The Reporter, March 2006

The Reporter is a publication produced by Western Carolina University featuring news, events, and campus community updates for faculty and staff. The publication began in August of 1970 and continues digitally today. Click on the link in the “Related Materials” field to access recent issues.March 13, 2006 News for the Faculty and Staff of Western Carolina University Campus Camaraderie, Collaboration Grow Out ol Universitv Club The brick house across from Harrill Residence Hall comes alive each week with what faculty member Lisen Roberts describes as the "true Western spirit." It's the University Club, better known as the U Club, and a few dozen of the group's more than 100 members get together there on Friday afternoons to catch up and unwind. "Faculty and staff socialize together about both university-related things and just our lives in general," said Roberts, associate professor of counseling. "It's a positive, friendly atmosphere. I value so much the chance to connect with colleagues from all over campus." The club's goal is to offer a variety of free or low-cost events in a social and intellectual setting, and the TGIF gatherings l!fe for "philosophizing, socializing and conspiring." That's the description on the club's online calendar, which also marks such days as the "vernal equinox" and St. Patrick's Day, with an online green-garbed leprechaun dancing, Tom Martin (left), assistant professor of biology, talks to Sean O'Connell, University Club president, and Kristie Coggins, club secretary and TGIF coordinator. on Friday, March 17. U Club President Sean O'Connell hopes you won't miss it in person, either. St. Patrick's Day will be the club's monthly "special event" for March with Irish music and a potluck dinner. The event has become a U Club tradition, much like the fall Chili Cook-off, Oktoberfest and the Robbie Bums Supper, recently dedicated in memory of Malcolm Loughlin, associate dean of distance and continuing education who passed away in January. In the past, U Club also has hosted a Midsummer's Night Concert and Cookout, Mardi Gras Dinner and wine tastings as well as slideshows, reading clubs and discussion forums. "The U Club is a great place to meet new people, catch up with friends and acquaintances and also to conduct some business," said O'Connell, assistant professor of biology. The relaxed atmosphere helps new staff and faculty feel welcome and promotes collaborative work among members of different departments. The club began in 1989 as a project of the Coulter continued on page 2 Western Joins Researchers From Ohio, Wisconsin In $1.8 Million Study of Changing Dialects Words in the same language sure do sound different sometimes, especially in terms of how different speakers say vowel sounds. For example, when visitors to Western North Carolina hear residents say the word "bite" they often hear something that almost sounds closer to the word "bat." Ohioans may think Wisconsinites who say "bag" are talking about a dog asking for food - "beg." To study how dialects differ from region to region and evolve from generation to generation, Western is collabo­rating with researchers at The Ohio State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The National Institutes of Health funded a $1.8 million five-year research project led by Ohio State that will document and research variations in dialect in Ohio, Wisconsin and the Appalachian area of Western North Carolina. The findings could help improve standardized tests for speech and hearing or improve voice recognition systems that understand spoken commands such as "voicemail" or "yes." Another benefit is simply the historical preservation of how people speak in a region, the researchers said. "The participants will be helping document their culture," said Martin Fischer, professor of communication sciences and disorders at Western. "We are going to focus on the Cullowhee and Sylva area, as well as East LaPorte, Waynesville and Franklin. There is very little data collected on this population at the level we are going." continued on page 2 Martin Fischer, professor of communication sciences and disorders at WCU (right), mon­itors sound waves as part of a collaborative dialect research project while Robert Fox, professor and chair of speech and hearing science at Ohio State, helps a volunteer with a headset and microphone. March 18 Conference at WCU to Explore Social History Western's first "Social History in the Mountains Conference" will spark discussions on topics from black apprentices and orphans after the Civil War to "dying traditions," figuratively and literally. Evolving grave-digging practices in Tennessee is the subject of one research project to be presented, while others explore ·vanishing aspects of society and the way people live. 1---­The social history conference, which is free and open to WCUPresenters the public, will be held in McKee Building from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 18. -Laura Cruz, assistant professor of history, Western's his-tory department and Graduate School "Ruiled Up: Informal designed the event not only to explore social history, but also Bookselling Networks to strengthen ties among history faculty and graduate students in the Early Modern in the region. Netherlands" , -Elizabeth McRae, "As history faculty, we tend to be connected to people assistant professor of within our particular fields," said Laura Cruz, assistant history, "Women and professor of history and conference organizer. "This event will White Supremacy" help us connect also with history faculty and graduate students I -Joseph Hurley, at nearby colleges and learn what they are doing. graduate student, "A Vision of Progress: The conference focus is social history - a field that, in Social Capital and itself, is evolving, Cruz said. Research in the name of "social Social Activism in the history" has ranged from studies of conjoined twins to medical New Urban South" practices to pineapples. Cruz said some describe it as the • -Amanda Epperson, history of society, social groups or social rules. "Social history visiting assistant professor of history, is a wide-open field - an exciting type of history to study," I "The Keener Cemetery: she said. History and Service I The subjects Western faculty and graduate students will Learning" present at the conference include informal bookselling - Robert Gilmer, I networks in the early modern Netherlands; women and white I ~radu~te. stude~t, 'a! . 1 d . . . th b S th Confhct1ng Cla1ms supr~macy ; s.oc• cap1ta an act1v1sm m e new ur ~n ou ; I on the Land: Cultural service learnmg and the Keener Cemetery; and land disputes Resource Disputes in in the Little Tennessee River Valley. Presentations will be the Little Tennessee followed with time for discussion. , River Valley" Michael Paul, visiting assistant professor of history and a conference organizer, said the event is a way to help bring together the university faculty, students and community residents with an interest in local history, particularly the history of "everyday people." For more information, contact Laura Cruz at (828) 227-3909 or lcruz@wcu.edu. Fund-Raising Campaign, VIdeo Win Top Awards lrom Bill A video produced by Western's Office of Public Relations and a special project by the Office of Development recently won recognition from a national higher education organization. The awards were presented as part of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's District ill conference held Feb. 5-8 in Nashville, Tenn. CASE is the leading educational association for professionals in the field of institutional advancement. The video "Construction Management" received a Special Merit Award in the films and videotape category. The video is used by the Kimmel School of Construc­tion Management, Engineering and Technology as part of efforts to recruit new students to the construction manage­ment program. John Kenyon, information and communication specialist at Western, served as primary videographer and producer; wrote the script, and edited the video. Additional video of highway construction and earth-moving equipment was provided with permission from Park&Co. The voice-over was provided by Donald Connelly, assistant professor in the communications, theatre and dance department at Western. The "Share the Experience Change a Life" Loyalty Fund campaign, which included a brochure, Web site and other materials, received an Award of Excel­lence in the fund-raising category. The annual fund-raising campaign was developed to solicit contributions for merit-based scholarships and other Western initiatives. The campaign was a collaborative effort involving Brett Woods, director of annual and special gifts; Casey Carter, program assistant; Jim Miller, associate vice chancellor for development; Rubae Sander, director of publications; and Mark Haskett, WCU photographer. March 13, 2006 • The Reporter • page 2 UnlversitV Club continued from page 1 for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to enhance the sense of community at Western among full- and part-time faculty, retired faculty, staff members and some community members. Governed democratically by a board of direc­tors and constitution, the club is incorporated under the laws of the state of North Carolina and is a sanctioned organization within the university. Dues of $30 per semester help cover rent and utilities for the clubhouse, which can be used for departmental day retreats or small group orientations. Other events are free or low-cost. Club members pay for some beverages and special events, though admission often can be paid instead with a covered dish (as long as food is in the dish, of course). "Come on by on Friday, find someone to talk to, and peruse the membership application," O'Connell said. "We'd love to have you as our guest." For more information, ca!l293-5367, e-mail Sean O'Connell at soconnell@wcu.edu or go to www.wcu.edu/uclub. - by Teresa Killian DialeCtS continued from page 1 Researchers recorded the first volunteers from the Sylva area in late February as they read sentences and lists of words such as "heed," "hid," "head" and "hide." The goal of the project is to record the speech of 120 lifelong residents of each region from a range of ages. Ideally, participants will include members of the same family such as a child, her mother and grandmother. Researchers will listen to the recordings and study the sound waves, measuring such characteristics as the "initial voiced consonant stop burst/release spike" and "final stop closures." The study also will explore speech from more-relaxed, informal conversations. "All languages change naturally," said Robert Fox, professor and chair of speech and hearing science at Ohio State, where he works with the project's principal investigator Ewa Jacewicz. For instance, hundreds of years ago the word "I" was pronounced more like a long "e" sound. "We are looking for reasons for dialect changes," said Fox, who suggested factors changing language today could include mainstream media or the words mothers emphasize in front of their children. "A child may adopt the pronunciation of the vowel in an emphasized word to their other vowels," he said. Rounds of recordings will take place every few weeks with the second round to begin in mid-March. For more information about the project or how to participate as a paid volunteer, contact Martin Fischer, professor of communication sciences and disorders, at (828) 227-3289. '06 MARCH 13-26 a en a Monday, March I Reception - to recognize College of Education and Allied Professions for receiving the 2006 Distinguished Program in Teacher Education award. 4:30 p.m. Room 104, Killian. (227-7311) Tuesday, March 14 Career Services and Cooperative Education event-Career Week: Summer Jobs and Internships Fair. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Grandroom, UC. (227-7133) Catamount Concert Series­music composed and performed by women. Women's History Month event. 8 p.m. RH. (227-7242) Women's History Month­International Women's Day Film Series: "All About My Mother." 9 p.m. Multipurpose Room, UC. (227-2627) Wednesday, March IS­Thursday, March 16 Women's History Month­" Women Travel!" Student Abroad Programs information table. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Atrium, UC. (227-2627) Wednesday, March IS Career Services and Cooperative Education event-Career Week: Spring Corporate Career Expo. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Grandroom, UC. (227-7133) International Phi Beta Delta Brown Bag Lunch-"Living and Studying in China," James Zhang. Noon-1 p.m. Second Aoor, Hunter Library. (227-2175) Lady Catamount softball doubleheader-vs. Siena.$. 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. esc. (227-7338) Meeting-Faculty Senate. 3-5 p.m. Room 104, Killian. (227-3966) Concert- Symphony Band. 8 p.m. RH. (227-7242) Women's History Month­International Women's Day Film Series: "Fire." 9 p.m. Multipurpose Room, UC. (227-2627) Thursday, March 16 Competition-24th annual Foreign Language Contest. 9 a.m. Awards ceremony, 1:30 p.m. RRAC. (227-7241) Career Services and Cooperative Education event- Nonprofits, Public Service, and Government Career Day. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Grandroom, UC. (227-7133) Women's History Month­" Global Women and Health," Tracy Zontek and Michelle Seifers. Also, "Women on Weights!" fitness class. 1 p.m. Catamount Room, UC. (227-2627) Panel discussion-"Factors Affecting Student Learning." 3:30- 5 p.m. Multipurpose Room A, UC. (227-2274 or 227-2088) Films That Matter-"Shoot the Piano Player" (Francois Truffaut, 1960). 6 p.m. Room 130, FAPAC. (227-2324) Old Time and Bluegrass Music Jam-7-9 p.m. MHC. (227-7129) Concert-Jazz Combo. 8 p.m. RH. (227-7242) Friday, March 17 .., Open House- for prospective students and their families. 8:30 a.m.-2:30p.m. UC. (227-3168) Lady Catamount softball- vs. UNC-Wilmington. Best Western Catamount Classic. $. 7 p.m. CSC. (227-7338) Saturday, March 18 Conference-"Social History in the Mountains." 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. McKee Building. (227-3909) Catamount baseball double­header- vs. Princeton. 1 p.m. and 4:30p.m.$. HS/CF. (227-7338) Lady Catamount softball-vs. AlabamaA&M, 2 p.m.; Charleston Southern, 7 p.m. $. Best Western Catamount Classic. CSC. (227-7338) Sunday, March 19 Catamount baseball- vs. Princeton. $. 1 p.m. HS/CF. (227-7338) Spring into Summer-"Making a Compass and Orienteering." 2:30- 3:30 p.m. MHC. (227-7129) Monday, March 20 MFA artist talk series - Kathryn Temple and Sarah Noble. 4:30 p.m. Room 223, FAPAC. (227-3597) Tuesday, March 21 Workshop-"WNC Saves," new personal savings initiative. Registration required. 9:30- 10:30 a.m. Room 203, Field House. ( www. wcu.edu!hr/training/ personal.asp) Catamount baseball double­header- vs. Hartford. $. 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. HS/CF. (227-7338) Workshop-Low-Speed Vehicle Training. 4:10-4:40 p.m. Room 203, Field House. (227-2388) Catamount Concert Series­Faculty Woodwind Quintet. 8 p.m. RH. (227-7242) Wednesday, March 22 Catamount baseball- vs. Gardner-Webb.$. 7 p.m. HS/CF. (227-7338) Thursday, March 23- Sunday, March 26 Theatre-The University Players and Western's Program in Musical Theatre present "Oklahoma!" $. Thursday-Saturday, 7:30p.m.; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. Performance Hall, FAPAC. (227-2479) Thursday, March 23 Films That Matter- "Network" (Sidney Lumet, 1976). 6 p.m. Room 130, FAPAC. (227-2324) Friday, March 24 Meeting- board of trustees quarterly meeting. 9:30a.m. Room 510, HFR. (227-7100) Catamount baseball - vs. Wofford. Southern Conference game.$. 7 p.m. HS/CF. (227-7338) Saturday, March 25 American Youth Congress-sixth annual event for students in grades 7- 12. Terry Bellamy, mayor of Asheville, keynote speaker. Civic Center, Asheville. (227-3863) Lady Catamount softball doubleheader- vs. Furman. Southern Conference game. $. 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. esc. (227-7338) Catamount baseball- vs. Wofford. Southern Conference game.$. 4 p.m. HS/CF. (227-7338) Sunday, March 26 Lady Catamount softball - vs. Furman. Southern Conference game. $. 1 p.m. esc. (227-7338) Catamount baseball- vs. Wofford. Southern Conference game.$. 2 p.m. HS/CF. (227-7338) Fine Art Museum, FAPAC Thesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m .. (227-3591 or http://fapac.wcu.edu) Mountain Heritage Center Monday-Friday. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (227-7129 or www.wcu.edu/mhc) Slideshow Spotlight, MHC MARCH: "Streams of Life" tells the story of the revival of Hazel Creek, an Appalachian watershed, from prehistory to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), focusing on both human and natural history. Key: $-Admission fee; BB-Belk Building; CAC--CatamountAthletic Center; CAT -Center for Applied Technology; CSC--Catamount Softball Complex; FAPAC-fine and Performing Arts Center; HA-Hoey Auditorium; HFR-H.F. Robinson Administration Building; HSJCF-Hennon Stadium/Childress Field; MHC- Mountain Heritage Center; NSA­Natural Sciences Auditorium; RH-Recital Hall, Coulter Building; RRAC-Ramsey Regional Activity Center; UC­AK. Hinds University Center; UOC-University Outreach Center; WS/BW- Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field. Submissions: Send news items and calendar notices to WCU Calendar, 1601 Ramsey Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723 or e-mail to: Reporter@email.wcu.edu. Submit items for the university s online calendar at least one week prior to the event. March 13, 2006 • The Reporter • page 3 ~lleporter 1 Office of Public Relations Publications Department 1601 Ramsey Center Cullowhee NC 28723 Book by WCU Professor Examines Student Activism in '60s A new book by a WCU history governance and initiating professor examines the rise of changes to the curriculum. student activism in U.S. high "A monograph is a milestone schools during the turbulent in a faculty member's scholarly 1960s and investigates the career, and this work places lingering impact of teenage Gael among the foremost social and political protest on interpreters of the 1960s in modem American society. American historiography," In "Young Activists: said Jim Lewis, head of American High School Students WCU's history department. in the Age of Protest," Gael A faculty member at Graham, associate professor Western since 1990, Graham of history at Western, discusses earned her bachelor's degree how the civil rights movement, at the University of California-the Vietnam War and the anti- Santa Cruz and master's and authoritarian spirit that was so Gael Graham doctoral degrees from the pervasive on college campuses in the 1960s University of Michigan. She currently holds the spilled over into American public high schools. Creighton Sossoman Professorship of History For the book, Graham draws upon the at Western and directs the university's graduate memories of students and teachers from that program in history. era, and analyzes education journals, court "Young Activists" is Graham's second cases and news magazines. She finds that, in book. Her "Gender, Culture and Christianity: addition to debating larger social issues such American Protestant Mission Schools in China, as Vietnam and civil rights, student activists 1880-1930" was published in 1995. She also has also had their own specific agendas, including published articles in the Journal of American relaxing dress codes, taking part in school History, Signs and Journal of Women's History. NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID CULLOWHEE NC PERMIT NO I ~Newsfile ..... The recent premiere of a new dance piece by Durham-based choreographer Laura Thomasson features video footage shot by a student crew in the studios of the Center for Applied Technology. Arledge Armenaki, visiting associate professor of communication, theatre and dance, served as director of photography; Padraig Acheson, visiting assistant professor of communication, theatre and dance, served as technical director, and Scott Meeker, interim digital media consultant in the Coulter Faculty Center, was assistant editor. Titled "Human Anatomy," the dance incorporates live dancing, video and still photography. The multimedia work was premiered at the Independent Dancemakers Concert Feb. 9-10 at Durham School of the Arts. ..... Bill Haggard, associate vice chancellor for student affairs; Walter Turner, director of student judicial affairs; and Jackie McHargue, former director of student judicial affairs, presented a session titled "Involuntary Protective Withdrawal Policy: Responding with Integrity to Complex High Risk Cases" at the recent annual inter­national conference of the Association for Student Judicial Affairs in Clearwater, Fla. The Reporter is published by the Office of Public Relations. Mail faculty/staff notes, events, notices, and changes of address to: The Reporter, 160 I Ramsey Center, or send them via e-mail to: Reporter@email.wcu.edu. 1,8SO copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $389.45, or $0.21 per copy. WCU is a UNC campus and an Equal Opportunity Institution. March 13, 2006 • The Reporter • page 4 March 27,2006 News for the F acuity and Staff of Western Carolina University A "SMART' PannershiP: wcu Students Mentor Cherokee Youth, Explore Heritage The bonds built through the SMART program show. The bonds show three afternoons a week when children at the Cherokee Youth Center rush over with hellos and hugs as Western Carolina University students arrive to mentor them one-on­one in reading and other academic skills. They show when a mentor such as WCU sophomore Lydia Poetker from Taylorsville comforts a student. "When I told her I had to leave, she asked if she could have a picture of me," Poetker said. "I didn't have one, but it made me smile and inevitably brought me back the next semester." Now, Wayne Robbins, English instructor at Western and SMART program director, is rolling out new activities and rewards to strengthen a Wayne Robbins, SMART program director, helps Cherokee Youth Center club participant Taylor Davis with academic skills. such as "How Rabbit Lost His Tail" and "How Medicine Came