Vol. 14, No. 20 - Feb. 9, 2010

Truman has again been acknowledged by the Peace Corps as one of the top universities in the nation for producing Peace Corps volunteers.

With 22 alumni currently serving in the Peace Corps, Truman came in at No. 21 on that organization’s list of medium-sized schools producing volunteers. This marks the second time in three years Truman has been included in the Peace Corps’ top twenty-five rankings. Since the Peace Corps was founded in 1961, a total of 174 Truman alumni have served as volunteers.

For anyone interested in working with the Peace Corps, Betsy Blum, who served in Guinea, will be visiting Truman to host a public Peace Corps Information Session at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room.

The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing schools annually according to the size of the student body. The complete list of rankings can be found online at http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/stats/schools2010.pdf.

As the Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, its service legacy continues to promote peace and friendship around the world with 7,671 volunteers serving in 76 host countries.

Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. To learn more about the Peace Corps, go online to http://www.peacecorps.gov.

For the fourth year in a row, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, will convene court at Truman. At 9 a.m. Feb. 17, a three-judge panel consisting of Chief Judge Thomas H. Newton, Judge Joseph M. Ellis and Judge Cynthia L. Martin, will hear oral arguments in five cases in the Student Union Building Activities Room.

The cases are appeals from previously held trials in area circuit courts. The judges will hear attorneys argue whether the trials had errors, which should cause them to be retried, or the trial court’s judgment reversed. The judges will read written arguments before the court session and may interrupt the attorneys’ arguments with questions.

The three judges will take a break in between cases and remain after the session to discuss the court system and generally explain proceedings.

This will be the fifth session of the Western District at Truman and the 17th time that the court has convened in Kirksville. It convenes regularly in Kansas City. Its jurisdiction is appeals from trial courts in 45 counties, which includes all of northwest Missouri and most of central Missouri.  

The Department of Music is hosting the 27th Annual Truman Piano Festival Feb. 19-20.

Serving as the guest artist in a solo piano recital at 8 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall will be Dr. Jeffrey Brown from Western Illinois University. Brown earned a Masters of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at Eastman School of Music. He also holds the Performer’s Certificate from Eastman.

The recital will feature works by Bach/Busoni, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and Brahms.

At 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Feb. 20, Brown will present master classes in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. Four Truman piano majors will perform in these classes. The recital and master classes are open to the public and are free of charge. For more information about the Truman Piano Festival, contact David McKamie, professor of music, at 785.4405.

Truman students now have the opportunity to study abroad this summer in China at Shanghai University, May 20-June 29.

Prior knowledge of the Chinese language is not a requirement, as language courses for all levels will be offered, in addition to courses on literature, history, the economy and calligraphy. Students can earn six to seven Truman credit hours through the program.

During the trip, students will tour, among other attractions, the Chinese capitol city of Beijing, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the National Opera House, Tiananmen Square, the Chairman Mao Museum, and sites of the 2008 Olympic Games and the World Expo, which starts in May.

Participating students will gain knowledge of the language and culture in addition to experiencing personal contact with Shanghai University students and the Chinese people.

The cost for the four-week program is approximately $4,248 plus Truman tuition for six or seven credit hours. The price includes international transportation, insurance, Shanghai University tuition, textbooks and an on-campus dorm room. Transportation and lodging costs are also covered.

Students must have at least a 2.50 grade point average to participate. Contact Julie Minn at jminn@truman.edu for more information.

Truman State University Foundation scholarship applications for Truman students in the 2010-2011 academic year are now available. Applications are online and are due by midnight March 5. To learn more, go to http://www.truman.edu and click on Student Life/Money/Foundation Scholarships or go to https://secure.truman.edu/isupport-s/.

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 Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation’s leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education, is currently taking applications for the 2010 scholarship. The scholarship is available to permanent residents of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan area defined as Clay, Jackson, Wyandotte, and Johnson counties. For more information, visit http://www.hispanicdevelopmentfund.org  or call 816.701.8308. A limited number of applications are also available in the Financial Aid Office in McClain Hall 103. Applications are due March 1, 2010.

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.

The Missouri Insurance Education Foundation will award scholarships to deserving students attending Missouri colleges or universities in a program that could lead to positions in the insurance industry in Missouri. The $2,500 C. Lawrence Leggett Scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior Missouri resident majoring in insurance or a related area of study in a Missouri college or university. In addition to the Leggett Scholarship, the foundation has made an additional scholarship available in the amount of $2,000. Application forms are available on their website at http://www.mief.org and due March 31.
 
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 Foundation of the Stadium Managers Association (SMA) offers its student scholarship to provide tuition assistance and an opportunity for outstanding students currently enrolled in an accredited Sports Management and Sports Administration programs with an emphasis on facility and/or event management to learn more about the professions through networking with leaders in the field in an educational, and information setting. This $2,500 annual scholarship award includes student membership in the SMA. For an application and more information regarding this scholarship go to http://www.stadiummanagers.org, click on Foundation. Application deadline is April 15.  

The John Gyles Education Awards are available each year to students in both Canada and the United States. They are the result of a private, benevolent endeavor established in 1990. Full Canadian or American citizenship is a requirement. Awards are available to both male and female students for all areas of post secondary study. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Criteria other than strictly academic ability and financial need are considered in the selection process. Selected students will receive up to $3,000. The filing date for mailing applications is May 1. Applications are available online at http://www.johngyleseducationcenter.com.

The BigSun Organization is proud to be able to continue to help young athletes succeed in their academic pursuits by offering a $500 scholarship. All student athletes are eligible for this award, regardless of the sport. Deadline for submission is June 24. Visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com to learn how to apply.

An upgrade to the Banner system is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. March 5.

It is anticipated that the upgrade will be completed by the end of the day March 8.

Banner and all Banner integrated services will be down during the upgrade, including all Banner links on TruView and mybill.truman.edu.

All users, including students, faculty and staff, will not have access to Banner during the upgrade period.

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/.

All students are encouraged to file the 2010-2011 FAFSA located at http://www.fafsa.gov. It is important to apply before April 1 to be considered for all available funding. Questions may be directed to the Financial Aid Office, McClain Hall 103, 785.4130.

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.

7 p.m.

Feb. 16

Student Union Building Hub

Including performances by Copacetic, Illusions Danz Team, Franklin Street Singers and the University Swingers. There will be free traditional Mardi Gras and Cajun cuisine for students as well as Mardi Gras trivia.

Taner Edis, associate professor of physics, published “Is The Universe Rational?” in Free Inquiry, 30:2 27-29 (2010).

Ronald A. Knight, professor emeritus of mathematics, had his paper, “Prolongational concepts for generalized flows,” accepted for publication in Topology Proceedings. The paper is the third in a series of papers developing the notion of generalized dynamical systems as defined in Knight’s paper “Initially deformed flows” which appeared in Volume 32 of Topology Proceddings in 2008.

Faculty and staff are invited to a Microsoft Access 2007 Presentation from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Kirksville TCRC, 315 S. Franklin. This one-day course teaches the basic functions and features of Access; how to design and create databases; how to work with tables, fields and records; and how to sort and filter data and create queries, forms and reports. This course is offered to faculty and staff for a reduced rate of $52 by the TCRC. For more information, call 785.2530 or e-mail kvtcrc@missouri.edu.

The Weekly Lunch Series continues at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Student Union Building Spanish Room with “Outcomes Based Local Assessment: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning” by Karen Smith, associate professor of psychology, Phil Ryan, associate professor of mathematics, Glenn Wehner, professor of animal science, and Ian Lindevald, associate professor of physics. The group participated in a National Science Foundation grant and will discuss their findings and how their experiences might apply to assessments of other Truman learning outcomes.

The Spanish Club is hosting a presentation about Argentina at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 in Baldwin Hall 251. Katie Tolle, a third-year Spanish and English major, will present on her experiences studying abroad in Argentina in Fall 2009.

The Career Center is sponsoring “Careers in Government,” a program for students interested in pursuing careers in government at 12 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Kirksville TCRC, 315 S. Franklin. Panelists are all Truman graduates representing various government agencies.

A Peace Corps Presentation will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. Those interested in opportunities with the Peace Corps can stop by. For more information, visit http://career.truman.edu.

The Pershing Society and University Swingers are hosting a three-day tango workshop. From 4-8 p.m. Feb. 11 is the Mate Mixer in the Student Union Building Spanish Room. Tango classes will be taking place from 4:30-8 p.m. Feb. 12 in Pershing Dance Studio. Classes continue from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Feb. 13 in Pershing Dance Studio and the workshop wraps up with a dance from 8-11 p.m. Feb. 13 in Kirk Gym. Visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=281334092522&ref=mf for more information.

The next Safe Zone training for faculty and staff will take place at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 12 in the Student Union Building Conference Room 3000. Safe Zone trained members provide support, information and resources to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students, and most importantly create a safe space on campus. For more information, e-mail hamilton@truman.edu.

The Freedom Writers Series begins with film showings at 6 p.m. in Kirk Gym and 9 p.m. in the Student Union Building HUB on Feb. 13. At 7 p.m. Feb. 15 in Baldwin Auditorium, two of the original Freedom Writer students will present. To conclude the series, there will be a “Netiquette” dinner and discussion at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms. All events are free. Events are sponsored by Residence Life, New Students Program, Multicultural Affairs Center, Regional Professional Development Center, Center for Teaching and Learning, Student Senate, Center for Student Involvement, National Education Association and Student Affairs.

The Quincy Symphony Orchestra will present “From the Heart” at 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at Quincy Junior High School Morrison Theatre. Tickets are free for faculty, staff and students with a University ID. Visit http://www.qsoa.org for more information.

Cardinal Key is hosting Spring Rush. Rush applications are due to the Cardinal Key mailbox in the Center for Student Involvement by Feb. 17.  Rush Week is Feb. 21-28. For more information, e-mail cardinal_key@yahoo.com or visit http://cardinalkey.truman.edu.

Bioethicist and Baptist pastor Dr. Terry Rosell will present a lecture on the sometimes unexpected tensions between organ donation and transplant and religious values systems in “What happens to Jesus if I donate my heart? A Narration of Religious-Cultural Influences on Organ Donation and Transplantation.” The talk will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. Rosell is the Sister Rosemary Flanigan Chair at the Center for Practical Bioethics in Kansas City.

Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) will host an international business discussion at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room. Students will be served dinner and participate in round table discussions over topics such as doing business internationally. All majors are welcome. Register at http://pdi.truman.edu by Feb. 15.

An information meeting for India Study Abroad will take place at 4 p.m. Feb. 23 in Violette Hall 1010 and Feb. 24 in Violette Hall 1146. For more information, e-mail ciea@truman.edu.

The next Global Issues Colloquium is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 25 in Magruder 2001. Sylvia Macauley, associate professor of history, will present “No Justice, No Peace: the Elusive Search for Justice and Reconciliation in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone.”