Mansfield University Blog

We have some of the the coolest students in higher education.  Senior Michael Wang came up with the idea of a Sweep the Streets Day, rounded up 83 volunteers and coordinated the effort to do a bit of Saturday spring cleaning downtown.  Congratulations to all of you involved.

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One of the greenest, friendliest events in town the ‘Mansfield Growers Market’ is back in full swing for the 2014 season. Note the vendors are inside St. James Church during April.  Like their Facebook page at Mansfield Growers Market.

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    A tip-of-the-mug to Yorkholo Brewing Company which won the Best Brewery and Best Beer at the Taming of the Brew Beer Festival in Bloomsburg.

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The second annual Earth Day at Mill Cove  is this Saturday at Mill Cove  just north of Mansfield.  There will be vendors and free activities for children through adults.

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Congratulations to the North Hall library staff who hosted a week’s worth of activities in North Hall for National Library Week.  The events, coordinated by Nichole Book and Amanda Sanko, ran the gamut from a game of hide and seek in North Hall to a search for the Spirits of North Hall Library.  It had to be one of the liveliest National Library Week celebrations in the whole country.

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Ghost Detectives  will spend the weekend in North Hall June 7–8, recording their adventures for their paranormal reality show. They are are now filming for their 4th season, which will begin airing in July. You can catch the show on in the “Prime Time” time slot on The CW, Saturday nights at 9:30 or in rerun form on FOX 56, Fridays at 1am.

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DC Comics has introduced a new LGBT friendly character:  Alysia Yeoh, the transgender roommate of Batgirl.This is a major breakthrough in the super hero world.  Well, almost.  I didn’t realize that in February, Batwoman proposed to her girlfriend, Captain Maggie Sawyer, in the first-ever lesbian marriage proposal in comic history.  These are, of course, some significant steps toward openness and acceptance in society.

MU will present the award-winning musical comedy Guys and Dolls in Straughn Auditorium March 7- 10 in Straughn. The musical comedy  is directed by David Deitz, a 1974 Mansfield graduate. Music direction is by Professor Sheryl Monkelien. Peter Davis ’93 is production manager and choreographer is Jocelyn Raychel ’11.

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Farewell to Coles Drugstore which closed on Feb. 27 after 112 years of business.  Pharmacist Robert Strong, who has owned Coles since 1968, said it was “one of the hardest decisions of my life,” but that he felt it was time to do some things that he and his wife Bernadette have been wanting to do.  Thousands of MU alumni remember the Main Street corner drugstore that serviced them with everything from prescriptions to cards and art supplies.

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Novelist Carolyn Turgeon will present “New Takes on Old Tales” on Thursday, March 7, 4:30 p.m. in Allen Hall, Room 104. Turgeon is the author of several works, including Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story, Mermaid and The Next Full Moon, which are all based on classic fairy tales. Her most recent work, The Fairest of Them All, is about Rapunzel growing up to be Snow White’s stepmother.  The 4:30 talk is free and open to the public.

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Student Life Team Chris Bridges, Andee Dunham and Ruth Hermansen have an article in the February issue of College Planning & Management.  In “The Road to Student Success,”  the team members explain how they use the software program Map Works to personalize how they help struggling students to help insure individual student success at Mansfield.

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 And on the other end of the education spectrum, here’s an interview with a one year-old.  Heartwarming and hilarious.

The 21st annual Fabulous 1890s Weekend was a success with a large parade, including an antique Mansfield fire truck, new acts such as Phydeaux’s Flying Fleas/Wahoo Medicine Show, and of course the re-enactment of the world’s first night football game played on Sept. 28, 1892.

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The next big thing is Homecoming, Oct. 12-14.  The Mounties will face Post University at 1 p.m. on Van Norman.  Here’s a full list of activities. Hopefully, the weather will be as nice as it was for 1890s.

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My guest on the most recent Conversations is Dr. Allan Golden, interim president of MU.  Lot of good information here.  Everyone interested in MU’s progress, both physically and academically, should watch it.

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The Spirit and Pride of PA Mountie Marching Band continues to impress with this video that was  submitted to the Best College Band Contest on HLN Morning News-Morning Express.  The band sounds better than ever and we wish them luck!

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If you’ve ever been involved in large events, you know it takes scores of people to pull it off.  One of the groups we depend on is the quiet, hard-working MU Buildings and Grounds crew who take tables, chairs and benches down to Smythe Park.  They erect the alumni tent and are, as much as possible, on call.  A big thanks to Bob Bertsche, Carolyn Ives, Lynette Whipple, Matt Moore, BJ Teeter, Al Seymour, Curt Machmer, Jim Roupp, and Ron Perry.  Overseeing  was manager of campus services Ryan Wood who coordinated the moves, then later volunteered to sell buttons at the gates and walked in the parade.  Thanks everyone.

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The North Hall Library banned One Woman’s Vengeance this week which drew protests across campus and from around the country.  The move took a lot of guts but the director and three librarians made their point.  Some people even called them heroes.  Here’s my version of the story.

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“Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew it.”  Mark Twain

Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams, MD, the doctor and activist portrayed by Robin Williams in the 1998 film Patch Adams, will speak about “The Joy In…Living, Learning & Loving” at Straughn Hall on Thursday, September 27 at 7 p.m. The presentation is free and open to the public.

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The 21st annual Fabulous 1890s Weekend is set for Sept. 28-29 with a packed schedule of entertainment, food, games, parade, hot air balloons and, of course, the reenactment of the world’s first night football game.  Here’s the full schedule of activities.

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In September, 1887, Effie Copley was shot in the head four times on what is now part of the MU campus.  Her estranged husband, Walter Goodwin, claimed his 14-year-old girlfriend pulled the trigger but Goodwin was tried, found guilty and became one of the last persons to be hanged in Tioga County.  On September 29, Effie Copley’s great nephew, Brian Barden, will host the Who Murdered Effie Tour during the 1890s Weekend.  The tour will include points of interest in town and on campus, including the  murder site.  Tickets are $10 and will be available Friday afternoon in the 1890s park office.  There will be two tours, each limited to 20 persons.

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The Fireball Run Adventurally Northern Exposure 2012 –The Race to Recover America’s Missing Children is coming to Wellsboro Sept. 24-25.  The interactive road rally is produced by Universal Studios and includes 20 teams traveling from Independence, OH to Bangor, ME.  Wellsboro was chosen as one of the stops on the tour.   Local team members are Jim Meade and Commissioner Mark Hamilton. The Tioga County Visitors Bureau is sponsoring the car and drivers.

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A  misty September morning at MU shot from my office window.

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By some chance, if you haven’t seen it, the latest pop culture morsel is Gangnam Style. The video by South Korean rapper PSY, has, since its debut in  July, has attracted more than 220 million hits.

“That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoemaking and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poorhouse.”  Mark Twain, “License of the Press” speech

Earth Day at Mill Cove was a success despite some rainy weather (hey, this is the Earth, right).  The celebration was a joint effort of the Biology Department and the Mill Cove folks. The day included education, recreation, food and displays.  I interviewed former student Al Probst on his career for an upcoming Conversations show.  Al, in turn, interviewed fisheries prof Aaron McNevin and Mill Cove officials for an episode on All Outdoors.

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Facebook has announced Groups for Schools, a new feature that should come in very handy for profs and students alike.  According to Campus Technology:

“Groups for Schools are online communities that allow users to send messages to other members in groups and sub-groups, share files such as lectures, assignments, and schedules (up to 25 MB), and create and post events. Groups can be created for classes, dorms, campus clubs, and more. Members of groups do not need to be Facebook friends.”  Thanks to Applications Developer John Maslar for sending the info to me to share.

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Nichole Lefelhoc, associate director of Career Development & Internships, is highlighted in this issue of CareersAndColleges.com.  The article, “Dressed for success,” describes our Career Center’s Professional Clothes Closet where students get free, gently used professional clothes so they can look their best during career-related opportunities.

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Congratulations to the mentors honored by their female students.

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Congratulations to Irene Morgan, executive director of Partners in Progress who was named Mansfield 2012 Citizen of the Year. This year’s celebration to honor her be May 22 at St. James Hall starting, 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Chamber office.  Irene’s husband,  Kelvin, is the temperature control technician on campus.

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Our buildings and grounds crew mowed the lawns, spread mulch and trimmed shrubbery.  Flowers bloomed and students wore shorts.  And then, the evening of Earth Day, the ground was covered with, oh, seven or eight inches of snow.

The biggest news this week is the establishment of The Marcellus Institute, an Academic/Shale Gas Partnership at MU.  The announcement was made by Interim President Dr. Allan Golden who also said that Lindsey Sikorski will serve as interim director.  Lindsey previously served as community relations coordinator here.   Here’s the full release.

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Country music star Brantley Gilbert, along with special guest David Nail, will perform in concert Wednesday, April 25 in Decker Gym.  Here are details on time and tickets. Here’s Gilbert’s web page.

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The Middle States Team gave its wrap-up summary Wednesday. MU received numerous commendations, several suggestions and recommendations. More to come when the report arrives.

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We’re continually adding to our new Mansfield University Pinterest board. Check it out and let us know what other board subjects you’d like to see.

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Mansfield continues to grow. There will be ground breaking ceremonies Tuesday, April 3 at 10 a.m. at the Guthrie Professional Building on Main St. to kick off construction of the First Heritage Federal Credit Union’s new Mansfield Branch.

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WENY did a feature on Dennis Garner, our boxing coach.  Dennis is tough, tender and an inspiration, which you see in this news report as well as the Conversations interview I did with him awhile back.

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Here’s Terry’s Take for this week.

Tropical Storm Lee in September  left thousands of people in New York and PA homeless.
But it became personal to Kris Dumschat when he learned the Athens home of  his friend and Student Government Association colleague Tom Thornton was a victim. Tom, a non-trad student and his wife have two children. They  lost their home,  two cars and Tom’s garage where he operated a small business.
Kris and Administrative Assistant Sandy Most immediately put out the call for help. President Loeschke made empty rooms in Pine Crest available for the family.  Within hours fellow students brought in food and toys.
And then things grew.  

Really grew.
Student Matt Guagliardo and  Dave Empet from admissions joined in.    Anne Lavancher and Vicki Johnson from the president’s office gave their time and skills.  MU alumnus  Kevin Abrams, executive director of the Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission called to offer his assistance. Tioga County Commissioner Mark Hamilton volunteered his time and services.
Over 100 students attended a meeting of “The Mountie Family Recovery Effort,” created by Kris.
Kevin and Mark took over coordination efforts with the National Guard and Red Cross.  Benedict’s Bus Service and EMTA donated buses  to take the volunteers  to Athens and parts of Sullivan County.

First Citizens Bank offered to match the financial donations and Liberty Excavators, Inc. donated cleaning supplies.

A group of students even  traveled to Bloomsburg to help clear debris.

Within days, the project grew from a few students helping a friend to hundreds of people involved in a multi-county effort.

Edgard Domenech, his wife Maria from Admissions, and their two kids, coordinated a drive to collect food, clothing and water.  Social Work prof Mary Daly’s intro class also helped.

In total, several thousand dollars worth of cash and goods were gathered.

You can’t put a dollar figure on the physical labor.  Cleaning up after a flood is dirty, hazardous business and for people to take the time to put themselves in that situation  is a huge act of generosity.

The devastation opened students’ eyes to what it’s like in the aftermath of disaster.   It’s also been a learning experience for residents in those communities who now see Mansfield University as not only an institution of higher ed, but also a community of truly caring individuals.

It would be anticlimactic at this point to say I’m proud of everyone involved. But I’ll say it anyway.  A large group of people who were not asked and did not have to do anything, gave of their time, energy and dollars to help people they didn’t know.

They make me proud to be a part of Mansfield University.

It’s Homecoming Weekend at MU.  It’s 70 degrees with cloudless skies and two days’ worth of activities.

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Congratulations to Adam Murtland and Jake Burdick on this outstanding video promoting Homecoming 2011 and the game against Navy.

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You can see, from this video of the Spirit & Pride of PA Mountie Marching Band,  why the Olympics are calling them.

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In this episode of Conversations, author Bill Robertson ’72 talks about his collections of ghost stories and tells some scary — and hilarious — tales revolving around his days as a Mansfield State College undergraduate.

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Every year, Sarah, the ghost of North Hall, seems to pop up in a magazine or web page somewhere.  This year she’s featured in collegexpress.com in an article on “Scary Stories.”

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A warm, light rain, leaves hinting they’re about to change, the rising mist.  I have a wonderful view from my office of a beautiful campus.

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The new suites and semi-suites residence halls continue to progress.  Students are scheduled to move in during the January 2012 semester.

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With this episode of Terry’s Take, you get the news and the beautiful view.

Are your pigs gathering sticks?  Crickets in the chimney?  Or maybe an abundance of acorns.  Here’s a Farmer’s Almanac list of folk methods of predicting a rough winter.

Homecoming is October 7-9  and folks are going to “Paint the Town Red and Black.”   The Sprint football team is still savoring its 42-2 win over Princeton but will face stiffer competition against Navy at 1 p.m. Saturday.  For a full schedule and registration form, go to alumni.mansfield.edu

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MU and Albany State University  are featured on the Campus Safety Magazine website.  One Card Administrator Alex Miller talks about how  the Blackboard Transact programs has improved safety and streamlined security operations.

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The 60 Minutes episode that featured former FBI counter terrorist investigator Ali Soufan ’94, mentioned that a Mansfield University administrator suggested that he take the test to join the FBI.  We tracked down that administrator and talked with him about his relationship with the young political science major and why he made the now famous suggestion.

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Soufan’s book, The Black Banners, is now #9 on the NY Times Bestseller list.  His partner, Dan Freedman, looks at terrorists from a different angle in the Forbes Magazine article,  “Al Qaeda’s Dumbest Terrorists”.  Possibly taking top honors was the Yemini explosives trainer who told his class “not to do this” then accidentally did it.  (Must read to believe).

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And Mansfield continues to grow.  The new Sheetz, located on the Farmer-in-the-Dell site, complete with traffic light.  We are now a three-light town.

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Get the latest news via video with Terry’s Take whose location this week is the art gallery featuring the works of graphic designer and artist Marc Rubin.

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Finally, this story about Derek Paravacini, a blind, autistic, musical savant, should be of interest to folks in music, psychology, education and anyone who marvels at the power of the human mind and spirit.

Congratulations to President Maravene Loeschke who was named President of Towson University in Maryland, a  campus of 22,000. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees there and spent more than 30 years as  years there as a faculty member and as dean of Fine Arts and Communication.  She was named MU president in 2006 and will remain through this semester.  The TU community welcomed her Thursday.

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The 20th annual Fabulous 1890s Weekend, runs today through  Saturday, Smythe Park.  The first night football game was played here on Sept. 28, 1892 and one of the Weekend’s highlights is the historically accurate re-enactment on the same field.    Over the years the Weekend has been featured in every major media outlet from the New York Times to USA Today, ABC, NBC, Fox and MTV among others here and around the world.  For a complete schedule, visit our website. For a quick video update,  check this out.

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Here’s a link to the latest interview with Ali Soufan.  Part of the intro reads: “Through all of this, through the additions of layers and layers of top secret bureaucracy, one man’s efforts have truly made a difference.  That man is Ali Soufan . . . ”

Ali’s book The Black Banners, has entered most of the major bestseller lists.

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The works of Elmira artist and graphic designer Marc Rubin are on display in Allen Hall this month.  Stop by and get a feel for this artist’s classic, yet unique and modern feel of the world.  Thanks to Falguni Kripalu’s cool photos of Marc at the reception.

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In honor of Banned Books Week, here are the books some schools love to ban, including, as usual, Mark Twain, the Jon Stewart of the 19th century, the guy Faulkner called the “father of American literature.” Parents, beware, classic authors, even after they die,  conspire to taint your child forever.

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And in the “I’m really trying to be cool” corner, here are samples of parents trying — in hilariously vain attempts — to communicate with their kids through texting.