Commencement Planned For Dec. 15

Approximately 300 students will receive their degrees during commencement ceremonies, Dec. 15. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in Pershing Arena; no tickets are necessary. A reception will be held in the SUB Activities Room, following the ceremony.

David C. Johnson has served as chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Morris, since 1990. He has been a leader, together with colleagues at Truman State University and 10 other institutions, in the movement to forge a national Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges; he has served as president of COPLAC.

While at Morris he has concentrated upon a set of initiatives termed "The Morris Junior Year." The goal of this plan is to supplement Morris students' courses with opportunities by the end of their junior year for study or internships abroad, collaborative research with mentor professors, service learning projects, and internships focusing upon public service projects in small towns.

A sociologist with a principal interest in contemporary Scandinavian social policy, Chancellor Johnson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Gustavus Adolphus College in his native state of Minnesota and his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at the University of Iowa. His post-doctoral fellowships include one from the National Science Foundation for study in Norway, the Swedish Kennedy Committee, and the American Council on Education. Recently, he was awarded the honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Luther College of Iowa.

The Kansas City Star Touts Truman As A Good Place to Hit the Books

Truman State University was the focus of a front-page feature story in the Dec. 2, 1997, issue of The Kansas City Star. The story, titled "A good place to hit the books; Truman State University aims for Missouri's tightest standards" by staff writer Lynn Franey, detailed the University's "highly selective" status and the fact that it is the only public institution in the state to pursue the highly selective designation.

"The university community is certainly a warm one. The library, open many nights until 2 a.m., is a busy, but studious, hangout. . . Because it's more of a teaching university than a research university, classes are small and most are taught by full-time faculty rather than graduate teaching assistants," wrote Franey.

Copies of the Kansas City Star article are available in the Public Relations Office, McClain Hall 202.

Students Present Research Projects

Truman students presented individual research projects at the Missouri Association of Health, Physical Education, and Dance Annual conference at Lake of the Ozarks, Nov. 15.

Kristin McGuire, senior, presented "Allometrid Scaling of Strength and Power Performance in College Men and Women.

Megan Kahn, sophomore, and Mollie Kahn, sophomore, presented "Reliability and Variability of Short Sprint and Agility Performances in College Female Basketball Players."

"Assessing the Differences Among Traditional and Automated Vertical Jump Techniques" was presented be Anne Pagenstecher, senior, and Holly Jones, senior.

Senior Dani Peterson and senior Shawn Weber presented "Flexion-Extension Leg Torque Production and Muscle Imbalance Ratios With Different Modes of Testing."

Mark T. Willard, senior, presented"The Influence of Exercise Modes on Self-Esteem and Social Physique Anxiety."

James Padfield, assistant professor of health and exercise science, presented his own research, "Relationship Between Lactate Equilibrium Point and Performance Velocity in University Distance Runners" with B.R. Londeree, L.R. Palmer and D.Y. Stone of University of Missouri-Columbia.

Evonne Bird, instructor of health and exercise science, and Michael Bird, Michael Bird, assistant professor of health and exercise science, Larry Boleach, associate professor of health and exercise science, and Jack Bowen, assistant professor of health and exercise science, attended the conference. Chris Lantz, assistant professor of health and exercise science, and Jerry Mayhew, professor of health and exercise science, served as mentors to students.

Students Head To Capitol

Truman students will intern at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City next semester. Pictured are: Row 1 (l-r): Jen Kopp, Tracy Reynolds, Susan Burgess, Maggie Thurman, Allison Poehling, Jamie Stafford, Janine Duncanson, Connie Kovach, Jennifer Padberg, Amy Davis, and Carrie Roling. Row 2: (l-r): President Jack Magruder, Joe Bruhl, Dan Fritz, Mike Varrone, Lance Thurman, Jason Beckfield, Garrick Hamilton, Nathan Arunski, Lee Rollins, Dave Baden, Brad Treese, Trent Bond and Danny Rotert.

Soccer Team Ends Season

Truman's men's soccer team was defeated by Cal State-Bakersfield, 2-0, in Boca Raton, Fla., falling one win short of playing for the NCAA Division II championship. The Bulldogs end their season with a 16-6 overall record.

The Bulldogs, in their fourth trip to the NCAA playoffs, advanced past the quarterfinal round for the first time in history. Truman won its first two postseason marches this season and now has a 2-4 record all-time during the championships. Truman advanced to the Final Four after defeating Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania.

Truman qualified for the tournament after posting a 14-5 record in the regular season. The team won its fourth consecutive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title.The team also fielded six of 11 MIAA first team players including conference co-MVP Steve Wilhusen.

Philosophy & Religion Theses Defended


Several students recently presented oral defenses of theses for the fall 1997 senior seminar as part of the Philosophy and Religion Discipline.


Those students making presentations included Amy Gierer, "Wrestling with the Virgin, Whore, and Mother;" David Hunsaker, "The Case for Narrative Preaching;" Mark Dodds, "A Transplanted Tradition: The Development of Yoga in America;" Bob Wood "The Beloved Master: Religious and Philosophical Investigation of the Writings of Kahlil Gibran;" Kyle Roach, "Euthanasia and Utilitarianism;" Hemal Patel, "The Dilemma of Genetic Manipulation: A Scientific, Historical, and Ethical Perspective;" Hank Rischar, "On Music in 19th Century German Aesthetic Thought;" Adam Potthast "Which Way is the City? The Role of Ostensive Language in Augustine and Wittgenstein;" and John Powers, "The Journey from Flesh to Light: A Thesis on Existential Edification."


Student Recreation Center Design

The Student Recreation Center is the focus of the 1997 Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture. The St. Louis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and The Construction Products Council of St. Louis presented the award to Cannon St. Louis in recognition of the exceptional design of the center.

"The attention to detail and scale provides a level of quality that could easily have been missed," wrote Michael Bell, a member of the architecture jury.

Notables


Jim Barnes, writer-in-residence and professor of comparative literature, has had a poem titled "Corniche de l'Esterel" accepted for publication in Poetry Northwest, a national literary magazine in Seattle. Barnes' recent book of poetry, Paris (University of Illinois Press), has been nominated for both a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award.

Tom Capuano, associate professor of foreign language, had his article "The Agricultural Texts Appended to the Fourteenth-Century Iberian Translations of Palladius" published in the latest edition of Manuscripta: A Journal for Manuscript Research.

Kenneth Carter, associate professor of chemistry, recently assisted Dr. Vitaly Nagy of the National Institute of Standard and Technology in applying a method from Carter's student co-authored 1991 Analytical Chemistry paper in a Monte Carlo simulation study "to analyze effects of errors from various sources on final results in dosimetry based on electron spin resonance." Carter also recently served as a facilitator for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Leadership Academy's Outdoor Leadership Experience, an opportunity for public school principals, administrators, and other educational leaders to "reflect on their past and build their future by taking part in a unique educational process that will challenge leadership skills and provide personal growth in a natural environment. " Activities included team building, cross-country travel by land and canoe, night hiking, campfire cooking, rappelling and rock climbing.

Jerry Mayhew, professor of health and exercise science, was quoted in the November/December issue of Living Fit magazine. In an article titled "Exercise Exchange," Mayhew discussed the opportunities available regarding exercising in the winter.

Shane Mecham, freshman Truman debater, won top honors at two tournaments in November. Mecham was named top speaker in debate at the Griffin Forensics Tournament, hosted by Grossmont College, El Cajon, Calif., Nov. 7-9. At the Midland Lutheran College Tournament, held in Fremont, Neb., Nov. 15, Mecham won first place in extemporaneous speaking. At Grossmont College, Mecham and freshman Ryan Kennedy were quarterfinalists in debate. Mecham placed second in extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking. He was named top novice speaker in both events. Freshman Sandy Douglas and freshman Heather Helm were awarded third place in dramatic duo interpretation. At Midland Lutheran College, Mecham also placed fourth in impromptu speaking. Freshman Amanda Behnke finished second in informative speaking, fifth in persuasive speaking and sixth in prose interpretation. Freshman Shelise Gieseke was fifth in prose and dramatic interpretation. Freshman Sarah Meyer won second in programmed oral interpretation and sixth in poetry interpretation. Freshman Kelly Dann was named third in extemporaneous speaking. Douglas placed fourth in programmed oral interpretation. Truman State University placed fourth overall in the tournament.

Jean Peterson, Counselor Preparation Program, recently presented two sessions at the National Association for Gifted Children in Little Rock: "Sixteen At-Risk Gifted Children: After High School" and "One Group Among At- Risk Gifted: Children of Alcoholics." She is a new officer of the Counseling & Guidance strand of NAGC. She also was the keynote speaker for a regional parenting workshop in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and presented an all-day workshop for the Great River Area Education Association in Burlington, Iowa, titled "Underachievers: Who are They, and What's the Matter?"

Notes


This is the last issue of Truman Today for the fall semester. The first Truman Today of the spring semester will be published on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Deadline for the first issue will be Dec. 31.

The Catholic Newman Center will hold a memorial mass for Kyle Cope at 9 p.m., Dec. 10 at the Center.

Youth Learn-to-Swim Program is being offered at Truman's Natatorium. The program is co-sponsored by the American Red Cross and is taught by Water Safety Instructors. Classes meet on Saturday mornings. The program begins Jan. 17 and ends April 4 for a total of 10 sessions. Class offerings are: IPAP (Infant, Toddler and Preschool) from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Class size is limited to 18; cost is $15. Three sections of levels 1 through 7 are offered from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. and from noon to 12:50 p.m. Class size is limited to 10 in each level; cost is $30. Information and registration forms may be picked up from the Natatorium office located in the Pershing Building or by calling 785.4470.

"Chicken Soup for the Soul," a Skillpath Seminar presented as part of the Wellness Program, will be presented from 1 to 4 p.m., Jan. 6, in the SUB Activities Room. A second session will be offered from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. the same day and location. This seminar concentrates on erasing old habits and self-limiting thoughts and gives you a unique opportunity to recharge, refocus and revitalize your life. R.S.V.P. by Dec. 12 at 785.7457.

The Nutcracker, featuring the St. Louis Ballet, will be performed at 7 p.m., Dec. 13 in Baldwin Auditorium. This performance is brought to Kirksville exclusively by KTVO-TV and Rider Camera & Video. Tickets are available for $25 at Rider Camera & Video, 1207 S. Baltimore.

So Long. Farewell.

Endowed & Annual Scholarship Applications Are Now Being Accepted

Students may pick up Scholarship Programs and applications in the Financial Aid Office, McClain Hall 103 or Office of Alumni and Development, McClain Hall 100. Applications must be completed and submitted to Financial Aid by Jan. 16, 1998.



URL http://www.truman.edu/newsevents/ttoday/home.html last updated .