Volume 31, No.15
December 10, 1999
Contact: Terry Day (570) 662-4844
tday@mnsfld.edu     

Pomp and Circumstance

     Mark Stensager, president and chief executive officer of Guthrie Healthcare System in Sayre, PA will be the speaker at Mansfield University’s 135^th commencement on Saturday, December 18 at 1 p.m. at Decker Gymnasium.
     In making the announcement Mansfield President John R. Halstead said, "Mr. Stensager is a major change agent and community leader in the Twin Tiers. I know he will inspire our graduates and their families." Halstead also cited the university’s long association of educational and clinical programs with Guthrie Healthcare System.
     Stensager joined Guthrie Healthcare System in August 1998. Throughout his health care career he has held positions of responsibility in physician relations and management, hospital operations and long term care. Stensager has been honored for work on several occasions including being named "emerging leader in health care" by Healthcare forum, a national organization of health care executives.
     Stensager is also heavily involved in community affairs in the Twin Tiers serving on the United Way campaign and several citizen task forces, as well as steering committees for parks and recreation, the arts and low-income housing.
     This commencement will mark the first time in Mansfield’s history that students earning their degrees in December will be joined by those who completed their course work in August. About 150 students are expected to receive their diploma.

Holiday Celebration

     The annual KWANZAA celebration will be held on Friday, December 10 at 6 p.m. in Manser North Dining Hall.
     KWANZAA is an African-American cultural celebration based on traditions surrounding the Swahili phrase "Kwanzaa", which means "first fruits of the harvest." This year’s event will feature African-American, Caribbean, Latin and African students showcasing their talents in poetry, music and dance.
     For more information call ext. 4987 or 4381.

Reason To Roar

     Mansfield is the first university or college in Pennsylvania to have a LEO Club. LEO Clubs are service organizations that exist under the auspices of established Lions Clubs. The Mansfield Lions Club is sponsoring the MU organization.
     The LEO Club charter states its objective is "to provide the youth of the world with an opportunity for development and contribution, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national, and international community." The Club will be involved in community service projects throughout the Mansfield area.
     Michael Chester, Chemistry and Physics, is the Mansfield Lions Club president. He and Robert Maris, Biology, will serve as advisors to the LEO Club.

Jannis Floyd, Education and Special Education, has been elected vice president of the Pennsylvania Federation of the Council for Exceptional Children. In three years she will become the organization's president. The Pennsylvania Federation of CEC has almost 3,000 members and is the largest professional organization for persons working with children and youth with disabilities.
Sandra Woolley, Education, presented a paper titled, "A Survey of Teachers' Beliefs Related to Constructivist and Behaviorist Learning Theories," at the annual meeting of The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE), October 28, in Grantsville, PA. Woolley's paper reports on the development of a survey. This research was supported by two faculty-undergraduate student research grants from the local Faculty Professional Development Committee. At the 1998 PAC-TE conference Woolley presented with current senior, Michele Hosey, and at the 1997 conference with Amy Pugh, MU graduate and outstanding elementary education nominee in May 1997.

STUDENT SCENE

The MU Forensic Team, coached by Sharon Carrish, Communication and Theatre, finished the fall semester with a fifth place finish at the 22 team Bridgewater College Tournament in Virginia. Darren DeVoue finished first in prose interpretation, second in dramatic interpretation and fourth in pentathlon. Heather Borden, in her first tournament, took second place in extemporaneous speaking. Leah Phillips scored a fourth place finish in communication analysis and Kari Weller came home with fifth place in informative speaking. DeVoue and Thomas combined for second place in dramatic duo and Thomas teamed with Phillips to finish fifth in improvisational pairs.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Payroll Office wishes to notify all staff that checks for the pay date of 12/30 can be picked up at the Campus Police Office in Doane Center after 3 p.m. on 12/29.
• Current university ID cards will not be valid after December. All students, faculty and staff should stop by the CCSI Office in Manser to have a new photo taken. CCSI hours are 8:30 a.m.-Noon and 2 p.m.-4 p.m. daily. All students must have their photo taken by December 16. New student ID’s will be distributed in January according to a schedule to be announced at a later date. There is no charge for the new ID.
• The deadline for donations to the annual Christmas Card Fund is December 10. All donations are designated to the MU Foundation Scholarship Fund. Each person participating will have his or her name included in a letter sent out before the holidays. Make checks payable to Christmas Card Fund/MU Foundation and send them to Alumni House or University Development. Call ext. 4292 for more information.
• The Community Service-Learning Office is spearheading the Christmas for Concern campaign. Concern is a boy’s treatment facility in Westfield, PA. Donations of games, books, puzzles, art supplies and movies (rated G and PG) can be placed in collection boxes in place throughout the campus. Call ext. 4177 for more information.
• MU alumnus Tom Wierbowski will perform selections on harp in the North Hall Atrium on Monday, December 13 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Liv Mitcheltree and Tammy Felondis, on behalf of Santa's Gift Bag, say thank you to the MU community for generously donating wrapped gifts for area children. Santa’s Gift Bag will be able to provide Christmas cheer to 59 families including 182 children. Best wishes to everyone for a joyous holiday season.
• MU Athletics and Cole & Burd Automobile Dealership will sponsor the second annual "Take a Kid to the Game" promotion on Saturday, December 11. All children accompanied by a paying adult or MU student with ID will be admitted to the men's and women's doubleheader free. The Mountaineers will host Lock Haven with the women tipping off at 1 p.m. followed by the men at 3 p.m. In addition to free admission, all children are invited to participate in a dribbling relay between halves of both games.
• The basketball doubleheader against Mercyhurst on Wednesday, December 15 is "Meet Santa Claus Night". All children age 10 and under will be admitted free. The women’s game tips off at 6 p.m. with the men following at 8 p.m.
• The Wellsboro Women’s Coalition is collecting personal care items such as shampoo, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes and sanitary items. You can drop off donations at 120 Pinecrest by December 13. Contact Marilyn Lapps at ext. 4933 for more information.
• The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observance will be Monday, January 17 at 12 noon in the North Hall Community Room. The theme will be "King’s Dream from the Perspective of Two Generations: Then and Now." The event is sponsored by the President’s Advisory Board for Diversity, The Multicultural Affairs Office and the Student Activities Office.
• The MU Christmas baseball hitting and pitching clinics will be held December 27-30. The clinics are for players ages 7-12 and 13-18 and only the first 20 applicants in each age group will be accepted. Cost is $30 per person. For information call ext. 4457 daytime and (570)662-7273 evenings.
• The Tioga County Red Cross has a great holiday gift idea. Gift mugs, overflowing with coffee or tea and goodies are available at the Chapter House, 16 Water Street, Wellsboro. All proceeds from mug sales directly benefit Tioga County disaster victims.
• The Kelchner Fitness Center will close at 7 p.m. On Friday, December 10. During exam week the hours are:
• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m-8 p.m.
  Tuesday 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.-8 p.m.
  Friday 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
  During winter break the fitness center will be open 12/20-22, 1/3-7 and 1/10-14 from
  4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

SPORTS UPDATE

Tommy Harvey has been named the PSAC East Player of the Week for his outstanding performance in wins over Pitt-Bradford and Clarion last week. The senior guard averaged 25.5 points per game during the week. On Wednesday Harvey poured in 35 points as the Mountaineers edged Pitt-Johnstown 100-90. The Mountaineers improved to 6-0, their best start to a season since 1984-85.
In swimming Wednesday Jen Markert won the 50 and 400-freestyle and the 100 butterfly and Jaime Ragukonis captured the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke but the Mountaineers came up on the short end of a 116-76 score at Juniata. Last weekend at the six team Clarion Invitational Ragukonis, Markert and Teresa Ulett each broke school records as MU placed fifth at the six team field. Ragukonis broke her own school record in the 200-freestyle with a time of 2:01.66 while Markert broke her own 200-fly mark with a second place finish of 2.13:36. Ulett broke her own 500-school milestone with a time of 5.33.39.
Five members of the men's and women's indoor track team qualified for the ECAC Indoor Track and Field Championships during the Bucknell Invitational last Saturday. Alicia Davinsizer tied the school record with a 5'2" leap in the high jump with Kyle Kittner and Eric Franitti each qualified for the ECAC's with marks of 12'9" in the pole vault. Kim Carman and Tiffany Tolene each vaulted 7'6" in the women's competition to tie the school mark.

LIBRARY LISTINGS

These bestsellers are now on the shelves at North Hall:
The New New Thing by Michael Lewis
All The Best by George Bush
Irresistible Forces by Danielle Steel
Personal Injuries by Scott Turow

THE BOTTOM LINE

"Do not follow where the path my lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
   --George Bernard Shaw