IN THIS ISSUE
• Brackett writes book on author Mary Shelley
• Congresswoman visits Department of Military and Veteran Student Services, donates uniform
• Dennis selected for journal editorial board
• Coaches vs. Cancer game set for Saturday
• Student Life sponsoring free coffee, doughnuts on Wednesdays
• Park to host mathematics competitions for high school students
• Park In The News--Dean Vakas, Sarah-Jane Lattin, Debra McArthur
• Green tip of the day
• Upcoming Events
 |
| Dr. Virginia Brackett |
Brackett writes book on author Mary Shelley
Virginia Brackett, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Park's Department of English and Modern Languages, and director of the Degree with Honors Program, recently had her book, Critical Companion to Mary Shelley: A Literary Reference to Her Life and Work, published. The book is part of the "Facts on File Library of World Literature," an imprint of Infobase Publishing. The book includes a comprehensive biography of Shelley; entries on each of Shelley's major works; entries on such related topics as Byron, Mary Wollstonecraft, romanticism, Paradise Lost and science fiction; and appendices that include a chronology, a bibliography of Shelley's works and a secondary source bibliography. Brackett spent two years researching and writing entries to complete the work. "Like most readers, when I heard the name Mary Shelley, I thought only of Frankenstein," Brackett said. "I was surprised to learn that, in addition to many short stories and poetry, Shelley wrote five additional novels and a novella. It was a wonderful project, allowing me to learn new information that I have been able to use in the classroom and to produce a conference paper." This is Brackett's 14th published book. She's currently completing a novel and has begun a creative nonfiction book about her father, a World War II and Korean War veteran.
Congresswoman visits Department of Military and Veteran Student Services, donates uniform
Former Missouri U.S. Rep. Pat Danner (1993-2001) recently made a pair of visits to Park University's Department of Military and Veteran Student Services, home of the Park Warrior Center, to thank a group of service members and veterans for their sacrifices, and to offer advice about the importance of entering the career field of public service. "Park University is doing great things for our service members and veterans," Danner said. "I am pleased to see that an institution cares so much about serving the needs of those who have made the commitment to serve in our armed forces." In the top photo, Danner (center) is pictured with department director Stephen Terry, Army veteran; Park junior Michael Dalsing, Army veteran; freshman Bradley Keating, Air National Guard veteran; senior Matthew Terrill, Navy veteran; junior Brandon Dugan, Navy veteran; and freshman Ian Holland, Marine Corps veteran.
During a second visit, Danner donated a "Crackerjack" uniform to the Department. The World War I Navy uniform was worn by F.M. Dickson, Navy petty officer second class. The name is on the underside of the flap and is in original perfect condition with all 12 Navy buttons plus a hidden "stealth" button. The 12 Navy buttons represent the original 12 colonies and the "stealth" button was to represent the colonies to come. In the adjacent photo, Danner is pictured with the uniform and senior Jason Dye, Army veteran; Keating; and Molly Manley, program assistant for the department and Army veteran.
 |
| Dr. Kay Dennis |
Dennis selected for journal editorial board
Kay Dennis, Ed.D., assistant professor of adult education, has been invited to serve on the scientific editorial board of Pedagogy: Theory and Practice, a journal published by Liepāja University, a doctoral degree-granting institution located in the former Soviet bloc nation of Latvia. The journal emphasizes the application of teaching/learning theory to practice, particularly with respect to computer technologies. During Dennis' Fulbright Scholar grant in 2010, she was based at Liepāja University, which is located in the Baltic seacoast city of Liepāja.
Coaches vs. Cancer game set for Saturday
The Park University men's and women's basketball teams will join forces on Saturday, Feb. 4, when Columbia College visits Breckon Sports Center in the Pirates' annual Suits and Sneakers Coaches vs. Cancer game. The women's game gets under way at 2 p.m., followed by the men's contest at 4 p.m. Fans will be asked to pay regular admission (no season passes), and Park students will be admitted by making a donation of any amount and showing their student ID. In addition to donations at the gate, the Park University Spirit Squad will collect donations throughout the doubleheader, and a ceremony will be held between games to honor cancer survivors, as well as friends and family of cancer survivors in attendance. Park’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee is also planning a "white-out" for the games. Fans are asked to wear their favorite white Park apparel to help white-out Breckon Sports Center. Read more about the event at www.parkathletics.com/news/park_006233.shtml.
Student Life sponsoring free coffee, doughnuts on Wednesdays
The Office of Student Life will serve complimentary coffee and doughnuts for students, faculty and staff every Wednesday, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., on the first floor of Thompson Commons on the University's Parkville Campus. Andrew Davis, coordinator of student leadership and engagement, said the event, in partnership with Sodexo Campus Services, is another opportunity for students to build lasting relationships with each other and faculty and staff. "We want our students to have the best experience possible at Park, and we are consistently looking for new ways in which we are able to ensure that experience occurs," Davis said. "Realizing the experience students have all comes down to the relationships they have, so we wanted to create a way in which students are able to interact with one another, with faculty and with staff."
Park to host mathematics competitions for high school students
Park University's Parkville Campus will host Kansas City area high school students as a site for the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions on Wednesday, Feb. 22, beginning at 10 a.m. The contests are the first in the series that lead to the USA Team at the International Mathematical Olympiad. If you know a high school student interested in competing, students can register for the competitions through their school or at www.park.edu/mathematics/amc.aspx by Wednesday, Feb. 8. For more information, contact Samuel Chamberlin, assistant professor of mathematics at Park, at samuel.chamberlin@park.edu or (816)584-6260. For more on the event, visit http://news.park.edu/pub/news_002071.shtml.
Park In The News
Park University was highlighted, and Dean Vakas, director of military and federal programs, was quoted, for a story that appeared in the February issue of Military Advanced Education. The article provided tips for military students going through the college application process.
Sarah-Jane Lattin, a sophomore social psychology major at the Malmstrom Air Force Base (Mont.) Campus Center, was the recipient of a donated car thanks to a local business that participates in the National Auto Body Council's Recycled Rides program. A story about Lattin appeared in the Jan. 30 issue of the Great Falls Tribune.
Debra McArthur, director of academic support services, was featured in an article that appeared in the Jan. 24 issue of the Platte County Landmark newspaper regarding her book, A Voice for Kansas, being published.
Green tip of the day
Snow on the ground shouldn't stop anybody from getting outside. These tips will make your cold weather camping trip enjoyable and environmentally friendly.
• Layer up. Layers are the easiest way to warm up in winter. When it comes to choosing your outdoor gear, go with an eco-aware brand.
• Build your shelter out of snow. Instead of using a tent made of petroleum-based materials, try creating a shelter out of snow. A quinzhee is great option if you don’t mind spending the time and hard work to create it.
• Recycle your empty fuel bottles. Another way to stay warm in winter’s backcountry is by enjoying hearty meals and hot drinks. Since this requires a lot of burn time for stoves, the amount of empty fuel bottles can really add up. When recycling your canisters, make sure it’s completely empty. If you want to stay away from single-use canisters altogether, consider choosing an MSR stove with refillable fuel bottles.
For more information and additional tips to lead a "green life," visit http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife.
Upcoming Events
• Through March 16 -- Andrea Lee Art Exhibit, Campanella Gallery
• February 4 -- Scholarship Competition Day, McAfee Memorial Library, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• February 8 -- Coming To America Series: Saudi Arabia, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Herr House Lounge
• February 18 -- Campus Tour, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Norrington Center
• February 20 -- President's Day (Kansas City area offices closed and no Parkville Daytime classes; Spring I classes held)
• February 28 -- 11th annual Spencer Cave Black History Month Lecture: Dr. Chandra Manning, 7 p.m., McCoy Meetin' House
• March 3 -- Scholarship Competition Day, 9 a.m., McAfee Memorial Library
• March 4 -- Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City Concert: Stars and Planets, 3 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• March 7 -- Coming To America Series: Azerbaijan, 11:30 a.m., Herr House Lounge
• March 7 -- Ethnic Voices Poetry Series: Latino Writers Collective, 7 p.m., McCoy Meetin’ House
• March 11 -- Spring I session ends (Kansas City area and campus centers across the country)
• March 12-18 -- Spring Break (Kansas City area and campus centers across the country; no classes held, all offices open)
• March 19 -- Spring II session begins (Kansas City area and campus centers across the country)
• March 19-April 27 -- Art Exhibit, Campanella Gallery (exhibitor TBA)
• March 21 -- Ethnic Voices Poetry Series: Rick Barot, 6:30 p.m., McCoy Meetin' House
• March 23-24, March 30-31, April 1 -- Park Theatre: "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" and "Bachelor Holiday," 7:30 p.m. (except April 1, 2 p.m.), David Theatre
• March 24 -- Campus Tour, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Norrington Center
• March 26 -- Dr. Jessie Bell Woodside Holt Women's History Month Lecture: Dr. Ann Schultis (performing as women's rights leader and abolitionist Clarina Nichols), 7 p.m., McCoy Meetin' House
• March 27 -- Transfer Day, 2 to 7 p.m., Norrington Center
Note: To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics, visit www.park.edu/calendar/parkville.html.
