Vol. 14, No. 17 - Jan. 19, 2010

For the second time this month Truman has been acknowledged as one of the nation’s best values in higher education.

The Princeton Review, teaming with USA TODAY, included Truman on its list, “The Princeton Review Best Value Colleges for 2010.”

The list, which features 100 schools in all—50 public and 50 private colleges and universities—was released Jan. 12.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine also named Truman one of the “Best Values in Public Colleges” in its February issue.

On USA TODAY’s website, the editors at The Princeton Review commend Truman for being “thoroughly committed  to providing a strong, broad-based, liberal education to its small undergraduate student body” and they note that as “one of the few publicly funded liberal arts schools in the nation, Truman attracts many of Missouri’s top high school students.”

The Princeton Review selected the institutions as its “Best Value” choices for 2010 based on its surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities. The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, costs of attendance and financial aid, using the most recently reported data from each institution for its 2008-09 academic year.

“There are many first-rate institutions offering outstanding academics at a relatively low cost of attendance and/or generous financial aid,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review SVP/Publisher. “We’re pleased to have again teamed up with USA TODAY to identify and commend the 100 colleges that do just that and do it best in the nation.”

Visitors to The Princeton Review website (at http://www.princetonreview.com/best-value-colleges.aspx) and USA TODAY website (at http://www.bestvaluecolleges.usatoday.com) can access the complete lists of 50 public and 50 private “Best Value” colleges.

USA TODAY’s site features a database that allows users to view in-depth details about the schools by clicking on an interactive map to explore criteria including cost of attendance and financial aid data, enrollment size, location and The Princeton Review’s analysis of why each school was chosen as a “Best Value” college.

Kiplinger’s ranked Truman 26th on its exclusive survey list of the 100 public four-year schools that “combine outstanding education with economic value.” The University was also ranked as the 10th best educational value for out-of-state students. More information, as well as sortable rankings and other interactive features, are available online at http://www.kiplinger.com/reports/best-college-values/.

Pieces of Egyptian history, some dating back approximately 6,000 years, are being brought to life this month at Truman through an exhibit in the University Art Gallery.

The exhibit, “Vessels from the Past: Ancient Egyptian Pottery on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum,” consists of 28 objects. Free and open to the public, “Vessels from the Past” runs Jan. 19 through Feb. 19.

Many of the vessels, ranging from household objects to burial objects, were purchased or excavated in Egypt during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and donated to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada. Contents of the exhibit are on loan to the University.

Pottery is the most common type of object found on archaeological sites in Egypt, making it a tool for understanding the ancient society. It was inexpensive to make, usable for storage, long-distance trade, serving food and drink and it kept its form in the face of water and heat.

Pottery in this exhibit includes jars for beer or perfume, small dishes for offerings in tombs or temples, a vessel dated back from between 5000 to 3000 B.C. with inscriptions of the names of kings, and a “Spirit House” for the afterlife.

The exhibit features informational text outlining the manner in which the pottery was made, burial customs and details about specific vessels, as well as a timeline of Egyptian history.

Exhibit curator Sara Orel, professor of art, will conduct a Faculty Forum at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in Magruder 2001.

A public reception will be hosted at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 in the University Art Gallery. The event includes appetizers and refreshments.

“Vessels from the Past” is sponsored by the Art Department, The Friends of the Gallery, The Missouri Arts Council and the Office of the Provost.

Field experiences through the Health and Exercise Sciences department allow students to apply career-oriented skills in an off-campus internship during the summer months.

Some students have interned in their home communities and throughout the U.S., while others have interned as far away as Africa, Ireland, Australia, Mexico and England.

Chris Lantz, HES department chair and one of the coordinators for HES field experiences, said many students completing internships abroad, and even locally, report satisfaction with the program.

“The students consistently evaluate the field experience as the top experiential opportunity they have in our department,” Lantz said.

Two of the three programs within the HES department require practical fieldwork, and some students complete as many as 320 hours. Lantz said the requirements help students make decisions about what they want to do in their future careers.

“In many ways, those field experiences either reaffirm their interest in a particular area or shed light on the fact that this might not be the best fit for them professionally,” Lantz said.

Students generally search for and select their own internships, but Lantz and four of his colleagues help find work sites, give approval and take care of problems and other issues.

Once students begin their experiences, Lantz and other faculty visit all students’ work sites within a 200-mile radius.

Lantz said field experiences, especially those abroad, help round out the entire Truman experience.

“In order to consider oneself to be truly benefitting from a liberal arts and sciences education, you’ve got to immerse yourself in a foreign culture,” he said.

A field experience through the HES Department last summer allowed Sara Wissmann, a senior health science major, to explore her passion for mission work when she traveled to Malawi, Africa to teach HIV education seminars to youth and adults.

“I’ve only been in America my whole life, and so I don’t know what the rest of the world is like," Wissmann said. “There are so many others to consider and serve and help,” she said, expressing her desire to acknowledge and help fill the needs of others throughout the world.

For five weeks, Wissmann lived in the New Jersey-sized country, working with HIV Hope, a program that works to encourage and support those afflicted with HIV. The program is a facet of New Mission Systems International, an agency that coordinates Christian missions globally.

During her time in Africa, Wissmann and her companions primarily stayed in Malawi’s modernized capital city, Lilongwe. However, the group conducted most of their seminars in small villages.

Wissmann said her field experience is one she wouldn’t trade. In fact, her life has been so shaped by her experience in Africa that she plans to affiliate with NMSI, the organization through which she worked last summer, to continue mission work after she graduates in May.

Wissmann is just one example of the nearly 90 students who participate each summer in the HES field experience program.  

“It’s definitely an invaluable experience,” she said. “I wish everybody would go out and step out of our borders and see what life is like in other countries.”

The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) is sponsoring the 2010 Leadership Recognition Program. The theme for this year is “Inspiring Others: Cultivating Leadership.” This annual program is designed to honor Truman students, advisers and organizations for their dedication to their peers, campus and Kirksville community through various leadership roles and events during the year.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate exceptional student leaders, advisers, organizations and events on campus.

Student awards include the Athletic Leadership Award, the Excellence in Diversity Award, the New Student Leader Award, the Outstanding President of the Year Award (one small and one large), the Outstanding Residence Leader Award, the Outstanding Student Worker Award and the Senior Leadership Award.

Organization awards include the Excellence in Diversity Organization Award, the Outstanding Educational Event, the Outstanding Entertainment Event Award, the Outstanding New Organization Award and the Outstanding Organization Award (one small and one large).

The adviser award is the E.M. Violette Outstanding Adviser of the Year Award.

The SERVE Center has an Outstanding Student Volunteer Award, Outstanding Organization Award, and Outstanding Service Organization Award.

The Women’s Resource Center will also have Women of Distinction Awards for a student woman leader, faculty woman leader and staff woman leader.

The nomination forms are due by 5 p.m. March 17 in the CSI office in the Student Union Building. They can be submitted electronically on the CSI website at http://csi.truman.edu or can be downloaded as a PDF.

For more information contact the CSI at 785.4222 or e-mail csilrp@truman.edu.

The Leadership Recognition Program banquet will be at 7 p.m. April 14 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room.

The Public Relations Office has announced Amanda Goeser, a junior public communication major and sociology minor, as intern for the spring semester.


Goeser is from Honey Creek, Iowa, and is a 2008 graduate of Lewis Central High School. She is the daughter of Russell and Joan Goeser and the oldest of two children.

As the Public Relations intern, Goeser will help write, produce and distribute the University newsletter, Truman Today, as well as post it online.

She will also write press releases and perform various office tasks.

Goeser currently serves as vice president of the National Communication Association Student Club at Truman. She is a member of the Advertising and Public Relations Organization and writes for Detours Magazine.

Goeser’s interest in public relations and writing, coupled with her desire to gain hands-on experience while at Truman, led her to this position.

The Alumnae Panhellenic Association of Greater Kansas City is offering scholarship opportunities to female college juniors, seniors or graduate students, who are residents of the greater Kansas City area, attending Kansas or Missouri schools. The Kansas City area is defined as Platte and Ray counties in Missouri and Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. Greek sorority membership is required to apply for this program. Application deadline is Feb. 5. Applications are available online at http://www.kcpanhel.com.

USA Funds is taking applications for $1,500 scholarships to qualified full-time undergraduate and graduate students from households with incomes of $35,000 or less. Applicants for the scholarships must be enrolled or plan to enroll in coursework at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational/technical school beginning with the fall 2010 term. Deadline for students to submit the scholarship application is Feb. 15. For complete eligibility information and to download an application, visit USA Funds’ website at http://www.usafunds.org/scholarship.

The Missouri Travel Council will offer two $1,000 scholarships to currently enrolled sophomores, juniors or seniors in an accredited college or university in the state of Missouri. Applicants must be pursuing a hospitality-related major such as hotel/restaurant management, parks and recreation, etc., must be a current resident of Missouri, and must have a grade point average of at least 3.0. For more information, visit http://www.missouritravel.com. The deadline for applications is March 2, 2010.

Camp Ramapo in Rhinebeck, N.Y., is offering unique educational summer job opportunities for students. Ramapo is one of the few residential summer camps servicing children with emotional, behavioral and learning problems. It provides a safe, predictable and highly structured environment, which fosters the development of positive social and learning skills. In addition, Ramapo offers an on-site college course through the National Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction. For more information on how to make a difference in a child’s life this summer, while possibly earning college credits, log on to http://www.ramapoforchildren.org.

U.S. Bank will award forty $1,000 scholarships through a random drawing process. Undergraduate students attending an eligible four-year college or university participating in the U.S. Bank No Fee Education Loan Program are eligible to apply. Further details regarding this scholarship opportunity can be found online at http://www.usbank.com.

Scholarships are available through Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc., for the 2010-2011 academic year. Stop by the Financial Aid Office in McClain Hall 103 for more information on eligibility requirements or to obtain an application. One winner from each state may be submitted for the National Garden Club scholarship in the amount of $3,500.

The Truman in Washington Program facilitates internship opportunities in the Washington, D.C. area. Students can intern in their area of interest by working with Truman alumni, The Washington Center, or independently identified internships. Truman in Washington helps students locate housing in the D.C. area and provides students with support throughout the internship experience. Students also have the opportunity to earn academic credit through Truman in Washington, if they choose. Visit the Truman in Washington website at http://twp.truman.edu for more information. The site includes application materials, cost estimates, photographs taken by past interns and general information about the D.C. area. Applications for internships through The Washington Center are due by Jan. 19. Contact Diane Tobin Johnson at djohnson@truman.edu or 785.7852 with any questions regarding an internship in the Washington, D.C. area.

The Institute of International Education (IIE) has announced the inauguration of the Freeman Indonesia Nonprofit Internship Program (FINIP), funded by the Freeman Foundation. The internship aims to develop student leaders and strengthen the nonprofit sector in Indonesia. IIE will select and pair 10 Indonesian students pursuing U.S. degrees with 10 U.S. undergraduates and arrange internships for them to work together in an Indonesian nonprofit organization. The internship lasts from June 15-Aug. 17, 2010 and will take place in three cities: Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta. Interested American and Indonesian sophomores and juniors enrolled in U.S. institutions are encouraged to apply online at http://www.iie.org/programs/finip. The deadline for submission of applications is Feb. 15. Contact finip@iie.org for more information.

Collegium Civitas is now accepting applications for its professional internship program in Warsaw, Poland (June 1-July 31, 2010). Civitas offers students a unique opportunity to undertake professional internships in various areas, including politics, European integration, human rights, civic and political education, civil society, arts, history, Jewish culture and history, economics, business, media and journalism, legal and constitutional affairs, the environment and more. For details, visit http://www.globaleducationleadership.org/.

Karges, the “extraordinist,” is an award-winning entertainer, a nationally recognized speaker and an author. He has made more than 4,000 appearances on four continents and in all 50 states. The National Association for Campus Activities (NACA), the nation’s largest collegiate organization for student activities, has named him Campus Entertainer of the Year six times. Karges has also won NACA’s Variety Performer of the Year award for a record shattering 12 consecutive years. The independent Campus Activities Magazine’s annual reader’s poll has also named Karges Entertainer of the Year on four occasions as well as Best Performing Arts Attraction, Best Male Performer, Best Solo Act and Best Live Novelty Event.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) invites highly qualified undergraduate students to apply for scholarships funding study, senior thesis research and/or internships in Germany. Scholarships are available either as part of an organized study abroad program or as part of an individual, student-designed study abroad semester or year. Funding is offered for the academic year 2010-2011 and includes a monthly stipend, health insurance and a lump sum for travel. For program details go online to: http://www.daad.org/?p=undergrad. Current DAAD-Scholar blogs: http://daadabroad.wordpress.com/. DAAD Young Ambassadors: http://www.daad.org/page/65670/.

Activity: Basketball
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Jan. 19
Captains’ Meeting: Jan. 21
Play Begins: Jan. 25

Activity: Co-Rec Basketball
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 19
Captains’ Meeting: Jan. 21
Play Begins: Jan. 25

Activity: Racquetball-Singles*
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Jan. 19
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Jan. 25
*Will be played at YMCA

Activity: Super Bowl Pickem
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 22
Captains’ Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Feb. 7

Activity: Badminton
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 26
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Jan. 30 & Feb. 6

Activity: Racquetball-Doubles*
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Feb. 2
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Feb. 8
* Will be played at YMCA

Activity: Taboo
Division: Open
Deadline: Feb. 9
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Feb. 13

Activity: BAGGO
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Feb. 23
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Feb. 28

Activity: NCAA March Madness
Division: Open
Deadline: First of March
Captains’ Meeting: NA
Play Begins: First of March

Activity: Volleyball
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Mar. 2
Captains’ Meeting: Mar. 3
Play Begins: Mar. 15

Activity: Co-Rec Volleyball
Division: Open
Deadline: Mar. 2
Captains’ Meeting: Mar. 3
Play Begins: Mar. 15

Activity: Closest to the Pin
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Mar. 16
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: TBA

Activity: Indoor Soccer
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Mar. 16
Captains’ Meeting: Mar. 18
Play Begins: Mar. 22

Activity: Co-Rec Indoor Soccer
Division: Open
Deadline: Mar. 16
Captains’ Meeting: Mar. 18
Play Begins: Mar. 22

Activity: Swim Meet
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Apr. 6
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 8

Activity: Ultimate Frisbee
Division: Open
Deadline: Apr. 13
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 17 & 18

Activity: Punt Pass & Kick
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Apr. 13
Captains’ Meeting: Apr. 15
Play Begins: Apr. 22

Activity: Track Meet
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Apr. 13
Captains’ Meeting: Apr. 15
Play Begins: Apr. 22

Activity: T-Shirt Design Contest
Division: Open
Deadline: Apr. 29
Captains’ Meeting: NA
Play Begins: NA

Activity: Wrap Up Meeting
Division: Open
Deadline: NA
Captains’ Meeting: Apr. 29
Play Begins: NA


All information, rules and registration requirements are online at http://recreation.truman.edu/intramuralrec.asp, or contact the Intramural Office at 785.4467. Captains’ Meeting is at 4:30 p.m. in the SRC Conference Room.

Upward Bound has open positions for residential mentors, night supervisor, reading specialist, chemistry instructor, physics instructor, and variety show director. Application packets will be accepted until positions are filled. Access application materials at http://ub.truman.edu or Kirk Building 220. Call Donna for additional details at 785.4244.

This survey is being sponsored by Student Government, Faculty Senate and Staff Council. The purpose of the survey is to help them better understand the wishes of those who study, work, or live on Truman’s campus in regards to tobacco and second hand smoke. It is very important that the members of our University community (faculty, staff and students) participate in this survey. The survey will be open Jan. 20-22.

http://itssurvey.truman.edu/Surveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?surveyid=1342

Michael Goggin, associate professor of physics, co-authored “Towards quantum chemistry on a quantum computer,” which has been published by “Nature Chemistry.” The article abstract can be viewed online at http://www.nature.com/nchem/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nchem.483.html.

Gregg Siewert, professor of French, is serving on the national nominating committee for the American Association of Teachers of French in 2010. He will complete two more years as Region VI (upper Midwest) representative to the AATF Executive Board.

The Weekly Lunch Series will resume at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 20 in the Spanish Room of the Student Union Building with a program by Charlene Boyes, director of the Missouri Rural Enterprise and Innovation Center. This center, housed in Violette Hall, is designed to assist University personnel to convert their ideas and developments into commercially viable products or services.

The next event in the Physics Colloquium will take place at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 20 in Magruder Hall 1096. Anders Carlsson from the department of physics at Washington University in St. Louis will present “Nonlinear Protein Waves in Biological Cells.” Nonlinear waves based on chemical reactions and diffusion are a startling example of the ways in which simple laws of motion can lead to complex behaviors in physical systems. In this talk, Carlsson will discuss an example of such waves involving the protein actin in biological cells. Actin can exist either as an isolated protein in solution, or in the form of filaments which have mechanical rigidity. Recent experiments have shown filamentous actin forms spontaneous waves, which are correlated with the extension of the peripheral portions of cells. Carlsson will present a theoretical model of such waves based on the three-dimensional geometry of the network formed by actin filaments. Implementation of this model via simulation shows the actin system displays characteristic transitions between dynamic behaviors including traveling waves and patches, as the intracellular protein concentrations are varied. The connections between this behavior and the ability of biological cells to spontaneously explore their environment will be discussed. Snacks are provided five minutes before the talk. For more information about the colloquium series and upcoming talks, visit http://physics.truman.edu/colloquia/mainstage.asp. 

A Faculty Forum relating to “Vessels From the Past, an ancient Egyptian pottery exhibit on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum,” will be presented by exhibit curator Sara Orel, professor of art, at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in Magruder Hall 2001. The theme for the Forum is The Garstang Excavations at Beni Hasan, Egypt.