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Dr. Ray Rundus publishes book on Joseph Mitchell

Dr. Raymond J. Rundus, professor emeritus (English), has published “Joseph Mitchell: A Reader’s and Writer’s Guide” (September, 2003; iUniverse; Lincoln, Neb.; $23.95 and $13.95 in paperback).

Dr. Rundus will talk about the book and sign copies at UNCP’s Sampson-Livermore Library, Thursday, November 6, 3:30 - 5 p.m.

Dr. Rundus has been a student of writer Joseph Mitchell for many years. The late Mitchell was a Fairmont, N.C., native who gained fame as a journalist for The New Yorker and published several collections of his works.

Although Mitchell died in 1996 after publishing his last book in 1992, he remains an icon among writers for his pioneering work in the literary journalism movement. Mitchell wrote feature articles about a veritable carnival of New York characters, including Joe Gould, whose story, “Joe Gould’s Secret,” was turned into a movie.

Mitchell presents an enigma for any serious scholar. Although he worked at The New Yorker for 58 years until his death, he stopped writing in 1964. He was a Southerner who wrote almost exclusively about New Yorkers. And he was very, very shy despite a high profile in the literary world.

Dr. Rundus was an English professor at UNCP for 26 years. Dr. Rundus brought Joseph Mitchell to UNCP for a rare public appearance that coincided with the publishing of his last book, “Up in the Old Hotel.”

The book is Dr. Rundus’ homage to an icon of New York writers. He would shed light on both Mitchell the writer and the person.

Books may be purchased from online book vendors or from the publisher by contacting them at www.iUniverse.com. Contact the author at: rjrundus@infionline.net.

Professors take UNCP team to state Geography Bowl

Christina Whittaker was named most valuable (undergraduate) player in the N.C. Geography Bowl held October 2 in Greensboro.

Whittaker is a Social Students Education major from Manassas, Va. She was the highest scoring undergraduate for the entire competition, which included teams from UNC Charlotte, East Carolina University, N.C.Central University, Appalachian State University, and UNC Pembroke.

Dr. Tom Ross, who has led teams into Geography Bowl competition for many years, said Whittaker made this competition special.

“I am very proud of her and our entire team,” he said. “The Geography Bowl is always a very positive experience for our students.”

Dr. Martin Farley (Geology), Professor Kay Ehrlich (Geography), and Dr. Ross accompanied the team to Greensboro. He and Dr. Ehrlich served as judges, and Dr. Farley was a moderator.

Blackwell’s work on exhibit in Georgia museum

“Vividly Told: The Southern Tales of Tarleton Blackwell,” an exhibition of the art of Blackwell (Art), is on display at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon, Ga., October 17 through December 21.

A reception and gallery talk is Friday, October 24 at 6 p.m. The exhibition is sponsored by Boeing Corporation and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company.

Here is what the museum says about Blackwell, who is the Martha Beech Chair in UNCP’s Art Department: “A native of Manning, South Carolina, Tarleton Blackwell is a painter devoted to the visual expression of the culture of the rural southeast. To accomplish this Blackwell mixes so-called high culture with low in paintings in which he appropriates titles, compositional structures and techniques of paint application from the baroque master painter Diego Velasquez and applies them to his unique extrapolations on the children's story of the big bad wolf and the three little pigs. Blackwell's curious mix of high and low results in a montage of sometimes ambiguous, often humorous imagery that comments on the complex and constantly evolving power relationships of adult society”

Dr. Tony Curtis interviewed for Reuters story on the Chinese manned flight space program

A news story, based on an interview with Dr. Tony Curtis (Mass Communications) has appeared in print and electronic media outlets around the world. The story originated from the Beijing bureau of Reuters news service and was picked up by media worldwide.

It may be read online at numerous media sites including Reuters or on Yahoo News.

The article is about China’s bids to join the space race. China is nearing its first manned space launch. Dr. Curtis comments from his post as editor of Space Today Online.

“With the launch of the Shenzhou spacecraft, China lifts its technological image into the heavens, bypassing the rest of the advanced-engineering nations," Dr. Curtis told Reuters.

A successful launch, on the heels of Beijing winning a bid to host the 2008 Olympics, could fuel nationalism and boost the Communist Party's credibility as China seeks a place on the world stage alongside great powers.

It comes as no surprise that China's space program may have military applications.

“As the Soviet Union used its Soyuz capsules and Salyut space stations in the 1970s and 1980s to spy from space and carry out other forms of military research, so will the Chinese,” said Curtis of Space Today Online.

“The launch of Chinese astronauts will capture the attention of everyone, especially opinion leaders," Curtis said. “That could breathe new life into the U.S. space program as Americans realize that competition has returned after disappearing for a time since the fall of the Soviet Union.”

Alexis Locklear qualifies for Young Miss All-American

Alexis Vivian Locklear will be competing in the Young Miss All-American USA Pageant on October 25 in Sanford, N.C. Alexis is the 11-year-old daughter of Marla Locklear (Athletics).

Alexis won the title of Junior Miss All-American North Carolina 2002-2003, which was a preliminary competition to the national pageant. Areas of competition are interview, sportswear and evening gown. Alexis is a 6th grader at Pembroke Middle School and is a member of the Academically Gifted Program, Triumph Scholars Program, Accelerated Readers Program, Honor Roll Society, Mediation Club and was most recently selected to participate in the Mr. and Ms. Wizard Program at UNCP. She is also very active in Studio One community theater.

Capt. McNeill to lead county law enforcement association

Assistant Chief Larry McNeill (Police and Public Safety), a 30-year UNCP veteran of campus law enforcement, was elected president of the Robeson County Law Enforcement Executive Officer's Association. The association consists of law enforcement officers of agencies in Robeson and Hoke counties.

Dr. Betty Brown appears on UNC-TV show

Dr. Betty Wells Brown, Associate Professor in the School of Education,was a guest panelist for a program of the UNC Center for Public Television (UNC-TV). Her appearance on the “Education Forum -Reading Literacy” was Saturday, September 20.

Dr. Hossfeld wins dissertation award, book contract

Dr. Leslie Hossfeld (Sociology) was honored by North Carolina State University at a banquet in Raleigh on October 2. She was presented the Nancy Pollack Dissertation Award for her thesis, “They Say the River Ran Red With Blood; Narrative, Political Unconscious and Racial Violence in Wilmington, North Carolina.”

A revision of her dissertation has been submitted for publication and Dr. Hossfeld has signed a book contract with Routledge under the title, “Narrative, Political Unconscious and Racial Violence in Wilmington, North Carolina.” It will be published in the Routledge series, Studies in American Popular History and Culture.

Dr. Hossfeld received her B.A. in history from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, her Master of Social Science in sociology and southern studies from the University of Mississippi and her Ph.D. in sociology with a concentration in inequality and globalization from NC State University.

Dr. Hossfeld’s current research projects focus on inequality, in particular tracking NAFTA job loss in North Carolina and its impact on quality of life. Dr. Hossfeld developed the website http://www.povertyeast.org which maps poverty in 41 Southeastern North Carolina counties. She is currently working on a longitudinal study of low-wage Latino labor in North Carolina. She will be the keynote speaker for the upcoming Wealth and Poverty Conference to be held at the Center for Social Work Practice and Research at UNCW.

Dr. Mary Russell speaks at Bladen Public Library

On September 16, Dr. Mary Russell (Mathematics and Computer Science) was invited to speak at the Bladen Public Library in Elizabethtown, N.C., as part of a program on Archimedes and his life, works and, in particular, the copy of his manuscript that sold in 1998 for $2 million at Christie’s auction house in New York.

Dr. Russell had attended a conference in Baltimore in January 2003, which was devoted to the history of that particular manuscript, which is referred to as the “Archimedes Palimpsest.” The manuscript has been of particular interest due to the September PBS broadcast of a “Nova” program devoted to “Archimedes Palimpsest,” as part of a series on infinity.

Dr. Laszlo Zsilinsky traveled to Budapest in August

Dr. Laszlo Zsilinsky (Mathematics and Computer Science) attended a conference in Budapest, Hungary, August 8-13, 2003. The Janos Bolyai Mathematical Society, the Alfred Renyi Institute of Mathematics and the Paul Erdos Summer Research Center of Mathematics organized a “Colloquium on General and Set-Theoretic Topology.” The aim of the meeting was to provide ground for the exchange of information on new achievements and on the recent problems of general and set theoretic topology.

Dr. John Parnell publishes, delivers papers

John A. Parnell and Shawn M.Carraher co-authored "The role of strategic philosophy in the strategy-performance relationship," a paper presented at the 2003 meeting of the British Academy of Management, September 11-13, in the United Kingdom.

John A. Parnell and Donald L. Lester co-authored "Toward a philosophy of strategy: Reassessing five critical dilemmas in strategy formulation and change," published in Strategic Change (vol. 12, pp. 291-303, 2003).

YouthStart awarded red ribbon at Robeson Fair

To market its program, the Regional Center's YouthStart Program had an exhibit booth at the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair October 3-11. The booth won second prize in the Educational Division and was awarded a red ribbon.

The YouthStart Program is a year-round, in-school youth program with specific program goals to focus on education and occupational skills attainment. Activities include tutoring skills, paid and unpaid work experiences, leadership development, comprehensive guidance and counseling, occupational skills training, mentoring, summer employment opportunities and supportive services. For more information, contact Darbie Strickland, YouthStart Coordinator at 522-8410.

VanZandt showing at Rosenthal Gallery

Art Department Professor Paul VanZandt has been juried into the highly competitive Rosenthal International 2003 with several sculptures. The reception is October 17 at 6 p.m. in the Rosenthal Gallery at Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville Observer publishes Ross review

Dr. Tom Ross (Geography) recently published a review of “North
Carolina: People and Environments, 2nd edition,” in Sunday, October 12 Fayetteville
Observer. In his review, Ross wrote that “The authors have created a thorough analysis of North Carolina. It seems that no subject is left untouched. If something exists in North Carolina, it is likely to be discussed, or at least mentioned, in this well-documented volume.”

Kenney presents leadership program at RCC

Dan Kenney (Athletics) presented a leadership workshop to the Southeast North Carolina Regional Conference of Future Business Leaders of America at Robeson Community College on Friday, October 10. The conference was sponsored by Red Springs High School.

Swett’s JV cheerleaders rule at Robeson Fair

Purnell Swett High School Junior Varsity Cheerleaders won the cheerleading competition at Robeson County fair on October 6.

On the squad are Rachel Ensing, daughter of Kay Oxendine (Student Activities), Christy Swett, daughter of Aubrey Swett (Health Careers) and Brittany Oxendine, daughter of Penny Oxendine (Information Booth).

UNCP shines in Chevy to the Levee Festival

The Robeson Road Runners held the Chevy to Levee Festival at Luther Britt Park in Lumberton on Sunday, September 28. The event was supported from UNCP faculty, staff and students.

Volunteers included: Dr. Mary Guy Beaver (HPER), the Baseball Team and Coach Paul O'Neil, Assistant Coach Ray Hedrick, the Women's Basketball team, students from Physical Education 319 and students from Recreation 332.

Here are the results of university runners:
5K (3.1 miles)
Morgan Haskins (daughter of John Haskins, HPER) - 1st place, under 14
Jackie O’Neil (wife of Baseball Coach Paul O'Neil) - 2nd place, 25-29
Reggie Oxendine (Continuing Education) - 3rd place, 30-34
Debbie Thompson (Education) - 2nd place in age group, female
Lenore Taylor (wife of Trustee Dick Taylor) - 2nd place in age group, female

10K (6.2 miles)
Allie Kassens - (Business) - 2nd place overall female
Nate Woodward – (Grad Student) –1st place overall male
Jeff Bolles (HYPER) - 2nd place, male, ages 30-34
Kelly Haskins (wife of John Haskins) 1st place, female, 35-39
Mark Baker (husband of Lisa Baker (Social Work) - 2nd place, male, 35-39
Carmen Calabrese (Business) - 2nd place in age group, male

Birthdays - October 15-31

Sharon Campbell
Dinna Edgell
Bobby D. Locklear Jr.
Jennifer Prevost
Sharon Bien
Larry McNeill
Willie Hunt Jr.
Ed Schempp
Marco Genee
Kevin Pait
Pamela Locklear
Michael Jimenez
Michael Schaeffer
Billie Jo Hunt
John Labadie
Judith Lee
Imogene Roper
Preston Phillips
Doretha Singley
Anthony Curtis
Gary Tremblay

New Hires

Lisa Bullard - Office Assistant, Multicultural & Minority Departments.
Jennifer Watson - Administrative Assistant, Regional Center
Luisa Martinez - Administrative Assistant, Youth Opportunity Program
Nancy Garmroth – Associate Director, Financial Aid
Pamela Barkett – Director, Human Resources

Transfer

Alice Faye Spaulding - Office Assistant, Business Services

NCFLEX enrollment is open until Nov. 7

NCFLEX open enrollment begins October 13 and ends November 7. If you do not wish to participate, please recycle your NCFLEX booklet by returning it to HR. When submitting your completed form, please do not fold or bend.

The NCFLEX representative will be on campus October 23 in the U.C., Room 213, 10 a.m. to noon.

401(k) plan update

The state’s 401(k) plan is now administered by the Prudential. If you wish to keep the your money in the mutual funds of the old BB&T plan, you must inform Prudential by December 1, 2003. There will be additional administration fee for the BB&T mutual funds, and new payroll deductions will go to funds in the Prudential plan. Prudential will automatically put fund balances and payroll deductions into similar mutual funds unless members designate otherwise.

Account changes may be made by contacting Prudential at 1-866-627-5267 or www.prudential.com/ncplans.

Water aerobics classes available

The Aquatics staff at Jones Athletic Center is trying to provide more services for faculty and staff. Any faculty or staff interested in a swimming stroke analysis or interested in taking water aerobics please contact Becky Davis at 521-6277 by October 15.

Employee Benefit Fair is Nov. 6

The Employee Benefits Fair will be November 6 in the U.C. Lounge, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Flu vaccine available at Student Health

Student Health Services (SHS) has received its order of the Flu Vaccine. SHS has 70 doses available, and they will be given on a first-come-first served basis (by appointment only). Flu shots will be given Monday - Friday from 8 - 11:30 a.m., October 13 - 17, and October 20 - 24.

The cost of the flu vaccine is $10, payable at the Cashier's Office. Call SHS at 521-6219 to schedule an appointment.

Required: Please bring your receipt to SHS at appointment time. After receiving the flu vaccine, you will be required to stay at SHS for observation for at least 10 minutes in the event of an allergic reaction.