Volume 29, No. 14
November 21, 1997
Scott A. Miller
Contact: MU PR Office 662-4844
NEWS
MU Christmas Card tradition continues
Rather than sending Christmas cards to university friends, why not consider a donation to the second annual Christmas Card Fund?
Last November, Leslie Folmer, vice president for development, started the tradition as a way to spread holiday cheer throughout the campus community while raising scholarship funds for talented and deserving MU students. The outstanding response generated enough contributions to provide $1,000 scholarships to entering freshmen Andrea Whittaker of Brodheadsville and Erica Herb of Hegins.
"When MU attracts outstanding students, everyone benefits," Folmer says. "The Christmas Card Fund is a way to express the spirit of the season and help the university accomplish its mission."
Here's how it works: send any size monetary donation to "Christmas Card Fund/MU Foundation" in care of the Mansfield University Foundation, Alumni House, and your name will be added to the Christmas Card mailing wishing all members of the MU family happy holidays. The deadline for donations is Friday, Dec. 12.
For more information call Folmer at 4292.
Giant holiday concerts slated
More than 130 musicians from MU and the community will take the Steadman Theatre stage for the Music Department's annual holiday concerts Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, at 7:30 p.m. in Steadman Theatre.
The concerts, under the direction of Peggy Dettwiler, Director of Choral Activities, will feature "Holiday Music from the Americas." Members of the Concert Choir and Festival Chorus will join forces in various combinations, including music for mixed, women's, and men's voices from North, Central, and South America.
Featured works include "Navidad Nuestra" by Argentine composer Ariel Ramirez and "Carols and Lullabies from the Southwest" by Conrad Susa. A wide variety of instruments -- marimba, organ, guitar, bongo drums, harpsichord, and brass -- will accompany the choirs. The performances also will include carol singing with audience participation.
Tickets are available at the Music Department office for $5 for adults and $2 for students and children. MU students are admitted free with an MU ID card. For reservations, call 662-4710.
Christmas musical coming to Straughn
The MU Student Activities Office and Mansfield Activities Council will sponsor a performance of "Amahl and the Night Visitors," a musical celebration of Christmas, Monday, Dec. 1, in Straughn Hall.
Written in 1951, the musical's world premier performance was televised nationally on NBC's Hallmark Hall of Fame and repeated thereafter for 16 Christmases. David Aiken of the New York City Opera, starred as King Melchior in the original production and returns as producer and director of this international tour.
The tender, heartwarming story takes place on the night a young crippled boy and his mother are visited by three kings on a star-guided journey. "Life" magazine once said "Amahl" was "likely to become America's most enduring contribution to Christmas lore since ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas.'" "The New Yorker" says the musical is "a lovely and wonderful thing to see and hear."
Tickets are $10 general admission and $3 for MU students with ID and children 12 and under.
To order in advance, call 4980.
Sunday, Nov. 23, 7 p.m., Steadman. Kimberly Pifer will give a senior voice recital.
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m., Steadman. MU's Low Brass studio will present a concert of holiday music.
Have an Updater announcement? Send it to Scott A. Miller
Steve Brown, psychology, was recently recognized for 25 years or more of continuous national membership by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Brown attended the organization's annual conference in Alexandria, VA, where he was among approximately 50 members so honored. His work in NCFR's state affiliate organization has included serving as Pennsylvania/Delaware CFR president, vice president, treasurer, membership coordinator, state conference planner, executive board member, and newsletter editor over the past 18 years.
A paper by Mike Logan, English, has been accepted to a panel at an interdisciplinary conference of literary, philosophical, and cultural studies at Duquesne University. The paper, titled "The Other Self in the Land of the Free: Transformations of Subjectivity in Frederick Douglass, Carlos Casteneda, and Louise A. Blum" looks at the critical power of first-person texts to represent the experience of marginalized peoples, such as slaves, yaqui sorcerers, disabled people, and post-Vietnam war-objectors, for the purpose of questioning the status of first-person narratives within canons of literature in U.S. universities following the Vietnam war.
Hugh Schintzius, recreation director, has devised a plan to keep the Fitness and Recreation Center open for at least 10 of the days during semester break, but to make it work volunteers are needed to staff the reception desk from 11:45-1:15 p.m. Those who want to volunteer a day so fellow employees can work off that holiday cheer can do so at the center's main desk.
The wrestling team took a step up on the competition level when it opened the 1997-98 season at the Binghamton Colonial Invitational at Binghamton University. The tournament, which featured eight NCAA Division I schools along with club wrestlers including members of the 1996 U.S. Olympic wrestling team, gave the Mountaineers a stiff early season test. Tim Tuttle was the only Mountaineer to place in the tournament with a fourth place finish in the heavyweight division facing only Division I competition.
The men's basketball team opened the 1997-98 campaign with a 90-87 loss at Lock Haven Tuesday. Tommy Harvey scored a game- and career-high 34 points for the Mountaineers while Steve Shannon backed him up with a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Mountaineers remain on the road with a game at Clarion Tuesday, Nov. 25.
The women's basketball team fell 76-52 to the Daemen College Lady Warriors to drop to 0-2 on the year. Jill Masker led the way for the Mountaineers with 14 points while grabbing four rebounds. Stephanie Kenney contributed 12 points and three rebounds to Mansfield's cause. The team travels to Fairmont State on Saturday, Nov. 22, and to Lock Haven on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Candace Cipolla broke another swimming record as the swim team fell to Lycoming College 117-67 in a non-conference meet. Cipolla shattered a 16-year-old record in the 500 free event with her first place finish and time of 5:54.84. This marks the fifth individual team record she has set this year, while also being part of two relay records for the Mountaineers. The team of Cipolla, Katrina Cibula, April Hart and Jamie Ragukonis improved on their record in the 400 medley relay with a time of 4:31.63. Ragukonis also finished first in the 50 free and 100 free events for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers return home for a meet with King's College on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m.
The football team ended its 1997 campaign with a 17-0 loss to Clarion on a snow and ice covered Clarion Memorial Stadium. The Mountaineers finish with a 1-10 overall record. Sophomore quarterback Lucas Smith was 12 of 32 for 126 yards passing on the day while sophomore running back Lee Brannon rushed for 50 yards on 22 carries.
This page is maintained by Scott A. Miller.