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Durben will lead U.S. Paralympic shooting team - top

Dr. Dan Durben, associate physics professor at Black Hills State University, has been named head coach of the U.S. Paralympics Disabled Shooting Team.

Durben, a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic rifle team and head coach of the 2000 U.S. Olympic rifle team, will lead the team of disabled shooters to the 2004 U.S. Paralympics in Athens, Greece. The Paralympic games, the major international competition for the world's best disabled athletes, are held every four years immediately after the Olympics. Paralympic athletes compete in the same events and in the same sites and stadiums as Olympic athletes.

Durben, who became interested in shooting as a youngster, sees this as an opportunity to remain involved in Olympic level competitions. Durben will prepare training strategies for each athlete, create and implement the overall disabled shooting program, and lead the selection procedures for the Paralympic Shooting team. Durben will also travel with the team to weekend competitions, and provide coaching to athletes via phone, internet, and  through one-on-one and group training sessions .

The team members are currently training and attending competitions to qualify for the Paralympics team. Previously the U.S. Paralympics were team in each sport sponsored by several different groups but are now all run by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) according to Durben. The Paralympics are held immediately following the Olympics in the same stadiums.

“The USOC took over all of the Paralympic teams with a goal to support excellence in athletic performance in each sport,” Durben said. “They are now working to get top-level coaches involved to help athletes learn how to compete at very high levels.”

Durben said he expects his new position to be a challenge since the team has not won a medal since 1984. “I’m working to bring this group up to a higher level of competition. I’m challenging them to train like Olympic athletes,” he said.

In mid-April Durben will travel with the Paralympic hopefuls to a meet in Edmonton, Canada. He will continue to work with the team on weekends and during the summer to prepare for the Paralympics which is scheduled for August 2004 in Greece.

Durben joined the BHSU science faculty in 1993. He received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Arizona State University that same year. He later took a leave of absence to serve as an Olympic coach.

As head coach of the U.S. Paralympics Shooting team, Dr. Dan Durben will be working with disabled athletes including Dan Jordan (right), Colorado Springs, Colo., the top disabled shooter in the country.

Hesson delivers online lecture

Dr. James Hesson, professor of physical education at Black Hills State University, was invited to present the first lecture in the Health Lecture Series for 2003 for Thomson Learning, Inc., recently. Dr. Hesson’s lecture, “Exercise Adherence: Sticking with It!” was presented nationwide via the online meeting center WebEx. 

Hesson then presented his lecture using conference call and digital technology. Participants registering for the lecture received a toll-free telephone number and a web address to access the presentation. Attendees listened to the lecture over the toll-free telephone line and viewed Hesson’s PowerPoint presentation from their own computers. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer and information-sharing session, allowing those attending the lecture to offer input and ask questions about the topic. 

The lecture covered issues related to exercise and behavior modification.  According to Hesson  approximately 15 percent of adults in the United States regularly exercise, while 85 percent of adults are relatively sedentary. He said that while many people start an exercise program, few continue exercising for any length of time. His lecture offered some practical tips and some theoretical information addressing behavior modification and adhering to a regular exercise program. He encouraged input from participants regarding successes and routines in their professional and personal lives to encourage regular exercise.

Hesson earned his doctor of education degree at Brigham Young University in 1980.  In addition he earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  He has earned the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the Health/Fitness Instructor (HFI) certification from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).  He has been a professor of biokinetics in the Division of Physical Education and Health at BHSU since 1990.  Since 1993 he has worked each summer at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with U.S. Olympic athletes and coaches.  He frequently serves as an author and textbook reviewer for McGraw-Hill, Wadsworth Publishing, and other educational publishers.  He is also the author of the best-selling textbook, Weight Training for Life, Sixth Edition.

Shearer-Cremean manuscript accepted for publication

Christine Shearer-Cremean, assistant English professor at Black Hills State University, has had the book manuscript Survivor Rhetoric: Negotiations and Narrativity in Abused Women’s Language accepted for publication.

Shearer-Cremean is serving as co-editor of the manuscript with Dr. Carol Winkelman, from Xavier University in Ohio.  Shearer-Cremean’s essay, “The Epistemology of Police Science and the Silencing of Battered Women” is also in the collection. The book will be printed with the University of Toronto Press.

Shearer-Cremean joined the BHSU faculty in 2000. She earned  a Ph.D. in English from Bowling Green State University in 1997. She also has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English from the University of Dayton in Ohio.

BHSU receives $1 million deferred gift for new theatre

An anonymous $1 million donation to Black Hills State University has invigorated the longstanding vision of adding a theatre building to the campus.

“This major gift by donors who are committed to preserving and expanding the arts is greatly appreciated by the university,” said Dr. Thomas Flickema, BHSU president. “This gift is an investment in the arts for the university and for the entire region. The educational and cultural environment will be dramatically enhanced with the addition of a theatre building.”

The gift comes at a time when the university is in the final stages of construction of a new $8.25 million music academic building set to open this fall. The new music/academic building and the possibility of a new theatre signify the importance of the arts to BHSU and the entire region. The arts have been an important part of the school’s academic tradition since the early years of the 20^th century according to Flickema, and he sees the possibility of a new theatre as a way for BHSU to have a positive effect on how the arts are delivered in the future.

“BHSU, which is already well on its way to becoming a regional cultural center, has a vision for an increased presence in the arts,” Flickema said. “For thousands of years, the stage has been a forum in which people have examined some of the most profound issues of life. The arts have been instrumental in the history of this area as well. Early performances at BHSU, then known as Spearfish Normal School, the local opera houses, and the nationally known Passion Play have played an integral part in defining the identity and future of this community. BHSU is looking forward to taking an active role in continuing that tradition.”

Flickema noted the university’s involvement in numerous activities including the Black Hills Summer Institute of the Arts, which is held annually on the campus. The summer event features an art education institute, a vocal arts and opera theatre school, dance workshop, lecture series and a numerous public performances. 

BHSU officials were recently notified of the $1 million anonymous deferred gift that will be used as seed money to build a new theatre on campus, according to Steve Meeker, vice president of institutional advancement. Meeker described this gift as the impetus for further fund raising to make the dream of a theatre building a reality.

“We have continually sought financial support for this project and in this time of economic uncertainty, it is wonderful to know that friends of the university are continuing to support the goals of Black Hills State University,” said Meeker. “This generous gift will initiate a campaign to fund a facility that will benefit the campus as well as the entire community.”

 Meeker is optimistic that this gift will encourage others to donate funds for a new theatre building on campus that will enhance the educational experience provided at BHSU. A new facility of this stature could range from five to eight million dollars. To make a donation to this fund or to find out more about deferred gifts, contact Meeker at (605) 642-6385.

CSA representative will attend state meeting

Jeanne Hanson, Regents Career Service Advisory Council member from BHSU, will attend the spring committee meeting in Pierre, April 4 with representatives from the other regents institutions and special schools. 

Spring Jazz concert is Tuesday  

Black Hills State University’s Jazz Ensemble and the Black Hills Gold singers will be presenting the annual Spring Jazz Concert Tuesday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the BHSU Student Union Jacket Legacy Room. Despite not having their own music building to practice in due to construction of a new music building, the jazz band and the singers have made accommodations to prepare for the concert. They will be performing songs by music legends such as James Taylor, Billy Joel, Billie Holiday and Dizzy Gillespie. With all of the soprano, alto, tenor and bass singers complemented by saxophones, trombones, trumpets and drums, the Jazz Ensemble and the Gold Singers promise a powerhouse performance. Dr. Randall Royer directs the Jazz Ensemble, and Stephen Parker directs the Black Hills Gold. Admission to the concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Student Union information desk at 642-6062.

Bassist Andy Foxworthy concentrates on his part during practice while the trumpet line happily takes a break. The Jazz Ensemble holds its practices in a temporary location in BHSU’s Student Union.

BHSU track meet rescheduled for Monday

Due to the potential for adverse weather conditions, the Black Hills State University track meet scheduled for Saturday, March 29 has been rescheduled for Monday, March 31.

The annual BHSU Frostbite Invitational, which is the first meet of the outdoor season, is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.  Running events start at noon. For more information contact the BHSU athletics department at 642-6882.

Entrepreneurs address business students at Black Hills State

Entrepreneurs representing a diverse selection of different businesses encouraged students to consider being self employed and also discussed some of the challenges of being an entrepreneur at the Entrepreneurship in the 21^st Century Conference at Black Hills State University this week.

The morning session included presentations by Dr. Jim Hess, BHSU professor of psychology on the evolution of an entrepreneur; Jim Thompson of Creative Broadcasting on giving entrepreneurship a voice; and Lisa Bryan, BHSU director of Indian Studies on marketing.

The afternoon session featured a panel discussion of six regional entrepreneurs: Lisa Bryan, BHSU instructor and owner of Lisa Little Chief, Inc.; Doug Mastel, president of Mastel Precision; Dr. Bob Meyer, president of RAMVAC Corporation; Dr. Duane Sander, co-founder of Daktronics; Perry Titze, owner of Quality Shuttle and Tours and a recent BHSU entrepreneurial studies graduate; and Sian Young, marketing consultant. The panel discussion was moderated by Tom Wheaton, assistant director of the BHSU enrollment center.

Mastel, owner of an ophthalmologist enterprise, described some of his business ownership experiences and reminded students that “you have to be an optimist to be an entrepreneur.” He added that it’s important to surround yourself with knowledgeable and even some not-so-optimistic people to reach a common ground.

“The balance between optimism and pessimism is reality. Don’t have all ‘yes’ people working with you. You need to have someone who will tell you how it is. And you need to have a sense of humor,” Mastel said.

The conference was sponsored by the Center for Business and Entrepreneurship and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). Members of SIFE will discuss highlights of the conference during a student competition among business students in Denver this spring. For additional information on the Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at BHSU, please call 642-6091 or e-mail priscillaromkema@bhsu.edu.

	Lisa Bryan, BHSU business instructor and entrepreneur, discusses her business experiences at the Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century conference held at BHSU this week. Doug Mastel (center) president of Mastel precision, and Bob Meyer (right), president of RAMVAC corporation were among six entrepreneurs to offer advice during the panel discussion.
Tom Wheaton (left) moderated the entrepreneurship panel discussion that included business people Lisa Bryan, Doug Mastel, Bob Meyer, Duane Sander, Perry Titze and Sian Young.

Parents and children build robots together in BHSU lifelong learning class

In a new community education class at Black Hills State University children and their parents are building robots but their instructor says the students and their parents learn much more than actual application.  

Tom Termes, assistant professor at BHSU, sees this lifelong learning class as an opportunity to create interest in technology among young people. The class is offered to elementary students (with basic computer knowledge and a fifth-grade level of science) and a parent or adult. The pair spends the class time building and programming a LEGO robot.  

“Most of the emphasis is on attitude,” Termes said. “This class is not about building LEGOS; it’s building attitudes about what students want to do and ultimately realize they can do with their lives. In the process the students establish a greater interest in computer programming and gain experience programming as well as mechanical and electrical systems.”

The class which offers parents the opportunity to have fun building a robot with their children is designed to teach the basics of robotics. Each parent and child pair uses a LEGO Mind-Storms system and works on separate projects.  Robots may be able to move around obstacles and follow a bright light or do acrobotic stunts.

The class quickly filled up with participants who enjoyed the unique learning experience with their children. “Computers and LEGOS are the ultimate combination for an eleven-year-old,” said Cody McMichael. He and his son worked on an Inventor-bot during the class.

“This is an opportunity to do something together and build something,” Paul Wells said. He and his son built a Rover-bot which is programmed to sense obstructions and ledges with its front bumper then back up and turn an opposite direction.

Termes said he is considering offering an “all-girls” version of the course to encourage female participation. He believes that early exposure will encourage girls to seek further technological aspects later in life.

This class is one of several BHSU lifelong learning courses offered this spring. Other classes include a diet and exercise course, desktop design, outlook email, and small business basics. For more information contact the BHSU extended services office at 642-6771.  

Paul Wells and his son Jason, 11, test drive their version of a LEGO Mind-Storms robot, the Rover-bot, that they built together in a community education class held on the BHSU campus recently. Rover-bot is built and programmed to sense obstructions and ledges with its front bumper then back up and turn an opposite direction. The Wells’ robot successfully avoided falling over the ledge.   Lance McMichael, 11, and his father Cody put the finishing touches on a Inventor-bot that they built together in a community education class at BHSU.

‘Yellow Jackpot’ cancelled

The Yellow Jackpot rodeo scheduled by the Black Hills State University Rodeo Club has been cancelled due to lack of participants.  This event, which was scheduled for March 28 will not be held due to the low number of registered participants. For details contact Nancy Shuck at 642-6082.

BHSU’s digital Shakespeare society produces film

Black Hills State University’s Digital Shakespeare Society has produced their own feature-length film from the classic play “All’s Well That Ends Well.” The student organization has brought the production all the way to DVD and will present their work to campus and community members April 1 at 7:00 p.m. in Jonas 305.

The production of this feature film, which includes scene selections and directors cuts on the DVD, has been in progress since the summer of 2001. BHSU senior William Stodden, director for the film, has been one of the main driving forces behind the production along with the club’s advisor and film producer Roger Ochse, associate English professor at BHSU.

The project began when the Digital Shakespeare club decided they wanted to do something big to get their name out in the community; digital camera at hand, they took off on the new adventure of creating their first full-length film. The final duration of the film comes to one hour and 54 minutes. The Digital Shakespeare Society produced the entire DVD package in conjunction with 89.1 KBHU Radio. DVD copies can be ordered at the showing of the film.

This adaptation of Shakespeare’s play focuses on the comedy resulting from non-mutual love between a man and a woman. Stodden said the students even added their own twists to the film – but you will have to see the film to find out what they are.

“It’s about love, friendship, war – it’s got everything,” said Stodden. He encourages people to come see the film not only for the story, but also just to see what a group of student actors and producers can do.

The film stars several BHSU students: Isaac Waring, a sophomore music major from Spearfish; Sarah Cozort, a freshman speech communications major from Spearfish; Mike Munro, a junior English major from Spearfish; Derrick Buchholz, a former student; Matt Sowden, a senior business administration major from Spearfish; Teresa Addington, a senior speech communications major from Lead; Tim Bissette, a former student; Jonas Lynch, a junior mass communications major from Lily; Joe Francis, a former student; Elizabeth Verhey, a sophomore English major from Rapid City; James Vinton, a junior environmental science major from Deadwood; Lindsey Koppinger, a junior mass communications major from Dickinson, N.D.; Carissa Wolf, a former student; Derek Stodden, a freshman English major from Spearfish; Alesha Culver, a freshman in pre-nursing from Spearfish; Isaac Olsen, a junior history major from Brookings; and Moses Feeley, a junior art major from Diamondville, Wyo.

For more information on the film, e-mail Stodden at wmstodden@hotmail.com. For any other accommodations, call the Student Union information desk at 642-6062.

Bauer to portray baseball legend

Kurt Bauer will portray baseball legend Casey Stengel in a one-man comedy at the Matthew’s Opera House, April 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m.

“A One-Sided Conversation with Casey Stengel” is an hour-long show being staged as part of Black Hills State University’s current baseball art exhibit at the Ruddell Gallery and as a fundraiser for Spearfish’s American Legion baseball program.

Bauer, a Houston based actor who grew up in the Black Hills, first portrayed Stengel at the Matthews Opera House in 2001 and then moved the show to Houston’s Country Playhouse. He credits the play’s success to writer Paul Higbee’s research and eye for colorful anecdotes.

According to Bauer the script has some surprised even for people who know their baseball because it is set before Stengel was a legend. “The time was 1949, when he’d just been named Yankees manager and had people scratching their heads, because he hadn’t proved himself a winner, and he didn’t possess the business-like manner people associated with the Yankees.”

The tickets are $10 per person, and traditional ballpark food concessions will be available. Contact Kim Kerwin at 642-6890 or Penney Williams at 642-6520 for tickets or more information.

Events and speakers announced for Indian Awareness Week                                                         

Black Hills State University will sponsor the annual wacipi (powwow), the Kevin Whirlwind Horse Run, an art and fashion show as well as several nationally known speakers in honor of Indian Awareness Week April 7-12.

The 21^st annual wacipi will be held April 11, 12 and 13 at the Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center. An art show and sale and fashion show are a new addition to the weekend of activities. Forty Native American and western artists will display their artwork throughout the weekend. The fashion show is  Saturday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m.

The Kevin Whirlwind Horse Memorial Run/Walk is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The annual buffalo feed will also be Saturday, at 5 p.m. at the Marketplace in the Student Union.

Speakers, including special presentations by nationally known speakers Billy Mills and Joseph Marshall III, are scheduled throughout the week.

Mills, known for his gold medal Olympic win, will present “Global Unity Through Global Diversity” at 5:30 p.m. at the Young Center Fieldhouse. Mills remains active in Native American causes today and a 1984 movie Running Brave was based on his victory. An Oglala Sioux Indian, Mills surprised the world with his upset at the 1964 Summer Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan, when he won the gold medal.

At University of Kansas in the late 50s, Mills continued to improve his running skills. He was a 1958 and 1959 All-American in cross country while at Kansas. In 1960, Mills won the individual title in the Big Eight Conference's cross country.

Joseph Marshall III will give a lunch presentation Friday, April 11 at 11:30 a.m., in the Student Union Jacket Legacy Room. Marshall has been a teacher at the high school and college levels, an educational and health programs administrator for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, a craftsman of primitive Lakota bows and arrows, an historian, and a writer. He has helped to form a non-profit advocacy group for Native American students and parents, develop and implement Native American studies curriculum, spearhead the planning and design phase for the eventual construction of a hospital, as well as serve as a founder and charter board member of Sinte Gleska University. 

Marshall has published five books in addition to contributing to four other publications. His sixth work in progress, Thunder Dreamer: The Journey of Crazy Horse, is scheduled for publication in 2003. Writing led him to public speaking and he has addressed audiences across this country and also in France, Sweden, and Siberia.  In addition he teaches management seminars and presents workshops and seminars based on his books. Marshall has also written several screenplays and appeared as an actor is several well-known shows including The Real West and the television mini-series Return to Lonesome Dove.

A complete schedule of events for Indian Awareness Week with the theme “Celebrating American Indian Storytellers” follows. For more information on any of these events contact the BHSU Center for Indian Studies at 605-642-6578. These events are sponsored by the Center for Indian Studies, South Dakota Humanities Council, BHSU Grants Office and Lakota Omniciye.

Minutes of the University Assessment Committee

Minutes of University Assessment Committee for Tuesday, March 25, 2003 at 3:30 p.m. in Jonas 103.

Present: Earley, DeJong, H. Johnson, D. Calhoon, Siewert, Pearce, Schamber

Absent: Cook, J. Miller, D. Myers, Norby, Lembcke, Gallagher

The committee congratulated the College of Education for re-accreditation by NCATE, DECA, Wyoming DOE.

Committee reviewed the following annual assessment reports:

• physical education - returned for revision and resubmission

• wellness management - approved with comments

• political science - approved

There will be two more meetings this semester. The next meeting is April 8 with the Council of Deans to talk about assessment for next year and the second meeting will be on April 22 for the overall institution (Haislett) and education, MSCI, and physical education.

Grant opportunities announced - top

Below are the program materials received March 13-19 in the Grants Office, Woodburn 309. For copies of the information, contact the office at 642-6627 or email requests to grants@bhsu.edu. Fellowship information will also be posted on the Student Union bulletin board near the information desk. 

• National Institute of Justice.  Violence Against Women from Diverse Communities (DoJ/NIJ).  The Justice Department’s National Institute of Justice is seeking applications for research on violence against women ages 12 and older from diverse communities.  Deadline May 9, 2003.  www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm.  Refer to solicitation 000609.
  

• State Department.  Professional Exchanges and Training (State).  The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is inviting applications for Central and Eastern European professional exchanges and training programs in areas ranging from library exchanges and judicial reform to media training.  Deadline May 9, 2003.  http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps.  Refer to announcement ECA/PE/C/EUR-03-39. 
  

• Education Department.  Early Reading First: Local Projects (ED).  The Education Department is seeking applications to create science-based age-appropriate early childhood curricula, instruction and activities to help ready children for reading.  Deadline April 11, 2003 for preapplications; June 27, 2003 for invited full applications.  www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs/html. 

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 in the Grants and Special Projects Office, Woodburn 309, or can be printed from the website.

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. Applications are now being accepted for faculty release time for fall 2003. Release time is awarded to full-time faculty who teach on the BHSU campus. The next application deadline is Friday, April 25 at 12 p.m.

The applicants are encouraged to contact the committee members for advice prior to completing their proposals. The members are John Alsup, Earl Chrysler, Tom Cox, Abdollah Farrokhi (chair), Jim Hess, Kathleen Parrow, Shane Sarver, and Rob Schurrer.