Mansfield University Blog

While the past few months have been speeding by, a lot of MU folks have appeared in the national news, from Provost Peter Keller’s appearance in the Chronicle to advice from alum Mozart Guerrier on how to be a better student.  Here are highlights from articles in nationally distributed publications about MU and its people over the past 10 months.

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The Mansfield Grower’s Market has added a lively, green touch to downtown Mansfield with food, produce, education and entertainment.  A group of these growers and doers will discuss the seeds and fruits of the market during the panel discussion “Animal, Vegetable, Mansfield: living, eating and reading local,” Thursday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. in Straughn.

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Physics prof Mike Chester, a vendor at the Grower’s Market, will share some insights about physics and farming during his address at Convocation Friday at noon in Straughn.  Let’s hope he doesn’t combine his knowledge of nano technology and farming.  We could wind up with the world’s smallest snow peas.

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“Young American-Muslims need to focus on comments by leaders like Mayor Bloomberg, whose stand on the issue exemplifies the very best in American leadership: educating people and standing up for the values of our Constitution, rather than playing on fear and ignorance.”  Excerpt from Mansfield Alumnus and former FBI Agent Ali Soufan’s thoughts  on the mosque controversy on forbes.com Thanks to John Maslar,  CT who shared the link on Facebook.

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Allen Hall is leveled and is nearly ready for its reincarnation as a parking lot.  When Allen Hall was built in 1926,  Calvin Coolidge was president.  Federal spending was $2.93 billion and unemployment was 1.8%.  The St. Louis Cardinals beats the Yankees 4-3 in the World Series and area historian Chester Bailey was 12 years old.

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Here’s this year’s “Mindset for the Class of 2014” from Beloit College which has produced the list annually since 1998.  While there are 75 items, it only takes a few to make you feel really old.

A significant piece of MU history was saved this summer when our buildings and grounds crew removed the concrete insignias on Allen Hall which is scheduled for demolition Monday, August 16.

The history: the building was constructed in 1926 as the Mansfield Junior High School and  the campus was Mansfield Normal School.  A year later, we became Mansfield State Teachers College.   The building was converted to college classrooms in 1960 and named after Fordyce Allen.  A big thanks to Ben Jones, director of Facilities Management for saving the insignias and to Dean Miller and John Pollock who  painstakingly  chipped the artifacts from the walls.

One of the insignias will go on display on the first floor of North Hall.  The other may find a home near the new Allen Hall.

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Ah, we despair that no one reads, especially young people.  MU student Briana Brayer shatters the stereotypes.  The sophomore started BAM Book Reviews when she was a high school senior and continues it.  The site was recently named to the Online PhD program’s “Top 50 Book Blogs.”  And author Stefne Miller was so impressed with Briana’s review of her book Salvaged, she’s going to use a section of it as a blurb on the book’s sequel.

Thanks to Bia Bernum who brought Briana to my attention.

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Marlie Manning is featured in the Trailheads Blog.  She doing an internship at Drake Well Museum this summer.  Thanks to Karen Guenther for sending us the info.

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Terry Day and I did a quick video tour of some of  the changes taking place on and around campus.  We’re going to try to do more of these during the year to keep you informed.

There have been so many questions about all the construction on campus and downtown that I thought I’d compile the latest information for you.

There have been changes, delays, unexpected interruptions,  but Allen Hall will be open for business when the students return at the end of August.  Ben Jones, director of facilities management, gave Kevin Abrams, executive director, Northern Tier Regional Planing & Development Commission and me a sneak preview tour recently.  It’s a beautiful facility.  In the next couple weeks when things are tidied up, I’ll do a video tour and share it with you.

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The original Allen Hall will come down in mid-August, making way for a parking lot.  Construction of the old building began in 1926 when we were still Mansfield Normal School.  Junior high students called it the “Hillside Penitentiary.”  Historian Joyce Tice has assembled a history and photos of Allen Hall.   We also have history of the building and the man after whom it was named here.

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Our facilities folks are turning the band practice field into a parking lot to replace parking lost with the construction of the new residence halls behind Beecher.  Construction on the privatized housing hopefully will start in August with a planned finish date of December 2011.  The Mansfield Auxiliary Corp, in cooperation with MU, is heading the  project and seeking  approximately $40 million to make it happen.  For details and artist renderings, click here.

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Following the dots, the marching band will practice on the football practice field and VanNorman field this year.  A new band practice field will be developed at the picnic area near the water tower and will be ready next summer.

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The university has bought the property that until recently held the borough hall.  The building was razed in July.  The university also bought what most people refer to as the old Wilston Funeral Home.  The house dates back to the 1840′s and through the centuries served as a home, a hospital and funeral home.

The properties will be leased by the Mansfield Downtown Development Corp. whose members are now developing plans for a movie theatre-cultural complex which will be located where the borough hall stood.   There are no firm plans for the house.  A variety of options are being discussed.  I’ll share more news when I get it.

For a video version, taken on location at the sites, click here.