Volume 29, No. 28
April 10, 1998
Scott A. Miller
Contact: MU PR Office 662-4844
NEWS
Global Issues Week 1998: Exploring Community
"An Evening with Barbara Bush" Tuesday, April 14, will highlight a week-long celebration and examination of "community" during the university's annual Global Issues Week April 13-17.
"Einstein once remarked that we must free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion," says Associate Provost Sandra Linck, one of the conference's chief organizers. "In this conference, we hope to do that by exploring community service learning, honoring our international students, hosting Mrs. Bush, and learning how to preserve the quality of Pennsylvania communities."
The week begins with a community service luncheon, "Exploring the Possibilities of Community Service Learning," Monday, April 13, at noon in Manser Hall's North Dining Room. Round-table discussions will pair MU academic leaders and student organization representatives, with representatives of community service organizations
An invitation-only luncheon on Tuesday, April 14, at noon will honor MU's international students. At 1 p.m. in North Dining Room, Dr. Joe Moore, vice president for academic affairs and provost, will discuss barriers to campus community in an address to the Faculty Assembly on the topic "We are We Going -- Are We There Yet?" Bush speaks at 8 p.m. in Decker Gymnasium on the topic "Family, Faith and Friends: Reflections on My Public and Private Lives." Tickets are $10 general admission. All proceeds from the event benefit the MU Scholarship Fund.
Events Wednesday take several looks at diverse aspects of community. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Hylton will speak on his book "Save Our Land, Save Our Towns: A Plan for Pennsylvania" at 3 p.m. in North Dining Room and 7:30 p.m. in Allen Lecture Hall. The slide-lecture will detail Hylton's plea for comprehensive planning and include leaders of area civic groups as invited guests.
At 4 p.m. in Memorial Hall 204, Ned Polsky, emeritus professor of sociology, SUNY Stony Brook, and author of "Hustlers, Beats, and Others," will speak on "The Sociology of Pornography." Polsky is in the process of updating his landmark 1967 study of pool hustlers and the Greenwich Village counterculture. The last chapter of the revised edition has the same title as the lecture and addresses questions such as "What are the needs of a community which make pornography possible?" "Can pornography exist, or be defined, apart from the needs of a particular community?" and "What are the scientific research findings on pornography as a cause of rape and other sex crimes?" The lecture is also the final installment of the University Lecture Series.
On Thursday, April 16, Chris Shoemaker, vice president and general manager of Strategic Planning Group, will speak on "Peace Building in the Global Community: The Case of Bosnia" at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in North Dining Room. Strategic Planning Group is America's leading force integration, military training, democracy transition and development company. From 1996-98, Shoemaker was director of force integration for the military stabilization mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He advised the Bosnian government on forming national strategy, arming and equipping armed forces and preparing the nation to protect itself from external aggression. Shoemaker served in the U.S. Army from 1971-94 progressing from Second Lieutenant to Brigadier General. He served as a staff member of the National Security Council and developed the conceptual framework for U.S. force employment in the Persian Gulf for Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf. Shoemaker resides in Williamsport, PA.
The conference will close with "A Vision of Community," an open forum on personal views of community from 9-11 a.m. in North Dining Room.
Global Issues Week is sponsored by MU's Provost's Office.
Music Department presents massive "Messiah" performance
More than 140 voices and five talented MU alumni performers will sing out when MU's music department presents "Messiah" by George Frideric Handel on Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. in Steadman Theatre.
The huge choir, comprising the university choruses, will join faculty, student, and area instrumentalists under the direction of Peggy Dettwiler, director of choral activities at Mansfield, to perform the well-known oratorio.
Featured soloists will be MU alumni singers, who are actively pursuing their performing careers. Annamaria Myers (formerly Santalucia) graduated in 1981 with a bachelor of music degree in music education. Myers has made numerous solo appearances in the region including "Lizzie" in "110 in the Shade," the mother in "Amahl and the Night Visitors," "Anna" in "The King and I," and "Laetitia" in "The Old Maid and the Thief."
Fran Shumway is a 1981 graduate with a bachelor of science degree in music education. Shumway performs regularly with the Cayuga Vocal Ensemble, New York State Baroque, and the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes Symphony. Solo credits include the role of "Catherine" in Arthur Honegger's "Jeanne d'Arc."
Steven Shumway is a native of Wellsboro and a 1980 graduate. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in music. Like his wife, Fran, he performs regularly with the Cayuga Vocal Ensemble, New York State Baroque, and the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes Symphony. He has also been a frequent soloist for Cornell University's Risley Music Series.
A 1979 graduate, Mark Rehnstrom (formerly Mark Johnson) was Musician of the Year in 1979. He received a master of music degree from Indiana University in Bloomington. Since 1984, Rehnstrom has lived in New York City as a professional choral singer, singing with choirs such as the New York City Choral Artists, Musica Sacra, Voices of Ascension, and The New York City Opera Chorus. Rehnstrom began his performing career as a baritone but now promotes his solo career as a tenor. He has performed the tenor solos in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony across the country and has appeared on stage with the Dallas Opera, Arizona Opera, and Sarasota Opera.
Todd Robinson, a 1992 graduate, has sung several roles with the Tri-Cities Opera including "Oroveso" in "Norma," "Crespel" in "The Tales of Hoffman," "Sparafucile" in "Rigoletto," the "Old Hebrew" in "Samson et Dalila," and "Balthazaar" in "Amahl and the Night Visitors." He has performed as a guest soloist with the Binghamton Community Orchestra and as the bass soloist at Binghamton's First Congregational Church.
Composed in only three weeks, Handel's "Messiah" has become the best-known, most beloved large-scale musical work in the English-speaking world. "Messiah" is divided into three parts: Part I presents the prophecies of the coming of the Messiah and their realization in the birth and life of Jesus. Part II concerns the sacrifice of Jesus and the spreading of the Gospel. Part III speaks of the judgment day and expresses a hymn of thanksgiving for the overthrow of death.
Tickets for the concert will sell for $5 to adults and $2 to MU students and children in the Butler Center music office. For reservations and information, call 4710.
"Titanic" meets "The X-Files" in next MU Theatre production
"Titanic" meets "The X-Files" in Mansfield University Theatre's presentation of Jeffrey Hatcher's "Scotland Road" April 16-19 on the Straughn Hall stage.
When a young woman is found floating on an iceberg in the middle of the North Atlantic, authorities launch an initial investigation into the woman's past.
"The woman looks as if she has just stepped off the Titanic, but the play is set in the current day," says Dr. Andrew Longoria, the play's director. "After several days of unsuccessful observation, the observers find the tables turned and they become the focus of a new inquiry."
The play explores historical details of the RMS Titanic and delves into personal obsession, truth and perception. Playwright Hatcher digs his way through layers of facade to find the real truth of the situation. As "X-Files" viewers recognize, "the truth is out there" but it is not always easy to find.
The play is so new that it just opened Off-Broadway in New York City last month.
The cast of "Scotland Road" includes Jonmichael Brennan of Jermyn, Bonnie Remus of Grand Island, NY, Callie Bonner of Dillsburg and Kari Weller of Tunkhannock. Bonner and Weller are joined by Christine Martino of Collegeville as assistant directors.
Show times are 8 p.m. April 16-18 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 19. Tickets are $5 general, $4 for senior citizens and children under 12, and $2 for MU students.
Have an Updater announcement? Send it to Scott A. Miller
Chris McGee and Mike Marconi swept the weekly Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division honors by being selected PSAC East Pitcher and Player of the Week respectively. McGee threw a one-hit, complete game shutout over Kutztown, coming within a pitch of throwing a perfect game. He struck out a career-high 15 batters, including the first 10 men he faced. Marconi led the Mountaineer offense to a 8-0 record during the week, batting .706. He rapped out 12 hits in 17 at-bats including two doubles and a home run while scoring seven times and driving in eight runs. The Mountaineers are ranked 13th in the nation in this week's NCAA Division II Baseball Poll with a 18-5 overall record.
Rosie Pagana went 3-4 in the opener to lead the softball team to a 7-2 win over Kutztown in the opening game of a PSAC East doubleheader Tuesday. Mansfield dropped the nightcap 6-2. Kelly Morris picked up her fifth win of the season in the opening game scattering five hits while striking out four. The Mountaineers improve to 9-12 overall and 2-8 in the PSAC East.
Lamar Crawford recorded four top-four performances to lead the men's track and field team to a 13th place finish at the Ithaca College Invitational Saturday. Crawford earned third in the 110 meter hurdles, triple jump, and high jump, while finishing fourth in the long jump. In the women's competition, Kim Carman was in a three-way tie for first place in the pole vault. The Mountaineers travel to the Shippensburg Invitational this Saturday.
The Mansfield Badminton Club competed at Penn State on April 4. In singles, Paul Kile placed first in D competition while Jeff Mosher placed second in C and Greg Longwell took second in D. In doubles: Mosher and Longwell placed first in D while Kile teamed with Ernie Jaber to earn second place in C. Bryan Confer and a partner from Penn State placed second in D.
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