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.

CSA position open - Top

The following Career Service position is open:

• senior secretary with keyboarding, enrollment center

Sarver receives grant from South Dakota Game Fish and Parks - Top

Shane Sarver, associate professor of biology, recently received a grant from the South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks for $16,400.

The grant provides funding for continued research on the endangered Topeka shiner. Currently, DNA fingerprinting markers are being developed that will be used to investigate genetic variation in natural populations of Topeka shiners. 

Listed as an endangered species in 1999 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Topeka shiners are found in several river systems in

eastern South Dakota as well as several other mid-western states. The current distribution of the small fish is considerably reduced from its historical numbers.

Sarver has been working with the South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks to genetically characterize the South Dakota populations of the Topeka shiner in order to develop effective management plans.

Sarver joined the BHSU science faculty in 1996. He earned a Ph.D. in zoology from the Louisiana State University in 1993 and a master’s degree in fisheries from Humboldt State University in 1989.

Meek presents at annual meeting - Top

Dr. Gary Meek, dean of the College of Business and Technology at Black Hills State University, presented a paper recently at a national institute annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

Meek’s paper “Does Scale of Measurement Really Make a Difference in Test Selection: The One-Sample Test for Location – t vs. Wilcoxon Signed Rank” was presented at the Decision Sciences Institute’s 32^nd annual meeting. An abstract of the paper was published in the conference proceedings.

Meek reported preliminary results of a simulation study comparing the performance of the one sample t-test for location to the Wilcoxon signed rank procedure using data generated for various Likert scales.  The procedures were compared on their type I and type II error rates under varying sample sizes and different scales. The findings were based on a total of 10,725 

simulated data sets. Contrary to theoretical comparisons based on asymptotic relative efficiency (ARE), which is meaningless for small and medium sample sizes, the t-test gave better results overall.  It provided better protection against type II errors even with skewed distributions and small sample sizes.  These results are consistent with Meek’s findings in a previous paper with respect to the two independent samples t-test for location differences and the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon rank sum procedure. 

The paper was co-authored with Ceyhun Ozgur of Valparaiso University and Kenneth Dunning of the University of Akron.

Athletic Director Dave Little to retire - Top

Dave Little will complete his final lap as a teacher, coach, and administrator at Black Hills State University this summer. He will cross the finish line June 28, 2002, retiring as the most successful track and cross-country coach in the school’s history.

Little, a 1965 graduate of Northern State University, began his collegiate coaching and teaching career at BHSU in 1968 and soon established himself as one of the state’s most successful collegiate track and field and cross-country coaches. His name became synonymous with winning South Dakota-Iowa Conference (SDIC) cross-country and track titles—17 cross-country titles and 30 track and field titles in men’s and women’s competition during his tenure as a Yellow Jacket head coach.

His success was not just limited to the field of competition as his enthusiasm and knowledge of subject matter won over classroom students, too. He was twice selected as teacher of the year by the BHSU student senate.

Since success breeds success, he became the logical choice to tackle the tough administrative challenges associated with directing the school’s sports center and overseeing the varsity athletic program. There were times when he had to balance coaching and administrative assignments at the same time. He served twice as the university’s athletic director, first from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1996 to 2002.

“There were parts of teaching I really enjoyed and there were parts of coaching that were that were equally as enjoyable,” said Little. “Being involved in building the Young Center and the outdoor track facility were also satisfying. I enjoyed each one of them at their moment in time.”

Though he was successful as a teacher and administrator, it is coaching where his legacy will probably rest. During the 70s and early 80s his men’s teams dominated the league by winning 12 consecutive titles in both cross country and track and field.

Little attributes his many coaching successes to having the right student athletes, “athletes who were really talented and were giving individuals,” he said.

 “It was very satisfying when an individual or team did well when they weren’t expected to win or place at a certain level. When you are expected to win and you do, it’s nice, but it’s much more satisfying to exceed expectations.”

Coach Little said he enjoyed the administrative challenges as building director and athletic director, but paid a price for that commitment. The price was ultimately giving up coaching.

“I had to pay a real price for that (full-administrative responsibilities),” he said. “It was giving up coaching; two times I particularly missed coaching—3 p.m. practice each day and Saturdays.”

It’s understandable that his love of coaching is undiminished, as he has spent a considerable amount of time doing just that. He once calculated that he had driven more than 600,000 miles recruiting and attending competitions as a BH coach and spent more than 2 ½ years attending track and cross-country competitions if they were added up day by day.

For his coaching accomplishments, Little was Named NAIA District 12 coach of the year 14 times, was named South Dakota Sports Writer’s coach of the year once (1978), women’s SDIC

coach of the year (1998), and he was recently recognized as an honorary referee at the 2001 Howard Wood Relays in Sioux Falls. He also served a two-year term (1984-86) as president of NAIA executive committee on cross country.

For the fans and athletes who follow BHSU track and cross country, a new season will begin and the sound of the starter’s pistol will be the same, but a familiar face will be gone from the runners’ landscape. Oh, he will be there on occasion as a visitor or helper, but most of his time will be devoted to other pursuits—family, boating, hunting and excursions that he wasn’t able to do when his Saturdays and weekends were filled with athletes, competitions, road trips, and meets.

A national search for a new athletic director will begin immediately according to university officials. Applications will be accepted until a suitable replacement is found.

Awards and championships during Coach Little’s tenure at BHSU

Track and Field

• Men’s track and field SDIC titles: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

• Men’s track and field NAIA District 12 titles: 1979 and 1980

• Women’s track and field SDIC titles: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998 

Awards

• Track and field awards: S.D. Sports Writers’ Coach of the Year 1978

• Men’s NAIA District 12 coach of the year award: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980

• Women’s SDIC coach of the year award: 1998

Cross Country

• Men’s cross country SDIC titles: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992

• Men’s cross country NAIA District 12 titles:  1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989

• Women’s cross country SDIC titles:  1987, 1989, 1990, 1991

Awards

• Men’s NAIA District 12 cross country coach of the year award: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989

• Outstanding Coach of the Year, Northern State University, 1980

• Honorary referee, Howard Wood Relays 2001

Ruddell Gallery readies for art exhibit as part of a five-week program - Top

James Knutson, art professor, and his assistant, hang artwork for the latest exhibit at the Ruddell Gallery in the Black Hills State University Student Union which features more than 70 reproductions of mixed media art images created during the Vietnam War by combat artists. Knutson authored the five-week program “Rights & Riots—Wars and Watergate—American Democracy in the 1960s and 1970s.” The art display is on loan from the U.S. Army Center of Military History. Two of the artists, James Pollock, Pierre, and Stephen Randall, Sioux Falls, will present a panel discussion “the Vietnam War as seen by U.S. Combat Artists” at Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Jacket Legacy Room. Several other speakers, films and discussions are planned for the five-week program. The show and events continue through March 8.

The intent of this program is to show multi-sided, multi-media, multi-person collage of the events of that time in U.S. history. Events planned during the program include, informal discussions, visiting lectures, panel discussions, films pertinent to the 60s and 70s, photo reproductions of work by Vietnam combat artists, and two computers with links to historical events during this period.

“In view of the tremendous interest in World War II and the recent events of Sept. 11, 2001, a number of faculty at Black Hills State became interested in looking at another period of time when America also experienced an era of instability, the 60s and 70s,” said the BH art professor. “These events included racial relations, … race riots, … occupation of Wounded Knee, … the Nixon presidency and Watergate, … the revolt of generations, … role of the Vietnam War, …  and the free world against Communism. … These splits continue to resurface at times in the present and provide a point of reference when looking at what stabilizes or destabilizes American democracy.”

The schedule of events:

Friday, Feb. 8— A panel discussion featuring Drs. Vincent King and David Salomon on “Apocalypse Now Redux” and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness will be presented in Jonas 101 at 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 12—Professor Sheryl Grana will present “From There to Here: Understanding the People, Conditions, Ideas of Women’s Lives” in the Student Union Jacket Legacy room at 7 p.m. Grana is nationally known writer on issues about women and justice.  Her most recent book is “Women and (In)Justice: The Criminal and Civil Effects of the Common Law on Women’s Lives.”  She has recently been published in the Journal of Family Violence.  On the faculty at the University of Minnesota Duluth for ten years, she is currently the head of department of sociology-anthropology, and acting head of the department of women’s studies.

Thursday, Feb. 14—Combat artists, Jim Pollock, Pierre, and Steve Randall, Sioux Falls, will participate in a panel discussion “the Vietnam War as seen by U.S. Combat Artists” at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Jacket Legacy Room.

Creators of these pieces of art - Jim Pollock, "Machine Gunner" (above) and Stephen Randall, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" (right) will speak at BHSU Feb. 14.

Tuesday, Feb. 19—The movie “Breathless” will be shown in Jonas 305 at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 21—Professor John Farley’s presentation “The Impact of the Social Movements of the 1960s and 70s on Race Relations in America Today” will began at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Jacket Legacy room.

Wednesday, Feb. 27—Professor Tom Hills will present the “Watergate” scandal at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Jacket Legacy room.

Thursday, Feb. 28—The movie “All the President’s Men” will be shown in Jonas 305 at 6 p.m.

Monday, March 4—The BHSU Global Awareness Committee will present a program (time and date to be announced)

Wednesday, March 6—The movie “Regret to Inform” will be shown in Jonas 305 at 3 p.m.

Thursday, March 7—A panel discussion on the pros and cons of Native American issues in the 70s will be presented in the Student Union Jacket Legacy room at 7 p.m.

BHSU receives grant funding to promote high-tech business  - Top

Business faculty at Black Hills State University received a $16,500 sub-grant from the University of South Dakota to participate in the National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation project.

Dr. Priscilla Romkema, associate professor of business, and Lisa Bryan, adjunct business instructor, will direct the Black Hills State business development team involved in the project. The BH team will partner with a technical team of faculty and students from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Both teams will work with Duff Kruse of Pacer Corporation in Custer.

“This project seeks to stimulate the expansion of the high-tech business sector in South Dakota and make the universities a driving force behind this growth,” said Romkema. “This partnership enables private sector individuals and businesses to team with university faculty and students to create and implement development plans for selected innovations or technologies.”

The project also seeks to integrate innovation and technology-based entrepreneurship activities into business, science, math and other graduate and undergraduate classes. The idea is to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and prepare students to work for high-tech businesses in South Dakota. It is a public and private sector collaborative effort to foster the development of research development-based businesses in the state.

The Partnership for Innovation award to USD was funded by a three-year $598,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to fund a statewide effort.

Chiesman grant supports discussion series at Balloch Library - Top

A $2,100 grant from the Chiesman Foundation will support a lecture and discussion series on “the American Democratic Experience,” Thursdays, at 6:30 to 8 p.m. beginning this month and continuing through May at the Spearfish Grace Balloch Memorial Public Library.

Black Hills State University in cooperation with the Balloch Library will present the series. Dr. Roger Ochse, associate professor of humanities, will serve as discussion moderator.

The library has received a hundred books from the Library of America from various grant-funding sources. The community is encouraged to create opportunities for discussion of the themes and ideas contained in the books.

Scheduled presenters and topics are as follows:

·        Feb. 21—Ahrar Ahmad, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, “American Democracy:  How the Founding Fathers Viewed It, and How the Rest of the World Now Perceives It.”

·        March 7—Roger Ochse, Ed.D., associate professor of humanities, “Walt Whitman and the American Civic Spirit.”

·        March 21—Debra Roy, M.A., adjunct lecturer in English, “Landscape and Democracy:  Sarah Orne Jewett’s The Country of the Pointed Firs.

·        April 4—Amy Fuqua, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, “Willa Cather and Immigrants’ Experience.”

·        April 18—Vincent King, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, “The Wages of Pulp:  The Use and Abuse of Fiction in William Faulkner’s The Wild Palms.”

·        May 2—Margaret Lewis, M.A., professor of sociology, “John Steinbeck’s Vision of Poverty: Then and Now.”

Information about the discussion series is available by contacting Ochse at 642-6386 or by email. 

A record number of runners compete in annual Alumni Mile - Top

A record number of  former BHSU distance runners - 32- gathered at the Young Center last weekend to take part in the 10^th annual Alumni Mile. (Left) Scott Bohall, Glendale, Ariz., and Randy Mink, Gettysburg, were among the runners.

This run is designed to be a fun, low-key event according to Jim Glazer, Class of '96, Burnsville, Minn. He and Frank Davis, Class of '96, Casper, Wyo., were instrumental in beginning this annual event.  The Alumni Mile raises money each year for scholarships.  

Former runners, who represented five decades of alumni, met this year in conjunction with BHSU college indoor meet. 

BH resident assistants recognized - Top

Seven resident assistants at Black Hills State were recently treated to a home-cooked meal and recognized for academic excellence and for a job well done.

This is the second year that the department of residence life has recognized student resident assistants. Each spring, hall directors recognize seven resident assistants that excel academically. They are known as “The Academic Seven.” This year, all seven are within a grade-point average of 3.2 to 3.7.

Mike Isaacson, residence life director, said, “We do this to showcase the fact that students can lead a busy and responsible life and maintain good grades, too. The RAs have very responsible campus jobs and are role models to our residential students. The residence life department realizes that we are an extension of the academic community and constantly reinforce this concept through various programs such as ‘The Academic Seven’ recognition.”

Resident assistants treated to a home-cooked meal by the hall directors were, seated left to right:  Lindsay Whitley, a senior biology major from University Place, Wash.; Carrie Albright, a sophomore elementary education major from Rapid City; and Traci Vaplon, a sophomore art education major from Buffalo, Wyo. Back row:  Dr. Judith Haislett, vice president for student life; Aaron Livingston, a sophomore pre-med. major from Cheyenne, Wyo.; Coy Sasse, a sophomore human services major from Batesland; and Brandon Lowery, a middle-school education major from Pierre. Not pictured is Isaac Olson, a junior history-education major from Brookings.

Students place at recreational tournament - Top  

Three BHSU students recently placed in the regional intercollegiate student union recreational tournament.

Dusty Evenson, a senior physical-education major from Gillette, Wyo., took first place in the men's recreational bowling division and placed fourth overall. Charity Fernandez, a senior physical-education major from Worland, Wyo., placed first in the women's recreational bowling division. Kate McKillop, a senior special-education major from Gillette, Wyo., placed second in the women's recreational bowling division. Chris Swiden, student 

supervisor of the campus adventure center, assisted the group through the tournament and also competed in the men's billiards recreational division. Swiden is a junior biology major from Wentworth.

The Association of College Unions International (ACUI) regional recreational tournament was held in Fargo, N.D., over the weekend. 

CSA council is selling daffodils for cancer society - Top  

The BHSU Career Service Act Advisory Council is now selling flowers as a community service project for the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days.

Daffodils can be purchased from any CSA council representative for $6 for 10 daffodils, or $1/each individually or in bunches of less than 10. Council members will also be taking orders for Gift of Hope bouquets for $15.  Payment is requested in the form of cash or checks made payable to BHSU CSA Council. All monies collected from the sale of daffodils will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Orders and payment are due by Feb. 14. The daffodils placed in water will open for a beautiful display of spring color. Customers are requested to have their own vases ready to receive the daffodils on March 11.  

A list of CSAC representatives is available on the web. Questions can also be directed to any CSA representative, to CSA President Nancy Shuck, or to Cheryl Leahy as CSA’s liaison with the American Cancer Society.

Johanna Meier to perform at fundraiser for summer institute of the arts - Top  

Famed soprana Johanna Meier will perform for a Valentine scholarship fundraiser for the Black Hills Summer Institute of the Arts Saturday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish.

“From the Heart of Spain” will feature Meier singing Spanish folk songs about dance, love and lullaby by Manuel de Falla (canciones populares espanolas). This concert is Meier’s only public performance this year.

International star of the opera and concert stage, Meier has been a leading soprano with the Metropolitan Opera and countless major opera houses and orchestras throughout the world. She is well-known as the first American to sing the role of Isolde in the Bayreuth Festival, which was filmed for Unitel/Philips and has appeared twice on PBS Great Performances. She is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and made her sensational debut with the New York City Opera in 1965.

“From the Heart of Spain” will also feature performances by guitarists Christopher Robin Johnson, the Rushmore Orchestra, Spanish dancers and special mystery guests. Tapas (hors d’oeuvres) and dessert bar will be served. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 642-6420. Cost is $25 per person donation. Gala dress is recommended.

Proceeds of this fundraising event underwrite the student scholarship program of the Black Hills Summer Institute of the Arts-Vocal Arts/Opera Theater workshop which will be held June 17-30. Now in its fifth year, this program, under the artistic direction of Johanna Meier, offers students exposure to the highest level of voice training and performance experience in workshop format. Hosted by Black Hills State University, this vocal arts program encourages students to stretch their creative potential with emphasis on individual expression.

For more information contact Laura Hovey Neubert at 341-5714 or 642-6420.

Minutes of the University Assessment Committee - Top  

Minutes of the University Assessment Committee Meeting which met Feb. 5 at 3:30 p.m.  in Woodburn Conference Room 1.  

Present:  Earley, Siewert, Altmyer, J. Miller, I. Olson, Pearce, L. Turner. Absent: Cook, Haislett, Valades, Schamber, Calhoon, D. Myers

Using the new checklist, the committee reviewed and decided on the following final reports

1. Sociology - Accepted with modifications for next year

2. Political Science- Accepted with modifications for next year

3. Communication Arts- Accepted

4. Mass Communications- Accepted

The committee will review biology, English, environmental physical science, human services, and composite physical science at the next meeting Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 3:30 p.m. in Woodburn Conference room 1.

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 sciences and humanities. The next 

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. 

This week at Black Hills State University - Top

Campus Calendar

This calendar is also available on the BHSU homepage quick links.