MSUM News/ November 2004
Index:
Boys of Lough come to MSUM Dec. 4...
Another alum named teacher of the year...
Film studies...
December music...
New Rivers press...
MSUM's Bakke national veterans....
Business academy opens...
International week...
New Human Resources director...
----------------------------------------------
BOYS OF LOUGH BRING CELTIC
MUSIC TO CAMPUS DEC. 4
The MSUM Performing Arts Series presents “Boys of the Lough” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts Hansen Auditorium. The first full-time professional Celtic band, their ongoing mission is to gain traditional music a wider audience and respect. For tickets, call the MSUM Box Office at 477-2271.

With over thirty years experience in the world of traditional music, over 60 North American tours, 19 recordings and two Grammy nominations, Boys of the Lough has reached legendary status. The group features Cathal McConnell on flute, whistles and vocals; Dave Richardson on concertina, mandolin, button accordion and cittern; Brendan Begley on button accordion, melodeon, and vocals; Malcolm Stitt on guitar, bouzouki and Highland pipe; and Kevin Henderson on fiddle.

Their music ranges widely through traditional melodies of Ireland and encompasses fiddle music of Shetland, Scotland and North America

ANOTHER ALUM RECEIVES
N.D. TEACHER OF THE YEAR
It’s happened five times in the past nine years—one of MSU Moorhead’s exceptional alumni teachers has been honored with the 2005 North Dakota State Teacher of the Year Award. Joan (nee Westerfeld) Nelson, ’74 B.S. elementary education and ’90 M.S. reading, is this year’s honoree. She is also the 2004 Fargo Teacher of the Year, and is the third Fargo teacher in four years to receive the state honor.

She has spent the past 31 years teaching third through sixth grade in the Fargo Public School District, as well as a variety of combination classrooms. She currently teaches fifth grade at Longfellow Elementary.

She enjoyed the opportunity to student teach at inner city schools and at an open school during her college career. “MSU did a fabulous job of organizing the PFY program and it was a great opportunity to travel and visit different schools.”

Nelson said the biggest challenge in today’s classroom is the diversity of students integrated in the classroom. “The challenge is providing a learning environment to benefit all of the children,” she said.

If she could change one thing in the profession, it would be to ensure that K-6 class sizes never exceeded 20, and that when the classroom includes children with special needs, the numbers could be adjusted accordingly. “Teachers need to have quality time with each student,” she said.

This seasoned teacher would choose the teaching profession again if she had to do it all over. “You can’t find a better job. I learn something from my kids every day, and there’s never a dull moment,” she said.

“The greatest reward is seeing my kids working independently, taking ownership for their learning, and being excited about it,” Nelson said. Her teaching philosophy is reflected in a sign in her classroom that reads: ‘Boredom is a self-inflicted wound!’ “Students have no excuses to be bored,” she says. “ I’ve had many students over the years tell me that they’ve often thought about that sign.”

One lesson she’s learned over the years is that while teaching curriculum is valuable and necessary, it isn’t always the most important aspect of her job. Sometimes it’s the little things that mean more to students.

“We try to give children the best education possible, but we have to meet their personal needs before they can get on track to learn,” Nelson said. She says it’s important for students to connect with their teachers and for teachers to listen to what they’re saying, whether it’s about their dog having puppies or their first deer hunting experience.

“She’s just as excited about teaching today as the day that I met her, which is incredible,” said Kathy Stigman, principal at Longfellow. It’s the first time in 34 years that Stigman has nominated someone for the honor. “She’s really able to meet all her kids’ needs.”

“She is able to inspire students from all backgrounds and ability levels and encourage them to excel,” wrote Fargo Superintendent David Flowers in his letter of support. “Her curiosity and love of learning are contagious.”

Nelson is always trying new projects, such as flying hot air balloons, making pinhole cameras and teaching her students how to develop the pictures, putting on a variety of plays, and collaborating with a colleague to help students mummify chickens. One of the most satisfying projects she’s done is the YESS Mini-Society program. Y.E.S.S.,Youth Empowerment and Self Sufficiency, encourages students to create a mini society with their own government, businesses and money.

She’s inspired and encouraged more than 900 children during her career. “It’s important to make them believe that they’re all ‘A’ students, to encourage them to work hard and strive to do their best,” she said. An occasional trip to the M & M machine on her desk when a student meets a challenge sometimes is all that is needed to encourage them to keep thinking. “Learning is a lifelong process and if they look to learn something new every day their whole life, I’ll have done a good job.”

Nelson, 53, will advance to the National Teacher of the Year competition and will learn the final results in April.

FILM STUDIES APPROVED
AS NEW MAJOR AT MSUM
“It's the newest old major on campus,” says Rusty Casselton, director of the inaugural film studies major at Minnesota State University Moorhead, recently given the stamp of approval by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities board.

Casselton's reference is in respect to the late Ted Larson, who began teaching film studies classes at the university 38 years ago.

“Ted was way ahead of his time, giving legitimacy to film long before academia was ready to accept it,” he said.

Larson died four years ago. But Casselton, a colleague and one of his best friends, made sure the culmination of Larson's dream came true.

Before the ink dried on the state's approval, more than 70 MSUM had already declared themselves film studies majors.

To their credit, 14 of 20 films selected for the Forx Film Festival, an independent festival hosted by the Empire Theatre in Grand Forks this weekend, were produced by MSUM film studies students.

“It's truly a unique program we've fashioned here,” Casselton said. “The major not only includes classes in film history and criticism, but also in production, using both the traditional 16 mm and Super 8 formats along with the latest in digital video techniques.”

It should be a formidable recruiting tool for the university, Casselton said. “It'll give lots of students from the Twin Cities a reason to drive north on Hwy. 94.”

Probably the only major new art form created in the 20th century, Casselton said, film, like the novel, has become one of the most universal windows to the world for world-wide audiences.

As a result, careers in the field are growing, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, which lists available jobs in the film industry as “above average” at the regional, state and national levels.

Casselton said the MSUM film studies major is the most comprehensive in the state. “In fact,” he said, “there's nothing comparable in the region, from Montana to the west, to Milwaukee to the east, and south to Missouri.”

That's partly because the 120-credit major requires 10 core courses in subjects ranging from video production and a film practicum to film theory and criticism along with a senior seminar in filmmaking. Students can either specialize in film history and criticism, or film production.

“Students with a history and criticism emphasis might seek careers in journalism, publishing, or academia,” Casselton said. “Production majors will have a variety of options working in the commercial or entertainment film industries.”

Casselton, besides directing the program, will teach many of the courses along with Tom Brandau, a filmmaker who joined the faculty this year. “We're on tap for a third faculty member,” Casselton said, “which we'll probably need very soon. I wouldn't be surprised if we reached 100 majors by next year.”

The film studies department is located in the basement of the Roland Dille Center for the Arts, where it maintains six new editing suites. “We've probably added $80,000 or more in equipment to accommodate the new video technologies,” he said. “But we'll still do a lot of work in the traditional 16mm and Super 8 formats, which really separates us from the field of other film studies programs.”

Formerly just an unnamed player in the MSUM Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department, it's now a senior partner in the newly named department of Communication Studies, Film Studies and Theatre Arts.

"The Fargo Theatre has had a long-standing relationship with the late Ted Larson and now Rusty Casselton and film programming at MSUM” says Margie Bailly, executive director of the Fargo Theatre and Fargo Film Festival. “A film studies major significantly increases opportunities for partnerships between the Fargo Theatre,the Fargo Film Festival and MSUM students and faculty. We love MSUM film students and faculty both as audience members all year round and as creative participants in our annual film festival. The new major is a tribute to the University and an asset to the entire community."

DECEMBER MUSIC AT MSU MOORHEAD
The Minnesota State University Moorhead Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will present a concert Thursday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1000 14th St. S., Moorhead. Directed by Charles Ruzicka, it will also feature the Symphony Orchestra performing Antonio Vivalidi’s “Gloria.”
 
The MSUM Wind Ensemble performs Sunday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. in Weld Hall Glasrud Auditorium.
 
MSUM Festival Choirs will be in concert Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1000 14th St. S., Moorhead.
 
All events are free and open to the public.
                                               
NEW RIVERS PRESS AWARDED $30,000 MCKNIGHT GRANT
New Rivers Press, headquartered at Minnesota State University Moorhead, has received a two-year, $30,000 general operating support grant from The McKnight Foundation.

Since 1968, New Rivers has published more than 300 books, becoming one of the oldest continuously publishing not-for-profit literary presses in the country. It has been located at MSUM since 2001, where it serves as a teaching press to provide academic learning opportunities to students in many areas of the curriculum.

In awarding the grant, The McKnight Foundation noted: “With publishing increasingly controlled by commercial interests, the vital cultural role of the nonprofit literary press continues to rise. New Rivers’ commitment to emerging writers from this region is crucial.”

Founded in 1953 and endowed by William L. McKnight and Maude L. McKnight, the Foundation, headquartered in Minneapolis, has assets of approximately $1.9 billion and last year granted about $75 million. McKnight was one of the early leaders of the 3M Company, although the Foundation is independent of 3M.

MSUM’S LES BAKKE NAMED VETERAN PROGRAM OFFICERS
Les Bakke, director of Information Technology at Minnesota State University Moorhead, has been named president of the National Association of Veteran Program Administrators.

Governed by a board of directors elected annually, NAVPA is an organization of institutions and individuals who are involved or interested in the operation of veterans affairs programs or the delivery of services to veterans at colleges and universities across the country.

NAVPA also provides input and testimony to the U.S. House and Senate committees on veterans education and works closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs in providing service to veterans

Two years ago Bakke, who is also MSUM’s director of veteran affairs, received the Ron York Award at the association’s annual conference. The late Ron York was one of the founding members of NAVPA and a Marine Carps veteran. The award, recognizing meritorious service, was given to Bakke for his outstanding contributions in helping the organization develop and improve its web site, providing service to veterans and assisting the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Bakke restructured and now manages the organization’s web site, www.navpa.org.

Bakke also served as a member of the VA’s Education Business Process Reengineering committee that recently completed a review of how students, schools and the VA process G.I. Bill education benefits. He helped the VA develop a strategy for moving that process from paper to on-line, called VA-Once, that’s now in production.

MSUM AND MSCTC PARTNER TO DELIVER THE BUSINESS ACADEMY
MSUM and Minnesota State Community and Technical College have partnered to deliver the Business Academy.

Focused on leadership, teamwork and quality, the training program is offered as a series of monthly sessions concerning important business topics.

Session topics include: “So, You’re A Supervisor” (November), “Team Building” (December), “Theory of Constraints” (January), “Customer Relationship Marketing” (February) and “High Impact Communications” (March).

Facilitators are MSCTC and MSUM staff and faculty. Planning, marketing and coordinating activities have been a joint effort between the two education partners. For more information, contact Kathleen Paulson, Customized Training Program Coordinator, 477-5051 or paulsonk@mnstate.edu

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK: Nov. 15-19
Recognizing the importance of international education and exchange to the democracy, economy, and culture of the US, Secretary of State Colin Powell declared Nov. 15-19 as the fifth annual International Education Week. Institutions such as MSUM, as well as communities in the US and embassies abroad, have organized events as a way to highlight the benefits and “to express appreciation for students and scholars who study and teach here; and to commend the millions of people who build and strengthen bridges of international understanding by organizing and participating in exchange programs.”

The Office of International Programs, along with the Global Studies and International Affairs Committee and other groups on campus, offer the following opportunities to help celebrate and promote international education and exchange:

Monday, Nov. 15:
Public Lecture: International Education and Homeland Security, 3.30 p.m., CB111. Political Science Prof. Andrew Conteh discusses the changing nature of international education and student exchange in the aftermath of 9/11.

Tuesday, Nov. 16
Geography Quiz Bowl, 6 p.m., CMU Lounge. Show off your worldly knowledge and win fabulous prizes from several local ethnic restaurants. Individuals or teams of two; no pre-registration required, just show up.

Study Abroad Panel Discussion, 8 p.m., Grantham Hall Lounge. The Nelson Grantham Holmquist Hall Council and the Spanish Club welcome you to hear first-hand stories from MSUM students who have studied and traveled abroad, and will answer any questions you have about studying abroad.

Wednesday, Nov. 17
Study Abroad Information Session, 2 p.m., CB106. For students not able to make the previous evening’s panel discussion, grad student Eric Leinen will hold an open session to provide general information on MSUM’s study abroad programs, as well as other international education opportunities.

Public Lecture: Interactivity: Society in the Spectacles, 3 p.m., CB111. Visiting Lecturer Tony Richards of the Media Production department, University of Lincoln (UK), will talk about the gap between representation and social reality in the age of the spectacle. Prof. Richards will also meet with students interested in studying abroad at the Univ. of Lincoln and UL students currently studying at MSUM.

Faculty-led, short-term study tours, 3.30 p.m. CMU207. Prof. Benjamin Smith led a group of students to Cuernavaca, Mexico last summer. He and colleagues who have also led tours in the past will talk about the how-to’s of arranging short-term tours and the highlights (and potential pitfalls) of traveling with students.

Thursday, Nov. 18
Passport Application Assistance and Processing, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Library Lobby. Been meaning to get a passport? Now’s your chance. Representatives from Moorhead’s Post Office will be on hand to help students, staff and faculty complete and process application forms. Bring your certified birth certificate, a current driver’s license or student ID, and two photos (available in Instructional Media (LL108)). Application forms are available in International Programs, FF151, or online: www.travel.state.gov.

International Studies Major Open House, 3:30 p.m., CMU 203. Open to all current international studies majors, as well as students interested in the major. Faculty and students will talk about the major and answer questions. Faculty teaching courses in the major are also encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Public Lecture postponed: Nijazi Kryeziu, currently an Officer for Election Campaign and Training in one of the leading political parties of Kosovo, was both a victim and survivor of Kosovo’s conflict. He had been active in Kosovo’s nonviolent political movement and the Kosovo Liberation Army, but later spent three years in a Serbian jail as the result of his activities. He is now active in building democracy and civil society in Kosovo and in its efforts to resolve differences between ethnic Serbs and Albanians. Unfortunately, Mr. Kryeziu was denied a visa by the US government to participate in this week’s activities. We hope to be able to bring him onto campus at a later date.

Friday, Nov. 19
International Student Presentations: Armenia, Lebanon, Latvia om CMU 205. At noon, Max Taha will about Lebanon; 12:30 p.m. Shushan Vardanyan talks about Armenia and at 1 p.m. Madara Maurina discussesLatvia.

Nov. 15-19
Sodexho food service n campus will be offering menus from East Africa (groundnut stew), Eastern Europe (borscht and cabbage rolls), USA (Thanksgiving turkey), India (curry), and England (fish 'n chips).

For further information about any of these events, please contact International Programs, FF151, 477-2956; email: intrnatl@mnstate.edu.

He’s replacing Ben Blair, who retired earlier this year.

Choate (rhymes with coat), an Illinois native, completed his undergraduate degree in history and government along with a secondary teaching certificate from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. After earning his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School and passing the Illinois Bar exam, he opened and maintained a general law practice in his home town in Carterville for 17 years.

Choate, 53, later earned a master’s degree at Southern Connecticut State, where he has taught an undergraduate survey course in U.S. History.

As the labor and employment attorney at Southern Connecticut, his duties included daily contract administration of collective bargaining agreements, primarily those of the faculty and administrators. That involved overseeing contract processes such as promotion, tenure, renewal, evaluations, grievances, and discipline.

Choate also has extensive experience in classification and compensation issues and has served on collective bargaining teams for the Connecticut State University System.

His wife Lenetta, an art history and psychology instructor at Paier College of Art in Hamden, Conn., is finishing her term and will join him here soon.

“Going On” was recently released by Dacotah Territory Press, a small, independent, non-profit publisher of contemporary poetry from the Upper Midwest supported in part through MSUM’s printing facilities.

The 35-page collection of poems ($5) is Crow’s second. Her first, “Coming Up For Light and Air,” published by New Rivers Press in 1995, won the Minnesota Voices Project Competition that year.

Crow earned a teacher's certificate from Christchurch College of Education in New Zealand and worked as a teacher and then as a print and radio journalist, also in New Zealand. A former executive assistant at the North Dakota Museum of Art, she’s now a commentator for North Dakota Public Radio.

Crow will also be joined by her daughter Sarah Morrau for an evening of poetry and song from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8 at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo. A well-known area folk, jazz and pop singer, Morrau has released two CDs, “Storm Warning” and “To Hold You.”

Crow took creative writing classes at MSUM and two of her daughters, Melanie and Sarah, are graduates of the university.