Vol. 26 No. 28 - April 4, 2022

The Holman Family Distinguished Speakers Series will feature Philippe Cousteau at 7:30 p.m. April 8 in Baldwin Auditorium.

Inspired by the legacy of his grandfather Jacques Cousteau, Philippe is an Emmy nominated television host and producer, as well as an author, speaker and social entrepreneur. He is the host and executive producer of the Emmy nominated weekly syndicated series “Awesome Planet.”

Cousteau and his wife Ashlan are the co-heads of impact for a new location-based destination experience about the ocean called “Hidden Worlds.” They have also been the stars of the Travel Channel’s hit series “Caribbean Pirate Treasure,” and in 2016 they co-hosted “Nuclear Sharks,” the No. 1 show for Discovery’s Shark Week.

Cousteau’s conservation efforts are focused on solving global social and environmental problems. In 2005 he founded EarthEcho International, a leading environmental education organization that is building a global youth movement to restore and protect the ocean. To date, EarthEcho has activated more than 2 million youth in 146 countries through its programs.
 
As an author, Cousteau’s children’s book, “Follow the Moon Home,” was chosen for the prestigious Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. In addition, he has co-written, “Going Blue” and “Make a Splash,” both of which have won multiple awards. His book series, “The Endangereds,” launched in September 2020. His latest book, “Oceans for Dummies,” co-authored with Ashlan, was released in February 2021.
 
The Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series was created in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman by their children to honor their parents’ long association with Truman. It is funded through an endowment with the Truman State University Foundation. There is no charge for attendance to this event.

The exhibition was researched and curated by students in museum studies courses using works from the Pickler Memorial Library Special Collections and Museums. It features late 19th- and early 20th-century objects from the arts and crafts movement and explores how the movement endeavored to create items that were both beautiful and utilitarian in opposition to growing industrial production. Highlights include an original leaflet from a Kelmscott Press Chaucer, design work from William Morris and ceramics from the Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati.

A reception with refreshments will take place from 3-4 p.m. April 21 as part of the Student Research Conference. The exhibition will be on display through April 29. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.

A team of Truman accounting students participated in the Deloitte FanTAXtic tax competition for the third year in a row.

Emily Imhoff, John Marx, Matt Foster and Kyle Seabaugh competed virtually in the Deloitte FanTAXtic regional case competition in October 2021. For the regional competition, teams were given three weeks to research real-life tax issues and present their suggestions to their “clients.” The team’s performance earned them a spot at the national competition.

The national competition took place at Deloitte University in Westlake, Texas, March 25-27, where Marx, Foster and Seabaugh again presented solutions to tax issues for their “clients” and also earned an honorable mention. This year’s national competition FanTAXtic event included approximately 250 students from more than 40 colleges and universities and culminated in 60 students representing 16 university teams.

Sponsored by Deloitte Tax LLP and supported by the Deloitte Foundation, Deloitte FanTAXtic is designed to educate and prepare the next generation of tax talent for a career in business and tax. The interactive program includes case simulation, role playing and presentations which provide students with insights and perspectives on challenges facing the profession today, future trends that may impact it tomorrow and the overall changing business tax marketplace. Deloitte Tax LLP professionals participate in the event and offer the students support and guidance throughout the competition.

Albert Lee, assistant professor of business administration, in his first year at Truman. Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Daejeon, South Korea, he has research interests in stock transactions, corporate finance and lately, cryptocurrency. Lee has a bachelor’s degree in financial economics and mathematics from the University of Rochester, along with a master’s in finance from Johns Hopkins University and Ph.D. in finance from the University of Buffalo. At Truman, he teaches Corporate Finance, Personal Finance, Principles of Finance and Seminar in Finance.

What drew you to want to work at Truman?
“I was impressed with the level of faculty commitment to teaching at Truman, which I learned through both the Truman website and conversations with the faculty members and students during the interview process.”

What is your best advice to your students?
“Start saving early and save often when you have a job and have paid off any debts. Just $5 per week with 8% return could become over $100,000 by the time you retire.”
 
What do you like best about teaching?
“Teaching helps me learn the subject in more depth than when I was a student. And it’s not just through my giving lectures – learning opportunities frequently arise when I have conversations with the students.”  

What are your research interests?
“I am broadly interested in how stock transactions work and how different mechanisms affect investors. An example includes algorithmic traders who use computer programs to trade. As such, many trading decisions and the resulting transactions occur in a very fast pace, often before a person can even finish blinking their eyes. I have also been studying corporate finance and cryptocurrency related issues lately to expand my research.”

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
“I studied French and Mandarin when I was in college, but it’s been long enough that all I can remember to say now are ‘je ne sais pas’ [I don’t know] and ‘wo bu zhi dao’ [I have no idea].”

What is the nicest thing someone has said to you?
“A student wrote that I deserve a raise and tenure in my course evaluation last semester. It made my day, so thank you if you’re reading this!”

What is the best book you’ve ever read?
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of books written by Paulo Coelho and Bernard Werber. It’s not easy to pick just one from them, but if I absolutely have to, it’ll be ‘Veronika Decides to Die.’”

What is a skill you don’t have, but would love to master?
“I hope I’ll be able to finish a marathon race one day.”

What is your most used emoji?If you had your own late night talk show, who would you invite as your first guest?
“George Lucas.”

If you could have dinner with any three people – past or present – who would you choose and why?
“Due to difficulties in travelling internationally, it’s been a very long time since I last had a dinner with my parents. I’d like to choose them.”

What superpower would you most like to have and why?
“The ability to move things with my mind. I could talk about all the noble things I would do with it, but in reality, I would probably just use it to grab the TV remote control or my phone while sitting on my couch.”

In an effort to get to know instructors from across campus, the Faculty Corner will highlight a new faculty member every month.

Comedian and YouTuber Trevor Wallace will perform at 7 p.m. April 9 in Pershing Arena.

Wallace is a comedian, writer and actor from Camarillo, California. He is a regular on the YouTube channel All Def Digital and has been featured on Buzzfeed, Unilad, Funny or Die, Super Deluxe, Fusion TV, Worldstar Hip Hop and MTV2. Wallace performs comedy skits on his own YouTube channel, which has more than two million subscribers. He also hosts a podcast with co-host Michael Blaustein, who will be the opening act.

Students can pick up a free ticket at the SAB window from now until the day of the event by showing their student ID. The SAB window is open Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. General admission tickets will be available at the door.

The graduation fair is scheduled for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 5-6 in the Student Union Building Activities Room.

Every degree candidate must complete a graduation clearance form prior to graduating. The clearance form verifies that all the necessary requirements for graduation have been completed, including the portfolio, senior test and GSQ. If all the necessary requirements for graduation have been completed, the entire clearance form can be completed while attending the graduation fair. Students who do not attend the fair will be required to visit all necessary offices individually in order to get the required signatures.

The fair provides the following opportunities:
•    The completion of all clearance items in one spot
•    Pick up rain tickets
•    Pick up medallion if applicable
•    Posed graduation photograph (cap and gown provided for picture; another picture will also be taken when the student walks across the stage at commencement)
•    The opportunity to ask questions and get answers about graduation and the commencement ceremony
•    Students who have a family member who is a Truman emeritus faculty, current full-time faculty or current full-time staff at Truman can request the family member present diploma cover. Those request forms will be available at the fair.

Students who do not attend the fair must stop by the Registrar’s Office, McClain Hall 104, to pick up a clearance form after April 6 and pick up rain tickets.

The progress of the graduation clearance form can be viewed on TruView under Student Tools Tab>Registration>Apply to Graduate>Graduation Clearance Form.

In order to request the presentation, fill out a form at the Graduation Fair April 5 or April 6, or contact Kaytee Wood in the Registrar’s Office at kwood@truman.edu no later than 5 p.m. April 22 and provide the following information:

Candidate’s Information:
•    Degree Candidate’s name
•    Candidate’s pronoun(s)
•    Candidate’s degree (BA, BFA, BM, BS, BSN, MA, MAc, MAE, MAT, MS) and program name (example: BS in Accounting)
•    Candidate’s email address
•    Candidate’s phone number

Presenter’s Information:
•    Presenter’s name
•    Presenter’s Truman employment title/position
•    Presenter’s email address
•    Presenter’s phone number

Family presenters are expected to be dressed in full academic regalia. If the presenter does not own these items, a cap and gown may be purchased through the University Bookstore.

Requests can be submitted after 5 p.m. April 5, but will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Confirmation notices will be received prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

Recognized student organizations must be in good standing in order for requests to be processed. Consult the room release chart to identify appropriate spaces for anticipated events. No physical forms will be accepted, only online forms found here. All PDF requests should be sent to union@truman.edu.

Student Union Building policies and other lottery information can be found here. Contact the Union & Involvement Services Office at union@truman.edu or 660.785.4222 for more information.

Presentation abstract:

The literature, myths, art, and history of ancient Greece and Rome have long fascinated later generations, becoming the subject of retellings and reinterpretations. For our generation, video games are a major area of reception of Classical antiquity, but are relatively unexplored by scholarship. From the early days of the medium, a subset of video games has re-envisioned Greco-Roman antiquity as a playable space, evident by iconic games such as the single-player shooter game “Gladiator” (1977) and the action-adventure platformer “Kid Icarus” (1986). Since the 2000s, there has been a surge in the market of video games (both mainstream and independent) set in and around the ancient Mediterranean: examples include “Rome: Total War” (2004), the “God of War” series (2005-present), and more recently “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” (2018), “Hades” (2020) and “The Forgotten City” (2021) – to name a few. The players have spoken: the ancient world sells! But as these new iterations of antiquity appear on screen in an interactive format that empowers the player, how are notions of authenticity of ancient Greece and Rome being redefined? How do ancient world video games give us an opportunity to redefine antiquity for our own time, in particular by highlighting “lost” narratives, or diverse voices and perspectives? Join me as we discuss the critical connections between narratology, ludology and authenticity in video games that reinforce the relevance of the ancient world – or some version thereof – for the player.

The Faculty Forum was created in 2003 to give faculty the opportunity to present their research and creative work to the Truman community, and to enhance the importance of scholarship and creativity in the culture of the institution. In the spirit of the liberal arts and sciences, the forum is a showcase of Truman faculty’s many creative and intellectual pursuits. The forum offers a variety of formats – public lectures, classroom-style symposia, performances and gallery exhibitions – to best suit different fields of study, as well as different individuals.

The final event in the MAE Professional Development Series will take place at 7 p.m. April 7 via Zoom. It will feature Sharon Slodounik, lecturer in education, who will talk in depth about implementing critical thinking in the classroom. RSVP for the event here. For more information, email ams8285@truman.edu.

The board term is one year, July 1-June 30, with possible renewal for a second consecutive term. To apply, submit an application along with a current resume to Charles Hunsaker, executive director for University Advancement, at hunsaker@truman.edu. The deadline is 12 p.m. April 8.

Three Girls and a Couple of Goats is a student-led business through the Agriculture Practicum Capstone class focused on creating and selling products from locally sourced goat milk. Available for purchase are honeysuckle and lavender vanilla soaps as well as lavender vanilla lotions. Soaps are $6 and lotions are $8.

TruView Flowers, a student-led floral business through the Agriculture Practicum Capstone class, will conduct a spring sale in April.

They will be selling petunias, succulents and special spring arrangements made out of gerbera daisies and tulips. Petunias will cost $5 and succulents will cost $12. The special spring arrangements will be available in small, medium and large sizes. The small 7 oz. jar will cost $12, the medium 12 oz. will cost $15 and the large 24 oz. will cost $20.
April 13-15
Delivery dates for pre-orders.

April 14-15
Follow @truviewflowers on Facebook and Instagram for updates about new and upcoming sales.

With courses for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, Praxis Core, SAT and ACT, Truman is northeast Missouri’s leading test prep solution. The University has partnered with Educational Testing Consultants to provide online exam preparation courses as well as free online test strategy sessions for major national graduate and professional school examinations.

“Truman partnered with ETC because of its established reputation for improving student performance on standardized exams,” said Kevin Minch, associate provost. “Many colleges and universities nationwide are using ETC, including some of our Missouri peers.”

Preparation courses are non-credit bearing and are offered at a range of lengths, at a variety of times and dates, and various points throughout the year. Students who register at least 10 business days in advance of the course can secure discounts of between $50-$100 per course. Courses are priced to be competitive with other national providers.

For high school students, preparation courses for the ACT and SAT are also available.

The test preparation classes were designed by a team of former standardized-test-item writers and test-preparation experts. All classes include: extensive instruction; experienced, dedicated instructors; comprehensive preparation materials, including actual questions and practice tests from the test-makers; thorough presentations and explanations; flexible schedule options; and access to online support resources.

For detailed descriptions of the available courses, and for more information on how to enroll, visit examprep.truman.edu.

11a.m.-4 p.m.
April 19
Quad
Sponsored by TruOutdoors

Party on the Quad
4:30-6 p.m.
April 19
Quad
Sponsored by Student Recreation Center

Garden Event
6:30-8 p.m.
April 19
Communiversity Garden
Sponsored by Sustainability Office

SCU Anti-Nihilism Forum
6:30 p.m.
April 20
Baldwin Hall Little Theatre
Sponsored by Student Climate Union

Clothing Swap Collection
1-4 p.m.
April 21
Outside the Student Union Building
Sponsored by Grassroots Environmentalism Class

Global Issues Colloquium:
“Grieving Our Home: Climate Change, Loss and Finding a Path to Action”
Presentation by Christine Harker
7 p.m.
April 21
Magruder Hall 1000 and via Zoom
Sponsored by Sustainability Office

One Earth, One Love: Earthfest
3-6 p.m.
April 22
Outside the Student Union Building
Sponsored by all environmental groups on campus

Movie Night: “Wall-E”
7 p.m.
April 22
Planetarium
Sponsored by Student Government and Sustainability Office

Creek Clean Up
April 23
Outside West Campus
Sponsored by ECO

Sustainability Quiz
April 19-22
Sustainability Office Violette Hall 1310

Dr. Ryan M. Yonk, a senior research faculty and director of the Public Choice and Public Policy Project at the American Institute for Economic Research, will present a talk at 6 p.m. April 19 in Baldwin Hall 114 as part of Earth Week.

Prior to joining AIER, Yonk worked various academic positions at North Dakota State University, Utah State University and Southern Utah University and was one of the founders of the Strata Policy. He is the co-author or editor of numerous books including “Green V. Green,” “Nature Unbound: Bureaucracy vs. the Environment” and “The Reality of American Energy.” He has also authored numerous articles in academic journals including Public Choice, Energies, Applied Research in Quality of Life and the Journal of Range Management.

Yonk’s talk, titled “Voluntary Environmentalism: Can Green Entrepreneurs Change the World?,” will discuss how for decades the American public has largely relied on the federal government to promote a healthier and cleaner environment. He will explore how the policymaking process works and how environmental policies and the outcomes they create are often a product of the political rather than scientific process. Yonk will also explore the potential of voluntary actions by entrepreneurs to improve environmental quality outside of the political process.

This event is free and open to the public.

• Joseph Baldwin Academy (June 8-July 3 and/or July 6-31)
• JBA Junior (July 11-15)
• ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy (June 9-18)

The Institute for Academic Outreach is seeking applications for each academy for programs ranging from one to three weeks during June and July. Stipends vary based in the length of the program and nature of the work.

To be eligible as a preceptor, applicants must be a Truman student or a May 2022 graduate, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and not be enrolled in summer classes while working in the program. Individuals hired for these programs will also be required to complete a criminal background check, pre-academy trainings and pre-academy orientations.
 
Applications are currently being accepted and will continue until the positions are filled. Information about each available position can be accessed at tiacademies.truman.edu/employment or by emailing Michelle Wilson at mwwilson@truman.edu.

This is the last week to visit the “The Descent is Easy: Illustrating Vergil’s Underworld,” exhibit on display in Pickler Memorial Library outside Special Collections located on the third floor of the library.

This exhibit illustrates scenes from Vergil’s “Aeneid,” an ancient Roman epic poem, through woodcut illustrations, simulating the artistic process of a 1502 early printed edition of Vergil’s works housed in Special Collections.

This joint project by ART 217: Printmaking I, taught by Laura Bigger, and LATN 351: Vergil’s Aeneid, taught by Amy Norgard, features students’ artistic prints and woodcuts showcased alongside two leaves from Vergil’s “Aeneid” printed by Johann Grueninger in 1502.

The exhibit will close April 13.

The University Student Conduct Code is undergoing revision and students are invited to be a part of the process.
 
The Student Conduct Code calls for the code to receive major review and any revision necessary every five years. There are various ways to provide feedback, suggestions or thoughts. Students should start by reviewing the current Student Conduct Code, available on the Board of Governors webpage under the Code of Policies link, specifically Chapter 8. Students should note anything they find confusing, or anything that causes questions or concerns, and thoughts for improvement.

For those who wish to participate, there are two ways to provide feedback. Students can send thoughts, suggestions and feedback to occs@truman.edu prior to April 21. When commenting, reference either the page and/or section number of the code to which the comments are referring. Page numbers are at the top of the page and start with “8 –” and then the page number. A section number is formatted as 8.010, 8.020, etc, and will always be on the left edge of the page.
 
All campus community members are also invited to participate in a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. April 20-21 in the Baldwin Hall Auditorium. The forum will allow students, faculty and staff to freely express opinions about what they would like to see changed. The meetings will be also be recorded. The town hall meetings are sponsored by the Dean of Student Life Office and the Office of Citizenship and Community Standards.

For more information contact the Institute for Academic Outreach at 660.785.5384 or visit tiacademies.truman.edu.

Summer students will be housed in West Campus Suites. For preferred eligibility for summer housing, students must either:

•    Be enrolled in a summer course, and in good financial standing with the University AND/OR
•    Be enrolled in a fall course as a continuing student, and in good financial standing with the University.

Students who plan to stay on campus this summer but do not have a fall 2022 housing assignment will need to move out July 31. Students staying in summer housing in August will be moved to their fall 2022 housing assignment on Aug. 8-9.

Summer housing registration is available here. To secure housing, students should sign up online no later than May 2. Visit truman.edu/residence-life for more information.

Summer jobs are available for a small contingent of student workers for the spring and/or summer to help with campus grounds. Duties will mainly be outdoors and include weeding, trash removal, trimming and painting. The position can be found on TruPositions. Contact Barb Newcomer in the Business Office at 660.785.4150 with any questions.

The University Board of Governors will meet at 1 p.m. April 9 in the Student Union Building Conference room 3000. The website is updated to include the open session agenda.

Truman students from the Miller research lab in chemistry presented at the National American Chemical Society Meeting in San Diego, California, from March 20-24. Senior biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology (BCMB) major Conaire Bradfield; senior chemistry major Alex Platt; senior BCMB major Collin Hansen; senior BCMB major Quin Blankenship; senior BCMB major Jake Collins; junior BCMB major Ainsley LaMore; junior physics major Dominic Caputa; junior biology major Peyton Williams; and junior BCMB major Sarah Holmes presented a total of eight posters in the areas of biological chemistry, analytical chemistry and/or computational chemistry. The research poster presented by Blankenship and Caputa was selected for a special poster session known as Sci-Mix (Science Mixer). Much of this research and travel were both funded by the Truman Chemistry Department.


Student presenters left to right: Quin Blankenship, Collin Hansen, Conaire Bradfield and Jake Collins. Bottom row left to right: Alex Platt, Ainsley LaMore, Peyton Williams, Dominic Caputa and Sarah Holmes.

The 12-credit summer program runs June 2 to July 22 and is open to students who have completed Spanish 202 prior to starting the program. All applicants who meet scholarship criteria will be automatically considered for funding. The priority deadline to apply for scholarship consideration is March 18. Scholarships will be awarded on a rolling first-come, first-served basis.

Details about the program are available here. Students can apply through TruView: Tools > Student > Student Tools > Registration > Apply to Study Abroad.

Purdy was born in 1914 on a farm near Macon and was the first in his family to attend a four-year college. He worked in the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture before becoming the campus first director of scholarships and student financial aid.

The scholarship is designed to provide merit-based scholarships to emerging leaders who are outstanding students and have a need for additional resources for higher education. The scholarship amount can vary based on an applicant’s circumstances. The general range will be $1,000-$5,000 based on expected family contribution (EFC), unmet need and other factors.

Applicants must be a Missouri resident, typically a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA, a U.S. citizen, and a sophomore, junior or senior attending a Missouri public four-year university or the State Technical College of Missouri. Applications should be submitted online through Scholarship Central at moslf.org. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 660.785.4130 for more information.