Volume 31, No.13
November 19, 1999
Contact: Terry Day (570) 662-4844
tday@mnsfld.edu
November 19, 1999
Dear Members of the Mansfield University Community,
Last year, I instituted a series of town meetings to focus on
specific themes, enhance communication and address priority issues for Mansfield
University. You will recall that Cabinet members joined me in providing overviews of
topics such as: enrollment and retention; development; the budget; campus planning; and
student life.
During the current academic year, three additional town meetings
will be scheduled to continue this important tradition. These are opportunities for us all
to engage in discussion of critical issues.
The first of this series of town meetings will be held on
Tuesday, November 30, 1999 in the North Dining Room of Manser Hall. A buffet luncheon will
be available from 12:15-12:30 p.m. followed by a 12:30-1:30 p.m. panel discussion.
As announced in my October 21 open letter to the Mansfield
community, a panel of faculty and student leaders--moderated by Provost Joe Moore--will
address "lessons learned" from the recent APSCUF-SSHE collective bargaining
sessions. There are a number of issues related to public policy, labor relations, and
ethical considerations that emerged from the negotiation process. Consistent with our
primary mission of teaching and learning, we can all learn from this kind of reflection
and inquiry.
Announcements regarding the two spring town meetings (one on
February 15 regarding "Diversity and International Education" and the
last one later in the semester with a focus on "The Mansfield Plan: How Are We
Doing?") will be forthcoming next semester.
I hope you will join us for these topical town meetings.
Sincerely,
John R. Halstead
President
’Tis The Season
The sounds of the season will fill Steadman Theatre on Friday
and Saturday, December 3-4 at 7:30 p.m., as the Music Department presents its annual
holiday concert.
This year’s program, entitled "Holiday Music From
Around The World," will feature all of the MU choral ensembles, under the direction
of Peggy Dettwiler, in a diverse collection of works. Sacred and secular music for
Christmas and Hanukkah will be presented and music from 13 countries, including Africa,
will be featured.
Over 150 singers in the Women’s Choir, Men’s Choir, the
Mansfieldians, Festival Chorus and Concert Choir will be involved. The audience will be
able to participate in carol singing with an organ accompaniment during the concert.
Tickets are $5 for general admission, $3 for students, senior
citizens and children. Call 4710 for ticket reservations.
In The Wind
The annual Concert Wind Ensemble fall concert will be
held in Steadman Theatre on Sunday, November 21 at 3 p.m.
The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Adam F. Brennan, will
perform: "Morning Star" by David Maslanka, "Overture for Winds, Op.
24" by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, and all five movements of Symphony No.1 "The
Lord of the Rings" by Johan de Meij. Also included in the program is N.
Rimsky-Korsakov's "Concerto for Trombone and Band" featuring Dr. Michael Ketner
on trombone, "Symphony in Bb" by Paul Hindemith, and "Early Light" by
Carolyn Bremer.
Guest conductor Timothy Eick will lead the Ensemble in the
work by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. The concert will
follow the Wind Ensemble's annual fall tour. The group performed at several high schools
in the South Central part of Pennsylvania last week.
Sunday’s concert is free and open to the public.
Centennial Celebration
The 1999-2000 season marks the 100th anniversary of the first
men's and women's basketball teams at MU and the university is planning a season long
series of special promotions to help celebrate the historic event.
Signaling the start of the series is the 100th Birthday Tip-Off
celebration to be held during the men's and women's home openers on Saturday, November 27.
A 100th year birthday party will be held for both teams complete with cake, a $100
shootout, unveiling of the 100th anniversary floor logo and the vivacious Baby
Diva's dance act. Admission is free and the university staff is invited for an afternoon
of basketball, fun and free cake. Game time for the women is 1 p.m. with the men's game
set for a 3 p.m. tip-off at Decker Gymnasium.
Get REAL
Future entrepreneurs can get support for their education and
help in starting a business through the Rural Entrepreneurship Through Action Learning
(REAL) program. Mansfield is the only four-year school in Pennsylvania offering the
program. It is supported by the Provost’s office, the Center for Life Long Learning
and the Business and Economics department.
REAL is designed to help students to be active, self-sufficient
and productive citizens who can contribute to their communities’ social and economic
development through hands-on entrepreneurship education. The REAL program is part of the
Business 160, Small Business Management course.
To promote entrepreneurship in rural areas the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania has a revolving fund that allows students who complete the REAL program to
apply for a business start-up loan of up to $5,000 at half the prime rate.
For more information on REAL contact Abe Ghods at ext. 4514.
Karen Guenther, History, presented a paper entitled "The World of Moses Boone: The Economic Activity of a Berks County Tanner in the 1780s," on November 5 at the Pennsylvania Historical Association Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh. She was elected to serve a three-year term as a member of the Council for the organization, beginning in 2000. Guenther has also been chosen as a participant in the Pennsylvania Humanities Council's Commonwealth Speakers Program for 2000-2001. Her topics include "Exploring History at Pennsylvania's Colonial Sites" and "'The Holy Experiment': Religious Diversity in Pennsylvania."
The MU Forensic Team turned in another outstanding performance at the NYU Skyline
Spectacular Tournament November 13-14. Mansfield finished third in the 15-team field. Darren
DeVoue brought home first place honors in prose interpretation, third in poetry
interpretation and sixth in persuasive speaking giving him a second place finish in the
pentathlon which is for the best overall competitors. Kari Weller captured third
place in informative speaking and Carl Madonna finished fourth in persuasive
speaking. Robin Thomas took fifth in prose interpretation and poetry interpretation
and Ja’Nell Natson scored a sixth place finish in dramatic interpretation.
Thomas and DeVoue combined for sixth place in dramatic duo. Karen Holgate and
Devoue were both semi-finalists in impromptu speaking. The Forensic Team is coached by Sharon
Carrish, Communication and Theatre.
The MU Debate Team traveled to Binghamton on November 5-7 for the Forensic Fall Festival
Tournament. For most of the team members this was their first competitive debate
experience and coaches Larry Watts, Residence Life, and Cathy Watts were
very pleased with the team’s effort. Amina Ahmad, Dan Eskesen, Matt
Henry, Heidi Hook, Jacob Huff, Julie Kantz, Mike Kittle
and Tanya Morgan represented MU. In collegiate debate one topic is selected to be
argued throughout the school year. This year teams are debating the merits of the U.S.
unilateral sanctions policy.
Six MU students have been initiated into the Alpha-Iota-Beta Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta,
History Honor Society: Kimberly Carman, Jeremy Cheezum, Kristen Clark,
Marcy Mosher, Thomas Thompson and Andrea Whittaker.
Carmen Bianco, director of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Program, John Martin,
AOD Committee Member, and Deb Rotella, Athletic Mentor, attended a two-day training
session at Misericordia College in October. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education,
and funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the training dealt with
building and developing a framework and strategies for campus based AOD prevention
efforts.
Steve McCloskey, Sports Information Director, was the featured speaker at the 45th
annual "Old Shoe" football banquet in Troy on November 18. Co-sponsored by the
Troy and Canton Lions club, the banquet honors the Troy and Canton High School teams.
The football team ended the season with a 41-20 loss to East
Stroudsburg, but senior running back Lee Brannon finished his record breaking career on a
high note. Brannon ran for 190 yards including a 53-yard touchdown to set a new school
record for yards in a season (1,411) and career (3,268).
The swimming team won seven out of 14 events including, two new
school records by freshman Jen Markert, but lack of depth hurt the Mountaineers in a
126-98 setback at Lock Haven on November 10. Markert set new school marks in the 100 and
200 fly while junior Candace Cipolla took first place honors in the 100 and 200 back.
The women's basketball team will tip-off the 1999-2000 season
when it travels to Erie for the Gannon Tournament this Friday night and Saturday
afternoon. The games will be broadcast live on WNTE 89.5 FM. First year head coach Ruth
Henderson has a tough task in the opener when the Mounties play host Gannon. The men take
to the court for the first time this season when they travel to Lock Haven for a late 9
p.m. game Saturday night. First year head coach Vince Alexander is optimistic about his
squad led by preseason All-American Tommy Harvey.
"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There
is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes
open."
-- Jawaharlal Nehru
Library Listings
These bestsellers are now on the shelves at North Hall:
The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw
Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King