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.

Welcome to Black Hills State University - Top

• Kathrine Hudson-Luze, Upward Bound
• Karen Sorensen, cashier, business office
• Kerry Ruth, teacher aide, child care center

CSA position open - Top

The following career service position is open:

• senior building maintenance worker, facilities services

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

Commencement ceremony is Dec. 16 - Top

The 140^th Commencement will be held at Black Hills State University Saturday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. in the Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center.

Degrees will be awarded to 191 students. Degrees awarded include 21 associate degrees, four master’s degrees, and 166 bachelor’s degrees.

 Greetings from the South Dakota Board of Regents will be given by Jack Rentschler, board of regents vice president. Dr. Thomas Flickema, BHSU president, will present diplomas, assisted by April Meeker, records director.

Faculty marshals for the ceremony are Dr. Dan Peterson, professor of arts and sciences, and Dr. Darlene Swartz, professor of education.

Following the commencement ceremony a reception hosted by the president will be held in the Young Center field house.

An honors breakfast will be held prior to commencement at 8 a.m. in the Yellow Jacket Legacy Room of the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union. The summa, magna and cum laude graduates will be recognized.

Smith receives grant from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to study endangered Caribbean snake - Top

Reintroduction of the endangered Caribbean snake known as the Antiguan Racer (Alsophis antiguae) continues with grant support and the dedication of Black Hills State University biology professor Brian Smith and student assistants.

To continue their research work, Smith and his student researchers are dependent upon grants from various sources including prominent zoos. Earlier this fall Smith was awarded $1,000 from the John Ball Zoo Society and just recently he received notice of a $2,700 grant from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

 The BH herpetologist will use the grant money to support expenses for himself and a BHSU student to continue research on the Antiguan Racer by monitoring the snake’s primary food source that just happens to be lizards—Ameiva griswoldi (the Antiguan ground lizard) and Anolis wattsi (Watts’ anole).

Joining Smith’s research team this summer was Oniika Davis, a Caribbean student completing research for a master’s degree from the University of Derbyshire, in Derby, England. Smith hopes to be able find another indigenous researcher to help complete their fieldwork. It is his goal to have the majority of the research work done by local researchers within five to 10 years.

A four-person team including Smith will be busy this next summer monitoring lizards on four islands and taking over some of the snake survey work. In addition a fifth island, five times the size of any island previously investigated, will be studied.

To date, researchers have identified two islands that will serve as reintroduction sites; one has had snakes reintroduced.

“We have calculated that this island may support only about 20 snakes,” said Smith. “Including the 80 to 100 snakes left alive on Great Bird Island, this will leave the entire population at something less than 150 snakes, assuming successful reproduction at reintroduction sites.  We are still looking for more reintroduction sites.”

It is anticipated that at least 500 snakes must survive in the wild for a stable population to exist. Some studies suggest more is necessary.

“For the Antiguan Racer, we are continuing to identify more islands or larger islands suitable for reintroductions, both to increase population size and to increase the number of populations in the wild,” said the BH herpetologist.

Smith and BH’s involvement in the project began in 1999 when the university joined the Antiguan Racer Conservation Project (ARCP), a consortium that includes organizations from Britain, Antigua, and Washington, D.C. The conservation project began in 1995.

Members of the ARCP have received individual grants for various research project including funds for educational efforts, snake census, lizard surveys and for eradication of rats, which prey on the snakes.

Smith has also received funding for the Antiguan Racer research project from the BHSU faculty research fund, the dean’s council, and the Nelson Scholarship fund.

The BHSU herpetologist has been a member of the university science faculty since 1997. He earned his Ph.D. in quantitative biology from the University of Texas.

BH strength coach Paul Young featured in training magazine - Top

Paul Young, strength coach and fitness director at Black Hills State University, was the focus of a six-page interview in the November/December 2000 issue of “Hardgainer,” an international strength-training magazine.

The magazine is full of information and advice for drug-free bodybuilders and strength trainees. Dave Maurice interviewed Young.

The article focused on Young’s work environment at the university sports center, how he got interested in training, what sports he participates in, strength coaches who influenced him, training regimens in season and out, injury prevention training, specialized training, training intensity, and diet modification.

Young told the interviewer, “Strength training is an art based upon basic principles: overload, adaptation, progression and variation.”

For the athletes in day-to-day training the BH strength coach said, “The goal of a strength program is to make you stronger. What allows you to transfer the strength gained in the weight room to your sport is practicing the skills of your sport. As far as I’m concerned, there are only two reasons to strength train:  to prevent injuries, and to improve performance.”

To avoid over training he advocates a limited number of exercises per workout. He believes over training is a deterrent to high-level performance.

“It is best to purposely under train your athletes in the weight room—again I’m referring to training volume, not workout intensity,” he told the interviewer.

Young said he had always been interested in sports and came from a family of teachers. He has a teaching degree as well, and has taught at the elementary, middle school and university level.

In his current job as fitness director he oversees the basic operations of the fitness room that is available to the university students as well as to the general public, and as strength coach he designs and implements the strength training program for university athletes.

Young joined the university staff in 1991. He earned his bachelor’s degree at BHSU in 1978 and earned his master’s degree from South Dakota State University in 1983. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has reviewed and authored many textbooks and articles on strength training.

BH professor establishes psychology scholarship - Top

Recognizing his grandmother, Dr. James Hess, professor of psychology at Black Hills State University, established the Lois Watts Memorial Psychology Scholarship Fund.

The Watts scholarship is for junior or senior students pursuing a psychology degree at BHSU. Applicants must have completed 45 credit hours with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0. Recipients will have all their in-state tuition and fees paid for all semester hours of psychology courses enrolled in during their junior and senior years. Students applying for the scholarship must submit three letters of recommendation: one letter should be from a college faculty member, another letter from an organizational representative of a volunteer service to which the applicant contributed, and finally, a letter from a peer attesting to the applicant’s character and ambition.

The faculty of the psychology department along with the president of the psychology club will select scholarship recipients. Half of the scholarship will be awarded the first semester and the other half the second semester.

The scholarship honors Lois Watts, a longtime western South Dakota resident who was born in Arkansas in 1903. She married at age 15 and immediately went to work at the Hudson Car Factory in Detroit, Mich. In 1925 she moved and homesteaded near Ekalaka, Mont. She eventually became a very successful Belle Fourche businesswoman owning and operating several restaurants, most notable Watts Fine Foods. She strongly believed in the value of education as exemplified by her taking a Carnegie public-speaking course when she was in her 70s. She was instrumental in encouraging people to pursue an education and her oldest grandson, Dr. James Hess, became professor of psychology at BHSU in 1983.

The Watts memorial scholarship is sponsored in part by Minitman Inc., a company established by Hess utilizing many of the customer service values Watts so strongly believed in. After working well into her 80s, Watts died in 1997 at the age of 93.

Bush grant recipients will be honored - Top

The Bush Grant is hosting a day for faculty to reflect on and share their experiences with learning and teaching on Jan. 9 in the Donald E. Young Center Hall of Fame room. Recipients of minigrants and travel awards during the past year will be highlighted.

The collaborative minigrant projects include: 

• Collaboration in American Economic History designed by Dr. Ron DeBeaumont from Economics and Dr. David Wolff from history; 
• The Collaboration of Advertising Strategy with Advertising Graphics developed by Patty Jo Bellamy from the College of Business and Dr. Abdollah Farrokhi from the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Health, Culture, and Technology - Digital Diversity for Educators was developed by Dr. Larry Tentinger from the health and physical education department at BHSU and Dr. Marilyn Wells from Hampton University's Health Education Department; and,
• New Course Development in Ethnobotany designed by Dr. Mark Gabel and Dr. Charles Lamb from the science department, together with Jace DeCory from American Indian Studies and Nora Danforth, an undergraduate American Indian Studies major.

Travel grants awarded in 2000 included:  

• Dr. Jane Shimon to attend the World Congress and Exposition on Disabilities in Atlanta, Ga.;  

• Micheline Hickenbotham and four elementary education students, Leslie Schweitzer, Alan Demaret, Amber Volner, and Lori Peterson to present at the South Dakota Reading Annual Spring Conference in Huron; 

• Dr. Priscilla Romkema to present at the International Society for Business Education in Helsinki, Finland;

• Dr. Pamela Wegner to attend Creating Partnerships, Creating Scholarships: Strengthening Research, Teaching, and Learning with Effective Use of Electronic Resources in Minneapolis, Minn.; and 

• Dr. Kristi Pearce to attend The Collaboration Conference for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning in Minneapolis, Minn.

How to start a business workshop will be offered at BH - Top

Dislike your boss? Do you find your job unfulfilling? Now is your chance to strike out on your own and be in business for yourself. The Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at Black Hills State will sponsor a course beginning Jan. 16 titled “NxLeveL for Business Start-ups.”

The ten-session course is designed for individuals who want to start a business and need the skills to test the feasibility of their business concept. The course will help validate the concept—the entrepreneur who plans is the entrepreneur who succeeds. Therefore, participants will develop a start-up business plan during the course to test the feasibility of their business idea. It will become the blue print for a new start up venture, where you are in charge.

Randalei Ellis, associate professor of accounting at BHSU, will teach the course. She is a certified coordinator for NxLeveL 

Entrepreneurship and NxLeveL Business Start-up programs. Her areas of expertise are business start-ups, business development, business-plan writing, accounting and accounting systems.

The 13-week course will be held on Tuesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. in Jonas Hall, room 301. The extra three weeks in the ten-session course are set aside for research time.

To register for the course, please mail a check for $300 made out to “BHSU” by Jan. 29, 2001, to Center for Business and Entrepreneurship, BHSU, 1200 University St., Unit 9006, Spearfish, S.D. 57799-9006.

Minutes of the November CSA meeting - Top

The CSA council met Nov. 14, 2000, at the Pangburn Dining Room. 

Present were Ginny Sunding, Corinne Hansen, Jeanne Hanson, Ellen Melaragno, Deatta Chapel, Gloria Spitler, Marilyn Luscombe, Myron Sullivan, Gerry Pabst and Rebecca Dovre.

Not present were Eileen Thomas and Margaret Kleinsasser. 

President Corinne Hansen called the meeting to order.  Minutes of the October meeting were read and approved, motion by Ellen Melaragno, second by Marilyn Luscombe.  Minutes of the Regents CSAC were presented at this time.

Treasurer’s report was presented by Marilyn Luscombe. Treasurer’s report approved, motion by Ginny Sunding, second by Gloria Spitler.

Committee Reports

Safety and Facilities

Myron Sullivan reported on two issues addressed.  Community and BHSU faculty tennis enthusiasts requested university assistance to build a new tennis court.  No action was taken, the matter will be further studied.  There was a report of unsafe equipment being used.  It will be determined what action will be necessary to correct the problem.  It is necessary to notify the chairman of the safety and facilities committee that Rebecca Dovre is the CSA representative to that committee.

The issue of icy steps being a safety hazard at the south end of Woodburn was raised.  Jeanne Hanson will notify facilities services to install safety tape on the steps.

Strategic Planning 

Ginny Sunding reported that no major issues were raised.

Old Business

Election ballots were mailed Nov. 13.  Ginny Sunding will have results by Friday.  New council members will be invited to the December CSA meeting.

New Business

Discussion was held on how CSA can be more actively involved in campus and the community.  Jeanne Hanson made a motion, second by Rebecca Dovre to implement a service project to support United Ministries on campus.  Rebecca Dovre will contact Legia Spicer, Director of United Ministries to determine what needs are most urgent.  Corinne Hansen will prepare an announcement for the event.

Welcome baskets have been updated.

Discussion was held regarding the date of the fall/winter social.   The event will be held in January, possibly a pre-basketball meal.  Final plans will be made at the December meeting.

Next meeting is Dec. 12, 2000, 9 a.m.

Recorded by Jeanne Hanson, CSA secretary

Faculty research funds available - Top  

The faculty-research committee has funds available for the current fiscal year. Write a short (about three-page) proposal. Proposal forms are available at the grants office or can be printed out from their webpage.

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 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.

Grants opportunities announced - Top

Below are the program materials received Dec. 7- in the grants office in 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.

• AMS/Industry Undergraduate Scholarships.  American Meteorological Society.  The scholarships are available to students who will be juniors in the fall of 2001.  Prospective candidates from the fields of atmospheric sciences, oceanography, hydrology, chemistry, computer sciences, mathematics, engineering, and physics who intend to pursue a career in the atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences are encouraged to apply.  Deadline Feb. 23, 2001. 

• Swedish Information Service.  The Bicentennial Swedish-American Exchange Fund will provide an opportunity for those in a position to influence public opinion and contribute to the development of their society to make a two-to-four week intensive research trip to Sweden.  Fields of priority include: politics, public administration, working life, human environment, mass media, business and industry, education, and culture.  Award of 25,000 Swedish crowns (or equivalent in U.S. dollars).  Deadline Feb. 2, 2001. 
  

• Proposals in Ecology.  Earthwatch Institute.  Earthwatch volunteers have productively assisted ecologists with collecting and preparing plant specimens.  Application guidelines:  http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/CFRguidelin.html