Mansfield University Blog

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.”