Volume 31, No.10
October 29, 1999
Contact: Terry Day (570) 662-4844
tday@mnsfld.edu 

New Vice President Named

     Stephen D. Bronn, vice president for Finance and Planning at the University of Southern Colorado, has been named vice president for Administration and Finance at Mansfield University.
     In making the announcement Mansfield President John Halstead said, "Steve Bronn is a consummate professional in the areas of fiscal management, administrative affairs and strategic planning. With his wealth of experience in higher education, it is clear that Dr. Bronn will become an instrumental part of my executive team."
     Being a part of a team is one of the things that attracted Bronn to Mansfield. "I love the enthusiasm of the student body and the sense of community among the faculty and staff in making sure those students are served," Bronn said. "I also have a lot of experience in community groups and understand the importance of the university being a part of the community." Bronn volunteers with the Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross, the Symphony and the Nature Center and other organizations in Pueblo, CO.
     Bronn has spent 29 years at Southern Colorado, starting as an assistant professor in mathematics and serving in a variety of capacities including department chair, interim vice president for academic affairs, and executive director of planning and budgets. He has served as vice president of Finance and Planning since 1994. Halstead said it was Bronn’s expertise in finance and planning, as well as a broad-based educational background and strong academic credentials that impressed the Mansfield selection committee. "His colleagues speak highly of his integrity and being a team player who has done much to create one-stop financial services for students, but works equally at ease with members of the governing board, the state system, planning boards and legislators," Halstead said.       Halstead added that Bronn’s experience in overseeing the construction of new facilities, dealing with complex budgets and working within a state system will serve him well as he inherits the almost $22 million dollars in new construction and renovations that are underway at Mansfield.
     Bronn succeeds William Yost who retired earlier this year. He will assume his new duties in early January.

Entertaining and Informative

     One thousand years of history and culture will come to life as the Ballet Gran Folklorico De Mexico performs at MU’s Steadman Theatre on Sunday, November 7 at 2 p.m. Known as Mexico’s Ambassadors of Song and Dance, this 35-member troupe brings the heritage of its homeland to life in this unique blend of music and dance.
     Singers, dancers, floreador and musicians weave a web of entertainment that has captivated audiences worldwide. In stunning native costume members present a colorful, rhythmic, fast paced panorama depicting Mexico’s past and present. The New York Times describes Ballet Gran Folklorico De Mexico as "one of the most beautifully costumed folk-dance companies to appear in recent memory. The smiling performers had the audience clapping and humming along several minutes into the program."
     Tickets for Gran Folklorico De Mexico are $5 at the door. The performance is free to MU students, staff and faculty. For information call the MU Fine Arts Hotline at extension 4444.

SCHOLAR’S SPOTLIGHT

Konrad Owens, Music, presented a clarinet recital for the Chromatic Club of Boston on October 19. The recital included the works of Daniel Gregory Mason, Johannes Brahms and Ralph Vaughn Williams and was the opening event of the Chromatic Club’s 113^th season.
Barry Brucklacher, Education and Special Education, and Belinda Gimbert, Penn State, co-wrote an article that appears in the fall 1999 issue of Computers in the Schools. The article, "Role-playing Software and WebQuests--What's Possible with Cooperative Learning and Computers," focuses on the use of cooperative learning strategies with educational technology.

STUDENT SCENE

     The Mansfield Forensic Team competed in the 20 team Towson University Individual Events Classic in Maryland October 22-23. MU finished seventh, one point from the sixth place sweeps trophy. Senior Darren DeVoue took first place in prose interpretation, third in persuasive speaking, fifth in prose interpretation and fifth in pentathlon, which rewards overall performance. Senior Karen Holgate took fourth in program oral interpretation and Carl Madonna, a junior, scored a fifth place finish in persuasive speaking. Madonna, Holgate and junior Robin Thomas combined to take third place in music interpretation. MU is coached by Sharon Carrish, Communication and Theatre.
     Mansfield University Dramatics traveled to New York City October 16 to see The Scarlet Pimpernel at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre. Led by Andrew Longoria, Communication and Theatre, the group was given a backstage tour after the production. They talked with the stage manager and met several of the actors. MUD raised the money for the trip through concession sales at MU Theatre productions. Members plan on making this an annual event.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The premiere of "The House That Screamed", the latest film by MU Media Specialist Mark Polonia and his brother John, will be held Friday, October 29, 6:30 p.m. at the Arcadia Theatre in Wellsboro. The film was the subject of recent feature articles in the Williamsport Sun Gazette, Elmira Star-Gazette, Wellsboro Gazette and WETM-TV. The MU Public Relations Office coordinated the media coverage.
• Sigma Zeta hosts "A Haunted House" in the Grant Science Building on Friday, October 29, 7-10 p.m. and Saturday, October 30, 6-10 p.m. Admission is $1.
• Members of MU Greek organizations will serve as crossing guards for trick or treaters in Mansfield from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday.
• Over 100 facilities administrators from across the Keystone state gathered at MU on October 26-27 for the fall 1999 conference of the Keystone Association Physical Plant Administrators (KAPPA). KAPPA includes all Pennsylvania colleges and universities with the exception of the Delaware Valley. This marked the first time that the organization's semi-annual conference has been held in the Northern Tier.
• Anyone interested in forming an "Earth Club" should contact Tricia Allen at ext. 5765. The club will concern itself with conservation, volunteering, organic gardening and other topics.
• October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Resources are available in the Women's Center,102 Pinecrest. These include pink ribbons, information about self-examinations, mammograms, genetic testing, alcohol and its link to breast cancer, warning signs, and a questionnaire to assess risk of developing breast cancer. The Women's Center is open Mondays from 9-noon, Tuesdays from 11-3, Wednesdays from 9-11 and Fridays from 11-1 or by calling ext. 4389.
• The 1999 State Employee Combined Appeal (SECA) is in its final weeks. If you have questions contact Betsy Brune, 1999 SECA Coordinator, at extension 4809 or John Boselli, Human Resources, at extension 4052.
• Help battle world hunger by visiting the Hunger Site on the world wide web at http://thehungersite.com/index.html. Visitors to the web site can make one food donation per day with all donations paid for by corporate sponsors.

SPORTS UPDATE

     Freshman Gretchen Reschke was named the PSAC Field Hockey Player of the Week for her performance in helping propel the field hockey team to the Championship of the Mercyhurst Invitational last weekend. Reschke scored five goals, including her third hat trick of the season, as the Mountaineers improved to 8-8 on the season.
     Senior running back Lee Brannon needs 113 yards to become the Mountaineers all-time rushing leader after a 147-yard effort in a 31-0 loss to Lock Haven last Saturday. Brannon is also within 111 yards of breaking his own single season mark of 1,024 set last year. The Mountaineers will host Cheyney this Saturday at Karl Van Norman Field at 1 p.m.
     The women's cross-country team finished 25th at the Gettysburg Invitational last Saturday. Sophomore Nichole Beckel led the team with 74th place finish. Freshman Eric Hayford finished 75th for the men. Both the men and the women will compete at the PSAC Championships in Kutztown this weekend.
     The swimming team will open the 1999-2000 season this Saturday when they host the six team Mansfield University Relays starting at 1 p.m. at the Decker Gymnasium Pool.

THE BOTTOM LINE

"Confidence, like art, never comes from having all the answers; 
it comes from being open to all the questions."
     --Earl Gray Stevens