Vol. 13, No. 9 - Oct. 21, 2008

The Missouri Government Internship Program is now accepting applications for the spring 2009 semester. All majors and students with junior and senior status are encouraged to apply. The internship offers a $2,500 stipend, up to 15 hours of college credit and the opportunity to spend a semester in Jefferson City working with a legislator, public official or state agency.

“The Missouri Government Internship was the most valuable experience I have ever had,” Leigh Wickell, a spring 2008 intern with Representative Jake Zimmerman, said. “Not only did I learn more about government than I ever could have in class, and gain numerous useful contacts, but I learned more about myself than I ever expected.”

The program provides interested students an inside look at state government and the political process. The experience has special appeal for students anticipating careers in business, law, public relations, government service or public affairs, but is filled with opportunities for a variety of career fields.

“The Missouri Government Internship has definitely been the highlight of my college experience thus far,” Sarah Felts, who interned with Representative Rebecca McClanahan in the spring of 2008 said. “I made so many great connections and learned a lot about myself.  It was an incredibly rewarding experience, and I encourage anyone with an interest in public service - regardless of major - to give this program a shot.”

Students wishing to participate in the Missouri Government Internship Program should possess a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit, cumulative GPA of 2.75, and divisional approval. No special coursework is required prior to the internship.

To view internship requirements, go http://career.truman.edu/student/internship/mogov_brochure.htm. For more information about the internship, contact Heidi Templeton at 785.4016 or Candy Young at 785.4650.

A world-class traveling exhibit featuring reproduction artifacts from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill., may be viewed free of charge at Pickler Memorial Library.

The “Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America” exhibit was created by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. The exhibit covers Lincoln’s childhood, his self-education, his careers as a surveyor and lawyer, his family life, the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, the 1860 Presidential election, the Civil War, the 13th Amendment, the Emancipation Proclamation, his assassination and other important periods and events in his life.  The reproduction artifacts on display, all modeled from originals in the Presidential Library and Museum, include:  Lincoln’s favorite books; his son Tad’s toy cannon; the nameplate from his Springfield home; his stovepipe hat, which he used like a briefcase to hold important papers; a Presidential campaign banner; an axe that Lincoln used to chop wood; the bloody gloves found in Lincoln’s pocket the night of his assassination; and many other unique and interesting items.       

The traveling learning station exhibit is being displayed in 40 public libraries and historical societies over the next two years.  It was one of just two “We, the People” programs for the Lincoln Bicentennial funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.  

The library hours are 7:30-1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 12-9 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday.
For more information about the “Abraham Lincoln:  Self-Made in America” exhibit, visit http://www.alplm.org/home.html or to learn more about Truman’s Lincoln celebration visit http://lincoln200.truman.edu.

Ten nursing students from Truman traveled to the Philippines this past summer under the supervision of Mariquit “Kit” Hadwiger, assistant professor of nursing, and Melissa Holcomb, assistant professor of nursing.

The students will be presenting a program, “Transcultural Experience in the Philippines,” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in Barnett Hall 2217. The public is welcome to attend and refreshments will be served.

Bethany Allemang, Jessica Austin, Caitlin Cummings, Julie Finazzo, Emily Greenwood, Michelle Hernandez, Lauren Hohnstein, Amanda Martin, Jennifer Oliver and Emily Tobias prepared for this trip through classes about cultural orientation last spring.

During a weeklong stay in metro Manila, these students participated in maternal and nursery care at the nonprofit government facility, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center. Students were exposed to working with mothers and infants who generally cannot afford health care. They developed competencies in the assessment of birthing mothers and newborns and in cross-cultural communication.

From Manila, they traveled south to the central province of Iloilo City. Clinical experiences in the province included home visits, a pediatric unit, the social hygiene clinic, a leprosarium and an outpatient clinic for women and children. Cultural experiences involved interviews with patients in each of these settings as well as social interactions with nursing students from West Visayas State University.

Freshmen speech and debate competitors met with substantial success at their first combined speech and debate tournament at Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., from Oct. 10-12.

Along with select upperclassmen colleagues, the freshmen captured several awards, including a third place finish in debate sweepstakes and the tournament championship in novice parliamentary debate at the Sunflower-Sooner Swing, co-hosted by Bethel College and the University of Oklahoma.

Freshman Scott Brownfield and sophomore Robert Voyles captured the tournament championship in novice parliamentary debate, while their freshmen teammates, Steven Gott and Elizabeth Hatting, reached the quarterfinals in the open division of parliamentary debate. Gott was the fifth ranked speaker in the tournament.

In individual events competition, students secured three qualifications for the National Forensic Association championships in April by virtue of their performances.

Freshman Andrew Grojean took sixth in dramatic interpretation at the Bethel portion of the tournament, while Grojean and freshman partner Erin Williamson took fifth in duo interpretation at the University of Oklahoma tournament. They were joined by Hatting, who captured sixth place in persuasive speaking.

They join two other students who have already secured qualifications to the NFA tournament in the team’s first outing in September. Gott also secured a semifinal placement in impromptu speaking, but fell short of the threshold for Nationals qualification.
For more information about the program, please contact Kevin Minch, director of forensics, at 785.5677.

Students interested in doing summer research in Molecular Ecology are invited to apply to join Jose Herrera’s research team for the summer of 2009. Participants will spend 10 weeks conducting research at two study sites, Kirksville and Albuquerque, N.M., to examine the ecological role of Dark Septate Fungal Endophytes.

Participants will receive a $3,500 stipend, three hours of undergraduate research credit, and room and board for the duration of the 10-week experience. To qualify for the program, the student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The program will begin in June and will run through early August.

For additional information on the program, including application materials, visit http://molecularecology.truman.edu. Interested students should apply online and applications will be reviewed starting Feb. 15, 2009. For questions about the program, contact Jennifer Thompson at 785.7252 or step@truman.edu.

The Truman State University Public Relations Office is now accepting resumes for the full-time spring 2009 internship position.

Interns can receive course credit, a stipend and valuable experience in public relations office duties. Interns usually take six hours of class in addition to taking six hours of internship credit.

Applicants should have a strong background in writing and editing. Communication majors are encouraged to apply, with special consideration given to candidates with knowledge of Associated Press Style, experience in desktop publishing and familiarity of InDesign or similar software.

To apply, send a resume, two writing samples and contact information for two on campus references to the Public Relations Office, McClain Hall 101. For specific questions about the internship, contact Heidi Templeton at heidi@truman.edu.

The Adair County Clerk’s Office is seeking volunteers to assist at the polls for the 2008 presidential election on Nov. 4. Students who are registered voters in Adair County may volunteer to be a poll worker on election day.

Poll workers will check in registered voters, answer questions and make sure everyone who is eligible is given the opportunity to vote. The time commitment will be 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and a three-hour training session prior to the election. Poll workers will be paid $100 for election day and $9.75 per hour of training completed. Poll workers must declare a political affiliation.

Students who cannot work the entire day can still volunteer to be an election day assistant. Election day assistants do not have to be registered to vote in Adair County or declare a political affiliation.

Assistants will show first time voters or voters who have not used electronic voting machines how to complete their ballots properly and assist any voter unsure of their voting location to locate the correct polling place.

The time commitment will be two to three hours on election day and a training session prior to the election. A small stipend will be available for election day assistants.

Any interested person should contact the Adair County Clerk’s Office by e-mail at mhudson-adairco@sbcglobal.net.

Truman Foundation scholarship applications for the spring 2009 semester are now available at http://www.truman.edu. Click on Student Life/Money/Foundation Scholarships or go to http://secure.truman.edu/isupport-s/.

Juniors and seniors are welcome to enter The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest and compete for $10,000 in prizes. Any student interested in entering the contest is required to have a professor review his or her essay and sign the Contest Entry Form. Deadline to enter the contest is Dec. 19. For further information, and required forms, please visit their website at http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org.

Activity: Table Tennis
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Oct. 27
Captain's Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 1

Activity: Basketball Pentatholon
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 3
Captain's Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 10

Activity: Texas Hold'em
Division: Open
Deadline: Nov. 3
Captain's Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Nov. 10

Activity: 3 on 3
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 10
Captain's Meeting: Nov. 13
Play Begins: Nov. 17

Activity: Pickle Ball
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Nov. 10
Captain's Meeting: Nov. 13
Play Begins: Nov. 17

All information, rules and registration requirements are online at http://recreation.truman.edu/intramuralrec.asp, or contact the Intramural Office at 785.4467.

Alexander J. Koch, associate professor of health and exercise sciences, has been added to the list of advisers for Men’s Health. Feature writers at the magazine use this group of experts for consultation and fact-checking. Additionally, each month, one adviser is asked to answer questions from a reader, and Koch will be featured in the December issue.

The Career Center will be hosting its annual Career Expo from 1-5 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Student Union Building. More than 100 companies will be visiting Truman’s campus to speak with students. All majors are welcome to network with employers, sign up for interviews and discover great internship and employment opportunities. Stop by the Career Center to register for the Expo, prepare your resume and gain some great tips on how to network with all the companies in which you are interested.

An introductory informational meeting for the local Truman and Kirksville chapter of Amnesty International will take place from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in McClain Hall 306. All interested members of the community are welcome. A brief historical introduction to Amnesty International will be followed by general discussion of participants’ interests, goals and priorities for activities of the chapter. For more information contact Betty L. McLane-Iles at 785.4507.

The Physics Colloquium presents “The Hypersonic X Plane Legacy: The X-43 Hypersonic Aerospace Vehicle” by David W. Riggins from the Missouri University of Science and Technology at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in Magruder Hall 1000. This presentation will provide an overview of hypersonic air-breathing flight with emphasis on the design, development and testing of the X-43 hypersonic vehicle. Snacks are provided five minutes before the talk. For more information about the colloquium series and upcoming talks, please visit http://physics.truman.edu/colloquia/.

The Hispanic American Leadership Organization (H.A.L.O.), the Spanish Club and Hablantes Unidos are hosting a Latin dance at 8 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Student Union Building Down Under. There will be a free dance lesson from 7:30-8 p.m. then the dancing will begin at 8 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity will host a dodgeball tournament beginning at 1 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Pershing Small Gym. The cost is $20 per team (five to six players), or $4 for individuals looking to play on a team. All proceeds will support Habitat for Humanity.

The weekly lunch series sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning, returns Oct. 29 with Gina Morin, associate vice president for enrollment management. On Nov. 5, Todd Phillips, director of the Student Success Center, will be the featured speaker. Find out how these positions interact with and affect faculty work. 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building Spanish Room. There will be no weekly lunch Oct. 22 due to the Career Expo.

Students with environmental studies minors will be hosting an “Eat Local” supper from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 29 in Georgian Room A of the Student Union Building. This year’s theme is “Regional, Seasonal: Feasible,” and is open to those interested in being involved in the organizing of purchasing local foods in the Sodexho system. Please RSVP to Hannah Hemmelgarn at hlhemmelg@gmail.com.

The Hispanic American Leadership Organization (H.A.L.O.) will be selling quesadillas and tres leches to raise money for the microcredit organization Kiva from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 on the Quad. Enjoy tasty treats while helping an entrepreneur in a third world country start up their business.

The Folklore Colloquium presents “Early American Potters” with Wynne Wilbur at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29 in Ophelia Parrish 2113.

The women of Sigma Alpha, a professional agriculture sorority, are hosting a haunted corn maze from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 30 and from 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Oct. 31 at the University Farm.

The Student Activities Board presents Pumpkin Carving from 12-3 p.m. Oct. 31 on the Quad. Free pumpkins will be available to carve between classes, and hot chocolate and apple cider will also be served.

The Career Center will host its sixth annual haunted house, “Gotham City,” from 7-11 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Career Center. The Career Center will transform into Batman’s city featuring characters from Batman movies and comics. The event is free and includes free candy and a costume contest with the possibility to win up to $50 in prizes. For more information, please call 785.4353 or e-mail Maggie Fairchild at mcf354@truman.edu.

The International Club will be hosting an International Dinner from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Georgian Room of the Student Union Building. Tickets will go on sale for $10 each Oct. 20 in the International Students Affairs Office in Kirk Building 120. There will be food and performances from around the world.

The Women’s Basektball Team is introducing the Lil Pup Club for daughters, granddaughters and nieces of Truman employees, grades 3-8. This program allows young girls to be an honorary member of the team for one home game this season, in which members will be introduced prior to tip-off, sit on the bench with the players and receive an official complimentary club t-shirt. Applications are due Nov. 3 to Taira Roth, 785.7362 or troth@truman.edu.

The Stargazers Astronomy Club will host an Observatory Open House from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 6. at the University Observatory. A variety of celestial objects will be viewed through the university telescopes.

The American Heart Association will host  the Rhapsody in Red Heart Gala at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 at A.T. Still University. The cocktail hour and silent auction begin at 6 p.m., the dinner, program and live auction begin at 7 p.m. and the dance begins at 9 p.m. The cost is $75 per person and RSVP is required by Oct. 24 by calling 626.2272 or e-mailing communications@atsu.edu. All proceeds benefit the American Heart Association. For more information please contact Amy Currier at 785.4222 or acurrier@truman.edu.