Kiley Mackie and Sara Mettlen
Staff Writers
April 29, 2004, Page 1
College is supposed to prepare students for the game of life.
In history classes, students learn about kings and queens. In math classes, they learn about numbers and probability.
In philosophy classes, students learn about ethics and rules of engagement.
Most importantly, however, college teaches students how to use the hand they’ve been dealt to accomplish their goals.
These lessons have been taught in classrooms for decades, but, on campuses nationwide, students have been applying them in another venue.
Playing cards is one of the most prevalent activities among college students and incorporates many life lessons into a social and entertaining atmosphere.
Students can be found playing games of poker, pitch and a variety of drinking games such as Presidents and Assholes, 7’s and Kings somewhere on campus at any given time.
“Not too many dorm rooms don’t have a deck of cards,” freshman Bobby Thompson said.
Thompson said he plays Texas Hold ‘em, a form of poker, at least once a week and also plays online every day.
Many students also said they play cards often, with games starting up in dorm rooms, suites, quads and homes.
“It seems like there are always cards around somewhere,” junior Blake Sissel said. “Games usually start up in the quad when a bunch of people are there.”
Socializing with friends is a chief attraction to playing cards. Additionally, cards are an inexpensive and convenient form of entertainment.
“It (playing cards) is a great way to kill a couple hours and spend time with my friends for relatively little money,” Thompson said.
However, not all card games are strictly social or considerably cheap. Some students choose to play competitively and hold high monetary stakes.Others play non-traditional card games they make up themselves.
Sophomores Nate Paisley and Adam Thompson and freshman Amy Sherwood invented a game they call Flog Ball where a ball is thrown toward a round tin surrounded by cards lying either face-up or face-down. Any card hit by the ball has different consequences.
“We were throwing cards around and we just kept adding different rules and it turned into a drinking game,” Paisley said. “See how cards can turn a boring night into a great one.”
Non-traditional games also include new ways to play old favorites. Online gambling, Solitaire and Freecell are constantly played by students who are trying to escape their studies.
Card games have also provided an escape for students who merely enjoy watching the games.
Thompson said there are usually five to eight spectators at their poker games in Frees Hall lounge and that he actually became interested in poker after watching the World Series of Poker on television.
This initial spark of interest is usually all that is needed to prompt students to start a game or purchase a new deck.
Kim Denker, a clerk at Dollar General in Crete, said decks of cards are one of their bigger selling items.
“We have to order a new case (24 packs) of cards every week,” Denker said. “They are mostly bought on impulse.”
Packs can be bought at the Dollar General for little more than a dollar, giving true testament to the economic value of such a versatile item.
Consequently, cards provide students with a good option while allocating their scant finances.
Beyond teaching students how to be financially resourceful, playing cards allows students to be resourceful strategically and socially.
Exercising these resources opens up an opportunity for students to learn about the game of life outside the classroom and entertain themselves at the same time.
The competitive nature of the games teaches students how to win and lose graciously, to see how each hand fits into the whole game and how to play the game through to the end.
Showing posts with label Sara Mettlen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sara Mettlen. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Housing process stressful
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
April 29, 2004, Page 3
The little pink piece of paper looks harmless enough, but it holds a great amount of power.
The housing process can be a smooth transition into new living quarters or a trail of tears and paperwork leading you right back to where you started.
"It [the housing process] is a little more stressful than what I thought it would be," freshman Kristen Welch said.
Welch said that some aspects of the process, particularly the points system and applying for Hansen Hall, were confusing.
Junior Sarah Newton said students views of the housing process depends on where they are trying to live and if they know who their roommates are going to be.
Newton said that the worst part of the process is not getting in where you apply, whether that be not getting a suite in Hansen or not getting a particular room in Frees that you wanted.
Most agree that working with other students to form groups for suites and quads is the most frustrating part of the process.
Sophomore Derick Smith agrees that finding a roommate is stressful, but thinks needing a backup plan if your first choice does not work out only adds to the difficulty of the process.
"It's a tedious process that just has to be done," Smith said.
Kristina Pajeda, Resident Director of Sheldon Hall, coordinated housing for the first time this year. She said one major difference was that everyone had to be pre-registered for next year before they could go through housing. This pushed the date for housing back a few weeks.
"There has been some competition, but no problems," Pajeda said. She stressed that housing is not supposed to be a hassle, and the Residence Life staff is willing to listen to students who want to voice their concerns.
"Students need to, if they feel there are problems or better ways to do things, let us [the Residence Life staff] know because we're up for suggestions," Pajeda said.
Pajeda said that a common mistake made by students on housing forms this year was problems with alternates. Students can only be alternates for one group and to be an alternate your housing preference must be traditional housing.
Although every year is different, and there is no way to predict what people will want from one year to the next, Pajeda said the staff tries to make the process as easy and hassle-free as possible.
Staff Writer
April 29, 2004, Page 3
The little pink piece of paper looks harmless enough, but it holds a great amount of power.
The housing process can be a smooth transition into new living quarters or a trail of tears and paperwork leading you right back to where you started.
"It [the housing process] is a little more stressful than what I thought it would be," freshman Kristen Welch said.
Welch said that some aspects of the process, particularly the points system and applying for Hansen Hall, were confusing.
Junior Sarah Newton said students views of the housing process depends on where they are trying to live and if they know who their roommates are going to be.
Newton said that the worst part of the process is not getting in where you apply, whether that be not getting a suite in Hansen or not getting a particular room in Frees that you wanted.
Most agree that working with other students to form groups for suites and quads is the most frustrating part of the process.
Sophomore Derick Smith agrees that finding a roommate is stressful, but thinks needing a backup plan if your first choice does not work out only adds to the difficulty of the process.
"It's a tedious process that just has to be done," Smith said.
Kristina Pajeda, Resident Director of Sheldon Hall, coordinated housing for the first time this year. She said one major difference was that everyone had to be pre-registered for next year before they could go through housing. This pushed the date for housing back a few weeks.
"There has been some competition, but no problems," Pajeda said. She stressed that housing is not supposed to be a hassle, and the Residence Life staff is willing to listen to students who want to voice their concerns.
"Students need to, if they feel there are problems or better ways to do things, let us [the Residence Life staff] know because we're up for suggestions," Pajeda said.
Pajeda said that a common mistake made by students on housing forms this year was problems with alternates. Students can only be alternates for one group and to be an alternate your housing preference must be traditional housing.
Although every year is different, and there is no way to predict what people will want from one year to the next, Pajeda said the staff tries to make the process as easy and hassle-free as possible.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Doane alumni share success stories, memories
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
April 22, 2004, Page 1
As the semester winds down, seniors are looking for jobs, undeclared students are searching for a major and the summer is beginning to seem more like a job search than a break.
It is hard to see how four years spent in various classrooms will prepare you to spend eight hours a day in the same office week after week.
If the prospects of getting a job make students want to stay in college forever, fear not. Hope for the future comes from the past.
A long list of Doane alumni have made themselves successful in interesting careers.
Meet Steve Schulz. Schulz had decided to go to another college until a chance meeting with Mark Alderman, a former Doane football standout, while on campus for the Nebraska Shrine Bowl game changed his mind.
Schulz earned his physical education degree in 1977. He taught in a public school and played semi-professional football for two years then went back to school. He attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln, serving as graduate assistant strength coach.
In 1980, Schulz got a job at Stanford University, where he formed the college’s first strength and conditioning program.
After 15 years at Stanford, Schulz resigned to start his own company.
He currently contracts work with Santa Clara University, Menlo College, and Saint Francis High School, as well as owning and operating a small facility in Mountain View, Calif., where he trains athletes for their particular sport.
“Over the years in my career, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the finest coaches and athletes in the nation,” Schulz said.
Another Doane graduate who boasts an interesting career is Andrew Clark. Clark owns Black Hawk Productions, a video production company.
After earning his communication degree in 1991, Clark went to Middlesex University in London, where he earned a master’s degree in film and television.
He returned to the United States to work for former Doane professor Timothy Cane at his company, Timothy Cane Productions.
Clark now lives in Nottingham, England.
He started Black Hawk Productions about three years ago, and has worked on several interesting projects.
Clark said that he travels a lot for his job, and has worked with high profile people such as Oprah and Margaret Thatcher.
“We went to Rwanda and Burundi during the civil war.” Clark said. “That was scary, getting shot at.”
Clark works mostly for television and does a lot for advertising agencies. He said that he does just about anything that involves moving image production.
“My company was basically formed because of Doane and my experience with Tim,” Clark said.
Doane’s list of alumni also includes Ralph Tyler, the father of the American College Testing (ACT) test.
In the sports world, Samuel Bell is track coach at Indiana University, Bloomington, Roger Hughes is head football coach at Princeton University and Edward Hubbs is tennis coordinator for the Omaha Tennis Association.
Daniel Jackman, the chief financial officer for waste management in Siam, Bangkok, Thailand, is one of several Doane alumni that now work overseas.
Sharon Wilch is now the associate commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association.
William Johnson works for Nebraska Pulmonary Critical Care, and Tom Tonniges is director/pediatrician at the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Sean McArdle works as the props master for the Public Theater of New York.
Terry Michael was elected to a position as a Federal bankruptcy judge.
Tom Songster lives in Washington D.C. and works as senior vice president of sports policy for the Special Olympics.
This is just a small cross-section from an extensive list. Doane’s legacy of successful alumni presents an optimistic outlook.
The future may seem blurry now, but it will clear up.
Staff Writer
April 22, 2004, Page 1
As the semester winds down, seniors are looking for jobs, undeclared students are searching for a major and the summer is beginning to seem more like a job search than a break.
It is hard to see how four years spent in various classrooms will prepare you to spend eight hours a day in the same office week after week.
If the prospects of getting a job make students want to stay in college forever, fear not. Hope for the future comes from the past.
A long list of Doane alumni have made themselves successful in interesting careers.
Meet Steve Schulz. Schulz had decided to go to another college until a chance meeting with Mark Alderman, a former Doane football standout, while on campus for the Nebraska Shrine Bowl game changed his mind.
Schulz earned his physical education degree in 1977. He taught in a public school and played semi-professional football for two years then went back to school. He attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln, serving as graduate assistant strength coach.
In 1980, Schulz got a job at Stanford University, where he formed the college’s first strength and conditioning program.
After 15 years at Stanford, Schulz resigned to start his own company.
He currently contracts work with Santa Clara University, Menlo College, and Saint Francis High School, as well as owning and operating a small facility in Mountain View, Calif., where he trains athletes for their particular sport.
“Over the years in my career, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the finest coaches and athletes in the nation,” Schulz said.
Another Doane graduate who boasts an interesting career is Andrew Clark. Clark owns Black Hawk Productions, a video production company.
After earning his communication degree in 1991, Clark went to Middlesex University in London, where he earned a master’s degree in film and television.
He returned to the United States to work for former Doane professor Timothy Cane at his company, Timothy Cane Productions.
Clark now lives in Nottingham, England.
He started Black Hawk Productions about three years ago, and has worked on several interesting projects.
Clark said that he travels a lot for his job, and has worked with high profile people such as Oprah and Margaret Thatcher.
“We went to Rwanda and Burundi during the civil war.” Clark said. “That was scary, getting shot at.”
Clark works mostly for television and does a lot for advertising agencies. He said that he does just about anything that involves moving image production.
“My company was basically formed because of Doane and my experience with Tim,” Clark said.
Doane’s list of alumni also includes Ralph Tyler, the father of the American College Testing (ACT) test.
In the sports world, Samuel Bell is track coach at Indiana University, Bloomington, Roger Hughes is head football coach at Princeton University and Edward Hubbs is tennis coordinator for the Omaha Tennis Association.
Daniel Jackman, the chief financial officer for waste management in Siam, Bangkok, Thailand, is one of several Doane alumni that now work overseas.
Sharon Wilch is now the associate commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association.
William Johnson works for Nebraska Pulmonary Critical Care, and Tom Tonniges is director/pediatrician at the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Sean McArdle works as the props master for the Public Theater of New York.
Terry Michael was elected to a position as a Federal bankruptcy judge.
Tom Songster lives in Washington D.C. and works as senior vice president of sports policy for the Special Olympics.
This is just a small cross-section from an extensive list. Doane’s legacy of successful alumni presents an optimistic outlook.
The future may seem blurry now, but it will clear up.
Levitov turns semesters in Africa into book
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
April 22, 2004, Page 2
Most people think of going on sabbatical as a break from work.
This is hardly the case for Betty Levitov, full professor of English. She’s using her time off to write a book.
“I’ve got a full draft now,” Levitov said. “Two hundred thirty four pages; 90,000 words.”
Levitov says that the book, with the working title “Into Africa: A Semester on Six Wheels,” is a hybrid; it’s partially a travelogue and partially pedagogy, a book about teaching.
The book is about Levitov’s semesters teaching in Africa, both in 1998 and 2002. Levitov began the studies in Africa as an interterm, but quickly realized that three weeks was not enough.
“I realized the impact of three weeks on the students, so I wanted to see if I could do a full semester,” Levitov said.
With the support of her department, the dean, and the president, Levitov planned the semesters by sending out applications to the Doane student body a year in advance. After selecting the students, 11 in 1998 and 13 in 2002, Levitov and the students met every month for a year to prepare for studying abroad.
Students have a full semester of courses in Africa: INT 310 Introduction to Africa; Intermediate/Advanced English Writing; African Literature; and Beginning Swahili. Also, Levitov offered a one-credit yoga class and some of the students were able to design independent and directed studies electives in areas of their majors. During the semester, Levitov found and hired local people to speak, lecture, and guide the students in their studies.
Levitov said she is offering a three-week Interterm to Kenya and Tanzania in May 2005, after graduation. She hopes to lead the next semester of studies in the fall of 2006. (If students are interested in the Interterm or the semester, they can contact her at blevitov@doane.edu.)
Levitov has recently begun a Doane College Educational Exchange Program in Tanzania. She has been raising money to support the needs of the Shangarao primary school in Moivaro, Tanzania. Jason Kennedy, who earned an English degree in 2002, is the program’s first volunteer teacher. Kennedy has 117 students in his class and only about 30 desks. Also, the school has no textbooks.
“I just sent $400 so that they would have one textbook per desk,” Levitov said.
The second volunteer teacher, Amber Smith, who earned her degree in art in 2002, arrived in Tanzania on March 25.
For three months of her sabbatical, Levitov traveled to interview people for her book. She first went to Southeast Asia in November and then flew to Africa to meet Kennedy. She spent two weeks with Kennedy in Tanzania getting ready for the school year, and then ended her trip by going to Ethiopia.
Levitov said the book contains several interviews and first hand accounts from people involved with the students as they studied in Africa.
Now that Levitov is finished with the book she has been working on since May 2003, she is working on creating a final draft and investigating what she needs to do to get her book printed.
Staff Writer
April 22, 2004, Page 2
Most people think of going on sabbatical as a break from work.
This is hardly the case for Betty Levitov, full professor of English. She’s using her time off to write a book.
“I’ve got a full draft now,” Levitov said. “Two hundred thirty four pages; 90,000 words.”
Levitov says that the book, with the working title “Into Africa: A Semester on Six Wheels,” is a hybrid; it’s partially a travelogue and partially pedagogy, a book about teaching.
The book is about Levitov’s semesters teaching in Africa, both in 1998 and 2002. Levitov began the studies in Africa as an interterm, but quickly realized that three weeks was not enough.
“I realized the impact of three weeks on the students, so I wanted to see if I could do a full semester,” Levitov said.
With the support of her department, the dean, and the president, Levitov planned the semesters by sending out applications to the Doane student body a year in advance. After selecting the students, 11 in 1998 and 13 in 2002, Levitov and the students met every month for a year to prepare for studying abroad.
Students have a full semester of courses in Africa: INT 310 Introduction to Africa; Intermediate/Advanced English Writing; African Literature; and Beginning Swahili. Also, Levitov offered a one-credit yoga class and some of the students were able to design independent and directed studies electives in areas of their majors. During the semester, Levitov found and hired local people to speak, lecture, and guide the students in their studies.
Levitov said she is offering a three-week Interterm to Kenya and Tanzania in May 2005, after graduation. She hopes to lead the next semester of studies in the fall of 2006. (If students are interested in the Interterm or the semester, they can contact her at blevitov@doane.edu.)
Levitov has recently begun a Doane College Educational Exchange Program in Tanzania. She has been raising money to support the needs of the Shangarao primary school in Moivaro, Tanzania. Jason Kennedy, who earned an English degree in 2002, is the program’s first volunteer teacher. Kennedy has 117 students in his class and only about 30 desks. Also, the school has no textbooks.
“I just sent $400 so that they would have one textbook per desk,” Levitov said.
The second volunteer teacher, Amber Smith, who earned her degree in art in 2002, arrived in Tanzania on March 25.
For three months of her sabbatical, Levitov traveled to interview people for her book. She first went to Southeast Asia in November and then flew to Africa to meet Kennedy. She spent two weeks with Kennedy in Tanzania getting ready for the school year, and then ended her trip by going to Ethiopia.
Levitov said the book contains several interviews and first hand accounts from people involved with the students as they studied in Africa.
Now that Levitov is finished with the book she has been working on since May 2003, she is working on creating a final draft and investigating what she needs to do to get her book printed.
Mind Expo features student works
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
April 22, 2004, Page 3
Doane will hold its fourth annual Mind Expo this afternoon from 3-6 p.m. in the Lied Building.
Mind Expo is an annual event that recognizes students' academic work. Christopher Wentworth, associate professor of physics and a member of the Mind Expo organizing committee, said it is a time for students to show others what they have been researching and to generate curiosity and interest in the projects.
"It's an opportunity for students to share their work with the entire Doane community," Wentworth said. "It's a very positive thing for students."
Wentworth noted that another advantage of Mind Expo is that it allows freshmen and sophomores to get a sense of projects that they could do as juniors or seniors.
The range of topics of the presentations is very broad. A few titles include, "Mock Arson Investigation Using Gas Chromatography," "Online Voting Application," and "Evolution or Evilution." The projects will be shown in a variety of ways, from theatrical performances to artwork to oral presentations.
About five years ago, it was decided that Doane needed to find a way to emphasize undergraduate research on campus. Wentworth and biology professor Russell Souchek went to a conference and discovered that several colleges were holding campus-wide symposiums to recognize undergraduate research. The two took this idea and broadened it beyond science to include theater, art, and almost anything creative that students want to present.
"It seems to generate a lot of interest," Wentworth said. "We've had a couple hundred people show up in the past years, so we expect it to be fairly well attended this year."
Door prizes will be given away by a drawing at the end of the day.
A complete schedule is available at http://www.doane.edu/mindexpo.
Staff Writer
April 22, 2004, Page 3
Doane will hold its fourth annual Mind Expo this afternoon from 3-6 p.m. in the Lied Building.
Mind Expo is an annual event that recognizes students' academic work. Christopher Wentworth, associate professor of physics and a member of the Mind Expo organizing committee, said it is a time for students to show others what they have been researching and to generate curiosity and interest in the projects.
"It's an opportunity for students to share their work with the entire Doane community," Wentworth said. "It's a very positive thing for students."
Wentworth noted that another advantage of Mind Expo is that it allows freshmen and sophomores to get a sense of projects that they could do as juniors or seniors.
The range of topics of the presentations is very broad. A few titles include, "Mock Arson Investigation Using Gas Chromatography," "Online Voting Application," and "Evolution or Evilution." The projects will be shown in a variety of ways, from theatrical performances to artwork to oral presentations.
About five years ago, it was decided that Doane needed to find a way to emphasize undergraduate research on campus. Wentworth and biology professor Russell Souchek went to a conference and discovered that several colleges were holding campus-wide symposiums to recognize undergraduate research. The two took this idea and broadened it beyond science to include theater, art, and almost anything creative that students want to present.
"It seems to generate a lot of interest," Wentworth said. "We've had a couple hundred people show up in the past years, so we expect it to be fairly well attended this year."
Door prizes will be given away by a drawing at the end of the day.
A complete schedule is available at http://www.doane.edu/mindexpo.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Student receives Fulbright
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
April 8, 2004, Page 1
After a long application process, Aaron Hall has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar to Germany.
According to the Fulbright Mission, the program was created following World War II in 1946.
The program’s goal is to increase understanding between countries by cultural and educational exchange. Maureen Franklin, adviser of the Fulbright Program at Doane, described it as a nationwide competition to study aboard for one year following graduation.
A senior majoring in International Business, German and Political Science, Hall will be completing a research project about military history in Potsdam Germany to fulfill the Fulbright Program.
Hall said that he first began the application process about a year ago, working with German professor H. Peter Reinkordt on his project proposal. With Reinkordt’s help, he narrowed the focus of his proposed research and prepared a rough draft in August.
Reinkordt said that he and Hall met several times over the summer to decide which project Hall would be most likely successful with. He said that the project is good for Hall because it combines his interests and education.
“[Aaron] is unique in that he has an intimate of the military at a young age,” Reinkordt said. “This project gives a chance to understand the difficulties some Germans had [with the military].”
Reinkordt also said that in the last year, Colin Powell has written an article speaking about military personnel needing experience in foreign countries so that they are better able to relate to the countries’ civilians when they are there on duty, further adding to the significance of Hall’s project.
In October, Hall interviewed with the Fulbright committee to get a letter of recommendation. The committee sent the letter of recommendation to New York to be approved by the Department of State. Hall found out in December that his application had been approved and sent on to Germany.
Hall said he chose Germany because he knew that his greatest expertise was in German. His project will focus on the relationship between the United States and German militaries, and how it is changing now that the German military is integrating into the European Union.
“It’s a really complicated topic,” Hall said.
He noted that it was a relevant issue with the question of whether the European Union will support the United States’ stance on looming terrorism.
Hall is in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corp and found out midway through the process that he was assigned military intelligence.
He is integrating the Fulbright and military research into the same project.
Right now, Hall is going through medical procedures, getting blood work done and a complete medical history so that he can live overseas.
He will arrive in Kiel or Regensburg, Germany in August to take his orientation language course. From there, he will go to Potsdam in September, where he will stay until July 2005.
“It’s an exciting process,” Hall said. “It’s been kind of a dream come true.”
Franklin said that Kari Quammen has reached the final round for a teaching award in France. She will know later this spring if she will be a Fulbright Scholar. If awarded, she will teach English in a French public school.
Franklin said that Doane has had more Fulbright Scholars than any other private university in Nebraska.
“They’re carrying on a Doane tradition of being selected as Fulbright Scholars,” Franklin said.
Doane has had 44 Fulbright Scholars.
“It opens up many opportunities because they are part of this network of Fulbright Scholars,” Franklin said. “It’s a big step.”
Staff Writer
April 8, 2004, Page 1
After a long application process, Aaron Hall has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar to Germany.
According to the Fulbright Mission, the program was created following World War II in 1946.
The program’s goal is to increase understanding between countries by cultural and educational exchange. Maureen Franklin, adviser of the Fulbright Program at Doane, described it as a nationwide competition to study aboard for one year following graduation.
A senior majoring in International Business, German and Political Science, Hall will be completing a research project about military history in Potsdam Germany to fulfill the Fulbright Program.
Hall said that he first began the application process about a year ago, working with German professor H. Peter Reinkordt on his project proposal. With Reinkordt’s help, he narrowed the focus of his proposed research and prepared a rough draft in August.
Reinkordt said that he and Hall met several times over the summer to decide which project Hall would be most likely successful with. He said that the project is good for Hall because it combines his interests and education.
“[Aaron] is unique in that he has an intimate of the military at a young age,” Reinkordt said. “This project gives a chance to understand the difficulties some Germans had [with the military].”
Reinkordt also said that in the last year, Colin Powell has written an article speaking about military personnel needing experience in foreign countries so that they are better able to relate to the countries’ civilians when they are there on duty, further adding to the significance of Hall’s project.
In October, Hall interviewed with the Fulbright committee to get a letter of recommendation. The committee sent the letter of recommendation to New York to be approved by the Department of State. Hall found out in December that his application had been approved and sent on to Germany.
Hall said he chose Germany because he knew that his greatest expertise was in German. His project will focus on the relationship between the United States and German militaries, and how it is changing now that the German military is integrating into the European Union.
“It’s a really complicated topic,” Hall said.
He noted that it was a relevant issue with the question of whether the European Union will support the United States’ stance on looming terrorism.
Hall is in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corp and found out midway through the process that he was assigned military intelligence.
He is integrating the Fulbright and military research into the same project.
Right now, Hall is going through medical procedures, getting blood work done and a complete medical history so that he can live overseas.
He will arrive in Kiel or Regensburg, Germany in August to take his orientation language course. From there, he will go to Potsdam in September, where he will stay until July 2005.
“It’s an exciting process,” Hall said. “It’s been kind of a dream come true.”
Franklin said that Kari Quammen has reached the final round for a teaching award in France. She will know later this spring if she will be a Fulbright Scholar. If awarded, she will teach English in a French public school.
Franklin said that Doane has had more Fulbright Scholars than any other private university in Nebraska.
“They’re carrying on a Doane tradition of being selected as Fulbright Scholars,” Franklin said.
Doane has had 44 Fulbright Scholars.
“It opens up many opportunities because they are part of this network of Fulbright Scholars,” Franklin said. “It’s a big step.”
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
The Owl Online gets new website, aims for more breaking news
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 1
The Doane Owl is now available on its new Internet site at http://radis.doane.edu/owl.
Adam Miller, a December graduate, made the new website as his senior project for Computer Science and Technology seminar.
Miller began work on the project two years ago, and will continue to work on it through the semester, although he is no longer on campus.
The Website was changed from the former site mainly to make it easier for The Owl’s staff to put stories online.
The change was also made so that the position of Online Editor can concentrate on content and not have to focus as much on the technological aspects of making stories available on the Internet.
Another important change from the former version of The Owl Online is the transition of putting breaking news on the site.
Now news stories will be available the day they happen, not just when the paper comes out.
The website is up and running. Students can send comments about the new site to owl@doane.edu
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 1
The Doane Owl is now available on its new Internet site at http://radis.doane.edu/owl.
Adam Miller, a December graduate, made the new website as his senior project for Computer Science and Technology seminar.
Miller began work on the project two years ago, and will continue to work on it through the semester, although he is no longer on campus.
The Website was changed from the former site mainly to make it easier for The Owl’s staff to put stories online.
The change was also made so that the position of Online Editor can concentrate on content and not have to focus as much on the technological aspects of making stories available on the Internet.
Another important change from the former version of The Owl Online is the transition of putting breaking news on the site.
Now news stories will be available the day they happen, not just when the paper comes out.
The website is up and running. Students can send comments about the new site to owl@doane.edu
Gartner uses Nebraskan experiences in Kazahkstan
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 3
For a kid from Nebraska, it’s hard to find a place more remote than home.
Travis Gartner, a native of Tecumseh, has found a place to fit the bill. He is currently living in Atbasar, Kazahkstan, doing work in connection with the Peace Corps to earn his masters degree in non-governmental organization (NGO) management from Rutgers University.
Gartner was never the traditional student. After graduating from high school, he joined the Marines and was involved in the first Gulf War. His lieutenant encouraged him to further his schooling, and he eventually ended up at Doane College, graduating in 2001.
Gartner’s job is to get groups of people in his region together and organize them to do what needs to be done to help their society. He has coordinated several different local organizations including a theater club and a center for women. His current project is building a library.
Gartner, who still regularly emails some of his old Doane professors, asked for help in gathering books for his library about a year ago. Associate Greman professor H. Peter Reinkordt took the lead and began asking around for books to send over to Kazahkstan.
Collecting books from colleagues in the English department, donated books from the library, old textbooks from his wife who teaches at Lincoln Southeast High School and also donated books from a UNL graduate student who is student-teaching at Southeast, as well as taking from his own personal collection, Reinkordt has gathered and sent over 120 pounds of books to Gartner.
It costs approximately one dollar per pound of books to ship to Atbasar. Doane is paying the shipping costs for the books, which will take about two months to get to Kazahkstan.
“What we hope will happen is that we establish a link,” Reinkordt said. “If we can set that up so that we have contacts in Kazahkstan, we can continue helping by sending books over.”
Reinkordt is still looking for around 100 more pounds of books to send over.
“To me, it’s tremendously interesting what a Doane graduate is doing,” Reinkordt said. “His [Gartner’s] experience will be something that he carries with him his entire life. If a student is open, it’s amazing what they can do.”
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 3
For a kid from Nebraska, it’s hard to find a place more remote than home.
Travis Gartner, a native of Tecumseh, has found a place to fit the bill. He is currently living in Atbasar, Kazahkstan, doing work in connection with the Peace Corps to earn his masters degree in non-governmental organization (NGO) management from Rutgers University.
Gartner was never the traditional student. After graduating from high school, he joined the Marines and was involved in the first Gulf War. His lieutenant encouraged him to further his schooling, and he eventually ended up at Doane College, graduating in 2001.
Gartner’s job is to get groups of people in his region together and organize them to do what needs to be done to help their society. He has coordinated several different local organizations including a theater club and a center for women. His current project is building a library.
Gartner, who still regularly emails some of his old Doane professors, asked for help in gathering books for his library about a year ago. Associate Greman professor H. Peter Reinkordt took the lead and began asking around for books to send over to Kazahkstan.
Collecting books from colleagues in the English department, donated books from the library, old textbooks from his wife who teaches at Lincoln Southeast High School and also donated books from a UNL graduate student who is student-teaching at Southeast, as well as taking from his own personal collection, Reinkordt has gathered and sent over 120 pounds of books to Gartner.
It costs approximately one dollar per pound of books to ship to Atbasar. Doane is paying the shipping costs for the books, which will take about two months to get to Kazahkstan.
“What we hope will happen is that we establish a link,” Reinkordt said. “If we can set that up so that we have contacts in Kazahkstan, we can continue helping by sending books over.”
Reinkordt is still looking for around 100 more pounds of books to send over.
“To me, it’s tremendously interesting what a Doane graduate is doing,” Reinkordt said. “His [Gartner’s] experience will be something that he carries with him his entire life. If a student is open, it’s amazing what they can do.”
Monday, February 26, 2007
Review: Makeba teaches obscure history
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 5
Awele Makeba was wonderful in her one woman play “Rage is Not a One Day Thing” at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Makeba convincingly became 13 characters, seamlessly transitioning between one person and the next. By changes in vocal tone and body language, she was able to make the characters easily recognizable. She taught a crowd of about 35 people a concealed history of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of the 1950s.
The only objects Makeba used to tell her story were three chairs representing different areas of the bus, shoes symbolizing the different types of people who rode the bus and a few small props, such as glasses or a head scarf.
The story was told mostly through Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old who refused to give up her seat on a bus nine months before Rosa Parks did the same. Makeba related Colvin’s experience of being forcefully removed from a seat on a Montgomery bus. Makeba also acted the other principal characters’ – JoAnn Robinson, Mary Louise Smith and Rosa Parks – encounters.
Makeba’s performance focused on the rage people felt during those times: rage whites had toward blacks, rage blacks had for whites and rage blacks who stood up for civil rights felt against those who did not.
She made the rage real. The audience could see and feel the passion Colvin and the other characters had for civil rights.
In an hour, Makeba was able to make audience members question the history taught in schools.
The stories of Colvin, Parks and others show how most history books are unbalanced. Makeba presented a commonly unheard side of the story.
The performance left unanswered questions, but also raised some important questions otherwise not considered.
Makeba’s acting was excellent, and the story is one that everyone can learn from.
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 5
Awele Makeba was wonderful in her one woman play “Rage is Not a One Day Thing” at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Makeba convincingly became 13 characters, seamlessly transitioning between one person and the next. By changes in vocal tone and body language, she was able to make the characters easily recognizable. She taught a crowd of about 35 people a concealed history of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of the 1950s.
The only objects Makeba used to tell her story were three chairs representing different areas of the bus, shoes symbolizing the different types of people who rode the bus and a few small props, such as glasses or a head scarf.
The story was told mostly through Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old who refused to give up her seat on a bus nine months before Rosa Parks did the same. Makeba related Colvin’s experience of being forcefully removed from a seat on a Montgomery bus. Makeba also acted the other principal characters’ – JoAnn Robinson, Mary Louise Smith and Rosa Parks – encounters.
Makeba’s performance focused on the rage people felt during those times: rage whites had toward blacks, rage blacks had for whites and rage blacks who stood up for civil rights felt against those who did not.
She made the rage real. The audience could see and feel the passion Colvin and the other characters had for civil rights.
In an hour, Makeba was able to make audience members question the history taught in schools.
The stories of Colvin, Parks and others show how most history books are unbalanced. Makeba presented a commonly unheard side of the story.
The performance left unanswered questions, but also raised some important questions otherwise not considered.
Makeba’s acting was excellent, and the story is one that everyone can learn from.
Makeba relates 1950s bus boycott events
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 5
Awarding-winning actress and storyteller Awele Makeba will present a documentary performance titled “Rage Is Not a One-Day Thing” at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Great Hall in Perry Campus Center.
The story examines a portion of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-56.
It is told mostly through the voice of 15-year-old Claudette Colvin, who became a star witness in the federal court case of Rosa Parks.
Parks was prosecuted nine months after refusing to give up her seat on a public bus.
“I believe it’s really going to be a good cultural experience for the campus and community,” Student Activities Director Wilma Jackson said. “It is rare to find an actress that performs historical events.”
Makeba’s act also portrays the parts of other influential women of the time, such as JoAnn Robinson, former president of the Women’s Political Council in Montgomery.
The performance is based on biographies, memoirs, court transcripts, interviews and oral histories.
Through her work researching, writing and performing hidden African American history, Makeba introduces audiences to emotional issues. She incorporates lessons about common humanity into her presentation.
“It’s something that we can all embrace and a really good piece of history that everyone can share,” Jackson said.
“It’s really a one of a kind event,” she said. “It should be a stellar performance.”
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 5
Awarding-winning actress and storyteller Awele Makeba will present a documentary performance titled “Rage Is Not a One-Day Thing” at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Great Hall in Perry Campus Center.
The story examines a portion of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-56.
It is told mostly through the voice of 15-year-old Claudette Colvin, who became a star witness in the federal court case of Rosa Parks.
Parks was prosecuted nine months after refusing to give up her seat on a public bus.
“I believe it’s really going to be a good cultural experience for the campus and community,” Student Activities Director Wilma Jackson said. “It is rare to find an actress that performs historical events.”
Makeba’s act also portrays the parts of other influential women of the time, such as JoAnn Robinson, former president of the Women’s Political Council in Montgomery.
The performance is based on biographies, memoirs, court transcripts, interviews and oral histories.
Through her work researching, writing and performing hidden African American history, Makeba introduces audiences to emotional issues. She incorporates lessons about common humanity into her presentation.
“It’s something that we can all embrace and a really good piece of history that everyone can share,” Jackson said.
“It’s really a one of a kind event,” she said. “It should be a stellar performance.”
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Career fair: Job options numerous
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 4
A career fair, open to all students, is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in Perry Campus Center.
Many graduate programs and 31 employers have signed up to send representatives to talk to students about prospective future plans.
Graduate programs from schools like Doane, Creighton, and the Biomedical Research Training and Physical Therapy Education programs from University of Nebraska Medical Center are bring recruiters to talk about the admissions process and how to apply.
Employers ranging from Wells Fargo Financial to KOLN-KGIN Television to Centerpointe will have information on employment opportunities as well as internship availability.
Graduate programs will be upstairs by the Kleinkoff and East/West dining rooms, and employers will be mostly in the Great Hall.
Darlene Williams, director of Career Development, recommends that students come before 1 p.m. because some booths will start shutting down at that time.
“This is a great opportunity, whether you are a freshman or a senior,” Williams said. “Take advantage while you are here.”
Williams stressed how important it is to make personal connections in the business world, not only now, but for the future. Williams offered several hints to help students make the most of the career fair:
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 4
A career fair, open to all students, is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in Perry Campus Center.
Many graduate programs and 31 employers have signed up to send representatives to talk to students about prospective future plans.
Graduate programs from schools like Doane, Creighton, and the Biomedical Research Training and Physical Therapy Education programs from University of Nebraska Medical Center are bring recruiters to talk about the admissions process and how to apply.
Employers ranging from Wells Fargo Financial to KOLN-KGIN Television to Centerpointe will have information on employment opportunities as well as internship availability.
Graduate programs will be upstairs by the Kleinkoff and East/West dining rooms, and employers will be mostly in the Great Hall.
Darlene Williams, director of Career Development, recommends that students come before 1 p.m. because some booths will start shutting down at that time.
“This is a great opportunity, whether you are a freshman or a senior,” Williams said. “Take advantage while you are here.”
Williams stressed how important it is to make personal connections in the business world, not only now, but for the future. Williams offered several hints to help students make the most of the career fair:
- Dress nicely when talking with employers to give a good impression.
- Bring copies of your resume to give out.
- Ask for business cards from people you talk to.
Each recruiter will have a door prize students can sign up to win. Williams noted that it is important for students and even faculty to attend because if there is a low turnout the recruiters will most likely not come again.
Fresh faces in faculty
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 3
Four new professors will be on campus in August.
According to Maureen Franklin, Vice President of Academic Affairs, three full-time faculty members have been hired for next year:
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 3
Four new professors will be on campus in August.
According to Maureen Franklin, Vice President of Academic Affairs, three full-time faculty members have been hired for next year:
- Brad Elder, who will replace the retired Robert Wikel.
- Pete Lipins, who was on a temporary basis but has now been named to the ongoing position in economics.
- Kurt Runestad, who will replace Larry Monson after his retirement as choir director.
The search has begun for the fourth position, a new secondary education professor.
Lyn Forester, Chair of the Education Division, said the department already has advertisements for the position in the Lincoln Journal-Star, the Omaha World-Herald and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Before any of this can begin however, Forester said the division had to get permission from the Cabinet to hire a new faculty member. Gaining approval is done working most closely with Franklin and President Fred Brown.
After getting the Cabinet’s consent, the chair of the department writes a job description and advertising begins.
The next step to fill the secondary education position will be Franklin appointing a search committee.
“They [the committee] usually are people in and out of the division and a student” Forester said.
Forester said that the search committee looks through every file that comes in.
“We usually pick between three and four people to bring in and make a selection from those,” Forester said.
“We are looking for a person who will work with under graduates and with our alternative certification program,” Forester said. “They will need to have a secondary teaching background.”
Future of IDS may change
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 1
The ad hoc first year liberal arts proposed course committee, consisting of 12 faculty members, has been meeting since May 2003 to discuss and form a proposal for the modified IDS course.
A proposal has been put before both the Academic Affairs committee and Doane Plan committee for approval or revision.
The Academic Affairs committee has asked for a few revisions in the proposed course description. The ad hoc committee met on March 1 to talk about the suggestions from the Academic Affairs committee.
Kay Hegler, Professor of Special Education and Assessment Officer, said that it would be helpful for the two committees to give some sort of support for the course.
Although Hegler first hoped to have a pilot course of the new IDS in fall 2004, Maureen Franklin, Vice President of Academic Affairs, said the course would most likely not take effect until fall 2005.
“At times we feel we are very close and at times we feel very far,” Hegler said about the progress of the ad hoc committee.
The ad hoc committee has proposed several changes from the current IDS format.
The committee wants to make the class into a three-credit liberal arts seminar with an emphasis on writing and critical thinking.
Smaller class sizes, ideally around 15 students per section, would be another change.
The new IDS class would also be aligned with at least one other course in a learning community.
Hegler said the ad hoc committee has spoken about using a common book that would change each year, but the faculty would decide how much to use the book. Another aspect the committee hopes to involve in the class is discussion of speakers who come to campus.
An added feature of the new IDS would be upperclassmen teaching assistants who would get credit for helping with the class.
“We’re trying to break down isolated pieces of instruction to see interrelationships of what you are studying,” Hegler said.
Hegler said the new IDS class will create closer relationships between faculty and students and among students because of the smaller class size.
Hegler said the ad hoc committee feels this will increase learning and help keep students on campus once they get here.
Freshman Emily Wallman said she did not like that the faculty is considering making IDS a three credit hour class.
Wallman also wondered if since there was an emphasis on writing in the course if it would be considered writing-intensive and help fulfill the Doane plan.
“I like the smaller class sizes and the upper classman teaching assistants, but I think for the book they should let the specific teacher decide,” Wallman said.
However, Wallman said that she did not think she got much out of IDS in its current form.
Today Hegler will have a Faculty in Residence presentation in the Hansen Hall lounge discussing the liberal arts education and learning communities.
She said that this will also be a time to have a conversation with students about the proposed changes.
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 1
The ad hoc first year liberal arts proposed course committee, consisting of 12 faculty members, has been meeting since May 2003 to discuss and form a proposal for the modified IDS course.
A proposal has been put before both the Academic Affairs committee and Doane Plan committee for approval or revision.
The Academic Affairs committee has asked for a few revisions in the proposed course description. The ad hoc committee met on March 1 to talk about the suggestions from the Academic Affairs committee.
Kay Hegler, Professor of Special Education and Assessment Officer, said that it would be helpful for the two committees to give some sort of support for the course.
Although Hegler first hoped to have a pilot course of the new IDS in fall 2004, Maureen Franklin, Vice President of Academic Affairs, said the course would most likely not take effect until fall 2005.
“At times we feel we are very close and at times we feel very far,” Hegler said about the progress of the ad hoc committee.
The ad hoc committee has proposed several changes from the current IDS format.
The committee wants to make the class into a three-credit liberal arts seminar with an emphasis on writing and critical thinking.
Smaller class sizes, ideally around 15 students per section, would be another change.
The new IDS class would also be aligned with at least one other course in a learning community.
Hegler said the ad hoc committee has spoken about using a common book that would change each year, but the faculty would decide how much to use the book. Another aspect the committee hopes to involve in the class is discussion of speakers who come to campus.
An added feature of the new IDS would be upperclassmen teaching assistants who would get credit for helping with the class.
“We’re trying to break down isolated pieces of instruction to see interrelationships of what you are studying,” Hegler said.
Hegler said the new IDS class will create closer relationships between faculty and students and among students because of the smaller class size.
Hegler said the ad hoc committee feels this will increase learning and help keep students on campus once they get here.
Freshman Emily Wallman said she did not like that the faculty is considering making IDS a three credit hour class.
Wallman also wondered if since there was an emphasis on writing in the course if it would be considered writing-intensive and help fulfill the Doane plan.
“I like the smaller class sizes and the upper classman teaching assistants, but I think for the book they should let the specific teacher decide,” Wallman said.
However, Wallman said that she did not think she got much out of IDS in its current form.
Today Hegler will have a Faculty in Residence presentation in the Hansen Hall lounge discussing the liberal arts education and learning communities.
She said that this will also be a time to have a conversation with students about the proposed changes.
Column: Corruption in college sports
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Feb. 26, 2004, Page 6
When did college sports become breeding ground for scandals?
In the past, collegiate athletes were held to high standards. Not only did they excel in the classroom, they had physical abilities that most were not blessed with. Stepping onto the court or field took them to an almost god-like status among other students and those who watched them play.
Now come headlines riddled with controversy. Katie Hnida, former University of Colorado kicker, said in a “Sports Illustrated” interview that she was raped by a teammate while at Colorado. To compound matters, allegations of recruiting tactics that include alcohol, strippers and escort services are looming over the Colorado football program.
Reports came out in January, stating that a trial date for Carlton Dotson had been set for March 22. Dotson is charged with the murder of his former Baylor University basketball teammate Patrick Dennehy Jr. Matters were made worse for Baylor when an assistant coach came forward saying that Dave Bliss tried to portray Dennehy as a drug dealer.
Those instances are just the tip of the iceberg. Larry Eustachey, former Iowa State basketball coach, resigned after pictures surfaced of him drinking and kissing coeds after a game. Mike Price was fired as Alabama head football coach before even coaching a game because of spending a night on the town that included a trip to a topless bar. It seems no one can be trusted anymore.
The problem is obvious, but solutions are not as clear. One way to keep players out of trouble is to stress success in the classroom. Colorado basketball player Michel Morandais passed only one class in the fall semester, but is still allowed to play. Iowa State has a 21-year-old freshman on the basketball team.
He spent four years at a prep school to get his grades high enough to enter college, but still has four years of college eligibility left.
Rather than letting players be just athletes, make them be student-athletes. Enforce minimum grade point averages, require them to pass a certain number of hours, and make them attend classes.
A second way to deal with the problem is to improve leadership on the teams.
Coaches need to have more substance than just their winning percentage. Eustachy, Price and Bliss did not set good examples for their players.
The day after reports of Hnida’s rape accusations came out, Colorado football coach Gary Barnett said Hnida was “terrible” and couldn’t kick the ball through the uprights.
Keep in mind that Hnida was the first woman to ever score points in a Division I-A college football game. College athletes should be held to high standards, but the coaches should be held to even higher standards.
The problem is large and it will take time for any changes to come into effect, especially positive change. The first step to fixing the problem is recognizing it, however, and through coverage of scandals like the Hnida rape accusations, the public is beginning to see the problem.
Staff Writer
Feb. 26, 2004, Page 6
When did college sports become breeding ground for scandals?
In the past, collegiate athletes were held to high standards. Not only did they excel in the classroom, they had physical abilities that most were not blessed with. Stepping onto the court or field took them to an almost god-like status among other students and those who watched them play.
Now come headlines riddled with controversy. Katie Hnida, former University of Colorado kicker, said in a “Sports Illustrated” interview that she was raped by a teammate while at Colorado. To compound matters, allegations of recruiting tactics that include alcohol, strippers and escort services are looming over the Colorado football program.
Reports came out in January, stating that a trial date for Carlton Dotson had been set for March 22. Dotson is charged with the murder of his former Baylor University basketball teammate Patrick Dennehy Jr. Matters were made worse for Baylor when an assistant coach came forward saying that Dave Bliss tried to portray Dennehy as a drug dealer.
Those instances are just the tip of the iceberg. Larry Eustachey, former Iowa State basketball coach, resigned after pictures surfaced of him drinking and kissing coeds after a game. Mike Price was fired as Alabama head football coach before even coaching a game because of spending a night on the town that included a trip to a topless bar. It seems no one can be trusted anymore.
The problem is obvious, but solutions are not as clear. One way to keep players out of trouble is to stress success in the classroom. Colorado basketball player Michel Morandais passed only one class in the fall semester, but is still allowed to play. Iowa State has a 21-year-old freshman on the basketball team.
He spent four years at a prep school to get his grades high enough to enter college, but still has four years of college eligibility left.
Rather than letting players be just athletes, make them be student-athletes. Enforce minimum grade point averages, require them to pass a certain number of hours, and make them attend classes.
A second way to deal with the problem is to improve leadership on the teams.
Coaches need to have more substance than just their winning percentage. Eustachy, Price and Bliss did not set good examples for their players.
The day after reports of Hnida’s rape accusations came out, Colorado football coach Gary Barnett said Hnida was “terrible” and couldn’t kick the ball through the uprights.
Keep in mind that Hnida was the first woman to ever score points in a Division I-A college football game. College athletes should be held to high standards, but the coaches should be held to even higher standards.
The problem is large and it will take time for any changes to come into effect, especially positive change. The first step to fixing the problem is recognizing it, however, and through coverage of scandals like the Hnida rape accusations, the public is beginning to see the problem.
Monday, February 19, 2007
African semester life-changing
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
02/26/04, Page 3
Spending a semester on the other side of the globe is the opportunity of a lifetime, but it has its obstacles.
Senior Chris Howard, better known as Howie, spent last semester in Ghana in partial completion of the Doane Honors Program.
Life was much different in Africa, which is made obvious by the long journey it takes to get there.
"From my home in Crete to actually arriving, was about 30-32 hours," Howard said.
The six hour time difference was another thing to adjust to because it made communication with people in Crete difficult.
Other factors made the transition to life in Ghana awkward. In Peki, the village where he lived, the difference in technology was an obvious change from life in Nebraska.
"[There was] one telephone for the whole village," Howard said. "If there is a rain storm, someone has to walk out into the forest and reconnect it. It works about 50 percent of the time."
Howard said that in Accra, the capital of Ghana, the level of technology is comparable to that of the United States.
All things considered, Howard said that his 10 weeks away from home was not hard.
"People in Ghana are so friendly and accepted me into their homes and families," Howard said. "I missed some things but was very satisfied with what I had."
Howard attended a seminary school while in Ghana, but rather than staying in the dorms like the other students, he took turns living with the four professors who lived on campus.
Junior Katie Anderson, Howard's girlfriend, visited after she finished her finals at Doane. She brought money donated from churches to buy school supplies for middle school children. Howard and Anderson presented the markers, books and other supplies to the children in a little ceremony.
"As a thank you, they gave us two huge baskets of bananas," Howard said.
One of the most memorable moments from his time in Africa was with Anderson trying to get back to Peki from the city on a bus he said.
"The way people get around is on buses," Howard said. "The time came to pay and I didn't have any small bills so I gave him [bus driver] two big bills that I knew would cover it."
Howard said the driver failed to pay attention to what he was handed and just stuffed the bills into his pocket rather than giving Howard and Anderson the change they deserved. People on the bus saw this and began to talk loudly about how the bus driver was trying to cheat Howard. Eventually the bus driver gave them their change because of the other people on the bus.
"People have such a sense of fairness and looking out for each other that they were concerned about it even though we were strangers," Howard said. "It's hard to put into words, to go to a place and becoming part of a community changes who you are as a person. Your point of view is never the same again. I couldn't boil it down to one thing I learned. It's too big for that."
Staff Writer
02/26/04, Page 3
Spending a semester on the other side of the globe is the opportunity of a lifetime, but it has its obstacles.
Senior Chris Howard, better known as Howie, spent last semester in Ghana in partial completion of the Doane Honors Program.
Life was much different in Africa, which is made obvious by the long journey it takes to get there.
"From my home in Crete to actually arriving, was about 30-32 hours," Howard said.
The six hour time difference was another thing to adjust to because it made communication with people in Crete difficult.
Other factors made the transition to life in Ghana awkward. In Peki, the village where he lived, the difference in technology was an obvious change from life in Nebraska.
"[There was] one telephone for the whole village," Howard said. "If there is a rain storm, someone has to walk out into the forest and reconnect it. It works about 50 percent of the time."
Howard said that in Accra, the capital of Ghana, the level of technology is comparable to that of the United States.
All things considered, Howard said that his 10 weeks away from home was not hard.
"People in Ghana are so friendly and accepted me into their homes and families," Howard said. "I missed some things but was very satisfied with what I had."
Howard attended a seminary school while in Ghana, but rather than staying in the dorms like the other students, he took turns living with the four professors who lived on campus.
Junior Katie Anderson, Howard's girlfriend, visited after she finished her finals at Doane. She brought money donated from churches to buy school supplies for middle school children. Howard and Anderson presented the markers, books and other supplies to the children in a little ceremony.
"As a thank you, they gave us two huge baskets of bananas," Howard said.
One of the most memorable moments from his time in Africa was with Anderson trying to get back to Peki from the city on a bus he said.
"The way people get around is on buses," Howard said. "The time came to pay and I didn't have any small bills so I gave him [bus driver] two big bills that I knew would cover it."
Howard said the driver failed to pay attention to what he was handed and just stuffed the bills into his pocket rather than giving Howard and Anderson the change they deserved. People on the bus saw this and began to talk loudly about how the bus driver was trying to cheat Howard. Eventually the bus driver gave them their change because of the other people on the bus.
"People have such a sense of fairness and looking out for each other that they were concerned about it even though we were strangers," Howard said. "It's hard to put into words, to go to a place and becoming part of a community changes who you are as a person. Your point of view is never the same again. I couldn't boil it down to one thing I learned. It's too big for that."
Second annual Doane image survey released
Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Feb. 26, 2004, Page 1
Doane’s Office of Communication and Marketing presented the results of its second annual image survey to the Cabinet on Feb. 17.
From last year’s results, goals were set for areas that needed improvement.
“All of our short terms goals were met,” Marketing Director Jody Vondra said. Vondra; J.S. Engebretson, executive director of Communication and Marketing; and Rebecca Gonzales, director of Institutional Research, created the survey.
The survey is part of the Integrated Marketing Effort started in 2000, after receiving a grant from the Teagle Foundation.
Administered in March 2003, the survey was distributed by sending all users an e-mail through the Doane intranet.
The e-mail contained a link to an Internet address where the survey could be taken.
Of 965 undergraduate students from the Crete campus, 296 participated in the survey or 24.5 percent. Also, 38 of 77 full-time faculty responded or 49.4 percent.
Vondra said that it will not be clear if the long term goals are being met until five years of taking the surveys.
One area that saw improvement was communication between the administration and faculty and students.
The survey showed that 46 percent of students feel they are “always” or “usually” informed of decisions made by the administration, up 11 percent from last year’s results.
One area that showed a need for improvement is the cost of attending. Forty one percent of Crete students ranked the cost of attending as a mediocre 3 on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being poor and 5 being excellent.
The image of the Greek system received considerably lower ratings than other programs.
Forty percent of the faculty gave the image of the Greek system a poor 2 or 1 rating, and only 8 percent gave a positive rating of 4 or 5.
Conversely, 32 percent of students gave the image of the Greek system a rating of 4 or 5, however, 25 percent of students gave the Greek system a 2 or 1 rating and 25 percent reported no opinion. Also, 100 percent of the Cabinet rated the Greek system a 4 or 5.
Tim McArdle, president of Inter-Fraternity Council, accentuated the Cabinet’s response.
“They [the Cabinet] see a lot of the good things the Greek system brings to the college,” McArdle said.
McArdle also said that it seems like the Greeks get into trouble because a lot of them live in the quads, where a majority of problems occur.
He said that most people do not see the good things, such as community service, that the Greek organizations do.
As for the faculty’s views on the Greek system, McArdle said that the faculty only sees the Greeks in class, so they judge them as individuals or in small groups, not the big picture.
Overall, the results were not surprising to McArdle.
“It’s no secret that a lot of people on campus don’t like the Greek system,” McArdle said. “We’re always trying to improve our image.”
The results of this image survey were used to set goals for the survey that will be administered in March.
“Because it is such a new instrument and the image questions were new, it will be interesting to see the changes,” Vondra said.
Staff Writer
Feb. 26, 2004, Page 1
Doane’s Office of Communication and Marketing presented the results of its second annual image survey to the Cabinet on Feb. 17.
From last year’s results, goals were set for areas that needed improvement.
“All of our short terms goals were met,” Marketing Director Jody Vondra said. Vondra; J.S. Engebretson, executive director of Communication and Marketing; and Rebecca Gonzales, director of Institutional Research, created the survey.
The survey is part of the Integrated Marketing Effort started in 2000, after receiving a grant from the Teagle Foundation.
Administered in March 2003, the survey was distributed by sending all users an e-mail through the Doane intranet.
The e-mail contained a link to an Internet address where the survey could be taken.
Of 965 undergraduate students from the Crete campus, 296 participated in the survey or 24.5 percent. Also, 38 of 77 full-time faculty responded or 49.4 percent.
Vondra said that it will not be clear if the long term goals are being met until five years of taking the surveys.
One area that saw improvement was communication between the administration and faculty and students.
The survey showed that 46 percent of students feel they are “always” or “usually” informed of decisions made by the administration, up 11 percent from last year’s results.
One area that showed a need for improvement is the cost of attending. Forty one percent of Crete students ranked the cost of attending as a mediocre 3 on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being poor and 5 being excellent.
The image of the Greek system received considerably lower ratings than other programs.
Forty percent of the faculty gave the image of the Greek system a poor 2 or 1 rating, and only 8 percent gave a positive rating of 4 or 5.
Conversely, 32 percent of students gave the image of the Greek system a rating of 4 or 5, however, 25 percent of students gave the Greek system a 2 or 1 rating and 25 percent reported no opinion. Also, 100 percent of the Cabinet rated the Greek system a 4 or 5.
Tim McArdle, president of Inter-Fraternity Council, accentuated the Cabinet’s response.
“They [the Cabinet] see a lot of the good things the Greek system brings to the college,” McArdle said.
McArdle also said that it seems like the Greeks get into trouble because a lot of them live in the quads, where a majority of problems occur.
He said that most people do not see the good things, such as community service, that the Greek organizations do.
As for the faculty’s views on the Greek system, McArdle said that the faculty only sees the Greeks in class, so they judge them as individuals or in small groups, not the big picture.
Overall, the results were not surprising to McArdle.
“It’s no secret that a lot of people on campus don’t like the Greek system,” McArdle said. “We’re always trying to improve our image.”
The results of this image survey were used to set goals for the survey that will be administered in March.
“Because it is such a new instrument and the image questions were new, it will be interesting to see the changes,” Vondra said.
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