Week of August 9 & 16, 1999



WILLIAM E. AND JOAN MEYER SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWED THROUGH FOUNDATION NEW FACULTY JOIN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE
VISITING SCHOLAR FROM INDIA SERVING AS FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE AT SOUTHEAST ALUMNI FOLLOW GOLDEN EAGLES TO SCOTLAND
JACKSON TEACHER PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL HISTORY DAY SUMMER INSTITUTE RECIPIENTS OF ED C. MARSHALL SR. AND MARY T. MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIP HONORED AT RECEPTION IN CHARLESTON
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO BENEFIT FROM $636,000 ENDOWMENT FALL 1999 COMMON HOUR PROGRAMS TO FOCUS ON HIV/AIDS THEME
STUDENT RECREATION CENTER TO DEDICATE MURAL SOUTHEAST TO WELCOME NEW STUDENTS BEGINNING AUG. 18
JACKSON EVENING OPTIMIST RESTRICTED SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED THROUGH FOUNDATION JANET PAAR GREENE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWED THROUGH FOUNDATION
SOUTHEAST ENGLISH PROFESSOR CO-AUTHORS POETRY COLLECTION SOCIETY OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERS AWARDS SEMO CHAPTER FOR EXCELLENCE

archive


WILLIAM E. AND JOAN MEYER SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWED THROUGH FOUNDATION

The William E. and Joan Meyer Scholarship has been endowed through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation.

The Department of Agriculture at Southeast Missouri State University along with friends of William Meyer made gifts totaling $10,000 to endow the scholarship.

The scholarship will be awarded for the first time this fall to a student majoring in any of the disciplines within the Department of Agriculture. The recipient also must be a Missouri resident, demonstrate financial need and be a beginning freshman or transfer student from a community college. The recipient must not be a recipient of another major scholarship. The chair of the Department of Agriculture will make the award.

Dr. William Meyer was born in north St. Francois County in Missouri. After graduating from high school, he spent the next two years in the U.S. Army. After returning from the armed services, he attended Flat River Junior College from 1957 to 1958, receiving a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry. He earned a master of science degree in meat technology in 1960 and a doctoral degree in 1965, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

He began his teaching career at Southeast in 1965 and continued until his retirement this year. He served as chair of Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Agriculture from 1970 to 1990 and as interim chair in 1995.

Joan Lasley Meyer was born in Nevada, Mo. She received a bachelor of science degree in vocational home economics in 1988 from Southeast. She is a member of the River Heritage Quilt Guild and worked on the quilt donated earlier this year to Southeast in honor of the University's 125th anniversary.

Dr. and Mrs. Meyer are involved in a number of civic activities in the community and are the parents of four children.

top of page

NEW FACULTY JOIN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE

Thirty-five new faculty members will join Southeast Missouri State University when the 1999-2000 year begins Aug. 23.

This year's new faculty are:

Marcus Agustin - Agustin most recently served as an assistant professor at Wheeling Jesuit University. He holds a doctoral degree from Bowling Green State University and will serve as an assistant professor of mathematics at Southeast.

David Baird - Baird most recently served as assistant professor at Southeast Missouri State University. He holds a doctoral degree from the University of Missouri and will serve as an associate professor of industrial technology at Southeast.

Mark Basinger - Basinger most recently served as a lecturer at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He holds a master of science degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will serve as an instructor of biology at Southeast.

David Bibb - Bibb most recently served as a public services librarian at Elizabeth City State University. He holds a master's degree in historical administration of museum studies from the University of Kansas and will serve as a distance education/reference librarian at Kent Library.

Joseph Bidwell - Bidwell most recently served as a senior lecturer of environmental toxicology at the University of South Australia. He holds a doctoral degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and will serve as an assistant professor of biology at Southeast.

Robert Buchanan - Buchanan most recently served as an instructor at Southeast Missouri State University. He holds a doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will serve as an assistant professor of educational administration and counseling at Southeast.

Stephanie Chamberlain - Chamberlain most recently served as an assistant professor of English at North Dakota State University. She holds a doctoral degree from Purdue University and will serve as an assistant professor of English at Southeast.

Dacia Charlesworth - Charlesworth most recently served as an instructor at Southeast Missouri State University. She holds a master of science degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will serve as an instructor of speech communication and theatre at Southeast.

Eric Clements - Clements most recently served as an education director at Colorado School of Mines. He holds a doctoral degree from Arizona State University and will serve as an assistant professor of history at Southeast.

Martha Cook - Cook most recently served as an instructor at Southeast Missouri State University. She holds a master of arts degree from Southeast Missouri State University and will serve as an instructor of communication disorders at Southeast.

Michael Crosland - Crosland most recently served as a research associate at Boston University. He holds a doctoral degree from the University of New South Wales and will serve as an assistant professor of biology at Southeast.

Craig Downing - Downing most recently served as an operations team coordinator at Spinnaker Electrical Tape Company. He holds a master of science degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will serve as an assistant professor of industrial technology at Southeast.

John Dubin - Dubin most recently served as a research assistant at Southern Illinois University. He holds a doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will serve as assistant professor of educational administration and counseling at Southeast

Gabrielle Eckart - Eckart most recently served as an assistant professor at St. Mary's University. She holds a doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota and will serve as an assistant professor of foreign languages at Southeast.

Tambra Eifert - Eifert most recently served as lab coordinator and teaching assistant at Baylor University. She holds a master of science degree from Baylor University and will serve as an instructor of geosciences at Southeast.

Robin Hankinson - Hankinson most recently served as an instructor at Southeast Missouri State University. Hankinson holds a master of arts degree from University of Arizona and will serve as an instructor of foreign languages at Southeast.

Martin Hansen - Hansen most recently served as an assistant professor at Ithaca College. He holds a master of fine arts degree from the University of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will serve as an assistant professor of mass communication at Southeast.

Arrick Jackson - Jackson most recently served as a graduate study director at Washington University. He holds a master of arts degree from Washington State University and will serve as an instructor of criminal justice at Southeast.

Leslie Jones - Jones most recently served as an assistant professor of music at Truman State University. Jones holds a doctorate of musical arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and will serve as assistant professor of music at Southeast.

Joel Judd - Judd most recently served as a supervisor for the Missouri Department of Education in Jefferson City. He holds a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and will serve as an assistant professor of English at Southeast.

Amy Kephart - Kephart most recently served as assistant professor at Southeast Missouri State University. She holds a master of fine arts degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will serve as assistant professor of art at Southeast.

Alynna Lyon - Lyon most recently served as a program coordinator at the University of South Carolina. She holds a doctoral degree from the University of South Carolina and will serve as an instructor of political science at Southeast.

Wesley Mueller - Mueller most recently served as a professor at California Polytechnic State University. He holds a doctoral degree from Utah State University and will serve as professor of agriculture at Southeast

Jeffrey Noonan - Noonan most recently served as adjunct faculty at St.Louis Community College. He holds a master of music degree from Washington State University and will serve as an instructor of music at Southeast.

Keith Pharis - Pharis most recently served as an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He holds a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and will serve as an assistant professor of English at Southeast.

Robert Polack - Polack most recently was self-employed in private practice at the Center for Life Change in St. Louis. He holds a doctoral degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute and will serve as an assistant professor of social work at Southeast.

Willie Redmond - Redmond most recently served as an instructor at Columbia College. He holds a master of business administration degree from the University of South Carolina-Columbia and will serve as an assistant professor of economics at Southeast.

Katherine Riggen-Santiago - Riggen-Santiago most recently served as assistant professor and coordinator of health promotion at South Dakota State University-Brookings. She holds a doctorate of physical education from Indiana University and will serve as an assistant professor of physical education at Southeast.

Ruth Ann Roberts - Roberts most recently served as director of curriculum and instruction for Sikeston public schools. She holds a doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will serve as an instructor of education administration and counseling at Southeast.

Paul Schnare - Schnare most recently served as president and owner of AccuGrow Lawn Care, Inc. and an adjunct professor at Southeast Missouri State University. He holds a doctoral degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and will serve as an assistant professor of agriculture at Southeast.

Tracey Standley - Standley most recently served as an assistant professor at Stillman College. She holds a doctoral degree from the University of Alabama and will serve as an assistant professor of mass communication at Southeast.

Karl Suhr - Suhr most recently served as a reference librarian at Nova Southeastern University. He holds a master of library science degree from the University of North Texas and will serve as an electronic resources/reference librarian at Kent Library.

Rose Tallent - Tallent most recently served as a principal with the Jackson Public Schools. She holds a specialist of education degree from Southeast Missouri State University and will serve as an instructor of elementary, early, and special education at Southeast.

Scott Thorne - Thorne most recently served as an instructor at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He holds a master of business administration degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and will serve as an instructor of marketing at Southeast.

Robert Webb - Webb most recently served as a superintendent of Farmington Public Schools. He holds a doctoral degree from the University of Northern Colorado and will serve as an assistant professor of extended learning at Southeast.

top of page

VISITING SCHOLAR FROM INDIA SERVING AS FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE AT SOUTHEAST

Neeta Jain, professor and senior researcher at the State Council for Educational Research and Training, Bhopal, India will serve as a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence for the 1999-2000 academic year in the Department of Elementary, Early, and Special Education at Southeast Missouri State University.

Jain will teach courses in multicultural and diversity education, conduct research with faculty on the utilization of classroom action research to improve student achievement, and serve as a cultural resource for faculty and students throughout the department.

"It's going to be an experience here," Jain said. "It is going to be a very good year."

Jain is here through the efforts of Dr. Jean Benton, coordinator of International Programs for the College of Education and associate professor of the Department of Elementary, Early, and Special Education, who secured funding for the full-year grant from the U.S. Information Agency which administers the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence program. Southeast Missouri State University is one of only 35 institutions nationally to be selected by the Agency this year to host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence.

During the year, Jain will be engaged in various academic activities both on-campus and throughout the University's service region. Within the Department of Elementary, Early, and Special Education, the visiting scholar will co-teach two courses: "EL274 Diversity in America's Schools" and "EL640 Teaching in a Multicultural Society" with Benton. The focus of Jain's work with the students in these classes will be in showing them how to translate the problems and issues of diversity into positive and effective educational results for all children through the processes of classroom action research.

"We will look at problems in terms of cultural diversity and work out ways of solving those problems in the classroom," Benton said.

Undergraduate students enrolled in EL274 will work in research teams along with students in the graduate level EL640 course, Benton said. The graduate students will serve as team leaders, with the undergraduates providing assistance in researching educational diversity issues.

Jain's research paradigm, which involves teachers, administrators, parents, and the community, now serves as a model throughout several states in India that are working to provide quality school programs for diverse groups of learners.

"Teacher education is not local," Jain said, adding that a teacher's success is greatly dependent on how well the instructor adapts to those in her classroom.

Jain also will be working with faculty and students in the Department to conduct a comparative study on action research in the classroom, focusing specifically on innovative practices in pre- and in-service education training programs. The scholar's first action research studies, conducted several years ago, were designed to be quality improvement interventions at the primary level to promote learner achievement. Based on the findings and insights of these initial studies, it became evident that a completely new teaching-learning package needed to be developed to involve practitioners of education as perceptive action researchers who create methodologies to enhance and accelerate learning in their classrooms. These studies are now being further authenticated with Jain's work at Southeast this coming year, where she and Benton will be developing rubrics of characteristics of effective classroom action researchers.

Jain said action research is a process and a plan she hopes all those she teaches can carry with them as they begin lifelong careers in teaching.

In addition to these activities, Jain will be available to serve as a resource person for other departments in the College and University, the Regional Professional Development Center, and Project Interact. She also will be actively involved in the newly chartered student chapter of the World Council for Curriculum and Instruction, a professional organization in international education.

Within Southeast's service region, Jain will visit schools from inner-city and suburban St. Louis to small, rural school districts in the Bootheel to develop a broader understanding of U.S. educational practices.

As a citizen of India, Jain's knowledge and experience of diverse races, cultures, languages, and religions provide faculty, students, the campus and wider region with a rich mosaic of experience from which to increase mutual understanding and international perspectives of all involved. The primary objective of the worldwide Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program, administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars through the U.S. Information Agency is to bring scholars and professionals from abroad to U.S. campuses to expand the contact of American students and faculty with people of other cultures. Community outreach activities and close interaction of scholar-in-residence faculty with students and professors are important elements in developing international studies and interests within institutions and communities in the United States.

Jain says that being a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence requires "a dedication to fellowship in diversity."

Jain will present an all-campus lecture later in September, which will be followed by a reception. A date for that event has not yet been set. Jain will complete her residence at Southeast next May.

top of page

ALUMNI FOLLOW GOLDEN EAGLES TO SCOTLAND

Forty-five Southeast Missouri State University alumni left Cape Girardeau, Aug. 6 to watch the Golden Eagles Marching Band perform in the 1999 Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, and to tour Great Britain.

The group is being escorted by Jane Stacy, director of Alumni Development at Southeast. Southeast's own marching band is playing in the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, during the entire month of August. Alumni will be in the Edinburgh Castle courtyard this week to support the Golden Eagles, who are the second U.S. marching band to participate in the international Military Tattoo event.

The group arrived in London on Aug. 7. The group is currently touring many of the area's famous landmarks: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, museums, Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames. The group has the opportunity to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace and St. Paul's Cathedral.

Other tours for the week include Shakespeare's birthplace, Wordsworth's Grasmere, Lowland Hills of Scotland, Belvoir Castle and Cambridge.

Alumni will return home on Aug. 15.

top of page

JACKSON TEACHER PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL HISTORY DAY SUMMER INSTITUTE

Kyle Mabuce, a history teacher at Jackson (Mo.) Junior High School recently returned from a one week National History Day Summer Institute at the University of Maryland, north of Washington, D.C.

Mabuce was the Missouri representative to the Institute, and one of only 24 participants selected. He was nominated for the award by Dr. Frank Nickell, History Day coordinator for this section of the state, as a result of his work in initiating and promoting a successful History Day program in the Jackson schools. Nickell also is the director of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University.

The focus of the Institute was "Turning Points in History," the theme of the History Day competition for the year 2000. The theme was pursued by a concentration upon the role of the Civil War as a turning point in American history.

The activity-filled week included lectures from nine distinguished scholars of the Civil War, field trips to Civil War battlefields in the District of Columbia area, including Antietam, panel discussions, and private tours of the White House and the national Archives. The latter provided opportunities to see the original copies of some of the most significant historical documents in American history, including the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation. There were also guided tours of many additional historical sites in the area. Each of the participants received extensive instructional materials and information about the most recent assisted educational technology.

One of the main purposes of the Institute was the preparation of a key teacher to serve as a consultant to teachers in each of the 24 states from which the participants came. As a result, Mabuce will be called upon to serve as a resource for teachers in Missouri who wish to assist their students in the development of a History Day program. In this capacity, he will be expected to speak to teacher groups, conduct workshops and make presentations to teachers and students in Southeast Missouri and throughout the rest of the state.

The 1999-2000 school year will be the third year that Mabuce and Kenneth Markin have directed Jackson student entries in the History Day program. Nickell says, the success of Jackson students in the program has been excellent.

"Kyle's experience in the Institute should provide the basis for even greater success in directing students to regional, state and national prominence in the History Day competition. We are all proud of the fact that he was selected for participation in this national Institute," he said.

Mabuce indicated that the Institute was "an excellent opportunity that was greatly appreciated. The Institute was worthwhile, both personally and professionally. It was great to interact with teachers from all across the United States and to share ideas about the Civil War, our government, our history and our history teaching."

top of page

RECIPIENTS OF ED C. MARSHALL SR. AND MARY T. MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIP HONORED AT RECEPTION IN CHARLESTON

Two recipients of the Ed. C. Marshall Sr. and Mary T. Marshall Scholarship were honored at a luncheon reception recently in Charleston, Mo.

Kerrah Russell of Wyatt, Mo., and Jennifer Merryman of Charleston were recognized at the event held July 14 at the Charleston Inn. Both students, who will be beginning freshmen when the academic year begins Aug. 23 at Southeast Missouri State University, are the 1999-2000 academic year recipients of the scholarship.

Louise Marshall established the Ed. C. Marshall and Mary T. Marshall Scholarship with the Southeast Missouri University Foundation for Mississippi County residents in the top 10 percent of their high school class.

"Without the support and generosity of Ms. Marshall, my college career would not be possible," Kerrah Russell said.

Jennifer Merryman added, "It is people like Ms. Marshall that enable so many students to attend college. Her thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated."

To continue to receive this award, student recipients must maintain a minimum a 3.0 grade point average as a full-time Southeast student.

top of page

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO BENEFIT FROM $636,000 ENDOWMENT

The Department of Agriculture at Southeast Missouri State University now will benefit from a sizable endowment established through a gift annuity with the Southeast Missouri University Foundation.

A $636,000 endowment has been set up for use by the Department thanks to a gift annuity from the late Elouise McNulty of Globe, Ariz.

McNulty originally established the gift annuity in 1992 with a $400,000 gift. She passed away in April, and, in accordance with the guidelines of the annuity, the Foundation received the original donation plus the accumulated income, all to benefit the Department of Agriculture.

Dr. Duane Ford, chair of Southeast's Department of Agriculture, says future income totaling five percent of the endowment will be used annually to support scholarships, equipment, faculty professional development and operations in the Department and to support the horticulture program. He says the department recently purchased a computer and a piece of machinery for the University Farm with a portion of the income, and the dollars also allowed the Department to complete endowment of the William E. and Joan Meyer Scholarship. William Meyer is professor emeritus of agriculture at Southeast.

Ford says the Department also has used the endowment to renovate several classrooms in Magill Hall, in which the Department of Agriculture is located. That wing of the facility, which also includes laboratories, has since been renamed the Schrader Agriculture Suite, in honor of McNulty's mother, Maude Clippard Schrader. A plaque hung in Magill in honor of the gift, says the suite is "dedicated to conservation and research of plant and animal life."

"We are extremely appreciative of this generous gift that has made this renovation and modernization project possible," Ford said. "It is a delight for our students and faculty members to work and study in what are now outstanding facilities. The support of people like Mrs. McNulty helps us provide the very best facilities, programs and learning opportunities we can.

"We are ecstatic" about the endowment, he added. "It is going to make a tremendous difference in the quality of programs we deliver to our students. Now, we will have the resources to do the things we have wanted to do for many years."

McNulty, formerly of Cape Girardeau, was a 1929 graduate Cape Central High School and a 1933 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She was a member of the Copper Dome Society. She and her husband, Charles McNulty, operated McNulty Greenhouse in Globe for many years.

McNulty's mother, the late Mrs. Schrader, attended then Southeast Missouri Normal School in 1893 and later taught at Tilsit, Mo. McNulty is survived by several cousins, including Mrs. Luther Hahs and Mrs. Francis Lewis, both of Cape Girardeau.

top of page

FALL 1999 COMMON HOUR PROGRAMS TO FOCUS ON HIV/AIDS THEME

Common Hour at Southeast Missouri State University has been improved for the fall 1999 semester, with a variety of programs scheduled around a common theme.

"Beyond the Red Ribbon: Societal Impact of HIV/AIDS" will be the semester theme.

Common Hour was developed several years ago at Southeast Missouri State University and is held each Wednesday during the noon hour. Common Hour, an hour when no classes are scheduled, provides the opportunity for students, faculty and staff to develop a sense of community by participating in a variety of intellectually stimulating, socially relevant activities related to a common theme throughout each semester.

These activities provide a mechanism in which members of the campus community can explore, in some depth, issues of relevance to the individual, the institution and larger society, in ways that not only help participants develop critical thinking skills but also help them better understand their connection to others on campus.

During the fall 1999 semester, each month will include:

--One Common Hour that will be an All-Campus program addressing the semester's theme. This program, scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month, will be held in Academic Auditorium. All-Campus programs are scheduled for Sept. 1, Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1. The Sept. 1 program will focus on the legal and judicial aspect of HIV/AIDS. The Oct. 6 program will feature a panel discussion of local community members describing how HIV/AIDS has impacted their lives. The Nov. 3 program will be a theatrical presentation focusing on the interpersonal aspect of HIV/AIDS. The Dec. 1 program will bring a nationally prominent speaker to campus.

--Two Common Hours set aside for clubs and groups to meet. These reserved dates, scheduled for the second and fourth week of each month, include Sept. 8 and 22, Oct. 13 and 27, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8.

--Two Common Hours set aside for concurrent theme-related programs that target smaller audiences than the All-Campus programs. These programs, scheduled for the third and fifth week of the month, will be held on Sept. 15 and 29, Oct. 20 and Nov. 17.

The Sept. 1 All-Campus Program is titled "The Supreme Court's Fear of AIDS." Professor of Law Michael Closen of The John Marshall Law School in Chicago will make the presentation. Closen is a nationally-recognized expert on legal issues related to HIV/AIDS and will present a lecture/discussion on policy and legal issues underlying the U.S. Supreme Court's reluctance to address HIV/AIDS-related issues. The program is being sponsored by the Department of Criminal Justice, the Criminal Justice Association and Kappa Phi, the criminal justice honors organization.

Closen is co-author of four law school casebooks and has been a commercial arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and the Circuit Court of Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program. He holds a bachelor's and master's degrees from Bradley University and a law degree from the University of Illinois. He served as a judicial clerk for the Illinois Appellate Court, assistant states attorney in Chicago and taught at the law schools of the University of Arkansas, the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and St. Thomas University. He is an arbitrator for both the American Arbitration Association and the Circuit Court of Cook County, and he is a professor-reporter for the Illinois Judicial Conference. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 published papers, articles, chapters and books.

Closen is an internationally recognized authority on HIV-AIDS policy and law. He litigated the first case in the United States in which a judge ordered an individual to submit to an HIV blood test, and he argued the defendant's case in the Illinois Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Illinois HIV criminal transmission statute. Closen co-authored the only law school casebook on AIDS, AIDS Law In A Nutshell by West Publishing, the treatise Legal Aspects of AIDS by Callaghan & Company, and the American Bar Association's book International Law and AIDS. He has taught AIDS law courses at four law schools, and he has made presentations on AIDS legal issues at several international programs in Canada, France, Italy, Holland, Israel and Germany.

Closen was a finalist in the 1993 International Defense of Human Rights Competition for Attorneys held by the Museum For Peace in Caen, France, where he presented his paper on the subject of international human rights violations relating to the HIV-AIDS epidemic. He argued another HIV-AIDS case to the Illinois Supreme Court in 1998 -- this time on the issue of the duties of HIV-infected health care professionals.

Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day. This year, the University AIDS Committee decided to bring to campus a nationally prominent speaker with an extensive background in scholarship and medical practice regarding HIV/AIDS. Part of his itinerary will include the Dec. 1 All-Campus Common Hour program.

The Dec. 1 program will be presented by Dr. Richard Keeling, a scholar, thinker, writer and visionary who is leading communities, colleges and universities, corporations and health care providers in understanding health and learning in new ways. Keeling is a leader in the field of college health. For more than a decade, Keeling has been a popular, inspiring speaker and provocative, effective consultant about the major health concerns of young people in America -- binge drinking, drug and tobacco abuse, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted disease, sexual assault and relationship violence, unwanted pregnancy and disordered eating. In each case, he looks for the roots and the context -- the meaning -- of health concerns; he identifies long-term solutions that work for young people, workplaces and communities.

Keeling's presentation at Southeast will focus on why people do what they do and how they decide about drinking, relationships and sex. He will help participants examine the campus culture and help them discover how they can make a difference.

top of page

STUDENT RECREATION CENTER TO DEDICATE MURAL

The Student Recreation Center will dedicate a mural Aug. 20 depicting student life at Southeast Missouri State University.

The dedication is a featured event during the University's Opening Week activities. The mural will be dedicated after the Great Ice Cream Pig Out, which is scheduled at 7 p.m. Craig Thomas, a local artist and Southeast graduate, completed the mural this summer.

The mural is the result of a seed planted by Student Government two years ago. Student Government sponsored a contest in 1997 for students to design a mural in the Student Recreation Center. The winning drawing of the mural was submitted by Elizabeth Boettcher-Ritter, who won $200 for her design. Ritter, a 1999 Southeast graduate, did several renderings of the original drawing before it was shown to local artists for bidding.

"The mural adds a lot of color to the Student Recreation Center. I think that it looks fantastic," said L.G. Lauxman, director of recreational sports at Southeast.

The mural, which cost $5000, was funded by the Student Government Association. The mural is featured on the north wall of the original part of the Student Recreation Center. The mural displays student life and Academic Hall.

Thomas is a free-lance artist living in Cape Girardeau. He has taught classes on murals and chalk drawing for the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. He also is employed by a photography studio in Jackson.

Thomas is known for his murals and sidewalk chalk drawings in the region. One well-known mural appears at Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, which depicts the county's last hanging. Other murals can be spotted at Washington School and on Main Street. He also recreated Michelangelo's "Libyan Sybil" in chalk at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City. His poster artwork also was used to promote the summer reading programs at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson and Cape Girardeau Public Library.

top of page

SOUTHEAST TO WELCOME NEW STUDENTS BEGINNING AUG. 18

Southeast Missouri State University will welcome its new students to campus beginning Aug. 18 with a series of opening week events that will climax with the start of fall semester classes on Aug. 23.

"The goal of Opening Week is to help students feel welcomed to the University and a part of the Southeast community," said Suzanne Vaughan, coordinator of orientation and first-year experience programs. "The Opening Week Committee has worked for the past year to create a program that helps new students become acclimated to their new environment."

A major highlight of opening week events and a new activity this year will be "First Night," scheduled for 9 p.m. to midnight Aug. 18. Sponsored by the Student Activities Council, First Night is being modeled after other similar events held on New Year's Eve in various cities around the country. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a number of games events, including twister, wax hands, dancing, a jacKerouac-a-thon and a scavenger hunt. Students also may join in a basketball tournament, dancing, an outdoor social and "Boot Camp Aerobics."

First Night will be held in locations across the campus and is designed to get new students walking across campus and acquainted with the Southeast landscape. Shuttle service will be available to transport students to and from events, and prizes will be awarded for event participation.

Opening Week begins at 10 a.m. Aug. 18 with residence hall check-in for first-year students at the Student Recreation Center. There, students can get their residence hall room assignments, pick up their room keys, and have the opportunity to browse through an information fair of booths set up by area businesses and University offices.

From there, students may go to their designated residence halls, where student volunteers will be there to help them move their belongings.

A meeting for commuter students is planned for 3 p.m., followed by a commuter student dinner from 5 to 6 p.m., both in the University Center.

A Welcome Convocation is slated for 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 19 in Academic Auditorium. Southeast President Kenneth Dobbins will welcome new students, along with Student Government President Tanya Efken and a host of other people. New students will receive information about opening week activities and get a general university orientation.

First-year students will participate in a two Southeast 101 classes, one scheduled for noon Aug. 19 and another for 9:30 a.m. Aug. 20, both at various campus locations. In Southeast 101-Class I on Aug. 19, students can get connected with a member of the Southeast staff and an upper-class student leader. This class is designed to help new students learn the ins and outs of being a Southeast student. Southeast 101-Class II will help new students get connected with a Southeast faculty member. Discussions will focus on academic expectations in the college classroom and basic tips for succeeding academically.

An icebreaker activity called Playfair is scheduled for 8 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Student Recreation Center. This is a high-energy, fun-filled activity in which students will be grouped together in various scenarios and will seek out and meet other new students through interactive games.

At the conclusion of this event, a New Student Social and Dance will be held from 9:30 p.m. to midnight in the Student Recreation Center. Sponsored by New Student Programs and the Residence Hall Association, this event is expected to be a fun gathering with free food and music.

At 11 a.m. Aug. 20, the California Critical Thinking Test will be administered in various locations across campus. All new students must take this test.

Later Aug. 20, new students will have an opportunity to meet representatives from each of the University's colleges -- business, education, health and human services, liberal arts, science and technology, Polytechnic Institute and School of University Studies -- during workshops scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Check the opening week schedule for locations of each meeting.

All Southeast students, faculty and staff are invited to the annual Great Ice Cream Pig Out at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 in the Student Recreation Center. Following the Pig Out will be a performance at 8 p.m. by hypnotist Tom Deluca, also in the Rec Center. Capping the evening will be movies shown in the residence halls at 10:30 p.m.

New students who have not yet enrolled at Southeast must attend a First STEP session scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 21 in the University Center.

New students interested in learning how to use E-mail and the Internet are invited to attend training sessions at 8 and 10 a.m. in the University Center Computer Lab. Students also may get their own E-mail address at these sessions. Dana Schwieger of Southeast Computer Services will teach the classes.

Three morning sessions are planned for 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Aug. 21 for new students who are receiving Stafford and Perkins Student Loans. Students receiving this form of financial assistance must attend one of these sessions. Perkins' sessions will be held in Crisp Hall Auditorium. Stafford sessions are located in Rose Theatre.

A number of recreational opportunities are available the afternoon of Aug. 21. New students are invited to explore the Southeast and Cape Girardeau community from 1 to 5 p.m. Several events are scheduled, including cave exploration (meet in Rhodes Hall Room 107); a "Boot Camp" workout in the Rec Center Aerobics Room; frisbee golf in front of the Towers Complex; climbing in the Student Recreation Center, swimming in Parker Building; and sand volleyball at Towers Court. In addition, the Student Recreation Center will be open from noon to 9 p.m.

Aug. 21 will come to a close with an outdoor movie at 9 p.m. on Academic Terraces. Sponsored by the Student Activities Council, "The Wedding Singer" will be the featured movie.

A variety of Campus Ministries services will be held on Sunday morning, Aug. 22, on campus, and brunch will be served in Towers Cafe, Geronimo's and the University Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A Welcome Back Picnic is scheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 22 in Capaha Park, where students may find food and fun outdoor activities. Students are invited to taste the cuisine of famous American towns at this annual event sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce University Relations Committee in partnership with Chartwells' Education Dining Services.

Fall 1999 classes will get under way on Aug. 23.

top of page

JACKSON EVENING OPTIMIST RESTRICTED SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED THROUGH FOUNDATION

The Jackson Evening Optimist Restricted Scholarship has been established through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation.

The Jackson Evening Optimist Club established the scholarship, which will be awarded to a student for the first time this fall. The scholarship is valued at $500.

The recipient of the scholarship must be a graduate of Jackson High School or Notre Dame High School, who has a minimum 3.0 grade point average. First preference will be given to a student with civic involvement, who is a Junior Optimist member. Financial need and academic performance also will be considered. The Scholarship Office will select the recipient.

top of page

JANET PAAR GREENE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWED THROUGH FOUNDATION

The Janet Paar Greene Scholarship recently has been endowed through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation.

Greene, a 1949 graduate of Southeast, made a $20,000 gift to the Foundation to endow the scholarship.

The scholarship will be awarded for the first time this fall to an English education major. First preference will be given to a resident of Jackson. Second preference will go to a Cape Girardeau County resident. The Department of English will select the recipient.

Green earned a bachelor of science degree in education, majoring in both English and art at Southeast. Currently, she is a resident of Vancouver, Wash.

top of page

SOUTHEAST ENGLISH PROFESSOR CO-AUTHORS POETRY COLLECTION

Dr. Susan Swartwout, an assistant professor of English at Southeast Missouri State University, has compiled a collection of poems that questions and celebrates American culture.

Swartwout and Jim Elledge, professor of English at Illinois State University, co-authored the collection of poetry entitled "Real Things: An Anthology of Popular Culture in American Poetry. " The collection takes a look at pop culture and icons of the 20th-century in America.

"Real Things" is a collection of over 150 poems by more than 130 poets. The poets represent cultural diversity in the United States. Some of the poets featured include Sherman Alexie, Lucille Clifton, Rita Dove, Albert Goldbarth, Martin Espada, Garrett Kaoru Hongo, June Jordan, Yusef Komunyakaa, Reginald Shepherd and David Wojahn.

According to Indiana University Press, subjects of the poems include the influence of Mickey Mouse on child-raising, the relationship of Barbie to sex in America, the societal effects of the movie Psycho, and our fascination with dirty politics.

Swartwout has been teaching creative writing and literature at Southeast since 1996. Her two previous collections of poetry are entitled "Freaks and Uncommon Ground."

top of page

SOCIETY OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERS AWARDS SEMO CHAPTER FOR EXCELLENCE

The international headquarters of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has recognized the student SME chapter at Southeast Missouri State University for excellence in conferences and seminar planning during the 1998-1999 academic year.

The chapter received a certificate and a cash award of $250 for its achievements.

The chapter won the award for a seminar and training on rapid prototyping, SME recruitment and marketing training, a solid words seminar and a solid edge seminar. Chapter members also toured a number of plants, including Dana Corp., Lenard Metals, Boeing, Pohlman, M & W Plastics and American Railcar Industries.

"The chapter spent a great deal of time promoting the new Polytechnic Institute Building and curriculum which begins in the upcoming year," said Jason Tucker, chapter chair.

In addition, chapter members guided high school students on a tour of University facilities and conducted live technology demonstrations at the Polytechnic Institute Career Fair.

SME, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich, is an international professional society dedicated to serving its members and the manufacturing community through the advancement of professionalism, knowledge and learning. Founded in 1932, SME has nearly 65,000 members in 70 countries. There are nearly 300 student chapters worldwide.

top of page