Vol. 13, No. 18 - Jan. 27, 2009

Features

  • Truman Nationally Ranked on CPA Exam

    According to newly released data from the National Association of State Boards of  Accountancy, Truman State University’s accounting students have ranked eighth in the nation for the percentage of its  students passing all four parts of the Uniform CPA Examination on the first attempt in 2007 (the most recent period of compilation). In four of the past six years, Truman  students have ranked in the top 10 of participating schools in the nation. 

    In this particular testing period, 65 percent of the Truman students passed all four parts of  the exam on the first attempt. The national pass rate for first-time candidates for all exam sections is 7.5 percent. Missouri was named again one of the top 10 honor roll states. This designation is reserved for states whose candidates achieved pass rates higher than the national average.

    The School of Business’ accounting program is well known for its history of assessing and  monitoring educational processes to ensure student success. Faculty members attribute strong student performance on the CPA exam to a “perfect storm” of factors which come together to create consistently high achievement values including bright students, a rigorous curriculum and an emphasis on student learning.

    Truman’s School of Business is one of only 167 business schools in the world accredited in both business and accounting by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the foremost worldwide accrediting agency for schools and programs of business.

  • Girouard Selected to Represent the United States on Debate Tour of Japan

    Christopher Girouard, a senior political science and communication double-major from Chesterfield, Mo., has been selected to represent the United States on a tour of Japan.

    Selected as one of only two students for this honor by the National Communication Association’s Committee on International Discussion and Debate (CIDD), Girouard will tour Japan for approximately a month this June as a member of the U.S. team. He joins a master’s degree candidate from Cornell University and a supervisor from the CIDD on the trip.

    In order to be selected from the competitive pool of bachelor and master students from around the country—including some active graduate student debate coaches—Girouard was first selected by a screening committee in November, then completed a live interview in Dallas, Jan. 9-10, during which he had to demonstrate skills in debate, argumentation, instruction and intercultural and diplomatic adaptability.

    The CIDD has sponsored international debate exchanges since 1922 and has sponsored students to tour the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the former Soviet Union, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and the Baltic States. Each year the CIDD also organizes tours of the U.S. by the British national team, as well as tours by the Japanese national team every other year. The costs of the delegation’s travel are underwritten by the CIDD and host institutions abroad.

    With the American delegation, Girouard will visit several Japanese universities and cultural associations for demonstration debates and guest lectures on American academic debating. Past tours of Japan have included debates in front of Japanese business leaders, high school teachers and media representatives.  

  • Speakers Sought for Reading in Civil Rights Program

    The program “A More Perfect Union: The Struggle for Civil Rights for All,” is looking for students, faculty and staff to volunteer to prepare and read civil rights speeches.

    Speeches may be selected from an already established list or may be submitted for approval prior to the event. All speeches are to be from historic civil rights authors and not the original work of the reader. Readers are expected to come prepared.

    Speeches will be read at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Pickler Memorial Library. Speeches will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis so please do not delay. As the program will last 60-90 minuets, some speeches may need to be shortened to excerpts.

    Please contact Erin Case at ecase@truman.edu immediately if you are interested in reading a speech.

  • Truman Forensics Students Capture Sixteen Awards in a Two-Tournament Weekend

    Eleven students from Truman’s Forensic Union braved the arctic chill of Seward, Neb., Jan. 16-18 for the “Sleet and Sun Swing,” a weekend of two tournaments co-hosted by Concordia University of Seward and Bethel College of St. Paul.

    Truman won second place overall team in debate at both halves of the tournament and third-place overall team of four-year colleges in attendance at both halves. The team also secured a new qualification for the national championships and racked-up an additional 13 awards. Sixteen colleges and universities, from as far away as Louisiana, were in attendance.

    At the Concordia-sponsored half of the tournament, freshman Andrew Grojean from Blue Springs, Mo., took third place in prose interpretation, qualifying him for the National Forensic Association Championships in April.  This is his third event qualification for the national tournament in only four months of collegiate competition.

    Debaters at the first half of the tournament secured numerous team and speaker awards. The parliamentary debate teams of freshman Ben Reid from Kansas City, Mo., sophomore Barbara Gillard from Jackson, Mo., freshman Emily Wagman from Springfield, Mo., and freshman Elizabeth Hatting from Omaha, Neb., each reached the semifinals of their portion of the tournament. Reid reached the semifinals of the Lincoln-Douglas debate portion of the tournament. Gillard was ranked fourth-best speaker in the Lincoln-Douglas division and seventh in the parliamentary division. Wagman was the top-ranked speaker in the parliamentary division, followed by Reid in fourth, and Hatting in sixth.

    During the second half of the tournament, hosted by Bethel, Gillard and Reid reprised their role in semifinals of the second parliamentary tournament, while Gillard was ranked second speaker and Reid, third. Hatting reached the  finals of the competition in persuasive speaking, where she took sixth place.

    Students will travel next to the Gorlok Gala, hosted by Webster University, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, in St. Louis.

    The Truman Forensic Union is open to all interested students regardless of previous interscholastic or intercollegiate speech and debate experience. Students interested in entering competition for the 2009-2010 season should contact a member of the coaching staff at 785.5677 or kminch@truman.edu.

  • Eisenberg to Serve as Acting Registrar

    Marty Eisenberg, associate provost for academic affairs and dean of new student programs, has agreed to serve as acting registrar.  He will assume this role in a temporary capacity in addition to his current duties on campus.

    Eisenberg succeeds Nancy Asher, who has served as interm registrar for the last year and a half.

    Asher is returning to her position as the coordinator of testing and reporting, as well as assuming a new responsibility as the University’s associate budget director.

  • Experience Campus Town Jan. 30-31

    Campus Town is a two-day program designed for college students that promotes diversity, tolerance and inclusion, sponsored by the Association of Black Collegians in conjunction with the Funds Allotment Council.

    It is a peer-to-peer cultural immersion and leadership development experience. The first day of Campus Town will begin at 4:15 p.m.-9:15 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Student Union Building Activities Room and continue at 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Jan. 31 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room.

    All students are eligible to participate and all meals will be provided. There is no cost for participation. Please RSVP to ccc237@truman.edu.

  • Alpha Phi Omega Wins Four National Awards

    Between Dec. 27-31, 25 members and four alumni of the Truman State University chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, Epsilon, traveled to Boston, Mass. to attend the fraternity’s national convention. At the conference, the co-ed service chapter earned four awards, including Chapter of Excellence, Pledge Program of Excellence Diamond Level, National Leadership Award and an honorable mention for the National Scouting Award.

    Both the Chapter of Excellence and Pledge Program of Excellence recognize Epsilon as a chapter whose programs of leadership, friendship and service promote growth, retention and stability for the active chapter, as well as providing a positive and educational environment for prospective and new members. Epsilon was awarded the National Leadership Award for its extensive leadership involvement in other campus organizations, the integration of pledges into leadership positions and involvement in leadership programs. The honorable mention for the National Scouting Award was given due to the organization’s involvement in Boy Scout events such as Klondike, Merit Badge College and Camp Thunderbird.

Announcements

Notables

  • Notables

    Taner Edis, associate professor of physics, had a chapter, “Muslim Resistance to Darwinian Evolution,” published in J. Seckbach and R. Gordon, eds., “Divine Action and Natural Selection: Science, Faith and Evolution.”

    Teri Heckert, professor of psychology, had her article, “Alternative Service Learning Approaches: Two Techniques that Accommodate Faculty Schedules,” accepted for publication in the journal “Teaching of Psychology.”  This research was partially supported through a Truman State University Faculty Summer Research Fellowship.

    Betty L. McLane-Iles, professor of French, was interviewed on “The Writer’s Voice,” a radio program on KRUU in Fairfield, Iowa, regarding her book “Dieppe Crossing.” The interview aired Jan. 16 and was rebroadcast Jan. 19.

    Matthew Tornatore, associate professor of foreign languages, had his article “Trilce LXXV: los muertos natos,”an exegesis of a debated œuvre of César Vallejo’s Trilce, published in “Texto Crítico” (Vol. 16: 79-96) by the Instituto de Investigaciones Lingüístico-Literarias of the University of Veracruz, Mexico.

Notes

  • Notes

    Betty Smocovitis, Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar, will give a lecture “Singing his Praises: Darwin and His Theory in Song, and Musical Production” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room. 

    The Prim Roses will continue recruitment at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. More information can be found at http://primroses.truman.edu. 

    The Pre-Dental Club will hold its first open meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 27 in Magruder Hall 2080 for students interested in a career in dentistry.

    Alpha Sigma Gamma rush will be Jan. 27-29, with events taking place at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building Alumni Room for those interested in learning more about the local service sorority.

    Sigma Chi Delta, a local sorority, will continue to host recruitment meetings at 7 p.m. Jan. 27-28 in Baldwin Hall 251.

    A STAND meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in Baldwin Hall 284. STAND is an organization devoted to ending, preventing and educating people about past genocide. For more information about the movement visit http://standnow.org/, to join the Truman chapter online go to http://standnow.org/chapter/tsu. 

    The Center for Teaching and Learning’s Weekly Lunch Series returns at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Student Union Building Spanish Room. Dave Leaton will speak as part of a series called “Faces of Truman.” Leaton is the new director of the Writing Center. A $3.50 credit is given to attendees for their lunch.

    Phi Delta, social and service sorority, will begin rush with “Help a Sister Out,” an informational meeting, at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in Magruder Hall 2007 and “Speed Friending” at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 in Magruder 2007.

    Van driving classes are scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 27-28 in the Public Safety Building. Class sizes are limited. People may reserve a space by calling 785.4177. Please allow two hours for the class.

    Cardinal Key rush applications should be turned in by 5 p.m. Jan. 28 to the mailbox in the CSI, located in the Student Union Building. Rush applications can be found online at http://cardinalkey.truman.edu. Cardinal Key will conduct a rush meeting, "Are You Inspi(red) for Service?” for females interested in joining the honor/service organization. The first session, for individuals with last names A-M, will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 1 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room C. A second session, for last names N-Z. will follow at 7:30 p.m. Dress for this event is casual.

    The Professional Development Institute will host Sue Limestall, director of the Student Recreation Center presenting “Don’t Feel the Burn and Brain Food” at 6 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Career Center. For more information and future PDI events visit http://pdi.truman.edu.

    Lambda Pi Eta, the Communication National Honor Society, will host a game night at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 in Barnett Hall 1211 for communication majors and minors interested in joining. Requirements include 60 total credit hours, with at least 12 in communication courses, and a 3.0 cumulative GPA with a 3.25 communication GPA. 

    Roger Craik, a scholar of English renaissance literature and professor of English at Kent State University, will be reading poetry at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the University Club House.

    Sigma Lambda Gamma will have an information meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 29 in the Student Union Building 3201. Sigma Lambda Gamma is a multicultural sorority committed to diversity, friendship and the empowerment of women.

    Alpha Gamma Delta will host an evening of Grey’s Anatomy and philanthropy at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 in Brewer Hall 2203 and dinner at Mainstreet Market at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Student Union Building for Spring Recruitment.

    The Campus Leadership Institute (CLI), information night will take place at 4:15 p.m.-9:15 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. The CLI is a program that promotes diversity, tolerance and inclusion for college students.

    Truman's Club Women's Ultimate Frisbee team, TSUnami, will host a free women's clinic from 1-5 p.m. Jan. 31 in Pershing Arena. They will be teaching the basic skills of throwing a frisbee and strategy of playing the game of ultimate. There will be a couple of free door prizes, as well as, t-shirts and frisbees for sale.

    SUB After Dark will host a Super Bowl party at 3 p.m. Feb. 1 in the Student Union Building HUB. Free food and drinks will be provided.

    The Student Conservation Association (SCA) information session will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Career Center. Sign up for the SCA session at http://pdi.truman.edu/register/classlist.asp.

    The Missouri National Education Association (NEA) will host PRAXIS II workshop     at 6 p.m. Feb. 2 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room to prepare MAE students for the certification test. RSVP to trumannea@gmail.com or res657@truman.edu. The workshop is free to NEA members and $20 for non-members.

    Phi Sigma Pi, National Honor Fraternity, will begin rush with information sessions     at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Feb. 2 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. Student must have 30 credit hours and a 3.0 cumulative GPA to rush. Dress for this event is casual.