Vol. 18 No. 14 - Dec. 2, 2013

The campus is invited to get in the holiday spirit by hearing the Grammy award-winning Kansas City Chorale perform classical holiday music that includes works by the late composer Benjamin Britten and a sleigh full of favorite Christmas carols.

 The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in Baldwin Auditorium.


The Kansas City Chorale has provided audiences with a high caliber of choral artistry, performing a historically diverse repertoire of both new and traditional music. Winners of multiple Grammy awards, the choir has garnered international recognition for artistic merit, having been praised for their refined sound, phrasing and flawless intonation.

In 2009, the Chorale made its New York debut, with the Phoenix Chorale, in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. The New York Times referred to the choirs’ “refined sound and elegant phrasing” as well as its “vivid intensity,” and praised the performance for its “buoyant pulse and energetic finesse.” In 2007, the Chorale’s recording of Grechaninovís “Passion Week” received a Grammy award for Best Engineered Classical Album, along with four other nominations, including Best Classical Album. The Chorale won two Grammy Awards in 2012 for their recording, “Life and Breath: Choral Works of Rene Clausen” and for Best Choral Performance.

Frank Fleschner, a Kirksville High School graduate and 2005 Truman graduate, sings with the Chorale. While at the University, he was very involved in the choral scene, including Cantoria, University Choral and the Chamber Choir. After graduation, Fleschner auditioned for the Chorale and moved to Kansas City.

Tickets will be available free of charge for students, faculty and staff and are available in the Student Union Building. Students may pick up their tickets at the SAB Office and faculty and staff may get their tickets at the information desk. General admission tickets may be purchased for $7 at Edna Campbells, the cashier window in McClain Hall or online at lyceum.truman.edu.

For more information, visit lyceum.truman.edu or call 660.785.4016.

Officials from Truman recently established a partnership that will bring Chinese students to America for summer programming and also creates branches of existing University programs overseas.

University Provost Joan Poor and Kevin Minch, director of the Truman Institute, traveled to Beijing, China, Nov. 2 to finalize an agreement with the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP). The partnership with FLTRP, which comes after more than a year of formal discussion and planning, will open the door to new opportunities for international recruitment, intercultural understanding and enhanced revenue.

Beginning in 2014, the Truman Institute will manage two programs in partnership with FLTRP. The first will be a study tour for Chinese middle school students, involving a bi-coastal tour of the United States and a five-day intensive session on Truman’s campus. The second program will be a language academy, operating jointly with the University’s Joseph Baldwin Academy. The program will offer a course in Chinese language and culture to American middle school students and a parallel course in English to visiting Chinese students, both housed on Truman’s campus.

The agreement also envisions the establishment of a small-scale satellite operation of Truman’s Joseph Baldwin Academy at the FLTRP’s International Convention Centre in Beijing as early as 2016-2017. It would serve both visiting American students as well as Chinese students from outside Beijing.

Founded in 1979 by Beijing Foreign Studies University, FLTRP has grown into the largest foreign language publisher and university press in China. FLTRP has partnered with universities in China and abroad to become a broader education provider by offering K-12 and university teacher training and professional development, language study and student enrichment programs.

The Truman Institute is the University’s office dedicated to developing innovative and entrepreneurial academic programs. For more information on the Truman Institute summer programs for youth, visit tiacademies.truman.edu.

Pickler Memorial Library has announced the recent publication of digitized Echo yearbooks.

The Echo Yearbook Collection incorporates innovative technologies to bring the viewer an enhanced experience, including full-text search, zoom and FlexPaper. FlexPaper technology has been integrated into the digital library experience to give the viewer the ability to virtually turn each page of the Echo yearbook.

Sections from the Echo Yearbook Collection are now available online. The volumes from 1901-1960 are currently available at digitallibrary.truman.edu, and the volumes from 1961-2007 will be published within the next six months.

The Echo Yearbook Collection is a welcome addition to the University’s digital library, which includes collections such as the Central Wesleyan College Archives, the Gold Rush Letters, and the Sims Song Slides, among others.

To view the general digital library or the Echo Yearbook Collection, visit digitallibrary.truman.edu.

Truman students who had previously participated in the Middle East Study Abroad program were guests at the International Bethsaida Conference Nov. 14-16 at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. Keynote speakers were Prof. Gabriel Barkai from Jerusalem, well known researcher and archaeologist, who presented on the “Secrets from the Temple Mount” and Prof. Danel Kahn, former chair of the Department of Biblical Studies at Haifa University, who presented on “The Campaign of Sennacherib Against Judah.” Seventeen other presenters were on the agenda including Truman’s Mark Appold, associate professor of philosophy and religion, who addressed the question “Was Jesus a Zealot?”

The M.A.P. Association will host its 2nd Annual Dodgeball Tournament at 9:15 p.m. Dec. 6 in Pershing Arena. Sign-ups will be Dec. 2-5 in the Student Union Building. Teams can consist of 6-8 players, with a $10 entry fee for teams and $2 entry fee for individuals.

Alpha Phi Omega is sponsoring a dodgeball tournament benefiting Campfire USA at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in Pershing Arena. Campfire USA is an affiliate of the United Way that works to help kids build confidence and become future leaders. This year’s theme is Survival of the Fittest and all teams are encouraged to dress up according to the theme. Registration is now open and participants can fill out forms online until Dec. 4. The cost to participate is $25 per team, and each team must include at least two women. The link for sign-ups can be found here.

Food for Fines
Pickler Memorial Library is hosting “Food for Fines” now through Dec. 8. The library will waive $1 in fines for every food item donated, and it will support local food pantries by donating non-perishable items to the Food Bank of Northeast Missouri. For more information, visit the library service desk or call 660.785.4533.

Extended Hours
Pickler Memorial Library will be open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, now through Dec. 12.

The Office of Advancement invites you to a Special Celebration Reception to honor Michele Breault, Bruce Coggins, Werner Sublette and James Tichenor from the School of Social and Cultural Studies to celebrate their careers at the University. The reception will be 1-3 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Activities Room of the Student Union Building. University President Troy Paino will make opening remarks, and refreshments will be served. RSVPs and regrets are encouraged by Dec. 6.

Dec. 9-11
9 a.m.-11 p.m.

Dec. 12-13
9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Dec. 14-15
Closed

Dec. 16-20
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Dec. 21-Jan. 5
Closed

Jan. 6-10
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Jan. 11
Closed

Jan. 12
1-7 p.m.

Help new Truman international students feel at home in Kirksville by inviting them to dinner during New Student Orientation. Students that want to host a dinner should include a vegetarian entrée, have a house within a 10-minute drive of Truman’s campus, and plan for groups of six to eight students. For more information or to sign up, email Annie Connor at aconnor@truman.edu by Dec. 9.

The Fall 2013 pledge class of Alpha Phi Omega hosted two fundraisers; a pledge auction and a grilled cheese and soup dinner. The pledge class raised around $700 in total. The class decided to buy 10 bags of dog food to donate to the Adair County Humane Society. In total, the bags of dog food provided 470 pounds of supplies for the Humane Society. The pledge class has also decided to adopt a family for Christmas.

The Multicultural Affairs Center and the SERVE Center are looking for 250 Truman students, faculty and staff to spend Jan. 20, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, completing service projects across Kirksville. To sign up, visit truservice.truman.edu.

The Academic Competition Team hosted a mirror of the 2013 version of AFC Fall Nov. 2. The University of Missouri’s A Team, comprised of Itamar Naveh-Benjamin and Avery Wagner, won the tournament. The Washington University of St. Louis team, comprised of Seth Ebner and Norman Luc, won second. Statistics can be found here.

Harvir Grewal, biology student, and Brad Hart, mathematics student, spoke on Nov. 17 at the Undergraduate Research Conference at the Interface of Biology and Mathematics at the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis in Knoxville, Tenn. The title of their presentation was, “Estimating Body Fat Content in Ctenosaura similis Using Body Condition Indices.” They are mentored by Chad Montgomery, associate professor of biology, and Phil Ryan, associate professor of mathematics.

A World AIDS Day Memorial Service will be from 7-7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Eternal Flame outside of Kirk Memorial. The memorial service will honor those who have been affected by AIDS. For more information, email nursing@truman.edu.

The University Concert Band will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 4 in Baldwin Auditorium.

The One-Act Play Festival will be at 8 p.m. Dec. 5-7 in the Black Box Theatre. The show will consist of student directed one-act plays. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Tickets can be reserved at the theatre box office of Ophelia Parrish.

Two summer internships are available at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum and Library. Applications are due Dec. 6. For more information, contact Jeff Gall at 660.785.7747.

The Truman State University Steel Band, “Truman Steel,” under the direction of Michael Bump, will present its “Holiday In Steel” Concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. Admission is free, but seating will be limited. For more information, contact Bump 785.4052 or mbump@truman.edu.

Alpha Sigma Gamma will be hosting their annual Holiday Market Craft Fair from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Student Union Building Hub. Craft vendors from across the state will be selling holiday goods and Truman students will provide live music. The event will benefit Victim Support Services.

The Board of Governors will meet at 1 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Student Union Building Conference Room.

The 57th Annual Finals Scream will be from 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Dec. 8 in the Student Union Building. Students will meet up to let out screams in between preparing for finals. There will be games, relaxation techniques, crafting activities, food and giveaways for different types of screams.

An information session for next summer’s “Experience the Middle East” study abroad course will take place at 4 p.m. Dec. 11 in McClain 212. Exploring ancient and contemporary cultures in Jordan, Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank, plus two weeks of archaeological work at the ancient biblical site of Bethsaida, will form the itinerary of next summer’s MDST 300 experience. For further information, contact Mark Appold at mappold@truman.edu.