Thursday, February 25. 2010
Greetings for the week.
I thought for the column this time, it might be helpful to spend a few minutes addressing some of the changes that are taking place—some projects completed, some in-progress, and some still on the drawing board—regarding space utilization at the flagship campus in Murray. These changes will ultimately lead to the relocation of a number of heavily-visited offices with the goal of improving their services for students, faculty, and staff.
To some degree, this “domino effect” of moves and space changes was triggered by the significant addition of square footage to the campus with the opening of the Biological Sciences Building and Jesse D. Jones Hall on the New Science Campus. The opening of these new academic buildings allowed us to re-purpose space in Blackburn Science. As such, the initial phase of moves included relocating the Archaeology Laboratory and the Mid-America Remote Sensing Center to Blackburn this past year (units associated with the Department of Geosciences), joining the federal TRIO and ROTC programs which had already been moved into available space in Blackburn.
Continue reading "President's Perspective"
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
Spring 2010 Reading Series - Gurney Norman
Thursday, February 25, 7: 30 PM in the Clara M. Eagle Gallery
Gurney Norman was born in Grundy, Virginia in 1937 and raised alternately by his maternal grandparents in western Virginia and his paternal grandparents in eastern Kentucky. He attended the University of Kentucky, then studied writing at Stanford University as a Stegner Creative Writing Fellow. Norman lived in the San Francisco Bay area from 1967 to 1979, when he returned to Kentucky to join the English Department faculty at the University of Kentucky. Presently the Director of the University of Kentucky Creative Writing Program, Norman will soon complete his thirtieth year teaching at the university.
Continue reading "Gurney Norman is guest author tonight at Spring Reading Series"
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
“In order to beat the competition you have to compete differently.” This quote comes from the new book, BRAND:YOU- Personal Branding for Success in Life and Business, authored by Julius E. Rhodes. "Brand You" Personal Branding for Success in Life and Business capitalizes on the aspects of product differentiation used successfully by many leading organizations and brings it down to an individual level providing you an opportunity to better highlight your unique brand for sustained competitive advantage in a dynamic global marketplace. Julius E. Rhodes, MSHRIR, SPHR, and Founder and Principal for the mpr group, will be on campus for MSU ASSE Symposium 2010 at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3. The Symposium is open to the public and will be held in room 146 in Industry and Technology Building at Murray State University. Rhodes has 25 years of corporate, business, consulting and entrepreneurial experience. He has worked for leading firms such as Mobil Oil, General Electric, Baxter Healthcare, Sara Lee Bakery and the National Labor Relations Board. Attendees should prepare themselves to be moved by the powerful message Rhodes will be relaying. This is something no student or professional should miss, no matter what your field. For more information please contact Murray State University Student Section President Jayme Kahne at
jaymekahne@gmail.com or (270) 217-2768.
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
Two MSU alumni, Melissa Collins, a second-grade teacher at the John P. Freeman Optional School in Memphis, TN and Keri Dowdy, fourth-grade teacher at Sedalia Elementary School (Graves County Schools) in Sedalia, KY received Presidential Awards and were among the 58 teachers President Barack Obama posed with in the State Dining Room of the White House on Jan. 6, 2010. Melissa and Keri graduated from Murray State University with undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and are National Board Certified Teachers.
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
Two MSU alumni, Melissa Collins, a second-grade teacher at the John P. Freeman Optional School in Memphis, TN and Keri Dowdy, fourth-grade teacher at Sedalia Elementary School (Graves County Schools) in Sedalia, KY received Presidential Awards and were among the 58 teachers President Barack Obama posed with in the State Dining Room of the White House on Jan. 6, 2010. Melissa and Keri graduated from Murray State University with undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and are National Board Certified Teachers.
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
A pre-health fair blood draw is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, from 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in room 100 of the Carr Health Building. Analysis will include a full lipid panel (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglyceride), a blood glucose (sugar) screening and prostate specific antigen (PSA) for men over age 50 or over 40 with a significant family history. Please remember to fast for 12 hours prior to the test. Results can be mailed to your home or can be available for pick up at the employee health fair Wednesday March 10th. For more information, please contact Amelia Dodd at
amelia.dodd@murraystate.edu or 809-6463.
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
Murray State University Collegiate FFA will be hosting its first annual Farm Toy Show at the Curris Center on Murray State's campus. The event will take place on March 13, 2010 from 9am to 3pm. Admission will be $3, children under 3 are free. This event has been developed to start a scholarship fund for outstanding Murray State University Collegiate FFA members. Any questions feel free to contact Dr. Ryan Anderson r
yang.anderson@murraystate.edu 270-978-2581; Danielle Reeser
danielle.reeser@murraystate.edu 502-439-9424; or Amber Harcrow
aharcrow@murraystate.edu 731-613-1600.
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
Murray State University is hosting the state’s TRiO Day on Feb. 27 with approximately 300 students and staff from Kentucky and surrounding states. The students participating are active in one of the following programs: Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, Student Support Services, Upward Bound Math/Science, Educational Opportunity Centers, Veterans Upward Bound, and the McNair Program. These programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Education Federal TRiO Grant. The goal is to promote equal opportunity and to provide access to higher education. Each program is designed to help underrepresented students overcome barriers to higher education by providing information, counseling, academic instruction, and tutoring, so as to improve academic performance, increase student motivation, and facilitate transitions from one level of education to the next.
Continue reading "MSU hosts state TRiO day"
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
Thomas Glover, JD, Assistant Professor of legal studies in the Department of Government, Law, and International Affairs, will present “The Citizens United Case and Corporate Free Speech: Democratic Liberty or Democratic Liability?” The Citizens United case has sparked a great deal of controversy over American corporate involvement in federal elections. The case explores the legal limits under the 1st Amendment of corporate financial involvement in the election process. The central issue never considered in Citizens United is whether American law should even recognize corporations as natural persons with all the constitutional rights of a human being. This presentation will review the development of the corporation as a person under the law and what this portends for the future of American democracy. Box lunches will be provided by the Office of the Provost. Please contact
Jody Cofer know if you have special food requirements, like vegetarian. You must order vegetarian to eat vegetarian. Please RSVP by 5 p.m. Monday, March 1, to Jody Cofer at jody.cofer@murraystate.edu if you plan to attend this meeting on Wednesday, March 3, so that we know how many lunches to order. When RSVPs are received, a confirmation email will be sent. You must RSVP to get a free lunch. Presenters are neded for 2010. Faculty interested in making a research presentation should contact the program coordinator, Dr. Bertus Ferreira (Criminal Justice), directly at
bertus.ferreira@murraystate.edu or telephone 809-2700 to volunteer to lead a session.
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
Nicole Newton was recently awarded a $500 grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity (URSA) for her proposal entitled “Solving the Charioteer’s Mystery.” Newton, a junior physics major from Calvert City, Ky., will be studying epsilon Aurigae, a star in the constellation Aurigae (more commonly known as the charioteer). Epsilon Aurigae is a variable star, or one that changes brightness over time. Astronomers have yet to definitively determine the reason behind epsilon Aurigae’s extended pattern of fading and returning to its usual brightness in about 700 days once every 27.1 years. Newton will be collecting and analyzing data on epsilon Aurigae’s brightness through the use of a low light video camera. Dr. Arthur K. Pallone, Assistant Professor of Physics and Engineering, will serve as faculty mentor on the project. “Ms. Newton demonstrates all the traits needed to succeed at this project and in her further pursuits of astronomy in graduate school and beyond. She is enthusiastic about astronomy, dedicated to the research, and understands the science and the scientific process,” Pallone stated. Newton will submit her finding for inclusion in both Citizen Sky and the American Association of Variable Star Observers databases. She will also submit her work to other peer-reviewed journals, in addition to presenting her progress to date from this ongoing project during Scholars Week, which will take place on Murray State’s main campus April 19-23, 2010. More information about the URSA program can be found
online or by calling (270) 809-3192.
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
An informational meeting for MSU employees and students interested in the Weight Watchers at Work® program is scheduled for March 3 at 4:30 p.m. in the north dining room of Winslow Dining Hall (Hester side). The cost of a 10 week program is $120. All fees are paid directly to Weight Watcher at Work ®. At least 15 individuals must sign up and pay the fee on March 3 to allow the program to be offered on campus. If 15+ register, the program will be offered Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. beginning March 10 and will run through May 19 (no session March 24 during MSU’s spring break). For more information, contact Amelia Dodd at 809-6463 or e-mail
healthylife@murraystate.edu.
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
Murray State University is proud of the atmosphere of safety and security on campus. This atmosphere is due in large part to responsible community members (students, faculty, staff) taking proactive steps to prevent/deter criminal activity. One of those proactive steps is reporting suspicious activity to the Murray State Police Department. When reporting suspicious activity, be prepared to tell the dispatcher a detailed description of the person(s), their suspicious activity, and their exact location. At various times throughout the year, concerned citizens contact MSU’s Police Department immediately after observing suspicious activity. In many instances, the person is stopped prior to or in the act of committing a crime. University community members are also reminded to immediately notify the Murray State Police if you are the victim of a crime on campus. The Murray State Police Department can be reached by dialing 2222 or 911 from any on-campus phone or 809-2222 from any off-campus phone.
Wednesday, February 24. 2010
Given the current economic crisis, college students are very focused on internships and jobs, and opportunities that will help them in the job market. I'm excited to let you in on something Sierra is creating as part of our Earth Day celebration in 2010. “The Best Internship on Earth” will be a 6-week internship with the Sierra Club where the intern will get to travel around the country as the Club’s Youth Outdoors Ambassador to our programs that focus on outdoor experiences – Building Bridges to the Outdoors and Inner City Outings, as well as some of our National Service Trips that have a younger demographic. The intern will spend the summer outdoors, going river rafting, rock climbing, hiking, and backpacking, and meeting young Sierra Club heroes along the way. The intern’s primary responsibility will be to document these outdoor experiences in video blogs, working with Sierra Club Productions to regularly update our website with fun, edgy, outdoorsy, youth-oriented video content.
Continue reading ""Best Internship on Earth" contest as part of Earth Day 2010 celebration"
