NEWS

Commencement speakers offer the freshest perspective
Want a fresh perspective on what graduating from college means? Ask the people who are going through it.

When approximately 300 students receive their Mansfield University degrees during ceremonies Saturday, May 9, at 11 a.m. on Van Norman Field, their commencement speakers will be two people who know exactly what emotions the class of 1998 is experiencing. That's because the speakers are Pamela L. Peltz of Thompson and Robin B. Huffman of Wyalusing -- both members of the graduating class.

Huffman, an elementary and early childhood education major, has been active in the Student Pennsylvania Education Association, holding the offices of chapter secretary and vice president for the Central Region of Pennsylvania. She is also a member of the Northern Tier Association for the Education of Young Children and the Council for Exceptional Children. A 1997 member of the Mansfield Orientation Team, she also worked in the university library for four years and was an avid participant in recreational volleyball. The daughter of Norman and Peggy Huffman, she recently completed her student teaching during a two-month visit to a Navajo Indian reservation in Window Rock, AZ.

Peltz, a travel and tourism student, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Susquehanna County High School. During her Mansfield career, she worked in the recreation department and as a resident assistant. She was a member of Phi Beta Lambda National Business Fraternity, the Senior Gift Project Committee and president of the Travel Club. The daughter of Larry and Judy Peltz, she is also the Business Department's nominee for this year's Outstanding Senior Award. Her interests include reading, friends and family, and outdoor activities, and people. Following graduation, she will work for Woodloch Pines Resort in Hawley, PA.

Should inclement weather not permit the ceremonies to be held outside, they will be moved inside to Decker Gymnasium. MU teams up in Relay for Life
Ten MU employees, including Vice President for Student Affairs Joseph Maresco and several top administrators, have set what they consider one of the most important goals of their lives -- raising $3,000 for the Tioga County Unit of the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" program.

This is the third year Maresco has led a university team in the Relay for Life, which this year takes place May 15-16 at MU's Van Norman Field.

"The university community has a number of current and former members, both students and staff, who have fought and survived, are still fighting, or, regrettably, have lost their battles with cancer," Maresco says. "Our team would like to enlist as much support as possible from the MU family."

Other "Mighty Mounties" team members include Carmen Bianco, director of housing; Sandy Brant, library circulation supervisor; Bill Koernig, custodial services manager and mayor of the Borough of Mansfield; Marilyn Lapps, residence life secretary; Mike Lemasters, director of residence life; Roger Maisner, director of athletics; Sandy Reynolds, facilities secretary; Hugh Schintzius, director of recreation; Christine Shegan, director of university safety and police.

The $3,000 goal more than doubles the team's total amount raised in 1997. To reach the goal, the team has more than doubled its efforts.

The team began by soliciting donations across campus, in the community and from friends and relatives far and near. In addition, on Saturday, May 2, the group will wash cars at the Mansfield Wal-Mart from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and take a collection at the intersection of routes 6 and 15 in Mansfield during the same hours.

Those interested in aiding the team's fund-raising efforts -- and contribute to finding a cure for cancer -- are asked to bring their vehicles to Wal-Mart on May 2, drop some cash in the buckets at the intersection that day or send a check payable to the American Cancer Society in care of any of the team members, Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA, 16933.

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Mansfield University News

MUSIC NOTES

Friday, May 1, 7 p.m., Steadman. Matthew W. Stein and R. Michael Humphrey will perform a joint percussion recital.

Saturday, May 2, 3 p.m., Steadman. Thomas Nelson will perform a graduate percussion recital.

Saturday, May 2, 6 p.m., Steadman. Mo Sze But will perform a senior piano recital.

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Mansfield University News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Have an Updater announcement? Send it to Scott A. Miller

The songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein and the aroma of a fine meal will fill the air May 1-3 at the Arcadia Theatre in Wellsboro. MU students Andrew Brown, Jennifer Gochenaur, Christopher Hill, Laurie Toole, and Jessica Weaver will star in "Some Enchanted Evening," the Arcadia's first live dinner theatre. The production is directed by Michael Crum, communication and theatre, and Peter Davis, manager of the Arcadia and a Mansfield graduate. Dinner theatre times are 6:30 p.m. May 1 and 2, and 12:30 p.m. on May 3. Tickets are $15. For more information or to place a reservation, contact the Arcadia Theatre box office at 724-9371.
MU Police remind all students that as the end of the semester approaches certain crimes, such as theft, increase. Take care not to leave personal items like books, bookbags and bikes unattended in public areas like dining halls, the library and residence hall lounges. Also, make sure you lock all doors to rooms and apartments.
MU Police also reminds the campus community that depositing personal trash in university dumpsters is considered theft. Anyone observing the use of university dumpsters in this way should report it by calling 4900.
The MU Alumni Association invites the entire campus community to say "so long" to seniors at the annual Alumni Senior Brunch Friday, May 8, at 9 a.m. in Manser Hall's Main Dining Room. John J. Quashnoc, class of 1970, will share some thoughts on what Mansfield has meant to him. All seniors will be recognized, with special recognition for the Outstanding Senior nominees. The Alumni Association will also present the annual Employee Appreciation Award, given to the MU employee who goes above and beyond their job description in serving the university. Employees are asked to pay $2 to help defray the cost of the meal. Reservations will be accepted until May 1. For information call 4380.
Seniors are reminded that, immediately following commencement rehearsal, they will be guests are a picnic on Van Norman Field. It's an informal, fun way to gather with friends one more time.
This is the final Updater of the academic year. The Updater will resume publication August 21.
WVIA public television and radio station will sponsor Member Benefit Day at Knoebel's Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA, Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Because MU is an underwriter for WVIA, faculty and staff members can contact Dennis Miller, public relations, at 4846 to get on the list for free rides at the park throughout the day.

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Mansfield University News

SCHOLAR'S SPOTLIGHT

Ed Washington, English, presented the paper "The Structure of Shakespearean Comedy in ‘Measure for Measure'" at the 26th annual convention of the Shakespeare Association of America in Cleveland, March 19. Washington also had an essay published recently in a new book through Howard University Press: "Othello: New Essays by Black Writers" (1997). The title of his essay is "‘At the Door of Truth': The Hollowness of Signs in Othello." Barry Brucklacher, education, and Jannis Floyd, special education, presented a slide show and a paper, "Preparing Ecologically Literate Teachers," at the National Science Teachers 46th National Convention April 16-19 in Las Vegas. Using environmental education as a framework, Brucklacher and Floyd are developing collaborative learning experiences that they hope will prevent some of the in-the-box, narrow-discipline thinking by their regular education and special education preservice teachers. Hobart King, geography and geology, presented the workshop "Teaching plate tectonics using easy-to-draw illustrations" at the same convention, which annually draws more than 20,000 science teachers from around the world. King's workshop was designed to increase the content knowledge of participating teachers. It also demonstrated the power of easy-to-draw illustrations for communicating content, showing spatial relationships, and improving student comprehension. Accompanying King were MU students Amy Allen, Steve Calabro, Nicole Jackson, Christine Martino, and Alanna Patterson. Calabro, Jackson, Martino, and Patterson presented the workshop "Gold Rush," a content presentation and simulation game that can be adapted for students in third grade through introductory college courses. Presentations by undergraduate students are unusual at NSTA national and regional meetings. However, MU students have been accepted as presenters in each of the past four years. Gale Largey, sociology, and Dick Feil, psychology, took members of their Telephone Survey Research class to Harrisburg on April 23 for a press conference hosted by Rep. David Argall, chair of the Joint Legislative Pollution Control Committee. The purpose was to release results of this year's Public Mind Survey dealing with the environment. The students included Anthony Brown, Dan Eskesen, Dana Gallagher, Terri Holbrook, Cynthia Koss, Stephanie Roth, Heather Salisbury, and Michelle Wilson. The trip was funded by SGA. Ira Newman, philosophy and liberal studies, presented a paper on visual perception in painting at the annual meeting of the American Society for Aesthetics - Eastern Division, at Iona College on April 17. The paper was titled "The Power of Picasso: Reconciling Realism and Antirealism in Pictorial Art." Dennis Wydra, education will conduct his second workshop for the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association at its 25th annual conference in Hershey. The workshop, "51 Ways to Use the ‘Net to Get Even with Your Librarian," focuses on how to prevent computer crimes and prosecute computer criminals who violate Pennsylvania and United States computer and privacy laws. Sam Dee Thomas, art faculty emeritus, displayed his paintings in an exhibit titled "Biomorphic Abstraction" at the University of Texas Pan American, Edinburgh, TX, Feb. 22-26. His painting "Aria From a Springtime Festival" was selected for the permanent collection of the university.

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Mansfield University News

HILLSIDE CHATTER

Mervin Harbold, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, has completed a course in commercial rooftop/split systems offered by Carrier Corporation Training April 6-10 in Syracuse, NY. Harbold was awarded the "Best Student" prize for the most improvement between tests given before the course and at the end of it.

Denise Seigart, health sciences, accompanied 24 members of the Mansfield chapter of the National Student Nurses Association to Toronto April 16-18 where they toured two Canadian hospitals, including The Sick Children's Hospital and SunnyBrook Health Science Center and noted the differences in the health care systems of Canada and the United States.

Barry Pettyjohn, assistant football coach, and his family are the local "spokesfamily" for the Children's Miracle Network. Pettyjohn's son Noah, born in July 1997, was a patient in Arnot Ogden Hospital in Elmira for the first three weeks of his life and the Pettyjohns received support from the Children's Miracle Network during that time. A feature on the Pettyjohns will air during the Children's Miracle Network telethon May 30-31 on WETM Channel 18.

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Mansfield University News

SPORTS UPDATE

Also check out the Sports News section of our site for more in-depth sports information.

The Mansfield University football team concludes spring practice with the annual Red-Black Spring Football game Saturday, May 2, at 11:15 a.m. at Karl Van Norman Field. Fans will get a preview of the upcoming season when 65 members of the 1998 Mountaineer football team participate in the game that pits the MU offense against the defense.

David Coyle was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Men's Track Athlete of the week for his outstanding performance at the Millersville Metrics last Saturday. Coyle took first place in the 400 meters with a time of 49.93 and also placed third in the 200 meters with a time of 22.66.

The softball team dropped a doubleheader to East Stroudsburg, 3-2 and 3-1 to close its 1998 season. The Mountaineers end the season with a 12-23 overall record and 5-19 PSAC East mark. Sophomore pitcher Kelly Morris set a new school record for strikeouts in a season with 72.

Shippensburg rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the opener and a 6-3 deficit in the nightcap to sweep Mansfield 5-4, 7-6 in a key PSAC East doubleheader Tuesday afternoon. The losses put Mansfield in a tough position to make the PSAC playoffs. The Mountaineers, who fell to 29-13 overall and 11-9 in the PSAC East, must win their last four games, a doubleheader against East Stroudsburg Wednesday and a doubleheader against first place Millersville Saturday and Shippensburg must lose a doubleheader to last place West Chester Saturday to force a play-in game between Mansfield and Shippensburg.

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Mansfield University News

THE BOTTOM LINE

"No wonder it makes me so uncomfortable; it pulls both against taking philosophy seriously, and against taking serious women philosophers seriously."

University of Miami philosophy professor Susan Haack writing in "Partisan Review" about preferential hiring policies for women in academe.

Mansfield University News

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