Volume 30, No. 15
December 4, 1998
Scott A. Miller
Contact: Scott A. Miller 662-4844
NEWS
Kingdom Inc. Founding owner to address commencement
John R. "Johnny" Berguson Jr., founding owner of Kingdom Inc., Mansfield, PA, will provide the commencement address when MU awards nearly 180 bachelor's degrees and 26 master's degrees Saturday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m. in Straughn Hall.
Berguson earned a bachelor of arts degree in geography from Mansfield in 1971. Since then he has attained worldwide renown as a horse trainer and rider, as an author and as the owner of Kingdom Inc.
With his horse, The Sheik, Berguson has traveled throughout the United States and Canada, performing in major exhibitions, doing stunt work in movies, and appearing on television, including four featured performances on "The 700 Club."
His work with The Sheik led him to produce "The World's Most Complete Course in Horse Training" in 1980. The cassette series has been used not only by Hollywood horse trainers, but adapted by numerous animal trainers the world over, including those who train the elephants for famed Las Vegas entertainers Siegfried and Roy.
It also launched the creation of Kingdom Inc., which today comprises Kingdom Tapes and Electronics, Kingdom Computers, Kingdom Media Services, and Kingdom Books and Resources.
Kingdom Tapes and Electronics is the largest distributor of high-speed tape duplicators in the world. It also markets blank cassettes, labels, printing, cassette recorders and video projectors.
Kingdom Computers builds and provides desktop and notebook computers to volume markets, including more than 400 colleges, universities, government agencies, public schools, the U.S. Mint and the U.S.S. Enterprise. Since February 1997, Kingdom systems have won 57 awards from top computer industry publications like "Windows Magazine," "PC World," "Computer Buyers Guide and Handbook," "Byte," and "Government Best Buys."
Kingdom Computers was cited by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge in his Feb. 3, 1998, budget address as "one of the fastest growing technology companies in Pennsylvania."
Kingdom Media Services provides fully digital audio and video recording services. Kingdom Books and Resources publishes Christian books, audios and videos.
An open letter from the Inaugural Steering Committee
To all members of the Mansfield University Community:
As some of you are aware, planning activities are underway to shape a celebration for the inauguration of Mansfield's 25th president, Dr. John Halstead. No one is quite sure when Mansfield's last inauguration occurred, so this will be a new experience for all of us.
The inaugural celebration will include a number of events over a two-week period, April 12-26, with the presidential installation ceremony on Friday, April 16. The president accepted the University Senate's recommendation that classes be canceled between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 16 to allow students, faculty and staff to attend the inauguration ceremony and reception. We hope that you will participate not only in this event but in the other activities of the inauguration celebration. A calendar of events will be distributed in the second semester.
The goal of the two-week calendar of inaugural events is to celebrate our learning community by inviting participation from all our constituent groups and to demonstrate Mansfield's past, present and future commitment to lifelong learning. As the various planning committees continue their work you will receive more information about the celebration and how you may participate in what we hope will be a renewing and reaffirming experience.
The Inaugural Steering Committee
Priscilla Travis, Chair
Leslie Folmer, Vice- Chair
MU, Barnes & Noble team up for afternoon reception
If you're out and about on Sunday, Dec. 6, join MU staff, alumni, students and future students for a reception at Barnes & Noble in Elmira/Big Flats from 2-4 p.m.
Mansfield and Barnes & Noble have teamed up to offer free refreshments from the cafe, T-shirts, posters and free drawings for books.
The MU Music Department will provide holiday music.
During the reception, MU staff will answer questions about undergraduate and graduate programs, financial aid, scholarships and the Good Neighbor 40 percent undergraduate tuition discount program for Southern Tier residents.
"We sponsored a reception at Record Town in October that was a great success," Dennis Miller, PR director said. "We want to carry the idea to Barnes & Noble, whose audience is much the same as ours. The Barnes & Noble management has been very cooperative and gracious in this shared event. We encourage faculty, staff, and alumni to stop by for refreshments, say hi, and applaud Joe Murphy who has assembled a group for this reception."
The area codes, they are a-changin'
Beginning Saturday, Dec. 5, the area code for MU and most of the region will be 570.
A "grace period" allowing calls to go through in the 717 area code will extend until April 8. After April 8, calls not placed with the proper area code will get a recorded message instructing the user how to dial the number correctly.
Those with university business cards and letterhead stating MU's area code is 717 should exhaust their supplies of these items before ordering new supplies. All new business cards and letterhead will have the new area code.
While the "grace period" for dialing the new area code begins tomorrow, Bell Atlantic recommends customers begin practicing how calls should be dialed to any number that is not in your area code. Calls within 570 may be placed using the seven-digit number. Calls to all other area codes, including 717, must be placed by dialing 1 plus the area code plus the seven-digit number. Bell Atlantic also recommends reprogramming automatic dial functions on telephones to account for the 570 split.
The State System of Higher Education offices and most of the Capitol area will keep the 717 area code. For a complete list of telephone exchanges affected, use your web browser to access Bell Atlantic's web page describing the split, http://www.bell-atl.com/areacode/Pages/pa717.htm.
Have an Updater announcement? Send it to Scott A. Miller
Ron Strong, carpenter, has been promoted to building construction inspector/quality assurance coordinator.
Slippery Rock hit eight of nine free throws over the final 1:28 to outlast Mansfield 67-59 in a PSAC inter-divisional men's basketball game. Steve Shannon, who posted his fifth straight double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds led the Mountaineers. Former Sayre High School standout Jim Davies added 13 points while Tommy Harvey, who did not play in the first half, had 10. The Mountaineers upcoming home schedule includes games Saturday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. against Lock Haven and Monday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. against Lemoyne.
The women's basketball team couldn't overcome poor first-half shooting in falling to Daeman College 89-64. The Mountaineers shot just 32 percent from the floor in the first half while Daeman hit 52 percent of their shots to build a 57-26 halftime advantage. The Mountaineers outscored Daeman 38-32 in the second half, but it proved to be too little, too late. Heather Nichols topped three Mountie players in double figures with 12 points while senior Tracy Moser added 11 and a game-high eight rebounds. Freshman Brandy Lingenfelter chipped in with 10 points and four blocks. The Mountaineers upcoming home schedule includes games Saturday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. against Lock Haven; Saturday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. against Lemoyne; and Saturday, Jan. 2, at 4 p.m. against Pitt-Johnstown.
The swimming team defeated King's College recently by a score of 111-74 for its first victory of the season. The Mounties dominated the pool with 10 first place finishes including three each by Teresa Ulett and Candace Cipolla, and two each by Sarah Davis and Jamie Ragukonis. The Mounties travel to the Clarion Invitational Dec. 4-6.
The wrestling team placed six wrestlers at the SUNY-Oneonta Wrestling Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Mansfield got third place finishes from Jay Kotsko at 149 lbs. and Jason Bainey at 157 lbs. The Mountaineers travel to the RIT Wrestling Tournament Dec. 4-5.
This page is maintained by Scott A. Miller.