Submit items to Campus Currents - Top

The Campus Currents is distributed every Friday. To submit an item send it to Campus Currents, Unit 9512 or by e-mail to Campus Currents. Deadline is Thursday at 8 a.m.

Welcome to Black Hills State University - Top

• Renee Oler, child care worker, child care center

• Judy Schaeffer, child care worker, child care center

Career Service positions open - Top

The following Career Service positions are open:

• purchasing assistant, University Support Services

• custodial worker, Dining Services

For additional information, please review the position announcement or contact the personnel office.

Resignation - Top

• Kathrine Luze, secretary, Upward Bound

$78,000 in new science equipment available to undergraduate students - Top

New science equipment at Black Hills State University brings the latest technology to the science classroom for undergraduate student use.

The new equipment now available for classroom research includes a $62,000 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance machine as well as a $16,000 Thermo Nicolet Genesis II FTIR machine.

The magnetic resonance instrument allows students to characterize nuclei within organic compounds. This particular machine permits students to study hydrogen, carbon, phosphorous and many other nuclei.

The FTIR machine measures infrared absorbance of most of the organic chemicals. Students have already used it this semester to measure carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emission from auto exhaust.

“The equipment is appropriate for survey-level students to pique their interest in chemistry and get them using current technology in chemistry,” said Zehfus

The BH chemistry professor says the new equipment replaces 60s and 70s technology. The original magnet found in the older magnetic resonance equipment will still be put to use through computer enhancement that meets current standards. The computer equipment is part of the new system.

Plans are underway to purchase a mass spectrometer within the next year to further develop the equipment inventory at the university.

Kelly Stock, a senior biology and chemistry major at BHSU, works with one of two new pieces of science equipment available to undergraduate students this fall. The equipment she is using measures infrared absorbance of organic chemicals. The computer enhanced sensor was obtained from a grant written by Dr. Micheal Zehfus, assistant professor of chemistry, and is designed to make the latest technology available to university students.

“This equipment gives us equality with most chemistry departments across the country,” said Zehfus.

A single grant, written by the BH chemistry professor was responsible for bringing the two pieces of equipment to the university this fall.  

A year ago Zehfus received an NSF grant for $112,000 to encourage undergraduate research related to the hydrogen bond in protein structure. BH students are being introduced to pure research by building protein models and analyzing their structures.

Zehfus joined the BHSU science faculty three years ago after serving as an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy at Ohio State University and as a visiting assistant professor in the department of chemistry at Ohio Northern University. He is a graduate of Ripon College, Ripon, Wisc., and earned a master’s degree in biochemistry at the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry-biophysics at Oregon State University.

Glover and his class will develop resource textbook on structure of Sioux tribe  - Top

Associate professor John Glover and his tribal law and politics class at Black Hills State received a $5,000 grant from the Chiesman Foundation for Democracy to write a resource textbook on the structure of the Sioux tribe.

“It is imperative that South Dakotans have some understanding of the democratic tribal governments located in the region,” said Glover. “Unfortunately, discussions of such governments rarely occur in classrooms outside of the reservations.”

The 200-page resource text will describe the history and contemporary political structure of the nine Sioux tribes in South Dakota along with the Santee of Nebraska. The text will also cover the Great Sioux Nation, applicable treaties, the Black Hills land dispute, and present-day tribal

government. It is intended for upper-level high school and introductory college-level instruction.

Glover says the book-writing project will consist of three phases: 1) research and accumulation of information, 2) development of a draft narrative, and 3) review and comments by tribal government representatives. The project will be completed by late next summer.

In addition to Chiesman and BHSU participation, the University of South Dakota Law School Foundation has agreed to sponsor the endeavor.

Glover has been a member of history and social science faculty at BHSU since 1992. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree at Willamette University in 1990 and a B.A. degree in political science from Concordia College in 1987.

Ochse’s digital Shakespeare work will be published   - Top

Dr. Roger Ochse, associate professor of English at Black Hills State University, has written  a chapter in a book to be published in 2002 by Wakefield Press in conjunction with the Australian Council of Teachers of English. The chapter, “Digital Shakespeare: Integrating Text and Technology,” will appear as one of the 18 chapters in For All Time? Critical Issues in Teaching Shakespeare.

In his chapter, Ochse argues that contemporary performance theory, accelerated by new technologies like the Internet and digital audio/video, has challenged traditional concepts of the Shakespearean text. As a result, teachers of Shakespeare have difficulty accommodating these critical trends into 

their classroom instruction. Students can best learn Shakespeare by approaching the text in three different, yet interrelated ways: (1) text as language, (2) text as historical performance, and (3) text as student experience. Teachers of Shakespeare, by engaging this approach, can improve their effectiveness in the classroom and enhance student understanding and appreciation.

The chapter will also feature Ochse’s experience with digital Shakespeare at Black Hills State University. For the past two years, digital Shakespeare has produced innovative scenes from Shakespeare plays for digital media, including the internet. The Digital Shakespeare Society is currently filming a feature-length production of All’s Well That Ends Well. Scenes and discussions of the Society’s work may be found on the webpage.  

Spirit of Excellence at Work award - Top

The Spirit of Excellence at Work award is being presented to Becky Haak in the records office for her cheerful and professional manner in dealing with faculty, staff and students. 

This award recipient is chosen by a group which meets regularly to discuss ways to improve the campus working environment. This group feels that when they “catch” someone doing their job well, that performance should be recognized and encourages everyone to keep up the good work so they can “catch” you at it.

Career education day is Saturday - Top

 The career center is hosting the Career Education Day this Saturday from 9 a.m. -12:30 p.m.  Job search and resume writing workshops will be held, including two panels featuring current BHSU students who have completed internships, and recent 

Guest artist Phillip Peterson and Janeen Larsen will present vocal concert - Top

Guest artist Phillip Peterson, tenor, and Janeen Larsen, pianist, will present a vocal concert of American and European songs Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Spearfish. Songs by Bach, Vivaldi, Ravel, Respighi, and Finzi will be featured on the program presented by the Black Hills State University music department.

Peterson, a native of Maryland, earned a bachelor of music degree in voice performance from Temple University in Philadelphia. His professional musical life began at the early age of 19, when he was chosen by the world-renowned composer, Gian Carlo Menotti to sing the title of his children's opera "The Boy Who Grew Too Fast.” As an adult, his soloist and chorister credits include The Philadelphia Opera Company, The Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Chamber Chorus, Opera Delaware, and In clare voce.

Since 1995, Peterson has lived in Italy, where he sang five consecutive seasons at the Spoleto Festival, making a complete circle in his connection with Gian Carlo Menotti, who founded the festival in 1959. In addition to soloist work, Peterson currently sings with the Torino ocal Ensemble, a small vocal ensemble based in his hometown of Turin, Italy.

Larsen, BHSU music professor, is known throughout the midwest as a professional accompanist as well as a classical and jazz solo performer. Vocalist Stephen Parker, director of choral activities at BHSU, will also perform at the concert.

The concert is open to the public at no charge. For more information contact Larsen at 642-6241.

Sociology and Human Services Club to sponsor open forum on religion and the current crisis - Top

The BHSU Sociology and Human Services Club will sponsor an open forum, “Religion and the Current Crisis in America,” Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in Jonas Hall, room 308.

Dr. Larry Landis, professor of sociology and advisor of the Sociology and Human Services Club, will serve as panel moderator.

The panelists will include: Dr. Ahrar Ahmad, BHSU professor of political science and American citizen from Bangladesh, who has research interest in the relationship between Islam and the national and international political scene; Rev. Kerry Prendiville, a pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church, who has been active in working with the poor in Spearfish; and Dr. David Salomon, professor of philosophy and humanities, whose

Landis	Ahmad	Salomon

research covers the history of literature and religion.  

Each speaker will make a brief statement, and then the panel will be open for questions and comments from the audience. Refreshments will be available following the forum and participants are welcome to stay for further discussion. 

Alumni return to BHSU for basketball game - Top

Former players who returned to BHSU for the alumni basketball game last week were, front row, left to right, Mark Gould, Matt Burgess, Barry Van Dyke, Eldon Marshall. Back row, Coach John Heck, Trent Traphagen, Eric  Thomson, Brian Sudrala, Brant Miller and Travis Traphagen.

Minutes of the North Central meeting - Top

North Central committee met Monday, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. in Jonas 110.

Present: Earley, Fuqua, Keller, K. Johnson, J. Johnson, A. Hemmingson, Haislett.

Absent: D. Wessel, Babbitt, Heidrich, Cook, Downing, Schamber.

The committee reviewed the section of students and student success.  There was some concern that the data appeared to contradict itself or else had different numbers.  Examples were given and the chair said he would check to see if that could be resolved.

There was some discussion about the issue of the age distribution of the students, number of transfers, and also probations, suspensions. 

The chair reported that the section on education programs should be ready in December and hopefully the rough draft would be ready by January.

The next meeting will discuss physical facilities and healthy and safe environment.  The meeting will be Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. in Jonas 110.

Minutes of the University Assessment Committee meeting - Top

Minutes of University Assessment Committee Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 3:30 p.m. in Woodburn Conference Room 1.

Present: Earley. J. Miller, Siewert, Valades, Schamber, Myers, Pearce, Calhoon, Pearce.

Absent: Cook, Haislett, Altmyer, L. Turner.

Meeting dates:  The committee agreed that Tuesday is better than Wednesday.  There was a discussion of meeting dates - the chair will check and see what is best and notify the committee.

Annual reports:  The committee discussed the annual reports and what should be expected.  The committee agreed that the deans should take a more active role in the approval process.  The committee agreed to send to the Deans the original documents on how to write an assessment plan and also how to write an annual assessment report.

Original deadline for reports: Oct. 15 - A&S, Nov. 15 - A&S, Dec. 15- B&T, Jan. 15- ED.

The committee agreed to accept the annual reports for Spanish, Indian Studies, and speech communication with the concern that the number of students involved is very low.

The chair informed the committee that he had returned various reports from the College of A & S.  The committee agreed that the other reports should be sent back to Dean Downing for reconsideration by her. The committee further recommended that the chair and the Deans should discuss what should be done to tighten up the process.

Instructional improvement grants available - Top

The Instructional Improvement Committee (IIC) encourages, through monetary grants, the application of existing knowledge to specific teaching situations to improve the quality of instruction at BHSU.

Any full-time faculty member, full- time adjunct faculty, or other full- time staff member engaged in student instruction may apply for grant funds administered by the committee.  Grant funding will normally be available up to a maximum of $1,000 per project. Priority will be given to projects that will have a broad-based, visible, continuing impact of instruction across faculty members and/or disciplines. Funds are available for development of materials and methods to improve teaching and learning, equipment to enhance teaching and learning, travel to conferences or workshops which enhance teaching and learning, and bringing consulting lecturers and teaching specialists to campus to offer presentations to and/or with faculty and teaching-support staff at BHSU. 

Faculty members who apply for grants to support travel to a conference or workshop are limited to receiving no more than one grant every three years.  In the other categories, priority will be given to those who have not received an IIC grant in the last academic year.  

Faculty research funds available - Top  

It is anticipated that successful applicants will request support for faculty release time, research equipment, travel to research sites or research support for the production of creative work. Preference is given to new applicants, particularly in the areas of education, business, social 

The applicants are encouraged to contact the committee members for advice prior to completing their proposals. The members are John Alsup, Steve Anderson, Lyle Cook, Tom Cox, Abdollah Farrokhi, chair; Jim Hess, Kathleen Parrow, Shane Sarver, and Rob Schurrer. 

Grant opportunities announced - Top

Below are the program materials received Oct. 18-Nov. 1 in the grants office Woodburn 218. For copies of the information, contact our office at 642-6627 or e-mail requests to us at grants@bhsu.edu.  Fellowship information will also be posted on the Student Union bulletin board near the information desk.

• National Science Foundation.  Major Instrumentation.  The National Science Foundation is inviting applications to develop and acquire major research instrumentation for share use across academic departments, among institutions and in concert with private research partners.  Deadline:  The fourth Thursday of January, annually.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture.  National Research Initiative Grants Program.  Programs with a Feb. 15 deadline include animal growth and nutrient utilization, animal genome and genetic mechanisms, and plant biochemistry.
• American Educational Research Association.  Fellow programs for senior researchers to focus on policy-related research while in residence at either National Center for Education Statistics or National Science Foundation.  Deadline:  Dec. 5.