NEWS & CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

An article by Dr. Angela Keaton, assistant professor of history at Tusculum College, has been published by the Journal of American Culture.

Dr. Keaton’s article, “Backyard Desperados: American Attitudes Concerning Toy Guns in the Early Cold War Era,” was printed in the fall 2010 volume of the journal. The Journal of American Culture combines studies of American literature, history and the arts with studies of the popular, the taken-for-granted and the ordinary pieces of American life to produce analyses of American culture with breadth and holism.

The article describes how child’s play with toy guns was not only accepted but also encouraged by parents, psychologists and other experts and society at large in the early period of the Cold War in the 1950s, Keaton said.

The article explores the popularity of children playing “cowboys and cowboys” with the toy guns. Investigated in the article are the prevalent attitude of psychologists and other experts who described toy gun play as a good way for children to vent aggression and to reinforce strong masculine traits and the reassurance that the toy gun play gave parents as they saw their children mimicking a symbol of patriotic, American heritage in a time of great uncertainty as the nation faced the rise of Communism.

The marketing and business side of toy gun play are also described as television and movies popularized cowboys and westerns and gave rise to a demand for toy guns and holsters. The article also notes the decline of popularity of toy gun play in the 1960s as parents began to be distrustful of experts and “G.I. Joe” was introduced, a toy that concentrated not on America’s past but on what was the country’s contemporary battle against Communism.

Keaton presented the paper a few years ago at the American Cultural Association Conference, where it received an award for best paper.

The article is from Dr. Keaton’s doctoral dissertation, which she is working to turn into a book for publication.

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Adriana Vizcarrondo, a senior business management major with concentrations in general management and economics with a minor in international business, has been named “Student of the Block” for Block Four of the 2010-11 academic year.

The Student of the Block Award is presented each block by the Office of Student Affairs to recognize students for academic achievement, leadership on campus and contributions to the college community.

During her time at Tusculum, Vizcarrondo, a native of Anaco, Venezuela, has amassed a stellar resumé of achievements and as a member of the Pioneer Golf Team personifies the ideal student-athlete. She maintains a 3.66 grade point average, has been listed on the college’s Dean’s List and Athletics Director Honor Roll for the past four years and has been named a South Atlantic Conference Scholar All-American and to the National Golf Coaches Association Division II All-Scholar Team for the past three years.

Vizcarrondo has served as president of the Tusculum College Business Club and was a member of the Pioneer Student Athletic Advisory Council in 2009-10. She volunteers for the Gifts for Kids program at Landair Inc. and is a mentor at Chuckey-Doak High School.

Vizcarrondo was nominated for the award by Dr. Antonio Bos, professor of economics. “Adriana is a dedicated and capable student, as demonstrated by her high grade point average and honor roll membership,” Dr. Bos wrote in his nomination.

“Her international background and experience enrich the courses and the lives of fellow students,” he continued. “Her dedication, energy and positive attitude motivate, and probably without realizing, she becomes a leader and a role model in the classroom. She had a significant impact within the Business Administration department, given her participation and leadership in the Business Club.

“Most significantly, she personally and explicitly challenged me to break from conventional, stale, textbook-based teaching and, instead, she urged me to develop innovative teaching methods and assignments.  … Her challenge re-energized my own approach to teaching and it allowed me to recall, very clearly, the purpose and the sheer joy of being a teacher.”

Vizcarrondo’s older sister, Mary Ann, is a 2010 graduate of Tusculum and was also a member of the golf team. To be close to her sister is one of the reasons that Vizcarrondo chose to attend Tusculum. She take prides in what she has been able to accomplish in college. “It has not been easy to be away from my family, but thanks to the staff, faculty and students at Tusculum College, the transition has been smooth and I have been able to accomplish my goals,” Vizcarrondo said.

Classroom experiences in her business courses are among what she counts among her favorite memories of her time at Tusculum. She particularly enjoyed business law and ethics, international business and international economics under her favorite professor, Dr. Bos, who is also her advisor and mentor. “His perspective on business has broadened my knowledge and helped me understand the difficulties of economics and business.”

“Dr. Michelle Freeman (associate professor of business administration) is also one of the nicest professors I’ve ever had and at the same time one of the most challenging,” Vizcarrondo continued.

Also having a great influence in her life have been Golf Coach Bob Dibble and Brandon Conner, director of freshman services and student success. “He (Coach Dibble) has been a person who I can count on no matter what situation I am in,” Vizcarrondo said. “I consider him my dad in the United States and Brandon has been a great influence in my life - he was my supervisor for my internship in the Office of Admission, is the leader of the church on campus I attend and is a great friend of mine who has helped me excel not only academically and pursue my career but also spiritually.”

Her dedication and hard work in the classroom is matched by her zeal for knowledge and greatness on the golf course. “I am honored to play a collegiate sport and be a part of the Tusculum College Golf Team,” she said. “The efforts I have put forth since a very young age are worth every single minute. If it wasn’t for my participation in this sport, I would have never gone to Tusculum. It has not only financially benefited me to play a collegiate sport, but it has also allowed me to meet a lot of great teammates and other golfers in the South Atlantic Conference. We are so blessed to play amazing golf courses all over the region, including one of the best golf resorts in the world, Kiawah Island.”

Vizcarrondo counts among her role models, her parents and her aunts and uncles, including her uncle Juan Ronderos, who works for the World Bank and influenced her decision to enter the business field.

With her intense work ethic and goal-setting, she has become a mentor and role model to many others in the Tusculum community. Her advice to other students in achieving her goals and dreams is “to get on task right away, don’t wait for someone else to take the first step for you” when in pursuit of a goal and also to strive to discover what it is “that you have a passion for … what you love. Life will be much easier when you do something you enjoy.”

At Tusculum, Vizcarrondo has built many relationships that she will cherish for the rest of her life. “My friends have been there for me not only for the good times, but also for the hard times, and the golf team has always been there for me,” she said. “It’s such a great feeling to have that sense of comfort that comes from knowing that I have people to be with me in the darkest times.”

Vizcarrondo will graduate from Tusculum in May. Her long term career goal is to pursue a master’s degree abroad in international business and help improve relations between countries and increase globalization.

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“Pickin’ at the Doaks,” the traditional music jam session, will resume at the Doak House Museum on Friday, Jan. 28.

Traditional musicians and music lovers are invited to the jam session from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Academy building at the Doak House Museum on the Tusculum College campus.

Hot cocoa and coffee will be available as well as limited seating. Attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs.

The “Pickin’ at the Doaks” program began last summer and its growing popularity led to its continuation into the colder months. The program was originally intended to be only scheduled during warm weather and take place on the lawn of the Doak House. The music program takes place the last Friday of each month.

The Doak House Museum and the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library are operated by the Department of Museum Program and Studies of Tusculum College. In addition to the museums, the department is responsible for the College Archives and offers one of the few undergraduate Museum Studies degree programs in the country. The two museums are also part of the National Historic District on the Tusculum College campus. Follow the museums on Facebook and Twitter to learn the latest news and upcoming events or visit its Web site at www.tusculum.edu/museums to learn more about the variety of programs offered at the museums.

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On Tuesday, January 25, the Tusculum College English Student Organization hosted its fourth annual Burns Supper to celebrate life and poetry of Scottish poet Robert Burns on his birthday. More than 40 students and English Department faculty enjoyed a traditional Scottish meal while students read selections of Burns’ poetry. Burns, an eighteenth century Romantic poet, is widely considered the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. The Tusculum event followed the order of a traditional Burns Supper that begins with the reading of Burns’ “Selkirk Grace,” includes the “piping in of the haggis” and concludes with the singing of perhaps Burns’ most well known work, “Auld Lang Syne.”

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Kicking off on Wednesday and Thursday, January 26-27, the Tusculum College Senior Class Gift Campaign is looking for a little loose change, and representatives will be on hand in Niswonger Commons on both days to explain the campaign and hand out piggy banks as collection incentives. Early birds can also expect an edible incentive, as Pal’s is providing bar-b-dogs on both days to be given to the first 50 students who sign up to participate.

 Look for the campaign tables from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and at 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. in front of the Student Affairs Office in Niswonger Commons.

 Campaign Co-Chairs Marci Moore ‘11 and Nikki Taylor ‘11 are working to recruit seniors to participate in their Senior Class Gift Campaign. This year the seniors will be working toward raising funds for the refurbishing of the Tusculum entrance signs located on Shiloh Road and Gilland Street. The entrance signs which have greeted faculty, staff, alumni, students and friends of the College since 1968, has more than 40 years of exposure to the elements which has taken its toll on the signs. The campaign will strive to raise funds to update the lettering and give the sign a modern appearance.

 The 2011 Senior Class Gift Campaign is also an introduction to a new way for students to participate in the senior gift.  Thanks to GreenBank, all participating seniors will receive a piggy bank in which to collect donations for the campaign. This will be followed by four Piggy Round-Ups were the seniors can come and empty their piggies to help meet their goal.

 For questions or comments please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303 or email Cody Greene ‘08 at ccgreene@tusculum.edu.

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On January 27-28, Tusculum College’s service-learning classes will be assisting the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness on the 2011 Point-in-Time census count. The Point-in-Time Count project is an event to document the homeless and precariously-housed populations in the county.

 According to Will Lewis, assistant professor of sociology for Tusculum College and one of the coordinators of this year’s project, the group is asking for help from the community to identify as many homeless and precariously-housed persons as possible.

 ”This census is critical because the Point-in-Time count is the number for which most federal aid to support homeless social services support and programming is based on,” said Lewis. “Over the past 7 years, this has totaled more than $80 million in funding for homeless support services in the Upper East Tennessee area.”

 The students, in coordination with the Appalachian Regional Coalition, will actually be making the physical count on January 27-28; however, they are seeking community assistance in identifying as many of these people prior to that date as possible.

 Those who need to be identified include known homeless persons and those that are considered precariously-housed, including those in non-traditional housing such as hotels or garages, those without running water or electricity or those who are moving from place to place with no permanent residence.

 ”This is a difficult group to identify,” said Lewis, as they are often recently displaced from their homes and reluctant to use homeless support agencies.

 He added that because of the current economic conditions, they are expecting this population to have increasingly higher numbers this year than last. According to ARCH, there are more than 800 homeless persons in northeastern Tennessee.

 ”It is important that we identify these people so that we can secure the greatest amount of funding to provide support, relief and other social services for them,” Lewis said.

 Anyone who would be willing to provide names of homeless or precariously-housed persons may contact the Center for Civic Advancement Tip line at 423-636-7372, where questions and information can be directed to Joyce Doughty.

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 With May commencement right around the corner the Tusculum College Class of 2011 is seeking to rise to the challenge and leave their mark on the Tusculum campus. The 2011 Senior Class Gift Campaign, led by Co-Chairs Marci Moore ‘11 and Nikki Taylor ‘11 are working to recruit seniors to participate in their Senior Class Gift Campaign.

This year the seniors will be working toward raising funds for the refurbishing of the Tusculum entrance signs located on Shiloh Road and Gilland Street. The entrance signs which have greeted faculty, staff, alumni, students and friends of the College since 1968, has more than 40 years of exposure to the elements which has taken its toll on the signs. The campaign will strive to raise funds to update the lettering and give the sign a modern appearance.

The 2011 Senior Class Gift Campaign is also an introduction to a new way for students to participate in the senior gift.  Thanks to GreenBank, all participating seniors will receive a piggy bank in which to collect donations for the campaign. This will be followed by four Piggy Round-Ups were the seniors can come and empty their piggies to help meet their goal. The Senior Class Gift Campaign is scheduled to kick-off on Wednesday, January 26, and Thursday, January 27, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 and at 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. in front of the Student Affairs Office located in the Scott M. Niswonger Commons on the Greeneville campus.

The first 50 seniors at each kick-off event who sign up to participate will receive a free BBQ Dog from Pal’s Sudden Service. Seniors and others wishing to support the campaign can still participate by calling the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303 to make a credit or debit card gift over the phone or by sending a check to Tusculum College, P.O. Box 5040, Greeneville, TN 37743 or they may give online at https://www.tusculum.edu/giving/gift.php. For questions or comments please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303 or email Cody Greene ‘08 at ccgreene@tusculum.edu.

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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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On January 27-28, Tusculum College’s service-learning classes will be assisting the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness on the 2011 Point-in-Time Count.  The Point-in-Time Count project is an event to document the homeless and precariously-housed homeless populations in the county. 

This area count will be the primary basis for the receipt of federal and state funds for our area’s agencies; therefore, it is vital that the count be as accurate as possible.

How can the Tusculum College community assist?

1. Volunteer: you may work on the actual count or assist in administrative matters.

2. Donate. WE will be handing out supplies to the homeless. Because ht items must be durable and weather-resistant, as well as portable, we are asking for the following:

• a. Individually wrapped protein/granola bars
• b. Sports/Tube socks
• c. Inexpensive rain slickers or ponchos
• d. Individually portioned jars of peanut butter
• e. Packaged fruit (dehydrated)

3. Pass on information on homeless persons or people who may live in substandard housing (i.e. several families to a unit, no running water or electricity, etc. We will investigate any tips.

 If you wish to help or want to donate, please contact Will Lewis, Joyce Doughty or Robin Fife at the Center for Civic Advancement, Ext. 5372.

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