Vol. 20 No. 11 - Nov. 2, 2015

The Brooklyn Art Song Society (BASS) will perform a free concert at 8 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

The recital will feature University alumnus Dominic Armstrong (’02), along with pianist Michael Brofman.

Currently in its sixth season of first-rate music making, BASS has earned a reputation as one of the preeminent organizations dedicated to the vast repertoire of poetry set to music. The New York Times called BASS “a company well worth watching” and Voce di Meche hailed, “as long as BASS is around we do not need to worry about the future of art song in the USA.” BASS’s innovative programming is epic in scope yet presented in intimate settings.  

The program being presented is part of “Britannica,” an all-encompassing survey of British song that captures the vast English cultural heritage, from Dowland to Birtwistle, Shakespeare to Auden. For more on BASS or “Britannica,” visit brooklynartsongsociety.org.

Truman’s Department of Music is sponsoring the performance, which is free and open to the public.

As part of Communication Week, Nov. 1-6, the COMM Club, Lambda Pi Eta and the Communication Department are sponsoring a roast of Jay Self, professor of communication and department chair, to raise scholarship funds for the Cornwell Award for Electronic Media.

The event will take place at 5 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room B. Self often teaches a JINS class on humor and has willingly consented to the event. Georgian Room C will be open an hour prior to, and throughout, the banquet, with silent auction items to bid on, both new and used. The proceeds from ticket sales, the silent auction and gifts will be added to the Cornwell Scholarship. For more information, visit commweek.truman.edu. 

The Cornwell Award was established by William L. Moore (’34) in 1991 in honor of his former teacher, Clifton Cornwell. Cornwell was a member of the communication faculty and served as director of alumni activities and public relations at Truman from 1925-1945. From 1945 to 1961 he served as the director of public information for the Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery.  

At the time of the endowment, a named scholarship could be established for $3,000. Today that amount is $15,000. The fund currently stands at around $5,000. The effort hopes to double the funds in the scholarship. Tickets for the roast are $10 for students and $15 for non-students and may be purchased through the Communication Department in Barnett Hall. For more information, call 660.785.6004.

Reminiscent of the popular movie “Night at the Museum,” great movie speeches will transcend the screen and come to life 7-8 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitors Center.  

Communication students will portray speakers in an entertaining program. Approximately 25 students are involved in the project sponsored by the Communication Club (NCASC) in honor of Communication Week at Truman. At any given point about half of the students will be in character and will share what was rhetorically splendid in the speech at hand. This will allow the other student performers to move around and enjoy student speeches as well.  

The public is invited to meander through the museum in self-paced style, realizing that each student presentation is three to five minutes. Students will share brief insights about the characters, the rhetorical situation and will perform excerpts of the speeches.  

This is the seventh time that such an event has been organized at Truman, but the first time that the event has focused entirely on movie speeches. Barry Poyner, professor of communication, has agreed to perform his rendition of the Evil Emperor Palpatine from “Star Wars.”

Students are also invited to join the Communication Club. NCASC is committed to enriching the lives of undergraduate communication major and minors by promoting the study and application of communication principles through educational and social functions. Poyner serves as an advisor to the organization, the only NCA student club in the state of Missouri.

Those attending are encouraged to vote for the best portrayal based on dress, delivery of quotes, and understanding of character, rhetorical situation and rhetorical splendor. The event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Poyner at 660.785.4063. 

Theatre has been an important part of junior Seth Betzler’s life since middle school, but little did he know what was once an extracurricular activity would turn into a passion that could take him all the way to Broadway.

While looking into internships for this past summer, Betzler knew he was interested working on the management side of theatre. With the help of Truman alumnus John O’Brien (’14) and a strong application, Betzler was accepted for a production management internship with The New York Musical Theatre Festival in New York City.
 
“Theater is all about the connections you make,” Betzler said.

In his summer position, Betzler served as a liaison allowing him to connect with a variety of people in the theatre industry. One interaction really hit home for Betzler. He learned of the all-inclusive Broadway production “Spring Awakening,” and immediately was interested in working with the stage management team.

“What makes ‘Spring Awakening’ so special is that it is a Deaf West Theatre production, which combines hearing and Deaf people to tell a beautiful story,” Betzler said. “The show also uses American Sign Language and English simultaneously, making it a more inclusive production.”

Growing up with a Deaf mother, Betzler has had regular interactions with the Deaf community. He sent his resume to one of the show affiliates, and before long, he was making plans to extend his stay in New York for a second position, this time on Broadway.

As a production assistant for “Spring Awakening,” Betzler tracked scene shifts and props, handled blocking of actors, helped with off stage tracks and dealt directly with line notes.

While being on Broadway was a dream come true, Betzler had a special closeness with the production itself.

“The most rewarding part of the experience was being able to work with the Deaf culture,” Betzler said. “I have always been involved with the Deaf culture, but never on such a grand scale.”

Looking back, Betzler felt prepared, but knew he had a lot to learn.

“I believe I was as prepared as I could have been because a lot of what stage management entails is learned on the job,” Betzler said. “It was helpful that I had worked with the Deaf community and knew some sign language before my work with the production.”

Betzler finished his position with the production in late September and has resumed his fall classes at Truman.  

“I do believe it will be hard to return because the city is so big and always moving,” he said. “Theatre, however, is really the same at its core no matter where you do it.”

For Betzler, theatre has always been a family affair. Like his father, a professor of theatre, Betzler hopes to make a career from the art form. He will graduate in May 2017 and plans to return to New York City to find a position in stage management.

Truman’s Theatre Department will present “The Nether” from 8-9:30 p.m. Nov. 11-14 at the James G. Severns Theatre.

A sci-fi crime drama, the production tells the story of a new virtual wonderland that provides total sensory immersion. Users just log in, choose an identity and indulge. When a young detective uncovers the disturbing brand of entertainment, she triggers a dark battle over technology and human desire.

“The Nether” is written by American playwright Jennifer Haley, whose work delves into ethics in virtual reality and the impact of technology on human relationships, identity and desire. The play is directed by David Charles Goyette, assistant professor of theatre at Truman.

The show contains strong language. Tickets are $3 and are available for purchase at the Theatre Box Office in the main lobby of Ophelia Parrish Building. Tickets must be paid for in advance, except for out of town guests. Reservations for out of town guests may be made by phone 660.785.4515.

The cast of the production will include Truman students Francis Kemper, Lexi Diaz, Nicole Dunseith, Sam Andrzejewski and Alex Herberlein.  

Kemper, a junior theatre major will be playing the role of Woodnut. He has been seen in mainstage shows “Twelfth Night,” “Eurydice,” “Translations” and the lab show “Cock.”

The role of Morris will be played by senior theatre major Diaz, who has been seen on Truman’s stage in “She Kills Monsters” as well as the One Act Festival and the New Horizons Musical Theatre Concert.

Dunseith, a freshman health science major, will take on the role of Iris. “The Nether” is her first mainstage production at Truman.

Joe Benevento, professor of English, will present a combined reading and musical performance at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in Baldwin Little Theater.

“Benevento at 60” will feature selections from his two latest published books, the mystery novel “Saving St. Teresa” and “Expecting Songbirds: Selected Poems, 1983-2015,” as well as songs he composed from poetry by Walt Whitman, Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Guido Cavalcanti.  

Additional singers and musicians will include Antonio Scuderi, professor of Italian, (mandolin), Carmen Pérez-Munoz, assistant professor of Spanish (voice) and Jennifer Hamlet, Mary Immaculate School music teacher (voice). Benevento will also provide hundreds of his own home-baked cookies to share with the audience as a celebration of both his 60th birthday and his 33rd year in Kirksville and at the University. 

The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri received the “Community Partner of the Year” award and was recognized at the sixth annual Community Partner Appreciation Luncheon, Oct. 27.

The Community Partner of the Year award is given by the SERVE Center to an outstanding community member or agency that has worked closely with the University to promote public scholarship among Truman students.

The four other community partners that were recognized include the Adair County YMCA, the Adair County LIFE Ability Center, Bridget Morton of the Philanthropic Educational Organization, and Michael Schwend of Preferred Family Healthcare. Thank you to all the nominees for allowing Truman students to work closely with their organizations.

For more information on the Community Partner Award, visit serve.truman.edu/community-partner-award-nomination/.

Jesse Krebs, associate professor of music, performed a guest clarinet recital at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, Ireland, Oct. 13.

Krebs performed a program of all American clarinet works, including the “Clarinet Sonata” by Daniel Gregory Mason, “Theme” and “Absurdities” by Derek Bermel and “Grooves” by Philip Parker. He also taught a guest master class for some of the clarinet students who were from South Africa, Iran, Switzerland and Ireland. Perhaps the highlight of the trip was having the unexpected opportunity to sit-in with Celtic musicians during their performance in a Dublin pub.

The trip was made possible thanks to a mini-grant from the School of Arts and Letters.

Krebs (middle) takes a picture with clarinet students from the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

The SERVE Center will be taking students to Nashville, Tenn., during spring break, March 7-11. Participants will work with organizations that dedicate their time to help with homelessness and poverty. There will be informational sessions Nov. 3 and Nov. 5 from 7-8 p.m. in the Student Union Building 3203.

Windfall, Truman’s literary magazine, is hosting a creative reading from 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Student Union Building Down Under.
 
Graduate students, Jamie Miller, Rachel Davis and Josiah Rosell will read some of their original work. Windfall will also announce the winner of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.

The event is free of charge. For more information, contact Kira Chatham at klc2852@truman.edu.

The Truman Faculty Forum will continue with “The world in a game: How chess paved the way for globalization” by Torbjorn Wandel, professor of history, at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 in Baldwin Hall 176.

Presentation Abstract:
Like most other things, chess was invented in Asia and perfected and spread by the Islamic world via North African and Byzantine middlemen to Europe. Europeans then applied provincial and idiosyncratic categories to change the rules of the game and proclaimed them universal. They then judged the rest of the world inferior for not being as good at a game it either didn’t know or had largely forgotten. Today, however, players from the rest of the world, especially Asia, are starting to school Western masters at their own game. In his world history of this ancient game, Torbjörn Wandel does not just tell an engaging tale that takes us from ancient India and Persia through the Islamic world into al-Andaluz, medieval Europe, Renaissance Sicily, Spain and beyond. Through his history of the game, he also reveals surprising paths and patterns of globalization that offer a fresh perspective on world history itself.

The Truman Cheerleaders are hosting a clinic Nov. 7 for children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

The cost of the clinic is $35 including a t-shirt, snacks and a halftime performance at the Truman Football game. To preregister, send the participant’s name, shirt size and parent contact information to trumancheerleading@gmail.com. For questions and concerns, contact Brenna at 417.880.8876 or at trumancheerleading@gmail.com.

The Northeast Missouri Alumni Chapter will host their “Dawgs for Dogs” fundraiser Nov. 7 at the Truman football game at Stokes Stadium.

Chapter officers and volunteers will be present to collect pet food, litter, cleaning supplies and cash donations for the Adair County Humane Society. Donations will be accepted throughout the game beginning at 12:30 p.m. until halftime. There will be a truck stationed outside of the main gates of the stadium where donations can be dropped off.

The game begins at 1 p.m. with the Bulldogs facing the Pumas of St. Joseph’s.

For those unable to make it to the game, donations can be sent directly to the Humane Society indicating the “Dawgs for Dogs” fundraiser. For more information, contact Denise Smith, director of alumni relations, at dlsmith@truman.edu, or Tyler George, coordinator of alumni relations, at tgeorge@truman.edu.

Phi Sigma Pi, Delta Sigma Pi and Phi Delta are working together to bring the “Be the Match” bone marrow donor registration drive back to campus Nov. 9-10.

The “Be the Match” registry connects potential donors with thousands of patients suffering from blood cancers, for whom a bone marrow transplant can mean life or death. Learn more about “Be the Match” and what it means to join the registry here.

This year’s drive will take place Nov. 9-10 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Student Union Building Down Under.

Through the “Be the Match” registry Truman students are making a real difference. Tori Holt, a senior nursing major, registered on campus in January 2014. By the fall, she found out that she was a match for a baby boy with a severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome. Holt completed her donation one year after she registered.

The Women and Gender Studies Conference 2016: Theory in Action will take place Jan. 28-30 at Truman.

This year’s conference will focus on the translation of theory and thought into specific actions, as well as re-theorizing actions to live in a more socially conscious way. Abstracts can be submitted to Amy Sallwasser and Hayden Wilsey at wgstconference@truman.edu. Submission should include the presentation title and the dates and times the author will be available and unavailable to present. The deadline to submit an abstract is Nov. 30.

Sample topics of papers and projects:
-How might teachers empower their students to recognize inequality and work to overcome it?
-A specialized study into the ways in which gender inequality is held in place by traditional practices (e.g. requirements of dress or body image)
-Using Jack Halberstram’s “In a Queer Time and Place,” theorize the ways in which news-reporting groups privilege heteronormative bodies in relation to transgender individuals.
-Analyze the effectiveness of protests or movements that seek to promote counter-cultural ideas such as the Slut Walk or Pride Fest and how these movements call to mind further theorizing about action.
-Historical analysis of social rights movements in America and their implications for current social rights struggles (e.g. a comparison of the rhetoric of the LGBT Rights Movements to the rhetoric used in the Americans with Disabilities Act.)
-A sociological study into depictions of sexualized bodies on network television and shifting normate values.
-Analysis of cultural artifacts (books, movies, art, etc.) that either undermine or support an underlying assumption of normalcy in our society (i.e. a discussion of patriarchy, racism, homophobia, or fat-shaming in “Mrs. Dalloway,” etc.).
-Theorize imagined borders using cognitive science to argue the ways in which prejudice is learned within the family’s cognitive structure through rhetoric and action.
-Discuss the issues with privatized prison systems in the United States linked to inequality at the social level and compare them to prison systems within other countries in order to propose an alternative.
-A presentation from a company’s HR department, which addresses the theoretical underpinnings of their anti-discrimination clauses within employee contracts.
-Creative project addressing social norms and pervasive practices, which are detrimental to ideologies of equality.

Staff Council is sponsoring its annual Holiday Door Decorating Contest. Entries should be submitted by Nov. 30 in order to be judged Dec. 2 at noon. For more information or to submit an entry, contact Jacey Wood at jacey@truman.edu.

The Muslim Student Association (MSA) is hosting their Eid Carnival from 1-5 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A.

By hosting the carnival, MSA is hoping to share the Muslim holiday, Eid, with the campus and community. At the carnival there will be henna, game booths and a presentation given about the holiday. The event is free of charge.

The first Eid of the year is known as Eid Al-Fitr. It marks the end of the month of Ramadan, which is the month in which Muslims fast every day from sunrise to sunset. The community comes together for special prayers, a big feast and to exchange gifts.

 
Any student interested in playing tennis ball cricket should contact Jathusan Rajendram at jr2535@truman.edu for more information.

Michelle R. Horvath, director of the Office of Citizenship and Community Standards, was accepted for membership on the finance committee of the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA). ASCA is the international professional organization for student conduct administrators.  

Marc Rice, professor of music, is participating with 17 other scholars in a research projected titled “The Golden Age of Kansas City.” The project is sponsored by the University of Missouri—Kansas City and the Kansas City Public Library. This project examines the political and cultural history of Kansas City during the first part of the 20th century. For the project, Rice has written an article, “Kansas City on Tip-Toe: Charity, Politics, Dancing and Jazz near 18th and Vine in the 1920s.” This article is adapted from a chapter of his upcoming book on the representation of African American music in the black press. The project has two phases. On Nov. 5 and 6 Rice and the other scholars will gather in Kansas City for a roundtable discussion and workshop, focusing on each author’s submission. From March 31-April 2, a public conference will take place at the Kansas City Public Library, where Rice will deliver his paper. Subsequently, the papers will be published in a scholarly volume.
 

The Morris K. Udall Foundation awards undergraduate scholarships to sophomore or junior students who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to public service in areas related to environmental issues on a local, national or global scale. The campus deadline for this nationally competitive scholarship is Jan. 29. To apply, contact Truman’s representative, Maria C. Di Stefano mdistefa@truman.edu. For further information, visit the Udall website.

The John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship
This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to one college student who has battled leukemia or whose life has been affected by it. Visit johnfoy.com/strong-arm-leukemia-scholarship for complete details. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15.

Elie Weisel Foundation Scholarship
Applications and information for the Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in ethics essay contest for 2016 are now available online at ethicsprize.org. Five scholarships ranging from $500-$5,000 will be given away. This scholarship is open to registered undergraduate, full-time juniors and seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities. Essays must be submitted by Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. Winning students are also eligible for an internship and a chance for their essay to be published in a nationally recognized publication.

ImproveNet Scholarship
ImproveNet is challenging students to showcase their DIY skills in new and creative ways. High school seniors accepted to a college or trade school or any student currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at any accredited college, university or trade school in the United States are qualified to apply by submitting a 1,000- to 2,000-word essay. Additionally, all participants must be 18 years of age or older and a legal U.S. resident. Students should email their essays to scholarships@improvenet.com. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15.

Home Advisor Scholarship
HomeAdvisor is challenging students to break new ground in green home improvement by offering a scholarship every year to one student. High school seniors accepted to a college or trade school, or students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, are qualified to apply by submitting a 1,000- to 2,000-word essay. Students should email their essays to scholarship@homeadvisor.com by Dec. 15.

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative
Three scholarships totaling $850 will be awarded annually to the authors of the three best Apprentice Ecologist essays. By registering and submitting an essay, students will automatically be considered for a scholarship. Applicants should embody the spirit of the Apprentice Ecologist Initiative by demonstrating personal leadership, initiative and environmental stewardship in their project. Essays will be judged by a committee of Nicodemus Wilderness Project board members, volunteers and past Apprentice Ecologist award winners. Details for how to submit a project can be found by clicking here. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15. 

Infoparrot Scholarship

Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri Scholarships
Scholarships are available through Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc., for the 2015-2016 academic year. Last year they awarded more than $14,000 in scholarships to Missouri students. Two students selected by the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri will be submitted to Central Region as an applicant and to National Garden Clubs Inc. as a Missouri applicant, and will compete for a Central Region and National Scholarship. The scholarship application is available online at gardenclub.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1.

Hy-Vee Foundation Scholarships
Hy-Vee Foundation Scholarships applications are now available at www.hy-vee.com under company info. Forty $1,000 scholarships will be given out. These scholarships are limited to employees of Hy-Vee (student employees or parents who are employed by Hy-Vee). 
For more information on qualifications and how to apply, go to www.hy-vee.com or you may also contact Sandy Barrick by e-mail at sbarrick@hy-vee.com or by phone at 513.313.2738. Applications must be postmarked on or before Feb. 10, 2016.

Rover Scholarship
Rover.com is a one-stop shop for loving and trustworthy dog sitters. Rover connects pet parents with loving dog sitters across the country. This would not be possible without the rapid growth of the sharing economy. Take a survey and submit a 400- to 500-word essay discussing the emergence of a sharing economy in the next five years. For more information on how to apply, click here.

Seed Grand Project Application
The IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) is a network of more than 500 of the world’s leading amphibian experts providing scientific guidance to enable conservation actions to be prioritized and implemented by the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA), a partnership of more than 100 organizations committed to amphibian conservation worldwide. Seed grants are normally provided in amounts ranging from $500-$1,000 and are designed to help kickstart projects or allow teams to try new innovative approaches to address conservation, research and education challenges. For more information, click here. 

B. Davis Scholarship
The creators of the “Student Award Search Aid” website are offering a B. Davis Scholarship for $1000 scholarship for 2016. Visit their website at www.studentawardsearch.com/scholarships.htm to read more about how to apply for this scholarship and browse through the rest of their site to learn about applying for other scholarships. The deadline to submit an application for the B. Davis Scholarship is May 23.

Scholarships Available for Veterans
To learn more about scholarships offered to veterans, click here.