October 10, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Oklahoma State University has been named among “America’s 100 Best College Buys for 2007 – 2008” by an independent research and consulting firm. The annual study by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc., includes only colleges that manage to provide the highest quality education at the lowest cost. The Washington Monthly has also ranked OSU among the best U.S. college and university programs this year. OSU was the only school from Oklahoma included on the magazine’s list, which is considered an alternative to the U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Associate professor at OSU featured in upcoming Smithsonian magazine
Smithsonian magazine has named Elizabeth Catlos, associate professor in the Boone Pickens School of Geology at Oklahoma State University, to its list of “America’s Young Innovators in the Arts and Sciences: 37 Under 36,” featured in a special issue of the magazine that goes on sale Oct. 16. Catlos, a geochemist and mineralogist, is honored for her international fieldwork and scientific insight into the origins of mountain ranges. She is well known in the international scientific community for her revolutionary work in the Himalayan Mountains and western Turkey. A year ago, she was recognized by the Geological Society of America as the “Top Young Scientist” for outstanding achievement in geology through research that advances the earth sciences. For more details, click here. View the article at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/catlos.html.
OSU Fall Convocation set for Thursday
Please plan to attend the fall convocation and join in honoring OSU faculty and staff members for their accomplishments on Thursday, Oct. 11, starting at 4 p.m. in the Click Family Hall at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center in Stillwater. The convocation will also include the presentation of special university awards.
Old Central dedication tomorrow
You are invited to attend the dedication for the improvement work on OSU’s oldest building, Old Central, at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 10). Dr. Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, will be the featured speaker. Considered the flagship building on campus, Old Central’s restoration and renovation will return it to active duty to house the Honors College. Used sparingly for special events in recent years, Old Central has primarily served as headquarters for the Oklahoma Museum of Higher Education. Historic information and exhibits will continue to be housed in the building. Saved from demolition in 1928 and 1955, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
National Fire Safety Week: Fire drills planned
Each year OSU is required to conduct two fire drills in each residential hall to practice fire exit plans. As part of National Fire Safety Week, fire drills will be conducted this week in several of the residential halls. All faculty, staff and students should take this opportunity to become familiar with the fire exit plans in each of the buildings where they work, go to class and live. In addition, each department, office and residential living hall should plan to have a meeting place to make sure everyone is accounted for following an evacuation. For more info about campus fire safety, click here .
Lunar Moon Festival set for Thursday on the lawn
Everyone is invited to the cultural event of the fall, the Lunar Moon Festival, on Thursday, Oct. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m., on the OSU library lawn. There will be free lanterns and moon cake, games and prizes for kids, food from different Asian cultures will be on sale and eight different organizations are planning performances, including a lion dance and a lantern parade. The event is sponsored by the Vietnamese American Student Association in collaboration with the Asian American Student Association and International Student Organization Area Clubs.
Women’s Leadership Conference ahead, deadline close
Don’t forget to register for the “Empowering Women for Leadership” conference set for Friday, Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. The goal of the one-day workshop is to prepare women to assume a leadership position in higher education administration. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Women in Higher Education, speakers will include University of Memphis President Shirley C. Raines and Congresswoman Mary Fallin, along with session topics that include building political and personal power, leading in litigious times, managing and leading change, and developing leadership diversity. The deadline for reservations is Thursday, Oct. 18. For a registration form and additional information, go to acadaffr/owheweb/index.htm or contact Dr. Debbie Blanke, (405) 225-9151 or email: dblanke@osrhe.edu.
One Muslim, one Jew, one stage—two very funny guys
Rabbi Bob Alper and Azher Usman will provide an evening of non-political laughter on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. in the exhibit hall at Wes Watkins Center (corner of Hall of Fame and Washington). Alper performs all across North America, London, and even at The Hollywood Improv. He is heard regularly on XM and Sirius Radio. Azhar Usman, Muslim comedian, was the subject of an entire episode of ABC Nightline, and was interviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered. He hails from Chicago and he has performed all over the U.S. and in several foreign countries. The show is presented by SGA Multicultural Affairs Committee and OSU Muslim Student Association in conjunction with SGA Speakers Board, Multicultural Student Center and SUAB. Free tickets are available at the Student Union Hub - one ticket per student/faculty/staff ID. Family and children age 11 and up are also welcome. For more information call (405) 269-1595 or e-mail muslim@orgs.okstate.edu.
Friends of the Library annual dinner and speaker event coming
H. Louise & H.E. “Ed” Cobb Speaker Series featuring author James Bradley will be Friday, Nov. 2, at the Edmon Low Library at OSU Stillwater, starting with a guest welcome reception in the south lobby at 6 p.m. and dinner in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room at 6:30 p.m. Bradley is the son of Iwo Jima flag raiser John Bradley. After his father’s death, James launched a quest to learn about the past of his father and the other five flag raisers pictured in the famous photo. The result was The New York Times #1 bestseller “Flags of Our Fathers,” followed by a motion picture. Bradley’s latest book is “Flyboys.” Bradley will present an after-dinner lecture, following which he will provide autographs. Bradley’s books will be available for purchase, and guests are welcome to bring personal copies to be signed. Click here for complete details.
Mark your calendar now for information sessions on benefit plans
Find out about the new offerings and choices for health care, dental and vision, flexible spending accounts, supplemental life insurance, and long-term disability and cancer plans by attending one of the sessions that start Wednesday, Oct. 24, in Stillwater and Tulsa. For a complete list of sessions, click here or go to http://hr.okstate.edu .
Additional opportunities to learn about Health Savings Accounts
OSU Human Resources is offering two additional sessions for employees to learn about Health Savings Accounts before the upcoming annual benefits enrollment period. One of the three BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma health care plans that will be offered for 2008 is a high deductible plan with a Health Savings Account. Plan to attend one of the following meetings to find out more:
Tuesday, Oct. 16 – 10:30 a.m., room 416 Student Union Case Study III
Tuesday, Oct. 16 – 1 p.m., room 416 Student Union Case Study III
No reservation is necessary. Questions? Please call Employee Services, (405) 744-5449.
Interim President Stathe gets “rubber chickened” for a worthy cause
The United Way drive continues in high gear and to help raise awareness “The Chicken” visited the campus Monday. His first stop was a staff meeting attended by Interim President Marlene Strathe, where he delivered no less than 10 rubber chickens from her admirers throughout campus. As “The Chicken” puts it: “Why honor your co-workers with palatable poultry when they can enjoy a rubber bird all year long!” A photographer happened to be on hand to catch the happy occasion, click here for proof and—like The Chicken—consider your role in promoting United Way.
OSU/Oracle Technology Day
Oklahoma State and Oracle are hosting a Technology Day, "Putting the Oracle Technology Stack to Work at Oklahoma State University," on Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 10:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. in the Student Union Sequoyah Room (Room 280). Representatives from Oracle, a software company that sells software packages (including Oracle Database, Oracle Application Server, etc.), will be on hand to give an in-depth overview and answer questions about what Oracle has to offer. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please call (405) 744-3385 if you plan to attend.
“Moon Over Buffalo” starts tomorrow
The Oklahoma State University Department of Theatre will open its fall season with the comedy farce “Moon Over Buffalo,” running from Oct. 10 to the 14 for a total of five performances at the Vivia Locke Theater in The Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. The show will be dedicated to one of the university’s most honored alumni, the late M.B. Seretean. The plot is full of misunderstandings, misplaced affections, missing persons and a rapid fire assault of jokes. The lead roles of George and Charlotte Hay will be played by actual husband and wife Nathan Gwartney and Carrie Clevenger-Gwartney. Veteran professor of theatre B. Peter Westerhoff will be directing the madcap mayhem after returning from a year long sabbatical. Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for general admission and can be purchased at the OSU Theatre Box Office Monday through Friday from noon until 5 p.m. or by calling (405) 744-9208. Performances are 7:30 nightly from Oct. 10-13 with a 2:30 matinee on Oct. 14.
Bad mood? Could it be your food?
Read this and other articles from OSU Ag Communications Services, click here
How to submit news to OSU Headlines
To submit a short article or announcement for OSU Headlines, just click on the “submit news” link at the bottom of this page and send your information as text or a text file (no poster type or PDF formatted files, please). Please remember to include contact information and try to submit event news a week in advance.
___________________________________________________________
On the calendar…
____________________________________________________
Golf’s economic impact focus of upcoming Tulsa Business Forum
Wally Uihlein, an executive in the golf industry for over 30 years, will be offering insights on the “Worldwide Business Opportunity in Golf,” and the golf industry’s economic impact on the national economy at a Tulsa Business Forum luncheon from noon – 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Tulsa. Uihlein is the chairman and CEO of the Acushnet Company, the parent company to the Titleist, Cobra and Footjoy golf brands. His presentation is the first in the annual Tulsa Forum series, sponsored by the William S. Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University. For more information about sponsorships or to make reservations for the Tulsa Business Forums, contact the OSU Center for Executive and Professional Development by calling, toll free, 1-866-678-3933 or 405-744-5208, or e-mail cepd@okstate.edu. For more details visit cepd.okstate.edu .
Passport fair coming to OSU
A passport fair is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 415 Student Union, Exhibit Room 2. This is the perfect opportunity to apply, review or re-apply for your passport. With the passport processing times growing, now is the time to get your passport well in advance for spring break or summer vacation. The cost is $67 for the U.S. Department of State and $30 for the Postmaster. You will need to write two checks. Expedited service will cost extra. Please bring 1. Proof of citizenship (original birth certificate, passport, or nationalization papers). 2. Two recent color passport photos. 3. Picture I.D.
ECO-Film project screening “Baraka”
The ECO-Film Project, sponsored by ECO-OSU, will present the film “Baraka” on Thursday, Oct. 11, room 101 Classroom Building at 7:30 p.m. “Baraka” is an incredible journey through six continents and 24 countries. It has no plot, contains no actors, no script and was painstakingly shot on 70mm film. It is a collection of high quality images, presented in a moving and compelling manner. Breathtaking shots from around the world show the beauty and destruction of nature and humans, coupled with an incredible soundtrack including on-site recordings of the monks of Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery. For more information on the ECO-Film Project and other activities sponsored by ECO-OSU, go to www.orgs.okstate.edu/ecoosu/ or e-mail us at ecoosu@gmail.com.
Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research conference this month
The Office of University Research Compliance in cooperation with Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research is pleased to present a one-day conference, “Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research Institutional Review Board 101” on Wednesday, Oct. 24, in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center on the OSU-Stillwater campus. The conference is free and open to all OSU system faculty and staff. The program to be presented will emphasize the social, educational and behavioral aspects of human subject research as they impact Institutional Review Board application and review. For more information, or to register for the conference, please visit the conference website at HTTP://139.78.64.12/IRB_101_PROJECT/. If you have any questions or concerns please contact either Beth McTernan, IRB manager at beth.mcternan@okstate.edu or Diana Jacobs, IRB coordinator, Diana.jacobs@okstate.edu.
Are you a candidate for the OSU Regents Professors’ Mentoring program?
The Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence coordinates the OSU Regents Professors’ Mentoring program, which identifies senior faculty who are recognized as national leaders in their respective fields and invites them to share their wisdom with early and mid-career faculty. The goal of the program is to help assistant professors and mid-career faculty enhance professional academic skills such as understanding the values and norms as well as the paths to succeed in academia. The mentoring program also targets those who intend to advance their career by becoming academic journal editors, seeking grants, or getting a chaired position. ITLE works in cooperation with the Chair of the Regents Professors Dr. John Mowen and the Chair of Faculty Council Dr. Bob Miller on the program. To get a list of the names of Regents Professors who participant in the mentoring program, please contact Hong Lin, manager of faculty development in ITLE, at hong.lin@okstate.edu or call (405) 744-1000.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month
A group of journalism students from the PR Management and Strategies class will be collecting donations of toiletries, towels, blankets, pillows, gift cards, children's toys, etc., this month for the Stillwater Domestic violence Center. Donations can be dropped off at one of several boxes located throughout the journalism building in classrooms and the main office. It’s a fact that every nine seconds in the U.S. a man beats a woman. For more information about domestic violence, visit www.endabuse.org or www.sdvs.org . Questions? Contact kassidy.kirven@okstate.edu or phone (580) 380-2540.
Register for “Who wants to be an Entrepreneur?”
University students and faculty throughout the state are being invited to a day-long entrepreneurial workshop set for Tuesday, Nov. 30, on the OU campus, which will feature top business professionals, entrepreneurs, service providers and others. Students interested in participating in the 2008 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition may find this workshop helpful. Information about the competition will be discussed and the workshop will provide essential information on topics that will assist in navigating the technology commercialization process and writing successful business plans. Registrations deadline is Friday, Nov. 16. For program questions, please contact Sarah Seagraves at sseagraves@i2e.org or Shelley Wear at swear@osrhe.edu.
Please contact Pat Greer with questions about registration at pgreer@okepscor.org or 405.744.9964. Online registration is available at: www.okepscor.org/events.htm .
OSU Art Club to exhibit at Club 209 in Tulsa this month
"Art Is Not a Thing; But a Way" is the theme of an exhibit featuring artwork from members of the OSU Art Club, which will open this Friday, Oct. 5, at the 209 Club in Tulsa. The official exhibit opening will be from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday at the club, located at 209 Boulder Ave. in Tulsa, East of the Brady Theatre. The exhibit will be featured through the end of the month. For more information, contact: artisans@orgs.okstate.edu.
Moving FrontPage websites to SharePoint server
Information Technology administrators will soon be moving all of the web sites contained on the current FrontPage server http://fp.okstate.edu to our SharePoint 2007 server environment. If you wish to keep your site and have it moved to our SharePoint 2007 server environment, please send an e-mail request with your name, phone number, e-mail address, department and URL(s) of your website(s) to helpdesk@okstate.edu by Monday, Nov. 26. In the e-mail, please request that the information be routed to the GWI-FrontPage Migration queue. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call the Helpdesk at 744-HELP (4357).
First tobacco industry whistleblower to offer company secrets
Recruited to develop a safer cigarette for the Philip Morris Company, Dr. Victor DeNoble discovered some startling truths about the tobacco industry, which he plans to share Wednesday, Oct. 17, from noon – 1 p.m. at the ConocoPhillips Alumni Center in Stillwater. Join the first tobacco industry “whistleblower” as he exposes what he calls the “truths, lies and addictions” related to the industry. DeNoble will discuss tobacco industry tactics for gaining new clients and how, through the use of the product, the industry makes sure those clients keep coming back for more. He’ll share the same information that led the company to seize his lab and fire him only to learn that he had become a key witness in the federal government’s case against the industry. DeNoble has received national attention with appearances on such programs as “60 Minutes” and “Dateline NBC.” For more information, phone (405) 744-6490.
Business Honors Organization to meet
The Business Honors Organization will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 5:30 p.m. in Business room 234. Dr. Robert Graalman, director of OSU Scholar Development, will share exciting scholarship and leadership opportunities for business students. Please visit www.orgs.okstate.edu/bho to download a BHO membership application, or contact bho@orgs.okstate.edu for more information.
Wellness tip: Exercising for a better mood
If you're feeling down, consider adding exercise to your to-do list. Research shows that exercise has the ability to improve mood and reduce depression. Even if you are seriously depressed, exercise can still be one of several interventions recommended by your physician or mental health professional. Exercise is not a cure all, but it releases endorphins, often creates a sense of accomplishment, and thus improves well-being. Wellness tips are brought to you by the OSU Seretean Wellness Center, dedicated to making OSU the Healthiest Campus in America. For more information about services for students, faculty and staff, call 744-WELL (9355).