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

• Deborah Hopkins, library associate, E.Y. Berry Library Learning Center
• Lois Evers, salad maker, dining services

Transfer - Top

• Dawn Schmidt, from senior cook to food service supervisor, dining services

Resignation - Top

• Rusty Luebchow, storekeeper, University Support Service
• David Jenner, computing services

Poet to present at Black Hills State University - Top

b.f. maiz, nationally known poet, will present his original poetry Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Student Union Jacket Legacy room on the campus of Black Hills State University.

The presentation, “Voice of the Poet,” 

features maiz reciting from memory which gives him the opportunity to infuse inspiration, nuance and meaning that each poem deserves.

A reception for maiz will be held at 6:30 p.m. This event, which is open to the public at no charge, is sponsored by the Black Hills State University UP Team Fine Arts Committee. 

Lamb to attend conference - Top  

Dr. Charles Lamb, College of Arts and Science associate professor, has been chosen to attend a regional convention of neuron scientists.

The conference, "New Strategies for Functional Visualization of Peripheral and Central Chemosensory Cells," was organized to initiate interaction and collaboration between chemosensory scientists in the Rocky Mountain area. 

The conference objectives are to share experimental techniques, indentify new directions for chemosensory studies and establish collaborative projects.

Participants for this three-day conference are being invited from universities throughout the Intermountain Region. Organizers hope the focused discussion session will generate a cross-fertilization of ideas from

 chemosensory subdisciplines.  The conference is sponsored by National Institutes of Health.

Chemical detection is fundamental to organisms ranging from bacteria to man. The chemosensory system that mediate chemical detection include the gustatory, olfactory, vomeronasal and trigeminal senses.

Recently, the number of scientists interested in various aspects of chemosensory processing in the Intermountain region of Colorado, Utah and Idaho has reached a critical mass.  This conference is designed to initiate interaction and collaboration between chemosensory scientists in this geographically isolated region. 

Lamb joined the BHSU science faculty in 1995. He earned a Ph.D. in physiology from Louisiana State University in 1991. 

KBHU: Now live on the web - Top

By Dawn Taggart, student intern at BHSU Media Relations

Black Hills State University’s student-run radio station, KBHU 89.1 FM, went online late this fall.

Dave Diamond, KBHU advisor, had been encouraging BHSU students to get audio on the Internet for some, time.      

“KBHU is the only college radio station that’s broadcasting on the web in South Dakota,” said Andy Erickson, a BHSU student from Beresford who serves as the station’s program and production director. “We’ve received a lot of good feedback from other colleges around the country, one from a program director of a station in Dayton, Ohio. We received an email from a student at Dakota State and his only complaint was that it [KBHU] wasn’t on broadband [for better sound quality].”

Erickson said that a student came up with the idea of getting KBHU on the web last year, but that student graduated without taking any action on the project. Erickson decided that it was a good idea and got the ball rolling. “I talked to John Shafto at Altaire Enterprises. He helped us out a lot. Basically, we were a guinea pig in a project of his,” said Erickson.

KBHU online broadcasting began in December of 2000, and Altaire Enterprises gave KBHU web hosting in exchange for mention on the air. 

The web page was designed by Erickson, who had never designed a website before.

He said, “I learned as I went along. It’s a very user-friendly site.”

Jeff Williamson, a sophomore from Hill City who serves as the station’s online director, maintains the page including a link to a brief history of the 100-watt FM station with pictures of disc jockeys from the 70s and 80s.

“Hopefully this year, definitely next year, we will archive all the games on the web,” said Erickson.

The archive will contain all of the college athletic activities, play by play, for the academic year.

KBHU, which first aired in 1974, is the only station in the area that plays solely alternative rock. The website can be found at http://www.kbhuthebuzz.com.

Summer Institute of the Arts presents Valentines show - Top

Black Hills Summer Institute of the Arts presents “From Vienna With Love” on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m.  The evening of love songs and dancing will be held at the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish.  Reservations, with a $25 donation, include fondue, aperitif and desserts.   The event features table prizes and gala attire.  Tickets are available by calling 642-6420 or 341-5714; a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

The Valentine’s festivity features Guido Della Vecchia, operatic tenor, with Janeen Larsen, accompanist.  Other top performing artists include:  Brahms Liebeslieder Singers with accompanists James MacInnes and Albin Spreizer, the Rushmore Orchestra and the Black Hills Dance Centre. 

All proceeds benefit BHSIA’s student scholarship fund. The festivity is sponsored by BHSU’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Chamber schedules annual art walk - Top

The 7^th Annual Hot Chocolate Days Art Walk is scheduled for Feb 15-18 in Spearfish. This year more than 60 artists will be showing their artwork in Spearfish businesses. The Art Walk features a variety of art, including bronze sculptures, photography, paintings, pencil drawings, paper tole and fiber art. The public is invited to stroll through businesses to view the various artwork and sip hot chocolate as they are shopping.

A temporary studio will be set up in the Old City Hall building at 722 Main Street, Spearfish, Tuesday, Feb. 12 through Saturday, Feb. 17. Stop by and view artists creating masterpieces from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

BH residence hall association recognizes students and staff - Top

The residence hall association at Black Hills State University recognized a residence hall and students and staff for the month of December.

Humbert Hall, a women’s dormitory, was recognized as the hall of the month and cited for initiating a program known as “Stress-Less Week.” Residents created a stress-reducing week during finals week by setting aside a night for massages, one for gingerbread house making, and one night for singing carols and drinking cider.

Jade Harney, university apartments director, said, “The residence hall association recognition is a means to award individuals in the residence halls for their contributions to the residence hall communities. The individuals awarded are nominated by the residents of each residence hall. After all the ballots are collected, the hall government for each hall meets and chooses the best nomination. … The residence hall association also votes on the overall hall of the month, floor-wing community of the month and program of the month.”

For the month of December Humbert Hall was recognized and was also selected as having the program of the month with its “Stress-Less Week.”

Thomas Hall second floor of the south wing was honored for its decorating themes, Christmas party and friendly atmosphere.

Resident students of the month are Pat Moriarity, a sophomore from Philp; Ben Bryce, a sophomore from Worland, Wyo.; Max Masters, a freshman from Parker; Gretchen and Stephanie Stubberud, freshmen from Rapid City; and Tacy Boldt, a freshman from Arlington.

Hall government members of the month for December are Paul Gourly, a freshman from Sioux Falls; Lindsay Whitley, University Place, Wash.; Max Masters; Ian Laber, a freshman from Winner; and Amber Fitzpatrick, a freshman from Sturgis.

Staff members of the month for December are Ralph Hoover and Connie Nicolas of the university custodial staff, and student workers Max Masters, Sarah Griswold, a sophomore from Gillette, Wyo.; and Teresa Addington, a junior from Lead.

Minutes of the University Assessment Committee meeting - Top

Minutes of University Assessment Committee Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m. in Woodburn Conference Room 1.

Present: Earley, Schamber, Calhoon, Sharon Hemmingson, Derrick Buchholz. Absent: Cook, Haislett, Kent Meyers, Dean Myers, Altmyer, Termes, and J. Miller.

The committee decided to go ahead and consider the annual reports.  Derrick Buchholz introduced himself as the new student member.

1. Reports approved
a.  Professional accountancy and accounting
b. Business administration
c.  Business education
d.  Entrepreneurial studies
e.  Human resource management
f.   Marketing

2. Report returned for revision
a.  American Indian studies

3. Reports accepted but no recommendation
a. Composite physical science  

The committee discussed the reports and concluded that there was an overall problem in regard to the reports from the Colleges of Business and Education.  The chair agreed to send a letter to the respective deans explaining the concerns of the committee. 

The next meeting will be on Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. in Woodburn Conference Room 1.

Minutes of the Feb. 6 NCA Self-Study Committee meeting - Top

Minutes of NCA Self-Study Committee Meeting Tuesday Feb. 6 - Woodburn Conference Room 1-3:30 p.m.

Present: Earley, J. Johnson, Cook, Keller, Kloppel, B. Silva, Schamber, Downing, D. Wessel, A. Hemmingson, Heidrich

Absent: Haislett, Lin, Lefler, Card, Godsell, K. Johnson.

The committee discussed the report on Response to the Concerns of the 1992 Visiting Team- various editorial changes were suggested and will be submitted to the chair.

Concern 1 - Regional University- The committee wanted to see a description of the regional role of the institution and the coverage of that issue in the strategic plan.  Heidrich agreed to draft a statement covering those points which would cover the points.

Concern 2 - Hiring of Minorities and Females - committee discussed this and a suggestion was made that the pool of applicants should be considered as an example of efforts to hire.  Chair agreed to ask Ms. Haeder if the data was available.

Concern 3 - Committee was concerned that the numbers appearing in various charts were different for the same category and wanted someone to make sure that the data was consistent throughout.  The chair agreed to serve as that person.

Concern 4 - Additional support staff - Hemmingson questioned the statement in this 

regarding the computer center.  Chair asked him to provide a statement that reflected the issue.

Concern 5 - No major suggestions

Concern 6 - Heidrich reported that in a recent faculty senate meeting the senate went on record as supporting a faculty senate representing faculty, not a university senate.

Concern 7 - No major suggestions

Concern 8 - Suggestion that the chair straighten out the chart- chair agreed.

Concern 9 - No major suggestions

Once the concerns were addressed, the committee reviewed the next item to be discussed. 

D. Wessel reported that the taskforce on Criterion 2 would be ready to discuss Criterion 2 at the next meeting on Feb. 13.  He hoped to send the report out to committee members before the meeting.

Cook reported that the taskforce on Criterion 3 would be ready to discuss Criterion 3 by the end of the month.

D. Wessel also asked about storage space for the material he had collected.  Chair responded that he thought it would be stored in Jonas and agreed to talk to Schamber about the issue.