NEWS & CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

Charles Tunstall, above, reference and instructional services librarian, describes one of several kinds of close encounters with UFOS that were the topic of a presentation Thursday evening (Jan. 20)  in the Thomas J. Garland Library. Twenty-two people attended the presentation, “UFOs: Then and Now,” one of the programs for the community that the Library sponsors each year. Tunstall, who has studied UFOs and related phenomenon for years as a hobby, shared an overview of many topics related to UFOS, including types of unidentified flying objects that have been reported, the types of close encounters with alien beings, crop circles, alien abductions and the concept of missing time. He also described some interpretations of UFOs in the Bible, such as the prophet Ezekial’s encounter with the flying wheel and references from the book of Daniel. He discussed some of the popular books that have been written about UFOs and alien abduction by such authors as Erik von Deniken, George Adamski , Billy Meier and Whitley Strieber. He showed some photos that have been made of reported UFOs sightings in Tennessee. Tunstall noted that while most of the books about UFOs have been written and research completed by amateurs, the scientific inquiry into the phenomenon is increasing.

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The valiant efforts of a group of men and their sled-dog teams to help stave off a deadly epidemic while battling extreme weather conditions will be the focus of a presentation Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Tusculum College.

“An Iditarod Hero - 500 Lives, 600 Miles, 50 Below” will be presented by Frank Mengel, technical director and stage manager for Tusculum College’s Arts Outreach program and an adjunct professor of theater. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the Behan Arena Theatre on the lower level of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building (side entrance).

Mengel, who lived in the nation’s largest state for 25 years, will provide an Alaskan perspective to what is popularly known as the “Serum Run of 1925.” His

presentation will explore how NASCAR, statues in New York City’s Central Park and diphtheria are all connected by this story of uncommon heroism, an inspiration for  the famous Iditarod sled-dog race of today.

Diphtheria had struck during 1925 in the isolated community of Nome, Alaska, and 500 lives were endangered by the very contagious and deadly disease. An antitoxin cures diphtheria, but the community’s doctor had very little of the serum, not enough to treat all the cases that had occurred or prevent an epidemic from spreading through the town.

The needed medicine was available more than 1,000 miles away in Anchorage, but there were no roads, the ocean was frozen, the train traveled just 400 miles and the only available airplane’s engine would not start. And temperatures were dipping to 50 below zero.  A group of about 20 mushers and 150 sled dogs rose to the challenge of the dire situation to deliver the antitoxin to Nome by relay through the Alaskan wilderness.

Coming to Tusculum by way of Anchorage and Wichita, Mengel has served the Arts Outreach program for 11 years and is well known for providing his technical expertise to other groups including local school systems and area theater groups. He also volunteers for many community organizations.

He has 20 years of teaching experience, serving as an instructor for the

University of Alaska - Anchorage, Alaska Theatre of Youth, Wichita State University and Tusculum. Mengel has 25 years of theater experience working with the University of Alaska - Anchorage, Out North Theatre, Alaska Theatre of Youth, Wichita State, Theatre-at-Tusculum, Kingsport Ballet and Central Ballet Theatre. He has provided stage design, lighting and sound for more than 100 productions.

He holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and in secondary education from the University of Alaska, and a master’s degree in communication and theatre from Wichita State.

Admission to the lecture is $6 per person. For more information about the program, please contact Arts Outreach at 423.798.1620 or visit http://arts.tusculum.edu online.

The program is part of Tusculum Arts Outreach’s Acts, Arts, Academia 2010-11 performance and lecture series, which is supported by the late Dr. Sam Miller in the memory of Agnes Ault Miller, Arts Outreach, the Society of Cicero, Hearts for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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A variety of topics relating to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) will be explored during a program Thursday, Jan. 20, at Tusculum College.

“UFOs, Then and Now” will be presented at 6 p.m. in the Thomas J. Garland Library. Charles Tunstall, reference and instructional services librarian, will present the program. The often controversial topic of UFOs has received much attention and been the focus of countless books and articles, and Tunstall describes his program as a his “tongue-in-cheek” presentation that will cover some of the more well-known incidents and concepts.

The history of UFO incidents will be examined. Tunstall noted that there are some who interpret the prophet Ezekial’s encounter with the flying wheel described in the Bible as a UFO event and that there is a painting of “The Last Supper” that some believe shows a UFO in the sky in the background.

Another topic will be the well-known Roswell incident, which involves the alleged crash of an alien aircraft in New Mexico and subsequent alleged cover-up by the U.S. military.

Also to be discussed is the concept of missing time and alien abduction. Missing time incidents are those in which individuals cannot remember what has happened during a specific time period. For example, Tunstall said, there is a written account of a couple who was returning home from vacation and suddenly found themselves at home, not remembering how they got there. Under hypnosis, according to the account, the couple remembered being abducted by aliens and examined and tested during the “missing time” of their memory.

Numerous books have been written about alleged alien abductions, Tunstall said, noting that most of the individuals who study UFOs are amateur, not professional scientists. Interestingly, he added, there have been devout Christians who have shared stories of alien abductions and almost all have said that their faith has been increased due to the incidents.

Refreshments will be served at the event.

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Dr. David McMahan, dean of students at Tusculum College, recently made a presentation to his peers in the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) about best practices in student conduct with regard to recent legislative changes and the challenges presented by electronic social media.

McMahan made his presentation during a TICUA Chief Student Affairs Officer Retreat on Nov. 11.

His initial remarks addressed the implications for colleges of a recent U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Office for Civil Rights letter to educational institutions regarding bullying in relation to federal harassment legislation. While commending schools for proactive efforts in addressing bullying and the increasing forms of “cyber-bullying,” the DOE’s primary message was that many forms of bullying constitute harassment under federal legislation and must be addressed accordingly, McMahan told his colleagues.

To comply with these regulations, he continued, institutions of higher education must be able to assure that they are supporting an alleged victim with appropriate accommodations while acting promptly and effectively to identify harassment, and if it is found, to end the harassment, prevent its recurrence and remedy its effects.

Dean McMahan also addressed two related challenges facing many private and public higher education institutions - identifying “harassment” under the law and determining how far the institution’s jurisdiction should reach in addressing conduct.

On the first point, he referenced the DOE Office for Civil Rights’ standard that “conduct must be sufficiently serious to deny or limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the educational program” evaluated from the position of a “reasonable person” considering the alleged victim’s perspective and circumstances and that harassment prohibited by the statutes within the office’s jurisdiction “must include something beyond the mere expression of views, words, symbols or thoughts that some person finds offensive.”

Continuing, Dean McMahan noted the increased difficulty presented by the hurtful impact of cyber-bullying due to rapid incident escalation and the lack of ability to interpret tone in actions made through social media that could be considered cyber-bullying such as exclusion, denigration, flaming, stalking, impersonation, trickery and outing.

Dean McMahan called for more proactive and preventive measures such as educational training in avoidance, de-escalation and reporting of incidents rather than interventions after-the-fact such as student discipline, which are unlikely to be the most productive approach to addressing the problem in light of a number of studies that show that zero-tolerance policies have not been effective in adjusting student behavior or providing more civil school environments.

He also called upon administrators to “meet poor speech with more speech” (citing Derek Bok, past president of Harvard University) and embrace their role in speaking out publicly against hateful speech.

Addressing the jurisdictional question regarding expressive conduct (free speech), Dean McMahan pointed to developing constitutional case law which public higher education institutions most observe that speaks to the connection between off-campus behavior and the likelihood of a substantial disruption of the academic environment on campus. Private colleges and universities seek to engage students in productive dialogue about fair and equitable treatment and defining the community values that are reflected in their regulations which makes this dialogue relevant even though private institutions are able to define behavior expectations more stringently than their public peers.

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A wreath representing Tusculum College was among the Christmas decorations featured in the recent “Festival of Trees” at Niswonger Performing Arts Center.

The beautifully designed wreath was decorated by Deborah Davis, associate athletic director, compliance officer and senior women’s administrator. The theme for the wreath was “A Tapestry of Pioneer Pride,” reflecting the theme of the recent inauguration of Tusculum’s president, Dr. Nancy B. Moody.

Wellington Place Assisted Living and the Niswonger Performing Arts Center hosted the Festival of Trees, which featured trees, wreaths, swags, topiaries center pieces and gingerbread houses all decorated for the holidays.

The Festival of Trees was open to the public from November 15 through 22. Admission was a can of food to be donated to the Greene County Food Bank. A silent auction was held of the various items with proceeds benefitting the Niswonger Performing Arts Center and A Safe Harbor Home, Inc., a transitional shelter for victims of domestic violence.

Both the Food Bank and Safe Harbor Home have received the assistance of Tusculum students in the past. For example, students have volunteered at the Food Bank and painted murals for Safe Harbor Home’s new consignment store during the last Nettie Fowler McCormick Service Day.

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About 150 people enjoyed ghost stories and legends during “Haints and Boogers” at the Thomas J. Garland Library. The staff of the Library shared ghost stories from Greene County and East Tennessee. Staff members also shared ghost stories from their native states. Popular were the stories from East Tennessee State University and Tusculum College. The staff also shared stories of “Elmer, the Library Gremlin,” who is held responsible for any odd happenings there. After the program, some “spooky” refreshments, prepared by the Library staff, were served.

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Jacquelyn D. Elliott, vice president for enrollment management at Tusculum College, has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Southern Association for Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (SACRAO).

Elliott, who has been at Tusculum since 2006, will serve a two-year term as vice president for professional development on the Executive Committee.

In this position, Elliott will be responsible for coordinating and supervising the professional growth and development activities of SACRAO. She will also serve as a member of the organization’s Program Committee, coordinate the activities of the Professional Development Committee and serve as an ex-officio member of the Journal Editorial Board.

SACRAO is an organization with a mission to provide for the dissemination of information, the exchange of ideas and leadership in policy interpretation in the southern region for professionals working in college registrar and admission offices. The association has members from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

To maintain a leadership position in pursuit of its mission, SACRAO identifies and promotes standards and best practices affecting admission officers, student-service professionals and registrars and other academic support.

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Approximately 300 alumni and friends of Tusculum College returned to campus for Homecoming 2010 activities Oct. 8 and 9.

Homecoming activities included a parade, a tailgate party, an alumni dinner and dance, Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a memorial service and the annual Alumni Association meeting.

In addition, this year’s festivities included the Inauguration of Dr. Nancy B. Moody, Tusculum College’s 27^th and first female president, and related events. Alumni representing almost each class beginning with the class of 1940 marched in the processional for the ceremony, and Dr. Robert Pollock, a member of the class of 1965 and president of the Alumni Association, spoke during the ceremony on behalf of the alumni.

At half-time of the football game, seniors Jerwayne Gunn and Amber Sharp were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. Gunn is a graphic design major from Antioch, Tenn., and a student assistant with the Lady Pioneers women’s basketball team and a peer mentor for the Quest group. Sharp is an athletic training major from Tazewell, Tenn., who is the president of the Bonner Leaders program and a member of the President’s Society, the Student Alumni Association, Athletic Training Student Society and Iota Tau Alpha.

During the annual Alumni Association meeting, members of the Class of 1960 presented a class gift of $2,000 to Dr. Moody in honor of their 50^th anniversary. The gift was used to purchase a defibrillator for use by campus safety.

Also during the meeting, awards were presented to a distinguished alumnus and a long-time professor and staff member. Recipients of the awards are nominated by alumni.

Howard Doscher of East Hanover, N.J., a member of the class of 1960, was the recipient of the Pioneer Award, the highest honor presented by the Alumni Association for exemplifying the Pioneer spirit of excellence and service to others. A veteran of the U.S. Army and the New Jersey National Guard, Doscher had a 33-year distinguished career at Chubb Life Insurance Company, holding various leadership positions. He later founded the Economic Management Group, a specialty insurance consulting firm.

Doscher is deeply involved in his community, serving on the East Hanover Environmental Commission, coaching little league teams and helping teach his church’s confirmation class. He devotes considerable time to the Knights of Columbus and the Deer Lake Club, a family recreation center. Doscher has been a longtime supporter of his alma mater and served on Tusculum’s Board of Trustees in the 1980s.

Honored with the National Living Faculty Award was Dr. David Bow, professor of physical education, who has been a leader and positive influence in the classroom and on campus for more than 20 years.  Dr. Bow teaches a variety of classes in both the Residential College and Graduate and Professional Studies programs. He has served in several leadership positions including coordinator and chairman of the Physical Education program, director of athletics and a coach. His work for the athletics department has been recognized by his induction into the Tusculum College Sports Hall of Fame. Dr. Bow is a member of several professional physical education organizations and has served as president of the Tennessee Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

Receiving the National Alumni Recognition Award was Jeanne Stokes, director of the federal TRIO Program at Tusculum College. Stokes has positively touched hundreds of lives in the East Tennessee region through her work with the programs that provide enrichment activities to encourage prospective first-generation college students to continue their education after high school as well as provide services to students once they enter college. Stokes has been involved in the Tusculum TRIO Programs for 20 years at Tusculum, joining the staff as coordinator for the Talent Search program. She has been an instructor at Tusculum and Warren Wilson colleges and also worked as a teacher at Concord Middle School and EastView Elementary. At Tusculum, she also serves as a member of the Judicial Review Board, the Quality Enhancement Plan Steering Committee and as an advisor for students.

On Saturday evening, three new members were inducted into the Tusculum College Sports Hall of Fame.  This year’s induction class included All-Region women’s cross country runner Amanda Musick Hale, a 2004 graduate; All-Conference quarterback Caleb Slover, a 2003 graduate, and All-Region volleyball standout Deb Varney Zevetchin, a 1998 graduate.

Also presented during the ceremony was the Sports Benefactor Award, which recognizes an individual for their contributions toward the Pioneer athletic programs. The 2010 recipient was Larry Coughlin, a long-time supporter of Tusculum athletics. Coughlin is currently serving as the chairman of the 2010-11 Pioneer Club Campaign, which provides funds for scholarships for student athletes and program support.

The date has been selected for Homecoming 2011, which will be Sept. 23 and 24.

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Inauguration and Homecoming 2010 is reaching its zenith with the Inauguration ceremony to take place Friday afternoon and Homecoming activities all day on Saturday.

Please make all the alumni and special guests coming to campus welcome, and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation in accommodating our guests this weekend.

The central focus of the week, the inauguration ceremony, will take place at 2 p.m. Friday in Pioneer Arena, located in the Niswonger Commons. The ceremony will feature alumni representatives from each graduating class, beginning in the 1940s, as part of the processional as well as current students representing various campus organizations, delegates from more than 25 colleges and universities, a former Tusculum president, the college’s Board of Trustees and faculty members.

A special Inaugural Festival Choir has been formed to perform during the ceremony, which includes alumni and members of the college community. Brief remarks are to be made by representatives from various college constituents including current students, alumni, faculty, staff, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the community. Dr. Kenneth A. Bowman, chair of the Board of Trustees and a 1970 alumnus, will administer the investiture and oath to Dr. Moody, who will then deliver her inaugural address.

Preceding the ceremony will be the Inauguration Luncheon to take place at 11 a.m. on the lawn of the Thomas J. Garland Library.

Friday’s inauguration activities will conclude with the President’s Inaugural Dinner and Ball 6 p.m. at the General Morgan Inn. The special speaker for the dinner will be Deborah Kapp from the McCormick Theological Seminary. Tusculum’s first benefactor, Nettie Fowler McCormick, and her husband, Cyrus McCormick, were also general supporters of the seminary and the couple learned of Tusculum through alumni who were attending the seminary. Special music for the dinner will be provided by the Dr. Bob Orr Trio. The cost of the dinner is $50 per person.

On campus, students will have the annual Pep Rally and Bonfire at the Gravel Pit, beginning at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s Homecoming events begin with a Homecoming Memorial Service that honors the memory of alumni who have passed away since Homecoming 2009 last October. The service will be at 8:30 a.m. in the Chalmers Conference Center inside the Niswonger Commons.

The Alumni Association meeting will follow at 10 a.m., providing alumni an opportunity to learn the latest about their alma mater and meet new alumni officers. Alumni awards will be presented during the meeting, also held inside the Chalmers Conference Center.

The 7^th annual Homecoming Parade will travel through campus starting at 11:30 a.m., featuring members of the Golden Pioneer Class of 1960, who will serve as grand marshals, the Pioneer Pep Band, Homecoming court candidates and student organizations.

A tailgate party for alumni and the Pioneer Club at Pioneer Park (the baseball stadium) will precede the football game. The cost of the tailgate is $15 per person.

Students will have a tailgate from 11 a.m.to 1 p.m. at the basketball courts next to Katherine Hall. Stop by and visit with Electric 94.9, a Tri-Cities radio station, that will be doing a live broadcast from campus.

The Homecoming football game begins at 2 p.m. The Pioneers will take on the Newberry College Wolves in a South Atlantic Conference match-up. Tickets for the game are $10 for adults, $5 for children with children 5 and under free. The tickets can be purchased at the game.

Homecoming activities will conclude Saturday evening with the All Alumni Dinner and Dance/Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The dinner, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Comfort Inn, will include the induction of three past Tusculum student-athletes into the Sports Hall of Fame of Tusculum College - 2005 alumna Amanda Musick Hale , 2002 alumnus Caleb Slover and 1998 alumna Deb Varney Zevetchin.

On Thursday, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the College engaged in some friendly competition during the Homecoming 2010 Golf Tournament at Link Hills Country Club. On campus, students enjoyed the performance of “The Human IPod,” John Rush.

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Inauguration and Homecoming week events move off campus on Wednesday for a celebration of the presidential inauguration at First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville, Tusculum College’s mother church.

The Tusculum campus community is invited to join First Presbyterian’s congregation for a worship service at 6:15 p.m. at the church in downtown Greeneville (110 N. Main St. - across from the General Morgan Inn). Prior to the service, the campus community is invited to a dinner at the church. The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $6 per person and can be paid at the door.

Also in the evening is the Student Affairs-sponsored Homecoming week event in the Pioneer Perk. The Black Sunshine Poets will perform, beginning at 7 p.m.

Inauguration and Homecoming events today included the Faculty and Staff Inaugural Breakfast in the Thomas J. Garland Library and the unveiling of the new presidential portrait of Dr. Nancy B. Moody. Special guest Dr. Michael Clyburn, president of Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia and a close friend of Dr. Moody, unveiled the portrait of Dr. Moody during a brief ceremony in the Reading Room.

The portrait is now displayed as part of the special Presidential Portraits Exhibit along the running track in the Garland Library. Visit the exhibit and learn about the presidents who have led the College through its 217-year history. The exhibit is open during regular hours of the Library.

This evening is an inaugural presentation that is part of the Acts, Arts, Academia performance and lecture series. Dr. Bill Garris, assistant professor of psychology, will explore the ties between Tusculum College and the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero in a presentation at 7 p.m. in the Behan Arena Theatre in the lower level of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building. The cost of the lecture is $6 per person. Staff, faculty and students are admitted free with ID.

Also this evening is the student Powder Puff football game. It will begin at 8 p.m. Fescue Field.

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