Vol. 16, No. 10 - Nov. 1, 2011

Truman was recently recognized as a top producer of U.S. Fulbright students for 2011-2012 in “The Chronicle of Higher Education.”

The University tied in ranking third nationally among master’s institutions with a total of five Fulbright students. Truman had 11 students apply.

The 2011-2012 Truman Fulbright students are: Kari Basquette, studying in Russia; Luke Icenogle in South Korea; Julia Curran in France; Jennifer Wilborn in South Korea; and Ashley Ward in Spain. 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. A current objective of the program is to encourage participants to find innovative solutions to global issues such as climate change and pandemics.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 310,000 participants — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. In the past 65 years, more than 44,000 students from the U.S. have benefited from the Fulbright experience.

The Fulbright competition is administered at Truman through Maria Di Stefano, associate provost and dean of graduate studies. For more information about the program or the application process, visit gradstudies.truman.edu/fellowships/fulbright.asp or fulbright.state.gov.

The Truman community has contributed more than $33,600 in support of the local United Way.

These gifts go a long way to support more than 20 local programs sponsored by 13 partner agencies. United Way programs help individuals pursue the goals of education, income and health. The United Way is truly appreciative of the community’s generosity.

The campus goal is $56,000. It is not too late to make a pledge. Forms may be sent to “United Way, Tony Vazzana, School of Science and Mathematics.” Contact Tony Vazzana (785.4284), Sally Detweiler (785.6049) or John Dungan at the United Way office (665.1924) to get a pledge form or for more information.

Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honors Society, and the Colombia Support Network of Kansas City, together with the Global Issues Colloquium, will present “Indigenous Survival in the 21st Century: A Look at the Embera-Chami Community” at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room B.

The presentation will feature speakers Ancizar Gutiérez and Reynelio Yagari, leaders of the Indigenous Colombian community, the Embera- Chami. They will discuss the state of Indigenous rights and the efforts to preserve their traditional way of life in Colombia amidst an ongoing war, drug trafficking and industrial development in their lands. Their presentation will include traditional music of the Embera-Chami.

Following the presentation, there will be a question and answer session with the audience. The speakers will be accompanied by Truman alumna Rachel Hogan (2009) of the Colombia Support Network. Hogan has spent time translating the Embera-Chami’s cultural myths.

Julia DeLancey, professor of art (art history), will present the next installment in the Truman Faculty Forum series at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 in Ophelia Parrish 2210.

“Colors, Color Sellers, and Visual Culture in Renaissance Venice” will examine the central role of color and coloring materials in 16th-century Venetian visual culture. It will also explore the key role vendecolori—color vendors who manufactured, sold, and traded in these goods—played in that culture and the implications for their social position. DeLancey will also outline the kinds of archival documents and research methods that allowed her to study this recently rediscovered Venetian mercantile specialty.

Admission is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be served following the event. Information on this and other upcoming events in the Truman Faculty Forum series is available at forum.truman.edu.

There will be an informational session about Boren Scholarships/Fellowships for study abroad from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Nov. 3 in Baldwin Hall 211.

The David L. Boren Scholarships and Fellowships, funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. students to become more proficient in the cultures and languages of world regions critical to U.S. interests including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Boren Scholarships and Fellowships provide American undergraduate and graduate students with the resources and encouragement they need to acquire skills and experiences in areas of the world critical to the future security of our nation. In exchange for funding, Boren Award recipients agree to work in the federal government for a period of at least one year.

For more information about the Boren Scholarships, contact gradinfo@truman.edu.

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum and Library in Independence, Mo., is seeking two Truman students to intern for summer 2012.

Students will receive a scholarship to cover five hours of internship credit during this eight-week, 40 hours per week position. The duration of this internship will coincide with Truman’s eight-week summer courses schedule. The scholarship has been made possible by a generous endowment set up by the family of Fred and Ethel Schwengel.

The interns can work in a variety of areas including (but not limited to) archives, public relations, marketing, educational programming, museum development or visitor’s services. They will vary based on the Library’s needs.

Juniors or seniors may apply who possess strong communication and organization skills, the ability to work independently on multiple tasks, basic computer skills and are self-starters who are dependable.

This is an unpaid position. Students interested may contact Jeff Gall at jgall@truman.edu or 785.7747 for more information. Applications are due by Dec. 7.

Tickets are now available to purchase for the University Chamber Choir’s 7th annual Madrigal Dinner.

The event will take place Dec. 2-3. Tickets are $23 for adults, $17 for students and $7 for children and are available for advance purchase only.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Building HUB with the all-new Renaissance Marketplace featuring small gifts and artwork by Truman students, games, picture opportunities and complimentary beverages.

The dinner and performance will commence in the Student Union Building Activities Room at 6:30 p.m. The dinner will include a four-course catered meal ranging from glazed roasted chicken to bread pudding. During and after the feast, members of the Chamber Choir will entertain with music, pageantry and a play full of script and song. The evening will end with a concert from the choir.

For more information, visit madrigal.truman.edu. To purchase tickets, visit music.truman.edu/madrigal/store/.

The Office of Citizenship and Community Standards will host a forum to discuss questions or concerns related to the Student Conduct Code and the conduct related processes. This is a revision year for the conduct code and the OCCS wants to hear the opinions of the campus community. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend the forum at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Student Union Alumni Room. Visit conduct.truman.edu/docs/SCC%20CHAPTER%208%20June%2020,%202009.pdf to see the current conduct code.

The Admissions Office is now offering a Bulldog College Access Program Intern position for the spring semester. Duties include:

• Assisting the Program Coordinator with all aspects of program administration
• Coordinating Bulldog College Access Mentors’ travel schedule
• Managing promotional materials for the program (newsletter, website and press releases)
• Graduate students and seniors interested in applying can visit trupositions.truman.edu
•  through Nov. 4.

Contact Matt Magruder at mmagruder@truman.edu for more information.

In celebration of Truman’s 25th anniversary of the mission change a series of programs have been scheduled to examine the question – Why a Public Liberal Arts & Sciences University in the 21st Century? Much has changed in higher education in the last quarter century and these presentations will offer an opportunity for the Truman community to reflect on our mission and share our thoughts on Truman’s future.

Applications are now available for Foundation scholarships that have not yet been awarded for 2011-2012. They can be found online at secure.truman.edu/isupport-s/ and are due by midnight Nov. 1. To learn more, go to truman.edu and click on “Student Life/Money/Foundation Scholarships.” Applications for the majority of Foundation scholarships will be available in February for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Activity: Basketball Pentathlon
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 7
Captains' Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 14

Activity: Co-Rec Floor Hockey
Division: Open
Deadline: Nov. 14
Captains' Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 14

Activity: Bench Press
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 9
Captains' Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 16

Activity: Table Tennis (sing/doub)
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 21
Captains' Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 28

Activity: College Bowl Mania
Division: Open
Deadline: Finals Week
Captains' Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Finals Week

Activity: Texas Hold Em’ Poker
Division: Open
Deadline: TBD
Captains' Meeting: NA
Play Begins: TBD

All information, rules and registration requirements are online at 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.

Nabil Alghalith, professor of business administration, had his manuscript entitled “Defining and Assessing Written Communication Skills of MIS Students” accepted for publication in “The Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice.”

Curtis Blakely, assistant professor of justice systems, had his article “Sub-atomic Particles and Prisoners: A Novel Examination of Socio-Physics and Penology” published in the latest issue of the “International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences.” Blakely asserts that social scientists have traditionally worked in an isolated and independent fashion. While contemporary researchers are more willing to adopt an interdisciplinary approach, little is still known about how the social sciences in general, and penology in particular, might be advanced through a natural sciences’ perspective. His comparison of the sub-atomic and penal realms provides insight into peer-entanglement, energy flow and how each might affect behavior. This article marks the first time that a penologist has employed physics to obtain a greater understanding of prison operations. Blakely’s article can be accessed at www.sascv.org/ijcjs/.

Students for Middle East Peace will be selling falafels from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 1 on the Quad.

President Paino will host a “Coffee with the President” from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Student Union Building Conference Room. Feel free to stop in and visit with him during that time. 

The deadline to submit McNair Program applications is Nov. 1. They are available online at mcnair.truman.edu. Contact Sarah Hass, program coordinator, at 785.5393 for additional information.

There will be a mathematics colloquium at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in Violette Hall 1224. Clifford Bergman from Iowa State University’s Department of Mathematics will present “The Mathematics of Secrecy: An introduction to Public-key Cryptography.”

The Pathways Project critical thinking meeting will take place from 2-3 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Student Union Building Room 3203. The wellness meeting will take place from 1:30-3 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Student Union Building 3202. The leadership meeting will be from 4-5 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Student Union Building 3201.

The physics colloquium continues at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 2 in Magruder Hall 1000 with a presentation by Sonya Bahar or the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri—St Louis. Bahar will discuss how clustering can occur in a neutral fitness landscape in a computational evolutionary model. For more information about the colloquium series, visit physics.truman.edu/colloquia/mainstage.asp.

The Center for International Study Abroad is hosting a photo contest for their office. Students may vote for their favorite photograph at studyabroad.truman.edu beginning Nov. 2. Voting will be in effect until Nov. 17 and the winner will be announced Nov. 18.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) will have its monthly meeting at 12 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Student Union Building 3201. Contact Marc Becker at marc@truman.edu or call 785.6036 for more information.

Jason Haxton, director of A.T. Still University Museum and author of new book, “The Dibbuk Box,” will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. Haxton is one of several University Press authors who will be speaking this year to celebrate the Press’ 25th anniversary. His book will be available to sign and purchase.
 
The Theatre Department presents “When a Man Marries” written by Mary Roberts Rinehart and adapted by Joan Larkins Mather at 8 p.m. Nov. 9-12 in James G. Severns Theatre in Ophelia Parrish.

Alpha Phi Omega’s national fundraiser, Ugly Man on Campus, will take place from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 10 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium. Tickets will be $2 in advance and $3 at the door. They may be purchased from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 4 and Nov. 7-10 in the Student Union Building, McClain Hall and Violette Hall. Penny Wars will be hosted in the same locations.

The 2011 Veterans Day Ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitor Center. A reception will follow.

The Safe Zone Workshop will take place from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in Student Union Building 3203. The Safe Zone program is designed to help raise visibility and awareness of LGBTQ issues in order to create a safe and open environment for all students on campus. For more information, visit safezone.truman.edu. To sign up for the workshop, send an email to tsusafezone@gmail.com.