Mansfield University Blog

Construction has been a major theme around campus this summer. Here’s the new picnic pavilion being erected behind Steadman. Right behind that the ground is being leveled to create a new band practice field. The location of the old band practice field has been paved for a huge student parking lot.

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Today’s technology lets you do everything from tweeting a joke to creating a flash mob. Communication Dept. Chair Sue Young and retired Comm prof Howard Travis explore in dark side in their op-ed piece, “Mob mentality shows the dark side of interpersonal communication” in Wednesday’s Harrisburg Patriot.

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A new Campus Directory graces the entrance of the student mall. The map was made possible by gift from the classes of 2008-2011 It was designed in house by Sheran Lawton. Rebecca Bair, director for Development who oversaw the project, formed student focus groups for their input, which is why the LED illuminated directory also includes locations for food and ATM machines.

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Congratulations to MU grad Toby Motyka, sportscaster for Rochester NBC affiliate WHAM. The 2007 graduate was part of a team who recently received the New York State Broadcasters Award for “Best Broadcast in New York State.”

A personal footnote: my son Nathan Miller, a 2002 grad, is a news camera man at WHAM. Now if we can get an MU alum doing weather, we’ll have a triple WHAMmy.

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“I’m glad my parents instilled a love of reading and learning in me so I did not arrive at an illiterate adulthood thinking the only choices are Disney and the Bible.” This is one of the more incendiary comments on the book review of “The Mouse That Roared: How Disney Instills Greed and Consumerism at Three Months. Disney has been controversial since the ’60s. Just to be balanced, here is part of another of the more than 150 replies to the post: “Yes, I know I’m giving into the rampant consumerism that Disney is serving up on a plate. And you know what? I accept it. Because I think that enjoying a bit of fantasy is worth the personal expense and the effect it has on my kids.”

Hard to believe that, for all his vision, Walt Disney had greed and consumerism in mind when he created Steamboat Willie in 1928.

I was  part of the party to get a special guided tour, with President Maravene Loeschke and others, of the new housing being constructed on campus by the private, nonprofit Mansfield Auxilary Corp.  The res halls are going to be an impressive addition to the campus and to campus life.    This shot is from the fourth floor looking south.  This one looks to the west. Here’s a shot of the tour group. Photos by Bruce Dart.

I snapped this one of a  really happy  President Loeschke.  Actually, Chuck Colby seems pretty pleased, too.  (Chuck, I told you not to blink!)

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MU Professor and school library expert Deb Kachel, is the featured guest in this issue Hotlinks, the national newsletter for the American Association of School Librarians. The Spotlight provides a link to her recent interview on the MU TV show Conversations.

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After reading this, I feel like our challenges seem  pretty manageable.  I love the little twist of the dissertation which makes this a true academic affair.  As always, you must read the comments.

Oh, yes, it turned out to be a profitable relationship for at least one party.

http://news.yahoo.com/affair-presidents-wife-shakes-vermont-university-164533484.html

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Nature is amazing.  Can anyone get footage like this of one of our local eagles?

Back-to-school is on fast forward so I’m slowing it down with some fun stuff, after one serious note.

I was pulled over by a campus police officer this week for not stopping at the  stop sign by Straughn that I come to every morning.  She was firm and professional, explaining that she was coming down the street and could have hit me.  She was absolutely right.  I didn’t see her.  I learned my lesson.  The next morning I stopped and was tempted to get out and look in all four directions.  I know police everywhere put up with a lot of rudeness while trying to do their jobs.  So I just want to thank Officer Gausline.  I appreciate what you, and all your fellow officers do on campus and in the region.

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This article, “. . .  Millennials’ Digital Habits” was written by an MTV Senior VP Nick Shore and has some fascinating insights into the mind, lifestyle and communication methods of  millennials:

“. . . raised on a steady diet of reality TV, blogging and Facebook profiling, millennials have become not just seasoned self-broadcasters but master curators of their identity. Each operates a little like a one-man director, editor and special effects expert of the movie called self; each is a mogul of her own ‘me’dia. . . .”

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How does a man go from the voice of  Ricky Gervais to Jimmy Stewart to Bush and Obama (with Woody Allen, Morgan Freeman and others thrown in) in one Shakespeare recitation in less than four minutes?  Impressionist Jim Meskimen shows you. (Anytime you’re listening to Shakespeare, you’re not wasting time, wink, wink).

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A few of you hardcore historians might know who wrote Fart Proudly but I doubt if you’re familiar with the other 15 most ridiculous book titles ever.

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Finally, this  clip has been around for awhile and has earned over 8 million hits.  Photographer Bruce Dart shared it and I’m spreading it.  Take six minutes as this Baptist minister tells this hilarious tale of The Zipper.