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

• Roseanne Walter, custodial worker, Facilities Services

Former BH business instructor displays artwork and is honored - Top

Evelyn Elliott, retired business instructor at Black Hills State, was honored recently at a Ruddell Gallery reception recognizing her work at the university and her talent as an artist.

Fred Heidrich, associate professor of business and former student of Elliott’s, served as master of ceremony for the occasion. He recalled his early experiences as a student in the business program and working for Elliott as a work-study student and later in the department as one of her colleagues.

 “I adore this woman and owe her so much,” said Heidrich. “To this day no other person has had a

more profound affect on my professional career.”

Flanked by her sisters Jean Rahja of Aberdeen and Doris Sherburne of Spearfish, tributes were related by a nephew from Aberdeen and by Darleen Young of Spearfish who shared an office with Elliott for 19 years. Young reviewed Elliott’s academic background and cited the significant role the honoree played in developing the university’s business program. During her professional career she taught practically every business class offered at the college from 1945 to 1982.

In addition to her teaching talents it was obvious that her artistic talents were well developed, too, as the gallery featured numerous paintings she had produced over the years. It was amazing to family members that so many prints were on display as she often gave paintings away to those family members and friends who took a liking to a particular piece of work.

Campus changes dramatically at BHSU as Cook Gymnasium is removed to make way for new building - Top

The walls came tumbling down at Cook Gymnasium this week on the campus of Black Hills State University. The building is being removed to make way for a new music/academic building on campus.

Changes on the BHSU campus are clearly visible with the on-going removal of Cook Gymnasium. The low bidder for demolition of the building, Steve Thomas and Sons of Chamberlain, approached the task in a methodical and systematical process. Yesterday, the demolition of the building accelerated as the walls of the structure were pushed down. Work continues to remove the entire building.

In its quest to improve the educational quality of the university and its physical presence, BHSU is in the process of building a new music/academic facility. The master plan that began in 1998 led the BHSU administration to the conclusion that the existing music facility was woefully lacking. Further study concluded that renovation of the existing Cook facility was possible so a preliminary design and cost projection was prepared. After considering renovation costs, replacement rather than renovation was approved and design was begun on a new facility.

Ever since the Board of Regents granted final approval of the new 45,215 square-foot academic facility in 2001, BHSU has been making plans for the much needed space. The new $8.5 million structure will include a 300-seat recital hall, seven classrooms, 16 practice rooms, faculty offices, storage rooms, sound and office studios, band and choral rooms, as well as recording, keyboard, listening and piano labs and conference rooms. The music department and the College of Business offices will be relocated to the new building. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held later this summer.

Infrastructure work for the new building has already begun according to Art Jones, director of facilities services at BHSU. “The bids have been good and we are pleased with the way things have been going,” Jones said. He expects the building foundation work to begin soon and that the foundation will be visible by mid-July. The expected completion date for the new building is August 2003.

Consideration is also being given to remodeling the existing theatre in Woodburn Hall or building an entirely new theatre complex on campus. Planning for a theatre is in the preliminary stages.

To view of clip of the demolition or see the view from the Web cam see the BHSU multimedia page.

Golf tournament and auction scheduled - Top

Would you pay $20 for a regular roast beef sandwich a week for a year (52 sandwiches total). If so, consider attending the Gold Dust Yellow Jacket Golf Classic Auction. Last year one bidder did just that. There were many other great deals as well.

Over 250 items will be sold at the auction  which is open the public. All proceeds benefit the student/athlete scholarship program at BHSU.   The auction will be held Friday, June 21 at  7:45 p.m. at the Spearfish Park Tretheway Pavilion.  If you are unable to attend, contact the office of institutional advancement before the auction with your bid.

The auction is part of an annual fundraiser event  - The Gold Dust Yellow Jacket Golf Classic and Sports and Leisure Auction.

The golf tournament will be held at the Spearfish Canyon Golf Course beginning with registration and a putting contest at 11 a.m. The sports and leisure auction will include a social hour and dinner at the Spearfish Tretheway Pavilion beginning at 6:30 p.m. Golfers and non-golfers alike are invited to take part in the sports and leisure auction that begins at 7:45 p.m. More than 200 items ranging from autographed sports memorabilia to art items will be auctioned. Proceeds from the auction benefit student athletic scholarship programs at Black Hills State University.

The day’s golf tournament activities begin with a 1 p.m. shotgun start featuring an 18-hole Texas best-shot tournament (rain or shine).

To register for the golf tournament call the BHSU institutional advancement office at 642-6385. The entry fee is $100 and includes golf cart, two dinner tickets and a classic souvenir. Golf fee for spouse is $80. Dinner tickets only are $13 each.  

The sports and leisure scholarship auction includes a variety of items.  Some of the sports items available at the auction include:  

• autographed Tiger Woods PGA pin flag

• new Callaway golf bag

• Dale Earnhardt gold pocket watch

• autographed baseball from Barry Bonds

• New White Hot Odyssey putter

• Anthony Thomas autographed Chicago Bears helmet  

Complete list of auction items.

For golf or auction information contact Steve Meeker at  (605) 642-6385 or email <stevemeeker@bhsu.edu>.  

Students travel to South America - Top

A group of BHSU students and two staff members recently visited South America to experience the culture and consider worldwide career opportunities.

The 19-day trip, arranged by Bob Stanelle, director of student development at BHSU, included travel to Asuncion, Paraguay, and Puerto Iguazu, Argentina; Parana, Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Santiago, Chile. The group included Rachael Christiansen, education major from Spearfish, Christine Anderson, an education major from Rapid City,  Helen Fasken, a psychology major from Spearfish, Shar Fowler, a psychology major from Rapid City, and Bill (Doq) Stodden, a political science/history major from Spearfish. Joe Valades, BHSU academic advisor, and Stanelle accompanied the group.

The students visited the El Diario (newspaper) on May 27 in Parana, Argentina, to comment on their travel experiences.

Following is an excerpt of a translated copy of the news story that appeared in that paper.

“They (BHSU students) are traveling with the intent to learn more about different societies, other cultures and international career opportunities.

The visit to Parana was coordinated by Stanelle and Estela Gambelin, director of both the American English Institute and Sarah Eccleston College here in Parana.  They have worked together on several visits beginning in 1995.  One local Parana resident, Maria Virgina Torres, is currently attending university in the United States on a scholarship arranged by Mr. Stanelle.  Ms. Torres is a former student of the American English Institute and a graduate of Parana's Escuela Normal Superior.

Gambelin stated that, "the educational leaders of Black Hills State University encourage their students to learn about other nations and cultures and to experience living as they live as much as possible.  In addition, they desire their students to learn about democracy and that the American version of democracy they know is not the only version.  Democracy can be quite different and does not work in the same way in all nations."  Stanelle added, "One intent is to develop future leaders in education, 

A group from BHSU recently took an expedition to South America which included a stop at Iguazu Falls, Argentina during a tropical downpour.  Members of the group, l to r, were Shar Fowler, Rachael Christensen, Joe Valades, Bill Stodden, Helen Fasken, and Christine Anderson. Iguazu Falls is known for being the world's widest waterfall.

business and government who, through increased contact and personal knowledge, will promote better international understanding and cooperation in all aspects."

Several students commented during their visit that, "it's our intention to open our own horizons and to better understand other ways of life.  We feel it is important for the peoples of our nations to travel as possible and experience other ways of life, other cultures and discover what other nations may think and feel about shared issues and concerns."

Faculty and staff offered free tickets to arts festival events - Top

“A Gala Celebration of the Arts” opening concert will be presented Saturday, June 15 at 7 p.m. in the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish. This event is part of the Summer Institute of the Arts that is hosted annually by the College of Arts and Sciences at BHSU.  Faculty and staff are invited to stop by the College of Arts and Sciences in Jonas 108 for free tickets to these performances. 

This performance is a celebration of five arts disciplines – dance, music, literature, art and theatre – and will feature BHSU professor Kent Meyers, dancer Michelle Ozmun, The Three Sopranos-Wendy Mitchell, Roanne McGinley, and Gina Cupini, as well as James Volone, Burke Holaday and Isaac Waring. The winners of the young performers competition will also perform.  A reception with the performers will be held after the concert. Gala dress is appreciated.

Other events planned include a vocal recital June 26 at 7 p.m. in Woodburn Auditorium with the students of the Vocal Arts and Opera Theatre School presenting a selection of vocal pieces.

A performance of opera theatre, “An Evening of Songs and Dance,” will be presented June 28 at 7 p.m. in Woodburn Auditorium. This is the final performance by the students and teachers of the Vocal Arts and Opera Theatre School summer session 2002 and will include a selection of opera scenes and arias.

The “Black Hills Summer Institute of the Arts Opera 

Festival” will be presented June 29 in Woodburn Auditorium. This performance will feature faculty and students of the opera theatre  school in a celebration of grand opera and al  fresco festivities. There will be a picnic dinner on the east lawn of the campus beginning at 6 p.m., followed by the show at 7:30 p.m. and a après reception at 9 p.m. 

Sunday, June 30, the vocal arts opera theatre will host a graduation at 10 a.m. The panel of expert opera faculty will hold a discussion on the state of the art and opera potpourri. A reception will follow at noon.

In addition, the Summer Institute of the Arts will host two noon-time lectures in the Matthews Opera House. The first lecture, June 19, will be presented by John Stewart and Mara Waldman. They will discuss their experiences en route to the podium.

The second lecture, “The World of a Television Producer,” will be presented June 26 by Mary Jo Blue.  She has been the director or producer for many well known shows such as "The Carol Burnette Show Showstoppers," "World's Wildest Police Videos," "Zoobilee Zoo," and documentaries like "United Against Hunger" and "Jean Michel Cousteau's People of the Sea." She will speak about her varied professional experiences.

For additional information on any of these events, contact the College of Arts and Sciences at BHSU at 642-6420 or see the Web page www.bhsu.edu/arts/.