils on our tail:  time, money, institutional politics, student preparedness.  The theme of this conference is the exploration of current conditions and future possibilities in undergraduate research, but we invite all of the presenters to be explicit about the ways that they encounter and address the real logistical challenges entailed in their projects.

2008 Conference Sub Themes
Undergraduate Research and Scholarship in Arts and Humanities
Assessment of Research Outcomes
Beyond the academy: Real-world applications of research results
Early involvement in research
Research in a Global environment
Undergraduate research in the interface of disciplines


* Plenary Speakers
* Workshops
* Poster Sessions
* Interactive Sessions

Truman's membership is active until June 30, 2008.

CUR is also accepting abstract submissions for the 2008 Posters on the Hill Event. In honor of International Polar Year, the Council on Undergraduate Research would like to encourage the submission of research abstracts for Posters on the Hill that involve polar research. Students in any of the CUR Divisions as well as the Humanities are welcome to apply. The program is tentatively scheduled for April 16, 2008, in Washington, D.C. The deadline for submitting applications is Nov. 15. More information and the application are available at http://www.cur.org/postersession.html. 

A Benefits Informational Fair is scheduled for Oct. 29 with presentations beginning at 9:15 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. Representatives from UNICARE, Delta Dental, Spectera, Standard and MOCAFE will be at Truman to provide information on any plan changes for the 2008 Plan Year, effective Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008.

UNICARE, Delta Dental of Missouri, Spectera, Standard and MOCAFE will continue to provide medical/prescription, dental, life insurance benefits as well as a cafeteria plan provided by Missouri Cafeteria Plan. UNICARE’s plan selection will continue to provide Plan A (low deductible plan) and Plan B (high deductible plan).

New this year is the addition of the Health Savings Account (HSA) which will be referred to as UNICARE HSA. Information concerning the HSA will be provided by UNICARE during their presentation times. Pre-enrollment for benefits will also be available on this day. If you do not pre-enroll, the open enrollment for medical, dental and vision benefits for the plan year will take place from Nov. 7 through Nov. 20. Enrollments are due no later than 5 p.m. Nov. 20.

More information will be forthcoming. Questions concerning the Benefits Fair should be addressed to Curt Devan at devanc@truman.edu or 785.7298.

The United Way of Adair County has been contacted by an anonymous donor who has issued a challenge to the community to exceed this year’s campaign goal of $270,000. For every $5,000 that is raised above the $270,000 goal, it will be matched with another $5,000 up to a maximum of $15,000. If United Way can raise donations of $285,000, the anonymous donor will match an additional $15,000 to total $300,000, which will directly support the local community.

The 2008 fund-raising campaign for the United Way of Adair County is currently doing well at $135,000, or 50 percent of the $270,000 goal. Truman State University is the largest organizational supporter of the United Way and is currently at 88 percent of their goal of $56,000.
“Now, more than ever, we need the community’s support for the partner agencies and programs that directly support our neighbors, families and friends,” said Robyn Kollar, 2008 campaign chair.

“It’s also important to know that recent statistics show that United Way agencies directly touch one out of three residents in this area, so this campaign affects a diverse group of citizens and is truly an investment in the future of our community,” said Nancy Pennington, executive director of United Way of Adair County.

If you would like to make a contribution or even increase your support, please contact Teri Heckert or Brad Chambers, Truman drive chairs, at theckert@truman.edu or bchamber@truman.edu for more information.

The USA Today will select 20 students to be named to the All-USA College Academic First Team. They will be featured in a two-page color presentation in the nation’s newspaper in February 2008. Each will receive a trophy and a $2,500 cash award. Forty more students will be recognized in the newspaper as Second and Third Teams.

Beginning this year, students must register electronically and be screened for eligibility. They will be directed to a PDF of the nomination form on the Web. The completed nomination file must be mailed to USA Today by Nov. 30. Winning students will be notified in late January and be announced in USA Today in February.

To register, students should go to http://allstars.usatoday.com and use the All-USA drop-down menu to go to the four-year college program. Students must be full-time undergraduates of at least junior standing at a four-year institution in the United States or its territories. U.S. citizenship is not required.

The criteria are designed to find students who excel not only in scholarship but also in leadership roles on and off campus. A key element is the student’s essay describing his or her most outstanding undergraduate intellectual endeavor. Nominations include a nominator’s statement describing the merits of the student’s endeavor, transcripts and two other letters of recommendation.

Winners will be selected by a panel of educators, chosen in cooperation with co-sponsors: the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the American Council on Education (ACE).

More information about the program, including bios of former winners, FAQs for nominees and advice for nominators, is available at http://allstars.usatoday.com. Call Carol Skalski at 703.854.5890 or e-mail allstars@usatoday.com with any questions. 

Oct. 23
Apparel Sales, Lip Sync Ticket Sales, Penny Wars
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Mainstreet/SUB Mall

Bacchus and Gamma Car Crash
3 p.m.
Stadium Drive

Are You Smarter Than a First Year? Truman Trivia
7 p.m.
SUB Down Under

Crossing Over Night Tour with Zac Burden
8:30 p.m.; 9:15 p.m.
Begins at SUB Down Under

Extreme Makeover: SUB Edition 40th Anniversary Party and Late Night Open Mic
8:30 p.m.
SUB Down Under

Oct. 24
Apparel Sales, Lip Sync Ticket Sales, Penny Wars
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mainstreet/SUB Mall

Whose Tag Line is it Anyway? Improv Night
8 p.m.
SUB Down Under

Oct. 25
Apparel Sales, Lip Sync Ticket Sales, Penny Wars
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mainstreet/SUB Mall

Fear Factor Block Party with American Idol: Truman Karaoke
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Quadrangle

Royalty Voting ends online and Surreal Life Scavenger ends
5 p.m.

So You Think You Can Lip Sync?
7 p.m.
Baldwin Auditorium

Bonfire and Pep Rally
Following Lip Sync
Quadrangle

Oct. 26
Truman Spirit Day!

Alumni Leadership Conference
7:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
SUB Alumni Room

Apparel Sales, Penny Wars
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mainstreet/SUB Mall

20th Annual Bulldog Classic Golf Tournament
10:30 a.m.
Kirksville Country Club
Sponsored by Student Senate

Pep Rally
5:30 p.m.
Stokes Stadium

Alumni & Friends Celebration/Hall of Fame Banquet
6:30 p.m.
SUB Georgian Room

My Super Sweet Homecoming Ball and Ebony Essence Dance
8-11 p.m.
SUB Down Under

Flava of Coronation
9:30 p.m.
SUB Down Under

Oct. 27
The Amazing 5K Race
7 a.m.-Registration
8 a.m.-Race begins
Runners will gather at Barnett Hall
Sponsored by Cardinal Key and Phi Epsilon Kappa

Pomp My Ride Homecoming Parade
9 a.m.
Franklin Street

Missouri Hall Ribbon Cutting
10:30 a.m.
West side of Missouri Hall

Tailgate Picnic
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Red Barn Park
Sponsored by Alpha Sigma Gamma

Iron Chef Chili Cook Off
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Red Barn Park (Canceled if lightening)

Kids Corner Games
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Red Barn Park (Canceled if lightening)

Football Game
2 p.m.
Stokes Stadium

Announcement of Homecoming Competition Winners
Post Game
Stokes Stadium

Alumni Mixer
5-9 p.m.
Kirksville Arts Center

Comedian: Jen Kober
7 p.m.
Baldwin Auditorium

The Last Steppers Standing Step Show
9 p.m.
Baldwin Auditorium

Log on to http://homecoming.truman.edu and http://alumni.truman.edu/Homecoming2007/HC07_Schedule.asp for more information on these events and additional events.

The following four candidates, for the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs, will be on campus the following dates. Specific times and locations of open forums will be released soon.

Mark Gromko
Vice Provost for Academic Programs; Bowling Green State University
Oct. 29 and 30

Susan Conner
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College; Florida Southern College
Nov. 1 and 2

Troy Paino
Dean, College of Liberal Arts; Winona State University
Nov. 5 and 6

Lance Grahn
Dean, College of Letters & Science; University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Nov. 12 and 13

A curriculum vita for each candidate is available on the search Web site: http://provostsearch.truman.edu/. 

Mariya Davidkova from Wildwood, Mo., Amy McNabb from Queen City, Mo., Molly Smith from Newton, Iowa, Julia Stefani, Michelle Van Kleeck from Cabool, Mo., and Allie Wehrman from St. Louis, all computer science majors and members of the student organization, TWICS, and Jon Beck, associate professor of computer science and the organization’s mentor, traveled to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh to present their paper “Telephone: Phylogenetics Unplugged” at the OurCS conference, Oct. 5-7. Renee Hellebusch Niewald (’07) was also a co-author. A highlight of this conference was that the Truman group met (and had their picture taken with) Fran Allen, this year’s Turing Award winner. The Turing Award is considered the Nobel Prize of computer science.

Nicki Morgan, a sociology/anthropology major from Eolia, Mo., has been awarded Second Prize in the 2007 Alvin Gouldner Undergraduate Student Paper Competition sponsored by the Missouri Sociological Association for her paper, “Development and Identity: A Look at the Maya of Toledo District, Belize.” Morgan presented her research at the annual meeting of the Missouri Sociological Association in Lake Ozark, Mo., Oct. 19-20.

The NEXT Step Workshop, “Spring Scheduling for Transfer Students,” will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 23 in Magruder Hall 1099. People will be able to join Jason Miller and other transfer students to discuss the ins and outs of registering for their spring classes. There is a five person minimum for this workshop; if fewer than five people register, the workshop will be canceled. Dinner will be provided. To register for the workshop, go to http://step.truman.edu/register. This workshop is open to all transfer students and interested science, mathematics and computer science majors and minors, faculty and staff.
 
The Admission Office is looking for dedicated and energetic students to organize, facilitate programming and provide guidance to first-year students and their parents for eight summer orientation sessions. The last informational meetings will take place at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in Student Union Building Room 322. Applications are available in the Admission Office, McClain Hall 205, or online at http://ol.truman.edu. Applications are due Nov. 8. Contact JoAnn Jorgovan at 785.4114 or joannj@truman.edu for more information.

Darfur refugees bring stories of survival to Truman at 8 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. Survivors of the genocide in Sudan’s western region of Darfur will tell their stories as Campus Christian Fellowship hosts Voices from Darfur-a national speaking tour sponsored by the Save Darfur Coalition featuring refugees from Darfur. Contact Mark Swanson at 665.5772 for more information.

Weekly Lunch Series continues the focus on Teaching Critical Thinking through reading at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. Contact Linda Davenport at ctl@truman.edu or 660.785.4391 for more information.

The International Film Festival will continue at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Downtown Cinema 8 with the film “Volver.” This film is in Spanish with English subtitles. Pedro Almodovar directed the film, which was released in 2006. To learn more about the festival and the films, log on to http://rcp.truman.edu/internationalfilm.htm.

Sigma Alpha will be having a Haunted Corn Maze from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 25, 8 p.m.-midnight Oct. 26, 8-midnight Oct. 27 and 1-4 p.m. Oct. 28 at the University Farm. This is the 10th annual Sigma Alpha Haunted Corn Maze. This year’s theme is “Insane Asylum.” People will be able to enjoy scares in the maze, hot cider, baked goods, and lots of Halloween fun. The cost will be $3 per person. Non-scary Kid’s Day is Oct. 28 and children will get in free with a costume. Contact Becca Pace at rep720@truman.edu or 660.349.9410 for more information.

The Board of Governors will meet at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Student Union Building Conference Room. Agenda materials can be found on the Board of Governors Web site at http://governors.truman.edu.

IT Services invites faculty, staff and students to TechBreak at 1:30 p.m. each Friday in the Student Union Building Room 320. This weekly series is an opportunity to share information about new and existing IT Service offerings. There will be snacks and conversation. Additional details and the topic schedule can be found at http://its.truman.edu/techbreak.

David Nichols will be having a book signing from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 27 in the Truman Bookstore, located on the lower level of the Student Union Building. The book will cost $34.95 each. Alumni chapter members will receive a 15 percent discount on purchases at the Truman Bookstore. Contact Steve Pennington, Truman Bookstore manager, at 785.4211 for more information.

Expecto Terror at the Career Center’s Haunted Hogwarts Haunted House. People may bring their friends for a terrifyingly scary time, it’s Harry Potter with a horrifying twist. “Enemies of the heir, beware!” The Haunted House will be open from 7-11 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Career Center. This is the fifth annual Haunted House. It is free of charge, all are welcome to attend, and free candy will be available. Contact the Career Center at 785.4353 or e-mail Becky Hadley at behad@truman.edu for more information.

Dobson Hall Senate is hosting its annual fall outdoor concert, Toasterpalooza, from 3-9 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Dobson Hall Courtyard. The bandfest is free and local bands will perform. In addition to bands, TAG Improv will be performing between acts. Popcorn, hot cocoa and cotton candy will be available. Contact JoEllen Flanagan at jaf3154@truman.edu for more information.

Football players are selling “Dog Tags,” which is a discount card that can be used at many different Kirksville businesses. The card only costs $10 and is active until Sept. 1, 2008. Money raised goes to the football program. Call Shannon Currier at 785.4252 for more information.