Mansfield University Blog

Word is that last week’s All American Rejects,  Taking back Sunday and Anberlin concert was not only sold out but drew  the largest crowd ever for a concert.  Here’s a video from the evening.

The artist who brought in the largest crowd previous to this was Johnny Cash, who, on March 26, 1993, played to a sold-out Decker, packing in about 3,000 fans for  his  two hour concert.  Here’s a photo of the Man in Black and June Carter Cash from that concert.

***

Allen Hall construction continues to progress.  This view is from the Butler parking lot looking north.

***

Francis Bok opened a lot of eyes here in September with his story of being a child slave.  The author of Escape From Slavery also opened a lot of hearts.  Lynn Pifer’s UNV class decided they wanted to help Bok in his quest to build a school in his native Sudan.  They did what English majors do best — they held read-a-thons in Corning and on campus and to date have raised over $500.   To donate to the project, contact Lynn Pifer at lpifer@mansfield.edu

To listen to a podcast interview I did with Bok, click here.

***

I’ve walked by it at least a thousand times, probably more over the past three decades — the bell by Memorial Hall.  Originally  housed in the Alumni Hall clock tower, it was rung by hand.  The bell originally cost $550 and was donated by the Alumni Association when the building was completed in 1886.  While the original Alumni Hall is long gone, the bell still stands on campus as a testament to the long tradition of alumni support and generosity to MU.

***

What we call progress is the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance. Havelock Ellis.

A few weeks ago on our TV show “Conversations,”  I interviewed President Loeschke about fund raising priorities for this year.  It’s edited into two episodes on our YouTube channel.  You view it here.

***

I also interviewed former slave Frances Bok during his two-day visit here, sponsored by the Frederick Douglass Institute.  Frances is a gentle person who maintained his faith and vision during 10 years of enslavement and torture. Today he’s working to end slavery around the world.  You can listen here.

****

Remember the rather barren walk behind North Hall? Concrete wall, broken pavement?  That’s all changed.  Stone wall, iron safety fence, benches, lamp posts, shrubbery.   We’ve always had the natural beauty, now the landscaping and physical improvements are enhancing it.

***

A street corner evangelist appeared on the student mall last Friday, spreading his message in a booming voice.  It was a beautiful sunny afternoon.  A lot of freshmen took offense at being called sinners during the first week of school.  Upperclassmen laid on the bank and accepted it as free entertainment.  Other students brought out their guitars and tried to drown the preacher out by singing (didn’t work).  One quiet freshman stepped up to the man and waited for a pause in the loud preaching:  “You aren’t ever going to get people to follow you when you yell all the time.”

***

The Fabulous 1890s Weekend is fast approaching .  This year the entertainment lineup is the best ever from rock music’s Havoc Jack to Bob Melnyck’s Polka Magic Band to Frogs of Pennsylvania.  Entertainment director Steve Brown has done a super job. For a complete list of acts, click here.  More about this historic event in the next blog.

***

MU alumnus Ali Soufan continues to make international news with this New York Times op-ed piece arguing against torture.  Ali was an FBI special agent from 1997 to 2005.

Welcome to the MU Blog.

This is a project I’ve been wanting to do for some time.  I finally took the leap.

I’ve been PR director here since 1980. (When I started, I was the youngest administrator on campus. That is no longer the case).

I write a couple of other blogs and I’ve learned that each one evolves in its own way.

Ditto for this blog.

I do plan to do several things here:

Share or point to recent news stories that might interest you;

Share selected events that students, staff, area residents, and alumni might be interested in;

Occasionally  share thoughts and observations.  MU is like home to me as it is to thousands of students, faculty, staff and alumni.

I’ll keep posts short– a 2-3 minute read.

*  *  *

You thought slavery was history?  No, unfortunately it’s still very much alive.  At age 7, Sudan native Francis  Bok was kidnapped and enslaved until his escape 10 years later.  He’ll talk about his experiences  in Straughn Auditorium, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m.  It’s free and open to the public.

Meanwhile, you can get to know him in this video and here.

*  *  *

Finally, thanks to Matt Reed in IT for all his help designing and launching the MU Blog!