HOME | CAMPUS PEOPLE | CALENDAR | ABOUT THE BULLETIN | PAST BULLETINS

CAMPUS PEOPLE

Business Dean Eric Dent returns from Cuban conference

Although Cuba is open to the rest of the world, the island nation remains an elusive destination for American travelers.

Dr. Eric B. Dent (Dean of the School of Business) recently returned from Havana, where he spoke at an academic conference. It was his second trip to Cuba.

“Academics and journalists are the two primary groups from America who can get licenses to visit Cuba,” Dr. Dent said. “Tremendous restrictions remain to travel and to conduct commerce.”

Dr. Dent lectured on “The Challenges of Observation, Inquiry and Measurement in Complexity Theory” at the Second Biennial Seminar on the Philosophical, Epistemological and Methodological Implications of Complexity Theory conference. He is a leading American expert in the field, which has its roots in natural science.

“Complexity theory is an approach to research, study and perspective that is holistic, interdependent and non-hierarchical,” Dr. Dent said. “Discussing the philosophical implications of complexity theory is more popular outside the U.S., where philosophical approaches to problems are important.”

“For Cubans living in a communist society, complexity theory allows them to talk about open systems in a politically acceptable way,” he said.

Apparently, Dr. Dent’s approach to business theory is welcome in Cuba. Fidel Castro Jr., son of the president and the nation’s number two political figure, was in the audience for his lecture.

“It is gratifying that my talk might, in some very small way, have some influence on the course of events down there,” Dr. Dent said. “Even the most hard-line Cubans realize that things are changing, and Castro, who is 77, cannot live forever.”

“They do not want to happen in Cuba what happened in Russia when communism collapsed,” Dr. Dent said. “They do not want to lose the good things they have – a strong healthcare system and little corruption.”

For Dr. Dent, Cuba is an island paradise that evokes strong feelings.

“In Cuba, you have a sensation of being lost in time - like it’s still 1960,” he said.
“ There are beautiful oceanfront buildings that are vacant and gutted.”

Dr. Dent said things have changed since his visit two years ago. There is more tourism and more money, especially U.S. dollars. However, travel to Cuba remains difficult.

“It’s a tremendous hassle,” Dr. Dent said. “Getting in and out of there, I was checked thoroughly three or four times.”

While he was there, Cuba celebrated the 45th anniversary of the revolution that rocked the world and launched Fidel Castro into power, where he remains in open defiance of the U.S. today.

The second biennial conference on complexity theory was held January 7-10. Dr. Dent’s conference paper will be published in the book, “Managing the Complex: Philosophy, Theory and Practice,” edited by Kurt Richardson.

Dr. Litty produces video for Cancer Society

Dr. Jamie Litty (Mass Communications) produced and directed a video, urging Native American women of the Carolinas to get mammograms and Pap tests according to the recommendations of the American Cancer Society. The video was produced as part of the American Indian Lay Health Advisor Project, created by Native American Interfaith Ministry of Pembroke (The Healing Lodge) and funded by a community development grant from the American Cancer Society’s Southeast Division. A consultant and trainer on the project was Professor Cherry Beasley (Nursing).

Students and staff in the Department of Mass Communications provided technical assistance during production and postproduction of the video, including David Kernodle, a December 2003 graduate, and Michael Johnson, a senior.

Entitled “Reflections on Survival: Raising Awareness of Breast and Cervical Cancer,” a version of the 17-minute video was exhibited at the Cancer Conference 2003 in Atlanta, Ga., last semester. Another version is airing this month on WNCP-TV (Time Warner’s Channel 6 in Robeson County) and the Scotland County Community Access Channel (Adelphia’s Channel 63). The video is used primarily in community-based workshops, meetings and other grassroots health outreach.

Dr. Reising’s paper accepted by Journal of Popular Culture

The Journal of Popular Culture has accepted an article by Dr. Robert Reising (English), entitled “From the Big Top to the Big Leagues: Burt Lancaster’s Baseball Odysseys (Oddities?).”

The article is a study of two, one-time Fayetteville, N.C., residents, who later played right field for the New York Giants: Jim Thorpe and “Moonlight” Graham. Lancaster, a circus performer, played both athletes in the movies. He played Thorpe in the 1951 blockbuster “Jim Thorpe, All American” and Graham in the 1989 hit “Field of Dreams.”

Dr. Crandall presents paper at conference

Dr. Rick Crandall (School of Business) presented his paper, “Supplemental teaching resources for business instruction: Incorporating an industrial archeological perspective,” at the annual Southeast Decision Sciences Meeting. The meeting was February 25-27 in Charleston, S.C.

The paper was co-authored by Dr. Chris Ziemnowicz, Associate Professor of Business at Concord College, in Athens, W.Va. The presentation discussed how business educators in higher education might incorporate aspects of industrial archeology in their classrooms. Industrial archeology looks at the remains of factories and commercial sites with the purpose of learning more about the historical context of the business in question.

Murray, Powell present paper at sociology meeting

Professors Ottis Murray (Sociology) and Marlene Powell (Sociology) presented a paper at the Celebration of Inquiry Conference at Coastal Carolina University on February 13. Their paper, “Voluntary Associations as Communities.” was well received, and they have been invited to submit it for publication in the “2004 Selected Proceedings of the Celebration of Inquiry Conference.”

Van Zandt is published in Sculptor’s Voice

Paul Van Zandt (Art) published an article in Tri State Sculptors Education Association’s magazine Sculptor's Voice (Winter 2004, Vol. 3, No. 3). His article was entitled “Computers and Hand Tools,”

Dr. Hossfeld presents paper to Sociological Association

Dr. Leslie Hossfeld (Sociology) presented the paper, “Blurring the Boundaries Between Teaching, Research and Service: Teaching Others About Sociology,” at the North Carolina Sociological Association annual meetings in Chapel Hill. Dr. Hossfeld serves on the Executive Council.

Digital Academy proposal accepted by two conferences

The Digital Academy (DA) team, comprised of Dr. John Labadie (Art), Dr. Larry Arnold (Music) and George Johnson (Mass Communications), had its proposal, “The UNC Pembroke Digital Academy: A successful exercise in constructing collaborative relationships,” refereed into a second conference in the last week. The DA will be presenting at the New Media Consortium summer conference in June in Vancouver, B.C., and at the UNC Teaching and Learning with Technology Collaborative conference in Charlotte in March.

28 from UNCP in ‘Rumba on the Lumba’

The University was well represented with 28 runners and walkers in the five kilometer Rumba on the Lumba that was held March 6 in Lumberton. More than 500 runners and walkers entered the event. Several UNCP runners placed in the top-three finishers in their age group.

University and Community Relations pitched in by paying entry fees and providing freee UNCP t-shirts. Athletic Director Dan Kenney was a race organizer for the Robeson Road Runners. Listed below are the top UNCP age-group finishers followed by all UNCP runners and walkers and their times. Good show!

RUMBA ON THE LUMBA
5K ROAD RACE

FEMALE OVERALL RESULTS
1 Alice Kassen - 19:31

FEMALE AGE GROUP WINNERS
1 Sonia Tinsley - 24:19
2 Angela Weston - 25:33
3 Hope Wallis - 26:23

MALE AGE GROUP
1 Jeff Bolles - 17:59

ALL UNCP RUNNERS
Jeff Bolles - 17:59
Alice Kassen - 19:31
Lars Andersson - 22:04
Mike DeCinti - 23:06
Mike Schaeffer - 23:30
Sonia Tinsley - 24:19
Scott Billings - 24:38
Chris McFerrin - 24:46
Alfred Byrant - 25:19
Angela Weston - 25:33
Reggie Oxendine - 27:44
Patrick Cabe - 28:26
Eric Dent - 29:49
Keats Ellis - 30:05
Beth Carmical - 30:51
Debbie Thompson - 38:02
Teresa Oxendine - 38:46
Cynthia Sumpte - 39:58
Shirley Deese - 41:29
Carol Hunt - 41:52 -
Tommy Thompson - 45:48
Dena Council - 47:11
Nickie Blanton - 47:14
Susan Locklear - 48:30
Frank Rendulic - 48:45
Pattie Dees - 50:57
Doris Oxendine -50:58
Ethel Ward - 52:27
Juanita Deese - 57:16

Jose D’Arruda (Chemistry and Physics) is shown here accepting congratulations for winning the horseshoe-pitching contest at the Dixie Stampede in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Birthdays March 15 - 31

Lillian Brewington
Robert K. Britt
Alfred Bryant Jr.
Glen Burnette Jr.
Jackie Clark
Gloria Chavis
Lisa Chavis
Judith Curtis
Juanita Deese
Keats Ellis
Larry Freeman
Jose Gomez
Anita Guynn
Ester Hedrick
Gangadhar Hiremath
Vinson Jacobs
Deana Johnson
Jennifer Johnson
George Johnson
Ramin Maysami
Joseph Oxendine
Terry Oxendine
Maria Pereira
Debra Preston
Stephen Prevatte
Gregory Sampson
Marilu Santos
Bobbie Scott
Ralph Steeds
James Wall
Guo Wei
Christine Weidinger-Smith

Births

Charles Issac Alan Locklear was born February 28 to Tammy (Regional Center) and Alan Locklear. Charles’ uncle is Ricardo Bell (Campus Police).

State Employee Discount Program launched

The Office of State Personnel, private businesses and public entities have developed a State Employee Discount Program to provide service opportunities at discounted costs. The program will continue to expand as new discounts are obtained from businesses and state entities.

For more information on this new program, click on the link below and start taking advantage of the State Discount Program today:
http://www.osp.state.nc.us/divinfo/E-Discounts/discounts_frameset.html