Volume 28, No. 23
February 28, 1997
Scott A. Miller
Contact: MU PR Office 662-4844
NEWS
Lecture spotlights Internet free speech issues
One of the nation's foremost authorities on Internet free speech will speak on this increasingly complex and important issue Tuesday, March 4, at 3:30 p.m. in North Dining Room as part of Mansfield University's Spring Lecture Series.
Mark Mangan, a New York City-based corporate writer and Internet specialist, is co-author of the book "Sex, Laws and Cyberspace" and a frequent writer on the Communications Decency Act.
His lecture, also entitled "Sex, Laws and Cyberspace," will focus on the legal limitations on speech and review historic cases that did much to define our current interpretation of the First Amendment.
He will also discuss recent cases involving both Constitutional issues and cyberspace, and describe the line between free expression and necessary limits on pornography, hate speech, and harassment, especially on campuses and in corporate settings.
A discussion and refreshments will follow the presentation. The University Lecture Series is sponsored by the MU Provost's Office.
Speech and Theatre Festival bigger than ever
MU hosted 375 contestants representing 31 schools for the 23rd Annual High School Speech and Theatre Festival Feb. 21-22.
The festival, sponsored by MU's Department of Communication and Theatre, annually recognizes some of the top talent in Pennsylvania's high schools in categories like persuasive speaking, theatre, dramatic interpretation, duo interpretation, extemporaneous speaking, prose interpretation, informative speaking and poetry interpretation.
Wallenpaupack High School of Hawley won "Top School Sweepstakes" honors for winning or placing highly in the most events.
Other "Top School" winners were Blacklick Valley High School of Nanty Glo, Bishop Carroll High School of Ebensberg, Troy High School of Troy, and Williamson High School of Tioga.
Lewisburg High School, Lewisburg, won the theatre award for Best Production and while also taking best director and best actress honors.
Symphony embarking on first tour in 20 years
The MU Symphony Orchestra will make its first touring performances in 20 years when it travels to Johnstown and Williamsport March 6-7.
Under the direction of Kenneth Sarch, music, the symphony's 40 members will present a combined concert with the Richland High School Orchestra, conducted by Winsome Garland, Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m.
On Friday, March 7, the orchestra will present a combined concert with the Williamsport Area High School Orchestra, conducted by Walter Straiton, at 7 p.m. at the Community Arts Center, West Fourth Street.
In his second year as director of the symphony, Sarch says one of his top goals has been to increase the number of strings in the symphony.
"Since last year, we have been working to build the orchestra to a high performance level and increase the number of strings," Sarch says. "Fortunately, community string players have responded by joining the university string players adding to the quality and fuller sound of the ensemble. When we go on tour, we will be joined by large numbers of high school string players in both cities to form a full symphony."
The program for the tour will include Bizet's "Carmen Suite No. 2," "A Tribute to Henry Mancini," Grundman's "Second American Rhapsody," Reed's "Russian Christmas Music" and the grand finale: Tchaikovsky's "Marche Slav."
Friday, March 7, 7 p.m., Community Arts Center, Williamsport. The MU Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Kenneth Sarch, music, will perform in concert with the Williamsport Area High School Orchestra, under the direction of Walter Straiton. (See above.)
Have an Updater announcement? Send it to Scott A. Miller
For the first 30 minutes the men's basketball team play its best ball in a record-breaking season as it ran away from Edinboro in a 117-103 win in the opening round of the PSAC playoffs. "For not having a lot of guys with playoff experience I couldn't be happier with the way play for most of the game," said head coach Tom Ackerman. The Mountaineers came out smoking in their first PSAC playoff game since 1985-86, building a 24-12 lead over the first five minutes of the game and then put it into overdrive over the last seven minutes of the half outscoring the Fighting Scots 25-7 for a 65-38 halftime advantage. The Mountaineers had six players in double figures led by Woseley's 30. Lawrence Culver picked up his 21st double-double of the season with 19 points and a game high 11 rebounds. Louis Judson scored 18 points to move into a tie with Lee Felsburg for second place on the MU career scoring list with 1447 points. The Mountaineers host California in Friday's opening round at 8 p.m. while Clarion will tangle with Cheyney at 6 p.m. The winners meet for the PSAC title and automatic NCAA berth at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for the PSAC Championships, which include admission to all three games, are $14 for reserved seats, $10 general admission and $5 for students. They are available in Decker G-13 and Decker 112.
The wrestling team ended its regular season with a 26-19 setback at Kutztown. The Mountaineers held a slight lead after Georg Grap scored a 13-2 major decision over Bryan MacLeod, but a forfeit at 158 and a pin at 167 sealed the Mounties' fate. Mansfield ends its regular season at 4-12.
Dave Coyle breezed across the finish line with a time of 23.31 to win the 200 meters at the Bear's Den Indoor Invitational at Kutztown University Sunday afternoon. Coyle, a sophomore from Sayre, outdistanced second place finisher John Colmon of Cabrini who finished with a time of 23.56. Senior Dana Vosburgh continued his winning ways finishing first in the 800 meters with a time of 2:00.34, well ahead of second place finisher Justin DePasqua of Shippensburg (2:01.62). Mike Lane also placed in the meet with a fifth place showing in the 500 meters at 1:09.24, while the 4 x 400 relay team was third with a time of 3:33.14. The team travels to the ECAC Championship this weekend.
The swim team posted a school-best eighth place finish at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship. Nikki Noaeill, who set three school records during the course of the meet, took 12th in the 100 freestyle with a time of 58.89 while the 400 free relay team was 11th with a time of 4:10.39. Noaeill, who finished sixth in the 50 free at last year's NCAA Division II Championship, will try to better that All-American performance at this year's championship at San Antonio Mar. 12-15.