• Resignations
• Music department fundraiser at Knight's Cellar
• Health screening offered for employees
• Swarm Day parade winners announced
• Black Hills State University theatre opens season
• Socialist party presidential candidate will speak
• Leading motivational speaker Joe Martin will present at BHSU
• Williams and Ree scholarship awarded
• Alcohol awareness week recognized at Black Hills State
• BHSU to host companies interested in hiring December and May graduates
• Australian teacher donates books, videos to BHSU
• Minutes of the Sept. 20 faculty senate meeting
• Minutes of the CSA meeting
• Minutes of the graduate council meeting
• Faculty research funds available
• Instructional improvement funds available
• Grants opportunities announced
• This week at BHSU

Submit items to Campus Currents - Top

The Campus Currents is distributed every Friday. If you would like to include an item in the newsletter send it to Campus Currents, Unit 9512 or by e-mail to Campus Currents. Deadline is Thursday at 8 a.m.

Resignations - Top

• Marlene Hofer, staff assistant, food service
• Patty Maki, food service worker, food service

Music department fundraiser at Knight's Cellar - Top

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to listen to some music, visit with your friends, and donate some money for music scholarships.

Carol Armbrust will perform from 5-6 p.m. followed by a Randall Royer/Janeen Larsen duo from 6-7 p.m. A trio consisting of Chris Hahn, Royer and Larsen will take the stage from 7-8 p.m. and Tony Speiser and friends will entertain from 8-9 p.m. followed by Brock Finn from 9-10 p.m.

Health screening offered for employees - Top

Screenings include: cholesterol check, blood-sugar level (three-hour fast recommended), blood pressure, body mass index (bmi), and carbon monoxide. The health screening is available at no charge to benefited state employees and their spouses who are on the state’s health plan.

Special arrangements have been made with Avera McKennan to offer these health check tests at no cost to health plan participants. The primary care physician (PCP) does not offer these tests as routine procedures. Employees should not expect local clinics to provide these tests.

Swarm Day parade winners announced - Top

Bonzai Katfish, appearing as KISS on the BHSU Alumni Association float took first place in the community division. Second place went to the Northern Hills Training Center.

In the student organizations division, best creativity award went to the Student Ambassadors, most spirit was awarded to Thomas Hall and the best use of theme winner was Props and Liners/Theatre Society.

In the BHSU offices division, first place went to the computer center and second place was the Student Union float.

Several area bands performed and competed in the parade also. Winner High School was named the best of the bands. Other band winners were: AA – first place – Spearfish High School; A, first place – Winner High School; B, first place - Sundance; B, second place – New Underwood; middle school, first place – Spearfish.

Black Hills State University theatre opens season - Top

This Pulitzer prize winning drama by Paul Zindel is a story of a frowzy, acid-tongued mother supporting herself and her two daughters by taking in a decrepit old boarder. One daughter, Ruth, is a pretty but high-strung girl subject to convulsions, while the younger daughter, Matilda, plain and almost pathologically shy, has an intuitive gift for science. Encouraged by her teacher, Tillie 

undertakes a gamma-ray experiment with marigolds which wins a prize at her high school – and also brings on the shattering climax of the play. Proud and yet jealous, Beatrice can only maim when she needs to love, and deride when she wants to praise. Tortured, acerbic, slatternly, she is as much a victim of her own nature as of the cruel lot which has been hers. And yet, Tillie’s experience proves something beautiful and full of promise can emerge from even the most barren afflicted soil.

Tickets are available by calling the theatre box office at 642-6171.

Socialist party presidential candidate will speak - Top

The topic of this political lecture is "The Socialist Alternative for the 21^st Century." The presentation, sponsored by the University 

For more information contact Allen Godsell at 642-6418 or William Stodden at 642-6345. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should call 642-6418 at least 48 hours before the event.

Leading motivational speaker Joe Martin will present at BHSU - Top

Martin, a professor at West Florida University, will make two presentations and also conduct interactive leadership sessions with students.

"Get a Pulse: Finding your Purpose" is the title of his presentation Friday, Oct. 27 from 3-5 p.m. in the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union Jacket Legacy room. This presentation is designed to help people find, accept and live their life’s purpose. Martin will show students how to identify, accept and maximize their unique talents, skills, and abilities, how to get and stay self-motivated, how to stop themselves and others from sabotaging their success; how to become 100 percent committed to their problems and how to turn their passion into profits.

Martin will speak to student leaders, faculty and staff Saturday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This leadership retreat "Give and Grow Rich: Effective Service Leadership," will challenge participants to serve others better, unlock the secret of staying self-motivated, lead others by being an example, not an excuse, accept responsibility for personal and professional development and overcome obstacles.

According to Jane Klug, director of student services, this speaker is a once in a lifetime opportunity. "I have personally heard Professor Martin speak and I guarantee you will not be disappointed."

For more information contact the student union information center at 642-6062.

A member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, the BH freshman comes from a family who lives on a 10,000-acre cattle and horse ranch next to Montana’s Big Horn River. Besides spending time in Big Sky country, Cummins’ passion is to become a blues singer. She has been singing since she was a three-year-old and plays the piano and alto saxophone. She says jazz singer Billie Holiday is her idol.

She visited the BH campus a couple of times during her senior year and met with choral director Stephen Parker. It was the program, his influence and the scholarship award that ultimately led to her decision to attend the university.

During her high school years she received several music awards including the Bel Canto award voted on by her classmates, Outstanding Musicianship award, International Association of Jazz Educators award, and was voted 1998 Miss Outstanding Young Person from Big Horn County.

She is currently taking private voice lessons and hopes to become a member of BH Singers next semester.

Dr. Janeen Larsen, chairman of the BHSU department of fine and applied arts, presents a $1,000 scholarship award to freshman Amy Cummins of Hardin, Mont. A double major in vocal music and sociology, Cummins is the first recipient of the recently established Williams and Ree Scholarship.

Should music not become a successful career choice, Cummins says she plans to carry a second major in sociology and would like to eventually earn a doctorate and teach.

The Williams and Ree Scholarship was established at BHSU this year and is designed to support full–time students pursuing music and /or theatre degrees. Preference is given to Native American students pursuing a music degree.

Alcohol awareness week recognized at Black Hills State - Top

BHSU to host companies interested in hiring December and May graduates - Top

The Air Force audit agency will be on campus Nov. 1 to interview business or accounting students with at least two accounting courses completed for positions as co-op or summer interns at Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City. Chris Tusko, company representative, indicates that this is an outstanding opportunity to gain experience while still in school. Resume and unofficial transcripts are required.

Shuck, Marso & Bennett of Gillette, Wyo., will be interviewing on Thursday, Nov. 2. They are seeking December and May graduates with accounting degrees for positions in Gillette. Raulie Weber is the 

Wells Fargo Financial of Rapid City will be interviewing Thursday, Nov. 9 for potential management trainees in locations throughout the region. Mark Brockman will be interviewing interested December or May graduates with degrees in business or liberal arts. Further information about the company can be found at www.wellsfargofinancial.com

All interviews are held in the career center in the lower level of the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union. Times are available on a first come basis. To sign up, bring a copy of your resume to the career center and select an interview time. For more information contact Eileen, Sarah or Bob at the BHSU career center at 642-6238.

Australian teacher donates books, videos to BHSU - Top

Essex spent his time auditing courses and visiting the Pine Ridge Reservation in an effort to gain more understanding of the impact of white colonization on the Native American population. He plans to compare these effects with those on the Aboriginal people of Australia from European colonization.

The high school teacher has been teaching in New South Wales since 1978 at the junior and senior levels. His North American Plains Indians course is one of Kyogle High School’s most popular courses, and many of the students of this course have asked to continue the same study of United States history.

Essex made the donation to Dr. Thomas Flickema, BHSU president, before he returned to Australia.

Kerry Essex of Australia presents to Dr. Thomas Flickema a book titled "Minjungbal. Aborigines and Islanders of the Tweed Valley," and a teaching kit titled "Valuing Cultures." These are two of a number of books, audio tapes, and videos donated to BHSU by Essex.

Minutes of the Sept. 20 faculty senate meeting - Top

Members present: Curtis Card, John Glover, Rob Schurrer, Margaret Lewis, Steve Babbitt, Colleen Kirby, Rena Faye Norby, Vincent King, Don Chastain. (Absent: Fred Heidrich and Dan Durben, Tim Hightower replaced Dan Durben)

Meeting opened:

President Card opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. The agenda was approved. Corrections were made to the minutes. Minutes were then approved.

Old Issues:

Student PINs – an email containing the process for the assignment of PINs to students only from their advisor was issued to the committee.

Sandee Schamber will serve the general assessment committee as the faculty senate representative.

John Glover presented the recommendations for the appointments to the various faculty senate committees. After some discussion it was moved to approve Ron DeBeaumont, Dick Hicks, Carol Hess, Penny DeJong, and Tom Termes to the university curriculum committee. DeBeaumont and DeJong will serve until 2002 and Hicks, Hess, and Termes will serve to 2003. The motion included the appointments of Tom Cox, Al Sandau, and David Salomon to the general education committee. Cox will serve until 2001 while Sandau and Salomon will serve to 2003. Riley 

Information containing the number of honors graduates since 1989 was distributed to the committee. This information was obtained from the "Black Hills State University Factbook".

New issues:

George Earley will present information on the CAAP exam, the NCA Self-Study, and assessment in general at the next meeting.

A representative from the faculty senate is requested to participate on the student senate. A representative will be determined at a later date.

Special topics:

Honors program - Dr. Tim Martinez and Dr. Lyle Cook presented and fielded questions regarding the establishment of an honors program. Cook indicated that $10,000 would be available for the start of this program. Two keys for the long-term success of this program were seen as the ability of the faculty to drive this program and maintain high standards. A copy of the proposal will be distributed to the committee members for the purpose of obtaining other faculty members input. The information from these discussions will be presented at the next meeting.

Meeting closed: The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Minutes of the CSA meeting - Top

Present were Gloria Spitler, Marilyn Luscombe, Deatta Chapel, Corinne Hansen, Rebecca Dovre, Ellen Melaragno, Eileen Thomas, Ginny Sunding and Jeanne Hanson.

Not present were Margaret Kleinsasser, Gerri Pabst, and Myron Sullivan.

President Corinne Hansen called the meeting to order. Minutes of the Sept. 19 meeting were read and amended to list Ellen Melaragno as not present. Motion by Marilyn Luscombe, seconded by Eileen Thomas to accept as amended.

Treasurer’s report was presented by Marilyn Luscombe. Motion by Jeanne Hanson seconded by Ellen Melaragno to accept.

There were no committee reports.

Old Business

A raffle package of items from the bookstore, stadium blanket, seat, hat, umbrella and insulated mug valued at approximately $84 was purchased at a cost of $50. Tickets have been sold at the Sept. 30 football game and by CSA employees. A table will be set up in the Student Union during Swarm Week from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., manned by council members. (Schedule attached.) Tickets will also be sold at the gates prior to the homecoming game. Items will be given away at halftime of the game, winner does not need to be present to win. Tickets and money should be turned in to Marilyn Luscombe by Friday, Oct. 13.

New Business

Whereas, Career Service employees are valued and essential assets to the State of South Dakota and the Board of Regents institutions, and

Whereas, Career Service employees comprise the majority of lower level salary positions within the South Dakota University systems, and

WHEREAS, Career Service employees are concerned with the implications of possible budget shortfalls and potential personnel reductions if amendments to ban video lottery and repeal the state inheritance tax pass in the November election,

THEREFORE be it resolved, that the Black Hills State University Career Service Advisory Council recommends the South Dakota Board of Regents promote and support a 4 percent salary increase for regental employees in the upcoming legislative session beginning January 2001.

The resolution will be presented at the Regents meeting listing names of BHSU CSA council members present at this meeting, and those not present who are in agreement with the resolution.

The election of new council members will be held prior to the November meeting. Outgoing council members are Ellen Melaragno, Rebecca Dovre, Corinne Hansen, Margaret Kleinsasser, Marilyn Luscombe, Gloria Spitler, Gerry Pabst, and Eileen Thomas. Notification of election will be sent to CSA employees on Oct. 30, requesting a response by Nov. 3. Ballots will be sent on Nov. 6 with a response deadline of Nov. 13. Results will be available at the Nov. 14 meeting.

The next CSA meeting is set for Nov., 2000, at 9 a.m. in the Pangburn Dining Room.

Recorded by Jeanne Hanson, CSA secretary.

Minutes of the graduate council meeting - Top

Present: R. Chrisman, Earley, Steckline, Erickson, Alsup, Austin, Meek, Silva. Absent: Cook, Molseed. Visitor: Farrokhi.

Online degree requests- Meek moved and Austin seconded. The graduate council's policy on curriculum requests is that graduate degrees approved by the normal process also are approved for whatever delivery mechanism (on campus, off campus, ddn, satellite, internet) the university finds appropriate. This motion was approved unanimously.

Austin reported on his committee's draft of graduate committee responsibilities. The council discussed the draft, made suggestions, and asked the committee to return with a final draft to the November meeting.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m. in Jonas 309.

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 sciences and humanities. A three-hour release time is available for fall of 2001. You can apply now.

The research committee will not provide salary. The committee may approve payment to student or non-student research assistants. Deliver the original plus ten copies of your proposal to the grants office in Woodburn 218 or Dr. Farrokhi’s office in Woodburn 314 by Oct. 20.

Instructional improvement funds available - Top

Grants opportunities announced - Top