Vol. 9 No. 32 - May 10, 2005

Lynn Rose, associate professor of history, was announced as the Educator of the Year May 3.

Rose has been at Truman since 1995. She received both her doctorate and bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. Rose’s teaching specialty is ancient history. Her primary area of research is disability studies, and she has published several essays in the field. Her book, “The Staff of Oedipus: Transforming Disability in Ancient Greece,” was published by the University of Michigan Press in November 2003.

This year students nominated 26 faculty members for the Educator of the Year award. The committee narrows the group down to 12 semi-finalists and then to six finalists. The honoree is eventually selected by a student committee after reviewing the written responses by the faculty members, getting input from the students in their classes and observing the faculty members in their classroom.

Students from Student Senate, the Pershing Society and Phi Kappa Phi serve on the Educator of the Year committee.

The family and friends of Christopher Walker Johnson (1983-2001) have donated a memorial bench that will be placed in the plaza between Magruder and Violette Halls this week. Johnson, formerly of Lenexa, Kan., died on Dec. 15, 2001, at age 18 during his freshman year. His death was due to natural causes associated with a ruptured aorta.

Johnson lived in Ryle Hall and was a biology major with aspirations of becoming a doctor. He was a member of the judiciary board and planned to play baseball in the spring and become a student adviser as a sophomore. He would have graduated this year. His family continues to correspond with some of the close friends he developed during his time at Truman.

The bench was purchased through memorial gifts made in his honor to the Truman State University Foundation. The plaques on the bench will read “Christopher Walker Johnson, July 30, 1983-Dec. 15, 2001 Class of 2005; Pain is temporary, Pride is forever.”

Tom Guild, chair of the Assembly of State Conferences of AAUP, (left) and David Robinson, professor of European history, (right) present the Tacey Award to David Gruber, professor of philosophy (center).

David Gruber, professor of philosophy, received the Tacey Award from the national office of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) May 9 in the SUB Spanish Room. Tom Guild, chair of the Assembly of State Conferences of AAUP presented the award to Gruber.

 According to the AAUP Web site, the Tacey Award is presented to an individual for outstanding service to a conference during a number of years. Conferences nominate individuals and the executive committee of the Assembly of State Conferences decides who should receive the award. If the committee decides a nominated individual should receive the award for that year, only one award is given nationwide.

Science students and faculty presented their research at the Missouri Academy of Science (MAS) annual meeting April 15 in Jefferson City, Mo. 

Members of the Truman community presented six of the 12 papers at the chemistry program session.

Kelly Daniel, sophomore chemistry major from Columbia, Mo., and Eric Patterson, associate professor of chemistry, presented their paper titled “Computational Chemical Studies of the Hydrolysis of VX.”

Ashley Jay, junior chemistry major from Moulton, Iowa, and Patterson presented their paper titled “Neutralization of the Chemical Warfare Agent VX in Perhydroxide Solution.”

Joshua Kemper, junior exercise science major from Columbia, Mo., and Russell Baughman, professor of chemistry, presented their paper titled “Crystal and Molecular Structures of Organophosphorous Pesticides.”

Jennifer Serniak, senior biology major from Ballwin, Mo., and Patterson presented their paper titled “Oxidative Destruction of Chemical Warfare Agent VX.”

Amanda Turner, sophomore chemistry major from Rolla, Mo., and Christina Robinson, junior chemistry major from Brookfield, Mo., presented their paper titled “Examining the HIV REV-RRE Complex Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations.”

Jeremy West, sophomore chemistry major from St. Peters, Mo., and Baughman presented their paper titled “Crystal and Molecular Structures of Aromatic Charge Transfer Complexes.”

Two biology graduate students, Shauna Cooper from Salem, Mo., and Rachel Katz from Rutledge, Mo., also presented in the senior division of the MAS.

Cooper works with/for Scott Burt, assistant professor of biology. Her talk was “Effects of Forest Management on Small Mammal Community Demographics and Hantavirus Seroprevalence.”

Katz works with/for Peter Goldman, lecturer in biology. She had a poster titled “Floristic Analysis of Scotland County” and also presented a talk, “The Effects of Mowing vs. Burning on Grassland Nesting Birds.”

Better World Books and Rotaract Club are collecting textbooks and school supplies.

Better World Books is an organization on campus that collects unwanted textbooks to benefit literacy programs in Africa. The organization has a book drive at the end of each semester to collect unwanted textbooks.

The Rotaract Club is an international service and professional development organization. It’s end of the semester service project is Project Pencil where members will be collecting new and used school supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, folders, binders, markers, crayons, scissors, staplers, glue and tape to send to children in Honduras.

Drop off locations are available in all division offices and residence halls. There will be tables set up from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., May 10-13, in the SUB and during dinner, May 11-12, in the dining halls. Donations can be placed in the designated large white boxes.

For more information, contact Lauren Durand from the Rotaract Club at 665.1082 or e-mail her at lnd221@truman.edu.

Michael Ravenscraft, senior biology and business administration-finance double major from Festus, Mo., was selected as the third place winner for the Mississippi/Coastal Student Entrepreneur Awards. He was honored at the Small Business Week Luncheon Salute to Young Entrepreneurs May 3 in St. Louis.

Ravenscraft created Pricemonk.com, a price comparison Web site that offers college students discount prices on textbooks as well as music, movies and video games.

Students can search for books by course and the site will compare prices from multiple well known online textbook retailers. Pricemonk.com serves students at Truman, the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Missouri-Rolla and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Students who were able to attend their initiation ceremony into Phi Beta Kappa are pictured above.

The following students were initiated into the Delta of Missouri Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts honors society April 17: Stephanie S. Amick, Audrey J. Armstrong, Collin D. Ashmore, Crystal A. Beard, Claire Amanda Berman, Sarah M. Billing, Elizabeth R. Bobzien, Danielle Borsch, Joseph Edward Bredehoft, Sarah Lynn Brown, Joy Lynn Chisholm, Brady John Copeman, John Andrew Crossett, Erin Elizabeth Donohue, René L. Duncan, Bethany Jane Ellis, Amy Elizabeth Endicott, Wyatt Anthony Feeler, Lisa Dianne Feldkamp, Laura A. Ferguson, Matthew C. Fieleke, Jennifer Irene Elaine Finley, Julia Marie Gallagher, Krista L. Garcia, Elizabeth Ann Gentry, Katie Gilbert, Angela R. Gober, Reneé Marie Gordon, Laura Christina Groening, Joel D. Haak, Jill Diane Hamilton, Jessica Hoelzer, Kiley C. Hughes, Christine M. Janson, Sarah Elizabeth Jones, Amanda Christine Keener, Sofia Kerbawy, Marcia M. Kottemann, Nicholas Thomas Kremer, Aimée Kathryn Lichtenberg, Matthew Christian Lineberry, James D. Lloyd, Sarah Beth Lockenvitz, Courtney Elizabeth Mayton, Matthew Stephen Kudakwashe McDuff, Evan Durk Merrell, Evan DeWitt Montgomery, Lukin T. Murphy, Elizabeth N. Niewoehner, Molly Anne Pfeiffer, Cassandra Payne Phillips, Sarah Elizabeth Quick, Sasha Frances Rassi, Laura E. Reber, Lauren Ann Schulte, Lisa Marie Sieren, Jennifer R. Siron, Alison Katharine Spinden, Jason Stanghelle, Sarah Elizabeth Starnes, Stephanie Jean Sullivan, Ashley Taylor, Mackenzie Lorraine Taylor, Jonathan Bradford Terry, Molly J. Thacker, Mark William Vogel, Jonathan Edward Waits, Nathan Alexander Wales, Ryan L. Walsh, Catherine E. Webster and Janice Irene Weddle.

Spring Commencement
2 p.m.
May 14
Stokes Stadium

U.S. Senator Jim Talent from Missouri will deliver the commencement address.

There will be a reception immediately following commencement on the Mall.

In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place in Pershing Arena and the reception will be in the SUB Quiet Lounge and SUB Activities Room.

11 a.m.-2 p.m.
May 11
SUB Georgian Room

The menu will include: freshly grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, veggie burgers, various salads, condiments, birthday cake and drinks.

The lunch will be available to students, faculty and staff for $5 with advance reservations and $6 at the event. Students graduating in May eat for free with their student ID.

Non-graduating students, faculty and staff must make their advance reservations by 3 p.m. May 10. Graduating seniors do not need to make reservations. To R.S.V.P., e-mail heidi@truman.edu or call the Public Relations Office at 785.4016.

The Truman State University National Alumni Association, TRUE (Student Alumni Council) and the Office of Advancement are sponsors of the senior picnic for May graduates.

3:30 p.m.
May 11
Student Union Building Alumni Room

4 p.m.
May 13
Student Union Building Georgian Room

Contact Patricia Burton at 785.7247 or e-mail ss84@truman.edu for more information.

Pickler Memorial Library Hours

May 10-12
7:30 a.m.-2 a.m.

May 13
7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

May 14
noon-5 p.m.

May 15
closed

May 16-20
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

May 21-22
closed

May 23-27
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

May 28-30
closed

Summer hours 2005
(May 31-Aug. 5)

Monday-Thursday
7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Friday
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday
1-5 p.m.

Sunday
4-8 p.m.

Student Recreation Center Hours

May 10-11
9 a.m.-11 p.m.

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

May 14-15
closed

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

May 21-22
closed

May 23-27
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

May 28-30
closed

May 31-June 3
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

June 4-5
closed

Spring 2005 final grades will be available via TruView after 5 p.m. May 23.

May 2005 graduates may access TruView after 5 p.m. May 25 to view their transcript and confirm receipt of their degree. All graduation honors will also be posted by this time. Diplomas will be mailed the week of June 19.

FALL SEMESTER 2005
Aug. 21 - Freshman move-in day
Aug. 22-26 - Truman Week
Aug. 28 - Upper-classman move in
Aug. 29 - Classes begin

Sept. 5 - Labor Day holiday
(No classes, offices closed)
Sept. 13 - Kohlenberg Lyceum Series - Kansas City Symphony

Oct. 8 - Family Day
Oct. 14-16 - Midterm Break
Oct. 17 - Classes resume
Oct. 17-21 - Homecoming Week
Oct. 18 - Kohlenberg Lyceum Series - Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats
Oct. 22-23 - Homecoming

Nov. 23-27 - Thanksgiving Vacation
Nov. 28 - Classes resume

Dec. 9 - Last day of classes
Dec. 12 - Final exams begin
Dec. 14 - Reading Day
Dec. 16 - Final exams end
Dec. 17 - Commencement
Dec. 19 - Interim begins

SPRING SEMESTER 2006
Jan. 15 - Residence halls open (10 a.m.)
Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
(Offices closed)
Jan. 17 - Classes begin

March 13-19 - Midterm Break
March 20 - Classes resume
March 29 - Kohlenberg Lyceum Series - Kansas City Ballet

April 17 - Spring Break (No classes, offices closed)
April 18 - Classes resume

May 5 - Last day of classes
May 8 - Final exams begin
May 10 - Reading Day
May 12 - Final exams end
May 13 - Commencement

If you have planned an on-campus event for the upcoming academic year, do not forget to submit it to the Master Calendar at http://www.truman.edu/pages/203.asp. All submissions must be made by someone representing a chartered organization or a recognized department/division/program of Truman State University. Off-campus events will not be posted on the calendar unless they are alumni events affiliated with Truman Alumni Chapters.

Paula S. Cochran, professor of communication disorders, delivered an invited presentation titled “Advanced Language and Literacy: Integrating Computers into Your Therapy” at the annual convention of the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association Feb. 12 in Chicago.

Daniel Mandell, associate professor of history, recently published on the listserv H-Atlantic a review of Nancy Shoemaker, “A Strange Likeness: Becoming Red and White in Eighteenth-Century North America” (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004).

Janet Gooch, associate professor and director of communication disorders, and Melissa Passe, clinical supervisor in communication disorders, attended MSHA Legislative Day Feb. 22 in Jefferson City, Mo. The following communication disorders graduate students from Truman State University participated in MSHA Legislative Day activities: Jesse Bohlmeyer from Centralia, Mo., Johanna Conine from Elk Creek, Mo., Laura Gatti, Rebecca Jones from Maywood, Mo., Bobbie Putman from Marthasville, Mo., and Laura Thornton from St. Charles, Mo.

Sarah Saheb, junior communication major from Burbank, Ill., will be awarded the “Rocking the Streets” Award from Rock the Vote. It is awarded every year to the nation’s top youth activist. She will receive the award at the 12th annual Rock the Vote Awards Dinner June 8 in Washington, D.C.

Volume 25 of the Missouri Folklore Society Journal appeared in May. Featured articles include “Anterior Speech and Oral Registers in Ciaran Carson’s Fishing for Amber” by Dennis Leavens, professor of English; “President and King: A Musical Connection,” by Thomas Trimborn, professor of music, and “Cadence Calls: Military Folklore in Motion,” by Kent Lineberry, M.A. English, 2003. Lineberry’s article won first place in the Society’s statewide competition for student papers. The issue is the proceedings volume from the MFS conference held at Truman in November of 2003, and was edited by Adam Brooke Davis, associate professor of English and interim director of interdisciplinary studies.

The next issue of the Truman Today will be June 6. The Truman Today is printed biweekly during the summer. Submissions for this issue are due by June 1 to kbest@truman.edu.

Tim Warren will present the next Tech Break for faculty and staff from 2-3 p.m., May 13, in the SUB Room 309. His presentation is titled “Gone Phishing (Identity Theft).” Chad Tatro will present “Protecting Your Home PC” from 2-3 p.m., May 20, in the SUB Alumni Room. A Tech Break also will take place from 2-3 p.m., May 27, in the SUB Alumni Room. Go to http://its.truman.edu/techbreak for more information.

This year’s annual boiler shutdown for maintenance and inspection is scheduled for May 15-29. The campus will be without steam for building heat and hot water throughout the shutdown period. It is anticipated that the boilers will be back on-line by the afternoon of May 29. For questions regarding the shutdown or schedule conflicts to address, please notify the Physical Plant Office as soon as possible at 785.4200.

Attention Former JBA Faculty: 2005 marks the 20th anniversary of the Joseph Baldwin Academy. JBA attracts hundreds of gifted junior high students from across the nation to campus every summer to take a three-week class taught by a Truman professor. The JBA program is compiling a list of everyone who has ever taught a JBA course. There will be a reunion reception from 2-4 p.m., July 23. If you have ever taught JBA, please e-mail Jana Morton at jmorton@truman.edu and tell her the years and courses you taught.

Student Senate and the Residential College Program invite all members of the Truman community to read “War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning” by Chris Hedges (First Anchor Books, 2002) and/or “Betsey Brown” by Ntozake Shange (Picador, 1985) as part of the Summer Reading Program. The community is invited to join them for discussion of these books at 7 p.m., Aug. 31, in the SUB Georgian Room and Sept. 1. During the Aug. 31 session, they will discuss “War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning.” They will discuss “Betsey Brown” Sept. 1. Both books are available in the University Bookstore at discounted prices. For more information, go to http://summerreading.truman.edu.