Vol. 12 No. 11 - Nov. 6, 2007

John Broida of the psychology department at the University of Southern Maine, will be speaking on campus about the reasons that one might want to incorporate technology into one’s teaching, as well as the potential consequences of taking this step.

After participating in the redesign of an introductory psychology course as part of the National Center for Academic Transformation’s  Program in Course Redesign, Broida has introduced effective and efficient use of technology in the classroom to many institutions and individuals.

Broida employs Web-based mastery quizzes, which students use to reinforce what they need to study. Requiring students to complete quizzes before class makes lectures much more useful to the student and gives the instructor the freedom to discuss things that are not in the text. Further, Broida promotes the use of classroom response systems, “clicker” technology, to convert passive note-taking into an exercise in active learning.

Broida’s audience-engaging presentations at Truman will examine what happens to students as the result of adding technology to a course, how faculty may feel about their role as the result of adding various types of technology to their classes, the possibility of cost savings, and the importance of assessment in any changes made to a course.

The schedule of presentations and “drop in” times for Broida’s visit are as follows: discussion during lunch from noon-1:20 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A ($3 toward faculty/staff meals at the cashier in Mainstreet Market), presentation from 10:30 a.m.-noon Nov. 9 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room, open “drop in” time from 2-5:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in Pickler Memorial Library 205: refreshments available, open “drop in” time from noon-1:20 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room.

Teaching/Learning Technology Roundtable (TLTR) and the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) are sponsoring this event, with generous financial underwriting by the CTL and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs office.

Contact Chad Mohler at chmohler@truman.edu for more information.

The 18th Annual Undergraduate Philosophy and Religion Conference will take place from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Student Union Building Conference Room.

The conference features papers on a variety of topics in philosophy and religious studies presented by Truman students as well as undergraduates from across the country. A schedule will be available before the conference at the Department of Philosophy and Religion’s Web site, http://phre.truman.edu/conference.

The keynote speaker will be Taner Edis, associate professor of physics, who will speak on his new book, “An Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam.” He will speak at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building Conference Room.

The conference and keynote lecture are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Dereck Daschke, associate professor and chair of philosophy and religion, at 785.6005.

Detours Magazine was announced a 2006 Pacemaker Award winner at the 86th Annual ACP/CMA National College Media Convention in Washington, D.C., Oct. 24-28, 2007. Detours won the award for the 2005-2006 publishing year.

Detours is the University’s student produced travel magazine, focusing on Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. The 2005-2006 Detours staff was lead by editor in chief, Prajwal Sharma. The magazine was completely redesigned during that time.

The ACP Pacemaker Competition began in 1927 and today is one of the highest honors for student journalism. Professionals with knowledge and experience in the field judge entries, and awards go to winners of several categories including Magazine Pacemakers, Newspaper Pacemakers and Convention Best of Show.

Detours magazine debuted in 1996 and has also won the Apple Award in both 2006 and 2007 for best general interest magazine at a four-year college.

Freshman members of the Truman Forensic Union won the parliamentary debate novice division of the Central States Forensics Tournament, co-hosted by Metropolitan Community College-Longview and Truman on the Longview campus, Oct. 26-28.  

Toby Hausner, a freshman from Platte Woods, Mo., and Andrew Kindiger, a freshman from Liberty, Mo., captured the novice division championship after defeating a team from Longview in the final round, and a team from McKendree University (Lebanon, Ill.) in the semifinals. Hausner was ranked top-speaker in the division, followed by Kindiger in second. The Truman team of William Franks, a freshman from Albany, Mo., and Rebecca Tasetano, a freshman from Liberty, Mo., reached the semifinals before falling to the Longview team that would eventually face Hausner and Kindiger. This was the first college debate tournament for Hausner, Franks and Tasetano.

In individual events competition, Kindiger placed sixth in extemporaneous speaking, qualifying himself for the National Forensic Association championship tournament in individual events in April.

Individual events competitors traveled to Bradley University’s LE Norton Invitational, Nov. 3-4, followed by debate team travel to the University of the Pacific the following weekend.

The FoodFast raised $3,509 for the United Way. This puts the campaign total at more than 100 percent with $57,443 raised.

The last day to send Truman United Way contributions to Teri Heckert or Brad Chambers is Nov. 9. After that, send any contribution directly to the United Way of Adair County office (304 S. Franklin). The Truman co-chairs thank all contributors to this campaign.

The Truman State University Financial Aid office has received notification of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) scholarship. Scholarship assistance is available to those pursuing careers in the specialty equipment industry. Career path opportunities include: accounting, administration, advertising/PR, design/graphics, engineering, information technology, manufacturing, photo/journalism, race car driver/crew, sales/marketing, technicians and transportation. For further information visit the SEMA Web site at http://www.sema.org/Main/SemaOrgHome.aspx?ID=56888. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2008.

The Neihardt Trust in conjunction with Wayne State College, the Great Plains Quarterly and the John Neihardt Foundation is launching its annual Circle of Neihardt Juried Writing Contest for undergraduate college students.

Truman students are eligible to compete in this regional contest. Truman students will be competing with students from colleges and universities in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. The contest will be an opportunity for students to gain writing experience, have their work published in a peer review journal and win cash prizes.

The Circle of Neihardt Juried Contest honors the memory of John G. Neihardt (1881-1973). He was a poet, writer, journalist and professor and during his lifetime, he received many honors including being named Poet Laureate of Nebraska and Prairie Poet of America.

In order to participate, students must register online at http://www.neihardt.com. All contest information and support materials, including contest rules and manuscript guidelines are available online. Online registration is available.

If you have any questions, contact Coralie Hughes, trustee of the John G. Neihardt Trust, at 765.721.3844 or Robin Neihardt at 602.421.5076.

The Truman State University Public Relations office has an internship opportunity available.

Truman’s Public Relations office is now accepting résumés for the spring 2008 internship position. Interns receive course credit, a stipend and valuable experience in desktop publishing and public relations office duties.

Duties include assist in the writing, producing, and distributing of the University newsletter, Truman Today, as well as posting it online. Applicants should have a strong background in writing and editing.

Interested students should e-mail Katie Best at truman.kbest@gmail.com for more information.

The Search Advisory Committee hopes that as many members of the Truman community as possible will be able to attend these important events, during which Truman staff, students, and faculty may ask questions of each of the four candidates

Troy Paino
Open Forum with Students
3-4:15 p.m. • Nov. 5 • VH 1000

Open Forum with Faculty and Staff
3-4:15 p.m. • Nov. 6 • VH 1000

Candidate Evaluation Forms are due to Traci Hill at 5 p.m. Nov. 7.

Lance Grahn
Open Forum with Faculty and Staff
3-4:15 p.m. • Nov. 12 • VH 1000

Open Forum with Students
3-4:15 p.m. • Nov. 13 • VH 1000

Candidate Evaluation Forms are due to Traci Hill at 5 p.m. Nov. 14.

Input from the campus community is crucial to the success of the search. Candidate Evaluation Forms for each candidate will be provided at each open forum and a link to an electronic Candidate Evaluation Form has been added to the search Web site: http://provostsearch.truman.edu. All open fora will be videotaped with copies made available at Pickler Media Library and an online copy available on the search Web site as soon as possible following the conclusion of a forum.

Activity: 3 on 3
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 12
*Captains’ Meeting: 4:30 p.m. • Nov. 15
Play Begins: Nov. 19

Activity: Pickleball
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 12
*Captains’ Meeting: 4:30 p.m. • Nov. 15
Play Begins: Nov. 19
                
Entry forms and information sheets may be picked up at the Student Recreation Center (lobby area). Entry forms are to be deposited into the metal box located at the Member Services Desk in the Student Recreation Center. The entry deadline for each sport will be 11 p.m. on the date posted above. Online registration is available. Captains’ Meetings for each sport will take place on the Thursday evening following the entry deadline (unless otherwise noted) at 4:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Student Recreation Center. Official rules for each sport are available online at http://recreation.truman.edu.

Jerrold Hirsch, professor of history, presented a paper, “Slave Songs in Black and White: Nationalism, Gentility, and the Marketplace, 1873-1926,” at “The Politics and Practices of Intangible Cultural Heritage,” joint annual meeting of the American Folklore Society and Folklore Association of Canada in Quebec City, Canada, October 2007.

Huping Ling, professor of history, has been invited as guest speaker for the following lectures: “Living in America as a Chinese American” Dr. Y.S. Tsiang in Chinese Studies of the Center for International Studies, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Sept. 22,“The Historical Images and the Changing Status of Chinese Americans” St. Louis Modern Chinese School, Sept. 23, “The Critical Issues of Asian American Studies” at the Institute of Overseas Chinese Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, July 9, “A Critical Review of Chinese American Studies” at the Institute of Overseas Chinese Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, July 11, “Cultural Community—A New Theory on Ethnic American History” at the Institute of Overseas Chinese Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, July 12, “Chinese American Studies and Cultural Community Theory” 2nd Conference on Overseas Chinese and China’s Development,” sponsored by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China, June 22-24.

John J. Quinn, associate professor of political science, gave a talk on Oct. 25 at the University of Kansas for the Kansas African Studies Center for their African Studies Seminar Series on African Leadership. The talk was titled, “The Rwandan Genocide Leading to Mobutu’s Overthrow in the Congo.”

Truman is hosting the MIAA Volleyball Championships this week. Truman will play host to Missouri Southern at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in Pershing Arena. If the Truman team wins Nov. 6, the semifinals (Nov. 9) and final (Nov. 10) will take place in Pershing Arena. Ticket prices are $5 and $1 for Truman students w/ID. First 200 Truman students will get in free each night - compliments of the Bulldog Booster Club.

Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF) needs everyone’s help for the H2O project. They are hosting a two-week fund-raising and awareness campaign until Nov. 14 for the drilling of clean water wells in Africa. During this time, they are going to drink only water and then donate the money they would have spent on other beverages to Blood: Water Mission, an organization that funds the drilling of wells in Africa. People and their organizations can do the same. To learn more about Blood: Water Mission go to http://www. bloodwatermission.org. E-mail mark.hoger@gmail.com or emily.krogmann@gmail.com for more information.

The next Weekly Lunch Series session will be “Grantwriting USA Attendees” from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. Those who want to learn about grants should come hear faculty speakers discuss their experience and new-found knowledge from the Grantwriting USA workshop.

The International Film Festival presents “Qian li zou dan qi.” This means “Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles” and is from Hong Kong, China and Japan from 2006. This film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Downtown Cinema 8. To learn more about the festival and the films, log on to http://rcp.truman.edu/internationalfilm.htm.

Free tobacco cessation classes will take place from 8-9 p.m. Nov. 7, 14, 28 and Dec. 5 in Pershing Building 301. There will be free patches, gum, quit classes and physician consultations. Any student, staff or faculty member are welcome. Contact the Student Health Center at 785.4182 to sign up.

An extra edition Weekly Lunch Series will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A. This session is sponsored by Truman’s Teaching and Learning with Technology Roundtable (TLTR). John Broida, faculty member from the University of Southern Maine, will report on his project for the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT).

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.

The Society of Dance Arts (TSODA) will being having a dance recital from 7- 8:30 p.m. Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 in Baldwin Auditorium. Admission is free and doors open at 6:30 p.m. There will be guest performances by Showgirls, High Street Dancers, USMED, University Swingers, Ceilidh Club and Illusionz. Contact Elisha Redel at ear441@truman.edu for more information.

The next Biology Seminar Series session will be from 12:30-1:20 p.m. Nov. 9 in Magruder Hall 2001. Tim Vogt of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will be speaking on “Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly in Missouri-Protection of a Federally Endangered Species.” Refreshments will be served at 12:20 p.m. outside of Magruder Hall 2001. Contact Will Petry at wkp956@truman.edu for more information.

Beta Theta Pi will be hosting a Charity Bowling Tournament called “Frames with Benefits” from 3:30-7 p.m. Nov. 10. It will be $15 per person and there should be two men and two women per team. Every bowler will receive a free T-shirt and door prizes will be handed out. All proceeds will go to Camp Quality. Contact Matthew Mueller for the location and more information at mtm032@truman.edu or 636.578.3837.

A van driving class is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Public Safety Building. Class size is limited. People need to reserve a space in advance. Call 785.4177 or e-mail joycemul@truman.edu.

Marc Adams will be giving a lecture titled, “The Preacher’s Son,” from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. The Women's Resource Center and PRISM are sponsoring this speaker. Adams is the co-founder of HeartStrong, Inc., a non-profit educational organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students of religious schools, colleges, and universities. This event will be of particular interest to WGST and GLBT members of the Truman and Kirksville communities. Contact Linda Seidel at lseidel@truman.edu or 785.4491 for more information.

An information meeting about the Missouri-London summer program will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 in McClain Hall 210. Contact Mustafa Sawani at 785.4659 or msawani@truman.edu for more information.

The Department of Physics is sponsoring a presentation by Fred Skiff from the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Iowa. Skiff will discuss “The Place of Intelligent Design in Science” from 7:30-9 p.m. Nov. 14 in Magruder Hall 2001. This is free and open to the public. Contact Taner Edis at 785.4583 for more information.

The Recycling Center and drop-off containers will be closed Nov. 21-25 due to the holiday break.

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.