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December 2007 Issue
December 2007 Issue
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Campus Happenings
Let’s Go to the Movies
Several faculty or campus organizations offered
opportunities for learning through film throughout the fall term. The
Center for Southwestern and Mexican Studies presented a Texas
Heritage Film Festival, offered in connection with Professor of
History Light Cummins’ Communication/Inquiry class “The Texas
Heritage.” Featured films included Pigskin Parade (1936), the movie
that created the Cotton Bowl Football Classic; Boomtown (1940), in
which Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy strike it rich at Burkburnett;.
Giant (1956), the great ranching classic based on
the King Ranch and Shamrock Oil; The Alamo (1960), with John Wayne
as Davy Crockett; and Lone Star (1996), in which immigration problems
on the Rio Grande/Bravo border take center stage. Classics faculty and
the Classics Club co-sponsored a classics film series, featuring the
films 300 (2006), The Name of the Rose (1986), Electra (1962), Indiana
Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Alexander (2004), and Monty Python
and the Holy Grail (1975). Anne Xu, assistant professor of
Chinese, invited the campus community to a viewing of The Goddess
(1934), a black-and-white Wu Yonggang film about a woman’s struggle to
survive as a mother plying her livelihood as a prostitute.
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Amnesty International Hosts Colombian Humanitarian
Educational psychologist and 2006 International
Peacemaker Vilma Yanez-Ogaza of Colombia spoke on campus Sept. 23
about youth activism in the pursuit of justice and reconciliation for
displaced landowners and victims of armed violence in Colombia. She
has been an active supporter of students in Colombia who have
willingly placed themselves in danger for the sake of educating
displaced victims of their rights. The visit was sponsored by the
campus chapter of Amnesty International.
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Robert Cape, professor of classics; Janet
Lowry, associate professor of sociology; David Griffith,
associate professor of business administration; and Karen Nelson,
professor of psychology, held a panel discussion in September about
the controversial book The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. The
group addressed aspects of the book from perspectives of business,
sociology, psychology, and the liberal arts. Friedman’s book has been
on the New York Times Bestseller List almost continually since 2005
and was issued in a third, expanded edition (“3.0”) in August.
Friedman, a triple Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the New York
Times, argues that a convergence of new technologies has produced a
new, global work environment that will change the way governments,
businesses, and individuals operate and compete. The World is Flat
has
been hailed as a roadmap and suggestion guide to the new world order,
and it has been vilified as empty rhetoric, neoliberal, dangerous, and
skewed, Cape said.
Bob Cape |
Janet Lowry |
David Griffith |
Karen Nelson |
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Students Promote One-on-One
Diplomacy
Understanding and respect were the apparent results
of a day of interaction between Austin College students, faculty, and
staff and a group of visitors from around the world, on campus Sept. 6
through the International Visitor Leadership Program, a program of the
U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
 The international guests included 13 university
students and young professionals from Bahrain, Egypt, Gaza, Jordan,
Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, the West Bank, and Yemen, plus
four interpreters. The day at Austin College is just one stop on the
three-week trip that included visits in Washington, D.C., Seattle, and
Dallas. Interactions on the trip allow individuals to help shape
foreign relations one-on-one, or through ‘citizen diplomacy.’
“Each student brought something different and each
seemed to have a wonderful leadership experience they were able to
share,” said Justin Light ’09 of Fort Worth, who visited with the
group. “I think the guests enjoyed seeing each of the organizations
the college offers because they are unable to have as many clubs at
their schools.”
Melanie Oge ’09 of Slidell, La., helped coordinate
the visit. “My favorite part of the experience was simply being able
to have conversations with our visitors,” she said. “Although there
were many differences among us, there were many similarities as well.”
The visitors met with various student leaders
throughout the day and participated in a session with
Posey Leadership Institute students. Peter DeLisle,
director of the Posey Leadership Institute, presented models of
leadership effectiveness and interpersonal relationships. The
international students, all of whom had an understanding of American
culture through U.S. films and music, offered a different, but
interesting and insightful perspective to the dialogue, DeLisle said.
Examples of effective leaders from their home countries were used as
positive images to model, as well as leaders who are recognized as
influential by all cultures. “Much common ground was found as the
conversation focused on positively influencing others in whatever role
the person plays,” DeLisle said.
In Washington, D.C. visitors received an
introduction to the structure of the U.S. government and the
decentralized education system. Briefings there illustrated the
American political process and citizen participation as a civic
responsibility.
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The Department of Art and Art History hosted the
exhibit “Dead Guy in the Bluebonnets: Exploring Contemporary Regional
Trends in the Arts” in early fall, presented by the Ghost Town Arts
Collective of Grayson County. The collective was founded in September
2006 by several Austin College alumni. Many of the artists whose work
was included in the Austin College exhibit are alumni as well.
In gathering art for the exhibit, Ghost Town Arts
Collective staff wrote, “The mysteries, details, and events of rural
and small-town places are not things that are felt on a large scale —
they don’t often translate into mainstream culture. Each region is a
world outside of the world, where the intricacies of its
relationships, the tangling of its traditions with new developments,
its choices about what makes something valuable or loathsome, make for
a unique culture in every sense of the word.. ... What will this
gathering of art tell us about ourselves? About the world? We’re eager
to find out.”
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Troncalli Discusses Extreme Physics
Austin College’s Humanities Colloquia lecture
series, “Tuesday Afternoon With …,” continued this fall with Andra
Troncalli, assistant professor of physics, presenting “Extreme
Physics — Superconductors, Nanotubes, and Beyond” in September.
Superconductors need extremely cold temperatures and
can carry currents without any loss for an extremely long time. Carbon
nanotubes are extremely small and have other extreme properties. The
discovery of these materials led to the development of applications,
Troncalli said. Her presentation highlighted some of the exciting
current and future applications, such as magnetically levitated
trains, space elevators, and strong fibers to be used in body and
vehicle armor.
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Students Test Knowledge of U.S.
Constitution
Noted television host Alex Trebeck wasn’t on hand,
but the competition was still fierce during Austin College’s
“Constitution Jeopardy” in September. Students used the popular game
show format to test their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution as part
of the campus commemoration of Constitution Day, celebrated each Sept.
17, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in 1787.
From May through mid-September 1787, the members of
the Constitutional Convention met to review the Articles of
Confederation, but found a new document would be needed to better
define the issues. By Sept. 17, the only item of business was to sign
the Constitution and send copies to state legislatures for
ratification.
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Theatre Students Perform Three Tall Women
 Vanessa Linn ’08 directed Austin College’s September
production of Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women. Vanessa summarized the
play as the story of “A,” a very old, autocratic and proud woman, who
in Act One is living out her days at home with a middle-aged
caretaker, “B.” Their routine is interrupted when “C,” a young
lawyer’s assistant, comes to settle some of A’s financial affairs. The
disruption and A’s deteriorating mind, spur her into telling dramatic
and sometimes funny stories from her past.
“Later,” Vanessa said, “in a surreal twist of A’s
mind, A is able to re-experience her memories using B and C as
character from her past. These women then portray three stages of A’s
life. Through their arguments, diatribes, and humor, there emerges a
view of the full evolution of the strong and tall woman’s life.”
Principal actors were Christine Cunningham ’08 as A;
Jackie Purdy ’08 as B; and Averie Bell ’09 as C.
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Symposium Explores “Empowerment” in Africa
“Empowerment," an Austin College Symposium on Africa
held Oct.15-18 included an art exhibit, films, a panel discussion, and
a presentation on Austin College micro-credit projects in Africa.
An exhibition of 40 African paintings, “Tales from a
Kijiji: The Zanzibar Collection,” completed by five of Tanzania’s most
prominent artists, symbolized those artists’ struggles and hopes. The
exhibit was organized by Zuri Watu, created by David Leonard ’02 to
provide East African artists with promotion and exposure on the global
market and expand the world’s interest in original fine art from the
area. During the symposium, Leonard led a discussion of the film
Recalling the Future: Art in Contemporary Africa.
A panel discussion, “What Is Community Empowerment,”
included Leonard, Kirk Everist, assistant professor of
communication studies, Peter Anderson, assistant professor of
English, and representations of ACCares and Tostan. ACCares is an
Austin College organization that, among other activities, helps
support the Simbaradenga AIDS Orphanage in Zimbabwe. Tostan was
founded in 1974 with a mission “to empower African communities to
bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation
based on respect for human rights.”
Will Radke ’08, founder of Austin College’s GO
Change Project to empower community-led development through
micro-credit, introduced a presentation by Austin College President
Oscar C. Page and Tostan partnership facilitator Cody Donahue that
highlighted the three communities in Senegal aided by the donations of
Austin College students. This spring the GO Change Project raised
approximately $1,700 by encouraging students to donate their pocket
change for micro loans in Africa.
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The Austin College
Department of Music presented the second Annual Honors Recital
in September, showcasing the talents of performers chosen by
department faculty from among more than 125 students who participate
in ensembles, lessons, and solo performances. Instrumental performers
were Katy Hampton ’08, viola; Nida Iqbal ’09, violin; Katelyn Peterson
’09, flute; Sarah Powell ’09, clarinet; and Allen Wang ’10, piano.
Vocal performers were Heather Williams ’09, Justin Duncan ’08,
Adam Cluchey ’08, and Michael Brahce ’08.
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Lessons in Etiquette Can Aid in Job Search
Knowing the right answers to a potential employer’s
questions is not always enough. Sometimes it also is necessary to know
which fork to use, when to stand, and how to respond to an offer of
alcohol. Business etiquette is a necessary tool for success in today’s
world.
To prepare students for the eventuality of job
interviews held during a meal, business conducted during dinner
meetings, and formal professional functions, Austin College’s Career
Services offers an Etiquette Dinner each fall where just such issues
are discussed. In addition to the opportunity to gain comfort with the
formal table setting, students were given information by Margie Norman
’82, director of Career Services, about how to eat difficult foods,
what to order when given the option, and other dinner etiquette.
Students also were instructed in making introductions, shaking hands,
accepting business cards, and networking.
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Alumna Discusses Gender and Abu Ghraib
Prison
Sociologist Ryan Ashley Caldwell ’99 presented a
lecture, “The Women of Abu Ghraib and Expressive Torture,” in October,
sharing her recent doctoral research at Texas A&M University on the
Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq. Austin College’s Gender Studies
Program invited Caldwell to share her work, which has been published
in Talcott Parsons: Theories, Developments, and Applications and will
be included in the fall 2007 issue of Cultural Sociology.
In Caldwell’s presentation, the concept of gender
entered into the events surrounding the courts martial of the seven
soldiers found guilty of aggravated assault and battery and the abuse
of detainees at the hands of American military soldiers. Caldwell
also considered how gender is conceived of in the U.S. military and
how this is connected to power. Within this analysis, an application
and expansion of Talcott Parsons’ idea of “instrumental and expressive
gender roles” leads to new concepts such as expressive torture,
expressive power, instrumental torture, and instrumental chaos.
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High
School Counselors Experience ‘Magic’ of Texas Colleges
High school admission counselors from around the
United States visited Austin College in early October as part of a
three-day tour, Magic in the Metroplex, that included stops at SMU,
TCU, the University of Dallas, and Austin College.
The admission staffs at the four colleges arrange
the tour to acquaint counselors with the colleges’ programs and
campuses. While at Austin College, the guests visited with members of
the faculty and administration, heard from a panel of students about
their experiences at Austin College, toured the campus and Jordan
Family Language House, and were hosted at a reception at the home of
Nan Davis, vice president for Institutional Advancement.
One of the visitors wrote the next week on an
education consulting blogsite: “I recently spent a half day in
Sherman, Texas, visiting Austin College. I was very impressed with the
campus, the students, the administration, and the faculty. What’s not
to like about it? Very little. The students are academically serious.
The faculty members I met were dedicated, intelligent, involved in
their discipline, and devoted to their students. If my kids, nieces,
or nephews expressed an interest in Austin College, I’d nurture that
interest. It’s a warm, welcoming place that would undoubtedly foster
intellectual, social, and emotional growth. Isn’t that what it’s all
about?”
Nan Davis, vice president for Institutional
Enrollment, said the area colleges began Magic in the Metroplex in
2001, and another tour will be held in March 2008, including
counselors from the western region of the United States. “These joint
tours are a significant part of our recruitment program, given our
goal to increase overall applications as well as out-of-state
enrollments over the next several years,” Davis said. The four schools
have agreed to host the programs through 2011.
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College Enters 10-Year Electric Contract
Austin College has entered into a 10-year contract
for electric power that includes renewable energy components. This is
the first agreement of its kind in Texas for a small liberal arts
college. “The campus leadership believes that the price of electric
power in our new agreement is very attractive in today’s market and
that the pricing will only become more valuable over time,” said
President
Oscar C. Page. “Even more important, we feel strongly
that our consumption of electricity should include a substantial
portion of green energy in order for our campus to be an effective
steward of the environment.”
The agreement was brokered by Bennett Rowe,
president and managing partner of Choice Energy Services, and Champion
Energy Services supplies the energy. Rowe said he was “impressed with
Austin College’s thoroughness in describing the right energy product
for its needs as well as the long-term environmental commitment of the
College.”
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Williams Executive-in-Residence Program
Todd Maclin, chief executive officer of the
Commercial Bank at J.P. Morgan Case & Co., delivered the first lecture
in Austin College’s new
Williams Executive-in-Residence Series this
fall.. The series brings leading business executives to speak about
their practical life experiences in business, their paths to success,
and lessons learned along the way. A panel presentation by Dallas and
Fort Worth business leaders J. Curtis Henderson ’84, Dick Lentz
’76,
Mary McKee ’84, Rodney Moore ’84, Bill Warren ’74,
Todd Williams ’82,
and trustee Sharon King provided additional insights.
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Work is underway on new tennis courts, to be located
north of Richards Street at the northwest edge of campus. Russell
Tennis Stadium has been located near Hughey Gymnasium since 1974 — on
the site of what is now the College’s proposed science building. The
new location on Richards Street integrates the
tennis complex with
other sports fields.
The tennis complex will include eight regulation
courts with NCAA standard lighting for competitive match play. The
lighting will entail 128 light fixtures on thirty 50-foot poles with
an average of 120 candle foot of light on any square foot of the
courts. The complex will include spectator seating areas as well as
men’s and women’s restroom areas and dressing and shower facilities.
Tentative completion date for the tennis facility is mid-December and
the first season of play on the courts will be in spring 2008.
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