Mansfield University Blog

I was talking with Steve Plesac, director of student activities the other day about ABBA. (He’s looking into bringing in a tribute group.)  He mentioned “Fernando.”  That was it.  I couldn’t get the song out of my head so I  returned to the office,  brought up Pandora Radio, typed in ABBA and listened to “Fernando,” “Dancing Queen” and a few others while I caught up on my email.

***

Peggy Detwiller is my guest on Conversations this week on Channel 13.  She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating the annual Holiday Concert. The show airs Saturdays at 8:30, 6:30 and 11:30 and Sundays at 10, 2:30 and 10.

***

I love these shots that student Stephen Myers took earlier this year.  Says a lot about the natural beauty of our area and our campus.

***

James Butler, assistant arts editor at The Spectrum, the University at Buffalo student newspaper, is pretty down on our students and visitors for not being more lively at the recent All American Rejects concert.  So, anyone who attended the concert, what’s your take?  Are MU students apathetic in the presence of live rock?

***

While taking my daily noon walk, I found a Blackberry in a case in the East parking lot.  I figured I’d post a message on Facebook but didn’t need to.  When I pulled the device from the case I found the student’s last name and first initial taped to it.   I found him on Outlook and sent him a message.  Blackberry and owner are now happily reunited.  Good lesson: label your mobile device.

***

I’m sure it doesn’t happen at MU, but if it did, these are the top 8 ways students cheat today.  I was impressed with the energy students expend in innovative, high-tech ways  to replace, umm, studying.

Faculty, if you’ve had unique experiences in the high– or low –  art of cheating, let me know.

***

If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion. George Bernard Shaw

Word is that last week’s All American Rejects,  Taking back Sunday and Anberlin concert was not only sold out but drew  the largest crowd ever for a concert.  Here’s a video from the evening.

The artist who brought in the largest crowd previous to this was Johnny Cash, who, on March 26, 1993, played to a sold-out Decker, packing in about 3,000 fans for  his  two hour concert.  Here’s a photo of the Man in Black and June Carter Cash from that concert.

***

Allen Hall construction continues to progress.  This view is from the Butler parking lot looking north.

***

Francis Bok opened a lot of eyes here in September with his story of being a child slave.  The author of Escape From Slavery also opened a lot of hearts.  Lynn Pifer’s UNV class decided they wanted to help Bok in his quest to build a school in his native Sudan.  They did what English majors do best — they held read-a-thons in Corning and on campus and to date have raised over $500.   To donate to the project, contact Lynn Pifer at lpifer@mansfield.edu

To listen to a podcast interview I did with Bok, click here.

***

I’ve walked by it at least a thousand times, probably more over the past three decades — the bell by Memorial Hall.  Originally  housed in the Alumni Hall clock tower, it was rung by hand.  The bell originally cost $550 and was donated by the Alumni Association when the building was completed in 1886.  While the original Alumni Hall is long gone, the bell still stands on campus as a testament to the long tradition of alumni support and generosity to MU.

***

What we call progress is the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance. Havelock Ellis.

Poet Judith Sornberger, professor of English and Women’s Studies, was contacted by composer/performer Lori Laitman who asked if she could set Judith’s poem “Pioneer Child’s Doll” to music and include it on her CD Within These Spaces. The CD is now nominated for a Grammy in five different categories.  I interviewed Judith about her poetry and the poem that was set to music in this podcast.

***

PASSHE Chancellor John Cavanaugh was on campus last Friday to talk about the economy and the challenges for the System over the next three years.  After his presentation, he spent time answering questions from students and faculty concerned about the French and German programs.  To listen to the two-part podcast  of the event, click here.

***

The students, carrying protest signs, were models of political activism.  They were energetic in making their feelings known outside.  Inside they asked thoughtful questions in a mature,  respectful way.

***

Beyond The Obvious, a photographic journey presented by the Photo Keller Group is on display in the North Hall Gallery, first floor.  This is one of the most colorful, dynamic and accessible photo exhibits in the area in a long time.  The gallery is open five days a week.  Here’s another sample of the  photos on display.

***

Between gas drilling, windmills and new retail outlets, this region is going to be growing fast.  It’s a good time to listen to franchise expert Lou Lavetan, Thursday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. in Allen Hall to see how to get in on the economic boom.  For details, click here.  It’s free & open to the public.

***

I’ll bet you take that cell phone in your pocket for granted.  At the very least, most of us don’t realize what a lightning fast evolution this ubiquitous device has experienced since the first cell phone call was made in 1983.  Here’s the cell’s  lively history in less than three minutes.

***

Saint: n. A dead sinner revised and edited.  Ambrose Bierce

Nobody loves Halloween like Kathy Rumsey.  Here’s a video tour of the fifth floor decorations and the office of the  kindest witch on campus.

***

Mark Polonia has produced 32  independent films over the past 25 years, most with his late brother John.  They developed a loyal following around the country (See Happy Polonia Day).  Mark talks about his campy classics in this episode of Conversations. There’s also a four-part podcast in which he talks in more depth about his avocation.

***

Ken Sarch teamed up with Ben Franklin a couple years ago to arrange the restless genius’ music. Now Ken dons a derby and has composed a  music score for a clip from  Charlie Chaplin’s The Rink.  His concert, including the MU String Chamber Orchestra debut performance of this music will be Friday, Oct. 30   at 7:30 p.m. in Steadman.  It’s free and open to the public.  I saw a sneak preview of the clip  and the music and it’s brilliant.    For complete information, click here.

***

The first Steinway piano was dedicated Thursday, Oct. 22.  The piano was bought by former trustee Marcella and MU Foundation Board member Marcella Hyde-Smith ‘56.  For history, the first song played on the Steinway was the last movement of Beethoven’s “Appassionata Sonato (Op. 57)”  played by student Tyler Wetherbee.

***

MU grad and retired art teacher Paul Bozzo is teaching a drawing course at MU.  His blog records student works as they’re created through the semester.  Check out the site. There’s an amazing variety of drawing and techniques.  Not to be missed: drawing done with shaving cream, ink and a toothpick.

***

And, finally,  a Halloween gift to the president’s house from an Alpha Kappa Lambda student.

Take eight of the best photographers in the area, form a club and you have the Photo Keller Group.  All eight of the members have ties to MU and are exhibiting their best work in the MU Gallery beginning October 29.  I’ve seen the works.  They’re mesmerizing,  unusual in their perspectives and often stunning.  Here’s a trailer to give you a visual taste of the exhibit.

***

Kings, queens, a parade and sprint.  Here are a couple digital slide shows of the Homecoming 2009– part 1 and part 2

***

Halloween is one of Executive Secretary Kathy Rumsey’s favorite holidays and if you don’t believe it, stroll up 528 North Hall.  Check out the huge spider web over the atrium, then step into her office for a world of witches, warlocks, bats . . . and candy.

***

Last year Steve Diasparra, founder of Ghost-PA, brought his crew into North Hall to spend the night searching for Sarah the ghost.  I talked to Steve about his findings.  You can listen to the podcast here, or read the transcript.

***

When Associate Professor Mike Vayansky passed away unexpectedly in September the campus mourned.  At the same time officials had to quickly try to find someone to teach his classes.  Colleagues in physics-chemistry colleagues absorbed some of the courses.  But the question remained: who could teach astronomy course in the planetarium?  It turned out to be another Mike–Mike Reid–vice president for finance.  Reading about and studying the night sky has been his hobby for years.

Yes, he counts money by day and stars by  night.

His first lesson as a tour guide of the night sky in a dark planetarium?  “Students asked me to give them a longer warning when I’m about to turn the lights back on,” he said.

Flags from six countries are now flying as part of the International Walkway project.    A dedication ceremony will be held Monday, Oct 26 at noon.  Click here for more information on the project.

***

Vegan expert and author Linda Etter Long recently spoke to about 60 students, faculty, staff and alumni  about veganism and her new cookbook, Great Chefs Cook Vegan.

Long, a vegan, graduated from MU in 1965 with a degree in Home Economics Education.  Her career as a food photographer and journalist  has taken her into the worlds of fashion, food and nutritional topics.  For more info on her presentation, click here.   You can also visit her site here.

Oh, and here’s a sample recipe!

***

Ken Sarch, professor of music, has  completed the arrangement of music written by founding father Ben Franklin.  Sarch, a Fulbright Scholar and judge talks about and demonstrates the arrangement on a recent episode of TV show “Conversations.” Sarch is thinking about taking the music on the road as “The Ken and Ben Show.”

***

A few weeks ago I posted a photo of construction of the new Allen Hall.  This webcam keeps you up-to-date on the construction in real time (and saves me walking up the hill for new shots).

***

This year’s homecoming theme was Anchors Aweigh but President Loeschke chose a more land lover’s mode of transportation, donning a helmet and hitching a ride on Athletic Director Roger Maisner’s chopper.

***

Okay, don’t say we always show the prettiest views of the campus.  Here’s a shot from my office on sunny fall day.  And here’s one during a recent hail storm.  The students eventually made it up the steps.

***

Check out Nikki Wilson’s blog, Seeking Balance an eclectic blend of photos, videos and a cool clip of Stephen Hawking & Carl Sagan.  Nikki is interim director of the Act 101 Program.

Over the past year, the PR department, with the help of our colleagues in Campus Technologies, have been gradually moving over to the Web to open new lines of communications.

One more piece fell into place last week when News Director Terry Day went live with Terry’s Take, a 2-minute vidcast highlighting news and events on campus.  It was a natural evolution.  Before he joined MU, Terry was the sports director for 16 years  at WETM-TV in Elmira, NY.

***

Check out the video on the 1890s Motorless Parade, shot and produced by Christie Martin.

***

In the latest MU  podcast, MU President Maravene Loeschke talks about the “best of times and the worst of times.”  Yep,  it’s a conversation about the 2009-10 school year.

***

Speaking of the world of the Web, I’ll be giving a presentation on “Harnessing the Power of Social Media” at the Fall East conference of the College & University PR Association of PA next week.   I’ll be doing it with Bill Keller of from Muhlenberg.

***

Anchors Aweigh is this year’s Homecoming theme.  The Weekend, beginning Friday night, includes a parade, golf, games and concerts.  For details, check here.   Or click here for a full schedule.

***

Last year a student bought a Nerf gun at WalMart.  A wave of Nerf envy swept through the floor and students bought every Nerf weapon at the Mansfield WalMart then proceeded to the Painted Post WalMart and bought their stock.  Things escalated into an all-out Nerf War. Weapons ranged from Josh Small’s  pistols to Zach Hunsinger’s elaborate outfit.

The best part about the battles?

No casualties.

The 17th Annual Fabulous 1890s Weekend ended a bit soggy but the rain did hold off for the parade which saw the debut of the stage coach built by two local men, Ed Roupp and Larry Wilson.  The 1890s and Sesquicentennial Committees commissioned the stage coach  to commemorate the university’s and borough’s  150th anniversary in 2007.  President Loeschke and husband Dick Gillespie walked in the parade so she could display the dress made for her by retired MU employee Liv Mitcheltree.  The museum tent with Joyce Tice’s display and 97-year-old curator Chester Bailey, was a big hit.  We’ll post more 1890s photos on our website and a couple videos on YouTube soon.

***

News item: Our fall 2009 enrollment is 3569, making it the largest enrollment in MU history. The freshmen class is up 5.7%, the largest class in 20 years. Freshmen to sophomore retention rate this year is 74%; up from 70.6% last year.

***

In another corner of the universe, Hugh Schintzius, has published his book, Get It Yet?  Everyday Rules for the Game of Life.  “Schintz,” who led the women’s volleyball team to 5 national playoffs, started the book years ago, then was sidelined with overseeing the design and construction of the Kelchner Fitness Center. He’ll be on campus Oct. 6-10.   Buy his book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble and he’ll be happy to sign it.

***

Last year a group of wildly energetic students created the MU Crew to raise school spirit at football games.  The red/black painted crew  enter their second year.  I mean, wouldn’t your spirits lift after experiencing this group?

Mike Vayansky, who taught here for 43 years, passed away Sept. 16.

Bridget Irwin ‘07  sent this sent this  touching note:

“Prof. Vayansky was teaching us one day and the projector (the old one) was never lined up correctly. He jumped up on top of it to ‘correct it.’ All of a sudden we heard a loud THUD. The room became silent. Of course it was pitch dark when he turned the lights off so no one could see what the thud was-let alone see around to help whatever/whomever it was. It ended up being Prof. Vayansky. He had fallen off the projector. The only reason we knew it was him was because the silence was broken with an “….I’m okayyyyy…..” We felt horrible because there was such a long pause between the thud and his statement of relief. At least he is on the other side of the heavens he enjoyed so much.”

Gregory Orr sent this photo and this annual April 1 satirical issue of the Flashlight fondly known as The Trashlight. It’s the Trashlight’s tradition to roast faculty and staff who are loved, respected and have a sense of humor.

Mike lived for the heavens and influenced  tens of thousands of children and adults with his night sky tours in the  planetarium.     He will be missed.

***

The Fabulous 1890s Weekend is in its 17th year and there’s something for everyone, from polkas to the Prism Concert in Steadman.  Click here for a complete 1890s Weekend schedule.

Alumnus Thomas Jones will do a recital Sunday, 9/27 to benefit the Jack Wilcox Scholarship Fund. Details here.

***

My student photographer, Matt Coppadge snapped this  photo a couple days ago.  The DJ on the right looks like he could use a good bouncing regimen himself.

***

Next week we’ll see how the purchase of one toy gun escalated into  The Nerf Wars.

***

Comments & ideas are welcome!

Entertainment for this year’s 1890s Weekend is bigger and more varied than ever.  We’ve booked for the first time a polka band.  Also performing is Time-Traveling Minstrel Roy Justice,  storyteller/ historian/musician and a  1976 MU graduate .

Click here for a complete schedule.

***

And don’t forget, the world’s first night football game was played right here on Smythe Park on Sept. 28, 1892, something General Electric, which lit the historic game, acknowledged with a commercial about it that aired internationally for several years beginning in 1992.

***

Congratulations to  Eleanor Kodish ‘47 , on the  novel To Catch a Cagey Crook which she and her friend Mary Eischied wrote.  I had a chance to get a sneak peak at it when she sent me the proofs a couple years ago.  It’s a fun mystery written for middle school readers about six cousins on a summer vacation and a mean escaped crook.  Congratulations, ladies!

***

Our recent Conversations show, featuring President Loeschke giving a tour of the president’s house, has been a big hit.  The show has been edited and posted on YouTube.  The tour is a fascinating look at the inside of a historic  building as well as President Loeschke and husband Dick Gillespie’s artwork and Dick’s photos from around the world.  Click here for Part 1.

***

The stage coach, which was started during our  sesquicentennial is coming down the finish line.  It’ll be one of the featured attractions of this year’s Fabulous 1890s Weekend.  It’s being built by Ed Roupp and Larry Wilson.

***

I took this shot from my 5th floor office window, showing our beautiful rural campus and mountains.  I’ll be taking more as the seasons change.