Volume 31, No.5
September 24, 1999
Contact: Terry Day (570) 662-4844
tday@mnsfld.edu 

A Fabulous Weekend

     Mansfield steps into a time machine and travels back to the days when electricity was in its infancy and the car, and other things we now take for granted, weren’t even invented. It’s the annual Fabulous 1890s Weekend Friday and Saturday. The first night football game, the Civil War, Mark Twain and a travelling medicine show are just a few of the characters and moments in history that will be brought to life. The two-day celebration is a team effort by MU, the Greater Area Mansfield Chamber of Commerce and the entire community.
     This year’s celebration will be highlighted by the "return" of MU alumnus Governor William Stone. Stone, portrayed by Jim Welch of Mansfield, was inaugurated 100 years ago and was the first graduate of a state school to serve as Pennsylvania governor. The Governor will serve as Grand Marshal of the Motorless Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday. Following the parade the Governor’s inauguration will be re-enacted in Smythe Park.
     Governor Stone’s return is just one of the many exciting events on the Fabulous 1890’s Weekend schedule, culminating with a spectacular fireworks display after the re-enactment of the first night football game on Saturday night.
     Admission for the entire weekend is $2. For more information on the Fabulous 1890s Weekend check the MU website at www.mnsfld.edu under special events.

Curtain Goes Up On Theatre Season

     Mansfield University Theatre kicks off its 1999-2000 season, on Thursday, October 7, with the popular farce "Lend Me a Tenor," by Ken Ludwig. The name Ken Ludwig may sound familiar to Mansfield University Theatre goers, as last fall's first production, "Moon Over Buffalo" was also a Ludwig hit.
     Just as "Moon Over Buffalo" poked fun at actors and show business, "Lend Me a Tenor" takes on the world of opera. It is a fast-paced, hilarious, modern farce sure to keep the audience in stitches.
     The cast includes: Joel Shade, music education major, playing the part of Tito Merelli; Nathan Miller, communication major, as Max; Adam Snyder, a theatre and broadcasting major, plays the role of Mr. Saunders; Marissa Mickelberg, english education major, as Maggie; Katie Mason, theatre major, as Maria Merelli; Erin Owens, theatre major, as Diana; Amy Bohrer, elementary education major, playing the part of Julia; and Tim Mulroy, playing the role of the bellhop.
     "Lend Me a Tenor" is directed by theatre professor Michael Crum and will be performed at Straughn Hall Auditorium October 7-9 at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 10. For tickets and information call (570) 662-4781.

A Moment in MU History

Forty years ago on September 23, 1959 former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the MU campus and spoke in Straughn Hall.

Connie Kirk, Languages and Literature, presented a chapter from her dissertation-in-progress, Writing the American Dream: The Motif of House, Home, and Property in American Literature, at the Emily Dickinson International Society Conference at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA in August. The chapter's working title is "A Fairer House than Prose: Poetics of Space in Dickinson's Possibility Dwellings."
Larry K. Uffelman, English, presented a paper, "From Serial to Book: Elizabeth Gaskell assembles Round the Sofa," at the annual conference of the Research Society for Victorian Periodicals. Yale University on September 17-18.
Gale Largey, Social Work, Anthropology and Sociology, is quoted in an article on "The State of the Child" in this week’s edition of the Penn State Collegian student newspaper.
Ira Newman, Philosophy & Liberal Studies, has a book review appearing in the current issue of the Philosophical Review (Vol. 107, No. 2) published by Cornell University's Sage School of Philosophy. The book is Reading with Feeling: The Aesthetics of Appreciation by Susan L. Feagin. Newman also presented a paper on philosophy of fiction to the Canadian Society for Aesthetics and a paper on Picasso and representation to the Canadian Philosophical Association. Both meetings were held under the auspices of the Canadian Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, this summer.
Roger Maisner, Health, Education and Recreation, was a speaker at the recent National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics convention in Reno, Nevada. Maisner assembled a panel, presented a paper and chaired a discussion on student-athlete behavior.

• Friday, September 24 is "Mansfield University Day" at the Edgewood Family Restaurant in Mansfield and Troy. A portion of the profits from that day will be contributed to the MU Foundation for scholarships.
• The 1999 State Employee Combined Appeal (SECA) is underway. All University employees will receive a packet containing the organizations and agencies that are participating in SECA 1999. Please consider making a donation to one of these worthy charities. If you currently give, please renew your pledge through check, cash, money order, or a payroll deduction. If you have any questions contact Betsy Brune, 1999 SECA Coordinator, at 4809, or John Boselli, Human Resources, at 4052.
• Wanted: Coordinator of Middle States Accreditation Review. The University is seeking a coordinator for the upcoming accreditation evaluation by Middle States. The actual visit will be spring, 2002; however the preparation will begin spring 2000. The written report must be delivered to Middle States the semester before the visit. Faculty members are urged to apply. Anyone interested in applying or getting more information should contact the office of Dr. Sandra Linck, Associate Provost, at (570)662-4807 on or before October 13.
• The Community Service Office needs volunteer help on several projects including the Fabulous 1890’s Weekend, The Diabetes Walk and Habitat for Humanity. Stop by North Hall, Room 517 or call (570)662-4177 for information.
• The State System of Higher Education Faculty Professional Development Council will offer grant opportunities for the faculty under the categories of: Basic or Applied Research, Faculty-Student Public Service, Creative and Performing Arts, Faculty Projects in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Completion of an Advanced Degree and Career Enhancement in Off-Site Settings. Please see the Grants Development Office web site at www.mnsfld.edu/~grantsde/SSHEFPDC99a.htm for application guidelines and forms, or request a print copy from the Grants Development Office at (570)662-4809. The internal deadline for 1999 applications is October 8; the SSHE postmark deadline is November 3.
• The Foreign Language Conversation Hour is back! The first session will be Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 2:45 p.m. in Belknap Hall, room 203. All levels of ability are welcome, and all tongues! You only need to find someone else there who speaks your language. The Conversation Hour is casual, non-threatening and open to anyone, on campus or off. Bring a friend, and a native speaker or two.
• MU Telecommunications has switched to flat rate pricing for on-campus phone service. All calls within the U.S. are 12 cents per minute anytime of day. There are no sign-up fees, no hidden charges, no tax and no surcharges. Call (570)662-4841 for more information.
• The Junior Mountie Basketball League is back. The program, conducted by the men’s team, is for boys and girls in grades 3-8. With the accent on fundamentals the league plays on Sunday evenings at Decker Gymnasium, starting on Sept. 26. Call (570) 662-4453 or 4862 for more information.
• The Student Affairs Office reminds everyone to mark their calendars for the upcoming major events this fall. The Fabulous 1890’s Weekend is September 24-25; and Homecoming is October 9. For information on these events call (570) 662-4930.

SPORTS UPDATE

     The MU field hockey team moved to ninth in the NFHCA NCAA Division II National Field Hockey Poll released Tuesday. The Mountaineers, who broke into the top ten in the nation last week at tenth, moved up one spot on the strength of wins over Franklin Pierce (3-2) and Bryant College (5-0) last week. MU lost a heartbreaker (4-2) to Bloomsburg, the number one team in the nation, on Wednesday to drop to 4-2 on the season. Mansfield boasts the top three scorers in the PSAC in freshman Gretchen Reschke, junior Jamie Huffcut and freshman Kristi Swartz. All three also top the conference in goals per game with Reschke averaging 1.60, Huffcut 1.40, and Swartz 1.40 per game. The Mountaineers are second in the PSAC in team scoring (4.40 goals per game) and fifth in team defense allowing 1.80 goals per game.
     Sophomore Nicole Beckel finished first in a 96-runner field to lead the Mansfield University women's cross-country team to first place honors at the nine team 15th Annual Baptist Bible Cross-Country Invitational Saturday. Beckel took first place for the second straight by posting a 19:45.57 time over the 3.1 mile course. She outdistanced the second place finisher by three seconds. The Mountaineers had all five runners finish in the top 20 with Kristen Clark placing eighth while freshman Teresa Stanford was 12th, freshman Sarah Sokoloski 13th and junior Brianne Liddick 16th. In the men's competition, freshman Eric Hayford finished second overall on the 5 mile course with a time of 28:56.03. Sophomore Jeremy Allen was 28th. Both teams travel to Alfred University Saturday.
     Visiting Ithaca College escaped Saturday with a 21-7 victory over the Mansfield football team. Mansfield has held its opponents scoreless in the second half in both games this season. Junior safety Jon Johnson tied a school record with three interceptions, and led the team with nine tackles. He was named the PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Mountie senior tailback Lee Brannon broke the 100-yard barrier for the sixth-straight game, gaining 127 yards with one touchdown on 34 carries. He scored on a three-yard run with 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter, and had a 75-yard touchdown run called back by a holding penalty. The Mansfield offense was in Ithaca territory four times in the second half, including a drive inside the Bomber 10 before time expired.

Library Listings

These bestsellers are now on the shelves at North Hall:
Bill and Hillary by Christopher Anderson
The Lexus and The Olive Tree by Thomas L. Friedman
Assassins by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
The Edge by Catherine Coulter

The Bottom Line

"Tell me I forget, teach me I remember, involve me I learn."
     -Benjamin Franklin