Mansfield University Blog

The Mansfield Activities Council (MAC) celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by setting up a booth on the Student Mall and giving away cookies, soda, water — and green beads!  It was a perfect, cloudless day in the 60’s.  I’m not sure what the kilt was all about.  Chalk it up to one guy’s commitment to diversity.

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Hair fell and money was raised for cancer research thanks to the generosity of MU students and the organizational efforts of Phi Sigma Pi.  Read the news story here and see the video here.

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Gloria Gadsden, the East Stroudsburg U prof suspended for her Facebook comments, just made the top of the list of mainstreet.com’s “Dumbest Facebook Mistakes.”  I think it’s unfair.  From all indications she was new to FB and naive.  But it’s a reminder that as the social media world progresses, err on the side caution and common sense when posting.  Facebook, by the way, is up to 150 million users in the U.S. and 400 million worldwide.

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Ironically, the site on which Ms. Gadsden got  into trouble is also a source of support with the Facebook site Support Gloria Gadsden which has 94 members.   Take a few minutes to read the comments.

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Is high risk drinking among college students on the way out?  According to this Chronicle piece, there are little rays of hope.

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Okay, so one  employee at a well-known company  works so many hours officials called his wife in to teach the company chef how to make her husband’s favorite meals so he’d never have to leave his office.  Is the company evil?

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I’ve talked to several colleagues who are still trying to get their bodies in synch with the time change.  How long does it take your internal clock to make the adjustment?  Do you have ways of helping the transition that you can share?  I’d love to hear them.

I’m always amazed at how little we appreciate what’s before our eyes.

Dr. Bernard Koloski was professor of English at Mansfield for four decades.    He was a Fulbright Scholar from 1981-84, teaching in Poland.   Lech Walesa was spearheading the Solidarity Movement, helping to topple the Communist government, and Bernie was chipping away at the stodgy American literary establishment.

Bernie is  one of the world’s preeminent scholars on American writer Kate Chopin. In terms of the universe, it’s a pretty small niche.

In terms of literature, it’s huge.   Bernie and a small group of scholars discovered this writer who had been banished to obscurity by a Puritan  society in the late 1800’s.  This youthful band of literary renegades  recognized the timelessness of Chopin’s prophetic fiction  and over the course of 40 years  drove her into mainstream higher education.

Because of them, Kate Chopin’s The Awakening is now taught in nearly every college literature program in the US.

Over the decades Bernie has written and edited five books on Chopin.  He corresponds with scholars, teachers and students around the world.  He oversees the Kate Chopin Website which  attracts  hundreds of visits a day from more than 100 countries.

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Over the years I’ve written news releases, features and stories for The Mansfieldian about Bernie’s travels and accomplishments.  But I didn’t truly appreciate him until we recently sat down for a two-part podcast interview on the occasion of his new book Awakenings:  The Story of the Kate Chopin Revival.

Editing an audio interview takes a lot of time.    You listen to words and sentences over and over, snipping pauses, stutters, repeated phrases.  But I came away each time refreshed by Bernie’s enthusiasm, his love of his subject, his broad vision and his humility.

The interview opened my eyes to the fact that we had one of the world’s leading scholars in a subject walking around campus, teaching and writing for nearly 40 years and few people outside his department really appreciated him.  It’s that dratted “backyard syndrome.”

It also made me appreciate that Mansfield University has other scholars.   We have some of the best professors anywhere, but because we know them personally,  sit over a coffee or in some committee, we forget their accomplishments.

Students can be forgiven for not appreciating the gift they’re getting with many of our professors who are recognized  leaders in their fields.  Or the  profs who study and teach with a passion that never seems to burn out despite the committees and endless reams of papers to grade.

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I single out Bernie because somehow he finally switched on the light of recognition for me, for all that he’s accomplished in a way so quiet and self-effacing that he slipped right by us.

There are many others hidden in departments around campus who are accomplishing a lot in and outside the classroom.  And we should take a moment in our busy lives to appreciate them.

They, like Bernie, have a passion for that ever-changing concept called knowledge.

Next week is spring break and everyone is ready despite our two-day vacation last week thanks to heavy snow.  It was the first time in anyone’s memory that the campus was closed for two consecutive days due to weather.

They were, however, great days for sledding,  snowballs,and buried snow angels, captured by student photographer Matt Coppadge.

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Spring break dates back to 1935 when members of the Colgate swim team traveled to Ft. Lauderdale to practice.  The site saw a massive surge in popularity after the 1960 release of “Where The Boys Are,” a film not as innocent as many of us remember.

Not everyone parties.  A growing number of students are doing volunteer work during spring break.  Smart kids.  They’re meeting new people, building their resumes and waking up without those bothersome hangovers.

No matter how much you know about North Hall, take this video tour with Scott Dimarco, director of libraries.  I’ll guarantee you’ll learn something new about Mansfield’s landmark building.

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One area Scott and I didn’t get to yet is the sixth floor.  Student intern Jamie Curtis, however, did take a tour and came back with these  shots.

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Stating the obvious:

1. Facebook is close to ubiquitous.

2. There’s  no privacy on the Net.   East Stroudsburg University Sociology Professor Gloria Gadsden found out the hard way that one’s “private”  musings are public and what is humor to one person is a threat to another.  Dr. has been suspended.

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PR student intern Jamie Curtis spent last fall semester in Russia.  She had never traveled before and didn’t speak Russian.  Now she’s sharing her adventures in her blog “Half A World Away.” Check it out.

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Last word on Spring Break.  Don’t take anything for granted.  You could make this spring break mistake.

I interviewed director Mike Crum  about this season’s  musical, My Favorite Year, playing this weekend. The MU spring musical has earned a reputation for great acting, singing, music and stunning sets.    Click here for a behind-the-scenes look at this year’s classic comedy musical and what goes into creating a show-stopping production.  Click  here for time and ticket details.

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“Leadership Challenges, Issues, Styles and Mentorship for Women” was the topic of the Leadership Lecture Series panel discussion last week.  Williamsport Sun Gazette reporter Cheryl Clarke  covered it. The discussion was coordinated by Shawndra Holderby, assistant professor of history and moderated by MU President Maravene Loeschke.

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Many thanks to PR student photographer Matt Coppadge for braving the elements to get some campus shots of the great Feb 24 snow storm.  Classes were canceled with forecasts of 12-20 inches (which we haven’t seen as of 3 p.m.)  Matt got some nice shots of our International Walkway, the student mall, and a band of students probably heading for Manser.

Matt didn’t mind the weather as much as he minded being separated from his new Mac Book that arrived  yesterday.

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PR consultant Adam Vincenzini  is  doing an experiment to go without a physical newspaper for one year.  He recently posted this blog on 50 ways to consume the news without opening a newspaper.

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I still can’t believe this! All this hype for something so ridiculous! Who cares about an MP3 player? I want something new! I want them to think differently!
Why oh why would they do this?! It’s so wrong! It’s so stupid!

One of many posts Oct. 23, 2001 when Steve Jobs introduced a little gadget called the iPod.  It changed an entire culture, but many folks didn’t initially see it that way.   Read the rest of the reactions here.

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We hear the name Frederick Douglass a lot, but don’t know much about him.  So I  asked  English professor Lynn Pifer to talk  about the Civil Rights pioneer.   Lynn,  director of the MU Frederick Douglass Institute, is a great storyteller and brings this important historical figure to rousing life.   If you have educator friends, send them the link.   It would be a great teaching aide for Black History Month.  Here’s the podcast.

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News Director Terry Day has a new vid cam and shot the February 10 snow storm from his fifth floor window before classes were canceled at noon.  Any of you MU folks in the south or southwest, this is what you’re missing.  If you’re in Washington, DC, Virginia or Philly, this is a mere dusting, isn’t it?

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By the way,  If you want a two-minute look at what’s coming up at MU, click on Terry’s Take, our news director’s weekly video blog.  Subscribe to it.

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Marching Band Director Adam Brennan will give the keynote address at the Youth Leader of Tomorrow  Banquet on Feb. 22.  Adam is a great motivational speaker.  The Youth Leader program was created by MU alumnus Bruce Dart  29 years ago years ago.

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Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about Valentine’s Day from the first posted Valentine (earlier than you might think) to a video on how chocoloate is made at  the Hershey plant where kisses are forever.

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I’m one of the few males in the U.S. who did not watch the Super Bowl.  However, being a PR guy I do love the creativity many of the ads.  I took the lazy way out and watched them all here.

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I made a vow to be one of the few bloggers not to joke about the Sara Palin method of cribbing notes.

Ok?  No jokes.  My hands are clean.

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I did a Face Book poll, asking folks what their favorite romantic movie is.  Mine remains Casablanca. Take a few seconds and tell me your favorite.  Right now.  Share.

The PA State System of Higher Education has established the  Haiti Relief Fund to help coordinate donation efforts from organizations and individuals in the 14 state system schools.

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Bill Gates believes in the potential of online learning, as well as publishing course materials free online.   Sounds like there are grant money possibilities for those in synch with the Microsoft Man’s vision.  In his annual letter he says his foundation has “made a few grants to drive online learning, but we are just at the start of this work.”

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Remember the Dutch Pantry? which later morphed into the University Club?  Some great meals and memories.  The building was razed recently to make way for a new borough hall.  More as it progresses.

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Debra Marbaker of Troy is working in the Legislative Office for Research Liaison as part of a 15-week Harrisburg Intership Semester sponsored by the PA State System of Higher Education.  Marbaker is a senior mass communications major with a minor in women’s studies.

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Chester Bailey’s wife, Mary, passed away on January 23.  The Baileys have been involved in the community and the county for decades.  Until a couple years ago, Mary was Chester’s right-hand person in the Museum Tent at the 1890s Weekend.  You can send Chester, a 1935 MU grad,  a card  at: 413 Valley Rd., Mansfield, PA 16933.

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Groundhog Day is coming up February 2.  While the winter hasn’t been that bad, I’m hoping the fat little rodent doesn’t see his shadow, which supposedly means an early spring.  The annual tradition, located in Punxsutawney, PA, (a Delaware Indian name), has its roots in the Pagan festival of Imbolc.  Now that’s diversity.

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Here’s one woman’s take on the name of  Jobs’ new baby, the iPad, which seemed to create as much buzz as the President’s State-of-the-Union address.

(Oh, Rush Limbaugh says the controversial name is Obama’s fault).

In 2007, MU custodian Steve Orner found a collection of 16 mm films.  One of them was labeled “Rod Kelchner.”  I had it digitized.  Our multimedia man Mark Polonia did some light editing.  The result is a 30-minute look at college life here in the early 20th century, complete with brand new model T’s and a cameo by William Straughn and Arthur Belknap.  This is Mansfield like you’ve never seen it.  Experience it here.

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Al Qaeda in Yemen can be defeated without sending in American troops, says Ali Soufan ‘94, in a January 2, 2010, New York Times  op-ed piece.  Soufan was the FBI case agent in the USS Cole bombing in Yemen in October 2000.  He was part of a team that unraveled the Qaeda network in Yemen over the next several years.

He was also the featured speaker at our December commencement.

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The MU Podcast is included in a recent Widgetbox posting of  “fun and interesting widgets ” to add to your Facebook, Myspace, etc.

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Check out collegetimes which lists 15 Coolest college Courses.  The courses, at various colleges, run from American Pro Wrestling to Underwater Basketweaving.  My favorite:  The Joy of Garbage — and no, they’re not talking about talk radio.

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Natural gas is big news these days, from Tioga County to Tennessee.  It’s seen by some as a win-win situation in our quest for clean, efficient, domestic energy.  But there’s also a lot we don’t know, as this article points out.

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Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.  Just click on the “comments” link below.

I covered my 50th Mansfield University commencement recently. Over the years the speakers have melted into a quiet mumble of forgotten words.

But Saturday’s speaker, Ali Soufan, hit home in a personal way. The former FBI Agent was lead investigator in the USS Cole bombing, He was a key investigator after the 9/11 attacks, an Al-Qaeda expert and one of the FBI’s lead counter terrorism investigators.
He interrogated suspected terrorists, and partly because he speaks Arabic, partly because he took the time to understand religious beliefs, and partly because he treated them as humans, they often talked.

The FBI called Soufan a “national treasure.” Others called him an “American hero.”

He left the FBI n 2005 and created his own international security firm. Later, when various officials defended “enhanced interrogation” as a means to obtaining information, Soufan came forward and denounced torture. He testified at the 2009 Senate Judicial Hearings on torture, providing facts that others sought to ignore. He wrote an op-ed piece in The New York Times and has been quoted by Time and Newsweek.

He came up against anyone who defended torture, including the Vice President of the United States.

Soufan doesn’t do it for the publicity, though he was profiled in a long piece in The New Yorker.

He does it for the sake of truth, for what he believes in.
“My service to our country has put me in difficult situations,” Soufan told the MU audience. “I’ve seen man at his worst, and man at his best. I can tell you that in the darkest of moments, there are those who provide a light. Never forget that a small beam of light is enough to overpower a whole room of darkness. Never underestimate the impact that you alone, sticking to your principles, can have.”
Inspirational words are expected at commencements, but Soufan has earned the right to share them. He’s put himself in danger more than once because of his principles.

And it struck me like never before that, yes, each student sitting here, waiting to cross the stage, pick up his or her diploma and enter the world, can make a difference.

Why did this speaker’s words ring so true?

Because in 1994 Ali Soufan sat in this same spot, crossed the stage, accepted his diploma, and entered the world.

The Mansfield Symphony Orchestra will perform Sunday, Dec. 6 in Steadman at 2:30 p.m.  Selections take in everything in the universe from E.T. score selections to Holst’s The Planets.

Admission: donate some winter clothes.

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The MU Council of Trustees granted emeritus status to six faculty members who, in total, served the university more than 200 years.

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Frankly, my dear, you will give a damn. You don’t have to be a movie buff to relive some of the greatest lines in movies over the past century.  After watching this collection of clips, you may even want to play it again, Sam.

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Get an inside look on what goes into producing one of the major concerts of the year.  Peggy Dettwiler, director of choral activities, talks about all aspects of the Holiday Concert, from how the music is chosen and arranged to how she chooses her outfit.  (It’s more complex than you think).

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Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving with this cute one-stop motion video of some mischievous table top turkeys.

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History repeats itself; that’s one of the things that’s wrong with history. Clarence Darrow