Mansfield University Blog

How do you plan and execute the biggest move in MU history?  Nearly 600 students were moved from Cedar Crest and Maple into the new Oak and Hickory residence halls this week during a cold front with wind chills around 15 degrees below zero.  Many thanks to all the faculty, staff and students who volunteered their time to help with the Herculean effort.  The buildings are beautiful, the over the mountains are inspiring and students are really excited about  having their  own bathrooms.

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And in the midst of the subzero wind chills during the move, a student’s car dies.  No problem.  A group of guys appear, push the car (and driver) down Morris Drive  and it pops right off.

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Welcome aboard, Daniel DoBell, new  VP for finance and administration and James Parker, new VP for student affairs.

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Christine Moulton, associate professor of flute was mentioned in a New York Times review recently.  “.  . . Christine Moulton gave its flute line a shapely, colorful reading and did much the same for Malcolm Arnold’s Trio for Flute, Viola and Bassoon, a likable score with a lovely Mozartean finale.”

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Also in music, Andre Canniere ‘01,  is releasing his latest CD, “Forward Space” on Whirlwind Recordings Ltd. to  such rave reviews as: “Insanely infectious . . . An intelligent and stimulating amalgam of jazz and rock elements.”

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Sue Young is quoted in the current issue of  Student Health 101 in an article titled, “It’s Your Life.  Take Control.  Do You Need to be More Assertive.”

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I was quoted in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review concerning crisis PR and the Penn State scandal.

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Thousands of alumni remember Al Smith, our Mansfield Mountaineer.  Al was the electrician here and dutifully donned his buckskins, cradled his rifle and appeared at football games and parades as our living, breathing, human mascot.    Al passed away Jan 12.  He was 83.

Thanks, Al, for giving us a mascot with a sense of history and dignity.

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And for the last word, I give you the latest Terry’s Take.

We welcome to Allan Golden as MU interim president.  Dr. Golden served as interim vice president of finance and administration.  The transition was pretty orderly.  He walked from his office on the south end of the fifth floor  to the president’s office on the north end.

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We also welcome James Parker as vice president of Student Affairs.  He comes here from  the University of South Dakota where he served as dean of students.

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Congratulations to Dr. Lynn Pifer, professor of English,  who was presented  the Diversity Ally Award which is given to a person who demonstrates an “exceptional commitment to diversity and cultural awareness and who celebrates individuality and uniqueness.”  President Maravene Loeschke made the presentation during commencement ceremonies on Saturday.

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McDonald’s customers got a holiday surprise when two MU music students rose up, flutes in hand, and presented the first annual McDonald’s Flute Flash.

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Future Picassos created new art during the Saturday Art Program.  The program is comprised of 10 Saturday session with MU Art Instructor Andrew Wales’ Art Elementary Teaching & Curriculum class.  MU students work with local grade schoolers to the benefit of both.  The program is a collaborative outreach program with MU’s Alumni & Community Relations & Art Departments.  A portion of the proceeds from the program goes to student scholarships.

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A plug for Lorena Beniquez ‘89 who is producing a documentary on a group beautifying downtown Williamsport.  If she gets enough votes, she qualifies for a Pepsi grant to help her with expenses.  So, all you alumni and friends, go here  vote for Lorena!

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Now for the fastest rising Google searches of the year.  Test your pop culture knowledge and see if you can guess which individuals, organizations and companies made the Top 9 list. (Confession: I’ve never even heard of one person who made the list).

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Happy holidays everyone!  It’s been a great year.  I’m looking forward to 2012.  It has the potential to be so interesting. . . .

I will be doing book signings for my new novel One Woman’s Vengeance, Friday, Dec. 9 at the MU Campus Bookstore from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Saturday, December 10 at From My Shelf Books, in Wellsboro, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.  The book is also available in print or ebook form at Lulu.com and as an ebook at iBooks at the iTunes Store and at barnesandnoble.com.  It will be available soon on Amazon.  You can read the first chapter for free on my One Woman’s Vengeance blog.   All profits from the book go toward a scholarship fund for future MU English majors.

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MU Band Director Adam Brennan and student Devon Polaski are highlighted on a feature piece on WBRE about the band’s invitation to perform at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

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What does it take to create an internationally recognized marching band?  Band Director Adam Brennan gives us a behind the scenes look at the 200 member band’s continual drive for excellence that landed them an Olympics gig? A lot of pre-planning and hard work.  Original scores and  geometry helps, too.

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Here’s one last reminder about and a sneak peak at the annual holiday  concert, “Winter Wonderland,” set for this weekend.

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Several churches are working together to create the Tioga County Homeless Initiative which will provide shelter and food for homeless folks through March.  Each week a different cooperating church will act as host.  One more example of the compassion and generosity of the people in our rural area.

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The opening of this week’s Terry’s Take news blog is guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit.

Art Education student teacher Rachel Whiting made the front page of the Sayre Morning Times this week for her project using the ideas of culture and identity with Robert Rauschenberg’s piece “Canyon” as an example. Her work with Rowe Junior High students was posted to her co-op’s school blog and attracted a comment by Rauschenberg’s son, Chris.

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Facebook follows you everywhere — even beyond Facebook. I have mixed feelings since Google does the same thing.  Just remember:

There is no privacy.

There is no “off the record.”

Watch where you visit.

Online there are no secrets.

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Like just about every other baby boomer, I grew up watching reruns of The Wizard of Oz, then saw  it numerous times as my kids grew up, then bought the 75th anniversary DVD edition to experience it in all its spectacular color.  So it felt like the loss of a loved one when another munchkin died.

By the way, over the years, many otherwise stable adults have told me the flying monkeys were the scariest things they’d ever seen and many had nightmares about the swooping fiends.  Did they affect you the same way?  (Here’s a refresher.) Hit the response button and let me know.

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In Penn State, my final loss of faith, a 31-year-old Catholic Iraqi War veteran and PSU graduate has written one of the most powerful, personal and concise indictments against today’s leaders to date.  Take two minutes for some thoughts you won’t soon forget. I read it, cringing just a bit when I realized he’s talking about my generation.  The truth ain’t always easy.

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And from what location is Terry’s Take shot this week?  Sports loving alumni will recognize it.  Lot of news packed into under two minutes.

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This is for all you students and anyone who ever was a student — the Seven Dumbest Things Students Do When Cramming for Exams.

(Actually, there’s some good advice here.)

Today was Visit Day at MU.  Red and black prevailed, and our Mountie Mascot was on hand to greet future students and their parents who came in from several states.

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Mansfield Mayor Tom Wierbowski will play his harp for North Hall library patrons in the atrium Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. Tom has performed in the past, bringing holiday cheer and helping calm students stressed during exam time.

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Congratulations to Clayton Paxson who took first place in the undergraduate molecular biology category at the Allegheny Branch of the American Society for Microbiology annual meeting.

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Our outstanding students aren’t limited to any one department.  Four MU voice students took the tops in their categories at the Allegheny Mountain Chapter of the National Association of Teaching of Singing.   Congratulations to Derrek Stark, Derek Gracey, John Mind and Martin Schmidt.  Here’s the story with winners and semifinalists.

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MU painter Al Cole took advantage of the warm fall temperatures last week to scrape and paint the side entrance of our venerable North Hall.

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The newest addition to the growing business community, Perkins Restaurant, opened its doors this week in the business park.

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As a PR professional I’ve been following the Penn State story with great  interest.  Aside from the children, who are the big losers?

Us.

Who let us down?  Click here and find out.

The Coal Region Paranormal Team spent Saturday night Nov. 5 seeking out spirits in North Hall.  They talk about some of their experiences on their Facebook page. I’ll share their findings when they get back to us after analyzing their recordings.    Thanks to Library Director Scott DiMarco for hosting the group.  North Hall has been scrutinized four times now by ghost hunting groups.  Sarah, to date, remains one elusive spirit even as North Hall’s reputation for being haunted continues to grow across the U.S.

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While the Mountaineers lost their match against Cornell 21-14 at this weekend’s  football game, they did see the naked truth as two students sprinted  nude across Schoellkkopf Field with Cornell police right behind them.  “Everyone loved it . . .even the grandparents,” one Cornell student said.

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The MU Horn Club has a deal for you.  On Dec. 5, 7, and 9, from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. the band, for just $10,  will play up to three songs at your office, or for a friend or someone special.    I’m thinking of hiring them to serenade the 5th floor of North Hall where it’s way to quiet and serious most of the time.  Contact: rdodsonw@mansfield.edu

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This video –Social Media Revolution 2011 –  about the prominence of social media in our lives (especially Facebook and YouTube), is important.  The music is a little dramatic so concentrate on the messages then go back and listen.

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Ah, yes, about that photo of you totally sloshed on your Facebook page.  You took it down?  Not before your friends shared it, making that photo immortal. This is the  dark side of interpersonal communication which will be explored in a winter online course at MU.

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Is there a Facebook backlash on campuses? Facebook started at Harvard in 2004 and for some time was limited to college students. Now more than 750 million people are on it and some college students may be moving away from it to “avoid the drama” and “live my own adventure.”

PASSHE Board of Governors Chairman Guido Pichini visited MU this week to tour the campus and talk with faculty, staff and students.  He also took a few minutes for this interview in which he talks about the System, its students, faculty and alumni.

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Craig Robinson and his Nasty Delicious Band will perform here Wed., Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. in Straughn.  Robinson is best known as one of the stars on The Office.  Tickets are $20 general public.

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Just in time for Halloween (but appropriate anytime) the library staff — David Guinn and Sheila Kasperek have digitized and posted two ghost stories from storytelling great Jackie Torrence during her performance in in September 1986 as part of the Northern Appalachian Storytelling Festival.  The first story is here.  Number two is here.

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Scott DiMarco recently reviewed Climate Change and National Security: a Country Level Analysis by Daniel Moran. the premise is that people tend to “overlook the realization that worldwide climate change presents a clear and present danger to the national security of almost every nation.”

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Biology prof  Bob Maris reports that the Biology Club’s “Haunted Grant,” a fundraiser for the Biology Club,   last weekend drew some 334 people  at a dollar each.

Former FBI counter terrorist agent Ali Soufan ‘94  was a guest on the Colbert Report last week and drew several rounds of enthusiastic applause during his conversation with the host.  In addition to other shows, Ali was also a guest on BBC’s Hard Talk.

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Here’s the latest news about the new suite style residence halls from Mountaineer News reporter  Kris Dumschat.

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Prediction: “Jobs-mania” will intensify over the next few weeks with the publication of his biography, Steve Jobs, even though Huffington Post has been publishing tidbits and we can now read the “11 most startling revelations in ‘Steve Jobs.’ “ Now I know the real reason my iPad won’t play Flash  video.

Guido Pichini, chair of the State System Board of Governors, will be on campus October 26 and hold an open session with faculty and staff 10:15-11 a.m. in the Community Room, North Hall, 6th floor.

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Congratulations to Shellie Gregorich, music department chair, and Ben Moritz, on the publication of their book  Keyboard Skills for Music Educators: Score Reading, published by Routledge.   Ben  was a music professor and  Honors Program director at MU before being named director of the Honors Program at Metropolitan State College of Denver.

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‘Tis the season of the zombies.  The Walking Dead season 2 premiere episode attracted 7 million viewers, breaking cable industry records.

While most folks are obsessed with destroying zombies, English prof Lynn Pifer is keeping them alive and well (comparatively speaking).  Lynn’s essay,  “Slacker Bites Back: Shaun of the Dead Finds New Life for Deadbeats”   is included in Better Off Dead: The Evolution of Zombie as Post Human.

Lynn also talks about  zombies in the latest episode of “Conversations” and the surprising reaction students had when she  announced  she would be using “Shawn of the Dead” in her Freshman Comp course.

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Colleen Devine from our post office sent me this original poem & photos that remind us to slow down and appreciate our area’s autumn beauty.  Thanks, Colleen.

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Apple sold 4 million iPhones in in three days last weekend.  According to Wired,  this has huge implications in a very competitive industry.

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This video is making the internet rounds.    It’s cute.  It’s also disturbing.  This person is sending a clear signal that a 560-year-old method of communication is dead.  But she does it in a wordless, charming way that only a one-year-old can do.

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It’s called AcademicPub.  It’s a build-your-own textbook service that  enables professors to create their own textbooks for under $20.  Here’s the Chronicle’s take.

Tropical Storm Lee in September  left thousands of people in New York and PA homeless.
But it became personal to Kris Dumschat when he learned the Athens home of  his friend and Student Government Association colleague Tom Thornton was a victim. Tom, a non-trad student and his wife have two children. They  lost their home,  two cars and Tom’s garage where he operated a small business.
Kris and Administrative Assistant Sandy Most immediately put out the call for help. President Loeschke made empty rooms in Pine Crest available for the family.  Within hours fellow students brought in food and toys.
And then things grew.  

Really grew.
Student Matt Guagliardo and  Dave Empet from admissions joined in.    Anne Lavancher and Vicki Johnson from the president’s office gave their time and skills.  MU alumnus  Kevin Abrams, executive director of the Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission called to offer his assistance. Tioga County Commissioner Mark Hamilton volunteered his time and services.
Over 100 students attended a meeting of “The Mountie Family Recovery Effort,” created by Kris.
Kevin and Mark took over coordination efforts with the National Guard and Red Cross.  Benedict’s Bus Service and EMTA donated buses  to take the volunteers  to Athens and parts of Sullivan County.

First Citizens Bank offered to match the financial donations and Liberty Excavators, Inc. donated cleaning supplies.

A group of students even  traveled to Bloomsburg to help clear debris.

Within days, the project grew from a few students helping a friend to hundreds of people involved in a multi-county effort.

Edgard Domenech, his wife Maria from Admissions, and their two kids, coordinated a drive to collect food, clothing and water.  Social Work prof Mary Daly’s intro class also helped.

In total, several thousand dollars worth of cash and goods were gathered.

You can’t put a dollar figure on the physical labor.  Cleaning up after a flood is dirty, hazardous business and for people to take the time to put themselves in that situation  is a huge act of generosity.

The devastation opened students’ eyes to what it’s like in the aftermath of disaster.   It’s also been a learning experience for residents in those communities who now see Mansfield University as not only an institution of higher ed, but also a community of truly caring individuals.

It would be anticlimactic at this point to say I’m proud of everyone involved. But I’ll say it anyway.  A large group of people who were not asked and did not have to do anything, gave of their time, energy and dollars to help people they didn’t know.

They make me proud to be a part of Mansfield University.

It’s Homecoming Weekend at MU.  It’s 70 degrees with cloudless skies and two days’ worth of activities.

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Congratulations to Adam Murtland and Jake Burdick on this outstanding video promoting Homecoming 2011 and the game against Navy.

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You can see, from this video of the Spirit & Pride of PA Mountie Marching Band,  why the Olympics are calling them.

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In this episode of Conversations, author Bill Robertson ‘72 talks about his collections of ghost stories and tells some scary — and hilarious — tales revolving around his days as a Mansfield State College undergraduate.

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Every year, Sarah, the ghost of North Hall, seems to pop up in a magazine or web page somewhere.  This year she’s featured in collegexpress.com in an article on “Scary Stories.”

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A warm, light rain, leaves hinting they’re about to change, the rising mist.  I have a wonderful view from my office of a beautiful campus.

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The new suites and semi-suites residence halls continue to progress.  Students are scheduled to move in during the January 2012 semester.

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With this episode of Terry’s Take, you get the news and the beautiful view.

Are your pigs gathering sticks?  Crickets in the chimney?  Or maybe an abundance of acorns.  Here’s a Farmer’s Almanac list of folk methods of predicting a rough winter.