Minnesota State University Moorhead
News Releases
March 2007
Minnesota State University Moorhead News Releases |
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MSUM PRESENTS ITS FIRST AMERICAN
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP CONCERT
SATURDAY WITH SILENT AUCTION
MSUM presents its first annual “American Music Scholarship Concert” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31 in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts Hansen Auditorium, featuring the MSUM music department in a gala event showcasing the talents of students and faculty.
A silent auction and reception precedes the event at 7 p.m. with a variety of valuable items up for grabs, including private performances by student and faculty ensembles, private lessons with music faculty, meals and ticket packages and more.
Performances that evening will include the university’s Chorus, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Guitar Ensemble and several soloists and chamber groups in a concert emceed by MSUM alum Steve Poitras. Tickets are $6 for MSUM students, faculty and staff; and $8 for general admission. Call the MSUM box office at 477-2271 for reservations, or visit web.mnstate.edu/music/scholarships
Elite donor reserved seats, which include a private off-campus wine and cheese reception prior to the concert, are available for $30 an individual or $50 a couple.
ALUM, ADJUNCT BRAD BACHMEIER
WINS TOP NATIONAL CERAMICS AWARD
Brad Bachmeier, a 1993 MSUM alum and adjunct ceramics faculty member here, was selected as the winner of a 2007 NICHE Award for a piece entitled “Spirit Velssel I” in the Ceramics: wheel-throw category.
Bachmeier, the art department chair at Fargo North High School, accepted the award last week in Philadelphia.
The NICHE awards are referred to as the “Academy Awards of Fine Craft in the United States” by American Style magazine editor Wendy Rosen.
Bachmeier has received more than 20 national grant and best-of-show awards for his ceramic work and will be featured this spring on HGTV’s “That’s Clever” program.
Only 151 artists out of more than 1,000 entries were named as finalists for NICEH awards this year. Of that group, just 39 artists won awards in several categories including ceramics, wood, metal, jewelry and glass.
The awards are sponsored by NICHE magazine, the exclusive trade publication of North American retailers of American crafts.
MSUM FILM STUDIES PROF
RELEASES FEATURE FILM
FOR NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION
“Cold Harbor,” the award-winning feature film by MSUM Film Studies professor Tom Brandau, is slated for national distribution on March 27. The feature, which recently ended a successful two-year festival run, is being distributed by Alpha Video as part of its New Cinema series.
The “Cold Harbor” DVD release includeS a number of added bonus features including: a commentary track by Brandau and producer Mark Redfield, a “making of” piece featuring interviews with key production crew members, two additional short films written and directed by Brandau, and a music video for the opening credits song “Playing It Dead,” written and performed by Twin Cities musician Mike Lane.
The music video was produced here at MSUM several weeks ago to help promote the DVD release of the film. The production crew (made up of both current Film Studies students and recent graduates) included: Kak Lee (cinematographer) Jason Bedard (gaffer) Mike Stromenger (asstant director) Ryan Sailer (grip) and Cody Redmer (jib-arm grip) Tom Brandau (director).
The story line: When an old man ends his life by throwing himself into the icy winter surf near his seaside home, his four estranged sons are left to deal with their memories, feelings of loss and betrayal, and unsettled family issues. As they pick through and pack up his belongings, they discover the missing puzzle pieces of their own lives, gradually recognizing themselves and each other in the remnants of their father's life.
As described by Oldies.com: Starring Mark Redfield (The Death of Poe, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), “Cold Harbor” is a tough, touching drama full of gritty, honest moments and dark, humorous situations. Writer-director Tom Brandau draws upon real-life events to craft this award-winning film about loss and family mythology and, ultimately, about burying the dead and getting on with life.
For information about purchasing the Cold Harbor DVD visit: Alpha Video at www. Oldies.com/product-view/1024D.html
MOORHEAD CAMPUS SCHOOL HISTORY
FOCUS OF NEW BOOK, UPCOMING TALKS
Thousands of children passed through the doors of the Moorhead Campus School, eager students who reveled in the innovative and progressive teaching that occurred as part of the school’s mission as well as Minnesota State University Moorhead’s teacher education program.
But the Moorhead Campus School was much more than a training ground for future teachers. It shaped the lives of young people, future educators, the campus community, and educational researchers. Steve Grineski, MSUM professor of Education, is the author of a new book on the history of the Moorhead Campus School, “Baby Dragons: The Story of Moorhead’s Campus School, 1888-1972.”
Grineski attended Bemidji State University, where he spent as much time with his college-age peers as he did with elementary-age children in BSU’s campus school. As a student he witnessed and participated daily in the application of theories into practice at one of the country’s many campus schools.
Campus schools, also known as training, laboratory or model schools, were designed to promote innovation, experimentation and research—all leading to better preparation of teachers and better education of students. Campus school students were afforded expansive academic opportunities not available at that time in public schools; the smaller enrollment allowed students to get involved in many activities; and students could take college-level courses while they were in high school.
The demise of campus schools occurred during the 1960s and 1970s because of several factors: greater breadth and depth of the public school curriculum; increased competition for educational funding; and conflicting goals of the campus schools.
By the mid 1950s, Moorhead Campus School enrollment peaked at 450 students in the K-12 program. The Moorhead Campus high school closed in 1971, followed by the elementary school closure in 1972. Today, about 200 campus schools exist worldwide.
The Book: “Baby Dragons: The Story of Moorhead’s Campus School, 1888-1972,” 200 pages, features more than 250 photographs and original documents and interviews with former students and teachers. It’s $15 and can be purchased at Zandbroz Variety and through the Web site web.mnstate.edu/babydragons. The book is supported through a grant from the National Association of Laboratory Schools with assistance from MSU Moorhead.
The Talks: “Looking Back & Looking Forward: The Story of Moorhead’s Campus School”
-1. Thursday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Zandbroz Variety
-1. Friday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Barnes & Noble, part of the Regional Author Book Talk Day
-1. Tuesday, April 24 at 7 p.m., MSUM’s Weld Hall Glasrud Auditorium. This talk includes a slide presentation showing photographs and original documents from the Moorehad Campus School.
Books will be available for purchase at these talks.
The Scholarship: For the past six years, Grineski has worked with students and teachers at the Red River Area Learning Center (RRALC), Moorhead School District’s alternative high school. All proceeds from book sales will fund a scholarship for RRALC students to attend MSUM.
For more information, contact Steve Grineski, 477.2017 or visit web.mnstate.edu/babydragons
NEWLY RENOVATED NURSING DEPARTMENT AT MSUM HOSTS OPEN HOUSE MARCH 23
An open house to celebrate MSUM’s newly remodeled Nursing department in Murray Commons will run from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 23.
The campus and the public are invited to attend.
Motivational speaker Ann Dolence, a certified recreation therapist working in the area of psychiatric treatment, will give a presentation on “Celebrating the Art of Nursing” at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. For the past 12 years she’s owned her own professional speaking and training business, The Leisure Connection.
To help raise scholarship funds for nursing majors, artwork donated by the university and local artisans will be on sale. The Dakota Medical Foundation will match the money raised that day up to $20,000. Over the last five years, the Foundation has given the university’s Nursing program more than $74,000 in grants.
If you purchase a piece of art and donate it to the Nursing department, your gift will be acknowledged with a plaque that will be placed adjacent to where the artwork will be on permanent display.
The Nursing renovation project involved more than 8,000 square feet of space in Murray Commons. It included three large group classrooms, three small group classrooms, a library/conference room, 11 offices, a reception and work area, and lounge. An accessible entrance and ramp was added on the east side of the building as well.
MSUM NAMES DOUG PETERS DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
Minnesota State University Moorhead has appointed Doug Peters to the Director of Athletics position. MSUM President Dr. Roland Barden made the announcement today.
Athletic Director at Valley City State University since 2004, Peters will begin his new duties July 1.
A former student-athlete and assistant coach at Bemidji State University, Peters received an undergraduate degree in 1998 and added a master’s degree in 2000. Peters was a two-year basketball letterman and captain at Bemidji State and an honorable mention All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference selection. He transferred to BSU after two years at Eastern Wyoming College.
In addition to his coaching duties at Bemidji State, Peters served as Director of Development and Beaver Pride Coordinator for the Beaver athletic department, and his responsibilities included athletic fundraising and capital projects, major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, advertising and donor relations.
During his three years at Valley City State, Peters was responsible for all aspects of the organization and administration o the intercollegiate athletic program, including day-to-day operations, budget management, hiring, supervision and development of personnel, management of athletic facilities, event management, marketing and promotion, student-athlete development and participation and fund-raising.
“Having been on the hiring side of the process, I appreciate President Barden and the search committee's commitment to finding the right person and then going above and beyond to seal the deal,” said Peters.
“It has been a big week for the MSU Moorhead, with student-athletes competing at national championships in wrestling and track and field, the women's basketball team playing in the NCAA DII regional basketball tournament, and the glowing things the Higher Learning Commission publicly said during their visit. I am looking forward to contributing to that standard of excellence.”
“Today is bittersweet. On one hand I am excited beyond words to have the opportunity to be part of MSUM and Dragon Athletics, at the same time I am sad to leave all of the great progress and people at Valley City State University.”
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPH TALKS AT MSUM ON ‘UNCOMMON FACTS ABOUT COMMON BIRDS’ TUESDAY, MARCH 20
“Award winning author, naturalist and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela presents a talk on “Uncommon Facts About Common Birds” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 in MSU Moorhead’s Science Lab Building 118. It’s free and open to the public.
A professional naturalist for more than 20 years, he’s the author of “Nature Smart,” “Birds of Minnesota Field Guide,” “Smart Mushrooming,” “Fascinating Loons” and dozens of other nature guides. He lives in the Twin Cities.
The event is sponsored in part by the Comstock Foundation Visiting Artist Program in collaboration with MSUM’s Science Center and mass communications department.
MSUM STUDENTS HOST CELEBRATION OF NATIONS MARCH 23
Entertainment, food, culture, and fashions from around the world will be showcased in Celebration of Nations from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, March 23 in the student union ballroom.
Admission is $1 for adults. Children 12 and under are free. All food tickets are 50 cents. Eight dollars should provide a good meal. Students and community members representing a variety of countries will exhibit items from their homeland, cook their unique foods, and share their culture.
Tickets are available at the door and are available at International Programs (151 Flora Frick, MSUM) the week of the event.
The event is sponsored by MSUM's Office of International Programs and the International Student Club.
Questions can be address to International Programs (477-2956).
WOODLANDS & HIGH PLAINS POWWOW MARCH 24 AT NEMZEK FIELDHOUSE
The 18th annual Woodlands and High Plains Powwow will be held at MSUM’s Alex Nemzek Hall this Saturday. The intercampus powwow is sponsored by Concordia, MSUM, and North Dakota State.
The general admission fee is $2, kids ages 6 to 12 are $1, and children under 6 are free. Students with current campus I.D. card are also admitted free.
Grand entries are scheduled at 1 and 7 p.m. Dancer registration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A free traditional meal will be served at 5 p.m. Vendors and crafters may begin setting up after 10 a.m.
The one day powwow will be “traditional,” meaning that the emphasis will be on celebration rather than competition. The event is expected to attract spectators, dancers, and drum groups from throughout the Midwest.
This year’s Head Woman Dancer will be Sarah Crawford; the Head Male Dancer will be Errol Geniusz. Both are MSUM students. Sarah is from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Tribe and Errol is from the Sokoagon Chippewa Tribe, Wisconsin.
Last year the powwow was one of the best attended cultural events in the Fargo-Moorhead area, with about 2,000 people filling an auditorium to see about 200 dancers dressed in colorful and authentic regalia.
For more information about the powwow or to join the planning committee, contact: Jody Steile, MSUM, (218) 477-2674; or Mary John, (218) 287-5433.
The Alex Nemzek Hall is located on the northeastern side of the MSUM campus at 17th Street and 6th Ave. S. Free parking will be available, with designated parking for handicapped, vendors, and elders
'OUR TIME TO SHINE' GETS A GLOWING REVIEW
(March 7, 2000)
“Congratulations to all of you. It’s your time to shine!”
The North Central Association’s Higher Learning Commission team has completed its visit to MSU Moorhead and Dr. Robert S.P. Yien liked what he saw.
Dr. Yien chaired the group of six university faculty and administrators that will make its recommendation to the Higher Learning Commission, a division of the North Central Association (NCA). The NCA is the accrediting agency for higher education institutions in a 19-state region that includes MSUM. Reaccreditation visits for campuses that fully meet criteria are conducted every ten years.
The evaluation team provided an exit interview at the end of their three-day visit and it was very good news for MSUM. The team determined that all five criteria for reaccreditation have been met. The Higher Learning Commission will review the team’s findings and file a final report, which is anticipated in June.
“We are delighted with the team’s careful review of our campus,” said President Roland Barden. “We respect the consultation and evaluation process that underscores the value of our diploma. The findings of the evaluation team applaud ten years of hard work across the campus to address concerns raised in the last visit and are a great affirmation of the two years of work by the members of the self-study steering committee preparing for reaccreditation and the more than 60 faculty, staff, administrators and students who comprised the planning and preparation groups.”
Judy Strong, co-chair of the self-study steering committee seconded President Barden’s reaction: “We are absolutely delighted.”
Co-Chair Deb White said “It’s the culmination of ten years of great work by people at this institution.”
“Our Time to Shine” was the campus slogan for the reaccreditation visit, and in today’s edition of The Forum, reporter Amy Dalrymple wrote: “…‘Our Time to Shine,’ is fitting, said Robert Yien, chairman of the six-member team. ‘This is a dynamic place,’ said Yien, vice president for academic affairs at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. ‘We are very impressed.’”
The campus community is invited to a celebration this afternoon from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. in the Comstock Memorial Union.
MSUM’S MUSIC INDUSTRY SUMMIT
MARCH 7 FEATURES NEW DRAGON
TRACKS CD RELEASE AND SPEAKERS
MSU Moorhead’s first Music Industry Summit on Wednesday, March 7 will include an evening concert releasing a new Dragon tracks CD produced by MSUM students and an afternoon of speakers and panels featuring alumni with successful careers in the music business.
All events are open to the public and will be held in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts Hansen Theatre.
Speakers and panel discussions, running from 2 to 5 p.m., will include Darren Rust, a member of the Blenders singing group and the founder of Skyland Studio, and Los Angeles-based producer Dale Berger, vice president of Original Sound Entertainment.
A reception and an open house starts at 4 p.m., when visitors can tour the updated music industry recording facilities in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts.
A 7:30 p.m. concert will celebrate the release of a CD created by music industry students titled “Dragon Tracks XII, Reflections.” It’s a compilation chosen from the past 12 years of Dragon Tracks releases.
MSUM students Jim Vilandre and Haley Rydell will be the concert’s featured performers, supported by a student ensemble. Vilandre will release a new CD for the occasion, “When Love Rules Your Heart.” Rydell, the Dragon Studios Artist, will also debut a new CD that evening..
All three of the CDs will be available for sale. Refreshments will be served after the concert.
MSUM’s Music Industry Program educates students in the art of music, while preparing them for careers in audio production, venue/artist management, recording company operations and other related professions.
Simon Rowe: rowesmnb@mnstate.edu 477-2103
Ryan Jackson: jacksonr@mnstate.edu 477-2001
MSUM STUDENT SENATE HOSTS
DIVERSITY WEEK MARCH 19-23
MSU Moorhead’s Student Senate is sponsoring its first Diversity Week March 19-23 in Comstock Memorial Union.
The week will be filled with student and faculty speakers, movies and events focusing on religion, struggles with disabilities, cultural diversity, gender and more.
For a list of all events, go to web.mnstate.edu/campuslife/diversityweek/
Student senator Alex Ellsworth, the founder the first Diversity Week, has been planning the event since the start of the school year. “I believe that understanding diversity is imperative for a well-rounded college education,” he said. “We hope it will become an annual event on campus.”
The Student Senate is the officially recognized voice of the students at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
COMEDIAN TIM YOUNG ON STAGE AT MSUM MARCH 6
Comedian Tim Young, Jetblue spokesman and veteran of Comedy Central and MTV, is on stage at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 6 in MSUM’s student union ballroom.
His show is all about college. From stealing trays to sleeping in lofts to dirty roommates Find out how he graduated in a mere seven years, and learn about his highly touted Tuition Reimbursement Plan.
Having performed at over 400 campuses and being nominated twice for Comedian of the Year, Young has designed and built his show to entertain the college student. The spokesman for Jetblue Airlines, he’s appeared on a variety of television shows, including this season's Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn", "Premium Blend" and "Shorties Watching Shorties", MTV's "The Jim Bruer Show" and "Daria", NBC's "Late Friday", or as a commentator on the E! Channel.
The Camus Activities Board event is free and open to the public.
7:30 p.m. Tuesday
HONORS LECTURE LOOKS AT ‘WAR & PEACE’ EXPERIENCE FROM HIROSHIMA STUDY TOUR
Ananda Shastri, MSUM Physics professor, will talk on "Philosophical Reflections on War and Peace from MSUM's Hiroshima Peace Studies Tour" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 6 in Science Lab Building 118 on campus. It's a feature of the Honors Lecture Series.
An interdisciplinary group of 20 students, accompanied by faculty members Shastri and Takanori Mita, Languages and Cultures, took part in a Peace Studies Tour of Hiroshima over spring break.
The nine-day trip focused on the site where the first atomic bomb was dropped in August of 1945. Topics of the tour included the science of radiation and nuclear weapons; the experience of those who lived through the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and Japanese language and culture. Students pursued individual projects and performed fieldwork assignments as part of the tour.
MSUM’S PHI KAPPA PHI INDUCTS 62 AT INITIATION
Phi Kappa Phi honored 62 new student members and two faculty during an initiation ceremony last weekend in Fox Recital Hall.
Phi Kappa Phi is a national honor society founded in 1897. It supports good character and superior scholarship in all fields of study. Since the standards for admission are among the highest academic qualifications for any similar organization, membership in the society is a mark of distinction.
Faculty inducted into the society: Laurie Blunsom, Music, and Magdalene Chilikia, Psychology.
Students inducted: Achala Acharya*, Elizabeth Barchenger, Nicole Benson, Mikayla Blakeway, Jason Borgstrom*, Kristen Bouwman *, Carlie Brekke*, Molly Cook*, Travis Cuypers*, Todd Erickson, Kristy Fedde*, Sharon Friedt*, Trista Fuchs*, Rebecca Gilbertson*, Amber Goraczkowski*, Kelly Hannah*, Sara Haufschild*, Rebecca Henderson*, Melanie Henjum*, DeAnn Hopfauf, Taanna Horn, Samuel Huebschwerlen*, Lisa Hulzebos*, Kendra Huwe, Suzanne Johnson, Brianna Johnston*, Kristin Kendall, Katherine Klipfel*, Heather Knopik*, Craig Kutz*, Kimberly Long*, Danielle Loosbrock*, Amy McVay*, Sarah Mickelson*, Ashley Mohn, Ellie Musselman*, Sarah Olsen, Sierra Oster*, Jon Pabody*, Bridget Potocki*, Kayla Redlin*, Shauna Reimche, Tara Schmidt, Katie Shaikoski, Jill Shelstad, Lacy Simonson, Matthew Sommerfeld, Brittany Spitzer*, Rebecca Stevenson*, Shawn Stumphf*, Lindsey Swenson, Stephanie Thomas*, George Toops III, Sarah Toward*, Alice Wagner, Carissa Walters*, Jennifer Welk*, Leah Wickenheiser. (An asterick indicates juniors, the rest are seniors.)
*Graduate Students: Ryan Jackson, Mary Matteson, Joe Murphy, Amanda Zwach
MARCH IS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
MSUM Women's Studies Program celebrates Women's History Month 2007 with a series of events devoted to women’s and gender issues. The celebration will run throughout March and includes:
Women’s History Displays
Generations of Women Moving History Forward, Livingston Lord Library Lobby: March 1-15
Women in Science, Science Lab Building Atrium: March 1-31
Reading Women’s History
MSUM History Club, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 2, CMU Main Lounge
American Girls Mini-Film Festival
March 5 through March 7, go to web.mnstate.edu/women for films and schedule
International Women’s Day
Soup and Substance Lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 8, CMU Ballroom
Guest Speaker:
Dr. Mary Thurlkill––Sacred Bodies, Sacred Lives: Mary and Fatima in Medieval Christianity and Shi`ite Islam – Wednesday, March 21 – Time and Location TB
Guest Speaker:
Renee Gurneau, Decolonization: A Pedagogy for Social Change, noon to 1 p.m., Comstock Memorial Union
Women in Music Concert
8 p.m. Thursday, March 29, Fox Recital Hall.
All events are free and open to public For more information on Women’s History Month Events go to web.mnstate.edu/women or contact Laurie Blunsom, director of Women’s Studies, at 218.477.4606 or blunsom@mnstate.edu