Vol. 13, No. 10 - Oct. 28, 2008

All Truman juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply for the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum and Library 2009 summer internship in Independence, Mo. This eight-week program offers between five and ten credit hours to students and involves a 40-hour work week.

The position is unpaid, however the internship offers a five-hour in-state tuition scholarship, which has been made possible by a generous endowment set up by the family of Fred and Ethel Schwengel.

The Truman Presidential Museum and Library is seeking interns who have strong written and verbal communication skills, organizational skills, basic computer skills, the ability to work independently on multiple tasks and are dependable self-starters.

The Schwengel family also requires that selected interns “immerse themselves in the study of President Truman.” At the conclusion of the internship, the intern will prepare a paper on his or her experiences at the Museum and Library and on a specific study of the Truman presidency.

After being selected by a University committee and the Truman Library staff, the intern can work in a variety of areas at the Museum and Library including, but not limited to: archives, public relations, marketing, educational programming, museum development or visitor services. Assignment will be based on the intern’s abilities and interests and the Library’s needs.

For an application, contact Jeff Gall at 785.7747 or jgall@truman.edu. All applications are due Nov. 28.

The Pre-Law Club will host speaker Peter Smerick, an FBI Criminal Profiler, at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Georgian Rooms A-C in the Student Union Building.

The program, “Inside the Mind of Criminal Profilers,” will take students behind the scenes regarding the actual role played by criminal profilers compared to Hollywood’s portrayal of this career.

Techniques employed by criminal profilers will be discussed and the audience will have an opportunity to analyze several crimes from a behavioral perspective and “walk in the shoes” of a criminal profiler.

Prior to the presentation, Smerick will lead a workshop, “Criminal Profiling Techniques for Prosecutors and Criminal Defense Attorneys,” from 3-5 p.m. in the same location. The workshop will familiarize students with a technique utilized by criminal profilers to determine if there is possible deception in statements provided by victims, suspects and witnesses, by analyzing the actual words spoken or written by these individuals.
Participants will be offered the opportunity to utilize these techniques while analyzing written statements prepared by alleged rape victims.

Smerick worked for the FBI for 30 years, holding various positions including, special agent, instructor at the FBI Academy, criminal profiler and violent crime analyst. His expert knowledge in the areas of homicide, rape, child molestation, kidnapping and extortion allowed him to testify before both houses of Congress regarding his profile of David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians during the group’s 1993 stand-off with the FBI in Waco, Texas.

Smerick currently serves as the president and CEO of The Academy Group, the largest privately owned forensic behavioral science firm in the world. He has also provided expert commentary for television, radio and print media regarding violent crime analysis, and he served as the CNN commentator for the movie “Hannibal.”

Truman’s Mathematical Biology program is currently seeking talented, team-oriented undergraduates who are eager for an interdisciplinary experience to participate in Truman’s Research-focused Learning Communities (RLC) in Mathematical Biology Program.

This program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for undergraduates with an interest in exploring or working in an area of growing scientific and economic importance.

Participants will be part of an interdisciplinary quartet of two undergraduates and two faculty co-mentors (one each from biology and mathematics). Each team will design and carry out a cutting-edge research project. Undergraduate participants will receive a generous research stipend, room and board for the summer program and funds to travel to a national professional conference to present their results. The research experience will also satisfy requirements for Truman’s interdisciplinary minor in mathematical biology.

Because the project topics available to interdisciplinary teams of undergraduates span a broad range of biological scales and organization, and because the mathematics involved span an equally broad range, this program has something to offer any student interested in applied or abstract mathematics or biology.

For more information about the project topics available, visit http://mathbio.truman.edu/research/. Applications are due Nov. 14. Questions about projects should be addressed to a faculty mentor. Questions about the mathematical biology program should be directed to Jason Miller, associate professor of mathematics, at millerj@truman.edu.

USA TODAY is now accepting nominations for the 2009 USA TODAY All-USA College Academic Team.

The 20th annual program honors full-time undergraduates at four-year colleges, who not only excel academically, but also extend their reach beyond the classroom to benefit society.

The top 20 students are designated members of USA TODAY’s All-USA College Academic First Team. They will be featured in USA TODAY in March and will receive trophies and cash awards of $2,500.

Awards are open to full-time undergraduates of at least junior standing at four-year institutions in the United States or its territories. Students must be nominated by their schools and be willing to be featured in USA TODAY.

Schools may nominate as many students as they consider appropriate candidates for this award. To nominate, visit https://www.all-usanomination.com/.

Criteria include grades, academic rigor, leadership, activities and most important, the student’s essay describing his or her most outstanding intellectual endeavor as a college undergraduate.

Scott Alberts, a Truman associate professor of mathematics, along with Jane Roads, the chair and professor of mathematics and science at Moberly Area Community College, and therapist Steven Voss, associate professor of psychology at MACC, will present a paper on their collaborative research, “CALM: Calming Anxiety to Learn Mathematics,” during the Faculty Forum at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 in Magruder Hall 2001.

“Comparing students at Truman State University and Moberly Area Community College, we find that students at both schools have significant anxieties, but these anxieties vary widely by group and ability level,” Alberts said in describing their research. “Students at both schools understand the importance of learning mathematical ideas, but many face real anxiety in and out of the classroom.”

Their interdisciplinary research has been examining whether ideas from Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) can be adapted to the mathematics classroom, and whether mathematics teachers can be trained to use these techniques to help their students. CBT involves recognizing destructive and debilitating beliefs then learning to refute them and replace them with constructive beliefs. Their research has been funded by the National Science Foundation as part of Truman’s larger STEP Grant.

The Truman Media Network (TMN), consisting of representatives from KTRM 88.7 The Edge radio, News 36 KTRM-TV and the Index newspaper, will be providing in-depth coverage on Election Day 2008 from around the state of Missouri.

Teams will be traveling to St. Louis, Columbia and Jefferson City to capture the spirit and atmosphere as the towns prepare to celebrate this historic event. The teams will provide audio, video, print, blog and photo updates to the TMN main web site throughout the evening.

A reporting team in Kirksville will cover events both on campus and in the surrounding areas, including the happenings at the Democratic and Republican Headquarters, as well as the Adair County Clerk’s Office. The Kirksville home team will be broadcasting live on KTRM 88.7 throughout the evening.

Heather Turner, KTRM News Director, will host an election night special including a debate between the College Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians, guest appearances by political analysts, Jay Self, assistant professor of communication and Kevin Minch, associate professor of communication, as well as frequent poll updates on the national, statewide, regional and local scale.

Activity: Basketball Pentatholon
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 3
Captain's Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 10

Activity: Texas Hold'em
Division: Open
Deadline: Nov. 3
Captain's Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 10

Activity: 3 on 3
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 10
Captain's Meeting: Nov. 13
Play Begins: Nov. 17

Activity: Pickle Ball
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 10
Captain's Meeting: Nov. 13
Play Begins: Nov. 17

All information, rules and registration requirements are online at http://recreation.truman.edu/intramuralrec.asp, or contact the Intramural Office at 785.4467.

Warren Gooch, professor of music, will be one of two composers featured in the 2008-2009 “Symposium 34 for New Band Music.”  His work, “Cellgames 2.0,” was selected from a national pool of 62 scores for a recording session and open rehearsals. The events will take place Feb. 13-14 at the College of William and Mary, under the auspices of the Virginia chapter of the Collegiate Band Directors National Association. Gooch will conduct the Virginia State Intercollegiate Band.

Push America is sponsoring a  textbook raffle for next semester in conjunction with a 24-hour Bike-A-Thon starting at 8 a.m. Oct. 27 and ending at 5 p.m. Oct. 31 on the Quad. All proceeds will benefit Push America.

Upward Bound will host two employment informational meetings for the summer of 2009 at 12 p.m. Oct. 29 in the Student Union Building 3203 and at 4 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Student Union Building 3204. Staff will be available for an informal Q&A session.

The Center for Teaching and Learning presents the return of the Weekly Lunch series with a two-part series on “Faces of Truman,” beginning with Gina Morin, associate vice president for enrollment management, at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Todd Phillips, director of the Student Success Center will speak at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 5. These speakers will discuss how their positions interact with and affect faculty work.

The Theatre Department presents the Fall Lab Show Student Production, “Bug,” by Tracy Letts at 8 p.m. Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in the Black Box Theatre of Ophelia Parrish. The show is directed by Clint Worthington. “Bug” is not suitable for children due to explicit drug use and violence.

The 2009 Benefits Information Fair will take place in the Student Union Building Oct. 30. Anthem BC/BS, Delta Dental of Missouri, SPECTERA, Standard, and MOCAFE will provide medical/prescription, dental, life insurance benefits and the cafeteria plan for the 2009 plan year. Open Enrollment for medical, dental, and vision benefits for the plan year effective Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2009 will take place from Oct. 30 through Nov. 14. Enrollments should be completed no later than 5:00 pm on Nov. 14. For more information on University benefits go to http://hr.truman.edu/benefits/.

The Department of Communication will host a panel of professors to discuss the issues of the 2008 election at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 in Violette Hall 1010 as part of Political Communication 2008: Provocative Thinking About Critical Issues.

The Career Center will host its sixth annual haunted house, “Gotham City,” from 7-11 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Career Center. The Career Center will transform into Batman’s city featuring characters from Batman movies and comics. The event is free and includes free candy and a costume contest with the possibility to win up to $50 in prizes. For more information, please call 785.4353 or e-mail Maggie Fairchild at mcf354@truman.edu.

Alpha Phi Omega and Alpha Sigma Gamma will conduct a can food and clothing drive from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 at the Student Union Building. Alpha Phi Omega and Alpha Sigma Gamma are working together to collect non-perishable food items and nice clothing for the Salvation Army. All donations are welcome.

Author Timothy Good will be visiting history and criminal justice systems classes to discuss his two books, “We Saw Lincoln Shot” and “The Lincoln Douglas Debates,” Nov. 5. He will also be signing copies of his books from 12-1 p.m. in the Truman Bookstore. Later that evening, he will host a fireside chat at 8 p.m. in the first floor lounge of the south side of Blanton Nason Brewer to further discuss and answer questions about his Lincoln studies.

The Stargazers Astronomy Club will host an Observatory Open House from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the University Observatory.

The Department of Classical and Modern Languages and the Department of Music will present a German Lieder Recital at 6 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. This informal gathering will feature food and German poetry and song.

The members of Hillel will host a Shabbat Dinner from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Activities Room of the Student Union Building. Tickets are available to the public for $6 each. The dinner will celebrate Shabbat while featuring homemade food.

Phi Sigma Pi, a coed honor fraternity, will host Parents’ Night Out, a free baby-sitting service for parents who want a night out, from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Pershing Building. This event is open to all Truman and Kirksville community members. Games, coloring, movies and fun activities will be provided for the children. Please RSVP for this event by completing the form at http://psp-beta.truman.edu or e-mail Tamara Arrendondo at tla29@truman.edu.

The Philosophy and Religion Department presents the 19th Annual Undergraduate Philosophy and Religion Conference from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Spanish Room of the Student Union Building. The conference will feature papers on philosophical or religious studies from undergraduates all over the country. Keynote speaker Gregory Pence, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will also present “How to Build a Better Human.”

The students of an environment health class, HLTH 362, will host National Recycling Day from 10:20 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 13 on the Mall. Demonstrations will provide information on the importance of recycling and how it impacts Truman’s community. There will also be free recycling bins.

The Next STEP Office is offering a summer research program in Molecular Ecology for the summer of 2009. Students are invited to apply for this 10-week program online at http://molecularecology.truman.edu. Students will be conducting research at two study sites, Kirksville and Albuquerque, N.M., and will receive a $3,500 stipend, three credit hours and room and board. For questions about the program or application process, contact Jennifer Thompson at 785.7252 or step@truman.edu.

The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation is seeking college sophomores to apply for the 2009 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.2 and must be interested in becoming a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Department of State. Deadline for the fellowship is Feb. 6, 2009. For more information go to http://www.woodrow.org/.