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RELEASE (Article by Joey DePew, communications specialist-Office of Communications)
Author coming to
Shawnee State University to present Ever heard of a woman named Anna Briggs Bentley? Most people probably haven’t. If author Emily Foster has her way though, Bentley will soon receive a lot of recognition. In her newest book, “American Grit: A Woman’s Letters from the Ohio Frontier,” Foster has pieced together a 50-year anthology. The book is a collection of letters from Anna Bentley, a Quaker woman who emigrated with her family from Maryland to the Ohio frontier in 1826. Foster will be at Shawnee State University (SSU) in the Flohr Lecture Hall in the Clark Memorial Library at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, to discuss her latest book as part of the Ohio Bicentennial celebration. The event is a collaborative effort of SSU’s Clark Memorial Library and the Portsmouth Public Library. In an attempt to keep those back home from not forgetting her, Bentley kept in touch over the next half century through letters. She wrote to those back home about everything from births and deaths to religion and the Civil War. What makes Bentley so special, Foster explained, is that the frontier woman had a knack for writing that even most men of the day couldn’t match. Even in death she was remembered for her use of words - her headstone is marked with “one of the best conversationalists in the county.” After publishing her first book of early frontier writings, Foster, also an editor at a public relations firm in Columbus, decided to focus on women’s lives and the roles they played during the growing years of the country. Although she says that her inspiration for the book isn’t based on feminism, she does point out that there has been a rise of interest in the “domestic history” of the USA. “When we are taught history, we are taught the history of presidents and generals. Women’s history really doesn’t fall into those categories,” she said. Foster said that the most impressive thing about Bentley was her ability to tell stories. “When you read these letters, you can see what she saw and feel what she felt. Anna led a really hard life and you feel like you’re right there,” said Foster. Bentley lost three children in one year, two of them in one week. “She was downstairs caring for her dying baby while an older child was upstairs dying. Frontier life was harder than what most people think,” Foster said. Presently, Foster doesn’t have any new books in the works, but is “constantly looking around for other ideas.” Foster will also make a presentation at the Portsmouth Public Library at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 6. Visit the SSU bicentennial web page at http://bicentennial.shawnee.edu to learn about future events. For more information call (740) 351-3267. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by Jennifer Moorhead, communications coordinator--Office of Communications) Shawnee State
University awarded grant for development of Shawnee State University (SSU) was one of 12 universities in Ohio that recently was awarded a grant given by the Ohio Learning Network (OLN) for health-care education. The SSU physical therapy assistant programs received $67,450 from OLN in December 2002 for the project “Web-Based Credentialing for Clinical Instructors in Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant Education.” “This will mean that our students, when doing their clinical rotations, will have well-qualified individuals supervising and teaching them,” said Priscilla Pope, P.T., senior instructor of the physical therapist assistant program in the department of health sciences at SSU. Pope submitted the proposal for the project and will serve as the principal investigator for the grant. This project will develop a web-based approach that will allow individuals to become credentialed as a clinical instructor for physical therapists and/or physical therapist assistants. “Presently, clinical instructors must go to a specific site for two to four days to receive the training and testing needed to become credentialed,” said Pope. The development of the project should reach completion by the fall of 2003 and then a pilot study will be done. “I plan to have it in place in the fall with my first group going through it then,” said Pope. “ I have to develop the program and get it on the web first and I plan to do this in the summer.” The department of health sciences at SSU serves the Tri-state area by educating and preparing competent and responsible health care professionals so that they can deliver the best quality health care possible. SSU offers two bachelor’s degree programs and nine associate degree programs in health sciences. For more information about SSU, call (740) 351-3810, or visit the university on the web at www.shawnee.edu. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by Jennifer Moorhead, communications coordinator--Office of Communications) SSU Choir to perform at Central Baptist Church The Shawnee State University (SSU) choir will present a free concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, at Central Baptist Church, 1646 Highland Ave., Portsmouth. The concert, under the direction of Shirley Evans Crothers, will feature contemporary and traditional music, including quartet numbers by Linda Day, of Wheelersburg, and Jeff Nowlin, Ann Smith, and Jeff Wiget, all of Portsmouth. Featured soloists are Carlson Yost, bass, of Portsmouth, and Lonnie Morris, tenor, of South Shore, Ky. In addition, the SSU Choir has recorded a compact disc featuring patriotic numbers, inspirational songs, and the SSU Alma mater, composed by Crothers. The CD is available for $10 at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts McKinley Box Office, (740) 351-3600. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by Jennifer Moorhead, communications coordinator--Office of Communications) SSU Children’s
Learning Center hosting The astounding number of children’s injuries and even deaths on playgrounds each year is a major concern for all who work in an environment where children are playing on playground equipment. In an effort to make playgrounds a safer place for children, the Shawnee State University (SSU) Children’s Learning Center will host a free playground safety workshop open to the public. For those who have a responsibility of properly maintaining playgrounds for the safety of children or who work in a children’s environment with a playground, the workshop is definitely worthwhile, said Cindy Ferguson, director of the Children’s Learning Center at SSU. “Though I have been an educator for 30 years, I took the workshop last year,” said Ferguson. “As a veteran educator, I really learned a lot. It heightened my awareness of safety and taught me to look at a playground from a child’s point of view.” Those who may be interested in attending include school personnel and elementary school principals; child care facility directors and caregivers; sanitarians; playground maintenance staff; and school nurses. Teresa Hendy, certified playground safety instructor (CPSI) and president of Site Masters, Inc., and Lisa Allen, registered nurse, CPSI, project director of Scioto and Lawrence Counties Combined Playground Safety Program, will lead the workshop. Hendy, who brings extensive knowledge of standards and guidelines that apply to playgrounds, has actively worked with the American Society for Testing and Materials and the Consumer Product Safety Commission since 1987. She is currently the chair of the Curriculum Committee of the National Playground Safety Institute. Allen, current chair of the River Cities SAFE KIDS Coalition, is the health educator/inquiry prevention specialist at the Portsmouth City Health Department. She is also certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a child passenger safety technician and instructor. Topics included in the workshop are playground injury prevention, factors contributing to playground injuries, and identification of specific causes of playground injuries. Participants will also visit a local playground for a hands-on inspection and review of hazards. Sponsored by the Scioto County Area Foundation, SSU Children’s Learning Center, the Scioto and Lawrence Counties Combined Playground Safety Program, and the Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau for Health Promotion/Risk Reduction, the free workshop is from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11, in the basement of Massie Hall in room 020 at SSU. The registration deadline is Saturday, March 22. For more information, call (740) 355-8255. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by Jennifer Moorhead, communications coordinator--Office of Communications) SSU Children’s
Learning Center to celebrate In honor of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child beginning April 6 and the Ohio Bicentennial, the Shawnee State University (SSU) Children’s Learning Center (CLC) has planned a week full of activities to celebrate those who the center serves--children. “This is a time to recognize that children's opportunities are our responsibility,” said Cindy Ferguson, CLC director. “We need to ensure that all children have the opportunity that will promote their early learning.” To help meet this challenge, the CLC is inviting members of the community with children three to five years old in need of a solid preschool program this summer or fall to come to the second annual Spring Round-Up BBQ open house from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, April 7, at the CLC, 1240 Third St. in Portsmouth. “This will be an enrollment opportunity for families who are looking for a quality preschool,” said Ferguson. The CLC is a state-of-the-art lab school affiliated with the SSU department of teacher education. Families are invited to visit the facility and enjoy some free hot dogs, chips, and drinks, courtesy of the Scioto Ribber. In addition, a children’s art show will be on display and a book fair will be open. The Scholastic Book Fair will be held at the CLC from April 7 to 10. The hours are from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Bronwyn Sites, an SSU senior early childhood education major, is the volunteer chair for this event. “A book fair promises to be a great event for literacy,” said Sites. “We urge everyone to attend.” To inquire about enrollment at the SSU Children’s Learning Center call (740) 351-3252. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by B.J. Parsons, Communications Specialist-- SSU Office of Communications) SSU Job Fair: Connecting Jobs and People Do you want a job interview? How about 80 or more of them, with employers and recruiters from a huge variety of occupations and services? If your answer to these questions is yes, then perhaps the Shawnee State University (SSU) 2003 Job Fair is for you. The Job Fair, to be held in the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, is an annual event at SSU that seeks to link employers with specific needs to SSU students, alumni, and others who are college graduates. “The Job Fair has proven to be a very successful way to promote our students in the job market,” said Stephen Gregory, director of career services at SSU, a department that is specifically aimed at providing career planning advice and seeking employment for SSU students after graduation. “For students, this is a perfect opportunity to network with people in the industry they are interested in; and for employers, it is an opportunity to fill a need. It is a win-win situation for all parties involved.” A sampling of employers and recruiters who will be on hand includes Hill View Retirement Center, Southern Ohio Medical Center, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Northwestern Mutual Life, Lute Supply, Wellston City Schools, Portsmouth City Schools, Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Marshall University Graduate College, and recruiters for the U.S. Coast Guard, Marines, and Army National Guard. Because the Job Fair is co-sponsored by the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and the Scioto Employment and Training Systems of the Community Action Organization in conjunction with SSU’s office of career services, the program also features another added benefit for employers and students: it is free. “Many other colleges offer job fairs or something similar,” said Gregory. “However, in many cases the colleges charge the employers a fee to appear at the fair. With the sponsor’s assistance, we are able to offer them space and meals free of charge, which makes our event even more appealing. We want the employers to return and we do everything in our power to bring them back every year.” With almost 80 employers already on board to set up informational tables and around 25 more interviewing, the Job Fair has achieved a substantial level of success already. However, this success has not stopped career services from recruiting even more employers to improve the event. “We always try to get additional employers, particularly in the different areas where we offer degrees such as industrial and engineering technologies, business, teacher education, social sciences, and several other arts and sciences programs,” said Gregory. “ We are just trying to give our students as many opportunities to be successful as possible.” One area in which the Job Fair has attracted many employers has been in the health sciences industry. SSU’s excellent health sciences department, coupled with strong regional demand for health science students, has led to a dramatic increase in health science employers at the Job Fair. “It seems the health sciences overwhelm the job fair in terms of numbers,” said Gregory. “We have almost 30 employers from that industry alone. Regardless of the field, we send out 3000 invitations to employers every year, and we will continue to push the concept of the Job Fair to students and employers alike.” Those who wish to attend the event and speak to employers on an informational basis are encouraged to bring resumes and to dress professionally. For more information call (740) 351-3213. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by Joey DePew, communications specialist-Office of Communications) Medical illustration now offered at Shawnee State University Shawnee State University (SSU) is proud to announce the addition of a medical illustration course to the list of classes available in spring quarter.The ARTS 399 class will be included in the department of fine, digital, and performing arts with adjunct illustration instructor Jon Benjamin, of Athens, teaching students both traditional and newer digital techniques. Scott Oliver, D.D.S., M.S., professor of biology at SSU, has also been involved in the planning of this course. Benjamin, originally from New York, holds a master of arts in graphic design from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Currently, he is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator. The class is designed for art students, although students studying science are also encouraged to sign up, said Tom Stead, chair of the fine, digital, and performing arts at SSU. Students will compete detailed, accurate drawings of insects, fish, and biological subjects, as well as some cadaver drawings, depending on availability, said Stead. “You have to have some background and skill in drawing to do this kind of work,” said Stead. “There are several graduate level medical illustration programs around the country, including Jon’s alma mater, and Johns Hopkins University.” This type of artwork is usually found in medical and science publications, and has now evolved into the digital realm, said Stead. “We use a software created by Alais Wavefront called Maya to create three-dimensional images that can be incorporated into disks, medical simulation programs, and so on,” said Stead. “Surgical simulators now use three-dimensional files that are programmed with haptic feedback, like steering wheels and joy sticks that ‘kick’ in digital games, to create a realistic look and feel so that surgeons may log simulator hours practicing and fine-tuning techniques, like airline pilots.” There is a high demand for people with a medical illustration background in the pharmaceutical industry, medical field, and even law, said Benjamin. “Law firms use medical illustrators a lot during litigation and to prepare for court proceedings,” he said. Depending on student interest, medical illustration may even evolve into a concentration area. “Shawnee’s fine, digital, and performing arts department has always had a strong interest in niche programs that other undergraduate schools do not offer,” said Stead. “We are small, with about 200 majors, and feel we can often adapt new ideas more easily than larger institutions.” Benjamin is optimistic that the student interest will be there as he is already working on another medical illustration class for fall quarter. “Students who take the class fall quarter, after having the one coming up in the spring, will be able to build on the projects we do now,” he said. Spring quarter at SSU begins Monday, March 31. The last day to register for classes is Friday, April 4. SSU, with one of the lowest tuition rates among Ohio public universities, offers more than 80 bachelor’s and associate degrees. In addition to fine, digital, and performing arts, other degree areas are English/humanities, mathematical sciences, natural sciences, teacher education, and health sciences. For more information on the fine, digital, and performing arts department at SSU, call (740) 351-3118. For more information about SSU, call (740) 351-4778. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by B.J. Parsons, Communications Specialist-- SSU Office of Communications) SSU to Host Open House The time directly after college can be some of the most hectic moments in a young person’s life--driving around on campus visits, selecting a major, choosing which college to attend, and trying to juggle high school at the same time can leave students feeling frazzled and confused. In an effort to alleviate some of the congestion, Shawnee State University (SSU) is hosting an Open House on Saturday, April 5, 2003, where prospective students will be able to formulate a plan for their college careers. “Open House is a program designed to invite prospective students to campus to take a look at the university as they are finalizing their college selections plans,” said Bob Trusz, SSU’s director of admissions and one of the directors of open house. “Our goal is to have 140 prospective students on campus, and to present the university to them in such a manner that they choose to enroll with us.” The program, which will be begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Flohr Lecture Hall located in SSU’s Clark Memorial Library, will feature various introductory sessions in the different academic departments on campus, campus and housing tours, financial aid presentations, meetings regarding college athletics and placement testing. According to Trusz, the open house is all about presenting the university in a positive, yet honest way. “We try to put the entire university in front of the students,” said Trusz. “We have presentations from the various offices and organizations around campus and they are available for prospective students and their parents to browse and to gather some information. We try to present the university and we do it in as honest and complete way as we possibly can. The people giving tours during open house are not trained tour guides, they are students, and we encourage them to be open and honest about their experiences at SSU.” Honesty is a big issue for Trusz, who staunchly believes that students have a right to know what kind of college they are going to be attending. One way in which the university encourages that is by hosting frank, informal question-and-answer sessions for the students and their parents with current SSU students separately during open house. “We want to be as honest as possible, because college isn’t utopia, and I think the visitors understand that,” said Trusz. “ What we have found from the past couple of years is that people really like the small group interaction with actual college students. It is probably one of the most important parts of the day, because it allows visitors to gain an inside perspective of the university, and that is what open house is all about.” For more information on SSU’s Open House, contact the Office of Admission at (800) 959-2SSU or (740) 351-4778. Open house is free and open to the public. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by Jennifer Moorhead, communications coordinator--Office of Communications) Actress portrayal
of Rosa Parks coming Accomplished actress Kimberly LaMarque, who has devoted her life to educating others, is coming to Shawnee State University (SSU) to present her original, self-written, one-woman play based on the life and times of Rosa Parks. The performance was originally scheduled in February, as part of SSU’s celebration of Black History Month, but was cancelled due to inclement weather. LaMarque’s tribute to Rosa Parks is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, in the Flohr Lecture Hall in the Clark Memorial Library at SSU. “Having a guest such as Kimberly LaMarque visit our campus to give a presentation of the life and times of Rosa Parks is a very pleasant gift for the university and our community,” said Matt Matthews, coordinator of multicultural student affairs at SSU. “We have all heard and read about the Ms. Parks’ ordeal of being arrested for not giving her seat to a white person and being placed in jail. But we know very little of this wonderful lady and her life before she became the ‘Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.’ Ms. LaMarque will bring these gems to life through her performance and enlighten us all on those little known facts of Ms. Parks." An assistant professor of theater and director of forensics at Tennessee State University, LaMarque recreates the life and character of Rosa Parks reciting Parks’ own words reflecting on her arrest for refusing to give her seat on a city bus to a white woman in Montgomery, Ala., in 1955. LaMarque also tells about Parks’ family life and reveals many of her personal experiences with Jim Crow laws in the south. As Parks, LaMarque reflects on the life and assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the rise of the civil rights movement, and offers a unique perspective on the direction society should take today. The Boston native has performed extensively across the country in theaters such as Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles Theater Center, Grove Shakespeare Festival, American Conservatory Theater, Actors Theater of Louisville, The American Negro Playwright Theater, and Tennessee Repertory Theater. In addition, LaMarque toured in Australia’s International Theater Festivals. LaMarque received a master of fine arts from the American Conservatory Theater and studied classical theater at the National Theater of Great Britain. Her directing credits include “Julius Caesar,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Jane Eyre,” and “Romeo and Juliet.” The SSU student programming board and office of multicultural student affairs sponsor this free event. For more information call (740) 351-3553. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by B.J. Parsons, Communications Specialist-- SSU Office of Communications) Radiologic
technology graduates at SSU achieve Don’t do well on tests? Struggle when it is just you, the pen, the paper, and the clock? If so, then you probably wouldn’t fit in with the 13 recent graduates of the radiologic technology program at Shawnee State University (SSU), because to them, testing can be a breeze. The group recently took the national certification examination administered by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, and achieved a sterling 100 percent pass rate on their first attempt. “Once students graduate from the radiography program, they become eligible to take the national certification exam,” said Bill Sykes, chair of the radiologic technology program at SSU. “In the last eight years, our graduates have had a 98 percent first time pass rate on the exam. This says a great deal about the hard work of our students and the continuing excellence we are striving for within the program.” The results are also indicative of how strong SSU’s radiologic technology program is compared to other schools across the country. The national average first time pass rate for the test is 88 percent, said Sykes, leaving SSU positioned well ahead of the pack. “In essence, since our pass rate exceeds the national average, we are assured that we are at the same level or better than most other radiography programs in the country,” said Sykes, “We are very happy with the results, and we will continue to work hard to ensure the numbers remain strong.” Another challenge for the program is to increase the student capacity. While only 13 people graduated the program last year, the department is hoping to increase the capacity by adding more clinical education settings to meet the demand for one of the fastest growing occupations in the medical industry. “We have increased the capacity over the past year and a half,” said Sykes. “We have added Adams County Hospital, Holzer Medical Center-Jackson, and are in the process of having the VA Medical Center in Chillicothe officially recognized. We are trying to get our enrollment to 25, simply because the demand is so great in the job market for radiographers now. The results our students had are excellent, but we will not rest on our laurels.” For more information call the SSU office of admissions at (740) 351-4778. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by Joey DePew, communications specialist-Office of Communications) Scholarly panel to
discuss impact of Islam and Shawnee State University (SSU) is hosting a panel discussion with two scholarly experts who will discuss how it is possible for the two religions of Christianity and Islam to work together. John Lorentz, Ph.D., director of the Center for International Programs and Activities and professor of history at SSU, and Philip Jenkins, Ph.D., distinguished professor of history and religious studies at Pennsylvania State University, will discuss the rise of Christianity and Islam in developing countries. It is an issue that is prevalent in today’s society and an educational opportunity that should not to be missed, said Clifford Poirot, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics at SSU. “This panel features two well-known scholars on Islam (Lorentz) and Christianity (Jenkins). Current trends in both these religions will impact the developing world for the next several decades,” said Poirot. “In both cases, followers of these two religions have turned increasingly towards more conservative interpretations of their faiths.” With both faiths seeking followers in the developing world, how these developments proceed will clearly have a profound impact on the ability of both faiths to coexist, said Poirot. Jenkins, author of the book “The Next Christendom,” who recently was featured on the cover page of the “Atlantic Monthly” magazine for the views he will discuss that evening, agrees the events are significant. “Around the world Christianity is growing and mutating in ways that observers in the west cannot see,” said Jenkins. “We stand at a historical turning point that is epochal for the Christian world as the original Reformation.” Lorentz, an expert in the Islamic faith who is sometimes consulted by the U.S. government, is widely published and has traveled extensively in Islamic countries. The panel discussion is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, in the Flohr Lecture Hall of SSU’s Clark Memorial Library. The event, sponsored by the SSU Honors Program and funded by the Scioto County Area Foundation’s Pixley Fund, is free to the public. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by B.J. Parsons, Communications Specialist-- SSU Office of Communications) SSHOC Revved Up and Ready to Go in New Year You can spot them on campus sometimes; the dirty fingernails always give them away. They are members of the Shawnee State University High Output Club (SSHOC), and they are willing and ready to tell you everything they know about cars--and then some. “We have no requirements to get into this club,” said one of the biggest car lovers this side of the Brickyard, SSHOC’s public relations officer Jimmy Nichols. “You just have to be interested in vehicles or motorbikes to become a member. The meetings are very informal; it is more about getting together and enjoying vehicles than it is about meetings and membership requirements. That is the great thing about SSHOC--it is simply for people with a passion for all things car and bike.” The club currently sponsors various events aimed at the motor enthusiast community, such as cruise-in’s and car shows, and have achieved phenomenal success, leading Nichols to believe that there is a large market for car clubs in the area. “The very first cruise-in that we had saw over 100 people with cars in attendance,” said Nichols. “That was the first time that we had ever done anything like that and we were very pleased with the result. I think it shows there is a definite interest in cars and bikes in this area and I think with hard work this club will only get bigger.” One of the notions that Nichols is quick to dispel is the idea of car lovers being hooligans. While he does admit that many of SSHOC’s members are drag racers, he reiterates that they do so legally, on a drag strip in South Webster, and do not condone street racing of any type. “Those who want to race, can race on a drag strip,” said Nichols. “ The club has quite a few drag racers but we will only do it legally. We sometimes have meetings at drag strips so that if our members want to race, they can race. We do not want to see racing on the street, and we don’t want any of our members hurt or killed.” While SSHOC has had success with their shows so far, they are not merely sitting back and resting on their laurels. Instead, they are working on several new programs they feel will take the club to the next level. “We are working on a college day at KD Dragway where all SSU students, regardless of whether they are SSHOC members or not, will be able to take their cars out and race on the strip. We are also working on a really big project: something similar to a Springfest where we could have a big event. It is something that we could hold every year, getting a lot of people involved, and it will help perpetuate the club.” For more information on SSHOC and its activities, call Nichols at (606) 757-4790. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by Jennifer Moorhead, communications coordinator--Office of Communications)
Tom Stead, who holds a master's of fine arts degree from Ohio University in Athens, is the newly appointed and first chair of SSU’s department of fine, digital, and performing arts Shawnee State
University appoints Stead as first chair Tom Stead remembers a time when there was only one building at Shawnee State University (SSU). Of course, back then it wasn’t SSU, but the Portsmouth branch of Ohio University, which consisted of Massie Hall.There were only six phones on campus, he recalls, and the art department was really just a big, empty room. That was the summer of 1969 when Stead, 22 years old and fresh out of college with a master’s of fine arts degree in painting from Ohio University in Athens, traveled south to Portsmouth, a place the Toledo native had never heard of before, to take a job as an art instructor. “The first thing I did was order tables and chairs,” said Stead, the newly appointed and first chair of SSU’s department of fine, digital, and performing arts. “I taught everything--ceramics, sculpture, art education. I think I was originally hired because I had a diverse background.” He and a couple of maintenance workers even built a dark room from scratch. “It looked like a challenge,” said Stead of his new job. It was a challenge that Stead has consistently met with great success for the 33 years he has taught at SSU. “One way to assess the contribution of Professor Stead,” said Jerry Holt, Ph.D., dean of the college of arts and sciences at SSU, “is to think of everything we would not have if not for Tom. It was in a very real sense Tom’s vision and dedication which brought us the Center for the Arts, the visualist digital design program, and the Appleton Gallery, to name just a few of his contributions. Add to these achievements the influx of students he brings us each year with his tireless recruiting, and you begin to get an idea of just how indispensable Tom is.” Stead first became interested in art at the age of 12 when he would watch the artists work at his father’s illustration business. “It didn’t look impossible to me,” said Stead, who also taught himself to paint at the age of 12. “I got to see the artists work from scratch. People see the finished product and don’t realize there’s a work process involved. I learned that finished work takes a lot of time.” That learned patience has paid off for Stead and, needless to say, his working conditions have improved over time as SSU has continued its growth. Offering more than 80 bachelor and associate degree programs in areas such as the arts, English and humanities, mathematical sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, teacher education, business administration, industrial and engineering technologies, and health sciences, SSU’s campus now has 26 buildings and a lot more than six telephones. One of the new buildings is the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, a $17-million, 102,000 square-foot space featuring an acoustically superior 1,139-seat main theater that is home to cultural and academic programs, as well as Stead’s office. Stead still remembers when the late Vern Riffe, former Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, approached him to reveal his intention for building the fine and performing arts center. “He told me that this will help the region grow,” said Stead. It was former SSU president Frank Taylor, now deceased, who originally told Stead about the plans to build a fine and performing building in 1986. “We (Stead; Shirley Crothers, adjunct professor at SSU; and Emily Gulker, a former SSU professor) were told about it on a Thursday and we had until Tuesday to come up with our plans for the building. I stayed awake for three days because I was so excited. I did a lot of sketches.” The three-story building that took eight years of meticulous planning has helped the region grow, said Stead. Not only has it enriched the cultural lives of the community, the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts houses all the state-of-the-art facilities necessary for the over 200 SSU fine art majors to receive the highest quality education possible. Stead actually wrote the proposal for SSU’s bachelor of fine arts degree, which was approved by the Ohio Board of Regents in 1995. Starting with 18 fine arts majors in 1996, the major has gained tremendous popularity over time as Stead and his colleagues have dedicated themselves to spreading the word about what SSU has to offer. “One of the reasons the program is so successful is we do a lot of recruiting,” said Stead. “We go out into the high schools and do a lot of hands-on work with students. They get very excited.” The bachelor of fine arts degree has the following concentrations: visualist, studio arts, art education, ceramics, drawing, photography, and painting. Other concentrations are on the horizon. “We’re not just sitting here,” said Stead. “We’re planning some new degrees.” Game design and simulation is one such concentration being considered. Animation is also in the works. “Only three schools in the whole country offer this,” said Stead. Minors in theater and music are also now offered, with music offerings being expanded in the fall of 2003. “My whole focus is on the kids,” said Stead. “Our students want to work as soon as they get out of school.” To achieve this goal, Stead makes a commitment to stay informed with what is going on in the worlds of art and technology. “I stay in touch with business people. I do a lot of reading,” said Stead. “Five kids from ages 16 to 23 at home also keeps me in touch.” Even after nearly four decades, Stead still remains excited about SSU and finds his career rewarding. “I hope he doesn’t even consider retirement until he’s 110: I don’t know what we’d do without him,” said Holt. The students at SSU are the true driving force behind Stead’s longevity at SSU. “The talent has kept me here. A lot of kids here are very creative. That’s what is rewarding,” said Stead. Playing an integral part in SSU’s future is also intriguing. “Shawnee’s coming into its own. I’m really excited about its future. I’m really excited about where we’re headed. Our programs are receiving recognition,” said Stead. “We’re an entity.” The department of fine, digital, and performing arts is just a little piece of the puzzle, however, to SSU’s success, said Stead. Like Stead learned as a young boy watching the illustrators at his father’s studio, it’s just a small part of the work in progress where one needs to appreciate all the steps taken that lead to the finished product. “It’s exciting to see Shawnee State grow. I never had any doubt,” said Stead. For more information about the bachelor of fine arts degree or SSU, please call the office of admission at (740) 351-4SSU or visit SSU’s website at www.shawnee.edu. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by B.J. Parsons, Communications Specialist-- SSU Office of Communications)
Tougher than War: Shawnee State University (SSU) sports management student Jeremy Leibolt talks to his family on the phone while he packs his bags. Leibolt, a demolitions expert in the National Guard, is preparing for active duty, as his unit is being sent to the Panama Canal, after which deployment to Iraq is a very real possibility. Not Just a Face: SSU Students Called to War When you watch images of military people on television, particularly in recent days as the country entered war in the Middle East, it is easy to forget that the people on your screens are regular people, too. Unless of course you go to Shawnee State University (SSU) and other institutions like it across the country, in which case some of the people on the television may very well be your classmates, too. With six SSU students already receiving their dispatch orders and several more awaiting confirmation on tours that could last anywhere between six months and two years, the university and the community are already feeling the effects of the war -- and it has just begun. “It is a very uncertain time that we are in right now,” said Stephen Midkiff Ph. D., SSU’s registrar. “I am the last person these young people speak to before they leave, and I can sense the stress that they are feeling. These people have families, jobs in the community, and many are close to completing their degrees, so it is very difficult for them to just pick up and leave.” Although signs of the war have been looming overhead for several months now, the actual activations often occur with little to no warning at all, making a difficult situation even tougher as military personnel struggle to get their affairs in order before they leave. “We had one young man who was given one day’s notice before he was sent out,” said Midkiff. “He had to fax in his activation papers so that we could verify his absence with his instructors. The university continues to place a priority on helping these students make the transition as seamlessly as possible, but it still is extremely tough for these young people to have to deal with.” The situation is also extremely tough on people other than those who are being deployed-just ask Faye Logan, a financial aid representative for the university who handles fiscal matters for war veterans and military personnel. Logan’s son, William, who is an SSU graduate, is a captain in the Ohio National Guard and has been scheduled for deployment to either Turkey or Kuwait. “I am able to understand what these young servicemen and women are going through, because I witnessed it first-hand with my son,” said Logan. “ On nights and weekends I have the television on constantly, hoping for some news on what is going on.” “It is a rapid adjustment that these people have to make as they go straight from being a student to a soldier,” Logan said. “In some cases, they leave the classroom and in a couple of hours they are soldiers, basically going from blue jeans to camouflage. One simply cannot imagine it. Jeremy Leibolt might be able to. The 22-year old junior sports management major at SSU is a demolitions expert in the Ohio National Guard and, after serving a two-week stint at the Panama Canal this month, is facing possible activation to the Middle East. “It is very difficult watching all of this happen, and it is so uncertain,” said Leibolt. “You can’t set anything in stone because you might have to go at any time. I was supposed to graduate next spring, but if I am activated I might not graduate for three years. That is a hard concept to swallow, but this is something I have to do for my country.” With major news sources estimating that up to 90 percent of Ohio’s National Guard and Reservists may be activated, compared to 10 percent during Desert Storm, the number of students deployed is sure to rise. Until then, there isn’t much anyone can do. “I just pray, every night,” said Logan. “I just pray they will all return to us safely.” # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by B.J. Parsons, Communications Specialist-- SSU Office of Communications) SSU To Host Summer Opportunities Showcase Can’t think of anything to do this summer? Want a summer job, but don’t know where to find one? Interested in joining an adult education program? Perhaps the Shawnee State University (SSU) Summer Opportunity Showcase is for you. Hosted by the Office of University Outreach Services (UOS) at SSU, an organization designed to act as a liaison between the community and the university, the Summer Opportunity Showcase is an excellent way for community members to become involved with something positive during the upcoming summer months. “The Summer Opportunities Showcase is an excellent way for people who are trying to find something to do over the summer to get a wide variety of options at one time,” said Megan Horne, UOS program manager and school to work contact. “There will be more than 30 vendors in attendance from all different backgrounds. With so many different choices to offer, most people will be able to find something they want to do.” The event, which will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 3 in the SSU University Center, will be a collaboration of entities involved in summer projects that are excited about fitting the right people with the right summer opportunity. “Be it sports camps, Bible schools, revivals, or other workshops, there are many activities that are open to the public over the summer,” said Horne. “This will be the first time that we have attempted something like this and we are very excited about it. We will have vendors with stands set up explaining the different programs that they will have available, and hopefully families will come along and see exactly what is offered.” UOS decided to implement the idea after being swamped with phone calls and visits from parents who were interested in getting their children involved in activities over the summer. Founded on this ideal, the plan has grown to encompass a much broader age group, as certain opportunities are made available. “We recognize that adults may be looking for opportunities over the summer too, so we really developed our focus group,” said Horne. “The Summer Opportunities Showcase is an event aimed at the whole community. There is plenty of opportunity out there, we just have to put people in the right place to find it.” For more information on the Summer Outreach Showcase, please contact UOS at (740) 351-3274, or toll-free at (866) 672-8778. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE London swing dance
company giving free The internationally renowned London swing dance company Jivin’ Lindy Hoppers will perform free to the public at Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts (VRCFA) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. The award-winning Jivin’ Lindy Hoppers, accompanied by a New York-based big band, will present, “Big Band Dance Party,” a spectacular show of swing dancing and big band music from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. “This is a great opportunity to share the music and dances of the 40s and the incredible high-energy experience of swing with parents and grandparents,” said Carl Daehler, executive director of the VRCFA. “It is a wonderful opportunity for families and people of all ages to enjoy a great evening out together considering the hard times our community has endured these past several weeks.” Although there is no charge for admission to the show, made possible by anonymous donors, tickets are required for reserved seating. Call the VRCFA McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600. Box office hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE (Article by Jennifer Moorhead, communications coordinator--Office of Communications)
Tom Bridwell, director of the Shawnee State University theater production of Samuel Beckett's famous play, "Waiting for Godot," watches the cast rehearse, with actor Charles Cummings, who plays Lucky, shown in the background. The drama will be performed at 7:30 p.m. in the Kahl Studio at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on April 3 through April 5 and April 17 through 19.
Fellow actors Jerry Holt, Ph.D., dean of the college of arts and sciences at Shawnee State University, left, and Phillip Sherick, of West Portsmouth, who are both starring in the SSU student theater production of Samuel Beckett's classic "Waiting for Godot," rehearse together in the Kahl Studio in SSU's Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. SSU
Student Theater presents “Waiting for Godot”
Life-affirming. Beautiful. Poetic. Moving.
These are just some of the words Jerry Holt, Ph.D., dean of the
college of arts and sciences at Shawnee State University (SSU),
draws on to describe Samuel Beckett’s critically acclaimed drama,
“Waiting for Godot,” which will be presented by SSU student
theater.
“Few things have disarmed me like this play,” said Holt, who
plays the part of Vladimir. “I love the language. When the
character Gogo, speaking of the moon, says, ‘Pale for
weariness…Of climbing heaven and gazing on the likes of us…’ I
always shiver a little.”
Director Tom Bridwell, SSU student theater technical director,
relates.
“This play is absolutely riveting. I love it,” said Bridwell,
also a published poet and author. “It completely revolutionized
20th century theater.”
The post-World War II tragicomedy that launched Beckett into instant
fame is credited for starting the Theater of the Absurd genre. The
story unfolds on a miserably deserted road, except for a lone tree,
where two apparently homeless men are waiting on Mr. Godot. While
waiting, the two lost souls grapple to discover meaning--meaning to
their existence, meaning to their circumstance, meaning for mankind.
A comical banter therein ensues.
It’s a dialogue, intertwined with frustration, hopelessness, and
threats of suicide, which actually divulges a positive message, said
Holt.
“What I love about the experience of art is how it makes us do the
work, how it causes us to think and find meaning,” said Holt.
“We discover that Vladimir and Gogo provide each other with what
they need to survive. In a very finite sense, they are each
other’s saviors. They are, in a sense, each other’s ‘godots.’”
And there is the positive message.
“In the absence of something finite, we have to do for ourselves
and for others. Sometimes all that is necessary to find meaning is
to rub one’s eyes and look afresh at the very familiar sights
around us,” said Holt.
In addition to Holt, other cast members are first time actor Phillip
Sherick, of West Portsmouth, who plays Estragon; Loren Keller, of
Portsmouth, an SSU history major, who plays Pozzo; Charles Cummings,
of Wheelersburg, who plays Lucky; and Kristen Humble, of West
Portsmouth, an SSU freshman, who plays The Boy.
The cast has rehearsed now for two months, said Bridwell, and he is
more than pleased with the results.
“I want as many people as possible to see this play because it’s
an important piece of literature,” said Bridwell, whose experience
also includes working as a professional Equity stage manager in
Boston and at the Cape Cod Playhouse. “The chemistry between
Phillip and Jerry just blew me away.”
Sherick, Bridwell’s neighbor who works at Mill’s Pride, earned
his role as Estragon after impressing Bridwell with an amazingly
good cold read of the part.
“I was amazed at how natural the reading was,” said Bridwell.
“I knew he would be great for the part.”
His counterpart is equally struck.
“Phillip does a fabulous job,” said Holt. “It’s an honor to
work with him--with all of them, in fact.”
“Waiting for Godot” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. in the Kahl
Studio at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, April 3 through April
5 and April 17 through 19. Tickets are $6. Contact the McKinley Box
Office at (740) 351-3600 for tickets. # # #
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